A/N-special thanks to all reviewers since the last piece: justlobe, Alltheloveintheworld, touchatoucha7, Ana, JLCH, IHeartHouseCuddy, partypantscuddy, housebound, jaybe61, KiwiClare, CaptainK8, IWuvHouse, Suzieqlondon, Anderson, youmakemefeelbrandnew, dmarchl, Abby, Alex, HuddyGirl, Bakerstreet Blues, lenasti16, Julia, Celeste, LoveMyHouse, LapizSilkwood, Jane Q. Doe, devonfc, and all of the Guest Reviewers.

Celeste—You didn't miss anything, I didn't tell you what it means yet :-)

Wow such frustration last week with Chapter 13…oh, how I hope 14 will go up more easily…we shall see!

-Day 7-Friday-Night-

"There's something I should tell you…about the ending of this little vacation of ours," Cuddy said as House was almost dozing.

"OK…"

"Rachel is flying down to meet me…in New Orleans."

House turned to her, his expression completely inscrutable. "What does that mean?" he asked.

"It means that when we get off of the boat, I'll register at the hotel, stay there overnight, and in the morning, I'm going to take a taxi to the airport and pick up my daughter. Then, she is going to spend the last couple of days of vacation there with me."

"Then…I ever so slightly alter and resubmit my question. What does this mean for me?"

Cuddy saw the look of insecurity immediately. "You should definitely feel like the invitation is extended to you, if you want to take it. I would…really like it if you are willing to meet her there, but I don't want to pressure you. I don't know how much she remembers you at this point…and we haven't spoken about you in a very long time."

He nodded. "I mean…I'm…a bit big to keep hidden in a suitcase or your bedroom closet for very long…and I'm guessing Rachel's probably observant enough to notice that the same guy is suspiciously grabbing her mother's ass while following her around."

"She would likely notice you," Cuddy said with a smile. "And you know I'm not looking for a fuck buddy to keep in my closet at home."

"Are you going to tell Rachel before she gets here?"

"That would be really wise. She tends to react to things…ummm…adamantly…and she does not like to be taken off guard."

"Can't say that I blame her," House replied. "Is this where it gets really complicated?"

"Rachel wants me to be happy. She's going to watch us interact and judge for herself. I thought she'd hate Paul, and she didn't. For all of her angsty, rebellious, pre-teen rage, she really does want what's best for me. And she and I can fight up one end of the house and down the other, but…in the end…she really does love me."

"Maybe she is mine," House mused. "So, while she evaluates… I guess I'll have to be on my best behavior."

"I did not say that…not at all," she answered quickly, drawing a shocked and skeptical look from House. "You're fantastic with kids…whether you want people to know that or not. If you're fake, she will see right through you. Besides…whether you try to be someone else for me or for Rachel, you'll be miserable just the same. Just…do your thing. We will all learn to get along being who we are. We fail to learn certain lessons, and we'll find ourselves on the spiral staircase straight to hell. I'm not saying I have a perfect track record here…but I will try," Cuddy clarified. "The thing is, I don't want back on the spiral staircase straight to hell. Because we'll blow up and then we'll be separately miserable…again."

"OK," he nodded, caught in thought. "Is she more or less scary than your mother in the judgment department?"

"I think there's going to be more attention paid to judging my reactions than your actions. I think I'm the one on the stand."

"When are you going to tell her?"

"I have to call her tomorrow…but I'm thinking next call…two or three days from now. That way, she has time to digest it before she sees us. And…since she's with Julia's son, there will be an understandable gossip-ripple that's going to be set into motion. I want to give you as much time as I can to feel comfortable with that. I don't think that I can stop it once the information's out there."

"OK," he said with a deep breath.

"We're proving to each other…that we've finally learned something, right? Proving to each other that we can function together…" Cuddy said.

"Yes."

"See, this is where it gets tricky, because…in the past…I always would have assumed that I knew what you were thinking…and I'm torn between two things that may be rattling in your head."

"What two things are those?" House asked, intrigued by her honesty in admitting that she wasn't exactly sure what he was thinking. Over their history, they each always wanted to give the impression that the other was completely transparent to them, and while they did have some amazing insights into the other's thoughts and behavior, they were often wrong about underlying feelings.

"Well, I don't know if you feel trapped because I want to tell Rachel about you…because I want you to meet her…and you feel pressured to be in her life…or…if you are wondering if I'm trying to hide you a little longer and put this off as long as possible. I'd like to know which one because I can't tell. Or I'm completely wrong, and it's none of those."

House smirked, and pressed his lips together in thought. "I am…nervous about her reaction to me, but, if I say that…I don't want you to think that it means I don't like her or I'm not willing to try. And I definitely do want to see her. Remember though, I'm not used to kids and I'm not great with them. Worst father-figure ever. It has also crossed my mind that maybe you are nervous, and maybe embarrassed. If…Julia finds out, she's going to be less than excited for you."

"I'm not embarrassed. I'm a little nervous about what Rachel will say too. You are not the worst father-figure ever, but you don't have to feel pressured to be one here. l…don't really care what Julia says. She thought Paul was the best thing ever…what does she know? I know you've been…free for a long time…able to not worry about kids and seeing me would probably cut into your spontaneity a bit. It…would tie you down because it ties me down."

"I've been able to do what I want for…pretty much forever…give or take a tied down year here or there. But I really wasn't happy. So I don't know what that freedom really got me."

"As far as how Rachel feels about you…When you were first gone, she missed you. She wanted you to come back and play," Cuddy said. She took a steady breath and added, "Please, just…be upfront with me about this. No games, no attempts to spare feelings or sacrificial attempts to make me happy…is Rachel a deal breaker?"

"It's not going to work," he began.

Cuddy dropped her head, in many ways expecting this reaction and holding a hand up to get him to stop. He lifted her chin, initially smiling, until he saw the expression on her face. She looked crushed, so much more devastated and consumed by sadness and frustration than what he had seen before, and his smile evaporated. Cuddy could vow her undying affection every moment of every day for years to come, and nothing would ever communicate the depths of her attachment better than that look. His lip almost snarled in distaste, not at her feelings, but at the sense of guilt that bubbled in the very center and spread hotly across his chest.

"No," he said softly, "don't think that."

"I asked for honesty…" she said, looking as if tears were imminent.

"Shh…" he said. "It's not going to work if we repeat the past. Like you said, assuming we know each other…sometimes leads us in the wrong direction. And if you and I want to accept the cycle of explosive fights and hot make up sex on our own…well, if we want to accept that drama then that's fine. But with Rachel… I don't want her to associate my return with her mother plunging into misery. Don't get me wrong…I don't want to pretend to be her daddy. But, I'd like her to…like me. I'd like to have some sort of friendship with her. I want to get to know her. Besides, I have competition. She loves Paul."

Cuddy shook her head, "So you aren't second guessing…"

He shook his head. "I think…before, you tried too hard to keep Rachel and I separate. I think your intentions were good…trying to keep me from feeling burdened by her…I'll be the first to admit, I wasn't always the most eager to play family. At first…I wasn't interested in having her around. The truth is, you guys are sort of a package deal and…"

Cuddy looked surprised and confused as she waited for the remainder of his statement. He looked perplexed by his own thoughts as he tried to formulate them. "I…sort of wouldn't mind that. At least I think," he finally admitted guardedly. "A couple of my favorite moments with you were…the normal ones. Dinner, watching movies…normal shit. It doesn't sound stifling…it sounds…nice."

"It does…sound really nice," she answered as he rubbed the back of his knuckles across her cheeks.

"You told me about your fear of abandonment at sea…to be honest, I was surprised you confessed that willingly. You want to know my secret for today? Because the day's almost over…so if you want one for today…it's now or never," he said lightheartedly.

"I would love to know your secret."

"I had a lot of good memories with you, believe it or not. In between things, we actually had fun. One of my favorite times…one of the best days of my relatively miserable life…was the one birthday I was around for…for Rachel. That day was painfully close to perfection. You let me hit the toy store for her present…you told me what you wanted for part of it, but you weren't upset when I added on…in fact you seemed to like what I got. Your mom got sick, remember, stomach thing, so we rescheduled with her and your sister's family and the three of us spent all day together. We had cake and junk food… We played with her new toys with her. She passed out on the floor that night exhausted and happy while watching that…annoying movie."

"That was a really fun day."

"It was. Then after she was asleep, we were both so relaxed, because we didn't fight or even near-fight that day. You were so relaxed that you put on that nightie…the one I never thought you'd actually wear for me."

"Calling that a nightie is…generous."

"Whatever," he teased, "But you looked amazing. And then you attacked me like you hadn't seen a man in a lifetime. You were completely insatiable…and a little experimental if my memory serves me."

She scrunched her face, feigning a lack of memory, but failing to convince him that she didn't recall that night.

"We didn't learn…did we?" he asked. "We didn't take what we learned that day, the fact that we could let our guards down and have a good time…and apply it to our other interactions after that. It was a fantastic day. Actually…spending all day doing stuff that wasn't working…together. That was the last time that ever happened."

"No it wasn't," Cuddy argued.

They sat in thought for a few moments as she searched her memory for an example. She shook her head, "Is that…really the last time that ever happened?"

"Until this trip. It isn't like we were together that long," he answered. "Between my work and your work and our mutual attempts to try to maintain certain boundaries…yea, that was the last time that happened."

"I…really wish that wasn't true."

"Can't change it," he said.

"We can't, but…we can make her first day in New Orleans one of those times," she returned. "And then, the day after that."

"Yea," he agreed. "As long as she doesn't freak out and decide she's running away to join the circus."

"She would never do that," Cuddy said sweetly, then added with a teasing lilt, "She's terrified of clowns."

House smirked at her response, "OK, run away to be a modern day troubadour?"

"That sounds much more likely," Cuddy joked.

-Day 8-Saturday-Morning-

"I need to call Rachel quick before we head out on our excursion. This two trips ashore in two days thing is completely going to throw off our schedule of devoting every other day to sex," Cuddy said after she was dressed and almost ready to go for the day.

He smiled, "Love that you are thinking like that."

"You want me to go to my room to call or stay here?"

"You can stay if you don't mind me listening in," he answered, smiling mischievously.

Cuddy called Rachel, and Rachel explained their latest activities at camp, and even bragged about a prank she and her cousin played on one of the crueler bullies in attendance. After a few minutes, Rachel said, "You probably don't want me to ask, but…is the guy still around or what?"

"Still around," Cuddy answered.

"Ya know, Logan and I were talking, and we have a little theory…"

"What's that?" Cuddy said, contentedly listening to her happy daughter.

"Well, we were trying to figure out who this guy is. Now, you said you knew him in college. I don't think I ever really heard about any college boyfriends, but Aunt Julia did, and we decided it has to be that guy who tried to personally demolish our old place in Jersey," Rachel said with a giggle.

The expression dropped off of both Cuddy and House's faces at the same time. "What?" Cuddy asked.

"You going to pretend that you don't remember, Mom?"

"I think that some stories take on a life of their own…" Cuddy suggested.

"Mom. Aunt Julia told Becca that you knew him back in school…actually she said something about him 'ruining you back in college' and that you 'never had a chance after that'…we assumed that meant you dated him in college. Becca has the newspaper articles from the whole…unconventional home invasion deal," Rachel added, referring to Julia's eldest daughter Rebecca.

"When did you hear about that?"

"Ummm…practically since it happened," Rachel responded snidely.

"You never said anything?" Cuddy sounded aghast.

"I guess I should have…you're taking it so well now," Rachel said sarcastically.

House finally smirked again at Rachel's snide response.

"OK, well, are you going to give us any other clues, or should we still assume you're looking for a little excitement in your life and going out with Mr. Demolition?"

Cuddy thought as quickly as she could and recovered, "Well, I am finding plenty of excitement, went snorkeling and jet skiing…"

Cuddy was greeted by silence. "Rach…you there?"

Rachel finally took a deep breath, "Why did you avoid the question?"

"I didn't," Cuddy denied, meeting House's eyes.

"You did. Answer the question, Mom."

Cuddy was silent, looking at House who gestured his permission to disclose, should she choose to do so.

"Mom?" Rachel asked insistently. "You completely avoided the question. Took a question about a guy and made your answer about water sports and fish watching. What's the deal?"

"It's House," Cuddy answered bluntly. "That I'm seeing. It's…him"

"You're joking?" Rachel answered, demonstrating that she knew the name through her answer.

"I'm not," Cuddy said, "I want us to talk about this. Are you upset?"

Rachel didn't answer, so Cuddy went on, "I'm not in any danger…House is a good man, and we had some rough times, but I wouldn't do anything that I thought could bring you or I any danger."

There was still no answer. Cuddy began to really worry and Rachel said, "Does he want to see me?"

"What?" Cuddy asked, relieved to finally hear Rachel's voice, but surprised at the question she heard.

"Does he want to see me? I don't think he liked me much."

"Why would you say that?"

"Avoiding questions again?" Rachel asked.

"No."

"So, is he willing to see me, or what?"

"Do you want to see him?"

"I wouldn't mind. He can't be all bad, he's one of the few adults that was really fun to play with…from the little I remember," Rachel answered. "I think what he did was…weird…but the articles said he was impaired…high or something."

"Yea," Cuddy sighed. "Things aren't like that anymore. He was in a lot of pain, and on a lot of medication."

"So…am I going to see him?"

"In New Orleans, you can see him then."

"Better run that past him. I'm sure I was part of the reason he left you in the first place," Rachel said with defeat.

"Baby…" Cuddy said, "That couldn't possibly be further from the truth."

"Come on, why would any guy leave you? These guys just don't want someone with a brat at home."

House's face went blank. In all of the years since their breakup he never once thought that Rachel might have been really hurt by his departure, and certainly never thought she'd feel responsible.

"Rachel, that isn't true. Paul leaving had nothing to do with you either."

"Sure it did. He just didn't want to admit it, and you know it, but you don't want to hurt my feelings."

The confident, almost cocky, Rachel suddenly sounded deeply insecure.

Cuddy continued, "I would have explained this stuff if I thought you felt responsible. I didn't even know you remembered House."

"Just little bits."

"Rachel…I broke it off with House, he didn't leave because of you, or…for anything else. I ended it."

"Oh," Rachel said, sounding confused. "is that the truth, or are you trying not to hurt my feelings."

"It's the truth," Cuddy said, "You can ask him then, if you don't believe me."

"What about Paul? I saw what happened. You were mad about catching me and Tim, you were mad at Paul for not keeping an eye on me. You go talk to him, and then suddenly you guys are done?"

"It had nothing to do with you. Paul…" Cuddy pondered a lie, or a misdirection, but reflecting on the pain that her previous omissions of information caused her child, she settled firmly on the truth. "I had a breast biopsy, I am fine. Everything came back fine. But, it scared him. He left."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Rachel asked angrily.

"I didn't want to worry you."

"So Paul left because he thought you might be sick?"

"No, Paul left because he was scared," Cuddy said, defending Paul's decision to leave.

"I hate him. I really freaking hate him."

"Rachel," Cuddy warned.

"That's even worse than leaving because he didn't want to have a brat at home. God. I fucking hate him."

"RACHEL!" Cuddy yelled. "Not appropriate. That language is never appropriate."

"Ground me," Rachel countered.

Cuddy looked like she was going to tear into Rachel but the expression on House's face stopped her. He looked completely unfazed. He looked as if Rachel's response made complete sense, because to him, it did.

"I love you, Rachel," Cuddy said calmly.

"What?"

"I love you. I know you're just saying that because you care. You're defending me. But, I still don't want to hear you talk like that again. That language…is not acceptable."

"I know," Rachel said, disarmed by her mother's even response.

"But, the important thing for you to know, is that Paul leaving had nothing to do with you. I was trying to make you feel better, not create some sort of anger between you and him."

"I'm old enough to handle the truth," Rachel said, "I'm not a little kid anymore."

"I know. I don't want to be one of those parents that tries to turn their kids against the exes."

"I know you aren't like that," Rachel said. "I just don't get why any guy would ever let you go."

Cuddy looked as if she'd been hit by a flying purple pig. "Rachel, I'm…relationships are complicated, and I'm not always easy to get along with."

"Whatever. They should be grateful to have you. Sure, you're a little psycho about certain things…"

Cuddy shrugged, relieved to hear Rachel returning more to herself. "I am, Rach, that's me."

"Please stop treating me like I'm a baby. Please?"

"I'll work on that," Cuddy said. "You aren't a baby…but you also aren't an adult. I'm gonna bring House to see you. If you're OK with it."

"Yea. Just…don't force him to deal with me if he doesn't want to," Rachel said.

"She's not forcing me to do anything," House said, loudly enough for Rachel to hear. "I'm sorry, kid, I can't sit and let you think that my disappearance had anything to do with you."

"It is you," Rachel said. "I remember your voice."

"I was snooping. Sorry. I was curious"

"It's OK," Rachel answered.

"I didn't realize, Rachel," Cuddy said, "That you were so hurt by this…I didn't think you remembered any of it."

"Your mom and I were complete idiots back then, Rachel," House said, calmly explaining the situation. "We didn't know what we really had, and we didn't know how to keep something that could have been good…and I promise, neither of us had any clue that we had hurt you."

House picked up the phone from the table and turned off the speaker, walking around the room and chatting with Rachel. The conversation wasn't intense or private, but it was deeply personal. He asked question after question, answering the few he gave her time to ask.

Cuddy was blown away. All of her assurances that she wouldn't ask him to be a father-figure, and all of his suggestions that he'd be so terrible at it if he tried, and there he was, talking to Rachel, sounding unbelievably paternal. There was nothing forced or awkward in the conversation. Cuddy never would have asked him to assume this role, but he was filling it nicely. He didn't start to talk to Rachel because of pressure from Cuddy, or because of pressure he had put on himself on Cuddy's behalf, he was talking to Rachel because he wanted to talk to Rachel. He didn't want her to be hurt by what had happened all of those years ago, and he had no idea that his presence could have been missed by someone he knew for such a short time.

After several moments, Cuddy was pulled from her thoughts when he said to Rachel, "When your mom calls in a few days, can I talk to you again?"

Cuddy saw the moment of worry cross his face as he waited, and the subtle smile that crossed his lips while Rachel answered. "Sounds good, kid, I'll talk to you in a few days," he said before handing Cuddy the phone.

Cuddy said her goodbyes to Rachel, who sounded much less worried and even a bit excited. When she hung up, House said immediately, "I had to say something. I wanted her to know that it wasn't her fault. Are you upset?"

"No!" she answered with conviction. "I can't believe you spoke up…I can't believe you talked to her, and I think you did an amazing job."

He was shocked that she accepted his self-initiated participation in the situation. She couldn't believe he involved himself voluntarily, but both were happy with the role that the other played. "I can't believe I did that to her…I had no idea I hurt her so badly…" Cuddy said sadly.

"Neither did I, Cuddy," House added. "I honestly figured she thought I was just a dream, if she remembered me at all."

Neither of them said it, but they both knew: there were now three hearts on the line.