Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Darn Holidays will put a damper on my writing…hope this will tide you over till I get back Travel Safe!

"You looked three times. You are only posed to look two times House." Rachel sat with her legs crisscross on the bed, looking like a truly perturbed adult as she stared down her cheating opponent.

"You know if you keep placing your hands on your hips like that, they are going to glue permanently to your sides."

"No they're not."

"How do you know?"

"Cause you are just being silly."

"I'm almost never silly."

"Yes you's are."

"You think you already have me figured out huh?"

"Yep."

He narrowed his eyes at her, "Just take your turn. And I only looked two times by the way."

"You did not. You found the jump rope, the um…ice cream and starfish."

"You know what they do to narks in school right?"

Rachel ignored him completely and resumed studying the small upside down squares in front of her. Her mind extremely focused as her tongue came out to worry over her lip, another thing she mimicked of her Mother, House observed with fondness. "I matched it!" She exclaimed as she found the two turtles she had been searching for the whole game.

"Show off."

"I go again." She turned over two cards quickly that mismatched with a frown. "You're turn. Bet you can't find the flamingos!" She squealed with a smug look towards House.

"Actually I can find every single match right now. I'm just being nice…which is quite hard for me you know."

"You cannot find them all."

"Wanna bet?"

"Yes."

"Never bet against House, Rachel." Cuddy's voice called from somewhere inside her bathroom, her head peeked out for just a second with a curling iron in her hand to observe her two favorite people sitting upon her bed.

"Don't listen to her, what's your wager." House wiggled his eyebrows at her.

For the last week he had been teaching Rachel all about poker. She had a real knack for winning all of his cheerios too, even learning the lingo that came with the game with fervor in her eyes. Cuddy had already admonished him for turning her daughter into an obsessive game player with a potential future gambling problem, but the fire had already been lit within her.

"Uh...I bet you can't gets all of those matches and if you does I will...um..." she put her fingers to her lips in thought, "Give you a cookie."

"You mean that sugarless ball of yuck that your Mother calls desert?"

"House." Cuddy called loudly.

"I think someone needs to worry about finishing getting ready in there so we can go. Stevie isn't going to wait for us all night you know." House called back just as loud then turned to his tiny challenger. "Instead of a cookie...I think if I get all of these matches right now, then you have to put on a show for Wilson tonight. A circus perhaps. I'm talking stuffed animals, magic tricks, jokes, audience participation…and it has to take a really long time to finish. Deal?"

"Okay! Deal!" She boasted and reached out her hand so they could shake on it.

House smiled and began to quickly turn over the rest of the cards in perfect matches, thirteen in all, and placed them in a stack next to his outstretched thigh. "I win."

Rachel's mouth hung open wide. Utterly dumbstruck from the swiftness of his accumulations, and by the fact that she had just lost badly. "How did you do that...can you teach me?"

"You got a photographic memory?"

"Um I don't know."

"I think I might be able to give you some of my skills. That way you can play against all the slobbery kids your age and win every time."

"Yay! Okay I'm ready." She pulled her stack and House's together into one big pile and looked back up to him eagerly.

"He will have to teach you later sweetie. Wilson will be here any minute so that House and I can go to the show. Remember?" Cuddy finally emerged from inside the bathroom, standing in front of them looking the picture of perfection.

"But Mom."

House was immediately entranced by the vision standing at the foot of the bed. Her beautifully sculpted legs were bare and silken, covered only by a black dress that flowed from her hips to a few inches above her knees, and a pair of high heels that House had never seen before accented her feet…

Intoxicatingly so…

Cuddy took notice of his gawking stare, proud of herself for still having what it took to create that expression on his face. "You like?" She smiled at them both, but her eyes held onto his.

"Yes Mommy!"

House tried to maintain composure, clearing his throat against his haziness. "I think it's Stevie worthy."

"Well…that's what I was going for."

The smile upon her face lit up her eyes, and all he could think was how much he wanted to have his lips on hers, not really caring about the concert anymore. "New dress?"

"Maybe."

"And shoes?"

She looked down to her feet; her perfect long curls fell across her face. "I know they aren't h-o-o-k-e-r boots." She spelled out the word she didn't need Rachel to hear, "Like my very demanding boyfriend had requested originally…but do I still get to accompany him?"

"I think they'll do. Stevie won't be able to tell the difference anyway." House got up from the bed and reached for his cane as the knock from Wilson's arrival sounded against the front door.

"I'll get it!" Rachel bounced off the bed the causing the memory game pieces to scatter by her feet. "Oops."

"It's okay I will get it. The door is open just make sure it's Wilson first." Cuddy replied watching her daughter run down the hall as she felt House's hand grab onto hers and pull her into him before she could bend over and pick the game off the floor.

His arms encircled her low on the waist and she studied him with a tilt of the head. "Well hello." She whispered with a smile.

"Who is it?" Rachel declared from down the hall.

"Wilson."

Cuddy gazed longingly to her handsome date, "Was there something you wanted to say? I don't think I've ever known you to be this quiet."

"Just…stay close to me tonight okay. You look…" House raised his eyebrows and nodded his head, choking on the corniness that he felt about to emerge from his mouth.

"Thank you." She laughed and shook her head at him. "You look," she mimicked his awkward movements, "Too." She kissed his warm lips softly.

"Guess the dates already started."

"Yep." Rachel squeaked. Wilson and her both willfully interrupting them, standing side by side in the doorframe like spies. "They kiss a lot." She giggled up to her sitter for the evening.

"Don't I know it."

"Uh excuse me Bert and Ernie." House grumbled.

"Come on…just let me grab my coat." Cuddy broke free of his embrace and disappeared to her closet. She re-entered the room and began to put her arms through the sleeves.

"You know I would be more than happy to keep you warm if you want to just forget bringing a jacket at all." He smirked.

Cuddy bit back a grin, "I think I'll bring it…just in case." She looked down to clasp the buttons and suddenly the room began to wobble in front of her. "Um…"

She took a shaky breath and House instantly saw the look in her face. "Seriously, now?"

"Like I can help it." Her hand flew to her mouth before the bathroom door closed behind her like a flash. House heard the faucet turn on full blast as she tried to hide the sounds of her morning sickness from three sets of ears in the next room.

House tried his best not to listen past her muffled attempts at being discreet, but he couldn't stop his mind from buzzing with the thought that it was his unborn child that was currently wreaking havoc on the love of his life.

He turned to his left and motioned slightly for Wilson to take Rachel away from the room.

"Come on Rach. Let's go and…pick out a movie." Wilson patted her head.

"Is Mommy sick?" Her face filled instantly with worry.

"Her tummy hurts a little, but she will be just fine. Come on kid."

Rachel paused and looked between the two men as if she was trying to judge their honesty. "Okay." She agreed and followed Wilson down the hall holding onto his hand.

House watched them go before he focused his attention back to the closed door in front of him, pondering whether or not she would want him to go in there and comfort her, or leave her alone in her momentary misery.

They had barely spoken of her pregnancy in the week that followed their monumental discovery. Coming to a mutual unspoken agreement that there would be time to talk further once House's surgery became a footnote in their past.

He could sense that she was trying to shield him from her morning sickness as best she could. Like if she allowed him to truly be a comfort for her then that would only prove to be another burden for him to deal with in his uneasy time of unknowing. House secretly was grateful for this, for her intuitiveness in understanding that he was barely holding it all together, but a part of him was starting to feel a distancing from her that began to make him uncomfortable.

His feet inched towards the door, his brows knit together in concern as his hand poised to reach for the doorknob, but stopped when the sound of the toilet flushing echoed in the bedroom. He listened further as she shuffled about, not thinking to move out of the way when the door opened up in front of him.

"Oh my God…" she startled, her hand flew up to her heart, "House, what?"

"Uh…you okay." He faltered at being caught.

"Yeah." A hint of a smile flitted across her lips when she comprehended his concern. "Were you listening?"

"Not intentionally."

"Oh…sorry about that."

"Don't apologize." He mumbled, "Is…everything better now?"

Cuddy's eyes wandered across his face, loving how handsome he looked in his dark blazer and t-shirt. She placed a hand against his chest and stepped closer to him, "Yes I think so…but I'm not loving the fact that I managed to ruin the sexy image I was going for tonight with this outfit, in a matter of minutes."

"Trust me, nothing can ruin what I think of you in that dress." He cupped her hand resting on his chest. "Unless you puked on it." He made a teasing sour face.

"Nope. I have good aim remember."

"How could I forget."

She smiled and moved away from him to retrieve her coat from the bathroom counter. "You ready?"

House nodded and held out his hand to her, lacing his fingers in hers with gentle pressure before he led her down her darkening hallway.

"Rach, were leaving can I have a kiss?" Cuddy titled her head towards the shuffling in her living room as little feet emerged running fast to grip around her neck in a fierce hug. "I love you baby. Be good for Wilson. Bedtime is eight-thirty, and don't be sneaky and try to stay up late okay."

Rachel nodded absently, "Mommy your tummy is better?"

"Yes it is much better."

"Maybe you's can stay here with us and watch Robin Hood okay?"

"Well I think House would be so sad if I didn't go to the show. He picked out these tickets for us…but I promise I will watch Robin Hood this week with you alright."

"Tomorrow?" She smiled wide.

"Uh…"Cuddy shifted uncomfortably, knowing House's surgery was scheduled for the following morning. "We'll see. But I promise this week."

"House you come over and watch it too. It's my favorite."

House worried his mouth slightly as he looked down to her, trying to decide what to say, "I'm going away for a little while…so you'll have to watch it without me. But I need you to do me a favor while I'm away."

"What is it?"

"You take care of your Mom alright. Make sure she eats all her vegetables and goes to bed on time, especially on school nights. Got it?"

Rachel bit her lip, "Yep."

House held up a fist, and Rachel bumped it with her own, but then reached out and clasped her tiny body around House's good leg. Her eyes squeezed shut as she said her goodbyes to her best friend.

Cuddy watched the scene before her with silent tears burgeoning in her eyes. House's hand moved by his side, coming up to rub the hair on the top of her head, patting it awkwardly as he began to feel uncomfortable with the open display of affection he was receiving.

"Don't forget…you lost a bet."

"Oh yeah!" She looked up with a squeal and unlatched herself from his thigh, swiftly going down the hall and disappearing into her bedroom.

House looked up mischievously to a clueless Wilson who had been observing House's tender moment with Rachel from the living room sofa. "Good luck tonight."

Wilson squinted his eyes at his friend, "What did you tell her to do?"

"I told her nothing…just a friendly wager that she unfortunately was on the losing end of."

"I'm sure." Wilson walked towards them.

"She already ate dinner and had desert so she's good. Just one book before bed and then lights out." Cuddy reached out and squeezed his arm, "Thank you for doing this."

"It's the least I can do."

"And you have the directions to drop off Rachel at school in the morning. Her clothes are laid out in her room. My phone will be on all night, just call if anything-"

"-He's got it Cuddy." House whispered, sensing her growing stress. "Come on." He opened the door then reached down for the small overnight bag Cuddy had packed hours before.

"I'll see you both in the morning."

"Yeah." Cuddy allowed a sigh of tension to be released from within before she looked away from Wilson and followed House out into the brisk night.

The club was lowly lit inside, and crowded to capacity once they finally made it to their reserved private booth in the corner of the room. House tipped some unknown man that led them to their table and Cuddy knew it must have cost a pretty penny to have something reserved for them when Stevie Wonder was about to make an appearance.

She removed her jacket, placed it next to her on the soft black leather cushion, and waited patiently for House to bring back some drinks, wishing that she could indulge in something stronger than ginger ale as the impending morning began to gnaw at her stomach more than it ever had before.

"Excuse me."

Cuddy looked up into the eyes of a nicely dressed attractive stranger. "Well that didn't take long." She mumbled to herself. "Yes?"

"I can't imagine that someone as beautiful as you is here alone tonight, but in the off chance that you are with some of your friends I wanted to introduce myself. I'm Greg."

Cuddy snickered at the odd coincidence in his name and shook his hand for a moment so as not to be outwardly rude. "Hi Greg…nice to meet you, but I'm afraid you were correct about me not being here alone."

He frowned and held her hand for longer than necessary. "Ah…my mistake. You are just incredibly pretty, I couldn't resist."

"Well thank you."

"I don't see a ring…does that mean there still might be a chance-"

"-No…sorry." She cut into his curiosity, "He's it for me, there's no room for anyone else I'm afraid. Nor will there ever be."

"I leave for five minutes and already the vultures are circling." House emerged from the bar, having observed the younger and unfortunately good-looking man begin to hover over his woman.

The stranger made a face as he took in the cane and the older face of the gentleman approaching with two drinks in his hand. "Him?" He gawked openly.

Cuddy was instantly irritated by his audacity, "What can I say. I love a man with a rap sheet." She said in all seriousness.

"Murder…Second Degree. But next time I really want to try for First. I always hated being an underachiever." House added, eager to play along. He set his drinks down and stood up taller, shifting his cane in his hands as if it might be the very thing he used to commit his false crime.

The guy's eyes widened ever so slightly before he put his hands up in the air in mock surrender. "Good luck with that." He glanced back to Cuddy and then turned and walked swiftly away.

"My Knight in shining armor."

"I told you to stay close to me tonight."

"You also told me to sit while you got my drink. Make up your mind." She smirked at him fondly as he slid into the booth close to her side.

"I didn't think it would happen that quickly."

"You under estimate to power of the small black dress." She took a sip.

"Never again." He put his arm protectively around her, kissing the top of her sweetly scented curls as she leaned her head against his shoulder and placed her hand on his damaged thigh. "You're my woman." He grunted affectionately.

Cuddy laughed into him, "Always." She lightly massaged his sore muscle the way she knew brought him relief. "When does the show start?"

"Nine." He glanced to his watch, "In a few minutes actually."

"What are you drinking?"

"A man's drink."

She lifted her head off him to look into his face, "House…I don't think alcohol is recommended the night before-"

"-My cut off to begin my fast is ten. I still have an hour Dr. Cuddy."

She rolled her eyes as he took a long sip of his drink. "Fine…but I'm watching the clock. Better get something to eat too or you'll be starving at like three in the morning."

"Already ordered us some vegetarian nachos."

"Sounds nutritious." She teased and watched him down the last of the small drink as the waiter came by and gestured towards his empty glass.

"Another?"

"Yes please." He said quickly, receiving a stronger squeeze from Cuddy's hand against his thigh.

"Last one I swear." He pulled her hand from his leg and kissed her palm.

"Uh-huh…clocks ticking sir."

"Hey, I know you would throw back a couple tonight if you could too. Don't deny it."

Her eyebrows raised with a tilt of her head, and her rebuttal remained quiet…she knew she never got away with lying to him.

"Uh-huh." He smirked.

"I can't believe how small this club is. It's going to be amazing to see him sing from only twenty feet away. How did you even find out about this? I can't imagine these tickets were posted online."

"I know a guy who knows a guy."

"Well I'm very grateful for that guy…and you."

"Don't thank me yet…a three foot tall Stevie Wonder impersonator could come onto that stage any moment, lip synching to 'Superstition.' Who knows if we're actually going to get the real deal here. My guy who knows a guy can be an idiot. "

"Well I have faith."

"Your nachos." The waiter interrupted, setting down a steaming pile of gooey cheese chips in front of the two of them, "You need anything else?"

"Nope. I think this plate of cholesterol will be just enough." House dismissed him and turned towards Cuddy, pushing the chips in front of her. "Eat."

"I…don't think I can." She gulped. "The smell…is overpowering." Her face was pinched and she leaned away from the food ever so slightly with each word.

"You barely ate dinner with Rachel. Or lunch for that matter…you need to eat something."

"I know…it's just everything is so heightened. It's hard to stomach something that instantly makes you want to be sick."

House shook his head at her, "Well no throwing up on me tonight okay. It will totally ruin my Stevie moment."

"I think I can keep it together."

He smiled at the adorable way she worried her lip between her teeth, and he leaned in and kissed her softly, the urge to be as near as possible to her overtook him momentarily. Then he pulled away to see her better, his fingers came up in front of her face and he tenderly pinched her nose closed and lifted up a chip to her puckered mouth. "Now eat with out smelling it."

Cuddy looked at him as if he was a crazy person but she obliged him anyway, her lips parted as the salty chip was placed on her tongue. And she chewed it, realizing that House's plan might actually work when she managed to swallow it without gagging. "Thank you."

"Anytime. I like feeding you."

The lights began to dim further as the restaurant fell into a harmonious hush. Candles strewn about the tables created buzzing warmth throughout the room. Her hand was tucked securely beneath his strong palm, both resting on his ill-fated thigh.

And as Cuddy leaned to her side to place a lingering kiss at the corner of House's mouth, Stevie stepped onto the stage and sat down, harmonica in hand, the distinctly infamous smile etched across his face…

He began to play.

House's mouth trapped her bottom lip and pulled it delicately into his mouth, savoring the taste of lip-gloss and essence of Cuddy before he continued on with their lust-filled kiss. Her hands came up from their place against his chest and wrapped tightly around his neck as they stumbled together down the dusky hallway towards House's apartment door.

A low sigh of contentment passed her lips, House swallowed it, the vibrations from her pleasure brought goose bumps to his flesh, and his arousal grew as he imprisoned her against the wall next to his front door. His keys poised in his hand but his mind was far away, lost in the feel of her so completely that hours could pass by and he would still crave to remain right where he was.

Finally Cuddy pulled away for air, licking her flushed lips with a sly smile up at him, her hands loosened their hold just barely, "I think we should open this door, before your neighbors get a free show."

"I'm sure we could teach them some new moves." He spoke sexily into her ear, biting it, tracing it with his tongue, his hands running down the length of her body until they rested on her hips and pulled her more into him. His fingers grasped her high on the back of her silken thigh, gesturing for her to bring her leg up to wrap around him, wanting nothing more than to take her right then and there…neighbors be damned.

Cuddy's body hummed with desire, but her rational mind managed to find his keys, taking them from him with a contented smile. "Come on." She pried herself from his intense hold and turned around in his arms, unlocking the door with precision even though her hands were pulsating with urgency to get him inside and rip the intrusive clothes off his body.

"It's like we're a couple of teenagers." Cuddy laughed throatily as the door shut loudly; kicked into place by House's foot before he latched his lips to the side of her neck, tasting her sweet skin as he left moist trails with his mouth.

"Well if you stopped tasting so damn good, I might be able to contain myself here."

The shivers overtook her body, his eyes pulled away to bore into her with a mixture of lust and love, and all she could think was how much she wanted to give him everything of her, love him over and over again until the morning broke their magical spell.

Her fingers latched into his and without a word she yanked him swiftly down the hallway, their lips finding each other again before they even reached his bedroom doorway. Hands roaming freely now over the curves of her breasts. The fabric of her little black dress began to ride its way up the curve of her hips as House's hands cupped her ass, feeling the lace of her thong between his fingers.

"I think you need to wear this dress every day." He mumbled into her skin.

"I'll see what I can do." She replied as she raked her nails into the scruff of hair at his neck, pulling him down on top of her into the pile of rumpled blankets on his bed. House shifted and pried his shirt off his body. Cuddy's nimble hands undid the buttons swiftly and then moved to the belt buckle resting just above her.

House's clothes were discarded quickly till only his boxers remained, his lips came to crash into her once more as he lifted her with him to sit up on the bed, her dress unzipped down the side as House began to slowly remove the straps from her shoulders, kissing her flesh with each new spot he uncovered from the fabric. Her bra was black and see-through, matching her underwear perfectly, causing House to have to calm his breathing from the stunning vision before him, or it would be a very short sexual event that happened next.

Their bare skin finally made pleasure full contact, skin burning with need for one another. Cuddy leaned into him as close as she possibly could get, pushing him back against the pillows as she trapped him into the bed, her body lying on top of his, positioning him at her entrance. Not wanting to waste another moment without the feeling of him inside her, filling her up. They began to move in perfect rhythm, as was always their way. Their moans swallowed up by fervent kissing, as their bodies molded together, undeniably powerful emotions pouring out of both of them, urgency to stay locked together forever overtook them, and they stayed lost in each other for hours.

"You know…there is something that we didn't get to do tonight…that I was kind of hoping for." Cuddy spoke softly, completely encircled in House's arms as the lay together under the warm blankets.

His fingers tenderly traced the soft skin on her arm. "You mean I haven't pleased you enough tonight woman?"

She giggled softly, "Believe me you have…tonight was perfect." She tilted her head up to meet his eyes.

"But…"

"But nothing. I just had a thought while Mr. Wonder was singing earlier…" A smile crossed her lips and she stopped talking, shifting her nude body away from him and grabbing the first article of clothing she could find.

"Here." She picked up House's robe from the chair in the corner of the room, throwing it in his direction as she finished buttoning up his dress shirt around her frame.

"Where are you going?" He watched as she moved towards his door with a secretive look in her face.

"Just give me a few moments." Her eyes twinkled with the air of a plan and then disappeared down his hall.

House sighed shakily, not wanting her to leave his side for even a moment. The incredible weight of his uncertain next few hours loamed over him like a jackhammer aimed for his heart. He swallowed against it, feeling like he was channeling Cuddy as the naseousness crept into his stomach. He slowly placed his arms through his offered robe and listened to the shuffling coming from delicate feet traipsing about his living room.

Minutes went by and as he was about to shift to move towards her, soft melodic sounds began to lowly sound from his stereo. Cuddy emerged in front of him moments later, leaning into the doorframe, and stopping House from moving further.

"Didn't we hear this song like two hours ago. And from the man himself I might add."

"Yes…but we didn't get to dance."

"No one did."

"I know…but that doesn't mean I didn't want too."

"You know I'm without rhythm right."

"I do know that. But I love dancing with you anyway." Her hand outstretched towards his, and it was a silent gesture he took willingly…his cane forgotten as they moved together closer to the music.

"Candles too? What is this a Danielle Steel novel?"

"Oh shut-up. It's romantic…indulge me. Plus you own these candles…I think someone secretly likes them."

"Yes, pyro maniacs."

"You said it, not me." Her hands loosely wrapped around his neck, his arms softly caressed her waist, pulling her close, as they began to sway to the bluesy music.

They stayed that way for a long while. Leaning into one another; House swept the hair from the side of her neck and placed a tender kiss to her skin, breathing in her scent as he buried himself in the tangle of curls. She tightened her hold on him, her hands splayed on the hard lines of his back, her face tucked against his shoulder…her eyes closed, lost in the wonderful feeling of being loved by the most eccentric, crazy, amazing man that she would ever know.

House opened his eyes for a brief moment, but regretted his movements when the digital clock from across the dark room was instantly a blaring a reminder of his impending realities.

Cuddy felt him tense up, his posture changing ever so slightly, but it was enough for her to want to see in his eyes what he might be feeling. "What are you thinking?" She gently asked.

"Naughty things." He covered his anxiety and cupped her ass to distract her from digging further, the idea of talking felt to weary to bear.

"I get it…you don't want to talk."

"I'm perfectly fine with a night of few words. This is nice…just like this." He added softly and placed his head onto her shoulder, swaying his body a little more as the music continue to play.

"It is…thank you for dancing with me."

"You're welcome…now shhhhh. This is my favorite song."

'I just called to say I love you,' began in the background, and a wide grin formed on Cuddy's face over the cheesiness of his 'favorite song.' "You're such a girl." She whispered.

"You know, your lips are moving…I think that constitutes the opposite of being silent."

"A bossy girl." She mumbled as she brought her lips up and placed a kiss against his mouth. She felt his tongue dart out for a moment, tasting her lips, and she wished she could bottle the way it made her feel to be so thoroughly desired by the man currently holding her. Her throat hummed languorously, she felt herself go almost weak at the knees when his mouth began to kiss paths across her cheek, his breath tickled her ear as his lips burned a path of fire across her skin wherever he touched.

"Come," his voice teasingly spoke in her ear, the double meaning to his words etched in his deep blue eyes, before his fingers interlaced with hers once more and he brought her back to his bedroom…

He knew neither would sleep, too consumed with worry to allow for restful slumber. But House wouldn't have it any other way. He wanted to stay with her forever, in the peacefulness that finally having her whole heart belong to him brought within his spirit. It would be the only thing that would get him through the hospital doors in the morning. He needed all of her tonight…

He needed to be reminded over and over again just how important his life was, he couldn't lose it all now…

They had only just begun…

"House just sign the damn form. Or I'm going to assign Nurse Dolores to give you a sponge bath later this week if you're not cooperative."

"Already making threats and I haven't even gone through the metal doors." He rolled his eyes at her hollow remark but yanked the outstretched paper and threw a haphazard signature on it anyway. "There, all better. Now I would like to put in a personal request to have that red-headed nurse from radiology be assigned to my room this week." House arched his eyebrows at her and received a prompt slap to the arm in return. "Ouch! I have a brain tumor remember."

"In your arm? Stop whining." She sat next to him on the bed and leaned down to kiss his arm where she had 'hurt' him.

The nurse left the room, the metal doors to the stark white surgery room clanged shut behind her. The shrill sound echoing in both of their minds like a painful reminder of what would take place very soon. Cuddy reached for his hand and pulled it in her lap, absently worrying her fingers back and forth over the back of his hand. Her breathing began to labor, as the air started to feel so thin around her she could not get a proper lungful of it to calm herself anymore.

She bit her lip and locked her scared eyes with his, "You're going to be just fine." She reassured them both softly.

House merely nodded, his heart pulsated with ache that the opposite would be true. He looked away from her, not bearing to see the anguish in her eyes any longer. "Cuddy…" he whispered, "If…I'm not…" He swallowed the rest of his sentence shaking his head as the words fell away from him, "I don't want to live without my mind…it's all or nothing. " He finally choked out, his eyes pulled back to her once more, "You have to reassure me that you won't keep me here…like that. You'll find a way to…let me go."

The tears spilled out instantaneously from her sky blue orbs, pooling down her face without an attempt to mask her suffering. She squeezed his hand, allowing a rattled breath to escape her lips, "I…promise." Her voice trembled.

House knew she would never back down from her promise to him, and a small part of him allowed a sense of relief to take over. The door banged open as he brought her hand up to his mouth, resting his lips against her skin, while Wilson entered the room and sat down in the chair Cuddy had vacated.

"Took you long enough." House mumbled to his friend.

"Sorry…had a little issue getting Rachel to eat her breakfast this morning."

"Sorry." Cuddy wiped the tears with her free hand, "She has been getting more difficult lately."

"Stubborn like her Mother." House added.

Cuddy rolled her eyes with a small smile, "Thank you for everything."

"You're welcome…how's the patient?"

"Moody, combative, and a hopeless pain in my ass." She replied.

"Sounds about right." Wilson nodded.

"You need a microphone and a cigarette heckles?"

She laughed throatily as the door banged ajar once more and two male nurses approached signaling it was time to start. House's face grew immensely somber, emulating Cuddy's and Wilson's as they all three turned towards the intrusion.

"Can you give us one more minute, please." Cuddy ordered assertively, the tears forming all over again as she felt House tighten his grip on her hand.

He moved in bed and pulled out two small white stickers, before he handed one to Cuddy and one to Wilson, "Here…so I know who I'm looking at when my eyes crack open again."

They both stared down at the offered labels, reading what House had hurriedly scribbled in black pen. "Allow me." He smirked and peeled the backing off Cuddy's, placing it directly over one breast, lingering one last time, resting against one of his favorite spots.

Cuddy shook her head as her eyes wandered down to her new article of clothing…

Cuddy

Lisa Cuddy

A.K.A sexy boss lady

Neurotically stubborn

Exotically flexible

Nasty gambling problem

Damn overachiever

Pain in my ass

Love of my life

House's sly smile grew longer as he witness the light tug of her lips, signaling he had at least made her tension dissipate ever so slightly from his gesture. "I mean ever word." He added.

"I'm sure you do." She brought her lips down to his and savored a kiss from him, her tears mixing in with their warm breath, as she stayed locked with him despite the audience growing behind her.

Wilson shifted beside her, and she unlocked from House and turned towards him seeing his label for the first time…

Wilson

Jimmy 'Cricket' Wilson

Loser of all things athletic

Hated by woman across the world…except his Mother

Oncologist

Annoyingly persistent counselor

Most trusted confident

She smiled slightly to Wilson, biting her lip as she read what House had wanted him to wear. Their eyes locked shortly in worry before they both turned back towards their shared best friend.

"Frick and Frack over there are starting to look anxious…" House gestured to the male nurses beginning to hover closer to his bed.

Cuddy looked over to them, deeply sighing as she inched closer to him from her seat by his side and brought her lips soundly down against his once more. Tasting him, forming a memory that she could hold onto in the many hours ahead. He kissed her back, softly locking his lips with her, their hand still interlaced as they said their final goodbyes.

She tenderly pried herself away, shifting to arise from the bed, not bearing to prolong their kiss any further or she would never have the strength to release him. She felt her hand being tugged back, as soon as she began to stray, and her eyes adjusted back to his once more.

Cuddy saw the wetness in his blue eyes, and it took all of her not to crumble as he pulled her hand against his heart. Seeing House near tears felt like an internal explosion, and her hand came up to cup his cheek, her thumb brushing against his lips one last time.

He gazed at her, feeling the trembling of terror start to burn through his body. But he needed to say one more thing before he could let it all go…

"I love you." He whispered, his eyes never wavering from hers.

"I love you." She barely choked out, her hands continued to caress his face, "Now tell me that again in a few hours okay." She leaned down and kissed him….

Then she had to pull away…their hands unclasped, her heart breaking with each step she took towards her staff in the corner of the cold room.

"He's ready." It was all she could say, before she looked back to Wilson and House, only glancing for a moment before she forced herself to leave his sight.

Cuddy melted into a puddle of emotions as her shaky legs began to climb the stairs to the observation room. Her hand flew to her lower back as a blinding pain ripped through her before she could even make it to the top step. The bile rose in her throat and it took all of the strength she could find to make it to the room before she collapsed in a chair. The tears fell down to splash on her heeled shoes as she doubled over in emotional and physical turmoil.

Wilson came up the same stairs, halting suddenly when he saw the pain in her face, and immediately went to her side, bending down on the floor in front of her to search her face.

Her breath was ragged, her hand still held the spot in her back that was throbbing with even more force than moments before.

"Cuddy?" He grabbed onto her knee and found her eyes, knowing instantly something was terribly awry.

It took a few more moments before she managed to look at him, "I…something's wrong." It was merely a whisper, but as soon as she spoke the pain escalated even further, her eyes screwed shut as she felt like her insides were being ripped open.

Wilson took her hands in his, watching her features for a clue as to what was truly going on. "Take some deep breaths Cuddy…focus on me. It could be just a panic attack." Her face grew paler with each new moment. "Breathe," He commanded her. "Stay with me here. He's going to be fine…hold onto that."

Cuddy heard his voice, but somehow it seemed far away, the fog took over her cognitive mind and only blurriness remained in her reality…

She was not going to be fine…

She could feel something change within…powerless to stop it from happening…powerless to change the inevitable…it was too late…

Her eyes adjusted onto the man in front of her…her friend…and her hands clenched into fists inside his, squeezing tightly as the ache ripped through her body even lower this time…

The last time…before she could feel something warm begin to pool between her legs…and everything went dark.

Okay…please don't hate me too much! I had this planned from the beginning…but I made a promise in the heading of Chapter 11. And I try not to break promises Be back soon! Let me know what you think pretty pretty please…even if it is anger at my cliffhanger!