Chapter 14: Child of Mine Part 2

A/N: I am so sorry! I didn't mean to leave you all hanging for 3 months! We just finished a 4,000-mile move and things are starting to settle down again. Expect for frequent updates!

Blythe wakes to a rhythmic thump, thump, and a light sneaking through the crack under the door to her room. She left to investigate and found House returning to the couch with a bag of chips.

"Trouble sleeping?"

"Uh, yeah."

"Nervous about tomorrow?"

"I guess you could say that."

"Don't be, you're already a better father than he was."

"Right mom…" He didn't believe her, despite all his obvious issues, she always claimed his perfection. They were empty words she felt obligated to say.

"I know you don't think I see the real you…but I do."

That was the last thing he wanted. The real him, he thought, was eternally broken and beyond repair. If she knew the real him, the him that forged prescriptions, or overdosed and hallucinated about his boss, the him who was the reason for Amber's death…

"You really don't." He said as he massaged his leg.

"I know about your drug troubles and I'm sure you have more issues, but I also know you've worked hard to overcome them. When you were a child, you had such a big heart. I can still see it." She sat beside him. "People don't change; they just get led off course. You are more than you give yourself credit for." Her face fell and guilt filled it. "I suppose some of that's my fault and I'm sorry. Know that you are so many things that he never could be: you're assertive to authority, witty, talented…He thought being tough on you would make you better." There was a pause. "He thought feelings were a weakness. Without it, you isolate yourself on an island of misery, as he did. No matter what happens tomorrow, those girls in there will still love you."

He could only nod. She touched his hand and kissed his cheek before heading off to bed. He hoped what she said was true but none of what she said made it any easier to sleep, he only had more to think about. It was going to be a long night.

-Huddy-

He managed to get a couple hours of sleep on the sofa before the rest of them began to wake. Blythe started breakfast, against Lisa's protests and Rachel was a cyclone of energy. It was adoption day. His life was going to be laid out and judged, and also his worth as a parent. The thought made his heart speed and his head ache. He hobbled to the kitchen and downed his ibuprofen.

Their breakfast was fit for royalty: bacon, eggs, biscuits, fruit, and gravy, the works. Rachel managed to down quite a bit through her mass of excited questions and stories. However, House could only bare a couple bites and absentmindedly pushed the rest around on his plate.

The woman rushed around to get dressed and preparing their hair just right, but he sat deep in thought, staring at the floor. The women were nearly ready by the time Lisa noticed that he hadn't moved an inch.

"Greg, it's almost time."

He limped down the hall to begin getting ready. Rachel caught him with his face was covered in shaving cream.

"What are you doing?" She exclaimed as Blythe finished her hair in the hall mirror.

"He has to shave for court." Blythe explained.

"I don't want him to!" The excitement caught Lisa's attention.

"At least clean up the edges." It wasn't worth the fight for Lisa: Rachel liked it that way, he would be more comfortable with it, and to be honest…she loved his stubble. She and Rachel wore baby blue dresses that matched Greg's shirt, which was tucked into a pair of black slacks. Stress wore heavy on his brow as he stared into the mirror and fixed his tie.

"What are you doing?" Rachel exclaimed from behind him. "You never wear a tie! You always tell me to be myself!"

Her scowl was enough to break through his grim demeanor and put a smile on his face.

"You're right kiddo!" He slipped off the tie in one motion, compelling applause from Rachel.

"Now you look great!"

His neck was clean of all stubble. His neatly ironed shirt, that accented his eyes, showed his thin, fit frame. Rachel's hair was curled and her childlike dress contrasted with her confident and demanding attitude. He was proud of her spunk.

-Huddy-

When they arrived at the courthouse, there seemed to be a horde of people waiting for them: Wilson, Chase, Foreman, Taub, Goff, Arlene, and Julia.

"Cuddy, aren't you afraid of the board firing you for misusing hospital funds?" He whispered to her jokingly, as they approached the hoard.

She obviously had no idea what he was suggesting.

"You paid them to come."

"I did no such thing; believe it or not they want this for you."

As the four of them approached the group, the rounds of greetings began. Social niceties were never his thing and he often was overcome with a desire to ruin the custom when expected to participate. He managed to keep out of it by holding Rachel. She was content to stay in the spotlight, while they ignored him.

"Hey, I thought people normally shaved for court?" Chase joked, eyeing him up and down.

He was greeted with a light slap on his shoulder from Rachel. "He looks nice!"

The adults could do nothing but snicker at her earnest. There was NO arguing with her! She was right and there was no other opinion to be had.

"You better listen to her. She's worse than her mother." This earned him a smack from Cuddy.

He hated the look that everyone was giving him. He didn't need their pity for a life spent alone. He didn't need their well-wishing. Nor did he need this fake kumbaya routine. Then their conversation was interrupted.

-Huddy-

It was a court employee who approached them from a long hallway.

"Excuse me but are any of you, Dr. House or Dr. Cuddy?"

This wasn't how things were supposed to go. This wasn't what any of them expected. Adoptions were done with joy in the courtroom. The only thing this could mean is something was wrong. Dread filled his soul and then anger arose soon behind. Of course, every damn person he knew was here to witness my utter and complete failure.

"We are them." Cuddy answered.

"The judge would like to speak with the two of you in his office."

Just the two of us? They both thought.

They left Rachel with Blythe and the crew, much to her protests, and followed the lady down the hall.

"Judge, Doctors Cuddy, and House to see you, sir." She said introducing them before leaving.

"Ah yes, take a seat would you?"

"I'd rather stand thanks." House was adamant, his eyebrows drawn together, leaning both hands on his cane in front of him.

"House, please." But she knew that look on his face. There was no reasoning with it and reason would only serve to tend his rebellion.

"If you wish, Dr. House." The judge laced his fingers together on his desk in front of him. "As you both suspected this isn't typically how this process goes. If a parent of a child signs to give custody to another, it's typically a fast process. However, there are a few things in your history that concern me. You were a drug addict, your relationship has been on again off again for the past year and a half, and from what I hear you disregard both medical and legal guidelines."

"He has changed so much since he got clean and he's seeing a counselor. We have a long history together and both have had to work out some things-"

"Don't bother Lisa he's made up his mind already. Haven't you?" House interrupted, shooting the Judge a stern look.

"I have. At this time I'm not comfortable signing these papers. I-"

"That's all I need to hear thanks!" House blurted out as he stormed from the room. He wanted to throw things. He needed to break something. Why did I pretend that this would work? Of course, he won't give me custody, what person in their right mind would? Will Cuddy too begin to see reason? It wasn't a second later that Cuddy, whose face was flushed with anger, joined him in the hall. His breaths were heavy and his eyes ablaze.

"Greg-"

"Don't pretend he's not right!" She turned him from his pacing to face her.

"I understand why he did it but he hasn't seen what I've seen. Do you think Rachel really cares if those papers get signed? No, she cares that you're there to read her Peter Pan and watch that dirty pirate show together." Her voice was earnest but he couldn't help but roll his eyes.

"That stuff doesn't matter!"

"Yes, it does! You are there for her. When she throws a fit, you're there. When she has a nightmare, you're there! You are more of a father to her than many custody holding biological parents."

His mother's words came back to him; 'You're already a better father than he was.' 'You had such a big heart. I can still see it.' 'People don't change; they just get led off course.' His load began to lighten. Maybe they were right.

"Screw the courts, you're her father." He couldn't help but smile at the irony of the situation. Usually, she lectured him to listen more to laws and standards. His burden had lifted enough to rejoin the crowd that awaited them.

-Huddy-

"So?" Taub beckoned.

"She's mine." He answered, managing a smile. Rachel struggled out of Wilson's hold and ran into House's arms. The congratulatory line began as each person offered their sickeningly pleasant words.

"Let's get a picture!" Wilson commanded.

Rachel screamed with joy over the suggestion. Lisa and House stood in the back with Rachel between them in the front. Lisa's joy was radiating hope. House's face was straight and the ends of his lips forced upwards as he ticked Rachel who laughed and squirmed in every picture.

Later, at lunch, Rachel introduced herself to everyone who came to the table "My name is Rachel Cuddy-House and this is my dad! We went to the courthouse today!" Lisa and Blythe looked on lovingly but the seer of rejection and failure resurfaced for House every time.

-Huddy-

The following day Blythe's visit was over. She stood at the door with her bags, as the cab waited for her on the curb.

Rachel rubbed away the tears from her eyes.

"I don't want you to leave." She gasped for breath.

"I know sweetie but I have to go home. I've been invited back to see the baby once it's born." Blythe bent down, wrapping her arms around the child.

"That's too long! Why do you live so far away?" Her voice was soft.

"That's where I lived with my husband." This was the first Rachel heard about her Grandma having a husband.

"Where is he?"

"He died a few years ago." The phrase came out heavy. There were so many mix emotions there…too many unresolved issues.

"Oh…you must be lonely." It took a beat for Blythe to answer

"I have some friends there." The truth was evident in her eyes, she wanted to be closer.

"She'll need someone to show her what a grandma is supposed to be like. We know Arlene won't! Plus we could use the free babysitting." It was more than she could ask for from her son. Tears missed her eyes; maybe she could sell the house and move closer…