It was such a weird headspace to be in.

Talia was taking leave off of work, which meant that she had nothing else to distract her from Chase or Dibala or anything of the sort. She already missed him just being near her, and she'd only been at Juliette's for all of two days. But it was admittedly the toughest 48 hours of her life, and feeling her baby move and kick and do all those pleasant moments signifying their health and good growth only meant about twenty percent of what it did before - if Chase wasn't there to experience it with her.

After all, this was her second time of experiencing the pleasantries of pregnancy - but it would've been Chase's first. Plus, she didn't want to feel this alone again, not like last time. Last time, being by herself made her pregnancy even more difficult.

So, she went back home.

Chase was getting ready for bed alone for the third time that week. Everything was beginning to hurt, now. He missed Talia as much as she missed him, if not more, and now (although it was becoming apparent that the Dibala case had actually done some good for the rest of the world), he didn't know if not being with his wife anymore was even worth it.

So when he heard keys in the front door before switching off the bedside table light to go to sleep, his heart skipped several beats. Then, within a few moments, Talia had tiptoed into the room. Her hair was in a high bun and her glasses were on, her cardigan was wrapped around her tightly and she looked exhausted, but still as beautiful as ever, despite the apprehension on her face.

They lay eyes on each other, Talia from the doorway and Chase form the bed. "Hi," Talia was the first to whisper softly, as she gradually tiptoed into the bedroom to hang up her coat.

"Hey," Chase nodded back.

Cue another awkward silence.

"Did…did I wake you up?" Talia asked awkwardly. Chase shook his head as quickly as he could muster.

"No, I was just about to go to sleep." He uncomfortably cleared his throat whilst Talia finally walked in and slowly started to strip off her clothes to shove on her silk nightdress instead, her little bump now all prominent. Chase couldn't stop staring at it. Resting inside there was his baby, his own little creation, growing and thriving and warm - it was still surreal to him.

Talia carefully pulled the comforter back and sat herself in bed beside her husband, before unexpectedly snaking her arms around his body. Chase almost froze at her touch. It had only been a couple of days yet it felt foreign to him - but he quickly wrapped his arms around her before the moment could pass, cuddling her and pressing his lips against her forehead. Talia slowly rested her head on his chest and took a deep breath in, whilst lightly tracing patterns on his bare skin with her fingertips.

"God. I missed you so much, Rob," she murmured out as she felt Chase's fingers nestle in her locks instead.

"I missed you too, babe," Chase sighed. "I…I am so s-"

"Can I tell you a secret, Rob?" Talia asked quietly, interrupting his umpteenth apology.

Chase gulped and nodded.

"Sure."

"When Ryan first got admitted…I…I was internally praying, begging to anyone in those clouds that he'd die right there in that hospital bed," Talia whispered coldly, not a hint of emotion registering in her voice. Chase tried not to freeze - but he was sure that his heart had stopped already. "Part of me, the same part that managed to get back at him for Ezra's death, was itching for him to die. Itching. And if I had an ounce of bravery, Robert, I would've done something as stupid as you did in order so that he could kick the bucket, because I genuinely believe it's what he always deserved."

"Yeah," Chase scoffed under his breath. "But you didn't act on it."

"…no, I didn't," Talia agreed with a sigh, "although it pained me to stay strong." She ran her tongue over her bottom lip before carefully choosing her next words. "Yet I can say that I know the feeling. I do believe that if the heartbroken 18 year old Talia was the one heading Ryan's case, she would've done something stupid too. But whilst it doesn't mean that I agree with what you did, it does mean that, honest to God, I am in no place to demonise anything either. That time when I beat Ryan senseless, I left him there to die. The fact that he didn't was…a saving grace in itself."

Chase let out a small laugh and shook his head.

"Talia, all the technicalities are pointless. I killed a man, you didn't. You can drop the act," he murmured. "I don't expect you to stick by me."

"We all killed him by your hand," Talia corrected him. She eased herself from his chest so that she was looking at him properly. "Euthanasia, DNR's…all that stuff that we have to deal with is just a whirlpool of morality madness. It's a mess and a blur and at times, mightily uncomfortable. But, the one thing that I can see correctly is that I…I love the living sh*t out of you, Rob. And as much as I was worried that this would change how I see you - it hasn't. I still love you as much as I did before. I just hope it hasn't changed you."

"And…if it has?" Chase asked her nervously.

"Then we deal with it together, just as we'd deal with anything else in this marriage," Talia stated back as if it were that easy. Chase loved how simple she made everything sound. "For better and for worse, Robert. We've had amazing better times but…this is definitely worse, right?"

"You got that right," Chase nodded miserably. He pressed a kiss to her forehead as she snuggled back onto his chest again. "I love you so much. Thank…thank you for giving me another chance."

"You'll always have a million chances with me, honey. But, Rob - please promise me one thing?"

"Anything."

"Next time you feel compelled to do something as potentially life changing as that, come and talk to me first," Talia told him gently as she pressed kisses to his abs. "I didn't have anyone to talk me out of that sh*t with Ryan, but perhaps, by some miracle…I can do that for you."

…

The next day, Talia was left home alone. Chase had left their apartment early to finish up on one of House's cases before going back to work in the surgical department, and Talia was obviously still on leave.

But instead of resting, all that she was doing was working from home. She could barely tear herself away from anything to do with that hospital, and thankfully her laptop and excellent broadband meant that she could enjoy all the pleasantries of working from home.

That was until, of course, her good friend Cameron turned up at her front door that afternoon.

"Hey," Talia smiled at her slightly, stepping aside so that she could come in.

"Hi! We missed you at work today," Cameron told her wistfully, as she pulled her in for a massively tight hug. "How's the baby?"

"The baby's fine," Talia sighed, letting go again. She didn't particularly want to talk to Cameron today, but not for any personal reason. It was just that she needed the time alone, away from the lingering opinions of other people.

Particularly because she knew exactly what Cameron was about to discuss. It was written all over her face, because Cameron had always been particularly awful at hiding anything.

"Can I get you a drink?" Talia offered up to her friend as they both stepped into the living room.

"No thanks," Cameron smiled back awkwardly. She went to sit on the sofa as she usually did, and Talia settled herself nearby with her knees pulled to her chest and a hand rested peacefully on her ever-growing bump. "How are things going down here?" Cameron asked boldly.

"'Down here'?" Talia repeated.

"Like…with you guys?"

"Fine," Talia frowned back. She cocked her head to the side. "Why?"

"Well…Chase has just been acting a little weird recently - and I guessed that you of all people would know why," Cameron tried to state as patiently as possible. Talia smirked and rolled her eyes before she could stop herself.

She knew it.

"You know exactly why he's been acting weird," she murmured, staring Cameron dead in the eye. "So just come out with it already, Allison. I know you're not here to assure me that-"

"No, I'm here to ask how the hell you're okay with it," Cameron suddenly put it bluntly.

Talia's mouth shut immediately and her head jerked back.

"Okay with what, sorry?"

"Well, the fact that your father is poisoning everyone that comes within a five millimetre radius of him."

It was as if Talia was in the twilight zone. She couldn't even believe that she was about to launch into this argument with her closest friend, completely out of nowhere - but at this point, life on a whole was so bizarre that she just went with it.

"You think Chase was infected by House to do what he did?" she clarified, one eye squeezed shut as if she was scared of the answer.

"Wow," Cameron murmured under her breath.

"What, Allison?" Talia groaned tiredly.

"You're calling them by their last names, but mine by my first," Cameron pointed out, leaning forward slightly.

"Yes? You sound…confused by that," Talia blinked back.

"Not confused - it makes total sense. You're referring to them by their last names because first names are personal, and if you got any closer this situation would feel too real for you, Talia. Because you haven't been tainted yet," Cameron explained.

Talia couldn't help but let out a short laugh.

"Look at you! The Master of Deduction - and Chase is the one whose been tainted?" she rolled her eyes and clicked her head from side to side. Of course she knew that deep down, Cameron was trying to help - but right now she was just coming across as patronising, and Talia was already losing her patience. "Tainted," she scoffed again quietly. Her eyes flew back up to Cameron's in amazement. "You think that everyone is just that innocent and House is…that evil. Like no human holds free will in this world anymore, huh?"

"I'd rather think that everyone has been tainted by one madman, than think that everyone is just pretending like what Chase did was normal," Cameron shot back.

"Nobody said that it was normal, Allison," Talia scoffed irritably, feeling her patience begin to slip.

"Are you really that naive? Foreman covered for him when Foreman used to be the most rational out of all of us, House saved his ass when House has never cared for anyone before and even I have no desire to report him although I completely disagree with what he did!" Cameron hissed loudly. "We are not the people we once were! We have all changed. Cos the Cameron of five years ago would've gone straight to Cuddy with Foreman hot at her heels."

"Yeah. Interesting argument there - but here's another one! It could just mean that somewhere in our brains we're just rationalising what Chase did," Talia argued back.

"You didn't kill Ryan when you had the chance, and he was your abuser. You were in a perfect position - in a hospital, with little to no chance of being caught," Cameron muttered out reluctantly. "Would you kill him today?"

Talia rolled her eyes and stayed silent - because what could she say? She knew the answer - she had already told Chase the same thing.

"Look. I don't think Chase is some psycho murderer. He's not a bad guy, neither is Foreman, and you certainly aren't either…Cuddy wouldn't have put you in Patient Care if you were. But it's obvious that House impacts every and anyone he comes into contact with, and we're all just getting caught up in it." Talia let out a small huff and leaned back in her sofa, watching Coco prowl up and down the carpet and sniff Cameron's ankles.

"So what's the plan?" Talia suddenly asked her friend, although she didn't really care. "What's your solution to us all running away from the big bad wolf that is Dr Gregory House M.D?"

"I'm leaving the hospital with immediate effect," Cameron answered incredibly quickly, as her eyes dropped into her lap awkwardly.

Talia's jaw practically dropped onto the floor. She could barely breathe - this all felt like one never ending bad dream, and as Cameron carries on explaining, it felt even more bizarre.

"I genuinely can't do this anymore, Talia. I cannot sit back and watch House destroy mental sates, moral compasses and lives-"

"Mental states?" Talia repeated tiredly, suddenly finding her voice again. "Oh Allison come on-"

"Talia your mental health plummeted when House triggered you on your wedding day, none of us have forgotten - even though you have forgiven!" Cameron suddenly snapped. "We've all told you to stop putting so much faith into him and you still are! Now he's ruined your husband too, cos the Chase I know would've been totally against what happened with Dibala. And I'm not gonna sit here and watch House…"

She abruptly stopped her words, and her lips clamped tightly together.

"Watch him…what?!" Talia murmured against her better judgement. But Cameron shook her head in refusal. "Ohhh no you don't get to do that. Watch him do what, Allison?"

Her best friend took a deep breath and blew out through her pursed lips.

"…watch him infect your child with his selfishness and rule breaking way of life. That's an innocent kid. A blank canvas. House will have his way with them and turn them into something twisted," Cameron finally answered. She was boldly looking Talia dead in the eye, too. Her words were shameless, absolutely shameless, and Talia felt herself quickly run out of patience at a speed that she couldn't possibly measure.

"Don't," she spoke shakily but with authority peaking through. "Don't you worry about what my child will and won't do. Don't make it sound like I won't be able to teach them right from wrong, simply based on who their grandfather is. Just because you were easily influenced by House, doesn't mean my baby will be."

"You really think someone that innocent won't turn out as damaged as us all?" Cameron challenged her brazenly.

"Not with me as their mother - no," Talia muttered firmly through gritted teeth.

"TALIA! WAKE UP! He made you cry on your wedding day because he didn't show up. What happens when it's the kid's birthday? School plays? Makeshift magic shows with the plastic and felt magicians set they get for Christmas? Are you gonna have to console them the way that everyone had to console you? Do you want your kid to feel the pain you felt, Talia?" Cameron powered on angrily, getting more heated up by the moment and ignoring the effect it was clearly having on her friend. "Come on! Cos I know you're wiser than that!"

"So what, you're implying I'm gonna have no influence on my kid's life?!" Talia suddenly barked, reaching her limit. Cameron quickly fell quiet and said nothing back. "Ah you know what, Allison, I can't be bothered for this sh*t. Get out."

"C'mon, Talia - y-you're only saying that cos you see I have a valid point! You're smarter than this and you know you are!" Cameron croaked out, as her eyes speedily welled up with tears.

"No, I'm only saying that cos I want you to f*ck off," Talia answered firmly. "Get out of my house and good luck with your future endeavours. We're done here." Cameron's bottom lip quivered slightly but she nodded, standing to her feet and hoisting her bag over her shoulder again.

"I saw your face at the start of this conversation. You kind of understood my point," she murmured helplessly. "At what point did I lose you?"

"When you mentioned my unborn child," Talia answered with ease, glaring straight at her. "How you could claim such unpleasantries onto their lives, as if I'd let House inflict any kind of upset on them is…it hurts, Allison."

"I'm…I'm so sorry," Cameron whispered shakily. "I didn't-"

"I get it. Good luck in your new job," Talia answered back shortly. "Now get out." She watched Cameron scurry out of the living room and quickly make her way to the front door with her head bowed, overhearing her sniffs as she slipped out and shut the front door behind her. Then Talia let out the shaky breath she had been holding in, and finally allowed her own tears to spill out of her eyelids.

She didn't understand quite how it happened - but she had officially just lost her best friend.

…

That evening, Talia busied herself by ordering furniture for the nursery on her MacBook. Even though she and Chase still didn't know the baby's gender, they still wanted the furniture to have arrived, ready for their arrival. Plus, Talia desperately needed something to do to take her mind off of Cameron's last words to her.

Truthfully, Talia wasn't stupid, nor did she lack any form of critical thinking. She knew that there was a hint of truth in Cameron's rant, not so much in terms of Chase, but definitely in terms of her child and House. She didn't particularly want House fading in and out of her baby's life, but she also really wanted him to be part of it. But she couldn't risk Cameron's little prophecies coming true, so she knew the only thing she could do was keep House at arm's length once the baby arrived.

But that would go against everything she'd ever wanted for her family. Cutting her father off wasn't like her, and she didn't like that.

Needless to say, she was incredibly thankful to finally hear those keys jangle in the front door. "T?" Chase called out, as he shut the door behind him.

"Living room!" Talia shouted back, shutting the laptop lid and clearing her throat. Chase walked into the room five seconds later, wearing a little smile on his face. "Hi you," Talia beamed, just before he bent himself over to kiss her sweetly.

"Hiya babe," Chase yawned once they broke apart. "You okay?"

"I'm fine, sweetie. But your kid in there is doing a lot of punches, kicks and somersaults this evening," Talia scoffed, before lightly tapping her stomach and receiving a hefty kick straight into her bladder. "Oooft! And again! O-other than that, I'm fine!" she winced with gritted teeth as she gave the bruised area a rub.

"Nooo, are they being naughty?" Chase smirked. He knelt himself down on the rug so that his head was on the same level as Talia's rounded bump, before slowly rolling up her top and pressing his lips to her swollen skin. "Evening, Kiddo! Could you stop stressing your mum out, please? When she gets stressed, I get stressed. And I have no room in me to be stressed. I'm already about to be like, twenty times more stressed starting from tomorrow."

Talia's smile slipped slightly as her dark brown eyebrows knitted together in wonder.

"Wait, what? What's happening from tomorrow?" she frowned down at him. Chase took a deep breath in before looking up at her, leaning his chin on her bump.

"I…I may have agreed to rejoin House's team," he announced confidently - although his eyes read that he was unsure.

Still, Talia's eyebrows shot up even higher than before.

"…oh?"

She didn't know how to take that news, in the slightest. Truthfully, she didn't think the day would ever come where he'd agree to rejoin House's team. "And…may I ask…why…?"

"Why? Well…whether I like it or not, House is the boss and always will be. I'd just…I'd seriously prefer it if he was my boss, you know?" Chase put it simply as he rubbed her stomach absentmindedly. "Yeah, he's a bastard at times, but he didn't have to do what he did with the whole Dibala saga and he still did it. And I think my talents are best put to use on the team. Plus, the pay is higher, which is always fun when we got a baby on the way."

Talia bit on her lip uncomfortably and kept a steady eye on him.

"I see. And you're…sure this is the best decision?" she asked him gently, running her fingers through his hair as he leant his chin on her knees.

"Well I wouldn't dare run it by you if I didn't," Chase nodded sincerely, looking straight into her eyes. "I mean if it's really that bad for you, T, I won't rejoin. I wouldn't do anything you're uncomfortable with or that could stress you out, especially whilst you're pregnant. This is more me asking what you think, than me telling you what I plan on doing. But I really do think it'll be for the best, yes."

That was when Talia took a deep, steady breath in through her nose.

"Then…I completely support your decision," she whispered shakily, watching the relieved smile crawl onto her husband's lips.

Now how was she meant to keep her father at arms length, if Chase was working for him again?

Cameron had a point - and she hated that.