Hello, hello!
A quick update from me with a longer chapter this time :) So, as the title says it's Beth's birthday in this one and House and Cameron finally make an announcement to everyone at the party.
Thank you all for reading my story and for taking the time to review and tell me what you think, your comments make my day and they really help a lot! :)
I hope you will enjoy this chapter as well!
Disclaimer: I don't own House MD...
Chapter 27: Birthday and announcements
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Beth sat on the couch in the living room, the remote in one hand her PSP in the other. She was absentmindedly flipping through the channels, the game she was playing forgotten since she found her favorite cartoon series on.
She was too immersed into the program she was watching and she didn't see House who was making his way to where she was sitting as quietly as he could.
He braced himself on the back of the couch and he leaned down.
"What are you watching?" he whispered in his daughter's ear.
She jumped up at his sudden appearance and gave him her best glare.
"Daddy you scared me!" she accused crossing her arms in front of her chest.
He gave her a smirk and he sat down on the couch next to her.
"Sooo, what are we watching?" he asked again and Beth sat back down next to him.
"I was watching Tom and Jerry but now it's over." She replied with a small sigh.
"Where is mommy?" she asked before he could comment.
"She is not feeling too well so she stayed in bed for a while longer." He answered changing the channel.
"Does she have the flu?" Beth inquired with raised eyebrows.
"Not exactly…" House said, his eyes locked on the TV.
"Then what does she have? You are a doctor so you must know." She stated matter-of-factly making him turn to look at her.
He studied her face as she looked expectantly at him and he let out a breath.
"Ok, why don't we go and see mommy? Hopefully she will do better explaining this to you." He said and together they got up and headed for the bedroom.
When they entered Cameron was still lying in bed, the TV switched on and she was watching the morning news.
"Hey angel, good morning." She greeted her daughter with a smile and Beth immediately hopped on the bed in order to give her mother a hug.
"Morning mommy!" she replied cheerfully, wrapping her arms around Cameron's neck.
"What are you two doing in here? I thought you would make breakfast." She commented looking at House who shrugged and went to sit on the bed next to her.
"Daddy said that you didn't feel very well but he didn't tell me what you have. He also said that you could explain this better." She explained and Cameron looked at him questioningly.
He gave her a shrug and he dropped his cane on the floor.
"Well, I think it's a good time to announce it to everyone. Everything is going well and, plus, we won't be able to hide it for much longer." He started and it was Beth's time to look at them questioningly.
"Mommy, are you ok?" she asked worriedly looking at Cameron who smiled at her.
"Yes sweety, we just have something to say to you." She said reassuringly making Beth sigh in relief.
Cameron looked at House but he raised his eyebrows and shook his head.
"Oh no, you do it!" he said and she rolled her eyes.
"Ok… do you remember some time ago that you had asked for a little brother or sister?" Cameron asked looking straight into Beth's eyes.
Beth gave her a small nod and waited for her to continue.
"Well, in about six and a half months you are going to be a big sister!" she concluded, smiling at her daughter.
Beth looked at her in surprise, her eyebrows raised and she looked from her mother to her father.
House was a little alarmed. He had expected her to start jumping up and down in joy when they would tell her but apparently that wasn't the case.
"What is it angel, don't you like the news? You had asked for a little brother or sister." House questioned, looking at Beth who gave them a small shrug.
"Yeah, I did but…" she started but she stopped and looked away.
"Hey, hey, look at me." Cameron said softly tilting her daughter's head up in order to look into her eyes.
"What changed?" she asked in a low tone caressing Beth's cheek.
"Nothing… But Peter got a baby sister two months ago and he says that his parents care only about the baby now. And I don't want you to care only about the baby and not about me." She said sadly, a small frown appearing on her face.
"Who said that we won't care about you when the baby arrives?" House asked incredulously drawing Beth in order to make her sit between them.
Beth shrugged lightly and looked at him.
"Listen to me. We will never stop caring about you." He said seriously his eyes connecting with Beth's.
"We will always love you and care about you sweety no matter what happens, do you understand?" Cameron said in a serious tone, caressing Beth's cheek and Beth nodded.
"Plus, who do you think is going to help us when the baby arrives? You are going to be a big sister and we are going to need your help!" Cameron said with a smile on her lips making Beth grin widely.
"Really? I'm going to help?" she asked eagerly and House smiled at her.
"Of course you are going to help! And the baby is going to love you as much as we do." He replied reassuringly making Beth smile even wider.
"I guess it's ok then." She said hugging her parents and smiling at them.
They smiled at her as well and then she settled down between them.
"Sooo, the baby is in there right?" she asked, pointing to Cameron's belly.
"Yeap. Want to see? It's not that big yet but mommy's belly is a little bigger than it was." House replied and Beth nodded.
Cameron lifted her blouse a little, exposing the small bump and Beth smiled.
"Does it move like Katelyn did?" she asked, her eyes always transfixed on her mother's belly.
"Yes, but it is a little soon to feel it." She replied and Beth nodded.
"Can I put my hand there?" she asked and Cameron nodded and took her little hand in hers. She placed it on her stomach and Beth smiled.
"It doesn't do much, does it?" she inquired, raising an eyebrow something that made both her parents laugh.
"Not yet." Cameron replied and Beth nodded.
"So, can I tell it to Peter and Norah?" she asked excitedly.
"Of course you can!" House said, ruffling her hair lightly.
"Ok, I will tell them tonight at my party!" she announced with a smile and she gave her mother and father a kiss.
"Hey, I guess we skipped the awkward question this time." House commented looking at Cameron who shook her head in amusement.
Beth smirked and rested her hand on his shoulder.
"I already know how babies get in there daddy." She stated making House's eyes go wide.
"Since when?" he asked incredulously in a high pitched ton making Beth laugh.
"Our teacher told us." She replied.
"Teachers teach five year olds stuff like this?" he said in bewilderment making Cameron laugh as well at his priceless expression.
"They don't do an anatomy lessons Greg, don't worry." She said smiling in amusement.
"I'm going to have a talk with your teacher." He muttered looking at Beth who smiled innocently.
"Ok, I'll tell her. Can I go play now?" she asked.
"Sure you can. But after that I need your help in the kitchen, we have to prepare everything for tonight and I need your opinion." Cameron said and Beth nodded vigorously.
"Ok mommy!" she exclaimed and hopped off the bed.
"Bye daddy and mommy! Bye baby!" she said as she run off towards her room in order to take Ricky.
House looked at Cameron with a raised eyebrow and she laughed lightly.
"Leave her teacher alone please." She said and he sighed in defeat.
"Fine… At least I don't have to answer to that question now." He said and he lied down, his head pillowing her thigh.
He looked up at her and she leaned down in order to place a soft kiss on her lips.
"How are you feeling?" he asked and she smiled.
"Much better. Hopefully in two or three weeks the morning sickness and nausea will stop." She replied and he gave her a small smile.
"She's a little jealous…" he commented and she could tell that he was worried.
She laced her fingers through his hair and she dropped a kiss on his forehead.
"It's understandable. All those years it's just her, she has our full attention. Now she feels a little threatened." She explained and he nodded but she knew that he was still worried about it.
"It's going to be ok… Once the baby is here she will get used to it. Plus, we are not going to neglect her and focus solely on the baby. She is going to help us out, like we told her. You'll see, she is going to love it." She said reassuringly.
"I think she is going to be more jealous if it is a girl…" he said looking straight into her eyes.
"I think so too… But whether it's a boy or a girl we are going to make sure that she is a part of this." She stated and he smiled at her.
He rolled over so that he could lay his head on her stomach and he placed a small kiss there. He looked up at her and he found her looking at him with a soft expression in her eyes.
"I love you…" he whispered and she smiled widely at him.
"I love you too…" she replied, leaning down in order to kiss his temple.
"Come on now, we have to prepare everything for tonight." She said, motioning for him to stand up.
"I thought that our mothers would come to help." He commented.
"Yes they are going to come but that doesn't mean that we are going to let them do everything." She replied but he stayed there unmoving.
He draped his arm over her body, holding her in place and he closed his eyes.
"You are a big baby after all, aren't you?" she said in amusement and he nodded against her stomach.
"We have time… Five more minutes…" he said in his best imitation of a small child.
She shook her head and lied back down on the bed.
"Fine… five more minutes." She said and she felt him smirk against the skin of her stomach.
xOxOx
"I'll get it!" Beth said excitedly and she ran towards the door.
"Hey Norah!" she greeted her friend with a hug.
"Happy birthday Beth!" she exclaimed, handing her the bag with the present she was holding.
"Mom can you take that?" she asked and handed the bag to her mother.
"Sure sweety." Cameron replied and took the bag in her hand.
"We are going to my room!" she announced and turned to talk to her friend again.
"Come on, Peter, Jeremy and Anna are already here and you have to meet my cousin Haley! You already know Adam." She bubbled happily as they made their way to her room.
Cameron shook her head in amusement and after placing the present with the others she made her way back to the living room where the other adults were.
Blythe and Helen had taken over the kitchen and everything was under control. The kids were all playing in Beth's room so she just sat down next to House and relaxed.
"Hey, I thought you would stay in the kitchen forever." He commented taking a sip from his scotch.
"Our mothers have everything covered in the kitchen so there is no need for me to be there." She replied retrieving her glass of juice from the coffee table.
"When are we going to cut the cake?"
"Beth is waiting one more of her friends so I guess after she arrives." She replied and he gave her a small nod.
He stayed silent for a few moments and he just observed everyone else around him.
Clair and Cuddy were deep in conversation, his dad was talking with Cameron's dad, Wilson was helping Blythe and Helen carry some trays to the table and Foreman was cooing at his baby daughter.
He smirked to himself and then turned to look at Cameron only to find her looking back at him.
"What were you thinking?" she asked with a small smile and he shrugged.
"I think it's a good time to announce it to everyone." He replied, resting a hand on her stomach.
She dropped a kiss on his cheek and she nodded in agreement.
"Ok people, listen up!" he exclaimed making everyone stop talking and turn to look at him.
"What a way to catch everyone's attention." Cameron commented but he just smirked.
"This better be good." Clair said looking at him.
"Nah, knowing House he just wants to ask for another scotch and he is too bored to get up and pour one himself." Wilson replied with a smirk making everyone burst out laughing.
"Ha ha… Very funny Jimmy. But this is actually serious." He stated matter-of-factly.
"Should we be worried?" Helen asked in concern but Cameron shook her head negatively.
"No mom, we just have an announcement to make and Greg here is just being himself." She said pinching House's arm.
"Ouch woman! That hurt!" he exclaimed and she stuck her tongue out.
"You deserved it, you are scaring everyone." She said with a smirk.
"Ok, it's something good actually. Well… for us. I don't know if it's good for you." He said cryptically making Cameron roll her eyes.
"What Greg is trying to say is that I'm pregnant." She said with a smile and everyone started saying their congratulations and hugging her.
Their mothers were practically on the verge of tears when they heard that they were going to have another grandchild.
Their fathers were grinning widely and John promised to bring cigars for everyone when the baby was born.
Wilson was grinning from ear to ear at his friend and Cuddy with Clair were teasing House, telling him that if that one was a girl too he would be so wiped that he would do whatever his girls told him.
House didn't know how many times he rolled his eyes at the comments he heard and Cameron had a permanent smile on her face. Everyone seemed excited at the news and she was really happy she had finally shared the news of the pregnancy with their friends and loved ones.
"Are you sure that the world can stand another House?" Clair teased and he smirked.
"Oh, I'm sure. My kids are just going to rule the world!" he exclaimed, his smirk turning into a grin.
The door bell ringing caught Cameron's attention and she was ready to stand up when she heard Beth shouting and she saw her running towards the door.
"I'll get it, I'll get it!" Beth exclaimed making her parents shake their heads in amusement.
"Mom we are going in my room!" Beth announced and Cameron turned to look at her.
"We are going to cut the cake in a while." She said and Beth nodded and then headed back to her room with her friend.
House looked at Beth as she was walking to her room with her friend and smiled to himself. Wilson noticed that small smile and smirked.
"Boy you are in so much trouble…" he teased his friend making House roll his eyes.
"Are we playing stating the obvious?" House snarled and Wilson shook his head in amusement.
"Nope, I was just…"
"Stating the obvious, I think we established that." House interrupted him with a smirk.
"Can you believe that she is already five?" Wilson asked, a smile finding its way to his lips "And now you are having another one!"
House shrugged and looked around him.
"I still find it hard to believe that this is my life sometimes…" he admitted, his eyes traveling to Cameron who was talking animatedly with her mother.
"If someone had come to me when I first hired her and told me that this would be my life I would have probably sent him to the Psyche ward." He said with a smirk making his best friend laugh lightly.
"Yeah, I would have probably done the same." He replied, his eyes darting to Cuddy who was holding a sleeping Katelyn in her arms.
House watched his friend's expression soften and he smiled mischievously.
"And you say that I'm in trouble!" he exclaimed and Wilson quirked an eyebrow.
"Want me to tell the big boss that you want one of those." He asked in a whisper, winking at Wilson.
"I would appreciate it if you stayed quiet." He said in a pleading tone.
"You are no fun, you know that?" House asked crossing his arms in front of his chest.
"Who is no fun?" Cameron asked, taking a sit next to House again.
"He is no fun. He doesn't let me express myself." He accused and Cameron raised her eyebrow questioningly.
"My guess is that he is doing the right thing. Who knows what you want to say again!" she said and he pouted.
"You too? Come on!" he exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air for effect.
"Maybe some cake will calm you down." She said, kissing his cheek softly.
He seemed to consider that for a while and then he nodded.
"Ok, bring the cake." He said in an authoritative tone.
"Nope, your mother will bring the cake and I will go and call the kids." She announced and headed to Beth's room.
House watched as she walked away and then turned his attention back to Wilson.
"What now?" Wilson asked, a little alarmed when he noticed his friend's expression.
"Oh, nothing…" House replied cryptically but Wilson didn't have the time to say anything because all the children came running to the living room.
"It's show time!" House exclaimed and grabbed the video camera that was resting on the coffee table.
Cameron returned to her previous position next to him and they both watched as their daughter blew the candles of the cake, a permanent smile plastered on her face.
xOxOx
"I think I opened everything…" Beth said from her position on the couch, looking at her parents.
"I don't think so." House said cryptically making Beth look at him questioningly.
"You forgot this one." Cameron said, walking towards the couch and taking a sit next to Beth.
"I didn't see this one." She said with a frown.
"Yeah, that's because I did a good job hiding it!" House exclaimed, making a face at his daughter.
"Now open it and tell us if you like it." He said impatiently, drawing Cameron to him and making her sit on his good leg.
"It's big…" Beth commented and House rolled his eyes.
"Just open it!" he said and Cameron smiled in amusement at his eagerness to see what Beth would do.
"I'll open it!" Beth said with a grin and immediately started ripping the wrapping paper.
"Wow!" she exclaimed in awe when she saw the guitar case.
"Open the case and tell us if you like the guitar." Cameron said and Beth nodded vigorously.
She opened the guitar case carefully and retrieved the instrument that was inside. She pulled it out as carefully as she good and she run her hand over the chords.
"My own guitar?" she asked, turning to look at her parents who were smiling at her.
"Of course! Mine and daddy's guitars are too big for you and you should have your own guitar." Cameron replied making Beth grin widely at her.
She placed her new guitar on the couch carefully and threw her arms around Cameron's neck, hugging her tightly.
"It's great mommy, I love it!" she exclaimed and Cameron hugged her tightly and kissed her forehead.
"Thank you!" she said happily and gave House a kiss as well.
He caressed her cheek softly and he wrapped his arms around both Cameron and Beth.
"Can I play for a while before I go to bed? Please, please, please!" Beth asked looking at them with her best puppy-dog eyes.
"I guess you can play for a while." Cameron replied and Beth smiled widely.
"Ok! I'll be in my room!" she said and after taking the guitar she headed back to her room.
Cameron turned to House only to find him smiling softly at her.
"I think she loved it." He said and she nodded, smiling back at him.
She leaned down and placed a kiss on his lips before resting her forehead against his.
"I have an idea… let's go grab our guitars and go play with her." He suggested with a small smirk and Cameron smiled at him.
"I think it's a great idea." She agreed and stood up.
She extended her hand to him and together they walked to take their guitars and head to Beth's room in order to end the day in the best way possible…