Okay well I didn't get much response from the last chapter (worries me a bit), hopefully this one is more to your liking…I am still loving writing this, and I feel like I have a lot more to write for our lovely couple, I've only just begun. If I promise not to kill off House are you guys still along for the ride?

Let me know! Oh and I'm going out of town for a week, so hopefully this chapter will tide you over for a bit.

Hope you enjoy!

"Mommy?" Cuddy stirred from her sleep, Rachel's muffled cries filtered down the hallway and filled her ears, causing her to fully awaken. She could tell Rachel was upset, and when Cuddy looked at the clock she realized it was only 3:30 in the morning, not a good sign.

"Its okay sweetie, I'm here. " Cuddy quietly spoke as she entered Rachel's bedroom and switched on the light by her bed. As soon as she sat down she could feel Rachel was burning up, pulling off her covers and picking her up to cuddle her.

"Mommy I got sick on Housie." Cuddy smelled it as soon as Rachel confessed that she was partially sitting in vomit.

"Rachel don't worry, we can wash him. Let's get you in the bath okay." Cuddy carried her then into the bathroom stripping Rachel down as she turned on the bath. Rachel's temperature was high so she went to get the Tylenol, bracing herself for the next couple hours, knowing she wasn't going to be sleeping anymore tonight.

After she bathed Rachel she changed her own clothes and laid Rachel gently down in her bed, crawling in next to her to rub her back. She had to stay awake to make sure Rachel's fever broke, when she took her temperature before it was almost 103.

Cuddy rested her head against the pillows and stared up at the ceiling in the dark, her mind drifting to House like it did when she had any time alone to think. Lately she had been recalling bits and pieces from their brief time together, something House had slowly put back into her head by writing about their history through his powerful narratives.

She hadn't heard a word from House since their ill-fated phone call, now almost two months in the past...and she was starting to get concerned. Cuddy wrote to him that same night but didn't send it till a couple weeks later, wavering back and forth whether it was a good idea to send her letter at all. The shirt was a last minute addition, grabbing it impulsively from her bed as she headed to the post office. She had been wearing it almost every night since the night she pulled it from her suitcase and surrounded herself with him. After a couple nights of wearing his scent she finally gave in and washed it, knowing that it needed it, but it made her sad to lose the one piece of comfort she had with her.

She sent the package out over a month ago...but still no response. Cuddy knew that Wilson would have called her if something had happened, a piece of reality that she tried to hold onto when she found herself slipping back into her same old 'anxiety over House' routine she moved thousands of miles away to break free from. So she tried to let it go...

Cuddy had also begun working at a Children's hospital in the city her and Rachel had settled in. When they first moved into the house she knew there was a hospital nearby but she hadn't fully decided that she wanted to work. She cherished all the time she got to spend with Rachel and she was afraid of falling back into old habits. Then one day Rachel discovered a preschool right around the corner from the hospital, as they were walking home from lunch, and declared she wanted to play with the kids that she saw there. Cuddy knew that Rachel needed to play with kids her own age, but she was hesitant at losing the time with her. Rachel however pulled Cuddy's arm all the way to the front door of the preschool, making it clear that her daughter needed some child time away from her Mother.

After she enrolled her there three times a week, Cuddy went into the hospital to check it out...and she fell in love. It was smaller than Princeton, which Cuddy enjoyed. She always wanted to work with children, but a long time ago decided against it and opted to pursue running a hospital instead. She wandered around the hospital, getting a feel for it before she made any decisions.

Then she met Dr. Barret. She was waiting alone for the elevator on the third floor when he came up beside her and said hello. He was extremely handsome, which made Cuddy immediately uncomfortable, but she soon discovered he was sweet, and he just so happened to be the head of the ER, and looking for a new doctor…

He hired her on that same day, besides knowing she was only in France temporarily, and that she only wanted to work three days a week while Rachel was at preschool. Cuddy could tell he was attracted to her, and she knew that she was ultimately attracted to him, but he had never said anything directly to her in the beginning, much to her relief. Then two weeks ago he came to her and asked her to lunch, but she declined, knowing it would never go anywhere when House was still in the picture, but then Cuddy remembered…maybe he wasn't. She hadn't heard from him, for all she knew he had relapsed. She knew in her heart that he was sober when he wrote to her, and she could tell on the phone he was clean then too, but that had been almost two months ago.

Cuddy went home that night after Dr. Barret had asked her out, repeatedly reminding herself that she had made the right call... but as the night went on she felt like she had made to quick of a decision, and then she thought about the reason she was even in France, making friends with a man like Dr. Barrett. It was because, among other things, the love of her life drove a car through her home in a drug-addled fit of jealousy...

So the day after she refused his offer, she told him she changed her mind, and went to lunch with her new suitor.

He was incredibly kind and easy on the eyes, and he seemed relaxed which made Cuddy feel at ease. They talked the whole lunch hour. He spoke enough English and she spoke enough French that their communication was fine, and at the end of the lunch he asked her to dinner. They had been on two dates since and Cuddy knew he wanted to keep going, they had a lot in common, he also had a daughter Rachel's age from a divorce, and he was caring and amazingly attractive...but Cuddy knew after their third date she couldn't see him anymore. He dropped her off after dinner two nights ago and walked her to the front door, Cuddy knew he was going to kiss her, but she didn't stop him, needing to feel anything real, she allowed it to happen. When he leaned into her and brushed his lips against hers it instantly felt wrong, she didn't have feelings for him, and she hated herself for it. She put her hand up to his chest and stopped it right away; mumbling something about feeling sick and she didn't want him to catch it, as she thanked him and slipped her key in the door, escaping her eager attractive pursuer.

"Mommy…?" Rachel said quietly. Cuddy saw her daughters face and knew she was going to throw up right there before she could do anything to stop it. Cuddy scooped her up before she could lay down in it and brought her out to the couch. Draping a sheet over her, she set a bowl underneath her sick daughter before there could be any more accidents in bed. The she turned on morning cartoons for Rachel and went to strip, the now, two dirty sets of bedding Rachel had got sick on. By 7:30 in the morning Cuddy was exhausted, and Rachel had finally passed out on the couch, her fever was still bubbling inside her but it had gone down to 101 which made Cuddy a little less nervous, so she took it as a sign that she should get some sleep too, and made a bed upon the floor next to Rachel…

"Mommy, where's Housie!" Cuddy opened her eyes to her panic stricken daughter as she slowly started to realize they had both passed out in the living room.

"Sweetie, you got sick on him remember? I put him in the wash."

"But I needs him now." Rachel was already at the point of tears, her sickness putting her out of the reach of sanity.

"Okay Rachel but I'm not sure he's dry yet." Cuddy knew she was going to get an earful now as she reached in the washer and found Housie still very damp.

"I want my Housie." Rachel's shrilled that statement over and over as Cuddy threw the unicorn in the dryer and cranked it up to high, hoping to at least get enough moisture out to placate her daughter.

"He's still wet, you're going to have to wait at least 5 minutes." Cuddy said as she went to get Rachel something to drink, hoping to calm her down enough for the next few minutes.

"Please Housie!" Cuddy rubbed her daughters matted hair out of her face and wiped the rapidly fallen tears off her sickly daughter.

"I will get him okay, but you need to calm down." Cuddy went to the kitchen and grabbed the damned unicorn reaching for a dish towel and wrapping it around the soggy stuffed animal like a baby. "Here, just keep him in a blanket, he's sick like you so you both need to keep your blankets on okay."

Rachel calmed immediately down and returned to her cartoons. Cuddy took a deep breath and went to the bedroom to change. When she saw the clock on the end table already reported it being after eleven in the morning she threw on jeans and brushed her teeth, trying to get a start on what would probably be a long day of talking care of Rachel. She turned on some coffee and stepped outside to get the mail, noticing it was actually a lovely day. It was February but the sun was shining creating a nice mid-morning heated glow over the front yard.

Cuddy saw House's letter sticking out in the middle of the pile, and a sense of relief came over her that… at least he was okay. The letter seemed damaged like it had been traveling for awhile, Cuddy put the rest of the mail down beside her as she sat on the front porch and opened his new letter.

Cuddy,

I was going to start this letter by looking back to another memory of 'us,' to try and remind you again of the man you fell in love with, convince you to let me back into your heart once more, to not let us go. Then I received your letter today…and I realize that I have to do much better than that.

Cuddy was starting to get worried her letter had been lost in the mail. It was a great relief to find out that he had read it.

No matter how impressively I can convey how I sorry I am for every hurt I've inflicted, every tear I've made you shed over me, ultimately I can't ever undo what I've done to you.

I know better than to think I can even come close to making up for years of damage, I'm a selfish self centered son-of-a-bitch…a phrase I believe you (among many others) have attached me too, and I've done horrible things…

Cuddy felt her hand start to shake as she read his sorrow, remembering those words when he said them to her in the beginning, the day they started their relationship…he knew it then.

I do not disagree, I could never deny this. I am that self centered son-of-a-bitch and much more. I've gone my whole life knowing this, owning this like a badge of pitiful honor, hiding behind my ego and my absolute stubbornness.

I know you need me to change this. I just wish you would have seen that I was trying to change this…

I can't do this through letters anymore, I need to see you. After I got your letter I decided instantly to come see you. Get on a flight and show up at your doorstep as soon as I could, but then I remembered that you left to get away from me, and if I were to show up unexpectedly, well that would be a betrayal to you.

So instead I've booked a flight in three weeks, on February 20th Flight 723 arriving at 10:15am your time.

Cuddy felt light headed, her heart beat quickened as she slowly comprehended what his words were telling her…he was coming…

I assume I will be arriving on your doorstep an hour after that…I am sending this letter out first thing in the morning to give you time to think it through; decide what you want for yourself. If you don't want this, if you're not ready to see me, then you tell me. Write me, call me, let me know somehow that now is not the time…or that it will never be the time.

Until then…well, I hope to not hear from you.

House

She hurriedly reached for the envelope starting to put the pieces together, realizing in that instant that is was damaged because it had been lost…the postmark date was stamped three weeks ago.

Today was February 20th. Cuddy quietly put the letter beside her on the porch and wiped the tears off her cheeks. Then she slowly lifted her eyes towards the edge of her garden…knowing in her heart, he was already there.

House's taxi pulled up to a long driveway, as the driver stopped and turned to him, "C'est la maison sur le droit chemin, vous devez?"

"No, I can limp the rest of the way." House said as he paid the driver and got out of the cab, swinging his duffel bag over his shoulder, and fumbling with his cane as he opened the gate to the driveway leading to Cuddy's home. House noticed his hands were shaking as he closed the gate behind him, trying to calm down with each step he took while slowly making his way to the little white house on the right. He could see a garden in front of him and a swing on a tree as he approached, finally reaching the edge of the grass, but then he froze. He was petrified he would screw everything up, like he had always done. He leaned against the tree to catch his breath, and calm his rattled nerves...he was going to see her for the first time in almost 6 months...

House took another moment before he decided he had use of his legs again. He stepped away from the tree he was leaning on and turned towards the front porch…

…and then…he saw her.

She didn't notice he was there yet, his moment of breathing by the tree must have shielded him from her view. She was sitting barefoot on the porch, the sun casting a light all over her body, making her skin and hair glow as she sat perfectly still, lost in whatever she was reading. House noticed the pile of mail lying next to her side. He stood still, not wanting to be noticed yet. Taking advantage of his closeness to her, he memorized her all over again. She looked more beautiful to him in that moment than she had ever been. Her hair was longer than he had seen in years, falling in waves around her face the way he loved. He wanted to go to her and wrap his arms around her, but he knew he had to take this slow.

Cuddy moved then, reaching down to the other mail and looking at a piece of it, seemingly upset over something. He saw her move her hands up to touch her face…then just like that, she looked towards the tree, right into his eyes.

They stood staring at each other for a long time before either of them moved. It was Cuddy that shifted first, standing up from her spot on the porch…but then she made no move further. House could tell she was frozen in place, just like he was moments before. So he took another breath and leaned on his cane, walking ahead, finally bridging the gap that had been between them for far too long.

Cuddy was in utter disbelief that he was standing there in her garden, at the edge of the grass like a ghost, wondering how she didn't notice he was there till now. They took each other in, locked in each other's gaze. It had been so long since they were face to face...since he gave her back her hair brush and walked away from her months before. Cuddy found herself standing up from the porch but then she couldn't get her body to move any further… but she didn't have to move, House was walking towards her.

"Hey." He said tentitvely as he set his bag down by the bottom step, not attempting to move any closer to her.

"Hi." Cuddy managed to squeak out, as she fought the instant urge she had to wrap her arms around him.

"You seem surprised. I thought—"House cut himself off as he noticed his letter to her lying unfolded on the porch floor. "You just got my letter, didn't you?" He looked back up to her eyes.

"It must have been lost...I." Cuddy swallowed the lump in her aching throat. "I just read it now."

"I'm sorry..." House went to pick up his bag. "I can get a hotel and find a flight for—"

"Its okay." she softly interrupted. Cuddy found herself smiling inwardly at his awkwardness. She could tell he was nervous, "You're already here."

"I am." House shifted in his place from the bottom of the porch, wanting nothing more than to close the last bit of distance between them and kiss her lips. Cuddy saw him place his bag back down on the ground, noticing him wince from the pain it must have caused in his leg.

"Let me take that." She said carefully, as she finally built up enough courage to walk down the three steps to him, stopping at the first step so that they were eye level. She could smell his cologne and it engulfed her senses, being so near to his skin. She immediately felt her stomach flutter as a result…but she ignored it the best she could as she leaned down to grab his bag from the ground. Cuddy felt his eyes on her as she picked it up and put the strap over her shoulder, not chancing to look back into his eyes just yet. 'Its light.' she thought to herself, 'must not be planning on staying long.'

Then, with nowhere else to look, she brought her eyes back to look directly into his, they were intimately close to each other, but neither of them said anything.

It was Cuddy that broke the stare first, as she began to notice House's eyes start to sparkle, a hint of a smile reaching to the corners of his eyes. So she directed her gaze to his lips and confirmed a lingering smile there as well, "What?" she asked, feeling self conscious from his knowing grin.

"Nothing..." House replied, as soon as she mentioned it his smile faded, he wasn't even aware he had been smiling. He could tell he was making her nervous, so he told her the truth, "You're wearing the perfume I got you."

"Oh…yes I am." She felt stupid, she could barely talk to him, she hadn't felt this tongue tied with a guy since she was twelve. But when House stared at her the way he was now, she had a hard time concentrating.

"And if you don't stop biting your bottom lip…I can't be held responsible for my actions." House spoke candidly as he gazed to her lips, but made no attempt to move. Just the tone in his voice forced a shiver to run down Cuddy's spine.

"House…" she whispered his name, she felt frozen to her spot on the step, the world seeming to spin around her.

House knew he shouldn't, but he reached out and gently took her hand in his own, nervously brushing his fingertips against her palm, testing to see if she would pull away. She looked down at their hands then…but she didn't pull away. So House slowly brought both their hands up to his chest, placing her palm against his heart.

Cuddy felt his heartbeat mimic her own so succinctly, the heat off his body warmed her hand, as she felt the curve of his chest beneath her fingers, causing her eyes to well up unwittingly, by the feelings his touched stirred through her.

House saw the tears start to form in her eyes and knew he had pushed to soon, he brought her hand back down to her side and reluctently left it there, bringing his own hand to his side. "I'm sorr—"

"You want to come inside?" Cuddy quietly asked, purposely stopping his apology, letting him know it was okay, she could still feel her hand tingle from his touch. Then she began to hear the faint sound of Rachel coughing from just inside the door, breaking her out of the House induced fog she had retreated to, and remembering that she had a very ill child to take care of, "I have to check on Rachel, she's been sick…" Cuddy looked tenderly into his eyes as she brought her hand up between them and placed it on his chest where it had been moments before, before she turned and went back up the stairs.

House watched her go up the stairs, then followed shortly behind, loving the way her hips moved, and amazed that he was actually in her presence once again. Rachel was on the couch lying on her stomach when he entered. House thought she looked older, bigger, but also extremely sick. House noticed that the light seemed gone from her eyes as he sat down on a foot stool to be close to see her, adjusting so she could see his face. Cuddy was sitting next to her rubbing her back, and checking her forehead with the back of her hand.

"Ahoy Matey." House looked at her, tilting his head with a sly smile.

She focused on House and smiled to the best of her abilities, reaching out her little hand to his face. "House…" she squeaked.

House high fived her tiny palm with his own, the way they used to do. Just by the touch of her hand House could feel how hot she was. He turned to look at Cuddy, "How long has she been like this?" he gently inquired; he could see she was worried.

"Since around 3 this morning. Let me get the thermometer." Cuddy got up and disappeared down the hall. House shrugged off his coat and put his hand to Rachel's forehead, softly checking her pupils as Cuddy came back into the room.

"Rachel, honey let's sit you up so I can check your temperature." Cuddy carefully lifted her onto her lap as she put the thermometer in her daughter's ear.

Rachel seemed delirious but she managed to speak once she was upright. "You's come on a ship?" she mumbled as she looked into House's eyes.

House scooted his chair closer to both of them, "I came on a plane, filled with stinky people." House plugged his nose to emphasize his point, making Rachel smile, as she reached her hands to him, wanting to be held.

"It's up to 104, and she hasn't been able to keep fluids in most of the day either."

"You give her anything?" House reached for Rachel and took her gently from Cuddy's lap, holding her against his chest.

"Only tylenol this morning, but it didn't break the fever completely." Cuddy saw House put his hand on the top of her daughters head carefully, pulling at her heart as she was reminded of the bond they had begun to form. Suddenly Rachel lifted her head up from House's shoulder, Cuddy saw the look in her daughters face and knew what it meant, "Uh, House—" but before she had time to react Rachel threw up right down House's back.

"Well…" House said making a face looking at Cuddy, "I think that's the quickest any girl has thrown up on me. I didn't even have to buy her a drink."

"I'm so sorry, here let me take her." Cuddy reached for her daughter and placed her on the sofa, turning back to House as he was removing his shirt. She reached for his shirt to put it in the wash, trying not to stare at him. His bare chest was just inches away.

"Hey, eyes off the goods." House said, as he turned to fetch a shirt from his duffel bag. He was secretly glad he still had the power to make her blush like that.

Cuddy looked away from him and back to Rachel, "She's getting worse..."

House scooped Rachel delicately back into his arms. "Unless you have something to start an IV here, we're taking her to the hospital."

Cuddy knew he was right, "I'll call a cab." She went down the hall and grabbed the phone, walking back out to House and Rachel as she confirmed with her driver. She saw House leaning against the wall for support, Rachel heavy in his arms. "I can take her." Cuddy spoke to House while reaching for her daughter, their hands brushing against each other during the exchange, sending more shivers through her body.

"I want House." Rachel's weakly protested against her mother's shoulder.

"House can't hold you for that long, remember, sweetie, his leg hurts too much." She looked into House's eyes then, seeing the sadness in his face for what he believed to be his short comings, but then she saw him push it away.

"Plus when I hold you, you puke on me…I believe the first time was when you were a baby." House touched the tip of her nose, smiling at her, trying to distract her from her discomfort.

"Can you grab her unicorn, it's wrapped in a towel on the couch." Cuddy asked House as she went to grab her purse and meet the cab that she could see driving towards them.

House retrieved the doll, noticing it was wet, and slightly misshapen, "I take it this unicorn had a similar experience as I did."

Cuddy smiled as she headed to the door, "Yeah, Rachel certainly has good aim." She paused at the doorway and turned to House, "You don't have to come, I know you are probably jet lagged—"

House reached and put his hand gently on her arm for a second before dropping his hand back to his side, stopping her from speaking more with his simple touch. "I'm coming. Besides, you know I don't trust doctors. Especially French ones."

Cuddy stood there and took him in, he was actually there with her, saying the right things…comforting her and Rachel. "Thank you." Cuddy replied, as she leaned in to him and kissed him tenderly on the cheek before opening the front door, heading out to the cab without another word or a glance back.

House followed closely behind, touching his cheek with his hand where her lips had been just moments before…