Married Life

Author's Note: Okay, the end is ALMOST here! Is anyone else excited for the sequel? I am, because I'm getting these bursts of inspiration as I go so I'm learning these twists almost as quick as you are.

Same ages as before.

Chapter 24: Seriously?

Allison's POV

I patted Robert's knee as we sat down in Lisa's office. Pictures of our sons smiled at us, taken on countless vacations and holidays. House, Lisa and the two of us were having a meeting. About us leaving for Australia. It was official, we were moving. We had put a bid on the house in Melbourne and Robert had gotten a call back about a job.

It was time we told them, we had agreed on that. Time we told not only our employers, but our friends and our kids. Bay and Max knew something was up, but we hadn't told them. It killed Rob whenever he tried to tell them.

Lisa finally entered the room, House trailing at her heels. Limp, step, limp, step. Funny how we'd gotten so used to that over the past couple of years. They sat down, and eyed us suspiciously.

"Please don't tell me you're pregnant again." whined House, with a joking grin on his face. My face immediately took on a look of horror.

"Definitely not. Two pregnancies back to back was more than enough." I laughed grimly.

Lisa swatted House. "He knows I want another baby, that's why he's being so mean."

We exchanged looks, and then I took a deep breath.

"Robert, do you want to tell them? Or should I?" I didn't know exactly why I was so nervous…maybe it was because over the years, we had become a family. Including Foreman, Taub, Thirteen and Wilson. We would do anything for one another, and the fact that we were leaving that, made me somewhat sad.

"I will." he said, clearing his throat. Lisa's expression turned tense quickly and she sat down at her desk. "What is it? What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong…but…these past few years have made me realize that we would like to go back home…"

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying…we're moving back to Australia. Soon."

Lisa's eyes widened. "Wha…why? I don't understand. Is it the hospital? I thought we were all so happy here."

"We are. I just..need my Australia. Need my kids to see my homeland. It's important to me."

"And me." I added, finding my voice was a tad hoarse from stress. Robert squeezed my hand gently, and I smiled wanly in response.

"So…you're leaving. Do you have any job lined up?"

"Yes…Robert's going to be Head of Surgery in a hospital in Melbourne. It's about 20 minutes from our house, and 15 minutes from the hospital where I will work as an attending. We'll keep in contact, Lisa. I swear. You are my best friend, and House…you're like a father to us. We could never keep out of touch with you. And maybe, one day…we might decide that Australia isn't for us. But, it's important to Robert and myself that our sons know his family as much as they know ours."

"Have you even told them yet?" asked House, who had been quiet for a long time. Much too long for someone who always had a thing to say.

"No..we tell them tonight. We wanted to have our plan before we told anyone. We haven't even told Robert's brother and sisters yet." I said, paling at the realization that we were actually leaving.

"Well, we can't talk you out of it. You've made up your mind and now you have to live with it. Now, can we go save a patient while you still work here?" he asked coldly as he got up and limped out of the room. I gave Lisa an apologetic look, and left quickly.

Robert's POV

Well, that was less difficult than I thought it would be. It took a weight off my shoulder, but there was still telling the boys that lied ahead. Oh, crap…how would I ever tell them? They had only left the state of New Jersey once or twice in their whole lives, now they were leaving the country!

Allison made their favorite for dinner; meat loaf, mashed potatoes, English peas, and French Vanilla ice cream for dessert. It was delicious, and our boys knew something was up when we sat down for dinner.

"Daddy? What's going on?" Bailey asked, his eyes warily shifting between Allison and I.

"Nothing, Bailey. Your mother and I have to tell you something.."

"Are you and Mommy getting a divorce?"

Taken off guard, "What? What gave you that idea?"

"Tommy Stewart said that his mommy and daddy sat him down for dinner and told him they were getting a divorce. You're not, are you?" he pleaded, his eyes watery and sad. My heart broke at the despair in his tiny face.

"No, Bailey bear. We're not getting a divorce." said Allison, adopting the nickname that we used for him when he was really upset. It was the nickname Allie had given him the moment he was born. We had fallen out of habit using it, but occasionally it found its way back to our lips.

Nowadays, we called him Bay Bay, Bay, or Bear. Max was the one who had started calling him "Bay Bay" when he was just starting to talk.

"Then…what's going on?"

"Bay, you know how Daddy's from Australia?"

"Yeah…"

"Well, your aunts Rebecca and Janine, and your uncle Lucas…they all still live in Melbourne. And Daddy really misses them."

"Then we should go visit them. So Daddy won't be so sad."

"Yeah!" added Max, with a grin covered in mashed potatoes. We all smiled at that, and then the tense conversation continued.

"Uh…we are. But, we're moving."

"Moving? Where?" he had never lived anywhere but this house.

"To Melbourne."

Bailey scooted the chair back, and ran off to his room. This, we knew because we heard his door slam and the radio flicked on.

Max looked to us, confused. "Where did Bay go?"

I scooted my chair back, and went up to his room. Gathering my courage, I knocked.

"Go away." came a small reply.

"Bailey, come on. Let me explain."

The door unlocked with a click, radio turned down.

I came in, and saw my son flung on the bed his shoulders moving erratically.

"Bay, please."

"Go ahead…"

"I need to see my family, Bailey. I've been away from Australia for many years. Your aunts and uncles have never even met you or your brother. Only your evil grandmother, great-grandmother and your somewhat nice Aunt Bianca."

He sat up, and hugged me. "But..I love my school and Uncle Greg.."

I frowned in response. "I know, Bay. But, we'll come back. I love Uncle Greg and Aunt Lisa too."

"You do?"

I nodded, "Just don't tell them that. Especially Uncle Greg."