Not many comments (only one) on the last chapter. Okay, I admit it wasn't great, but I had to bridge to this one which is kind of fun. Please let me know you're still out there, readers!

Chapter 43: Christmas House

Christmas Day was bright and cold, a typical New Jersey December morning.

Kate was excited and wanted to jump right out of bed to get Emily, but House stopped her. Ever since he had brought her home from the hospital the day before, he had ordered her, bribed her, bullied her -- anything to get her to do what he wanted.

"You're staying right here until I get the heat turned up and coffee going. Don't move, understand?"

"But…"

"Or I can arrange for you to spend Christmas Day in the hospital."

"Yes, dear." She said, subdued by his threat.

Within a half hour, Kate was resting on the sofa with a cup of coffee and a bagel in front of her. House was sitting on the end of the sofa with Kate's feet in his lap. Monica was sitting on the floor in front of the tree with Emily on her lap. She started helping the baby open her gifts and enjoyed her excited laughs.

They took turns opening gifts. Monica was thrilled with all of her gifts and especially touched when House gave her the gift bag with the art supplies. Monica had made them each a key ring with an original picture she'd drawn in it. Although she got an allowance, she wanted to give them something that came from her.

Emily started banging on the toy piano as soon as she was presented with it. Inviting Wilson over the night before to spend Christmas Eve with them had paid off, as he put all the toys together for her.

When Kate saw the jeweler's box, she was a little wary, since she didn't much care for jewelry. Then she saw the simple and elegant locket. She opened it up and there were the pictures of the three people she loved most in the world. She had Monica help her put it on and she promised solemnly never to take it off.

Kate's present to House was a remote control airplane with a little video camera inside it. As she had predicted, he loved the toy and the mischievous look on his face told her that he was already planning to torture the staff at PPTH with it.

Just as they finished with the gifts and disposed of the wrappings, there was a knock on the door. It was Wilson and he was carrying a huge gift basket filled with all sorts of goodies. He put it down on the coffee table and House started eying it for what he could extract from it.

Kate thanked him for the gift, but he looked away from her and said, "I have another present, it's sort of for the family, but you don't have to accept it if you don't want it."

"Why wouldn't we want to accept a gift from you, James?" Kate asked him.

"Well, because, it's, well, let me just bring it in and you'll see."

He hastily left the house and returned a few moments later, but this time, he was not alone. In his hand was a red leash and attached to the leash was a black dog.

"Oh!" Kate and Monica exclaimed together,

"Doggy! Doggy! Doggy!" Emily cried.

"NO!" House said. "No way in the world."

Wilson ignored him and spoke to Kate. "I know a dog is a responsibility. She belonged to a patient of mine. He's now going into a care facility and he, he won't be coming out. He was worried about the dog, so I said I'd try to find her a home. But if you don't want her, I understand."

"She's beautiful." Kate said. "What kind is she?"

"I don't care what kind. IT'S A DOG!" House said, although no one was listening to him.

"Doggy! Doggy! Doggy!" Emily cried again.

"She's a black lab mix and she's only a little over a year old, so she's still young enough. Her name is Maxi."

"Maxi." Monica crooned, sitting down on the floor to pet the dog. Maxi eagerly licked the girl's face.

"Doggy! Doggy! Doggy!" Emily cried again.

"STOP SAYING THAT!" House yelled. "NO DOGS. Do you hear me? NO. DOGS."

The four females in the room looked at him with sad eyes.

Monica said, "I always wanted a dog, but my dad said they were useless and a waste of time and money."

Kate said, "Hard to have a pet in a foster home."

Emily started to sniffle. "Daddy mad at me?"

Maxi sat down on her rear and looked up at the man with her tongue hanging out.

House looked at them. Emily's tearful question broke his heart. He looked down at the floor, then glared at Wilson.

"You are going to owe me so much and for so long for this, I can't even begin." He said to the younger man.

Wilson smiled. "Relax, House, it's not a sign of the Apocalypse, she's just a dog."

"And a female one, too. You don't think I'm surrounded by enough women in this house as it is? You couldn't bring a male dog? They'll probably all have PMS at the same time."

'Maxi's been fixed." Wilson said.

"And there's around ten years before you need to worry about that with Emily.' Kate told him.

"My point is still valid."

Monica looked up at him. "So, can we keep her?"

House saw the hope and longing on the girl's face.

"Merry Christmas, kid." He said.

Monica jumped up and gave him a hug. "Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you! And I promise I'll take care of her. I'll feed her and walk her and everything!"

"Famous last words." He grumbled, as Kate also gave him a hug, along with a kiss on the cheek.

"There's plenty of dog food and treats and a bed for her. It's all in my car. I'll go get it." Wilson hurried out the door again.

"Doggy mine?" Emily asked.

House smiled then. "Yes, sweetheart, doggy yours."

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Christmas night and all was peaceful. There was a fire roaring in the fireplace. House had put on a jazz CD. Monica was lying on the floor drawing in her sketchbook. House and Kate were also on the floor, leaning against the sofa, with the fire crackling in front of them. House's left arm was around Kate and she was nestled into his shoulder. Emily was sound asleep on House's lap. Maxi was also asleep, with her head on Kate's lap.

"A few month's ago, I never thought I'd be spending Christmas like this." House said.

"What did you think you'd be doing?" Kate asked, sleepily.

"Probably getting drunk. But if anyone had told me I'd have my wife…" He kissed the top of her head. "…two kids and a dog, I would have sent them for a psych evaluation."

"Are you happy?"

"Well, I'm glad you're not dead. And the kids are okay. Don't know yet about the mutt. But, it's okay."

"I didn't ask if you were 'okay'. I asked if you were happy."

House was silent, pondering her question. "I don't know," he finally said. "I've never known what that is. How do I know if I am now?"

"Well, are you unhappy?"

He thought again. "I don't think so."

"I guess that's a start. I love you, Greg. Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas. I love you too."