12/30/2008

Disclaimer: I don't own House or Cuddy, Wilson or any of the Ducklings. David Shore does. I do however; own the original character of Antonio. I don't own the song title this story is based off of, by the country duo Montgomery Gentry. This story is all for enjoyment and no money is being made. That said, on with the next chapter!

Rated M Please R&R! ALL comments are welcome! My apologies if the characters are OOC.

A/N: My thanks to SweetSauce for her comments on my story thus far. I hope this chapter helps to explain some things.

A/N 2: This story isn't turning out as well as I'd like, but I hope ya'll like this chapter.

When Life Was Good and Love Was Easy

Chapter 6

While their son was away studying in Italy, life wasn't all rainbows and roses for House and Cuddy. There was of course, Cuddy's ever present bickering at House to do his clinic hours, but that was nothing new. They both continued to work at PPTH, working long and arduous hours.

However, something else was keeping them both on edge. This constant tension made them both crankier and meaner when it came to arguments. The stress at first came out in House's more than usual use of Vicodin and booze. Cuddy too was affected by all of this stress and had taken up again the habit of smoking, something she had quit while in college and then again when she was pregnant with her son. But the stress of dealing with all this, had taken its toll on her and smoking, like House's drinking and drug use had become her vice. Cuddy had also taken to giving House the cold shoulder, only speaking to him when they were at work. Cuddy also didn't sleep a whole lot because of the stress, but then again neither did House because of his leg pain. They were both equally on edge.

This unspoken tension was due to the fact that Cuddy hadn't explained to House why she wanted him in her and Antonio's life, and also why she had asked House to move in with them so quickly.

Every so often, Antonio would call home and it was usually Cuddy who answered the phone, when he called late at night. They chatted idly and the Dean of Medicine did her best to keep up a front that everything was fine at home, but Antonio knew better than that. After all, he'd been taught that 'everybody lies', by the master himself: House. The son didn't push the issue with his mom.

It all came to a head one night as House came home around 10:00pm from PPTH, after working on a case. House of course was high on Vicodin. The moment he limped in, it was quiet, unusually quiet for that time of night. Usually at 10:00pm, Cuddy was in bed, listening to the radio, singing along softly.

House put his back pack and coat away and then he went to the kitchen to get a drink. Instead of going to the bedroom to say hello to Cuddy, he stayed on the couch drinking and getting high. His way of avoiding the situation. A few hours later, he limped into the bedroom, quite drunk. The first thing he noticed was the smell, it was different. The room usually smelled like jasmine, one of Cuddy's favorite scents, but now all it smelled like was stale cigarettes.

House wrinkled up his nose in disgust, Cuddy knew he hated it when she smoked and she did it just to piss him off.

"You stink, you know that?" he spat at her.

Cuddy just lay on her side of the bed saying nothing. House knew that she was awake.

"You know, Cuddy, I'm getting really tired of all of this shit. I want to know why the hell you invited me into your home. And why is it that you asked me so suddenly to be in Antonio's life? Were you desperate? Looking for love? Huh? Why is it?" House ranted.

Cuddy stayed silent this entire time, she had emotionally shut down with all of this stress.

A drunken House continued to rant, wildly swinging his cane to emphasize his points whilst leaning on the doorframe to support himself.

"Was it so you could show the world that you're not some pathetic mother trying to raise a son? Or because you wanted your son to have a "normal" family? Well, guess what! We don't have a "normal" family! We won't ever have a normal family with the way you're acting and what you're doing to raise our son. You know, I've heard you on the phone talking to Antonio, keeping up appearances with the false laughs and what not. He's on to you, you know. Even at his age, he's such a damn mama's boy! It's sad! You're a useless woman raising our stupid son! Speaking of which, I never much liked the kid, much less loved him!" he was screaming at her now.

Those last words hit home for Cuddy. She rolled over and quickly got out of bed, her wild dark hair a mess, her eyes wide with rage and dark circles beneath. The enraged woman stalked over to where House was and without warning, hauled off and slapped House as hard as she could.

The only thing that was heard was the sound of Cuddy's hand hitting House's face. House stumbled backwards loosing his grip on the doorframe and fell down onto the hardwood floor with a loud crash, cursing loudly. He clutched his bad leg in agony as it gave way beneath him as he fell.

Cuddy stood over him with a look of pure hatred in her eyes. The man lying on the floor was too stunned and drunk to see this; all he knew was that he was hurting.

"Don't you ever, ever call me or Antonio weak! Or I swear to God that I'll make you know more pain that you've ever known before! The reason why I asked you to come live with me was because I thought at the time that I loved you. I did it because I wanted my son to have a dad, someone who he could go to for advice. Hell, the only advice you've ever given him was that 'everybody lies'. I guess it's true, anyway you lied to when you told me you loved me! And by the way, Antonio is more of a man that you'll ever be! At least he's out there living his life, doing what he loves, pursuing the dream you never could. Becoming successful and admired. You know what, here's a news flash for you: I'm not in love with you! I haven't been for a very long time and I was stupid to think that we could get back together and be happy!" she was crying now, tears of anger, hurt, and regret and deep pain.

House said nothing as she yelled at him. When Cuddy had finished her rant, she turned on her heel, went back into the bedroom and slammed the door, rattling the pictures on the wall.

The drunken and in pain man, could hear her crying. Slowly, he got up and very painfully grabbed his cane, wherever it was and limped over to the hall closet and got out a blanket and a pillow that he had put in there the last time he slept on the couch. He made his way over to the couch and lay down. He spent the rest of the night drinking booze, watching TV, and popping pills, trying his best not to think about what had taken place or the fact that Cuddy was crying.

Cuddy cried for what seemed like hours, finally settling into a restless sleep. House too fell asleep on the couch, more like passed out, actually from the whiskey he drank and the pills he took. He too fell into a restless slumber.

Time would tell what would happen for this dysfunctional couple and family.

TBC.