Chapter 36
Walking back into the conference room, House snatches a square of cake and shoves it into his mouth.
He spots Cuddy sitting down, reaching into a pale green bag with paper sticking out of it. Her assistant is sitting to the left of her writing down whom the gift is from and what it is.
House notices the empty seat to the left of her and realizes it's for him and quickly makes his way over and sits down beside her.
Cuddy beams over at him and laughs before leaning over and wiping the icing off his lips before licking it off her finger.
He grins, but feels too over scrutinized by the crowd of people to do anything more.
Cuddy laughs in delight as she pulls out the set of soft green colored twin jumpers with little frogs on them.
House smiles despite himself as he watches Lisa's excitement at opening gifts for their children.
House just sits looking at her. The way her eyes light up in delight, the way she bites her lip as she starts unwrapping the next gift. The white flower with a blue ribbon pinned to her blouse. Finally, his eyes come to rest on the baby bump and he can't resist placing his hand there.
Cuddy looks up as she feels his soft touch and gives him a brilliant smile, and places her hand on top of his.
The moment is interrupted with a click and a flash as Wilson snaps a picture, freezing the moment in time, capturing it forever.
House groans, and pulls his hand back, "Wilson." He states in warning.
"What?" He retorts, shrugging his shoulders innocently before moving around and taking pictures of the guests and the many presents lining the table.
After thirty minutes of helping Lisa open baby gifts, House gets restless and starts wandering around. Glancing at the piles of baby clothing, diapers, toys, blankets, cloths, two high chairs, and in corner, the two cribs given by Wilson. House pauses at the two boxes and looks at the picture of the cribs before moving on down the line.
"How could two little people need so much?" A voice asks.
House turns around and spots Lisa looking at him with that knowing look.
He turns back and looks at the baskets filled with baby bottles, bibs, a diaper bag and a diaper backpack, lotions, pacifiers and baby monitors. House spots the double stroller parked in front of the table, even two car seats are nestled between the other gifts and he shakes his head, amazed.
Lisa smiles happily looking at all the gifts before moving to the refreshment table. House joins her and doesn't bother getting a plate but merely pops a few mints in, another piece of cake and grabs a cup of punch as he goes.
Lisa and he, well mainly Lisa thanks the people as they move to sit back down.
Wilson stands there and hands both Lisa and House a white bag each.
Lisa grabs her bag and tells Wilson, "I don't know how to thank you. This is amazing. I truly appreciate you putting on this shower for us."
"It was my pleasure. And I had a little help." Wilson smiles and gestures his hand to the nurses busy enjoying themselves.
Lisa carefully stands up and wraps Wilson in a big hug before planting a kiss on his cheek.
She breaks contact when she hears House clearing his throat.
She laughs, "Oh, do you want a kiss to?"
Bending down she places a hand on the back of his chair to steady herself before she gives him a passionate kiss that leaves him breathless and weak in the knees.
She pulls back and smiles at the look of ecstasy on his face.
House blinks his eyes open and grins, "Wow, woman."
"I try." She laughs.
Wilson laughs, and just shakes his head, "Come on, and open your wedding gifts from me already."
"Oh, Wilson you've already done so much, the shower and the babies' cribs..."
"I wanted to get you something for both." He says, bringing his hand up and rubbing the back of his neck.
"I finally get to be the best man for once instead of the other way around," Wilson laughs.
House snorts.
And Wilson glares at him in return before smiling at Lisa as she opens her gift first.
Pulling out the silver photo album, with a picture frame on top, Lisa marvels at its beauty. She pulls the rest of the wrapping paper completely away and sees the picture residing there.
"Oh, James," She gasps and brings her hand to her mouth as the emotions evoke from the scene in the picture overwhelm her.
"You're welcome," Wilson breathes out, happy she liked it.
"Let me see," House begs as he takes the picture album from her hands.
It was from the night House had proposed to Cuddy at the hospital fundraiser ball. He was standing in his tux, his arms wrapped around Cuddy as they danced. They were romantically staring into each other's eyes. The picture was taken from the side and House can see the glint of Lisa's engagement ring as her hand rested on his shoulder.
With a slight amused look, House looks up at Wilson, "If I remember correctly, and I do, I had to take someone home because someone got plastered that night?" House asks wondering how Wilson managed to got a picture of them together.
"Yeah, well…" Wilson stutters until the head ER nurse walks up, stands beside him and places her hand into his.
"He had a little help," She smiles and Wilson lets out a nervous laugh as his secret girlfriend reveals herself.
Cuddy seems to be delighted at this fresh bit of news and beams at the two.
Lisa smiles, "Thank you so much. This is such a beautiful gift. And I'm simply can't thank you enough for helping James arrange all of this."
"You're most welcome, Dr. Cuddy." She replies sincerely.
"Are you going to open your present Dr. House?" The cocky nurse turns her attention to him. Wilson looks eager and Cuddy can't imagine what gift Wilson has picked out for House.
"Nope. Saving it for later." House says seriously. Lisa pops him in the arm; he relents, and carefully reaches into the bag.
"Okay, okay. No need to resort to spouse abuse," House says good naturedly to Cuddy who just rolls her eyes.
House pulls out an envelope and stares at it curiously before opening it. Reading quickly, he lets out a nervous laugh, before glancing up at Wilson.
"Are you serious?" He asks in disbelief.
"One hundred percent," Wilson replies.
"Thank you." House tells him honestly.
Not being able to resist any longer, Lisa snatches the papers out of House's hand. Her mouth drops open and her eyebrows raise in astonishment before she looks over at House dazed.
"You're selling your apartment?" She asks, stunned. House merely nods his head.
"Didn't think I'd need it anymore. And we both know we can use the money." House tells her.
Cuddy just stares at him in amazement. They had talked about it but she never thought he'd let his apartment go. She knew it was hard for him to let things go. The apartment was his stable sanctuary away from work, something that had his name to it over than his office door.
"You're buying his apartment?" Lisa asks Wilson, shocked.
"Yeah. I need a new place to stay. It's time to move on." Wilson squeezes the nurse's hand and smiles brightly at her.
"Wow." She breathes, impressed with the two men.
House leans back in his chair. Quite impressed with how the day has gone. Simply grateful. The day couldn't get any better.
Wilson's cell phone rings. He looks at the caller I.D. and says rushed as he pulls the woman along with him.
"Oh, another surprise," He looks at Cuddy, "You're parents have just arrived at the airport, we're going to go pick them up right now."
Cuddy gasps in shock. She wasn't expecting her parents for another two days.
"Your mother had wanted to be here for the shower but their plane was delayed."
Wilson turns to House, "You're mom is on her way down, she should be here in time for the dinner reservations. Seven o'clock at Cuddy's favorite restaurant. Don't be late." And with that last bit of information he flips open his cell phone and briskly exits, his girlfriend waves bye as they walk away.
Cuddy turns to face House and finds the same look of shock on his face that she feels.
"He's really done it this time." House mutters.
"Indeed." Cuddy agrees.
To be continued...
Author's Note: I've shocked myself once again with another update! Suprise! =) Hope you enjoyed it!
Please review!