Celeste

So... THIS IS IT! Celeste and Cuddy are finally in the same room... ready for some face to face mother-daughter talk? I am! Pay attention to the A/N at the bottom :) Thanks again to partypantscuddy for beta-ing :)

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Chapter 5

"I-…" she started again.

"I'm sorry." Cuddy finally said. "I'm so terribly sorry."

. . . . .

Cuddy turned around, finally facing the girl. Both of them gasped in surprise.

"Oh my god…" Cuddy choked out, covering her mouth with her left hand. Celeste tried her best not to cry. In front of her stood an older copy of herself. Cuddy's hand immediately grasped at the desk, seeking support.

"Please, don't cry! Or I'll end up crying too." Celeste said trying to lighten up the situation. Cuddy sniffled and smiled.

"Can I?" Celeste asked pointing to the couch.

"Of course." Cuddy said as she sat at the other end of the couch. They sat in silence for a while.

"So..." they started together. "Oh you go first..." they continued, before chuckling. "You go..." said Cuddy.

"They told me you're the boss here." Celeste stated calmly, causing Cuddy to chuckle nervously.

"I am. And if you need anything or need more information about the experimental trial, you can ask me. Which reminds me, what's with your father?"

"Ah... he's been feeling nauseous. Dr Foreman said it's normal but I was worried so I came here and asked for something to ease his nausea."

"Wait..." Cuddy said, standing up and opening her laptop. "Andrew Thompson, right?" she asked for confirmation as she typed something. Celeste hummed in agreement. "Okay..." Cuddy stood up and disappeared outside her office mumbling something. Ten seconds later she was back smiling nervously. "A nurse is going to come back in a while with your father's meds." she told the girl, sitting back on the couch.

"Thank you." Celeste smiled softly.

"Look... I know this is awkward..." Cuddy started.

"It is..." Celeste confirmed.

"But I want to make this work if you agree." she continued. "I know you probably have mixed feelings about this whole thing and I don't want to pressure you into anything you don't feel ready to do..."

"Are you doing this because you feel guilty?" Celeste asked out of the blue.

"What? No." Cuddy shook her head. "What I did 16 years ago was the best thing I could have ever done. As much as I would have wanted to keep you with me, I do think I made the right choice by giving you up for adoption."

"I..." Celeste started.

"No, wait!" Cuddy cut her off. "I was young and I wanted a successful career more than anything. I'm not saying I gave up on a life with you because of my ambition, because when I found out about you my priorities changed. For nine months my whole life revolved around you." Cuddy concluded on the verge of tears. "And as much as I want a kid, I'd never ever force you into starting something now."

"I hated you." Celeste whispered. "When I first found out I had been adopted, I truly hated you. I couldn't imagine how a mother could give her own daughter to a couple she barely knew. Mom and dad told me a lot about you and they made me realize that what you did was for the best. You gave me a chance to grow up in a family that truly loved me and with that I'm not doubting that you cared for me back then." She stopped smiling softly. "But only now I realize that I want to get to know you, because even though you haven't been my 'mom' for the past 16 years, you're still my mother."

A knock came from the door. Cuddy stiffened and straightened up a little. And so did Celeste.

"Come on in" Cuddy said. Nurse Brenda entered the office wearing a small smile. She handed the pills to Dr. Cuddy and exited the office once again. "So... what do you want us to do?" the doctor asked as she walked towards her desk.

"I don't know... I guess we could have lunch together or dinner for a start." Celeste said standing up and moving towards the desk too.

"That's okay for me. How does lunch tomorrow sound?" Cuddy asked, scribbling something down on a piece of paper.

"Ah, I should ask my father but I don't think it will be a problem." the girl replied with a smile.

"Okay. I'll pick you up at 1, is that okay with you?"

"Perfect."

"Perfect." Cuddy smiled sweetly, though clearly hiding her nervousness. "So... here's the pills for your father. Everything you need to know is written on that post-it but if you need anything else this-" she handed her another piece of paper "-is my number."

"Thank you." Celeste thanked her. "Guess I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Yes. I'll walk you out." Cuddy proposed.

"There's no need. Really." the girl said. "Plus I know how to defend myself. All those karate lessons were pretty useful." she said mimicking something Cuddy supposed was karate-related.

"Good night then." Cuddy said with a small smile.

"Good night!" Celeste replied with a smile of her own. She opened the door and took a step outside before turning on her heels and making a bee-line towards Cuddy. The doctor looked at her dumbfounded for a moment until Celeste's arms wrapped around her in a hug. Cuddy smiled and wrapped her own arms against the girl. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling till the last second. Celeste broke the hug and smiled.

"I'll see you tomorrow." she repeated before leaving again. When Celeste closed the door behind her, Cuddy finally allowed herself to sink in her chair and ponder about what had just happened.

Sighing, she picked up the phone. After dialing House's number, she looked outside into the clinic, where Celeste was waving goodbye to the nurses.

"House." he answered.

"Hey..." Cuddy said with the ghost of a smile.

"Hey..." he replied clearly surprised.

"Look about this morning... I'm sorry. I was a total idiot." she paused. "I know it must have been hard on you too and the situation isn't really the best I had hoped for but... I know we can do this together."

"I should have told you though..." he cut her off.

"No, House. It was your right to see her. I behaved like a complete idiot today and I'm sorry." she concluded. "Do you want to do something tonight? I want to make it up to you." she said smiling. They had been together for only a couple days and still hadn't been on a real date nor actually had sex, but they had had lunch together and stolen moments around the hospital during pauses.

"Dinner somewhere?" he asked.

"I was thinking more on getting take-away and staying at my place." she proposed.

"Let's stay at my place tonight. I have cable and stuff." he mumbled embarrassed.

"That's okay." Cuddy said with a smile.

"Okay... I'll see ya then."

"See you..." she closed the call, chuckling to herself.

This could all work out, she was sure of that.

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Next chapter will be a Huddy hardcore one, hell yes! ;p Should I move this story to M-rated or not?