Disclaimer: I do not own House

A/N: Hey everyone! XD haha here's the next chapter, for some reason if I update this I HAVE to update WTHW and if I update WTHW I HAVE ot update this xD haha it's some kind of thing wrong with me XD well I hope you all like it. I would love to thank all my readers and reviews for encouraging this story hehe and I'd like to ask all you closet readers to please review :D hehe well in this chapter you're going to see more of a twist and maybe a turn hehe I think I'm watching too many of my mom's dramas XD HAHAHA Well anyways, thanks to my beta Americanchick for editing so fast while I was busy sleeping in for 12 hours. I hope you all like it and please review.

Oh and one more thing. To all my readers in america:

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!


Jacob went up to his new boss's office, consequence be damned, to stand up for his cousin. He found House leaning back in his chair as he listened to music and played video games with his back turned towards the door. Jacob shut off the older man's music which earned him a cold hard glare and he happily returned it. House turned his music back on and ignored the man. Jacob furrowed his brows in anger and pulled out the plug which caused House to sit up as he looked at the man angrily. Jacob saw the game put down on the table and grabbed it before taking a step backwards.

"What the hell did you do to Lisa?" Jacob asked angrily as he clutched the tightly as if he could crunch it into tiny pieces if he didn't get the answer he liked.

"You know you shouldn't be talking to your boss like that," House warned with a threatening glare. "And for your new girlfriend too, ya know if you show any emotions towards her if you are still working for me I'd fire you by the end of the day." He stated as he stood up and reached for the game but Jacob pulled it away while jumping back slightly.

"She's not my girlfriend you asshole," House opened his mouth to say something but Jacob went on. "She's my cousin; now tell me what the hell you did to her?" Jacob didn't give him a chance to even open his mouth this time. "For years all I've ever read about is this great guy and friend from college and then suddenly she starts talking about nonsense and when I ask her about the college friend she says that she doesn't know what the hell I'm talking about. Now I don't know about you but that makes me suspicious."

"Maybe she was lying," House deflected seriously as he furrowed his brows. What did he do to her? "And why do you automatically assume it is me whom she is talking about?"

Jacob dropped the game on the ground and grabbed House by the collar of his shirt. "You son of a bitch, I just asked her what the hell you did and suddenly it's like she's a whole other person. You did something and if you don't tell me what or don't fix this I will kick your ass. Aunt Lauren asked me to protect her and if that means going to jail for committing murder as long as the son of a bitch who is hurting my little cousin is gone I'll gladly get death row." He threatened angrily but House stayed unfazed.

"Jacob, put him down." A voice behind him commanded. The two men turned to see Cuddy standing at the door looking irritated. "Now Jacob," She half yelled. She waited until she saw her cousin glare at House before putting him down. "When I said its nothing I meant its nothing! Now keep your nose out of my business because I don't need you digging up something in my past!" She told her cousin. "The past is the past. And I did not rave on about him, I vented." She defended. "Now go or else you'll be late." She ushered her cousin out before she turned to House and kept the same dull face. "Stay out of my personal life." She saw him open his mouth and went on. "Wilson called me. You do not need know why I quit all you need to know is that I quit and you do not need to know what happened after you left." She told him. "You don't care House so please don't act like it. Stay out of my personal life and we will have a perfectly fine professional one." She paused and saw House furrow his brows. "Good night Dr. House." She said as she turned to leave.

"You know, technically, as your boss I did need know why you were stupid enough to quit your old job." House called out making her turn around and face him. "Just a few tiny insults, I thought I trained you better." House said half jokily. "It hurts that you couldn't take all those little insults."

"That's not why I quit." She told him. "That's why Wilson thinks I quit and yes it was a factor but I just realized that Princeton wasn't really the best place for me." She stated vaguely as House could clearly see she was hiding something. "Now if you don't mind I have a daughter to go home to. Goodnight." She left before he could stop her once more.

House walked over to his window and watched for a few minutes until he saw Cuddy walking out. He saw a man accidentally run into her and she immediately grabbed her arm as if in pain, but they didn't collide that hard. House continued to watch as she looked around suspiciously before she placed her items in the car. He saw Jacob quietly creep up behind her and put a hand on her shoulder causing her to turn around quickly in fright. House noticed that Cuddy's hands were balled with one raised as if ready for combat. He knew she wanted to always be prepared but she never seemed too paranoid before in her life. There was something she wasn't telling him, something that he needed to know and he'll do anything to solve this puzzle.

--

Cuddy apologized as she almost punched her cousin in the face. He apologized for the episode he had caused in House's office and promised to never do it again. She gave him a weak smile and a huge as she accepted his apology and rode home.

As she drove she occasionally messaged her arm when she was able to stop. She rolled up her sleeve and saw the black bruise slowly turning into a gray one. She had recently gotten the cast around her arm off but a bruise had formed not long after. She heard a car horn and came out of her daze. She quickly pressed the acceleration peddle and rushed home and tried not to stop till she got home. She stayed in her car and checked her arm once more before deciding to come in. She was greeted by her daughter jumping into her arms and she winced in pain but kept it together.

"Mommy, do I look pretty in my party dress?" Rachel asked cutely which cause a smile to instantly appear on her middle-aged mother's face.

Rachel was wearing a pink dress with yellow and blue flowers printed on the bottom of them. A green vine went through and around the flowers as it came all the way around the dress. The top of the dress was plain pink with little white tags at the end of her short sleeves. Lauren had made Rachel get a jacket that only went halfway down her back and was yellow with only a few small flowers printed on them to go with the dress. Her grandmother had also put her hair in one pony tail with a pink bow to hold it all together.

"You look very pretty sweetie, but why are you in a party dress?" Cuddy asked in false ignorance as she began to carry her daughter into the living room and put on her white party shoes that went with the dress.

"Mommy," Rachel pouted. "You forgot." She looked down sadly as she got out of her mother's arms and turned her back to her disappointedly.

Cuddy began laugh to as she leaned down to scope her daughter up. "Oh how can I forget my angel's birthday?" She asked as she swung Rachel around in her arms. She saw a smile imprint itself on her daughter's cute, little face. "Why don't you watch TV, keep the dress clean and stay right here while mommy gets ready too. You want mommy to look pretty right?"

Rachel smiled and nodded as she was placed gently onto the couch. Her smile widened when she saw Lauren walk out wearing a flowing black dress that went down to her knees. The sleeves were loose and went halfway down her forearm. She wore black strap heels and a long, skinny gold chain that hung to her belly button. Her little black purse had a similar chain holding it. For her hair and make up, Lauren had kept it plain and simple by combing it down and had simply applied a light amount of gray eye shadow along with mascara and one coat of red lip stick.

"Nana," Rachel called with admiration in her voice as she looked at her grandmother adoringly. "You look so pretty." She smiled as her grandmother came and picked the girl up.

"Why thank you Princess Rachel and you look pretty too." Lauren kissed the tip of Rachel's nose before they both turned to Lisa. "So sweetheart, how do we look?" Lauren asked as she put her face right next to Rachel's as they both smiled brightly.

Cuddy smiled and laughed at the pair. "You two look very pretty," She complimented. "Now it's my turn to attempt to look pretty. Hopefully I'll be able to compare." She smiled as she gave them both a hug. "I'll be done by 7." She stated as she rushed off to the room.

Lauren looked at the time and smirked. "More like 8, you know how your mother can be. I knew I made the reservation perfect. We'll be there by 8:30." Lauren spoke to herself, but Rachel had been listening and smiled at her grandmother.

"Nana," Rachel whispered into Lauren's ear. "Did you invite Daddy like you said you would?" She asked curiously and anxiously.

Lauren had a bit of a mischievous smile as she turned to her granddaughter. "Don't worry dear, daddy is gonna be there and mommy will to. But shh, don't tell mommy. Don't forget, it's a secret." Lauren winked at her now 8 year old daughter who winked and smiled back.

As assumed Cuddy came out at 8 and ignored her mother's smug smile. She twirled a bit in front of her mother and daughter for their approval. Her hair was curled elegantly at the bottom, and applied a Smokey eye look to her eyelids, as well as some mascara along with a light pink lipstick. She also wore a natural color of blush and foundation – to hide the small bags that had formed under her eyes. Her dress was elegant and light blue and hugged her curves at the top but flowed at the bottom, with a cut on the left side that went up her leg to her knee. It was a bit low cut, but not enough to show much cleavage. She wore black stilettos and a little black jacket, to hide her bruise.

"You look wonderful dear," Lauren said taking Cuddy's arm and unknowingly hitting Cuddy's bruise. When she saw her daughter's pain stricken face she looked at her caringly. "Sweetie, are you okay?"

Cuddy smiled and nodded. "Of course, I just hit slipped earlier in the shower and I hurt my arm a little," She lied sincerely.

Lauren sighed and nodded accepting the lie and picked up Rachel before heading towards the door. Cuddy grabbed a clutch black purse before she followed. She unlocked the doors to her Lexus and Lauren buckled Rachel in while Cuddy simply got into the driver's seat. She didn't start the car until her mother was sitting and had her seatbelt on. They then began to drive down the street and after a few minutes Rachel suddenly looked confused.

"Mommy, this isn't the way to Chuck E. Cheeses." Rachel stated as she looked out the window and turned her sad gaze to her mother.

Cuddy smiled as she drove and responded, "Don't worry sweetie, we just need to make a quick stop." She turned to her mother who held the same cryptic smile.

They continued to drive until they came up to a house that Rachel didn't recognize. Cuddy took her out of her seat and Rachel looked a bit confused but trusted her mother and nana completely. They walked into the home that was unlocked and turned on the lights. There was nothing out of the ordinary. Cuddy put Rachel down. Cuddy and Lauren told Rachel they'd be back in a second before they closed the door and walked into the house. Rachel sat at the door and waited for five minutes before she stood up and followed where her Nana and mother had gone.

"Mommy," Rachel called into the dark room. "Nana," She began to get scared when she heard a nose. "Where are you?" She hesitated before she walked completely in the darkness. She walked until she was completely in the darkness and could no longer see. "Mommy, Nana, where are you?" She asked as she slowly began to get scared.

The lights suddenly flashed on and everyone screamed 'Surprise!' Cuddy smiled as she came up to her startled daughter and picked her up. The look of fright was instantly replaced with happiness and content when Rachel began to recognize all the faces. She climbed down from her mother and gave several of the people hugs. As she looked for one particular man her face fell into disappointment and sadness.

"Rach, sweetie, what's wrong," Cuddy asked as she kneeled down to her daughter's height. She saw the sadness in her eyes and wondered what could have gone wrong.

"I think I know what'll make her feel better," Cuddy heard a voice say from behind. She turned around and found her new annoying boss.

Rachel's face immediately brightened and she ran into her father's loving arms. Cuddy looked at House angrily as he gave Rachel a present. She took Rachel from him and put her down telling her to add the gift over to the gift table. Cuddy saw that House hadn't arrived alone and was accompanied by Sarah who stared at Cuddy with jealousy. Vinson had also tagged along and gave Cuddy a small smile, which she returned. House saw the mutuality and thought that he had to be the only one in the group that Cuddy did not hate and envied him a bit. Cuddy then returned her attention to the last man she wanted to see.

"House what the hell do you think you're doing here?" Cuddy asked him angrily but her face wore a dull expression. "Why the hell did you come to crash Rachel's birthday? Don't you have somewhere else to be like a damn bar?" She kept her dull expression.

"Lisa, calm down," Lauren said coming behind her daughter and giving House a warm smile. "I'm glad to see you found your way Greg. I invited him dear, so calm down and suck it up." Lauren saw her daughter look at her incredulously before she walked away and rolled her eyes. "Don't worry, she'll start drinking and I'm sure she'll mellow. If she doesn't she'll pass out." Lauren joked and then saw Sarah. "Oh hello, you must be Gregory's girlfriend. Lisa mentioned you. She is quite fond of you." She lied.

Sarah blushed. "Really, she is fond of me?" She saw Lauren nod with a smile and smiled back a little embarrassed.

House looked at Lauren and narrowed his eyes before he pulled her away. "Nice job lying to her, but Lisa hates her guts." He smirked. "I think she's jealous of my new arm candy." He joked.

"I thought I taught that girl how to hide that," Lauren said seriously which caused House to look at her in shock. "Oh come on Greg, don't tell me you wouldn't have known if she did hide it." In response she saw House smile simply.

"Ah, damn it," They heard someone yell.

Lauren and Greg joined the group to find Lisa holding her arm in pain as Jacob tried to give her an ice bag as he tried to wrap her arm in bandages. She turned them both down. He and Vinson both urged her to take off the jacket so they could see how far the cut was. She had started to cut the cake when the kids running accidentally pushed her and she cut her arm. She continued to tell them that she was fine and refused to take off the jacket.

"Come on Lisa, we can see the blood spreading, take off the damn jacket! We'll give it back to you later after we check out you arm." Jacob told her as he attempted to pry the jacket off her.

Eventually Vinson, Jacob and Greg were able to get the jacket off and House immediately saw why she didn't want to take it off so bad. There were small, fading bruises on Cuddy's wrists as well as one big on Cuddy's right forearm, near where she had cut herself, which tells that she had broken it recently and had just gotten the cast off. She had a few scratches – that were almost gone – on her biceps and there was one more bruise that was almost gone on her right shoulder.

"What the hell happened to you," House demanded an answer. "Who the hell did this?"


A/N: Oooh a mystery..... haha I'm not really sure how where to unviel that though so I'll let you guys choose:

Do you want me to make a flashback for the next chapter

Or do you want to wait a few chapters before Cuddy finally cracks down and tells everyone

The chose is up to you!! XD haha. Well I hope you all like the chapter and don't worry other than those bruises and cuts Cuddy wasn't really hurt!!!! She almost was....but she didn't actually lol. Hope you liked it! Reviews are very appriciated!

-Jessica