This is the last chapter folks. Thanks to everyone who has read this. I will be posting more stories as they get written, so if you want to be notified when I do, set up an author alert. Thanks again!

Chapter 16

House was just picking at his lunch. Wilson was worried. Usually his friend ate everything in front of him and every one else's food as well.

"Something wrong with the reuben?"

"No, it's fine."

"Are you feeling okay?"

"Yeah."

"Are we going to play twenty questions all day until I finally get it out of you, or are you just going to give in and tell me what's wrong?"

House smiled briefly. "Amy's getting married today."

Wilson sat back. "Oh."

"Yeah."

"Well, I guess we knew that would happen eventually. Who's the guy?"

"A teacher at the college. He's supposed to be really nice, loves the baby, loves her. His name is Brian. He's thirty-two."

Wilson looked at his friend. "You know, you could…"

"No, I couldn't. This is why I wanted her to go. She belongs with Brian, he's perfect for her. He'll be a good husband to her and a good father to …" his voice cracked and fell almost to whisper, "…my son."

"How about if I come over tonight? I'll bring beer, we'll watch something stupid and trash women and their fickle hearts?" Wilson suggested.

House smiled. "No, that's okay. I'm fine. Really. I was never prepared to marry her and be all those things that she needs. So this is really for the best."

"You're sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure."

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As he rode home on his motorcycle, it was raining slightly. He thought of his empty apartment, a place that would never be filled with anything more than the sound of his cane thumping along the floor and his piano playing a melancholy, solitary tune. He wondered why he was bothering to go home. There was no point to this life. He could just keep riding on the rain soaked streets. He could ride until he couldn't ride anymore and then he could just stop. The prospect was almost welcoming.

Then he saw Amy and G.T. in his mind's eye. If he died on her wedding day, she would blame herself. She would never be able to celebrate an anniversary without remembering. He couldn't do that to her. Ending his life would have to wait for a more convenient time. Ironic.

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As House stood outside his apartment door, he hesitated. Did he hear something inside? He supposed he could have left the TV on that morning, but he didn't think so. He inserted the key and slowly opened the door.

The television was indeed playing; however, he didn't believe he was the one who turned it on. On his sofa, sat a small boy with brown hair and blue eyes. Although House had never met the child, he recognized him immediately. Probably because pictures of this child were all over his computer.

He limped to the sofa. "Hi, G.T."

Big blue eyes looked up at him. "Hi." He said, before returning his eyes to the cartoons he was watching.

House sat down beside him. "How did you get here?"

"Mommy brought me."

House swallowed. "Where's Mommy?"

"She's taking a nap. She said she had jet nag."

"Jet lag?"

"Yeah."

"Ah."

He sat there for a moment, staring at his son. Even though he had seen pictures and videos, there was something unbelievable about seeing the child in the flesh sitting beside him. Then he remembered. Amy was in his bedroom.

He stood up slowly and made his way to the other room. He opened the door and there she was, in his bed. He didn't want to wake her, so he closed the door again and returned to G.T. on the sofa.

"Are you hungry?" he asked the boy.

"Mommy made me a sandwich." Big blue eyes looked up again. "You're my daddy, aren't you?"

"Yeah, I am."

"Mommy showed me your picture. And she told me we were coming to visit you."

They spent some time in silence, watching the cartoons.

"Hello, Greg."

House turned quickly at the sound of a voice. It was a little garbled, but he understood the words. Amy was standing in the doorway of the bedroom. She looked absolutely beautiful. She had filled out some from when he had last seen her. She was still slim and toned, but her breasts were a little rounder and so were her hips. She had cut her hair; it fell just below her ears, all one length. Her eyes were still expressive, but there was knowledge and experience in them that he hadn't seen before.

"Hi, Amy. Was that you …talking?" he moved his hands as he spoke.

"Yes. I learned how at the school. Are you doing sign language?"

"Yeah, I learned how. I asked Jared Reynolds to teach me."

She smiled at him. He looked down at the floor, then back at her. God she was incredibly beautiful. He wanted to pull her into his arms. But before he did…

"Why are you here?" Because he wanted to be sure he was doing it right, he continued using the sign language as he spoke.

"What do you mean?"

"I thought you were marrying Brian."

She stopped, walked to the window and looked out, then turned back to him. "I thought I was too. But at the last minute, I couldn't."

"Why not? I thought you said he was a terrific guy."

"He is."

"So?"

She turned away again and didn't say anything. He waited until she was ready to speak. After staring out the window for a little while, she turned back to him.

"Greg, four years ago when I was with you, I told you that I was in love with you."

"I remember."

"You told me that I was too young, that I didn't understand love, that I needed to meet people my own age, to experience life."

"Yes,'

"Well, I did what you told me to. I moved away. I had a child. I learned a profession, I learned to talk. I met lots of people, made lots of friends. I dated a wonderful man my own age, he asked me to marry him."

"That's good."

"But, Greg, do you know what the most important thing was that I learned?"

"No."

"I learned that no matter how many people I met, whatever I did, no one and nothing compares to you."

House just stared at her. He couldn't believe what she was saying to him.

"Amy…"

"No, don't start telling me how wrong I am. I'm not wrong. Four years ago you discounted my feelings and I let you. I was young and inexperienced. But I'm twenty-eight years old now. I've done everything you told me to. And guess what?"

"What?"

"I'm still in love with you. How can I marry someone else? Even if he's young and nice and everything wonderful? He's not you. I will always love you."

House couldn't speak. He stared at her then looked down. His throat closed and he couldn't get any words out.

"Greg, if you don't love me, I understand. You can't help it if you don't have feelings for me. But I had to make sure you knew."

He was still speechless. The words just wouldn't come.

"Please, Greg, just tell me something, tell me what you're feeling or not feeling, anything!"

When he was still silent, she turned away and said, "I see. You don't want me. G.T. and I will leave. I'm sorry to bother you."

But before she could move, she felt a hand on her arm. When she turned, she saw that House was beside her. There were tears running down his face.

"I love you." He said. "I've always loved you. I wanted you from the first moment I saw you. And once I'd had you, I couldn't get enough of you. When you said you loved me four years ago, I wanted to tell you that I loved you too. But I couldn't. I wanted you to be happy and I didn't think you could be with me. I had to send you away. I regretted it every day since I did, but I still believe it was the right thing to do.

"But you're here and you still love me. I don't want you to leave. I don't want you to ever leave. Stay with me. Marry me. Let me be a father to my son and a husband and lover to you."

She put her arms around his neck and held on tight. He pulled her closer to him, then pulled back and looked into her expressive eyes. They were filled with love. He gently placed his lips on hers, and then increased the kiss until passion flowed between them. Finally, aware of the child sitting a few feet from them, they broke apart.

"Is that a yes to my proposal?"

"Yes!"

He smiled and kissed her again. He glanced at his son; he then looked back at her. Using his hands, he signed, I can't wait to make love to you. It drove me crazy thinking of someone else with you.

She responded with signs, I never slept with anyone else.

But you were going to marry him.

I know, but I was not comfortable with having sex with him. He respected that and never pressured me.

House smiled again. He was still the only man that had touched her. Something very old and primitive in him woke up. He wanted to roar. She was his, only his.

They got married two weeks later. They bought a house. Amy got a job in a school for deaf children. In a year, she gave birth to their daughter.

They laughed at the people who stared at them because of the age difference. Happiness had been an elusive thing to House, but he reveled in the beautiful woman that was his, that was the love of his life and his salvation. He remained the same wittily sarcastic man he had always been, but Amy spoiled her husband and adored him with her whole being. They just simply loved each other and their children. They built a life together. House's solitary song became a beautiful symphony.