Chapter 55 - Santa Baby

House had just pulled back from his kiss with Cameron as he heard her whisper 'dammit' under her breath. Cameron didn't want this moment to end, but she would do her best to make it come back sooner, so she dashed to the door, her fuzzy socks making her slide on the hardwood floor on the way.

The visitor outside could hear a loud thud, then an 'ow!', then more running (that was accompanied by what sounded like a cane on hardwood floor). The visitor was getting impatient, so she knocked again. This time, she heard laughs on the other side of the door. She couldn't handle this much longer. Finally the door opened.

Cameron was still on the floor, but laughing and smiling nonetheless. House answered the door to see a woman about his age carrying a little baby boy.

"Stace..." said House bewildered.

Stacey just smiled at him. She looked down at Cameron and couldn't help but think 'what a child.' She wondered what House even saw in her. "Greg," she said, "Am I... interrupting something?"

"No," said Cameron trying to stifle her giggles.

House stepped aside to let Stacey in. He got a glimpse of the weather outside: icy, windy, and cloudy. Perfect. Just PERFECT. House couldn't help but sigh lightly; he wasn't one for snow, rain, or anything that wasn't just peaceful weather.

Stacey walked in and leaned against the couch. "I know it's getting late," said Stacey, "But I saw the storm picking up, and I just... I didn't want to have to drive through it all when it got worse." Secretly, she was just destined to be with Greg one more time. She'd felt like she'd almost had him when Cameron walked in that afternoon.

"Drive through it?"

Stacey nodded. "I'm moving to Rhode Island," she said smiling.

House knew she was just running away. He simply nodded and took Jake from Stacey's hands.

"Greg, do you even--" Stacey couldn't even ask House if he had the proper bedding and supplies yet when Cameron interrupted.

"Oh my gosh!" shouted Cameron obviously excited about something. She knew what Stacey was going to say, and she took the liberty of answering her question before it was even asked. Cameron jumped up and smiled at House. "I forgot to tell you!"

"Forgot... to tell me what?" House was astonished by the young woman's energy so late at night. He couldn't help but be interested now.

Cameron smiled again. "Well," she said, "In my earlier shopping--"

House rolled his eyes at her, but Cameron smiled.

"In my earlier shopping for the Christmas stuff," she continued, "I may or may not have also stopped by Babies-R-Us." She bit her lip, hoping House and Stacey wouldn't mind.

House was still trying to keep up with her. "What?"

Cameron, obviously missing the fact that House had caught it, repeated. "I went to-"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," said House, "I got that. But... what?"

Cameron let out a sigh of excitement. She grabbed House by the hand and dragged him down the hall. Seeing this, Stacey grabbed Jake from House and followed the two. Cameron led them to Alysa's nursery, and she beamed when they all got there.

House was used to an emotional Cameron, but this was just odd. He finally took a peek inside his daughter's bedroom. It looked different. All the furniture had been moved around so that now a second crib was fitting in the room. House just looked at Cameron.

"I know, I know," she said to House, then looked at Stacey, "We're cleaning out the storage room this weekend so Jake can have that room, but I thought it might be nice to at least have a crib for now."

"Do we still have to clean out the storage room?" whined House.

Cameron slapped him on the shoulder. "They can't share rooms their whole lives, Greg, might as well seperate them now!"

House rolled his eyes.

Stacey smiled lightly. The crib was nice, and House had done a nice job on the nursery (though she expected Wilson had put more work into it than him). She felt more reassured to leave Jake with the two, but she couldn't help but wonder what might have been... if only she'd had the guts to stand up to House and stay with him... or if she'd sided with him on his surgery. Too late, though, they were over. Stacey frowned as she placed a now sleeping Jakob into the new crib that Cameron had just bought. She turned to face the two and gestured for them to follow her. House and Cameron followed Stacey back into the living room.

Stacey reached into her purse and pulled out a ton of papers. "Here," she said handing them to House.

House took them, pretty aware of what they might be. He looked down to confirm his guesses. Yup, adoption papers.

"I've already signed them," said Stacey nodding unsure. She handed House a pen, and he signed them.

Without even thinking, Cameron took the pen from House as he finished signing, and signed as well.

Stacey was almost heart-broken. She knew that handing Jake over to House meant Cameron being a part of his life, but she wasn't ready for THIS. She faked a smile as Cameron handed her the papers. Stacey handed them identical papers for them to sign. "Those are your copies," she clarified as House nodded. Cameron signed again, and House stared down at her. Stacey faked another smile, this time at House. "I have some of Jake's things in my car," she said gesturing towards the door. "Okay if I bring them up now?"

House and Cameron nodded. Stacey nodded back and went to go grab a small suitcase. When she returned, House and Cameron were sitting next to each other on the couch talking. Stacey wasn't sure what they were talking about, but she could only guess that they were talking about how Cameron had signed the papers without even thinking. Stacey dropped a suitcase off by the door. "It's starting to get bad out," she said gesturing towards the door once more. She walked in to give Jake one final goodbye before leaving. "Keep warm," she said and closed the door behind her.

House was completely lost in thought, and Cameron could tell. After she'd gone to grab some tea, she found him sitting at his piano already playing. She smiled at the sight and sat on the couch just listening to him play. Everything seemed so nice and tranquil. But then it hit her... did she just adopt Jakob?!

House's thoughts mimiced those of Cameron. He was completely in shock about the events of tonight. First he comes home to find his town house completely decorated with Christmas delight. Then his ex-girlfriend brings over his son, RIGHT NOW, to have him ADOPT him?! Then... House couldn't stop thinking of this... Had Cameron seriously just adopted Jakob?!

House played and played until he noticed Cameron's eyelids gently falling. She was getting tired. He walked her to bed, and together they slept away their Friday night. At least tomorrow they didn't have work.

'Oh crap!' they both thought, 'Jimmy's coming over tomorrow!'