Title: Making His Own Life
Part: 4
Author: Mlizhobie
Fandom: House, M.D.
Pairing: Wilson/OFC(Lorelai) & House/?
Disclaimer: Don't own House or any of the other characters except for the OC characters.
AN: This is a sequel to the story 'It's My Life'. Be an awesome person, read and review. A very special thanks to my Beta reader, she helps me thru my dreaded bouts of writer's block.
AN2: With Greg's admission – what happens next?
Lorelai's jaw dropped and she was left staring at Greg totally speechless. She had no idea that this was how he felt, her husband's best friend, the father of her 2 youngest children had feelings for her. For the first few years of her & James's marriage Lore half thought that Greg might have had a slight crush on her, but now almost 12 years later she knew it was more than a slight crush. Greg's words weren't meant to tease her, these were his real feelings. She could see it in his eyes just how hard it was for him to admit this.
When Lore didn't say anything right away Greg got nervous and quickly tried to fill the silence by saying, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't ever talk. I need to just become a mute. It would help in a lot of situations, trust me." He then slowly started to stand, only to have Lorelai put her hand on his shoulder and push him back down. She peered into his eyes and firmly said, "You aren't running from me Greg, not anymore. Now that I know what is going on, I can help you. Well I can't fix it, but I will help you find someone who is even better than me. I won't let you hide anymore and you know damn well that you aren't leaving."
Greg leaned back in the chair and studied Lore's face, she meant every word she had said and she knew that it was exactly what he needed to hear. Maybe Lorelai could read his mind, that wasn't really a good thing. Smiling at this thought Greg caught Lorelai watching his expression change and grinned at her. She leaned over and kissed his cheek gently before saying, "We'll find you somebody Greg, I promise. For right now we aren't going to tell James about this, but we are going to get you some dates." He almost let his wall down totally and responded with no attitude, when the door was pushed open and Allison stuck her head out asking for House to come inside.
Lorelai smiled slightly at Greg and she could tell that he had slipped fully back into House and the moment to talk to Greg was gone. This time she didn't stop him when he stood and followed him inside. She then left the office, because she was totally unable to help in the differential diagnosis brainstorming. Lorelai then went back to James's office and found him on the phone. She sat on the couch on the far side of the room and waited for the call to end.
James half waved at Lore when she entered, but continued to argue with the doctor on the other end of the phone. It was a specialist from New York and he wasn't going to allow James's patient into his study. James did his best to not raise his voice at the other man, but couldn't see what was blocking his application. Then James started to respond to the man's screaming accusation of faking the records, but was left fumbling when the man hung up on him. Pulling the receiver away from his ear, James stared at it oddly for a few seconds before slamming it down and half screaming, "Asshole!"
Lorelai was pulled from her thoughts and had a difficult time stifling her laughter when she saw James's expression. Hearing his wife's laughter James also started laughing and said, "Well he is! I don't fake my patient's records and he is an ass for even suggesting it. Doesn't matter anyway I changed my mind about putting my patient into his study anyway. What did you find out with Greg?" Lore stopped laughing and met James's eyes before seriously saying, "We need to find Greg a wife."
James had just taken a drink from a bottle of water and swallowed it wrong when he heard what Lorelai had said. He started coughing and sputtering as he said, "Find Greg a what? He doesn't want to get married!" Lore calmly waited for James to stop coughing before she said, "Yes he does, he wants what we have and he's lonely." James still couldn't believe what Lorelai was saying, Greg wasn't the marrying type of guy. He thought for a few seconds and then said, "If Greg is lonely he will go get drunk and pay a hooker like he did last night! That doesn't mean he wants a wife Lorelai."
Lore eyed James for a bit and then said, "James he wants more than that! We are going to find him somebody." James rolled his eyes and sighed loudly before saying, "God Lorelai, why? I am not any good at finding the perfect person for anyone. It took 38 years and 3 divorces before you found me! I didn't do anything spectacular." Lorelai scoffed and said, "Oh well thanks that makes my taste look really nice now. You know Greg better than anyone; you know what he likes and what he doesn't. You're his wing-man or a buffer or something – James we have to do this." James again rolled his eyes, but sighed in resignation knowing that Lore wouldn't shut up until he agreed to do this.
By the time they got home that night James & Lorelai had a plan for finding Greg a woman. That Saturday night they were going to take Greg out and not let him get drunk, but make him look good and see what kind of woman was out there. Lore was going to call all the grandmas and see if they wanted to come spend an evening with their grandchildren. Greg's mom hadn't been able to see the twins in over a month and Lore knew the woman wanted to badly. James's parents had come down the previous weekend and took the children out for pizza. Her parents called all the time and Lore's mother usually told the twins stories over the phone. All three women adored the 4 children and if they were allowed to, they would spoil them rotten.
Greg's parents got the kids all kinds of toys and had packed 2 play rooms full of their gifts. Lore's parents also liked buying the children toys, but at Lore's request kept most of their gifts at either their house or the club so the children would have things to do during family visits. James's parents were much more reasonable with their gifts for the kids, they really enjoyed getting them educational things; books, games, puzzles… those types of things. Lore didn't have to wonder why all their sons were incredibly intelligent.
When Lore had called all the grandmas, she found out that James's mom Debra wouldn't be able to come down that weekend because she & Landon already had plans. Lorelai told her it was fine and let her go. Then Lore called her mom and asked what she was doing and if she would want to come up that weekend to watch the kids. Michelle was thrilled at the idea to come visit her four grandchildren. The twins had grown a lot since the last time the Nelsons had seen them, so Michelle couldn't wait. Michelle was the one who ended the call because there was a semi-crisis at the club and she had to handle it.
It took a while for Lore to find Blythe House's cell number, so it was almost a half hour before she got to call. Lorelai was a bit nervous about talking to Greg's mom, she hadn't talked to the woman very often without Greg being present and it freaked her out. When Blythe answered she instantly thought that Greg was being an ass and Lore needed back up, but Lore quickly reassured the older woman, "No, I'm sorry Blythe. I just wanted to ask you something. James & I wanted to take Greg out for dinner on Saturday without the kids and I wanted to know if you might want to come and play with the kids? My mom is going to be here to keep Jay & Nina from killing each other, but she could use an extra set of hands with the twins…" Blythe didn't even let Lore finish her thought, she laughed and jumped in saying, "Lorelai, Jay & Nina are wonderful children and I know better than to believe you when you say things like that. Now if you were talking about the twins I might believe you – Greg was a little terror as a child. I know that your mother will have her hands full with those twins and I can't wait to see how much they have grown. I would also love getting to visit with your mother. Besides John has something to do with his war buddies and I was wondering what I would do on Saturday."
After hanging up with Blythe, Lore ran down to find James and found him in his office. James could tell that she was excited just by how she was practically bouncing. Grinning James said, "So you got takers for Grandma duty?" Lore nodded and said, "Yep, mom and Blythe will both be here. Your parents already had plans, but they were just here last weekend. So where are we going to take Greg?" James thought for a bit, pulled Lorelai down to sit on his lap and then said, "I know a place, it's up town and he really likes it. Just let me take care of the details ok kid?" Lorelai nodded again and kissed James before saying, "Ok old man, but we have to make this fun so he doesn't bail." James laughed and said, "Ok seriously what are you 22 now? Since when do you say stuff like 'bail'?"
Just as Lore started to smart off Isaac slid to a stop in front of the door and said, "Momma, where Daddy?" Lorelai kissed James again and then stood up saying, "I don't know sweetie, why don't we go look for him?" The little boy nodded and reached for his mother to pick him up. Lore lifted the child and sat him on her hip and turned back to James and said, "I mean it James, it has to be fun or he won't want to go. Daddy likes fun stuff doesn't he Isaac?" Isaac giggled as Lore tickled him and said, "Yup Daddy funny." James had stood up and crossed the room, so he also tickled the squirming boy as he said, "Ok little man, I'll make it fun for your Daddy, but he has to be nice." Isaac continued to squirm as James tickled him even harder and could barely breathe by the time he said, "Unka Jimmy stop, Momma make stop!"
Lorelai playfully slapped James's hands away and said, "Ok boys stop, we need to go find Isaac's missing Daddy. Did you check his room?" Isaac was still giggling and shook his head no before saying, "Nope." Lore then kissed his cheek and said, "Well we will start there and hopefully your sister is with him, cause its past your bedtime monkey." Isaac's bright green eyes went incredibly wide as he said, "No Momma no bed!" James could almost hear Lore's rebellious streak coming through Isaac's comment and placed a gentle, calming hand on the boy's back as he said, "Isaac, Momma said it's time for bed, so no arguing." The wide green eyes were now directed up at James as Isaac quietly said, "Ok Unka Jimmy."
Lore quickly thanked James for defusing the situation and headed for Greg's room, just down the hall. Before she opened the door Lorelai could hear Greg's raised voice saying, "Imogen Alexandra House, I said it is time for bed young lady." Then in a voice matching her father's Immy screamed, "No Daddy, Immy stay up!" Just as Lore started to open the door, it was flung open and out ran the angry toddler. James, who had also heard the screaming, was now in the hallway and caught Immy before she could get away. He carried her back down to Greg's room literally kicking and screaming. She was mad and wasn't afraid to show it.
Greg had made it to the hallway and met James at the door. He hung his cane on the door handle and lifted the screaming girl from James's arms. Immy tried to cling onto James, but Greg wouldn't let up. He pulled Immy into his arms and turned her face so he could look her in the eye as he said, "Imogen, you will not fight me on this. I have told you it is time for bed and I meant it. Now you will get yourself upstairs and find what pajamas you want to wear. Momma & I will be up in a little bit and you are going to bed. Do you understand me?" This time Immy didn't fight Greg, she kept her crystal blue eyes dead focused on her father's matching eyes and nodded solemnly. Greg then gently placed his daughter on the floor and gently pushed her in the right direction.
Isaac was now wide-eyed and almost paralyzed in fear. He wasn't afraid of Greg, he just hated when Greg got upset and raised his voice. Greg looked up and realized what had to be going through the little boy's mind. He reached for Isaac and the boy hesitantly went to his father. Greg kissed the boy's head and calmly said, "Daddy didn't mean to scare you monkey. I'm sorry. Now will you go up and find what you want to wear tonight?" Isaac nodded and hugged Greg's neck tightly. Greg grinned and said, "Ok buddy, you head on up and make sure Immy is doing what I told her." Again Isaac nodded and took off as soon as Greg put him down.
Lorelai went ahead and followed Isaac upstairs leaving James & Greg standing in the hallway. James half laughed and said, "She couldn't be more like you could she?" Greg also laughed as he shook his head and said, "Nope, I can't deny that she's mine. God she looks, acts, talks, and hell I even caught her trying to walk like me! She isn't even 2 and trying to limp, the cane was too tall for her – but damn it was cute." James then turned and started out for the living room to find his own daughter and said, "She was honestly trying to limp? Sorry I missed that one." Greg smiled at the memory and said, "Yeah she did, but Isaac scolded her for it; said something like 'no make fun of Daddy!' Could he be more like Lorelai, I don't think so…" Again James laughed and said, "Those two are something alright…"
Just as soon as James could see into the living room he spotted Nina leaving the room and he said, "Not so fast Nina, we still need to do your breathing treatment. Get back in there and get settled down, I'll be right in to get you set up. Jay, you need to head up and get your shower." Greg had stopped behind James and when Jay went through the foyer he said, "Hey JG, want to carry me upstairs?" Jay stopped, turned around and while eyeing Greg oddly he said, "Um yeah, I think I'll have to pass on that one Uncle Greg." James glanced back at Greg and laughed when he saw the older man pouting.
Nina appeared in the doorway and said, "I take you upstairs Uncle Greg, Jay's mean." Greg went over and kissed the girl's head before saying, "Well you are one of the few people who love me Nina-bell, but you need to get in and do like Daddy asked you." Nina nodded and took off towards the couch where she had her nightly breathing treatments. James followed her in and called out to Greg, "Quit trying to get my kids to wait on you hand and foot House." When Jay stopped in the middle of the steps to listen if his father was speaking to him, Greg smacked the side of his leg with the cane and called back to James, "Why not, that's all kids are good for anyway – being servants… isn't that right JG?"
Jay grabbed the cane from Greg's hand and took off running up the stairs saying, "Nope, I'm not your servant Uncle Greg." Greg tried to grab the cane back, but Jay got out of his reach too quickly. He yelled up after Jay's retreating back, "Yeah you're real funny little man, you better just remember I know where you sleep!" Jay laughed and turned from his spot half way down the hall and said, "So what, I can hear your cane when you're coming and I can move faster than you!" Lorelai appeared in the hallway and said, "Alright James Gregory, that's enough. Get in there and get your shower. And Greg get in here and tell these two their story." As if they had practiced both Jay & Greg both said, "Alright Mom."
20 minutes later both Immy & Isaac were tucked into bed and sound asleep. Neither had fussed like they had downstairs and Immy even apologized to Greg for acting the way she had. He was happy that she had done it, but knew that Lorelai had told her to. James had carried the half asleep Nina in to say good night a few minutes before and Jay had stuck his head in and said good night to everyone before heading into his own room.
On the way out of the twins' room Lore quietly said, "Hey James & I want to take you out for dinner tomorrow night. My mom & your mom are coming to watch the kids, so you don't have any excuse why you can't go." Greg wasn't going to make any excuses, he actually liked when they did things as adults. But to make Lorelai think he didn't want to go, Greg put on his fake pouting face and said, "But Mom, I'll miss watching wrestling and all the guys at school will make fun of me!" Lore pushed Greg further out into the hallway and shut the door before saying, "You are going Greg and that is final." She then leaned over and kissed his cheek gently and quietly said, "Please, you'll have fun." Greg nodded, finally giving in and said, "Ok, I'll go."
Next chapter: Grandmas Nelson & House come for the evening and the grown-ups go out…