A/N: I know you probably think I've forgotten this story, but I haven't. It's actually almost finished and I've written the last few chapters, so you should get pretty regular updates until it's done.

I really appreciate all of those who are reading and reviewing this story and those who have added it to their favorites. It's really encouraging. I hope I don't disappoint you. Thanks!

Chapter 42: Expectations

Chase examined Kate the next morning and agreed that she should stay in the hospital for a few days to be sure she was strong enough. Kate complained loudly about that.

"Christmas is in two days! There's still so much to do."

"It's not getting done by you." House told her. "In or out of the hospital."

"Please, Greg," she pleaded. "I didn't think I'd ever spend Christmas with you and Emily ever again. I really need to be home."

House understood. He had thought there would never be any more merry Christmases when he thought her dead. Now she was here and he wanted her home as well. He took Chase out to the hall and spoke quietly to him. Kate watched the two doctors anxiously. Chase was shaking his head while House kept talking. Finally, she saw Chase nod and House headed back into her room.

"Okay, I can take you home tomorrow afternoon. But you can't do anything except eat and rest. You're allowed to rub your husband's feet, but that's all!"

Kate smiled. "I promise. I just want to be home. I want to see Emily's face on Christmas morning."

House did too. "I promise you will."

"But Greg, there's still so much I have to do! The tree's not done, there are gifts to wrap, things I still need to buy…"

"We'll finish the tree. Tell me what you need to buy and I'll go shopping."

She looked at him in disbelief. "You're going to go shopping?"

"Yeah, I can shop. Hope everyone likes Hustler."

Briefly she told him that she had purchased some educational toys for Emily, but she needed to get something fun. And she had bought several outfits for Monica, as well as some CD's and movies. She also told him what she had bought for their friends. He listened to her list, then nodded. After giving her a kiss, he left her room and returned to his office. Their nanny had gone home for Christmas, so Emily was at day care and Monica was home alone. House dialed Cuddy's office. He briefly explained what had happened with Kate and asked if he could leave early to be with the kids and get everything ready for Kate. Since he didn't have a patient at the moment, she agreed to let him out of clinic duty so that he could take care of his family.

He picked up the baby and they headed home. Monica was waiting for him. She had been working on finishing the tree and it looked pretty good. He didn't think Kate would complain, especially since Monica had done it. He realized that he hadn't done any Christmas shopping of his own. He knew he had to do it today, since Kate would be home tomorrow. So he packed up Emily and Monica and they headed for the mall.

Monica pushed Emily in her stroller and they browsed in KB toys, while House did some shopping. He went into A.C. Moore and purchased a large set of colored pencils, some graphite pencils, two sketch books and a book on drawing manga for Monica. He also purchased one of those fancy gift bags and tissue and charmed the sales clerk into putting the whole thing together for him. Then, he went to meet the girls at the toy store.

Monica was watching as Emily banged on a toy piano. The child was laughing with glee. House nodded. That was good enough for him. He purchased the toy piano as well as a toy guitar and drum set. May as well give the kid options. He paid and arranged to pick them up when they were done shopping, so that they wouldn't have to drag them through the mall.

As they were leaving the toy store, he told Monica, "I still have to get something for Kate."

"Oh, what are you going to get her?"

"I don't suppose an ironing board or a crock pot would be good?"

Monica just stared at him.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Come on, I know where I need to go." He dragged both girls into a jewelry store.

Monica looked around at the beautiful jewelry, then said, "I don't know about this. The only jewelry that Kate wears is stuff that means something to her. Her watch because she needs to tell time and her wedding ring because …it's her wedding ring. She doesn't even have pierced ears."

"I know. Which is why I have to get her something that will mean something to her." He looked at the items displayed in the cases while the salesclerk eyed him suspiciously. With his scruffy beard and wrinkled shirt, the man behind the counter doubted this guy dragging a baby and a teenager with him could afford anything in this store.

"Perhaps you would find something more to your liking at the department store, sir." The clerk said haughtily.

House looked briefly at the man and then dismissed him. "No, I think I'll find something to my liking right here. You can go polish your stones. I'll let you know when I need you."

The man gave him a look, and moved a little away, but not too far, keeping his eye on House.

The glass cases were filled with diamonds, emeralds, sapphires n various settings of necklaces, bracelets, earrings. He knew that he had to find something that would be special for her. What did she value most? He looked around the store and his eyes rested on the two girls. He smiled slightly and called the clerk over. He briefly explained what he wanted and the man led him to a case filled with lockets on chains.

House examined the items displayed there. Some were too tiny, others too large or ostentatious. Finally, he saw the perfect one. It was a silver heart, about two inches in diameter and it had a small starburst sapphire in the center. He asked the clerk to bring it out. When he opened it, he saw that it had space for three pictures and the back was smooth, perfect for engraving.

Within minutes House had paid for the locket and arranged for the engraving. He would pick it up the next day before he brought Kate home.

Their shopping done, they returned to the toy store and House paid a stockperson to carry the toys for Emily to his car. Once they were loaded, they headed home.

They brought the gifts into the house, leaving the toy boxes in the garage. House didn't want to think about having to put them together the night before Christmas. He'd have to find a way to get Wilson to do it for him.

He and Monica fed Emily and put her in her crib for a nap. Then they put everything away and looked around the house.

"What else does Kate want us to do?" he asked the girl.

"Well, the tree's done. I can bake some cookies for her later. She was wrapping gifts in her room."

"Right." He said. "She told me to get the gifts for my staff together to bring to the hospital tomorrow. I don't know why I have gifts for my staff. I never gave them anything before. I don't even know what I'm giving them."

"It's important to Kate that everyone get gifts this year."

"Right." House realized that was why he was doing it. He didn't care about gifts, but he cared about the woman who wanted the perfect Christmas. He looked around the room, trying to see what else needed to be done to make sure that it was. He went to their bedroom and removed the gifts that she had already wrapped and labeled for his staff. Wilson, Cuddy and Joanne would be coming to their house on Christmas, so they would get their gifts then. He took the staff gifts and packed them up in a bag to bring to the hospital. He saw Emily's gifts unwrapped in a pile. He called Monica in and supervised while she wrapped them. He knew there were also some gifts for her, but he would deal with them later.

Monica suggested they get the house cleaned up as well. He agreed and while he had a beer, Monica dusted and vacuumed the living room and rec room. He made a sandwich and ate it at the kitchen table while Monica did the dishes and wiped the counters.

"Looks good." He said. "Time to get Emily up."

Then he remembered the locket. He told Monica to get the baby up and put her in a colorful dress. He got out their digital camera and made sure the batteries were working. Then he limped into the living room and adjusted the lights. When Monica came in with Emily, he told her to stand in front of the Christmas tree.

"Are you going to take us together?"

"Yeah, one of each of you, for both sides of the locket and then one together for the center. It has three sections."

"Then you need to be in one of them."

"No one wants a picture of me."

"Kate will."

He looked down for a bit, then said, "Okay, I guess."

He posed the girls individually in front of the tree and took several shots so that they could choose one they liked. Then Monica took the camera from him to take his picture. He started to move towards the tree, but she stopped him.

"No, sit at the piano. That'll be better."

He sat and she took several pictures of him.

"We can download them and choose the bests shots, then photoshop them so that they'll fit in the locket." Monica told him.

"Later. We need to go visit Kate in the hospital. She's probably bored."

Once again, House packed up the two girls and they headed to the hospital.

After a visit with Kate and reassuring her that everything was under control and that she would be able to go home the next day, House took the girls to McDonald's for dinner, then home.

Monica worked on the computer, getting the pictures just right for Kate's locket. House had traced it and given her the measurements so that she could get he pictures done before he went to the jewelry store to pick it up. That way, he could put them in and have the store wrap it for him.

Finally, the girls were in bed and House settled with a glass of scotch at the piano. He knew he had to make this Christmas special for Kate. He would do whatever it took.