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There is a conversation later in this chapter written in italics to indicate that the conversation is in Japanese – a language I don't know, but in The Present Days I decided that House does.

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"So how was the meeting?" House asked as his mother came into his office.

"Not too good," Blythe sighed. "We will have one more, tomorrow morning and if that isn't significantly different from today's session, I'm done. He is willing to talk about some things, but not all and his attitude to Aiko ... Well; I don't need to tell you. I'm going out to lunch with him now, but I don't think we will discuss anything important there either. See you at home, when you get there."

"Ok, try not to get indigestion," House kissed his mother on the cheek. "And remember that Dr Higa will be with me when I get home. Try to prepare Dad for that, if possible."

"I don't think it will be possible," Blythe observed. "John wasn't impressed with him the last time they met and I'm pretty sure the feeling was more than reciprocated."

"That was hardly surprising under the circumstances," House pointed out.

"Aiko was recovering from a life-threatening illness, and all John could do was suggest you should give her back to her grandfather," Blythe remembered. "The least John could have done was to be happy that Aiko survived, but I don't think that even crossed his mind!"

"He has always had somewhat one-track mind," House shrugged. "And I'm sure he was happy that Aiko survived, in a sort of general way. Just nothing personal."

"That, I think, pretty much sums it up," Blythe agreed. "Nothing personal to him. And the problem is that he just cannot get it through to his head that to all the rest of us, it's very personal. Well, I don't really expect to change that, but I have to give it one more try before I throw in the towel. He has booked his flight for tomorrow night, and that will be that then."

"Ok, I think I can hang on to my patience till then," House surmised. "Can't promise, but I will try hard."

"Thank you," Blythe smiled. "See you later at home, then."

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Later that day House followed Cuddy to Dr Jordan's office. Originally he wasn't supposed to be there, but Cuddy had cancelled once and had tried to cancel again, but Anna had refused to do it and had, instead, called for reinforcements in the form of House. Cuddy was not happy but she was resigned to her fate.

"I hear you were trying to skip this again," Dr Jordan greeted them.

"Helen! You don't need to say that like I was playing truant or something," Cuddy huffed. "I just had things to do."

"Has she been sleeping enough?" Helen asked House.

"I'm here! I can answer your questions about me myself!" Cuddy was indignant.

"But she knows you would lie," House explained to her turning then to Helen. "Not enough. Miss Hill or I have been able to force her to take her prescribed nap almost every day after lunch, but she is still not getting enough rest in my opinion. Her passengers seem to like the night life so she doesn't get to sleep until rather late in the night."

"You said the walkie-talkies were there so that we could talk," Cuddy glared at him. "Not so that you could spy on me!"

"Same difference unless you thought that I would just assume you were talking in your sleep," House pointed out. "Now settle down and answer Jordan's questions. I won't interfere unless you lie."

"Fine," Cuddy snapped at him. "What do you want to know Helen?"

After that the visit went smoothly (barring a few disgruntled mumblings from Cuddy) and Helen got all the blood and tests she wanted. She also did an ultra.

"So there they are, 25 weeks," Helen said turning the monitor so that Cuddy – and House – could see. "Looks good, they seem healthy, a little small, but that is expected as there are three of them. If absolutely necessary they probably would survive outside by now, but I would rather we did everything we can to avoid premature labour."

"Is there a chance that might happen?" Cuddy asked worriedly – reaching for House's hand to hold.

"With triplets there always is," Helen responded. "In fact, I expect that you will have them at least two weeks early anyway. But right now it's your blood pressure that I don't like. In fact, I have to order you to start your maternity leave next week, I'm afraid."

"I can't!" Cuddy had an immediate reaction. "There are things... The hospital ... How..."

"Cuddy, shut up," House told her. "You have to let Sheridan run your hospital for a while. It will happen sooner or later anyway. He won't make a bigger mess of it just because it's sooner than you wanted. You have people here who will make sure it's not too bad no matter when it happens. Sure, Miss Hill will work as Wilson's secretary for the duration but she can still keep an eye on things. Evil Nurse Brenda is not going to let Sheridan mess with anything that affects her, so the clinic and the nursing staff are fairly safe and the heads of all departments will look after their domains. We can hold the fort till you return. Sure, you will still need to clean up after Sherry Darling, but I imagine by that time you are more than ready to sink your teeth into something like that anyway."

"He's right," Helen concurred. "Your hospital will be still here when you get back in six months time. It may be a little worse for wear, but it will be here. You really do have to do this."

"Next week, huh?" Cuddy asked again.

"I would like to say today, but I think you do need a couple of days' adjustment time, so yes: next week," Helen confirmed.

Cuddy looked at the monitor and her kids that were peacefully slumbering inside her (so now they were sleeping! Just great!) and sighed. "Ok, Friday is my last day then."

"Excellent decision," House approved. "I'm not sure I could have behaved nicely any longer than that anyway."

"House!" Cuddy scolded him but she had to laugh. "That is my biggest fear: what will you come up with now that I'm not here to watch you."

"Oh, don't worry," House dismissed her concerns. "I won't blow the place up or anything."

"Not even the MRIs?" Cuddy raised her eyebrow at him.

"No! That was just once!" House huffed. "I just wanted to see how a bullet would really behave in one."

"What?" Helen couldn't help but exclaim.

"You don't want to know," Cuddy told her dryly. "House, if you break anything while I'm gone, you will pay for it. Personally!"

"Fine, be that way," House huffed. "I know your hormones are messing with you but no need to treat me like I'm eight or something."

"Well you definitely are something," Cuddy stated. "I mean it; you break it you buy it."

"I know," House told her. "The hospital is safe, I promise. It's Sheridan I want."

"Ok, if we are clear on that, fine," Cuddy accepted.

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Later that day Dr Higa got to the hospital. House had arranged for a car to pick him up from the airport since he had work – no new patients, but he was still playing the part of a conscientious doctor for Sheridan's benefit – just to make the shock bigger when Cuddy started her maternity leave.

House was in his office with Aiko when Kasumii escorted Dr Higa there (House had sent her to greet Dr Higa in the lobby when the driver called him to tell they were about to arrive at the hospital doors) and then she went into the conference room leaving the men alone with Aiko.

"Sensei!" House greeted Dr Higa as he entered the room "How was your journey?"

"Uneventful," Dr Higa smiled. "Too long, too. I kept wanting to tell the pilot to fly faster, but was able to contain myself."

"Yes, I relate to that," House responded. "Aiko has been expecting you, too, though she is feeling a little shy right now." House kissed Aiko's head. The baby was securely cuddled in his arms and was pressing her face against his chest taking very little peeks every couple of seconds at her grandfather. Clearly she didn't remember him – at least not properly – but she was curious, especially since her Daddy spoke to the stranger in the same language as her Nanny always spoke to her. Also, there was something familiar in the stranger, especially his voice.

"Yes, I assumed she would have reached that stage by now," Dr Higa accepted. "I wish I had been able to be here for longer after her illness, but we'll just have to make do with this."

"I don't think she will feel shy for very long," House explained. "She is very open to new experiences. Just a little cautious now – and I cannot say that I see that as a bad thing."

Right then Aiko decided she rather liked the looks of this new person – at least as long as she was in her Daddy's arms – and she turned towards him and extended her hand. She was holding a teething ring in her hand and she was willing to give it to the stranger as a welcome gift (which she fully expected to get back, as she always did!). Dr Higa came closer and accepted the gift with all formality bowing and expressing his gratitude for her deeming his insignificant self worthy of such a magnificent gift. House did not laugh, but he smiled broadly.

"She is getting her first tooth then?" Dr Higa asked as Aiko hid her face against her Daddy again.

"Yes, and she isn't too happy about it," House said. "But I don't think anyone would be. It's not too bad yet; the numbing cream helps just fine so far."

"Then she probably needs this toy more than I do, after all I'm nearing the time when I will loose my teeth, not grow them," Dr Higa smiled as he extended the ring towards Aiko – who was again peeking at him. After some hesitation Aiko agreed to turn towards him again and accepted the toy. She didn't hide again but gazed steadily at her grandfather.

"Would you like your Ojii-san to hold you?" House asked Aiko. Naturally she didn't reply but she didn't protest either when House carefully handed her over to Dr Higa. She did glance slightly frantically at her Daddy once he let go but as soon as House placed his hand on her back – letting her know that he wasn't going anywhere – she settled into Higa's arms and gazed at his face chewing her teething ring thoughtfully. After a while she used her other hand to explore the face in front of her.

"She likes to play Fish," House told Higa.

"Fish?" Higa queried.

"Yes. I try to imitate a gold-fish and she tries to copy it," House explained. "She is actually quite good at it."

Higa considered the baby in his arms for a moment and then he made a fish-face. Aiko giggled, delighted that this new man in her life knew the game and then she dutifully reproduced the face making her grandfather smile. He repeated his face and she reproduced it and again she giggled.

"I have to warn you," House informed Higa. "She can go on doing that forever. So far we have never been able to play fish for as long as she wants. Fortunately she is happy if you play even a little while."

"Well, I have plenty of time now," Higa answered. "I'm sure I can keep on playing this even when we talk."

"Indeed," House agreed. "I've found it an excellent way to keep Aiko occupied during adult conversations. Of course, sometimes it can be a little distracting."

"I can imagine," Higa smiled. "But I'm sure you won't be distracted by a few fish-faces from me?"

"Probably not, but I'm not making any promises since that last one was really something!" House smiled back.