One Night...
"I'm so tired of all the pain." He said as he laid his head against the couch cushion and closed his eyes. Cuddy grasped his hand with hers.
"The medicine Wilson gave you can cause intense migraines and nausea, but it will help with the hallucinations. We just need to get over the first hump and..."
House suddenly bent forward and vomited into the bucket near his feet. Cuddy rubbed his back gently. She pulled a tissue from her pocket and wiped his mouth.
"I haven't slept in days. When is this medicine gonna turn on the snooze?"
Cuddy put a hand to his forehead checking his temperature.
"Let me make you some soup to settle your stomach. I'm sure all the vicodin and anxiety medication swimming around an empty stomach isn't helping with the nausea." She said as she helped him lay on the sofa and threw a blanket over him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"You slept." She said as she held a glass of water out to him.
House sat up and rubbed his weary eyes.
"An hour at most." He replied before swallowing the liquid.
"An hour more than before."
"My leg needs my bed." He said as he reached for his cane.
Cuddy helped him off the couch and led him toward his room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Don't you get tired of this?" He asked with eyes closed as Cuddy gently stroked his hair.
"Tired of what?"
"Having to nurse me at my bedside. We've been here too many times."
"I don't mind." She said as she picked up a cool cloth from the basin and placed it on his forehead. He sighed in relief.
"I mind, Lisa." He said as he opened his eyes and turned to look at her. Cuddy smiled warmly at the usage of her first name.
"You haven't called me that in years."
"I know."
Cuddy pulled the cloth from his face and gently leaned over to kiss his head.
"I'm always here for you, Greg. It's not always easy or even very pretty but it's where I want to be."
She ran a hand through his hair once more.
"Lay with me for a while." He asked in a quiet whisper. Cuddy was taken aback by the offer but soon joined him under the navy blue sheets.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I wanted to be at the baby naming thing." He said as he turned on his side to look at her.
Cuddy inched closer to him.
"I wanted you there." She said with a sorrowful tone.
House reached his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him until their noses were close enough to touch.
"I'm glad you're here." He said with a lazy grin.
Cuddy pushed her nose against his in a strange kind of eskimo kiss.
"Me too..." She said before finally putting her lips against his softly. His hand skimmed up the back of her shirt as he pulled her on top of him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Two Days Later...
"I had to commit him, Lisa." Wilson stated through tear-filled eyes.
Cuddy walked up to him and pulled him into a hug.
"I know...you did the right thing. We can't help him this time.
Wilson pulled from the hug to look at her face. He could see the fresh tears in her eyes too.
"My brother and my best friend are both losing it. What if they can't bring House back? What if this is it?"
Cuddy shook her head.
"No. He'll come out of this. He's the strongest person I know. He'll find a way back to us."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Month Goes By...
"Oh, God." Cuddy said as she held up the pregnancy test.
She sat down on the toilet seat and stared at the small plus sign in disbelief.
"I can't be. I can't be..." She said as she rubbed her temples in fear.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Does it say what I think it says?" She asked Wilson as he looked over the blood test results.
He looked up with a weary expression.
"You're pregnant."
"I'm pregnant." She stated with a huge sigh. Cuddy leaned against the nearest wall for support. Wilson immediately went to stand by her and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Is it his?" He asked softly.
Cuddy just looked at him with watery eyes. Wilson pulled her in a hug.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He's Back and...

"It's nice to have fatty greasy cuisine again." House said as he nibbled on the onion rings Wilson just bought. Wilson chuckled at his friend's eagerness for junk food.
"So, they gave granola and figs in the asylum?"
"More like oatmeal and bread that tasted like sawdust. They think that because you're a nut you don't care how food tastes."
"Well, you're back to all the unhealthy choices you love."
"The American dream realized...Give me the scoop. How have the three morons handled the cases since I've been gone?"
"They did great. Sometimes Chase and Cameron helped them out."
"That's good..." He said in a faraway tone.
"It was harder without your inventive ideas and sudden epiphanies though."
House looked up at his best friend and grinned.
"So, what's new around here? I know you Wilson you've got some scoop. I've been gone for two months I need some gossip."
Wilson smiled nervously and his gaze went back down to his plate.
"...Nothing really. You've been the biggest gossip as of late. Everyone has an opinion on crazy Dr. House."
House studied Wilson for a moment and then went back to eating his onion rings.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A week gone by...

"Want to finish this bourbon with me?" House asked Cuddy as she was about to leave his office. She turned around and looked at him.
"I thought you used it all in your little 'diagnostic test' with your patient?" She asked with her hands on her hips.
"There is about a third left in the bottle. I'm sure you could use a drink after today's events." He said as he began filling two shot glasses. Cuddy dropped her hands from her hips and began fiddling with her bracelet.
"I better not...I have alot of work to still do."
"One shot isn't gonna derail you. We both know it takes at least four more to get your bra off."
Cuddy rolled her eyes.
"Maybe some other time." She said as she walked out of the room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Coffee?" House asked Cuddy as he waved the cup under her nose. She suddenly felt sick from the smell and waved him away.
"No coffee? Ya'know you usually have a cup around this time. The last few days I've noticed you've been sans coffee." He said as he took a seat on her office sofa.
Cuddy went to sit next to him.
"I'm trying to cut down on caffiene." She said as she tried not to breath in the smell of the drink.
"But you're still drinking black tea. You're actually only drinking black tea right now."
Cuddy rolled her eyes and stood up.
"Your point?"
"Just an observation." He said with a wolfish grin before limping out of the room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Did you tell him?" She asked Wilson as she stared out his office window.
The oncologist walked over to her and placed a hand on her back. Cuddy turned to look at him.
"I told you I wouldn't. I know I've betrayed your trust a few times but this time I swear I won't tell him."
"Thank you." She said with a smile as she stood to leave.
"But you should tell him." He said before she could escape.
"I know."
"You're not showing enough to be noticeable, but I'm sure he's noticed."
Suddenly Cuddy's eyes went wide and she quickly ran out of the office.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Another apartment scene...

"You know." Cuddy said as she stalked into his apartment.
"That you have huge funbags great for motor boating well I discovered that years ago."
Cuddy let out a frustrated grunt and threw her coat at him to take.
"You know that I'm..."
House put the coat on his sofa and moved to stand in front of her.
"I know?"
She turned her gazed to the door trying to avoid his stare.
"Cuddy?"
She looked up at his eyes and knew it was time.
"I'm pregnant."
House let out a breath.
"Why didn't you tell..."
"Don't...you know why. You've been through alot and I wanted to make sure you..."
"That I wasn't a basket case anymore."
Cuddy furrowed her brows at him.
"You were scary. You were seeing things and nearly lost your life again...I took advantage of you that night." She said as she moved to sit down on the sofa.
House sat down beside her.
"I may not have been completely stable but believe me, I wanted it." He said with a grin.
Cuddy looked up at him with a serious expression.
"Do you want this?" She said as she pointed to her slightly protruding stomach.
House looked away and remained quiet.
Cuddy shook her head and stood up.
"Don't worry about it. I know it's the last thing you want. You don't have to do anything." She said as she took her coat and walked out of the apartment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Five Months Along...

"I thought you could use this." Wilson said as he handed Cuddy the small tub of fudge icecream.
Cuddy smiled brightly and gestured for him to come into her home.
"Hi, Rachel." Wilson said to the crawling
ten-month old in her play pen.
"Is her cold gone?" He asked as he sat on the recliner.
"Yes. The humidifier worked wonders." Cuddy said as she came out of the kitchen with two spoons and the icecream tub.
"None for me, thanks." He said.
Cuddy dug into the sweet snack happily. She rested the tub on top of her very pronounced belly.
"This is just what I needed after that disasterous budget meeting and two lawsuits." She said as she licked the chocolate from her spoon.
"You look exhausted. Maybe you should delegate more of your responsibilities at the hospital until the baby comes."
"That's a good idea. Maybe Cameron can take over some of my donor meetings."
"Have you talked to House lately?" Wilson suddenly blurted out.
Cuddy put her icecream down.
"Why? What did he do now?"
"Nothing. I mean he just seems very preoccupied lately. He's always writing musical compositions when he's not at the hospital. We rarely go out bowling anymore."
"Well, that's more constructive then him getting wasted every night or hiring a whore."
"There is quite a bite to your tone."
"He is just so closed off...I told him the sex of the baby yesterday."
"What is it?!" Wilson asked energetically.
"A boy." She said with a proud smile.
"That's wonderful...Wait what did he say?"
"He didn't say anything." She said with a forlorn look.
"He just shook his head and said 'Good for you,' and limped away."
Wilson threw an arm around her and stroked her shoulder.
"It's alot for him but I know it means alot to him too." Wilson said.
"I hope so."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After 36 hours of labor...
"Knock. Knock." House announced as he entered the small hospital room.
Cuddy lay in the bed drenched in sweat. Her hair was mussed and her eyes were beyond tired.
"Did you see him?" She asked.
House limped over to her bedside and sat down.
"He's got your lips." He said with a slight smile.
"And your eyes." She said softly.
House swallowed and placed his shaking hand over hers. Cuddy grasped his hand in response.
"I haven't been dealing." He stated more to himself than to her.
"It's okay. I haven't exactly been the picture of perfection these last few months."
House stroked his thumb over her palm.
"I'll be there...for him if you want me there." He said in a whisper.
Cuddy couldn't help but to shed a tear at his sudden offer.
"I want you there."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Three Months Old...
"Davy, my little Davy. Time for sleepy. My little boy," Cuddy sang to her newborn as she rocked him in her arms. The baby fussed and refused to stay silent.
"Let me try." House said as he walked into the nursery.
"Alright." She said as she handed him baby David.
House sat down in the rocking chair and held his son against his chest.
"I was dreaming of the past. And my heart was beating fast. I began to lose control. I began to lose control. I didn't mean to hurt you. I didn't mean to make you cry. I didn't want to hurt you. I'm just a jealous guy..." House sang as Cuddy watched on.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"You always sing him John Lennon songs." She said as she poured him some juice.
"He likes John the best. I tried some Ted Nugent but it didn't pan out so well." He said deadpanned.
Cuddy chuckled.
"Thanks for putting him to bed."
House nodded in response and drank some of his juice.
"I should be heading home." He said finally.
"Yeah...Well, I'll see you at work tomorrow."
"See ya."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"You spend a lot of time with her."
"We work together. Duh. Oh, and she is the mother of my child." House said as he read his National Enquirer.
"Yes, she is." Wilson said with a smirk.
"What?"
"Out of all the people that you could have impregnated you pick Cuddy. This is the woman you say is just a friend, boss, or hot one night stand, which doesn't apply anymore because you've now slept with her twice."
"Your point?" House asked annoyed.
"What the hell is it going to take for you to admit you like her maybe even love her?"
"Wilson, just cause you marry everyone you bed doesn't mean I have to."
"You're good together. David has only made things better. I hear Rachel even calls you Daddy now..."
"Wilson, please stop. I'm not in the mood for your meddling."
"You know I'm right." Wilson finished saying as he got up to leave.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"So, are you gonna take the guy up on his offer?" Wilson asked Cuddy in her office.
"He's nice enough and handsome but I probably won't." She said as she flipped through her folder. Wilson rolled his eyes at her response and then a devilish grin spread across his face.
"You know, Cate Milton is back at the hospital....House took quite a liking to her a few years ago..."
"Your point?" Cuddy asked in irritation.
"She's interested in him."
Cuddy looked up from her file.
"Good for him. It's been a while since he's been involved with someone."
"He's not interested, Cuddy." He said in exasperation.
Cuddy smiled to herself and looked up once more.
"Well, that's too bad."
"Damn it!"
"Wilson?"
"You're just as stubborn as he is. You love each other. You have a little boy to prove that. House is there for him, for Rachel, and most importantly for you. What's it gonna take for you two..."
"I don't know." She answered truthfully.
Wilson softened at her sad expression.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Big Reveal...
"He's sound asleep. Rachel too." He said as he sat next to her on the sofa.
"Thanks." She said as she yawned and stretched her arms.
"You hungry?" She asked.
"What do you got?"
"Left over Indian food."
"That'll do." He said as he placed his hands behind his head and put his feet on the coffee table.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I think it's time to tell everyone the truth." Cuddy said as she sipped her tea.
"What truth might that be?" House asked with his eyes closed about to fall asleep.
"That you're David's father."
His eyes snapped open.
"Everyone thinks it anyway. Those blue eyes are a big tip off." She said as she placed a hand over his.
"The board would never take you seriously again. They'd find some way to can you."
"You're right." She said abruptly.
"What that's it? You give up just like that?" He asked slightly annoyed.
She grinned at him.
"I want to tell our friends. Chase, Cameron, your team. They should know at least."
He looked intently at their interlocked hands before meeting her gaze.
"Why now?"
"Because I am happy and this will make me even happier. This will make you happier too."
She traced her free hand against his chin. She took in a deep breath.
"I love you, Greg."
House's mouth fell open at the revelation. His eyes remained fixed on hers.
"Greg?"
"It's about time you admitted it." He said with a tender smile as he leaned closer to her and kissed her deeply on the mouth.