Disclaimer: I don't own House or any of its characters.
A/N: Thanks to those who reviewed. Sorry it took me a while to update.
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A voice was saying, softly, "Mama, Mama." A small hand was patting my face lightly. I turned, opening my eyes. But a light was on, and I was blinded for a second. I flung a hand to cover my eyes and rolled over, burying my face in the pillow.
"Turn it off." I mumbled into the pillow.
"I would but I can't turn off the sun." That was a man's voice. There was a man in my hotel room. I quickly opened my eyes, sat up and spotted James standing by the door. Why was James in my room and more importantly how did he get in?
"Sophia let me in." James answered my unvoiced question.
"Daddy's here!" Sophia said stating the obvious.
I groaned and rubbed a hand over my eyes, I must look like crap, "I see that sweetie."
I pushed the covers back setting my feet on the carpeted floor and I stood facing him. It was then I realized all I was wearing was my Goofy t-shirt that reached only to mid-thigh; Sophia had picked it out for me last Christmas. I know that I must look a fright to James, I had lost a lot of weight in the past few months so all of my clothes hung on me. I was usually able to cover it up by wearing layers, but at the moment James could definitely how gaunt I was now. Boney knees and elbows, the bags under my eyes that I usually covered with make up.
"What are you doing here? And why so early?"
"It's almost noon." The look on his face was one of concern.
"Is it really?" I asked walking slowly past him. I needed to get away from him. I didn't want him to see me like this.
"Mama, can Daddy take me out to breakfast?" Sophia asked still sitting on the bed.
"Sweetie, did Daddy ask you if you wanted to go out for breakfast?"
"No, but I know he wants to." She smiled angelically at me then at James causing me to smile. My daughter is a charmer, another trait she got from James.
"Why don't I take Sophia out, and you catch some more sleep?" James asked walking over to the bed, "We can bring you back something." He held his arms open and Sophia walked over to him giving him a hug. It was really nice seeing them so comfortable with each other even though they had only known each other for such a short time.
"Sounds good. Why don't you take my key card, just in case. It's by the door." I waved a hand in the direction of the door, "I'm gonna take that shower now."
I watched as James picked up Sophia and left, she was still wearing her pajamas.
I haven't felt truly happy since I found out about my cancer.
But seeing James and Sophia together, I'm happy.
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After they got back from breakfast we packed up our stuff, which was a surprising large amount, into James's Volvo. We filled the trunk completely, mind you it wasn't very big, and then we put a couple bags in the back seat. Sophia's car seat was still in the back seat from last night, so it was a little cramped in the back seat. We were now in the Volvo on the way to what I feared was Dr. House's town house.
"So," I began, "are we staying with Dr. House?" I asked as I pulled my hair back into a tight ponytail.
James drummed his hands on the steering wheel, "Would you be upset if I said yes?" he asked.
"No."
"Well then yes, we are."
"Does he know that we are going to stay with him?"
No response.
"James? He doesn't know does he?"
"Maybe."
"Maybe? It's a yes or no answer. Very simple."
"No he doesn't."
Great. James didn't tell him. Well this is going to be fun.
A few minutes later he parallel parked in front of a white brick building with a green front door. It looked like a nice area, not to busy. James turned off the car then turned in his seat to look at me.
"I'm going to go in and talk to him." He said unbuckling his seat belt, one hand on the door handle.
"So we should wait here?" I asked unbuckling my own seat belt.
"Yeah, you don't mind waiting?"
"No."
He got out of the car and made his way around it over to 221B and walked in.
"Mama, I have to go potty." Sophia said.
I turned in my seat to look at her, "Can you hold it?" I ask.
"No, I gotta go now." she replied her face scrunching up.
"Okay, just a second." I get out of the car and get Sophia out of her car seat.
I knocked lightly on the door and when no one answered I test the door handle to see if it's locked. Its not, so I pushed the door far enough open to fit my head through.
"Hello?" I call out. I push the door open the rest of the way and spot the bathroom from where we were standing. Sophia pulls her hand from mine and runs over to the bathroom slamming the door closed behind her.
The door slamming causes Dr. House and James to enter the room from a doorway to the left of me, maybe the kitchen.
"Adding breaking and entering to your record? What are you going to steal now? Anything that fits in your pockets?" Dr. House said as soon as he spotted me.
"Yeah, that's why I'm wearing a jacket. It's easier to conceal things." I replied as I closed the front door behind me.
James shot Dr. House an amused look before he turned to me and said, "House said you can stay in the guest room."
Relief coursed through me, "Thank you, Dr. House"
"Don't thank me, I got black mailed into this. It's not like I want you here. Stop calling me Dr. House, if your going to call me anything just call me House." House frowned and sat down on his couch.
The bathroom door opened and Sophia emerged smiling, "House!" she ran over to the couch and jumped onto the seat next to him. She hugged him and he surprisingly let her.
James grabbed my hand and opened the front door and pulled me outside. He put an arm around me, not saying anything.
"So…" I trailed off, "Thank you." I put an arm around him.
His arm tightened around me, "I'm going to talk to Julie, about Sophia. She started talking to me again last night."
"Good. I'm glad, she should know about what you're planning to do."
He slipped away from me and walked over to his car, "I don't think our marriage is going to survive this."
I walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder "I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault, it's mine."
Then why do I feel so guilty?
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"I can cook dinner." I offered. James and House were arguing over where to eat for dinner tonight, and it was getting on my nerves. We were all camped out in front of the TV, watching one of Sophia's favorite cartoons.
They both stopped arguing and turned to look at me, "Really? You can cook?" this was from House.
"Amazingly enough, I can cook. I'm actually pretty good, just ask Sophia."
"I love Mama's cooking!" Sophia piped not turning from the TV.
"There's no food in his kitchen." James said with a laugh.
"Then I'll go to the grocery store. C'mon let me cook. I'm going to cook."
"It better be good." House said.
"Great! Give me your car keys." I stood and held a hand out towards James, "Please."
"I'll go with you." James said standing,
"That's right, leave me here with the brat." House said annoyed.
"I'm not a brat!" Sophia exclaimed, glaring at House.
"We'll be back in an hour." I said making my way to the front door, James following closely behind me.
"You're a brat."
"Well, if I'm a brat so are you!"
"No, that title is all yours."
I could swear that I heard Sophia growl before the door closed cutting off their bickering. I cast one last worried glance at the door before I climbed into James's car.
It was definitely going to be interesting living with House.
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A/N: Another chapter done, yay! Sorry not much happened in this one. More will in the next. Please review and let me know if I should continue.
Chapter 8: The joys of living with House and the results of Wilson talking with his wife.