Here it is, just a little something to fulfill the darkness in us all.

They went in for her scans a few days early. She had been absolutely miserable and so House called and got things moved along. They walked through the parking lot in the pouring down rain, and made it into the hospital, soaked to the bone. He removed her jacket from her shivering body, and pulled off his own too. He set them off to the side and peeled his dry sweater off his body and wrapped her in it as they sat in the waiting room. Soft tears made their way down the cheeks of a young woman sitting next to them. Her knees were tucked under her chin as she tried to stifle sobs. Cuddy came to a startling realization. It could have been her. She could be the one sitting alone, crying to herself. But instead she sat next to a man who cared for her. He didn't just love her, but he also knew what it was like to take care of her.

They called her in for the scans and his voice radiated through the mic.

"Lis, does it sound like a rocket?" He charmed "I always feel like I'm in a rocket!" She giggled at his humor on such a dark day. "Like, you're not even getting an MRI! In fact, Ground Control to Lis! Come in Lis!"

"I'm here!" She whispered back

"Good! Stay with us, because you haven't finished your mission!" And then the tech announced that the scans would be up in a moment.

"Wait!" She shouted "Turn around"

"Okay" He did as he was told and sat with his back to the MRI machine.

"Tell me you love me. Tell me you'll love me anyways"

"I love you." He replied. "I love you because when you set the table, you always put my bad leg on the inside so nothing bumps it. I love you because you make fun of my bad jokes. I love you because you're brilliant and gorgeous. I love you even if this doesn't work out, if living isn't going to work out for you. I love you, always"

"Oh, I love you too." She replied, and he turned around.

The scans lit up like a Christmas tree (mental note: That line belongs to John Green)

He smiled up at her, real big. She knew, she knew she was dead at that point. He pointed his nose to the ceiling and tried to suppress the tears that were coming no matter how much gravity he applied.

She decided she didn't want more chemo.

The tumors eventually got to her.

They were lying in bed one night, her against his chest. It would have been perfect if it was his bed at their apartment, but it was the hospital. She was dying. His rock was dying right in front of him.

"Tell me something?" She begged

"Anything" He replied

"Why have you stayed? I'm literally dying on you, and you just keep on taking all the hurt."

"You make me want to be better. You make me want to be good. Lisa Cuddy, you make me want to be a good man, and part of me hates that. And then a massive part of me loves that, and you. And that would be what is anchoring me to your side. Because I love you, and so you can't die, okay? It's not allowed. I'm not going to let it happen. I will fight. Let me fight." And he heard the monitor flatline. "Let me fight" He sobbed as he pulled her into his chest. She was DNR, and so all he could do was hold her.

He whispered the farmiliar mantra into his hat on her head.

"It's alright. I love you. I'm so sorry." Except now, all he could think was "I'll fight for you. I'll fight for you. I'll fight for you."

Eventually he got out of the hospital bed.

Eventually he gave a speech at her funeral.

Eventually he sold the apartment and took the piano and the sheets she liked and put them in a house.

Eventually he adopted a brilliant, difficult ten year old boy who reminded him exactly of her.

And he played the piano, and he became a father, and he practiced medicine.

He did the things she trained him to do, and he was forever grateful.

FIN