A/N: Thanks so my pal MystryGAB who reviewed the first draft. I made some good changes based on her comments. Many thanks to Cherokee Jedi who would have sent me comments back but I didn't send my revision to her in time LOL! I've never written smut so it's been the hardest chapter to write so far, not because of the sex, it's because the before, during and after including the dinner and everything, needs to be just right. I know this was an important chapter for all of us and for House and Cuddy.

I'm beginning to see some light at the end of this tunnel. I'm still unsure as to whether this should continue as one long story until an eventual conclusion or end at a place that makes sense with the possibility for a sequel later on. I'm still thinking.

Anyway in the story it's now Friday and you know what that means? It's date night for our favorite couple!

Friday morning House left early for a scheduled physical therapy appointment at the hospital. The therapist he'd been working with had called him the day before and said she had a last minute opening. She had encouraged him to do therapy as often as possible as the exercise would keep him strong and healthy. Physically, House was in much better shape than at any time since the infarction and the same could be said for him mentally. The more he exercised it seemed the better he felt and the less he thought about Vicodin and his pain. The pain was always there, but it wasn't nearly as bad as it once was. After his therapy he'd planned to meet with Dr. Baker about his appointment at the hospital. She'd called and left a message earlier that she needed to see him right away about his contract. He assumed she wanted him to sign it and get the details out of the way before he returned to Princeton.

While House was gone, Cuddy decided to get some things done around the house. While her muscles were still sore weeks after the accident, it was minor and she knew the more she moved about the more limber she'd become and it wouldn't be long until she was completely healed. As she dropped laundry into the washer she heard the doorbell.

"Hey," she said to Sharon who gave her a hug as she entered. "What are you doing here?"

"I took the day off and figured since House was at the hospital doing his thing; you and I could hang out."

She looked at Sharon curiously. "How'd you know he was at the hospital?"

She smiled. "A little birdie told me."

"A little House you mean."

"He figured since we hadn't spent much time together lately, we might want to just hang out today."

Cuddy shook her head. "Sometimes he just surprises the hell out of me."

"You don't mind, do you?"

"Hell no, I'm just catching up on housework before Monday. Lots to do and I could use the help."

"I'm in."

They walked to the utility room so Cuddy could put the clothes in the washer. As she separated the clothes, she came across one of House's tee shirts.

She put his shirt to her nose and took in his scent. "You know it's hard to believe that months ago we hadn't spoken in two years and now I'm doing his laundry. I don't get it."

"If it were anyone else I would have told them to run far and fast, but I see you two together and you're just…I don't know…perfect, in your own imperfect way. The chemistry between you is so incredible; I can feel it when I'm in the room with you. James told me when he was here that he could tell you'd changed towards each other. He couldn't pinpoint it but I suspect it's a number of small things, that when added up, makes it pretty significant."

"We have changed. We've reached a level of trust and honesty that neither of us thought we could ever achieve."

"Lisa, I've never seen you happier."

Cuddy smiled broadly. "It shows?"

"Oh yeah."

"I don't know how to describe being with him. It's like he completely overwhelms me and I don't mean that in a bad way, it's like this feeling that I'm totally complete when I'm with him. With him I don't feel lonely or like I'm missing anything, it's like...being home." She just shook her head and continued throwing clothes in the washer until it was full, then she closed the lid.

Sharon smiled at her friend's happiness. "So…how do you feel about him going back home this weekend?"

Cuddy stopped what she was doing and hung her head. "God, I'm going to miss him. I wish he didn't have to go."

"Have you told him that?"

"I'm pretty sure he knows, but he has to go."

"Just try to make the best of it this weekend, enjoy each other's company. By the way where's he taking you?"

"You don't know?"

Sharon shook her head no.

"I have no idea where we're going either. He said it was a surprise. But then House's definition of surprise is not the same as yours and mine."

"He might surprise you."

Cuddy smiled. "Yes, he just might."

House hated dressing up in a suit but it was for Cuddy and damnit he'd do just about anything for her. He donned a pair of black slacks, a dark blue shirt and dress shoes. He skipped the tie because he figured the dress shoes would more than make up for it. He grabbed his wallet and keys from the kitchen counter and when he turned around, Cuddy walked in and took his breath away. She was wearing a knee-length, fitted midnight blue backless halter dress that tied around the neck, with a very seductive sweetheart neckline. She complemented it with diamond stud earrings and a pair of Louboutins. She also left her gorgeous wavy hair down, the way he liked it.

She looked up and caught him staring at her.

"What?"

"You're...amazing."

She laughed. "Thanks, you don't look so bad yourself." She reached up and held his face with one hand and planted a kiss on his cheek.

"You know...we could stay home," he said wiggling his eyebrows at her seductively.

"We could but I think we need to get out of the house."

"Ready to go my mistress?" He asked.

"Oh yeah, there's no way I'm going to miss out on our third first date," she said smiling.

"This is beautiful." Cuddy exclaimed as they made themselves comfortable in a private area of the Terrace at the Aragosta Bar and Bistro on the waterfront. "I can't get over the view," she said as they took in their seat at a table overlooking the water. A chilled bottle of wine and two glasses waited for them on their table.

"Oh my God where did you get this?" She asked picking up the rare bottle of 2008 Littorai Thieriot Vineyard Chardonnay.

"Turns out the guy who runs this place is quite the wine connoisseur. He's got some serious rare stuff in his cellar."

"Well, tell him thank you. Better yet, how about I just thank you instead?" She leaned over to him and planted a warm, wet, passionate kiss on his lips.

"Listen, you can thank me like that anytime you want," he said smirking.

"So, how'd you find out about this place? This is great."

"Wilson told me about this place."

"Wilson?"

"Yeah, said it was a great place to take a date if you want to get laid."

Cuddy almost choked on her wine. "He said that?"

"Come on, you know Wilson's the king of panty peelers."

"Speaking of Wilson, I miss him."

"Me too."

"Something I should know about you two?"

"Well you know Jimmy's great in the sack, maybe even better than you." He winked at her.

Cuddy rolled her eyes at him. "I bet he'll be glad when you get back."

"Apparently he's dumped me for Chase."

"Chase?"

"Seems he's lonely since I've been gone so Chase started hanging out with him."

"Well that's an odd couple."

"Yeah but Chase doesn't have my ass."

She laughed and House noticed Cuddy hadn't stopped smiling since they'd arrived. He liked that he was the reason for it. Suddenly their waiter approached and took their orders. Cuddy ordered stuffed gnocchi, with ricotta cheese, pancetta and fried organic egg while House ordered the Barolo braised short ribs, with truffle ditalini, autumn carrots and grilled radicchio.

"House," she said when the waiter was gone.

"Yeah."

"When do you start lecturing? We haven't even talked about that since you got back today."

"Well, there might be a change in plans."

Cuddy's smile disappeared from her face. "What change?"

House took a sip of his beer. "Don't worry, it's just that they may want me to start a diagnostics center."

"What?" She exclaimed. She looked around, thankful nobody was near them.

"That's terrific news. Does this mean they don't want you to lecture?"

"Still lecturing once a week starting next term but they want to revisit the idea of a new Diagnostics center in a few months."

"Why so soon?"

"Apparently that donor Baker talked to is adamant about the top hospital in the nation having one."

"Wow. What did you say?"

"I told them I'd consider it."

"Wow."

"You said that," he teased.

"You're a hot commodity."

"I'm surprised."

"Why?"

"After everything that happened, I can't believe they want me."

"You got another chance."

"Yeah and I'm not fucking it up."

She smiled.

"Wait, you said your lecture doesn't start till next term. Does that mean I won't see you till then?" Her face fell in disappointment.

"Nope, I'm hoping to see you in a week or two."

Her face lit up again. "Really?"

"Cuddy, I get paid a damn good salary and I hardly spend money. I don't have any real bills except for my apartment and utilities, I pay most everything in cash, what credit cards I have I pay off every month. I've got a savings I could live on for years if I needed to and I keep adding to it. It's gonna be nice to spend my money on something besides therapy, medication, and buying Wilson's lunches," he said.

Cuddy was beaming. She didn't think she could be any happier but she was. "You don't buy his lunches!" She laughed. "So you're gonna come see us."

"Every chance I get. Gonna fly first class if I have to." He added as an afterthought. "You know you guys are welcome to take a few days off and stay with me...if...you want. I know it might be too painful to go back there and I understand."

She thought about it before answering. "When we left, I was hurt and angry. I was just so...devastated. On one hand, I don't know what memories it would evoke even though we've made things right and put it behind us. On the other hand, it might be nice to leave that place with a good memory. So...I wouldn't be opposed to it, just let me think on it okay?"

He took her hand. "Yeah, take your time. I understand. Listen, You going to be okay when I leave?"

"I think so. Oh I know I'll be okay but I'll miss you. I know Rachel has gotten attached to you as well."

"I seem to have that effect on the Cuddy women," he said with a grin.

"Except my mom and sister."

"They don't count, they're evil."

Cuddy just rolled her eyes at him and took another sip of the delicious white wine.

Their dinner arrived and they ate in relative silence, just enjoying each other's company and the view of the waterfront, which, now that it was dark outside, was magnificent.

"God, this is delicious, how's your steak?"

"Out of this fucking world," he said with a grin. He finished chewing. "Hey what would you think if I cooked tomorrow night?"

"You?"

"Duh. You know I can cook, better than you."

"I'd love it! What do you want to make?"

"I'm going to surprise you."

"I hate surprises."

"Liar."

About an hour later they were finished with dinner and just standing by the terrace railing taking in the gorgeous view of the waterfront. There was hustling and bustling aboard the Coast Guard ship that was moored just across from them.

"What do you think of this view?" She asked.

"It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen," he said as he stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her. She covered his hands with hers and relaxed into him. He nuzzled her hair and took in the scent of her sandalwood shampoo. "You smell so good you know that?"

"Mmm," was all she could get out for she was overwhelmed by the feeling of being in his arms. It was cool outside but he was keeping her warm. His hands ran up and down her bare arms.

"You want your wrap?" He asked.

"No, I like it just like this." She closed her eyes and relished the feel of him all around her. Then he turned her around to face him and she felt his soft, warm lips on hers. When he kissed her, it was slow and deliberate and tantalizing. Cuddy sucked his upper lip and ran her tongue over it making House smile and take her tongue in his mouth. Soon he moved away from her mouth, kissing her neck and sucking on her earlobe. She let him have his way as she caressed the back of his neck with her nails.

"Oh, House…" she moaned in his ear.

"I love it when you do that," he said.

They stopped kissing and just stared at each other. "This is the best third first date ever," she said.

"How 'bout we go home and change into something more comfy?" He asked winking at her. He took her face in his hands and held it gently, caressing her cheeks with his thumbs.

"I like the sound of that," she said.

They barely made it inside the front door before they were all over each other. Their lips attacked one another in a furious frenzy, tongues engaged in a heated battle, hands caressing and stroking. House turned her so she could face the mirror by the door and he untied her halter top with his teeth and let it fall, exposing her bare breasts. He reached his hands up around her and grabbed her luscious round globes and caressed them while kissing her neck. "You are so hot," he whispered in her ear as they watched themselves in the mirror, pure lust in their eyes.

Cuddy reached behind her to undo the zipper of her dress and he stopped her. "No, let me do that," he said and he pulled the zipper down and the dress pooled at her feet leaving her in her heel and a lacy blue thong. He pulled her back against him and held her possessively with one hand at her waist and took his other hand and trailed it all down her naked body, as they watched in the mirror. She shivered against him as he reached down with his hand and found her wetness. "You are mine," he said possessively as he attacked her neck with a frenzy of kissing and sucking.

Cuddy's core throbbed with her need for him. She grinded her ass against his erection then turned in around in his arms and kissed him feverishly as she unbuckled his belt, unbuttoned his pants and yanked the zipper down. He stopped his ministrations long enough to help her push the garment down to his feet where he kicked them off. Cuddy reached down and stroked his cock and pressing herself against him letting him know she wanted him now.

"Bedroom," she said, breathlessly.

"Not gonna make it," he managed to reply in between kissing and fondling her breasts.

They moved toward her couch and she pushed him down She took control and quickly straddled him and grabbed his shoulders and sank down on him slowly. "Oh my God, you feel so good," she cried out.

"Cuddy...damn woman...you're gonna kill me," he said, his eyes closed, his tongue licking his lips. He was enjoying the feeling of being completely sheathed within her tight walls after such a long absence.

She was now kissing him and riding him feverishly. "Can't…get enough of you…need…more," she panted breathlessly as she moved up and down on him ferociously grinding into him to get him as deep inside her as she could. House was impatient, he wanted to be balls deep into her but he wanted to be on top while doing it. He picked her up swiftly and pushed her down on the couch, her head resting on fluffy pillows on the arm of the couch. He nestled between her legs and pushed himself inside her again.

"Oh!" She cried out. He sucked on her neck as he thrust himself deeper into her. She wrapped her legs around his thighs and cried her pleasure as he took a nipple into his mouth and sucked on it, circling it with his tongue and biting gently. The pain mixed with pleasure made moan loudly in ecstasy. Her fingers ran ferociously through his hair, scratching the nape of his neck. She arched her back and he placed his hand underneath her ass bring her as tightly to him as he could. His leg hurt but he knew it would be worth it in the morning. They were so far gone, so lost in each other, they didn't know where one ended and the other began.

She writhed against him, completely lost in the feeling of him being inside her. He smiled down at her, relishing the way she looked when she was hot, horny and wild. This was the Cuddy that lay dormant, the she-devil, the minx only he was lucky enough to see. Now that he had brought her out again, he never wanted to let it go.

They rocked together and Cuddy urged him on. "Harder…faster…please!" She cried as she reached around to his ass and pulled him deeper into her. He chuckled at her actions and reached his free hand down and used his thumb to massage her clit and suddenly Cuddy felt her core tightening around his thick shaft and came undone. House felt her muscles contract and his entire body tingled from head to toe, he couldn't feel anything except the burst of electrical energy shooting throughout his entire body. Cuddy cried out in bliss, shouting his name over and over again and begging him not to stop and he followed her into the abyss, unable to stop himself from pumping into her while endlessly calling her name. She reached up to hold his face and look into his eyes as they climaxed together.

"That…was…" Cuddy couldn't finish the sentence she was so completely spent. There was no need for words for their actions spoke volumes. It was like it always was, they knew what each other wanted and they knew how to give and take with everything they had.

House chuckled. "So…fucking…amazing," he said attempting to finish her sentence. He lay over her holding his weight up with his elbows, kissing every exposed patch of skin he could get his lips on. Together they rolled over where she lay on top of him. He pulled the afghan off the back of the couch and covered them. They lay there, completely exhausted and out of breath but happy as House ran his hands up and down Cuddy's smooth silky back and she nuzzled into his chest while her fingers played with the sparse hair there.

"Cuddy, it's been so long. I just wanted this to be perfect for you," he said kissing her forehead.

"God House, it was." She looked up at him and saw him smirk at her use of those two words together. "I didn't care how it happened just as long as it did."

"We still got it," he grinned.

"We sure do." Looking at him she saw the sparkle in his eye that she loved so much. They were lost in each other's eyes as he leaned down and captured her lips in a soul searing kiss that made her toes curl. Suddenly she felt little Greg spring to life again beneath her.

"Oh my," she said, grinning at him. "Looks like someone's up for seconds."

Okay there ya go...