I know, I deserved to be yelled at. I've neglected this for far too long, but life happens, right? But the good news is, I'm determined to finish this. Hopefully by the end of this year. I make no promises, but I'm putting it as a specific goal as mine. So, yeah, I hope you all who have read this, continue to. It's going to get good. For those of you just reading it now, I hope you enjoy it. And yeah…Here is my disclaimer. I don't own anything except the plot and Kara and all the other NPCs. So…please.

Chapter Twenty Six: Living Arrangements

"You shouldn't hide, House." Wilson told House helpfully as they sat in Wilson's office, watching an episode of a television show that Wilson watched at home on his computer. House's feet were on Wilson's desk and he was currently in Wilson's spot as well. Wilson had to grab another chair and sit beside House to watch the show too.

"I'm not hiding." House objected. "I'm just biding time." House looked at Wilson for a moment and then turned his attention to the computer screen. The door suddenly swung open and House picked up the nearest folder and opened it to cover his face, totally forgetting about his cane laying in the open.

"Dr. Wilson, you're needed." A nurse said. House slowly put down the folder discreetly. The nurse glanced at him wearily before closing the door.

"Well, I've got to go. Why don't you just get it over with already?" Wilson said, completely logging off his computer and standing up. House glared at him sourly.

"If it's not blood related, then what is it then?" Chase asked, clearly confused as Cameron and Foreman failed to bring up a solution. All of them slowly glanced at House, who was beginning to pour his second or third cup of coffee for the morning. He looked slightly tired and he all ready had the don't mess with me look on his face. "So, we should go back to the beginning then." Chase said. He already knew that they probably wouldn't get an answer from simply asking House. Of course, he all ready knew the answer. It was his game to make the other ones find it.

House looked up slightly, about to say something when a certain someone caught his eye. It was Cuddy. Now, usually he was always on the lookout for her and trying to avoid her at all costs, but today was different. She looked different. And there was someone with her. His eyebrows furrowed as he glared at them as they passed, talking and smiling and laughing as they made their way along the hallway. "House," Foreman started, causing House to come back to reality. He glared at Foreman only to look down. He was still pouring his coffee, which was overflowing from his mug and spilling on to the counter and then the floor.

He stopped and placed the coffee on its pad, picking up his mug and sipping at his coffee. "Sorry, I was lost in your stupidity for a minute, but don't worry, I found the light." He told them, wiping the side and bottom of his mug before placing it on the counter again. "I need a breath of fresh air." He said, limping out of the room.

Foreman stared at House for a moment before looked back at Cameron and Chase. "I'm not cleaning his mess." Foreman told them, staring at the whiteboard for the umpteenth time. Chase and Cameron glanced at each other quietly.

House caught up to them quickly enough. They had stopped in front of the elevators. The man, a clean shaven blonde haired man with green eyes, didn't look like the usual money donors that Cuddy dealt with. He was young and probably wasn't bound by any children or rings or anything. House sighed. "Hey, Cuddles, don't you want to know what happened last night, huh?" He said, standing next to the boy, turning his gaze on to Cuddy.

There was a moment of silence and Cuddy slowly glared up at him. "Maybe later, House." She said, her voice flat and that scary calm that happens right before the storm.

"It's about Kara." He interjected. He slowly turned his head. "Oh, did I interrupt something? I'm so sorry...I didn't see you there." He said, looking down. Up close, the boy looked like he was early thirties.

The boy pressed his lips together firmly. There was definitely something going on between them. "Is Kara your patient?" The boy asked, looking up at House.

"No. She's our daughter. Good times, huh, Cougar?" He said, smirking and winking at Cuddy. Cuddy's mouth dropped open with a small popping noise. She was utterly speechless. "By the way, it's kind of personal, so could you just like...I don't know...leave?" House added.

The boy looked at Cuddy dubiously before clearing his throat. "I'll be back later..." He trailed off, before getting into the elevator that had opened.

House watched the doors slid close and counted mentally to five. Right on cue, Cuddy raised her hand and he stepped back to evade her hand. "I searched for you all morning and then, the one moment that I'm not looking for you, you pop out of nowhere and...and...Oooooooooh!" She sputtered angrily.

House scowled at her. "Since when have you been dating?" House asked instead.

"Dating? I'm not dating anyone." Cuddy snapped.

"The boy was practically drooling." House told her, jerking his thumb towards the elevator. The nurses, who were well accustomed to what House did and could do, paid them no attention. They gave the two their space and continued on what they were doing.

"That boy is Mr. James Rinovich. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Rinovich, the people who paid for the..." Cuddy began.

"That's nice, but what was he doing here with you?" House asked.

Cuddy paused. "Why do you care?" She asked instead.

"Why do I care?" He repeated carefully, as if mocking her. Actually, he was stalling. "I care because of our daughter." He nodded as that sounded like a good idea. "Do you think she's ready for you to be in a relationship when she just got adopted over a month ago?" House said instead.

Cuddy sighed. "He was talking about taking me somewhere. We've never dated...but he wanted too...I was flattered." She explained.

"And that was why he was here?" House asked.

"No. He delivered his parents' check and stayed a little." Cuddy answered. The redness in her cheeks from her fury began to disappear.

"He's too young for you. Besides, he lives with his parents." House told her, glancing around. "What's that?" He asked, looking behind her. Cuddy turned and House turned on his heels and limped off.

Cuddy, who realized what was happening, grabbed House's wrist and caught him. "Now, what happened at the conference?"

Cuddy sat on one of her leather couches, staring somberly into a cup of coffee that House had gotten her when they first started their conversation. She sighed and looked up desperately at House, who was occupying the space next to her. He had leaned back and was now staring absentmindedly at the clinic. "So, what are we going to do about this? We can't just let this continue if this affects her and she doesn't need a therapist. I think she might feel the same thing as you do about shrinks." She asked him quietly.

House turned to face her. Luckily enough for him, she hadn't cried at all when she found out that it was somehow, possibly, their fault their daughter was making bad grades. House didn't believe, but Cuddy, well, mothers acted differently with their children. "I'm not sure." He answered. He looked back down at his cane. "I still don't..."

"What if..." She paused, chewing on her lip. "What if...for awhile...you stayed at my place. I have an extra room."

House blinked. "Are you asking me to live with you? Aww, Cuddles, if..." He began teasingly.

"Don't treat this like a joke, House. We're talking about our daughter's academic future." Cuddy snapped quickly, glaring at him.

"Sometimes, laughter is the best medicine." House countered. She opened her mouth to say something else, but House quickly interrupted her. "Yes, Cuddy, I will live with you."

Cuddy sighed and nodded. "Well, I'll have to make another copy of my key for you." She began slowly, mainly talking to herself.

"You don't have to. I already have one." He told her cheerfully. "And I know where your extras are. There's one in that lonely flowerpot. Another one on that windowsill near the garage..." He began.

"How the hell do you already have a copy?" Cuddy asked.

"I was worried for your safety." House told her calmly, leaning forward slightly for his own cup. A moment of silence passed between them and both of themselves staring at each other.

"You want to know what I made on that make up test?" Kara asked loudly, entering Cuddy's office after departing from Wilson. Both House and Cuddy jumped up startled, before both putting on a fake smile for Kara. She paused and let the door close behind her, staring at them. Something just happened. It had 'Talk about Kara' written all over it.

"Yes, of course. What did you make?" Cuddy asked sweetly, beckoning Kara to join them on the couch. House moved over and Kara made herself comfortable as one could be sitting between her parents. It was rather awkward.

"I made a seventy." Kara answered.

"A seventy?" House asked, raising an eyebrow at Kara.

"That's the highest you could make on a make-up. It's like a hundred." Kara told him.

"Except it's not like a hundred, its like a seventy. Next time, just do good on the test the first time." House said. Cuddy gave him a look. "Now, if you will excuse me, I'm taking a long second lunch."

"Second lunch?" Cuddy asked.

"Yeah...I have a few things I need to...uh..." House explained, raising an eyebrow at Cuddy. Cuddy immediately knew what he was talking about. He was going to pack to make the new living arrangements work. She nodded and Kara and Cuddy watched House limp out.

Cuddy sighed and stood, beginning to collect a few papers on the desk. "You know," Kara began, standing up. Cuddy looked over at Kara. "If you're going to talk about me, at least don't act like you're not talking about me, because that makes it more noticeable that you are." She said before going towards the door.

"Where are you going?" She asked.

"I'm not too sure. I'm either going to see if I can borrow Wilson's portable TV thing or talk to Dad's team." She said, walking out. Cuddy stopped and watched Kara's retreating figure. She was definitely her father's child, as if that needed any more confirmation.

Kara glanced at the clock in the computer's taskbar, giving a small sigh before turning back to her amusing game. House and her were suppose to go home about fifteen minutes ago, but something came up with the patient and Kara had to wait. She had finished all of her homework after she had left her mother in her office. She had gone back to House's office and made herself comfortable at his desk and did everything she was suppose to. She was just finishing up when House had come back. He felt her forehead and seemed somewhat concern that she must have been sick. After that, he went on to pester his team and do a few errands around the Hospital. She hadn't really seen him since.

Kara could tell when something was up and something was definitely up between her parents. She didn't know what but she had a pretty good idea that it had to do something about the parent teacher conference. She didn't know what scheme they were cooking up, but she planned on figuring it out. Besides, when she figured out their plan, she could start executing Operation Matchmakers' ideas. Since their first official meeting, they hadn't gotten around to actually doing anything. If her parents had enough of a relationship to make her, she was pretty sure that it could be rekindled.

The door opened and House stepped in, frowning. "What are you doing?" He asked.

She jumped slightly and sent a glare at him. "Playing a game." She answered simply.

House headed over to her and stared at the computer screen. "How did you get to this site? Most of the internet sites are blocked..." He began.

"School. And, they're usually blocked by 'www dot blahblah dot com' so sometimes if you just type in 'blahblah dot com' well, sometimes it won't catch it." Kara explained.

"Huh." He nodded. "Well, come on, we're going home."

Kara obediently followed him. "So, what happened with your patient?" She asked quietly in the elevator.

"I was checking the lab and he-she went into respiratory arrest so we had to resuscitate." House explained.

"Resusi-what?" She asked.

"Resuscitate. Bring back to life." He answered. "Since when are you interested about my patients?" He narrowed his eyes at Kara.

"I was just asking a question." Kara counter back. House stared at her for a moment before going silent. There was nothing wrong about asking questions, it was just odd of her to ask about them when she had no interest in them before.

The ride was a quiet one, which was normal for them. Kara was busy stuffing her scarf in her backpack and a few other things that she had to wear to school. She didn't dare take it off in the hospital for fear of someone either bleeding on it, puking on it, stealing it, or her just forgetting about it. When House pulled up in Cuddy's driveway, she froze. "I'm not going over to your house?" She asked him quietly. Actually, she meant to say something about the fact that she was going to be left home alone, but she dropped it.

"Actually, uh, I'm living with you and your mother for a little while." House began slowly, cutting off the engine. "A few things came up and I just had to temporarily leave."

As Kara got out of the car, she narrowed her eyes. He had to temporarily leave? On what pretenses? This was something from the parent teacher conference. Did they think this would help her better? Well, it was going to make Operation Matchmakers work much easier since they were under the same roof now.

New Living Arrangements? You know what that means? The impending HUDDY. Yup, its arriving. Please please please review. It gives me more energy to write. Have a good day and like I said before, I'm sorry for keeping you waiting.