A/N: Welcome back to my story, hope you read, reviewed and enjoyed the first chapter. Small mention of child abuse here and I would like to point out that I don't own House nor will I benefit economically from this story. Without further ado, chapter two!
Chapter Two- A War of Words
"YEAH GREG I GOT IT" Cuddy yelled, and went to open the door, shocked to see who was at the other end. "Hi Mr. and Mrs. House, what a pleasant surprise," Cuddy opened the door fully to let House's parents inside. John and Blythe House stepped inside Cuddy's home with their luggage in tow.
"This is where Gregory lives correct?" Blythe asked Cuddy. Cuddy nodded,
"GREG, COME OUT HERE, I HAVE A SURPRISE FOR YOU!" Cuddy yelled. From the nursery, House just finished changing Emma when he heard Cuddy call.
"What could your mom possibly be screaming about now kid?" House asked Emma. House picked up Emma and began the trek to the living room.
"Cuddy, don't tell me you're naked or…" House abruptly stopped as he made eye contact with his father.
"Son, that is no way to talk to a woman," John ordered. Blythe dropped her luggage and ran to House, demanding to hold her grandchild.
"Honey, can I see you in the kitchen for a second?" House asked. Cuddy looked at him as if he was growing a second head. Sure they called each other by their first names now, but House didn't do terms of endearment. Cuddy silently nodded and followed House into their kitchen. As soon as they stepped in the kitchen House's fake happy look melted into a cold, analytical stare.
"I get your pissed that I haven't been doing my clinic duty recently, but did you have to go so far as to call my parents?" House hissed.
"I didn't call them; I was just as shocked as you were to see them on our front porch. Why don't you be nice and ask them why they are here?" House scoffed,
"Look Cuddy," Cuddy flinched at the sudden name change, "if I ask them why they came, my mother will get all teary-eyed and assume that I didn't want her to see the kid. My father will get pissed at me and yell for disrespecting my mom, do you really want that on your shoulders? I didn't think so; all we have to do is pretend that we are the perfect little family for however long they are here, okay?" Cuddy nods, and walks past House to check on the dinner. Seeing that the dinner is done, Cuddy brings it to the dining room, tells House to put Emma in her swing and get his parents to the table.
After everyone is seated and food is on their plates an awkward silence washes over the room.
"We are so sorry dear we didn't call, John is meeting an old marine buddy of his in Newark tomorrow and we thought we should stop by for a visit." Blythe said, trying to break the ice.
"That's fine mom, how long are you guys planning on staying?" House asked, afraid to hear his mothers answer.
"Just tonight and hopefully tomorrow if you guys don't mind," Blythe said. House looked to Cuddy who nodded. "So how's my favorite grandchild been?"
"Emma's been great, she's developing normally even though she was a month premature." Cuddy looked at a now sleeping Emma with love.
"How are you handling her, Greg?" John bluntly asked. Blythe and House's eyes grew wide while Cuddy stared at John with a confused look on her face. This is how all the fights started House thought to himself.
"What do you mean, Mr. House?" Damn you Cuddy, why did you have to instigate him? House glared at Cuddy and Blythe mentally prepared for the hurt look she was about to see in her son's eyes.
"I'm simply wondering how Greg can handle a two month old with his gimp leg." Cuddy looked at House in shock, but was surprised to see a stoic House staring back at her. He's used to this verbal abuse by his father. Idiot! What the hell did you just do? Cuddy mentally berated herself.
"What are you going to do when she's older Greg? She's going to be walking soon, what if she climbs on a high table and jumps down? You will be powerless to stop her with that useless limb you have. Lisa is going to have to basically run after her while you sit on your ass."
"John! That is enough!" Blythe hissed at her husband, mindful of the sleeping baby. John stopped ranting, but made no move to apologize. Cuddy was still reeling from what John said, but House had heard enough. He stood up from the chair, grabbed his cane and exaggerated his limp while heading to the bedroom. Cuddy flinched when she heard the door slam.
"Greg is a great father, how dare you tell him otherwise!" Cuddy said and got up to check on House. Back at the table a very angry Blythe turned to John.
"John why do you always have to instigate Greg, he and Lisa have a wonderful daughter and are doing just fine."
"I just need to reinforce how lucky he has it."
"By picking on his disability and insulting him in front of his daughter?" John nodded and Blythe realized it made sense in John's mind. He is trying to make House improve his leg so he can enjoy life with Emma and Lisa.
"Well, I hope you know that even if you don't mean it you should apologize because I plan on seeing my grandchild more often and I would like you to see her too." Blythe said and began clearing the table, leaving John alone to stare at a sleeping Emma.
Meanwhile, in their bedroom Cuddy and House are in the midst of an intense conversation.
"Why does your father rag on you every chance he gets? What happened between you two?" Cuddy was pacing back and forth muttering random questions to House.
"Lisa, I don't want to talk about it tonight okay? Can we go get Emma and go to bed?" House reached out to grab Cuddy's hand and pulled her into his arms.
"Greg, I just want to know what made him so bitter towards you. Can you please help me?" Cuddy knew she pushed him too far, she could literally see House's barriers come down. House dropped his hold around Cuddy and stared at her with icy blue eyes.
"Cuddy, whatever you think you know you don't. You finally met a bigger ass than me, congratulations. I'm going to bed so either join me or get out." Cuddy sighed and went to grab Emma from her swing, happy to see John gone. Cuddy half-smiled at Blythe and scooped up Emma, retreating into her bedroom. By the time she got Emma, fed, changed and settled down in the bassinet House was fast asleep with a pained look on his face.
Ten year old Gregory House came into the kitchen after being called by his father several times. Greg heard his dad, but was too caught up in his book to come to the table.
"Where have you been boy?" John House said to his son.
"I was reading a book." Greg answered timidly.
"You know what would happen in the marines if someone disobeyed an officer?"
"No," Greg whispered, to afraid to speak up.
"No, what?" John asked menacingly.
"No sir!" Greg said louder.
"Good, you aren't totally useless. In the marines, you were hit." John towered over his son and grabbed his son's arm, holding it tight. "I'm not going to hit you this time, because your mom will ask questions. But, I am going to make you eat every last bite of your meal. You are not allowed to leave this table until every crumb is licked off your plate understood?"
"Sir, yes sir!" John released his death grip on Greg's arm, leaving a deep purple bruise, and led him to the table. John grabbed Greg's shoulders and plopped his down in a chair. Greg grabbed his utensils and quickly shoved his food in his mouth. "Son, what do you tell your mother when she asks where you got that bruise?" Greg swallowed the last bite of his food and said,
"I ran into a door, can I be excused sir?" John picked up the plate and inspected it.
"Yes, cadet, now get out of my sight you useless piece of shit."
House woke up in a cold sweat; he could feel his pulse beating rapidly in his ears. He looked over at Cuddy and Emma who were thankfully asleep, and then he looked at the clock which read 1:28 AM. I need a drink House thought to himself and got out of bed to get dressed. Cuddy stirred at the sound of House's motorcycle speeding out of the driveway.
"Please Greg, don't do anything stupid." Cuddy whispered in the moonlight and rolled over to go back to sleep.
A/N: Longest chapter ever! Sorry for the lack of updating, I wanted to get this chapter perfect before I published it. Please read and review as you will be graciously awarded with longer and faster updated chapters.