9/4/2008
Disclaimer: I don't own House or Cuddy, David Shore does. I don't own the song, it's sung by country duo Montgomery Gentry.
Rated M Please R&R! AU
A/N: See chapters 1 and 2 of this story for other A/N's and disclaimers.
A/N 2: My apologies for taking so long on this next chapter, real life has been keeping me busy. Thanks to everyone who has R&R, alerted and/or favorited this story. It's much appreciated.
A/N 3: In spite of what Wikipedia says about Cuddy not being Dean of Medicine by the time House gets there after the infarction, I'm changing that.
When Life Was Good And Love Was Easy Chapter 3
The morning after, neither of them spoke of what happened the night before. Not because they were embarrassed but because they were too hung over. As a result of being too hung over, well, they would come to realize the consequences of their drunkenness 9 months and many years later. At least Cuddy would figure it out 9 months later…House on the other hand would take years to come to this knowledge.
9 months later, Cuddy gave birth to a boy named Antonio, named after her full-Italian father. Antonio had dark brown hair just like Cuddy, and deep blue eyes that when Cuddy looked in them for the first time as she held her son, she knew they were House's eyes. Antonio had the bone structure of Cuddy, but he had House's eyes and at times, his mischievous ways. Cuddy taught her son the meaning of hard work, and dedication. Whenever Antonio asked who his dad was, Cuddy would lie to her son. Cuddy couldn't and wouldn't tell her son the truth. The guilt ate her up inside.
After graduation, Cuddy with the help of her family raised Antonio together and life was at times, very difficult with Cuddy working as a doctor specializing in Endocrinology. Mother and son soon got by and eventually Cuddy found herself as Dean of Medicine at PPTH.
It was at PPTH where Cuddy was the Dean of Medicine that she met House and the infarction fiasco ensued. The first time Cuddy saw House, all of the memories she had tried to forget from college and that one night of passion came rushing back to her and she had to take a deep breath and remind herself why she was there: to help House.
After the infarction, Stacey left House for Mark and because House needed a job, Cuddy hired him as Head of the Diagnostics Department. It was also at PPTH that House met his best friend James Wilson, Head of the Oncology Department. The two friends did everything together, mostly because House conned Wilson into his schemes and also because Wilson wrote House's Vicodin prescriptions.
Over the years, House, Cuddy, Wilson and the Ducklings (both old and new Ducklings) all dealt with many dilemmas: the fiascos of billionaire tycoon Edward Vogler, Detective Tritter, House getting shot and also dying, the subsequent failed Ketamine treatment and other issues. Over the years, Cuddy and House had a love-hate relationship, one that was built on House breaking hospital rules and Cuddy always trying to cover up his mistakes.
It was just like any other day that Cuddy walked into House's office. House didn't pay her any attention; instead he continued to play his PSP as if she wasn't there. It was late at night, around 6:00p.m. The only staff left at PPTH was House, Cuddy and few of the janitorial staff. House didn't have a patient, but he decided to chill out in his office playing his PSP. It wasn't uncommon for Cuddy to stop into House's office at the end of the night and say good night to him.
Tonight was no different, but still Cuddy knew tonight had to be the night she told him. She couldn't keep this from him forever. Cuddy sighed and took a deep breath.
"House, we need to talk." Silence and the sound of House's PSP met her ears.
She tried again, more sternly this time. "House! Look at me. We need to talk!" Still nothing. She tried calling his name once more and for a second thought about giving up.
Gathering her courage and nerve, Cuddy leaned over the desk and pulled the PSP away from House. House now pissed off for Cuddy bothering him and taking away his PSP yelled and demanded she give it back. Cuddy refused to give it back until he listened to her. Just to piss her off, House took out his Vicodin bottle, opened it, shook out two pills and dry swallowed them as he grinned up at her. Cuddy just sighed again.
She began to speak, "House, do you remember all those years ago University of Michigan."
"Of course I remember Cuddles. You moaned my name over and over." he said with a grin.
Cuddy just rolled her eyes. "House, I'm being serious. You know that night; we didn't use protection and well, congratulations Daddy. You're the father of one Antonio Cuddy."
There was silence for what seemed like eternity. Cuddy couldn't believe she'd said it. House couldn't believe he'd heard it. Him, a father! The gods must be conspiring against him! House could never and would never be a father, in any way, shape or form!
"House, say something!" Cuddy said.
Moments passed and House spoke "Are you sure he's mine Cuddles? After all, you were known to sleep around back in University." House shot back.
Cuddy tried her hardest not to blush from embarrassment.
"Trust me House, he's yours. He has your eyes and your mischievous streak." she replied.
"At least something good came of that night." he replied. "I was talking about the sex, not the little brat." he continued.
Cuddy sighed once more. "Look House." she said. "You're either going to be a part of Antonio's life or you're not. Make up your mind. I've been dealing with this for years and I need to know by tomorrow by 12:00 noon what your answer is. Either way, you're meeting him tomorrow night." With that little speech said, Cuddy turned on her heel and walked out of the office without giving House a chance to respond.
House sat there for several minutes, which turned into several hours and he contemplated the notion that he was a father. He hated kids, he never wanted to have them even when he was with Stacey and she kept bugging him about having kids, he'd always refuse. He was pissed that Cuddy had laid this on him now. His life was fine just the way it was and now this brat of a kid had to come in a screw it all up! House went home and did the only logical thing he knew, got drunk. He passed out on his couch with memories of him and Cuddy all those years ago swirling around in his mind.