Chapter 36

It was Tuesday morning a week after the big confrontation, when Cuddy was released from the hospital. House limped to her room with the baby and the three of them walked out of the hospital. Cuddy was so happy to finally be going home, and House was happy for her though the pain in his leg prevented him from showing it.

"I never thought I would say this, but I'm so glad to be out of the hospital" Cuddy said as she seated herself in the car. House followed suit and turned on the ignition.

"Yes well, you've spent enough time there" House said quietly.

"Something wrong House? You're kind of quiet" Cuddy remarked as House backed up the car and headed for her house.

"Nope, just not all chipper like you today" House spat. The pain was really getting to him.

"Well, you can be miserable, but you'd better not make me miserable House" Cuddy warned. House didn't say anything but kept his eyes on the road. They rode back to the house in silence the only sound being Emily's rattle with made about ten different sounds every time she shook it or banged it against something. When they got to the house, Cuddy smiled and got out of the car. She turned and took out Emily and brought her into the house. House followed with Cuddy's bag and the baby's muttering under his breath about feeling like a butler. When he got inside, he dropped the stuff on the kitchen table and went into the nursery. There Cuddy sat in the rocker with Emily in her arms. House couldn't help but watch as Cuddy sang gently to the baby and then put her to bed. He then walked into the living room and took out his Vicodin bottle. He was upset to see he only had two left. He swallowed the pills and swore silently. He would have to return to the hospital. And at the moment, he was so sick of that place.

When Cuddy came out she saw House pacing in the kitchen. She stayed out of sight in the doorway and watched in concern as House paced and paced. His face was screwed up in pain and frustration and Cuddy decided she should maybe give him a minute alone. She walked to her room and fell asleep in her bed before she could even change her clothes.

…

House finally stopped pacing and limped to Cuddy's room. He was glad to see her sleeping, so he grabbed the baby monitor sitting on the dresser in the hallway and placed it on Cuddy's night table trying not to wake her with his rapid breathing. He then limped quietly out of the room and out the door. What he needed, was a ride on his motorcycle to get himself together.

…

House and Cuddy had a tough few months together. They fought, they struggled, and Cuddy got sicker and sicker. She was admitted three times and House just got more and more frustrated. It also didn't help that House's leg pain was getting worse, and he refused to take any stronger medication than Vicodin since he was almost always caring for Emily or helping Cuddy. When Emily was sleeping he couldn't help but vent his frustrations and often he was more miserable than anyone could have imagined. He went to work as much as he could though that wasn't often. When Cuddy arrived in her sixth month of pregnancy, she decided things needed to change. They needed to be prepared for this new baby. House was dozing on the couch and Emily was having her afternoon nap when she decided to broach the subject. She felt so bad waking him but it had to be done. She gently shook him and almost jumped back when he bolted upright and gasped;

"What? What's going on?" House rubbed his eyes and stared slightly frightened at Cuddy.

"Nothing, I'm sorry House I didn't mean to startle you but we need to talk" Cuddy sat down in the armchair and watched House.

"This couldn't wait" House asked grumpily.

"No, it couldn't" Cuddy answered angrily.

"Fine" House looked at Cuddy focusing his blue eyes so intently on her she had to work hard to refrain from cringing.

"I think you should move in permanently." This time it was Cuddy's turn to stare. House's expression didn't change but there was something, a glint in his eye that couldn't be explained.

"Maybe that is a good idea." House answered. "But you know what that means don't you Cuddy? I mean now it's ok, we're not working, or at least you aren't, the baby is young and we have this time off. When things return somewhat to the way they were this might not work out as well. You sure you can live with me Cuddy? I'm not going to change." House was still watching her intently.

"I know House. I've thought about this a lot of course, and I just think that since we will have two children it would be better." Cuddy stared House down intending to see what was going on in that brilliant head of his.

"Well, if you've thought about it. I guess that's it then" House turned around and grabbed his Vicodin bottle. He placed three pills in his mouth and closed his eyes. He refused to look into Cuddy's reproachful, worried eyes and when she tapped him on the shoulder, he almost slapped her hand away. "I guess I'd better go get some stuff then" House muttered getting up and steadying himself on his cane.

"You don't have to do it right this minute" Cuddy said quietly.

"I should do it before our daughter wakes up" House replied as he walked out the door.

…

House sat in his apartment and threw some things in a box. He hadn't been there very much in the last year and a half and he eyed it warily. If there was one thing he was going to miss about this place, it was his independence. When he got in a fight with Cuddy, where would he go? When the pain reached unbearable it would be tougher to hide it. This would definitely be a new challenge. Just then, a knock on the door brought House back to reality.

"Come in I'm not going to open the door" House shouted. Wilson walked in and looked around.

"Need some help?" he asked as he walked over to where House was packing his tee-shirts.

"Cuddy called you" House answered picking up a tee on the floor and throwing it in the box.

"Actually I called her looking for you and she said you would be here" Wilson answered. He grabbed a pair of jeans sprawled on the bed and threw them in the box. He had a feeling House didn't care for folding. Wilson threw things unceremoniously into the box only so as not to get any snarky comments from House. He watched his best friend take three Vicodins and then he began to wonder. Was his leg pain getting worse? The limp was more pronounced than ever and Wilson decided to ask him about it.

"House, is the pain getting worse?" he tried to make it sound casual but House turned around and gave him a glare.

"I banged it earlier. It'll be fine" he said gruffly. Wilson didn't buy it for a second but he decided he would figure out a way to get the truth. When it got too bad, House would tell him. The two continued packing what could be thrown into a box until they had seven sealed boxes lying at the door. House and Wilson grabbed one box of clothes and four boxes of books. These were very big boxes for House had tons of books. Cuddy had said she could get some shelves put up in the spare room up in the attic and he could put his books there. House also wanted his piano there and Cuddy failed to see how they would get a piano up there. House of course said he would find a way. Besides all that, House was selling his DVD player to Wilson since Cuddy already had one and he didn't really have much else. His personal possessions shared a box along with some medical journals and House's collection of cds and his poker set. His gameboy was in his packsack slung over his shoulder along with his mp3 player and the speakers. Otherwise, everything else would stay. And there wasn't much left. At last, House looked around the room, and walked out Wilson waiting for him in the car.

…

When House got back, Wilson helped him bring the boxes to their appointed rooms. He then bade goodnight to House and took his leave. House decided he wasn't in the mood to unpack, and went to check on his daughter since she nor Cuddy were anywhere to be seen. When he finally got to the backyard, he noticed the two in the grass. Cuddy was laughing and holding Emily who was playing with some toys spread out all around her. Cuddy was watching her closely for Emily could crawl now faster than you could say baby and had to be watched 24/7.

"Hey daddy" Cuddy said happily as House realized he had been caught staring. House limped through the grass and towards the wooden bench sitting by the garden and near Cuddy and the baby.

"She needs a little toy car" House remarked as he scooped up his little girl up in his arms and sat down. He held her at arms length and then kissed her on the forehead. He played with her little fist as she giggled and said:

"geesh" House chuckled. He and Cuddy had a one hundred dollar bet on what she would say first. Cuddy said momma of course and House dada. So far, neither had been uttered.

"Girls don't play with cars idiot" Cuddy said rolling her eyes.

"My girl does" House answered proudly.

"Oh no she doesn't" Cuddy got up and sat on the bench next to House. She grabbed her stomach just then and smiled.

"The baby kicked" she whispered. It hadn't been the first time, but House had never been really near by when it happened. Cuddy grabbed his arm which was currently holding up Emily's rattle and put his hand against her stomach. House looked surprised and then his face grew serious. He could feel the baby kicking and for a minute even Emily seemed silent. Cuddy smiled again and removed House's hand. House turned to Emily and gave her another little kiss on the cheek. He then looked at Cuddy and gave her an intense look.

"I love you Lisa" The words were so sincere Cuddy almost thought she had imagined it.

"I love you too Greg"

…

The ducklings were very angry at House and Cuddy's growing family. Each had their own reasons. Foreman was pissed that he was probably going to have to prolong his fellowship, since House was never in. He was here to work under House, and now the guy was never there. He was always fuming over this and snapped often at the other two who weren't exactly ever in good moods either. Cameron was getting pissy thinking about Cuddy's second baby. She had always wanted a baby, and now Cuddy was going to have a second. And House, she never saw him anymore, and when she did, Cuddy was usually not far behind or there was the baby on his arm. And Chase, missed the exciting cases, for now that House's appearances were limited, the cases we're less mysterious and less exciting. He missed the thrill of a good case, which he also felt was a little embarrassing since it sounded so like House. So, all in all things were not chipper in the hospital. At one point, Chase decided he needed to do something exciting and make himself happy, so, he asked Cameron out on a date…