First Kisses (3/13) for squigglespoof "Like Children Often Do"
ii. Like Children Often Do..
Prompt was: family event/gathering, Wilson and a baby, kids making comments/asking questions
Given me by: squigglespoof
A/N: Title taken from "Counting Blue Cars" by Dishwalla
Special thanks to my cousin, Lily Beth, for being the real-life inspiration for Bethany. She was a hell of a lot worse at five, though. ^^
Wilson hates family gatherings. Always has, even before his baby brother's extended absence. It's worse now, his older brother's wife and children serving only to show what a failure little Jimmy has been at marriage.
A part of him knows that his mother's insistence on his having children stems mostly from the absence of one of her own, but a greater part of him resents it, all of it, the thinly-veiled questions and the none-too-subtle hints. As of late, however, she'd dropped that line of questioning, the fact of which makes him decidedly nervous.
She's been harping at him, though, for the past month or so, about coming to Bethany's kindergarten graduation. Even worse for him than the usual family events, anything have to do with children, as he has never really cared for children. He doesn't hate them, but he treats them the same as everyone else in his life, with gentle courtesy and at arm's length.
The only person who has ever been able to get close is, of course, House, and his mother has been harping on that subject, as well. 'Bring Greg' she says, as if that is not a Herculean task in and of itself. He's not sure, but he thinks she knows something is up. His mother is like that.
House is like that, too. Maybe that's why...but never mind. That way lies madness.
When he can evade no longer, he goes in search of House. He's never hard to find, Wilson just follows the bellowing.
"Whatever it is, I'm not doing it," is House's greeting, and that does not bode well.
"You don't even know what I'm asking," Wilson says, thwacking House's arm gently with his clipboard. Flirtatiously, even.
From across the hall, Cameron glares. Wilson's stomach plummets. If he's so obvious Cameron can see it...
"Something you don't want to do," House says around his pen, taking it out of his mouth to jot down notes into a patient's file.
Sighing, Wilson turns as if to leave. House's cane is suddenly in front of him, followed quickly by House. "What, that's it? You're not even going to try?"
"What's the use?" Wilson asks. He refrains from making his voice pitiful, letting his eyes do it for him.
"Oh, fine, have it your way," House says, in his most put-upon voice, "I'm all ears."
"Bethany's kindergarten graduation," Wilson mutters, "Mother said to bring you, or risk her wrath."
"Can't have that. Besides, you had me at Bethany. I've been dying to meet the little hellcat."
Wilson shakes his head, and sighs loudly, "Oh, god, what have I done?" House and the First Lady, nothing good could come of it.
House grins his most evil grin, and nudges his leg with the tip of his cane, "What did you tell your mother?" he asks, almost innocently.
"Not a thing."
He doesn't add, 'I didn't have to.'
.............................................
Bethany is a picture in white. A picture of what, Wilson refuses to say.
He's sure that she's cute, because other people have told him so, but he is usually blinded by her innate demonic nature. Everyone says he's overreacting when he points it out, though.
"Uncle Jimmy," she says haughtily, as if calling up some lowly servant (which he is), "What did you bring me?"
Her mother tries to correct her, but it's a lost cause at this point.
At his side, House starts to laugh, and Bethany's attention shifts. 'Fresh meat' her assessing gaze seems to say.
House's gaze says, 'I will eat you alive, little girl, and pick my teeth with your bones.'
"What happened to your leg?" she asks bluntly, and House's smile is full of sharp canines. She doesn't even flinch.
"Wolf." he says, with just the hint of a growl.
Bethany's look is derisive. "You're lying." Again, her mother attempts to shush her, but House has seen a kindred spirit.
"I had surgery on my leg. It was dying." Simply put, but Bethany accepts it with a nod.
"Did you bring me anything?" she asks, guilelessly. Wilson hangs his head in mute embarassment, as does her mother.
House smiles his wolfish smile, and hands her a messily-wrapped present. Instant friends. Bethany shocks them all by slipping her hand into House's and dragging him off to see the rest of her gifts.
Melissa closes her eyes, and whispers, "God, I'm so sorry," but she is trying not to laugh. So is Wilson.
After a moment, they dissolve into giggles. She hands him the baby, a fat little fellow going by the name of Bobby.
He manages to successfully burp the baby, under the watchful gaze of his mother. Wilson's father looks on in amused silence, picking at the relish tray, and having his hand smacked by his harried wife, as per usual.
House returns, looking none the worse for wear, having picked up another admirer. He and Bethany are now accompanied by Wilson's namesake, little Jimmy.
Three years old and the middle child, poor little Jimmy has few choices in life; become Bethany's minion, or fight her oppression daily.
He wears his minion status rather well. Wilson feels very, very sorry for Bobby.
Raised eyebrows from House at his new choice of neckwear (the baby has snaked his tiny arm around Wilson's neck, and is hanging on for dear life in a stunning display of infant self-preservation), but Wilson is equally amused by House's entourage.
It is at this moment that Bethany drops her bomb. "Uncle Jimmy," she bellows, dark curls bouncing, "When are you going to marry Mr. House?"
Dead silence. Even Mr. House appears to be shocked, his mouth stretching into a cartoon caricature "O".
Surprising even himself, Wilson answers sweetly, "I don't know, Beth, I'm not sure if he'll have me."
Bethany frowns, then replies, "Well, what if you get him pregnant? Will you marry him then?"
The silence erupts into gales of laughter, irritating the little princess to no end.
Her father comes to the rescue, whisking her off to the back bedroom, presumably for a spanking. Wilson almost hates to have him do it, as priceless as it is to see Greg House leaning on his mother's shoulder, laughing himself silly.
He hands the baby to Melissa, and grabs House's arm. "We'll meet you there," he throws over his shoulder, and leads a surprisingly docile House to the car.
"Are you sure she's not adopted," House asks, as soon as he is able to talk without laughing.
"For what it's worth, I've always thought she was yours," Wilson answers, chuckling, "Are you sure you and Melissa have never met before?"
"Bite your tongue," House says, then frowns speculatively.
Wilson laughs, turning, and replies softly, "Bite it for me."
The wolfish grin returns, and House leans in, nipping at Wilson's jaw with blunt teeth. They've come so close to this, in the past few months, dancing around each other, but this is the first time that Wilson has seen the possibility of it. House as lover, as family.
He pulls House in close, licking gently at that soft bottom lip, and then they are kissing in earnest. All of the pent-up passions within them, set free by Bethany's childish questioning. House is suckling sweetly on Wilson's tongue when they realize that the rest of the family is gone.
"I didn't hear anything," Wilson says softly, kissing along House's collarbone. Not a car in the yard, and there must have been people looking, and his father had probably seen...but it doesn't matter. He's happy, and maybe they get that. Maybe they don't.
"I should hope not," House says, moaning despite himself. He doesn't add that he'll be sending Miss Bethany a well-deserved gift come Monday morning. He's not sure what, but it'll be good. Acting like that deserves more than just a new dress or Barbie.
"You two are never to see each other again," Wilson says, "I'm afraid it might tip some cosmic balance." His hands are roaming. House doesn't seem to mind.
"Whatever you say."
They never do make it to the graduation.
Prompt was: family event/gathering, Wilson and a baby, kids making comments/asking questions
Given me by: squigglespoof
A/N: Title taken from "Counting Blue Cars" by Dishwalla
Special thanks to my cousin, Lily Beth, for being the real-life inspiration for Bethany. She was a hell of a lot worse at five, though. ^^
Wilson hates family gatherings. Always has, even before his baby brother's extended absence. It's worse now, his older brother's wife and children serving only to show what a failure little Jimmy has been at marriage.
A part of him knows that his mother's insistence on his having children stems mostly from the absence of one of her own, but a greater part of him resents it, all of it, the thinly-veiled questions and the none-too-subtle hints. As of late, however, she'd dropped that line of questioning, the fact of which makes him decidedly nervous.
She's been harping at him, though, for the past month or so, about coming to Bethany's kindergarten graduation. Even worse for him than the usual family events, anything have to do with children, as he has never really cared for children. He doesn't hate them, but he treats them the same as everyone else in his life, with gentle courtesy and at arm's length.
The only person who has ever been able to get close is, of course, House, and his mother has been harping on that subject, as well. 'Bring Greg' she says, as if that is not a Herculean task in and of itself. He's not sure, but he thinks she knows something is up. His mother is like that.
House is like that, too. Maybe that's why...but never mind. That way lies madness.
When he can evade no longer, he goes in search of House. He's never hard to find, Wilson just follows the bellowing.
"Whatever it is, I'm not doing it," is House's greeting, and that does not bode well.
"You don't even know what I'm asking," Wilson says, thwacking House's arm gently with his clipboard. Flirtatiously, even.
From across the hall, Cameron glares. Wilson's stomach plummets. If he's so obvious Cameron can see it...
"Something you don't want to do," House says around his pen, taking it out of his mouth to jot down notes into a patient's file.
Sighing, Wilson turns as if to leave. House's cane is suddenly in front of him, followed quickly by House. "What, that's it? You're not even going to try?"
"What's the use?" Wilson asks. He refrains from making his voice pitiful, letting his eyes do it for him.
"Oh, fine, have it your way," House says, in his most put-upon voice, "I'm all ears."
"Bethany's kindergarten graduation," Wilson mutters, "Mother said to bring you, or risk her wrath."
"Can't have that. Besides, you had me at Bethany. I've been dying to meet the little hellcat."
Wilson shakes his head, and sighs loudly, "Oh, god, what have I done?" House and the First Lady, nothing good could come of it.
House grins his most evil grin, and nudges his leg with the tip of his cane, "What did you tell your mother?" he asks, almost innocently.
"Not a thing."
He doesn't add, 'I didn't have to.'
.............................................
Bethany is a picture in white. A picture of what, Wilson refuses to say.
He's sure that she's cute, because other people have told him so, but he is usually blinded by her innate demonic nature. Everyone says he's overreacting when he points it out, though.
"Uncle Jimmy," she says haughtily, as if calling up some lowly servant (which he is), "What did you bring me?"
Her mother tries to correct her, but it's a lost cause at this point.
At his side, House starts to laugh, and Bethany's attention shifts. 'Fresh meat' her assessing gaze seems to say.
House's gaze says, 'I will eat you alive, little girl, and pick my teeth with your bones.'
"What happened to your leg?" she asks bluntly, and House's smile is full of sharp canines. She doesn't even flinch.
"Wolf." he says, with just the hint of a growl.
Bethany's look is derisive. "You're lying." Again, her mother attempts to shush her, but House has seen a kindred spirit.
"I had surgery on my leg. It was dying." Simply put, but Bethany accepts it with a nod.
"Did you bring me anything?" she asks, guilelessly. Wilson hangs his head in mute embarassment, as does her mother.
House smiles his wolfish smile, and hands her a messily-wrapped present. Instant friends. Bethany shocks them all by slipping her hand into House's and dragging him off to see the rest of her gifts.
Melissa closes her eyes, and whispers, "God, I'm so sorry," but she is trying not to laugh. So is Wilson.
After a moment, they dissolve into giggles. She hands him the baby, a fat little fellow going by the name of Bobby.
He manages to successfully burp the baby, under the watchful gaze of his mother. Wilson's father looks on in amused silence, picking at the relish tray, and having his hand smacked by his harried wife, as per usual.
House returns, looking none the worse for wear, having picked up another admirer. He and Bethany are now accompanied by Wilson's namesake, little Jimmy.
Three years old and the middle child, poor little Jimmy has few choices in life; become Bethany's minion, or fight her oppression daily.
He wears his minion status rather well. Wilson feels very, very sorry for Bobby.
Raised eyebrows from House at his new choice of neckwear (the baby has snaked his tiny arm around Wilson's neck, and is hanging on for dear life in a stunning display of infant self-preservation), but Wilson is equally amused by House's entourage.
It is at this moment that Bethany drops her bomb. "Uncle Jimmy," she bellows, dark curls bouncing, "When are you going to marry Mr. House?"
Dead silence. Even Mr. House appears to be shocked, his mouth stretching into a cartoon caricature "O".
Surprising even himself, Wilson answers sweetly, "I don't know, Beth, I'm not sure if he'll have me."
Bethany frowns, then replies, "Well, what if you get him pregnant? Will you marry him then?"
The silence erupts into gales of laughter, irritating the little princess to no end.
Her father comes to the rescue, whisking her off to the back bedroom, presumably for a spanking. Wilson almost hates to have him do it, as priceless as it is to see Greg House leaning on his mother's shoulder, laughing himself silly.
He hands the baby to Melissa, and grabs House's arm. "We'll meet you there," he throws over his shoulder, and leads a surprisingly docile House to the car.
"Are you sure she's not adopted," House asks, as soon as he is able to talk without laughing.
"For what it's worth, I've always thought she was yours," Wilson answers, chuckling, "Are you sure you and Melissa have never met before?"
"Bite your tongue," House says, then frowns speculatively.
Wilson laughs, turning, and replies softly, "Bite it for me."
The wolfish grin returns, and House leans in, nipping at Wilson's jaw with blunt teeth. They've come so close to this, in the past few months, dancing around each other, but this is the first time that Wilson has seen the possibility of it. House as lover, as family.
He pulls House in close, licking gently at that soft bottom lip, and then they are kissing in earnest. All of the pent-up passions within them, set free by Bethany's childish questioning. House is suckling sweetly on Wilson's tongue when they realize that the rest of the family is gone.
"I didn't hear anything," Wilson says softly, kissing along House's collarbone. Not a car in the yard, and there must have been people looking, and his father had probably seen...but it doesn't matter. He's happy, and maybe they get that. Maybe they don't.
"I should hope not," House says, moaning despite himself. He doesn't add that he'll be sending Miss Bethany a well-deserved gift come Monday morning. He's not sure what, but it'll be good. Acting like that deserves more than just a new dress or Barbie.
"You two are never to see each other again," Wilson says, "I'm afraid it might tip some cosmic balance." His hands are roaming. House doesn't seem to mind.
"Whatever you say."
They never do make it to the graduation.