A/N: Reviews are making me happy. 'Tis why I am going so quickly with this story. Thank you.
This contains angst. Hopefully you enjoy and sorry that this chapter is shorter than the rest.
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"You should wear this." Ronald grabbed a dark blue silk button-down that was found in the depths of House's closet and handed it to him.
"Why?" He asked combing his fingers through his hair, "This is not a date."
"Yeah." The kid smiled, "You just wanna look pretty."
"Guys don't say pretty. We say 'rugged' and 'handsome'."
"Pretty." Ronald looked down at the silk shirt and then looked back up at House.
"Fine." He grabbed the shirt and swung it over his shoulder. "What else?"
He hated, dreaded, and loathed admitting that he was looking forward to tonight. He would never EVER even utter it toward Wilson, he wouldn't hint it toward the kid, he would barely even admit it to himself.
Ronald handed him black pants he found in a drawer. "There."
"How is it that you are a six year old kid and you're better at this than me?" House asked pulling the shirt from his shoulder.
"I'm five."
"Yeah, yeah." House muttered opening the door of the bathroom and stepping inside. "Silk? I don't even remember getting this shirt."
"It feels nice…like…butter."
"What is it with you and butter?" House voiced through the door.
"Butter…is good."
"It's fattening." He groaned as he pulled his pants on.
"It's good."
"Whatever."
Ronald watched as the door opened and he smiled. "You look funny."
"You picked it out." House looked down at his form.
The shirt fit snuggly so he left a few buttons undone at the top. The pants were tight but not too tight and he actually looked…good- to him anyway.
"I like it."
"You said it looked funny."
"Good funny."
"Alright, pick out what you want to wear."
Ronald grabbed his bag and pulled out several things. A comic book, a portable CD player, a stuffed dog, a book, and a Barney DVD. Finally, he got down to the clothes. He pulled out a red shirt and a pair of blue jeans.
"These?"
"Lovely." House said straightening out his shirt in his closet mirror.
"You didn't even look." Ronald pouted.
House looked at him then at the clothes in his hands, "Lovely." He repeated and went back to his shirt.
"I want to wear one of your shirts."
"Their too big for you."
"I want to wear one of your shirts." He insisted.
"Fine. So long as you don't cry on me again."
"Mk." Ronald went to the closet and rummaged through the clothes until he picked out a red and black striped shirt. "I want this one."
"Put it on."
He went into the bathroom and put on his jeans and oversized shirt.
When he came out House had his leather jacket on and keys in hand. 6:45.
"You should shave."
"No." House said quickly.
"Alright…but Lisa would like it if you shave."
House laughed a dry laugh, "I'll bet."
--
The two of them stood on Cuddy's porch staring at the door when Ronald broke the silence.
"Do I look good?" Ronald asked putting a hand on his hip and turning around.
House smirked, "Damn good."
"You look damn good too." He smiled.
House reached up and pushed the doorbell. They heard her footsteps then the door was opened.
"Come in." She said cocking her head slightly and smiling at Ronald. "Did you let him dress himself again?"
"Yes. Freedom is what it's called." House said limping through the door.
"FREEDOM." Ronald said slowly and deliberately.
"Yes." House nodded.
"Let me get your coats." She said holding out her hands. House pulled off the leather jacket and Cuddy was momentarily speechless. House looked good.
Ronald pulled his jacket off and handed to her, it caught her out of her reverie and she motioned for them to go to the living room.
House sat down on the couch and Ronald pulled himself up beside him. "I think she likes you." He whispered into House's ear.
"This is not a date." He said very quietly and sternly.
The kid sat back down and put his hands in his lap. "When are we going to eat?" He asked.
"Soon." Came Cuddy's voice from behind them. "I made an Italian dish- is that okay?"
"Fine with me." House mumbled.
"Damn fine." Ronald said getting House a glare from Cuddy.
House smirked and got up from the couch. Cuddy put a hand on his shoulder "It'll be done soon but its not done now. Wait."
House muttered incoherently but sat back down.
--
"If you want Ronald you can watch TV now." Cuddy said sweetly.
"Mk." He stood up from the table and ran into the living room.
"I don't know what you are thinking, House but this kid cannot stay with you." She said quietly with a sigh.
"I realize that Dr. Cuddy." He said rolling his eyes and taking a drink of the wine she'd served with dinner.
"Then what are you going to do?"
He paused, not knowing what to say.
"I don't know." He breathed out in a whisper looking down.
He was vulnerable. A 'House' kind of vulnerable but Cuddy had never seen him like this nonetheless.
"You want to keep him don't you?"
"No," He offered too quickly, "He's…different."
"And you can't take the fact that he understands you? Or do you want him to?"
"Understand me? He's eight."
She shook her head, "House, he gets you…. Unconsciously, he gets you more than anyone. He knows how to get things out of you. Things that were, before he came along, long lost."
"Like?"
"Happiness." She muttered gently. "House, today is the first day in a very long time I've seen you this…happy. Not once did you take a pill around me, I asked Wilson and your team…you've been, God forbid, having fun."
"Fun is not a stable ground for parenting."
"You're not his dad."
"His dad didn't want him." He pointed out.
"Yes" She nodded, "And you get that. How that feels."
"No," He muttered, "I have to go." He said standing up from the table.
She grabbed his arm, "You have to be open sometime. Whether you like it or not, Ronald is on your shoulders now and you have to make the decision. No one else."
"I have to go." He repeated not looking her in the eye.
She pulled her hands back and shook her head slightly.
"McDonald, let's go." He said roughly.
The kid looked up at him with a confused face but followed anyway.
--
"Sleep." House uttered the first words since they left when he walked in the door to his apartment.
The kid nodded sadly.
"What?" House asked to his long face.
"You're angry." He whispered.
House looked up and let out a breath. "You sleep on the couch." He said ignoring the child's statement.
A tear rolled down Ronald's cheek but House didn't notice he limped to his room and slammed the door.
--
Drink.
House needed a drink. His throat was dry as hell and he wanted something.
He pulled himself from the thrown blankets and sheets and limped his way to the kitchen. He opened the cabinet, grabbed a cup, and filled it with water. He took a drink and looked into the living room. He noticed there was something missing. Ronald's suitcase. His brow scrunched up and he limped into the room. He wasn't there.
Ronald was gone.
--
"Hello?" her irate, tired voice came through the line.
"He's gone." House said urgently…with worry.
"Who's gone? House?" She asked rubbing the sleep from her eyes and sitting up in her bed. She looked at the clock and saw the time. "House! It's three o'clock."
"Ronald is gone." He said slower and louder. He put a hand to his forehead and sat down on the couch, "I made him run away." His voice was small, broken.
Cuddy was worried, shocked, and confused at House's tone. "Why?"
"I…ignored him. I was mad. I…" He broke off staring into space…thinking.
"House, calm down I'll be over there in a minute." She said standing up quickly and putting a robe on.
"I'm not…worried," He said unconvincingly. He had to keep face.
"I know." She said, not wanting argue with him. She hung up the phone and threw it on her bed, slipped on some random shoes and pulled on her winter coat. She left quickly and didn't look back.
--
The knock at his door startled him but he limped over confidently and opened it, letting Cuddy in.
"Where was he last?" She asked looking around his apartment.
"Beside the couch. I just…left him here." He said sitting down again.
Cuddy sighed and sat down beside him on the couch. "I thought you didn't care." She said gently.
"I do." He muttered, almost inaudibly.
"Hey," she reached for his arm, "We'll find him."
--
"I love you, you love me…" Ronald's sob rang out in the air, "We're a happy family…with a great big hug," He sat down on the ledge of the roof of House's building, "and a kiss from me to you." His feet were hanging off and he was kicking the side of the building gently, "won't you say you love me too?" He smiled into the cold winter air at the end of the song. Snow was falling steadily making it hard for him to see anything through the white haze. He was cold, and wet. He looked down at the shirt House had lent him and let another sob out.
No one wanted him.
--