Hi everyone! Well this chapter made me smile a bit while I wrote, even if it caused me a slight headache over the last few days to get it right..I do love writing when I actually have House and Cuddy in the same room!

If you've got the time, let me know what you think...good, bad, or inbetween...

Don't mean to be a grubby review requester, but it is rather encouraging to hear from all of you :)

Cuddy parked her car in the parking lot of the hospital that she hadn't stepped foot into for nearly a year, and turned off her engine. Gingerly she took her keys out of the ignition and placed them in her lap, but that's as far as she could make it. Taking a few moments in the quiet comfort of her car, she closed her eyes and leaned her head back against her seat, hoping to calm her aching spirit before she attempted to move further. Her nerves had begun anxiously radiating inside her the minute she started driving at the thought of walking through the hospital again, and seeing House for first time since their weekend together.

Purposely choosing to arrive after clinic hours, she hoped that she could make it to his office without too many people spotting her. She didn't want to make this about her being welcomed back, not yet. This was only about House... Every part of her body craved to just see him again, like she wouldn't truly believe he was still alright until she could see for herself, but she also knew it would not be an easy conversation, and that was the issue that had her glued to the driver seat at the moment.

No one knew she was back. She hadn't even told Wilson she was heading home. She only told her Mother, so she could plan for her to spend the evening with Rachel while she went to confront House about his illness. Her Mother, of course, had been very inquisitive when she found that her daughter was returning home before the year was up. Cuddy didn't have the energy to fight or evade her probing, so she told her the truth. A very simple version of the truth, but she knew her Mother was fully capable of filling in the cracks with her own thoughts and conclusions anyway.

It had taken her only five days after she talked with Wilson to leave France with Rachel. Most of their stuff was packed by the following morning, she found herself staying up through the night from the shock of it all. Then it was a matter of letting Rachel's school know, and of course telling Dr. Barret that she wouldn't be returning to work. That was a particularly hard thing for Cuddy to accomplish because of their tangled personal and work relationship. After they kissed, and she finally confessed that she wasn't ready, he had backed away, but it became harder to stay away from him when Cuddy found that he was still sweet and caring towards her. Despite everything that had happened between them. He treated her just like before everything was soured, and she was grateful to him for that…and extremely anguished to disappoint him yet again by leaving so suddenly. He was clearly shaken when she confessed of her eminent departure, taking her hand in his, he leaned in and given her a kiss on the cheek before he let his hold on her go, it was a bittersweet moment they shared that Cuddy would never forget.

Initially Rachel had been upset too about the sudden departure; when Cuddy had sat her down to explain it to her. She cried about the idea of missing her new friends, but grew to love the concept very shortly when she understood it involved seeing her room again, her Grandma, her cousins, and of course seeing her friend House.

The flight was easy; Cuddy had most of their stuff shipped ahead of them, so she only had to worry about her and Rachel. Her Mom had met her at the airport, and stayed the night as they settled back into their old home. Rachel had immediately run to her room and opened her bedroom door up like she was revisiting a long lost love, which made Cuddy joyful to see that they could get back to their old life like no time had passed, something that had weighed strongly on her mind.

After her Mom and Rachel went to bed that night she found herself walking aimlessly around her home. Each room was filled with so many powerful memories, and she began to revisit them unintentionally in her mind as she walked quietly about in the stillness of the night.

When she came into the dining room and everything was dark around her, she walked to the window and ran her fingers across the new wall that still remained unpainted from when House broke through it. She had left so soon after that day that she never got around to having it completely fixed back the way it was. The crushing sound she had hideously witnessed sounded in her ears as she recalled the moment in her head, she would never forget it…but that didn't seem to matter now, not anymore…

Cuddy snapped out of her thoughts and reached for her purse lying on the passenger seat of her car and placed her keys in it, while also blindly rummaging around for her lipstick. Pulling down her lighted mirror on her visor, she looked at her scared and seemingly broken reflection for a moment before she began to shakily apply some gloss to her lips, fix her long messy curls, force some air through her lungs properly once again so she could go in and face him.

She had wanted so desperately to go over to his apartment the moment she got off the plane, but she knew she needed to collect herself, and she also knew that bombarding House with anything, especially regarding a topic that he clearly had no intention of discussing with her, would do nothing but make matters worse. He would be upset, she knew him well enough to know that, but the truth was out there now, and there was no going back. Whether he was going to accept that fact was another story, and Cuddy was terrified to find out.

So she waited and chose the hospital to seek him, even if it had cost her all her sleep the night prior. Neutral ground. A place where they could talk, and hopefully a place where he would hear her out. Above all else, his tumor, their unresolved fight, the most important part that drove her now, was that she unequivocally missed him. No matter what else was attached to it, or what would take place once they had a chance to speak, she needed to see him. The last time they had spent together was undeniably staggering in the best way imaginable, something she was trying to hold onto, and she wanted to look into the eyes of that man again.

Carefully opening her car door, she finally managed to emerge from the safety of it, and walk towards the back stair entrance. Holding out hope that she would make it to his office unseen to the best of her abilities.

It was empty as she pulled the door open to the stairwell and began her climb upward towards the level of his office. She knew he would be there, this time of day he would probably be napping she thought. Once she reached the level below his office she of course began to hear footsteps, and she froze against the intrusive sound for a moment, before she realized she had no choice but to move forward if she wanted to make it to her destination.

"Dr. Cuddy?" She heard a familiar voice and lifted her eyes up towards the sound.

"Chase." She smiled at him, genuinely grateful to see his face again, as she walked up the stairs to greet him properly.

Chase smiled widely as well and pulled her into an embrace, and Cuddy felt herself relax a bit from his kind welcome. She had missed him too. He was a part of her home and she was overjoyed to be back amongst her friends. She hadn't realized how empty she felt while she was away until now.

"I didn't know you were coming back."

"Well I haven't yet, not officially anyway. I only got home yesterday."

"Oh…but you are coming back to work, right?"

"Ah… yes." Cuddy stumbled, the deep hesitation she felt at the notion of returning to work surprised her. "Eventually, I just need to get settled in first."

"Of course." Chase paused and noticed what floor number they were standing on. "You here for House?"

She nodded. "Is he there?"

"Uh, yeah he's asleep. Or at least he was about twenty minutes ago when I left him."

She glanced at the door that separated him from her. The confirmation that House was indeed a few feet away from her, was all it took for her to become overwhelmed with nervous energy once more. All of the sudden her legs seemed to wobble and her vision became blurred.

"Cuddy are you okay." He reached out with both arms to steady her as she teetered in front of him.

"Yes I'm fine…sorry." Her head cleared just as quickly as it had come on, and her senses returned to normal. She tried to recover, shaking her head against the instant embarrassment at being so weak in front of him, "Jet lag."

"Maybe you should sit down."

"No, I'm okay…really." She tightly smiled, in order to convince him, but she knew he could tell otherwise.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Chase pressed delicately. His tone became melancholy, and his expression told her what he was really referring too.

She stared up at him, seeing the concern for her in his eyes. "I-I only just heard."

"That's why you're here."

"No…yes initially, but there's more…" Cuddy's voice dropped, unable to finish her thoughts. "I wish I knew."

"What matters is that you know now, and you're here." He hesitated, searching for the right words of comfort, "It was hard for him…all of it. And at first I wasn't sure how he would manage. But he found a way…and…he had us. He wasn't entirely alone."

She swallowed the lump in her throat, "Has he had any re-occurrence of the symptoms that he had before?"

"No seizures. But the new scans showed his tumor is much smaller than it had been before. He's had some small morning headaches from what I can gather…but today I believe he is just hung over." Chase smiled trying to ease her worried face.

"Of course." She attempted to smile back, glancing back again at the door.

Chase looked as well, and stepped aside for her to be on her way. "I won't keep you. I'm glad you're back."

"Thanks. It feels good to be back." Cuddy approached the door and grabbed the handle.

"He's better around you. " Chase added quietly, causing her to turn back to him. "When you two were together, I honestly never thought I would see the day when House was actually happy. Whatever happens now…whatever happened in the past, you will always be his perfect other…and I do know from experience…that is something that is not so easily found." He seemed like he wanted to say more, but he just closed his mouth and faintly smiled instead, before he turned and started to walk down the stairs.

Cuddy felt her eyes sting as she watched him walk away, her voice too constricted to vocalize anything further. So she turned away from his kind empowering words and bravely walked through the door.

The hall was mainly empty but she bowed her head slightly as she walked anyway, thanking God that House's door was just a few feet ahead of her. She stopped herself from hesitating or analyzing anything further as she crossed the last few steps and his body came into full view.

He was indeed sleeping, his head was relaxed to one side and his legs propped up on the ottoman in front of him. Cuddy felt her heat beat quicken intensely as she leaned against the door frame for support, taking every part of him in, watching his chest softly rise and fall with each breath he took.

She wanted to reach out to him immediately, but chose to keep her distance instead. It didn't matter anyway, because it was only a moment longer before House began to stir. His head shifted a bit and she could see his hand fidget in his lap. Then he opened his eyes and looked so perfectly in her direction it took her breath away, like he already knew she was there…

The vision of her, quietly leaning against his office doorway like a ghost…watching him, obliterated all forms of cognitive thinking as House opened his mouth to speak…but only to find that no words would come.

Sound seemed to be sucked away and the room was cloaked with intense silence as they took each other in. Cuddy saw House straighten his head to a more upright position from his chair, blinking the sleep away as he moved his legs carefully off the ottoman before him.

She worried her bottom lip nervously between her teeth, a gesture she quickly caught herself doing and stopped at once, but not before she saw House take notice of it. Knowing someone had to speak eventually; she forced her brain to come up with words that seemed to evade her while she stared into his piercing blue eyes.

"Hi." She whispered.

"Hey." House managed to return her one word opening line with one of his own.

"Sleeping during work…" she gestured to him, "Looks like some things never change."

House felt delirious, "Are you really here?" His voice was thick with sleep.

"You think I'm an illusion?"

"I was just dreaming about you, and now you're…" He shook his head slightly, "Seems more plausible you are a figment of my tortured imagination."

"Well if that were true, wouldn't your mind produce me wearing a skimpier outfit? " She smiled meekly, attempting to ease them both back into the playful dynamic they shared for so long. "I'm sure you could come up with something better than a black skirt and a sweater."

"Depends on my mood…" He rubbed his face roughly with his hands, his head was still pounding from the drunken night before, and he couldn't seem to process anything.

"House?" Cuddy knew he was in pain. He blinked up at her heavily, as if he was checking to see if it was indeed another hallucination. "You still think this is a dream."

He shifted and reached for his cane, not rising from his spot but appearing ready to flee if the occasion called for it. "Maybe." He paused, "It has been known to happen."

"I know."

Cuddy stood there studying him for a few moments longer before she made a decision. She placed one foot in front of the other, and tentatively inched her way to the ottoman that House was just resting his legs upon, closing the small gap between them. She sat down facing opposite him.

"Give me your hand." Her voice was soft as she slowly placed her hand in the air between them, her palm turned up.

House studied her, hesitant to put the little faith he had left in the world on the line, to only discover that he was in fact trapped in another dream, but deep inside he knew this was different. There were no mistakes made in his subconscious. This was real, and she was waiting for him to take her hand.

So he brought his own hand up, placing it on top of her outstretched palm. As soon as he felt her skin against his, the familiar jolt of electricity sparked inside him….then, she surprised him. Bringing his hand up to her face she innocently touched her lips to his knuckles. He could feel her warm breath on his skin, and his body continued to pulsate as he watched her, but she only held on for a moment before she stopped her action and let go of his hand.

"Did that feel real?" She placed her hands back in her lap. Her eyes were unsure but she attempted to sound confident, hoping that she convinced him he was truly in the present time.

House felt his reserve begin to crumble as he nodded to her, and tried to control the sensations she created inside him, "I believe you proved you are real…yes"

"Good."

"So…undeniably real Cuddy, I didn't expect to see you here…now. Do you have a dentist appointment that you just could not reschedule and are here to say a quick hello before you leave aga-"

"No." She delicately cut in; ignoring his evasive tone he retreated too. Like he always did when he was unsure over something.

"No you don't have an appointment?" House was trying to play it down, not wanting for a second to get his hopes up for anything.

"No…I'm not just back for a few days…" She exhaled, "I'm back."

House leaned away from her, pressing his back to the chair he was sitting upon. He was immensely confused and he made no attempt to mask that fact in his expression. Cuddy saw the look in his eyes and waited for him to say anything, but he was silent, and she knew this was going to be harder than she had anticipated.

"House…I know I didn't tell you I was coming…but I'm here now. I-I mean…is that okay?" His uncertainty written clearly in his features was beginning to cloud her own face now, and she suddenly had the urge to run away swiftly, back the way she came.

House took in her words and tried to decipher why she would decide to come back without any notice or conversation. The last time they talked ended with him hanging up on her. He had been cruel; he remembered each and every word he spit at her with vehemence. Intentionally making the choice to hurt her in the moment, as much as she had hurt him…just like they always managed to do in the end.

"House?" Cuddy's voice broke into his thoughts, as he found her staring inquisitively from her spot on the ottoman in front of him. "Is it okay I'm here?" Her eyes were frightened, like she was waiting with bated breath for him to allow her to stay, and seeing that hurt and anticipation in her eyes was all it took. House's body immediately began to relax as he remembered that he had waited for this day since the moment she left…she was home, sitting beautifully in front of him…

"Yes." He finally answered her back, his voice coming out as a whisper.

Cuddy looked in his eyes and knew he was telling the truth, and she felt some of the tension she was holding onto dissipate from her body. So she mustered up the strength to continue. "I want to say I'm sorry. Something I should have said before now…that phone call was-"

"Don't."

"What?"

"You don't need to explain or apologize, you are free to do whatever you want. I shouldn't have called."

"I was happy you called. The timing was just…off."

"Well, we have always had a problem with that."

"We have."

"It was my fault. You said you needed time. I should have listened…but I've never been great at listening, I'm sure you have seen that in me from time to time." He half-smiled and Cuddy saw his eyes soften a bit as he spoke.

"I have…from time to time." She returned the half-smile briefly before she added, "Nothing happened House. Before anything else is said…I just need you to understand that."

"It doesn't matter."

"It does to me. It's the truth. Do you really think I could sleep with someone right after we…" She trailed off, and looked away from him, unable to finish her thought.

House bowed his head and let her words finally enter into his mind. He knew her, and from that, he knew she was telling the ultimate truth. There was no doubting that now; he could see it in her face. "I was scared. I heard him and…" He hesitated, the jealous feeling stirred within him and he forcefully pushed it aside. Leaning forward, he brought his face closer to hers, "Hey…" she carefully looked back to him. "I believe you." House nudged her leg with his cane, playfully trying to bring them back to a more comfortable conversation; he didn't want to continue to talk about the past.

She exhaled strongly and allowed herself to lock deep into his eyes again. Their faces were incredibly close. Instantly the impulse to kiss him shot through her, but instead of fighting it, like she would have been so quick to do in the past, she indulge it…

Cautiously she reached both of her hands up to his face and began to run her fingers over the stubble she found there, before gently pulling him even closer. He came to her willingly, and she placed a lingering kiss at both corners of his mouth, before she finally connected her lips fully against his. Cuddy shuddered when she tasted his breath, as he sweetly returned the kiss. His lips lightly parting against hers, enticing her to deepened the kiss as she continued to cup his face between her hands. It was one of the most intimate moments they had ever shared. There were no urging hormones, no pain or fight that they were attempting to solve through physical means. It was a kiss between two lovers that found each other once more. She felt House's hands reach up and rest against her own hands, holding them in their spot against his face, a simple gesture that made her heart overflow with the love she felt from him.

"Oh crap. " House's side door had opened briskly as Thirteen came into view, unwittingly breaking their kiss apart before she had time to retract her entrance.

House dropped his hands and looked beyond Cuddy to stare aggressively at her, as Cuddy bowed her head, and slowly shifted her body towards another familiar voice she hadn't heard for quite some time.

"I am so sorry." She shifted the file folder uncomfortably in her hands. "Hey Dr. Cuddy, it's good to see you again." She smiled weakly and began to back towards the door.

"House…" Foreman came barging through the same door Thirteen had entered from and halted next to her as he saw who else was in the room. "Dr. Cuddy?" Foreman was taken aback as she arose from her spot to greet them hello.

"Dr. Foreman, Dr. Hadley it's good to see you." She embraced them both.

"We just came to tell you that we had to put our patient on dialysis. His liver is shutting down." Foreman spoke to House, "He's already at the top of the donor list, but we still don't know what's wrong with him."

"Well that's blatantly apparent." House pulled himself up with his cane to a standing position.

"Uh, yes. I want to test for hemochromatosis, it fits all his symptoms." Thirteen spoke quickly as she grabbed Foreman's arm to pull him out of the room. "We will come back when we get the results."

"Wait, why are you pulling me…I also want to test his blood alcohol levels." Foreman looked back to House.

Thirteen halted her motion. "The patient is thirteen years old. You think he could have created this much damage to his liver already?"

"Oh Foreman is just projecting his own booze addled youth onto our patient. He is a convict you know." House mocked as he limped over close to Cuddy's side.

"Run both your tests." He paused, his eyes wide, "You can leave now."

"Yeah I kind of interrupted." Thirteen spoke to Foreman. She handed House the file and turned to leave bringing Foreman along with her.

"Is the patient overweight? Or has lost weight recently?" Cuddy asked before they left the room completely. She felt House's eyes on her.

"Uh yes, his parents said he has lost about twenty pounds in the last few months." Thirteen answered.

"It could be hyponatraemia. If the patient is taking diuretics it could have caused the liver failure." The room fell silent and Cuddy shifted to look at House. His face was neutral but she could see a hint of a knowing smile forming in his eyes.

"What?" She leaned closer to him.

"Nothing…just that I can fire Foreman if you're currently looking for work." He looked back to his team, "Go run your tests, check his iron level, and send Taub to find the kids secret stash of diet pills."

"Welcome back Dr. Cuddy." Thirteen added before she left the room.

The door closed behind them quietly, leaving House and Cuddy alone like before. She could feel him studying her closely as she turned back to him. "Why are you looking at me like that? Despite your consistent remarks to the contrary over the years, I am a doctor you know."

"Oh I know. I have concocted many fantasies in my mind starring the remarkable 'Dr. Cuddy,' donning a sexy white lab coat…and nothing else." He wiggled his eyebrows and inched closer to her, "But you came up with that theory so quickly, and before me. Working in that ER has changed you."

"I suppose it did." She nodded her head slightly looking up at him.

"And I wasn't kidding about firing Foreman you know."

"Well I do know that. " She teasingly smiled. The heat between them grew stronger as they looked into each other's eyes. House threw his cane aside and tilted his head, this time he was the one to initiate a kiss. His lips found hers instantly and he pulled her body tightly into his, as his arms encircled her lower waist. She felt herself melt deliciously against him. Wrapping her hands around his neck, she allowed herself to be swept away by his wonderful lips, captured by his movements, his smell, his everything…

When House finally pulled away they were both breathing hard. House could see Cuddy's blue eyes glimmer up at him as he toyed with a piece of her hair between his fingers. "I wouldn't have stopped, but I fear my hopelessly lost team will interrupt us again. And I'm sure you don't want your first day back to involve some of the staff seeing you writhing on top of my desk."

"I see. Cause your seduction skills would of course get me to take off my clothes in the middle of your office, during work hours."

"Oh how quick we forget past events. That desk over there is no virgin to your body if memory serves." He gestured towards the object of discussion.

Cuddy blushed, "That…was one time. It was late at night, and if memory serves you did not have a case that would have allotted for any interruptions."

"Technicalities my dear." House teased as he reached for her hand. "So…I don't want to sound girlie here, but…what does this all mean?"

Cuddy looked down at their hands, perfectly interwoven together before she spoke. She wanted to talk about what House had purposely kept from her, but she felt herself chickening out with each loving glance and gesture he was showering her with.

"It means…this. " She pulled up their hands so that they rested in between their bodies. "I can't deny what I will always feel for you, not anymore… how much I've missed you." She brushed her fingers across his hand, "I think…we should start again…maybe...take things slow."

"I see. You want me to woo you again."

"When did you ever woo me House?"

"What are you talking about? Remember all those flowers I bought you."

"I know you stole me flowers from patient's room, and stuffed animals too, whenever you screwed up or wanted something from me." She smiled and arched her eyebrow.

"Ever heard the expression, it's the thought that counts."

"I believe I have…look, I'm not looking for any new moves…or you to romance me. I just don't want to screw this up. Ever again. So I think easing back in would be best for both of us."

"Okay."

"Okay?" She searched him, "No sarcastic comments, or extreme protests…"

"I can come up with a different retort if you'd like?" House answered.

Cuddy smiled, "Thank you."

House's face turned solemn and he looked down at their hands, still clasped together. "Thank you for coming home…giving us another chance."

She squeezed his hand, and leaned up to place another kiss upon his lips. A part of her wanted to finish what she came for, brooch the elusive terrifying subject of House's illness, but everything was so nice she didn't want to ruin the moment. She let go of his hand and placed her palms against his chest as she begrudgingly pulled away from the kiss. "I should go, let you get back to your patient."

He sighed, "My team is on it. Plus this alluring doctor I know probably came up with the proper diagnosis earlier, so there is nothing to worry about."

"Besides the fact that he still needs a new liver. No…there is nothing to worry about." She toyed with the buttons on his shirt.

"And now your patients parents refuse to let us touch him." Wilson's voice filled the room as he emerged from the doorway and stepped inside the office. He looked at both of them with a look of surprise on his face as he crossed the room towards Cuddy. "Thank God you're back." He said while pulling her into a tight warm hug.

Cuddy laughed against him, "Don't get too excited…" He pulled away to look at her, "I was hoping you could stay on for a couple more weeks. I'm not ready to come back just yet."

He sighed deeply, and released her from his grasp. "I hate you."

"I'm sorry. I promise to contact human resources and set up an official date…and I have a feeling I can persuade your most troublesome employee to cut you some slack for the next week or so…" She looked imploringly back to House, to help her convince Wilson to stay on a bit longer.

"Don't look at me like that, I've gone easy on him. He's just whiner." House spoke with a hint of a mocking whiny tone in his own voice.

"Its fine, whatever. But you owe me for the rest of your life you know. " Wilson pointed at her.

"I know."

"Back to the reason I'm here. The parents of your patient overheard your teams plot to break into their house, unbeknownst to them of course, so now they want their son transferred to another hospital."

"Wait, I thought this kid was an orphan."

"Yeah, he lied when he was brought in. Someone found him on the brink of passing out at the park, with no ties to him. But his parents are here now, and they're pissed."

"Well terrific. You're the administrator, isn't it your job to stop them from making completely moronic choices like, deciding to kill their son?" House limped slowly back over to the chair and sat down, despite the fact he had spent the last half hour happily reunited with Cuddy, his head and leg seemed to be fighting for which one would hurt the worst at the moment. He began to methodically massage his thigh.

It was in that moment that Cuddy realized how tired House looked, and instantly the memory of his potentially terminal illness rocked her to her core; it took all of her strength not to cry right then and there. All the guilt for hurting him, being the one that started all of this pain, came flooding back. If only she hadn't run away from all of it when she did. They had wasted so much time fighting, while their love for each other was trampled on and tossed aside. She caught herself staring at him while trapped in her thoughts and suddenly realized he had been staring right back.

"What's wrong?" House was no fool, her expression was deeply lost, and he saw her eyes shine as if she were about to cry.

Cuddy instantaneously tried to hide her expression and replace it with something different, "Oh…nothing, I'm just tired from traveling. A bit spacey I guess." She turned to Wilson, "Did they sign the AMA forms yet?"

"No, I was actually hoping to try a different approach before they could. I need you to talk to them House." He looked between both of their equally surprised faces. "I know this sounds strange, but I can see the mother wavering. I want you to go be yourself and scare the hell out of her into changing her mind about the transfer."

"Interesting choice." Cuddy smiled towards Wilson.

House furrowed his brow and got up tiredly from the chair once more, "You see, I told you he was a whining idiot." He glanced to Cuddy, and then back to Wilson, "He secretly loves me and everything I stand for. It's about time someone asked me to 'be myself' around here." He spoke to them both.

"Well there is a first time for everything." Wilson shrugged, "I hate to break this up…but I need you to go down there now."

"Yes master." House jested, "Now get out so I can take a moment to say goodbye to my lady without your pestering face loaming over us."

Wilson smiled and gave Cuddy's arm a squeeze, "We'll catch up later?"

"Of course," she brightly smiled back at him, before he walked out of the office.

"I told you, you had to go." Cuddy said knowingly as she leaned into him.

"Didn't anyone ever tell you that 'I told you so's' are highly unattractive."

"Hmm…I don't think so. Guess that means I'm too hideous to kiss goodbye then?"

"I can look past it…just this once." House smirked before he tucked a curl behind her ear and placed his hand upon her cheek. Cuddy could feel his finger graze her skin as she brought herself up to find his lips one last time.

House groaned when she planted her heels back on the ground and pulled her mouth from his. She laughed outwardly against his chest…she felt the exact same way. Encircling his waist with her arms, she found herself hugging him tightly before she could bring herself to let go.

Finally they managed to loosen their hold on each other and Cuddy regretfully broke free of his arms, walking over to grab her purse off the floor, where she had placed it when she first walked in.

"Seriously? You're making this a lot harder for me to care about a dying kid, when you bend over like that." House's voice was strained as he felt all the blood rush to his lower half in response to the view he was just blessed to witness.

Cuddy turned around, a smile fleeting across her lips. "I'm sorry, but I need my keys to get home." She held up her purse.

"Stay." His voice beckoned to her. "I won't be long."

"I can't. My Mother is watching Rachel…and I should probably rescue her soon before my Mom has had time torture her. I think Rachel needs space to get settled at home before being exposed to that woman for long periods of time."

"Don't we all." House sighed and shifted his cane between his hands, "Plus we're taking things slow…" He saw Cuddy tilt her head, "You see, I do listen sometimes."

House's face was undeniably sad, but he was trying to be understanding, something that was never an easy task for him to accomplish…and it made it even harder for her to want to leave.

She stood there and looked at him. Not wanting to leave but knowing she needed too. "Maybe we can see each other tomorrow…or whenever you're-"

"Tomorrow. I'm free tomorrow." House finished her thought. "Pick you up at seven…maybe take you on a proper 'first' date…I hear that's what gentleman do."

Cuddy beamed at him. "I think I've heard talk of such things…that sounds wonderful."

"Good… see you tomorrow." House spoke quietly.

"Yeah…tomorrow." She responded back. Looking at him one final time, she gave him another small smile before she turned away and disappeared through the door.

House waited until he could no longer hear the comforting sound of her heels echoing down the hall, before he left as well…with a wonderfully contented smile spreading across his lips.