Yanto: Well, this chapter will tell you just that!
Athyna: I know the feeling. I felt like writing some Cadley and had the muse for this fic and I forgot all that I had written and had to reread it before writing this chapt. Hopefully that doesn't keep happening.
Normal: I plan to finish this! I will finish this fic if it kills me. Even if I lose all my readers for lengthy amounts of time between updates. I really like my idea for this fic and do not want to let it die. And about the kid; I have done a few fics where she had been pregnant now. I thought I'd skip past that on this one. I thought I needed a fic (aside from WBND) where she had an actual child.
Emma: First of all, welcome to the House fandom! Second of all, I'm glad you enjoy my portrayal of the pairing.
Post: Thank you! Meeting Olivia was definitely amazing. I'm glad you like the story. It's one of the few I have that I actually still am interesting in writing.
Complete: Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Sky: Thank you. Who wouldn't love Remy right away! x3
Shananigan: Thanks!
Myshipsank: You're not the only one who didn't see it coming. The title coulda meant anything! A child. As husband. A hamster. I'm glad you're enjoying the story.
Brit: I don't plan to abandon it! Just...be slow with it because life is busy.
89: Thank you so much.
Hillary: I'm glad you're enjoying it!
91: Well, unfortunately my update wasn't exactly speedy. But it's better than nothing, right?!

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I still have yet to abandon this fic! I really really really do plan to continue it. I hope at least some people are around to read. There are some of you still around, right?! I am REALLY sorry that it has taken me so long to update. Life has just been dramatic and busy and sometimes I forget to slow down and do what I love. Or I try and I get dragged away. But I had some free time, so here is an update for you! Please remember to review as your reviews mean a lot to me!

Also - I have an offer for you lot. I am doing a complete rewrite of SF and I'd like my readers to get involved. I'm also possibly offering a prize to the person who helps me the most. For more information, you can contact me on AIM (xvivalastarbucks), Twitter (rabidnar), Tumblr (rabidnar), or email (rabidnar at gmail).

I hope you enjoy the following chapter! Even though it is unbeta'd. I apologize for any mistakes. I'm sure there are about two million typos.

AFTER THE STORM
I won't die alone and be left there.
Well, I guess I'll just go home,
Oh, God knows where.
Because death is just so full and man so small.
Well, I'm scared of what's behind and what's before.

CHAPTER THREE
BRAHMS LULLABY

Do you want to see her? The words sounded foreign and Remy blinked. "I'm not good with kids," she blurted out then caught herself. She had been in Cameron's apartment for a matter of minutes and already she was earning herself a swift kick to the exit. "But yes." No. She gave a brief nod. She didn't know quite what her aversion to seeing Cameron's child was. Maybe it was that she was now no longer screwing up only Cameron's life, but another innocent person had just been added to the mix. A baby, at that. Her regret was growing, along with the urge to turn and bolt out the door. She reached down and picked up her mug again, taking in the warmth against her palms. It reminded her that she didn't want to go back out into the cold and that one night couldn't hurt. She tore her gaze away from the swing to look at Cameron. She was still disheveled from sleep but suddenly had a glow to her now that this kid of hers had been brought up in conversation. But the look in Cameron's eyes told Remy that it wasn't just pride that had brought on Cameron's question. There was pity and Remy thought maybe she was trying to make her feel more welcome to get her to settle down a bit. She realized she was still shivering even though she was now warm. "I'd love to," she added with a forced calm tone.

Cameron pressed her lips together in a warm smile and nodded toward the hall. "Come on," she insisted then began walking. She watched Remy for the first few steps then turned to look where she was going.

After one last tentative glance toward the front door, Remy trudged after her. She dragged her feet along the carpet to slow herself down even more. She felt out of place. It seemed as though Cameron had already grown comfortable with her presence now that she trusted House wasn't hot on their trail. But Remy was now sure she had made a mistake in showing up here. She took a long sip of tea and stopped just inside the open door to Cameron's bedroom. She noted it was the only room in the hall and that the dim nightlight shining in a room off to the side must have been the bathroom. She stared off for a moment before Cameron turned on a lamp on her nightstand. The room lit up and drew Remy out of her thoughts.

The bedroom was just as clean as the living room – except for Cameron's unmade bed. It was a reminder that Remy had woken her. The grey comforter was pushed down to the bottom of the bed and a matching pillow was resting on the floor. The pastel coloured crib and changing table brought life to the room as they stood out against the blacks and whites. She watched Cameron lean over the crib and adjust a knitted pink blanket. From where Remy was standing, the only thing she could see was the blanket and a tiny bare foot. She was about to make herself comfortable and slouch against the doorframe before Cameron turned to her with an expectant look on her face.

"She doesn't bite," Cameron pointed out. She folded her arms over the top bar of the crib then leaned over to rest her chin on them.

Yet, Remy wanted to add. She inhaled and straightened herself up. It's just a baby, Thirteen. She had never had trouble dealing with small children at the hospital – but something about seeing them outside of the professional setting bothered her. She walked inside and placed her mug on the nightstand beside the light. The moment she put it down, she realized her mistake and hoped Cameron wasn't going to offer to let her hold the baby. After barging into her house in the middle of the night, she knew she wouldn't be able to bring herself to say no. She rounded the crib so she was standing shoulder to shoulder with Cameron then looked down at the child tucked inside.

The little girl was the spitting image of Cameron – except for the thin, wispy brunette curls on her head. But if Remy wasn't mistaken in her PPTH gossip, Cameron had not always been a blonde. The moment she made herself visible to the baby, the child's big blue eyes shifted from Cameron to Remy. She was sucking on a Carebear themed pacifier that fell out of her mouth when she yawned.

"How old?" Remy asked. She watched Cameron's fingers as they smoothed down an out of place curl on the baby's head then replaced the pacifier in her mouth. The baby's gaze broke away from Remy and she looked back up at her mother again. Her tiny legs kicked a few times and she made a gurgling noise.

"Three months," Cameron answered and looked up at Remy. "And the father isn't Chase, if that's what you're wondering."

Remy pursed her lips together. It hadn't gone unnoticed that the room had been empty aside from the baby. She had a million questions turning the wheels in her head – but she held them back. Cameron didn't exactly seem like the one-night stand type. It was possible that the father was at work. Whatever the case, it was none of her business unless Cameron wanted to tell her. She stared down at the little girl, meeting her eyes again, not sure what to say to Cameron. "She looks just like you," she offered then tried to lighten up, "Hair that looks like she stuck her finger in a light socket and all."

Cameron rolled her eyes. She pushed herself up straight then turned to face the mirror above her dresser. "That is not what my hair looks like," she huffed indignantly and brushed her fingers through her wavy blonde locks. She turned her head side to side to see what was out of place then put her hand on her hip and turned to face Remy. "You got me out of bed," she accused.

A smirked tugged at the corner of Remy's lips. She suddenly felt more comfortable. "You could try sleeping with dryer sheets," she teased, "Might help with the static." Truth be told, Cameron's hair looked fine. Mostly. It could stand to have a brush taken to it.

Cameron gaped at her. She gave her a once over then arched a brow. "You could try driving with them," she sputtered.

Remy looked down and assessed her wrinkled clothes. She looked up at Cameron again who appeared rather proud of her comeback. "Touché," she answered with a nod of agreement. Her smirk had grown. She rubbed her hand up and down her arm and looked around the room again. "What's her name?" she asked, her voice taking on a softer tone again. She looked back down at the kid who made a cooing noise at her.

"Harper," Cameron answered. She turned and adjusted the baby's blanket again. "Harper Grace." She picked up the nightgown, which she had placed folded over the bar of the crib, and offered it to Remy. "This was all I could find."

"That'll be fine," Remy assured her and took the pajamas. "Thank you." She took a step back with one foot then motioned toward the bathroom. "May I…?"

"Go ahead," Cameron answered and nodded her head. "I'll see you in the kitchen." She ran her fingers through her hair again then began twisting the knob on the mobile above the crib. The bears that hung from the mobile began to spin in a circle and Brahms Lullaby drifted through the room.

It took Remy a fraction of a second to realize she was staring and not moving – still taking in her surroundings and the knowledge she was finally not still alone in her car. She pursed her lips together and turned to walk into the bathroom and change.

xxxxx

The nightgown that Cameron had given her came to her mid-thighs. She was sure that on Cameron it went down to around her knees. But Remy couldn't complain. The soft fabric was more comfortable than her jeans, which she had folded and placed neatly on the bathroom counter (along with her shirt). She adjusted the thin black straps across her shoulders then let herself out of the bathroom into a now dark bedroom. Music was still drifting from the mobile and Remy tried to be as quiet as possible as she tiptoed back over to the nightstand for her tea. Harper seemed oblivious to her as she sneaked around the crib. The baby's eyes were drifting open and shut and she was sucking rather intently on her pacifier. Remy watched her as she walked by then exited the room with her mug in hand.

The moment she stepped into the living room, she noticed that the couch had turned into a makeshift bed. It looked welcoming. But she made her way into the kitchen where Cameron was now sitting on the countertop and holding her own mug. Remy stopped near the kitchen table and looked at her tea. It was nearly gone and getting cold. "Your place is small," she pointed out. She hoped she didn't sound insulting. She just wanted to place the conversation on Cameron. "Rumor had it you were living with your parents."

"So why'd you quit?" Cameron jumped straight to her point. She didn't seem to have any interest in Remy's observations – or, if she did, they were something that could wait. She rested her mug on her knees and leaned forward slightly so her arms were on her legs.

Her question was something that Remy hadn't quite come up with an answer to yet. They both knew that anyone working for House had every reason to quit. But actually doing so was easier said than done. If she had been given much of a choice, she would have still been working at PPTH. She shrugged her shoulders and searched for words. She searched for a lie. "I guess I just wasn't happy," she answered and shook her head. She could feel Cameron's eyes drilling into her. Her throat felt dry. She didn't like to be put on the spot.

"So let me get this straight," Cameron said and leaned back. She sounded almost amused. "You quit working for House and drove halfway across the country to the apartment of someone you barely know for happiness?"

"I drove here because I knew this was the last place he would look for me." Remy could hear the defensiveness in her own voice. It was more like the last place the police would look for her. She placed her mug on the kitchen table. "And because I know you know what it's like to finally walk away."

Cameron's gaze shifted so she was looking into the living room. Her jaw hardened. Remy looked to see what she was staring at, but there was nothing but a wall. They both stared at it. It took a moment before Cameron softened and looked back over at her then lowered herself down off the counter. "It doesn't get easier, if that's what you want to know," she said. Her tone didn't have the bite that Remy expected it to. It was bitter and made her wonder if she had struck a nerve with her excuse for showing up. Although she hadn't left on the same terms that Cameron had, she was sure they both had an equal longing to return. The desire to be on House's team was not something that she could put into words. Remy continued to stare at the wall as she took in Cameron's words.

Cameron took Remy's empty mug and placed it in the sink. She turned on the water and began to rinse out both glasses. "You look tired," she pointed out, keeping her head turned to the side so she was watching her house guest.

Remy parted her lips and looked over at her. "Yeah," she answered simply. She ran her hand up and down her bare arm. She stared at the running water until Cameron shut it off. The dishes were placed in the dish rack to dry. Remy furrowed her brows. "What time do you leave for work in the morning?" she questioned. She assumed Cameron still worked at a hospital. She had decided not to stick around for long, but she could do with some sleep.

"I have the day off." Cameron dried her hands off on a dish towel. She crossed the kitchen and stopped in front of Remy. "Get some sleep. You're welcome here as long as you want, Thirteen." She reached out and briefly squeezed her arm then flipped the light switch beside her. The ceiling light turned off but the light above the stove remained on. "You know where I'll be if you need anything."

Remy didn't watch her as she left the room. She stood staring at the kitchen table. She could feel Cameron's touch lingering on her arm and the comfort made her a little unsure of what to do with herself. She finally realized that her exhaustion was getting the best of her and she forced herself to straighten up not long after Cameron was out of sight. A breath of air left her lips as she turned and dragged herself back into the living room then dropped down on the couch. It felt like a cloud compared to the seat in her car. Her eyelids drooped and she slowly lowered herself to her side then curled up under the comforter that Cameron had provided for her. She was sure that after she got some sleep, she would wake up in the morning with a better perspective on how she was going to deal with her circumstances.