"Where's House?" Kutner asked as he walked into the conference room.

"Clinic," Foreman said while motioning to the whiteboard. On it, House had scribbled CLINIC DUTY.

"It's Thursday, that makes three days so far this week," Taub sighed.

"What else is there, until we get a new patient?" Foreman replied.

"True."

"Why's House here already?" Hadley asked.

"No idea. You'd think with Cuddy away, he'd be avoiding work." Foremen shrugged.

"I don't get it."

"What's not to get?"

"Why are you here before me and working in the clinic to boot?" Wilson peeled off his overcoat while standing near the main entrance with House.

"Just trying to do my fair share."

"Right, and I suppose you got into medicine because you felt a calling to help the helpless."

House smirked. He knew Wilson would suspect something was up. Actually, he figured his team would think something was up too; he was never at work early, much less at the clinic. "Cuddy has an appointment today."

"Not this again. And how do you know she has an appointment?"

"Her calendar book had nine AM circled. I saw it the day we broke in."

"Well that could mean anything, House." House nodded slightly, it could very well mean anything but he was willing to bet Cuddy had some sort of appointment this morning and he was determined to find out what for. Wilson could see House was not going to give in. "Don't tell me, I don't want to know. She's on vacation, she wants to spruce up her house, I don't see any mystery in that. Maybe she's meeting with an interior designer this morning."

"See you at lunch?" House smiled, ignoring the fact that Wilson might actually be right.

Wilson sighed, "Noon?" House nodded.

"…and that's why toys come with age recommendations," House said dryly as he emerged from a clinic exam room. He approached the nursing desk, saying, "Schedule an O.R.," as he handed a nurse the file. "She swallowed several small toys and possibly a couple of magnets."

House picked up another file and headed towards an exam room as Kutner approached him. "Rough morning?" Kutner asked.

"Parents should have to pass a test before being allowed to have kids." Kutner raised his eyebrows, but said nothing.

While standing there with Kutner, House caught sight of Cuddy as she entered the building. "Here, take this patient," he said as he handed the file to Kutner. He watched as Cuddy gingerly walked up to the elevators, limping slightly. House turned and hobbled as quickly as he could towards the elevator bay. From a distance, he watched Cuddy enter an elevator alone; he waited for the doors to close and watched to see which floor she stopped at and then entered his own elevator and punched the number three.

House stepped out and looked down the corridor, just catching a glimpse of Cuddy as a door down the hallway closed behind her. He limped down to the same door and read the sign Dr. Ranshel: Gynecology, Dr. Nuwell: Obstetrics. House took his cane, lifted it up slightly and stomped it onto the ground in satisfaction.

Wilson watched as House practically pranced into the cafeteria. Chest out, smug smirk on his face, swinging the cane with an air of arrogance. It was clear, House was happy. As annoying as House was in his self satisfied state, Wilson had to admit it was good to see his friend happy. He solved the puzzle, he knew Cuddy's secret.

"Okay, what's up? Like I even have to ask."

"You better sit down for this."

"I am sitting down. Just spill it."

House reached over and grabbed a handful of Wilson's chips, stuffing them into his mouth. "Cudder's preggers," he said with his mouth full.

Wilson stopped chewing his sandwich and swallowed too soon, causing him to choke. He continued to choke for a few minutes, and a nurse stopped to ask if he was okay, to which he nodded in the affirmative. He took a long drink and after a bit of sputtering and several stares from those seated at nearby tables, he was finally able to respond. "I'm fine thanks, don't get up or anything. How did you know?"

"You were coughing forcefully, you weren't going to die. I followed her."

"You followed her where?"

"She had a doctor's appointment this morning in gynecology/obstetrics."

Wilson stared at House not quite sure what to make of it all, though it did seem to add up with the new furniture and the paint. "She shouldn't be lifting on those heavy boxes."

House watched Wilson grow fairly animated with excitement. It annoyed House greatly, though he had to admit to himself that it was quite amusing too. "…and I wonder if she has a carseat? She'll need a stroller, high chair, a baby monitor. She's going to need a lot of help, she's all alone."

"Whoa there, we're not even supposed to know she's pregnant yet. Are you…giddy?"

"I'm thrilled that a friend is finally getting the baby she's dreamed of. But of course, you wouldn't understand what it's like to feel happiness for someone else; it's an emotion you lack." House gave Wilson a dirty look. Wilson was too excited for Cuddy to worry about how House was taking the news. "You need to help me paint on Saturday. I'm sure she'll need help putting the crib together."

"Oh no, I'm not getting suckered into painting, or putting anything together. That's your department."

"House. She needs our help."

"No, absolutely not, this is her idea. Her baby. She wants this."

"She got a broken toe trying to lift on something she shouldn't be lifting."

"Not my fault."

"You can be a real jerk, you know?"

"And you can be a real sap."

"Nice."

House stuck his hand out. "I need ten bucks for lunch."

"Forget it."

"Come on Wilson, so you're mad at me because I want nothing to do with Cuddy's kid and now you won't lend me ten bucks for lunch?"

"Go to hell, House."

House sat there and stared at Wilson. He wasn't sure what to make of the situation. Was he being serious? Cuddy's kid was not his responsibility, nor was Cuddy for that matter. On the other hand, he would like to see Cuddy's reaction upon learning that he figured out her little secret. "Fine, I'll go on Saturday. Now give me the ten bucks."

Wilson looked at House in bewilderment. "And how do I know you won't just take the ten bucks and then not show on up on Saturday?"

"Because you're picking me up to take me there and you're buying me lunch on Saturday too. You owe me for this."

"Lucky me."

"Glad you finally see the light."

"I wonder what Cuddy will say when she sees you show up on her doorstep. She must be so excited, she's waited for this for such a long time." Wilson wondered why she didn't share her secret though, especially given that the both of them already knew she had been trying to get pregnant anyway. "Why would she keep it a secret?"

House looked at Wilson and his previously blissful demeanor suddenly reverted to a pensive one. He said nothing, but clearly was deep in thought.

"What is it?"

The joy that House waltzed in with was now unmistakably absent. "She's waiting on a specialist recommendation from a pediatrician." Wilson broke his eye contact with House and stared at his plate, knowing what words would be next.

"There's something wrong with the baby."