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What Could Have Been

Who's Your Daddy? (2x23)

You'd think I'd settle down 'cause I'm older
But I roll with the change is all

Lisa Cuddy stood in front of House, a blank, dazed smile radiating from her face. "Thank you for the injections."

He nodded, curious, "You're welcome."

She turned around in the middle of a thought, heading to leave the room.

She wasn't getting away that easily. "You came all the way up here just to tell me that?" She'd spent at least five minutes getting the first sentence out. There had to be more.

"No," She shook her head, and stopped. "I also wanted to thank you for what you said."

This was unusual. In fact, House couldn't recall a time where he'd been thanked for saying something. He hoped she hadn't misunderstood him.

She stepped forward towards him and continued, the words now flowing freely out of her mouth. "You know, when you said I should pick someone I like. You were right."

As always. "Did you find one?" And why was she telling him this?

"I'm still looking." She folded her arms over her abdomen and stared dreamily. "I'll find one though. The perfect father for my child."

That wasn't the right answer. Still, it was a better solution than Mozart-kid or Wilson. "There's no such thing as a perfect father." He folded his hands and rested them on his desk. "Any guy that you can pick out of a sperm bank is bound to have something wrong with him."

Her eyelashes fluttered suggestively. "Who said I was looking in a sperm bank?" She stepped forward again, reaching to balance a hand on his desk. "I was actually going out."

"To find sperm?" She shouldn't be bar-hopping to find the future father of her child.

"To find a date."

"Oh?" Geez, this woman was indecisive. Just a day ago, she'd said she didn't want a date. She needed to make up her mind, more than anything else. "You're dating again?"

"I'm screwing again." She deadpanned, with a sly smirk.

Hey! If she was screwing anybody, it should be him. House was pretty sure that he was the last person she'd slept with. It had been a few months, but he wanted her to ask him first, before turning to some random guy in a bar. It wasn't like her to be so aimless and blunt. "Was that an invitation?"

"Do you want to come?" She offered, leaning forward. "I'm driving up to Manhattan for the weekend."

His mouth hung open in surprise. Of course he wanted to spend the weekend with her (preferably sharing a hotel room). He liked it when it was just the two of them. It was easier to...be himself, and she certainly didn't seem to mind. But he'd have to pack and stay up late and be away from his apartment- the only place he felt comfortable. She'd probably be watching his Vicodin intake too. "Uhh..." He grumbled, really not wanting her to travel to the city all by herself, "Okay."

She shook her head, the curls falling in her face. "You don't have to. I'm sure I can find a sperm donor without you."

He stood up and shuffled to get his coat. If they were leaving tonight, he'd have just enough time for a quick cat-nap. "I thought you were looking for a date."

"Yeah, to give me sperm," she said arrogantly.

And what did she plan to do with House when she brought lover-boy home? He was not going to listen to Cuddy have sex with another guy. "You should lead with that."

If House left for the weekend with Cuddy, there were certain implications that he wanted to avoid. He'd say they slept together regardless, but everyone would surely accuse him of having 'feelings' for her or whatever. They walked down the hallway together and he secretly hoped that one of the Ducklings would stop them with a new case. He didn't want to do this. He wanted to crawl back up in his warm bed at home (if Cuddy was there- naked- that would be okay, too). That image- Cuddy, rosy-faced and twisted in his sheets- gave him idea. "You don't have to go all the way to New York for sperm."

"What?" She led him into the elevator.

"Just use my sperm. It's efficient, and a whole lot more pleasurable." He tried to make 'pleasurable' sound extra sexy, but it sort of came out creepy.

She surprised him by actually thinking about it, and then tilting her head away sadly. "Go home, Greg."

He couldn't do that now that he'd propositioned her. "You know you want it." She'd enjoyed herself a few months ago, when they'd slept together. She only wanted a one-night stand, which was fine with him then, but now he was horny and she kept thrusting those damn boobs in his face and...

"You don't want to be my kid's father." She stepped out of the elevator after it beeped and opened. "Are you still upset about Stacy?"

"No!" He most definitely did not want to talk about that. "I just don't think that you should go alone." She'd get drunk and sleep with the first guy who looked at her. And that was not a good way to choose the father of one's child. "You need someone to help you pick. I'll give you an honest opinion."

"Just as long as you promise not to repel the ones that I actually like." She stopped in front of her office. "Wait here."

He watched her as she collected her belongings. She had everything- a great job, a nice house, a satisfactory personality, and the breasts of a goddess. How did someone like her not fall in love and get married? There had to be some optimistic Ken-doll out there dying to sweep her off her feet and give her babies. Although her new method of mate-selection was much better than blindly choosing from a sperm bank, Cuddy had failed to see House's meaning when he recommended "someone she likes". Hopefully she would realize that any guy she randomly met a club would also be unfit to father her child.

She exited her office, purse slung over her shoulder and a coat in hand. "Can I pick you up at noon? That will give us enough time to get a hotel and settle down before going out."

"Tommorrow? I thought we were leaving tonight." He'd just assumed...it was around five o'clock, which wasn't too late.

"It's another night in a hotel." She wrinkled her nose. "We're getting separate rooms, by the way."

"No!" He shouted, the power of his voice making her jump. "We stay in the same room or I'm not going." He crossed his arms and pouted, like a child.

"What if I want to have sex?" She asked, lowering her voice since they were still in the hospital. "And before you ask- you're not watching."

He didn't want to. "If he's a good guy, he'll take you back to his place. If he doesn't have a place, then you know you don't want him to be the father." He leaned in, brushing his lips over her ear. "What are you so worried about, anyway? It's not like I haven't seen you naked before."

Cuddy took the opportunity to slip her arm around his back and purr instinctively into his side.

"Watch out." He held his arms out, waiting for her to detach herself. "Don't want anyone to get the wrong idea."

Cuddy straightened up and walked out of the hospital, House in tow. "This is why we can't share a room."

"'Cause you can't resist me?" That's exactly what he wanted to hear. "You know I'd love to cuddle up in the privacy of our own hotel room."

"Whatever."

House thought he saw the color rise in her cheeks. "So, I'll be at your house at seven."

"Okay." She climbed into her car and smiled at him before driving off.

Cuddy was ready and waiting at seven. He showed up a half-hour later.

He'd packed light, because of his motorcycle. He only had a tiny duffel bag compared to her suitcase packed tight.

When they got to the hotel, he'd seen why. She'd dragged it down the hallway, throwing it on the bed closest to the door. He took a little longer, and by the time he got to the doorway of their room, she'd unzipped everything.

Spread out, her luggage easily took up the entire bed.

"Geez, Cuddy! Did you pack your entire wardrobe?" House placed his bag on a nearby chair and took off his jacket.

"I wanted to have everything." She stared at it, her finger held to her lips pensively.

"What's that?" House hobbled over and picked up a especially lacy bra with his finger. His eyes lit up.

She snatched it away. "That's for my sperm donor."

House looked back down to the suitcase. There were at least four other bras of various colors. "I think I should be your sperm donor tonight."

"House..." She backed away, clutching the bra to her chest.

"At least model them for me." On second thought, he didn't know if he could stand that. "I'll pick the best one."

"Not a good idea." She pushed them all back down to the body of the mess of clothes. "You can pick out my pajamas, though."

"Do I have to pick out something? I'd rather see you in the nude." He wrapped an arm around her and pulled at her shirt.

She looked up. "House, what are you doing?"

His hand slid down to her ass. "I told you I'd get cuddly in the privacy of our hotel room."

She took a few deep breaths and rested her head on his chest. "Okay." She placed a hand on his back. "So, what should I wear?"

He let go of her to dig through it again. "Where are the thongs?"

She patted a pocket on the side.

He peeked in at the dizzying array of ribbons and colors. "I see that I have a selection."

She nodded. "I'm not only going to wear a thong, House." She retrieved two silk nightgown from the bottom of the suitcase. They were nice, but entirely too modest. "You can choose- butterflies or flowers?"

He frowned, and shot a thong by its elastic at her. "Green."

She picked it up, and looked at it. "If I'm wearing this..." She reached into the pocket of underwear again, and held up pink panties with bows. "You have to wear this."

House took it from her and stretched it. He might fit, and it would certainly be worth it to see Cuddy nearly naked again. But no...they were women's underwear! He threw it on the bed. "I can't."

She mimicked him. "Then I can't either."

"Please, Cuddy?" He tried to make his eyes water. "I'd rather go nude. Anything but the panties."

"Sorry!" She shrugged and plucked the butterfly nightgown from the bed. She disappeared into the bathroom.

"Damn it." House took off his shirt and pants, leaving him in his boxers. He took a deep breath. If he didn't do this now, he was going to regret it for the rest of his life. He removed his boxers and sat on the floor, playing with the panties. His leg ached as he brought it up towards him, bent at the knee. He groaned, only slipping his foot through one of the holes before chucking the panties to another corner.

The sound of running water came from the bathroom, followed by a flush.

House knew he had to do this now. He stood up, very slowly, and walked over to pick the panties up off the floor. As he straightened up, Cuddy came out of the bathroom.

"Whoa." She laughed and covered her mouth. "You were actually going to do it."

House didn't care. He was too busy staring at Cuddy. The butterfly nightgown was in her hand, and she was wearing- he gulped- some sort of teddy that just hugged every curve. "W-where'd you get that?" He scrambled to his feet and handed her the panties.

"Found it." She smiled. "It was attached to this thing." She held up the nightgown.

"That's-" House brought his hand up and brought it down her side, feeling the soft material. He did this repeatedly, his eyes sliding all over her body. "Don't ever take this off."

"Sure." She looked down his body. "You're still naked."

Right. He hastily put on his boxers. "I was going to seduce you, but it looks like you've got that covered."

"Yeah." Cuddy walked over to help him, her fingers grazing his thigh.

That felt good. His head snapped up as he tried to keep his hard-on at bay. She wasn't helping, rubbing against him like that. "Goodnight." He kissed her cheek, since it was right there, and climbed into bed.

"What?" She placed a hand on her hip. "I thought you wanted to have sex."

"I do." And she looked so damn sexy...He didn't deserve her. She should be with someone who would be a good father, and a good husband. "Like you said, I don't want to be the father of your child."

Cuddy seemed hurt for a moment, peeling a hangnail. She sighed, "Okay."

He closed his eyes, not wanting to look at her. He couldn't believe he just rejected her, but he needed to do it, to show her that he wasn't what she was looking for.

She started to push the luggage off of her bag.

"Hey." He called to her. "Sleep with me."

"No," she whined sadly. But she stopped.

His hand fell down on the other side of the bed, smacking the mattress. "Get over here."

"You can't just do that, House!" She mindlessly started to push clothing back in. "You can't just have half of me when you want it, how you want it."

He didn't mean to make her feel like that, but he couldn't tell her the truth. "Don't make me come over there."

"You won't have to because I'm not sleeping with you."

Now, she was just shoving clothes around in the suitcase and he could tell she was about to cry. "A minute ago, you couldn't wait to get into my bed."

Not a good choice of words. She looked down at her attire. "I'm going to take this stupid thing off because obviously it makes me look like a fat cow!" She tore off for the bathroom.

"Jesus, Cuddy! That's not what I said!" She never believed what came out of his mouth. He limped over to the bathroom. "You look fucking beautiful, I just-"

Her head peeked out of the door. "Really?"

"Yeah." He scratched his head, glad to see she hadn't removed her clothes yet. "I'm just tired and my leg hurts and-" She was perfect and he was a mess.

"Did you take your pills?" She stepped out of the bathroom, concerned. She touched his scar lightly, and even that sent tremors down his leg.

He nodded and she frowned. "Let's just go to bed."

She took his hand and walked to the bed with him. When she bent over to crawl to the other side, he slapped her ass.

She didn't say anything, but when he was snuggled under the covers, he felt her hand slide around his hip and return the favor. "Mmm." She hummed into his shoulder and he laughed.

He let her caress him for a while before removing her hand. "You're not going to have any energy for tommorrow."

He kissed her and she moved over, giving him some space. The tips of his fingers traced the silk nightie until she fell asleep.

The next day went rather smoothly. They had a friendly breakfast, went to Central Park and sat in silence. Cuddy insisted that they return to the hotel by six, so she could spend the next three hours getting ready. House spent most of this time watching television. He didn't know exactly what she was doing in the bathroom, but she'd given him the teddy she'd worn to bed to play with. It slid through his fingers, smooth and warm. He buried his face into it and inhaled. It smelled like her.

She stepped out of the bathroom, a towel in her hair and around her body. "Having fun?"

"Yes." His voice was muffled throught the fabric.

"Want the shower?" She pulled the towel from her hair and shook it out.

"Yes," he repeated, standing up quickly. Pain shot through his leg and he buckled, the nightie falling off his face.

"You okay?" In a instant, her hot, wet body was pressed against his.

"Fine." He shuffled to the shower as best as he could.

When he got out, clean and relaxed, she was peering over her clothing selection, wearing nothing but the green panties he'd picked out the night before and a matching bra.

He walked over to his bag and put on a clean pair of boxers.

"No comment?" She raised her eyebrows. "I hope you at least thought of me in the shower."

"How long have you been planning to say that?" He grabbed the one nice shirt that he packed and kissed her on the cheek. "And today...it was mostly Angelina Jolie, but you may have made an appearance."

"Only an appearance?" She rubbed her hand across his abdomen, running her fingers through his chest hair. "The only reason that I bought that teddy was to be the star of the show."

He listened to her breathy words and let his thumb run along the soft skin of her back. He kissed her shoulder, then her collar bone, and took a bite out of the top of her breast.

He pulled away. "Damn."

Her legs bumped against his as she followed him, too close. "What if we forget the whole picking out a sperm donor thing? I'll find one at home." He fell onto the bed, and she came with him, blubbering, "You can wear a condom, if you want."

He held her on his lap, one of his hands wrapped around her knees, the other on her hip. "Not yet. After you find the guy you want and...get fertilized."

She growled at him and leapt off. "Put some clothes on then. And stop teasing me!"

Truthfully, he wasn't that sorry about teasing her. It just meant that she'd be even hotter for him later. He buttoned up his shirt and pulled on a pair of pants. "Hold on, I forgot..." He went back into the bathroom, and came back with her nightie. "Can I keep this?"

She took it from him. "You don't appreciate it enough if you have to think about Angelina Jolie."

He stepped behind her, pressing into her. "You know I only think about you." His hand stroked along her arm until she released it.

"Fine." She stepped away and pointed to an outfit. "Do you think this is okay to wear?"

He looked down. It looked like something she might wear to work- professional jacket, blouse, tight skirt. It showed off her assets, but it wasn't exactly...

"No jacket?" She interrupted his thoughts.

Obviously, his iffy facial expression wasn't what she wanted to see.

"What am I supposed to wear?" She threw the outfit onto another chair so she could see the rest of the clothes she brought.

He should have told her that she looked fine. He wasn't suppose to make her sexy. She was supposed to look like a mother. He really didn't want to pick out a dress for her to get laid in, but it was hard not to enjoy himself. They settled on a purple, slinky number with a black jacket over it. The color made her eyes sultry and House struggled not to kiss off the red lipstick she applied afterward.

She smacked her lips. "Ready?"

She looked like a whore. She really did. But he supposed that was what she was going for. "Sure." He popped a couple of Vicodin in his mouth and hoped for the best.

A/N: So, obviously there's going to be a part two for this. Ummm. Not even sure where this idea came from.

I sort of dislike this chapter. Next chapter might be better. House gets to interview potential "sperm donors". Sooo...fun.

Ick. House is OOC again. haha. I'm critiquing my own chapter in the author's note. I'd better stop before you never read anything I write again.

Suggestions would be nice, maybe on Jealous!House because he's a little hard to write. Thank you!

Also, lyric credits go to Matchbox 20.