I'm trying to post regulary and that should be pretty easy from now on cause I've just finished mid-term exams and I know that you guys in America are probably boiling hot this time of year but I'm sitting here in front of the computer wearing 4 pairs of pants, three shirts, a jumper, 2 pairs of socks, dressing gown, slippers and beanie and 2 pairs of gloves.

You guys may think I'm being histrionic but its fucking FREZZING in Australia right now! Got down to 5 degrees last night and that's cold for me!

So sorry for any typos, I blame the gloves I'm wearing.

Big thick, chunky gloves and small keys on a keyboard are not a good match.

Chapter 3- Driving Lessons

House groaned as he was awakened by a car horn being beeped relentlessly outside.

He rolled over and hugged the naked body next to him closer.

Allison moaned and pushed him away.

"Go!", she mumbled, "I'm tired and you know that the only way to stop her beeping that horn is to go do what you promised".

House sighed and sat up, knowing she was right.

She was, in fact, talking about Addie, who sat impatiently in her new car on the street.

A week ago House had promised to give her driving lessons but he'd agreed before she'd set a time.

House rubbed his eyes and looked at the clock.

It flashed 8:00am at him.

House let himself flop back onto the bed, covering his face with a pillow.

Allison reached over and pried the pillow from his finger, throwing it across the room.

"Go! Now! Go teach", Allison prodded.

House got up out of bed and got dressed quickly, the whole while the impatient tooting of his daughter edging him on.

Once dressed House walked to the window. Throwing it open he stuck his head out and looked down at the street.

"Hey!", he called out, not caring that it was 8 am on a Saturday morning and people might be trying to sleep.

Addie got out of the drivers side and leaned against the car.

"Come one, old man", she yelled up to him, giving the neighbours the same courtesy.

"Let me sleep another hour or two", House replied back, to tired to come up with a retaliation to the old man hit.

Addie shook her head, unyielding, "Nope. Come on!"

House crossed his arms, "Maybe I don't want to".

Addie followed suit and crossed her arms while letting her bottom lip stick out.

"You promised!"

"Guys!", a new voice yelled, "Will you both shut up! People are trying to sleep including me!"

House and Addie stopped their teasing.

House walked over and kissed Allison on the head, "Sorry, sweetie".

"Sorry, Mom", Addie could be hear calling in a softer tone from outside.

Allison shot House a glare that made him run for the car keys.

He put his hands up, "I'm going. I'm going".

He grabbed his wallet and mobile from the bedside table.

"Want me to grab you anything?", he asked softly.

Allison sat up abruptly, "Flat white espresso macchiato with two sugars and one of those giant chocolate muffins".

House nodded, "OK".

House backed out of the room, closing the door softly behind him.

A few minutes later he was exiting the house and limping as fast as he could towards the car.

Addie looked up as her dad opened the passengers side and hopped in.

They sat silently for a few moments.

"So", Addie began, "Mom's a bit angry".

House glanced sideways at her, "PMS and lack of beauty sleep don't go good together".

Addie wrinkled her nose, "O-K".

House smiled at her, "Alright. First thing, buckle your seat belt".

Addie complied and waited, listening patiently to the directions her dad gave her.

Soon they were ready and Addie was driving them down the street.

"Have you picked a college yet?", House asked distractedly.

Addie shrugged, flicking her blinker on.

"Not sure yet", she told him, tuning the corner.

House nodded, forgetting that he was meant to be teaching her.

"Just make sure you pick somewhere close to home so the petrol costs won't be high".

Addie glanced sideways at him, "What petrol costs?"

"The cost of you driving from our house to college each day", he told her with a twinkle in his eye.

"Wait stop!", Addie pulled the car over and turned to House, "I'm not living at home and going to college".

House feigned seriousness, "Of course you are. You're definitely not living in a dorm room. Haven't you seen Girls Gone Wild?"

Addie gazed in shock at him, "Dad!", she whined, "I'm living at college. Even Jacob's going to be".

She was talking about Cuddy and Wilson's son who was two months older than her.

"Exactly my point. I've seen the way Jacob looks at you".

House grinned to himself as Addie blushed to her roots.

"I don't know what you're talking about!", Adie cried.

Addie stopped and stared House in the eye, "You were joking. Weren't you?"

House grinned and stuck his tongue out.

"Dad!", she yelled, attacking him with half-hearted blows.

House laughed and dodged them easily.

"Ok, Ok", House put his hands up in submission.

"Even?", Addie asked.

House stuck his tongue out again, "Even".

Addie restarted the car and they continued with the lesson.

"OK", House told her, "When you see a stop sign obviously you have to stop. Once the car has come to a complete stop, check your mirrors, look both ways then gun the engine for all its got".

Addie smiled and did as told, apart from the last part.

As Addie drove past a near-empty parking lot, House decided it was time she learnt how to park.

Addie did a u-turn, much to House displeasure that there was no wheelie, and pulled into the drive way of the parking lot.

"OK", House turned to her, "Now the hard stuff begins".

House put Addie through the drills and came out completely unscarred.

"Thought you were gonna hit that blue car when you did the three-point", House teased her.

Addie raised an eyebrow, a skill she had perfected over the years, "Father, I had the situation completely under control".

"Ok then, Ayden", he shot back.

Addie shot him a glare and pulled out of the parking lot, "Where to now?"

"That coffee shop a few block down for us", House pointed.

Addie nodded, "Why?"

"Your mom wants coffee", he yawned, "next driving lesson is happening in the afternoon".

Addie laughed and flicked hr blinker on, checking her mirrors she turned the corner expertly.

House watched her carefully, "Wow. You're a natural".

Addie opened her mouth but closed it quickly to stop herself from blurting out the truth.

---

"OK", Allison began, "Now, we've gone through what to do but there's one more thing left".

Addie turned around in her seat to look at her mom, "What?"

"Whatever you do don't tell your father".

Addie laughed, "I promise".

"OK, start the car", Allison directed.

Addie turned the car over and their first secret driving lesson began.

------

Addie just smiled, "Guess I take after my old man"

House smiled back at her, "Guess you do".

Allison had know it was House dream to teach Addie how to drive but she also knew that he wasn't a very teacher. Thus the reason for the secret driving lessons at 4am in the morning.

Addie smiled to herself, glad that she had the most understanding mom.

Addie pulled into a parking spot on the street and they got out.

Addie walked around to House's side and they walked towards the coffee shop.

Addie wrapped her arm in House's and let her head fall to his shoulder as they walked.

"I'll wait out here while you get the order", House sat down on a bench outside the small coffee shop and pulled out his wallet.

Addie stuck a hand out for the money, "What do I get?"

"Get mom's usual coffee, I'll have a strong black, you'll get a latte and get three of the giant chocolate muffins".

Addie grinned as she pocketed the fifty, and disappeared inside.

House sat on the bench, basking in the warm sunlight.

He twirled his cane in one hand and looked about.

"Greg?"

House glanced up as he heard his name.

His eyes widened as he stared at the person in front of him.

"Hey", Stacey smiled down at him.

---

TBC

R&R

Ooooo, I hate Stacey. Da, da, daaaaa she's back!