A/N: Many thanks to Cherokee Jedi for letting me bounce ideas off of her. Thanks to the readers for all the words of encouragement and support. Thank you also to all the people who continue to write Huddy. You guys are phenomenal!

I am forever grateful to Hugh Laurie & Lisa Edelstein for bringing House & Cuddy to life in ways that no one-not the fans, Shore, or the writers could've imagined or anticipated. The chemistry between the actors and the characters gave us this greatness that fuels the Huddy fandom.

House and Wilson were comfortably ensconced on the leather couch, feet up on the coffee table each with an Egg McMuffin in one hand and a beer in the other. The odd combination was the result of the need for sustenance and the celebration of the pending sale of House's apartment.

Earlier, the realtor showed up with newlyweds Todd and Elizabeth Sterns, who had already seen pictures of House's apartment online. Once they arrived at the apartment, it had not taken long for them to decide it would be their perfect first place together as a married couple. Though cluttered with boxes and movers it had been obvious to them that the dwelling had undergone exceptional care and maintenance over the years. They loved the location, the interior colors, large windows, hardwood floors, high ceilings, built-in bookcases, and of course the fireplace. Thirty minutes after their arrival, they parted with a handshake and headed with the realtor back to her office to begin the process.

"Ka-ching," House said as he clinked beer bottles with Wilson.

"I can't believe you're getting your asking price."

"What? He's an engineer, she's in astrophysics, they're loaded."

"How could you know that?"

"Do you know what startup packages are for new assistant professors in those departments? Trust me, this apartment won't even make a dent in their budget. They're young and beautiful with the job of their dreams and rolling in dough. They're livin' the dream," he mused.

"Oh to be young and idealistic," Wilson said with a sigh.

House held up his beer. "Here's to the idiots." They clinked again.

"So, you took care of everything at the hospital this morning?" Wilson asked through a mouthful of sandwich. House had gone in early to meet with his fellows and Stevens one last time.

"Yep. All done."

"How'd it go?"

House shrugged. "Fine, I guess. They're disappointed but what can I say? I'm world famous."

Wilson rolled his eyes. "Are they going to stay?"

"I doubt it."

"They'll be fine. It's not like you worked with them that long."

"Exactly. Hell I didn't even hire Park."

"Did you see Taub?"

"Yep and get this...he got hired on at the Children's Hospital at Newark Beth Israel."

"No kidding? Surely plastic surgery pays more."

"He doesn't care about the money. Well, he does but not like he used to. Having kids changed him."

"Ya think?"

"His words not mine but yeah I think so."

"In the beginning I was sure you wouldn't hire him."

"I couldn't stand him in the beginning but he was willing to challenge me and stand by it knowing that if he was wrong I'd fire his ass. I liked that. Back then his life was a mess. He's got his priorities straight now. He'll do fine."

Wilson watched House as he spoke about Taub. He spoke of him with respect. Wilson knew House didn't care much for his fellows when they began working for him but over the years they'd grown on him and he on them. He'd had a different relationship with each and built a mutual respect. House never talked about his feelings regarding his fellows but Wilson knew the truth. They each meant a great deal to him and they had left his tutelage as better people and doctors. Wilson thought it was a shame that Park and Adams hadn't worked with House long enough to build that type of relationship. It was their loss. Suddenly, he was brought out of his thoughts by the sound of House's voice.

"Hey...throw me another one of those hash browns will ya?"

By early afternoon, most of the apartment was vacant. As the movers were moving out the last of the large furniture, there was a knock at the door. Wilson opened it to see a young man with a very pregnant girl standing next to him.

"Can I help you?" Wilson asked as he noticed a cab pulling away from the curb. He looked them over and thought they couldn't have been more than twenty years old.

"We're here to see Greg," the young man replied.

"Greg?" Wilson asked.

"Yeah, who're you?"

"Umm...I'm James. Who are you?"

The guy stuck his hand out. "Chris, this is my fiancee Gretchen. We're here for the car."

"The car?"

"Yeah, the Somerset."

Wilson looked puzzled and was about to ask them something else when House limped down the hallway toward the door.

"Hey man," Chris said as he caught sight of him over Wilson's shoulder.

House stood next to Wilson at the door. "Whoa! She's about to pop isn't she?" House nodded toward the very pregnant girl.

Chris looked proud. "Yeah. Any day now. Listen, we're still on, right? You haven't changed your mind?"

"Nope. Let's go take a look at it."

Wilson watched as House led the young couple outside to the street and past the moving van. The younger man got into the car and cranked it up and appeared to nod affirmatively as House spoke with him. When he got out of the car, House took a piece of paper out of his pocket and leaned on the side of the car. He then handed the paper over to Chris, along with the keys. They shook hands and moments later, the couple got into the car and left.

"So...what just happened there?" Wilson asked when House re-entered the apartment.

"I gave them the car."

"Why?"

"Why not?"

"But you liked that car."

"It was just a car. I haven't even had it that long."

"Why not sell it?"

"They can't afford it," he said. Seeing Wilson wasn't going to let it go, he explained. "I first met them in the clinic a few months ago when she was there for a checkup. He's a smart kid, graduated high school and worked with his dad in the family business for a few years until they had a falling out when the kid got his girlfriend pregnant. He moved in with her family but they couldn't afford a car. They came back for another checkup and I saw she was due soon so-"

"You figured you'd just give them yours," House interrupted.

"Hey, it runs great but it's too small for me."

"That was really nice of you."

"Not nice, just practical," House said, dismissively.

"Whatever," he said patting House on the back. "It was nice." House rolled his eyes.

"What about the bike?" Wilson asked.

"They're picking it up later."

Around three o'clock, House and Wilson were tired and thankful that the apartment was cleared out. The two of them had spent a lot of time carefully packing House's guitars and smaller musical instruments, boxed up the smaller objects of sentimental value as well as House's personal papers, all of which they'd planned to take with them in Wilson's car. By the time they were done, the last item to be moved out of the apartment and into the moving truck was the piano.

Though the movers were experienced and highly recommended piano movers, House didn't take any chances with his baby grand. He directed traffic and barked orders as he pointed his cane much to the annoyance of the movers who reminded him more than once that one of the reasons he hired them was their piano-moving expertise.

House would have none of that. He took control and watched them like a hawk as they removed the legs and lyre, padded the piano and placed it on the dolly. House held his breath as they moved it out of the apartment and down the steps and exhaled deeply only when it was firmly planted on the truck and surrounded by plenty of blankets and padding. It had taken about forty-five minutes to complete the task but when it was done and the door to the moving truck was closed and locked, House relaxed. Wilson watched him the entire time, amused. To him, House seemed more like an overprotective father who didn't want to let his child out of his sight.

When House re-entered the apartment, he quietly limped about the living room, the only noise coming from the echo of his cane on the hardwood floor. Wilson, who had been making the rounds checking to see nothing had been missed, walked back into the living room. House was running his hand along the mantle of the fireplace and Wilson noticed that he stood slightly hunched, no doubt from the fact he'd been on his feet most of the day.

"So this is it," Wilson said, not as a question but a statement of fact.

"Yeah."

Wilson stood with his hands on his hips looking around the room. "We had some good times here."

House nodded.

"And some not-so-good times too," Wilson admitted.

House nodded again but didn't say anything. It was clear his focus was elsewhere.

"You want a moment before we head over to my place?"

"Yeah," he finally said.

Wilson pursed his lips and nodded then headed out to the car to give House a moment alone.

House moved around the empty expanse of the apartment, his cane echoing throughout. He was momentarily overwhelmed by the memories. He'd spent a lot of years in that place and so much had happened. There were things he wished he could remember better and things he wished he could forget. Alas, it was the story of his life. He'd accepted that he couldn't change the past and as much as he fought against the idea of fate he knew that everything he'd been through in his life had led him to this moment.

He ambled toward the open door then stopped and turned around, taking one last look at the empty space. He smiled crookedly then turned and walked out, closing the door behind him. He pulled his coat tight around him and limped down the steps where he found Wilson leaning against the driver's side of the car. The two of them got in and buckled their seat belts.

As he started the car, Wilson looked over at House, who was staring out the window and up at the clear, blue sky. He appeared deep in thought.

"You okay?" Wilson asked.

House nodded and then turned to him. A devilish smile graced his lips.

"Hell, yeah. I'm looking forward to pizza and beer and kicking your ass in poker."

Wilson laughed as they drove away.