Author's Notes: Hello everyone. I want to say a big thank you to everyone who is reading, reviewing or following this story. I really appreciate it. I just wanted to let you know that there may be a large pause between chapters as I will be pretty busy over the Christmas break. This means that I might not be able to post anything between the weekend before Christmas and halfway through January. After that, though I will be back. Chapter Thirty-five
"Hurry up," House said, tapping his cane repeatedly on the ground. "I'll drive you home."
Cuddy eyed him suspiciously, "Did you ride your bike here?"
"I—"
"—I am not getting on the back of that thing." Cuddy protested, shaking her head quickly.
House rolled his eyes, "I took my car. And if I did ride the bike we would take your car, Cuddy. I'm not stupid."
"Oh," Cuddy blushed slightly. She should have known that he wouldn't have made her ride the bike, not after what had happened. "Sorry."
"It's fine. Just hurry up." House huffed in annoyance.
It was Cuddy's turn to roll her eyes. "A minute ago you wanted me to stay here. Now you can't get me to leave fast enough."
House didn't say anything, instead, he narrowed his eyes at her, almost in a glare but there was a very slight hint of playfulness to it. Cuddy mimicked the same look back to him before going back to fixing her hair and straightening her clothes.
When she wasn't looking, House smiled slightly. Despite everything that had happened, that was still going to happen, it was almost comforting that they could so easily go back to their regular banter. He knew that it was also a way for her to not think about their daughter. Their older daughter.
House's thoughts were interrupted by someone tapping on the door. He turned and frowned until he saw Wilson poke his head in.
"Am I right to come in?" Wilson asked, looking over at House.
House shrugged, "Not my hospital room."
"Yeah," Wilson drawled as he stepped into the room. "You just kept scaring everyone away."
Cuddy stood up straight and smiled at Wilson. "It's fine. I'm going home now anyway."
"To rest." House pointed out.
"To rest," Cuddy repeated.
Cuddy and Wilson shared a look and both shook their heads slightly. Wilson then walked over to Cuddy and smiled.
"I'm glad everything's ok." He told her as he bent down slightly to hug her.
After their little talk, House and Cuddy had sat in the room for a while as House had wanted Cuddy to rest for a bit. He had taken that time to text Wilson and let him know what was going on. As much as he didn't care if anyone else knew in that moment, he knew that if he didn't let someone know when the majority of the hospital's staff would be forcing their way into the room to check.
Wilson's text reply had been 'Thank god.'
"Thanks, Wilson," Cuddy said with a grin, welcoming the hug. "Me too."
Wilson pulled back but kept his hands on her arms.
"Did House tell you the other news?" Cuddy asked.
"Um, no." Wilson frowned. "He just said that you and the baby were ok."
Cuddy beamed suddenly, "The baby's a girl."
"That's great, Cuddy." Wilson smiled broadly. "Congratulations."
"Are you two gossiping hens finished yet?" House groaned. "I'd like to get out of here sometime today, and preferably before we get mobbed by all the nurses in the clinic."
"Oh, I'm so sorry." Wilson snapped, shooting a look over his shoulder to House. "Are we inconveniencing you."
"Yes actually." House shot back.
Wilson went to say something but then noticed that House's eyes were looking down in a glare. Wilson then noticed what House was looking at. Wilson was still holding onto Cuddy's arms and House was…jealous…protective maybe? Either way, Wilson dropped his arms to his sides quickly.
"Do we need to go right this second?" Cuddy asked, folding her arms over her chest. "Or am I allowed to go to the bathroom first?"
House groaned again as if her going to the bathroom was somehow such a big trouble for him. It wasn't. He just wanted to make sure that she didn't think he was getting too soft. He was pretty sure she saw right through him though.
Cuddy rolled her eyes before turning and heading into the bathroom. After she closed the door, Wilson turned around and walked over to House.
"Can I congratulate you too? Or will you just glare at me?"
"Try it and see."
Wilson put his hands up and sighed, "Ok, ok." He muttered and shook his head. "Everyone's talking about what happened."
"Yeah, I figured that." House sighed as he took his Vicodin bottle out of his pocket. He tipped two pills into his hand before tossing his head back and swallowing them.
"So, Cuddy's pregnancy is no longer a secret." Wilson continued. "And the majority theory is that you are the father."
House rolled his eyes.
"You can't blame people for jumping to that obvious conclusion," Wilson told him, a hint of amusement in his voice. "I mean you did run to Cuddy when she fell, and you pushed Cameron out of the way."
"I did not!"
"Cameron says you did. That and you haven't left Cuddy's side since it happened."
"So the cat's out of the bag." House sighed, shrugging his shoulders slightly.
"I think the cat's out of the bag and is now doing laps around the entire hospital," Wilson responded. "What are you going to do?"
"Nothing. I don't care what people say."
"I know you don't, but Cuddy does," Wilson said firmly. "This could out her reputation, not to mention her job on the line."
"Because she's having a baby with me? Nice."
Wilson shook his head slightly and added, "Because she's having a baby with one of her employees. One who I might add is well known for breaking several hospital policies and rules every other week."
House thought for a moment. Wilson was right, their…situation was bound to cause some sort of issue for Cuddy, and House would, of course, do what he could to help her.
"I'll deal with it later." House huffed quickly.
It was at that moment that Cuddy came out of the bathroom.
"Now are you ready to go?" He asked her.
"Yes." She said with a short nod.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Wilson asked.
Cuddy opened her mouth but House beat her to it.
"Find Max." He said. "Tell her to reschedule all of Cuddy's meetings for the next two weeks."
"House," Cuddy sighed and shook her head.
"Okay, one week." He said.
Cuddy folded her arms over her chest and shot him a look. House had to fight the urge to roll his eyes.
"Fine." He huffed. "For the next few days."
**House MD**
Max was in her office, furiously grabbing all of her personal things with one hand, while her other held her cell phone to her ear.
"Leo, I don't want to talk about it." She said into her phone.
She awkwardly carried her stuff in one arm as she tried to push open the door. It was then that Wilson also opened the door and the two of them collided. Max's stuff fell to the floor and her sketchbook slid across the floor and under the couch.
"S-sorry" Wilson said in a startled voice.
Max quickly hung the phone up and bent down to gather her things. She did not notice that her sketchbook was gone. Wilson also bent down to help. Together they got everything together and then both slowly stood up.
"Thanks," Max said nervously.
Wilson looked at her for a moment and thought she looked uncomfortable.
"Are you alright?" He asked. "If you're worried about Cuddy—"
"No, I…I know she's ok," Max said quickly.
"Ok." Wilson nodded and then he took in her arms full of her things. "So…why does it look like you are leaving?"
Max bit her bottom lip slightly before composing herself as much as she could. "This job just isn't working for me anymore."
"What?!" Wilson almost shouted. His eyes wide with shock and confusion. "But you-you love this job. You're so good at it. And I thought you really cared about Cuddy—"
"—I do!" Max interrupted loudly. She sighed and continued in a softer voice, "But she's been through a lot. She almost had a miscarriage today. She doesn't need me here making things more stressful for her."
"How would you being here make her –" Wilson began to ask. Now fully confused with the conversation he was having.
"—Look, just," Max sighed "Could you tell Cuddy that I'm sorry. There are numbers on my desk of people willing to take over the job as soon as she wants. And that I hope everything works out for her. She deserves it."
Wilson gaped at her as she pushed past him and walked out of the office. She took two steps before she stopped and turned back around. A hint of sadness and regret in her eyes.
"And could you…" She began before taking in a shaky breath. "Could you tell her that she is a great mom."
Max then turned and continued walking. Wilson watched as she walked out of the hospital. He frowned deeply. He didn't know much about Max or spent a lot of time with her, but he knew that she had some sort of bond with Cuddy. Plus, Cuddy seemed to be very fond of her. So for Max to just leave when Cuddy clearly needed her support the most was beyond bizarre.
Wilson shook his head and turned around to also leave the office but stopped when something caught his eyes. He turned around and saw the corner of a book sticking out from under the couch. He knew it must have been Max's from when she had dropped everything.
Slowly he walked over and got on his knees to pick it up. Curiosity got the better of him and he slowly opened the book.
"Wow!" He sighed, eyes wide in disbelief as he flicked through the pages.
The book was filled with sketches and drawing that Max had done over the last several months. But what was shocking was that every single drawing was of either House or Cuddy or House and Cuddy together.
To Be Continued…