Oh look an update. ;D Maybe if you get to 220 reviews I'll be inspired to write chapter 15? And trust me, you'll want chapter 15 soon after this chapter.

June 22nd 2010 (24 weeks)

"How're things with Megan?" Cuddy asked as she sat across from Wilson in the booths in the cafeteria. It was Tuesday, and they were having their weekly lunch date, something they both enjoyed.

"They're good. Our first date's on Friday."

"Oooh." She responded, genuinely curious. "Where are you going?"

"We're going bowling."

"Oh, fun." She replied taking a bite of her turkey and swiss sandwhich.

"Yupp. How're things with House?"

"Are you seriously asking this? You know how things are." She laughed. Of course Wilson knew how things were, he knew both sides of the story. He always knew what was going on between her and House, and always would know what was going on with her and House.

"Alright." He laughed, running a hand through his hair. "How're you feeling? You're what twenty four weeks along now?"

"Mhm." She responded nodding as she placed unconsciously placed a hand over her rapidly expanding stomach. "I'm good. As good as I can be that is anyway, with my feet swelling up and all. I've got another ultra sound today." She smiled excitedly.

"Exciting. I'm going to have to get buy another giant duck soon." He smiled placing a hand over hers. "I'm happy for you Lisa. I'm happy for you both. It's about time you've gotten the happiness you both deserve."

"Thank you James. It means a lot to me." She replied bringing her other hand to his face. "I would kiss you on the cheek, but that would involve me leaning over the table, and I'm pretty sure a few things would topple over if I did."

"It's fine." He laughed.

"Jimmy, get your hand off of her. She's mine." House quipped, appearing out of nowhere and sliding in next to Cuddy and wrapping his arm around her.

"Actually, I own you." She responded wittingly. "You're this hospital's biggest asset."

"Is that the only thing I am?"

"No, you're also arrogant, lazy, an ass.. I can keep going if you want." She said resting her head against his shoulder. She loved the moments when she could take unexpected stabs at him. They were rare.

"Please do." Wilson said encouragingly. Clearly he was enjoying it as much as she was.

"Please don't." House responded. "Are you ready for your appointment Cuddles?"

"Yes." She replied taking his free hand and placing it over her stomach.

"Don't move." Wilson commanded, taking out his cell phone and snapping a picture of the two. "Check your cell phones."
Cuddy grabbed her cell off of the table and smiled at the picture message he'd sent, setting it as her background, as House rolled his eyes beside her.

"Let's go." She said putting her phone into her bag. It was almost one, and although her appointment wasn't until two, the drive from PPTH to St. Mary's was over twenty minutes. She nudged House so he would get out of the booth. She carefully scooted out after him and said her goodbyes to Wilson, before they headed off to the parking garage.

"Whose car?" House asked as she caught up to him.

"Mine." She responded handing him the keys as he reached out for them.

"My mother's coming to visit." House said as they got into the car.

"When?" Cuddy asked genuinely curious. She hadn't seen Blythe House in years. It would be nice to see her again. They'd hit it off when they'd met a few years back. She'd even suggested that Cuddy go out to dinner with House.

"Next weekend." He responded pulling onto the highway.

"That's fine with me. The house will be filled with boxes, but it'll be nice to have her stay for a few days. When did you start talking again?" She knew that House's relationship with his mother was strained because she had never done anything about the abuse his father had made him endure. She couldn't quite process how a mother could sit back and know that her child was being abused and not do anything to prevent it. She knew enough that House's parents had referred to it as discipline, but that didn't keep her from wondering how Blythe hadn't attempted to stop it.

"When you told me you were pregnant."

"How did she react..."

"She told me she was proud that I actually did something right with my life." He responded bitterly.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"No. I'm fine. There's nothing to talk about."

"House, you can't expect -"

"I said no. Drop it."

She sighed, bothered by the fact that after everything they'd been through he still wasn't able to open up to her emotionally.

They pulled into the parking lot of St. Mary's and made their way inside, neither speaking. Cuddy signed herself in at the front desk, noting that House stood beside her as she did so, something that was unusual. Shrugging it off, she found two seats in a corner near the back and sat down.

"What time is it?" She asked breaking the awkward silence that was quickly forming between them.

"One forty-five."

"Good."She thought to herself, thankful that she would have to endure the silence for another fifteen minutes.

The fifteen minutes passed painfully slow, and Cuddy was relieved when she heard her name called. She followed Dr. Montgomery's assistant into the examination room, House closely behind. She climbed up onto the examination table, feeling House's hands on her waist, studying her should she lose her balance.

"Good afternoon Dr. Cuddy, Dr. House." Montgomery greeted happily. "How are you on this beautiful June day?" She asked rolling the ultra sound machine into the room.

"I'm great, thank you." Cuddy responded, smiling warmly. Montgomery might be a bit odd, but she had grown on her. She was great at her job and made sure that Cuddy was always comfortable during their appointments.

"Now, if you could just roll your blouse up, we can get this show on the road!"

Cuddy rolled up her blouse and flinched as the ice cold gel made contact with her skin.

"Never get used to it." She mumbled. Montgomery flashed her a smile before pressing the wand to Cuddy's lower abdomen. Several minutes passed and Cuddy noted that she was zooming into a certain spot on the monitor.

"Is everything okay?" She heard House ask from beside her. When Montgomery hesitated, Cuddy knew that something was wrong.

"You see this?" Montgomery asked, indicating to a line on the ultrasound monitor. Cuddy nodded, feeling the panic rise in her chest. She knew what it was, and as House stiffened beside her, she knew that it was about to be confirmed.

"That is an amniotic band." Montgomery continued in a steady voice. "From the looks of it, it hasn't attached, but we can't be sure until we've done a 3D ultrasound. I'm going to call up to Princeton General and see if theirs is free. If it is, I'd like you to meet me there, so you don't have to wait."

Cuddy nodded as she watched her exit the room. She grabbed the tissues House was handing her and wiped the the gel off of her stomach. Neither of them spoke. They both knew what it would mean if the band had attached. Amniotic Band Syndrome was the medical term for when the band attached. Babies born with ABS are born with severe deformities. Cuddy shuddered at the thought of their daughter being born deformed or disfigured. The pain that child would have to endure, the surgeries to correct the deformities, the emotional pain. The thought was unbearable to her. Montgomery reentered the room and informed them that the ultrasound machine at Princeton General was available. She instructed them to meet her in their gynecology wing. Cuddy nodded her acknowledgment before Montgomery exited once more. When she tried to stand, her knees went week.

House rose to his feet quickly as to steady Cuddy as she stood. He could see her knees wobbling as she straightened herself out and walked out of the room. He followed closely behind her, his hand on the small of her back, steadying her as they made their way back to the car. The second they entered the car, he pulled her into his arms as she sobbed into his chest, clinging to his shirt for dear life.

She didn't deserve this. Yet there it was, hitting them both smack in the face. He knew from the start that things would take a turn for the worse eventually, and here it was. He sighed, ignoring the burning sensation in his own eyes. He stroked her hair as she continued to sob into him. He pressed his lips to the top of her head and watched her pull away. He turned the key in the ignition and pulled out of the parking lot, heading towards Princeton General. The ride was only ten minutes. They reached the hospital and the second they were out of the car, he felt Cuddy take his hand gently in hers. He gave her the reassuring squeeze she needed, knowing that that would be the only thing he could offer.

So how about those reviews? ;D