Chapter 44

Cuddy had fallen asleep long before House walked in the door. Her tears had made her sleepy, and the whole house was quiet. House threw his jacket into the closet and limped to the living room. The lights were on and he thought maybe Cuddy had been waiting up for him, but he was actually disappointed to see she wasn't. House limped quietly to the bedroom and saw her tiny figure dozing softly on the bed. House watched her sadly for a moment wishing he hadn't been so cruel to her earlier. It wasn't often he felt regret, and he decided he hated the feeling. Slowly, House limped into the bedroom thanking god that it was carpet so his cane didn't make a sound, and went to the drawer pulling out an old tee-shirt and some pajama pants. Usually he slept in his boxers, but the kids got up early and he didn't need them looking at his scar. Once he had everything he needed, he grabbed a big thick blanket sitting on the edge of the dresser and brought it with him to the living room. After their argument, House didn't think Cuddy would be too pleased to see him lying next to her, and she could be a bear in the morning.

Once in the living room House got himself set up on the couch. He held his Vicodin bottle up looking at how much pills he had left, the last week or so he had been taking way over his usual amount and he would soon need a refill. A night on the couch would also mean taking even more out of his near-empty bottle. House went to the bathroom and came back to hear a knock on the door. Wondering who the hell could be coming at this hour, House hurried to the door before everyone woke up, and opened it annoyed.

"House, can we talk?" House nodded and walked back inside to the living room.

"What's up Jimmy?" House sat on the couch and waited. Wilson inspected his little set-up and smirked.

"You get kicked out of the bedroom? What'd you do now?"

"I spanked her too hard and she got mad. Why are you here?" House spread his legs out on the couch so Wilson couldn't sit down and Wilson shook his head as he sat on the armchair.

"Julie said yes. We're going to have a baby" Wilson smiled a goofy grin.

"You think you're ready?" House didn't smile. Wilson could tell he was pleased however.

"Of course, can't be any worse than you"

"Wanna bet?" House snickered and Wilson laughed too. He was so happy.

"Want to go for a beer?" Wilson wanted to celebrate.

"Yeah, what the hell. We'll drink ourselves into oblivion in celebration. Hope you got cash, we should spend it all now because rugrats empty your wallet." House limped to the bathroom and threw on a pair of jeans, not caring that he was wearing like the oldest tee-shirt known to man, and then grabbed his jacket and walked out the door.

…

Cameron grabbed her keys and headed to her apartment. She was afraid, for her job, for her well-being (she kept looking behind her thinking House would be there), and for her relationship. What she had said to House, had merely been a retort, but what if he saw something that had told him Chase was being unfaithful or something? Cameron walked into the apartment and she could smell Chase's cooking. She smiled, no way was he cheating.

…

Cuddy woke up in the morning and walked into the living room. The kids were still asleep, it was very early and they wouldn't even be up for another hour or so. She was disappointed when she saw House wasn't beside her in bed like she was accustomed to, but once in the living room she smiled as she saw his figure sleeping on the couch. She went up to him wanting to give him a kiss, but the horrible smell of liquor caught her nose and she took a step back. She walked up and pulled the blanket back and saw he was completely out cold. Shit. If the kids woke up and saw him like this, (let alone smelt him) they would ask questions. Or Emily would anyway. Cuddy shook House by the shoulders and said his name loudly in his ear. She tried everything she could think of but nothing worked. Panicking now, she went to the kitchen and grabbed a pitcher of water. She walked into the living room and poured the cold water on House's head. House jumped up with a start screaming "What?" as he got up.

"We can talk later go take your shower you reek of alcohol!" Cuddy grabbed his arm and pulled him onto his feet making him howl in pain from his leg.

"Sorry sorry! Please hurry and get cleaned up before the kids get up I don't want them to see you like this!" Cuddy pushed him as he grabbed his cane.

"Will you relax? I have a major headache leave me alone!" House growled loudly and huffed off to the shower slamming the door. Cuddy cringed and then sat down and put her head in her hands.

…

An hour later Cuddy stood in the nursery changing Abby's diaper as the baby flailed and screamed.

"Ok Abby ok we're almost done" Cuddy hurried to get her cleaned up and then set her on the floor. Upon being on her own two feet again the little girl stopped crying and walked off. Cuddy sighed and cleaned up before following her to the living room. She was tense since she hadn't seen House since she had pushed him into the shower earlier and she knew they had to talk. Emily was nowhere to be found, and Cuddy guessed she had gone into their bedroom to talk to her daddy. Cuddy hoped she could mellow him out.

"Daddy!" Abby hit the door with her doll shouting at the bedroom door. "Daddy! Daddy! Lemme in! lemme in!" Abby screamed until the knob turned and the door opened. Emily opened the door and let Abby in, then looking to see if Cuddy was nearby, she quickly closed the door. Cuddy watched from around the corner wondering what she could have done to have her family shut her out.

…

"Daddy!" Abby ran up to her father who was combing his hair in the adjoining bathroom to the bedroom. She grabbed onto his good leg and smiled up. Emily rolled her eyes from the bed and continued to look at the tee-shirts in her daddy's dresser to pick for him to wear.

"Hey kiddo" House didn't look down at the smiling face. He had a hangover like no one would ever believe.

"Daddy wear this blue tee-shirt!" Emily yelled from the bedroom.

"Why?" House shouted back.

"Because!"

"Sounds good to me" House walked over and grabbed the tee-shirt and jeans sitting on the bed and walked into the bathroom. Abby walked over to her sister while House changed.

"Mily gimme pod" Abby tried to grab House's Ipod that Emily was currently listening to. Emily snapped it out of her reach.

"No Abby." Abby was about to scream when House came back in minus the housecoat and in the tee-shirt his daughter had picked out.

"Everybody out" House limped to the door and waited for the girls to run out. He then followed them to the kitchen where Cuddy was cooking them lunch. She smiled when they ran in and looked up at House.

"How are you feeling?" She turned to the stove and poured the soup in bowls.

"Fine" House looked at Emily who was hanging on to every word.

"Good"

"Wilson called. He asked if he could take the girls for the day. Julie and Wilson are trying to have a kid and Wilson thinks I'd be a good idea if they took the girls to see what it would be like." Cuddy turned around.

"Today?"

"Yes. I think it's a good idea don't you?" House looked once again at Emily who was looking from her mother to her father.

"Yes. Tell him he can pick them up in an hour." Cuddy put Abby in her highchair and gave the girls their lunch. House walked up to the fridge to make himself a sandwich. Well, she had bought it.

…

In an hour's time both Wilson and Julie walked up the front steps and knocked on the door. Once they had the two girls and everything that went with them (including a detailed schedule from Cuddy) the two walked to the car and took off to go home. Cuddy watched as her children sped away in Wilson's car and then turned to go back inside. House was sitting on the couch awaiting her return inside the house.

"Well, what should we do now?" House asked not turning around.

"Talk for one" Cuddy wasn't letting anything go, she was still stung from his comments of the night before.

"Well, I figure we can cross that off since we've been doing that for the last five minutes" House was not in the mood to talk. He wanted to kiss and makeup minus the making up part.

"I don't think so. So, you decided to go get piss drunk last night? Did you get into trouble? Anything I should know?" Cuddy sat on the armchair and glared.

"Nope. Me and Wilson celebrated the upcoming little Wilson. No trouble with him around." House flipped off the TV.

"I'm sorry if you think I'm always pushing you" Cuddy felt the regret from the night before flood her veins.

"You're not. Don't worry about it"

"That's not what you said yesterday"

"I was angry yesterday"

"You're usually more honest when you're angry" Cuddy looked him in the eyes.

"Well, what do you want me to say then? You want me to apologize? Fine. I'm sorry. Better now?"

"No. I want you to tell me how to solve this problem. I don't want you to ever walk out on me ever again"

"I won't. I promise."

"Good" House got up slowly and limped over to her. Cuddy got up and got into his arms where he held her close.

"It's tough sometimes House. I know that, but you can talk to me about it rather than making me the enemy"

"I know" House didn't want to let Cuddy go. He panicked a minute when she started slipping out of his embrace but relaxed when her lips found his.

"Bedroom?"

"Race you there" Cuddy walked off and House limped after her smirking.

…

Chase and Cameron were lying in bed talking. Cameron loved having Chase in the house all the time, since he had moved in her usual solitary self had found some happiness which in turn led her to be in a better mood most of the time.

"Chase, have you ever cheated?" Cameron didn't look up.

"Like, on a math test or something? Yeah there was this one time in the fifth grade…"

"No, I mean on a girlfriend"

"Where is that coming from?" Chase looked at Cameron who refused to look him in the eye.

"Nothing. I got in an argument with House today, it was just a comment he made" Cameron knew speech time was coming. How many times had Chase told her not to listen to what House said since they had been dating?"

"I cheated, once. Not on you, this was a couple of years ago. My girlfriend and I, we got into a huge fight. She said I was a good boy and that I never was going to amount to anything because I always follow the rules. She said I was unsatisfying because of it. That night, I went to a bar and this girl was flirting with me. We went to her apartment and the rest is history. I felt like crap after, and I never cheated after. I know it was wrong" Chase finished somewhat quietly and Cameron finally looked up.

"Thank you, for being honest with me" Chase kissed her. Both went to sleep deep in thought.

…

Foreman was sitting in the conference room looking at an MRI that another doctor had asked his counsel on.

"Hello doctor Foreman" Foreman looked up to see the dean himself walk into the room. Foreman didn't like the guy much, he missed Cuddy being in charge. This guy was just too cocky for his liking.

"Hi. What can I do for you?" Foreman politely put the file down and gave the guy his full attention.

"I was wondering, if you would be interested in a promotion" Foreman looked at the dean shocked.

"What kind of promotion?"

"Doctor House's job. The man is scarcely here and patients need a doctor in charge who is involved. If you're interested, the job is yours" The dean smiled and sat back awaiting Foreman's answer.

"Have you discussed this with doctor House?" Foreman was a bit nervous about this offer. He was incredibly excited too however.

"Nope, it doesn't concern him. It's all up to you" the dean smiled and Foreman became stuck with indecision.

"Well, thanks for the offer. You mind if I take some time to think about it?"

"Sure. Of course, no rush. I'll see you around" With that, the dean walked out and Foreman quickly smiled to himself.