Chapter 1
House wrapped his arm around Alysa, and she leaned gently into his chest.
Cuddy was almost due, and things around the hospital were getting hectic. She was still depressed that House had decided to leave her, but deep down she knew it was all for the best. She knew that he'd keep his word about raising their daughter.
House was surprised to see how well she was taking it, given she was especially hormonal right now. Maybe she really DID think this was for the best. Ever since his break up, he couldn't help but stop thinking about that one person who was always on his mind. Still, he wasn't sure if it would work out...
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Two months passed in a jiffy, and Cuddy was at home all the time, on bed rest. House would go over every day during lunch, and every day after work to check on her. It wasn't necessarily that he wanted to make sure that CUDDY was alright, but House was already acting overprotective of his unborn child...
"You know," said Cuddy, "She's going to be born within a month..."
"I know," said House, "I saw the sonogram, too."
"I mean, we need to come up with a name!"
"Oh... um..." House was clueless. A name?
"I was looking in those babybooks, afterall, there's nothing better to do around here." Cuddy was missing work already.
"And?"
"I like Alysa, Amy, and... Maddy..." She bit her lip in hopes he might like one of them.
"Alysa."
"Alysa." She smiled, and House went to get her some water and him some lemonade. He was liking this already.
"House?" she asked upon his return to her bedroom.
"Yeah?"
"Well... I was wondering... How are we going to do this?"
"Do what?"
"I mean... how are we BOTH going to raise her, if we don't live together...?"
"Um..." He hadn't really thought of it. There was no way he was getting back together with Cuddy. But how could he do this without her?
"What if..." she began, "What if, maybe... would you be interested in joint custody?"
House stared at her. "But you want a kid so bad, I couldn't take her away from you for so long..."
"House, I wouldn't have her at ALL if it weren't for you." Cuddy smiled, and House nodded.
"Joint custody," confirmed House.