Title: About Us

Summary: House is tired of keeping secrets.

Ship: House/Cuddy, established relationship AU

Rating: PG

A/N: Hi guys, back again with a little fic, more of an extended headcanon that could turn into a series of scenes, I don't know yet. But this plot came to me and wouldn't leave me alone, so I thought I'd share. Its based in an established relationship AU, so there is fluff. Let me know if you enjoyed (and if you'd like more!)

It was a miserable evening in Princeton, with twilight falling early.

Cuddy had lit her fire and curled up on the couch as the wind howled down her chimney and rain lashed her roof.

Wrapping a thick blanket around herself, she watched the flames dance. She loved weather like this, when the world was dark and damp, and it was just her and the warmth of her fire. It was even better when she had someone to curl up with.

And at this moment, her thoughts were on a certain someone. Someone who was, to the best of her knowledge, across town and deep into a case.

Cuddy smiled as she ran a hand over her swollen belly. House would be home in time, and right now some alone time, probably to nap, sounded perfect. She was well into her second trimester, but she couldn't shake the fatigue that had started plaguing her by her sixth week of pregnancy. By the end of her day she felt run down and wrung out, and the pressure of keeping her baby's paternity a secret wasn't making her life any easier. So much for trying to de-stress for the duration.

But that was something House would have to be comfortable with. She promised to not mention his involvement in her "blessed event" without his blessing, and it had been a long time coming. Just getting him to accept her pregnancy, that he was going to be a father, had been work enough. He wasn't ready for everyone to know his business, and Cuddy learnt long ago to work on his schedule. Pushing him would never work. She had to wait for him to be ready.

Another gust of wind blew, rattling her windows, and she shivered slightly as she pulled the blanket tighter and reclined back on the couch. Already it was uncomfortable to lie on her back, so she plumped a cushion under her head and lay on her side, one hand under her head and one wrapped protectively around her bump. She was glad to be past the "has she put on weight or is she pregnant?" stage, her little bump confirming her happy news and causing a slew of betting within the hospital. Due date, sex, and -most importantly- the father, anything and everything about her life could be wagered on. She knew she should shut it down, tell them all her personal life was none of their business, but deep down she didn't mind. Small town, small minds and all that.

Her hand ran slowly over her belly as her eyes drifted shut, her lips parting with a soft sigh as she fell into sleep.

Darkness had well and truly fallen when House pulled his bike into Cuddy's driveway, frowning at her house when he noticed no lights were on. She'd seen him before leaving the hospital, so he figured she must be home.

He limped up her front walk and let himself in, shedding his wet shoes and jacket in the entry hall before following the sound of the fire into the dark living room. Approaching the couch he smiled softly as he noticed Cuddy, curled around her growing belly and snoring softly. He brushed a hand over her hair but she didn't stir, and as much as he'd like to join her for nap time- he'd been nonstop on his case for three days- his stomach was growling with hunger. He continued on through to the kitchen- he'd let Cuddy sleep until dinner was ready.

Opening the fridge, he removed some leftover stew and dumped it into a saucepan to heat on the stove. As it warmed, he squirrelled through the cupboards and emerged munching on a granola bar. He was starving. He wondered how he actually survived, truly forgetting everything when on a case.

Eventually the stew was bubbling and he dished it up into two bowls, balancing them as he grabbed a beer and a water from the fridge and returned to the living room. Cuddy still hadn't stirred, so House placed the bowls down on the coffee table and gently shook her shoulder.

"Cuddy?"

She screwed up her face and groaned, clearly not wanting to leave sleep behind. House shook her again.

"Cuddy. Wake up. Dinner's ready."

Slowly she opened her eyes. "House?"

"Hey sleeping beauty. I warmed us up some dinner."

Cuddy pushed herself up to sitting, inhaling deeply as the smell of the stew hit her.

"Mmmm. Thank you, I'm starving." She lent over and picked up a bowl, blowing on her first spoonful as House settled beside her on the couch and flicked on the tv, leaving the volume on low.

At first they sat in comfortable silence, both enjoying their dinner. Eventually Cuddy downed her spoon for a break.

"You solved your case?"

"Yeah. Took a second home search but we got it."

"Glad you did. Planning on spending the weekend here?"

House nodded, his mouth full. Cuddy smiled and turned back to her bowl.

The comfortable silence continued as they both finished off their stew and Cuddy curled up next to House, tucking her feet under her and placing his arm around her shoulders. They both focused on the tv as House channel surfed, eventually settling on some trashy lifestyle show.

Cuddy felt herself dozing off again when suddenly House spoke.

"I have something I want to talk to you about." He removed his arm from around her shoulders and gestured Cuddy to sit up and face him. When she did he could see the concern etched on her face.

"It's ok. It's nothing bad." He took a deep breath. "How would you feel...if we went public? I mean, about us, about the baby?"

Cuddy felt a sudden surge of ecstatic emotion, but kept it hidden. She couldn't help the sudden smile on her face though. "House, that would...that would make me so happy. It's been so hard, not saying anything, when I desperately want to." She paused. "Are you sure?"

House nodded, a small smile playing at his lips to see Cuddy so happy.

"And...do you think it's time to tell our parents? I mean, my mom will be thrilled. She's been at me for years about a grandchild. What about your parents?" She was speaking quickly, her excitement barely concealed.

"Tell your mom, tell Julia. I'm sure they'll be happy for you...even if they're not thrilled I'm the father."

"House. They'll accept you as our baby's father...or else. But what about your parents? I'm sure your mother will be excited to finally be a grandmother. She's probably given up on you." Cuddy gave him a friendly nudge but his expression didn't change.

"She gave up when Stacy left, even though we'd made it clear kids weren't a part of our plan. She'll be happy, to a degree."

Cuddy raised an eyebrow and House went on.

"My mother, despite her moral flaws, is, well, old fashioned. A baby needs a mother, and a father, and they should be married. Anything less and it's 'not right' in her book. We don't even live together. We haven't decided which last name our baby will have. It took me your entire first trimester to even admit I was going to be a father. There's a lot there that will earn me a stern 'Gregory!' from my mother. She'll be happy to be a grandmother. She won't be happy with me though. Not unless I move in, marry you, and insist the baby carries on the House name." He snorted. "Pretty ironic for a woman who cheated on her husband and had him raise a child that's not his. And don't even get me started on my so-called dad. Everything I do is wrong, or a disappointment. This baby would be another thing in the list of Gregory's mistakes. Yeah, I might wait a little longer on telling my parents."

Cuddy nodded, not sure what to say. That was the most she'd ever really heard House speak about his parents, and he knew best. If he didn't want to tell them, that was his choice. She was still thrilled he'd agreed to go public at the hospital.

"Well if that's how you feel, that's your choice. I'm going to call my mom tomorrow though. And we need to see HR as well, if we're going public." She leant over and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Thank you House."

He nodded and let her snuggle back into him, returning their attention to the tv.

It wasn't long before Cuddy couldn't stop yawning, her eyes felt heavy, and she decided it was time to call it a night.

Unfurling herself from next to House she stretched out.

"Are you coming to bed?"

House shook his head but pressed a kiss to her forehead before she padded out of the room and down the hall.

Reaching her bedroom door, she turned and called down the hallway to House to put a log on the fire before he came to bed, then went to wash her face and change into her nightgown. Crawling into bed, Cuddy curled up and quickly drifted off.

Sprawled out on the lounge, House eventually found a game on tv and zoned out until well after midnight. Eventually he stood with a yawn, wincing as his back cracked, and put a fresh log on the fire before heading to bed. Caneless he limped down the hall to Cuddy's room and stripped off, quickly diving under the warm covers to spoon behind Cuddy. She stirred, turning her head for a kiss before muttering "love you" and falling back to sleep. House pressed against her back, a hand gently resting on the swell of her stomach, her even breathing sending him off to sleep.