Disclaimer: All rights belong to Fox and David Shore.
Author's Note: This chapter has been modified since its original publication. Special thanks to my beta TwiSagaAddict.
***
The Tisch real estate property somehow never made it to the New Jersey Multiple Listing Service (NJMLS) after Cuddy and House made a formal offer on the house at around 8PM.
After initially seeing the house, Cuddy immediately called Mrs. Tisch to personally thank her for showing her beautiful house prior to listing it to the public. Mrs. Tisch informed her that the house was her husband's dream and she'd be delighted if it was purchased by someone who would take care of it. They chatted quite a bit reminiscing of the late Mr. Tisch. Later in the conversation, Mrs. Tisch asked why the Dean of Medicine needs such a large house. Cuddy revealed that aside from a sixteen-year-old son, she and her partner were also expecting twins. Mrs. Tisch was very delighted to hear the news about the babies. She revealed to Cuddy that she didn't have any grandchildren; none of her four children seem to be interested in having one anytime soon.
By eight the following morning, Cuddy received a fax from Angela that the Tisch clan had accepted their full offer. Angela mentioned that Mrs. Tisch apparently made sure that all her feuding progenies accepted the Cuddy-House offer by threatening disinheritance if they objected.
After hearing the news, Cuddy called Mrs. Tisch to again express her thanks. Afterwards, she made arrangements for a home inspection and for the previous construction crew to resume work on finishing the basement.
At around nine, Cuddy was on full administrative mode ordering the legal department to ensure that they follow-up on Dr. Chase's H1-B visa application with the Labor Department, she arranged for maintenance to check the toilet problem on the third floor, and yelled at a resident for showing up drunk to an on-call page. In between those tasks, she also found time to convince three donors to contribute generously towards the expansion of the new Diagnostic Department.
By eleven, Cuddy did her usual hospital rounds and noticed that she's been getting a lot of stares on her bump. Thank god, no one has dared to ask if she was pregnant. She didn't really mind the stares but she was just not ready to answer the question yet. She and Greg agreed that she would inform the Board about her condition after her first trimester (which will be in about two weeks). She was planning on holding off wearing maternity dresses until then, but having twins accelerated the process. She has been showing quite a round bump since week 7, and making sure she wore her lab coat at all times was no longer effective. She mentally made a note to buy a new lab coat and maternity dresses after work.
She dropped off a package filled with documents on House's desk and asked Jake to make sure that his dad signed all the forms. The entire brood was traveling to Boston over the weekend to finalize a few things for Jake's impending move for med school. Now that Jake has legally changed his last name to House, but is still a minor, both parents had to sign every document and waiver forms that Harvard Medical School required.
Cuddy was still talking to Jake when House walked-in to his office. He immediately signaled for Jake not to say anything to his mother. House quietly snuck up on Cuddy. He nuzzled behind her with both hands on her very rounded bump and his mouth on her neck.
"Oh my god! Are you trying to kill me?" Cuddy yelled at House and glared at Jake for not giving her at least a hint of what was coming.
"No, just wanted to make sure if your pulse is still okay." House replied quickly.
Cuddy turned around to face House and rolled her eyes.
"So, why are you in my office? Did you miss me already?"
"No. You're late again." Cuddy dismissed House's attempt of flirting.
"Your mouth says no but your body says yes. Will I be getting that special wake-up call every morning?" House asked Cuddy while wagging his brows suggestively.
Cuddy's face turned red as she remembered what she had done to wake Greg up this morning.
Jake groaned loudly and told his parents to cut it out before he starts puking.
***
Wilson popped his head in House's office door and said, "Hey, got anything planned for the weekend?"
House nodded to acknowledge Wilson and replied, "Yeah, we're flying to Boston for the weekend."
"Is it a romantic weekend with the girlfriend?"
"Nope. Just some family stuff."
"Oh, ok. Are you meeting her family?"
"No, I already met her mother years ago."
"Hmmm… Anyway, Julie and I would love to invite you and your girlfriend over for dinner. Maybe next weekend?"
"Sure, if you help me pack, move, and unpack my stuff."
"You're moving-in with her?"
"Technically, I already moved-in with her a couple of months ago. My stuff on the other hand, needs to be moved to our new house."
"Did you just say new house?"
"Yeah, we just bought a new house yesterday, closing will be next week."
"Congratulations! Wow! You are simply full of surprises."
"Yeah, whatever."
"I can't wait to meet this girl. After Stacy, I didn't think I'd ever see you happy again."
House simply smiled and waved Wilson off "Go! I need to work before our gargantuan boss yells at me again."
Wilson simply shook his head in disbelief at how House described their boss. "Gargantuan. Dr. Cuddy is far from big. Maybe she has been gaining a few pounds lately ...Is she? Naah...that's just 'House being House'."
***
House, Cuddy, and Jake took the 3:40PM flight from Newark to Boston on Thursday afternoon. Because of her frequent trips to the bathroom, Cuddy grabbed the aisle seat and House was stuck with the window seat. He could have switched seats with Jake but that would mean he would be seated a few rows away from Cuddy. Ever since he found out that Cuddy was expecting his child again, House has been very protective of her. He just liked to be near her all the time, touching her belly, hugging her close to him, and kissing her everywhere. It was an impulse that he has recently developed and tried to keep in check at work.
The flight took about an hour and they were able to pick up a rental car and check-in to their hotel by six. The trio drove downtown and had dinner at a local restaurant around Charles St in Beacon Hill. Instead of walking back to their car, the trio decided to take stroll by Louisburg Square. Cuddy started reminiscing about her time in Boston when she was still in med school. She pointed out places and parks that she used to take Jake as a baby. House was very quiet the entire time Cuddy was recollecting her experiences, mostly because he wanted to hear what he had missed.
It was unusually cold for a late summer night, so House had his arms around Cuddy to keep her warm. Jake caught his parents kissing and getting lost in each other's eyes several times during their stroll. He thought to himself, "I have never seen anyone who's totally into each other, and yet so incapable of expressing their feelings to each other."
While Jake went over by the side of the road to watch a group of streets performers, he overheard his father say, "Lise, the light behind you is making you glow. You look radiant."
Jake thought, "Wow, that's actually romantic coming from dad."
Cuddy smiled and said, "I think it's what they refer to as pregnancy glow?"
House pointed over Cuddy's shoulder and said, "I'm serious. There's a fire-eater performing behind you."
Cuddy turned around and felt the fire inches away from her. She immediately moved away from the street performer, and smacked House's arms really hard.
"Ouch, what was that for?"
"That's for making me think that you were actually saying something nice."
"I don't do nice. However, if you wear the naughty negligee I bought you, I'll definitely do you."
Cuddy pulled House close and whispered "In your dreams, big boy."
The two began laughing and exchanged gentle kisses.
Jake saw the banters between his parents and couldn't help but snort. He honestly didn't know what to make of them, "Maybe, that's what finding THE ONE means. Someone to bicker with over nothing, someone to kiss for no reason, and someone to share a laugh with for the rest of your life.