A/N: Hello everybody! Thank you for reading and also thank you for your patience I'm not exactly the most reliable person when it comes to posting updates. A shout out goes to bladesmum, eule, Abby, Reader, JLCH, Gemilh, Guest, OldSFfan, whitmc04 and houseshead13 for reviewing the last chapter! Please keep them coming they always make me happy!

Jack took a deep breath after washing the chips down with the bottle of water. Saunders could see how much Jack was struggling with this, the fact that he had to actually say something and tell her what he felt was almost too much for him. She had seen it in many kids. Jack had basically been a mute for the last 4 years, going from one family to the next. Never getting comfortable anywhere, never being able to just relax. He always had to be alert for the next horrible thing to happen to him. Who could honestly blame him for keeping quiet?

With another deep breath Jack finally looked at the Judge and it was with an intense expression that he said "Dr. House helped me, he made feel better even though it hurt my nose." He pointed to his nose, it was still a little blue, but Saunders guessed it didn't hurt that much anymore. "He reads with me and he plays the piano really well. He made a funny face when I touched the keys while he was still playing." He said with a smile.

"What book are you reading?"

"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. I love it, Dr. House does different voices when he reads."

"My daughter is crazy about Harry Potter, she has read every book I don't know how many times. What's your favorite thing about Harry Potter?"

"He was lucky. The people he grew up with are all mean to him, but magic saves him." That nearly broke her heart, clearly Jack was hoping for some magic for his own situation.

"What about Dr. Cuddy, have you spent any time with her?" She asked.

"Yes was there when Dr. Hose had a patient."

"Ok. And was she nice to you?"

"Yes, she gave me a present." He looked at his hands and shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "I don't remember the last time someone gave me a present."

"That was very nice of her, what did she get you?"

"Harry Potter PJs." He was still a bit tense, something was still bothering him.

"What's wrong?"

"I didn't thank her.""

"Oh honey that's ok. It's not too late to thank her." God this child was just so precious, she thought as she read through the file one more time. "I think you've answered enough questions for now. Do you want to add anything?"

"Please don't send me back to the Cooper's!" He said right away, talking about his currant foster family. "I don't want to go back there." His breathing had gotten faster as he thought about going back to that place.

"It's going to be ok. Whatever happens today, I wont let you go back to that family." She said gently.

Saunders waited until he had calmed down a bit before standing up and asking Jack to follow her back to the office where everyone was waiting for them.

House and Cuddy both smiled and nodded reassuringly at Jack. While the State counsellor looked at his watch making sure everyone could see how much of his time had been waisted.

"Alright before I make my final decision I have some questions for Drs. House and Cuddy." The Judge said addressing them all. "What are your plans for the future, if Jack does end up living with you?"

House had never been good at making plans, so he looked at Cuddy for some help.

"Well your Honor, the first thing we need to do is get Jack into a better school, I have some contacts that can help us getting him into the Princeton Academy they have a gifted and talented program. Maybe we should get him a tutor first so he's caught up with the rest of the kids in his class. Then the guest room has to be redecorated so a bunkbed can fit in there." She smiled towards Jack making sure that he knew they hadn't forgotten. "And Rachel needs to meet Jack, she will be very happy to have a big brother." She was searching for more answers, the right answers, but she had no idea what the Judge wanted to hear.

"Do you have anything to add, Dr. House?"

Just like Jack House sat up straight at the mention of his name. And with a deep breath and a squeeze of Cuddy's hand he started what was going to be very difficult for him, talking about his feelings.

"I don't know much about how to raise a child, but since Dr. Cuddy and I have been in a relationship Rachel her daughter has been in my life. At first I didn't think I would enjoy spending time with a two year old, I selfishly thought Rachel would get all of Cuddy's attention and she wouldn't have any time left for me. But that is not the case at all, if anything it has just made me realise what a treasure it is to be a family. And I hope that some time down the line Dr. Cuddy would let me adopt Rachel as well." Cuddy looked at him with tears running down her face, she was so happy and proud of the man he had become in such a short time. And she couldn't believe he chose this moment to tell her about his thoughts of adopting Rachel.

"Two years ago," He continued "right before before everything went to pieces loneliness was making me a miserable man and even after my time at Mayfield it still took a lot work before I wasn't struggling anymore, Dr. Cuddy has made me realise that having a support system around you is a lot of help. I guess what I am trying to say is I want to give Jack the love and support that took me over 50 years to find."

Everything was quiet for minutes, all you could hear was Cuddy's breathing as she tried to get her tears under first time Hose looked up was when Hotchins offered her some tissues. As he looked around the room he realized they were all looking at him. Hotchins, Cuddy, Jack and even the Judge were smiling at him. While the case worker and counsellor looked down right defeated.

Saunders cleared her throat and then she said "Thank you Dr. House that was refreshingly honest, something that I don't come across in my job dealing with lawyers. I think I have made my decision."

This was it, Hose thought. Had he done enough? What if the Judge didn't really care about all of the things he had just said? Should Cuddy have mentioned a bit more practical stuff?

"I hereby allow Dr. House and Dr. Cuddy to be the foster parents of Jack Edwards with the option of adoption following a three month trail period."

House stared at the Judge surely he had heard the wrong thing? Had the Judge really just allowed them to have Jack? Just to make sure he looked over at the boy. He had never seen a more happier child in his life, it was kind of a cross between not getting a flu shot and getting the best birthday present ever. House concluded Jack had heard the same words he had. Meanwhile he saw out of his peripheral vision that Cuddy was reaching for more tissues.

"Now before Drs. House and Cuddy sign the foster parenting agreement I need to make sure you understand the terms and conditions. There will be unannounced check ups by a new case worker every two weeks, just to see how you are all coping with the new situation. Then you need to make sure to get Jack into a good school, but I agree with Dr. Cuddy it would be a good idea to have someone tutor Jack before he joins a new school. I also want make sure you understand that it is extremely rare for a man like you Dr. House with a drug abuse background to get the option of adopting a child. I'm risking my reputation and my position as a Judge. This is your only chance, do not screw it up."

"Yes your Honor." House said amazed that he had found the strength to speak at all.

The Judge held out the forms for them to sign and with a bit of a shaky hand House signed the most important document of his life. He noticed Cuddy's hand was shaking as well and when he looked up at her face he was surprised to see tears running down her face, but he still thought he had never seen her look more beautiful.

When House turned around he noticed the case worker and the State counsellor had left already Jack was just sitting on the couch all alone with a big fat smile. House decided to join him.