Chapter 15 – Weekend away
The weekend had passed peacefully, as the first winter snowfall of the season blanketed Princeton in a layer of white. The couple had spent their time indoors, wrapped up in the warmth of their home. Saturday night brought the first heavy snow, the kind that clung to the trees and made everything seem quieter, more peaceful. House and Cuddy had passed the time with cartoon marathons, hot tea, and warm blankets, their three daughters nestled close as they all fought off the beginnings of a cold with children's Advil and plenty of rest. The harsh Princeton winter had settled in, and the world outside seemed far away.
As Sunday evening drew to a close, Cuddy found herself in the kitchen, cradling a mug of hot tea. She glanced at the calendar pinned to the fridge and couldn't help but smile. In exactly one week, on November 6th, she and House would celebrate their first wedding anniversary. Despite the rocky start to their marriage—the legal battle with Rachel's biological family and the whirlwind of their unconventional union—she felt a deep sense of contentment. Absentmindedly, she touched the wedding band and engagement ring that she always wore, a subtle smile playing on her lips.
From the living room, she could hear the sounds of laughter, Rachel's high-pitched giggle carrying over the noise of a superhero cartoon that she barely recognized. The warmth of the moment filled her heart, and she couldn't help but feel grateful for the life they had built together.
"Cuddles?" House's voice called out from the living room, a hint of amusement in his tone. "Come in here."
She smiled, recognizing the nickname that he often used when he was in a particularly good mood. Setting down her tea, she walked into the living room, finding House lounging on the couch with their daughters, his eyes twinkling as he looked up at her.
"Did you order food?" he asked, a knowing smirk on his face.
She nodded, a small grin tugging at the corners of her mouth.
"Chinese?" he guessed, and she nodded again.
House's smirk grew into a full smile, his eyes flickering with something she couldn't quite place. What Cuddy didn't know was that House had something planned—a surprise, something special for their anniversary. He had been quietly arranging a weekend away for just the two of them, a rare opportunity to escape the chaos of daily life and celebrate their first year of marriage. He had kept it a secret, determined to catch her off guard, and as he sat there with his family, he could barely contain his anticipation.
As Cuddy sat down next to him on the couch, she leaned her head on his shoulder, feeling the warmth of his body against hers. The girls were engrossed in the cartoon, their attention completely absorbed by the colorful action on the screen. House's hand hers, fingers intertwining as they sat in comfortable silence.
The snow continued to fall outside, and for a brief moment, everything was perfect. But House knew that the best was yet to come. He had something up his sleeve, and if there was one thing he knew how to do, it was to surprise Cuddy.
-/-
House had agreed to take the girls to school that Monday morning. Marina, their trusted nanny, was returning earlier than expected, much to the couple's relief—and to the benefit of House's secret plans. With Paige in Marina's capable hands, and the girls safely dropped off at school, House had the morning to himself. Instead of making his usual left turn at the intersection, he veered right, heading toward the center of town. The snow continued to fall, a thick blanket of white covering the streets, a stark contrast to the warmth of the previous month.
As he drove through the snow-covered streets, his mind wandered back to the conversation he'd had with his mother the previous week. He had called Blythe with a request—one that still weighed heavily on his conscience. He wanted her and John to stay at their home the upcoming weekend, to look after the girls while he took Cuddy away for a surprise anniversary trip. Though he preferred that only his mother come, it was unrealistic to expect her to leave John behind.
The decision had not come easily to him. His relationship with his father was complicated, marred by memories of an unhappy childhood, strict discipline, and an upbringing that felt more like military training than parental care. The thought of leaving his daughters with John, even for a short time, stirred up a mix of emotions—fear, insecurity, and a lingering resentment that he struggled to shake off. He knew, rationally, that his father had changed, but the memories were hard to ignore.
Blythe had assured him that she would be there to keep a close eye on things, that she understood his concerns. Marina would also be present during the nights, providing an additional layer of security for House's peace of mind. Despite this, the weight of his decision pressed on him, a constant reminder of the childhood he had vowed never to repeat with his own children.
Cuddy had encouraged him to try and talk to his father. She knew how much it troubled him, and though she never pushed him too hard, she wanted him to find some peace with it. After all, House was now a father himself, a man with a family of his own—a wife, three daughters, a life that was almost painfully normal compared to what he had once imagined for himself. The kind of family that graced the covers of cereal boxes, cheerful and ideal, yet so completely out of character for the man he had been.
Flashback
It was a late October evening, and House was sitting on the edge of his bed, the phone in his hand as he stared at the screen, debating whether or not to press the call button. Cuddy was downstairs with the girls, getting them ready for bed, the usual bedtime chaos filling the house with noise. He could hear Rachel's voice arguing with her sister over something trivial, the kind of argument that always seemed like the end of the world to a ten-year-old.
He took a deep breath and dialed the number, his fingers moving on autopilot. The phone rang twice before it was picked up, and his mother's voice came through the line, warm and familiar.
"Greg?" Blythe's voice held a hint of surprise. It wasn't often that he called, especially not out of the blue.
"Hey, Mom," House said, his voice rougher than he intended. He cleared his throat, trying to push past the awkwardness that always seemed to creep in when he spoke to his parents. "I, uh… I wanted to ask you something."
"Of course, dear. What is it?"
House hesitated for a moment, the words catching in his throat. He could hear his father's voice in the background, something muffled and indistinct. It was enough to make him pause, but he pushed through it.
"I was wondering if you and… Dad, if you both could come to Princeton next weekend," he said, the words tumbling out in a rush. "I, uh… I've got something planned for Cuddy. An anniversary thing."
There was a brief silence on the other end of the line, and House could almost picture his mother's expression, a mixture of surprise and concern.
"Oh, Greg, that sounds wonderful. We'd be happy to come. John would love to see the girls, you know that," Blythe replied, her voice gentle, but House could hear the unspoken understanding in her tone. She knew this wasn't easy for him.
"Yeah, I know," House muttered, his fingers tapping anxiously on the bedspread. "Marina will be here too, just… you know, for the nights. But I'd appreciate it if you could, you know, keep an eye on things."
"Of course, dear. Don't worry, everything will be fine. And maybe… maybe it's a good opportunity to talk to your father. He's been trying, Greg. I know it's hard, but he's not the same man he used to be."
House let out a long breath, the tension in his shoulders easing just a fraction. "Yeah, I know. Thanks, Mom."
They spoke for a few more minutes before House ended the call, tossing the phone onto the bed beside him. He sat there for a moment, staring at the wall, his mind a jumble of thoughts and emotions. The memories of his childhood, the strict discipline, the constant feeling of never being good enough—they were all still there, lurking beneath the surface. But now, he had his own family, a life that was worlds away from the one he had known growing up.
He heard footsteps on the stairs, and a moment later, Cuddy appeared in the doorway, a soft smile on her lips as she leaned against the frame.
"You okay?" she asked, her voice full of understanding.
"Yeah," House replied, giving her a small smile in return. "Just… thinking. I talk to my mom..."
Cuddy crossed the room and sat down beside him, gently taking his hand in hers. "House, you've built something really good here, something that's yours. You're not your father, and you never will be. But maybe it's time to see things from a different angle. What he did to you was wrong, and you have every right to hold onto that. But look at how much the girls adore him. The way he plays with them, listens to their stories, and genuinely cares—it's different now. He's changed. I think he regrets the past, and he's trying to make things right with them... and with you."
House looked at her, the truth of her words sinking in. He wasn't his father, and he never would be. He had made sure of that. And now, as he planned this weekend away for them, he knew he was doing it for her, for their family, for the life they had created together.
But there was still a part of him, deep down, that wanted to make peace with the past. To let go of the anger and the hurt, and maybe—just maybe—find a way to move forward.
So, John House will be babysitting his three granddaughters for the weekend.
-/-
"We need to talk," he said as he entered Cuddy's office around lunchtime.
"Ten minutes, House. Then you can pitch whatever insane, unauthorized procedure you're cooking up," she replied, not looking up from the chart she was reading.
"This is important," he insisted, sitting down across from her and yanking the file out of her hands.
"Hey! I was reading that!" she protested.
"And I want to talk to you," he retorted, placing a heavy envelope in front of her. "Happy anniversary, Cuddles. Guess this means we've officially lasted longer than most Hollywood marriages."
Cuddy raised an eyebrow, staring at the envelope as if it might explode.
"A brown envelope, House? How romantic." She picked it up cautiously. "Should I be worried? Is this your way of serving me divorce papers?" she teased, though there was a hint of genuine curiosity in her voice.
House smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Come on, give me some credit. If I was going to end it, I'd do it with a lot more flair. Maybe a skywriting plane. Or a flash mob."
Cuddy rolled her eyes, but couldn't help the small smile tugging at her lips as she began to open the envelope.
Cuddy opened the envelope cautiously, her skepticism quickly turning into surprise as she pulled out a set of printed documents. Her eyes widened as she scanned them.
"Flights to New York… and reservations at the St. Regis?" She looked up at House, a mix of disbelief and excitement in her expression. "For our anniversary?"
House nodded, his smirk softening into a genuine smile. "Just the two of us, a weekend away from the chaos. Thought we could use a break from diapers, tantrums, and super-powered cartoon marathons."
Cuddy's eyes softened, touched by the gesture. "You actually planned all this?"
House leaned back in his chair, trying to appear casual. "Well, it's not like I don't enjoy our rugrats, but I figured we could both use some adult time."
Cuddy shook her head, still processing the surprise. "New York, huh? And what about the girls? Please tell me you thought about that!?"
House smirked. "I've got it covered. Marina's back, and she's taking the lead. It's just two days, Cuddles. The girls will be fine. Plus, Grandma and Grandpa will be home with them, everything is set and ready!"
Cuddy exhaled, her fingers brushing over the edges of the reservation papers. "You really planned all this?"
House gave her a mock-serious look. "Believe it or not, I can do thoughtful when I want to. And I figured you could use a break—actually, we could use a break."
A smile spread across Cuddy's face as she reached across the desk, taking his hand. "Thank you. This is… perfect."
House grinned, squeezing her hand in return. "So, are you in?"
Cuddy laughed softly. "Do you even need to ask?"
-/-
Five days later
John and Blythe House arrived just before five in the afternoon, just in time to see their granddaughters come home from school. The girls burst through the front door, backpacks swinging, and their faces lit up with excitement when they saw their grandparents.
"Nana!" Rachel and Hope shouted in unison, running straight into Blythe's open arms.
Blythe enveloped them in a warm hug. "My, how I've missed you two!" she said, her eyes twinkling with joy, kissing both of their heads.
John, more reserved, gave a wave. "Hey there, girls. Ready for a weekend with the grandparents?"
Rachel and Hope turned to John, and their excitement overflowed as they rushed to hug him too, catching him slightly off guard but making him smile. He awkwardly patted their backs, a bit unsure of how to handle the enthusiasm but clearly touched by it.
House and Cuddy, who had been downstairs, were now in the foyer with their bags. House, carrying the last of the suitcases, paused to address his daughters. "Hey, girls, mom and I are heading out for the weekend. We're going to be gone for a couple of days."
Rachel and Hope looked up at their parents with wide eyes. "Will you bring us back sweets?" Rachel asked, her face hopeful. "Oh, oh, and presents!?"
"Of course," House said with a grin. "I'll bring you both something special."
Cuddy stepped forward and hugged her daughters. "We'll miss you both. Be good for Nana and Grandpa, okay?"
After a final round of hugs and goodbyes, House and Cuddy turned to John and Blythe. "Thanks so much for coming over and looking after the girls," Cuddy said. "It means a lot to us."
"It's our pleasure," Blythe replied, smiling warmly. "We're happy to help."
Cuddy then remembered something important. "Oh, by the way, Hope has her gymnastics practice on Saturday morning. One of the other moms can pick her up and take her and bring her back by the end of practice."
John's face brightened. "No need for that. I'd be glad to take Hope to her practice myself. It'll be a nice way to spend some time together."
Hope's eyes lit up at the idea. "That would be great, Grandpa!"
"Perfect," Cuddy said with a relieved smile. "I'm sure she'll be thrilled."
After one last round of hugs and well-wishes, House and Cuddy made their way to the door. The girls waved as they left, and with the promise of sweets and a weekend away, they watched their parents head out, feeling both excited and reassured about the days ahead with their grandparents.
As House and Cuddy were about to close the door behind them, House paused to listen. He heard Rachel, their middle daughter, ask her grandfather, "Grandpa, did you bring the chocolates for me?"
John House, with a twinkle in his eye, reached into his pocket and pulled out a small packet of chocolates. "I sure did, Rach. Here you go. Share them with Hope, okay?"
Rachel's face brightened as she took the chocolates with a delighted squeal. House watched this tender moment with a soft smile, a mix of nostalgia and surprise warming his heart. Life had a way of surprising him, and in this moment, it was filled with simple, unexpected joys. With a final wave, House closed the door, ready to embrace the adventure of their weekend away.