A/N: You guys have been so great about following this story and I appreciate it. As a special treat, I'm publishing this chapter a few days early! I'm already into writing the next two chapters.

Thanks so much for supporting me in writing this. I'm really enjoying it and have been inspired by so many great people. Thanks to all the House-Cuddy fans. Best damn fans anywhere!

As we get back to our story, it's Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.

After making a couple of stops, House finally arrived back at Cuddy's house just after nine-thirty. The front porch light was on but he could see no lights on inside the house. He sighed, frustrated, as he had hoped he and Cuddy would have a chance to talk. He trudged up the steps to her front door with his right hand tightly gripping his cane and the other in his pocket, trying to keep warm. He approached the door and entered with the key she had given him. He closed the door behind him quietly, hung his coat by the door and stood for a moment in the living room trying to warm up. He wanted a hot bath and considering that Rachel's tub wasn't large enough, he knew he would have to use Cuddy's tub. After grabbing his flannel pajama pants and a clean tee shirt and underwear from his bag in the spare room, he made his way towards Cuddy's bathroom, hoping not to wake anyone along the way. As he passed Rachel's room he peeked inside and noticed Cuddy was curled up on the bed next to Rachel, an open book lay in her lap. Careful not to disturb them, he closed the door and made his way to Cuddy's room. He turned on the lights in the bathroom, closed the door behind him and stripped down. He turned on the faucets, poured some of Cuddy's eucalyptus bath crystals into the hot running water, then sat on the toilet and waited for it to fill. As he waited, he removed the fentanyl patch and rubbed his thigh vigorously. When the tub was full he eased himself into it and closed his eyes hoping the heat would give him some relief.

Forty-five minutes later, House's leg felt a great deal better, the hot water having done its job and reduced the pain to a dull ache. Having found a heating pad in Cuddy's linen closet he placed it over his thigh and made himself comfortable in the bed in the spare room. He nestled under the comforter and turned his head to the empty side of the bed. He laid his arm over the empty space and caressed the sheets with the back of his hand. Even though they hadn't had sex, he missed sleeping in the same bed with Cuddy. He recalled in the early days of their relationship, he had often not wanted her to spend the night because he was used to having the bed to himself, not to mention he liked avoiding the small talk at the breakfast table the next morning. No, in the beginning, he enjoyed waking up alone, in his big bed, but the longer they were together, the more he enjoyed spending their nights together. Once he and Rachel got to know one another, he began staying over at Cuddy's house more often, towards the end, in fact nearly every night. Cuddy had even made room in a closet and her dresser for his things. He'd never admit it to anyone but having her sleeping next to him made him feel less lonely. He closed his eyes and thought of the beautiful woman in the next room…her intriguing blue-grey eyes, gorgeous, soft, wavy hair and her smile that lit up a room whenever she walked in. Mere words could never describe how he felt waking up to her smile during the time they were together. He'd get a funny feeling, something like joy, in the pit of his stomach, knowing she smiled because of him. Her smile was the last thing on his mind as he drifted off to sleep.

Cuddy woke to a loss of circulation in her left arm, then realized Rachel had fallen asleep on her. Careful not to wake the sleeping child, she gently moved her arm out from underneath her daughter and then reached for the cover and tucked her in. She placed a kiss on Rachel's forehead and whispered sweet motherly words in her ear before leaving the room and closing the door behind her. She glanced at her watch and realized it was after eleven and House wasn't home yet. She began to worry about him and went into the living room to get her cell phone to call him. She stopped when she noticed the door to the spare room was closed and realized House had returned and must have gone to sleep in there. Quietly, she opened the door and saw him lying on his left side snoring softly. She wanted to talk to him but knowing how difficult it was for him to rest, especially when something was on his mind, she opted not to disturb him. Before she closed the door she turned back around one more time. She really didn't want to sleep alone, besides it would be hard to sleep knowing he was just down the hall from her. She crept back inside the room and closed the door behind her, leaving it cracked in case Rachel needed her. The room was dark except for the soft green glow of the digital alarm clock. Clad only in a tank top and flannel pajama bottoms, Cuddy crawled into bed and snuggled up behind House, wrapping her right arm around his waist. She clung to his warmth, kissed the back of his neck and whispered, "I've missed you so much," before she drifted off to sleep.

A few minutes later. the man her arm was wrapped tightly around opened his eyes and a smile formed on his lips. He laid his hand over hers and clasped her fingers tightly, then went back to sleep.

Sometime around five o'clock the next morning, Cuddy woke to arms wrapped around her and loud snoring in her ear. She turned over and was face to face with House. She loved how peaceful he looked when he slept. She traced the lines on his face, thinking about how all of the stress in his life that had caused those lines. They were just one of many signs of the pain and heartache he had endured. She frowned knowing she had caused some of it.

Suddenly, House stopped snoring and without warning opening his eyes, asked,"What are you doing?"

Cuddy giggled. "I'm tracing the lines on your face."

"What's my lifeline say?"

"There's no lifeline on your face silly, that's your hand."

He placed his hand over hers, then opened his eyes and looked at her. "I'm sorry," he said sincerely.

"Me too," she replied, her eyes reciprocating the sincerity.

"Why are you apologizing?"

"For not stopping you when you left last night."

"You shouldn't apologize."

"I wanted to stop you."

"Why didn't you?"

Her thumb brushed the corner of his lip. "I was afraid. I didn't want to push you."

"Was I that obvious?"

"Yeah. You were in a hell of a lot of pain. I was afraid that if I pushed too much, you wouldn't share it with me."

House rubbed his hand over his unshaven face. "I want to share it with you. It's just hard."

"I know."

"I don't want you to feel guilty."

"House, I told you—"

He cut her off gently. "I know what you told me but I can't help but think that when you see me in that much pain, you still blame yourself."

"It's hard sometimes."

House nearly made a wisecrack but decided it was not the time. He wanted to talk to her, he needed to.

"I talked to Nolan last night."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. He said that when I push you away...it might make you feel guilty all over again. I don't want to do that."

Cuddy looked thoughtful for a moment. This was one of those conversations they needed to have. "I used to think that even though you said you cared...acted like you did, that inside you resented me, that maybe you couldn't be with me...even as a friend because it was too much of a reminder."

"Cuddy, if anything you took away the pain."

"God House, you have a hell of a way of showing it. Why didn't you tell me?"

Almost inaudibly he replied, "You already know why."

She heard him and nodded her head in agreement, knowing that they both feared the fallout that might come from an exploration of their feelings.

"I don't want to disappoint you," he added.

"Shh." She put her finger over his lips. "We disappointed each other, mostly because we were idiots. I used to get so frustrated and disappointed when you...didn't even try to be better. You'd say 'oh the hell with it' and figured because of all the shit you'd been through in your life, there was never a chance for you to be happy. I hated that you threw away so many chances to have a life because you were too scared to try. But you need to know I am not disappointed in you, I am so proud of you."

"Proud?"

"Yeah. You've overcome so much shit. You never give up."

"Oh I've given up, remember?"

"I remember," she said, her eyes sad recalling all the moments House had come so close to death because he just didn't care anymore. "If you'd really given up you'd be dead now. Yet, here you are."

"Yeah. Here I am." He leaned his forehead against hers."But you know you're pretty amazing yourself."

She laughed out loud. "Seriously? I haven't had to overcome all the things you have."

"Maybe not, but you can't deny you've got your own share of dysfunctional bliss. Years of trying to get pregnant, almost marrying a guy with the mental equivalency of a toddler," he noticed Cuddy's eyebrow raising glare at that last jab and he continued, "and let's not forget your crazy ass lunatic mother, an overbearing sister with the perfect life and then there's your narcissistic anal retentiveness…."

"Hey!" She laughed again and smacked him in the chest. "You forgot the part where I dated a brilliant but incredibly emotionally stunted pain in the ass."

"You wound me evil temptress," he said, feigning hurt. He smirked at her. "Look, you picked yourself up and got your life back together after what I did to you. You pushed on and moved forward, never looking back. You were determined to make a life for you and your kid. In the face of incredible adversity Dr. Cuddy, you are absolutely fucking amazing. I've never told you but I'm proud of you."

"You are?" Cuddy was shocked by his admission as House was not one to compliment often.

"Yeah." He nuzzled her neck and whispered in her ear, "You are an amazingly strong woman. You've got balls, ambition and determination and goddammit you are the smartest, most evil and cunning woman I've ever known."

She laughed. "And you've known a lot of women."

"But none of them ever came close to you. You're one of a kind."

Cuddy smiled, leaned forward and lightly touched her lips to his, playfully teasing him with gentle pecks on each corner of his mouth, then he parted his lips and dove in and kissed him deeply. Her hands caressed his stubbled face as she moaned her pleasure into his mouth. House pulled her closer to him, deepening the kiss as their bodies melded together. House always loved when she caressed his unshaven face when they kissed and Cuddy loved the way he ran his hands through her hair. They were consumed by their need for each other and when they kissed, they gave each other everything they had. After a few moments, they pulled away, breathless.

"House," Cuddy whispered. Her lips were wet and plump, she had butterflies in her stomach and her whole body ached with her need for him. She looked into his eyes, so amazingly bright and clear beneath half-closed lids.

"Cuddy," he replied, wanting to say more but knowing the words would never come. A man of few words, he knew he could show her how he felt with his actions. He brushed his lips across hers again and their mouths pressed hotly together. Cuddy responded immediately, wanting him to know how his kisses made her feel. She placed her hand on his chest and felt his heart beating rapidly, and then she took his hand in hers and laid it over her left breast so he could feel hers too. He could feel the warmth of her firm breast and the hardening nipple beneath his hand as he gently squeezed it and it made him hard. Slowly their lips pulled away from one another, they opened their eyes and lay there, breathless and panting. The air was charged with sexual energy, lust and passion burning within them, both wanting, needing to find a way to share what they were feeling. It had been so long since they had shared their passion with reckless abandon and time seemed to stand still as each waited for the other to make the first move.

Finally, Cuddy gently pushed House over so he lay on his back. Slowly she straddled him, carefully avoiding his delicate thigh. She leaned over him and gently kissed him on the lips again and ran her hands through his hair. He gently tousled her hair with his fingers, loving how it fell all around them as they kissed. She leaned back and moved her hands to the hem of his shirt and began lifting it. Following her lead, he raised his arms up and she pulled his shirt off and threw it carelessly to the floor. She took in the sight before her, the chest which was toned and arms much firmer than she remembered. He'd always looked good to her but the physical therapy was certainly helping his upper body. She kept her eyes on his as she ran her hands up and down his bare chest, loving the feel of him under her. She felt his arousal beneath her and ground her hips against his in a circular motion, teasing him and making him groan out loud his need for her.

House looked up at Cuddy and what he saw nearly took his breath away. In those amazing eyes he saw genuine love and understanding. He didn't just see it, he felt it. At that moment he felt like he was finally home, in a place where he belonged, and it felt good. House pulled her down to him and held her close, breathing in her scent as he nuzzled and kissed her neck and ear. The essence of her overwhelmed his senses, she was all around him and within him and he couldn't get enough of her. His heart was so full of want and need, he wanted to show her just how much she meant to him. He ran his hands slowly up and down her back, underneath her tank top and he felt her moan and shiver under his touch. He loved the feel of her soft, warm skin under his hands and he loved the feel of the toned muscles in her back and arms from years of yoga. All he wanted was to see and feel all of her, make her his once again. He placed his hands on the hem of her top and as if she read his mind, Cuddy sat up and raised her hands over her head so he could remove her tank top.

"Mommy! Hows!" Rachel yelled excitedly as she barged into the room. House quickly pulled Cuddy's top down and she rolled off of him just as her daughter jumped onto the bed with them. House lay his head back on the pillow and groaned in frustration while Cuddy let out a chuckle and gave her daughter a hug.

"Mommy, you weren't in your room," Rachel said innocently, as she made herself comfortable between them.

"Hey rugrat, who said you could just barge in here?" House propped himself up on his elbow and looked at the little girl.

"I'm not a rugrat and it's my house too; I can do whatever I want," Rachel said as she stared at him, displaying on her angelic face, the oh-so-familiar Cuddy pout.

Cuddy watched the interaction between the two and laughed out loud at her daughter's boldness. House rolled his eyes at them both and lay back with a pillow over his face. From underneath the pillow, he shouted, "My God woman! She's getting just as bossy as you!"

Cuddy just smiled.

LOL you gotta love Rachel barging in at the most inopportune moment. Thanks for reading, don't forget to review! More to come soon if I can crank 'em out!