GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST

A/N: Heyo Readers. Here's the 4th and 5th chapter. Go me for posting two chapters. Hopefully I'll have this done before Christmas. Honestly, I'm not liking my chances. Oh, well, it'll be done when it's done. Lol. On with the story.

"Beepbeepbeepbeep."

House stirred in his sleep for a minute, then the realisation hit him.

"1am." House muttered, looking around expectantly.

"Just a dream, that all," he mumbled, and went back to sleep.

The curtains started rustling and a startled House jumped up from where he was sitting. A bright light appeared from nowhere. House could just make out a figure in the light.

"Are you one of the spirits I was warned about?" House demanded.

"I am." The spirit replied.

House squinted. It was a woman.

"Who and what are you?" House snapped.

"I am the ghost of Christmas Past." The woman replied.

House could clearly see the woman now.

"Cuddy?" He gasped in shock. "First you try to poison me, now you haunt me? What next? Are you going to chase me with a knife?"

"Oh, shut up, House! I don't want to do this anymore than you do. If you co-operate, I can make this as quick and painless as possible." Cuddy snarled.

"Like that'll happen," House scoffed.

"Let's just get this over with," Cuddy rolled her eyes. "Now where was I? Oh, I am the ghost of Christmas past."

"Long past?" House asked.

"No. Your past. Which is coincidental, since we have some what of a history."

"Don't remind me," House groaned, "anyway, what's with the weird hat?"

"It's not a hat, you moron, it's the light of truth." Cuddy snapped.

"Sorry!" House said sarcastically, "I must have missed the lesson at med school when they showed us the light of truth. What do you want, Cuddy, cause I don't do booty calls. Well, I do, just not for you."

"It is for your welfare that I appear." Cuddy said.

"How about you do something else for my welfare? Take me off clinic duty, or, for the love of God, let me get some sleep!" House cried.

"It's for your own damn good, House!" Cuddy snapped, "You think I want to be here, instead of asleep? No way!"

"My own damn good, why didn't you say so?" House retorted.

"Let's go," Cuddy snapped, holding out her hand.

"Just like old times, hey?" House said as he took her hand.

"Little less talking, a little more moving," Cuddy snapped.

Suddenly a think fog surrounded House and spirit-Cuddy.

"We shall be invisible and no one will hear us. Unfortunately for me, I'll hear you." Cuddy explained. She held up the light of truth. "You will see a little snot-nosed brat – yourself, as a child."

The fog cleared and House and Cuddy were standing in a snowy field.

"Do you know where you are?" Cuddy asked.

"Of course I do." House replied. "This is my hometown." House looked around at the kids playing. "That's Daniel Costas, and Robert Estes." House waved to them. "Hey, Daniel!" They kept playing. "The big one there; that's David Tyler. David, hey, over here, it's Greg!"

"For crying out loud!" Cuddy snapped, "Stop embarrassing yourself. They can't hear you."

"They look so happy," House whispered.

"Yeah," Cuddy said, "they do. Let's move on. You probably know the way."

"Like the handle of my cane," he muttered.

"Your old boarding school," Cuddy stated. "And it's Christmas Day."

"There's a lonely kid in there," House said.

"The boy is deserted, by his friends and family," Cuddy answered.

"His mother is a push-over and his Dad holds a grudge against him." House said angrily.

"Why?" Cuddy asked.

"He doesn't fit into his Dad's view of the perfect son – obedient, athletic and strong." House muttered.

"Poor kid," Cuddy said softly.

"He had his friends –" House murmured, "his music."

The child walked over to a piano and began playing a Christmas song.

"His Beethoven, his Chopin, his Mozart." House added.

"But not real friends," Cuddy interjected.

"Beethoven, not real? All those symphonies; the notes come to life, telling a story. How are they not real?" House asked. "He made do, this boy."

"Let's see another Christmas Day, when you were a teenager." Cuddy interrupted.

"Mother?" House said, looking at a figure in the doorway.

"Mother?" A teenage House called out, "Mother, what are you doing here?"

"I've come to bring you home, Greg," She replied, smiling.

"Home?" Greg asked, shocked.

"Your father's had a change of heart. He's been much happier, and one day I asked if you could come home. And he said yes." His mother answered.

"Are you sure?" Greg questioned uncertainly.

"You are a man, Gregory." His mother said sternly, "smart and strong. Your father would be proud."

Greg smiled at his mother.

"Let's not keep your father waiting."

They both walked outside.

"Father!" Greg called out, excitedly.

"Stand, let me look at you," his father snapped.

Greg stood at attention.

"I've grown," Greg said nervously, "I think."

"Most boys do," His father replied.

"Has your mother told you you'll be leaving?" His father asked.

"Yes, sir," Greg answered.

"It's time you made your way in the world. I've arranged to have you attend one of the best medical schools in the country. You'll leave in three days time." His father said.

"Three days?" his mother questioned. "I'd have hoped we'd have him here for longer."

"Three days is quite long enough," His father replied, "don't you think, Gregory."

"Yes, sir," Greg answered, "quite long enough."

"Let's get moving then, boy," His father said, hopping into the car.

They drove away. House stared after the car.

"My mother pleaded for more time, but my father's a very…strict man. Which is what you can expect from a Marine." House smiled sadly.

There was an awkward silence.

"How about we move on," Cuddy said softly.

"I though you'd never ask," House muttered, "it's freezing out here!"

A/N: I know what you're thinking: "I came, I read and I reviewed."

Now do what you promised!