A/N: Ahhh...I can breathe a sigh of relief now. What was I thinking starting another fic while I was writing this? Actually I think I've written six short ones while this one's been going on. I just finished "Where do we go from here?" and now I can devote more time to this story. Sometimes the muse hits, it makes you want to write a short fic and when the muse hits you have to go with it. That story was only supposed to be one chapter. I'm long-winded sometimes, what can I say?

Thanks to Cherokee Jedi (go check out her H/C fic Safety!) for taking a look at this. :)

Do yourselves a favor and go out there and check out the over 3,000 House & Cuddy stories. You can find them by going to fanfiction dot net(forward slash)tv(forward slash)House-M-D/10/0/1/1/0/2729/2730/0/0/1/0/

"So you really like it?"

"Are you kidding? I fucking love it. But…why?"

"House, I wanted you to feel at home when you're here. I know how much your music means to you."

House smiled and Cuddy couldn't get over how much she'd missed that. He rarely smiled and when he did only two people were on the receiving end of it, her and Wilson.

"How in hell did you set this up?" He asked.

"Well…I made a few phone calls here and there and like I said, I know a guy."

"I bet you know a lot of guys," he teased.

"Don't you know it," she responded coyly.

"Any guy in particular who...stands out?" He asked as he took her hand and led her out of the bedroom into the hallway.

"Maybe."

"Hmm…I wanna hear more about this guy. He must be one hot dude."

"You have no idea," she winked at him then, still holding his hand, followed him back into the living room.

House thoroughly enjoyed breaking in the new piano. After playing for about thirty minutes, he'd drifted off into his own world, into a particularly sad song and he got so lost in the melody he seemed to forget he wasn't alone. Rachel, always the observant one, tugged at House's sleeve and asked him why he was so sad. At that moment, House stopped playing and looked over at Cuddy, a silent plea with her to help him. She read the emotion in his eyes and quickly rescued him by telling Rachel that House wasn't sad, he was just thinking. Then she suggested the two of them go play one of her new astronomy games while so House could have some time to "think". In reality, she knew that House needed some time to himself. Rachel begrudgingly obeyed her mother and they padded off to her room together.

House was overwhelmed by Cuddy's gift. Often during his stay with her he'd wished he'd had access to his music as it was a respite and it helped him work through all the things going on in his head. He had missed two things he held dear since his visit—his privacy and his music, though he'd never said anything to Cuddy. As he played, he didn't seem to be bothered that there were two people in the house who could hear the music, but at least he was alone in the room and no one could see his face and the emotions that went through him as he played. He was sad, but he didn't want Cuddy and Rachel to know that. He didn't want to go back to Princeton but he had no choice, he had his job, his apartment, his stuff…and Wilson. Even though he was known to recklessly disregard rules, he was nothing, if not habitual and though he enjoyed being with Cuddy and Rachel, he sometimes craved his old routine. He wondered if it was possible he could create a new routine traveling back and forth from Princeton to Boston on a weekly basis.

As his fingers glided over the keys as he played Rachmaninoff's Prelude in G Minor Op. 23, his cell phone rang. After a few rings it went to voice mail and he continued to play. The second time, he sighed and stopped playing, reaching for his phone.

"House."

"Hey, just thought I'd see how things were going there." It was Wilson.

"Good."

"You ready to come back tomorrow?"

House rubbed his face with one hand. "Not really but I know how much you miss me."

"I'm sure if you wanted some more time off, Foreman would give it to you. You must have months worth of vacation saved up."

"Can't. The kids need me."

"They seem to be doing fine with Chase."

"You trying to tell me something?"

"No, just thought that you should know they're doing okay with him and if you need more time-"

"I'm fine Wilson."

"Listen, you and Cuddy have been through a lot and you're just getting to know each other again, I know this must be hard for you."

"What part of I'm fine do you not get?"

"It's just...you guys seem so much happier this time around."

"Happiness is overrated."

"Quit deflecting."

"Quit nagging."

"Fine. It's that...I really want things to be good for you guys. After all this time, you deserve it."

"I can't screw this up."

"Then don't."

"What if I don't know how not to screw it up?"

Wilson sighed. He wasn't sure how to convince House things would be all right. "House, don't spend all your time worried about screwing up, just live your life, enjoy it, enjoy her."

"Oh I plan on that Jimmy," House mused.

Wilson threw his hands in the air. "No, no, no. I do not want you to go there."

"So, you wanna start up the weekly poker game again?"

"Sure. I still owe you an ass kicking."

House smirked. "Dream on, Wilson, dream on."

"What time will you be back tomorrow?"

"Not sure, don't know what time I'm leaving here yet."

"How's Cuddy taking this?"

"I don't know. I mean, she's been okay so far today. You know women though..."

"Yeah...I do. She's going to miss you."

"Maybe."

"No maybe. Trust me."

"Aww Jimmy, you speaking from experience?"

"Shut up House."

"See you later Wilson."

"Bye House."

As he hung up the phone Cuddy walked into the room and stood next to the piano, running her fingers along its polished wood surface.

"Where's the munchkin?" He asked.

"Taking a nap. I wanted her to be able to stay up a little later with us this evening."

"Hmm...maybe I've got something special planned." He grinned and reached his hand out, placed it on her arm and pulled her over to him. He scooted back on the bench and placing her between him and the piano.

"Oh you do, do you?" She asked seductively as she put her arms around his neck. "Who was on the phone?"

"My mother," he said, as he rested his head against her belly.

Cuddy raised his chin to look at him. "Really? Everything okay?"

"Relax, it was my other mother."

"Oh, how's Wilson doing?" She asked with a chuckle.

"Checking up on us as usual." He resumed his place nestled against her.

"We've got to get him a girlfriend."

"Then he's fine until he marries them."

"True."

"How are you doing?"

"Me?"

"Well duh, I don't see another hot MILF in the room, do you?"

Cuddy slapped him in the shoulder. "I hate that term."

"But it's so fitting. You are a mother and I'd like to fuck you," he lifted her shirt up and kissed her bare stomach.

"You already have."

"Oh, then I'd like to do it again...and again...and again..." He kissed every inch of skin he could reach, inching her top up higher and higher.

Cuddy sighed in pleasure. "House..." she moaned."Rachel is in the next room."

"She's sleeping."

"We can't do this now." She pushed the hem of her shirt back down. "Later okay?" She smiled at him, and leaned down and kissed him. Their tongues tangled deliciously, eliciting moans from both of them.

"I'm gonna miss this," she said.

House didn't reply but the way he pulled her even closer to him, she knew he felt the same way too.

Early in the evening, House played chef and barbecued...burgers for him, kabobs for Rachel, and a Portobello mushroom for Cuddy. House shook his head watching Cuddy bite into the monstrous thing; he couldn't understand how a person could choose fungus over a thick, juicy burger. They sat around the picnic table after dinner and House played checkers with Rachel, who turned out to be pretty good.

"Where'd she learn to play like that?" He asked Cuddy.

"Michael."

"Julia's husband?"

"Yeah."

"Smart kid," he replied. He watched Rachel running around the yard with her favorite toy, her magnifying glass.

"She sure is. Look at her with that thing, she loves it."

"How's your sister doing by the way?"

"Did you just ask about Julia? I thought you couldn't stand her."

"I couldn't stand her when she always took your mother's side, but other than that she's okay."

"She's managing. She got the death certificate, settled the insurance and everything."

"He leave her okay?"

She smiled faintly. "More than okay. They both took out very large policies on one another to ensure if anything ever happened, the other would be set for life."

"What's she going to do now?"

"I don't know. She's spending a lot of time with mom and the kids. I think it's good for her."

"That's good," he said, not paying much attention, just watching Rachel and thinking.

"What are you thinking?" She noticed he was distracted.

He fiddled with the checkers. "When you were in the hospital and we thought you had cancer...I thought about what life would be like if you were dead. It scared the shit out of me."

Cuddy reached over and took his hand. "No, we don't have to think about that."

"You wanted me to talk."

"I'm sorry, go ahead."

"When Wilson told me the tumors had spread, I couldn't handle it. I knew you needed me to be there for you because you were scared too but I couldn't. It was like a bad dream and I just couldn't imagine a time when you wouldn't be here anymore. When you told me about Julia's husband, I did feel bad for her. It reminded me of what could have happened to us."

"Oh, House. I remember you telling me how you felt that night in that first letter you sent me. It was the first time you told me what you were going through."

"We never talked after the breakup. Besides Wilson, Nolan was the only other person who knew. I had to talk about it sooner or later."

"I'm glad you told me now."

"Yeah."

Just then Rachel came running up to Cuddy with a leaf in her hand, shouting excitedly. "Look what I found!" She practically shoved the leaf in her mother's face.

"Do you know what that is Rach?" Cuddy asked looking closely at the tiny bug nestled on the leaf.

"It's a ladybug," she replied happily.

"Good job." Cuddy handed the leaf to House who took it and studied it carefully.

"Do you know the real name for the ladybug?"

"No."

"Adalia bipuncata."

"Huh?" She asked. She tried to pronounce the word but couldn't.

"Don't worry, you'll get it eventually," he said patting her on the head.

Cuddy smiled at the exchange. "Okay, who wants dessert?" Cuddy asked. She wasn't surprised when House and Rachel raised both hands.

Later, after dinner and dessert, they'd moved back into the house to watch a movie, Milo and Otis. Rachel had seen the movie at Hannah's house and had begged her mother to buy the DVD. Halfway through the film, Rachel started to yawn.

"Okay Rach, time for bed."

"Oh mommy, do I have to?" She begged. House watched with a grin as the mini-Cuddy attempted to use her best pouty face on her mother.

"Not going to work, missy. You're yawning."

"But mom."

"No but mom."

"But I wanna hang out with you guys." House just grinned at the interaction between mother and daughter.

"It's getting late. You'll see House tomorrow."

Rachel looked down at her feet and shuffled back and forth. "But he's leaving and we might not see him again."

Before Cuddy could respond, House interceded. He limped over to Rachel and kneeled as best he could in front of her, though it hurt his leg to do it. He looked right at her and said in his most sincere voice, "I'm coming back. Okay?"

"But when?"

"Soon."

"You promise?"

Not one to make promises, House made an exception. "Yeah, I do."

Rachel looked thoughtful for a moment then replied, "Okay. Will you read me a story?"

House looked up at Rachel and for a moment he saw himself in her. He remembered when he was her age and his mother would read to him. His father had never been a part of those moments. Suddenly, House felt the need to change that.

"Sure." He put his hand on the table next to him and pushed himself up, grabbing his thigh for a moment. He looked over at Cuddy and nodded. "I'm okay." Turning to Rachel he said, "Come on rugrat, let's go." As they walked down the hallway, Rachel reached up and took his hand. House hesitated at first but then he grasped it.

Cuddy watched the interaction with tears in her eyes. This was what she'd wanted the entire time they'd been together. Hell, it was what she'd hoped for after she'd adopted Rachel. She sighed and tried not to think about the fact that he was leaving the next day. She'd gotten used to him being around and she felt a momentary wave of panic flow through her. Even though he said he'd be back in a week, she worried something would get in the way, because something always did when it came to them. Cuddy decided to put those thoughts aside so they could focus on enjoying their last night together. Knowing Rachel would demand House read the story to her at least twice before she went to sleep; she figured she had time for a quick shower. As she walked down the hallway, she heard House reading to her and she chuckled silently as she heard him take on the many voices of the characters in the story.

A half hour later, Cuddy had emerged from her bedroom, barefoot, sans makeup, hair drawn back in a ponytail and dressed in comfortable cotton leggings and a white fitted long-sleeved v-neck. She went into Rachel's room and kissed her daughter on the forehead and fixed her covers, then closed the door before proceeding down the hallway. There, she found blues music playing on her stereo, two candles on the coffee table along with a bottle of wine and two glasses. A warm fire roared in the fireplace. House sat in the recliner in jeans, a tee shirt and his socks. His feet were up and his head nodded back and forth in time with the music. Sensing her presence, he opened his eyes.

"You like?" He asked.

"Wow," she said.

"I take that as a yes."

"I love it."

He got out of the chair and poured two glasses of wine, then handed her one. "To us," he said, lifting his glass.

"To us," she repeated.

"Would you like to dance?" He asked, bowing in front of her.

"You don't dance."

"Tonight, I do."

Cuddy smiled. "This…is so unlike you."

"I know but sometimes you have to expect the unexpected." He took her glass from her and set them both on the coffee table. He put his arms around her and drew her to him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her head in his warm chest. It wasn't really dancing, it was more like barely moving, but they were doing it together and it was nice.

"You're not using your cane."

"Don't need it...yet."

The moved again for a few minutes, neither saying a word.

"House," she said, softly. "I'm gonna miss you."

"Now where have I heard that before?" He smirked into her hair.

She remembered. He had just gotten out of Mayfield and was in Wilson's apartment cooking. That's when he'd told her he wasn't returning to work.

As if he sensed what she was thinking, he said, "You asked me if you were the reason I was leaving."

She pulled back a bit stunned. "How did you know what I was thinking?"

"I know you," he said. He kissed the top of her head. "I lied...about that."

"What?"

"You were the reason I didn't want to go back, well at least one of them anyway. I really wasn't sure I could handle practicing medicine again but I also wasn't sure how we were going to work together. I knew things would be different and after what I did to you, I just couldn't go back knowing you hated me."

"I never hated you," she said, pulling away a little and looking up at him.

"Not even a little?"

"I was pissed at first but when I realized you were sick, being angry was the last thing on my mind. I was worried about you." She went back to her position leaning against him.

"Seems like ages go doesn't it?"

"Yeah. I never thought we'd be here, right now."

"Me too. I figured I'd be dead by now," he replied, holding her tight. He heard Cuddy gasp at his words.

"Don't say that."

"It's true. After I realized the magnitude of what I did, not just to you house but to you right after the breakup, I wasn't sure I wanted to go on. I still don't know how I managed to get my life back together."

"I'm just glad you did," she said holding him tighter.

"I keep saying I don't want to screw this up but I'm tired of worrying about it. Wilson says I need to just let it be and enjoy it. You know that's hard for me but I'm going to try like hell. Just...don't give up on me." He looked down at her.

"I won't. Just don't give up on me either."

"I don't think I could."

"I don't expect things to be perfect. I don't care anymore what works for other people, I just want what works for us."

"My leg is always gonna hurt but I manage the pain. When things are good, it doesn't hurt as much. It's not that the pain has gone away because it's always there; it's just that focusing on something else seems to take my mind off of it. I'm still talking to Nolan and as much as that's a pain in the ass at times, it helps. I'm doing what I can. I just hope it's enough for you."

"It's more than enough, House. We both have shit, but this time instead of dealing with it ourselves, we can deal with it together."

"I'd like that," he said.

They held each other and swayed through a few songs then they stopped and House reached for her shirt and gently pulled it up over her head. He stood looking at her in all her glory, her body was so beautiful. He kissed her as he reached his hands around her back to undo her bra. When he did, he slowly lowered the straps down her shoulders, letting his fingertips caress her arms on the way down. She pulled his head down and kissed him and when they finally parted for air, his lips wandered to her neck and he sucked her pulse point. He nipped her and she groaned. She ran her hands up his biceps to the nape of his neck and scratched him in the way she knew he loved. He ran his hands down her smooth warm back and down to her ass which he squeezed in delight.

"I love your ass," he said, grinning at her. As they stared into each others eyes, the electricity vibrating through them, no words were needed; it was as if they could read each others thoughts.

"Come with me," she said, taking his hand and leading him down the hallway, stopping only to blow out the candles and turn off the music. They reached her bedroom and closed the door, locking it and then turning on the lamp by the bed. Cuddy approached him and put her hands on his chest. House swallowed hard and looked down at her. They had already made love once but there was something different about this time. They were taking it slow, speaking without words, conveying every want and need through their actions.

Cuddy lifted the hem of his shirt and he helped her ease it over his head. He sat down on the bed and she stepped between his legs and kissed the top of his head and wrapped her arms around him. He took one of her nipples in his mouth, caressing it with his tongue. As he licked and sucked one breast, he palmed the other gently and then he switched. God how he'd missed the feel of her breasts, so soft and plump and perfect. He smiled against her soft skin as she moaned in response to his touch. House reached for the waistband of her leggings and pulled them down along with her lace panties. She stepped out of them and was completely naked in front of him. He nestled his face against her warm stomach and kissed her, inserting his tongue in her belly button, which tickled and made her giggle. He smiled to himself remembering the many mornings he woke up with his face pressed against the soft, warm skin of her stomach.

"You are terribly overdressed," she said, taking him out of his trance.

"I was just thinking that."

He lay back and she pulled his pants and boxers down and over his feet, tossing them in the corner, then she removed his socks and tossed them aside. Cuddy's heart raced even more at the sight of him completely naked and ready for her. She lay on the bed next to him and they kissed again, taking their time to explore each other's mouths. He rolled her on her back in the middle of the bed. He kissed her lips, her nose, her eyes, and ran his tongue down her neck and in between her breasts. He left a trail of kisses down her stomach and when he reached her heat, she was wet and ready for him. He blew softly on her center and she spread her legs wide for him. He decided to tease her some more, letting his tongue glide lazily down the inside of one thigh, down to her foot, and then moved to the other and worked his way back up. By that time, Cuddy was a moaning mess on the bed, one hand in her own hair, the other fisting the sheets. He reached her mound again and ran his tongue over her lightly. He parted her folds and probed with one finger inside her as he kissed and suckled her. He ran his tongue up and down her slit, and then sucked on her clit until she writhed beneath him.

"Oh..." she exclaimed loudly. She placed both of her hands in his hair, scratching gently at his scalp, urging him along.

He smiled and sank another finger into her and suckled her clit until her body began to shake uncontrollably and she writhed beneath him begging for him never to stop. When she reached her climax, she howled his name longer and louder than he could ever remember and when she was done she was left panting and saying, "Oh my God" over and over again. He kissed her inner thighs and moved up her body, caressing it and kissing her sweaty skin. He reached her lips and gave her another heated passionate kiss. He looked her in the eyes and smiled. She grinned back at him.

"I love it when you smile, I love that I'm the reason for it." He leaned down and captured her lips again, kissing her with every fiber of his being, telling her with that one kiss what he could never say in words.

"I love it when you make me smile," she returned his sentiment, then gently pushed him over on his back and straddled his knees, gently caressing his thighs and paying special attention to his scar. There had been a time he didn't want her to see it and just as she did their second first night together, she leaned down and kissed it, running her fingers over it gently. She thought about the first time she'd ever kissed his scar and wondered if he did too. At that moment she looked up at him, their eyes locked and she hoped to convey to him that she accepted him, faults and all.

She wrapped the fingers of one hand around his hard length and began stroking him while her other hand massaged his balls.

"Oh…Cuddy…" he gasped.

"Want me to stop?" She laughed.

"Oh, hell no. Don't stop you evil woman!" He exclaimed. He heard her laugh at his response. God how he'd missed her laughter.

Cuddy loved to make him feel good and she'd missed this so much. She had enjoyed giving him pleasure as much as he enjoyed giving it to her. She knew these moments gave him a brief respite from his pain and she was so happy to be a part of it. She stroked him gently and leaned down to run her tongue over his tip, tasting him, and then she wrapped her lips around him and moved up and down slowly, feeling him writhe beneath her, overwhelmed by her movements. He put his hands in her hair as she sucked and licked him. She took him out of her mouth and looked up at him, his eyes were glazed over, and the look on his face was pure ecstasy.

"I'd love to make you come this way," she said in a seductive raspy voice, "But I've got something better planned." She moved up his body and rested her heat over him, grinding against him, teasing him. He reached for her hands and held them in his as she put her weight on his arms and lifted herself up and then down onto him. She took her time so she could adjust to him and finally she sank down on him all the way.

"Oh my God this feels so good," she said looking down at him.

"Tell me about it."

They stayed like that for a moment not moving, just relishing the feeling of being joined together again. For them, it felt like home, the safe place they both belonged. Their hands still clasped, she began to move slowly up and down on top of him, taking complete control of his body, grinding her hips into him. He filled her up completely, not just her womb but her heart as she rode him and held his hands, which he kissed alternately. Tonight was not about desperation and neediness as it had been last night, tonight they were taking it slow, enjoying the feel of being with each other and making that deep physical, emotional and spiritual connection that opened their hearts and souls to one another, making them completely vulnerable.

Cuddy moved above House effortlessly and the friction created by their connection was overwhelming. Cuddy lay on House's chest, as she moved her hips above him. They whispered things to one another in between kisses and their hands roamed and touch every inch of skin they could find. Time had passed but they still knew what the other liked and it was as if they'd never been apart. House was mesmerized by her beauty as Cuddy swayed above him, her breasts so round and full in his hands as he caressed them. He watched her hair fall in her face and at that moment he swore that until his dying day, there would never be a more beautiful sight than her.

Though he enjoyed the feeling of her on top of him, House knew she liked to be taken and he wanted to give it to her like he knew she wanted. He flipped them over and pushed himself inside her again. He heard her groan in pleasure. He placed one hand under her ass and one under her neck and pulled her as close to him as possible as he thrust in and out. He dipped his head and captured her lips and they kissed passionately as their bodies moved in unison, sweaty and slippery, grinding together in perfect symbiosis. She wrapped her legs around his thighs as he plunged in and out of her, making her spine tingle.

"Oh…God…don't ever stop," she yelled.

"I don't plan to mistress," he said as he kissed her. He was breathing hard and starting to lose control but he didn't want to come before her. He moved faster while kissing her neck and sucking on it, leaving his mark to let the world know she belonged to him.

"House…faster…please!" She cried. House picked up the pace and began to move faster while he kissed every bit of skin he could reach as they grinded together towards ecstasy. His leg hurt but he knew it would be worth it. He took his hand from behind her back and reached around and let his thumb circle her clit vigorously, knowing she was almost there. As her walls clenched, she let out a gasp, knowing the end was near. Their eyes connected and at that moment they realized that through all the pain and tears they finally belonged to each other again. Neither of them had ever felt more loved as they did at this moment.

As she neared her climax, House put his lips to her ear and whispered, "I'm gonna miss you so much Cuddy."

Cuddy came apart hearing his words. "Oh my God...House!" She yelled breathlessly. Suddenly she felt the incredible rush and tingle from her spine down to her toes and she cried out her release, yelling his name over and over again as she climaxed and wave after wave pulsed through her. Hearing her shout his name sent House over the edge with her, groaning her name into her neck repeatedly as he felt his release pouring seemingly endlessly into her.

When they finally came down from their high together, breathing hard, sweating, and completely satisfied, they were overwhelmed with emotion. Neither could speak, they simply maintained their connection as he lay over her planting kisses about her face and neck. Finally he pulled out of her and her body tingled with tiny aftershocks. They crawled under the covers and held each other. Cuddy lay with her head on his chest as he gently ran his fingers through her hair.

"I love you," he whispered in her ear. He noticed her eyes filled with tears. "What's wrong?" He asked as he wiped away the tears with his thumb.

"Even when I was angry at you for what you did, I still missed you. My sister didn't understand, nobody did, except Wilson, that is. Without you, I felt like a piece of me was missing. I tried not to miss you but it was impossible, it just hurt so much. I don't ever want to feel that way again."

He held her tightly and said, "I know. I felt the same way. Honestly, I never wanted another relationship after you. And speaking of Wilson, he was the only one who understood why. I just didn't want to try and have with someone else, what I had with you. I don't even think I could have."

Cuddy looked at him surprised, her heart warmed by his confession. "We're idiots," she said.

"Tell me about it." He kissed the top of her head as one hand caressed her hip. "Thanks for giving a grumpy pain in the ass another chance."

"I love you, House," she said. "I don't think it's ever been in me not to give you another chance. Thanks for doing the same for me."

"For you, my little MILF...anytime," he said, eliciting a laugh from her. House moved on top of her and nestled himself between her thighs, taking her soft, warm lips with his own and kissing her passionately once again.

And there we go. I can't believe it took twelve days to get this finished but I've had to write it in between other things. Please leave your comments on the way out!