Wow! I'm just amazed at the response to this fic. Thank you all so much for your reviews! I am absolutely flattered by your responses. Mia means mine in Italian. My daughter's middle name is Mia, and I purposely chose it because of the meaning. It's also a nickname for Maria and there's a song out there, "Cara Mia" which roughly means 'my beloved'. I'm trying to figure out where to end this fic. Maybe a sequel is in the future, maybe it will just end, or maybe it will just keep going, not sure yet (this isn't finished yet, I'm just not sure exactly where it's headed). Sorry about the mix up with Ch. 10 for those of you who get story updates, I had to fix a few things.

Chapter 10

Mrs. Rieker, Ms. Thomas, Dr. Drum, Cuddy and House were gathered in a small conference room not far from the NICU. The meeting was nearly over and the team had gone over Mia's medical history, some of her personal history and a brief overview of the open heart surgery Mia would need in order to survive. They had reviewed the four distinct cardiac issues involved her tetralogy of fallot case. House noted Mia's medical care and treatment in his notebook, allowing Cuddy to focus on what was being said. Once they began working on the legal paperwork, House got up to stand for a while. He was now pacing the room, silently cursing himself for having left his vicodin in the car.

After Cuddy finished signing the last of the paperwork, she passed it back to Ms. Thomas, "So, that's it?"

"Well, there's the final court date to make everything official, including her name, and I have post placement visits to complete with you, and a few other things we can discuss later, but for now, yes, that's it. You can take her home. Congratulations mommy." Ms. Thomas stood and extended her hand for Cuddy to shake.

Cuddy then turned to House sporting a huge grin, thankful he was there to help her through it and surprised at how well he had conducted himself. He returned her gaze and the hints of a smile touched at the corners of his mouth. She didn't care what anyone thought as she approached him; this very moment was just too momentous not to share. Cuddy tucked her arms under his and wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly. He stood stoically still, embarrassed at her open display of emotion, but eventually he placed his left had on her back, keeping his right firmly on his cane for balance. It was as close to a hug as she would get and a kindness she would not soon forget.

She then turned her attention to Mrs. Rieker and Dr. Drum and thanked them for everything they had done.

"Did you bring an infant carrier?" Dr. Drum asked.

"Oh, I left it in the car. House, I'll be right back."

"I can get it." He said.

Cuddy eyed him and glanced briefly at his leg, knowing he had paced the room in pain, "I got it." He nodded slightly and she left to retrieve the carrier.

Dr. Drum said goodbye to Mrs. Rieker and Ms. Thomas and then walked with House back to Mia's bedside, "Well, I hope you and Dr. Cuddy will be happy. Mia will have the absolute best future with the two of you."

House looked at Dr. Drum in disbelief, "We are not a couple."

"I'm so sorry, I thought that with the way you took care of her, I just assumed…" Dr. Drum stammered.

House shook his head, "I'm here to provide my medical opinion."

"Well, either way, Mia is one lucky little girl." Extending her hand towards House, Dr. Drum continued, "It was very nice meeting you, and if you're ever in the area, drop by."

"Right, will do," House said with a touch of sarcasm. Just as he was about to shake Dr. Drum's hand, Cuddy entered the room with the carrier and House made a big show of going to help her out with it, successfully avoiding Dr. Drum's handshake. Cuddy was not oblivious to his little charade, though Dr. Drum did not seem to notice.

Cuddy palmed the vicodin bottle as she passed it to House, and the look on his face was clearly appreciative. She then turned her attention to Dr. Drum, thanked her and proceeded to unpack the outfit for Mia. Cuddy dressed Mia in a simple pink creeper, wrapped her in a blanket, held her to her chest while lightly kissing the top of her head and finally placed her in the carrier. After strapping her in, she looked up at House, "All set," and the pair left the NICU.

House looked in the rearview mirror at Cuddy; she sat next to Mia, staring at her sleeping daughter. She was completely mesmerized. He wasn't sure how Cuddy felt, but he was exhausted and after her earlier meltdown, he imagined she was equally as tired. House focused his attention on the road in front of him, driving with a great deal more caution than he normally would.

Cuddy couldn't take her eyes off of Mia, and though she sat right there next to her, she still couldn't believe it was actually true. Mia slept peacefully, and hadn't uttered a single sound since they met; she slept with her fingers wrapped tightly around Cuddy's pinky, each with the slightest hint of blue to her nails. Cuddy peeled her eyes away from her daughter momentarily and looked at House through the rearview mirror, watching him as he drove. Without expecting it, he glanced up and peered back at her and she held his gaze briefly.

"I don't know what I would have done without you there today."

"You would have been fine."

"Do you think she'll be okay?"

House sighed, no longer looking in the rearview mirror. "There's a good chance she'll be okay but she has to have major open heart surgery. You know the odds as well as I do." Cuddy nodded her head.

The two sat in silence for a while longer, each thinking about Mia; Cuddy hoping she would grow up to be happy and healthy, House reviewing her medical background systematically.

"No." He said out of the blue.

"That was cryptic. No what?"

"You asked me earlier if I thought you were making a mistake," again, he looked at her through the rearview mirror, "No, I don't think you're making a mistake."

She smiled at him through the mirror, "I don't think so either."

"Do me a favor."

"What?"

"Quit telling people we're dating."

Cuddy laughed out loud, "I'll get right on that."

"Seriously, first that nurse and then Drum."

"Dr. Drum? What did she say?"

"Mia was lucky to have the both of us."

"She is."

"We're not a couple and she's not my daughter."

"No, but you're a good doctor and she can use all the help she can get right now."

"And stop hugging me in public."

"So it's ok if I hug you any other time?"

"Don't push your luck."

"Don't flatter yourself." Cuddy continued to watch him through the mirror and thought she saw the slightest hint of a smirk at her response, causing her to ever so slightly smile. "Thanks for not being an ass today," she said.

"Don't count on it becoming a habit."

"Wouldn't dream of it."

"And I don't change diapers or baby sit."

"Dually noted."

Cuddy cleared away the trash from the hoagie sandwiches they had for a late lunch, glancing at a sleeping Mia who sat in her carrier, as she got up from the kitchen table.

"Are you sure you don't mind waiting for Wilson to stop by? I can take you home."

"Wilson can take me home."

"Would you mind if the two of us went into my room for a little while?" Cuddy motioned to Mia as she said it; she was exhausted and wanted to rest for a while.

"Go ahead. I'm going to watch General Hospital." Cuddy nodded her head, picked up Mia and headed to her room.

House slowly got up from the table, still leaning heavily on his cane. Saturday's adventure in crib building had left him very sore and he was feeling it even more now than the day before. He made his way out to the living room, collapsed into the recliner and put his feet up. He turned on the television set and before the theme song to General Hospital was over, he was asleep.

Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap. "Cut it out Wilson." House said, opening one eye.

"It's about time you woke up." Wilson said, mockingly.

"What time is it?"

"Nearly seven."

House closed his eyes, stretched, yawned and finally opened his eyes as he sat up, "Where's Cuddy?"

"Haven't seen her yet, I just got here." Wilson handed the cane to House.

"How'd you get in?"

"Front door was unlocked."

House was about to yell out Cuddy's name and stopped himself as he realized he might wake Mia. He got up and headed down the hallway.

"Where are you going?"

"She's in her room, with Mia."

"Mia?" Wilson asked.

"She named her Mia."

Smiling, Wilson followed House down the hallway. Wilson lightly tapped on her bedroom door and Cuddy called for them to come in. She was sitting on the edge of her bed, cradling Mia in her arms. Standing up, Cuddy handed Mia to Wilson, "Mia Rose, meet your Uncle Jimmy."

Wilson was absolutely enamored of Mia, he cooed to her, gently stroked her scalp and held her tiny hands, noting the bluish fingernails. He looked up at Cuddy, grinning, "She's beautiful." Cuddy smiled.

Wilson headed towards the living room with Mia, whispering to her on the way. Cuddy heard only snippets of his words, "…big and strong…", "…and the zoo…."

House rolled his eyes as he once again sat in the recliner, "I think Wilson wants to be your wet nurse." Cuddy shot him a smirk, as Mia started to cry.

"Nice Wilson, now look what you did." House said.

Wilson stood and carried the crying Mia over to House, "If you're so great, here, you take her."

House put both his hands up in a 'don't shoot' kind of way, shaking his head, "I don't do babies."

"Oh come on House, take her before her oxygen levels drop." House frowned as Wilson placed Mia into his arms. He sat on the recliner, holding Mia awkwardly and she cried even louder.

Cuddy stood, stifling a laugh, "Mia, meet your…" she wasn't sure what to call House. Wilson wanted to be known as Uncle Jimmy, but she had no idea what House wanted to be called, "Meet your Uncle Gre…"

"House." He said firmly.

"Okay, meet your Uncle House."

"Not what I meant," he said, holding Mia out at arms length awkwardly, as she continued to wail.

Cuddy smiled and raised her eyebrows, "We'll be right back."

"Hey, where are you going?" House asked, "What am I supposed to do with…her?"

"House, she's a baby. Hold her. I'm going to fix her a bottle." Cuddy walked towards the kitchen, with Wilson in tow.

Cuddy took several of the sterilized bottles and began to prep them as she talked with Wilson, "So, what do you think?"

"I think she's perfect."

"She is." Cuddy looked towards the kitchen door, still able to hear Mia's cries.

"So, when's her surgery?"

"I find out tomorrow. Dr. McMillen and I have a meeting in the morning."

Wilson nodded his head, "And how was he?"

She looked at Wilson, almost as shocked to say it as he was to hear it, "Normal."

"Normal?"

"He was on his best behavior, not one snark, rude comment, gesture or sarcasm."

"I don't believe it."

Cuddy raised her eyebrows, "I nearly drove him home before we got there," she admitted.

"What?"

"He was more than I could take when he first got in the car, but I called him on it and he was on his best behavior after that."

"I don't believe it."

"It took a near nervous breakdown from me, but after that he was…" She paused a moment, surprised at what she was about to say, "He was supportive."

"You should have gotten it on tape, no one would ever believe it."

"I'm sure he'll deny it vehemently."

Wilson chuckled. "Hey, she stopped crying."

Cuddy's smile quickly vanished, "Do you think she's okay?"

Wilson looked at her, registering what she had just said and the pair ran out to the living room, hoping they wouldn't find Mia completely blue and unable to breathe. It was a possibility Cuddy was acutely aware of and dreaded. A wave of relief washed over them as they found Mia curled up on top of House's chest, with his hand lightly draped over her back, both resting peacefully. Cuddy looked at Wilson and smiled before returning to the kitchen.

A few minutes later, Cuddy returned with a bottle in hand, and gently lifted Mia off of House. He opened his eyes and inhaled slightly, somewhat startled. Cuddy sat on one of the other chairs, cradling Mia and fed her the bottle, the trio sat in silence, watching Mia.

"You shouldn't leave your door unlocked." Wilson said, breaking the silence, as Cuddy held Mia on her shoulder, tapping her back.

"I left it unlocked for you."

"It doesn't matter, what if some creep tried to get in? You need to lock your door."

"Okay."

"Everyone's asking for you at work."

"I'm going to have to come up with something, I'm not ready to tell everyone yet."

"Why not?" Wilson asked.

Cuddy looked down at Mia, "Part of me is afraid she won't survive the surgery." She looked up at Wilson, "I don't want everyone making a big deal out me adopting Mia anyway, but what happens if I lose her? I think for now, I just want it kept quiet. You can tell them I have family matters to attend to."

Wilson stood, "We won't say anything, will we House?'

House gave him a snide smile.

"It's getting late. Will you be okay if we leave?" Wilson asked.

Cuddy smiled, "I've waited forever to have her here, we'll be fine."

"If she turns blue, push her legs up against her chest." House said.

"I know House, I have a medical degree too."

"If you need anything, don't hesitate to call." Wilson said.

"Don't call me, I'll be asleep."

"Thanks." She said to Wilson. Turning to House she said, "Thanks for today."

House followed Wilson out the front door, ignoring what she said. Without looking back, he said, "I'd like to see her chart when it comes in tomorrow." Cuddy nodded, and closed the front door behind them.