Hello! Let me begin by apologising for letting you wait so long. But real life is really busy at the moment, I barely have time to eat. It feels like I spend more time at work than at my flat, so I'm wondering why I rent it in the first place! Anyway, that is enough about my miserable life... THANK YOU for your kind reviews, it's still hard to believe so many of you read this, something I wrote! And just to reassure you guys - YES I will finish this! However, it may take a while. Sorry. Just please have a bit of patience with me... Thank you for reading and have a good day! Here's the new, yes new, chapter!

House looked around and spotted the door behind the nurses station. "Let's go in there." He said and limped quickly towards the door, Cuddy could barely keep up with him. He locked the door while Cuddy dialled Hotchins number. She knew it by heart. She put it on speaker and they nervously waited for Hotchins to pick up her phone.

"Vanessa Hotchins" she finally answered.

"Hi, you wanted us to call you..."

"Yes hi. I kinda convinced the judge to meet with us today!"

"What? How did you manage to do that?" It was House who asked, Cuddy had never seen him so surprised.

"Oh, you don't want to know." Cuddy chuckled, while he looked at her in question. "Anyway, the judge wants to meet in an hour. Can you make it?"

"Yeah we'll be there. Shall we take Jack with us?"

"No the State will take care that, because technically he's in their care."

"Ok, we'll see you there."

"Yes see you there. I'll wait for you outside the entrance. Oh and please House wear a tie."

"He will." Cuddy answered and promised at the same time. House was still too shocked to say anything, he was just standing there with eyes wide open. She couldn't remember the last time she had seen him so surprised.

"You ok?" She asked while gently caressing his forearm.

"Yeah..." He whispered. "I just didn't think it would happen so soon."

"I know. But that's good, right?"

"Yes. He needs to get out of the system." House said with a determination Cuddy had never seen before. "Are you sure Hotchins can win the case for us?"

"Oh absolutely. When I adopted Rachel she fought tooth and nail. She can be very manipulative and she doesn't follow the rules. Reminds me of someone else I know." He rolled his eyes at her, but Cuddy could see a little smirk breaking through.

"Come on we need to get going."

After a short stop at Wilson's office, where else could you borrow tie at short notice. The man had at least three spare ones in his desk drawer. Then they jumped into Cuddy's car and drove to the courthouse.

For the first time in his life House was actually early for an appointment at the courthouse. And for the first time in his life he actually wanted to make a good impression on a judge. So he was fiddling with his tie until Cuddy took over. She righted his tie with a nervous smile.

Vanessa Hotchins was waiting for them just like she promised in front of the entrance. She greeted Cuddy with a hug and glanced impressively at the tie he was wearing.

"The judge is ready to see us. It's the same judge you had Lisa. So another good thing."

"What about Jack? Is he here already?" House asked.

"Protective, are we?"

"No," he denied, although not very convincingly. "Who knows what else they are gonna screw up."

"Right..." Hotchins said. "Anyway, yes he's here and he's looking a little bit nervous."

The lawyer guided them through the courthouse. The meeting was to be held in the judges' office, because there hadn't been enough time to book a room.

Cuddy held on to House's hand the whole way. Occasionally she would give his hand a comforting squeeze.

They stopped in front of a door with a sign indicating that this was the office of judge Saunders.

Before Hotchins knocked on the door though she turned around and looked at both of them. "Now, no matter what dirt they've got on you, it's vital that you stay calm and answer truthfully." She focused on House. "And try to keep the sarcasm to yourself." With that being said she knocked on the door and waited until they were told to enter.

The first thing House noticed when they entered was that the judge was a stunning woman. She was in her mid-forties and she looked just as powerful and confident behind her massive desk as Cuddy does. It made him wonder if he should get a desk like that.

"Ah, Miss Hotchins good to see you again." The judge said. "Jack had to go the bathroom." She said when she noticed House looking for the boy.

Cuddy took a seat on the couch and scooted along to make some room for House.

They had to wait three more minutes before Jack finally entered the office. He looked really scared. As soon as he saw House and Cuddy though he relaxed and looked happy.

"It's ok Jack." House said and calmed the boy even more.

"Ok now that were all here we can begin." The judge opened the file and started the recording device. "Miss Hotchins, since you're the one calling this meeting, I think you should go first."

"Thank you, your Hounor. My clients Drs. House and Cuddy are here today to adopt Jack Edwards. I know the State thinks they both aren't capable of doing so." She waited until the judge looked at her. "The fact is they both have a better relationship with the child than he has with his caseworker, who has known Jack for six years. My clients have known the child for two weeks. The main reason for them not being able to adopt is because of Dr. House's mental health issues. I have a letter from Dr. House's psychiatrist saying that his patient would make an excellent role model and father figure." Hotchins presented the letter and gave copies to the State and the judge. "My clients are aware of that it is against the law for people with mental health problems to adopt a child. But we ask that you make an exception. Thank you." The speech was short, but impressive.

When the lawyer from the State stood up House started to fiddle with his shirt sleeve.

"Your honour, the State has not much to say in the matter. It simply is impossible for Drs. House and Cuddy to adopt this child. It is against the law to adopt a child when the family has problems with mental health. Surely as a judge you should favour the law not a mentally unstable future for the child. Thank you."

By the end of the speech House's blood was boiling. Mentally unstable?! He was getting help God dammit! Cuddy was just as pissed, House had never seen her this angry, she was ready to jump up and defend him.