A/N-

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

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Chapter Seven
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On the seventh day of Christmas,
my true love gave to me...

seven looks of shock
six lonely nights
five loaded questions
four intense stares
three parting words
two annoying companions
and a migraine...

(Two days before Christmas)

Cuddy sat in her room, her laptop whirring on the bed in front of her. She glanced over at Rachel, who was playing on the floor, stacking blocks. She'd get a small tower, three or four blocks high, then, with glee, she'd knock them over.

Cuddy paused typing her e-mail reply, and she took the time to study and smile at her daughter.

The little girl was independent. That part of her personality Cuddy was able to ascertain already. She was so smart, too. She seemed to show no adverse affects from her traumatic birth and first few days of her life. In fact, Cuddy couldn't believe that tomorrow, Christmas Eve, they'd be celebrating her first birthday. They didn't have an exact date of birth, so she picked the day she'd found her. The day of her own Christmas miracle.

She frowned at the laptop. She'd been typing a reply to her temporary replacement at the hospital. She sighed, sitting back, slumping her shoulders. Even now, on vacation, she couldn't stop working.

How the hell could she maintain a relationship when she could barely spend time with her daughter?"

Inhaling sharply, she closed the top of her laptop, and she hopped off the bed. She sat down on the play mat with Rachel, and she began to play with the blocks, smiling.

Maybe people could change...

A few hours later, Rachel was taking a nap, and Cuddy was watching tv, something she rarely did. Her phone buzzed, and sleepily, she reached for it, flipping it open without checking the caller I.D. "Cuddy here."

"Cuddy here" Lucas' voice came over the speaker. "That's all the greeting I get?"

"Lucas!" Cuddy smiled. "Sorry, honey. I've been playing with Rachel all morning. My brain's kinda fried." She heard traffic. "Where are you?"

"About twenty minutes away. Got finished with my case early, So I headed up."

"Oh good!" Cuddy was surprised, and a little sad. She'd missed him, but she'd enjoyed being by herself, with Rachel. "I missed you."

No questions about his case, he noted. "How's Rachel?"

"Good. She's sleeping." Curt answers. He was pretty sure she didn't realize how curt she really was. It gave him more answers than any other response.

"You want to meet me for lunch?" he asked. "You can have House or Wilson babysit."

Cuddy was stunned. "How did you know...?"

"I'm a P.I. I look into these things, you know. Don't worry. I know you couldn't know that they'd be there. Now, why you didn't leave right away, that's a different story. I'm sensing unresolved issues."

Her jaw snapped shut. There wasn't anything hurtful in his tone; it was one of his ultra observative ramblings, but it drove a spike of guilt through her heart. "Lucas," she said softly, swallowing, her mouth suddenly dry. He'd been nothing but supportive since they'd begun dating, and she felt horrible. "I'm..."

"Don't say you're sorry. It's cool. You and House have a long history together. You're always going to have feelings for him," he rambled on, blithely. "Any place good around there for lunch?"

She swallowed. "There's a little cafe downtown. I'll meet you there in a half an hour?"

"Cool."

Cuddy ran into Wilson a few moments later.

Literally.

She was turning a corner, and she bumped in to him.

"Hey Cuddy," he greeted her, a little nervous. He hadn't had much contact with her since hijacking the loft from her.

"Wilson," she smiled, looking a little frazzled. "Can you do me a huge favor."

He shrugged. "That depends on what it is."

"Can you watch Rachel for an hour or so?" She didn't elaborate any further.

He sighed, knowing she needed him, and also knowing that she was meeting Lucas. He didn't have any evidence to support the latter, but he had a gut feeling. He wasn't really a vindictive person, and Cuddy was his friend, sort of.. He nodded. "Yeah, I can do that."

She hesitated, then hugged him, gently. "Thanks."

About a half an hour later, she was sipping an ice water in the cafe. She'd texted the directions to him, and now, she was nervously waiting in the restaurant for him to show up.

He walked in the restaurant a few moments later, smiling nonchalantly as he slid into his seat. "How are you?"

She nodded. "Good. How was your drive?"

"Good."

They ordered lunch, and they chatted lightly over their food, keeping their conversation simple.

They lingered, and he finally sighed. "Where do I fit in your life, Lisa."

She paused in mid-drink, her eyes widening. "What do you mean." Then she laughed. "You're joking, right? I love you."

"Didn't answer my question," he looked at her thoughtfully. "I know you love me. Of that, I have no doubt. It's how far you want me in your life that I'm not sure about. Right now, we're in a relationship of convenience. I'm there when you need me, but you only let me in so far. You only let anyone in so far."

The smile disappeared from her face. "Are you...breaking up with me?"

He shrugged. "I don't want to, but your not going to let me in your life farther." He toyed with his napkin. "You love me, but you don't trust me. Not completely."

He flipped open his cell phone, and he showed her a picture. "And, I don't think I can trust you, either. Too many unresolved issues."

She stared at the picture of House, Rachel, and herself in confusion. Confusion became hurt, then hurt became anger. "You had me tailed?" her voice rose and her gray eyes grew wide. She sneered at him. "You're a creep."

"I don't hide who I am. You," he looked at her pointedly, "hide behind your job." He wasn't upset; he wasn't angry. It was a simple statement of fact. He gave her a small half smile. "You like the superficial relationship I gave you. On paper, it was everything you wanted. But I want more." He took her hands in his, and he could feel the tension building up in her small frame. "I need more than superficial." He leaned over, and he gave her a small kiss on the cheek. "See ya around, Lisa." He stood up. "I really hope you find what you're looking for." Then he left, leaving her alone. Again.