Sorry for the delay, but I was on vacation last week. Please read and review.

It's Alright

Cuddy brought Madison to her room and laid her in her bed. House followed her in. "You need to tell child services what she told us," House said.

"I will. I don't want that monster hurting her ever again." Cuddy stayed sitting on the side of the bed looking at Madison sleep.

"Do you want me to stay here tonight?" House asked. Cuddy looked up at him when she heard him speak.

"You can if you want. I don't mind," Cuddy said a little shocked. "You can sleep in my guest room." Cuddy got up and got an extra comforter from her closet. House followed her into the extra room and Cuddy put the comforter on the bed. When Cuddy was done, she turned around and looked at House who had been watching her.

House walked up to her and Cuddy wrapped her arms around him.

"It's okay," House said as Cuddy started crying against him. Cuddy squeezed him tighter.

House smelled Cuddy's hair. Man she smells good. "You should go be with her," House said. He knew that she better get away from him or he may not have so much control later if she stayed wrapped up in his arms. Cuddy lifted her head and looked at him. House stared into her teary eyes. "She'll need you if she wakes up. It would be scary for her to wake up in a strange place all alone."

Cuddy stood on her tippy-toes and gave House a gentle kiss on his lips. She thought it was sweet that House worried about Madison. She then smiled at him and went back to her room. She wished she could stay with him, but she needed to be there for Madison.

Back in the guest room, House touched his fingers to his lips. The kiss had been so gentle, yet he could still feel it on his lips. House smiled. He wondered if Cuddy felt the same way he felt about her or if she was just in a fragile emotional state. House knew that right now would not be the time to explore what was going on between the two of them because they needed to focus on Madison's well-being. He could pursue Cuddy after that.

The next morning, Madison woke up lying next to Cuddy. It was still dark in the room, but she could make out Cuddy's face. She wondered were House was. Madison got up to explore the house.

Madison walked across the hall to where House was sleeping. She walked over to the bed and looked at him as he slept. Madison's father had been the only man she had ever really known, so she wondered if House was actually mean like him. House had been so nice to her, but that could have just been an act, like the act her father put on when company came over.

House woke up with the feeling that someone was in the room with him. He slowly opened his eyes and saw Madison standing there. "What are you doing up?" House asked. Madison jumped because she didn't realize that House had woken up. House heard her start to cry from the shock. "Sorry if I scared you," House said as he sat up. House turned on the lamp next to his bed. House patted the bed next to him to tell her to get up there with him. Madison slowly sat on the bed next to House. "Why are you up so early?" House asked.

"I woke up," Madison said as she shrugged her shoulders.

"I was assuming that," House said. "Why are you in my room?"

"Lisa is not awake," Madison said.

"So you decided to wake me up?"

"I'm sorry," Madison said.

"I'm not mad," House said when he saw the pouty look form on her face. "Would you like to watch some TV?" Madison nodded her head yes. "Come on," House said as he rolled out of bed. Madison grabbed his hand and they walked to the living room.

"I'm hungry," she said to House.

"Wait right here," House said as he sat her down in front of the TV to watch Goof Troop. He came back a few minutes later carrying a waffle he had heated up.

"Thank you," Madison said. House sat down next to her. He studied the little girl sitting next to him. A million questions ran through his head.

"Where do you live?" House asked her.

"I don't want to go home," she said to him.

"We need to find your parents," House said. "We do not get to decide if we keep you and the people that decide that will need your information."

Madison sat her waffle down and then wrapped her arms around House's waist. "I want to stay with you." House didn't know what to say to her. He didn't want to lie and say that she would be able too, but he also knew that if he said that she may not get to stay with them, she would start crying. House decided to say nothing and he just let Madison hang on to him.

When Cuddy woke up, panic shot through her body when she noticed that Madison was not in bed with her. She quickly jumped out of bed. She first went to House's room and when he also was not in there, Cuddy started to freak. The look of fear disappeared from her face and turned into a smile when she entered into the living room. She walked over to the couch and saw Madison lying against House with House's arm around her. They both looked so peaceful. Cuddy was happy that House had decided to stay the night before. She knew House would protect Madison if someone tried to hurt her. She also knew that House would be there if she needed him.