One More Time

Author's Note: I've decided to create a short series of one-shots based on the numerous positive reviews I received from "Pick Me." Thank you guys so much for your support. This story is the second in the series and is set around the time Cuddy is going through with the IVF and trying to conceive, with no success.

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"Oh Cuddles!" House burst into Cuddy's office loudly, as usual, wearing a smirk. "Care for a little afternoon delight?" He chuckled to himself momentarily before quieting, noticing the slouched posture of his boss. "Cuddy?" he spoke again, softer in his tone. "What's the matter?"

House took a seat opposite Cuddy at her desk, and stared at her. She slowly lifted her head and met his piercing blue eyes with her sad, grey ones. She only shook her head dejectedly before her eyes welled up with tears. House immediately understood.

"It didn't take." He stated, not needing to question the idea. Cuddy nodded as one lone tear rolled down her pale face. House sighed in frustration. This had been their third try at IVF, and as of yet, they had still had no luck with conception. House dropped his head to his chest, feeling defeated. She wanted this so badly, and he wanted so badly to give it to her. Why couldn't the woman who deserved happiness more than anyone have the only thing she really wanted? It wasn't fair. House was lost in his own thoughts until her voice broke through the silence.

"Maybe we should just give up." She could barely choke the words out before the tears came, breaking through her emotional dam and streaming down her cheeks. House stood, limping around her desk to stand beside her. He bent slightly and took her face in his calloused hands, forcing her eyes to meet his.

"Give up? Those are two words I never expected to hear from the mouth of Lisa Cuddy. When have you ever given up on anything? I'll tell you when—never. You're not about to give up now—not when it's something that really matters; something you really deserve." He paused for a moment to collect his thoughts before continuing. "You don't honestly want to give up, do you?"

Cuddy sighed. "I just…don't want to be disappointed again. I'm so tired of failing." She sniffled, trying to calm her tears and with them, her heart. House wiped at the tears, brushing the pads of his thumbs across her smooth cheeks.

"Come here." He held his arms out to her, and she stood, wrapping her arms around his waist. He enveloped her in his large frame, holding her tightly to his chest. She laid her ear on his heart and listened, the sound of his heartbeat soothing her pain and sadness. He held her for awhile, tracing slow and lazy circles on her back. He pulled away and looked into her eyes, knowing with every fiber of his being that he, Greg House, cynical, curmudgeonly doctor extraordinaire, loved this woman with all of his heart. He returned his hands to either side of her face and spoke.

"I don't want to give up on this—not yet. Let's just try…just one more time." He smiled softly. "Come on Lisa. What do you say?"

She studied his face for a moment, silently wondering if all this was worth it. But she knew that every disappointment they faced was worth the look of hope she saw when she met his eyes. A smile flittered to her face as she nodded.

"Alright. One more time."

***

It had been six weeks since their last attempt, and Cuddy had kept her expectations low. But now she stood, barefoot in her bathroom, staring at the stick in her hand in disbelief. She exited the room and padded softly to the sofa, where House sat, absent-mindedly watching an episode of Spongebob Squarepants. Wordlessly, she set the plastic on the coffee table in front of him. He looked at her expectantly, and she gestured toward it. He cautiously leaned forward and his eyes widened as he read the tiny screen. He turned to her tearstained face and grinned.

"Hi Mommy," he whispered, pulling her toward him and holding her against his torso. She clung to him, crying while he ran his fingers through her softly curled hair.

"Hi Daddy," she whispered back, wrapping her arms around his waist and squeezing.

With that one simple phrase, two tears fell from the eyes of the man who couldn't wait for the day his child would say those same words.

-Fin

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Author's Note: Okay, so not my best work. I know exactly what the next one-shot will be, but this was honestly the hardest for me to write. I considered skipping straight to the final part of the saga, but I thought this was too important a part of their tale to just leave out, so I tried to write it the best I could. Please keep reviewing! Every time my e-mail has one new message from FanFiction, my heart soars just a little more. Thank you, thank you, thank you. :]