House woke up on a warm Sunday morning and stretched. The sun was already shining brightly on the water, and House looked up at the ceiling where the reflections of the ocean dappled the white paint. He turned over and looked out of the huge window to the white beach and bright blue water. He smiled softly. Nothing hurt, he was happy, the world was beautiful. The only possible thing to be unhappy about was that he only had two months left before he went home. But then he would go almost straight to college. House got out of bed and got dressed in his long shorts and a white t-shirt. He was starting to feel Australian. He even had the accent down. He wore an Aborigine necklace with a shark tooth hanging from it that Rowan Chase had bought him. House thought of the man as close to a father. Robbie was already out of bed and downstairs. House sat down at the kitchen table and was soon presented with pancakes. Lilly Chase kissed the top of his head as she handed him a knife and fork. She hadn't had her morning drink yet, House couldn't smell the alcohol on her breath.
"Good morning, Greg, dear. It's lovely to see you looking so happy"
"Thanks, Lilly" he smiled. He was happy, he realised. For the first time in his life, no one was mean to him, he wasn't in pain and he was... part of a family. Robbie finished his breakfast and the seven year old jumped down from the table.
"Are we going surfing today, Greg?" he asked enthusiastically
"If your dad says it's okay"
"You know what, though, I'd rather go listen to your band, I love your music"
"Okay, we have rehearsal this arvo, you can come if you want" he said. Robbie balled up his fist and struck the air with a celebratory 'yes'. House smiled.
"Can I go get your guitar?"
"Now?"
"Yeah"
"Okay. Get the red pick too" Robbie jumped down from the bar stool around the island and sprinted upstairs.
"I'm so glad you came here, Greg, you've been so good for Robbie, showing him what it's like to be a big brother" Lilly patted her stomach and smiled.
"He's really looking forward to seeing his sister"
"I know. We're looking forward to it too"
"Have you decided a name for her yet?"
"Well, Rowan and I wanted to talk to you and Robbie about that. Let me get him" Lilly went through to the sitting room where Rowan was watching a documentary about sharks. The couple came back into the kitchen, closely followed by Robbie, who was carefully carrying House's acoustic guitar.
"Hello boys," Rowan said, sitting down at the island "we wanted to talk to you about Robbie's little sister"
"We were wondering if you two would like to help choose her name" Lilly said. The adults beamed and Robbie nodded, already pointing his tongue out in concentration.
"What, me too?" House asked, surprised.
"Yeah, of course. We seem to have started to include you in family decisions recently" Rowan smiled. He had come to think of the young man as his surrogate son. House looked shocked. Family. The word reverberated around his head. Family.
"What about Lilly?" Robbie asked
"Well, that's my name, dear" Lilly said gently.
"But I like it. What about Rose?"
"How about something less flowery?" Rowan said
"Pasta!" Robbie joked.
"Jenny" House suggested
"Paula" Rowan said
"Letta" Lilly fired
"Sandy" House tried again
"Bug" Robbie again
"Elizabeth" Lilly said. The name suggestions kept coming, nothing sounding quite right.
"What about... What about Lisa?" House suggested tentatively. Lilly and Rowan stopped sprouting names, although Robbie continued to say random words.
"I like that" Lilly said.
"Lisa Chase. Lisa Chase" Rowan tested, rolling the name around his mouth.
"Lisa Emma Chase" Lilly completed.
"That sounds good, Greg" Rowan said. Lilly nodded. "What do you think, Robbie?"
"I prefer Bug Snot Chase. But Lisa Emma's okay, I guess"
"Who votes for Bug Snot?" Rowan asked. Robbie half raised his hand, grinning. "And Lisa Emma" everyone else raised their hands. "Looks like we have a name. Congrats Greg, you just named our kid"
"Thanks Dr. Chase" House smiled, feeling accepted.
"And you can drop the Dr. and Mrs. Chase thing now too. Rowan and Lilly" Rowan said, ruffling House's hair. House ducked playfully away, laughing. After all, he wasn't going to sacrifice all dignity to belong to this little family.
