Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry that I haven't updated in like a year or something! I feel really bad and that's why I have lots of updates coming soon, after this one goes well! Thanks for the reviews guys! I hope you enjoy this chapter! Cuddy and House get to enjoy being parents for awhile. Disclaimer: I do not own anything from House M.D. How many times do I have to tell you this!?

Chapter Twelve: Registration

The annoying beeping coming from Cuddy's alarm clock was the only thing that was keeping her from sleeping in late. Sometimes it was a whole lot of effort to get up and head to the hospital to do her duties, and yet other days she got up easily and was sort of excited to go. Cuddy turned off her alarm clock sluggishly and sat up in her bed, yawning. Her eyes widened slightly as she remembered all of what happened yesterday. She had a daughter to wake up now. Kara would have to go to work with her today and then Cuddy had to get her registered into her new school. She got up quickly, fetching her robe and made her bed, stretching as she made her way to Kara's room.

Kara was sleeping peacefully in her bed and for a moment, Cuddy wished that time would freeze so she could cherish the picture forever and ever. She walked over to her Kara's bedside and sat down, bringing her hand to Kara's face and rubbing her thumb across her cheek. "Kara, honey. It's time to wake up." She said compassionately, watching as she frowned and her eyes opened gradually. Kara glanced at the clock and groaned, covering her face with the bed sheets. "I know it's early but you have to go to work with me for today."

"But I'm so tired and I just got away from the hospital. Now you're making me go back there intentionally?" Kara whined, peeking out to look at Cuddy groggily. Cuddy smiled sympathetically and nodded. Kara sighed with defeat. "Fine." She mumbled, sitting up.

"What do you want for breakfast?" Cuddy asked, standing up.

Kara shrugged. "Anything but porridge or oatmeal." Kara answered indifferently, shrugging her shoulders.

Cuddy smiled. "Alright then." Cuddy left her daughter and headed to the kitchen, smelling the coffee as she got closer to it. She poured herself a cup and got out a bowl before heading to the cupboard. She had bought some cereal earlier. Kara came out a few minutes later, looking at the bowl skeptically. "Cereal." Cuddy assured her, pouring the milk in and placing a spoon in it. Kara nodded and sat down, beginning to eat it. Cuddy watched her daughter affectionately for a moment before leaving to do her daily morning routine.

When Cuddy was about halfway finished with her routine, she entered the living room, seeing Kara flip through the channels pointlessly. "You can take a shower if you like. We're going to leave in about an hour so please be ready. And the hair dryer is underneath the sink." She urged her. Kara looked over at Cuddy and nodded. Cuddy turned around and headed back to her bathroom so she could dry her hair.

"Time to leave, Kara." Cuddy called loudly from the entrance hall, grabbing her keys out of her purse.

"Does this match?" Kara asked coming into view. Cuddy glanced over at her and smiled. She wore dark denim pants and a gold shirt with a purple, black, and gold butterfly on it. Her hair was neatly brushed and she looked somewhat cleaner than when Cuddy had first seen her as an orphan. She had found the butterfly belt as well that went good with the outfit.

"Yes, it does and you look so beautiful." Cuddy told her, about to kiss her daughter on the forehead but thought better of it and gave her a hug instead. Kara probably would not enjoy a lipstick stain on her forehead.

"Thanks." Kara murmured, her cheeks blushing the same crimson that Cuddy did when she was embarrassed. Kara put on her shoes and followed Cuddy out to the car. "Is Dad going to be there?" She asked as they both got into the car.

"If he was there this early, I'd have a heart attack." She joked, putting the car in reverse and beginning to back out of her driveway.

&

Kara sat on Cuddy's couch for about two or three hours, watching her mother do a stack of paperwork. Kara wanted to go back to sleep but she couldn't for some eccentric reason. Kara blamed it on the couch for not being comfortable enough. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, House limped in. "I'll take the Kara for two quarters and a penny, Cuddy." House said, pointing his cane at Kara.

Cuddy looked up at him oddly, raising an eyebrow. "Keep your money, I don't take charity." Cuddy told him smoothly. Kara smiled slightly but it did sort of trouble her that her parents were always quarreling. It was like a divorce without the divorce papers and the previous marriage. "Why do you want her so badly by the way?"

Kara looked over at her dad questioningly. House smiled. "I think it's appropriate to let our daughter spend time with somebody else than the devil reincarnated. I mean, we should give her a better chance to take some other afterlife place, don't you think?" He sneered. Kara fought to contain her smile.

Cuddy scowled at him. "Not funny. But yes, you can take her. Kara do you want to go with your dad to his office?" She asked, turning her burning eyes to her daughter.

"Yes please." Kara said, smiling at House as she got up and walked to him.

House gasped, sending a look of shock at Kara before looking over at Cuddy. "How dare you let our daughter say something like that?"

Cuddy looked up at him, bewildered. "You mean, please?" She asked. House nodded excruciatingly as if the word hurt him. "Grow up, House."

"Practice what you preach, Cuddy." He told her, pushing Kara out of the door before exiting himself. Cuddy rolled her eyes and continued her paperwork.

Kara followed House quietly, watching how he limped his way down the hall and towards the elevator. He pushed the button and both of them waited quietly, House staring up at the ceiling and Kara staring at him. The metal doors slid open soundlessly and they both stepped in. "Push that button." House told Kara, pointing at the numbered button. Kara obeyed.

The doors closed and the elevator began to rise. "Does it hurt?" Kara finally asked, watching cautiously. House looked down at her slightly confused. She pointed to his right leg.

"Everyday." House muttered quietly, taking his Vicodin pills out. "That's why I take these babies." He said, shaking them at her. Kara nodded and looked at the doors until they opened. "Follow me."

&

Cuddy came by House's office about a couple hours later, smiling at Kara as she played his PSP in his chair, her eyebrows furrowed with concentration. Kara looked up, pausing the game and smiled at her mother. "You hungry?" She asked, tilting her side.

Kara nodded, turning off the game. She set the PSP back on House's desk and walked up to her mother, looking up at her with House's piercing eyes. Cuddy stroked her hair before turning around and leading Kara down the hallway.

"Kidnapper!" House's voice bellowed down the hallway. Cuddy turned around, staring at House pointing his cane accusingly at her. He had just come from the conference room since Cameron, Chase, and Foreman exited the room after him, looking a bit upset and tired. Cuddy crossed her arms and rolled her eyes.

"I'm her mother. I'm allowed to take her away." Cuddy pointed out, watching him limp towards them.

"Cool. Since I'm her father, I can do that too, right?" He asked with false enthusiasm, towering over Cuddy.

"No." Cuddy answered. "I'm just taking her to the cafeteria to eat."

House gasped. "And you didn't care to ask me? Now, Cuddy, I thought you were all about teaching the kid manners?" He asked, frowning.

Cuddy rolled her eyes and sighed, looking over at Kara before looking back at House. "I guess you can join us." She said, starting forward once again. Kara watched Cuddy walk forward and glanced over at House, who had stayed put.

"Come on." She urged him, holding out her arm for him.

He gave it a skeptical look. "I'm coming', I'm coming'. What do I look like to you, some disabled person?" He snapped, shooing her forward. He frowned for a minute, glancing at his cane. "Don't answer that." He added, following Kara towards the elevator, where Cuddy was holding it open and tapping her foot impatiently.

Cuddy finally sat down, giving a cold glare at House as he sat down. Kara sat down beside House, smiling up at Cuddy but then frowning at the glare. "What's wrong?" She asked her, looking over at her father. They both had gotten the same thing. A Rueben, chips and a soda. House looked up inquisitively.

"Your father needs to learn that he can't rely on people to pay for his meals forever." Cuddy said icily, giving a final glare at House before picking up her fork. She had gotten a salad. Kara glanced at House, who shrugged at her, before turning to his meal. Cuddy brought the forkful of salad up to her mouth but stopped, looking at House and Kara with an astonished expression.

Kara and House were eating their sandwich in perfect symmetrical union. The first bite was on the right side and now the second bite was on the left. They both wiped their mouth with the back of their right hand and then took another bite right down the middle. They chewed it, swallowed it, and then picked up their drink to take a gulp at it before continuing on their sandwich. Finally, both pairs of blue eyes met her gaze. "You two are eating the same." She answered their unasked question.

Kara and House glanced at each other before turning to look at Cuddy. "We do not!" Both of them said at the exact same time. Kara and House both glanced at each other, their eyes narrowing at each other disbelievingly. House looked away finally and continued to eat, his gaze averted from Cuddy and Kara. Kara looked at her mother questionably. 'I'll tell you later.' Cuddy mouthed back. Kara returned back to her Rueben disconsolately. He acted as if he was ashamed to have some of his characteristics mirrored by her. If he was, he shouldn't have had sex with Cuddy in the first place.

At three o'clock, Cuddy came back by House's office again. House was at his desk, showing Kara something interesting on the computer. Cuddy opened the door and leaned against the frame, smiling lightly at the duo. House looked at her innocently, a small smile appearing on his lips. "And that is what I like to call some good old fashion porn." He finished, turning to look over at Kara. Cuddy straightened quickly, her eyes wide with horror. He wouldn't!

Kara's eyebrows furrowed. "But I thought it was called..." She began but House covered her mouth up before she could get the next word out. Cuddy relaxed. So he didn't do it. She would have killed him if he did. No, wait. She would fire his ass, take away all of his Vicodin, and then kill him.

"It's time." Cuddy announced, shouldering her purse. House nodded and got up, popping in two pills.

Kara frowned, watching as House joined Cuddy at the threshold. "Time for what?" She asked curiously, getting up and following them.

Cuddy and House exchanged glances, two shady smiles forming on their lips. "You'll find out soon enough." House told her.

&

Kara sat in the chair between House and Cuddy unhappily, slouching ever so slightly. House was playing with his cane and Cuddy was freshening up. It was revolting the way she admired herself in the mirror. It was like she was going to see her future husband or something. Kara's eyes drifted around the office. They were in the administration office of Princeton Academy, one of the prestigious schools of this area even if it was public. The sectary was busying herself with reading something or other, though she made quite an effort in hiding it. The school was already out and now they were just waiting to talk to Principal Keller.

Finally, the sectary looked up at them. "Principal Keller will see you now." She said amiably, pointing to the door that they were next too.

Cuddy and House stood up, glancing at Kara who stayed in her spot. "Do I really have to get a public education? You could drop me off at the orphanage every morning so I can go to school there." Kara offered weakly. She didn't want to be the new kid.

Cuddy sighed. "You're going to this school. Now, come on." She said, taking her daughter's arm and helping Kara up. Kara groaned and entered the office after House.

Principal Keller was a tall, sinewy man with graying black hair and dark eyes. He stood up, running his fingers down his three piece suit, before shaking hands with House, Kara, and Cuddy. "Hello. Please, sit." He said, sitting down in his own leather chair. House and Cuddy sat on either side of Kara. "Now, I understand that you want to enroll your daughter in Princeton Academy, am I correct?" He asked, smiling down at Kara.

"Yes, sir." Cuddy answered, setting down her purse beside her feet.

Principal Keller nodded. "Well, do you have her papers from her old school?" He asked, grabbing a pen and looking up expectantly at Cuddy and House.

They both exchanged nervous glances. "She has been an orphan all her life." Cuddy began slowly, offering a weak smile up at Principal Keller.

"And in the orphanage, their caretaker had been teaching them so she doesn't have any actual papers." House finished, looking up at Principal Keller.

His eyebrows were raised up slightly. "Oh. Okay then...so you're not Kara's biological parents then." He said, about to write something on the sheet.

"We are her biological parents." Cuddy told him quickly.

Principal Keller looked up perplexed. "We had her put up for adoption but just thirteen years later, we found her." House explained, skipping a lot of details.

"Interesting. So, what will be her last name?" He asked, writing something down before looking back up at them.

"Cuddy." Cuddy said impulsively.

"House." House said in unison with Cuddy. Both of them looked at each other. They hadn't explained what they were going to do if this certain problem came up.

Principal Keller sighed lightly, glancing at Kara. "How about we mix them both together to be creative. How about...Cuse? No, I don't like that. Uh...what about Huddy? What about Hoddy?" Kara couldn't come up with anymore since she was overtaken by the giggles. House and Cuddy smiled sheepishly at Principal Keller, who looked like he wasn't amused.

"Well, I guess, House is fine." Cuddy agreed delicately. Principal Keller nodded and scribbled stuff down for a few minutes. He finally looked up and clapped his hands together, surveying all three of them for a moment.

"Now, at Princeton Academy, we encourage our children to strive for greatness. We allow our children at least to remain a C average to stay in our school. Can your daughter manage to keep her grades up?" He asked conscientiously. Sometimes parents got affronted when he asked that question. It did make them evaluate their child's intelligence and attitude for learning. Most people accuse him of calling their child stupid.

"Both of us are doctors. Why wouldn't our child be smart?" House said irately, narrowing his eyes at Principal Keller. Who was he to judge people's intelligence? That was his job since he was smarter than most people.

Principal Keller smiled wryly at House. "Intelligence is something you don't inherit, Dr. House. Since you're a doctor, I suspected you already knew that but now, I'm not so sure." Principal Keller informed, turning his eyes back to Kara. "Are you willing to give this a try?"

Kara smirked. "I ain't had no pooblic edumacation before." She said seriously with the best hilly billy accent she could muster. The expression on Principal Keller's face was priceless.

"Kara!" Cuddy reprimanded in horror as House smirked. Smiling hesitantly at Principal Keller, she leaned closer to Kara to whisper something in her ear. "Kara, Skyler goes to this school for the record."

Kara's eyes widened. "I am so sorry, Principal Keller. I would be privileged to be accepted at your magnificent school." She apologized quickly, flashing him a smile.

Principal Keller eyed her curiously before nodding. "Alright then. You may all leave now. Kara can start school on Monday and do you happen to know her measurements so we can mail you the uniform tomorrow?" He said, shaking both of the parent's hands again.

Cuddy opened her purse and took out the slip of paper she had used to buy Kara's clothes. Kara's nose wrinkled in repugnance. School uniforms? Ugh. "Let's go." She said glancing at the clock as they all exited the principal's office.

As House and Cuddy both began to walk across the parking lot, Kara stopped, realizing something. "Mom!" She suddenly gasped, running to Cuddy quickly. Cuddy turned around and saw a sort of urgent fright in her daughter's eyes. House looked questioningly at Kara. "Skyler! I don't think she knows about me being discharged from the hospital! There's no way to communicate with her and she might be upset that I up and left the hospital without informing her first!" She exclaimed agitatedly.

Cuddy smiled. "It's alright, Kara. When her parents dropped her off, I introduced myself as your mother and we all exchanged phone numbers and addresses. If you would like, when we get home, you can call her." She assured Kara, curling some of her hair behind her ear. These things of affection just seem to come to her without her thinking much of them. They didn't seem wrong and Kara didn't mind so she guessed it was okay.

"Oh. Okay then." Kara said, nodding her head and smiling with relief. She continued to walk with her parents to Cuddy's car. "When will we get home?"

Cuddy and House exchanged glances. Both of them had to go back to work. "I can take her with me until you get off." House offered quietly. Cuddy looked at House suspiciously. "What? I get off earlier than you do. I doubt Kara wants to spend the whole day at the hospital."

Kara looked at her mother. She seemed unconvinced. "Please, Mom! It's like Foreman said, 'the hospital isn't the most exciting place in the world'." She pleaded, showing off her pitiful expression.

Cuddy sighed. "With a face like that, how can I say no?" She said smiling as her daughter hugged her tightly.

House rolled his eyes. "Women. Can't expect them to stand up to the face." He muttered acrimoniously, getting into the passenger seat.

It was Cuddy's and Kara's turn to exchange glances. "Get him." Cuddy told her quietly, heading to the driver seat as Kara hopped into the back

Alright, well, Kara's going to get together with Skyler and then…you'll find out as soon as you review please!