A/N: Welcome back to my last story everyone! In case you just tuning in this is the fourth story in my series, I recommend going back and reading "Our Favorite Mistake", "Prepare For Complications" and "It All Leads Up To This". This doesn't really doesn't need to be said, but obviously I don't House and all the original characters. I do, however, own Kim, Emma, Ian, and all other new characters. This story takes place in October, three months after IALUTT. Emma is three and Ian is six months old, enjoy!
Chapter One- Making Progress
"Ian move!" Three year old Emma yells at her six month old brother sitting contently in his high chair. Cuddy hears Emma yell from the master bedroom and goes to inspect the scene.
"Emma, your brother is a baby, he doesn't understand you. Go around your brother," Cuddy scolds at her daughter who stands next to the highchair with her arms crossed.
"She reminds me of you," House whispers in Cuddy's ear, successfully scaring her.
"I am not that stubborn," Cuddy insists and moves around House heading back into her room.
"Do you want pancakes before Marina gets here or are you just going to stand there stubbornly?" House asks Emma who hasn't moved an inch.
"Pancakes!" Emma orders and points to a random cabinet.
"What's the magic word Emma?" Cuddy yells.
"PLEASE!" Emma bellows and sits down in her new pink booster chair. House makes pancakes while Ian and Emma fool around.
"I am running so late," Cuddy says while grabbing her briefcase off the kitchen table.
"Calm down, you can't get fired," House says.
"Of course not, than you would too," Cuddy gives Emma and Ian a kiss and slips a coat on.
"Where's my kiss?" House pouts and sticks his lips out. Cuddy rolls her eyes and kisses House on the cheek before leaving.
Cuddy arrives at PPTH and immediately heads to Wilson's office for some advice.
"Can you keep House distracted for like an hour at noon?" Cuddy asks.
"You know I am going to have ask why Cuddy," Wilson says.
"I am meeting with a wedding planner,"
"Without House knowing,"
"We have been struggling to get the wedding plans off the ground. I figured it wouldn't be a bad idea to ask for help from a professional,"
"He's going to find out,"
"I know, I was just hoping he could find out after the meeting is over so he doesn't embarrass me,"
"I am not going to lie to him," Cuddy nods and closes the door behind her on her way out.
House arrives especially late at eleven thirty since he doesn't have a case. He decides to go into Wilson's office to badger him into buying lunch.
"Hey where are you taking me for lunch?" House asks and crashes on Wilson's couch.
"How about Teddy's? We haven't been there in a while," Wilson says while scanning a patient file. House narrows his eyes in suspicion,
"It's interesting that you agreed right away which means that you don't want me here. Not you, Cuddy. Why does Cuddy want you to take me out for lunch?" Wilson ignores House and jots down notes in the file.
"I know you want to tell me Wilson, what doesn't Cuddy want me to be here for?"
"I told Cuddy I wouldn't tell you," House stares at Wilson until he gives in.
"Cuddy is meeting with someone at noon in her office, that is all I know," Wilson half lies. House nods,
"I need some food, Cuddy keeps buying healthy crap. Let's go down to the cafeteria so you can buy me a reuben." Wilson sighs but agrees because he feels guilty for betraying Cuddy's confidence and for lying to House.
"Fine if Cuddy asks, you didn't hear it from me," House nods and follows Wilson down to the cafeteria. After they eat lunch, Wilson goes to see some of his more critical patients while House goes to spy on Cuddy.
"Dr. Cuddy, there is someone here to see you," Kim says while walking into her office.
"Thanks Kim, can you send her in?" Cuddy says and turns off her computer. Kim closes the door behind her and an elderly woman enters a few seconds later.
"You must be Dr. Cuddy, I am Katherine from Happily Ever After Weddings," Cuddy shakes the woman's hand and tries not to laugh at the ridiculous name of the company.
"So, are we waiting for the groom?" Katherine asks and looks around Cuddy's office.
"No, he is here, but he has a patient to attend to," Cuddy lies. Katherine nods and begins taking color swatches out of her briefcase. Meanwhile, House is at the nurse's station trying to get a view of the meeting.
"We should start with themes. I was thinking a black and white wedding or under the sea or…." Katherine could see Cuddy's eyes drift over to her door.
"Is there something wrong?" Katherine asks Cuddy. Cuddy could see a bit of House's cane peeking out through the door.
"It turns out that my fiancé is able to make it after all. Excuse me for a second, I am going to go get him." Katherine nods and focuses on coming up with a few designs while Cuddy walks out of her office.
"Wilson told you what was going on didn't he?" Cuddy asks with a hint of betrayal.
"He told me that you were meeting someone at noon, he didn't say who. I needed to find out,"
"Of course you did, let's go," Cuddy grabs House's hand and pulls him into her office.
"Katherine this is the groom, Dr. Gregory House. Greg, this is our wedding planner," Cuddy smiles with victory at the surprised look on House's face.
"Nice, what do we have planned for our wedding so far?" House asks in a fake cheery voice.
"Well this is what a came up with while you two were outside. It's just a rough sketch," Katherine shows House and Cuddy a diorama of a church with lace and roses dripped all over it.
"That's a little over the top for us. We prefer not to get married in a church." Cuddy says over House's grunting. Katherine nods and grabs a diorama of a standard ballroom. Five minutes later after rearranging and adding different things, Katherine shows them a gaudy picture of a ballroom with pictures of ladies in old time ballgowns.
"I was thinking of an aristocratic wedding," Katherine suggests.
"That's not…." Cuddy starts but is cut off by House.
"That is unbelievably ugly and Cuddy's doesn't need to look any bigger with those disgusting dresses." House rants. Cuddy slaps him on the knee and glares at him. Katherine forces a smile and puts her dioramas away.
"What were you guys thinking of for a wedding?"
"We were thinking of a wedding at a Vegas strip club with a justice of the peace that looks like Mick Jagger." House says and grins at Katherine. Katherine gets a horrified look on her face and stands up.
"Well Dr. House if you aren't going to take this seriously, than I am not going to waste my time. I am the most sought after wedding planners on the East Coast." Katherine storms off leaving House and Cuddy speechless.
"That went well," Cuddy says sarcastically and sits down on her desk.
"We can plan our own wedding,"
"Okay, than let's start," Cuddy says.
"By the way, your ass is huge,"
"House shut up. I forgot to tell you that I am taking Emma to get her Halloween costume after work today."
"I assume that I have to watch our male spawn,"
"Unless you want me to call DCFS, than yes, you are watching our spawn,"
"Great, I can't wait,"
"That's what I thought," House leaves and returns to Wilson's office.
"How did the wedding planner go?" Wilson asks.
"She couldn't take a joke, so she quit,"
"House, did you badger the wedding planner into quitting so you don't have to worry about your wedding?" Wilson asks. House scoffs,
"That bat shit crazy lady wanted to do a wedding in a church with lace and ball gowns. There is psychologically wrong with her,"
"House you guys agreed to actually have a wedding about three months ago. So far you haven't gotten much done."
"Wilson, I know you want to meddle, but Cuddy is all over it,"
"Fine, I will be asking Cuddy periodically,"
"How's the whale?"
"House, Kim is six weeks pregnant, she isn't even showing yet. Why are you asking?"
"Can't I just be nice and ask about your wife who you managed to knock up again?"
"You are trying to see how far along Kim is, so you can tell Chase to start a pool that you somehow always win."
"We are who we are Wilson. Cuddy is making me go with her and Emma for trick or treating on Sunday. She has no consideration for football."
"Poor you having to give up two hours of your Sunday so your kid can go trick or treating for the first time. Can we come too? Kim wants to take the twins too."
"If you and Kim want to waste your time, that's fine with me, I am not going to stop you."
"You are such a good friend,"
"That's why you love me Wilson," House leaves Wilson's office to go watch his soap.
At six, Cuddy shuts off her computer and sends a text to House, who is preoccupied with a new case, reminding him that she is taking Emma out. House doesn't respond so Cuddy starts her car and drives home.
"Emma, I am home!" Cuddy yells as she is opening the door. Emma runs into the room with Marina and Ian following close behind.
"Mommy!"
"Hi baby, are you ready to go?" Emma nods and runs to get her "purse".
"House has a case, I don't really know when he will be home, but we will be back before eight."
"Don't worry Dr. Cuddy; I'll make some chili for Dr. House," Cuddy smiles.
"That's not necessary Marina, you have done enough,"
"I want to," Marina hands Ian over to Cuddy and disappears into the kitchen.
"Hi buddy," Cuddy says and lifts Ian high into the air. Ian giggles and claps his hands.
"Ready!" Emma exclaims and grabs her jacket. Cuddy kisses Ian and puts him into the swing.
"Marina, we are leaving!" Cuddy yells.
"Okay!" Marina yells back. Cuddy and Emma get into the car and head to Target.
"What do you want to be Emma?" Cuddy asks her daughter while looking at the vast amount of costumes. Emma takes a second to think,
"Doctor, like daddy!" Emma declares. Cuddy can't help but get teary eyed at Emma's idea.
"What do you think doctors wear Emma?" Cuddy asks curiously, wanting to know what Emma thinks a doctor is.
"Jeans and a t shirt," Emma says and starts looking around. Cuddy stifles a laugh and makes a mental note to tell House their daughter's portrayal of his profession.
"Doctors wear white coats, like Uncle Wilson."
"Daddy doesn't," Emma argues back.
"Well, he should, mommy's going to have to yell at him," Emma giggles and follows Cuddy through the aisles. The majority of young girl's costumes are witches and princesses which discourages Emma a little bit. Cuddy decides to look at the little boys costumes just to make sure she didn't overlook anything. Cuddy manages to find miniature scrubs and a white coat for Emma to wear.
"Here Emma," Cuddy hands her daughter the costume.
"What's this?" Emma asks pointing to the scrubs.
"Doctor's wear those when they need to go into surgery, they are called scrubs. Daddy doesn't wear them because he isn't a surgeon." Cuddy explains.
"Daddy's a diagstician," Emma says proudly.
"Yes, Daddy is a diagnostician." Cuddy lightly corrects her daughter. The pair head out of the costume section and into the grocery section. Cuddy buys what she needs and they start heading towards check out when Emma sees the beloved toy aisle.
"Please, look!" Emma says and points to the toy aisle. Cuddy mentally curses herself for not taking a different route to the cash registers.
"We can look, but I am not buying you anything," Cuddy emphasizes, although she is hesitant. Emma nods and begins to look wide assortment of dolls. Cuddy waits by the cart, carefully watching Emma peruse over the toys. She sighs when she sees Emma pick up a doll and bring it back to the cart.
"Emma, I told you that you weren't getting a toy today. Go put it back," Cuddy says. Emma glares at her mother and stands on her tip toes so she can throw the toy in the cart. Cuddy immediately takes the toy out of the cart and hands it to Emma.
"Emma Grace House, I am not kidding. Go put that toy back where it belongs." Cuddy says in her best mom voice. Emma, in a pure Housian move, sticks her tongue out at Cuddy and walks away. Cuddy stands there speechless over her daughters behavior, Emma has never been a brat. Cuddy takes the toy out of her cart herself, and rushes to catch her daughter.
"Emma, listen to me," Cuddy grabs Emma and puts her in the seating part of the cart. Emma realizes that she is in serious trouble and her eyes fill with tears.
"Sorry mommy," Emma whispers and a crocodile tear rolls down her cheek.
"Emma you were very disrespectful a few minutes ago. I told you that I wasn't buying you a toy before we went to the toy aisle and you came back with one anyway. When we get home you are sitting in your room until dinner is ready." Cuddy lays down the law and pushes the cart to the check out area. Emma is noticeably silent until they get home.
"Okay, go up in your room and I will come and get you when dinner is ready," Cuddy says when they get in the house. Emma grabs her tiny purse and walks up the stairs with her head hung low. House hears Cuddy reprimanding Emma from the kitchen and walks into the living room to see what's going on.
"What happened?" House asks.
"We were in Target shopping for her costume and she wanted to go look at the toys. I told her that we could look, but I wasn't buying her anything because she has enough stuff. Of course, she comes back with a toy so I told her no. She stuck her tongue out at me and refused to put the toy back. I sent her up to her room until I get dinner ready." Cuddy tells House who is also a little surprised at what Emma did.
"Let me go talk to her," House says and walks over to the elevator.
"Wait…you want to talk to her?" Cuddy asks in shock. House has never volunteered to discipline Emma.
"Why not? I have to learn how to punish my child eventually," House says and limps into the awaiting elevator. Cuddy realizes that he is trying to make up for making the wedding planner quit earlier this morning. She smiles to herself and goes into the kitchen to start dinner.
"Hey squirt," House says and uses his cane to push open Emma's door. Emma is sitting on the bed holding Mr. Dog.
"Hi daddy," Emma says sadly. House sits down on the bed next to Emma and starts to regret telling Cuddy he could handle this. He has no idea what to say because his parents never did this with him. John would beat him up when he did something wrong and Blythe would just look the other way, trying to come up with an excuse to tell the neighbors about her sons bruises.
"So…mom told me what you did in the store today," House starts off awkwardly. Emma nods and refuses to meet House's eyes.
"Emma look at me," House says. Emma puts down her dog and looks House in the eye.
"What did you do wrong?"
"No listen," Emma whispers.
"Right, you weren't very nice to mom, you need to say sorry," House says with confidence. Maybe this is easier than he thought, House thinks to himself.
"Kay Daddy, I go now?" Emma asks and points to the door.
"No, you are going to have to wait until dinner. What are you going to be for Halloween?"
"A doctor, like daddy!" Emma announces happily. House is happily surprised by this;
"You don't want to be an administrator like mommy?"
"No, no mistrator, doctor" Emma says.
"Okay, I am going to talk to mommy, you stay here," House says sternly and leaves the room. Cuddy is busy cooking lasagna in the kitchen when House joins her.
"This parenting crap is complicated," House whines and sits down in a chair.
"You seem to being doing just fine," Cuddy says and sits down next to him.
"Yeah well, we will see in about twenty years just how fine I did," House says and checks on the lasagna.
"It's ready, why don't you go get our princess?" House asks Cuddy. Cuddy takes the elevator up to Emma's room.
"Hi Emma," Cuddy pokes her head in and smiles softly at her daughter.
"I sorry mommy," Emma says and hugs Cuddy's leg.
"I know you are, just don't do it again okay?" Emma nods and Cuddy picks her up.
"Dinner?" Emma asks.
"Yeah, we are having lasagna," Emma's new found favorite. Emma scampers down the stairs and the family enjoys a quiet evening together.
Sunday at about one, Wilson knocks on the door.
"Can you get that? I have to help Emma finish getting ready," Cuddy yells to House who is watching the Patriots game in the living room.
"It's Wilson, I would rather make him wait," House yells back and opens the door.
"Wilson! I had no idea it was you," House says in a fake cheery voice.
"Of course not, especially since I called you ten minutes ago saying I was coming over," House opens the door wider so Wilson can wheel the twins in.
"Where's the whale?" House asks with a hint of concern.
"Kim had some bad morning sickness so she is sleeping. Where's the rest of the House clan?"
"Cuddy is helping the Queen of Stubborness get ready and Ian is sleeping, he woke up with a fever last night. Cuddy can't come." Wilson raises a bushy eyebrow,
"So it's just going to be you and I and three toddlers?" Wilson says worriedly.
"I'll wack them with my cane if someone gets out of line,"
"No you won't" Cuddy says from behind him, making House jump.
"Calm down, our precious angel is going to be just fine,"
"Where's Kim?" Cuddy asks while holding one of the twins.
"Morning sickness is kicking in again," Cuddy nods sympathetically, having been through it twice already.
"Mornin sick?" Emma asks with curiosity. Cuddy looks over at Wilson, wondering if she can tell Emma. Wilson nods,
"Emma, morning sickness happens when you have a baby growing in your belly. The morning sickness is there to tell you that the baby is healthy. Do you understand?" Cuddy asks.
"Yeah, Aunty Kim is having a baby!" Emma says, completely ignoring the rest of what Cuddy said.
"That's right, next summer you will have another cousin!" Cuddy says happily.
"Uncle Wilson look!" Emma shows Wilson her navy scrubs complete with a white coat. Cuddy gave Emma a stethoscope to wear, but it kept falling off.
"We should go, I want to be back in time for the end of the game," Wilson put the twins back in the stroller and House grabs Emma's hand.
"Emma you need to stay close to your dad at all times. Say thank you when you get candy okay?" Cuddy instructs sternly. Emma nods, not wanting to make her mother mad after Friday's incident.
"We will beat people up for candy, let's go Emma," House swings open the door and Wilson rolls the twins out.
"Greg," Cuddy says in a warning tone.
"Lisa," House mocks back, grabs Emma's hand and slams the door behind him, successfully waking up Ian.
House, Wilson, Emma and the twins go door-to-door collecting candy from the neighbors they never bothered to get to know.
"Do you even know these people?" Wilson asks House after the fifth place they stopped at.
"Nope, I just hope that they know us as the people that have wild S-E-X every night," Wilson's jaw drops and he looks to the kids for any indication for any sign that they understood what House said.
"Relax Wilson; I say stuff like that in front of Emma all the time. As long as I spell it out, Cuddy doesn't yell at me."
"Wonderful," Wilson says as they come to another house. Emma rings the doorbell and a woman in her seventies answers the door.
"Hello there," the lady says and drops candy into each kid's bag.
"Hi," Emma says softly and inspects the candy dropped into her bag.
"You are so lucky that you have two great dads that take you trick-or-treating," The lady tells Emma. A horrified look comes over House and Wilson's faces.
"We..aren't…" Wilson stumbles over his words and blushes. House wraps his arm around Wilson.
"He's just shy," House smiles at the lady, fully enjoying messing with Wilson.
"Did you two adopt or did you have a surrogate?" The lady asks. Wilson is shocked by the lady's bluntness and opens his mouth to speak, but of course, House has to mess with him.
"Both, we just love kids," House squeezes Wilson's arm. Emma becomes upset,
"Daddy, tell them bout Mommy," Emma insists. The lady realizes that House is messing with her and slams the door in their face.
"Seriously House, do you have to screw with everyone you meet?"
"It's really fun, you should try it sometimes. At least you play along better than Cuddy, who gets pissed off and walks away."
"Cuddy is smart," Wilson takes the stroller and heads to the next house. Emma runs to catch up with Wilson while House lags behind. Wilson takes the kids to the house and then heads back to where House is sitting.
"I am going to go back and watch the game, there aren't many house's left to cover right?"
"No, I'll take Emma and see you back there soon," House nods and begins walking back to his home. Wilson takes the kids through the remainder of House and Cuddy's neighborhood. They return a half an hour later.
"Thank you for taking Emma the rest of the way," Cuddy says. House is sitting on the couch, relaxing.
"No problem, I should go, I promised Kim I would be home for dinner," Cuddy kisses each one of the twins and hugs Wilson goodbye while Emma dumps out all her candy.
"This is me, this is Ian's," Emma divides her pile unevenly, giving a miniscule amount to her brother.
"Emma, that is very nice of you, but Ian can't have candy yet. He is a baby," Emma shrugs and combines the two piles again.
"Is Ian still sleeping?" House asks.
"He was up for a while when you guys were gone. We played on the floor and then he passed out again after I gave him his bottle and medicine."
"Emma, why don't you take your costume off and get into your pajamas?" Emma scampers up the stairs, leaving House and Cuddy alone to talk.
"While you were gone, I was thinking about the wedding…" Cuddy starts. House sighs,
"What about it?"
"I was thinking of a summer wedding, after Kim has the baby."
"Okay…" House says, knowing that Cuddy has a specific date in mind.
"I wanted to see how you feel about this, I want to have the wedding on the second anniversary of John's death," Cuddy says, throwing caution into the wind. House takes a second to mull it over,
"That sounds good to me, just tell me when and where," House says.
"You aren't going to fight me on this?" Cuddy asks with trepidation.
"Nope, I want to be involved in the wedding planning as little as possible. As long as we have a kick ass naked honeymoon, I don't care what happens on our wedding day. The only thing I am opposed to is getting married in a church; I wouldn't want God to smite us on our wedding day." Cuddy laughs and kisses House.
"The only person you might have to worry about with that rule is my mother, but we aren't speaking so…it won't be a problem."
"Don't worry, the second she hears that we are actually getting married she will insist on controlling the whole thing," Cuddy shivers when she realizes that House is right.
"We could just not tell her," Cuddy suggests, although she knows the thought is ridiculous.
"Do you really think she won't find out?" House asks to which Cuddy sighs.
"House, are we really going to do this?" Cuddy asks seriously.
"Not tell your mother? Well if you want to, than that's fine with me," House says, pretending to not know what Cuddy is talking about.
"You know what I mean,"
"Oh, you were talking about the wedding? Like I said Cuddy, it was my idea and as long as you keep me out of the planning, we are golden."
"Okay, good, than let's have our wedding,"
A/N 2: I hope you liked my first chapter! I haven't really planned this story out yet, so I don't exactly know what's coming next chapter, but it will be fun. Thanks for reading and please leave a review on your way out.