Chapter 30

When Julia opened the door, she stopped abruptly as she saw House. The amazement could be read on her face.

"Julia, are you okay?" Cuddy asked.

"What…? Why…?" Julia couldn't speak.

"Can we come in? I guess it would be better to explain to you certain things." Cuddy said and pushed gently her sister in the house. House has just closed the door that two kids ran to them.

"Mama!" Ethan ran to Cuddy but stopped as he saw House and hid behind his mother, giving this tall man some quick looks.

Rachel ran to House, wild with joy. "House!" She hugged him and House took her in his arms. Then Rachel turned to Ethan: "Ethan, that's House! That's daddy! Come, don't be afraid." Then she turned to House and said: "House, that's Ethan, my brother." House nodded.

The little boy looked at his sister, then at his mother and finally at House. Cuddy took him in her arms and went to House. "Ethan, that's House, Gregory House. Say him hello."

House looked at his son. He was like petrified. He was moved and didn't know what to do. He hadn't expected that. He couldn't explain it; it was as if an invisible, magic bound existed between House and his son. And it was somehow confusing. The little boy stared at him with his blue eyes. He didn't seem to be afraid. He seemed curious. He just looked at him wondering … wondering what? If House was a nice man? If he was going to play with him? Finally, House took something in a bag and offered a small car to Ethan. "It's… it's for you Ethan" House managed to say. Ethan took the car and a bright smile came on his lips. He looked at Cuddy and stretched his arms to House. Cuddy gave House his son. She was happy. "Hi, Ethan, I'm House." The little boy stared at House then put his head on House's shoulder.

"Oh, you're lucky, House. Ethan likes you very much, he gives you a cuddle." Cuddy said smiling.

"Do you like me or do you like the car?" House asked Ethan with a smile.

"House! Do you have something for me?" Rachel said and pulled House's jacket.

"Yes, little pirate! Open the bag, there's something for you… and for me. Choose the one you like, I'll take the other one." Rachel took a sword with skull and crossbones out of the bag.

"Prepare to board!" she shouted and ran to the living-room. "Com' House! There are a cave here and a treasure!" she said and waited for House to come. He gave a look at Cuddy.

"I think you should go or the pirate will be angry at you." She replied smiling. "I'm gonna talk to Julia." House nodded and said: "Ethan, we're going to look for this treasure and to find it!" The little boy looked at him and laughed.

Cuddy saw them going to the living-room and turned to her sister who stand there unable to move or to speak. "Julia, come, let's have a coffee." She took her sister to the kitchen, took two cups, poured coffee into the cups, gave one to Julia and sat in front of her.

"Lisa, tell me it's a nightmare and I'm gonna wake up." Julia finally said staring at Cuddy.

"Julia, it's… it's a long and complicated story."

"Lisa! I thought he was dead! And now he's here in my living-room playing with Rachel and Ethan! It's… it's crazy!"

"Julia, calm down. I'm gonna explain to you."

"Lisa! Are you insane? What did he tell you this time to keep you under his spell? That he had changed?! That he will never hurt you again?! Did you think about the consequences for you but also for Rachel and Ethan?" Julia shouted. "How can you tell me to calm down? This man almost killed us! Don't you remember? He's mad."

"Julia! Shut up and listen to me!" Cuddy exclaimed and stood up. Then she walked in the kitchen trying to find the right words to say.

"Lisa, I just want you to be happy but you will never be with this guy. He's too… unpredictable, you can't rely on him, just remember all he'd done to you."

"Julia, believe me, House has changed."

"That's what you told me the last time and see where it leads you."

"I know he's screwed up, I know he can do stupid things, I"

"Stupid things?! Driving into a house where people are is a stupid thing?! Did you lose your head? It's a crime! He could have killed us! This guy is dangerous, Lisa."

"Julia! I know all this. But I know him better than anyone else. He's a good guy. He's not perfect but who is?"

"Lisa… this man was supposed to be dead. Why? Did he give you an explanation, and I mean a great one?"

"Yes, he did. As you know everybody thought he died in a burning building. And in a way he actually died in this building. As he tried to escape, a beam fell on his head. He just managed to get outside of the building before he lost consciousness. A hobo probably helped him and took care of him but he suffered from amnesia." Cuddy made a pause, she couldn't tell her sister the truth about this fake amnesia, about what House did for Wilson. The true story should be kept secret. To protect all of them. Julia listened to her and she went on: "A few weeks ago, Mike – that was House's name since the accident – got stabbed and was taken to the hospital where someone recognized him. With the appropriate medical treatment House managed to get his memory back. And…"

"That's what he told you? And of course you believed him. Lisa, did you think that maybe, no certainly he lied to you like he used to do so many times?"

"Yes I believe him because I saw the x-ray of his head and the trauma was obvious. He couldn't pretend to have a trauma."

"And he came here to see you. And you welcome him instead of calling the police!"

"Julia, House needs me and"

"Lisa! Open your eyes! He's dangerous, he will cause you problem. Why don't you call David and try to make up with him? David is a nice guy, he will make you happy, Lisa. Forget House!"

"No, you don't understand, Julia. House needs me"

"Lisa, why do you care about a man who could have killed us? You don't need him. Call David."

"No, Julia. I… I love House, can you understand it? I love him, I need him in my life. And"

"You're right, I don't understand you, Lisa. You know that House will do stupid things again. He hurt you so much in the past and you know he will do it again. Why do you want to live again such horrible moments whereas you could be happy with David? House is nothing."

"No, you're wrong, Julia. There is something between House and me, something that no one can deny."

"I admit that you were in love like I rarely saw, but"

"Our love is very special, I've never been happier than when I was with him. It wasn't easy and I know it won't be easy but now we're bound to each other."

"Lisa, don't tell me that you got married with him?!"

"No, no. We have more in common than a wedding."

Julia didn't understand what her sister said. "What… what do you mean?"

"House… House is Ethan's father." Cuddy whispered.

"What?!"

"House is Ethan's father, Julia. I didn't know I was pregnant when I dumped him and then…"

"Lisa, are you sure?"

"Yes."

Julia stared at Cuddy. She didn't know what to say. After a few minutes she said: "Lisa, tell me, are you happy?"

Cuddy smiled: "Yes, Julia, I'm happy, I feel good and happy."

Julia looked at Cuddy. Her sister was right. She looked good and relaxed. Julia hadn't seen her in such good shape since many months. But she was skeptical about the fact that Cuddy would find happiness with House.

"Lisa, why don't you take time to think about… about "

"About what?"

"House is selfish and arrogant, he told you he changed and you believed him! I thought you were smarter, Lisa."

"Julia, you… you don't know him, he could be a nice guy" was all that Cuddy could say. She couldn't tell her sister about Wilson, about what House did for his friend. At least not without exposing him to Tritter and to legal proceedings.

"David is a nice guy, House isn't. I don't understand why you're so in love with him. Why don't you give David another chance?"

"Julia, David may be a nice guy, but I don't love him. And I will never love him."

"But you love House…"

"I need him in my life and Ethan and Rachel have the right to have a father. I'm sure House will be a good father. And yes, I love House and I know he loves me."

"Lisa, I just want you to be happy. So… if you're happy with him, I'll be happy too."

"Thank you."

"Did you tell Mom?"

"Not yet. You're the first one to know."

"And when do you intend to tell her?"

"I don't know, I didn't think about it. It's so… all happened so suddenly."

"Don't wait too long. I'm sure she will be happy for you. Oddly, she liked House and she was convinced that you were made for each other."

"Yes, I know."

"Is it possible to get something to drink? The pirates are thirsty." House said suddenly as he appeared on the threshold followed by two children.

"Yes. What do you want?" Julia said looking at him, trying to understand what could appeal to her sister. I can't deny that this guy is sexy and that he has beautiful eyes, humor, he seems to get on well with the children too but…I don't think I could deal with his personality.

"I'd say some apple juice for the kids and a coffee for me?"

They drank silently and Cuddy finally said: "Well, it's time to go. Rachel, Ethan, kiss aunty Julia." Then she turned to Julia, hugged her and said: "Thank you."

"You're welcome and call me if you need me."

Ooooo

Once in the car, Rachel asked: "House, can you come with us?"

House gave a look at Cuddy then turned to Rachel: "Where?"

"Home. I want you to go home with us. I don't want you to leave."

"You're nice, Rachel. But … I don't know if your mommy will agree." He replied and stared at Cuddy.

She rolled her eyes and before she could say anything, Rachel then Ethan began to chant "House! House! House!"

"Well, I guess I have no choice. Okay, then let's go home." She said and started the engine. House winked at the kids who laughed. Then he turned to Cuddy: "Thanks."

"Do you want to go to your hotel first?" she asked with a hint of irony.

House looked at her surprised. He wondered how to interpret Cuddy's sentence. "Does it mean that you suggest I stay over?" he asked with a funny face.

"Did you plan something for tonight?"

"No."

"So what do you decide? Are you coming over?"

"How can I refuse such great propositions?" he replied smiling.