DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything related to Fox or the TV show House. I'm only borrowing some characters. The characters belong to David Shore and company.

A/N: NEW STORY!

Hey guys! This is my fourth story! I just wasn't able to help myself!

Please forgive grammatical errors, if any, English is not my first language.

This is post HUDDY IN THE KITCHEN at 6x03… Luddy will not happen in this fic.

IN PURSUIT OF CHANGES

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"House I need to talk to you about your leaving the hospital." Cuddy started, not knowing how to actually push forward with what she really wanted to say since there was another person in the kitchen.

"I do love a good groveling, but my decision's final." House answered quickly.

"That's fine, as long as I'm not the reason for it. I know it sounds completely narcissistic but—" Cuddy was practically rambling as she took a few steps closer to House.

"Yeah," House cut her off and she looked at him shocked,"No it's not. We flirted, we kissed, I fondled. I hallucinated the night I yelled at the hospital balcony... You're not a narcissist." House reasoned for her which caused her gaze to soften.

"So what am I?" she asked him softly her eyes never leaving him. She was hoping that he would step up to the plate after that question. But if he didn't, she was okay with it since he just got out of the institution and still had to get comfortable being back. She understood.

"Not the reason I'm leaving," House answered as he looked her in the eyes only to quickly lead his gaze back to what he was doing. If he hadn't, he would have seen the disappointment in her face.

Cuddy was a little sad that he didn't use that chance to tell her anything at all.

She took a deep breath and looked at him even if his attention was focused on something else.

"House..." she started after a while. House met her eyes and was stunned at her next words.

"I'm gonna miss you," Cuddy said as she locked her gaze with his. She noticed that his eyes widened in surprise. His eyes always revealed so much about what he was feeling.

"Lady, either kiss him or leave, we got work to do," Cecile interceded as she smiled at Cuddy then continued on her stirring duty.

Cuddy smiled as she leaned forward a bit on the table.

"You just couldn't keep your trap shut!" House said incredulously and looked at Cecile who just smiled back at him.

"Goodbye," Cuddy said as she turned around and went to retrieve her bag from where she left it.

When the door closed, Cecile looked at House incredulously, "Why don't you ask her out?"

"Just keep mixing, woman," House said as he continued rolling the balls.

"You know she wanted you to kiss her just as much as you do," Cecile said in sing song which annoyed House.

"How would you know your back was facing us," House smirked.

"It's obvious, you reek of unresolved sexual tension," Cecile said on a shrug.

"Wow, that's enlightening," House scoffed sarcastically.

When silence wafted in the kitchen House thought. Maybe he could actually try this time. He could at least do something for Cuddy. It could be a date or... not a date. Maybe he could just do a simple friendly gesture for her.

Yeah right, 'friendly', House scowled mentally. He sighed. Keeping himself clammed up like this won't do him any good.

"I'll be right back, phone call to make," House excused himself and limped to his bedroom. Cecile just smiled knowingly as she continued to stir the pot.

House nervously held his cellphone and stared for a whole five minutes at Cuddy's contact number. Was he really ready to do this? It's just dinner, he thought. It could be nothing more or nothing less. He sighed and pressed the call button and waited. His heart started pounding as he heard the first ring.

It took three rings before Cuddy finally answered.

"Hello?" Cuddy greeted, not able to look at the caller since she was driving.

"Cuddy…" House started in a low voice. He didn't know exactly how he was to ask her.

"House, why? Is anything wrong?" Cuddy immediately asked as she pulled over near a sidewalk so as not to be caught.

"No, nothing's wrong." House said in the same tone that had Cuddy worrying.

"Then why'd you call?" Cuddy asked, now confused and not knowing what to think.

"I was wondering whether you'd like to come over here tonight for dinner," House said almost shyly that it made Cuddy bite her lower lip as she smiled and relaxed against her comfortable Lexus car seat.

"Tonight?" she asked, unaware of how stupid a question it was.

"Tonight," House repeated in confirmation.

Cuddy smiled widely, looking like an idiot inside her car.

"I'd love to, House." She answered almost too sweetly that she wondered whether House was smirking on the other end of the line or not.

"Okay," House answered simply, "Drive safely." He added uncharacteristically and hung up.

Cuddy's mouth hung open but she recovered with that full-blown smile that rarely graced her lips unless she was with House.

House sighed in relief when Cuddy said okay. He walked back to the kitchen and found Cecile with a hand on her hip as she smiled smugly at House. "So you called her, I presume?" she asked.

"Yeah," House said simply.

"You gonna try out her missionary skills?" Cecile teased.

House scoffed playfully, "Well played sir!" he answered as he rolled yet another ball in his palms after having washed his hands.

"You got work to do," Cecile said and she resumed cooking.

"Yes I do," House whispered with a small grin as he stared at his creations unbelievably inspired.

A/N: Please review and let me know if I should continue.

ASH finale, BW 21, and Absence will be posted tomorrow…

AND that's a promise…

We have no classes for an entire week due to the typhoon that hit our country...