AN: Three more chapters after this one then a two or three part epilogue. Also, great news, my english teacher is interested in reading my story and I'm planning to give it to her to read. I'll let everyone know what she thinks. :)


Chapter Twenty Seven

Two weeks later…

"There!" Cuddy gave a wide smile, signing her name with a slight flourish, and she turned around, seeing House, Wilson, Katheryn and her children standing behind her.

"Finally!" Katheryn hugged Cuddy first, then Wilson, before the three kids hugged Cuddy at once, all screaming happily.

"House?" Cuddy looked up to see him leaning against the wall, watching the scene thoughtfully.

"What?" House met her curious gaze, "I'm happy for you." He pushed himself off the wall slightly, limping towards her and placing a gentle kiss on her lips.

"Wh … what?" Katheryn and Wilson exclaimed, always in sync when it came to their best friends, looking between House and Cuddy.

"Sorry, I didn't know our personal life was any of your business now," House pulled back, one arm around Cuddy's waist.

"It has been ever since you two finally admitted your feelings to each other." Wilson responded, a smile on his face after seeing the happy expressions on Rachel, Renee and John's faces.

"No it hasn't," Cuddy turned to look at Wilson and Katheryn, "No matter what's going on, you two have always made it your mission to get into our personal business."

"Not me," Katheryn elbowed Wilson, "Only he does that."

"Oh fine," Wilson rolled his eyes, "I'll let you five enjoy your afternoon together." He ruffled John's hair, "See you three kiddos tomorrow, be nice to your mommy okay?"

"Okay," John rolled his eyes in perfect imitation of House, "Do we have to?"

"He's your kid already House," Wilson gave Cuddy a quick hug, "Have fun you two."

"Bye," Katheryn hugged all three children before Cuddy, then she glanced at House awkwardly, before giving him a hug too.

"See you both tomorrow," House waved after them at they headed down the steps hand in hand, and he turned to the happy kids besides him. "Who's ready for the zoo?" He asked, spotting the sudden flash of terror on Cuddy's face.

"House, are you...?" Cuddy was cut off as all three of her children looked at her, almost daring her to protest the fun idea that had just been suggested.

"Now, now Cuddles, let's not ruin the fun. Let the kids have fun now and we'll have our fun later." He winked at her and Cuddy's felt a blush creep onto her cheeks.

"Shut up mister," Cuddy took Rachel's hand, along with John's; leading the way out to the car, House and Renee following them.

"Yay!" John was the first child to loose control when they stepped into the zoo, running towards the flamingo's pond and leaning against the fence. Renee and Rachel soon joined him, peering eagerly into the water, House and Cuddy watching from a few feet away.

"Mommy, come look!" John waved his arm wildly, pointing to the pond, and calling Cuddy over at the same time.

Cuddy smiled at House, giving him a slightly hesitant peck on the cheek before going to stand besides her kids, looking across the pond where the zoo cafe was located.

"Food!" John looked at his mother, smiling broadly, and House, who had joined them besides the pond couldn't help but crack a smile.

"I guess so," Cuddy looked towards House, who had taken Rachel's hand and was already headed towards the cafe, "I think House and Rachel are already going to eat, let's go." She went to take the twins' hands but they ran ahead, John taking Rachel's other hand, and Renee taking House's.

"Wait for your mother," House stopped, turning to see Cuddy standing by the pond, smiling.

"No, keep going," Cuddy smiled, but caught up with them anyways, "I love you all." she kissed the foreheads of her three children, before pecking House on the lips.

"I love you too mommy," Renee pulled her hand out of House's grasp and held her arms up to Cuddy, begging to be carried. Laughing, Cuddy lifted the youngest of her three children into her arms, slinging her purse awkwardly over her shoulder. House, who now only held Rachel's hand, took John's hand in his free one, walking besides Cuddy, keeping his eyes on her.

"What?" Cuddy turned to look at him as they stepped inside the cafe, "Do I have something on my neck?" She felt a flash of fear, unsure if any of Lucas's bruises had lasted longer than she expected, it was the first time she had worn her hair up in public since he had been arrested and was still self conscious about any sort of busing.

"No," House kissed her cheek, "Just thinking about how lucky I am to have someone like you in my life, along with these three mini-Cuddies."

"Greg," Cuddy slapped his arm playfully after she had set Renee down, "Stop with the flattering."

"Never," House stepped forwards and glanced towards a semi-private corner booth in the cafe, nodding at it as he beckoned the three excited kids and an already exhausted-looking Cuddy after him.

"I'm hungry," Rachel began and Cuddy slapped her hand against her forehead, closing her eyes.

"Should I be worried when the kids do that?" House asked as Renee and John echoed their older sister.

"Yes," Cuddy looked up at him, lacing her fingers through his under the table, "It means that they need food and won't stop until they get some."

"Oh, that's nothing," House glanced over her shoulder at the menu, "Better than listening to the shrieking harpy I have to call my boss every day." He shut up as Rachel kicked him under the table.

"Very funny," Cuddy smiled at him, her eyes laughing, "Did you even look at the menu kiddos?" She turned to face her children, who all sat, looking at her and House expectantly.

"House," Renee began, and you'd think they had planned this all out.

"Yes?" Cuddy looked at them, her fingers still laced with House's.

"I have a question," John continued, making Cuddy more suspicious.

"About you and mommy." Renee added.

"Yes," House asked, his arm now around Cuddy's waist, his fingers brushing his side gently.

"Are you gonna marry our mommy?" Rachel asked, her face in a wide smile, along with Renee and John's.

"I, I don't know Rachel," House replied, completely serious.

"I'd love if he did," Cuddy didn't let House finish, "But not now Rach, not now, House and I are only friends right now."

"Only friends?" Rachel asked, "Then why do you kiss him all the time? You used to do that with Lucas."

"I don't wanna call him daddy," John said suddenly, looking alert at the mention of Lucas's name.

"You don't have to," House said, then he leaned over to Cuddy, "They can call him a criminal ass now, right Lise?"

Cuddy glanced at him at the use of his pet name for her, but she smiled, laughing, "No, they can't."

"But he's officially a criminal ass," Renee spoke up, oblivious to the shocked expression on Cuddy's face, "I don't wanna call him daddy."

"You don't have to," House smiled at the kids, "You can call him whatever you want."

"Within reason," Cuddy smiled, knowing House would be a bad influence on her children already.

"You're ruining it Cuddles," House smiled, his arm around her shoulders, "Now, we all gonna eat or not?"

"Sure," Cuddy stood, "You three all want your usual lunch?" three nods from her excited children, "And you?" She glanced at House, who twirled a plastic straw between his fingers, "Anything special?"

"Food," House looked at her, "Just buy me food and I'll love you forever Lisa."

"You already do," Cuddy bent down, whispering in his ear, "I love you too." She headed towards the counter, a slight bounce in her step.

House looked towards the kids once Cuddy had gotten out of earshot, "Why do you three want me to marry your mother?"

"I don't know," Renee shrugged, "You like her?"

"I do like your mother," House replied, finding it funny that he was having this conversation with the kids and not Wilson, "But it also depends on what you three want, not your your mom and I."

"I like you too House," Rachel spoke next and again, he wondered it the kids had some sort of telepathic thought sharing powers. "And you make mommy happy."

"That's true," House nodded, keeping one eye on Cuddy, just in case she decided to head back over to their table.

"You's funny," John smiled, laughing, "You make us happy too."

"Err, thanks?" House wasn't sure how to respond to John's happiness but it only made all three Cuddy children smile broadly.

"Food!" John smiled, seeing his mother heading towards them with food.

"Yes, food," Cuddy set down the tray she was carrying, "I got you three all chicken nuggets, so don't complain about who has the better lunch; we're all sharing the fries, at least your four can." She nudged House in the side, getting him to scoot over, "Here's a turkey sub, and before you ask, they don't have much else to eat, and a soda. I've got you three kids all sprite, then after that, you three will need to have something better, juice or milk, okay?"

"And you got yourself a salad, why am I not surprised?" House eyed the salad Cuddy had picked out for herself, "Eat something besides that, you bunny rabbit." He ripped off a bite of his sub and placed it on Cuddy's plate, amused to see at her kids watching her intently too.

"I'm fine," Cuddy smiled at them all, "Really."

"No, you should have it," Renee and John both urged their mother to eat the bit of sub, and after a few moments, Cuddy rolled her eyes and ate it, earning laughs from her kids and a kiss on the cheek from House.

The five of them ate their lunch in silence, except for an occasional comment about the food or who stole who's food. After that, the afternoon was spent exploring the park, well more the kids exploring as House and Cuddy chased after them. They left the park around dusk, having made a stop at the gift shop first, and headed home with a promise from House for a homemade dinner and movie for the family.


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