Another chapter…I know it's taking me awhile to reunite our precious Huddy…quite frankly I have a feeling that this is going to be a much longer story than I ever imagined! Don't worry, I do have a clear plot mapped out in my brain so bear with me Love Love Love all the awesome feedback and encouragement! I am totally open to suggestions and criticisms too, please don't hold back, let me know what you think…especially if there is something you wish to happen that I'm not providing. Enjoy, Happy Sunday!

"Oh, you've got to be kidding." Wilson replied while looking up from his desk; a look of pure astonishment plastered on his face.

House was standing in the middle of his best-friend/newly appointed superior's office, holding up a child-like diagram he had created, per request of proof for surgery on his current case. In return House was also wearing a look of astonishment on his face, in order to further mock and torment Wilson.

"What's not to understand, Wilson? This is the brain…" House referenced his picture, talking very slowly, using a crayon as a pointer. "This green blob is a tumor—"

"House shut-up." Wilson interrupted rubbing his eyes with the palms of his hands."I asked for proof there is a tumor in her brain, and since the brain scan came up normal, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that you have nothing but—"

"—this diagram perfectly stating where the tumor is." House finished his sentence for him while coloring in the green blob to make it darker; noting how much fun this all was. He crossed over to the sofa to sit down and wait for the lashing to begin. It was the same sofa he used to sit on to harass the former occupant of this office as well.

"House, you're a moron. The problem started in her bowels, and I didn't think I needed to point this out to you, but the bowels are not located in the brain. Either get me proof of the—"

"Of what?" House cut in a look of innocence in his eyes. "She has Crohn's disease. Already started treatment, I just wanted to show you the picture I drew at lunch…didn't know you would take it so badly." House shrugged with a small smirk, crossing his legs resting on top of the coffee table. Wilson bent forward to rest his head upon his desk, a gesture he had been doing a lot lately.

"Dr. Wilson, we have a problem in the clinic." Nurse Jeffery poked his head into Cuddy's former office. "I tried to call you but you didn't pick up." Wilson looked up and over to his phone noticing the lights were out and upon further inspection that it was unplugged. He looked over at House as he was nonchalantly picking lint off his pants.

"Did you cause this amount of torment to Cuddy as well, or am I more special?" Wilson asked as he got up from his desk to check on the clinic problem. He grabbed his coat off the hook and turned to House still relaxed on the sofa.

"Whatever do you mean?" House spoke with a light girlie voice.

"You're lucky she ever slept with you. " Wilson replied as he left his pestering employee. He was ultimately glad this House had come back to work, sober and getting back to normal…but he secretly was starting to loathe Cuddy for leaving him in charge.

"I know." House waited to speak this thought till his friend had exited. Actually, she was why he had invented the clinic problem in the first place. All of this had been a ploy to get Wilson out of his office in order to get to his address book. House had looked everywhere else for it, and his desk…her desk… was the last stop.

A week ago Wilson let something slip to House that he had talked to Cuddy. They had been drinking and he brought up the phone call they shared, apparently only a few days prior. Of course House had also orchestrated that moment to the best of his mischievous capabilities. He got Wilson liquored up at the bowling alley and started to "confess" his concern over if Cuddy and Rachel were safe wherever they might be. Saying that he had a bad dream and was concerned his distress for her welfare might be too much and cause him to go back to vicodin. It was a low scheme. House was well aware and slightly ashamed of his attempt…but not enough to stop him from getting the answers he craved more than anything.

Thus began his search for Cuddy's elusive address. He knew them both well enough to figure that she wouldn't call until she was settled somewhere, and Wilson, being the worrier that he is, would have gotten her address for emergency purposes.

House had waited patiently for over a month to get a hold of any sort of clue to where she was. He had left Mexico that same night Wilson called with news she was gone. It had been a mistake House would never make again, because flying while still dextoxing was one of the most pain wrenching experiences of his life. Wilson was waiting for him when he landed. House called him from the airport before he boarded the plane, hoping, but not expecting his friend to even show…after everything he had done.

The next week or so was a blur to him now. He went through the motions, made it through his detox without relapsing. It seemed an insurmountable task at his worst moments, but he knew that there was no turning back. He had to pull through this; it was the only chance he had of speaking to her again.

Once House was able to return to work things started to get back to whatever normal he could grab on to. Taunting Wilson as much as possible helped a bit, of course, but it was the giant hole in his heart from the absence of her that was impossible to forget. He felt her absence in every part of the hospital, it was as if she walked the hallways like a ghost; hearing her high-heel's echoing around him everywhere he went…but she was never there when he turned around, he was always disappointed.

House wrote the first letter to her the second week he was back, once he felt clear headed he made the decision that writing would be the best approach to make contact with her. The present for Rachel he had bought earlier that morning, passing a toy store on the way to get coffee, House saw it in the window and immediately pictured Rachel's face. Her bright eyes staring at the unicorn; loving the crap out of it the way three year olds oddly could. After he bought it he realized it was also her birthday soon…which meant he had a time crunch to uncover Cuddy's address in order to get Rachel's Birthday gift sent in time. So the plan was put into action this morning.

Bingo he was right! During his reverie House had discovered Wilsons address book in the desk drawer taped to the underside of it. Actually he found Wilson's decoy address book first, then realizing he was dealing with a sneaky competitor, he found the real one. 'Liz Kuttie,' what and idiot House thought, like he couldn't deduce that was her…and she was in France, Normandy to be exact…he had predicted she would settle there, he knew her inside and out. House quickly wrote it down and put it all back where he found it, escaping before Wilson was any the wiser.

He went home that night and put his letter to Cuddy in an envelope and addressed it. Trying to mask his handwriting so that she wouldn't recognize his script on the envelope and decide to not open it at all. He just needed her to open it; he knew she would read the rest…if she just opened it. House had never actually read the letter he wrote to her. It had flowed out of him while he was sitting on his bathroom floor, a place he always sat when he needed to think. Then he folded it up, without another glance at what his soul had poured out. He didn't want to risk the chance of second guessing himself and lose his nerve with her…just like he always had.

Rachel's gift he wrapped in tissue paper and tied a note to one of the hooves of the unicorn. Wishing he could be there to see if she had the same reaction as the one he had pictured in his head.

He sent them both off the next morning…hoping they would be received. Then he sat down and began to write another letter, holding out hope that she would open it. Knowing he had a long way to go…and so much more to say...

It had been exactly one week since Cuddy had received House's first letter and Rachel had been given her perfect gift. That damn unicorn, Rachel had so innocently named 'Housie' was all Cuddy had heard about during the last seven days.

Rachel's Birthday had come and gone but not before she got to open up all the presents Cuddy had selected for her during their travels. Of course she loved them all like any recently turned four year old would, but after the dust had settled Rachel only really latched on to two presents; 'Housie,' of course, and a soft purple stuffed dog that Cuddy had purchased for her in London. She had a managed to buy it without Rachel knowing after she saw her practically drooling over it at Harrods. When Rachel had opened it her excitement pretty much matched that of her reaction to House's gift, which pleased Cuddy greatly. However her awesomely chosen gift backfired when Rachel decided that her famous unicorn, which was originally deemed female, turned back into a boy and her new beloved dog was concluded to be a girl with the bestowed name of 'Lisa.' Rachel had only recently discovered her Mommy's name was not actually Mommy and had latched onto the name 'Lisa' when she heard their new neighbors referring to her Mom as such. Suffice it to say Cuddy would obviously have no problem sharing the same name as a purple dog, but it was the games Rachel developed with her two new best friends that had Cuddy on edge.

It had been decided early on that 'Housie' and 'Lisa' were in love and going to get married. Cuddy was pretty sure they had already had a couple wedding ceremonies. She had been coerced into helping decorate for one of them, and had overheard bits and pieces of her daughter's creative imagination spewing out from her bedroom after that. The words "I love you" and kissy sounds floating out to Cuddy's ears from wherever Rachel was playing.

It had been a difficult week…

She had read his letter again every night since the day it had arrived. It had become a ritual for her while lying in her bed, but not one she was proud of. She was still so angry with him, knowing that her frustration would not just dissipate over night, after everything he had done…especially not after just one letter of honesty. On the other hand she couldn't ignore him, couldn't stop reading his words, or thinking about his shirt still tucked away in her suitcase. It terrified her. She had dated him for almost a year, but she had pushed him away most of her adult life, constantly running from him. Why did she waste so much energy on a man she obviously had decided would never be right for her, who would never change his selfish ways?

When Cuddy made the decision to end their relationship it had felt right. Like she was unburdening herself of future disappointments with him; saving them both from possibly ruining their friendship forever. After she left his apartment that horrible night, she sat in her car for a long time, not able to drive away. It was only a call from her sister regarding Rachel waking up that had made her put the key in the ignition. Every part of her soul was screaming to go back to him, wanting nothing more than to take it all back and try again. Try to make it work with the man that would always be the love of her life.

…but her fear won out, like it always had.

After their break-up and how he acted in the aftermath, it only confirmed Cuddy's worries. He was insane, she always knew that, but he was also a ticking time bomb. Marrying a mail-order hooker and taunting her with it wherever she went was only the tip of the iceberg. His revert back to vicodin use and his failed attempt at self-surgery was the proof she latched onto. It was the only thing that kept her away from him; the only thing stopping her from knocking on his door and wrapping herself in his strong arms.

"Mommy can we go outside to play?" Rachel asked sweetly as she came into the kitchen while Cuddy was attempting to eat breakfast, her constant thoughts of House getting in the way of consuming the now soggy cereal in front of her. She put her spoon down and got off the barstool.

"Sure, let's get us both dressed first though." She led Rachel to the bedroom and let her pick out her clothes for the day. A new thing Cuddy was letting Rachel do herself, loving the outfits her daughter could come up with. Cuddy left her and went to get dressed herself, it was a lovely day and she was going to make a decent attempt to embrace that and not dwell on the man she had left the country to avoid.

"I'm ready!" Rachel came running in wearing her colored striped tights, mismatched tennis shoes and her favorite dress. Cuddy smiled at her, noticing that she was also clutching her unicorn and dog, obviously ready to play with them outside as well.

"Okay, let's go." Cuddy grabbed onto her daughter's tiny hand as they both went out to get some sun.

Of course her secret wish of having a slightly non-House filled day would be a failed one. She saw the new letter sticking out of the mailbox the moment she stepped a foot outside. He had not tried to mask the handwriting on the envelope as much this time, but it still had a return address from Wilson. His way of being cute, she imagined, or still trying to be sneaky…although he should know her well enough to know he couldn't fool her twice. Obviously he concluded that I read the last letter, a thought that pissed her off and made her smile. House always had a way of making her feel two opposite emotions at once, another element to their relationship that scared the crap out of her.

Cuddy grabbed the letter and other mail out of the box and sat down on the porch. Rachel had already found her favorite spot on the grass under the shade of the tree and had started her adventures with 'Housie' and 'Lisa' for the day. Cuddy knew she had time to read it now if she wanted, knowing that as much as her stubbornness and fear was telling her not to open it, her need to hear more was clearly going to win.

Once she broke open the seal, she felt the weight of something not paper fall out onto the porch. She reached down and picked it up noticing it was a necklace, a familiar necklace she thought but she couldn't quite place it. It was a peace sign on a delicate chain made out of silver, and all around the symbol were engraved flowers, roses to be exact. Once inspected closely Cuddy knew this necklace once belonged to her, she had forgotten about, misplacing it years ago, assuming it was gone forever. Why did House have it?

Cuddy opened his letter holding the lost necklace tightly in her hand.

Cuddy,

In hopes that you actually read my last letter, I am holding true in my promise of writing you again. Another effort of righting the immeasurable wrongs I have caused you. Another attempt at conveying how incredibly special you have always been to me. Another confession of deep expressions I should have shared long ago. Another reminder of what a fool I have always been…

The necklace you (I hope) are holding is from the first night we spent together, I'm sure you recognize it as once belonging to you.

Cuddy glanced back to the small silver necklace in the palm of her hand. She slowly started to remember clasping it around her neck that night. It was a last minute decision to compliment her newly acquired black dress. Obviously it had fallen off…

I've had it in my possession since the first night we ever danced together, the first night we kissed, the same night I got to hold you in my arms while you slept curled up by my side, the night I count as one of the best in my life.

'Mine too…'

We never talked about this night when we became a couple, I was too scared to show my vulnerability to you, to unveil how many years you have had a hold on me…but it's now or… it's never.

Cuddy put House's letter down, petrified to go any further. Why was he doing this now? Where was all of this when it mattered, when she was begging him to give her more, to show even a glimmer of the emotions he was revealing to her now.

Rachel's voice floated over to her then, her daughter's stream of consciousness flowed out of her as she played with 'Housie' and 'Lisa.' Cuddy knew the wedding ceremony for Rachel's new loves was well underway. It was ironic to Cuddy that her daughter could see so clearly what she fought so incredibly hard against. 'Housie' and 'Lisa' would always be together in Rachel's eyes…Cuddy picked up the letter once again.

The only reason I was at that party was because of you. Of course you probably have deduced that by now. I noticed you in endocrinology the first day of class, and if my head wasn't shoved far up my ass most of the time, I might have previously remembered your beautiful face from the bookstore, on the same day you first noticed me.

Cuddy smiled, envisioning his face when he examined her class schedule, he didn't notice me then because he never looked up from the paper.

It seems strange to me that we have poignant memories about each other, but at different moments…our timing was off then as it has always been.

'I know…'

You came walking into that crappy lit auditorium, looking way too awake for a 9am class. It was annoying, but in that same observation, it also struck me how uniquely pretty you were. I remember you were innocently twirling your finger in one of your curls from your ponytail as you scanned the room to look for a seat. You immediately fascinated me. So naturally I followed you with my eyes as you came closer to me, hoping that I could somehow will you to notice me too.

'I was scanning the room for you, looking for that arrogant sexy man with the crooked glasses at the bookstore; the one who accurately deduced who I was just by evaluating my class schedule. You immediately fascinated me too.'

When you finally glanced my way from the front row of seats I remember feeling overwhelmed like I had encountered my new counterpart, with just one look it felt like we had known each other forever. Like I said, you immediately fascinated me…

When you actually sat next to me I figured it might be my lucky day, your perfume was enough to send me through the roof. I remember it being sweet like cotton candy mixed with the ever intoxicating scent of you. The same perfume you had on the night of the party.

You didn't talk to me that first day, nor I you, quite frankly you scared me. I had an immediate desire for you on many levels, something I had never experienced before. I remember you were in my dream that night, a glorious trend that has continued to this day, I am more than happy to admit that to you. It was a sexual dream; how could it not have been, but it was deeper than that. I woke up that next morning determined to find out more about you. It wasn't until the next class when I chose to sit down next to you that we had a chance to have our first conversation.

I believe I stupidly asked you for a pen, in which I was rewarded with my first encounter of your breathtaking smile as you reached in your bag to find my false request. When I reached for the pen you offered I touched your hand…it was an indescribable moment in my life. Your hand, the first part of you I had the pleasure to experience. I will never forget your hands. I can still feel your hand in mine everyday like a phantom, just one of many daily reminders of what I have lost.

But I digress…

Cuddy could sense his hand in hers as well, always. She could never forget the caress of his touch; feeling with her memories the way he used to tickle the palm of her hand, and action she wasn't even sure he was aware of doing.

After my stupid pen request I lost my nerve with you, the next class I sat behind you instead, knowing what a chicken shit I was turning into because of your presence. My lack of courage turned out to be one of pure genius because now I had the chance to eavesdrop on you; listening in when that meathead you were sitting next to requested you come out that evening. That's how I found out where you would be that night, why I knew without question that I had to be at that party too.

I watched you from the moment you walked through the door that night, you were wearing a sexy black strapless dress, a dress that has been burned into my memory for decades…thank you for that. Your hair was so incredibly long and I remember you wore it down flowing around your face, raven black curls falling down your back, an amazing picture. You were perfect. You always were to me, and you had every guy's attention at that frat party drawn to you, I was just one of many that noticed how breathtaking you are.

'God his memory was incredible, he remembered every detail.'

When we found each other through the crowd I remember that neither one of us bridged the distance. We just looked at each other, checking in but not approaching, it was hesitant…I'm sure you remember that.

'I do remember. It was your eyes that pulled me in. I couldn't stop staring... trying so hard to act nonchalant…pretend like your effect on me was no big deal.'

It is clear to me now that you were playing hard to get; you have since confessed to me that you'd been pursuing me since the bookstore.

Cuddy smiled…

I must say I was taken aback by this confession of yours, I always figured I was the only one with an agenda that night.

'You certainly weren't the only one…'

Suddenly after what seemed like an hour, we made it across the crowd to each other. You smiled up at me and asked me my name, an opening line filled with such confidence and flirtation; you had me weak at the knees.

'I already knew your name...'

I replied 'House,' forgetting my first name entirely. You laughed and tilted your head, like you still do now, a move that will always have an effect on me. Realizing my mistake I quickly said 'Greg,' and managed to choke out a request for yours, already hating myself for being such a pussy. Your eyes sparkled, as they did and have continued to do whenever you smile, and you replied 'Cuddy' then teasingly said 'Lisa,' while brushing a fallen curl away from your face…another simple move that made me melt. I managed to pull my sorry excuse for a once known womanizer back from the soppy mess you created; then I grabbed your hand and kissed it, asking you to dance. You answered with a silent gesture by leading me by my hand to the dance floor. I followed your lead and of course took the opportunity to check out your amazing ass.

We danced for what felt like hours…I'm sure you remember that too.

Yes…

Talking, teasing, learning, flirting…dancing so exceptionally close to each other. You were immediately deemed 'Cuddy' and I 'House' which I've always loved that we held onto all these years. I knew we would spend the night together. Not because I thought myself to be a man-whore, but because we had such a connection and familiarity that it just made absolute sense.

When you came up to my room, I saw you start to second guess yourself, at least I assumed you were by the way you nervously played with your necklace…the necklace you now hold. I sat down in my desk chair and smiled at you saying that we could just relax, that we didn't have to do anything but talk. I remember I was terrified I would scare you off, lose you too soon. I would take just a night of conversation with you, anything to keep you from leaving. I believe I offered up a game of Boggle, which made you genuinely smile and come over to where I was sitting, obviously deciding to let go of your fears.

You kissed me, put your hands on either side of my face where I was sitting and kissed me, God you had me hooked. Your lips were beyond my wildest fantasies, as was the rest of your body. I hope you know by now how much I worship your body, always have.

'I do know that.'

You sat down on my lap and deepened the kiss, I placed my hands around your delicate waist, you fit so perfectly in my arms, quite frankly you are the only women in my life that I can truly say that about.

I know you remember the rest of that night, if you don't than maybe I misjudged our passion, but it was certainly the best night I had ever encountered before.

The clothes came off-your dress was made of silk, just slipped down to the floor revealing your insanely alluring body. Then I picked you up and placed you on my bed, your head upon my pillow… you were so damn beautiful laying there, another sight to be remembered…and I remember it well.

She remembered him picking her up so gently, cradling her in his strong arms. It was an amazing feeling…a gesture he recreated the night she came to him in his bathroom, so many years later.

When we finally 'settled down' from our sexual exploits you fell asleep curled up by my side; my hand tucked under the crook of your neck. I watched you sleep that night, another trend I continued when we finally were in a relationship, a coveted past-time I miss more than I care to admit…

After you left that next morning for class I noticed your necklace on the pillow. It must have fallen off during our night together. You left your number with the heading of 'Cuddy,' which you know I failed to use, yet another reminder of our flawed timing. This incredible mistake on my part was the first moment of me causing you sadness, hurting you…but maybe it's the perfect place to start. I'm sorry…

Cuddy wiped the tears from her eyes falling freely down her face as she sat on the porch, reliving this incredible night through his poetic narration. She had never felt so filled up by House's words before… never experienced such unbelievable love and devotion from him…never truly knew how much he cared for her.

I kept your necklace all these years, a secret token I treasured from that night, something I could selfishly never return to you. I give it to you now because I want to prove to you where my heart has forever been. Tangible proof, something you always needed from me as my boss; something that had to be shown before we could proceed.

I guess I'm hoping the same can be said with us…can we proceed from here?

House

Cuddy placed his letter filled with such love down upon her lap and opened up her hand to reveal the necklace inside, the 'tangible proof' he so badly wanted to give her. Unclasping it she immediately placed it around her neck, clasping it safe against her chest where it had rested so long before. Something clicked inside her in that moment…she could feel the wall around her heart, the one she worked so hard to build and hide behind, come crashing down around her. She missed his face…so unbelievably much.

Cuddy folded his letter back up just like the one before, knowing that he would write again. Anxiously anticipating his next confession of his soul, knowing she would have to respond eventually…