A/N I offer my deepest, sincerest apologies to everyone who has been waiting for an update. My life went to hell in a hand basket. I've been dealing with personal/work/family issues. I'm slowly battling my way back to normal and some semblance of sanity.
Remember, in my world, Bombshells never happened. And, my House isn't IC. I guess I should change this to AU. Anyway, I hope everyone enjoys this chapter.
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House pulled Cuddy's sedan into a parking space and put it in park. His hand wasn't quit steady as he removed the key from the ignition and then hung his handicapped tag on the rearview mirror. He glanced at the cold, imposing building in front of him and tried to ignore the shameful memories he would rather forget. He looked down when Cuddy put a dainty hand on his suit-clad arm.
"Are you ready for this?" she asked quietly. She knew thoughts of Tritter and the drug abuse trial had to be weighing on her husband.
"Yeah." House met her concerned look with one of his own. "What if…"
"House, it's going to be fine," Cuddy told him with absolute certainty. "The judge will just ask us a few questions and then sign off on the paperwork."
"Daddy, hurry up," Rachel demanded from her booster seat.
House looked at the bouncing toddler in the rearview mirror and managed a shaky smile. "You're just as bossy as your mother."
Cuddy gave him an indulgent look as she unfastened her seat belt. "I agree with Rachel. Hurry up."
House maneuvered himself from the car and then unbuckled Rachel from her seat. They joined Cuddy who was waiting for them on the sidewalk. Cuddy was wearing a dark red dress. It accented her chest and clearly showed off her rapidly expanding abdomen. It perfectly matched the charcoal gray suit and deep burgundy tie she had picked out for House to wear. Rachel was wearing her dress from the wedding and a new pair of pink and purple sneakers. With Rachel between them, the small family joined their lawyer at the front of the building.
"Lisa, it's good to see you again," Sandy greeted her old friend and client. She gave Cuddy a quick hug and a smile. "It looks like we won't be playing tennis together any time soon."
Cuddy laughed and rubbed her tummy. "I'm afraid not. Sandy, you already know Rachel. This is House."
The lawyer shook his hand. "It's nice to finally meet you. Lisa has told me all about you."
House groaned. "And, here I hoped to make a good first impression."
The women laughed as House opened the door for them. They found the judge's office and were quickly ushered into his chambers. Such an informal proceeding wouldn't be conducted in the courtroom. The judge's assistant assured them that he would be along shortly. They each took a seat at a conference table. Rachel climbed onto House's left leg and primly folded her hands on the table.
"Lisa, Greg, I want you to be yourselves," Sandy instructed. "As I've already explained, this is just a formality. There's nothing to be nervous about. I do have one suggestion. It might be best if you refer to each other by your first names."
While the women chatted, House fidgeted. He straightened his tie. He checked his watch. He straightened Rachel's dress and made sure her barrettes were even. He rubbed at his right thigh. He checked his watch again. He was tapping his cane on the floor when he noticed the silence that had descended on the room. He looked up to find that three sets of eyes were staring at him.
"What?" he asked with a note of defensiveness. Cuddy just shook her head and smiled.
Sandy grinned and told Cuddy, "You weren't kidding when you said he's a basket case."
Rachel patted his left hand. "It be okay, Daddy."
Cuddy grabbed his right hand before he could run it through his hair. "Would you calm down? Nothing's going to go wrong."
They were still holding hands when the judge entered the room. The elderly gentleman motioned for them to stay seated as he hung his robe on a coat rack and then picked up their file from his desk. Judge Wendell Johnson had already reviewed the file. He was also one of Cuddy's acquaintances. They had met at various charity functions through the years.
"Lisa, it's good to see you again," he said as he took his seat at the table. He greeted House and then gave Rachel a smile. "You must be Rachel."
The toddler decided to pick that moment to turn shy. She just nodded and then hid her face on House's chest. The judge understood how intimidating this must be for someone so young. He opened the file and uncapped his pen.
"So, Lisa, I see that you have petitioned the court to allow your husband to adopt your daughter." Judge Johnson gave the page in front of him a quick glance. "Tell me why I should sign off on this document."
Cuddy squeezed House's hand as she took a deep breath. "We recently found out that I'm pregnant. I want Greg to have the same legal rights to Rachel that he will have to our biological children. I want to know that if anything should ever happen to me, he will be recognized by the courts as Rachel's father. We're a family. I don't want there to ever be any doubt that Rachel is as much Greg's daughter as she is mine. They love one another very much and I want their relationship to be official."
Judge Johnson made a few notes and then looked to House. "Dr. House, tell me why you want to adopt Rachel."
House looked down at the little girl who was staring up at him so trustingly with those big, brown eyes. He felt all of the nervous tension melt away. A sense of calm, resolute certainty was left in its wake.
"Because, she's my daughter." He looked at the man who held their future in his hands. "I spent a lot of years avoiding emotional connections. Rachel put a stop to that real quick. Since the first time she called me daddy, she's had me wrapped around her little finger. It doesn't matter if you sign that paper or not. She will always be my little girl. But, I want her know that I love her enough to make it legal."
The judge maintained a stoic façade as he took more notes. He finally looked at Rachel who was holding her daddy's hand. The toddler faced him with the wide-eyed innocence of a child who had never doubted that she was loved.
"Rachel, do you know why we're here today?" Judge Johnson asked.
Rachel nodded. "So, I can keep my daddy forever and ever."
The judge finally cracked a smile. "And, do you want to keep your daddy forever and ever?"
"Oh, yes." Rachel nodded enthusiastically. "I love my daddy."
Judge Johnson made one final notation and signed his name. He then looked at House. "I had pretty much made my decision before meeting with you. I received a stack of unsolicited letters from friends and family members all expressing what a wonderful father you are and how special the bond is between the two of you. Listening to you and watching you, I could see how accurate they all were. It is the decision of this court that the petition for adoption be granted. Congratulations, Dr. House. It's a girl."
Rachel craned her neck and looked up at House. "I yours now, Daddy?"
"Yep." House told her. "You are officially Rachel House now."
Cuddy had never seen such an amazing smile on his face as her husband looked at their little girl. Rachel squealed and turned so she could fling her arms around House's neck. House wrapped an arm around her and held her close. He and Cuddy shook hands with and thanked the judge. Rachel also voiced a very polite thank you to the older man. House untangled Rachel from his neck and helped her hop down. Sandy waited to collect the official documents and then followed them into the hall.
"I'll file the papers tomorrow morning. You'll receive a new birth certificate in the mail in five to ten days." The lawyer slid the paperwork into her brief case. "Congratulations. I'm glad I could help you with this."
Cuddy held Rachel's hand and the trio retraced their route back to the sidewalk. When they were next to the car, Cuddy stopped and looked up at House. He was still wearing a goofy grin as he leaned on his cane and opened her door. She thought he looked absolutely adorable. House waited until everyone was buckled in before he leaned over and gave Cuddy a quick, but intense kiss.
"Thank you," he whispered when they finally parted.
"You're welcome," she told him with a smile. "Now what are we doing?"
"I thought we could have dinner at Bruno's to celebrate," House answered as he started the car.
Rachel enthusiastically clapped her hands. "I want pasketti, Daddy."
Cuddy just rolled her eyes and grinned when House told their daughter, "Then pasketti you shall have, Miss. House."
"Mommy, will Penelope like pasketti?" Rachel asked Cuddy.
"I'm sure she will," Cuddy told her and ignored the smirk on House's face. "Rachel, I know your Daddy's explained that you might not get a little sister."
Rachel heaved a put-upon sigh. "I know."
So far, they had avoided telling Rachel that they were having twins. They had agreed to wait until the sexes could be confirmed. Cuddy was still dealing with the worry that something would go wrong. House was just avoiding the explanation of how there were two babies in mommy's tummy as long as possible.
"Mommy, if it a boy, can we name him Levi?" Rachel asked.
House risked a quick glance in the rearview mirror. "Why Levi?" he asked her.
"Uncle Jimmy read a story," Rachel answered. Apparently that was perfectly logical to a three year-old.
House stopped at a red light and looked at Cuddy. She wore a puzzled frown. His wife had no idea what story Wilson had read for their daughter.
"When he babysits, he reads to her from the Torah," House explained.
Cuddy raised an eyebrow. She immediately understood what he wasn't saying. "You've had him read to her from the Torah?"
"The boy wonder was a star pupil in Hebrew school. His mother is still upset that he didn't become a rabbi." House shrugged. "I figured you would want her to learn about her heritage. She certainly isn't going to learn about it from me. I told him its part of his duties as a Jewish godfather. "
"House that is the most amazing thing you've ever done." Cuddy gave him a watery smile.
"Do not start crying," House demanded.
Cuddy sniffed and wiped her eyes. "Thank you for considering how important this is to me."
"I may not be a believer, but I know how important your history is." House turned into the restaurant parking lot and guided the car into a handicapped spot. He put the car into park and then looked as his wife. "We were stationed all over Europe. When I was fourteen, Mom and I spent the summer in Israel while the old man was attending a combat school. You know I think religion is a crutch for the weak-minded; but, our kids should know about the history and culture of your people."
Cuddy stared at her husband in open-mouthed, stunned shock. She finally managed to tell him, "House, you never cease to surprise me. Thank you."
House hung the handicapped tag on the rear view mirror and then gave her a wicked grin. "Think this will earn me brownie points with your mother?"
"Nothing short of a full conversion will satisfy Arlene." Cuddy unfastened her seat belt and then gave him a sultry smile. "But, it might just get you a little something later."
"I'll hold you to that," he told her with a lecherous grin and a wiggle of his eyebrows.
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Cuddy flipped off the bathroom light and padded into the bedroom. House was already in bed, lying on his back with his hands under his head. He was staring intently at the ceiling. Cuddy draped her robe over the footboard and then slid in next to House.
"So, how did you get people to write those letters to the judge?" House asked as soon as she was settled.
Cuddy snuggled in closer to his right side and ran a hand over his chest. "Who said I had anything to do with that?"
"I know how manipulative you can be." House moved and then ran the fingers of his right hand lightly up and down her bare arm. "So, who wrote and what did you promise them?"
"I'm not sure who all sent in letters." Cuddy stroked a hand over his broad chest. "I just told our families and your team when the hearing would be."
"And?" House continued with the feather-light sweeps of his hand.
"You really are a suspicious person." Cuddy had expected this the minute the judge had told them about the letters. Cuddy sighed. "I may have mentioned that letters of support might help."
"Thank you." House placed a light kiss to the top of her head.
"So, how do you feel now that you're legally a father?" Cuddy asked as she continued her lazy exploration of her husband's well developed pecs.
"Hmmmm…" House let his hand drift along her side to her hip. "Like a father who's about to get lucky."
Cuddy slid her hand down his flat stomach and wrapped her fingers around his impressive erection. House groaned as she stroked the velvet length. Cuddy smiled and kissed his shoulder as she ran her thumb over the already weeping tip.
"This is the first time I've made love with a guy who has a kid," she whispered into his ear.
House inched her satin nightgown over her hip. "I'm totally rockin' the whole Ozzy Nelson vibe."
Cuddy giggled. "That isn't the Ozzy that comes to mind."
She yelped when House lightly smacked her on the rear and then moaned when he ran that same hand soothingly over her soft skin. Cuddy rose on her elbow and then shifted so that she was straddling House's hips. As she sat up and pulled her nightgown over her head, House watched the seductive show. He reached up and lightly ran the back of his fingers over one dusky rose nipple. Cuddy arched her back and leaned in to his touch.
"You are beautiful," he told her. His voice was little more than a husky growl.
Cuddy returned her hand to his erection. "You're not so bad yourself."
House continued his gentle exploration of her sensitive breasts. He watched his fingers ghost over her pale skin. He saw when she flushed with arousal. He was surprised to find that the knowledge that he could turn her on so quickly was almost as satisfying as the actual act of making love. He took a minute to savor the foreign but heady knowledge that he was the male his wife desired.
When the fingers of his right hand leisurely found their way to her feminine folds House wasn't surprised to find that Cuddy was ready for him. One finger easily slid into her slick passage and his thumb rubbed against her swollen clit. When she whimpered, House gave her a wicked grin. Cuddy ground herself against his hand and moaned his name.
House parted her and groaned as Cuddy guided his erection to her entrance. As he slid home, House closed his eyes and hissed out a long, shaky breath. He was beyond rational thought when he felt himself surrounded by her moist heat. Cuddy braced her hands on House's broad shoulders and watched his face as she began a slow, steady ride. As her hips rose so that only the tip of his erection remained inside, House shuddered. When Cuddy slid back down with an erotic twist of her hips, House's eyes flew open and gripped her hips. Cuddy gave him a seductive smile and repeated the movement.
With each glide and twist, House's breathing became more erratic. His blue eyes glowed with the heat of his arousal as he watched her magnificence breasts sway above him. House planted his left foot on the mattress and used the leverage to meet her thrust for thrust.
He knew she was close when her previously graceful movements became more uncoordinated. House thrust upwards as Cuddy ground herself against him. A few short, quick thrusts of this hips and then House felt her tighten around his straining cock. One last thrust sent her over the edge. The vice-like contractions of Cuddy's inner walls broke through the last of House's restraint. With a hoarse shout his own orgasm drew his muscles taut as he filled her. A few seconds later, he followed his wife into oblivion.
Uncomfortable pressure on his sternum finally roused House. He blinked and then pushed Cuddy's hair away from her face. She was resting on her forearms and her elbows were digging into his ribs.
"A little oxygen would be good," House wheezed.
"Oxygen is overrated," Cuddy mumbled from her perch on his muscular chest.
"Seriously, woman," House gasped. "I can't breathe."
Cuddy moved her hands to the mattress and hovered above her thoroughly sated husband.
"Better?" she asked with a grin.
"Much, thanks," House told her. He lightly caressed the sides of her rounded abdomen. "Is everyone okay?"
"Mmmmm," Cuddy smiled down at him. "Mamma is definitely okay."
"You think you might want to move? Or are you planning on sleeping like this?" House asked with a grin.
"Party pooper," Cuddy huffed with a fake pout and then shivered as she slid off of House's now softening penis.
House helped Cuddy move to sit next to him. He watched as she pulled her nightgown back over her head. In the past, he would have scoffed at the notion that pregnant women glowed. Now, he had undeniable proof sitting right next to him. She had a look of peace and contentment on her face that he had never seen before.
Cuddy caught him staring at her and asked, "What?"
"I was just thinking about how beautiful you are," House confessed. He reached up and pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. "I've never seen you look happier. I still can't believe I had something to do with that."
Cuddy caught his hand and intertwined their fingers. She knew she had to respond with an honest confession of her own. "You had everything to do with my current level of happiness. You, Rachel, these babies…this is the life I've always wanted. I love my job but, I've always wanted a family of my own."
"I never thought I would be anyone's dream come true," House told her with a small smile.
"What about you?" Cuddy squeezed his hand. "Are you doing okay?"
House ran his thumb over the palm of her hand. "Are you kidding? Regular sex with my hot wife. A kid who thinks I'm a superhero. A boss who's too busy to keep track of my nefarious activities. Why wouldn't I be okay?"
Cuddy laughed as she poked him in the ribs. "I being serious, you jerk."
"I do have one problem," House told her with a somber look. Cuddy frowned and waited for him to continue. "I'm really sick of cheese dip."
Cuddy patted his scruffy cheek. "You only have five more months to go."
House ran the back of his free hand over her stomach. "The next ultrasound should be able to tell us what they are. Do we want to know?"
Cuddy didn't need to think about her answer. "Yeah, I want to know. Do you?"
"Me, too," House grinned. "Even though I won't be able to place a bet in Chase's new pool."
Cuddy snickered. "I'm sure you'll find a way. So, what are they betting on?"
"The sexes, the weights, and the date. The person who comes closest to all three wins. One of the accountants in billing set up a spreadsheet to keep track of all the bets." House sat up and retrieved his sleep pants from the foot of the bed.
"I'm glad to know my staff is hard at work," Cuddy slid from the bed and crossed the room to unlock the door. She quickly rejoined her now decently clothed husband and laid her arm across his naked chest. House reached over and switched off his bedside lamp. He wrapped his right arm around her and was just settling in when he heard Cuddy's voice come out of the dark.
"We could have our own, personal pool," Cuddy suggested.
"And, what does the winner get?" House asked as he laid his hand protectively over the swollen mound of her stomach.
"Dinner out at the restaurant of the winner's choice and one week of no diapers," Cuddy offered.
"Two weeks," was House's counter offer.
"Deal," Cuddy accepted. "We write down our picks before the next ultrasound."
He was silent for so long that Cuddy had started to think he had fallen asleep. She was surprised when he softly admitted, "You are my dream come true, too, Cuddy. I love you."
Cuddy placed a soft kiss on his shoulder. "I love you, House. More than I ever thought possible."
"Just remember that when you're in labor," House snickered.
"The payoff will be worth it." Cuddy placed a soft kiss to his whiskered cheek. "Besides, you'll be there to help me through it."
"Yeah, we know how great I am in stressful situations," House scoffed.
Cuddy was silent for a few minutes. Finally, she had to ask about gossip that had been nagging at her for a few days. The hospital grapevine was abuzz with the news that the Head of Diagnostics had been spending time in the nursery.
"House, are you nervous?" Cuddy quietly asked.
"About labor and delivery? No." House answered. "About helping take care of two newborns? Scared shitless. People who can't tell me what they need freak me out."
"They'll let you know when they need something. You just have to learn how to interpret what they're telling you." Cuddy smoothed a hand over his chest. "Is that why you've been hanging out in the nursery?"
"Who snitched?" House demanded in an attempt to deflect.
"The entire hospital," Cuddy informed him. "The nurses think it's adorable."
House yawned before he responded, "They just like dumping the screamers off on me."
Cuddy snuggled closer. "They give you the screamers because your singing calms the babies down."
"Those biddies can't keep a secret," House complained around another yawn.
Cuddy gave him a quick, one-armed hug and remained silent. She knew pushing wouldn't get her any further information. Her eccentric genius had reached his limit for emotional exchanges for the day. Cuddy was moved by how hard he was working to be a good father. Before she gave in to the pull of sleep, Lisa Cuddy-House silently reaffirmed her vow to never give up on the incredible man she had married.