Fic: I Will Buy You A New Life: Chapter Nine
Title: I Will Buy You A New Life. SEQUEL to Where Your Flowers Can Bloom, which is a sequel to I Will Buy You A Garden.
Pairings: House/Cuddy
Rating: I'm pretty sure PG-13 will work.
Chapter: Nine of ?
Disclaimer: I don't own House M.D. nor the characters. I don't make any money from this.
Summary: After House and Cuddy decided to give their relationship a try and raise their daughter, Sarah, together, we catch up with them seven years later. Sarah is a teenager, House has an emerging medical problem, and Cuddy's trying to keep her eye on both of them.
(Start from the beginning.)
“Dr. Cuddy.”
Cuddy spun around and faced Dr. Lyons. He gave her a smile, which immediately relieved her. She approached him.
“We’ve stopped the bleeding and put him on some medications,” Dr. Lyons informed her. “We’d like to keep him a day or two, but he should be able to go home as long as he continues to take the prescribed medicine.”
“Of course.” Cuddy nodded.
“And he’s on a transplant list, correct?” Dr. Lyons asked.
“Yes,” Cuddy answered. “He needs a liver soon, doesn’t he?”
Dr. Lyons paused a moment. “Well, yes, this will definitely move him up on the list.”
Cuddy gave a smile that hurt. “You’d think that’d be a good thing, but it only means he’s getting worse.”
Dr. Lyons placed a comforting hand on Cuddy’s arm and gave a gentle squeeze. “We still have some time. You can go in and see him. He may be a bit out of it.”
“Okay,” Cuddy replied. “Thank you.”
Cuddy followed Dr. Lyons down the hall and into House’s hospital room. The blinds were drawn around the room and the hospital lights made his skin seem unnatural and unfamiliar. Dr. Lyons closed the glass door behind him as he left Cuddy alone with House.
House was asleep, his mouth slightly open, the same way his daughter slept. Cuddy crossed the room and pulled a chair next to his bedside. She seated herself and took his cold hand within hers. She rubbed her thumb over the back of his hand as she blinked back tears.
“I love you,” Cuddy whispered to him.
“How much, would you say, do you love me?” Cuddy asked him as she climbed into bed alongside him.
House looked to her, completely serious. “I don’t love you at all.”
“You say that so much, I’m going to start thinking it’s true.” Cuddy turned off her lamp and scooted down under the covers.
“Would that be terrible?” House replied and settled down as well.
“I guess it wouldn’t be terrible,” Cuddy turned toward him. “After all, I don’t have an inkling of affection for you. I was just asking how much you loved me.”
“It’s a good thing you asked.” House faced her, putting his weight on his left side. “Because I don’t love you. Not at all. Not a bit. None.”
“What are we going to do then?” Cuddy asked.
“Sex?” House smirked.
Cuddy smiled, holding back her laugh. “I don’t think I can have sex with someone who doesn’t love me.”
“Then, I guess it’s a good thing I love you,” House replied.
“Are you sure?” Cuddy raised her eyebrows.
“Completely.” House gave a nod.
Cuddy shifted slightly. “Why don’t I believe you?”
House slid his hand over her thigh. “Good question.”
Cuddy scooted closer to House as his hand slipped to her backside.
“Maybe you should go,” Cuddy suggested. “I don’t know if you love me or if I love you. It’s quite complicated.”
“Maybe I could clear it up for you,” House tried.
“It might help,” Cuddy agreed.
House leaned into her and kissed her, tenderly at first, but then with a growing passion. Cuddy slipped her hand up his arm and squeezed the muscle beneath his shirt. House slid his hand back down Cuddy’s back and toward her front, his fingers slipping underneath her pajama bottoms. Cuddy pulled away from his kiss and groaned slightly.
“We can’t,” she told him, wishing she didn’t have to stop him. “We have to get up so early.”
“Then, let’s not go to sleep.” House let his fingers lightly circle over her hipbone.
“We’re not that young anymore.” A small smile tugged at the corners of Cuddy’s lips at remembering those times when they were that young.
“Hey,” House frowned, “I’m still as young and fit as I was twenty years ago.”
“That’s not true.” Cuddy gave a shake of her head. “You had your infarction less than twenty-”
“Whose fault was that?” House cut her off.
“I gave you the cane, not the infarction,” Cuddy replied.
House rested back slightly and removed his hand from her. Cuddy let her hand trail down his arm before turning onto her back.
“It’s going to be one hell of a vacation.” House studied Cuddy in the darkness, taking in her beauty masked slightly by the tiredness etched onto her face.
Cuddy smiled and looked to him. “You think?”
“Yeah.” House returned a small smile to her. “Mick won’t stop talking about getting to see Belle. That’s the one with the Beast, right?”
Cuddy’s smile grew. “That’s the one with the Beast.”
“And she wants to see those singing guppies,” House added. “And go on the Mad Hatter teacups ride.”
“Wow, look at you with the lingo,” Cuddy raised her eyebrows.
House rolled his eyes. “She only mentions it six times a day.”
“She’s excited,” Cuddy said. “I’m surprised she even went to bed tonight.”
“You know who shouldn’t go to bed?” House asked. “Us.”
Cuddy narrowed her eyes at him. “Greg.”
“It’s going to be a long week in Disney,” House warned her teasingly.
“You know, we did get the villa hotel with a separate bedroom,” Cuddy reminded him.
House’s eyes widened slightly in false shock. “How did I forget that important detail?”
“Old age?” Cuddy guessed.
“No.” House shook his head. “I must have been thinking about you corrupting our nine year old daughter by wanting sex on a Disney World vacation.”
“Right, that must have been it.” Cuddy nodded. “I was just mentioning it anyway. You’re right. We shouldn’t have sex.”
“Well, let’s not be hasty,” House told her. “If you can’t go a week without sex, who am I to stop you from jumping me the minute we close that bedroom door?”
“I think I’ve proved that I can, in fact, go without sex,” Cuddy said. “I remember a particular month when-”
“Because you stopped talking to me!” House cut her off.
“Because you were being an asshole and undermining me,” Cuddy quickly replied.
House softened his voice. “And we’re fighting about this now because...?”
Cuddy smiled and let out a tired sigh. “Oh, I don’t know...”
House leaned over and kissed Cuddy on the forehead before bringing his lips down to hers. He pulled back slightly, his eyes locked on hers.
“Goodnight,” he told her quietly and Cuddy gave him a smile in return.
House rested on his back. Cuddy drew in a breath and closed her eyes. It really was late and they had to be up in four hours in order to make sure they made their flight. Cuddy was nearly asleep when House spoke up.
“Did you want me to propose to you?”
Cuddy’s eyebrows drew together and she looked to House. “As in marriage?”
“No.” House rolled his eyes. “As in a budget proposal.”
Cuddy frowned. “Do we have to talk about this now?”
“I’m curious.” House shrugged. “Do you want to marry me?”
“I...” Cuddy paused a moment and then shook her head. “No.”
“Okay,” House replied nonchalantly and closed his eyes.
“Aren’t you going to ask why?” Cuddy asked him.
“No,” House answered her, eyes still closed.
“I still want you to live here,” Cuddy said. “And I don’t want you to move out even after Sarah grows up and moves out. I mean, what I’m trying to say is that... I do want to spend the rest of my life with you. Here.”
“Okay,” House replied.
Cuddy stared at him. “And you don’t care that I don’t want to marry you?”
“No.” House opened his eyes and looked to her. “I just wanted to make sure you didn’t want a marriage. I’m perfectly fine letting us be this.”
“Right,” Cuddy agreed. “I don’t want us to define ourselves by... that. We were never traditional, so why should we start now?”
“Exactly.” House gave a nod.
“You’re not mad, are you?” Cuddy raised a cautious eyebrow.
“No,” House told her.
“What made you ask?”
House shrugged. “Nothing. Was thinking about you. That’s all.”
“It’s not because I’m afraid we’d divorce,” Cuddy said quickly.
“I never indicated that’s what I thought about your refusal,” House replied.
“I know.” Cuddy gave a small shrug. “I just don’t want you thinking it might be. It’s not.”
“Okay.” House closed his eyes again.
Cuddy shifted, a frown on her face. “Are you sure you’re not mad?”
“I’m not mad,” House clarified. “Are you sure you’re not mad?”
Cuddy’s eyebrows drew together. “For what?”
House let a small sigh escape and opened his eyes. “Because I don’t want to get married either.”
“But, you brought it up,” Cuddy pointed out.
“To make sure you didn’t want to,” House said in return.
“I’m not mad,” Cuddy told him.
Silence fell between them. Both were awake, lying on their backs, staring up at the ceiling. House regretted bringing it up. He was always bad with timing.
“They have civil unions, domestic partnerships,” House spoke up, finishing his point in starting this conversation. “Things we should think about in case anything were to happen.”
“To happen?” Cuddy repeated.
“To me,” House replied. “To make sure you make the decisions, receive benefits, get my things.”
“Right...” Cuddy nodded. “Yeah... we can do that. Think about that. When we get back from Florida.”
“Okay,” House agreed. “Good.” He looked over to her and spoke quietly. “I do love you.”
Cuddy turned her head in his direction, locking eyes with him. “I love you, too.”
Chapter Ten.
Pairings: House/Cuddy
Rating: I'm pretty sure PG-13 will work.
Chapter: Nine of ?
Disclaimer: I don't own House M.D. nor the characters. I don't make any money from this.
Summary: After House and Cuddy decided to give their relationship a try and raise their daughter, Sarah, together, we catch up with them seven years later. Sarah is a teenager, House has an emerging medical problem, and Cuddy's trying to keep her eye on both of them.
(Start from the beginning.)
“Dr. Cuddy.”
Cuddy spun around and faced Dr. Lyons. He gave her a smile, which immediately relieved her. She approached him.
“We’ve stopped the bleeding and put him on some medications,” Dr. Lyons informed her. “We’d like to keep him a day or two, but he should be able to go home as long as he continues to take the prescribed medicine.”
“Of course.” Cuddy nodded.
“And he’s on a transplant list, correct?” Dr. Lyons asked.
“Yes,” Cuddy answered. “He needs a liver soon, doesn’t he?”
Dr. Lyons paused a moment. “Well, yes, this will definitely move him up on the list.”
Cuddy gave a smile that hurt. “You’d think that’d be a good thing, but it only means he’s getting worse.”
Dr. Lyons placed a comforting hand on Cuddy’s arm and gave a gentle squeeze. “We still have some time. You can go in and see him. He may be a bit out of it.”
“Okay,” Cuddy replied. “Thank you.”
Cuddy followed Dr. Lyons down the hall and into House’s hospital room. The blinds were drawn around the room and the hospital lights made his skin seem unnatural and unfamiliar. Dr. Lyons closed the glass door behind him as he left Cuddy alone with House.
House was asleep, his mouth slightly open, the same way his daughter slept. Cuddy crossed the room and pulled a chair next to his bedside. She seated herself and took his cold hand within hers. She rubbed her thumb over the back of his hand as she blinked back tears.
“I love you,” Cuddy whispered to him.
“How much, would you say, do you love me?” Cuddy asked him as she climbed into bed alongside him.
House looked to her, completely serious. “I don’t love you at all.”
“You say that so much, I’m going to start thinking it’s true.” Cuddy turned off her lamp and scooted down under the covers.
“Would that be terrible?” House replied and settled down as well.
“I guess it wouldn’t be terrible,” Cuddy turned toward him. “After all, I don’t have an inkling of affection for you. I was just asking how much you loved me.”
“It’s a good thing you asked.” House faced her, putting his weight on his left side. “Because I don’t love you. Not at all. Not a bit. None.”
“What are we going to do then?” Cuddy asked.
“Sex?” House smirked.
Cuddy smiled, holding back her laugh. “I don’t think I can have sex with someone who doesn’t love me.”
“Then, I guess it’s a good thing I love you,” House replied.
“Are you sure?” Cuddy raised her eyebrows.
“Completely.” House gave a nod.
Cuddy shifted slightly. “Why don’t I believe you?”
House slid his hand over her thigh. “Good question.”
Cuddy scooted closer to House as his hand slipped to her backside.
“Maybe you should go,” Cuddy suggested. “I don’t know if you love me or if I love you. It’s quite complicated.”
“Maybe I could clear it up for you,” House tried.
“It might help,” Cuddy agreed.
House leaned into her and kissed her, tenderly at first, but then with a growing passion. Cuddy slipped her hand up his arm and squeezed the muscle beneath his shirt. House slid his hand back down Cuddy’s back and toward her front, his fingers slipping underneath her pajama bottoms. Cuddy pulled away from his kiss and groaned slightly.
“We can’t,” she told him, wishing she didn’t have to stop him. “We have to get up so early.”
“Then, let’s not go to sleep.” House let his fingers lightly circle over her hipbone.
“We’re not that young anymore.” A small smile tugged at the corners of Cuddy’s lips at remembering those times when they were that young.
“Hey,” House frowned, “I’m still as young and fit as I was twenty years ago.”
“That’s not true.” Cuddy gave a shake of her head. “You had your infarction less than twenty-”
“Whose fault was that?” House cut her off.
“I gave you the cane, not the infarction,” Cuddy replied.
House rested back slightly and removed his hand from her. Cuddy let her hand trail down his arm before turning onto her back.
“It’s going to be one hell of a vacation.” House studied Cuddy in the darkness, taking in her beauty masked slightly by the tiredness etched onto her face.
Cuddy smiled and looked to him. “You think?”
“Yeah.” House returned a small smile to her. “Mick won’t stop talking about getting to see Belle. That’s the one with the Beast, right?”
Cuddy’s smile grew. “That’s the one with the Beast.”
“And she wants to see those singing guppies,” House added. “And go on the Mad Hatter teacups ride.”
“Wow, look at you with the lingo,” Cuddy raised her eyebrows.
House rolled his eyes. “She only mentions it six times a day.”
“She’s excited,” Cuddy said. “I’m surprised she even went to bed tonight.”
“You know who shouldn’t go to bed?” House asked. “Us.”
Cuddy narrowed her eyes at him. “Greg.”
“It’s going to be a long week in Disney,” House warned her teasingly.
“You know, we did get the villa hotel with a separate bedroom,” Cuddy reminded him.
House’s eyes widened slightly in false shock. “How did I forget that important detail?”
“Old age?” Cuddy guessed.
“No.” House shook his head. “I must have been thinking about you corrupting our nine year old daughter by wanting sex on a Disney World vacation.”
“Right, that must have been it.” Cuddy nodded. “I was just mentioning it anyway. You’re right. We shouldn’t have sex.”
“Well, let’s not be hasty,” House told her. “If you can’t go a week without sex, who am I to stop you from jumping me the minute we close that bedroom door?”
“I think I’ve proved that I can, in fact, go without sex,” Cuddy said. “I remember a particular month when-”
“Because you stopped talking to me!” House cut her off.
“Because you were being an asshole and undermining me,” Cuddy quickly replied.
House softened his voice. “And we’re fighting about this now because...?”
Cuddy smiled and let out a tired sigh. “Oh, I don’t know...”
House leaned over and kissed Cuddy on the forehead before bringing his lips down to hers. He pulled back slightly, his eyes locked on hers.
“Goodnight,” he told her quietly and Cuddy gave him a smile in return.
House rested on his back. Cuddy drew in a breath and closed her eyes. It really was late and they had to be up in four hours in order to make sure they made their flight. Cuddy was nearly asleep when House spoke up.
“Did you want me to propose to you?”
Cuddy’s eyebrows drew together and she looked to House. “As in marriage?”
“No.” House rolled his eyes. “As in a budget proposal.”
Cuddy frowned. “Do we have to talk about this now?”
“I’m curious.” House shrugged. “Do you want to marry me?”
“I...” Cuddy paused a moment and then shook her head. “No.”
“Okay,” House replied nonchalantly and closed his eyes.
“Aren’t you going to ask why?” Cuddy asked him.
“No,” House answered her, eyes still closed.
“I still want you to live here,” Cuddy said. “And I don’t want you to move out even after Sarah grows up and moves out. I mean, what I’m trying to say is that... I do want to spend the rest of my life with you. Here.”
“Okay,” House replied.
Cuddy stared at him. “And you don’t care that I don’t want to marry you?”
“No.” House opened his eyes and looked to her. “I just wanted to make sure you didn’t want a marriage. I’m perfectly fine letting us be this.”
“Right,” Cuddy agreed. “I don’t want us to define ourselves by... that. We were never traditional, so why should we start now?”
“Exactly.” House gave a nod.
“You’re not mad, are you?” Cuddy raised a cautious eyebrow.
“No,” House told her.
“What made you ask?”
House shrugged. “Nothing. Was thinking about you. That’s all.”
“It’s not because I’m afraid we’d divorce,” Cuddy said quickly.
“I never indicated that’s what I thought about your refusal,” House replied.
“I know.” Cuddy gave a small shrug. “I just don’t want you thinking it might be. It’s not.”
“Okay.” House closed his eyes again.
Cuddy shifted, a frown on her face. “Are you sure you’re not mad?”
“I’m not mad,” House clarified. “Are you sure you’re not mad?”
Cuddy’s eyebrows drew together. “For what?”
House let a small sigh escape and opened his eyes. “Because I don’t want to get married either.”
“But, you brought it up,” Cuddy pointed out.
“To make sure you didn’t want to,” House said in return.
“I’m not mad,” Cuddy told him.
Silence fell between them. Both were awake, lying on their backs, staring up at the ceiling. House regretted bringing it up. He was always bad with timing.
“They have civil unions, domestic partnerships,” House spoke up, finishing his point in starting this conversation. “Things we should think about in case anything were to happen.”
“To happen?” Cuddy repeated.
“To me,” House replied. “To make sure you make the decisions, receive benefits, get my things.”
“Right...” Cuddy nodded. “Yeah... we can do that. Think about that. When we get back from Florida.”
“Okay,” House agreed. “Good.” He looked over to her and spoke quietly. “I do love you.”
Cuddy turned her head in his direction, locking eyes with him. “I love you, too.”
Chapter Ten.