A/N: I know I haven't written anything for this in forever. Honestly, I just haven't had any inspiration for it. And after year of not writing for House, I've decided to get back in the swing of things. I'm going to try and keep updates weekly. Which should be relatively easy. Anyway, if anyone is still reading this, here's the next chapter.

Please Don't Leave Me

June 9, 2007

Cuddy stared at him as he slept, a smile gracing her features. She lightly traced circles on his chest, content in having him close. They'd been together for nearly six months and everything had been perfect for her. He was still a pain in her ass, and she still badgered him about clinic duty, but in her mind, she was happy with it.

She was a bit more cautious this time around, not wanting to let him hurt her they way he did back in med school. There was still a hold she kept on a part of her heart, not wanting to let him see how deeply she was in this. This was it for her. She was all in.

Cuddy bit her lip, contemplating. She sighed softly, part of her hoping her was awake while the other part was hoping he was still asleep. "I love you," she whispered softly. Quickly, she kissed him before slipping out of the bed, her heart racing.

House's blue eyes popped open, a smirk form on his lips as he turned towards the closed bathroom door. He didn't feel any fear coursing through him, just a sense of serenity in knowing she loved him back. Even after all the things he had done to her. House closed his eyes, a plan forming in his head as he drifted back to sleep.

~Wilson's Office~

House barged into Wilson's office later that morning, startling his best friend. "Cuddy loves me."

Wilson rolled his eyes. "I think we've established that already." He looked back down at his paperwork.

House put his cane on top of the papers. "Cuddy. Loves. Me."

"I know." He didn't remove his cane, waiting for Wilson to look back up. Wilson sighed. "What?"

"She said it to me this morning."

Wilson's eyes went wide. "She did? What did you say? Did you say it back to her?"

House grinned. "You're such a girl, Wilson." He glared. "No, I didn't say it back to her. I didn't say anything to her."

Wilson was shocked. "Wh-what? Why? She says she loves you and you don't have any kind of response?"

"She thought I was sleeping," he simply replied.

His best friend was silent for a moment. "Are you going to say it back?" House didn't say anything, instead choosing to walk out of Wilson's office, leaving the other man wondering.

~PPTH~

Cuddy was irritated. Her day was not going well. The clinic was under-staffed today and she had gotten multiple complaints from patients about House's rudeness. She let out a tired sigh as she walked towards the Nurse's Station. "I was paged here?"

The nurse behind the counter shuffled around some papers before picking up a folded note and passing it to her. "Dr House left this for you," the nurse replied.

Cuddy took it and walked back to her office, throwing the note onto her desk. She'd read it later. She quickly looked at her watch, noticing she was late for a meeting with a donor. "Damn," she swore softly before heading back out the door.

~Later that Day (Cuddy's Office)~

She was exhausted when she finally sat back down in her chair. The donor had done nothing but complain throughout the entire meeting and in turn had given her a headache. She sighed as she looked at the papers that were on her desk. Her eyes rested on the note that was from House. Her curiosity was peaked. She reached over and unfolded the paper.

'Give me more love than I've ever had. Make it all better when I'm feeling sad. Tell me that I'm special even when I know I'm not. Make me feel good when I hurt so bad, barely getting mad. I'm so glad I found you. I love being around you. You make it easy. As easy as one, two, one, two, three, four. There's only one thing to do, those three words for you.'

Cuddy could feel her heart stop. He was awake when she told him she loved him. And he didn't run from her. Her heart could burst with the joy she was feeling. She bit her lip, a smile appearing.

Cuddy quickly gathered her things and walked out of her office. She ignored the stares from the nurses as she walked through the clinic to the doors to the hospital.

Though he didn't say it, she was still happy. He had acknowledged that he heard her and that he wasn't leaving her. It felt like a fairytale ending. She was finally getting the man she loved.

The drive to her house was uneventful; her thoughts occupied with House and everything he had done to her and for her. He was it for her. He was her one and only. The one who could make her heart beat faster and slower at the same time. The one who understood her perfectly and completely. The one who loved her for who she was and didn't care if she acted crazy and irrational at times. He was always right there with her.

Darkness had fallen as she arrived home. There was a soft illumination in the windows, as though the lights were all dimmed. Cuddy opened the front door and gasped at the sight. Candles filled every surface, filling her house with a warm golden glow. House stood in the middle of her foyer, holding a peach coloured rose in his hand. He held his other hand out to her, beckoning her to come with him. She placed her hand in his and he squeezed it before leading her down the hallway to the bedroom.

The bedroom was completely encased in darkness. House pushed her back on the bed and she giggled. "Look up," he requested. She did so and gasped, tears coming to her eyes. Written on her ceiling in glow in the dark pain were the words 'I Love You'. Tears made their way down her cheeks as she looked back to him. House slowly lowered himself so he was at eye-level with her. "I love you," he reiterated. Cuddy smiled and pulled him in, kissing him deeply.

'This is what heaven is,' she decided.