Chase was making breakfast when Alice came downstairs, already in scrubs but still yawning. "How was your date?"
"Not a date. Wilson's nice, but... He's made me see things differently. Made me see some people differently. But something House told me... he said that Wilson meets and marries needy people. He tries to fix them, and let's them go when they're not as broken. I'm not needy or broken or anything like that. I'm just... confused, is all." She took a travel coffee cup out of the cabinet, watching Chase flip pancakes.
"Do you want me to make you some? They're chocolate. Used to be your favorite."
"Sure, thanks."
Chase set a plate down for her, trying to make pancakes into shapes as he asked, "So you're not seeing Wilson anymore?"
"No. Do you want me to make you coffee too?"
"Yeah, thanks." He noticed a glimmer on her hand and had to smile. "You're wearing your wedding ring again."
"I met this really nice, understanding guy. He's quite good looking too."
Chase sighed, his heart sinking as he sat down. "That's nice."
"He lives awfully close by," Alice told him, pulling up a chair. "I figured I should give him a chance. And I can tell he cares about me a lot."
"Oh. What's his name?" Chase asked dejectedly, taking a bite of his breakfast.
"Robert. But I call him Chase."
He coughed out a, "You're... But I thought you... Why?"
She stood up, heading for the coffee pot, which had just turned off. "Because I think what I was looking for in Wilson is right here. I think you're incredibly nice and you've been more understanding than I could have expected from anyone in your position. You've been amazing, and I can't forget that something made me fall in love with you before. And besides," she paused, kissing his cheek, "you're pretty hot."
"So I'm dating my wife?" He stretched, heading for the kitchen.
"Yeah."
"Well then, does she want to carpool to work?"
"Sure. Let me grab my bag and throw these in the dishwasher before we go."
"I've got them," Chase said, taking the plates from her hand.
"Where are you going?" Alice and Chase were leaving the lab. Alice was headed towards the conference room, where Park was doing paperwork. Their latest patient had just been discharged, and House was horribly behind on his patient records. Chase had turned down the hall.
"Hadley's got a soccer game in an hour. I've got to drive him over. It's my turn to pick up part of the carpool group." He had taken off his lab coat, folding it over his arm.
"I'll try to be there." She hadn't seen her son in weeks, but if she was going to go back to her old life, why not go? She barely remembered what he looked like. Probably blond like his dad.
"You sure? You don't have to, if you're not ready yet."
"Yeah. I'm just going to make sure Park isn't swamped with paperwork. I'll take one of their cars."
Alice and Taub drove over to the field a little while later. Park was going to meet them there later, since her parents had called when they were leaving. "Where's Chase? He said he'd have seats saved for us."
"Right there." Taub pointed to where Chase was running alongside a group of kids, helping to coach them as the other team arrived. "Let's grab a spot on the bleachers before we get pushed over by a soccer mom."
They took some seats near the field, watching as Chase ran into the other coach and fell spectacularly. "Is he okay?" Alice stood up, about to run down to the field when Chase waved and flashed a smile.
Taub handed her a water bottle from the bag they had brought with. "He's fine. Oh, there's the other team's coach. They should be starting soon."
A few minutes later, the coaches were giving their teams a pep talk when Chase jogged up the bleachers to where they were sitting. "Hey. What's up?" He gave Alice a hug, taking a seat next to her.
She fake-grimaced. "Eew, thanks. You're all sweaty and covered in grass."
Chase shrugged. "At least I remembered sunscreen. You should be proud of me."
Park arrived a little before a water break, edging past Chase to get her seat while he was loudly complaining that, "No way that call was fair! He was so out of bounds that-"
"Chase, sit. It's not going to do anything." Alice shook her head, watching her husband shout.
At the end of the game, Hadley's team had won 3-1. Chase bounded down to the field as Alice and the others packed their things up and walked down the bleachers. She bade the others goodbye before walking over to where she heard Chase talking. "Hey," he looked away from a blond boy to where she was standing. "I think someone wants to say hi to you."
He looked over and rushed towards her, Alice bending to hug her son. "Mom!"
"Hey." She smiled, looking at Chase through tear-filled eyes as she held him, mouthing, "I remember."