A/N: Hi all, thanks for reading. We're moving right along here.

"His...biological father...is dead."

Cuddy sat stunned in silence, wondering if House knew. As if Blythe could read her mind she said, "No, he doesn't know."

"When?"

"Last month."

"Why didn't you tell him?"

"I just didn't know how...or when. It's complicated. I've wanted to talk to Greg about his biological father but I kept putting it off because I knew when I did, it would be one of the most difficult conversations we'd ever have."

"But he's known for years wasn't his father."

"I know, but...actually talking about it...I was afraid of what that would do to him. I wanted to wait until a point in his life where he had been able to move on from the past and try to find some happiness. I thought that maybe then he would deal with it better."

"He's not going to handle this well," Cuddy sighed. This time she placed her hand on Blythe's arm for comfort. "When you love someone, there's never really that perfect time to tell them something that will hurt them. I'll never forget the night...not long after House got out of Mayfield when he confessed to me he'd had feelings for me since college. I don't know how much you know about our past but...well we have quite a history. Anyway, the night he told me this, I'd started dating someone else, someone he knew and I hadn't had the guts to tell him. I could see how much he'd changed and...yet I was afraid to get involved." She looked up at Blythe who smiled at her. "I kept my dating Lucas a secret because I was afraid of how much it would hurt House to find out"

"But he found out," Blythe said matter-of-factly, driving through the green light.

Cuddy placed both hands in her lap and looked down, ashamed at the memory of how she'd treated House. "Yes. And it broke his heart. He didn't say it but I could see it in his eyes. I hurt him by not being truthful with him. But that was us, we were never on the same page, we never talked. What we have now is the best communication we've ever had. Old habits die hard but I can't lose him again, I can't lose his trust."

Blythe kept driving but was listening to Cuddy intently. She couldn't have been more proud of the woman her son was in love with. Lisa Cuddy was intelligent, caring, sympathetic, funny, beautiful and she was a good mother. She knew her son needed a strong woman who could give to him as much as she could take and from what she'd learned about her from Wilson and on her own, Cuddy was everything she'd hoped and then some.

"Lisa, you're right. I shouldn't have waited. I'll talk to him tonight." They pulled up in front of her house. Blythe turned off the ignition and looked straight ahead and sighed. "He's going to be angry with me."

"He might," Cuddy said. "But whatever happens he'll be okay. He's gotten through so much worse than this."

"Greg has always been a survivor. I just don't know where he gets that from."

Cuddy nodded. "I know. There were times I didn't think he'd make it. And then...he did."

"Mommy are we gettin' outta the car now?" Rachel asked impatiently, surprising both women, glad to have a break in the somber moment.

"Sorry Rach," Cuddy said as she smirked at Blythe.

The two women unbuckled their seat belts and exited the car. Cuddy helped Rachel out and sent her towards the front door then walked towards the trunk to help Blythe unload the groceries. Before Blythe opened the trunk she looked up at Cuddy, apprehensiveness clearly etched on her face, her eyes worried.

Cuddy stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Blythe, who welcomed her embrace. "It'll be okay," she told the older woman. After a moment, the two women separated and smiled at one another.

"My son is so damn lucky to have you," she said happily, her eyes misty but shining.

Cuddy replied with a smile. "We're lucky to have each other."

It was nearing dinnertime and the house smelled warm and delicious. House spent most of the day in his mother's den, on the phone and laptop researching his latest case. It was a tough case and he didn't want to be disturbed. He was thankful Cuddy and Rachel were helping his mother in the kitchen because he was in no mood to talk. He massaged his leg for a moment before his laptop beeped. It was his Skype and he turned it on and signed in. When Chase appeared on his screen, they began to talk.

"In addition to extreme shortness of breath, she's tired, lethargic and dizzy."

"Hypertension?" House asked.

"Seems that way," Chase replied.

"How in the hell does a three-year old have hypertension?" He twirled his cane in deep thought when he heard approaching footsteps on the hardwood floor.

"Gregory, I hate to interrupt you but can uh...we talk?" Blythe asked softly.

House looked up at her. "Actually mom, I'm right in the middle of something, can it wait?"

She leaned against the wall, her hands clasped. "No, it can't."

House knew by her tone of voice something was wrong. He took off his glasses and rubbed his nose. He was upset that he and the team could not find the cause of the little girl's illness and she was getting worse by the hour.

"Fine. Hold on." He looked back at the screen and said to Chase, "Run the ECG and chest x-ray again. There's got to be something there, we're just missing it." He exited Skype and looked at his mother. "Okay," he said apprehensively. He sensed he would not like whatever it was she wanted to discuss.

"There's something I need to tell you." Blythe sighed deeply. "It's about Thomas Bell."

"What about him?"

She walked over and leaned against the desk. "He's dead."

House swallowed hard, trying to hold back his shock. "What?"

"I'm sorry. I should've told you sooner."

"What do you mean? When did it happen?"

"Last month."

"I see."

"We need to talk about this."

"No, we don't."

"Greg...it's time."

"Mom, not now." He got up abruptly and put the phone in his pocket, closed the laptop and limped painfully out of the room. "I need to get out for awhile." On his way out, he stopped to look in the kitchen. Cuddy stood there putting flour on a rolling pin and Rachel sat on the counter helping her. Cuddy sensed she was being watched and looked up. She noted the empty look on his face.

"House?" She asked, with an arched eyebrow. Without responding he walked away. Concerned about his sudden behavior, she lifted Rachel off the counter then went after House. When she found him, he was putting on his coat near the front door.

"What's going on? Is it your patient?"

He pointed at his mother. "Ask her."

Cuddy looked over at Blythe who stood leaning against the doorway of the living room and noted her sad expression, then looked back to House. She realized Blythe had told him about Thomas.

"Where are you going?" She asked.

"Out."

Rachel chimed in. "Howse can I go too?"

"Honey. I think House wants to be alone," Cuddy said, as she stood behind Rachel watching House as he approached the front door.

"But mooom," she whined to her mother, then looked up at House, "I wanna hang out with you!"

House just wanted to be alone to digest what his mother had told him. Between that and the case, he felt suddenly overwhelmed, but then he saw the look on Rachel's face, and it hit him right in the gut. She really wanted to go with him. She wanted to spend time with him, nobody else. At that moment he thought maybe it was better to spend time with Rachel than drown his sorrows at the local bar, which he was sure was his destination had he not been stopped. He really didn't want to drown his misery in alcohol.

Finally, he said, "Okay squirt, you can come with me." Noting Cuddy's look of apprehensiveness, he reassured her, "Oh stop. She'll be fine. Besides, she'll keep me out of trouble."

Cuddy sighed and patted Rachel on the head. "Okay, get your coat."

"Yay!" Rachel yelled happily as she ran to get her coat. Cuddy helped her put it on. She put her hand on House's back as he and Rachel walked out the door. He turned back and they looked at one another, silent but eyes full of expression. Only a moment passed, but much was said between them in that moment. House told her silently that he needed some time alone to digest things and Cuddy replied in her own silent expression that she understood and would be there for him when he returned. He gave her the slightest nod and she squeezed his arm. Then he turned around and left.

"Well that went well," his mother said, sadly, sitting on the couch, putting her head in her hands. "I wonder where he's going."

"He just needs time and space. I've learned to give him that. Besides Rach is with him, they'll be fine."

"I hope so. This is just the beginning."

Rachel wanted to go to the mall. From the moment she got into the car with him it was all she talked about. She wanted to see that store Blythe had told her about with all the science toys. House hated the mall but he didn't have the heart to say no. One of the things he loved about the little girl was her curiosity, her questioning of everything. He knew he should encourage that. Besides, she promised him she'd be good if he took her there. He didn't need that promise though, of course he was going to take her there. They pulled up at the mall and House eased himself out of the car. His leg hurt but he tried not to let on. He helped Rachel out of her eat and then picked her up and set her on the trunk so he could talk to her.

"We have to have some ground rules here."

"Okay."

"You stay with me. No running around, no wandering."

"Okay."

"And no talking to strangers."

She rolled her eyes Cuddy style. "Silly, I know that."

"Yeah," he replied. "You know, for a kid, you're pretty smart."

"You always say that," she replied, hands on her hips. He laughed at her sass. So much like her mother.

"One more thing," he continued. "If we get separated, you stay where you are till I can find you. But if you can't stay where you are, find a policeman or security guard. They're everywhere okay? You know what they look like, right?"

"Uh huh. They wear uniforms and badges."

"That's right. Tell them who you are and that you're lost. Give them my name and tell them to page me okay?" When she nodded, he asked, "You ready?"

"Yep," she said, taking his hand and leading him into the mall.

An hour later, House and Rachel were still inside the store and both had virtual reality helmets on playing an arctic adventure game. House chose to be a polar bear and Rachel a penguin as they embarked on a hike through the snow. They laughed and enjoyed themselves so much, that for a moment House was able to forget about his need to escape his mother's home. When they finished, House sat down to rest his tired leg until Rachel cajoled him into taking her to see the microscopes and telescopes. House shook his head and grinned. He was in awe of how smart she was. She'd always shown a keen interest in exploring and asking questions and it was one of the things that drew him to love the little girl.

They looked around for a bit, testing out a few of the microscopes and telescopes and when all was said and done, he'd purchased one of each for her along some additional items. Tired from shopping and looking around, they sat on a bench outside the store for awhile watching the people go back and forth. They both seemed to share an amusement in watching others.

"So, squirt what about her?" House and Rachel were looking for the worst-dressed people in the mall.

"She's pretty." Rachel said.

House just looked at her and laughed. "Maybe but that's a really ugly ass tattoo." He didn't catch himself in time and only hoped Rachel wouldn't repeat his words later on.

"What's a tattoo?"

"Well, it's kinda like artwork on your skin."

"It washes off?"

"No, not exactly, it's permanent. Once it's there you can never get rid of it. Ever."

"That's stupid."

"That's my girl," he quipped.

"I thought art was sposed to be pretty. That's ugly," she said pointing to the woman with the big tattoo on her leg.

House couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah, it is, but not all tattoos are ugly."

"Do you have one?"

"No."

"Does mommy have one?"

He chuckled. "Tattoos are for idiots and your mom definitely is not an idiot." He continued to play the game with Rachel until a few minutes later, they heard a shout.

"Oh my God, he's choking!" Someone yelled from the other side of the planter next to them. "Help! Please!"

House looked up and Rachel cried "Howse!" and pointed her little finger to the plant next to them. Through the leaves, House could clearly see an elderly couple seated on a bench there. The man was bent over clearly in distress. House jumped up immediately then looked back at Rachel and said sternly, "Don't move!" She nodded emphatically and he turned around and limped over to help the choking man, leaving his cane behind.

A few minutes later, House had successfully performed a tracheotomy using just a small pen knife borrowed from a bystander and a straw from the man's drink. He had the man stabilized and was applauded by the crowd when the EMT crew arrived moments later. The man's wife hugged House and thanked him profusely after which he managed to escape and made his way back to the bench where he'd left Rachel. However, when he got there...

Rachel was gone.