A/N: Here's another chapter. I'm hoping to post twice this Memorial Day weekend. We'll see how it goes. Thanks to everyone for continuing to follow this story. To answer your question, of course House and Cuddy are going to meet up; you don't think I'm crazy do you? This is a House and Cuddy story. You just have to remember they can't meet up overnight and everything be fluffy, these are two screwed-up people, they've got a lot to work through.

I promise this will be the story you love. In the meantime, enjoy.

My disclaimer: I don't own House but if I did I would have tied Lingenfelter, Hess and Friedman (for starters) to their chairs and forced them to watch their ridiculous Vlogs until they threw up as much as we did and eventually realized the error of their ways.

Cuddy woke on Friday morning and glanced at the clock, it was an hour half past her normal wakeup before getting Rachel off to school and heading into work. She recalled the phone conversation that took place in the middle of the night. Did I really call House or was it just a dream? She asked herself. She picked up her cell phone and scrolled through recent calls and sure enough, House's number was there. She lay back on her pillows holding the phone to her chest and thinking about their conversation. The dream had scared her to death and she needed to know he was okay. She wasn't sure how she would feel after their first words shared in two years but she actually felt no regret, if anything she felt an odd sense of peace. After a few more minutes pondering the brief conversation, she got out of bed and started her day.

Around eleven-thirty, Cuddy was in her office finalizing her lecture notes for the following week when she received a text from Sharon inviting her to lunch in the courtyard. She finished her notes, grabbed her jacket and headed out. When she arrived at the picnic table, Sharon was already there.

"So, what's up with you? Anything big planned this weekend?" Sharon asked Cuddy sat down with her lunch.

"No, I thought I'd get some things done around the house," Cuddy replied.

They chatted about this and that and then both were silent, relaxing and listening to the birds in the trees nearby when Cuddy suddenly said, "I talked to House last night."

Sharon dropped her fork and looked at Cuddy. "You did not!" She exclaimed.

"I did."

"What?"

"Yeah, well actually I talked to him twice."

"I'll be damned. How did this happen?"

"Well, the first time I talked to him was completely unintentional. I called Wilson's cell phone a few days ago and House picked up answering as Dr. Loooove." Cuddy laughed as she emphasized that last word.

"Oh my God!

"Yeah, I get the feeling thought he was talking to one of Wilson's lady friends but was so shocked to get me instead he just didn't know what to do and hung up."

"Yeah, no kidding. So how did you wind up talking to him again? Did you call him back?"

"Not at that moment. I had a dream last night, actually more a nightmare...that he died. It felt so real Sharon; I mean I woke up thinking he was dead. How fucked up is that?"

"Jesus."

"Yeah."

"You know dreams rarely mean what they appear to mean."

"I know. But I still needed to know he was okay so I called him."

"It must have been pretty bad."

"Yeah, it was. I felt like someone had just ripped my heart out. I was devastated."

"So what on earth did you say to him on the phone?"

"We didn't really talk about much; I mean it was strange enough that we were talking at all. I told him I'd had a bad dream about him and wanted to make sure that he was okay. He assured me that he was and then…he apologized to me for what he did."

"Wow! How did that make you feel?"

"Honestly, I was relieved. I mean, he's written it in his letters but it was so different hearing him say it. House generally does not say things he does not mean, he's just like that. Trust me, he only says he's sorry if he really means it," Cuddy said as she looked down at her food.

Sharon noticed she suddenly seemed sad. "You okay?"

"Yeah I guess. I have to tell you I was so relieved to hear his voice but it was awkward. It seemed like neither of us knew what to say. House and I always felt comfortable when we bantered and fought but when it came to talking about what we were feeling, it never went well."

"It's been two years, of course it's awkward."

"I know. He asked me if we could talk again soon, if he could call me and make sure I was okay. I told him I'd like that."

"Wow that was a big step. First letters, now phone calls. If this is what you want, then good for you."

"Yeah I think I actually do want it," said Cuddy, with a hint of sadness in her voice.

"So what's wrong?"

Cuddy picked at her food and said, "It's nothing."

"It's not nothing. You don't pick at your food unless there's something bothering you," Sharon said as she reached over and put her hand on top of Cuddy's to stop her from picking at her food.

Cuddy got the hint and put down her fork. Clasping her hands together on the table in front of her she said, "I couldn't stop thinking about him for hours until I fell asleep again. I miss him in my life."

"Oh, Lisa."

"It's so weird, for nearly half our lives, House and I have been in each other's circles. No matter what happens, we always wind up drawn back to one another and every time it happens, we fight it."

"So why fight it at all?"

"I suppose it's who we are, call it a defense mechanism."

"It's apparent that there's something bigger than both of you that keeps bringing you guys back into each other's lives. Last night you dreamed he died, but it was just a dream. What would you do if he did die?"

"Don't even go there!"

"Exactly," Sharon said as she sat back with a smile on her face.

"It's hard enough that he's not a part of my life like he used to be, but to imagine him dead? I can't. I mean he's always been there."

"I know that. I wanted to see your reaction and I was right. It's one thing to be in another city and just not talking to one another but it's very different when they're dead, there's never another chance...to talk, make things right...try again," Sharon said.

Cuddy sat quietly and listened.

"I know I've told you this before but it's worth rehashing until you get it. Here we have two people who have known each other half their lives, both are intelligent and driven, but are not very good at maintaining close intimate relationships. They fear rejection and hurt and find it easier to hide behind sarcasm and deflection in an effort to keep others at arm's length. They fear if they let themselves be vulnerable or give up some of their control it will make them seem weak. When they finally had the opportunity to be together, instead of working at it by slowly breaking down the walls they'd built between them over the years, they just wanted to enjoy what they'd missed all those years before that narrow window of opportunity closed for good, which is something they both feared. So, they jumped in head first, knowing it would likely fall apart but simply not caring because they wanted to enjoy the moment as long as they could, before it was over."

Cuddy just stared at her friend. "Wow."

"Yeah. Listen, it just didn't last because neither one of you committed your all to it. You weren't focused on the long-term. You and House brought some pretty serious baggage into the relationship and I can see what caused you both to be so apprehensive about going all in, why you broke up with him, and what drove him to indulge in severely self-destructive behavior. The reason I don't sit here and push you to run in the other direction is because based on everything you have told me, what he did was not consistent with his usual behavior."

"It wasn't, not at all. After it happened I was angry as hell, I just wanted his ass in jail. I was in shock I mean, I never expected it. But really, he was sick and he needed help. Wilson and I both knew it was inevitable that he would crash and burn. I knew it was coming and I did nothing," Cuddy said.

"Did you really think he might do something?"

Cuddy looked down, fidgeting with her napkin. "I feel ashamed admitting this but yes, I knew he might do something, but to himself. I did not expect what he eventually did to me. I was afraid to get involved. I tried to get him to talk but he wouldn't and after that I just stopped trying. I knew that going back on Vicodin in such large doses as he was taking combined with his extreme behavior would eventually wind up killing him. I wanted to do something, I loved him so much, but I was afraid if I jumped in to try to save him, I would get my heart broken even more. I was afraid I'd let him back in my life and he would hurt me even more and I couldn't do that, not again. I had to be strong enough to walk away for good. That meant letting him self-destruct, leaving it up to him to save himself. I was stupid enough to convince myself it was better that I not get involved."

"He may have very well been sick. With his history of mental illness, his Vicodin abuse and the emotional stress, he was a ticking time bomb," Sharon said sadly.

Cuddy nodded in agreement. "I knew he was self-destructive but he never tried to hurt anyone physically. There is not a time I ever feared for my safety or Rachel's for that matter. For him to go over the edge like that and snap, it must have all hit him at once.

"I wonder sometimes what things would have been like..." Cuddy said, staring up into the sky and letting out a huge sigh of frustration.

"You can wonder all you want but it doesn't change anything. Girl, I do not know why you beat yourself up over the past. Instead of focusing on what might have been, how about focusing on what could be?"

Cuddy just sat silent, listening intently to her friend, knowing she was right.

"Lisa, what do you want out of life?"

Cuddy was taken by surprise by the question.

"I guess I just want to be happy. I mean I don't expect to be happy all the time, I just...I don't know, I just want to feel more happiness than I do now. Something's missing."

"Tell me about it."

"What?"

"Talking about happiness is great but it doesn't make a damn bit of difference unless you take action."

"I have a wonderful daughter I love with all my heart, I have a great job, I have a few good friends, I make great money, I am financially independent, I-"

"Eventually Rachel is going to grow up and have a life of her own, your friends have their own lives too, you're eventually going to retire and then what?"

"I haven't gotten that far."

"Do you plan on being alone for the rest of your life?"

"I hadn't thought that far ahead."

"Ha! I'm not buying that. Lisa Cuddy thinks of everything that far ahead."

"I do not!" She threw her balled up napkin at Sharon who laughed and returned it.

"Lisa, you mentioned Rachel, your job and money but you forgot one important thing."

"What's that?"

"Love. Someone to share it all with. What good is it all if there's no one to share it with?"

"Yeah that is a good point. Love is just too damn complicated."

"I'm going to tell you something right now. I love you dearly, you are my best friend and so I know you will take this in the spirit in which it is given."

Cuddy raised her eyebrow at Sharon, wondering what was coming next.

"Don't let yourself be alone because you are afraid. You have two choices; either get out there and find a man who will sweep you off your feet and drive you crazy mad with love. I mean the kind of love that makes you daydream about him, the kind of love that sets your skin on fire when he touches you and makes your stomach do flip flops just by hearing his voice. Find yourself a good man who will challenge you, make you laugh and sometimes make you cry, doesn't put up with your bullshit and tells you like it is, knows you are controlling but loves you anyway, isn't afraid to show you his vulnerability, and will accept Rachel into his life."

Cuddy wasn't prepared for that speech. "Oh come on, you know I've been out a few times, I'm just not interested and-" she was interrupted by Sharon.

"Or you can try again with Greg House and this time; do what it takes to make it work." Sharon sat across from Cuddy with a smirk and a defiant glare. "I'm serious Lisa; you don't deserve to be alone. You deserve to love and be loved."

Cuddy sat silently pondering what her friend said, letting it all sink in.

"I'm afraid," she said softly.

"I know you are, but of what?"

"It hurts."

"Oh hon, I know it does. Love hurts it can also heal too."

"I could go out and find a guy who might be all those things but I don't know if I want to. It's so much work to try and then be disappointed."

"Yep, that's life. But is there another reason?"

Cuddy hesitated then looked right at Sharon and said, "House. He...he used to make me feel that way. He's the only one who could ever make me feel that way. None of the other guys, even the really great ones who I should have fallen for, ever made me feel like that. The reason I can't make it work with anyone else is because I don't want to make it work with anyone else. I love House. I was too busy being scared of getting hurt and too busy pointing out his flaws and mistakes in an effort to protect myself and keep him at a safe distance that I never let us just be. I never told him how much I appreciated him and loved him."

"Well there you go."

"Yeah but with our history?"

"Lisa, your heart loves him; your head tells you to be wary. That's fine but don't let the two fight each other, let them work together."

Cuddy just looked at her curiously.

Sharon reached over and took her friend's hand. "Lisa, your head will tell you that you need to move slowly and cautiously and that you two need to work to break the barriers you built for years. Your heart will tell you that it's okay to let yourself be vulnerable and open and let yourself feel love. For years you let the two fight one another and no doubt House did the same. That approach didn't work; it's time for something new. Find a way to make it work. I know you love House and it's obvious he loves you too. You two have been through a lot of shit, you've both hurt each other and you've both paid the price. All that you've been through and you still have feelings for one another. What does that tell you? You've both hurt far too long, isn't it time to let go of the hurt and resurrect and nurture what's been lying buried underneath inside of both of you all these years?"

"How in hell did you come up with that?" Cuddy asked.

"Oh please, just call me Dr. Loooove," Sharon said. They both laughed.

"Thank you Sharon, you're a great friend," Cuddy said as she grasped Sharon's hand in appreciation.

"Oh you're welcome, what are friends for? We'll just say you owe me one. You could pay up by helping me get to know James a little better sometime. He is absolutely adorable," replied Sharon as she winked at Cuddy.

"Oh he is and you'll get your chance. He'll be here for the Oncology conference next week," said Cuddy. She added, "Just don't move too fast or you'll wind up Mrs. Wilson number four."

"I'll be careful," Sharon said playfully. "Hey Lisa?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you hoping House will come with him?"

"House hates conferences."

"Yeah, okay," Sharon replied, with a knowing look.

Cuddy smirked at her and said, "Come on, we have to get back to work."

"Sure...queen of deflection."

They laughed in unison as they tossed their trash in the nearest bin and headed back into the hospital.

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This concludes yet another chapter in the House and Cuddy journey. Stay tuned, so much more to go. Lots more to go in this story and our two favorite characters are moving closer together. They've a lot to learn about themselves and each other.