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As usual, I don't own House or its characters. The whole Matthews family is mine, though.
When they returned, Catherine, Avery, and Alice were gathered in the waiting area. They were laughing and chatting, like girlfriends playing catch up. The men joined them, passing out coffee and passing the food to Catherine.
Avery took the coffee that House offered, taking a long sip. "Thanks, h…Greg." God, there I go again.
"Yes, Greg. Thank you." Catherine smiled at House, almost like she knew something he didn't. It was disconcerting. What had they been chatting about before he and Devin walked up? House wasn't sure he wanted to know.
Devin nudged him. "Don't mind them. When they get together…it's a little crazy."
Alice rolled her eyes. "Devin, please. You'll scare the man away."
"Don't go doing that, Devin. We just decided that we liked him. We'd hate to lose him so soon." Catherine chimed in, giving House that knowing smile again.
This was getting ridiculous. House had to get away. "I'll be back. I'm gonna take a little walk. Alone." He gave Avery a pointed look, then turned and limped down the hallway.
He found a quiet spot near the end of the hallway and pulled out his phone, speed-dialing Wilson.
"Wilson."
"It's House."
"House…how's Matthews? How's her dad?"
"She's holding up, so is the dad, I guess. They're all out in the waiting room, gossiping and chatting like a bunch of old biddies. It's scary out there."
"Wow…so you met the family, huh?"
"Uh, yeah…this is so not what I had in mind when Avery mentioned meeting her parents. Oh, did you know she has a brother?"
"Really?"
"Yeah. He threatened me with bodily harm if I hurt his sister. Real charmer, that one."
"Ooh, scary stuff."
"Actually…he's okay. I think I'll live. It's just not…normal somehow."
Wilson rolled his eyes. "Yeah, can you believe it? A family that actually gets along and loves each other."
"Yeah, well…I haven't met dear old Dad yet. Gonna be kind of hard to talk to the guy after he just had a stroke, you know. He could be a real asshole for all I know."
There was a long pause. Finally, Wilson spoke. "You know, you're doing the right thing."
"Yeah, whatever."
"No, I mean it." Wilson's voice rose in pitch. "You got that woman home to her family, hours…hours after he goes down from a stroke, and you're still there with her. Do you realize how huge that is?!"
House shrugged. "It just seemed like the thing to do. Only thing I could do."
"You wouldn't have done that for anyone before Avery and you know it. She's changed you, and I mean that in the best way."
House had to smile at that one. Avery had gotten under his skin and into his heart. God, was he really that transparent? "Guess she has, Wilson. I've gotta go. See you in a few days."
"Bye, House."
He closed his phone and shoved it in his pocket, turning and step-thumping back down the hallway as he did so. Avery and the rest of the Matthews clan were still in the waiting area when he arrived. Avery greeted him with a little smile and took his hand.
"Dad's awake. He'd like to meet you."
Oh boy, here we go. Well, how bad can it be? He can't cuss me out if he can't form sentences, right?
Avery led him into the room where her dad laid. "This is my dad, Stephen. Dad?" The man in the bed stirred slightly. "I brought Greg to meet you."
House leaned heavily on his cane, not sure what to expect. The right side of his face was droopy, but otherwise, he seemed fine. House saw now where Avery got her height, and he imagined that Stephen Matthews was quite the intimidating force when he was healthy. He wasn't sure that was a good thing.
He hobbled to one side of the bed, extending a hand to the elder Matthews. "Good to meet you, sir." Sir? Where the hell did that come from? This meeting the parents thing just never gets any easier, even if one of them is laid up in a hospital bed.
Stephen smiled a little with the left side of his face. "You…too, Greg." His voice was faint and halting. He pointed to Avery. "You…leave us…a minute. We need to…talk."
"Are you sure? Whatever you have to say to him, you can say in front of me."
Stephen shook his head. "N-n-no. Out…girl."
House rolled his eyes and whispered to Avery, "I think he wants to have one of those man-to-man things. Wish me luck."
Avery's mouth twisted in a slight smile, touching House on the shoulder as she left. "Godspeed, Greg." She knew her dad could be tough, and even in his current state, he could easily send Greg screaming out of the room.
House pulled up a chair by Stephen's bedside, sitting down with his cane between his legs. He hoped Stephen would make the first move, because he had no clue where to start.
Fortunately, he did. "So…what…are your…plans?"
Plans? Oh, right, with Avery. Shit. Uh… "We've only been seeing each other for a few months. I guess we don't really have a plan." House started to bounce his cane on the floor between his legs to calm his nerves.
Stephen seemed to consider House's answer. "Avery…she told me…what you did." He nodded his head, as if he approved. "Good show…young man. You're….good for her." He managed a bit of a glare in House's direction. "Take…good care…she's…special."
House nodded. "I know."
"You…love her." It wasn't a question. It was a statement.
Well…we're the only ones in the room. It's not like he's going to go blabbing it to everyone. "Yeah…yeah, I do." House spoke so quietly he could barely hear himself.
Avery stood by the doorway, listening to the whole conversation. A big smile spread across her face at House's admission. Of course, she knew. She'd known for a while. It sure was nice to hear the words from him, though.
"He must still be alive in there. I don't hear any screaming…" Devin spoke a little sarcastically, with a little sympathy for the man in the room with his dad.
Avery turned away from the door, a big smile on her face. "No, I think they're doing just fine."
House thought he saw a movement out of the corner of his eye. He must have been imagining things.
Stephen's expression told him otherwise. "Go…tell her."
House could have sworn he saw the old man wink at him. He was probably imagining that, too.
He heaved himself out of the chair, nodding to Stephen as he did so. "Take care." House turned around and limped heavily out of the room.
You're good for her. He wasn't used to hearing anything like that. It almost sounded like approval, and it just sounded….wrong, somehow. He tried to imagine taking Avery to meet his parents. All of a sudden he was relieved that his dad wasn't around. A meeting between his dad and Avery could have only ended badly.
Did Avery and Devin know how good they had it? Devin, especially. House figured he must have been about two or three when Catherine and Stephen met and later married. For a man to take on a child that wasn't his, of a different race at that, was huge.
He stepped into the waiting area, where the family was once again gathered.
"Hey, look who met our dad and lived to tell the tale!" Devin grinned widely as House entered.
House rolled his eyes. "Well…he was a little under the weather. Things would have been different if he were at full strength, I'm sure."
"Don't be so sure about that." Catherine shook her head. "Stephen's a good judge of people. Even now, I'm sure he approves. I know I do."
"Mom, you're going to smother him. He's not used to all this attention." Avery broke in, sensing House's discomfort.
"It's fine, Avery. Really." House rubbed Avery's back, as much to soothe himself as to soothe her.
Avery smiled and rose. "Well, now that Dad's stable, we're going to head on. We still need to get to the hotel."
"Alright, baby. Take care. We'll see you tomorrow." Catherine hugged them both. "And as for you, Greg." She smiled warmly, that same smile Avery often showed him. "You keep taking good care of my girl, okay?"
"Wouldn't dream of doing otherwise." House awkwardly returned her hug, shook Devin's hand, and briefly hugging Alice.
As the couple walked away, the three that stayed behind marveled at the morning's events. Avery seemed happy, and Greg seemed right for her. He hadn't said much, but his actions spoke volumes. The Matthews family liked what Greg House's actions had to say. They just hoped they would figure it out for themselves. Catherine even dared to hope that this might be the man she would be proud to call a son-in-law.
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