10/1/2008
Disclaimer: I don't own House or Cuddy, David Shore does. See other chapters for further disclaimers.
Rated M Please R&R!
A/N: My apologies for the late and short chapter, life has been crazy.
12:00 noon the next day came too quickly for House's liking. He didn't get much sleep the night before because of the decision he had to make and because of the pain in his leg, but that was nothing new. As much as he despised kids, he figured he'd be a part of Antonio's life for Cuddy's sake. Plus he didn't want Antonio to end up with an absentee father who like his own dad was never around.
He sent word to Cuddy via Chase who told Cuddy one word, and that was "yes". Cuddy was happy that House was doing this, but she wondered what his motives were. Were they because he actually loved the kid? Cuddy scratched that idea the second after she thought it. House wasn't the kind of man to ever put anyone before himself; after all he was a selfish man. Was it because of her? She'd have to wait until later on that night to find out the answer.
Evening came and House soon found himself sitting alone in his office playing with his PSP. He was too engrossed in the game to hear Cuddy and Antonio walk in. Cuddy cleared her throat, but that made no difference. It wasn't until Antonio, who got bored quickly and often had knocked over something in House's office and sent it crashing to the ground that House looked up from his game. He had a pissed off look on his face.
"What the hell Cuddy? You bring your kid in here and the first thing he does is break something! Way to go Cuddles! Great parenting skills!" he said sarcastically.
Cuddy yelled back, "Look House this isn't my fault, if you had acknowledged that we were here then maybe Antonio wouldn't have gotten bored and started playing around in your office!" They both knew it was a lame excuse but Cuddy was too tired after a long day to argue with House, something she'd done all day.
Cuddy sighed and House ran a hand over his face. He finally looked over at the young boy who had been quiet all this time. He knew at once by looking in the young boy's ice blue eyes that it was his child. Antonio wore a pair of Converse shoes, blue jeans and a white T-shirt with a black hoodie overtop. He had Cuddy's hair.
"Antonio, I'd like you to meet your dad, Greg House, you can call him House, just like everyone else does." Cuddy said to the boy.
House was never one for introductions. Antonio slowly got up the courage to speak.
"Hi House." Antonio said with a timid smile on his face. "I'm sorry about breaking that thing in your office." he continued with a sound of remorse in his voice.
"You should be sorry kid. That cost me well over two grand to get! Lousy brat!" House said.
"Look here House, since you're going to support Antonio and me, I won't have you insulting him in front of me. Or else I'll give you double the hours for clinic duty. You got that?" Cuddy asked.
House said nothing. There was awkward silence for a few moments. House hated silence of any kind.
"Look Cuddy, I'm a busy guy, places to go, people to see you know? So how are we going to do this whole, 'support' thing?" House asked. He was getting annoyed because it was getting late and he was tired.
"I was thinking House that you could come live with Antonio and I in my House" Cuddy replied.
"What the hell Cuddy! That was never part of our deal! Unless I get to sleep in your bed, then I'm game." he said with a leer in his voice.
Cuddy sighed, "Yes I know that this wasn't part of our deal House, but what better way to get to know Antonio, right? Because I know how much you just love spending time with kids!" she replied sarcastically.
House looked at Antonio and said, "Look kid, just because I agreed to support you and Cuddy doesn't mean I love you, you got that?" Antonio nodded his head. He felt deeply hurt that this man didn't love him, but that he felt obligated to support him and his mother.
After more discussion between the two adults, it was decided that House would move in with Cuddy and Antonio the following weekend. Who knew, maybe, just maybe, House would come to learn to love Antonio?