A/N: Okay well here is another update...I hope you like it...i love your reviews too...keep them up!
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Madelyn's Gift
Chapter 3:
Theresonly1difference
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Finally instead of face down on a floor House found himself sitting in an auditorium right smack dab in the middle of the room. Looking around he found it to be packed full of college students and an older man up front speaking in a very monotone voice.
Turning his head to the right House looked down to see Madelyn with a piece of notebook paper in her hand acting like she was taking notes but as House leaned back he could see that she was doodling with a red crayon all over her paper.
"What are we…" started House.
"Shhh," said Madelyn turning to glare at House. "Can't you see I am taking notes here?"
"I can see all right," said House sarcastically, "the picture of the cat or is that a cow really shows your talent as a note taker."
Madelyn dropped her paper and smirked, "For one it is a dog and two shut up the good part is about to start."
"I doubt anything good would happen in this place this guy is as boring as a…" started House but a slamming of the door behind him and a loud curse.
"Shit!"
Everyone in the building including the invisible ones turned their head to see a young man still dressed in his red flannel pajamas and Michigan t-shirt and aviator glasses holding his hand and swearing like a sailor.
"Gregory House," spoke the instructor.
Both young and old House turned their heads up to the front of the room to see the instructor smirking at the young House.
"Now truly I must be dreaming," exclaimed the professor, "because only in my dreams have you actually showed up for an 8 a.m. class."
Everyone turned to see the young House take off his aviators and put them on his head and smirk at the older professor.
"You dream about me Bob?" smirked the young House. "You have no idea how much that means to me" he said putting his hand over his heart and giving the teacher an adoring look.
"Greg," said the professor slowly.
"Bob," said the young House back just as slowly.
The professor narrowed his eyes at him and sent him a warning look.
The young House noticed the look because he put his hands up in surrender and smirked, "okay…okay…I will behave," and with that he scanned the auditorium found his seat which just so happened to be right in front of House and Madelyn and sat down.
This was when House finally took notice to the young Cuddy sitting right in front of him.
"Hello Cuddles," said the young House leaning over.
Young Cuddy turned and glared at the young House.
"What are you doing here?" she hissed.
The younger House shrugged and threw her one of his handsome smiles, "I figured since we got off on the wrong foot yesterday, you know the part where you through beer in my face, we could try again."
The young House held out his hand in front of the woman, "Hi I am Greg House and I would like to sleep with you," he said with a smirk.
Cuddy just glared at his hand and wrinkled up her nose in disgust, "You are a pig," she glared. She went to breathe in through her nose and coughed, "God you smell like beer…puke and…" she stopped to breathe in again, "cheetoes."
"Scent of a man Cuddles," smirked the young House, "scent of a man," he repeated.
"Scent of a pig," glared Cuddy, "and stop calling me Cuddles you insensitive ass." Cuddy turned her attention back up to the front as the teacher finally started his lecture.
"I tell you what Cuddles," said the young House stretching out her nickname just to watch her tense in frustration, "you go out with me and I will leave you alone for good."
The younger Cuddy's muscles just seemed to tense more but as far as her reaction to House's words she said nothing and continued to stare up at the teacher.
"I don't know how you are still alive," whispered Madelyn.
House looked over to see her eating a bag of popcorn watching the young House and Cuddy banter like it was a movie.
"She is obviously going to kill you," pointed out Madelyn, "I mean look at her. She is practically shaking."
"Why are you showing me the past between me and Cuddy?" asked House watching as Madelyn conjured up a juice box out of thin air and started drinking it.
Madelyn just looked up at him with her big blue eyes and continued to drink the juice until it was always gone only leaving the sound of gurgling as she tried to get every last drop.
House glared at her as he reached over and snatched the juice out of her hand and threw it to the front of the room watching as it went through the wall. Turning to her he glared, "Why are we here?"
"Think back," said Madelyn smirking at him, "think all the way back to when you were that age," she said nodding towards the young House still bothering Cuddy.
"Before her," she said nodding towards Cuddy, "have you ever had to work this hard for a date."
House stayed silent for a second obviously racing his brain for the answer.
"No you haven't," said Madelyn answering for him. "So why is she so different, why do you try so hard for her when the two blondes directly behind us would gladly go out with you without you even trying," she said throwing her thumb over her shoulder and pointing to the two busty college girl blondes eyeing up the young House like the was a piece of meat.
The older House opened his mouth to answer but Madelyn cut him off again, "Don't even try to tell me you didn't notice them either. Both of you noticed as soon as you got in the room," she said.
"So why her?" asked Madelyn looking House directly in the eye. "Why are you trying so hard? Is it because she is special? Is it because you care?"
House narrowed his eyes at Madelyn insinuation.
"Maybe it is because she is smoking hot and has a nice rack," gritted out House.
"Or maybe it is because you actually like her," argued Madelyn narrowing her eyes back at House.
"NO I WILL NOT HAVE SEX WITH YOU!" bellowed the young House out loud as everyone in the room turned to see the younger House staring at Cuddy with a fake look of pure shock on his face and Cuddy tying to melt him with his eyes.
"Greg is there a problem," asked the teacher smirking at the younger House's display.
The younger House turned his face from Cuddy to stare up front, "No sorry Bob," he smirked, "please continue I find your discussion on liver cancer absolutely fascinating."
"We are talking about the brain Greg," said the teacher slowly.
"Whatever," said the young House waving his hand for the teacher to continue and as soon as the teacher did he turned his head back to Cuddy.
"You know I will just keep bothering and annoying you till you go out with me right?" he said smirking at the glare Cuddy sent his way.
"I grew up with three older brothers," said Cuddy smirking, "what you are doing right now is child's play compared to what I grew up with….but if you want to continue by all means do."
The smirk faltered just slightly on House's face but then a look of realization crossed his face and his smirk transformed into full, "Ohh…I will Lisa my dear…I will continue to do this until you agree to go out with me but it seems I need to up my game…thank god I have 2 more classes with you today so I can practice," he said watching her whip her head around and stare at him in shock.
"You wouldn't," she said slowly narrowing her eyes at him
"I would," said the young House just as slowly back.
The younger Cuddy gave in a sigh and pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration, "Fine but just because I am going out with you doesn't mean I will have sex with you," she said her face scrunching up in disgust at the thought of having sex with him.
The young House jumped in his seat and pumped his fist in the air, "YES!"
"Greg, go home a take a shower and sleep," smirked the professor, "you are nothing but a distraction for the rest of the class."
The young House was snapped out of his victory trance at the professor's words. Turning to the front of the class he threw the professor a smirk and shrugged his and spoke, "Sorry Bob. I got what I came here for," he paused to wink at Cuddy. "I will let you mold these young minds," and with that he went to walk away but stopped as if he was remembering something.
Moving very quickly he swopped down and placed a short kiss to Cuddy's cheek moving his head to the corner of her ear, "I will see you at 7," and with that he walked away.
"You like her," squealed Madelyn practically jumping in her chair pointing to the smug look on the young House's face and the slight blush now on Cuddy's.
"Who wouldn't," defended House. "Even at that age," he paused to point at young Cuddy, " Lisa Cuddy was a fine piece of ass that any man would like to tap."
"Tap?" question Madelyn turning to stare at House confusion evident on her face, "what does that mean?"
"I will tell you when you are older," smirked House knowing it would frustrate her.
"I thought we went through this already!" glared Madelyn, "I am dead I won't get any older!"
House's smirk fell into a frown at her words. She was dead. She was a five year old and dead because he couldn't save her.
"You couldn't save me Dr. House," whispered Madelyn seeing the look on his face, "it was my time. We all have our time…mine just came early."
House sat their quietly a frown still on his face as he assessed Madelyn's words.
"Before we go," whispered House, "because I am sure we are about to disappear in a bright light again, can I ask you something?"
Madelyn stared at him in shock at his soft tone. Not trusting her words she nodded for House to continue.
"Why are you here," he asked, "why are you even wasting your time on me?"
Madelyn stared at him for few seconds before bringing her head forward to stare at the young Cuddy who was currently taking notes and listening to the professor.
"Is it a waste, really?" said Madelyn just as softly. "You Dr. House have saved hundreds of people…what is wrong with someone trying to save you?"
"I don't need saving," whispered House as he too was staring at the young Cuddy, "I am alive…."
Madelyn small hand came down upon House's making him turn his head to her.
"Are you?" asked Madelyn quietly.
House stared at the little girl for a few seconds before he dragged his gaze back to the young Cuddy, "No," he whispered, "Not for a very long time."
Madelyn small hand just squeezed House's larger reassuringly at his words.
"Do you want to be?" asked Madelyn.
House squeezed her hand as a bunch emotion's filled his heart, "I don't know if I know how to anymore," he whispered.
"Sure you do Dr. House," said Madelyn smiling at him, "and I am here because I know what is going to make you happy."
"And what is that?" asked House sarcastically moving from sweet tender House to sarcastic bastard House within seconds, "is it a big box of money, perhaps a new motorcycle, a cake that a naked stripper pops out of…"
"It is love," interrupted Madelyn before his ideas got anymore crazier.
"Love?" laughed House at her answer, "that is your big plan…love!?"
"That is the plan," smirked Madelyn.
"Your plan sucks," said House narrowing his eyes at her.
"No it doesn't," defended Madelyn, "it is a good plan and it will work if you just believe…"
"Ohh…my god when did we enter a cheesy chick flick?" said House rolling his eyes. "Seriously I feel like have watched this scene before…are you going to tell me now that I have to take leap…"
"Exactly," interrupted Madelyn.
House glared at her stupidity as he got up and started to walk towards the exit.
"It is not that hard Dr. House," called Madelyn running to catch up with him.
House maneuvered his way out the door into the hallway following his hazy memory where the exit was.
"I don't fall in love," bit out House, "I don't believe in it."
House found the exit and burst through the doors to the cold winter air. He shivered at the contact of the cold wind on his bare skin but before he could even rub the goosebumbs off his arms a warm coat materialized out of nowhere on him encasing him in warmth.
House stared at the coat in shock as he turned to see Madelyn leaning against the door frame staring at him intently.
"Believe in it Dr. House," said Madelyn, "because it does exist."
House glared at her as he started walking towards the town of building trying to get away from her.
"No one likes to lose control," called Madelyn her voice barely reaching his ears over the roaring wind.
House entered the town and continued to walk before he finally noticed the lack of tiny footsteps or nagging whiny voice.
Turning around he saw nothing but an empty sidewalk.
"Madelyn," called House. Getting no answer he called her name again.
"No one likes to lose control," said a voice in front of him.
House turned around to see Madelyn her hands on a glass window staring inside a restaurant.
"You are a doctor and for doctors control is everything," she said turning her head to stare at him. "But when you fall in love there is no control…there is only chance and that scares you. So you push people away…in the fear of falling in love."
House walked up to her to stare in the glass with her. There he was greeted by the sight of his younger self and young Cuddy sitting across from each eating food and laughing.
He watched as the younger Cuddy was throwing French fries across the table and the young House caught it in his mouth.
The glass seemed to turn into a TV. before his eyes as it changed from him and Cuddy going go-karting, Cuddy cheering him at his lacrosse game, them watching a chick flick, them laughing, kissing, fighting.
"At some point Dr. House you have to make a decision. You can waste your life keeping people out or you can let someone in," said Madelyn nodding towards the screen as it switched to a scene where the young House was kissing Cuddy pulling back and beginning to walk away outside her door. Just when he was about to make it down the steps Cuddy reached out grabbed his hand. Smiling shyly at him she pulled him into her apartment.
The TV. changed again to the young couple kissing on the bed passionately.
Madelyn grabbed House's hand and pulled him through the glass. They entered to see the young House and Cuddy sweaty, breathing hard and naked a white sheet covering them up as they both held onto each other.
"I thought you said you would never sleep with me," gasped out the young House.
"I can't believe we waited all this time for that," gasped out Cuddy, "that was amazing."
Cuddy rolled over on her side her face snuggling deep into the pillow as she prepared herself to go to sleep.
But a shifting on the other side of the bed opened her eyes as she turned to see House putting on his pants getting up and buckling them
"What are you doing," asked the young Cuddy.
The younger House paused as he buckled his belt as he looked up at her, "I don't spend the night," he said reaching for his shirt.
"You don't spend the night," said the young Cuddy slowly trying to understand what he meant by that. A look of realization crossed her face as her brain finally processed what he said.
"Gregory House I will not just be some knotch in you bed post so I will give you exactly 5 seconds to get back in the bed to cuddle and go to bed with me," said the young Cuddy glaring at him, "or I can promise you will never see me again."
"Lisa…" started House.
"One," counted the young Cuddy.
"I don't cuddle," he defended.
"I do," she countered, "Two…"
The young House stood their staring at her in shock clearly not knowing what to do.
"Three…"
"Four…"
"Fine," shouted the young House crawling into bed spooning up next to her.
"Good decision," mumbled the young Cuddy as she set her head back down the pillow falling asleep.
The young House just stared down at her reaching up and wiping away a stray hair in her face and tucked it behind her ear as he leaned down and placed a gentle kiss to her temple.
"Or you can cross them," whispered Madelyn staring up at House. "You can fall in love again like you did here…" she said pointing to the young House.
"Only this time you can let yourself," she whispered sadly as she watched the young House lean down and place one last lingering kiss to her temple and untangle himself from the woman he loves.
Both House and Madelyn watched as he grabbed his shirt and walked to the door opening it but not before look back and give one last lingering look to the beautiful sleeping woman in the bed in nothing but a glistening heart shaped necklace on her neck. Then he walked out gently closing the door on the way out.
"You fell in love," whispered Madelyn, "you gave her your mother's necklace and then you freaked out…"
Both Madelyn and House watched a stray tear make its way down the face of Cuddy's. She turned in the bed to stare at the empty space where House should have been.
"I don't want to see this," whispered House his heart breaking as he saw the young Cuddy begin to sob and grab the heart shaped necklace.
"She fell in love with you," whispered Madelyn sadly.
"And you fell in love with her," she added, "but she was the only one ready to accept it."
Another sob escaped the younger Cuddy's throat and House stared at her sadly.
"I want to go," he whispered.
"Where?" asked Madelyn.
"I don't care," he whispered, "anywhere but here."
Madelyn nodded and grasped House's hand.
"Anywhere?" she asked.
"Anywhere," repeated House giving one last glance at the crying Cuddy before he and Madelyn disappeared in to a blinding white light once again.
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