Dear readers,
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you who continue to read this story. So much has changed in my life since I began writing, my English has improved significantly, and I am no longer in my twenties. My perspective on life has evolved, and I even considered rewriting the earlier chapters where my English was much worse. However, I thought it would be amusing to witness this progression instead.
I hope you enjoy this chapter, set on December 24th, even though I may have mixed up Rachel's birthday date and the passage of days. Nonetheless, I hope you appreciate this Christmas with the House family!
Warm regards,
Sofia Bellatrix Black
Chapter 21
It was December 24th, a case solved, and House had no intention of taking on any more cases until the end of Christmas. He only had two hours of clinic duty that day, and frankly, he had no intention of fulfilling them, especially since he still needed to pick up some last-minute gifts for his daughters and Cuddy.
House was at home, dressed in dark grey pajama pants and a light grey t-shirt that made his eyes stand out. He stood barefoot in the kitchen, a dark cup of coffee in hand, his hair still tousled from sleep.
Cuddy was still asleep, and so were the girls, or so he thought.
"Awake already, Hope?" he greeted her as she approached him, leaning in to kiss the top of her head as she rubbed her eyes sleepily. "Good morning, Daddy," Hope replied, reaching for the coffee pot "No, no, no," House shook his head, "nine-year-old girls don't drink coffee," he said, "Orange juice or milk? Your choice."
"Orange juice, please," she replied, and he smiled. "How about a morning adventure?" he suggested, her smile widening as she became more awake. "Get dressed quickly, we're leaving in 10 minutes."
Hope's eyes lit up with excitement as she hurried off to get ready, eager for the adventure her father had promised.
As House and Hope stepped out of the house, they were greeted by the falling snow, with no signs of it letting up any time soon. Hope was dressed in a dark blue coat, jeans, and a matching sweater, with two braids framing her face on either side. House locked the front door, and Hope timidly asked "Can I sit in the front seat Daddy?". With a warm smile, House agreed, and she eagerly hopped into the car.
Driving through the snowy streets, Hope's eyes sparkled with excitement as she peered out the window. "Daddy, where are we going?" she inquired, her voice filled with curiosity.
House chuckled softly. "It's a surprise, Hope. You'll find out soon enough," he replied, a mischievous twinkle in his eye.
Hope's excitement only grew, and she bounced in her seat. "I love surprises!" she exclaimed, her smile widening.
As they approached the city mall, House turned to his daughter, a conspiratorial grin on his face. "Alright, Hope, here's the plan. We're going to pick up something special for Mom first. But remember, it's our little secret, okay?"
Hope nodded eagerly, her eyes alight with anticipation. "Pinky promise!" she declared, extending her little finger.
House grinned and linked his pinky with hers. "Pinky promise," he affirmed, a sense of warmth and affection filling his heart.
As House and Hope navigated through the bustling mall, they were enveloped in a whirlwind of holiday spirit. Hope's eyes widened with wonder at the array of decorations and festive displays adorning the storefronts. With each step, their laughter filled the air, as they shared jokes and stories, reveling in the joy of their father-daughter bonding time.
Their first stop was the jewelry store, where House led Hope to a display case showcasing na array of sparkling treasures. Hope's eyes lit up as she spotted a delicate necklace, adorned with two elegant lockets. She reached out to touch it, her fingers grazing the smooth surface with fascination.
"Daddy, it's beautiful," Hope breathed, her voice filled with awe.
House smiled proudly as he picked up the necklace. "I thought Mom would love it," he said, his eyes twinkling with excitement.
As Hope examined the lockets, her gaze fell upon the inscriptions engraved on each one. Her heart skipped a beat as she read the words etched into the silver: Hope 10.04 and Rachel 21.08 . A warm rush of emotion washed over her, realizing the significance of the dates.
"Daddy, are these our birthdays?" Hope asked, her eyes shining with delight.
House nodded, his smile widening. "That's right, sweetheart. I wanted Mom to have a reminder of the two most important days of our lives," he explained, his voice filled with tenderness.
Hope's heart swelled with love for her father as she reached out to touch the lockets once more. In that moment, she felt a deep sense of connection to her family, a bond that transcended time and space.
With the perfect gift in hand, House and Hope continued their shopping adventure, their hearts full of love and laughter as they cherished the precious moments spent together.
After they finished up at the toy store and had everything neatly wrapped and stowed away in the car, House and Hope made their way to the bookstore, their final destination for the day.
House glanced down at Hope with a playful twinkle in his eye. "And now, for our grand finale," he announced, using his endearing nickname for his daughter, "our last stop munchkin."
Hope beamed at her father, her cheeks flushed with excitement. "Yay, the bookstore!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with anticipation.
As they walked hand in hand through the snow-covered streets, Hope chattered excitedly about the books she hoped to find. House listened with a smile, enjoying the warmth of their conversation as they shared this special moment together.
Finally reaching the bookstore, Hope's eyes widened with wonder at the sight of the towering shelves filled with books of every size and color. She tugged on her father's hand, sensing his tension as she glanced up at him.
As Stacy approached, her eyes fixed on House, she greeted him with a warm smile. "Hello, Greg. It's good to see you again," she said, unaware of Hope standing beside him.
House tensed at the sound of her voice, his expression guarded as he forced a polite smile. "Stacy," he acknowledged, his tone terse.
Hope shifted uncomfortably beside her father, feeling the tension in the air. She glanced up at House, unsure of what to do.
Stacy's gaze finally drifted to Hope, and her smile faltered slightly as she noticed the young girl. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize you had company," she said, her tone apologetic.
House nodded curtly, his gaze flickering between Stacy and Hope. "This is my daughter, Hope," he introduced tersely.
"Hello" Hope told the woman smilling and Stacy smiled back.
Stacy's eyes widened in surprise, a flicker of emotion crossing her features. "It's very nice to meet you Hope" she repeated, her voice tinged with astonishment.
Hope stood silently beside her father, feeling a mix of curiosity under Stacy's scrutiny.
House cleared his throat, eager to change the subject. "We were just on our way to browse some books," he said, gesturing toward the shelves. "Need to be back home for christmas"
Stacy nodded, her expression unreadable. "Of course. It was nice seeing you, Greg," she said softly before turning to walk away. "Merry christmas"
As Stacy disappeared into the crowd, House let out a tense breath, the weight of the encounter still hanging heavy in the air. He glanced down at Hope, offering her a reassuring smile. "Let's go find those books, shall we?" he said, his tone gentler now as he guided her toward the shelves.
A couple of hours later, after already having lunch as they stood in the comfort of their home, House wrapped his arms around Cuddy from behind, pulling her close in a warm embrace. He rested his chin on her shoulder, his stubbled cheek brushing against hers as he sighed contentedly.
Cuddy leaned back into his embrace, relishing the feeling of his arms around her. She tilted her head to the side, meeting his gaze with a soft smile. "You know, for someone who claims to hate affection, you're not so bad at it," she teased, reaching up to pat his hand affectionately.
House chuckled, the sound vibrating against her back. "Don't get used to it," he replied, his voice tinged with amusement. "I have a reputation to maintain, after all."
Cuddy chuckled at House's sarcastic remark, rolling her eyes playfully. "Oh, come on, House. Where's your sense of adventure?" she quipped, poking him in the ribs.
House grinned mischievously, pulling her closer and planting a teasing kiss on her cheek. "I must have left it in my other pants," he retorted, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Cuddy smirked, placing a hand on his chest. "Well, lucky for you, you're stuck with me now, for better or for worse," she teased, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
House feigned a dramatic sigh, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Oh joy," he muttered, leaning in to press another kiss to her cheek. "What did I do to deserve such punishment?"
Cuddy laughed, swatting him playfully on the arm. "You married me, remember?" she joked, leaning into his embrace. "And now you're stuck with me forever."
House grinned, pulling her closer. "Lucky me," he quipped, pressing a lingering kiss to her lips. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
House kissed her again and replied, "How about we pretend we have a highly contagious disease and just stick to the four of us?"
Cuddy burst into laughter at his dry humor, feeling House wrap his arms more around her waist and plant a sweet kiss on her cheek.
"You'll just have to tough it out, it's only a few hours, and we'll have visitors—your parents, my sister and her family, Wilson," she replied, her tone teasing.
House let out a deep sigh, feigning exasperation. "You're not helping, Cuddles, and you know I'd run if I could, right?"
Cuddy shot back with a witty comeback, "Oh, I know, but you'd miss me too much. Besides, where else would you find someone who tolerates your antics and still loves you?" She grinned playfully, knowing that despite their banter, they were both grateful for the life they shared together as a family.
Cuddy sat at the table, feeling na overwhelming sense of happiness as she glanced around at her family. She was seated to the right of House, her husband—sometimes it still felt strange to think of him that way. Their two daughters were also there, completing their little unit. Rachel sat in her high chair, her face flushed with laughter, while Hope, nine years old and calm, shared in her sister's joy, laughing at whatever Rachel said. It was easy to see why people often mistook Rachel for House's biological daughter—they shared the same eyes, smile, and camaraderie.
As for Hope, Cuddy saw more of herself in her—those striking, stormy blue eyes that mirrored her own, along with the same smile, complete with dimples, and the same tender, innocent joy. The table was filled with family, including House's parents and Cuddy's sister, creating a warm and bustling atmosphere.
"Mommy, can you pass me some water, please?" Hope's voice broke through Cuddy's reverie, bringing her back to the present moment. She smiled and filled her daughter's glass, feeling a surge of love for her family.
The table was adorned with a feast—turkey, ham, all the trimmings—and the air was filled with laughter and conversation. It may have been the noisiest Christmas they'd ever had, but it was undoubtedly the happiest.
