A/N at the end of the chapter.
"In an Instant"
Chapter Eight
The next morning Allison rolled over in bed, still amazed at the sight before her. 'House looks almost peaceful when he is asleep,' she thought 'now why can't he be like that during his waking hours' she thought with a smirk on her face. She continued to watch Greg sleep awhile longer before they would have to regrettably need to get up for the day. She smiled. Asleep he really did look as innocent as a child, awake he often acted like one. Slowly Allison got out of bed to take a shower, careful not to wake him yet…
30 minutes later…
"House! Clinic duty!" Cameron said as she walked through their bedroom door.
"Go way Cuddy, have day off" House replied rolling over to his back still half asleep. Cameron smiled, that was a more polite version of what she thought she might be told by a sleeping House.
Sitting back down on the edge of the bed she laughed…
"Greg, it is time to get up we need to leave soon. The bathroom down stairs is free, and I am about to brew a pot of coffee – just how you like it. You need to be awake and out there to get it though.
"5 minutes please…"
As Cameron walked into the kitchen she found everyone other than Michael and Greg in there eating breakfast in various states of dress.
"Morning everyone," she called out as she walked over to the coffee machine, brewing the promised coffee for one Doctor House.
"Morning Auntie Allie," Charlotte called out, a spoonful of cereal in hand.
"Did you sleep good?" asked Jennifer with a sweet smile on her face, having been told by Uncle Ben to ask that.
"Good Morning to you too Charlotte, and yes Jennifer I had a good sleep. Not that it is any of your business Benjamin."
"Where Unca Geg?" asked Alyssa.
"He is still in bed asleep Alyssa."
"Wake up Unca Geg. Grandpa said we go soon."
"Ok Alyssa. Do you want to come with me?"
"Oh-kay," replied a smiling Alyssa before running down the corridor.
Once in their 'bedroom' Allison could see that Alyssa was trying to climb up onto the bed. "Why don't you give Uncle Greg a kiss and a cuddle to see if you can wake him up Alyssa," Allison whispered into her ear.
Alyssa smiled and lifted her arms up in a sign she wanted to be lifted, "up." Once on the bed she carefully made her way over to Greg, falling over once on the way landing on an arm, crawling the rest of the way on top of House she gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek – a very sloppy kiss on the cheek.
"Gross, I know you think I'm hot Cameron but you don't have to hose me down," House whined, opening his eyes in an attempt to figure out what the weight on his chest was.
"Wak up Unca Geg, wak up." Peaking out of one eye House saw mini-Cameron lying over him with her arms around his neck. House rolled onto his side moving the small girl with him, seeing Cameron for the first time he smiled at her.
"Still tried Cammie; need sleep."
"No, wak up Unca Geg, wak up! Time go now!"
"Five more minutes' mommy?" he looked up and battered his eyelashes at Alyssa. Cameron smiled.
"I 'Lyssa silly. Mommy gone ha'ven.
Realizing his mistake he hugged her closer to himself. For once wishing he thought before he opened his mouth.
"Okay, okay. I'm awake now Alyssa. It is nice to see you too… And good morning to you too Allison, where was my hug and kiss?"
"Okay everyone," Emily announced later that morning, "it's time to get into cars now, but remember that due to the parking at the lawyer's office everyone will need to pile into two cars. So Jonathan, why don't you take Greg and the boys in your car, it's larger and we females will take the kids in the mini-van."
As Chris walked past his Mom he gave her a kiss on the cheek and asked, "why are the kids coming with us again Mom?"
"Because we will be going straight from the lawyer's office to the hospital to see Caitlyn and Maddison. They haven't seen them yet either. Besides little Jonathan and Arabella don't like being with strangers."
20 minutes later everyone was on the move. The hassle of moving around five car seats and bumper seats and getting children into them was immense. The endless stream of 'whys,' 'but mommy's,' and the multiple 'are we there yet' were enough to the fry even the most loving parent's patience. All in all, the 30 minutes drive to the lawyer's office was a long one.
Once settled the lawyer William Lund introduced himself before he began to read the will of Gilbert and Ashleigh Benson first. While some items of the Benson estate did go to members of the Benson family or Emily the vast majority of their assets and belongings were to go Isabella Morgan and her husband Ryan including many family heirlooms and the house. At the conclusion of the Benson will William Lund began to talk about Ryan and Isabella Morgan.
"When Ryan and Isabella found out that Isabella was once again pregnant 7 ½ months ago they updated their will to include both Alyssa Marie Morgan and any other child that they may have," William began, "Ryan and Isabella have assigned the guardianship of their children to a Doctor Allison Cameron. Dr. Cameron, they have also included a letter for you that they wish me to read aloud at this time…
Allie,
First of all, if you are hearing this it means something has happened to Ryan and I and we can't be there for our children. At this time Allie Ryan and I are sitting down at home, today (May 14 2005) the midwife told us we will be having 2 little girls. At this time we wish to prepare for the future in case the thinkable happens. That something happens and we can't watch Alyssa and the twins grow up into adulthood.
We chose you Allie to be their guardian because you have always been there for me while we grew up together, you are truly the only sister I have ever known, and we know that you will give this same love to our babies. You will be there for them, love them, you can tell our girls about Ryan and I because we can't ~ especially about myself as we grew up together. With you we know they are safe, they are with family. At this time this is our only concern – the welfare of our babies if we are not there to watch over them day-to-day.
Allie, we want our girls to be able to call someone Mom, someone to told their hand when they are sick, to gossip with as they grow older, to give them the childhood that they deserve. We know that this person is you Allie. And when that time comes again for you Allie they will have someone to call Dad. (Let me to be the first to say congratulations). We want them to have a real family, the girls are still young, and they deserve this chance to have a normal life, with a mother and a father. We want our girls to take your last name Allie, yes, this is so hard for us to actually put this down in writing but Ryan and I would like them to grow up as we have, in a good stable loving environment – with you Allie.
We know you Allie; you may not want to do this. But please Allie, for me? For my girls?
Allie, I love you.
Never doubt or forget that.
For this reason and many others I gift you that which I value most above all else ~ my children.
I know you will hug and love them for me.
Ella Morgan
As William Lund finished reading he looked up. House looked around him. He could see each adult in the room with tears trailing down their faces. The children playing quietly in the corner were oblivious to what was happening. As an outsider to this family he could see past the pain of losing a loved one and see the great sacrifice and thought that Ryan and Isabella have shown. As William continued he could see that most of the family had tuned out – their thoughts centered on the love of the parents to their children. House continued to hold Allison's hand which had worked its way into Greg's sometime during the reading of the wills. The wills had continued as the family had believed with everything going to both Gilbert and Ashleigh Benson or, their 3 daughters or Allison. (The Morgan's had truly provided for the needs of their children, Allison would not have to worry about where the money would be coming from for childcare or their physical needs).
On leaving the lawyers office after filling out some legal paper work they all climbed into their respective cars to drive over to the hospital. The situation in the car was subdue, their thoughts focused on loved ones that had passed on. House's thought were once more on Cameron on the wonderful woman that she was, the great under taking she was about to make and, how he could be of help (although he would probably deign that last one in a court of law). While the family spent time with the twins Greg went into town to pick something up.
Later that evening after Michael and his family had flown home and Ben had Chris had set out by road. Once more Jonathan, Emily, Allison and Greg all sat around the kitchen table, coffee in hand talking.
House turned to Allison "I never thought to ask, Allison, how are you planning on getting home?"
"Oh, Mom said we would drive back in her car, we still have a lot of luggage to take home, besides, Mom is not too fond of flying, this way when it comes time for her to go back home she has her car."
"That's good, Emily, you are staying for a couple of weeks am I right?" House asked as he turned back to Emily and Jonathan.
Emily smiled, "yes I will be staying for a couple of weeks Greg. I think that should be enough time for Allie here to have worked out a routine with the girls. Do you think you can put up with me for a couple more weeks Greg?"
"I think I will somehow be able to manage that, beside this time I will have home town advantage."
Allison laughed at House's comment, "Oh, what time did you need to be at the airport by Greg?"
"Please don't remind me Allison. And 8am." Greg sighed.
"Okay, would you like me to drive you to the airport before I go to the hospital, Mom and Dad are planning to head out there sometime around lunch time, NICU said that the twins would be ready to go sometime after lunch, probably after their 2pm feeding. So I have room in the car."
"That will be great, but it is almost like you are trying to get rid of me Allison."
"No, but now that you mention it House… you are not as bad as you usually are at the hospital. You lost your bite this weekend?"
"Nope, just on my bestest behavior for my girls parents," House smiled winking to Jonathan and Emily, "I want your parents to actually like me, I realized how much you actually meant to me, I don't want to lose you."
"Okay, I was worried for a little while that you may have had the brain transplant," Allison quipped.
House rolled his eyes and smiled.
"Oh, and taking about room…"
"We were taking about room?" Emily smiled.
"Yes we were, when I said there would have room for Greg in the car. Anyways… why don't we pack the car tonight, we are always rushed in the morning and I need to get everything for the twins in the car. Also Alyssa wants to come with me to the hospital tomorrow so we need to get three car seats in there."
Emily turned to Jonathan and smiled at Allison and Greg. Jonathan smiled and said, "Not planning a quick getaway are you Greg?"
"Man, I wish I could stay here with Allison and the girls while they are here but I need to get back to Satan – my boss – I need to get back to work on time tomorrow. She still has no idea where I am, I just told her out of state visiting an acquaintance of my parents." Seeing the confused looks on both Emily and Jonathans faces he went on to explain, "When my parents were in town a while back I wasn't able to go out to dinner with them…"
"Meaning he later arranged to have dinner with a friend of his to get out of it…" Allison added.
"So Missy here decided to trick me into it, inviting my parents to have dinner with my friend and I, then inviting herself…"
"Hey, when everything I planned fell to custard and you ended up having dinner in the Café I didn't join you even when your mother invited me to."
"…so Allison here is an acquaintance of my parents, and she was out of state so everything I told the boss lady was true." He laughed, "Like I said, Satan has no idea where I am…"
"Satan?"
"Yip, Satan" a large grin making re-appearance on his face.
"So Allie, do you have Satan as your boss too?" her dad wanted to know.
"Nope," she smirked looking over at House, "what do you know my boss is the Joker, it is all about the riddles."
House thought for a moment, "Actually I like it! Of course Foreman is Batman what with the flash as 'stolen' cars and fancy suits. And with the hair and the ass kissing Chase is Robin… So Miss Allison Cameron, would that make you a Batgirl, the side-kick of Foreman and Chase or are you more of a bad girl Miss Allie Cat? Will you join the dark side and be my cat women?"
Emily looked on at the two of them in amusement. She was pleased to see Allison this happy. "So is your boss still Satan? Or is she now the mayor of your little town the hospital directing Batman and Robin to clean up after the Joker and defeat evil…" she asked.
Jonathan laughed at House who now sat there deep in thought. "Okay House you have time to think about this one later tonight but I seem to remember something about packing the car for tomorrow morning. Allie, would you like me to move Alyssa's car seat into the car? I think it was placed in the garage when Michael began to pack the mini-van this afternoon."
"Sure Dad, thank you. We will meet you there I still need to get the twin's car seats, they are in the storage cupboard along with the girls bags." As she said this he got up and headed out the door.
Allison walked back into the kitchen laden down with the car sets and about 4 bags. House saw an opening and took it… "Allie Cat, please promise me you will not turn into a bag lady."
"Yes dear," Allison quickly replied before heading towards the garage door.
"Gee Cameron, you should have just told me you wanted to do my clinic duty for a week."
"Okay House, but if I have to do your clinic duty you will have to do Nappy duty." Allison smiled as she continued to walk towards the door; from Greg's face it looked like she had won that battle.
"Man, I guess I have to do my own clinic duty now…" Greg thought out loud, "but wait I still have Batman and Robin."
Struggling to get through the door she called out, "House, can you grab a bag or two?" Allison asked, motioning towards a bag in each of the seats. Once House had the bags in hand the three of them headed outside to the drive way via the garage to join Jonathan at the car.
Jonathan had just finished getting Alyssa's car seat into the car when House noticed a potential problem.
"Emily, is this the car you will be driving down with on Wednesday?"
"Yes. Why?"
"I think we might have a little trouble getting three car seats into the back seat – none of them can go into the front due to the air bags."
"I never thought about that" Emily added, when her children were young they didn't have air bags to worry about. "Oh and Chris and Ben left hours ago to drive Ryan and Ella's car back to New York. (The plan was that they would later drive the car down to Princeton for Thanksgiving or Christmas that year as Allison had a small 2 door car).
Jonathan being the ever calm patient man said, "How 'bout we put them all into the Civic now and see just how tight a fit it is."
Minutes later they realized that the seats were in fact a very tight fit; that while the door closed it left both seats that sat beside them to sit on an angle next to Alyssa's toddler seat. The moved one of the baby seats into the boot before heading back inside to work out the logistics. They still had time on their side as it had not yet reached 9pm. Once they had worked out that there would not be enough room for both Emily Allison and the three girls along with the remainder of their luggage for the 12 hour road trip they were at a slight stand still as they each thought of a way to make this happen.
"How about we rent a mini-van" Emily thought out loud. Deciding that this would not be practical they continued to ponder.
House slowly looked up, still deep in thought, "How about I take Alyssa with me on the plane tomorrow. I can book a ticket for her now on the same flight with me; I can also take a couple of large suitcases with me – as long as I pack them… I only have a large carry on bag with me so it is no problem… It is just a thought."
Allison glanced between Greg and her father. "I think it is a good idea. I mean, it would make the drive a lot easier too if we are not stopping for toilet brakes every couple of hours. Dad?"
"It is okay with me, but Greg are you sure; you would have Alyssa till late Wednesday evening."
"I'm sure. She likes me, and I like her well enough for an ankle-bitter," Greg smiled.
"Okay" Jonathan said as he got out of his chair, "I am just going to call William Lund to ensure that Greg here does not get arrested for taking a minor over state lines. I have no idea what legal forms are required."
Emily looked over to Greg, "Greg, if you go get your ticket I will call the airline when Jonathan gets off the line."
A few minutes later Jonathan and Greg walked into the kitchen at the same time, Jonathan spoke up as he walked through the door behind Greg carrying the cordless phone "William said there would be no problems as long as we had the guardianship papers that he gave Allison today and she was there to sign a couple of forms tomorrow at the airport."
"That's good news… Greg, Honey," she added, winking at Allison, "hand over your ticket please. And before I start, last chance, are you sure you will be fine with Alyssa for two days?"
"I will be fine, I will even call Satan herself now to see if I can get her into daycare during the day – incase I have a case."
An hour later Emily was off the phone, everything was settled. Greg and Allison would take Alyssa to the gate the next morning where she would get onto the plane with Greg. She would then go to the hospital with Greg where she would then attend daycare as Cuddy had approved. With the flight organized the evening was spent packing all of Alyssa's belongings into two large suitcases continuing to fill them up with additional belongings of both the twins and Allison's.
Come 11:45 House and Cameron could be found cuddled up in bed together fast asleep.
A/N : First of all I want to say sorry for the long wait. This is not an excuse, I could have found the time, but this is what I have been up two the last ?2 months…
I spent 3 weeks down with my friend. She didn't end on having the surgery during that time but had 3 attacks the week I left. Her two kids (Bethany (2) and Alexis (1 month) were adorable but Bethany who turned 2 the week I left had hit the terrible 2s – especially no longer being an only child. Alexis is a colic baby. Meaning that a) I was busy b) no down time to really write c) no computer/internet.
Christmas… I managed to get on a computer for about 2 hours before I had to then pack it away as we had 6 extra's over for lunch on Christmas day. Hope you all had a great time with those you love. The computer stayed out of the kitchen for a while. It is normally in the dining room but the kitchen/ dining room was getting redecorated.
Real life has come too close to this story. I currently have a cousin (mum's side) and an aunt (dad's side) who have cancer throughout their bodies. My aunt had breast cancer 5 years ago. She found out the cancer had spread (liver, lungs, spine) the week between Christmas and new year. She is currently in hospice with palliative care. My parent have been asked to be the guardians to her 2 children (13/14).
I have just got back from the beach (I am from New Zealand so it is summer here and I am not crazy).
This year I am studying again. A full time early childhood diploma/nanny course and a computer course done mostly by correspondence. (it is meant t take 2 years but I think I should be able to finish it this year)
Paper work to work part time in a retirement home/hospital.
I have finished writing the next 2 chapters of this story and I am ½ way through the chapter of my harry potter one with 1st drafts of 2 other stories… all done at te beach…
So I hope you can find it in yourself to forgive me of this long wait… I made it long if it helps. I have no real knowledge of wills or the reading of them but the important things are that basically everything goes to the 3 girls and they will change their names ie. Alyssa's full name will now be 'Alyssa Marie Morgan Cameron' as Ryan and Ella wish it – I am making the Morgan a 2nd middle name for all 3 of them because I believe it is something that Allison would do so they remember who they are.
Um NICU = Neonatl Intensive Care Unit
I imagined Emily's car to be a Holden Civic Sadan 2003 – I checked and they don't appear to be able to fit 3 car seats across the back.
Sorry this is so long…
And as always, I am a first time writer so please let me know how I can improve or if there are any mistakes – I am wanting to upload this tonight as I will not be back on for a couple of days; so although I have spellchecked this and read through it a few times my grammer and spelling suck, I know it and by now you probably do too…
Oh well its 2am here… so till next time
Astig01