Two's Company - Three's a Crowd
-Chapter 3-

3 Weeks Later

Cuddy had allowed Kirstin to stay with her permanently now that House knew about her. She had recently taken a week off to renovate the spare room with her daughter. Kirstin had opted for an off white with a lime green feature wall. House had given her a bunch of band posters to stick up around her room; much to Cuddy’s disapproval.

On the subject of Kirstin’s rape, Rob’s brother had been sentenced for three years on the charges of rape and purchasing alcohol for minors. Rob had moved into an apartment near by when he heard about the residency at Cuddy’s. Kirstin had also been taken off by her mother for STI tests and pregnancy tests, all of which had come back negative.

House had become a frequent visitor to the Cuddy residence, and although he was still that stubborn ass, his and Cuddy’s relationship had slowly warmed.

Today House had come around to have a “jammin’” session with Kirstin; he had only just recently discovered that she also played the piano as well as the drums.

“Cuddy actually let you?” he asked her.

“Yeah, she said it was good for the both of us,” Kirstin shrugged.

“Who, you and Cuddy?”

“Yeah.”

“Did she explain why?”

“Something to do with you, I dunno the details.”

House mulled it over before staring at his daughter with a glint in his eyes. “Shove over, kiddo,”

Kirstin moved over and allowed House onto the chair in front of her keyboard. She watched with interest as he began caressing the plastic keys and her ears perked up at the unfamiliar tune. She was amazed as she realised what a poetic side he had. He was so zoned out in his music that he didn’t hear Kirstin begin humming along or notice that Cuddy was now standing in the doorway completely awestruck.

“It doesn’t sound as good as what it does on my baby grand.”

“What’s it called?” Kirstin curiously asked.

“I haven’t titled it yet. I wrote it for your mom,” House shyly answered.

“That’s sweet; has she heard it?” Kirstin asked, winking at Cuddy.

“Nah.”

“Why not, it’s beautiful.”

“I don’t know, I feel…embarrassed,” House lowered his gaze.

“What is there to be embarrassed about; you are a gifted musician and a great doctor, dad,” Kirstin assured him.

“She doesn’t appreciate music like you or I do.”

“Then why did she tell me to do music lessons?”

House just shrugged and kept on playing.

“What would you do if she did hear it?”

“I wouldn’t admit anything to her; if you haven’t noticed, I’m not one to express feelings,” he told her the truth.

“You are not,” she objected, “You’ve opened up to me!”

“Yeah, only because you understand me more than anyone else,” he deflected.

“Why don’t you open up?” she said.

“I don’t like to hurt people I get close to because I get hurt, myself,”

“I know you’d never intentionally hurt mom, you like her,”

“No I don’t!” he defended, turning a slight shade of pink which was almost invisible under the day’s worth of stubble.

“You love her!?”

“I didn’t say that,” House quickly answered.

“But you know it’s true, you’re just afraid of getting too close. Mom told me the story with that Stacy chick.”

“You’ve known me for three weeks and I must say, you know me quite well,” he stated. “Does Cuddy talk about me often?”

“Yes,” she answered nonchalantly.

Cuddy, who was still in the doorway, mentally slapped herself; she couldn’t stand to watch this, it was too sensitive and embarrassing. She couldn’t believe that he had written her a song and had tried ever so hard to deny his feelings for her, yet, Kirstin was able to see straight through him. She departed her position, at the doorway, for the safe confines of her room.

House pulled away from the keyboard, almost sensing as if Cuddy had left but of course he had no idea. He turned and looked straight at Kirstin with the glint in his eye that suggested ‘I’m planning something.’

“Operation mommy,” he stated.

“Yup,” Kirstin agreed, with the same smile as House.

House stood and limped out the room to search the house. Kirstin, who already knew where Cuddy was, rolled on the floor and began commando crawling to her mothers room. House saw her and followed.

“HI MOM!” he shouted when he got to her door.

“Yeah, what he said,” Kirstin agreed, standing up and pointing her thumb to him.

“And you guys are how old?” Cuddy asked dryly.

House and Kirstin looked at each other and shrugged.

“It won’t fit, I’m too old,” House said, attempting to count on his fingers and toes.

“Eww, I’m not touching my toes!” Kirstin protested.

“And claps for House; we can all tell that she’s your daughter,” Cuddy said.

“OI!” House and Kirstin moaned.

“C’mere,” Cuddy said, slapping the empty space on her bed for Kirstin.

“Ooo, mommy’s finally asking me to bed,” House said excitedly.

“No, House,”

“Mooom,” House whinged.

“Yeah, mom,” Kirstin agreed.

“Fine,” Cuddy said, sighing. “Only if you sit between us, Kirstin,”

On those words, House popped a couple vicodin and launched himself at the bed. Cuddy jumped away quickly and Kirstin laughed at her timid-ness. Cuddy glared at her and watched with horror as Kirstin also threw herself on the bed.

“Careful, you’ll break my bed!” Cuddy scolded.

“No we won’t,” House clarified. “Now, you and I going at it might,”

Cuddy sent a glare towards House and she felt her cheeks burning in embarrassment.

“Mom, calm down,” Kirstin said jokingly.

Cuddy felt her cheeks deepen in colour.

“Come here, woman,” House said.

“I hate you,” Cuddy said to Kirstin. “You’re so much like you’re father; incredibly annoying and persistent.”

“But if I’m just like dad, then you love him too,” Kirstin countered.

“Ooo, Cuddy’s hot for me,” House howled.

“I am not!” Cuddy denied, her voice rising slightly.

“What would you say if dad said he loved you?”

“Yeah!” House said in agreement.

“But he wouldn’t,” Cuddy immediately shot back, secretly wanting to admit it.

“Damn straight I wouldn’t,” House stated firmly.

“But if he did,” Kirstin persisted.

“I don’t know,” Cuddy answered dumbly.

“I know!” House said excitedly.

“What?” Cuddy said rolling her eyes.

“She’d fuck me all night long,” House said with a grin.

“Dad!” Kirstin said, slapping House in the arm.

“Cuddy, just come sit,” House said again, allowing a genuine smile to cross his face.

Cuddy sighed and went and sat in the small space that House had left her. She was forced to lean on him so she wouldn’t fall off the bed. Eventually she got used to the warmth, the safety and the smell; she felt complete.

Kirstin had dozed off before she fell off the bed, however, she didn’t wake.

Cuddy looked up at House, asking him to move over and surprisingly, he did. Whilst he did, he pulled off his jacket and placed it over Kirstin and then pulled the bed’s linen around him. Cuddy looked at him wide-eyed.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“Getting comfortable, look,” he said, gesturing to the clock on the nightstand. “It’s nearly beddy-bye time.”

“You’re not staying,” Cuddy said.

“Why not?” House asked, hurt that she would say such a thing.

“I don’t need you running amuck around my home.”

“You want me to stay.”

“No I don’t.” she lied.

“What if I do this?” he said, running his finger up her arm till he ran it under her chin and pulled so she would look at him straight in the eye.

“You’re being nice; you want something,” she stated, but her heart pounding in her chest.

“Yeah, I want to get into your pants, duh. I think we’ve had this conversation for the last twenty years,” House stated, deflecting.

“See, you want something,” Cuddy knowingly said.

“You are so oblivious, especially for a micromanager.”

“How-“ but before she could finish House had pulled her head towards his and captured her lips with his. It took a moment, but eventually Cuddy replied. House pulled away as soon as she did.

“You want me,” he stated.

“I don –“

“Don’t even finish that sentence. You kissed back,” he nearly yelled.

Cuddy looked embarrassed. “I’ve wanted you for a long time, House.”

“I know,” he said flatly.

“See!?”

“See what!?” he yelled, anger now burning through his veins.

“This! Every time I open up you just brush it off; why can’t you just be normal!?”

“You know me, Cuddy. Just accept it and move on,” House answered as if it was no big deal.

“No, House. You fear happiness, commitment and rejection; all of those lead to one thing, a relationship!”

“I only fear it because I hurt others.”

“You don’t know how things will turn out, you’re not God.””

“Now that isn’t true,” he said flexing his muscles. “I am God.”

“Don’t change the subject,” Cuddy told him.

“Look, listen to yourself, you’re throwing yourself at me! You’re pressuring me to have something with you. I’m not one of your internet dates!”

Kirstin had woken up and had heard the whole argument. She felt sorry for her mother.

“No, House, you’re not!” Cuddy yelled, now in tears. “You are an ass but I like – no – I LOVE that! I’m only throwing myself at you because I have waited so long to have you again but if this is how you act with everyone, well you can get the fuck out of my house and leave Kirstin and me alone!”

A/N: Thanks to Iane Casey again for reading and editing. Hopefully the next chapter won’t be as far away.