Alright, here it is! Kara finally gets to come home! Disclaimer: I do not own anything from House M.D. All I own is my characters and the plot! Thanks for all your reviews and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Chapter Eleven: Welcome Home

"You think she's ready for this?" Cuddy asked House as they sat in her office, sipping coffee. House had brought the coffee and now they both had to wait until Cuddy got off of work to bring Kara home. Cuddy was going to try to get off early so House didn't have to wait around for both of them. She didn't trust him to stay in her house. She looked over at House. Unlike her, it looked as if House had slept pretty well. Cuddy was so excited and so worried that she scarcely got any sleep at all.

"There's no way of really telling, Cuddy" He answered tentatively, looking out the window. The sun was shining brightly today. He took a sip of his coffee, letting the warm liquid trickle its way down his esophagus. "I've been here for too long." House suddenly muttered, getting up and grabbing his cane.

Cuddy looked up at him, frowning. "You've only been in here three minutes at the most." Cuddy told him, looking somewhat poignant.

He opened the door and looked back at her. "Yeah, I know. Can't give you any excuses to slap more clinic duty on me." He said, exiting quickly after that. Cuddy shook her head and traced her finger delicately over the rim of the coffee cup. There was something about House that Cuddy couldn't put her finger on. He had something that could make anyone, even Cuddy, so easily infuriated. But, at the end of the day, Cuddy realized that she could never stay mad at him. There was some sort of aura that radiated off of him that made him so loveable even if House didn't act that way. Smiling ever so slightly, she brought the cup to her lips and sipped some coffee.

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Cuddy looked at herself in the mirror one more time, making sure she was satisfied with everything. It was late, she knew that, but it was better late than never. She pulled her sweater down nervously and took a deep breath. This was nerve-racking. She wasn't this anxious even when she presented something to the board. Grabbing her things, she made her way to Kara's hospital room. House had probably left about thirty minutes ago. He had stopped by her office to see if she was going to leave but she had told him she had a few more things to do. As she entered the room, she saw Cameron helping Kara into her wheelchair. She wore the same clothes she had come in with. A long, baggy orange sweater with some holes near her wrists, dark pants that were too short, and worn out shoes.

"Ready to go home?" Cuddy asked sensitively, smiling at Kara as they pushed her out of the room. Cuddy took the handles of the wheelchair and began to push her forward.

Kara was quiet for a moment, as if she was contemplating the answer. "Do I have to stay in this?" She asked instead, frowning.

Cuddy smiled understatedly and nodded. "It's hospital regulations. When we get out of the hospital, I'll let you walk to the car, okay?" She told Kara, letting her hand roam in her purse for her keys. The usual pocket that held her keys was inexplicably empty for some strange reason. Frowning, Cuddy took her purse off her shoulder and stepped into the elevator, letting Cameron start to push her.

"Something wrong?" Cameron asked, seeing Cuddy search her purse frenetically for something. Kara looked up also, her eyebrows raised and a questioning expression plastered on her face.

"It seems I just might have misplaced something, that's all." Cuddy assured them. She hoped she hadn't left them in her car! What if she locked herself out? This wasn't supposed to happen! This day was supposed to work out good! "I'll be right back." Cuddy parted from them, heading over to her office swiftly.

Cameron pushed Kara all the way to the hospital's entrance and helped her stand up. "Your mother should be here soon. Will you be alright here alone or do you want me to..." Cameron began, smiling at the girl. She seemed to be relieved to be up on her feet again.

"I'm fine." Kara quickly interrupted, sending a hesitated smile Cameron's way. Cameron nodded and left, wheeling the empty wheelchair back where it belonged. Kara waited for only a few seconds until Cuddy appeared around the corner, looking slightly distressed. "What's wrong?"

"I believe I might have left my keys in the car." Cuddy said despondently, heading outside to the parking lot, towards her car.

"Are you sure it's not in your purse?" Kara asked frowning. Cuddy opened her mouth to say something but she shook her head and opened her purse, stopping in the middle of the parking lot to rummage around in it. Kara rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, staring at all the cars. "Which car is yours?" She suddenly asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.

Cuddy looked up slightly and pointed to her car before going back to her purse. Kara took a few more steps forward and smirked. "I think I found the keynapper!" Kara exclaimed loudly, pointing at the car. Cuddy looked up frowning and headed towards her car, narrowing her eyes. House was in Cuddy's passenger seat, pretending his cane was a guitar and singing to something playing on her radio.

Cuddy sighed and knocked on the window loudly, glaring at House. House stopped suddenly, looking up at Cuddy innocuously. He rolled down the window slowly, grinning. "May I help you? Today we are offering the backseat special for half price." He said smirking.

Kara's nose wrinkled in abhorrence. That was just too gross! Parents saying something like that to each other should have been illegal. She didn't care if they weren't married or not. Cuddy didn't think it was funny either. Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson and her eyes narrowed to slits. "House!" She hissed venomously but her words were lost in his laughter. She sighed and shook her head, looking over at Kara for a moment before looking around. "Where's your motorcycle?"

House pointed to the other side of the car. Kara's eyes sparkled with interest and she looked past the car to glance at it. House exited the car, pushing the car keys into her palms. Kara glanced over to look at House and frowned at his cane. How could a disabled man drive a motorcycle? She opened her mouth but closed it, not sure if she wanted to ask him that particular question. He put on his helmet and eyed Kara. "One day I'll let you ride with me if your mother allows it." He told her, walking past her.

Kara looked up at Cuddy expectantly. Cuddy smiled resignedly back at her daughter. "Maybe when you're older." She told her, heading to her side of the car. Kara groaned inwardly and got into the passenger seat, watching House rev up his motorcycle before zipping out of the parking lot. Cuddy followed him.

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Kara looked up at the house carefully as Cuddy chastised House for being reckless on the road and how he needed to set a good example for Kara. Kara was actually very nervous about this. She believed that all of this was a dream and that one day she'd wake up in the orphanage and everything would be gone. That was just one thing that she feared. What if her mother didn't like her? She didn't want to get sent back to the orphanage. A hand touched Kara's shoulder tenderly and Kara looked up at Cuddy. "Come on." She said, leading Kara towards her new home. House limped after them.

"This is the kitchen and that's the living room." Cuddy began, giving Kara the grand tour. "The dining room and in there is my study. And this is your room." She said, pushing Kara down the hallway to the closed door. Cuddy stopped, waiting for Kara to open the door eagerly. Kara opened the door slowly, glancing around at the room.

The room mostly was bare because Cuddy wasn't sure what Kara really wanted. It was much more than Kara would have expected and it was definitely more than Kara had owned ever before. She looked at the bed and the stuffed animal on the bed that looked slightly old. It was probably her mother's when she was young. A new desk was in there with school stuff on the top. Ms. Charles wouldn't be teaching her anymore. She'd have to go to Princeton Academy now instead of being taught by Ms. Charles. She entered the room and looked at the closet, seeing all the clothes. She turned back to her parents. Cuddy and House were in the doorway watching Kara. "This stuff is great." She said, smiling at them.

Cuddy beamed back and went to her daughter, enveloping her into a hug. Kara was still so small but she had a couple years yet to grow. "I didn't buy you any toys because I didn't really know what you wanted. If you would like, we can go shopping for stuff to decorate your room with." She offered, placing her cheek on Kara's head and closed her eyes. Cuddy wasn't sure what she was suppose to do or anything but this felt right.

House watched quietly. The sight was a beautiful one which surprised even him. It was something so simple. A little bit of love showing between two people that House cared for and that was what surprised House. This caring seemed to come out of nowhere. It was like he wanted to place a protective shield or something around both of them to make sure nothing could hurt them. House knew that was impossible unless they were in the movie Bubble Boy.

Kara finally pulled away from the hug and looked at House then back at Cuddy. "So, what now?" She asked, tilting her head.

Cuddy and House exchanged glances. "You live a normal life now. You're going to live here with me and Hou...I mean your father will come visit you whenever he wants." Cuddy explained slowly, looking at House to make sure she got it right. He nodded.

Kara smirked. "My life is never normal." She pointed out. House and Cuddy smiled slightly, unsure of really what she meant by the comment. "But I also mean, what do I do now?"

Cuddy opened her mouth to say something but House beat her to it. "Go be a kid." He told her, pulling out his PSP. "Here, play with this." Kara took it from him and looked at it inquisitively. "It's a PSP."

"I know what it is." Kara told him, turning it over. "But how do you turn this on?" House grabbed it from her and helped her turn it on.

Cuddy smiled at them. "I'll be in the kitchen. Kara, do you have a favorite food?" She asked, turning to go to the kitchen. Kara shook her head and Cuddy headed towards the kitchen, hearing House explain how to play the game.

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Cuddy looked up at House as he limped his way to the couch, his PSP in his hand. He sat down and glanced at Cuddy, who was holding her coffee cup close to her to keep her warm. "On the table." She told him, sipping it leisurely. House put the PSP in his pocket and grabbed his coffee. "She didn't want to play with it anymore?" She asked him, looking over at the hallway, expecting Kara to be standing there.

"She fell asleep." House answered mellifluously, setting the coffee cup back down after taking a sip. It was still too hot to drink comfortably. Cuddy glanced over at the clock, seeing that it was a quarter till ten. House subconsciously put his arms on the back of the couch, staring at the news reporter as they talked about the latest robbery.

"I want thank you." Cuddy began slowly, setting her coffee down also. House turned to look at her, raising an eyebrow. Getting a thanks from the Dean of Medicine? He didn't even think that could happen.

"Thank me for what?" He asked modestly, which was a mannerism that House never used.

"For just being there when you know you didn't have to." Cuddy answered truthfully turning to look at him also. Everything seemed to freeze over, like it did when their eyes locked. Cuddy couldn't catch her breath as she looked up into his eyes. He was closer than she remembered. "House..." She whispered.

"You're welcome." House answered calmly, leaning closer. She was addictive. Once House got too close to her, he just had to be right next to her. She complied and leaned forward also, leaving a very small gap between them. "Cuddy..."

"Yes?" She asked, her eyes lingering on his lips.

"I think..." House began, dipping his head down ever so slightly.

For a moment, everything seemed to go in slow-mo. And then..."Hey, where's the bathroom?" Kara's voice drifted down the hallway into the living room snapping House and Cuddy out of their trances. Cuddy and House glanced at the hallway, not even seeing Kara yet. She finally emerged, rubbing her eyes groggily. She stopped, staring at her parents as they looked at her. She had the feeling that she had just interrupted something. "It's kind of an emergency." Kara added when neither of her parents said anything.

"Oh, here let me show you." Cuddy finally said, getting up quickly before she did something she regretted. She led Kara down the hall and showed her the bathroom. "How about you get ready for bed as well. You look tired." She added smiling. "Your toothbrush is the green one."

"Okay." Kara obliged, nodding her head. Cuddy watched her enter the bathroom before she started back down the hallway.

Cuddy stopped before she turned the corner and entered House's view, if he was looking. What had happened back there had to be a weird happenstance? Maybe House had stuck some kind of drug in the coffee to make Cuddy act like this? But wouldn't he be acting bizarre as well? She sighed and let everything go to the back of her mind. She turned the corner and looked at the couch, which was vacant. House was standing up in the living room holding his helmet. "Wait until your daughter says good night to you before you leave." She told him.

House scoffed. "You're acting as if I'm stupid. Of course I'm not going to leave without saying good night and goodbye." He said, rolling his eyes at Cuddy.

Cuddy opened her mouth to say that she really did think he was stupid but she stopped. Why she stopped even confused her. Was she scared he would have gotten offended? No, the man acted as if he had no heart so why should she worry? House and Cuddy stood in the living room, feeling very awkward for the loud silence that was floating around the room. Finally, Kara entered the room in her new pajamas. She stopped, looking between both parents. "I really thought adult conversations would be more enlightening." She said with a sigh.

House smirked at his daughter's comment. "They usually are but this is the 'we have a kid in the area' version." He told her, watching as a look of disappointment passed across her face. "I'm leaving so say good night."

Cuddy frowned at him. "You know, she has a choice. She doesn't have to say good night to you if she doesn't want too." Cuddy pointed out to him ingenuously. House scowled at her for making that painful point so apparently clear. Wouldn't his daughter want to say good night to him?

Kara walked over to him, her arms open. House smirked at Cuddy, dropping his helmet on the couch to embrace his daughter. "Good night...Dad." She said gently, using the unfamiliar word. House glanced up at Cuddy, who was in the same state of shock as he was.

"Good night, Kara. See you tomorrow." He told her, pulling away and making her look up at him. She resembled her mother in some ways and him in other ways. He leaned down and kissed her forehead. He looked over at Cuddy. "Night Cuddles. Now remember, you have to behave now because you have a child with you. So no late night strippers." He shook his finger at her as Cuddy gasped, her cheeks turning red once again.

She quickly regained her composure. "You better keep your behavior up too. No porn either, mister." She advised. House turned to stare at her, a surprised smile creeping onto his lips.

"Gross!" Kara cried, covering her ears. She doubted her parents did any of that stuff but hearing it coming from their mouths just sent the wrong mental images into Kara's mind. House laughed and exited the house on his own.

Cuddy turned to Kara, smiling at Kara's grimace. "Good night, sweetheart." She told her, kissing Kara's forehead also.

"Night, Mom." She replied, hugging her before heading off to her bedroom. Cuddy watched Kara go before a warmness spread across her. Mom? She liked that name. Picking up both coffee cups, she set them in the sink and headed to her own bedroom.

Alright, I hope you enjoyed it! Please review and another chapter will be coming. There's a tiny little clue of what the next chapter will be so yeah, good luck if you can figure it out!