Chapter 15: Questions and Answers

Instead of going back to his apartment, or Wilson's place, House found himself riding around aimlessly on his bike. He drove into the parking lot of one of his old stomping grounds but he really didn't feel like drinking himself into oblivion. He wasn't in emotion pain but he wasn't glowing with happiness either. He didn't really know how to feel.

I am going to be a Dad. I am going to be someone's father. If I stayed with Cuddy I would in all intents and purpose be a Dad to Rachel so why am I freaking out so much.

He pulled his motorcycle into the path that ran through the jogging park near the hospital. Somehow this place was always a comfort for him. A place to be alone, a place to hide, and a place to think. He dismounted his bike and limped up to the familiar picnic table and he laid down looking at the stars. He thought about his future and all the scenarios they held. Regardless of how he played them out, they were forever linked to Lisa Cuddy. It made him smile when he thought about it. This child…their child… would above all things be the link that kept them forever intertwined in each other's lives. Of course, that came with tremendous responsibilities and that was what frightened him. He was pretty sure he would be a better Dad than his father was, that shouldn't be too hard, but could he be the kind of Dad that Cuddy wanted him to be. Well, there was really only one way to find out.

1AM

Cuddy was tossing and turning in bed as she fell in and out of sleep. Her brain was running wild with fear and worry about House while her heart couldn't help feeling a sense of exhilaration when she thought about the child developing inside her. Her child…House's child…their child. She smiled to herself until she thought about what House might be going through right now.

She quieted her thoughts suddenly when she heard the front door open. House had come back. She waited a few minutes but he never entered the bedroom. Concerned, Cuddy through on her robe and headed to the living room. She looked around, peaked in the kitchen, but no House.

She started to get a little frightened that maybe someone else had used her spare key and was now in her house. She dashed into Rachel's room only to find House sitting on the rocking chair staring into the crib at Rachel. Cuddy tried to read his expression as she meet his eyes but he just looked contemplative. She walked over to him without saying a word. He held out his arm for her and she sat on his good leg and snuggled into his chest.

They rocked together for a good five minutes without speaking. Finally House broke the silence.

"I want a boy. Girl toys are stupid"

Cuddy smiled into his chest before saying "If it's a girl are you going to behead me or trade me in for a younger, more fertile, version?"

"Depends, does the younger version have perkier fun bags?"

Cuddy now looked at him and playful slapped him on the arm before saying "they may be perkier but it takes years to get an ass like mine."

House smiled at her as he grabbed her ass with both hands. "Alright, I'll keep the original. Just promise me to not start wearing velour sweat suits"

Cuddy's smile turned serious and she looked at him straight in the eyes "So, are you going to be okay with this?"

House took a moment to collect his thoughts. "Cuddy, I love you. I always have, but it took me a long time to work up the courage to admit that. Then, it took me a while to adjust to Rachel. Mostly because I was jealous but also because I had trouble imagining our future together if you had a child. It took me a while to see that this could work. That I could still have the relationship I have always wanted with you, and you could have the relationship you have always wanted with Rachel."

Cuddy wasn't sure where House was going with this but she waited patiently for him to finish.

"This is different. Now I am actually the dad, not just playing the role. What if the kid hates me? What if I hate the kid? What if you end up hating me because I suck at being a father? What if all the years of abuse I gave my body catches up to me and I die on the kid when it is little. Then the kid will grow up knowing he had a drug addict, loser, for a father?"

Cuddy's face softened at his insecurities and she laid her hand on his cheek and locked eyes with him. There was so much she wanted to say to him to reassure him but she needed to let him get all his emotions out in the open.

"Cuddy, deep down I am happy. I am happy for you and for me. I am just really scared right now but I promise, I am going to try to be the Dad you want me to be."

Cuddy brought her other hand to his face as the tears started to roll down her eyes. "House, I don't want you to try to be something you're not. I want you to be whatever kind of Dad you feel comfortable with. You're just a big kid House, trust me, I will probably be yelling at all three of you to act your age. I'm prepared for that."

House kissed her softly on the lips as he rested his forehead on hers. As he held her in his arms everything in the world just seemed right. It was a weird feeling for him. A thought entered his head and before he could ponder it too long he verbalized his thoughts. "Lisa Cuddy, will you marry me?"

Did he really just ask her that? She had never even considered that House would even want something like that. Cuddy sat up and stared into his eyes. House immediately looked away, his patented response when he was being shy and nervous. That let Cuddy know that he was really serious and that he was actually afraid she would say no. She grabbed his chin and forced him to look into her eyes.

"Yes, House, I would very much like to marry you."

She watched his face very closely. She wanted to make sure that this was really what he wanted. Of course, if she flat out asked him that he would probably rescind his offer and turn it into some type of joke. He heart began to beat faster as a smile started to slowly spread across his lips. He rarely smiled but when he did it would light up the whole room.

"Can I still call you Cuddy?"

"You will have no choice, there is no way I am becoming Lisa House!

"House gave her the pouty face that she loved so much. She kissed his lower lip as she snuggled back into his chest. She couldn't believe that in the past year she had gone from being somewhat alone and having just her career to depend on to being in the verge of marrying the man she had loved for over twenty years, having adopted a wonderful little girl, and having a second child along the way. Tears of joy slowly began to roll down her cheeks.

House could sense her tears and snuggled her closer to his chest. He closed his eyes and listened to the sounds of Cuddy's heart and Rachel's breathing. He loved his left hand to rest on Cuddy's abdomen and rubbed it gently. He couldn't believe that at fifty years old he was starting the life with Cuddy that he had wanted since medical school.

Lost in their own happiness, they both drifted of to sleep.

The End!

a/n: I realize that I didn't warn anyone that the fic was ending but I really didn't know myself until I finished this chapter. I found I was having trouble updating at a decent pace and I know as a reader of fics that can cause a lot of discontinuity in the story. I am hoping to take a few weeks off from writing and then start back up during the Dec/Jan hiatus (I need it to get through the "no new House episode" feeling!) Thank you for reading my story!!!