Special Thanks to my beta i luv ewansmile, for continuing to do such an awesome job editing this fic.
***
"Put that school girl outfit back in my drawer, I'm not stripping for you tonight."
"But, it's my birthday weekend?"
Cuddy nods sympathetically and offers, "I promise to be yours tomorrow night."
House looks at his wife incredulously and asks, "Are you serious?"
"Sorry, but the twins are bunking with Jake so, Lizzy has to sleep with us."
"On our bed?"
"Yeah, or we can bring in her inflatable mattress. I think she'll like that."
House wags his brows and adds, "I like that idea too."
Cuddy smiles and whispers "Greg, there will be no shenanigans tonight."
"Come on? Lizzy is a heavy sleeper, she won't even know what we're doing."
"But the boys will be next door. I don't want to disturb them too."
"They'll be too exhausted from the monster truck rally to be disturbed by anything."
"I might be too tired as well."
House pouts for a minute and announces, "You're so wearing that school girl outfit for me tomorrow night."
***
5:30PM
As House and Jake unload all the luggage from the car, House asks, "How's the headache?"
"Much better now that I don't have the twins talking my ears off. I didn't even know that they could be that loud and talkative."
House grins and asks, "Is that right?"
"Yeah, it's almost like they were doing it on purpose."
"You should have told them to stop."
"I did, but somehow they're getting secret encouragement from someone."
"Really?"
"Could it be that someone promised them a Grave Digger RC truck?"
House smiles upon realizing that Jake just busted his scheme. He quickly changes the topic by asking, "When are you flying back to Baltimore?"
"Monday Morning. I won't be on duty until the afternoon."
"Still planning to pop the question to your girlfriend?"
Jake shrugs his shoulder and nonchalantly replies, "Nope."
"Seriously?"
Jake nods and smiles.
"Did Karamel change your mind?"
"Karamel? The stripper?"
"Yeah! Wasn't she hot or what?"
"How would you know? Wait. You got me the strippers for my party?"
House rolls his eyes and replies, "No, your buddies paid for the hotel and the strippers."
"Seriously? You organized the whole thing?"
"Uh-huh. Where's your manners?"
"Uh… thanks, I think. Does Mom know about the…?"
House nods and adds, "But not until after the party. Wilson snitched on me."
Jake shakes his head and smiles after digesting what his father had just revealed. He asks, "Why strippers?"
"Would you preferred if I had gotten you a hooker instead?"
"No! I mean…don't people get strippers during bachelor's party?"
"I just thought I'd do something different that you and your friends would enjoy. Didn't you enjoy it?"
"Sure Dad. I think a great time was had by all."
Sensing the hesitation in his son's response, House asks, "So, what's the problem?"
In a serious tone Jake asks his father, "Was the party your unique way of showing me what I'll be missing if I take the plunge early?"
"Was it?"
"But, I asked first."
House smirks and replies, "It doesn't matter."
"It does matter. I appreciate the sort of fatherly advice."
"No problem. Glad to be of help."
"Dad?"
"Yeah?"
"I really needed that."
"You mean the strippers?"
"No, the advice. The distraction helps put everything in perspective. I'm not ready for responsibilities, and now that I'm 21 I want to enjoy what's out there."
House smirks and replies, "I don't care what your Mom says, we're so doing a Daddy and Jake night out!"
***
The entire House clan is decked out with their Grave Digger apparel. The boys are all wearing their Digger shirts and caps, while Cuddy and Lizzy are wearing their matching pink Digger skull shirt that House ordered for this special occasion.
While all the boys are pumped up about the show, Cuddy spends much of the night entertaining Lizzy by the concession stand. Both mother and daughter are just too happy to stay away from the loud noise and the smell of car exhaust. It also keeps them at a safe distance away from unhappy Big Foot fans that are not so pleased by all the trash talking that House has been doing. Somehow, within the span of two hours House has appointed himself leader of the merry bunch of Grave Digger fans.
By 9:30 PM, Cuddy returns to her courtside seat carrying a sleeping Lizzy in her arms.
House asks, "You want me to carry her?"
"I'm fine. Just make sure that you don't forget all those toys that you guys bought."
Jake answers, "I got the bags, Dad."
House nods in acknowledgment.
Charlie asks, "Mommy, can I play with my new toy now?"
Cuddy replies, "No honey, let's open them when we get back to the hotel."
Charlie pouts and Cuddy quickly explains, "You don't want to drop and lose your new car."
Charlie exasperatedly explains "Moooom! It's not a car; it's a Grave Digger Colossal Crusher Monster Truck!"
Cuddy smiles and replies, "Of course hon, Mommy's fault." Out of the corner of her eyes, she sees Ethan standing on his chair. She is about to yell when Ethan motions for his father to come closer so he can give him a hug.
As House leans down, Ethan exclaims, "Thank you Daddy. This is the best outing ever!"
"Better than the last time we went to a Monster Track rally?"
Ethan nods vigorously and supplies, "Because Mommy, Jake, Charlie, and Lizzy are with us. I like it when we're all together."
House smiles and replies, "Me too, son. Me too."
Cuddy quickly melts in a puddle of goo after witnessing the exchange between her husband and her son.
She points to Ethan and asks Charlie, "Does Mommy get a hug too?"
Charlie smirks and quickly stands up on his chair to give his Mom a hug. He whispers, "I love you Mommy but I really, really need to go pee."
Cuddy rolls her eyes and asks Jake, "Hon, can you take Charlie to the bathroom?"
***
Two days after…
Daddy and Ethan Day
After informing his son that he'll be spending the rest of the day with him, Ethan is simply beside himself. Ethan quickly runs off to his room and rummages through his closet. He comes down with the Discovery Channel's Planet Earth blu-ray disc set and hands it to his father.
Ethan explains, "Nana gave it to me on my birthday. I kept it so you can watch it with me."
House smiles and replies "Looks good E. We should definitely watch it tomorrow."
A disappointed Ethan mumbles, "Oh, okay."
"I think we should go out today…" but before House can complete his sentence.
Ethan yells, "Okay, I'll go get my gear," and is off running again.
A few minutes later, Ethan comes back wearing a very tight "Daddy's Little Buddy" t-shirt and a backpack.
House couldn't help but smile recognizing the t-shirt that he has gotten his son two years ago when he took him camping in the backyard.
House asks, "What do you have in your backpack?"
"Stuff you gave me, Daddy" as Ethan excitedly pulls out a wooden box. The box originally belonged to House when he was a little boy; it even has the name Gregory etched on the lid. House had found it a few months ago while helping clean his parent's attic. Ethan opens the lid of the box and reveals a magnifying glass, a compass and a photo, it's of House and Ethan at their first Monster Truck Rally 2 years ago.
"Are we going to look for butterflies or ant hill outside, Daddy?"
"Not today. How about if we go ride some dodgem cars?"
Ethan's face lights up and replies, "Cool."
"Do you know what a dodgem car is?"
The boy shakes his head and replies, "No, but it sounds fun Daddy."
"Yes it is. A dodgem car is a small electric car with a wide rubber strip all round it. It's sometimes called a bumper car since you can bump other cars around you."
"But it's not nice to bump others Daddy."
"Don't worry, it's just for fun. You don't have to bump other cars if you don't want to."
"Oh okay. Daddy?"
"Yes, E?"
"I don't know how to drive Daddy."
"Don't worry, Daddy will teach you."
"Okay. Thank you Daddy."
"But before we leave, I need you to change your shirt."
"Why? You gave me this shirt, Daddy."
"I know. But you've grown so much since Daddy gave you that shirt. I need you to wear a comfortable shirt so you can help Daddy drive, okay?"
"Oh okay. Can I wear my Grave Digger shirt Daddy?"
"Sure."
TBC
***
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