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 চুন green feature wall. House had প্রদত্ত 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 দ্বারা when he heard about the residency at Cuddy’s. Kirstin had also been taken off দ্বারা 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 পিয়ানো as well as the drums.

“Cuddy actually let you?” he asked her.

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

“Who, আপনি 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 সঙ্গীত that he didn’t hear Kirstin begin humming along অথবা 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; আপনি are a gifted musician and a great doctor, dad,” Kirstin assured him.

“She doesn’t appreciate সঙ্গীত like আপনি অথবা I do.”

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

House just shrugged and kept on playing.

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

“I wouldn’t admit anything to her; if আপনি 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 আপনি understand me আরো than anyone else,” he deflected.

“Why don’t আপনি 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, আপনি like her,”

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

“You প্রণয় her!?”

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

“But আপনি 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, আপনি 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 নিরাপদ 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 খুঁজুন 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 আপনি 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 মহাকাশ on her বিছানা for Kirstin.

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

“No, House,”

“Mooom,” House whinged.

“Yeah, mom,” Kirstin agreed.

“Fine,” Cuddy said, sighing. “Only if আপনি 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, আপনি and I going at it might,”

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

“Mom, calm down,” Kirstin ব্যক্ত jokingly.

Cuddy felt her cheeks deepen in colour.

“Come here, woman,” House said.

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

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

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

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

“What would আপনি say if dad ব্যক্ত he loved you?”

“Yeah!” House ব্যক্ত 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 ব্যক্ত excitedly.

“What?” Cuddy ব্যক্ত rolling her eyes.

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

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

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

Cuddy sighed and went and sat in the small মহাকাশ 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 সরানো over and surprisingly, he did. Whilst he did, he pulled off his জ্যাকেট and placed it over Kirstin and then pulled the bed’s linen around him. Cuddy looked at him wide-eyed.

“What do আপনি 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 আপনি 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; আপনি want something,” she stated, but her হৃদয় 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, আপনি 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. আপনি kissed back,” he nearly yelled.

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

“I know,” he ব্যক্ত flatly.

“See!?”

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

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

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

“No, House. আপনি 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 ব্যক্ত 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 গাধা but I like – no – I প্রণয় that! I’m only throwing myself at আপনি because I have waited so long to have আপনি again but if this is how আপনি act with everyone, well আপনি can get the fuck out of my house and leave Kirstin and me alone!”

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