Thanks for all of the wonderful comments. To the guest who has requested that I post a chapter a day, since I post two chapters every other day, that's the same thing, isn't it?

Picking up another thread of this story...

Chapter 51. - Changes

Another viewpoint - Scott

I follow my dad and Dr. Palmer to the Wilson's backyard. The place is full of

adults and kids, ten-years-old and younger. I just knew there wouldn't be anyone my age.

Dr. Cameron is sitting alone at a table. I know she can't see what everyone's

doing, but she's still smiling. Dad and Dr. Palmer head in that direction. I

look for Dr. House, but don't see him at first. Then I spot him, sitting on the

steps at the shallow end of the pool and holding the baby so that his feet touch the water. There's a crowd around them, watching and laughing. I have to admit it's a pretty funny sight. I join Dad and the two women.

"The kids all seem to be having a good time," Dad says.

"Even the biggest and littlest ones?" Dr. Cameron asks. At first I think she

means her two children, but then Dr. Palmer says, "Oh, I think House is having

the best time of all." She's right.

Dr. Wilson calls Dad and Dr. Palmer over to help him take platters of food off

the grill, but I decide to keep Dr. Cameron company, so I sit down next to her.

"Why aren't you swimming with the kids?" she asks after a while.

"I didn't bring a suit," I say. Of course, that's not the real reason. It's one

thing to play video games with Em, Gretchen and Tommy at G & G, where there are

also some kids my age, but this is different.

She seems to understand. "You could have brought one of your friends along," she

says. "Wilson and Cuddy wouldn't have minded."

I shrug, then think I should say something. "I just came for the food."

She laughs. "House used to think that way. Probably still does sometimes."

I watch her. I'm surprised at how happy she seems in spite of everything that

happened to her.

"So, how are the wedding plans going?" she suddenly asks.

I shrug again. "You probably know more than I do." It's true. Maybe I

think that if I don't pay attention to my dad and Dr. Palmer when they talk

about their wedding, it won't happen. I know that's not logical. In fact, I

should have known after Dad asked her to marry him that there was nothing I

could do to stop it.

Once more Dr. Cameron reads my mind. "Scott, you should be glad that

your father has found so much happiness with Clair."

"You sound like Gretchen," I tell her, almost smiling.

"Like daughter, like mother?" she says with a chuckle. "What are you afraid of?" she asks, all serious again.

How does she know? "My dad and I have been very close, but now we don't do as

much together, and half the time, Dr. Palmer and Emily are with us." I

know that sounds childish, but I can't get past these feelings. "It's not that

I don't like them," I have to say. "It's just..."

"Things have changed," she says, knowingly.

"Yeah," is all I can say.

I remember the night Dad proposed. I have to admit he was excited and happy,

but also very nervous. He kept checking himself in the mirror like it was his

first date.

"You don't think she'll say 'no', do you?" he asked anxiously. How would I know?

He pulled a small box from his pocket for the gazillionth time. "I think she'll

like this, don't you?" he said opening it one more time and holding it out to

me.

I guess it was a nice ring. Whatever I said, it wouldn't change his mind

anyway. "It's all right."

"Thanks for your enthusiasm," he said. I think he was going for sarcastic, but

did he really care that I didn't want him to marry Dr. Palmer, or anyone else

for that matter?

"What did you want me to say?" I asked. I was angry and didn't bother to hide

it.

He sighed."Scott, when you're older, you'll understand." He said that a lot. But I understood all right. "Scott, Clair isn't trying to take your mother's place."

"Well, she'll never be my mother," I replied. That really wasn't the problem,

but I knew that's what he wanted to think it was.

"She's a lovely woman, inside and out. I thought you liked her."

"I guess I do," I admitted. "But that doesn't mean I wanna live with her or let

her tell me what to do." Maybe Dad had a point. I didn't want her to take my

mother's place.

He didn't say another word, just shook his head, grabbed his coat and left.

I sat in the empty house, wondering about how many more things would change.

I wondered if my dad realized how many changes there'd be or thought about how

it would affect us.

Chapter 52. IF YOU WILL MARRY ME ME ME

Clair

I enter the Wilson's kitchen to find Dr. Cuddy busy at the stove and at the same time giving orders to the waiters hired for the pool party.

"Hi, Dr. Cuddy. Can you use some help?" I ask.

"Oh, hi, Clair. Where's Arther?" she says, wiping her hands on an apron that

reads "Don't Mess With The Cook".

"Your husband has him manning one of the grills. I never knew he was so good

at flipping burgers," I tell her.

"Well, there's some fruit over there that has to be cut up and arranged." She

doesn't miss a beat in her cooking, so I set to work. "How are the

wedding plans going?" she asks, spooning some mashed potatoes into a bowl,

then pulling a casserole out of one of the wall ovens.

"Oh, fine." I attack a huge watermelon. "The church and reception hall

are booked, and we've picked out the flowers and arranged for a photographer."

She senses the slight hesitation in my voice. "So, what's wrong? You're not

getting cold feet, are you?"

"Oh, no. It's just that Arthur is concerned about his son." I guess I

am too, but it's his concern that is troubling. "Scottie doesn't want his

father to get married, and he's made sure we all know it."

"You shouldn't let that stop you," Cuddy says. "He's a teenage boy. Everything's

a big drama to him, I'm sure. Think about how you felt when you were that age."

"I thought that only applied to teenage girls," I say. I remember brooding for

weeks because my mother wouldn't let me buy this really short mini skirt.

"Girls, boys, it doesn't matter," she says. "Those teenage hormones exaggerate

everything. He'll get over it."

"I hope so," I arrange the slices of bright red fruit on a platter.

I remember the night Arthur proposed. I had a feeling he would. Allison and

House had agreed to take Em for the night, so I brought her over to their house.

I'd bought a new dress for the evening because he'd said he was taking me some

place special.

"You look great!" Allie said when she saw me. "A little nervous, though."

"I think Arthur's going to pop the question tonight."

She smiled. "That's wonderful!" I could tell she was really happy for

me.

Of course, House had to put in his ten cents. "Just make sure the ring's paid

for."

I ignored him and kissed my daughter goodnight, then left. I'd been home less

than five minutes when Arthur rang my bell.

"I know I'm a little early," he said. I thought I'd been nervous, but he seemed

even more so. It was kinda sweet.

"I'm ready." I locked up and we got into his car. We drove to a small

Italian restaurant we'd eaten at before. It had a very nice atmosphere and

wonderful food and service. I guess it was our favorite. It's a wonder more

people hadn't discovered it. Still, almost all of the ten or so tables were

taken.

Arthur had made a reservation so we were soon seated at a candle-lit table for

two. His nervousness, if anything, had increased. How could I make it easier

for him?

"I love this restaurant." I smiled at him. "Thank you for picking it."

"Anything to make you happy, my dear." He returned my smile. "Would you

like some wine?"

"Oh, yes." I knew a glass of wine would help him relax a little. Me too, for

that matter. I reached over and took his hand. "Arthur, I am so glad I met you."

He took a deep calming breath. Our waiter came over. It was actually the owner,

Mr. Carlucci, a slight older man. Arthur ordered a bottle of their best white

wine and salads for each of us. Mr. Carlucci actually bowed slightly, then

hurried off to get the wine. He was back almost instantly, uncorked the bottle,

and poured a little for Arthur to taste, then at his nod, filled our glasses.

That kind of service was so rare nowadays. Once he'd left again, Arthur raised

his glass. "To you, Clair."

"And to you," I responded, lifting mine.

Our meal was wonderful. Mrs. Carlucci made many of the dishes herself, but was

training her niece to prepare some of the restaurant's signature dishes. The

young girl presented a side order of cavatappi in a marinara sauce for us to

try. Exquisite!

Finally, we sat back, thoroughly sated with good food. We were both more

relaxed, too.

"Clair, we've been dating for about four months now," Arthur began, but then

seemed to be stuck. What did he fear? Didn't he know how I felt about him?

"It sometimes seems like we've known each other forever," I said. "You make me

very happy." I hoped that would give him the courage to go on.

"Yes, that's just how I feel." He reached into an inside pocket of

his jacket to extract a small box. He stared at it, then looked at me. "Clair,

I don't think there's any reason to wait. I...I want to spend the rest of my

life making you happy. Would you do me the honor of marrying me?"

I looked into his kind eyes, trying to still my suddenly racing heart. "Oh,

Arthur, I want that more than you'll ever know."

"I take it that's a 'yes'." He still needed confirmation.

"Yes." I don't think I could have grinned any wider.

He opened the box, taking out a lovely ring, a filigree band, set with a round

diamond. He slipped it on my finger. It seemed to light up our entire corner

of the restaurant.