Chapter 14: A Visit

„What's up with you today?" Wilson asked Chris, when they met for lunch.

„Nothing" Chris scowled.

„Oh, great. Are we going to have a Housian-conversation now, were I'm going to have to second-guess what's wrong? You, know, sometimes I wish you were less like your father..."

Chris grinned, despite her bad mood. „You knew me, when you said yes to going out with me in the first place. So don't pretend you didn't know what was coming."

After a moment, she sighed, „My mom called this morning. She's going to visit my sister for a week, you remember, that perfect daughter who lives in Trenton in a perfect little house, with her perfect husband and her perfect baby-girl..."

„I get it." Wilson raised his hands in mock-surrender.

„Sorry. Anyway, she's passing through Princeton on her way, so she had the wonderful idea, that we meet for lunch. And by 'we', I mean her and me, as she doesn't know about us yet, nor the baby."

„I think, I can see the problem. So, why didn't you tell her you're busy, or something?"

Chris snorted, „Yeah, right. It's obvious, you haven't met my mother yet. If she's got something in her mind, it's going to happen. Nothing would deter her from meeting me, not even an earthquake that sends us straight into hell."

„I'm sorry. So, what are you going to do?"

„Meet her, tell her everything and get critized for not being as perfect as my little sister, then send her on her way."

„Do you want me to come with you? I always made a good impression on my mother-in-laws before. Maybe it helps."

„Not unless we can get married, buy a house and have a pension-plan by next saturday. But, yeah, it would be nice if you could come." she smiled at him, „although I have to warn you, she'll probably ruin your selfconfidence for ever."

Saturday morning dawned bright and warm. Chris had been all moody the whole morning, but Wilson managed to keep his good humor. They would meet Chris' mother at the trainstation. She had a four hour lay-over before her connection to Trenton departed. Wilson had reserved a table in a nearby restaurant.

„Hi mom!" Chris said with a smile, that looked only slightly forced, when they met.

„Hi, darling!" Mrs. Manners smile was genuine. „It's so good to see you. You look well!" she looked her daughter up and down, her eyes lingering on the slightly bulging belly beneath the thin t-shirt.

Wilson stepped forward before any of them could say more.

„Mom, this is my boyfriend, James Wilson. He's an oncologist at PPTH."

„Nice to meet you." Wilson said amiably. They shook hands. „Shall we go then? The restaurant isn't far from here."

While they made their way to the exit Mrs. Manners asked, „So, anything else new, that I should know of?" She eyed Chris' belly again.

„Yeah, actually, I'm three months pregnant."

Her mother looked stunned.

There was no other mention of the topic, untill they were seated at the table and had ordered from the menu.

„I take it, you're the father." Mrs. Manners said, out of the blue, adressing Wilson. He nodded, feeling the heat rise in his cheeks, as if he were a teenager again and had gotten busted, smoking marihuana.

„And you're going to take responsibility, right?" it wasn't so much a question but a statement.

„Obviously, mom." Chris chimed in, defensively, „Otherwise he wouldn't be sitting here, would he?"

Mrs. Manners looked disaprovingly at her daughter. „I'm just trying to get the facts straight." she said. „Are you living together? Are you going to get married? How will you provide for the child?"

Chris just rolled her eyes, exasperated.

Wilson answered. „Well, we're not living together, at least not yet. But we're planning to get a place before the baby is born. We're not planning on getting married, though, but I'll always be there for Chris and the child, and I own enough money to provide for all of us."

„Why aren't you getting married?" Chris' mother looked scandalized. Wilson found himself getting slightly annoyed. Surely she couldn't be that conservative... she'd had a baby from a one-night-stand.

On second thought, he realized this wasn't a contradiction, for she hadn't aborted the pregnancy, even though it must have been a hard decision. From what he knew, she'd gotten married soon after Chris' birth and given birth to another daughter only 1 ½ years later. Chris' stepfather had died in a car crash only two years ago, leaving her alone, after her adult children had moved out. No wonder she wanted to know everything that was going on in their lives.

„James, doesn't have very happy memories, when it comes to marriages and I prefer to be my own boss, as you well know. Anyway, we don't need a paper to be happy together."

„You have been married before?" this was adressed at Wilson again.

„Yeah." he mumbled, „but it didn't work out." he hoped they would change the topic, before it got into further details.

Luckily, their food came at that moment. Chris dove into her plate with vigor. It secretly made Wilson smile everytime to see, that she had also inherited her fathers appetite. Their conversation broke off untill they had finished eating.

„So, how long are you going to stay at Jeanie's?" Chris asked her mother in an attempt to turn the conversation to another topic.

„Oh, probably not longer than a week. I don't want to burden her more than necessary. With the remodeling of the house, the toddler and Basil's promotion, they have a lot on their hands already. I just wanted to see her again..." she trailed off.

„Great!"

„I would stay with you a little longer too, but I figured with all the exams coming up soon, you'd be busy learning. You are going to do your exams this year, aren't you?"

There we go again, Chris' face seemed to say. Out loud she said, „Of course I am. They'll be finished before the baby is due, so everything fits just perfectly. I'll finish my studies, take a year or so off and do my residency once the baby is old enough for kindergarten. It's all planned out."

For the first time, her mother looked pleased. „That sounds good. I hope you'll stick to that plan. You are going to help her with it?" The last bit was directed at Wilson again.

„Of course!"

„Because Chris sometimes has trouble following her own ideas through to the end, you know. It'll be good for her to have someone who keeps her on track."

„MOM!"

„I'm sorry, darling, but it is the truth."

„I have no doubt in Chris' ability to stick to her plans." Wilson tried to mediate. „I'm sure there's nothing you have to worry about."

Apparently Wilson had hit the right note, because Mrs. Manners became much more friendly for the rest of the lunch. She didn't admonish her daughter again, untill they were back at the platform.

„You take care of yourself. A pregnancy isn't anything you should take lightly. And if there's anything I can do, you'll let me know. Alright, darling?"

„Ok, mom. Don't worry, we'll be fine." Chris hugged her mother good-bye.

„I do love you. You know that." Mrs. Manners tried to make up, for the earlier discussions. „I only have your best interest at heart."

„I know, mom. I love you too."

„That wasn't so bad." Wilson remarked when he and Chris were back in the car, heading for her appartment.

„No, actually it wasn't. Thanks for coming, I think it would have been much worse without you." she smiled at him and kissed his cheek.

He smiled back. „See, I told you, mother-in-laws love me."

Chapter 15: The House

„What are you doing right now?" Chris asked into the cell-phone.

„I'm at the hospital, working, as usual on a wednesday morning." came Wilson's prompt answer.

„I know that. I meant, do you have any urgent patient-stuff to do? Because, if not, you have to come over here this minute. I've found the perfect house."

„Have you?" Wilson sounded suddenly very interested. „Where are you? What's it like? And most importantly, how much does it cost?" he leaned forward at his desk.

„I'm about 10 minutes by car, from the hospital. The neighbourhood is really nice. The house is just perfect, like I said. But I won't say anymore. You have to see for yourself. And the price... well it's a bit outside our limit, but I figured we might be able to bargain a little, if we really want it. Are you coming?"

„Give me the adress."

„You were right. This is perfect." he said half an hour later. „We should put an offer in."

They were standing in what would be the downstairs living-room, looking through glass-doors into the back garden.

„I talked to the agent while you were upstairs. He said they won't go under the mentioned price. We can't afford it." Chris looked disappointed.

„Don't worry about that. I think I've still got an Ace up my sleeve." Wilson smiled mischievously, but wouldn't say any more.

After he had gone back to PPTH he went to House's office.

„House, I need to borrow some money."

House looked up, surprised. „Why, Jimmy? Your ex-wife's taken away your lunch-money?"

„Don't make this harder than it already is. You always borrow money from me. Now I need you to return the favour." Wilson looked at House, pleading.

„No pro, pal. But I have to warn you, I have a 69 interest-rate, and my buddies are not very nice, if you're late..."

„House!"

„Alright. Just tell me what you need the money for?"

„Chris and I are trying to buy a house... We've found this really great one, but it's a little outside our budget. You know after the divorce... and everything. So, could you please..."

„Say no more." House raised his left hand, while pulling out his checkbook with the other. „Daddy's going to help you out. How much do you need?"

Three weeks later Chris and Wilson moved in.

A/N: I know there hasn't been much of House in this part, but I promise, there will be more again in the next chapter. :-)