A/N: Hey, guys! I'm back! A few of you mentioned that you wanted me to continue this so I added this chapter to make this a two-shot. This is as far as I'll continue it, though, I'm afraid. School starts back up next week and I have several essays I need to write. So, read and I hope you enjoy! :)
Disclaimer: Once again, as I say at the beginning of all my stories, I don't own this. Well, I own the plot but not the characters.
Chapter 2
He awakes the next morning just as the beginnings of daylight start to filter through the living room curtains. Way too damn early. Groaning, he begins to shift positions but freezes as he feels the presence of a warm bundle on his chest. He sneaks a glance downward and sees Rachel's sleeping form spread out across his chest. Clearly, she was not waking up anytime soon. Still sleepy-eyed, he raises his arm to look at his watch and is horrified when an ungodly 6:22 meets his gaze. Settling back into the couch, he decides that he doesn't care that he was still stuck with the little munchkin. He was going back to sleep.
A gentle stirring on his chest awakens him a few hours later. Reluctantly cracking open an eye, he looks down to see Rachel shifting her little arms and legs restlessly on his torso, her green eyes still tightly closed. Almost instinctively, he holds her firmly to him in order to prevent her from falling off. You're getting soft, House, a voice chimes in his head. He rolls his eyes and silently tells the voice to bugger off.
Just then the heavenly smell of brewing coffee reaches his nostrils and he inhales a noseful of the delicious scent. That smell only meant one thing. He groans at the thought but knows it was going to happen one way or another so he slowly brings his legs off the couch and onto the floor while cradling a quickly awakening Rachel to his chest. After a few moments spent rubbing the feeling back into his bad thigh, he hoists himself to his feet and makes for the kitchen.
Inside, Cuddy bustles about, clearly having been awake for some time now. He clears his throat loudly as he enters.
At this, Cuddy turns to face them. "Good morning, House."
"Your little bundle of joy." he says, holding Rachel out in front of him.
A wide smile spreads over Cuddy's face which she directs to the squirming baby in his arms. "Hi, baby. Come here. Were you good for your Uncle House?" Her voice takes on that annoying high pitched sound that seemed to be programmed into all mothers causing House rolls his eyes as Cuddy finally relieves him of Rachel. "There's coffee on the counter." she says, her voice back to normal. "Help yourself. I'm just gonna change her real quick." With that, she heads for the nursery, leaving House alone in the kitchen.
Despite the enticing smell of coffee being elicited by the brewer, he considers making a mad dash for the door. Cuddy was back and the kid was safe. He didn't have any business lingering around any longer than necessary. He gets another whiff of coffee. On the other hand, it was Saturday which meant Wilson was sleeping in which, subsequently, meant that there was no coffee at the apartment. Cursing his weakness for the caffeine-filled mixture, he limps over to the counter and pours himself a mug.
Cuddy reenters the kitchen a few moments later with Rachel cradled against her hip to find House leaning casually against the counter nursing a mug of freshly brewed coffee. He nods civilly at her as she makes her way to the kitchen table and proceeds to strap Rachel into her high chair.
"Thank you, House." she says after securing Rachel's bib around her neck. Glancing over her shoulder, she throws him a small smile. "I really appreciate you staying with her."
He begins to drink his coffee a little faster, hoping to avoid as much of this conversation as possible. But his plan only backfires as the steaming liquid burns his tongue and throat causing him to gag then mutter a train of obscenities. Cuddy looks disapprovingly at him although Rachael seems oblivious to his splutterings. When he finally manages to get himself under control, he opens his mouth to make a clever comment but thinks twice. She's serious, House, the voice chimes in again which is starting to sound annoyingly like Wilson. Don't be such an ass. Biting back his sarcasm, he simply nods. "Sure."
A few moments pass by in silence. This is the part he hates. He racks his brain for something, anything to say while simultaneously trying to down his coffee in record time. Cuddy, however, doesn't seem to mind the silence between them as she shakes a bottle of formula, her attention focused completely on Rachel. Once again, the thought of making a run for it fleets through his brain but considering the fact that his leg was still stiff from spending all night on a couch, he decides against it.
"You fire Cameron yet?" he asks, keeping his voice casual. He mentally curses himself for resorting to small talk. "She did kill your baby."
Cuddy shoots him a horrified look.
"Your other baby, I mean. Not this one."
Cuddy's face softens as she understands what he's referring to. "She quit."
His eyebrows shoot up into his forehead. That, he did not expect. "Really?"
"Yup."
He swears he hears a sigh behind her answer. "Interesting."
Silence.
"So, you're going back then?"
"Yup."
"And nothing's changed?"
"Nope."
He taps his cane on the ground a few times. "That's a shame. I was just getting started with Cameron."
This earns him a soft chuckle from Cuddy. "You would've murdered her."
"Yes. It's 'how', that's the real kicker."
She laughs again. There's another short pause but it's a little more comfortable than the previous. "Did Rachel give you any trouble?" she asks as wipes some formula from the baby's chin.
He looks at Rachel contemplatively. "Only if you count her throwing up in your Dolce & Gabana purse as trouble."
"I don't have a Dolce purse." she says, smiling.
"Gucci?" he tries again.
"No."
"Prada?"
"Sorry."
"God, woman, don't you own any designer purses?" he exclaims with mock incredulousness.
"I prefer Burberry."
"Oh."
They lapse into another short silence before Cuddy decides to break it. "She doesn't usually do that, you know."
He cocks an eyebrow, confused.
"Sleep on her stomach." Cuddy clarifies, looking at him over her shoulder. "She mainly sleeps on her back."
Ah. "What can I say? I'm just so cuddly." he says with a debonair shrug. Out of habit, he begins twirling his cane with his free hand to which Rachel suddenly lets out a squeal of delight. Just then, he realizes the situation he's in and begins to get nervous. He drops his cane abruptly to the ground, having it assume its normal position at his side.
"Well, I'll just show myself out, then." Setting down his half-empty mug, he limps for the door as fast as his leg will allow him. Behind him, Rachel lets out a whimper but he ignores this.
"House."
This, however, he doesn't ignore and forces himself to turn back around.
Rachel was looking at him, her eyes wide and beseeching.
"She wants you to say goodbye." Cuddy explains quietly.
He stares at her, expecting a "Just kidding!" at any moment but when it doesn't come, he grudgingly lets out a, "Bye."
But Rachel isn't satisfied with his departure and immediately whimpers again, this time a little louder. He catches Cuddy's pointed look and rolls his eyes before limping over to Rachel. Towering over the tiny two-month old, he stares down at her but she seems unfazed but his steady gaze.
Raising a hand, he gently chucks her under her chin. "See ya, kid." He lingers just long enough to see a big grin spread over Rachel's face and a tiny fist reach out for him before glancing quickly at Cuddy and heading for the door.
Yes, he was definitely getting too soft.
A/N: What do you think? Was it cute enough? XP I really wanted a sort of noncommittal ending so that this story stays somewhat in canon. Basically, House babysitting Rachel doesn't change anything between him and Cuddy since they go back to their usual bickering and bantering in the next episode chronologically, "The Greater Good." Anyway, let me know your thoughts! I love to hear them! :) And Happy New Year!
