2015

All the renovations to the apartment were finished. House and Reilly took a week off work to get moved in and settled. Reilly hired some of the residents from the hospital to help her move the furniture and hang pictures. House hung his guitars himself. He would not allow anyone else to touch them. They sold all Reilly's furniture and most of his. The walls were painted a soft blue and new hardwood floors gleamed a soft honey gold. A black microfiber couch faced the fireplace. Two cream colored club chairs flanked the couch. Mahogany end tables and coffee table completed the cozy sitting area. On the end tables were two cream and black lamps with stone bases. A fifty inch plasma television hung over the fireplace and a DVD player and a TiVo box sat on the mantle with a grouping of candles. The bookshelves next to the fireplace were painted a soft cream color. Against the wall behind the couch was a mahogany desk with a Mac Airbook, another smaller version of the other lamps and a small laser printer. Next to the desk was another bookshelf painted the same soft cream color as the other. It held a CD player, charging stations, a turntable, pictures, CDs and vinyl albums. A small rectangular table with four chairs sat between the living room and kitchen. The kitchen and bathroom were both bigger and covered in white subway tiles. Stainless steel appliances replaced House's old ones. The shelves and cabinets were painted white. Everything in the kitchen looked new and clean. The bathroom was relocated behind the master bedroom and now had a steam shower along with a tub with jets. Small blue glass tiles ran in a line around the bathroom. A new pale blue vanity had two sinks, two mirrors and two new stainless steel light fixtures. A small room now held the toilet which House liked. A linen closet held all the towels and bathroom essentials. Like the kitchen, it looked new and clean. Their bedroom was painted the same pale blue as the living room. A king size bed sat between the two windows which were covered in pale grey room darkening curtains. A light blue, grey and black abstract comforter covered the bed along with matching pillow shams. Reilly wanted to add more accent pillows but House balked at that idea. Two stainless steel and glass tables flanked the bed. Two stainless steel reading lamps arched over the bedside tables. One table held a stack of books and medical journals. The other held a vase of flowers, a book and a picture of Sarah and Jenny. The armoire was replaced by a huge walk-in closet. The door to the bathroom was next to the closet. Two sleek black dressers sat against opposite walls. A navy blue Eames chair and ottoman sat in one corner. A larger stainless steel lamp curved over it. Beside it, House's banjo sat in its stand.

Reilly convinced House to purchase the empty apartment behind theirs and add a guest bedroom, bathroom, and laundry room. So, now they had a place for guests and Reilly no longer had to take their laundry to the local laundromat though House still dropped off and picked up all the dry cleaning. She also had a place to iron which House first scoffed at but soon grew to like having neatly ironed clothes.

"Greg?" Reilly called out as she entered the apartment. She juggled her briefcase, purse and two large shopping bags as she shut and locked the door. House sat up on the couch and rubbed his eyes. His head fell back and he rolled his eyes when he saw the shopping bags.

"We don't need more stuff," he whined and flopped back down on the couch.

Reilly put her purse and briefcase on the desk and put the bags on the floor. She pulled out two large throw pillows. They were striped. She dropped one on House's head and the other on his feet. He lifted the pillow and looked at it.

"It has orange in it," he said as he stuffed it behind his head.

"It's called burnt sienna and it adds a nice pop of color."

"You are now officially banned from watching HGTV," he told her. "I stirred the chili."

She leaned down and kissed his forehead. "Thank you."

He grabbed her hand and pulled her down on top of him. Smiling, she lowered her head and kissed him. He returned her kiss with passion.

"Let's move this to the bedroom," he breathed as he stroked her face.

"James and Amber will be here soon," she told him as she dropped kisses on his face.

"Call them and cancel."

She kissed him again and then pushed herself up and off him. Looking down at him, she smiled. "You make me happy, Greg House."

His eyes softened. "You make me happy, Reilly McGrath. And horny."

Laughing, she went back to the kitchen.

A week later, nearly the entire staff of PPTH sat in the auditorium. Lisa Cuddy walked in and stepped up behind the raised podium. House looked at Reilly. Her bottom lip was clamped between her teeth as she stared straight ahead. Taking her hand, he squeezed it. She gripped his hand tightly but she relaxed.

Cuddy adjusted the microphone. "Good morning," she said. "Thank you for being here. As I'm sure some of you have heard, I'm leaving Princeton Plainsboro at the end of the month. I've accepted a job at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles as head of the Diabetes and Endocrinology Unit. I'm also getting married." She paused as people applauded. When it was quiet again, she continued. "The board has selected Doctor Reilly McGrath to take my place." The cheers and applause was nearly ear shattering. Cuddy motioned to Reilly who stood up and made her way forward. The two women shook hands and Cuddy stepped down. Reilly smiled out at everyone and waited for the room to become quiet again. House knew what she was going to say and he was disappointed he wouldn't be able to see Cuddy's face.

"Thank you," Reilly said. "I am honored to be named Dean of Medicine. All of you and this hospital mean so much to me. I will do my very best by all of you." She stopped and swallowed. Her eyes locked with House's and he nodded slightly. "I am pleased to announce that we will receive a donation from Edward Voglar in the amount of one hundred million dollars." She looked out at all the shocked faces. "Yes, you heard me correctly. His father recently died from complications of Alzheimer's disease. Last month, we saved his mother's life. To show his appreciation, he is donating one hundred million dollars to be used as we see fit. The first thing the board has decided to do is purchase the building next door and transfer the clinic there. It will be called The Voglar Clinic. We've got some wonderful changes coming our way." She looked down at Cuddy. "I want to thank Doctor Cuddy for all her hard work." She began to clap and soon everyone joined her. When everyone settled again, Reilly thanked them again and they all began to crowd around her and Cuddy. House hung back until they were all gone. Reilly looked at him and held out her hand. He made his way over to her and grasped it tightly.

"I always wanted to sleep with the boss," he smiled. They slowly walked out. "I am proud of you. You're going to do great things here."

"We both are," she told him.