Disclaimer…I don't own House.

Author's Note…Reviewers are pretty. Happy Holidays!

More Oh, and Libby would be about 12 here…she's in 7th grade.

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"Abandon faith, all ye who enter."

Libby rolled her eyes. "Dad, just ring the doorbell."

"No, you ring the doorbell."

"My hands are full." She was right, she was carrying the cake she had spent all morning making.

"I'm crippled. What! I thought we were having a tragedy contest!" House shrugged. Even if they were, Libby would win.

"Yes, holding a cake is such a tragedy. Come on, Dad. We've been here half an hour. Seriously, I bet your future in-laws think you're a stalker or something."

"But then they'll meet me and find that I'm just a beautiful ray of sunshine. And who said anything about in-laws?"

"Never mind."

"You, on the other hand…you'll be a big disappointment. What with bringing dessert, stirring up Aunt Lisa's maternal roots…if you decided to leave, it might be for the best."

So well she knew her father, Libby didn't even bat an eyelash. "Dad, we are so late."

"I hope I'm not pregnant."

"Ring. The. Doorbell."

"Fine, fine, no need to get pushy. Just so you know, as soon as you walk in there, you'll be swarmed by crazy relatives. No escape. Just-"

"Dad!"

House pressed his thumb into the dim yellow button and winced as it chimed out The Dance of the Butterflies. "Manly ring, huh?"

"Pass me a beer and a Manwhich, please."

"Pass the gas."

Just then, a large, burly man whooshed open the door. "Hello, ya'll!"

He spoke with a Southern accent. House grimaced.

"Won't you come in?"

Libby stepped aside, letting House go in first. "Oh, very nice. Listen, holding the door to the antechamber of Hell will not get you to Heaven. Just so you know."

"Oh, I know."

"Good. Oh wait, I think I left something in the car…"

"Greg!"

House turned to see Cuddy making her way toward him. "I see you've met my father. Dad, this is my…friend, Greg. And this is his daughter, Libby."

Cuddy's father extended a hand toward both of them. House noticed Libby was cowering behind him, obviously intimidated. It looked like all 27 people were congregating in the living room.

"Just remember you invited yourself here" Cuddy hissed as she took their coats.

"The holidays are really softening that harsh edge there, Leese."

"Watch it. I spent all day yesterday and all morning cooking."

"Speaking of which…" House thrust forward Libby's cake. "We come in peace."

Cuddy examined the dessert as if she were a detective or a cop. Or a doctor. "Where did you buy this?"

"Some random homeless guy. He said he made it with some special ingredient. I hope it's toenails."

Cuddy rolled her eyes so hard her head swerved a bit. "Libby, did you make this?"

"Umm, yeah. But you don't have to serve it if you don't want to; it's just to be polite. You can throw it out, right now if even. Here, I'll do it…" Libby reached out to grab the dessert but Cuddy moved it closer toward her own body.

"No, it looks delicious. But you can't eat this."

"Yeah, but I don't even…" She was interrupted by Cuddy's mother, who had bounded her way over at the sight of chocolate.

"Well, ain't that the most delicious looking thang?"

Cuddy turned toward her mom and started up a conversation with her, giving House the perfect opportunity to make a quick getaway. To leave or not to leave? He looked at Libby, so unsure of herself but looking very eager to please.

To stay.

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Two hours later, Libby found herself wedged between Cuddy's overweight father and even more overweight uncle at dinner. While Libby ate only a salad and a small piece of turkey, the two had loaded their plates high with all the food Cuddy had prepared. Not only that, but they were constantly taking food off Libby's own plate, which annoyed her to no end.

"So, Miss Priss, how old are you?"

Miss Priss? "I'm twelve."

"You're a little thing, aren't you?"

He's calling me short? Argh. Darn non-height genes. "I guess so."

"Cute! You got a boyfriend?"

How could Aunt Lisa be this guy's daughter? "Umm, yeah."

"Sweet thing! What's his name?"

Please let this conversation end soon. "Josh."

"That boy get you anything for your birthday?"

An earthquake would be a nice ending. "Umm, yeah. He got me this." Libby produced the necklace she had been wearing every day straight for a month now. It was a modest thing; just a simple black chord as a chain with a small red rose stencil. But she loved it and thankfully, House or Wilson had never noticed the girly accessory. Libby knew Cuddy had but she had never asked. Truthfully, Libby liked it that way. The relationship between Libby and Josh was sweet and private, and Libby didn't think she would be able to gush over it out loud, the way Cuddy would want to hear.

"Well, isn't that beautiful?"

"Yes, it is."

"I bet your father's just beating him off with that cane of his, you're such a pretty girl."

Libby blushed. She had turned out quite beautiful, what with her father's eyes, her mother's peaches and cream skin, and these famous left-field recessive strawberry-blonde banana curls that Libby wore long, down to her waist. "Thank you."

"I'm sure he gets a lot of help from your mama. I didn't see her tonight; where is she?"

You have got to be joking me. "She's not here."

"Well, where is she then?"

Take. A. Hint. "She died when I was a baby."

"Oh, I'm sorry dearie. That must have been real tough on you."

Stop talking about it! "I was very young, so it doesn't seem abnormal to me."

"Aww! You're precious! And you talk so smart!"

Libby forced a smile and excuse herself to go to the bathroom. On her way, she passed House, who seemed to be faring no better, stuffed in between Cuddy and her mother. Libby gave him a small smile which meant for Christmas, we are so celebrating with Wilson.

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At 11:00 that night, House and Libby drove home in silence. Libby, much to House's chagrin, was a morning person and could barely stay awake past 10:30 and was train-sleeping. House was very wrapped up in his own thoughts, particularly the one that Cuddy's father had made to him about a certain flower. House couldn't help himself. He turned his gaze from the road and checked Libby's neck. Sure enough; there it was, in all its simplicity.

He knew that Libby had a boyfriend…he wasn't stupid. She was a beautiful girl, it was bound to happen. He had just hoped that she went from one to the other quickly, before anything got serious. But he recognized that name and it freaked him out to no end that Libby had apparently had one, the same one, for…5 ½ months. And it must be serious too, because that necklace was exactly in Libby's taste.

As he pulled up to his apartment, he realized that it wasn't the ornament that had him worried. No, it was the fact that he would have chosen something very much like that for Cameron.

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Author's Note…Awww! Libby's got a good guy there. And hee! to Cuddy's crazy relatives. That's probably the last we'll be seeing of them. Sorry that was such a short chapter…anyways, I've got the next one all planned out…it's going to be quite long, I think. After that, major time jumping. Dun dun dun! Ok, please review and Happy New Years!