VickyB: I do agree with you. After reading that I see that the believability is faltering. And as you said you work in child care. I don't know much about it. It's just an idea I came up with but I would like it if you gave me some more information on it. I was thinking about redoing the first chapter anyway so I could probably fit this in somewhere, maybe this chapter…or mention that he did say report it. I guess I'll have to figure something out. If you have any other suggestions my email is or just leave a review. Thank you for the constructive criticism, it really does help a lot.

Disclaimer: Don't own.

--

"What?" House asked eyes widening practically out of his head.

"Marriage. We can convince them that this is a good home for him."

"It is a good home for him…I feed him, give him a place to sleep, humor him, and I definitely don't abandon him."

"Right. I know that, but they don't."

"I get that Lisa." He said looking at her incredulously, "But I don't understand why a lawyer has the right to conjure up some crap that he doesn't even know about. He can't get into my personal files."

"He could've glanced at something, or asked someone something."

"Yes, but to bring it up in the court? No. That's bull."

"It is. But listen Greg he's bullheaded, not going to take this lightly."

"Why don't we just report his father?"

"And say what? I think that this man, whom I don't even know, is emotionally abusing my fake son?"

"When you put it like that…" He rolled his eyes, "Tell them that his father abandoned him."

"Do you think that they are going to believe a guy who apparently has a very good lawyer over a presumed drug addict."

House genuinely looked offended, which surprised Cuddy. "Wow." He said quietly as he sat down.

"I…I didn't mean it like that."

"No you're right. We should just give him back to his damned father. Maybe he'll be better there."

"You know that's not true." she said regretfully.

"Just…maybe you should go. You'll be late for work." he stated looking at her angrily.

She just stared. "Right." She whispered grabbing her coat.

He flinched slightly when the door clicked.

----

"what's going on?" Ronald asked pulling himself up on the couch beside House, who had his head in his hands.

"Nothing you should worry about." House said trying to look reassuring.

"I don't believe you." He stated simply.

"Smart kid." House muttered sitting back against the burgundy couch.

"Who was that, that you were yelling at?"

"Just a guy who knows your…your dad."

"My dad?" He questioned a little uneasily.

"Yup." House nodded stiffly.

"What did he say?"

"Things that you don't need to be worried about. Don't you have to go to school or something."

"Probably." he nodded. "I don't know."

"We should get you enrolled somewhere…I'll look into that…It's only seven, go get dressed." he said standing up and grabbing his cane.

---

The phone call didn't last long. He had gotten an answer from the Board of Education and explained his situation. They were pretty good about it so he could bring Ronald in this morning.

At least one thing was going right this morning.

"Let's go kid, you have to be there at eight." House called toward the bathroom.

"I'm ready!" He shouted as he ran into the living room with jeans and red Spiderman shirt.

House smiled slightly, "Great, let's go."

Ronald seemed excited. House was glad.

He grabbed Ronald's hand and led him out of the apartment and to his car. Once he saw that the kid was safely in his seat with his belt on House walked around to his side. He opened the door and dropped his cane in the back. Once he sat down and started the engine he could tell that someone was behind them.

"Damn it." He sighed.

He opened the door again and stepped out. Using the side of the door for support he walked to the back of his vehicle.

"What do you want?" He asked truly frustrated.

"I just want you to agree." The man said leaning against the front of his car.

"I can't." House said angrily. "And you know it just as well as I do. That man…that man is not good for him."

"You can't truly believe that you have a positive affect on that kid do you?"

House glared at him, and if looks could kill the man would be flat on his smug face by now. "His name is Ronald." Came House's miffed response.

"Whatever. You can't do this Dr. House…keep him. You know better than that. You should've reported him the day you found him."

"I agree. But I didn't."

"I see that. You should be sent to jail."

"We've established that. But I'm going to fight for him. I'm telling Child Services today. Don't you worry about that." House said and turned around.

"I'd worry about what you've got at stake doctor." the lawyer said smiling and getting into his own vehicle.

House rolled his eyes and got into his car for the second time that morning. He revved out of his parking space angrily and looked over at Ronald.

"Nothing to worry over. I'll figure all of this out." House said mostly to himself.

Ronald just nodded.

----

"I'll pick you up at three." House said as he led Ronald through the halls of the large elementary school. Princeton's best for his kid. House slightly shuddered at the thought.

They were finally in front of the kindergarten door that the principle had given directions to. It had been easy, enrolling Ronald. And it was a slight relief that he didn't have to have him there when he dealt with his problem.

Ronald looked scared.

"You nervous?" House asked looking down at the small child.

He nodded.

"Don't be. I think it'll be a good experience for you." it was tough for him to be reassuring in the first place, but when he had this burden hanging over his head, it was even harder.

"Bye Elvis." He said hugging House's left leg.

"Bye." He muttered letting Ronald get into the classroom before he turned away.

He lingered a little longer before he started walking again.

---

He walked into the doors of PPTH with a scowl on his face. Nothing out of the usual. He glanced toward Cuddy's office taking it all in before quickly turning back to walk toward the elevators. He sighed sadly and pressed the button of the elevator to his floor.

When he finally arrived in his office he sat down heavily in his comfortable chair. He turned to his computer screen and clicked on one of his games. As soon as the black screen came up and "play game" showed up on the screen in white letters he got bored. He sighed angrily and hit the exit button with fierce.

He stood up abruptly and grabbed his cane to head out the door.

Cuddy's door was close, how his feet led him there he would never know but he had to say something to her. Anything at all.

He opened her door dramatically and closed it just as dramatically. She looked up slightly startled at the man standing in front of her. She took all of him in and glared at him once she was done.

"What the hell are you doing here?" She asked quietly.

"I need to talk to you." He said sitting down in front of her.

"Talk." She rolled her eyes and put down her pen.

"I'm going to call the adoption agency. Or Child Care. Anything. I have to get this fixed." He said putting his head in his hands.

She looked at him sympathetically. "Where is he?" she asked more gently this time.

"School. I took him to kindergarten today." He said into the palms of his hands.

"Good. That'll show that you actually care about his education…his well being. House, you should've called them before all of this happened."

"Do you think that I don't realize that?" he asked suddenly looking up.

"I think you thought about it but realized that he meant more to you than you could've actually admitted."

"Since when did you become the psychoanalyst around here?" He asked trying to cover up a smile.

"Since you became naive to the fact that this kid loves you. Whether you like it or not he is your friend."

"Well, friend is not enough…I have to take care of him. And I'm not sure I can do that. Take that responsibility. It's bad enough that I'm not his dad, and I'm going to get busted for just that…but I can't take care of a child, Cuddy. This is hard."

"It is. And you're vulnerable…otherwise you wouldn't be in my office spilling your guts." She walked over to him, and behind his chair to rub his shoulders, "you have subjected yourself to change. He has changed you." She said and leaned down close to his ear. "It's a good change." He smirked slightly and leaned into her breath.

"I haven't changed…I just…I can't let this kid get booted out of a good home into a home where his dad doesn't even care if he exists." He said a little out of breath.

"It'll get better. If we fight we can keep him." She said soothingly.

He smiled, "We?"

"Yes, Greg, we." She stated mockingly.

"Well, we sounds good to me." he admitted turning to her and kissing her chastely on the lips.

It'll all get better.

TBC