a/n: This is a long one! Not that any of them are short, but this is longer. The timeline might be a little confusing here because I'm jumping ahead a bit, so I'll clarify. This jumps two weeks ahead from the last chapter, so she is at 32 weeks at the start. The rest of the chapter covers three weeks time frame. Happy reading!

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Two weeks. She had been confined to an uncomfortable generic hospital bed for two weeks. She was determined to make it at least two more weeks, but she hoped for longer. How would her sanity survive that long? Her afternoon couldn't have been more boring. She was given stuff to read, but she got too sleepy to go very far. She wasn't about to negotiate daytime TV. She couldn't think of a worse thing to do, especially with the hospital's basic cable offerings.

Everyone was doing their best to try and keep her occupied. Chase and Foreman left their whiteboard down in her room and often conducted their differentials in there with her. She was still tasked with doing paperwork for House, just as long as the work was delivered to her. House fired Al, so she got to screen resumes for new candidates. Dr. Ades didn't mind and believed that their efforts were helping. By staying in bed but keeping the mind busy, her BP had improved and physical stress levels were no longer at the maximum. She was still at risk, but each day made the situation more hopeful.

Still, the work wasn't there this afternoon. Luckily Pamela was able to come over for her lunch break. It was great that her office was only ten minutes from the hospital, but even in her position she couldn't always get away. Now she had three hours to kill before Robert showed up. He was there at 5:00 sharp every day. Most of the time it was for the evening but sometimes he was there for a minute before going back to finish some tasks for the day. In the last two weeks he and Foreman had gotten six referrals, and only two of those were slam dunks.

She sat there and gazed at the white board, running through the symptoms yet again. It was probably an exercise in futility by now, but she had to keep her mind busy. That ended up being enough to exhaust her. She rolled over and fell fast asleep.

Chase entered the room and saw her sleeping, rolled on her left side. He signaled the other person to come in, but held his fingers up to his lips indicating the need to be quiet. The other person took a spot behind her, not making a sound. Chase gave her shoulder a slight nudge. "Allison."

"Sarcoidosis!" She shouted incoherently.

Chase laughed. "Is it ever that?"

She rubbed her eyes. "Sorry, thinking in my sleep again. Is it 5:00 already?"

"Yes. You feeling okay?"

"Define okay." She noticed the scheming look on his face. "What are you up to?"

"You have a special visitor." He pointed to the other side of the bed. She rolled over on her back and delivered a reaction mixed with shock, disbelief, anger, and happiness.

"Mother?"

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Wilson knew his patterns well. He would be in the usual corner booth, every Friday when there wasn't a case. People didn't dare sit there, for the wrath of the cranky doctor was legendary. Often times when that was the only seat available, wise patrons would simply wait for another spot to open up.

Wilson had enough. He was tired of House moping this long. He made sure a tall cold beer was delivered right before he made his move. He knew House wouldn't leave until that beer was gone, for even when he was mad at him, he wasn't going to turn down anything free from Wilson.

Wilson slid into the seat across from him, his own full beer in hand. He said nothing, looked down at his beer and started drinking. House took a drink and chose to wait this one out.

Wilson was the first to break the silence. "Um, what's new?"

"My best buddy stabbed me in the back, that's what."

"I bet your best buddy doesn't see things that way."

"He's an idiot." House continued to enjoy his drink, not letting the moment ruin the taste of the vastly superior ale that was delivered to him.

"Yep, he's an idiot. All he did was fall for a woman that was never anyone's to begin with."

"That's not why he's an idiot. And let's stop talking about you as if you weren't here."

"You started it."

"You started it," he mimicked.

"You know, most best buddies would be happy if his two closest friends found happiness with each other. Of course, we all know you are hardly the typical friend."

House scoffed while taking another drink. "Is that the best thing your Greek chorus can come up with? How long before you get bored with her and have a yet another bitter end?"

"Is that what's bothering you? You don't think I'm good enough for her?"

"You said it, not me."

Wilson pondered his accusation for a minute while taking in more beer. "Okay."

"You're fine with that?"

"Yep. So can move on now?"

They sat there in silence for several minutes, both avoiding eye contact and drinking more beer. "Bennett was caught banging someone other than his trophy wife. The woman was way uglier. What drives a man to do that?" House asked.

"Trophy wife probably cut him off. She's probably doing the gardener or the pool boy."

"The towel boy at the tennis club is my hunch. Still, an uglier woman?"

"He probably got desperate."

Both their eyes grew really wide as the same thought popped into their heads at the same time. "He was drunk!" They said in unison.

Both chuckled together. House went on talking. "I like this idea of having another diagnostic team around. It felt so good to hand off my work these last couple of weeks."

"Cuddy won't allow that to happen forever. She's only giving you leeway because of Cameron."

"Yeah, and I can use that to my full advantage for the next several weeks. It's like I'm going on vacation."

Wilson chuckled. "She'll make you do clinic duty."

"No, I won't be able to, because I'll be performing consults with Drs. Chase and Foreman."

"How is that going to happen?"

"Chase owes me, plus he's also too distracted to argue. He'll call me in when I ask him to."

"So, let me get this straight, you farm out cases to them, consult when asked, and then bill the insurance for two doctor's fees?"

"Yeah, this new referral system is great, isn't it? All I have to do is walk in, say a few berating words to the patient, and consult is over. It's a dream come true."

"You forget the position of great power Foreman's wife is in. He will tip her off."

"Not for the next few weeks he won't. He wants the business."

Wilson thought the plan to be contrived, but brilliant. He held up his glass in a toast. "To extended vacations."

House countered. "To backstabbing best buddies."

Wilson took the insult with his normal acceptance. He knew House wouldn't let that go, but since they were talking again, it didn't matter. "How about I buy dinner?"

"Took you long enough."

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"You called my mother?"

Chase expected her to be upset, but he didn't care. "I figured she might want to know that you were in the hospital unconscious. Imagine my surprise when she told me she didn't even know you were pregnant."

Cameron frowned and lowered her head in shame. "I was going to send her pictures once they were born."

"Just like you sent me a wedding picture after the wedding," her mother said with resentment. "Your husband is a lot hotter in person by the way, and I'm dying over that accent."

Cameron dropped her face into her hand, and Chase blushed at the compliment.

"You're pretty lucky you know," she continued. "When this happened to your great-grandmother, one of her babies died, she was in a coma for weeks and almost died herself. Medicine has really changed."

Cameron's face turned white, while Chase's showed complete shock. "When what happened?" They both asked together.

"You don't know about her very bad pregnancy?" She asked Cameron.

"No, it didn't come up when we were going through the family tree."

Her mother sat down. "Oh, I could have sworn I shared that story. Maybe it was with your sister. Anyway, early in the pregnancy she was so sick she almost died from excessive puking. Back then they just called it the bad morning sickness. I think there is a name for it now."

Cameron clenched her teeth. "Yes, it's called Hyperemesis Gravidarium."

"You doctors and your fancy terms," she said chuckling. "Anyway, she was sick for the entire pregnancy, but it did let up a little after five months. She lost a ton of weight. She grew larger than normal, especially with all the weight loss, and that's when the doctors guessed she was carrying twins. Toward the end she fell ill again and the babies came early. It was an absolute miracle your grandmother survived, because the other twin, a boy, didn't. He was stillborn. Your great-grandmother slipped into a coma and lingered for weeks before finally coming out of it. They didn't know what happened."

"Eclampsia." Cameron said, still gritting her teeth.

"Oh, is that what it's called."

Chase tried to hide his laughter. "Why don't you two take a little time to catch up? I've got a patient to check up on."

Cameron didn't appreciate his humor. "Just remember, you did this to me!" she shouted at him while he was leaving.

She and her mother shared an uncomfortable glance, both not sure where to start. Her mother decided to make small talk. "So, Robert told me you have a boy and a girl. What names have you picked out?"

"We're torn between a couple girl names, but we only found out about having a boy recently. Robert is supposed to a pick name and run it by me, but he refuses to tell me what it is."

"Why won't he tell you?"

"He likes playing guessing games."

"You think he'd pick something like his dad's name?"

"He and his dad didn't get along. That's not happening. It won't be a Robert Jr. either."

Cameron had to know the truth. "Why did you come here mom? Don't you have a job and an independent life or something like that? You've never had time before."

"You've never had time either. Now we both do. Why turn down that opportunity?"

Cameron narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "I don't believe you. You aren't dying or anything, aren't you?"

"Heavens no!"

"Sorry, but Robert's dad showed up one day out of the blue after they hadn't talked for fifteen years. Four months later, he was dead from cancer. He never told Robert."

"That's awful! No, I'm not dying. If you want to know, Robert asked me to come. It was something in his voice, like being here would mean something. I had time and couldn't say no."

Cameron smiled. "You came because he asked you to?"

"Yes."

Cameron dropped her head and clutched her wedding ring, which was on a chain around her neck. Her fingers were too swollen to put it on. "He's really good to me."

"He's a great guy. You should feel very lucky."

She did feel lucky, despite all the complications. She wasn't about to cry in front of her mother though, and shook off her emotions. "Why don't you tell me what's new at home?"

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"Rise and shine Buttercup," House said, barging into the hospital room.

"Buttercup?" Cameron asked sleepily. "Is that a reference to the song or the Princess Bride?"

"Your choice. Anyway, you have work to do."

"I'm tired. Can't it wait until later?"

"No excuses. I need a consult." He handed her the file.

She looked over the contents. "This is Robert's case. Why are you consulting?"

"Chase called me in." House took a good look at the woman in the corner. The similarities in features caught his eye. He smiled wickedly. "Why its Mother Cameron."

"House, mother, mother, House," Cameron said in flat voice while looking at the file.

"So this is the jerk?" Her mother asked.

"The one and only."

"How long-"

"When she feels like it." Cameron answered, cutting House off. She closed the file. "I don't get why Robert called you. He and Foreman have been including me on the differentials. They didn't need your help."

"Something must have happened, because I got a call."

"This new referral system is wacky. How can you both call each other for the same patient? You got the case first, and gave it to him, right?"

"Yes."

"So how do you get the case back?"

"I don't have it back. Not my patient. I'm just consulting."

Cameron gave him a suspicious squint. "Something is up. You two are conspiring."

"Now why would we do that?"

"So you can pretend you're working to thwart Cuddy. Robert must be agreeing to it because you've got something on him." She took a few more seconds to think it through. "No, he owes you for letting him return to work early."

House smiled. "That's my girl, always thinking. Since you're thinking so clearly right now, how about some input on the case?"

"I've already told Robert my theories."

"Great, time to share them with me."

Cameron huffed, and then realized she had nothing better to do. "Pull up a chair."

He pulled up a chair next to Cameron's mother. "Important doctor stuff. Prepare to be dazzled."

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Dr. Ades came in with Chase. Both of them looked like they were weighing a heavy decision.

"Oh no," Cameron said. "What crisis do I have to deal with now?"

Dr. Ades smiled and sat down next to her. "Allison, I'm thinking of sending you home."

Cameron's mouth hung open. "Really?"

"The signs for the last week have been stable. The bed rest is working. I have no reason to keep you here, but I don't exactly trust you to sit still at home."

"What's not to trust?"

"I know exactly what you're going to do if I let you loose. You'll be in your nursery, busting your hump to get it ready for two babies."

"I won't, I promise."

"You're lying."

"Okay, yes, I'm lying, but I'll make sure I get help."

Chase laughed. "That's why I'm involved. I'm going to be there too. I'm going to keep you honest. I've already worked it out with Foreman that I can work from home."

"What if you have to come in to see a patient?" Cameron asked, knowing the plan wasn't realistic.

"I'll find other doctors to come and watch you when I'm not there."

Cameron wasn't sure if she liked the plan of using babysitters, but she didn't want to stay there anymore either.

"Allison," Dr. Ades said, "if your husband wasn't a doctor, and if your friends weren't doctors, there is no way I would agree to this. You'll have to check in with me every day with BP readings." She saw the confusion still lingering on Cameron's face over whether this was a good idea. "If you aren't sure, or are concerned that there won't be enough time to get to a hospital, I'll allow you to stay."

Cameron broke her apprehensive expression. After almost three weeks, she had enough. "Robert, my bag is over there. Start packing."

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"Oh God, kill me." Cameron said when she answered the door.

"Is that anyway to greet your volunteers for baby watch?" House said trying to act offended. It wasn't working. "It's either us or back to the hospital for you."

"You passed off your latest case again, didn't you?"

"Yep." House walked in without invitation with Wilson following close behind.

"Hi." Wilson said with an apologetic look on his face.

Cameron knew Wilson was a backup when Robert had to go in, but she thought Wilson and House were fighting. Of course she hadn't seen or heard from either of them in the last week since she got home from the hospital, so she was slow on the latest news.

"Ooh, nice place. You don't mind if I take a tour, do you?"

Before Cameron could answer, House had already begun. He moved to the center of the empty dining room. "Hmm, get a few pillows in here and you can eat meals like the Japanese."

"Baby furniture was on the top of our list."

House had already moved on, headed toward the kitchen. He stopped at the pantry area dividing the two rooms. "Wouldn't this require you to have a butler? Oh that's right, no money."

Cameron and Wilson shared the same look of disdain. They knew what House was like when he was in one of these moods.

Again he moved on. "Aw, look at the big open kitchen. Every yuppie's dream. What do you have to eat?" He raided the pantry and found a packet of cookies. He pulled them out and started munching like crazy while going for the refrigerator next. "Ooh, leftover lasagna. Looks like we have lunch." House closed the door. "You can serve it to me after I finish the tour."

House glimpsed out at the screen porch. "That patio furniture of yours looks pretty shabby. I'd invest in some new stuff. Let's see what's upstairs." House headed that way, while Cameron stayed behind with Wilson, who was actually taking time to admire some of the details of the home.

"I love the character of these older homes," Wilson said. "They don't put this much detail into newer houses. The arches in the doorways, the crown molding, the planks in the wood flooring, and the wood working in general. It's very charming."

"It sounds like you know more about homes than your ex-wife."

"Oh, don't get me started. There's a lot more I know about than her." They both laughed at his comment. "So how are you doing?" He asked while examining the fireplace mantle.

"I'm exhausted all of the time and have to force down food because it all looks repulsive to me. When Robert gets busy, this place has a revolving door. A few days ago Pamela and Foreman were here with rainy day games most of the day. I was ready to kill them by the time they got to 'Pin the Tail on the Pregnant Woman'. Still, it beats being in the hospital."

"Did your mother get home okay?"

"Yeah, her visit turned out pretty good. We got to catch up, she stayed here and helped Robert with the nursery. She swears she'll come back after the babies are born."

"Is the nursery done?"

"Mostly, you want to see?"

"I'd love to."

Cameron led Wilson to the stairs and climbed them at a snail's pace. She took several seconds for each stair. Wilson helped by supporting her left hand, while the railing handled her right.

"Wow, open space upstairs like this is so rare." Wilson was impressed with the layout.

They heard noises coming from the master bedroom. Cameron rolled her eyes and went in to find House rifling through the closet. "What are you doing?"

"Trying to find out where you hide the sex toys."

Cameron waved him off in disgust and went back to Wilson. "The nursery is this way."

She led him to the room on the opposite side of the master bedroom. Wilson admired every cozy feature. The blue and pink walls, the building blocks border, the white cribs complete with mobiles and bedding, and a changing table that contained all the supplies needed. There were stuffed animals everywhere, a huge area rug dotted with teddy bears and a nice old-fashioned rocking chair in the corner.

"Almost? This looks complete to me."

"Nope."

"What's missing?"

"Babies."

Wilson laughed. "That will come soon enough."

"So," Cameron said with a smile, "it seems you are playing dad-to-be yourself. Strange for someone who shoots blanks."

"No, it's not mine, but yes, I'm playing that role."

"So she found a sperm donor?"

"Yes, you could say that."

They were interrupted by that familiar thumping sound. House stuck his head in and made a strange face. "This kind of burns the retinas, doesn't it?"

"You haven't been to Foreman's house lately." Cameron replied.

House took a strange pause, eyes fixed on the two cribs and rocking chair. Cameron and Wilson look at each other in surprise, wondering what was going through his mind. House shook it off after a minute and went on. "You have an attic, right?"

Before Cameron could answer, he was gone and headed up the stairs.

"Something got him thinking." Cameron said suspiciously.

"I didn't notice," Wilson lied.

The look of revelation popped onto Cameron's face. "Wait a minute, Cuddy's baby. It's House's!"

Wilson's very bad poker face confirmed her conclusion.

"Of course, it makes sense. You and House were talking in the office, but I only heard bits and pieces. Why else would you talk about pregnancy? I don't know why I didn't figure it out sooner. I can't wait to tell Robert."

"You can tell Chase, but this has to stay among yourselves. House hasn't decided if he's going to be part of the baby's life or not."

Cameron showed a little outrage. "He's fathering a child and he doesn't want to be part of its life? He's a miserable bastard, isn't he?"

"Tell me about it."

Cameron chuckled, enjoying every bit of this news, and then noticed a distressed Wilson. "You're secret is safe with me. For what it's worth, I'm glad you are there for Cuddy. She deserves someone who can take care of her."

"Thanks."

They heard thumping coming down the attic stairs. House had in his hand a cricket bat.

"What are you doing with that?" Cameron asked. "I doubt you played at the Melbourne Cricket Club."

"I need something to intimidate my new staff with and keep them in line. I know your hubby isn't using it. Also, there are too many stairs in this place. Don't you know I'm a cripple?" He limped over to the stairs and noticed that Wilson and Cameron weren't following. "Come on, I'm ready for lunch now."

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"Robert! Wake up!"

Chase sat up abruptly in the bed and glanced over at the clock with squinted eyes. 2:15 am.

He saw Cameron next to him, wide awake and panicked, afraid to move.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm all wet."

Chase pulled back the bedding and found she was very wet. "Did you have an accident?"

"If I did, I didn't feel it or do it voluntarily."

"Hold on, we have a way of checking." Cameron heard him going down the stairs. She still didn't move an inch, afraid of the consequences. A minute later he returned, placed his retrieved messenger bag on the bed and pulled out a couple of items.

"Is that Nitrazine paper?"

"Yes," he said while putting a rubber glove on. "I've been keeping it just in case something like this happened." He lifted up her nightshirt, pulled off her soaked underwear and examined the mess. "It doesn't look like urine. I'm going to check now. You'll feel a slight pinch."

"Trust me, I know the drill."

He wrapped the paper around the ends of his two fingers and inserted them in her. After a few seconds he pulled the paper out and waited for the final color to appear.

"Well?" Cameron said anxiously.

He had a mixture of both relief and trepidation on his face. "Blue, 7.0. You my dear have ruptured membranes."

She was overjoyed. "Oh, it's finally going to happen."

He got out a stethoscope from his bag and moved it all around her abdomen, listening for fetal heartbeats. "Any labor pains yet?"

"No, they aren't even moving. Probably because there isn't room."

He smiled when he heard two normal heart rhythms. "They both sound good." He removed his stethoscope, leaned over and gave her a huge kiss. "One day shy of 35 weeks. I'm impressed. All three of you have exceeded expectations."

Cameron shrugged, not that surprised. "As a family, that's the way we roll."

He grabbed her hand, helped her out of bed and led her over to the closet. "We should get dressed. I plan on breaking every traffic law getting us to the hospital."