Lisa woke up at an ungodly hour Saturday morning to her baby's feeble cries. Surprisingly enough, House, Greg, was still there, snoring lightly and cradling Faith to his chest with one big, soft palm. Gently, she pried his hand off her baby's back and eased her into waiting arms. She rocked Faith back and forth as she bustled in the kitchen making a bottle, humming a nonsense lullaby that her mother used to sing to her when she was little. She had barely settled in at the kitchen table, bottle firmly in the little baby's mouth, when House, Greg, thumped into the kitchen.
"Well aren't you just the picture of domestic bliss?" he snarked, but there was no spite behind his gentle sarcasm. He limped over to the chair that she was perched on and held out his palm to cup Faith's head, causing her to blink up wearily at him while she finished eating.
"It's exactly what I wished for," she sighed happily, burping her daughter one last time and gently wiping the spit-up off her face. She shifted Faith's weight easily and moved throughout the kitchen with a familial grace that she was sure Greg hadn't been expecting.
"Got anything to eat?" he asked, somewhat uncomfortably, opening the fridge and eagerly pulling out a tupperware container. "Ooh, potato pancakes!"
"They're for Hanukkah…which starts today!" she exclaimed. "Quick, I need the phone, please!"
He looked puzzled, growing increasingly more curious as she tucked the baby into the rocker and dialed a number faster then he could say 'latkes'.
"Hi, I almost forgot…yeah, I know now….I have them….yes…well I'm not going to just—…we'll see….around four then? We'll be ready. Gut yontiff."
"Gut yontiff? Good holiday? I didn't know that you were so observant," Greg said, after she hung up the phone and picked up her baby again.
"And I didn't know you understand Hebrew."
"The Rosenthal family moved around the bases with us while I was in elementary school. I won't be wearing a yarmulke anytime soon, unless Wilson gets married again, but I spent enough time to know what it's all about," he said offhandedly. "Back to my statement, though. I didn't know you were observant."
"I belonged to that circle until college. There it didn't matter how many people came to my bat mitzvah or who my father did his business with. I lapsed, but I want Faith to at least have the choice if she so wishes. We won't be strict, not like how I grew up, but we'll keep the holidays," she replied.
"And on the phone?" he prodded. "Lapsed Cuddystein family members also observing the Festival of Lights?"
"James. He and I get together for the first night to say the prayers and eat," she explained.
"And I haven't been invited to this little party because…?"
"It's our faith, Greg. You would never just sit back and listen, and this is one of the few nights a year where rudeness isn't tolerated. You can stay, but you have to be on your very best behavior."
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"Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam shehecheyanu v'kiyimanu v'higi'anu laz'man hazeh. Amein," Lisa sang softly, lighting the candles and turning to smile at Faith, who was in Greg's arms, and James, who stood dutifully by her side.
"Amein," the two men repeated.
"Let's eat!" James said, clapping his hands together. Lisa smiled and disappeared from the living room, going to retrieve the latkes and dishes. James turned to where Greg was rocking the baby back and forth lightly, murmuring nonsense words as he moved to a place where he could sit. James watched and shook his head slightly, jumping at the noises Lisa made as she flew past him to set up the food on the table, near where Greg and Faith sat.
They ate in relative silence, watching the shadows flicker on the wall as they enjoyed her cooking. She ate quickly, making a bottle and gently moving Faith into her cradled arm from her post nestled on Greg's chest. James watched them with mild amusement, noting the familial movements even if the pair didn't realize what they were doing. He did the dishes, another part of their mixed up tradition, and couldn't help the smile that snuck onto his face as he heard the piano float into the kitchen, soft lullabies that didn't match with the jazz or bitter pounding he knew Greg preferred to play. By the time he was done the candles had burned out, and he prepared his goodbyes.
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Lisa was enjoying herself. Hanukkah had started without any problems and Greg had been respectful as she and James went through the traditions. Faith, too, hadn't cried at all and seemed quite content in the scruffy doctor's arms. Lisa would have to work to deny that she felt the same way. All of her happiness kept her going until James reappeared from her kitchen, announcing his departure. He had accepted the one-armed hug she had offered him, gently tickled Faith's baby belly, and nodded at Greg, who had made himself at home at her piano. After he had left, she changed Faith's diaper and put her down for the night. When she returned back to her living room, he was still there, twirling his cane in his hands.
"This was…nice," he said, standing when she came into his line of sight. She nodded and met his gaze, a cautious expression on her face.
He took a step closer to her and she braced herself. This was it. Fairytale ending, happily ever after, they kiss and make up and the world has righted itself once more. Her eyes flickered to the ground for just a second and she saw a stuffed animal of Faith's on the floor.
The second was all she needed to remember all of the events in the past month. Her brokenness, his ability to walk away…and now she had a baby, another human life that depended on the choices she made. She couldn't let him do this to her again, to wreak havoc on her emotions and expect her to just suffer on.
If he wanted her he'd have to prove it. One day didn't erase the pattern set by decades.
"Goodbye, Greg," she whispered, and she bent to pick up the toy, turned, and fled into the safety of her bedroom.
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Greg, huh? It wasn't much, but it was an improvement. He was making progress…
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So…here's my first update in 2009! I hope everyone had a safe and happy new year. As always, not mine, read, review, etc. I also have little to no knowledge of Judaism, so I hope I didn't offend anyone reading. Tasteful corrections are always welcome.