A/N: Here we go. I present to you the last chapter.

House was walking towards the locker room. He'd made up his mind. Or so he thought. He didn't exactly know if it was a good idea. He didn't know what was a good idea at that point, but he had a plan. Well, not a plan, but more of a general idea. Not even that, just a feeling. And he had to act on it now, before he lost his nerve.

He pushed open the door, but not before making sure that the night janitor he bribed was indeed in front of the door, guarding it. It was late, but he didn't want to take any chances.

Entering the room, he saw her sitting on the bench, putting on her shoes. He froze, suddenly unsure how to proceed, but he didn't have to dwell on that for long since she soon lifted her eyes and noticed him. She straightened herself, a perfect image of resignation.

"What do you want?" she asked tiredly.

That was the question, wasn't it? "You told him?" he inquired.

"There's nothing to tell," she said despondently while rolling down her pant leg and standing up.

"Just the fact that you can't keep your hands off me." He still hadn't moved from that spot in front of the door.

She stopped rummaging inside her locker and turned around angrily. "You kissed me. Both times."

"And you kissed back. Both times."

He still remembered the moment when he first felt the sensation of her lips against his all those years ago. It was her pushing him that time. He wondered how the roles could get reversed just like that. Everything was tangled up.

"I love Chase and I don't want to lose him because of some silly mistake." She was serious. Or was she?

He felt a tang of hurt when she spoke those words. He shouldn't care. But he did.

He walked over to her, and she instinctively took a step backwards, hitting the lockers with a thud.

When he was face to face with her, he asked her, "Do you love him?"

"Of course I do. Why would I be with him if I didn't?" she defended vehemently.

"Then why did you let me kiss you?" he asked as he placed his hands against the lockers on each side of her body. She was trapped.

"Please," she whispered.

He lowered his head closer to hers, his breath fanning her face. "Please what?"

She kept quiet as he kissed her, and as she kissed him back tenderly.

Soon, he moved away. Too soon. He was resting his forehead against hers when she asked him, "Why now?"

He leaned back to look at her face. She was still pleading. For what? For him to leave her alone and forget about this, or to tell her that. . . .

"Why do you want me now?" she asked him earnestly.

"I've always wanted you." The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them.

The look of hope in her eyes. . . . Time to come clean.

"I just . . ." He looked away, trying to formulate the words in his mind. How did he get himself into this situation? Talking about feelings.

"It wouldn't have worked," he told her as he caught her gaze again. "I knew I'd have only one chance with you, and when I'd blown it, that would be it. You'd leave, and I'd lose you. I couldn't let that happen, even if it meant keeping you at an arm's length all this time."

"What if it worked?" she breathed.

Her arms were now encircling his waist. He didn't even know when she moved them.

"It wouldn't."

He saw that she was about to object, so he hurried on, "I know myself. And I know you. I wasn't ready back then, but I'm ready now. I'm willing to commit."

He met her gaze dead on. She had to know that he was serious.

She moved her hands on his back slightly. He felt the smallest amount of pressure and he willingly moved just that much closer, resting his hands on her hips. His heart was beating out of his chest. If she said no. . . .

Time seemed to stand still as he waited for her answer. He knew that tormented expression on her face. Knew it all too well. Finally she closed her eyes with a sigh and rested her forehead against his chest.

He carefully slid his hands around her back, pulling her as close as possible.

"Is that a yes?" he asked tentatively.

He felt her nod against his chest before she answered, "Yes."

Relief washed over his body, and for the first time in a very long while, he felt hopeful for the future. Finally she was his, he thought as he rested his head in the crook of her neck.

The End