So here it is: 'The End'. I hope you guys like it.

Tons of thanks to everybody who read and followed this story, and special thanks to everybody who took the time to write reviews. It's been much appreciated over the past few months.

Time jump alert! Oh and there's some fluff. Blame the 'Fic Pimp'. She thinks I write too much angst.

Jessica and the "Manny" are mine. I borrowed the others.

Jessica shook her head adamantly and stared her Dad down, her small hand clenching into a determined fist. Looking her over House couldn't help but think she was the pocket version of her Mother: stubborn, smart and disarmingly pretty. All she needed were five inch heels and an Armani suit.

"No!"

"It's apple. It's good for you," he chimed back feeling like a fraud. The only time he ate fruit was when Cuddy nagged him about taking care of himself.

"Then you eat it."

"I've already had my breakfast."

"You had cereal. I wanted cereal."

"If you eat it you can go and play with Rachel," House proposed, resorting to straight-forward bribery.

A few feet away Rachel was playing happily in the living room with her tea set and force-feeding her bear imaginary peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. It was hard to believe that two girls so close in age could be so different. Whereas Jessica was going through her "terrible twos" almost constantly craving attention, her older sister was nearly always content with her own company and considerably less high maintenance.

"Don't want to… Want candy."

Defiantly she picked up a handful of the fruit and dropped it on the floor, finally drawing the attention of her Mom who'd been stood at the counter mulling over the itinerary of the conference she was due to fly off to in a few hours. Bending down to pick up the discarded food, she felt a hand on her ass and raised herself to her full height again, regarding her daughter sternly.

"Do that again and I'm giving Grandma Arlene a call. You can explain to her why you're wasting food when there are starving children in the world." Sheepishly the little girl looked down into her bowl and started to eat again as Cuddy turned to House and pursed her lips. "And you do that again and you can have words with her too."

"It's hardly my fault you have a nice ass." Seeing her give him the 'not in front of the kids' look, he took the opportunity to wind her up even further. "Jessica's not the only one who wasn't allowed any sugar this morning."

"You'll keep."

"I'm going to have to seen as you're leaving me on my own for three days."

"You're hardly on your own, House. Julia's offered to help out if you need her and I'm sure Wilson would too…. Besides it'll give you time to work on your best man speech."

"I could just use the one from his last wedding," he retorted grumpily. In spite of his firm belief that Sam wasn't good enough for his best friend, Cuddy had more or less encouraged him to leave them alone and let them get on with their relationship unhindered by pranks and other road blocks.

"It's kind of romantic them getting married again."

Her boyfriend grunted and changed the subject back to their original topic.

"Why do you have to go when it's your birthday tomorrow?"

"The Board have never and never will give me time off for my birthday… Besides I'd rather not celebrate the fact I'm another year older."

House was just about to respond when the front door opened and everybody turned to see a young, blonde-haired, blue-eyed boyishly handsome man step into the living room. Straight away Rachel stopped what she was doing and ran to him, making House mutter something under his breath in disgust. He'd taken a dislike to the post-grad student the second cuddy had hired him when Marina had gotten sick and couldn't work for them anymore.

"Hey Matt!" Cuddy exclaimed grinning broadly. "We're so pleased you could squeeze us in on a Sunday."

Watching her reaction to the young man, he scowled. He hated "Matt's" face, his youth, his charming English accent and most of all the way he looked at his girlfriend when he thought nobody was looking.

"It's my pleasure, Dr Cuddy… So how is everybody this morning?"

"Jessica wouldn't eat her breakfast and Daddy thinks Mommy has a nice ass," Rachel chimed in wide-eyed and innocently, as she hugged her teddy against herself.

Cuddy blanched and kicked House in the shin when he tittered, amused at the blush on the younger man's face.

"Anyway," she pressed on, attempting to move the conversation along more appropriate lines. "House should get back from his meeting before five and you've got our cell numbers if there's a problem."

"Brilliant… I thought I'd take them to the park and then to a new organic juice bar that's just opened up. They do great fruit smoothies for kids."

Out of the corner of his eye House saw Jessica's head fall miserably onto her hand and her lips form into a pout. She was in one of those moods and secretly he couldn't help but hope his youngest would give Mr Perfect hell today.

"That sounds great!"

"Shall we go and get your boots on then, Rachel?" Matt asked, drawing an enthusiastic nod from her. "You coming too, Jessica?"

Pleadingly she looked towards her Dad, until Cuddy came and lifted her out of her chair and urged her along towards him. Wilfully she held her ground.

"I want to stay with Daddy."

Getting up from his seat, House moved next to her and felt her fingers clasp the material of his jeans tightly like she was holding on for grim death, her teeth grazing along her bottom lip as if she was weighing up her options. Crouching down he pushed a strand of her curly hair behind her ear and smiled.

"Daddy's got to go out for a while, but when I get back you, Rachel and me can do something fun."

"Like what?"

He shrugged. For once in his life appeasement seemed like the best course of action.

"Whatever you want."

"Can we dress up like princesses?" the two year old inquired, touching his temple and looking at the top of his head as if she was sizing him up. "We can make pretty crowns."

Turning to Cuddy briefly, House saw her stifling a laugh and turned back, his tongue firmly planted in his cheek.

"Ok," he mumbled grumpily. "But that means you have to go with Matt."

Nodding emphatically, the little girl skipped along and grabbed Matt's hand, almost dragging him and Rachel out of the room so he could help her lace up her pink boots, whilst her Dad drew himself up and backed his amused girlfriend against the dining table, his hands circling her waist.

"You owe me."

"For looking after our daughters for a few days?"

"For being ritually emasculated. FYI I'm drawing the line at make-up."

"I want pictures, your Highness," Cuddy laughed. "I also want you to give Matt a break."

"I don't like him."

"Why? His references were amazing and the girls like him."

"It's weird… Why would a guy want to be a Nanny?"

"House, you still think it's weird that we have male nurses," his girlfriend sighed, trying to scrutinize his violent dislike for someone who was probably one of the nicest, most polite people she'd ever met. There was more to this than met the eye. "He's not replacing you in any way, shape or form. They know exactly who their Dad is and that's never going to change."

"It's not that."

"Then what?"

Initially reluctant to answer, he took a deep breath and then told her what she wanted to know.

"I don't like the way he looks at you."

"Oh for God's sake! He's got a girlfriend."

"Because that always stops someone, huh?" he spat back sarcastically. "It's bad enough I have to watch you go weak at the knees every time he talks."

Pissed off she dropped her hands back down by her sides and glowered at him, making him gulp.

"So I'm the one you don't trust? Thanks for the vote of confidence."

"He's twenty-four, could probably pass for a girl he's that pretty and he writes his own poetry… Why wouldn't you be interested in him?"

"Are you sure it's not you that's got the hots for him, rather than me? Being mean to the people you like is all part of your M.O."

"I'm serious," he replied firmly.

"And so am I! Have I ever given you any indication that I'm not happy with us?" Pausing to ponder her question for a second, he then shook his head. "I happen to be in love with my brilliant, sexy, infuriating boyfriend… Why would I want a boy when I've already got a man taking care of me and my babies?"

In spite of himself House grinned widely. He might have spent countless hours hiding from her at work, but being needed at home genuinely made him inordinately happy these days. Finally he had a place and a purpose other than solving puzzles.

"I hate it when you go away."

"Surprisingly I'm not exactly ecstatic about it either."

Leaning into her, he ghosted kisses along her exposed shoulder, working his way up her neck, all the while his fingertips sneaking under her jumper and searching out the warm flesh underneath.

"Don't go," he whispered into her ear, the scratch of his beard against her cheek making her shiver. "We can pretend you're ill."

Turning into him Cuddy kissed her boyfriend hungrily, the force of the embrace leaving her breathless when she pulled away.

"I have to."

Her body ignoring what her brain was telling her to do, she kissed him again, one hand raking through his hair and the other snaking down his back until her fingernails were digging into his ass. From behind them a cough made them jump apart.

"Really sorry to interrupt, but the girls wanted to say bye before we left," Matt spluttered, his face a deep shade of crimson as Rachel and Jessica stood either side of him, frowning knowingly at their parents being caught out. It certainly wasn't the first time. Auntie Julia had found them 'kissing' in her guest room at a family barbeque the previous Saturday and told them off.

Walking towards her daughters Cuddy held her arms out and hugged them both tightly, tearing herself away before she lost her composure. She hated leaving them when they were still this young, but she always had to tell herself it was for their benefit. Not only did the sacrifices she made help to afford them this comfortable lifestyle, but she hoped she was setting them a good example too. Her girls would grow up knowing that any career was open to them if they were prepared to put the work in.

Sensing she was upset House squeezed her shoulder and said his own goodbyes to them, watching the young man usher them out of the door and then turning back to his girlfriend. He knew going away was always a wrench for her: practical Cuddy always warred with the one who hated being away from her family. He'd been incredibly selfish trying to make her stay.

"You're a great Mom," he reassured her, flinging his arms around her and pulling her into a hug. It wasn't just a platitude, she really was. She was firm, but fair and balanced out his laissez-faire attitude to parenting. More often than not she had to bail him out when Rachel and Jessica had him wrapped around their little fingers, nevertheless what they had worked and for two undeniably messed up individuals they appeared to have two stable, happy children.

"Thank you."

"It's true." Laying his chin on the top of her head he glanced at the clock above the mantel. "We should be making tracks to the airport."

"What if I got the later plane?... You could still drop me off at the airport and get back for your meeting."

Narrowing his eyes he jerked himself away and eyed her suspiciously. She only ever threw her plans out of the window when she really wanted something. In this case hopefully they were on the same page.

"Are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting?"

"What if I am?" she responded brazenly, one eyebrow raised provocatively, which made him bite his lip in anticipation. How could one gesture turn him on so much?

Without warning he grabbed her hand and began dragging her down the corridor to the bedroom, as she giggled behind him.

Lying flat on his back with a stupid grin on his face, House concentrated on getting his breathing back to normal. His thigh stung from the exertion, but it had been so worth it. Despite their initial desperation to get each other undressed, their love-making had been slow, deliberate and intense, neither of them afraid to vocalise what they wanted or their enjoyment in the uncharacteristically empty house. These days they had to make the most of such rare occasions.

With her own heart rate still racing, Cuddy set her hand on his chest and drew circles there.

"That was nice," she said lazily.

"Just nice?"

"Have I not massaged your ego enough, Buster?"

"You massaged a lot of things. It's hard to keep track." Seeing the corners of her mouth tick upwards, House rolled onto his side and regarded her, his fingers methodically searching out the soft skin of her shoulder, her arm and then her breast. Every part of her, inside and out, had always intrigued him, but the whole picture still left him in awe. "Your left boob is definitely my favourite boob."

"And now I feel bad for not having a favourite testicle."

Lifting the covers he made a point of glancing between his own legs.

"I always liked the right one."

Thoughtfully Cuddy rested her head in her palm. Her boyfriend had spent the morning stressing over her going away for a few days, when she'd had something else entirely on her mind.

"I'm going to miss seeing you at work if you leave."

"Because of my superior testicles?"

"Because the place is going to feel strange without my resident maniac and because…"

"You'll miss me staring down your top every time you bend over," he interrupted with a smirk.

"Surprisingly no!" she lied. Perhaps she would. It was always good to know she could still hold his attention after they'd been together this long. "This is a big step."

"I'm being offered my own practice and would get to pick and choose my patients. Oh and there's the small matter of being offered double the salary I'm on now… I'd be insane not to look an eccentric, millionaire gift horse in the mouth."

"I'm not happy my best doctor is being poached by someone who he treated in my hospital."

House had treated Charles Dawson, an elderly multi-millionaire who'd made his fortune in the soft drinks industry. So impressed with his doctor's no bullshit attitude to calling him out when he'd threated to sue the hospital for Taub and Thirteen breaking into his home, subsequent to recovering from his illness he'd approached his attending about setting up a small scale diagnostic institute. He had the cash and with no family, he had little else to spend it on. Later House was meeting him for lunch to thrash out details and see if it was really possible.

"I can't help everybody wanting a piece of me."

"What am I supposed to do with your department?"

"You honestly want my opinion?" he asked, more than a little surprised. She nodded. "Put Chase in charge."

"But Foreman took care of things when you were in Mayfield and then when Jessica was born. He'd expect to get the job."

"He's fine in the short-term, but he's too safe… Chase will take risks if he has to and that's what you need. That's what your patients need."

Again she nodded, appreciating his take on it. She felt terrible for thinking it, but now that he and Cameron had separated his focus would be one hundred percent on his work too. Maybe this was what he needed.

"You're sure he's ready to step up?"

"He's been with me the longest. If he isn't that means I've done a crappy job… Worst case scenario, you bring me in as a consultant on the odd case for an extortionate fee."

"And what about the others?" she pressed.

"Foreman will throw a hissy fit about not getting the promotion, but he'll stay and keep Chase on his toes…. I've sounded Thirteen out about coming with me."

"You did what?!"

"Well, I need an excuse to go into lesbian bars so…" Predictably Cuddy looked none too pleased. "Oh relax! We work well together and apparently I respond excellently to having my ass kicked by a woman who's not afraid to tell me when she thinks I'm wrong." He paused and looked at his girlfriend sincerely. "It means I'll be around when Huntingdon's gets worse too."

Hearing the honest reason, she smiled warmly at him. In spite of his protestations to the contrary, House really did give a crap about the people he worked with. Thirteen especially he felt responsible for after her diagnosis.

"What about Taub?"

"Who cares about Taub?"

"You really want this?"

Casually he shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't know. What I do know is that I'd be stupid not to see what's being laid on the table… I talked it over with Nolan and he thinks it could be good for me. For us too…. No more being pissed with each other at home after we've argued at the hospital, and if I screw up it'd be my responsibility. It's about time I stood on my own two feet and perhaps I'm ready for that challenge now."

"This still feels like you're taking a step away from me."

"That's the last thing this is," House contradicted forcefully. It was about needing to prove to himself that he could do this. Not only that, but he wanted his kids to grow up proud of him, safe in the knowledge that he provided for them as much as their Mom did. This new venture would give him that peace of mind. Seemingly unconvinced, Cuddy continued to regard him cagily. "I want us to be closer if anything."

"Meaning?"

Abruptly sensing it was time he bit the bullet, he let the air filter into his lungs and allowed the words to come out.

"Marry me."

Immediately confusion etched itself across his girlfriend's features until suddenly she chuckled sardonically.

"Funny, House. So what's the punchline?"

"I'm not joking."

"So you've just plucked this idea that you want to marry me out of thin air?... I seem to remember you storming out of a dinner party the last time this was even mentioned."

"Things have changed since then."

"You are the most anti-marriage person I have ever met," Cuddy insisted, feeling strangely vulnerable all of a sudden and sitting bolt upright in the bed and pulling the duvet around her. "If this is you playing a prank on me I'm not amused."

With a sigh House got out of bed, walked over to the wardrobe and fumbled around to find something on top of it, his eyes widening in relief when he finally felt and grasped the small, black velvet box.

"I had to find somewhere you weren't tall enough to reach," he explained mirthfully, climbing back under the covers and opening the box to reveal a white gold, diamond solitaire.

In front of him Cuddy's jaw dropped to almost cartoon proportions.

"Is this…?"

"An engagement ring? Yeah. I've had it for weeks… I was going to propose to you tomorrow, but then you sprang the conference on me."

"You think marriage is stupid," she stuttered back.

"It is for ninety-nine point nine percent of people, but I think what we have is special… It's exactly three years since I wandered into your office and took a punt. We've been through so much since then… We cooked up a baby, we split up, you adopted Rachel, I went crazy, I nearly lost you and somehow we've managed not to kill the chimps we live with… All of it has made me realise just how much I love you… I want this Cuddy. I want you to be my wife." For what seemed like an eternity for him she alternated her gaze between the ring and his face, not saying a word. The wait was so agonising eventually he felt the need to break the silence. "Look if you don't want this or you're not ready it doesn't matter."

Feeling humiliated he closed the box turned away, and was about to get up again when she tugged on his arm.

"No!" Seeing his shoulder sag further, she went on. "I mean no, I'm ready for this. I want this too… I'm just in shock."

House scratched his head, more than a little puzzled.

"Is that a yes?"

"Yes!"

"In that case…" Taking the ring out, he slipped it onto her finger and admired his handiwork.

"It's beautiful," she gushed, raising her hand up into the light and revelling in the spectrum of colours that bounced off the diamond's facets. It was tasteful, classic and, well, perfect. "Although when I was a girl I never imagined I'd get proposed to by a guy who was stark naked."

"That's why most marriages go wrong," he cracked back, nudging her playfully in the ribs.

"Sure."

Grinning, she moved in to claim his mouth in a long lingering kiss, before breaking away and laying her head on his heart, her eyes instinctively closing as she listened to the rhythmic, comforting beat.

Underneath her he found himself doing the same.

With each other, in the place they'd made their home with their children, they both found the one thing they'd been looking for all of their lives.

Peace.