Title: Making His Own Life
Part: 5
Author: Mlizhobie
Fandom: House, M.D.
Pairing: Wilson/OFC(Lorelai) & House/?
Disclaimer: Don't own House or any of the other characters except for MY original 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: Grandmas Nelson & House come for the evening and the grown-ups go out…
The following evening Immy & Isaac were both clinging onto one of their parents. Immy had herself wrapped around Greg's neck and Isaac had attached himself to Lore. Neither toddler liked the idea of their parents going out for the evening. It would be the first time that all 3 of the grown-ups were going to be gone at bedtime. Nina didn't really like the idea either, but stayed very quiet and withdrawn, hiding in James's office. Jay was perfectly fine with the idea of his parents and Uncle Greg going out, he was old enough that he didn't need a story or to be tucked into bed.
Lore was attempting to fix dinner for the children, but wasn't having much luck with Isaac not wanting to be put down. He didn't like to help cook like Jay had when he was little, so Lore was trying to do everything one handed. Greg had tried to get Immy to help him pick out a shirt to wear, but purposefully spilling juice on 3 of his choices Greg sent Immy to the corner. James was going to get Nina and see if she would help him pick out what he should wear as well, but after 15 minutes of searching he still couldn't find her.
He had searched the entire upper floor of the house, all the bedrooms, bathrooms, living room, Greg's room, laundry room, and finally went to the kitchen. Leaning back against the island James said, "I can't find Nina anywhere! Oh God, she didn't sneak outside by herself again did she?" Lorelai shook her head and said, "No, I've been right here in the kitchen and the door hasn't opened and the alarm hasn't gone off saying that any other doors have opened either. So she has to be inside somewhere, did you try in your office? She has plenty of hiding places in there."
After thinking for a few seconds James nodded thoughtfully and said, "No I haven't checked in there, but I will now. Thanks kid." Lore smiled and watched James head down the hallway to his office and looked back at Isaac and said, "Hey little man, you guys will have fun tonight I promise. Please don't be sad about this. Grandma Nelson is coming and so is Grandma House and they can't wait to see you." Isaac looked up into his mother's eyes and shyly said, "Wanna see me?" Lore nodded and said, "Yep, I bet they will love all over you, play all kinds of games, read you stories, and let you put way too much soap in the bathtub. They let you do all kinds of stuff that we don't." Lore thought she saw a slight hint of a smile blooming on Isaac's small face and when he started to giggle she knew he would be fine while they were gone.
When James opened the door to his office the room was relatively dark. The only light was coming from the small space between the shade & the window, so James took a moment to let his eyes readjust. Glancing around the room he saw another source of light from behind the couch on the opposite side of the room. Grinning James approached the couch and crouched down near the end. The end table had been pushed down slightly to allow the small body of his 5 year old daughter to slip through.
As James pulled the table out of the way completely he sat back against the wall and saw Nina hiding behind the couch with her small flashlight. He pushed the couch out a bit and pulled Nina's small frame onto his lap. When she was settled he brushed her dark hair away from her face and said, "Hey baby girl, why are you hiding in here where it's so dark?" Nina looked up and met her father's eyes and quietly said, "I got scared and your office is safe Daddy." James kissed the top of Nina's head and smiled before saying, "Aw sweetheart, why are you scared? We will be back home later tonight and Grandma Nelson & Grandma House will be here with you."
Nina buried her head in the crook of James's neck and mumbled, "But you won't be here Daddy." James sighed and tried to think of what he could say to calm her fears, but came up with nothing. He wouldn't be there to give her the breathing treatment like he normally did every night, Uncle Greg wouldn't tell her a story and she wouldn't have Momma to tuck her into bed. Somewhere in the back of James's mind he thought, 'Maybe this isn't such a good idea. The kids aren't ready for us to go out yet.'
James & Nina stayed seated against the wall in the dark office for another 10 minutes until the door opened and Lorelai came in. She looked through the room quickly and started to leave when James said, "We're here, sorry didn't turn the light on." Lore came back into the room and switched on a lamp and sat on the couch near James & Nina. Isaac had slid out of his mother's arms and was headed for the shelf where James kept books for the kids. Nina got off James's lap and joined her little brother over at the bookshelf while her parents talked.
James sat beside Lorelai on the couch and said, "She hid in here because she thinks this is her safe place. How are they going to get these kids to bed? It is hard enough for the 3 of us, but they don't know the schedule and the way these kids like to try and press buttons with people." Lore understood what James was worried about but said, "James, our moms are perfectly capable of taking care of these kids. My mom might still be getting used to being around so many children, but Blythe did raise Greg – so she can handle the House wildness. And if they have any problems I will ask Jay to keep Nina in line. They will be fine old man, I promise." James looked back at the kids and smiled slightly before saying, "Yeah, I guess Blythe is the best one to be able to handle anyone with House genes. What time are they supposed to get here?" Lore glanced up at the clock and said, "They should be here anytime, it's already 6. Oh well there someone is now."
Nina & Isaac had both heard the doorbell and ran from the room. James & Lore both quickly followed the children out to the foyer. Lore caught up with the children and quietly said, "Hey guys, you two go get washed up and let Daddy go answer the door." Isaac stopped and looked around quickly before saying, "No Daddy." Lore picked up the toddler and said, "Ok sorry, let Uncle Jimmy answer the door while you go with Nina." Isaac nodded and when Lore put him back on the floor he took off after his big sister.
James pulled open the door and was met with the smiling faces of his mother-in-law Michelle and his best friend's mom Blythe. Both women greeted James and came into the foyer. Lorelai walked over and hugged both women saying, "Hi Mom, Blythe. Thank you both so much for coming to watch the kids. It's been such a long time since all of us have gone out and Greg needs to get out of the house."
Greg chose this exact moment to come into the room and heard Lorelai's comment so he said, "Hey, you make it sound like I'm a hermit or something." Lore laughed and said, "Well you have hermit-like tendencies. Now where did you leave our daughter?" The evil glimmer in Greg's eye told Lore that something was going on and she looked at him harshly pressing him for an answer. Greg smirked and said, "I left Immy with Nina & Isaac to flood the bathroom." Lorelai's eyes went wide as she took off running towards the bathroom screaming, "Damn-it Greg."
Blythe lightly slapped her son's arm as she approached him and said, "Gregory, what is the matter with you?" Greg laughed as he pulled his mother into a hug and said, "Mom, do you honestly think I would let those 3 kids flood the bathroom?" Then without having to even be prompted James, Michelle, & Blythe all said, "YES!" Pulling himself out of Blythe's arms Greg looked around the room and said, "Hey that isn't fair! I've grown up a little bit since I've become a father." James was headed to help clean up the mess and he slapped a hand on Greg's back and said, "Yes you have grown up a little bit, but not much."
When James had left the room he looked back at his mother & Michelle and said, "I didn't really let them flood the bathroom. They are all sitting in the kitchen." Michelle shook her head and said, "You better not have encouraged my grandchildren to misbehave." Greg met the woman's eyes and studied her for a moment before heading towards the kitchen. Their relationship had only slightly improved in the years since James & Lore were married and the major reason for that was the birth of the twins.
James & Lore were now in the kitchen, both relieved that Greg had just been joking about letting the children flood the bathroom. When Lorelai had rushed into the room a few minutes before all 3 children were climbing up into their seats at the island, all were perfectly dry. She still rushed down to the bathroom to make sure and only found that Nina had left the light on again, but the room was in its normal order – no flood. She reentered the kitchen to find James walking in the room and met his questioning eyes. Lore smiled and said, "No flood." James sighed loudly and said, "Better not be, I would have to knock him out if he had let them do that."
Greg, Blythe, & Michelle all entered the room and the two women went straight for the children. James & Lore both looked at Greg with half-hearted anger and Greg smiled before saying, "What I didn't let them do it; I just kind of lied about it to keep you two on your toes." James sighed, rolled his eyes and said, "I would have made you clean it up if you had." Greg put on his best puppy face and said, "You would make an old crippled man clean the bathroom all by himself?" While James walked across the room he nodded and said, "Oh yeah, especially if that crippled old man was you and caused the mess! I'm going to go change clothes real quick and find Jay."
Lore was getting each of the kids' plates fixed when her mother walked over beside her and said, "Here sweetheart, let me take care of this. You go finish getting ready." Lorelai kissed her mother's cheek and said, "Thanks mom," she then turned around and saw Greg standing over by the island talking to the children. He didn't look like he was completely ready to go out to dinner so she said, "Greg go get changed so we can get going. Our reservation is in 20 minutes." Greg rolled his eyes and said, "Ok Mom, I'm going!" The kids all laughed, but Greg's mom reached up and slapped him upside the head for smarting off. This only caused the children to laugh harder.
When Lore got to the steps leading upstairs she saw Jay walking down. The boy half smiled and said, "Hey Momma." She smiled back at him and said, "Hey buddy, can you help with the kids tonight? Maybe you could help get Nina her treatment tonight while Grandma Nelson and Grandma House get the twins to bed." Jay thought for a second and then said, "Sure Momma, I'll help." Lore kissed the top of Jay's dark hair and said, "Thanks sweetheart, now go get something to eat. I have it all ready in the kitchen."
Jay took off for the kitchen and Lore went on upstairs, finding James struggling with the knot on his tie. Lorelai smiled and said, "Baby, this isn't that kind of place. You don't need to dress up that much; you don't even really need the jacket." James glanced up and met Lore's eyes in the mirror and in an unsure voice said, "It feels weird doing things where I don't have the tie and jacket. I'm so used to having them on all week." Lorelai was now right beside James, so she pulled him down slightly and kissed him before saying, "I know, but this isn't work old man. Just take a break and help me try and find a girl for Greg." Grinning slightly James nodded and said, "Ok, I'll try, but are Robert & Allison still meeting us there?" Lore nodded and said, "Yup, they will meet us there."
20 minutes later James was pulling the jeep into a handicapped parking spot at the restaurant. Greg smirked when he saw Robert & Allison walking towards the restaurant from the back of the parking lot – there were some definite perks to being handicapped.
Next chapter: Dinner out with House