Thank you for the reviews. About the ships – there is a sort of House Cuddy going on here, but I'm not quite sure yet how it will go. I have a definite idea – which would be more strong friendship than lovers – but that depends on House and Cuddy playing along with me. They do tend to have a mind of their own. One definite ship I can say, and that is Kasumii and Grey – though even that is not without some difficulties, all things considered.
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Kasumii had changed her clothes at Blythe's before the benefit to save time, so she arrived at the benefit with Blythe, House and Aiko. When she had come down with Blythe to House's flat House had walked around her with a little frown on his face, but he had finally approved of the dress – and had actually gone so far as to say that she looked exquisite in it. Of course he had ruined the moment by suddenly turning gleeful and saying: "I just can't wait till Grey sees you in that. He will definitely glue himself to your side for the night." Kasumii had just glared at him and taken Aiko, who was dressed in a pale lilac satin romper suit with closed feet, from him and pretty much marched to the car.
When they got to the hospital Cuddy was waiting for them. She was wearing a deep amethyst coloured Grecian style evening dress of chiffon. The dress had a flounce in the front which hid Cuddy's slightly rounded tummy, but not in any obvious way.
"Yep, that's the gown for you," House nodded in self-congratulatory way when he saw Cuddy. At her glare he took Aiko from Kasumii and continued: "And here is your secret weapon. Think she will make all the old biddies loosen their purse strings?"
"Absolutely," Cuddy stated confidently. "As long as you keep your mouth shut."
"Ouch," House flinched. "That was harsh."
"So you left your chair home?" Cuddy asked.
"I figured that if Mom or Kasumii aren't around to carry her when needed, I can always find someone else to carry her," House shrugged. "After all, when I'm just sitting down, it doesn't matter what the chair is like. And I think I can take a few steps with her, too, if I'm careful."
"I agree that there will not be any lack of people who want to hold her," Cuddy nodded taking Aiko from House for a cuddle. "You will probably have more trouble in narrowing the number down. She looks absolutely adorable."
"And so do you," Blythe inserted, deciding to remind them of the presence of other people as well. "That colour suits you, and interestingly enough, it goes well with Aiko's outfit, too."
"It's a cunning plan to get more money out of all the old ladies," House revealed. "Though I did draw the line at telling people that Aiko has cancer."
"Nobody even suggested anything of the sort," Cuddy huffed at him. "Besides, it was your idea in the first place to have Aiko here – though I do approve. But what do you plan to do with her when she gets tired?"
"Either take her to her crib in my office and stay with her or just wrap her to my chest and let her sleep," House told her. "You know Aiko will be happy either way."
"I rather think that she will be happier against you," Cuddy mused. "She feels safer that way, especially now, after her illness. Anyone could tell that what she most hated about being ill was not being able to be held."
"I think that was the hardest thing for him, too," Blythe smiled indulgently. "But how are things here? Is everything going as planned?"
"Oh!" Cuddy winced. "No, things are not going as planned. The benefit arrangements are going as they should, but as you know we have a party at the children's cancer ward, too, and that is not going as planned. We were supposed to have a clown performing to the children and he called in sick. I know; when you get sick you get sick and I most certainly don't want to endanger the children with possible infections, but there is no party! How am I supposed to find someone to replace him in ten minutes?"
"Do you have a piano, there? In the children's ward?" Blythe asked.
"No, Mom, absolutely not, no way, never, no, no, no, no," House started muttering.
"Yes, we do have a piano there, the act was supposed to use one," Cuddy responded a little puzzled.
"Then you have your act," Blythe promised. "Come on Greg." Blythe took Aiko from Cuddy and started towards the cancer ward. Kasumii and Wilson, who had been on his way to greet them, follow her as did Greg, though he was protesting all the way.
"Really mother," Greg was still protesting as they reached the lifts. "We haven't done this in ages! And you cannot volunteer me for something without even asking! Mom, this is not fair!"
Blythe ignored him and just led the way to the children's ward. When they got there she gave Aiko to House and went to the piano.
"Come on, Greg," She said. "I need a hand here."
"I don't want to," House pouted.
"Please," Blythe pleaded. "It's not that difficult. Come on, now, Greg. Pretty please."
"I don't want to," House insisted loudly. The kids were starting to follow the argument going on.
"All I need is a hand," Blythe told House. "Surely that is not too much to ask."
"A hand?" House doubted. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, just give me a hand here," Blythe confirmed. "That's all I ask."
"Fine," House relented. "You can have the left one."
"Greg!" Blythe exclaimed exasperated. "You cannot play the piano with just the left hand."
"Fine, if that is the case," House shrugged. "You will just have to make do on your own."
"Ok, very well," Blythe capitulated. "I'll take the left one, if that is all you can spare."
"Well, obviously it is the only one," House said indicating Aiko. "My right one is somewhat occupied at the moment."
Blythe sat down at the piano and Greg dragged his feet there, too, with Aiko against him. He parked his cane next to the piano and sat morosely at the piano.
"Right, you take the left hand then," Blythe instructed and they started to play. Blythe played with her right hand while House used his left. At first it looked like he wasn't even trying to do as asked, but after a while it became apparent that though he appeared to be dragging his - well hand – he actually was improvising to the music. Blythe played the right hand melody, and House followed it, every now and then adding a thing or two to his part. Blythe gave him an exaggerated glare whenever he did that, but the kids seemed to enjoy the sideshow, as much as they enjoyed the actual music. About fifteen minutes or so into their act – and it was apparent by then that it really was an act – House gestured Kasumii over and gave Aiko to her and for the next fifteen minutes or so House and Blythe played the piano four-handed. The children just loved it.
Once they were done with the piano recital, House whispered something to his mother and for the next fifteen minutes or so she played the piano alone while House juggled different objects he found in beat with the music. As thanks he got as much of a standing ovation as it was possible to have with sick children. He took his bow and then told the kids that they were a great audience but it was time for them to go to bed – or else Dr. Wilson was going to have his head. He collected Blythe and Kasumii and of course Aiko, who was in Kasumii's arms, and they left the ward. Wilson stayed behind for a moment to see that everyone was ok even after the excitement. Unknown to House his team and Cuddy had been there too, to see what was going on. They had, however, melted out of sight as soon as it became apparent that House was closing his act.
"Thank you, Greg," Blythe said to her son once they got into the lift to return to the benefit.
"Anything for you, Mom," House smiled. "You know that – unfortunately."
As they stepped out of the lift they came face to face with John House, who obviously had been waiting for them. Blythe lost her smile, but she didn't back from he husband. John looked at her.
"You look beautiful, Blythe," he said.
"Thank you," Blythe acknowledged. "What are you doing here? It's a bit long way for you to come to just attend a benefit."
"I think this has gone on long enough," John stated. "We need to talk."
"An Oncology Benefit might not be the best time or place for that," Blythe told him.
"You didn't see fit to tell me where you live," John pointed out a little angrily. "So I thought this at least would be an occasion where I could find you."
"Mom," House said. "If you want to talk with him, my office is free. I need to get Aiko her bottle anyway." With his words House indicated that she could have a word in private with her husband, but that he, House, would be nearby.
"Yes, perhaps that would be best," Blythe said getting back into the lift and pressing the button for House's floor. Her men followed her.
House stayed in the conference room – getting Aiko's bottle ready and then feeding her – while his parents talked. He didn't try to listen in, which was a good thing as they never raised their voices, but he had just finished feeding Aiko when Blythe stormed out of his office – and there really was no other way to describe her appearance.
"I don't think we have anything else to talk about, John," she stated firmly to her husband who followed her. "All I can say is that unless there is a really drastic change in you, I cannot live with you again. And if ever Greg has any biological children, I hope he is smart enough to never, ever let you near them. You don't deserve to have grandchildren."
"Mother? Mom?" House asked cautiously. Blythe seemed to be on the verge of tears. House decided that the best thing for her was to get out of there as soon as possible. "I have just finished feeding Aiko, why don't you take her downstairs so that Cuddy can implement her cunning plan and use Aiko to get more money out of the ladies?"
Blythe accepted Aiko gratefully and she left the men alone.
"It seems your talk didn't quite go as you expected," House observed.
"You need to talk sense to your mother," John insisted. "I mean this has gone on long enough."
"Mother is a grown woman," House said. "I would think she is quite capable of deciding for herself what is long enough. Or what is enough of anything. ... So what have you been doing these last few weeks? Is the reason you want her back due to the fact that you no longer have any clean clothes and you are tired of eating out or what?"
"Your mother arranged for a housekeeper," John explained. "Obviously she doesn't want to start with cleaning and washing when she returns. I'm fine. Tired of my friends asking when my wife is coming back, though."
"And have you told them that never is a distinct possibility?" House asked ironically.
"Don't be silly," John scoffed. "Of course she is coming back. Though it does seem it takes longer for her to come to her senses than I thought."
"So what have you been telling your golfing buddies and other friends?" House was curious.
"Just that you need help with this child you have," John answered.
"This child I have? You mean my daughter?" House queried.
"Yeah, whatever," John wasn't very forthcoming.
"Well, your marriage is your business," House said standing up ready to leave. "Nothing to do with me. But from what I can see, I would not hold my breath while waiting for Mom to return to you."
"It's your doing, isn't it," John accused. "Her turning against me."
"Nope," House denied. "Nothing to do with me. Though I don't really care if you believe me or not. If you need to contact her, I will relay the message, but other than that – I will have nothing to do with this."
"I'm your father!" John exclaimed, like that meant House would have some kind of an obligation to him.
"Yep. And she is my mother," House replied. "This however is about your marriage. About what kind of a man she is willing to accept as her husband. I'm not getting involved with that. Now, if you want to take part in this benefit going on downstairs you can stay – just don't go anywhere near mother – or you can leave."
"Some son you turned out to be," John huffed and stormed out of the room.
"Well that depends on who is talking," House muttered and left as soon as he was sure that John had got downstairs and there was no danger of being stuck in the same lift with him. Once downstairs House got hold of a security guard and found out that John had left the building. He relayed that information to his mother as he got Aiko from her. Blythe relaxed visibly.
"You know Mom, that tomorrow you will have to tell me about what happened," House reminded her.
"I know," Blythe sighed. "But tomorrow is quite soon enough. Today we have a party to attend."