A/N: Hi all. I wanted to post weekly but life gets in the way so it looks like for now, every two weeks may be the best I can do unless the muse hits sooner and I can find more time. I'll play it by ear. In the meantime, please read and review!

At the end of our last chapter, it was Saturday night…

"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.

Sometime after five o'clock on Sunday morning, Cuddy woke from her peaceful slumber. She looked over at House who slept soundly, emitting only a light snore. The lines on his face seemed faded and the crease in his brow which was constant was temporarily gone. She recalled how, when they were together, he'd told her he rarely enjoyed a good night's sleep and it was then that she understood why he often arrived at work late. After that she stopped chastising him for it. She had always underestimated the toll his pain had taken on him and now she wanted to be sure that never happened again. The sight of him in her bed, so relaxed, made her heart lighter. She closed her eyes and laid there, a smile on her face as she daydreamed about House. As she was drifting back to sleep, a deep voice interrupted her thoughts.

"What? No yoga this morning?"

Her eyes still closed, she rolled over and snuggled up to him. "I should but I got quite a workout last night and as I recall, again earlier this morning. Besides, I can do yoga anytime." She opened one eye and peered at him. "How long have you been awake?"

"Long enough. What were you thinking about?"

"Who says I was thinking about anything?"

"I know that look."

"Well, you're wrong."

"Don't lie. Besides, I know the feeling."

"Oh really?" She raised an eyebrow at him. "You've been doing some deep thinking lately?"

"See, you admit it," he said, wagging his finger at her.

"Don't deflect."

"I'm always in deep thought," he admitted.

"About what?" Cuddy asked curiously.

"This isn't about me, this is about you. Now you're deflecting," he accused.

"No, I'm not, come on tell me."

"Will it shut you up?"

Cuddy gave him a look.

"Sorry. The last couple of months I've been having flashbacks about things. You and me, my dad…"

"Wanna talk about him?"

House shook his head. "You wanna talk about my dead dad while we're in bed?"

"I want to talk about whatever is on your mind."

"Well what's on my mind doesn't require talk." He grinned mischievously at her as leaned over and slid his hand under her tank top. He groaned at the feel of her soft, bare skin.

"House!"

He rolled over on his back. "Fine woman, what do you want to know?"

"Well when you say it like that." She moved away from him.

"Do you want to talk or not?"

She sighed and rolled back over to him and laid her head on his chest. "I don't want to force you to talk to me; I just want you to feel like you can."

House encircled her with his arms. "I'm not trying to hide anything. I talk to Nolan all the time. For the record, it helps."

"I wish you could talk to me more."

He felt her tense up in his arms and he kissed the crown of her head. "We've been making progress, just give me some time. I can't change a lifetime of behavior in just a few weeks."

"Okay."

House felt her relax. "Okay? That's it?"

"I'm not going to nag you. I just want you to know I'm here when you do want to talk…about anything."

They lay there quietly for a few moments before he spoke again. "I was scared as hell to send you that letter."

"Really?"

"I had no idea how you'd react. I knew I had one chance to make things right and I wasn't sure if you'd even read it." House ran his fingers up and down her arm. He could tell Cuddy was thinking, it was just something he felt.

"Why don't you tell me what's on your mind?"

"It's nothing, really."

"Don't do this Cuddy. Tell me what's going on."

"You'll think it's stupid."

House sighed and rubbed his hand over his tired, stubbled face. "This is so five years ago."

Cuddy rolled over on her stomach and leaned on her elbows, with her chin in her hands. "I have this overwhelming desire to start a fight with you."

"You're right, that's stupid."

She smacked him in the chest.

"Okay, why do you want to fight?"

"I don't know. It's strange, it's just…."

"Hormones?" He interrupted with a smirk.

"No."

When Cuddy didn't elaborate, House had an epiphany. "You're putting up the wall even before I leave. You want to fight as a way of pushing me away."

"Yeah." She admitted with a desperate sigh.

"Will it make you feel better if we fight?"

"No."

"Anything I can do to help?"

"Just hold me."

"That's so cheesy."

"Are you trying to pick a fight with me now?"

"Shut up Cuddy," he said as he held her close. Her head lay on his chest as he stroked her bare skin of her arm. "You know us. Give it time and we'll have plenty of arguments."

Cuddy smacked him playfully. "It's been great since you've come back into our lives. And last night and the night before…were amazing."

"Isn't it always?"

"It was always amazing with you."

"You think we can keep from screwing it up?"

"The sex? Oh no." She chuckled. "It's the one thing we always got right."

"No, not the sex, just everything else."

"In the past I would have been hesitant, in fact…I was. But now I'm pretty sure we can do this. After everything we've been through…I'm convinced we just can't have this with anyone else." She said sincerely. "How are we really going to do this? Long distance is hard."

"Hey I'm supposed to be the pessimist here."

"You don't think it'll be an issue?"

"Not unless we make it one."

She tapped her fingers on his chest. "Would you want me to move back to Princeton?"

"I could never ask you to do that."

"I wonder what people at the hospital would think."

"Do you care?"

"Not really but...everyone knows, at least everyone who was there when it...when things happened."

"A lot of people are still pissed at me for you leaving." Then he added, "But you know that I never gave a shit about what they thought. I do know how much you miss it, you've said as much."

"I miss us working together, I miss Wilson, and running that place...I was good at it. The only thing I don't miss is working all the time."

"You know what they say about hindsight."

"I suppose."

"Would you ever take a job as administrator again?"

"At Princeton?" She raised an eyebrow at him, surprised by his question.

"Anywhere?"

"It'd have to be the right job at the right place at the right time. I'd have to have not only a kickass assistant but a competent Associate Dean as well. I can't do it all."

"You always thought you could."

"I was an idiot."

"My little girl is all grown up now." He smirked at her.

"Now that just sounds creepy." She smiled at him then reached up to run her fingers through his hair, leaning forward to kiss him. At that moment, there was a soft tapping on the door.

"Mommy, can I come in?" Asked the soft-spoken voice on the other side of the door.

"Oh shit," she said, removing herself reluctantly from House's lips. "Hold on Rach," she said. Their lips met once more and then House broke away to grab his pajama pants. After House put his pants back on, she got up and opened the door to a sleepy Rachel.

"Can I come in with you guys?"

Cuddy picked her up and brought her over to the bed where she crawled in the middle and got under the covers.

"Hey, what is this?" He asked as moved closer to him.

"Wanna sleep with you and mommy," she said still half asleep.

"You have your own bed."

"I know." Rachel settled under the covers and closed her eyes. In a few minutes she was asleep again. Cuddy got back into bed with them, moved towards Rachel, pulling her daughter close to her. She looked over at House and smiled at him.

"Now, where were we?"

"Well we were making out until a certain rugrat interfered."

"One kiss does not constitute making out."

"You were hot for me. Your hand was reaching for my…"

"Hey," she whispered. "Small child here."

"She's gotta get used to it sometime," he mused. He rolled over and faced her and the child sleeping close to her.

"I wish you didn't have to go," she said softly.

"You know I'll be back."

"What if you get busy?"

"You think I'll forget about you?"

"No. I'm just worried that...when you get back there you'll start thinking and…"

He interrupted her thoughts. "I could just as easily get those thoughts here."

"No, because at least you have me here to keep you preoccupied."

"You think you can control my thoughts while I'm here?" He asked puzzled.

"No, idiot, you know what I mean."

"I made the kid a promise."

"She really looks up to you. I wish I'd seen it when we were together."

"Before…it took awhile before she grew on me. She's a good kid. I don't want to let her down."

"What makes you think you will?"

"Experience."

"You're not your father. Is there anything I can say to convince you otherwise?"

"I know I'm not my father, but I can't help but think I'll make the same mistakes he did."

"I often say I'm not going to do the things my mother did but sometimes I do. I don't mean to, it's just…it's just the way it is. The important thing is that I am trying to learn from her mistakes as well as my own."

"When we were together before, I warned you about how I was an insane choice for someone with a kid. I wanted to be with you…but not her and that would've never worked. It's not that I didn't like her, I just never thought I could be someone's parent."

"I didn't ask you to be her parent back then."

"Cuddy, she was the elephant in the room. I wanted to be with you…not anyone else…ever. That couldn't happen unless I accepted Rachel as a permanent part of my life. You knew that but you avoided the subject as much as I did."

"I wanted to be with you so badly that I was willing to overlook it."

"That was stupid."

"Yeah, it was also one of the reasons it didn't work between us. It was bound to become an issue at some point if I hadn't gotten sick."

"I still don't know how to be what she needs."

"You're doing just fine. Don't rush it, just be you." Looking down at the sleeping child, she said, "I think that Rachel likes the real you just fine."

"My dad…he wasn't always like that you know. I mean, he had his good moments."

Cuddy gave House a smile. "You can always tell me whatever you want…or not. Will you at least keep talking to Nolan?"

"Yeah."

"That's good. You're doing great House, I'm really proud of you."

House swallowed hard at her words. It wasn't often he'd heard that during his life, from anyone other than his mother. She had always seen through his façade and known who he really was and now Cuddy was able to as well. It made him feel good to know that.

"House, you okay?" Cuddy interrupted him in deep thought.

"Yeah."

"C'mere," she said. House moved closer to Cuddy and Rachel and put his arm around them as the two of them joined Rachel in sleep.

Hours later, after breakfast, Rachel watched cartoons while Cuddy helped House pack his things in the bedroom. Cuddy noticed House was only packing his backpack and not the duffel bag he'd brought with him.

"You're not leaving yet are you?"

"No, just getting my stuff together." I think I've got everything," he said, putting his reading glasses and a few journals and miscellaneous items in his backpack.

"That's it? What about your clothes and the stuff in the bathroom?"

"I figured I'd leave it here."

Cuddy beamed. "Yeah?"

"You don't mind do you?"

"Of course not."

"Just figured since I'll be back in a week."

Cuddy sat on the bed.

"You okay?"

"Yeah," she offered a smile, which House knew was fake.

"You know it's okay to be sad, you don't have to fake it for me."

"I just don't want to depress you."

He grabbed her shoulders lightly and brought her to him. "C'mon let's go see what the rugrat is up to."

They sat in the living room watching cartoons with Rachel. Cuddy let out a few disgusted sighs as House and Rachel laughed at the idiocy on the screen.

"What on earth are you watching?"

"Cow and chik'n mommy."

"What?"

"Don't tell me you've never heard of it. It's the stuff of legends," House replied, his eyes never leaving the screen.

"You've got to be kidding."

"This," House said pointing to the screen, Is about the surreal adventures of a cow, named of course, Cow, and her chicken brother, named of course, Chicken. They are often antagonized by The Red Guy who poses as various characters to scam them."

"And what's the Red Guy's name?"

"Oh he's just Red Guy," Rachel replied, knowingly.

Cuddy looked dumfounded and House and Rachel looked at one another and then at Cuddy, with a look of disgust that she had never heard of the legendary cartoon.

"It was nominated for an Emmy," House said.

"Twice," Rachel added. House held up his hand to Rachel. "Up high," he said as she high-fived him. Cuddy looked down and shook her head.

"I can't believe I'm watching this."

"It's quality family time. Now shush, I'm missing the plot."

"There's a plot?" She asked.

House sighed and looked at her. "Yes, there's a plot. Hello?"

"Oy vey."

Hey this is better than the episode "Buffalo Gals."

"Why?" She wondered if she would be afraid she asked.

"It was banned. See Cow and Chicken's house was invaded by a gang of female bikers."

"What's so wrong with that?"

House smirked and leaned towards her. "They broke into people's houses and began eating the carpet…literally." He pulled back to watch her reaction.

"Geez House, you let her watch that?"

"What part of it was banned did you not hear? Of course not, though I did hear that it was pretty funny."

Cuddy put her head in her hands.

"It's okay Cuddy, this stuff is harmless. She has no idea what they're talking about. She just likes the funny looking characters."

"Still…"

"Look, when she's in her twenties and starts having issues because of it, I'll pay for the shrink myself."

"That's so comforting." Nonetheless, she leaned back on the couch and watched House and Rachel intently focused on their cartoon. She couldn't care less about the cartoon, what interested her more was the growing bond between her daughter and House. She'd seen it once before, when they watched House's soaps and during the awful pirate cartoons they'd watch together. She hated that her daughter watched those things and it was only after they broke up, Cuddy realized Rachel was too young to really know what was happening, all she cared about was spending fun time with her tall friend.

Ten minutes later the cartoon ended and Rachel turned to House.

"Hows?"

"Yeah kid?"

"Will you play piano again before you go?"

Cuddy looked over at House and smiled sweetly. Actually she was just happy to be turning off the television after the madness she had just witnessed on it.

"You Cuddy women are gonna be the death of me," House said as he limped to the piano. Rachel sat with Cuddy and watched as House splayed his fingers over the keys and began to play. Rachel smiled at his rendition of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" followed by "All the pretty horses." After he played she clapped and asked him to play again.

"Again?"

"Yes!"

"You want to hear something nobody else has ever heard?" He asked Rachel.

"Yes!" She cried happily.

House winked at her then cleared his throat and then once again his graceful fingers touched the keys and he began to play. He was a little nervous because it was something he had never played for them before. Cuddy was immediately mesmerized by the melody, a mix of classical with an ethnic flair and a modern twist at the end using a song she thought she recognized but couldn't place. She watched House intently, his eyes were closed and he was relaxed and incredibly focused on the task at hand. She wondered where he went in those moments when he lost himself in his music. Finally, he finished the piece and laid his hands in his lap.

"House...that was…beautiful. What is it?"

"A little something I wrote."

"You wrote that?"

House shook his head.

"Does it have a name?"

"It does." House had never told her about the song he'd composed just for her because he always feared if he shared it and something happened between them, she would take it with her and it would no longer be special. He recalled the night he began writing it and even after a year he'd added a little to it until he was satisfied with its completion. He'd played many times in the loneliness of his apartment because though it was written for her, he had composed it just as much for himself.

"I named it after you," he said quietly, looking directly at her.

Cuddy almost didn't hear him but she made out the words as he spoke to her.

"What? You wrote that..."

"The night of Rachel's Simchat Bat."

"You wrote that for me?" Rachel interrupted, hearing her name mentioned.

"You could say that."

"What's it called?" Rachel asked.

"Cuddy's Serenade."

Rachel looked up at a stunned Cuddy. "Mommy he named it after us." She climbed off the couch and ran over to the piano and held her hands up so House would help her up on the bench, which of course he did.

"Can you play again?" She asked.

House looked at Cuddy who had tears in her eyes. She nodded at him finding it difficult to speak. House was a man of action and he understood no words were necessary. He laid his fingers over the keys and began to play once again. Next to him Rachel watched in awe as his fingers moved effortlessly over the keys. Cuddy leaned forward with her elbows on her knees, her chin in her hands just watching the man she loved, as he played the song he'd written just for her.

When he was finished, he helped Rachel off the bench. He wanted to give Cuddy some time to compose herself so he asked Rachel, "Hey how about we go outside? You can play on the swings."

"Okay."

"Rachel honey, go get your jacket." Cuddy called to her.

While Rachel went into her room, Cuddy stood up and faced House.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

House put his hands on her waist and drew her near him. "I just…couldn't, not till the time was right."

"But it's been five years House."

House nodded.

"I wanted you to come you know, that night."

"I know."

"I'm sorry I pushed you away and made you think I didn't want you there."

"I'm sorry too."

"You? Why?"

"I wanted to be there," he took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "But I was too chicken shit."

"Jesus House, we've both spent too many years being chicken shit. It's no wonder we didn't work."

"You'd think having known each other nearly half our lives; we could've made it work."

She laughed. "That's for normal people."

He grinned. "We're definitely not that."

Just then, Rachel came running into the room again with her SpongeBob jacket. "Can we go outside now?"

"Sure," she said.

"I've got my mangifing glass," she said, trying her best to say the big word, but not quite getting it right. Cuddy and House just grinned at her.

"I see that," he said. "Come on let's find a big bug to put down mommy's pants." He looked over at Cuddy who was momentarily horrified at the thought.

"Okay," Rachel giggled and ran out the sliding glass door as House held it open for her. He looked back at Cuddy and raised his eyebrow at her as she rolled her eyes at him.

House and Cuddy were sitting on lounge chairs on the back porch watching Rachel play when House turned to her.

"I've gotta leave soon," he said, breaking the silence.

"You have a long drive."

"You gonna be okay?" He asked, concerned.

"I think so."

"I'll call you."

"Okay." Cuddy stood up from her chair and helped House out of his. She watched him rub his thigh.

"Does it hurt much?"

"A bit. The patch is working fine but I think I might have overdone it last night."

"And again this morning," she replied with a shy grin.

They stood there looking at one another, love, lust and want in their eyes. They had so many things they wanted to say but words would not come. Looks had always conveyed so much between them and they seemed okay with that, for the looks seemed to speak volumes more than words ever could. It was comfortable to them because it was something they'd always had, ever since the moment they met.

Rachel ran up to them, breaking their trance. "Where ya goin'?" She asked the adults.

"Honey, House has to leave now."

"No!"

"C'mon you knew I had to leave today, right? Remember what we talked about? I'm coming back."

"You promise?"

"I do."

"Can I have a hug?"

"I don't do hugs."

"House!" Cuddy pursed her lips, looking at him with her hands on her hips.

"Just kidding, geez. C'mere," he said bending down, slightly painfully to embrace the child. She approached and wrapped her small arms around him as best she could. He heard her sniffling.

"I'm gonna miss you Hows."

"I'm gonna miss you too rugrat."

"I'm not a rugrat."

"Sure you are, but you're special."

"I am?"

"Yep, 'cause you're the only rugrat I actually like."

"Really?"

"Yep, but that's our secret okay?"

Rachel beamed. "Okay," she replied, thinking it was a secret between them even though Cuddy had heard everything.

House stood up and massaged his thigh, as Rachel took hold of his good leg. Cuddy was tearful watching yet another moment between the two. It amazed her how House always talked about not being parent material and yet he and Rachel had bonded years back in ways she'd never imagined.

"Come on Rach; let's help House get his stuff." She opened the door and let Rachel into the house. She stepped in and House followed. He smacked her gently on the ass as she walked ahead of him. She turned around halfway, feigning dismay, but he could tell she liked it.

"Well, this is it," he said, setting his backpack on the arm of the couch.

"I guess it is," she said sadly.

Cuddy wrapped her arms around House's neck when his arms encircled her waist and pulled her close to him. He buried his head in her neck and took in the scent of her raven curls. It reminded him of the many times he'd done this before, when they were together and it never got old. His hands drifted lower until they found her ass and then he squeezed both ample cheeks in his hands. He heard her laugh into his chest.

"Cuddy," he said.

"Yeah."

"You've got a big ass." He said, smiling into her curls.

Cuddy laughed out loud, remembering the first time he'd said that to her at the hospital after their argument just days after they'd first gotten together. It was his way of breaking the awkward moment and lightening the mood. It always worked. She stepped back from him, grabbing his biceps and smiling.

"You always know just the right thing to say," she said, pulling back. House noticed her eyes were brighter than they were just moments ago.

"What can I say? I'm a gentleman. I taught Wilson everything he knows."

"I highly doubt that," she said with a raised eyebrow.

"Cuddy…thanks," he said with all sincerity in his voice.

"Why are you thanking me?" She asked curiously.

"For this." He motioned between them.

"I should be thanking you too…for helping us get to this moment."

He rolled his eyes. "Ahhh so me being a complete crazed lunatic was a good thing."

She sighed out loud. "No, I'd like to think that we were supposed to go through all the shit we've been through over the years for a reason, to get us to this point. I couldn't be happier about having you back in my life. Things are different now, we've both learned a lot."

He hugged her again and whispered in her ear. "There's gonna be times I screw up, sometimes pretty bad. Just please…just give me a chance."

Cuddy nodded in their embrace. "I will," she whispered. "I always will. Just don't give up on us."

House pulled back a little and gazed down at her, taking in her ethereal beauty as he pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. He leaned down and captured her lips in a soul-searing kiss that, when they eventually broke apart, left them both completely breathless. They broke contact simultaneously, knowing he had to leave, then House turned towards the couch and picked up his backpack and cane and limped towards the front door. Cuddy and Rachel followed him outside. Before he got into the car, he turned to Cuddy and they stared at one another for a brief moment. No words were spoken and they knew none were needed. He carefully climbed into the car and closed the door. He looked up at Cuddy, who had tears in her eyes and he reached for her hand and held it tightly within his own, using his thumb to gently rub circles on her hand.

"I love you," she mouthed to him.

House nodded, then started the car and put it in gear, backing out of the driveway and into the street. When he got to the corner just down from her house, and stopped at the intersection, she noticed his car sat there longer than necessary and she wondered what he was doing. Suddenly something vibrated in her sweater pocket and she realized House must have slipped her cell phone in there when she wasn't paying attention. She pulled out the phone and saw she had one text message.

"Me too."

She smiled and looked up but his car was already out of sight. She pulled her sweater around her tightly then took Rachel's hand and led her back into the house.

"Mommy, don't cry," Rachel said. Cuddy just ruffled her daughter's hair and smiled down at her.

Cuddy closed the door behind them and Rachel climbed back on the couch to watch television. Cuddy sat next to her and tuned in the Animal Planet. As she wiped the tears from her eyes, she wasn't sure if she was crying because she was happy or sad. She knew things were okay between her and House and that she'd see him soon, however, she couldn't help but worry about what lay ahead. She felt the need to control things and with House headed back to Princeton, she felt a little helpless. She knew she could not control his life and his actions, nor did she want to, but she couldn't help it. She took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. House is doing fine, she thought to herself, he doesn't need me to protect him. Though they had made great strides, Cuddy couldn't help but worry about the unforeseen things lurking about waiting to interfere with their chance at happiness again.

Despite those negative thoughts, she knew that she had to think positive. They'd found each other again for a reason and neither was willing to let go this time. She smiled at the thought that they were committed in a way that they had not been before. With that thought, she decided to concentrate on the good things. She looked over at Rachel who was looking at the television screen and laughing at videos of cats doing funny things. Cuddy reached over and pulled her daughter onto her lap, holding her close, watching and listening to Rachel's expression of happiness, allowing herself to enjoy the moment with her.

Thanks so much for all your patience with this update. Reviews are love!