On Monday morning, after meeting with the members of his team for an initial discussion on a new patient and sending them off on their assignments, House ran the paternity test, and the result was definitive. There was a 99% probability that Andy was his father. He'd promised to give Andy the results, and he would, but first he wanted to tell his mother, and that evening he gave her a call. After perfunctory hellos and how-are-yous, he got right to the point.

"Mom, I wanted to let you know that I went to see Andy last weekend."

"Really?" Blythe said. "I didn't know you were planning to do that so soon. How did it go?"

"Very well."

"Did he know your reason for coming before you got there?"

"No. I told him I was an author writing a book about Vietnam, and wanted to interview him."

"And did you stick with that story after you were there?"

"No, Mom. I couldn't. I'm sorry. I know you thought I shouldn't tell him, but I just had a feeling when I got there that he could handle the truth."

"Oh dear! What was his reaction?"

"I was very surprised by it. He didn't doubt that what I was saying was true, at all. I figured he would, and that I'd have to convince him it was possible, since you said you were only together one night."

"Greg, I'm sorry. It was so hard to admit even that much to you. It did go on longer. I was, well … I was lonely and young and very attracted to him, and John had been away for quite a while."

"It's okay, Mom. You don't need to explain it to me."

"Thank you, honey. I was very upset and ashamed by it at the time, of course. I loved John, but I think I loved Andy a little too. It was all very confusing."

"He said he loved you too, and that you're the one who broke it off."

"Was he angry at me when you told him?"

"More sad than angry, I think. But we got along okay and he agreed to let me run a paternity test, which I've now done. He's definitely my biological father."

"I'm glad you got your answer, Greg."

"I told him I'd let him know the test results. I'll probably call him in a day or two."

"So, you want to stay in touch with him?"

"Well, we agreed that either of us could call the other if we wanted to, so – yeah."

Blythe hesitated for several long moments, and then quietly asked, "How is he, Greg?"

"He's okay. He has arthritis, mostly in his knees, and may need surgery soon. His mind is still sharp, though. He's an interesting guy."

"Does he live alone?"

"Yes. He's still in the house that he and his wife raised their daughter in. She lives about an hour away now with her family. He asked about you."

"What did you tell him?"

"Just that you're well, and where you live. He wanted to know how you were dealing with Dad's death."

"Oh, God - what a sweet man! I was certain he'd hate me and be so angry at me if he ever found out that I kept this from him."

"Well, he was very upset that he was cheated out of knowing me all these years, but I don't think he hates you. I think he understands, and maybe even still has some feelings for you. He's lonely, Mom."

"You didn't give him a way to contact me, did you?"

"No. Do you want me to?"

"I … I don't know. I'll have to think about it."

"He showed me some pictures of his family."

"What did his wife look like?"

"I only saw one photo from when she was young. She was short and slim and had blonde hair. He said her family was also Scottish, like his, and they met through family friends when he was in law school. It was her family that lived near Boston, and that's why they moved there."

"And what about his daughter?"

"She's pretty. She's nine years younger than me, and she's a teacher. One of the reasons he didn't need convincing about being related to me was that her eye color is very similar to mine."

"Will you meet her?"

"I don't know. Andy wasn't sure he was ready to tell her about me."

"He has some grandchildren, too, doesn't he?"

"Yes, two - a boy and a girl, in their early teens. They look more like their father than Colleen. The boy is named after him, and he seems very proud of that. They call him Drew."

"Does he get to see them much?"

"I think so, but he seemed to wish they lived closer, so I'm not sure."

"This is all so … I don't know, so amazing to me."

"What do you mean, Mom?"

"Just the fact that you found him, and met him, and he seems to have accepted this without question."

"Well, he was obviously confident that you weren't seeing anyone else at the same time."

"That doesn't surprise me. There was no question of that. But I thought he'd be so angry about the possibility that he'd reject the idea anyway, and insist that John was your father."

"He's a rational guy, Mom. You were used to living with Dad, who was sometimes irrational and definitely prone to angry responses. Not everyone's like that."

"I know it was bad between the two of you, Greg, but he really wasn't like that with me. I would've left him if he had been."

"But, in hindsight, do you think you would've been happier with Andy?"

"I guess I'll never know. What's done is done, and there's no going back."

"No, you're right. There's no going back. But he and I are gonna try to go forward, if we can, and maybe that's possible for the two of you as well."

"You don't mean as a couple, do you?"

"No. But maybe you could get some closure with him just by telling him you're sorry. I think it might help him just to hear you say that."

"I'll think about it, honey. Let me know how things go when you speak with him again."

"I will, Mom. Take it easy. I'll talk to you again soon."

"Okay. Bye, Greg."