Chapter 21: The Morning Before

It was the morning of the showings. They were each later on in the day, so every one was going to take their time getting ready. Gabrielle just sat in her room going through the clothes that she had brought with her. She was starting to wonder why she hadn't thought to go out get something to wear earlier. She just plopped down on the couch and stared up at the ceiling. "At least Daddy decided to wear something decent," she said to herself. The fact that he was going and that he was dressing up a little for it meant a lot to her.

Gabrielle got up and walked out into the living room. "Cuddy, do you have anything that I can borrow?" Gabrielle asked. She silently stood in the doorway.

Cuddy looked over. "Sure, and we could also go out and but something if you want to," she suggested. She knew how hard things were going to be for Gabrielle, and wanted to make them a little easier if possible.

"Why don't do you just dye your hair pink and wear jeans? She liked you like that didn't she?" House asked.

She briefly cracked a small smile. "Okay, to Cuddy's idea. But your's was good to," Gabrielle said and then slipped back into her room. That was the first time that they had heard her like that. Her voice was flat and emotionless.

"You would think that some one had slipped the girl a valium or something," House said.

Cuddy turned and sighed. "Her mother died, how do you want her to act?" she asked.

"Don't be over protective of me. I would rather that you two did act like nothing happened," Gabrielle said as she walked over to join the two by the couch. Her face was almost as still as a manikin as she just stood there and looked towards the floor. It was as if everything had hit her right then and there, like it was all sinking in and she was trying to find a way to deal with it.

"Okay," Cuddy said and then handed her the keys from her purse. "You can go down and start the car, I'll be there in a minute." She was wanting to talk to House a lone for a minute before she left.

Gabrielle took the keys and left. Cuddy and House stood there for a minute. Cuddy finally turned and faced House. "All I ask is that you be gentle on her today. I know that she is one of the only ones who walks away from your insults with a smile, but just consider what she's going through and try to act human for a couple days," she said.

House reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet and handed Cuddy his credit card. "Get her whatever she wants," he stated.

Cuddy grabbed the card and slid it into her purse. "I'm leaving Rachel with you. All you have to do is basically just keep her in the same room with you. She's already been fed and changed and all of that," she said and then grabbed her coat and left. He had wanted to protest, but he knew that Gabrielle needed her more right now.

House just stood there and looked down at Rachel. "Just you and me kid," he said. He heard Rachel laugh. "That scares me that you find that funny," he stated.

Gabrielle and Cuddy stood in the fitting room of the store as Gabrielle walked out with a black button down shirt with short sleeves that had small bows at end and a black skirt that went down to knees. "That looks good," Cuddy said.

"Yeah, I just wish that I didn't have this stupid cast," Gabrielle said bringing her attention to her arm.

Cuddy softly smiled. "You still look good," she commented.

"Okay, I think I'll go with this one," Gabrielle said and then went back into the small room and changed.

Cuddy sat there and waited. She was waiting for Gabrielle to break down at any moment. Every time she had seen her face that day, all she could think was how fragile she was. All she wanted to do was get her through the next couple days.

Gabrielle was quiet through the rest of the trip as they got her a pair of black heels and some nylons. "Thank you," Gabrielle said as they got back to the car.

Cuddy looked over at her, "Actually, your father gave me his card to pay for it. I think you should thank him," she said.

They both got into the car and Gabrielle stared straight ahead. "But you did take me to go shopping." Gabrielle just stared straight ahead. The same blank expression. Cuddy just sighed and then started the car.

House stood in front of the mirror as he held Rachel. "Does this look right to you?" he asked. He knew that he was going to have to become Daddy to two little babies. He knew that if he was part of his own kids life that Rachel would be a part of the deal. "Why do you always do that?" he asked as he looked down and saw her sucking on his finger.

He let her keep his finger as he limped back to the living room where her bassinette was and set her down. "I don't think you know the first thing about hygiene," he stated. House then took his finger away and waited a minute. She didn't cry. She only stared up at him with her big blue eyes. He then started to walk away, but stopped as soon as she cried. He turned and stood over her again. She stopped as soon as she saw him. "What? You think that this is funny?" he asked. He only received a giggle in response. "Of course you do," he said as he rolled his eyes.

Cuddy and Gabrielle then walked through the door. Cuddy smiled at House standing over the crib, but sighed as Gabrielle just passed through the room. "I'll be right back," Cuddy said and then followed her.

Gabrielle just sat there and stared. She wasn't looking at anything in particular, it just didn't matter to her. All she could think about was the fact that she after all of this, everything was going to be different. That there was going to be something missing. Her mom.

"Can I come in?" Cuddy gently asked as she knocked on the door.

"Sure," Gabrielle said.

Cuddy stepped in and closed the door behind her. She stood there for a minute. "Look, I know that this must be hard," Cuddy started.

"Two miscarriages and an adoption that fell through, I know," Gabrielle stated. She knew that Cuddy was trying to explain to her that she knew how it felt to lose some one, but right now, she just wante dto be left alone.

Cuddy looked down and gathered her thoughts for a minute and then looked back up at her. "I just wanted to let you know, that if you need anything at all," she started.

Gabrielle looked up. "Look, I am grateful, for everything you and Daddy have done. And I do trust both of you, but right now, I just need to think for a while," she explained.

Cuddy softly smiled in understanding. "Okay," she said and then turned to leave.

"But, I will need you two tomorrow," Gabrielle said. Cuddy turned back and saw her eyes beginning to water. She nodded and then left.