Hey, guys! Thanks for the great feedback. I love it. There's this chapter and then two more to follow. Therefore, a total of eleven. Enjoy!!
"I'll get it!" Sarah booked it down the hallway, slipping slightly in her socks. She pulled opened the front door and grinned. "Hi, Dr. House! Mom! It's Dr. House!"
"Going to the park?" House asked her, a smile coming over his face as well.
"Yeah," Sarah answered. "Are you coming, too?"
"Might as well." House shrugged. "Since I'm here."
"Mom!" Sarah called out as she turned toward the rest of the house. "Dr. House is coming to the park with us!"
"I know, hun," Cuddy emerged from the bathroom. "Go get your sneakers on."
Cuddy walked toward the front door as Sarah ran back down the hallway and into her bedroom. Cuddy gave House a smile.
"Hi."
"Hi," he replied.
Cuddy stepped back and out of the doorway. "Come in."
House entered as Cuddy shut the door behind him. When she looked back at him, he began, "Listen, about last night-"
Cuddy stood up on her tiptoes and wrapped a slender hand around to the back of his head. She brought his head down enough to plant a kiss just to the side of his mouth. She drew back and lowered herself back down.
House's mouth remained partially open. "What was that?"
"Just wanted to make sure it felt the same," Cuddy told him.
"The same as what?" House asked.
"I wanted to make sure it wasn't a trick." Cuddy replied.
Sarah walked back out into the hallway and towards the front door. "Mom, I'm ready."
"Come on." Cuddy smiled at her daughter and extended a hand.
Sarah took her mother's hand and Cuddy plucked her purse from a hook alongside of the door. House opened the front door and led the way into the warm spring air. Cuddy retrieved her keys from her purse and locked the front door behind them.
"I'll drive," Cuddy told House as he stepped off her porch.
House headed toward Cuddy's car. Cuddy began to lead the way, but Sarah gave a tug on her mother's arm, holding her back. Cuddy faced her daughter, a slight look of surprise on her face.
"What is it, hun?" Cuddy asked.
Sarah motioned for her mother to lean in and Cuddy did.
"I like when Dr. House hangs out with us," Sarah told her in a whisper.
Cuddy gave her daughter a smile and a nod. "Me too."
Cuddy slowed her pace to walk in step with House. Sarah ran ahead after spotting Wilson and Jack near the swings. Cuddy scanned the area of the park looking for Claire and saw her sitting underneath the shade of a tree, a brown haired toddler in her arms.
House and Cuddy approached Claire and the child. Cuddy smiled at the tot, who was staring at the couple with her large hazel eyes. House scanned the park, feigning disinterest.
"Oh, Greg." Claire placed a smile on her face. "I didn't know you were coming."
"I like to surprise people." House stopped at the edge of blanket Claire was seated on. "Special talent of mine."
"Right," Claire agreed. "Well, have a seat."
"Rather not," House replied.
"Greg," Cuddy spoke up.
House's attention snapped to her. "Greg?"
"Leg up for walking?" Cuddy nodded to a path that was a few feet away from them.
"Well, it's not up for sitting on the ground," House said.
"I'll keep an eye on Sarah," Claire offered as she bounced her daughter in her lap.
"Thanks." Cuddy gave Claire a smile.
Cuddy led the way to the path and House followed after her. He stepped alongside of her as they followed the dirt path that led through a long row of trees before looping around a fenced in pond and returning back to the starting place.
"Do you do this often?" House asked her.
"We try to go for a few hours on the weekend when the weather's nice," Cuddy answered him.
"I meant take dates to the park," House replied.
Cuddy shook her head, a hint of a smile on her face. "This isn't a date."
"What is it then?" House asked her.
"It's time for you to spend with Sarah." Cuddy looked back to the play area where Sarah was being pushed on the swings by Wilson.
"But, Mick's over there with Wilson." House looked back as well.
"And..." Cuddy continued down the path. "Time with me. Time with us. House." Cuddy stopped. "I'm considering you."
House stopped in his step and faced Cuddy. "I'm flattered."
Cuddy looked toward the ground. "I can't keep..."
"What?" House took a side step closer to her, wanting to lift her chin up, but finding himself with a lack of courage to do so.
Cuddy straightened and took in a breath. Her eyes met House's. "I can't keep pretending I don't have feelings for you. And I tried. Because it wasn't right and then there was Sarah to think of and we work together and I kept telling myself that it would never work, but now you're here and saying and doing all these things and I-"
"You're rambling again," House cut her off, not being able to stand her endless trail of words.
"More annoying than my whining." Cuddy gave a nod. "Right. Sorry. I don't ramble like this often."
"Only on personal topics that you try not to think about," House said, giving a nod as well.
"Right." Cuddy gave him an embarrassed smile which quickly faded. "Greg... when did you want a kid? When did you realize that maybe you did want..."
"I didn't," House replied lightly. "Mick's smart, has a knack for the guitar, she's not as annoying as other spawn I've been forced to encounter."
"What if she was?" Cuddy asked, a slight hurt shadowing her face. "What if she was annoying to you and failed first grade and played a guitar like she had four pairs of gloves on? Would we not be standing here now?"
House paused a moment. "No... we would be."
"Then,when did you realize?" Cuddy repeated her previous question.
"Oh, right." House nodded. "Let me get out my palm pilot. I marked the date so I could make sure to get myself an anniversary present."
"Greg." Cuddy narrowed her eyes.
"I don't have a date for you, Cuddy!" House exclaimed, holding his palms open for her in his exasperation. "I can tell you she was one of the reasons I cleaned up. One thing that messes with a kid is when she finds out her dad's a drug addict."
Cuddy nodded. "Since then you've wanted-"
"No." House stopped her. "I've never wanted. I've just always been. I was there when she was sick, for both you and her. But, I'm not the kind of father Mick should have... even you think so. Why would I say something only to mess up our relationship when I was already looking over you when you needed someone to?"
Cuddy's eyebrows drew together and she took his words in before she began speaking. "But, didn't that hurt? If you had wanted to be part of her life, you could have told me. Or given me some sort of indication. I mean, I know you were always kind to her, but I assumed that you still never wanted kids."
House looked out over the park, squinting at the sun. He frowned and brought his eyes back to Cuddy. "You know how you were worried that I'd be bad for her?"
"Yes, but-"
"Cuddy," House cut her off quickly. "That was on my mind since the day she was born." House looked over to the swings and watched Sarah for a few seconds before again bringing his eyes back to Cuddy. "I always came to the conclusion that she would be better off with just you. Besides, wanting children stopped being a desire back when Hanson was popular."
"Hanson?" Cuddy asked, not getting the cultural reference.
"Mmm Bop," House said, but then shook his head. "Never mind."
"So, if you hadn't told Sarah, it'd be just like before," Cuddy concluded, her eyebrows still drawn.
"One could assume," House replied.
"Well, that's tragic," Cuddy commented.
"See the beauty that comes out of train wrecks, Cuddy?" House asked her and leaned in, his tone indicating she had overreacted. "And you were upset."
"I had every right to be," Cuddy told him. "And what are you going to say to your parents?"
"Nothing." House shrugged simply.
"You have to tell them they have a grandchild," Cuddy said.
"No, I don't." House shook his head. "Besides, the only way he'd ever know would be if I told her. And since she doesn't remember anything for longer than twenty minutes, it's pointless."
Cuddy softened. "Greg..."
"What?" House raised his eyebrows. "They don't need to know."
"What about Sarah?" Cuddy placed her hands on her hips. "She's going to ask about them. Maybe even want to see them."
"For eight years, Mick never knew I was her father," House said. "She can wait eight more years to know about her grandparents. By then, they might be dead."
"Okay." Cuddy shrugged, going along with it. "So, when she comes to you tomorrow, next week, in a month, and asks you about her grandparents and if they could visit, you're going to lie to her and refuse?"
House paused a moment and then shook his head. "No. But, he doesn't have a right to know her."
"But, your mom does even with her Alzheimer's," Cuddy replied. She hesitated. "I know you and your father don't get along, but sometimes, people are incredibly different to their grandkids than they were to their own children."
"Mom!"
Cuddy and House both turned as Sarah ran toward them. She stopped in front of them, breathing heavily in an attempt to catch her breath. Her dark hair was plastered to her forehead.
"Will you come push me on the swings?" Sarah asked. "Please? Uncle James sucks at it."
"Watch the language," Cuddy warned.
"Sorry," Sarah replied.
"I'll push you on the swings, Mick," House spoke up.
"Come on." Sarah took his free hand and began tugging him along.
House gave shrug to Cuddy and tried to keep up with Sarah. Cuddy smiled to herself and followed after them.
