Chapter 45
Wilson sat at the table trying to get Emily to eat. She was as stubborn as her father. Abby was cooperating nicely eating anything that Julie put in front of her. Julie thought the little girl was absolutely adorable. She was becoming comfortable with this being a parent notion. She was also finding it amusing seeing Wilson struggling with Emily.
"You have to eat Emily" Wilson was telling her in a soft tone.
"You don't cut it like daddy does!" Emily gave a huge sniff. This meant she was going to throw a fit.
"Well you know what? I taught your daddy everything he knows." Emily looked up.
"Really uncle Jimmy? You did?"
"Of course I did. So you know what? That means that it's just as good this way you'll see" Wilson watched Emily who was giving him a doubtful look. She then put the food into her mouth and smiled. She continued to eat without another word making Wilson smile and nod to his wife who smirked. All was well, until bedtime.
"NOOO! I don wanna go to bed! NO NO NO!" Emily wailed as Julie helped her put on her pj's. Over in the next bedroom Wilson was having the same amount of trouble with Abby.
"Momma! Dadda!" she sobbed.
"Don't cry sweetheart you'll see mommy and daddy in the morning" Wilson tried to soothe the child but she wouldn't have any of it.
"Momma!" Wilson brought Abby over to the rocking chair and held her trying to soothe her. After an hour the tired little girl cried herself to sleep. Wilson sighed and placed her in her crib, then shut off the light and went to see what was happening with Emily.
Julie sat on the bed, a tear-streaked Emily sleeping on her lap. Her hair was a mess and a scratch was visible on her arm, but she was smiling. Wilson watched as Julie slowly and quietly moved the little girl onto the bed and tip-toed out. Once the door was closed both sighed and went into each others arms.
"I don't know how they do it" Julie said.
"Me neither"
"It was nice though. Even though they threw fits, it was all worth it. Once Emily fell asleep on me, all I could do was stare at her little face and I didn't want to move. I want a child Jim I want that feeling back" Julie looked up into her husbands face a new twinkle in her eyes.
"I'm glad." Both walked off to bed, tired and happy.
…
House and Cuddy sat in bed thoroughly exhausted. Whoever said make-up sex was the best definitely had it right. After a fairly long nap both were awake around two am and in a chatty mood.
"How do you think the kids are taking the sleepover?" Cuddy asked. She hadn't had much time to worry about the kids since she had been very busy the last couple of hours but now it was setting in.
"They're fine. And if they threw a bunch of fits, then the Wilson's will know the truth behind children" House held Cuddy close and laughed as she swiped him.
"Shut up. I know that. I just miss not having them in the house that's all" House watched Cuddy's face fill with worry. Shit.
"Relax. We get the tykes back in a couple of hours." House kissed Cuddy's forehead and felt her tense body relax slightly.
"You're right. What the hell are we doing sitting here chatting at two in the morning anyway?"
"What else is there to do at two in the morning?" House asked. He realized it was a stupid question moments later when Cuddy got a very mischievous look in her eyes.
…
Foreman sat at home not paying attention to his TV which was fairly loud. He was thinking about the job offer. He had sorted out the pros and cons. Pros: a position of authority, better salary, better parking space, nice office, respect. Cons: More work, more hours, House kicking his ass, House kicking his ass, House kicking his ass, and House kicking his ass. Shit. If only the dean had at least mentioned to House that he was getting the boot. Would House care now that he had a family to take care of anyway? Hell yes. He would never look up to him as someone to be respected. He had learned that when he had been his boss temporarily. He had been miserable, did he really want that again? This man was ruining his chances for success, but the big question was, was it worth it?
…
The next day, Cuddy got out of bed at eleven thoroughly exhausted but in no way able to sleep. Her mind was rested, her body was not. However, she was ready to function as always and she got dressed and ready with only a little of her usual gusto missing.
"HOUSE! Get the hell out of bed and go get my kids!"
"WHAT'S THE BIG HURRY WOMAN?"
"NOW!"
"FINE!" House got up and threw on a tee-shirt in jeans. In reality, he was in a very good mood, the night's activities making him very jovial indeed. His leg was sore like a sonofabitch, but nothing a few little white pills couldn't fix. House happily walked over to the dresser to fetch his pills and cursed. Fuck. He had no pills left! He hadn't noticed that he was taking the last ones before him and Cuddy officially went to sleep the night before. His leg was starting to ache badly and House figured he could get a prescription from Wilson and hurry to the pharmacy on the way home. Hoping his leg would at least wait that long, House grabbed his keys and walked out the door.
…
Cuddy was making lunch when the door opened and to her delight little voices could be heard. Cuddy smiled and hurried over to the living room then gave Emily a big hug kiss and picked up Abby doing the same. House limped by the girls, overnight bag slung over his shoulder and went to their bedroom to dump their stuff.
"Did you girls have fun?" Cuddy walked back into the kitchen to continue lunch and the girls followed.
"No" Emily sat on a stool. Cuddy frowned wondering what was up with her.
"Fun!" Abby was smiling wildly and running around. Cuddy had figured it would be the other way around, independent Emily laughing with Wilson and Julie and Abby making a fit. Emily was however as unpredictable as her father.
"How come you didn't have fun Emily?" Cuddy continued to stir the soup and looked over at Emily who was playing with the car keys House had pitched onto the counter.
"I dunno" Emily didn't look up.
"Emily look at me" Emily did as she was told. "Did something happen at Uncle Jimmy's?" Cuddy cringed. She hated calling Wilson that, but the kids had taken to calling him that and didn't know him as anything else.
"No" Emily began to sulk. Cuddy was irritated at how many of House's qualities Emily had inherited; it was a pain in the ass.
"Then tell me what's wrong" Cuddy wasn't giving up. She was stubborn too and didn't want Emily to keep her feelings to herself. She couldn't let her start that habit.
"You're going to be mad" Cuddy began to get nervous.
"Of course not. Tell me what's wrong"
"Nothing's wrong anymore. I missed daddy that's all" Emily looked into her mother's eyes as if checking to see if she was hurt by her comment. Cuddy hid it well and smiled.
"Is that all? Why would I be mad at that? Don't be silly. Can you go tell your father lunch is ready?" Cuddy sent Emily out of the room and let out a breath. That had hurt, and she hoped that her little girl hadn't done that intentionally. Cuddy refused to believe it, she was only a child after all and couldn't possibly enjoy inflicting pain emotionally at such a young age. Nevertheless, it looked like Cuddy would need to have a talk with House.
…
That afternoon Cuddy took a drive with Emily over to the post office to get the mail. She quickly went inside and grabbed the multiple envelopes sitting in her box and brought them home without even looking at them. Once they had returned to the house and Emily ran into her room to finish her new puzzle Cuddy sat down in the living room where House was watching TV and Abby was playing with her doll and began to sort through the mail. After several bills and flyers had been tossed aside she let out a muttered curse and began to panic at the last letter.
Dear Lisa,
How are you dear? We haven't heard from you in a little while, and we we're beginning to worry. Hope things are going well at the hospital. As you know, your father's birthday is coming up and he would be so happy if you were here this year to celebrate with him. I've sent you a ticket and I really think it would be important for you to come, it would be such a nice surprise for him don't you think?We miss you. Hopefully you can take some time off work, because god knows a vacation could probably do you a lot of good. Please send me a letter or better yet, give me a call and let me know if you're coming.
Lot's of love,
Mom
Cuddy re-read the letter three times before putting it down. Shoot. She had given House shit when she found out he hadn't told his parents about the girls, how could she have forgotten to tell hers?
House looked up at Cuddy who was silently cursing as she put a letter back into its envelope. She got up and handed the envelope to House and then sat back down watching as he read it. He sent her a surprised glance and understanding filled his face as one airplane ticket fell out of the envelope.
"Oh you are in so much trouble. What are you going to do?" House smiled amused at this turn of events. Cuddy looked at him irritated at his pleasure.
"We are going to Atlanta in two weeks" Cuddy answered getting up and snatching the letter and the ticket from House's hands.
"You're just going to show up and say; "Hi mom. Hi dad. This is Greg and our two children that I never told you about. It's so nice to see you!" House smirked and looked at her questioningly.
"You did it. And I can too. So you'd better begin making arrangements" Cuddy began to walk out.
"You can't do this Cuddy. I know you. And you know this will kill them" House watched her stiffen and stop in her tracks.
"You don't even know them House. You'll see that my parents won't be as angry as yours" Cuddy didn't turn around.
"I never said they would be angry. I said they would be upset and hurt" Cuddy walked out of the room and went to her bedroom. Then, she let the tears fall.
…
Wilson and Julie sat in their living room discussing their night with the kids.
"You still want to do this?" Julie looked over at Wilson who was running his hands through his hair.
"Yes, do you?" Wilson looked over at Julie. He couldn't believe how lucky he was.
"Yes. And I think the sooner we start trying the better." Julie smiled as Wilson got up.
"I think that's a very good idea. Julie laughed as Wilson picked her up and brought her to the bedroom laughing at his wife's protests and giggles.
…
Foreman was sitting in the conference room not listening to Cameron or Chase discuss a case that had come to the ER the night before.
"Chase that would be impossible if there was a clot!" Cameron argued.
"Cameron it's not impossible, nothing in this job ever is. It may not be probable, but it could happen" Chase shot back.
"Shut up both of you. It's not our case anyway" Foreman snapped irritated. He was trying to think and they were distracting him.
"What's with you?" Chase asked. Foreman hesitated and then decided that he'd might as well tell them about the offer and get their input.
"I got offered House's job" Foreman watched as Chase's took on a look of surprise and envy and Cameron's took on one of fear.
"House is quitting!?" Cameron dropped into a chair and looked at Foreman.
"Not as far as I know" Foreman watched as Cameron struggled to understand.
"Then how can they offer you his position if he's still working here?"
"Because it looks like House is getting bumped down" Foreman twirled a pencil in betweens his fingers.
"Does he know? They can't do that!" Cameron looked angrily over at Foreman.
"Nope, he doesn't. And apparently they can"
"You're not going to take it are you?"
"Maybe I am"
"Maybe that's not such a good idea" Chase put in his two cents and grabbed the pencil from Foreman's hands looking him in the eyes. "Do you have any idea how pissed House would be?"
"Maybe I don't care"
"Of course you do mate. You care just as much as anyone. That's the only reason you haven't already said yes" Chase sat back down and watched for Foreman's reaction.
"Of course not. You don't just say yes to something like this without thinking it through. It has nothing to do with House. I'm not afraid of him." Foreman was getting defensive.
"Nope, but you are afraid that you're not going to be as good as him" Chase looked at Foreman and then walked out. Cameron gave him a look of disgust and followed suit.
…
House watched as Cuddy made plans and did her day to day chores. He knew the only thing she could think about was the upcoming vacation to visit her parents. He watched her as she made supper, the fake smile not convincing to him as he could see the worry in her eyes. He didn't pester her with questions just yet, he knew she would at one point broach the subject and it was then that he would get all his answers. So, as impatient as he was, he decided to wait it out.
Cuddy, as House suspected was a total mess. She was panicking trying to think of ways to make things right and yet she couldn't think of a single solution. Why hadn't she told her parents? Well, after a week of deliberation she finally came with a conclusion; they were never satisfied. When she had announced she was becoming a doctor, they said that it wasn't good enough for a young woman like herself. She needed to find herself a husband above all else. And now, here she was with a top job (though right now she wasn't much in the top position), a boyfriend and two children. She hadn't wanted to tell her parents, because she was scared that they would be disappointed of what was now her whole world. She was scared that they wouldn't accept the things that made her really happy. But there was no avoiding it now, the time had come.
House and Cuddy sat in the living room long after Abby and Emily had been put to bed. House held a beer in his hand and was flicking the channels impatiently for something interesting to watch and Cuddy just sat in the chair calmly glass of Pepsi and rum in her hand. Finally she decided to talk much to House's pleasure.
"I'm guessing that you're dying to know about my parents"
"Of course not, why would I want to know about you're parents?" House hoped that she would tell him more if she thought he didn't care much.
"You're the most curious person I know. And we might as well talk now before we get there right? Well here it goes. My mother was a housewife all her life. It was her sole ambition. She always told me that the number one goal in life for a woman was to find a nice respectable husband and settle down…"
"Then you're mother will be horribly disappointed…"
"Shut up House. Anyways as I was saying, she thought that was the most important thing, and both her and my father were not at all pleased to hear I wanted to attend medical school. Not a good profession for a woman they told me, it's not my place at all."
"I'm guessing you're parents have lot's of money, and are up there in the social world" House let the disgust drip from every word. Cuddy seemed not to notice.
"They are well off yes. However, when I decided to become a doctor they told me I was out on my own, that they wouldn't support me. And they never have. I moved here and did a series of odd jobs to pay for medical school and everything else. It was tough, I made sure to get the highest marks and be the best of my classes. It took hard work" Cuddy's face was grave as she took a trip down memory lane.
"So mommy and daddy weren't very happy with you. Why is your mother so keen on you going up to visit now?" House looked at Cuddy.
"Where I grew up, they said that by thirty eight if you were not married you were an embarrassment and were to be deemed dead by your parents. My birthday is coming up, I'm sure my mother is asking me there in an attempt to find me the perfect husband before it's too late" House's face showed surprise and then a smirk. He began to laugh until Cuddy's gaze switched to him for the first time and he saw tears in her eyes. He stopped abruptly.
"Cuddy, you are a successful woman, a great mother and a very satisfying lover (House raised his eyebrows suggestively at this part). You don't need they're agreement to know you've accomplished what some people try so hard to do and never succeed. If this makes you happy, then you don't need their approval. Unless this isn't what you want" House's face turned grave as he stared at Cuddy.
"Is this what you want?" He asked her again. Cuddy looked up with a surprised and completely bewildered look.
"Of course it is" Cuddy didn't look to sure to House.
"You're happy? You don't seem to be too sure" House was cursing himself. Obviously the woman wasn't happy with the amount of time she was taking to answer him. And it was entirely his fault. He began to feel the guilt and he hated it.
"House, I've already had this discussion with you. I am happy; I have everything I've ever dreamed of and more. We don't have a conventional relationship or a conventional family. But that's fine; I am happy House how many times will I have to tell you before you believe it? You are filled with more self doubt than you let on"
"No I'm not. You just aren't very convincing" House didn't want to be the vulnerable one. He wasn't going to feel that way if he could help it.
"Whatever you say. Anyway let me continue telling you what to expect. My father is a shrewd business man. He is all about manners and respect. My mother is practically the same. We were not a close knit family. My brother left the house when I was twelve to go off to college. I didn't see him much, my parents were angry that he went to school so far away. They wanted him to take over my father's business, but he had other plans. He wanted to be a lawyer. They argued, and he quit associating with them. And me. I was hurt, we used to be so close. When I finally moved out of my parents house, he contacted me and we had lunch. We caught up, and he called a couple of times through college. Once I moved here we totally lost touch." Cuddy's eyes turned watery once more. But only for a second, she was able to keep it together.
"You have a brother?" House was surprised, he had always thought of Cuddy as an only child.
"Yes, we were seven years apart" Cuddy remembered how much it had hurt to have her big brother leave her. She would never forget the night he left.
"Big difference. Will brother bear be at this shindig?" House wanted to meet this guy. He sounded interesting.
"I doubt my mother would have kept contact with him. However weirder things have happened" Cuddy considered looking for her brother's number and calling. It seemed like a good idea.
"And now you're itching to find out" House was watching her like a hawk. This whole situation marveled him. He was learning more about Cuddy than he had ever known and he loved it.
"Maybe, maybe not." Cuddy got up from the couch and brought her glass over to the cabinet where several different bottles of alcohol sat from when she had put them there earlier.
"Right. They're obviously not going to like me. However…" House smiled as it all came to him. "You're thinking that if you're brother comes, the surprise of your little announcement won't make as big of an effect because you're folks will be shocked enough at his appearance" House smiled. He really had chosen an intelligent woman.
"It crossed my mind" Cuddy couldn't believe how well the man could read her mind. She had only just thought of that clever plan.
"Well, I for one think it's a great idea" House got up slowly and steadied himself on his cane before walking into the kitchen to grab another beer. The wheels in his head were turning…