Disclaimer: I don't own House M.D. nor the characters. I don't own the lyrics from the Ani Difranco song "Hour Follows Hour" either.
Author's Note: I had started this thinking it would be a oneshot. Then, I realized it was going to be much longer than I anticipated. So, four chapters. Yay!

we make our own gravity to give weight to things
then things fall and they break and gravity sings

House followed after Cuddy, his cane hitting with a soft thud at each step. His duffel bag, which seemed to be growing heavier, was hanging by the strap around his shoulder. Cuddy pulled her black suitcase behind her as she made her way to the front desk of the hotel.

"Tell me, again, why I am stuck here with you?" House asked her, catching up to her side.

"Because God hates me," Cuddy answered.

"Maybe you should do something about that because whenever God punishes you, I always seem to be involved," House told her, annoyance in his tone.

Cuddy gave him a glance. "What can I say? He knows how much I loathe you."

"Love me, you mean," House corrected.

"Right." Cuddy stopped a few feet from the desk and lowered her voice. "Listen, I don't want a wake up call at four a.m. I don't want room service. I don't want extra pillows, blankets, soap, or shampoo. And my room will not be on fire."

"All right, but if your room actually does catch on fire, don't expect me to try and help." House had to hold back a smirk at Cuddy's list of all his former pranks when they were at conferences together.

Cuddy turned from House and approached the front desk. She smiled at the man standing behind the desk. "Hi. Lisa Cuddy. Checking in."

"And Greg House," House piped up, stepping alongside of Cuddy.

"In separate rooms," Cuddy added in.

"Welcome." The man gave them both a smile. "It'll be just a moment."

The man went to typing at the computer under the counter. Cuddy scanned the hotel lobby, noting the trim painted in a gold color that matched the color outlining the tile on the floor. House's eyes were on Cuddy and he casually gave a quick pinch to her behind.

Cuddy turned in his direction quickly, eyebrows drawn. "Stop it."

"You had a string." House shrugged innocently and pointed to her backside.

Cuddy glared in response to House, who merely kept up his innocent act.

"I only have a Gregory House here," the man said, looking up from the computer.

"What?" Cuddy leaned forward as if she was going to try and view the computer herself. "The hotel rooms were called in together three weeks ago. We should both be there."

The man looked back down at the computer and shook his head. "No. It's just the one."

"Well, can I get a room now?" Cuddy asked.

"We're booked." The man gave an apologetic smile. "The medical conference and the International Aqua League filled us up."

"Cuddy, why the hell are we wasting our time with medicine when we can be part of the International Aqua League?" House asked her.

Cuddy ignored him. "There must be some mistake."

"No." The man shook his head again. "I'm sorry."

"You can stay with me," House offered.

"No way." Cuddy gave him a warning look.

"Why not?" House asked and then looked to the man. "The room's got two beds, right?"

"Yes," he answered.

"Come on, Cuddlecakes." House gave her a nudge. "What'd you say?"

"No." Cuddy had a horrified expression on her face. "I'll stay somewhere else."

"It's almost ten," House said. "Where the hell do you plan on going this late?"

"There's got to be somewhere else." Cuddy turned to the man behind the desk. "Could you direct me to another hotel?"

"Ten bucks says it's booked," House told her. "God's smiting you, remember?"

Cuddy kept her eyes on the man. "Please, could you-"

"There's a Best Western a few miles up the road, but your friend is right." The man looked to House before looking back at Cuddy. "It's booked as well. I guess I could suggest a motel that's about twenty miles from here. Though, it's not the greatest quality."

"It's better than staying with him," Cuddy replied.

"Come on." House frowned. "I'm not that bad."

"Do you have a taxi service?" Cuddy asked.

"Of course," the man answered.

He reached under the counter and pulled out a black cordless phone. He dialed the seven digit number quickly and handed the phone over to Cuddy. She took it from him as House looked on, agitated at the situation and Cuddy's stubborn denial of sharing a room.

"You've got to be kidding me." House muttered loud enough for her to hear.

"Shut up," Cuddy hissed at him in return.

"Your room key, sir." The man behind the desk extended a plastic key card to House.

"Thanks." House pulled the card from the man's fingers.

Cuddy spoke into the phone, "Hi, yes, I need a-"

House leaned closer to Cuddy and yanked the phone from her. He held it to his ear. "So sorry. She has to cancel. She's just been hired for another three hours."

House hung up the phone and handed it back to the man, who replaced it under the counter. Cuddy's eyes followed the phone being passed over before returning her gaze to House.

"What the hell is-"

"You're not staying at motel," House cut her off.

"Why do you even care?" Cuddy asked.

"Because I'm a gentleman," House replied.

"Oh, that's rich." Cuddy rolled her eyes to accompany her sarcasm.

House turned to the man. "Thank you for the excellent service. We'll handle our bags ourselves. She's a feminist, hates men."

"I just hate you," Cuddy spat to House.

"Continental breakfast at eight?" House was still focused on the man.

"That's right." The man gave a smile and a nod.

"Thanks and goodnight." House returned the smile and led Cuddy over to the pair of elevators.

"What the hell was that?" Cuddy asked once the elevator doors had closed them in.

"Just making you look like a bitch," House told her as he pushed the button for the fourth floor.

Cuddy folded her arms across her chest. "I'm not staying with you. I'll call a taxi from your room."

"Only hookers and drug addicts go to motels, Cuddy." House gave her a side glance.

"Then maybe you should go," Cuddy replied.

"Not when I have a wonderful room here."

The elevator stopped and the doors slid apart. House left first and began down the blue and beige carpeted hallway. Cuddy sighed and followed after him, pulling her suitcase along. House stopped in front of room four seventeen. He slid the key through the sensor and waited for the green light to signal the door being unlocked.

House turned the knob and opened the door. He flicked on the light as he entered into the hotel room. It had a short hall with a bathroom on the left. A small table was on the right next to a closet. House set the the key card on the table.

The room was large and held two beds on the left side of the room. Across from the beds was a dresser with a large mirror hanging over it and a desk with a television taking up half of it. In the right corner of the room was a table and two chairs. In the left corner was an armchair. Between the two corners was a glass door, which slid open to the balcony.

Giving a glance back at Cuddy, House entered the room and set his duffel bag down on the dresser. He continued further into the room to the glass door. He slid it open, allowing the cool breeze of the summer night to make its way into the room. He glanced at the two faded white plastic chairs on the balcony before entering back into the room, but leaving the door open.

Cuddy was seated on the bed further away from him as she picked up the phone from its place on the night stand between the two beds. She opened the drawer on the night stand and pulled out a phone book. As she flipped through the pages, House crossed over to her.

"Come on, Cuddy," House told her, a very slight gentleness in his voice. "It's late. By the time you get over to the motel and get settled, it'll be eleven. Just stay here tonight. You can get a room somewhere else tomorrow. Maybe one of the rooms here will open up by then."

Cuddy paused a moment. House did make a good case. They had to be at the conference at eight, which meant she had to get up at six if she wanted to shower before getting ready. And she didn't really want to stay at a motel either. Maybe if she did wait until tomorrow, she could get a room at the hotel or even at the Best Western.

Looking up at House, Cuddy closed the phone book and placed it back in the night stand. She shut the drawer and returned the phone to its former place.

"Fine," Cuddy agreed. "I'll stay here tonight only. But, don't even think about trying anything or putting my hand in warm water while I sleep or picking the lock when I'm in the bathroom."

"So, I can push you off the balcony?" House asked, irritated.

Cuddy glared. "House."

"Okay." House raised a defensive hand. "Calm down, Cuddy. It's going to be a wild night and getting riled up now would be too much for you to handle."

Cuddy frowned slightly. "I'm going to regret this, aren't I?"

House shrugged. "Like you said, God's punishing you."