Disclaimer: Dreamer that I am, I would like to say House is mine, but he is David Shore's instead. House, the younger, on the other hand, is mine!

Here's a new chapter, hot off the presses! Thank you everyone for your kind comments and support! It warms my heart!

Like Father, Like Son

Chapter 8

Three weeks after Greg's arrival on House's doorstep, House had his monthly appointment with Dr. Nolan. House had arranged to meet him halfway so that he had a chance of seeing Greg before he went to bed. On the drive there, he considered how in the world he was going to break the news that he had a son to Nolan. It was almost as hard as it was going to be to tell Wilson.

The worst that could happen was that Nolan would suggest that he was unfit and recommend foster care for the boy. Obviously, House hoped that it wouldn't be the case, but he figured that it was a definite possibility. If he were in Nolan's position, he might suggest the same thing. First, House didn't know the slightest thing about being a parent. That was an obstacle that House could refute easily, though. No one who is a first time parent knows anything about parenting; they might think they do but it's a lie they tell themselves to keep from panicking every time the kid cries. The next argument would probably have to do with his mental stability. That argument might be more difficult to win. There was a reason that House had to live with Wilson, after all. What was Nolan going to think when House told him that Wilson didn't know yet? Why did he have to tell Nolan anything at all? He could avoid all of this if he chose to and Nolan would be none the wiser.

House arrived at the designated location. It was a diner about halfway between Mayfield and PPTH. House liked it because it had strong coffee and booths that he could prop his leg on comfortably. They were made to seat eight people and were extra long. House found Nolan waiting for him in a back booth. Nolan casually saluted to him and House nodded a greeting as he sat down. He was glad to see that Nolan had ordered him a cup of coffee and it was steaming.

"Good to see you, House!" Nolan smiled as he spoke.

"It is at that, you are one lucky man!" responded House.

"You're starting the deflection early; you must have a lot on your mind today."

House hated Nolan for knowing him so well. He thought that he might try on Nolan what had worked so well on Wilson.

"I've been spending lots of time at my apartment. My long lost son came into town and I've needed to entertain him."

Nolan looked hard at House, looking for a sign that would indicate the truth in the statement. House stared back, trying to look like he was teasing.

"You might be able to fool Wilson with that, and make him think you've got a girlfriend instead, but I think you are telling the truth. How old is he?"

House sighed, relieved that he had someone to discuss things with, finally. "He's fourteen. The first time I saw him it was like looking in the mirror at a younger me."

As House talked, the more animated he became. He told Nolan Greg's history as far as he knew it and then bragged on his son's brilliance both intellectually and musically. Nolan noted to himself that this was the first time that he had ever seen anything like joy on House's face.

Suddenly, House sobered and then stopped talking. Nolan realized that it had cost House a lot to confess that he had a son. He was certain that House feared what his response would be.

"You sound well, Greg, like a proud papa!" Nolan smiled and House felt the weight of the world lifting from his shoulders. "How do Wilson and Greg get along?" The weight was back.

"Wilson doesn't know about Greg" answered House honestly. "He's been staying at my apartment."

Nolan sobered noticeably "You've moved out of Wilson's place and he isn't the slightest bit interested in why you've left?"

House swallowed "I haven't moved out of Wilson's. I bring Greg breakfast in the morning and dinner at night. I try to see him at lunchtime, but if I can't, I call or text. I know that he gets lonely, but my place isn't big enough for the two of us and I'm not ready for Wilson to know about this. He thinks I'm having an affair with a married woman and I'm not giving him reason to think otherwise. I know him. He is going to judge every decision that I make regarding Greg. I don't need that right now. He goes all parental on me regularly. What's he gonna do with my kid? This is working for us right now. I just need a little more time."

"I understand your concerns, Greg, but I don't think it's good for a boy to spend so much time on his own."

"I know it isn't, but once everyone knows, things will never be the same."

"They will never be the same anyway." Nolan told House. "What you are struggling with is how this change will affect your relationship with Wilson and the others who are important in your life. Let's talk about how you feel certain people will react and give you some tools for managing your responses to them."

House sighed. "It can't hurt, I suppose."

"Where would you like to start?"

"The team, I guess; their response matters least to me but I spend the most time with them. Foreman will keep his thoughts to himself, but he will look with disapproval at me. It isn't like I can change anything, so I can just ignore him. Thirteen won't have much of an opinion. She'll take it at face value and be willing to act as an impartial sounding board. Taub and Chase will be jealous. Taub has figured out that he wants kids, even though Rachael doesn't. He will feel that it isn't just that I get "ready made" what he has been wanting for himself. Chase has seen me as a father figure for awhile, now. We don't discuss it, but to some extent the feeling goes both ways. Chase is going to feel displaced. I can point out to him, though, that Greg has been around for weeks and nothing has changed between us."

Nolan responded with a nod and was thoughtful before he spoke. "You have already given this some thought, I see. Since I don't really know these people, I'm going to assume that you have a good handle on them. What about Dr. Cuddy? Does her reaction concern you?"

"Yes and no. On the one hand, it will reinforce her notion that I sleep around, so I will be subject to her smug knowledge that somehow I'm getting what I deserve for my alley cat ways. On the other hand, we both have children, now, and so we have something new in common. On the other hand, my child is biological and she might resent that. How many hands is that now?"

A deep chuckle emanated from Nolan. "Three. Dr. Cuddy might feel that it is, indeed, a strange twist of fate that you have what she spent years trying to conceive when you have never indicated any such desire. Tread lightly with Dr. Cuddy. Seek her opinion over some things. Whether you do, or not, allow her to think that you respect her opinions when it comes to child rearing. You need her as an ally. She's your boss and she can make or break your career. She is also an important friend. I don't know how you feel about her romantically, but regardless, she is an important person in your life. You have a history. Now, what about Wilson?

House sat silently for over five minutes and Nolan saw no need to interrupt House as he reflected. Finally, House made eye contact with Nolan as he began to verbalize his thoughts regarding Wilson.

"Wilson's going to be pissed. He's going to be pissed that I didn't tell him that I had a son. The thing is, though, I did tell him and he didn't believe me. He thought that my having an affair was a more likely explanation for my change in routine. I just opted to let him think what he wanted to. He's going to be pissed that I don't want to share responsibility for Greg with him. I know he's going to think that I'm a poor excuse for a father and if the child were an eight year old girl, I might just be inclined to agree, but Greg is nearly grown. I remember being fifteen and I'm capable of helping Greg navigate the remainder of his teen years. The boy is more mature than most kids his age. He was raised with love by three people and he has a strong, positive self image. He isn't nearly the troubled kid that I was at that age. He's very self-assured, but I know he's been sheltered. Homeschooling allowed him to learn according to his musical bent, but it made him oblivious to his gifts."

Nolan gave House a puzzled look, making House realize that he needed to clarify what he was saying.

"Greg may very well be one of the most gifted musicians in the world right now. The boy is beyond belief. When we first played together, I improvised a jazz piece and he improvised on what I was doing. Modulating into key changes didn't begin to faze him. He's totally intuitive. When I told him how impressed I was with his skills, his response was essentially 'Doesn't everybody do it?' The kid had no idea that he was gifted! He thought that playing like that was normal. Well, it's kept him humble and allowed him to pursue other interests. He wants to be a doctor. Did I tell you that? He's what I think I could have become under better circumstances. I spent more money on him in one day, than I've spent on myself in two years. Well, not counting the bill for Mayfield. I bought him a bike to get around on, and a primo guitar! The guitar of my dreams happened to be the guitar of his dreams, too! He sold his to get the funds to come here."

House abruptly sobered, tears welling in his eyes. Nolan looked at House, stunned at the depth of emotion, which had sprung seemingly from nowhere.

"Do you know what Renee did?"

Nolan shook his head in response.

"She wrote him a lullaby using a melody that I had made up for her. She sort of tied our history into it. As far as I can tell, she never said a word against me to our boy. Can you believe that? What a gift! Yet, I can't even thank her for it. In hindsight, maybe I should have followed up with Renee. We really connected, even though out paths were clearly moving in different directions…and there was Stacey……the infarction…."

"What Renee gave you and Greg was a wonderful gift, House. You are right. I think that by raising her son with the love and guidance that she can not longer give him you will be, in a sense, thanking her."

House nodded and used his napkin to wipe away the traitorous tears that had fallen. House then looked at Nolan, rolled his eyes and said, "You'll take what just happened to your grave, right?"

Nolan smiled and nodded. "Go home to your boy, House. It's good that you have each other."

Without speaking, House stood and exited the diner, leaving Nolan with the bill.