DISCLAIMER: SO not Shore. I don't own anything related to Fox or the TV show House. I'm only borrowing some characters. The characters belong to David Shore and company.


A/N: Beta services provided by PSC Inc. ;D Lol. Thankies, Penny!

If you guys haven't noticed, I've been sorta sticking to canon; changing and adding some stuff, though. ;) I'll be tackling stuff until 7x23, but will most definitely NOT include House ramming his car into Cuddy's dining room because that won't be needed in this fic. Oh, and I kinda toned down Arlene's bitchiness a bit... ;D

Kill me for cutting things short. ;D *drum roll please!*


BROKEN STRINGS


VII

.

Thursday, Arlene's house

Cuddy and Wilson waited for Arlene to open the door for them. They've decided to finish the issue once and for all and settle. Cuddy chose to follow House's words and give her mother what she wanted.

A few seconds later, the front door to Arlene's house finally opened and her mother stepped out with a smile on her face, waiting for either of the two doctors to start talking.

She wasn't too happy to see that House wasn't back yet, but she couldn't blame the man. His mother fell ill.

"Mom, here's a check. It's a settlement for all you've been through. Of course you can stay in your home. It was wrong of me to suggest otherwise," Cuddy started, handing her mom the check and adding, "And House says he's sorry for treating you the way he did."

Arlene smiled, looking at Cuddy and Wilson.

"Did he, really? That doesn't sound like him," she teased before pursing her lips again.

Wilson cut off whatever retort Cuddy was about to dish, looking at Arlene, "I hope this resolves everything. I can tell you that both your daughter and Dr. House—"

Arlene looked down at the check in her hands and frowned.

"This is 30 grand."

Wilson nodded, "Which is what you asked for."

Arlene's frown deepened, "This covers pain and suffering. What about the probate lawyer?"

Wilson's brows furrowed.

"Do you two…"

"I have to change my will, leave everything to Julia so this one doesn't try more funny business to get control of my home."

"I'm sure we can toss in another 2,500."

Cuddy smirked at her mother, trying hard to not roll her eyes.

"Well, I guess I'll have to kill you tonight then. Mom, I'm not interested in—"

"You already think you own my body, why not my home too?" Arlene taunted.

"Everybody stay calm, and—"Wilson was about to intermediate between mother and daughter when Cuddy cut him off, talking to Arlene.

"You have to lash out at everyone who tries to help you? Live in your own kitchen sink for all I care!" Cuddy snapped, irritated

Wilson pursed his lips, knowing it'd be best not to try and interfere with their problems at that moment. He stood next to Cuddy, doing his best not to shift too nervously.

Arlene snorted, condescendingly smiling up at her daughter.

"You are right," she said as she ripped the check and reentered her home, closing the door in the two doctor's faces.


Friday, Wilson's office, 2 PM

"Mrs. Cuddy," Wilson greeted as the woman entered his room after knocking on his door.

"Hello, James," she smiled. "You never call me Mrs. Cuddy," she commented, "why the sudden change?"

Wilson let out a low chuckle.

"Given the current circumstances, I think it'd be best," he shrugged.

"Oh pshaw, call me Arlene," she told him.

Wilson gestured to his chair, wordlessly inviting her to sit.

"Anything I could do for you?" he inquired, setting aside the file he just signed.

"I know you want them back together as much as I do."

Wilson's head shot to her, bushy eyebrows pinched together in thought.

"That doesn't mean I can get them back together," he answered.

"Well, that's why you could help me," Arlene smiled. "Two brains are better than one."

Wilson thought about it, leaning back against his chair.

"You could make it your… tsvek, in life," she told him, her hands settling on the edge of his desk, "Your purpose."

She smirked.

"Well… other than healing, or at least trying to heal people of cancer."

Wilson would have given his life to be able to roll his eyes in front of Cuddy's mother. Too bad, he was afraid of the woman's guts.

Wilson would have told her, "Please stop insulting my profession and tell me the plan," instead he asked her, "And your plan is…?" A wise decision, really.

Arlene looked from side to side before looking back at him.

"To get them back together…?" she stated, as if reminding him. "The problem is how."

Wilson wanted to sigh really, really loudly. But he couldn't.

"I really want to help, Arlene," Wilson started quietly. "But if we're forcing them together, it isn't going to work."

"Then we won't force them," she exclaimed with an almost sly smile.

"Then—"

"We lay out the pros and cons," she told him, her hands moving alongside her words.

"We remind those two idiots why a relationship between the two of them actually works."

Wilson nodded, eyebrows still drawn together.

"Okay," he agreed, liking the plan.

"You do that," he suddenly said, causing the older woman to look at him in confusion.

"I already tried that to no avail."

"How do propose to help me in my plight, then?"

Wilson squinted for a while, wishing it hadn't come down to them conspiring against his two best friends, but he really believed it'd be best if they did. House and Cuddy were as stubborn as mules.

"House asked me to give Cuddy an extra set of keys to his apartment. Just in case Rachel throws an unappeasable tantrum over not being able to see him, again," Wilson filled her in.

"And House won't be back until Monday morning."

"You're suggesting…"

"Breaking into his apartment and looking for anything significant that you can use to convince Cuddy that House really does love her and would have done practically anything for her. Including having to change himself when he didn't have to. When she herself admittedly made the mistake of telling him she didn't want him to."

Arlene smiled softly.

"You're a great friend, James. Thank you," she commended him, standing up and walking to the door.

"Good luck," Wilson bid her goodbye.

When the older woman exited, the only thing he could do was let out a low chuckle. He never thought Arlene would ever do what she was doing now. House really was something. The man was an ass, but he could really be a great guy.


Friday, 11 PM

Spending a few days off of work had been a blessing in disguise. Visiting his mother had been one too. They had talked and caught up. He hadn't wanted to come with her to lunch with some friends, but he indulged his mother's wishes at least this once and kept his mouth shut from saying sarcastic and witty retorts.

Probably the only time he'd been actually fine with was dinner last night with Keller's parents and husband. That had actually been fun for him. He let out a small smile upon remembering the intelligent and humorous conversations.

The new scenery let him have a breath of fresh air, a Time Out. He was able to have time to himself, away from everything and everyone that plagued his thoughts.

Everything and everyone but one Lisa Cuddy and her little protégé of a daughter…

Even in his dreams she wouldn't leave him alone. She was now nothing more than a hopeless dream.

What had happened to him?

He thought he'd changed—he knew he had changed, but one eye-opening moment, one terrifying event, made him succumb to his greatest downfall's clutches once again.

He regretted ever taking that pill that fateful night. He regretted having resorted to one pill to avoid pain and assuage his fear.

Given a chance, he would have fought himself harder to be with her on his own volition, unaided by opiates.

But neither he nor that God people clung to could undo what he'd already done.

Regrets do come at the end.

He ached at the thought that, in the end, she was the price he had to pay in taking that cursed pill to be by her side. She herself was the cost he had to bear.

He regretted his stupidity, was ashamed at his cowardice.

House turned in his old bed and hugged a pillow close to his chest. He couldn't help but miss her silky-smooth skin and her warmth. Her presence.

God, he missed her.

An empty space in his heart longed for her still. He felt like that empty space always will. No one could fill that space but her.

He wanted another shot at a relationship with her, but he loved her enough to give her the air and space she needed and wanted.

He had hurt her terribly, and he had no right to force her to give him another chance.

He could only hope that, in time, she'd find it in her heart to open her heart and home to him again.

He would never commit the same mistakes again. Come hell or high water, he vowed, whether they were friends or lovers, he'd be there for her if she needed him.

Of course, that didn't mean everything would turn out okay or be perfect. He was and would always be screwed up. She knew that. They both knew that.

But he'd do better.

Only she had the power to make him a better person, a better man.

And honestly, he wouldn't have had it any other way.

In time, he hoped as hard as he could allow himself to do so.

In time.

For now, space was the only thing he could give her to make her feel his love and respect.


Saturday, 11:30 AM

"Whoozzit?" Rachel sang as she scampered towards the front door, looking up at Marina.

The nanny looked down at the little girl and smiled, unlatching the bolt and unlocking the door before pulling it open.

"Gramma!" Rachel greeted her grandmother the moment she saw her as the door opened to reveal the woman.

"Hello, Sweetie," Arlene greeted as she gave her youngest granddaughter a hug.

"It's nice to see you, Mrs. Cuddy," Marina greeted the woman with a warm smile.

"Hello, Marina," Arlene greeted the nanny before following her granddaughter who had started dragging her to the living room by the hand.

When they reached the living room, Rachel turned and looked at Gramma again. She gasped and her eyes widened as she saw what was now slung on her arm.

"You got a cane!" she suddenly squealed, looking up at her. "Like Hows!" she told her grandmother, utterly fascinated by the coincidence, or likelihood of knowing someone else with a cane.

If Arlene hadn't smirked, she would have laughed out loud. And if it hadn't been her granddaughter speaking, she would have already thrown back something witty or even a scathing remark.

Arlene bent down and ran her fingers through Rachel's hair, playfully ruffling it afterwards, smiling.

"Yes, just like House," Arlene confirmed.

Rachel's face fell a few seconds after Arlene sat on the couch.

"What's wrong, Rachel?" Arlene asked, pulling her granddaughter close to her.

Rachel pouted as she asked her Grandma, "Gramma's leg hurt like Hows, too?"

"No," Arlene shook her head, gazing fondly at the sweet and thoughtful child, tenderly pinching her cheek with a soft smile. "Gramma just has to rest so her hip," she gestured to the mentioned body part, "would stop hurting."

"Okay," Rachel said, reassured by her grandmother's words. She crawled next to her on the couch and leaned back as they watched the cartoon on the plasma TV.

"I miss Hows," Rachel suddenly sighed, eyes still glued to the TV.

Arlene looked at her daughter's daughter, gazing at the TV with a sadness she'd never seen before. The fact that Rachel was in love with House, made her smile. One wouldn't think House was capable of being nice to a child from one look, but he really was. He was great with Rachel.

"Hmm," Arlene started, making Rachel look up at her.

'Hmm' always meant something good was about to be offered, in Rachel's quickly expanding vocabulary.

"Wanna come with Gramma to Greg's house?" she suggested, making the toddler's face scrunch up in confusion.

"Who Greg?" she asked curiously, wondering why Gramma was asking her if she wanted to come to Greg's house.

Of course, like her mother, she was calling the guy who had practically lived with them by his last name.

Unbelievable!

"Honey, Greg is House. So… wanna come with Gramma to House's house?" she asked again, changing the name to not confuse her granddaughter any further.

"Hows hows," Rachel giggled before excitingly nodding.

"But House won't be there," Arlene told her, not wanting to lead her granddaughter in thinking she'd see the man there when they arrived.

Rachel's glee deflated exponentially. She slouched and pouted. What would they do at House's apartment if he wasn't there?

Sometime, Arlene wondered if the young girl wasn't really the product of Greg and Lisa procreating. She had spent so much time with the two that they'd rubbed off on her. In all the good and… well, slightly bad—for her anyway—ways.

"I'm sorry, darling," Arlene apologized, brushing a stray lock of hair from Rachel's face. "Do you still want to come with me?" Rachel nodded again, still wanting to come, but not as excited as she had initially been.

"Okay," Arlene smiled.

Now, to find the keys to House's apartment.

Arlene searched the apartment for House's keys, then remembering the key holder.

She went back to the hallway and found it, smiling as she fingered the keys.

"Mommy keep all keys there," Rachel pointed out, having followed her key quest.

"She does, doesn't she?" Arlene chuckled, Rachel nodded.

She moved to the coat rack and took Rachel's and helped her put it on as she called Marina.

"I'll be taking Rachel out for an hour or two. We'll be working on a little something for her mother. Please stay because I'll definitely be back and leave her with you to look after. Is that alright, dear?" she asked.

"Yes, of course, Mrs. Cuddy. No problem at all!"

"Thank you," Arlene said.

"We'll be going now, then!"


"Do you miss playing with House, Rachel?" Arlene inquired as the cab took them to House's apartment.

"Yes," Rachel nodded, looking up at Grandma.

Arlene smiled as Rachel snuggled into her side, running her hand along the child's arm.

"What games did you used to play with him?" she curiously asked, not wanting the ride to be a quiet one, especially since she was with her talkative granddaughter.

It had been quite an earful back then when she was smaller because she literally babbled. Now, it was fun and not unbearable to hear her animated storytelling.

Rachel thought for a moment, a hand on her chin as she tried to remember the names of the different games they'd played together.

"Feed the Monkey!" was the first one she gleefully mentioned.

"How do you play 'Feed the Monkey'?"

"You feed the monkey a banana!" Rachel said with her pitch, high, as if telling her grandmother that it was common sense how to play the game.

Arlene chuckled, nodding in agreement.

"What else?" she asked.

"Uhm… Catch!" she said, giggling upon remembering how they played the game.

"Catch," Arlene smirked, "Isn't that a boy's game?" she teased, feigning incredulity.

Rachel looked up at her with eyes as wide as saucers before looking straight ahead as if nothing happened.

Arlene arched a perfectly plucked brow at her granddaughter's actions.

"No, silly!" she refuted, then was suddenly giggling as if Catch being only for boys was absurd.

Arlene could only laugh in amusement.

"Well aren't you a smart cookie?" she chuckled, pressing a kiss to her youngest granddaughter's head.


15 minutes later

"Well, hello there, Mrs. House!" the landlord greeted as he walked down the stairs. "And who might that cute little girl be?"

Rachel hid her face behind her Gramma, trying to escape the big man's gaze.

"Greg's daughter," Arlene smirked.

"Your son arrived the night you came," the landlord started.

"Apparently, his mother had been confined somewhere in Virginia."

Arlene rolled her eyes.

"How'd you get a key?" he curiously asked Arlene.

"My daughter," Arlene said as she slid the key into the keyhole. "House's girlfriend."

"Ex-girlfriend, right? Haven't they broken up? Why does she still have a key?"

"As far as I know, it isn't any of your business," Arlene answered before turning to look at the man with a patronizing smile. "Great chat," she sarcastically said before entering House's apartment with Rachel.

"All right, sweetheart, go play or watch. But stay here, in the living room, okay?"

Rachel nodded as her Gramma folded her coat and set it on the couch.

Rachel reached for the remote and turned on the TV. She pressed down on two numbers House always pressed and shouted in unabashed glee upon seeing monster trucks, letting her know that it was the right channel.

"Rachel, what in the world—"Arlene started as she walked back towards the living room.

"Ah, of course," she mumbled and smirked instantly upon seeing Rachel's face as she watched huge trucks colliding against one another.

Arlene shook her head before walking back towards Greg's bedroom, hoping she would indeed find something other than porn.

Arlene tried looking for anything that could back up her theory of Greg loving Lisa beyond words, but as she got closer and closer to the living room, the likeliness of her finding anything at all seemed close to nil.

"Traaaaaaash!" Rachel squealed as she joined the fans' ruckus.

Arlene would have thanked her if she hadn't been struck by the urgent need to search House's trash bins as well. She looked for a plastic bag or gloves she could use to start her trash inspection.

Truth be told, she herself couldn't remember the reason finding something was so important to her.

But as she heard her granddaughter's giggles and laughs coming from the living room, and thinking of her daughter's sorrow and misery as of late, the reason made itself known again.

Lisa and Rachel's long-term happiness.

Her daughter should have felt better, she should have felt free and happy by now, but clearly, she wasn't. At all.

She hadn't wanted to break things off with House, but she made herself realize and believe it was the best thing to do for her and her daughter.

House was the only person who has made Rachel and Lisa really happy.

Yes, he hurt Lisa. He had apologized and begged her not to leave him, but she still did.

He could have stopped interacting with Rachel, but he didn't. He could have stopped respecting her daughter and lashed out at her already, but he didn't.

House loved her daughter and Rachel, and that was it.

She honestly couldn't ask for more from her (she chuckled) not-son-in-law.

Two practically empty trash bins later, Arlene was on the verge of giving up on the third and half-full bin until she reached the bottom part and her hands encountered something solid.

A blue leather box.

She gasped in both shock and pleasure at finally having found something.

Arlene's eyes widened upon opening it.


A/N: WHAT? WWWWWHAT IS IN DA BOX? Any guesses? Leave a review to badger me into updating SOON! ;D Don't forget to add your two cents about the chapter! :)

IMPORTANT QUESTION: SMUT or NO SMUT? WHY YES/NO? Sound off on the revs! I'll prolly put up a poll, too! But decision will ultimately be mine; I just want to know your opinion(s). :)

Thanks for reading!