AN: Sorry for the wait, here you go!

Chapter Twelve

"Wha...?" House sat up, blinking in the darkness of the room, "Cuddy?"

"Mmpfh," Cuddy was curled on the opposite side of the bed, "What?"

"The door," House groaned, "You answer it."

"It's your apartment," Cuddy pushed the covers off herself and crawled out the bed anyways, wrapping a blanket around her shoulders.

"Don't turn on any lights." House called as Cuddy headed down the hall, only blinking when she flicked on the hall light.

"It's Wilson!" She called before opening the door, seeing an exhausted and annoyed looking Wilson standing with Rachel in his arms.

"You two never called." Wilson stepped into the living room, "I have no idea how to take care of a baby."

"I'm sorry," Cuddy was blushing and she lifted Rachel from his arms, "We had to talk, you know that."

"Yet you didn't want to bother to call me and tell me that you weren't picking up your own daughter." Wilson glared between Cuddy and House's bedroom door, "Where's House?"

"Getting dressed," House called through the closed bedroom door. "Unless you want me to come out there naked."

"I can't believe you two!" Wilson cried, looking between House and Cuddy, "I'm stuck at my apartment, hoping you two figure out whatever you had to, and then it turns out that you two came here and had sex? While I'm watching your daughter? Seriously you two, why do I put up with this?"

"Because you want us to be happy." House limped into the room, kissing Cuddy's lips gently, before disappearing into the kitchen, looking for something to eat.

"Happy, my ass." Wilson snorted, "You two have done nothing but fight even since you two started dating. Nothing has changed, at all, between either of you. You two could walk into the hospital and no one would even know you two were dating because you haven't changed."

"And we have to?" House narrowed his eyes, "You chastise me about trying to change all the time, has it worked?" No. Doesn't that prove the point that no matter what you say to us, we're not going to change?"

"Cuddy...?" Wilson looked at her in hopes of a different response.

"House is right." Cuddy shrugged, holding Rachel with one arm as she pulled the blanket around her shoulders more, "We don't have to change our relationship just because you think we will."

"That's not my point." Wilson snapped.

"I don't care what your point was, but get out." House snapped, "You came over here to bring Rachel over, now leave."

"Gee," Wilson held up his hands in defeat, "You two can't be nice to anyone anymore, it's all about what you two want." He glared between them and turned, slamming the door loudly behind him.

"Wow?" Cuddy glanced at House, "Oh, and I need to make a run to my place, Rachel needs the formula that I have at home for her."

"Just give me a few minutes to pee and I'll come with you," House smirked at the eye roll he received in response. "Besides, you might want to get your stuff together."

"Fine," Cuddy plopped down on the couch, cradling Rachel, "And don't forget my keys."

"I won't," House patted his jeans pocket and the keys clinked slightly.

"Good," Cuddy smiled, settling on the couch and waiting patiently, rocking Rachel in her arms. She leaned back, closing her eyes and pulling the blanket around her and her daughter.

"Ready?" House limped back down the hall, Cuddy's purse in his free hand, which he handed to her.

"Let's go." Cuddy dropped the blanket on the couch, swinging her purse over her shoulder.

After locking the door to his apartment, House limped down the stairs after Cuddy, watching at Rachel waved to him over Cuddy's shoulder.

"Hey Cuddy, your kid is waving at me." House called after her, causing her to turn and smile.

"I guess she likes you then," Cuddy opened the back door, strapping Rachel into the car seat, and kissing her daughter's forehead. "Let me drive," she added as House went to open the driver's side door.

"Why?" House looked upset, "I want to drive the wussy car."

"My car is not a wussy car!" Cuddy laughed, poking him in the ribs to she could slip into the driver's seat, "Now get in or I'm making you walk to my place."

"Very funny," House circled the car and got in, immediately closing his eyes in relaxation and fiddling with the radio dials. "You know, once Rachel gets older, then you should buy one of those hot little convertibles – you'll be the coolest mom in Princeton."

"Then let me guess," Cuddy pulled out onto the main road, "When Rachel goes off to college then you'll want me to buy a motorcycle like yours."

"No way baby," House laughed, "Only motorcycle you're going on is mine, you don't even need your own." Cuddy laughed with him, knowing that he was serious about the motorcycle ride.

"Your phone," Cuddy twisted slightly in her seat, "Where is it?"

"No idea," House shrugged, hearing the team's ring, "Ignore it."

"House, I know it's the team, find your phone and answer it." Cuddy glanced at House as he glanced into the backseat where Rachel was sitting happily; House's phone in hand.

"Give me that kid," House reached back, but froze as Rachel accidentally opened the phone, letting out a cheerful coo.

"Want me to pull over?" Cuddy was trying not to laugh, but House shook his head, grabbing the phone from Rachel.

"House." He spoke, his embarrassment obvious, "Oh, Foreman."

"What was that?" Foreman sounded surprised, "Where are you?"

"In a car, what do you want?" House responded, feeling Cuddy reach over and take his hand, lacing her fingers with his.

"We have a case, Cameron just dropped it off." Foreman responded, "Are you with Cuddy?"

"What? A case, we just finished one!" House rolled his eyes, "And no, I'm alone."

"Then what was that cooing sound? Are you sleeping with Nurse Analise?"

House laughed and Cuddy glared at him, "No, I'll be over at the hospital later, bye."

"House!" Foreman snapped, "We need you over here now."

"Now?" House asked, "As in this second? That's not really possible is it?"

"Are you with Cuddy?" Foreman snapped, and Cuddy laughed, hearing Foreman.

"Which one?" He asked, "She has a sister you know."

"Cuddy, as in our boss Cuddy, the one you're dating." Foreman was beginning to get annoyed, "Right?"

"Maybe I am, maybe I'm not; either way, I need to get my bike first. I will be at the hospital later, good bye." House flipped his phone shut, tossing it on the floor at his feet.

"What?" Cuddy looked at him out of the corner of her eye, pulling into her driveway and turning off the engine.

"A new case, again." House headed towards the front door, unlocking it as Cuddy carried Rachel in. 'Can't you get me a break off these things?"

"It's not my choice," Cuddy settled Rachel in the highchair in her kitchen, getting a bottle of formula, "It's Cameron's."

"Cameron? You're my boss, not her." House pouted, sitting at the kitchen table. "You're the only one I listen to." He winked at her and Cuddy blushed.

"Well she's filling in for me for now." Cuddy sat at the kitchen table, "Just so I can have time to take care of Rachel, spend time with her, make a routine of myself and her, find her a suitable nanny – you know, just get used to the whole 'mother' thing."

"Why haven't you told me this yet?" House asked, slightly annoyed, "I mean, it's last minute Cuddy but why not tell me?"

"Because it really doesn't affect you House," Cuddy stood, hearing the microwave go off, "Besides, anytime you need to complain, you can bother me and Cameron will never know."

"Oh, okay," House pouted, putting his feet up on the chair Cuddy had just vacated, "If you insist."

"I do," Cuddy kissed his lips gently, "Now you feed Rachel while I shower, okay?" She handed him the filled bottle and headed towards the bedroom, not expecting a response.

AN: CassidyTVNut and I have agreed that Cuddy saying "I do" to House in the last line is sweet, but it's not a hint at anything, so don't get excited yet. :p

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