Chapter 14

The next morning House awoke to find himself in Cuddy's bed with Cuddy Practically on top of him still asleep. He turned his head as best as he could to look at her, she looked almost childlike sleeping there curled up the way she was. He moved a few strands of hair from her face. She twitched in her sleep and then suddenly as though something has startled her she sat straight up. "Wohhh, what was that for?"

"What? What's..."

"Oh crap you're not going to tell me you suddenly don't know why I'm here are you?"

Cuddy focused her gaze on House for the first time, "I… What? No, I think I just had a weird dream, I was in the hospital lobby and then all this stuff came falling down from the balcony and then something grazed me on the side of the face and, and I woke up"

"Worried about what the hospital will say about 'US' hum…"

"I, no… as you well know I'm rather privet about my privet life, any problems?"

"No, actually… I think Wilson's enough right now, too much really, but got to have someone right? Or so I'm told."

"Yes"

"Good, so… what, you want to operate on a 'need to know bases then?"

"I suppose so, but what could possibly constitute a 'need to know'?"

"Oh you know, if for some reason I happen to walk in on Monday with a stupid grin plastered to my face and my team pesters me"

"Think about Wilson in a Speedo"

"I don't want to vomit!"

Cuddy laughed, "Well I'm sure you'll think of something"

"So what time do we have to get munchkin?"

"I told Marla, ten, and it is now…" Cuddy turned to look at the clock "Nine, Holy crap! I don't remember the last time I slept that late!"

House just gave her a satisfied grin.

"Come on, get you're a** moving… maybe we can get breakfast on the way to Wilson's"

"We have an hour"

"Yes and I believe we both need a shower"

"Nuff said, I'm in!"

Forty-five minutes later House is just throwing on his jeans and T-shirt while Cuddy is still trying to decide on what top she's going to pair with her jeans.

"Fifteen minutes, Lisa, tic-toc"

"Since when were you ever punctual?" she sneered

"Good point, we could just leave your daughter over there all day"

Cuddy grabbed a sweater at random from her closet and through on her clothes, and quickly pulled her hair back into a ponytail, "This will have to be good enough"

"Actually pretty hot if you ask me, it's kind of nice to see what you look like when you're not on the war path."

She rolled her eyes and through on a pair of sexy boots with her jeans and grabbed her jacket and purse, "I'm ready, are you?"

He stood there with his arms out revealing that he was indeed fully clothed and ready to go.

"Ok then, I'll go get Rachel and you can start the car"

"Nah, I'll come with you, less time I have to sit in the car."

"Ok…"

House and Cuddy walked across the street to her neighbor's house and Cuddy rang the door bell. A small woman about Cuddy's age with blond curly hair answered the door holding Rachel "Good morning Lisa!"

"Good morning, how was she?"

"Ohh no trouble at all, you know the kids love having her around and so do I" she said handing Rachel back to her mother. "So how did your date go? Is this him? The famous pain in the a**"

"Hum yes, this is…"

House cut in and offered his hand "Greg, Greg House" he introduced himself with a smile.

She gave Cuddy a sideways smile.

Cuddy smiled back knowingly.

"Ahh… I see you've heard about me…"

"You could say that…"

"Well what can I say, I'm irresistible"

"She's told me that too…"

House looked at Cuddy, "Ok so she's my Wilson, I talk to her about everything, are you happy?"

"You have a Wilson?" House grind.

"Ok well, maybe not every blow by blow…"

"But enough…" Marla finished.

"Well anyway Mar, thanks again, and just let me know when I can return the favor"

"Got to find a guy first Lisa!"

As they walked back across the street, Cuddy nudged House on the arm, "so what's on your mind, I know you've got something cooking in there"

"I'd let her join us"

She rolled her eyes, "oh brother"

"She's cute but I my hands aren't big enough for your sumptuous a**, yet alone two."

"Well I'm sure in your own little way that's probably the closest I'm going to get to "I've only got eyes for you" so I'll take it"

"No, I've only got hands for you, I can look… just cant touch" he said with a grin.

She smiled back and attempted her usual "boss" tone "Get in the car House, mine's already got Rachel's car seat in it"

Cuddy got Rachel buckled in then insisting that it was "her car so she should drive" they both got situated and started on their way to Wilson's.

"Did you want to stop for some breakfast"

"I thought I would get out of these clothes first then we would worry about food"

"Ok, it's your call"

"So what all have you told her?"

"Worried?"

"Curious"

"Well she knows that you drive me crazy"

"And apparently you find me irresistible"

"So what else is there?"

"Michigan, Mayfield, mayhem"

"Yes, well, she didn't know about Michigan until recently, but, yes"

"Ahh… so do I have her to than k for last night?"

"Well she took Rachel"

"Touché"

House and Cuddy pulled up in front of Wilson's building and got out.

House didn't bother knocking, he just let himself in as the door was unlocked "I'm home dad! And I brought my friends"

"Knock it off House, Morning Cuddy! Ohh come here, did you miss your Uncle Jimmy?" he said taking Rachel from Cuddy.

"Oh fine with a greeting like that just see if I do anything nice for you"

"Right House" he rolled his eyes. "So what are you two love birds up to today?"

"Oh please Wilson" Cuddy rolled her eyes, "Well right now we just stopped by to get Greg's overnight things, then we thought about some food and going back to my place for the rest of the weekend"

"Greg?"

"That's my name"

"But…"

"Wich brings us to the next topic of discussion, you" Cuddy said

"Me?"

"Yes, you Dr. Big mouth" House said, then looking at Cuddy for conformation "We, just want to keep this low for a while, and tell people as it comes up"

"Ok… but how did I get pegged Dr. Bigmouth? I only ever talk to you two, and sometimes your team, and maybe some of the Nurses"

"Right"

Cuddy broke in "So that's over with, how about some food, Wilson, you want to join us?"

"Let me get my stuff first and brush my teeth" House said limping off to his bedroom.

"Ok" then turning to Wilson, "So?" well it's almost eleven now, isn't it a bit late for breakfast?"

"Brunch then, you in or out?"

"Ok, let me get my shoes and a jacket"

Wilson came out a few minutes later and they sat in the living room waiting for House who came out with a small duffel bag and a change of clothes.

"Ready, Mommy!"

"Ok, Rex"

"Good point, I'll stop with the Mom bit, but your still dad as long as I have to check in with you!"

"Whatever House"

They piled into the car, House and Cuddy in the front, and Wilson and Rachel in the back. They had decided on a small family type restaurant not too far from Wilson's. They sat in the booth, Rachel in her high chair looking around at her surroundings and playing with a napkin her mother had handed her. "So, how did dinner go?"

"I spent the night and I'm staying again tonight Wilson, how do you think it went?"

Cuddy smiled at House and then turned to Wilson "Greg is a VERY, good cook"

"Yeah I know… but… you're not talking about cooking and I'm just going to shut up now"

Cuddy laughed.

"So what about work?"

"We already told you that we want to keep this low, so in the meantime, I will continue to be my charming self and she will continue being a shrieking harpy"

Cuddy gave House an approving smile.

Wilson rolled his eyes, "You too really were made for each other, I don't know how you put up with him"

"Oh come on, you know I make life worth living"

***

The week came and went and so did the weekend, House had spent that weekend over at Cuddy's much like the weekend before. In a way it was kind of nice not just for House and Cuddy but for Wilson too who was finding it nice to have some time alone.

Lily had just had a full week of radiation and would be finishing up this first round by Friday. Wilson would then give her another scan on the following Monday to get a better idea of how she was doing.

Right now it was Thursday and House was standing where he usual did while Lily received her treatment, he hadn't missed one yet. Even Cuddy had come in and sat with House during two or three sessions. They didn't really talk much during these times, mostly as to not raise suspicions, but they really didn't need to talk. House was there for Lily, and Cuddy was there for House, this worked. "I'm glad this first round is almost over"

"Tell me about it, just look at her"

Indeed, Lily looked horrible, she was even more frail and weak, than when House had first saw her. She hadn't been eating well but Wilson assured him that it was because of the radiation and that she would bounce back in a few days if it was working. House and Cuddy were both keeping their fingers crossed.

Cuddy had a soft spot in her heart for all the kids in the COW, but Lily with her lack of family and House doting over her just made her love the little girl with all her heart. She had done so much for House and for her really. She had somehow brought out a side of House that he hadn't even known existed. Cuddy was quickly getting just as attached to Lily as House was. She just had to pull through.

"I think I might visit with her a little wile after she's back in her room"

"Cool, I've already done my time in the COW for today. So I guess I'm going to be busy avoiding the boss lady by trying to figure out what's killing my current patient. I think I've narrowed it down to two possibilities but I want to run some test."

"Taking the careful rout?"

"Never, just putting on a show for the boss, by tests I mean my team, they're a little rusty."

Cuddy tried to hide her amusement and attempted to fain distain instead. Of course House could see right through it but it worked well enough for the technician.