Cuddy was pacing. Chris had called an hour and ten minutes ago and he was due to arrive any minute. She kept repeating her to-do list in her head making sure everything was done.

The house is clean, the girls are dressed and ready, the guest room is set, i've talked to House, the reservations are made, the groceries are done…

Ding Dong!

Cuddy jumped as the doorbell rang out in her ears. Hurrying to the door she threw it open and smiled. There he was. After all these years her big brother was finally here to see her.

"Hey sis" Chris wrapped Cuddy in a hug and she happily hugged him back.

"It's been too long" Cuddy nodded in agreement.

"Come in. There are some people I want you to meet" Cuddy nervously led her brother into the house. She brought him into the living room where House was talking to Emily about Egypt and Abby was dancing to the music playing on TV.

"Chris, this is Gregory House, and our children; that's Emily and over there is Abby" Chris's face lit up in shock.

"No way" Chris looked over at Lisa.

"You're married and have kids? I can't believe it" Chris was still looking at the three in surprise. House smirked and the girls hurried over to him nervously. Abby clung to her father's good leg and Emily scooted over towards House.

"We're not married…" Cuddy hurried to add.

"Oh. Well, glad I didn't miss something that important. Hi guys" Chris looked over at Abby who was clinging to House as if afraid for her life. Emily wasn't as shy.

"Hi" Emily got up and walked over to Chris. Cuddy regarded her nervously; she had a tendency to be amazingly blunt for her age.

"You look like my mommy" Emily cocked her head slightly to the side. House silently agreed. He had been studying the man in question ever since he had walked in. Chris had dark curly hair just like Cuddy, and blue eyes. Not as bright as his though he thought happily. The man looked confident but broken, and House was good at deducing people who were broken. House knew that he had been completely cut off from his family at a young age, but House was pretty sure this guy had lived a rough life, and that he would be someone House could put up with to say the least.

"So I've been told" Chris smiled warmly at Emily.

"I like you" Emily smiled. Chris smiled back.

"I like you too. Is that your little sister over there?" Chris bent down to Emily's level. Cuddy went over and sat beside House.

"Yes. She's really shy. She doesn't usually like families people much"

"Emily!" Cuddy reprimanded.

"Well you know what? I think that we can change her mind about me. I'm going to need your help though. You think you can do it?" Emily smiled at Abby who was still holding on to her dad.

"Yeah!"

"High five" Chris gave Emily a high five and Emily giggled. Cuddy smiled. Emily had been so moody lately, she was glad to see her little girl giggling again. Cuddy looked over at House. House had a small smile on his face as he watched Chris and Emily talk. Cuddy could see his deep blue eyes studying her brother, analyzing, deducing. She wondered what he had figured out. Her brother seemed like a big puzzle to her now that she came to think of it. Chris got up and walked over to House giving him his hand.

"It's nice to meet you House" House grinned up at Chris. Cuddy waited for a panicked second but relaxed when she saw House offer his hand to Chris. House was being polite, and acting like a normal human being… What did he want? Cuddy wondered suspiciously.

"Yeah, we'll see." House said seriously making Chris chuckle as he sat down on a chair. Abby jumped onto the couch and hugged her dad's chest. House smirked at her and put his arm around her occasionally pulling her braid to make her feel less nervous. The first few times she only pushed herself more into his chest. Once she began to get annoyed however her little glare started to come out and the shyness went away.

"What happened to your leg?" Chris had been eyeing the cane. Cuddy tensed again. House was sensitive about his leg. However he was full of surprises tonight.

"Had an infarction a couple of years ago" Cuddy looked shocked at House. He didn't meet her eye.

"Ahh I see. A friend of mine had paralysis in his leg not long ago, he was pretty bummed out when he got the cane, but he could limp faster than I could walk after a while. Got annoyed and chased me around one time" Chris chuckled a bit. House smirked.

"Yeah, I could limp pretty fast myself. Best to be careful" House watched for Chris's reaction. He was sure this was a guy who wouldn't get intimidated, who would just shrug things off. But, just to be sure…

"I'm sure you can. However I think we'll get along" Chris and House stared at each other for a moment. Cuddy tried to catch the obvious transaction going on between them but she couldn't. She kind of felt left out.

"So, what time do you have reservations for sis?"

"Seven. We have lots of time. I'll show you where the guest room is and then you can relax before you have to get ready. No rush." Cuddy smiled and got up leading the way to the guest room. Chris smiled tiredly and followed her. House watched both walk away satisfied with the first encounter. This would go fine.

House and Cuddy were in the bedroom getting ready. Cuddy was frantically trying to decided what to wear (she had decided but now couldn't make up her mind) while House slowly pulled on a blue turtle neck with his usual jacket. He decided that he wanted to wear his usual work attire and that Cuddy would either do one of two things; screech at him to change in which case he would simply refuse or just ignore him because she was much too frantic. House was pretty sure it would be the latter.

"Will you relax. Everything's going fine. Quit worrying" House zipped his jeans and grabbed his cane.

"What are you up to?" Cuddy turned and looked at House. She knew he was up to something.

"Nothing. I haven't done anything" House limped over to the dresser and placed his wallet in his jacket. As much as he would try to get Chris to pay the bill, you never know.

"Exactly my point" Cuddy pulled on a fancy white blouse and put on some black pants.

"Hey, I still have the rest of the evening. You should be happy I haven't done anything insane just yet" House smiled as she stopped spraying hairspray in her hair and turned around.

"You'd better not. But you're right, thank you for behaving like a human being, it's a nice change" Cuddy smiled and turned back towards the mirror to put on some lipstick. House smirked. Don't get used to it.