A/N: I'm so sorry that I haven't been able to update until now. School has been hectic and I haven't been ablet to write anything. I will try to update soon, but as always school comes first. There's a lot of fun stuff coming up so stay tuned.

Thanks as always to my wonderful reviewers. I own nothing.

One month later

Dr. Karl Maurice Saunders, had been born a genius, or that's what his mother had repeatedly told him. Margaret Anne Saunders née Krauss had raised her son with her parents beliefs, that if you do not excel at what you do, you might just as well not live at all. So he had taken his mother's words to his heart, and spent his living hours with his nose buried in books while children his age spent their days in games. While he wrote sixteen page essays his classmates partied, and smoked weed.

At the age of eighteen he had been accepted into Harvard med school and graduated first in his class. After his graduation his uncle had guaranteed him a job at PPTH, and so he had moved from Boston to New Jersey. His time in Princeton had not been as good as he had hoped, but it wasn't his fault, it was that damn Dean, Dr. Cuddy, and her obnoxious boyfriend. He wasn't the star anymore, and no matter what he did nothing made her happy. When she had humiliated him in front of everyone he had vowed to make her pay.

He had contacted his uncle who had merely said one word 'wait', and so he did.

Now he sat in one of the finest restaurants in New Jersey. Aristo and Noble was known for its exquisite seafood cuisine. He sat on a table in the corner, by paneled bay windows that overlooked the sea. He observed the chatty couples on the nearest tables; the fine jazzy piano tunes provoked a lively atmosphere to the classy surroundings. He placed the bubbly champagne to his lips and took small sip, he swirled the liquid in his mouth, savoring the flavors that played on his taste buds. His eyes turned to the entrance when he spotted him.

His uncle Christopher had been his idol since he was five. He was smart, handsome and rich, everything he wanted to be. So when his uncle had requested to meet him on this Sunday evening, at one of the finest restaurants in New Jersey, he could not pass.

His uncle walked smoothly towards his table, and sat down opposite him.

"Sorry I'm late son. I was held up on a meeting." He observed the full champagne glass and took a gulp.

"Ah, just what I needed. Have you placed your order?"

He shook his head, and examined the menu carefully.

"The scallops look good, and the soufflé is supposedly divine here." He muttered. Right then the waiter arrived at the table.

"Are you ready to make your order sirs?"

"Ah yes." His uncle said thinly, and pointed at his menu.

"For the entrée we'll have the snails, and for the main course we'll have the steamed salmon, for dessert we'll have the soufflé."

"Excellent sir." The waiter took the menus and walked away.

His uncle didn't say anything for several moments. He took a sip of the wine, taking his time to savor the flavors and listen to the music. When the entrée arrived he focused on his nephew and looked at him carefully.

"You must be questioning why I asked you to join me for dinner."

Karl swallowed and nodded his head.

"Yes, but I have my thoughts."

"The matter with Dr. Cuddy and Dr. House has been unfortunate."

"Yes." Karl said curtly, waiting anxiously for what his uncle was about to say.

His uncle paused and he could see the hatred glisten in his stormy grey eyes.

He could see his fists clench and his lips pursed the wrinkles around his mouth deepened as he did so.

"I want them out of the hospital. I don't care how it happens but I want them out as soon as possible."

Karl was surprised at his uncle's outburst. He knew that he greatly disliked both doctors but he hadn't sensed the hatred. He knew that this went deeper than the incident he had with Dr. Cuddy.

"How do you think we can do that? Dr. Cuddy is well respected by the board isn't she? Dr. House will be much more easily dispensable."

He leaned back in his seat and eyed him down. Karl felt like a little boy and straightened himself up.

"You are right. That's why I asked you to wait. I think that there is only one way for dr. Cuddy to leave the hospital for good."

Karl raised and eyebrow, and waited for his uncle's plan.

"How well are you acquainted with nurse Adams?"

Karl frowned. Sure, he and nurse Adams had flirted plenty, and gone on a few dates, but nothing more.

"Nurse Adams?"

His uncle nodded his head in confirmation.

"She will be the key to our solution."

"How?"

His uncle smirked.

"You'll see."

He raised his glass and drank from it. Karl mirrored his actions, still unsure of what his uncle was about to do. He was sure that it wasn't going to be pleasant.

His uncle merely smirked at his questionable stare and muttered again.

"Oh yes. You'll see."

House limped down the hallway and stopped by the elevators, he raised up his cane and with one push he pushed the 'down' button. The fine ding of the elevator clung and he stepped inside while twirling his cane lazily between his long fingers. The elevator doors were about to close when he heard someone cry out from the hallway.

"Wait! Wait!"

A hand squeezed between the small gap that stopped the doors from closing and with some force a very tired looking Wilson appeared. He stepped inside and leaned against the wall and sighed. House stood on the other side, not giving his friend any attention.

"Why…why didn't you lend me a hand?" Wilson wheezed.

"You didn't ask." House replied lazily.

Wilson glared at him.

"I told you to wait."

"So?"

Wilson shook his head. The elevator stopped and the doors opened to the first floor. House stepped out and headed straight towards the cafeteria with Wilson close behind. He picked a tray and ordered a large burger, fries, milkshake and a nice slice of pecan pie. Wilson raised his eyebrows but didn't say anything; he picked his much healthier lunch; chicken wrap with fresh vegetables and an apple. They paid for their food and stepped into their usual booth.

House began to tackle his food and took a huge bite of his burger, dipped several fries into the ketchup then shoved them into his full mouth. Meanwhile Wilson unwrapped his wrap carefully and took a considerably smaller bite than his friend had.

"So, what's up?" Wilson asked between bites. House shrugged his shoulders; completely incapable of talking his mouth was so full.

"So things are going great with Cuddy?" He smiled one of his way too dopey smiles. House rolled his eyes, (after he had "accidentally" dropped a copy of the sonar picture on his desk, Wilson had been unbearably giddy around them, which led to him wishing that he had never 'told' him.)

"Things are…fine." He settled and took another big bite.

"Oh no, spill the beans." Wilson leaned in his seat and waited. House sighed and dropped the remains of his burger on the plate.

"I don't know. She's been all jumpy at work. I think something's going on."

"Wow." Wilson said astoundingly. House frowned.

"What?"

"You actually seem worried. House, I'm sure it's nothing. You've been overly…protective of her."

"No I'm not." House said defensively.

"Fine. You can try to convince yourself of that."

"There is something wrong, and I'll figure it out."

"Okay." Wilson said disinterested.

House didn't really care what his friend thought. There was something wrong with Cuddy, and it had nothing to do with the baby. Of course she'd been overly cautious over the course of the last month, but that was normal. No, this was different, and the puzzle was making him mad.

Right then he heard the familiar tapping of heels and turned around to see Cuddy walk towards them. She smiled at him and slid into the booth beside him.

"Hi. What's up?" She asked and kissed him chastely on the cheek.

"Fine. Just eating."

"Nice. Wilson the meeting will be canceled until tomorrow."

House frowned and looked between them confused.

"What meeting?"

"It's a meeting with the board for the new interns next fall. You actually don't have to go. Wilson is on the committee of interns which you are not, but should be, so you're free."

He wasn't sure why this bothered him, but there was something odd about the way she fidgeted when she spoke about the meeting. She was nervous. But why should she be nervous of something she had done countless of times before? Something was up, and she wasn't telling him about it. He could sense that she noticed his gaze on her because she fleetingly steered the conversation away from the discussion. He didn't listen to her or Wilson and watched closely how her body language changed. Her tense shoulders eased, the crease between her eyebrows slackened and fingers stopped fidgeting on the necklace on her neck.

A loud beep drew his attention away from Cuddy. Wilson picked up his pager and groaned.

"My patient crashed. Gotta go." He stood up and looked at the pair. "See you later." He trotted off leaving them alone.

Cuddy switched to the seat where Wilson had sat and picked a fry off of House's plate.

"Aren't you going to eat anything?"

Cuddy shrugged and nibbled on the fry.

"Not that hungry."

"You have to eat."

"I am."

"A bowl of fruit is not food." He pointed out. Cuddy rolled her eyes.

"I'm not hungry. Plus everything makes me queasy."

"Fine." House huffed. Cuddy touched his arm affectionately.

"Thank you for your concern, but you really shouldn't worry. I'm fine."

"I don't care. Eat what you want to eat, starve if you want to. I don't care." He muttered apathetically. She squeezed his hand assuredly.

"Okay."

"So. Have you talked to them about maternity leave?"

Cuddy bit her lip and shook her head.

He had been pressing her to announce it for the past month to no avail. At first he respected her enough to let it drop but this was getting ridiculous. She kept finding lame excuses such as that she wasn't that far along, or that she was working on it, but he knew her. She wouldn't want anyone to take over while she was away, and she would have to take time to train the unfortunate fellow that would. A part of him was frustrated that she hadn't done it yet. He really shouldn't care at all. The news would make the hospital explode with gossip and he sure as hell didn't care about them. But a part of him also wanted everyone to know.

"Why not?"

"It can wait House."

"Are you…having doubts?"

The blunt question made her head snap up in denial. Her eyes gazed at him surely.

"No. Why would you think that?"

"You're overly meticulously obsessive personality makes it impossible for you to keep something like this secret from some pointless department as human resources or something equally stupid. So there's really not a reason for me to think that you're having doubts."

"House. No, of course not. I want this more than anything else. I just…" She sighed and dropped her head. House frowned, not sure what to do. She raised her head and turned her head to see if anyone was looking. The cafeteria was mostly empty, and they were situated in the farthest corner where no one could hear them.

"I just." She exhaled and looked at him worriedly. "I'm not young. I've had problems before and I just don't want to tell everyone until I'm out of danger. I can't go through it if I miscarry. I just can't."

"You don't have to tell everyone. You can start with the board and then you can wait to tell everyone else until you're ready."

"It's not that simple House." She said quietly.

"What's really going on?"

She opened her mouth then closed it. She couldn't look at him and kept her gaze downcast.

"About one month ago I was approached by C.J. Krauss, a member of the hospital board of directors. He said…" She stopped and looked at the table angrily.

"What did he say?" He pressed.

"He said that women are easily replaced, and that pregnancy and commission doesn't go well together. I'm not sure how he could know. I mean there was this rumor, but I don't know. He threatened me." She said through clenched teeth.

"Why didn't you tell me?" He asked angrily.

"Because I knew how you would react. Besides I can take care of myself, but I'm afraid that if I tell them that something bad will happen. I really can't explain it."

"They can't fire you because you're pregnant."

"No they can't. I know it's silly but he kind of freaked me out. And now you'll tell me that I'm being a moron." She said sourly.

"No, that's not what I was going to say. But since you said it yourself I'm not going to contradict you."

She glared at him, and he smirked. He touched her arm gently and with his other hand he tilted her head up.

"Don't listen to that idiot. I'll go with you if you want to, and you'll forget that moron. He's just trying to freak you out. He can't do anything. I mean you're Lisa Cuddy, you flirt with donors and you don't allow fat old directors to get to you."

She smiled slightly and kissed his palm that rested on her cheek.

"Thank you." She breathed.

"So you'll tell them?"

"There's a meeting this Friday. I'll announce it then."

"Do you want me there?"

"Not really." She chuckled.

"Then we can tell the rest of the world. Now how are we going to announce it?" He raised his eyebrows and smiled cheekily.

"Don't even think about it." She said warningly.

"What are you talking about?" He asked innocently.

"You're probably going to find some awfully clever way to announce it that will leave me humiliated and I wont be able to face the staff for months."

"I wouldn't dream of it."

"Yeah right. You're all for modesty. What are you going to do? Scatter out sonar pictures down the hallways? Yell it over the balcony?"

"You're ideas not mine."

"Let's just be cautious. You can tell your team soon enough. And don't deny that you've been dying to."

"You should be grateful that I haven't already told everybody." He pointed out.

"And I'm glad that you have respected my wishes."

He leaned back and put his hands on the back of his neck.

"We have to give them something to talk about. What about handing out tee shirts or something? Maybe with a picture of a baby with my head on it."

Actually that wasn't a bad idea. He wasn't going to announce the birth of his firstborn without some style, and he knew that even though Cuddy wasn't all too keen on the idea he knew that she wouldn't stay too mad for long.

Cuddy rolled her eyes.

"I guess no matter what I say will stop you."

"No."

"Besides there are other things to worry about."

"Like what?"

"We have to tell our mothers?"

House's smirk fell and he groaned out loud, tilting his head backwards exasperatedly.

"Yeah." Cuddy muttered sympathetically and patted his hand.

"Can we maybe not tell them? Then everyone will be happy."

"You really think that I want to tell my mother?"

"I'll make you a deal. For the whole week I'll do whatever you want to do in bed and I can skip the big announcement."

"Oh no." Cuddy chuckled. "There's no way you'll get yourself out of this one."

"I'll do extra clinic duty for a month."

"No. And you already owe me three."

"I'll watch Rachel."

"No." She replied firmly.

"You're mom is going to kill me."

"You and I both. You know that she'll demand that we should get married."

House's eyes bulged out. Yeah sure, a kid was a bigger step than getting married but he really wasn't prepared for both.

"Do you want to get married?" He asked her anxiously.

"Oh god no. I love you but we don't have to rush into things that can so easily wait." She smiled affectionately. "It's enough for me that we love each other. And it won't matter to our baby if we're married or not."

"Okay." He said skeptically.

He couldn't deny that he was relieved. A wedding wasn't that much of a deal. They merely needed to write down their signature, say I dos in front of witnesses and boom they'd be married. But it was a much bigger step than he was prepared for. Maybe it shouldn't feel like it, but it did.

Cuddy leaned against him and kissed him on the lips, like she was assuring him that everything was fine. She smiled at him and glanced at her watch.

"I need to get going." She stood up and held her hand for him to take. The gesture was casual, and he took it without thinking. She laced her fingers through his and kissed him once again on the lips. He looked down at their joined hands and wondered how he had changed since they had begun their relationship. One year earlier he wouldn't have thought that things would have turned the way they did, but somehow it worked. It felt kind of surreal to feel so loved by one person, as for him being able to love like he did now, but it didn't feel as repulsive as he previously thought, it actually felt good. He liked that he could hold someone's hand without thinking about it, and he actually didn't care if people noticed him caring. That was maybe his biggest surprise regarding dating Cuddy.

He walked her to her office and watched her glide into her office. The sun shone through her windows, bathing the office in a warm light. As he watched her sit behind her desk, her eyes downcast on the papers on the desk, he thought about their future together. He couldn't hide his adoration for her, and he felt a certain possession over her overtake him as he watched her work through the closed office doors.

Maybe the idea of marriage wasn't such a bad idea after all.