Chapter 24

When House awoke the next morning he felt somewhat odd. He wasn't in his usual bed, and something was pressing against him. When he opened his eyes, he saw it was Cuddy… and she wasn't wearing anything! He suddenly remembered everything from the night before and smiled. "Finally" he thought. Cuddy was snoring lightly as House kissed her on the cheek. When she still didn't wake up, House decided to get up and check on Emily. After getting dressed it didn't fail, as soon as he closed the bedroom door Emily began to cry. He limped to the nursery hoping that her cries wouldn't wake Cuddy. He picked her up and held her. He felt her diaper, and noticed it was full. He carried her and followed all the steps that he saw Cuddy do whenever she changed Emily's diaper. Once he was done, he smiled. Pretty good for his first time, Cuddy wouldn't believe it. House brought Emily into the living room and put her in her in her high chair as he made himself a coffee. After drinking the caffeine he grabbed a bottle Cuddy had made last night for Emily in case she woke up during the night and brought the baby in the living room. He fed her as he watched General Hospital. Thank god for Tivo.

Cuddy got up an hour and a half later groggily and looked in the nursery only to find it empty. When she glanced at the wall clock she gasped. It was 9 o'clock! She couldn't remember the last time she had gotten up at 9 o' clock! Way before she had even gotten pregnant anyway. She walked into the kitchen and saw House in the living room with Emily in his arms. An empty bottle was on the coffee table in front of them.

"Good morning everybody" House turned and looked at her quickly and then turned back to the TV.

"Pass her here House she probably needs to be changed" Cuddy answered going to take the baby. But House pulled her away from Cuddy saying;

"I changed her when she got up" Cuddy gave him a look of surprise before snickering.

"Well daddy, you seemed to be doing a lot of things you usually don't" She raised her eyebrows suggestively in an exact imitation of him and walked off to get some coffee. House couldn't help but smile. He was actually, close to being happy.

…

The first weeks of Emily's life flew by fast and soon House was back at work. The ducklings were glad to see he was in a much better mood. They hoped House would bring them a new case since the last few weeks they had been sharing House's clinic hours and working in the ER so they were bored. When House walked in with a file, they all smiled and hurried to welcome him back.

"Hello my ducklings" House answered as he walked in and threw the file on the table.

"Hi" three heads turned in his direction.

"Well, here is our newest case. Take a look see" House answered as he walked to the coffee machine and poured himself a mug.

"The patient is only six years old, these symptoms definitely are weird for a six year old" Chase noticed as he scanned the file.

"No kidding? I thought the kid had a common cold? Chase if it weren't for you, we wouldn't be able to cure so many cases! Nothing gets by you!" snarked House. The two other ducklings smirked and Chase turned bright red. The rest of the afternoon was spent on the differential diagnosis and then the three left to do the necessary tests. House sat back and threw his tennis ball around thinking about the kid when Wilson walked in.

"House, you're back" His tone had a slightly nervous tone to it.

"Yup! Here I am. Cuddy! How nice to see you." Wilson turned and saw Cuddy walk in with Emily. Wilson wished she would have waited a little longer; he needed to tell House and fast.

"House, I'm going to see Sam and see how everything's doing, do you mind watching Emily for me? I shouldn't be all that long. She smiled and handed the baby over to House and placed the baby bag beside him. She blew a kiss to Emily who gargled and then walked out. House held Emily close and smiled.

"Ha! This means no clinic today for me! We can't let you get sick now can we?" House answered smiling at Emily. 'I should bring her here more often' He thought.

"House there's something I need to…" Wilson tried but again he was interrupted.

"Greg?" Stacey walked through the door and Wilson gulped. 'Shit' he thought. Wilson gave House a "I tried to tell you" look and then walked out. Stacey's smile vanished as she noticed the little baby in House's arms.

"Hi Greg, how are you?" She asked but her eyes were stuck on the baby.

"Stacey, I'm doing good" He knew she would blow a gasket when he told her this was his daughter, Stacey had wanted kids real bad and when House refused, she was very upset. This would be ugly.

"Is that your patient?" She nodded towards Emily who gargled.

"No, actually she's my daughter" House watched as Stacey's face turned from calm, to utter shock.

"Your what? YOU'RE A FATHER?" Stacey couldn't help but shout the second part. She never thought House would have a kid. Never.

"Yes" Emily had begun to whimper when Stacey started shouting and House rocked her trying to calm her. Stacey just stared as she watched House fuss over his daughter. Right then and there she knew he wasn't lying. She never thought she would see this happen.

"Wow Greg, this is such a shock." Stacey recovered and decided to ask some of the million and one questions going on in her mind.

"You're in a relationship then? She asked. This made House nervous. Was he and Cuddy an item? Yes. He figured they were. But, he wasn't sure if Cuddy was ready to let people know. He decided not to tell her.

"No" he answered simply. He couldn't go into detail.

"She's adopted? You're caring for her by yourself?" Stacey wished he'd be more specific. Just then, Cuddy walked in.

"How's my…" but she cut off fast upon seeing Stacey. 'Uh oh' she thought. Unfortunately, Stacey caught Cuddy's slip, and put two and two together.

"Oh my god" she said quietly. Cuddy didn't move but looked at House who was looking very serious.

"You said, you told me you weren't ever having kids. You said you could never be a father."

"People change Stacey" Stacey took one long look at Emily and then smiled sadly.

"She looks peaceful with you, she's gorgeous Greg" Stacey walked out tears streaming down her face. Cuddy looked at House sadly. "I'm sorry" she said.

"Don't worry, she would have found out at some point. It's not like it's a big secret" House handed Cuddy the baby and limped out.

"House where are you going?" Cuddy asked.

"I'm wondering what Stacey was doing here in the first place, and I intend to find out" House limped away as Cuddy stared at him.

"Your daddy's a weird one" she whispered to Emily, and then the two of them went home.