cuddys_house | Saturday, November 12

Cuddy looked around her room and then went back to aimlessly folding the clothes jumbled in a pile on the bed. She loved coming home, she really did. Anymore, though, she ended up feeling like Gulliver among the Lilliputians. Everything was just a little too small; her bed, her room, the house, even--sometimes--her parents. She'd grown up and away and you really couldn't go home again.

"Lisa!"

"What?" she said, turning to look at her mother.

"I've been saying your name for the last five minutes," her mother said, handing her a small carry-on bag. "Lost in thought?"

"I guess." Cuddy took the bag and set it on the foot of the bed. After breaking the news to her parents the previous evening, once they'd gotten over the initial shock, her mother had decided that shopping was in order. Cuddy had come by her shopping addiction naturally--it was in her genes. Her mother was the queen of shoppers. So as soon as she'd been able to pull her daughter out of bed, they'd set off on a shopping outing. Her mother treated it like a mission from God and Cuddy was pretty sure they'd hit every maternity or baby store in a sixty mile radius. As a result, she had more to take home than would fit in her small suitcase. Borrowing a bag from her mother was the only way to get the purchases home.

"So, the father....?" Carol Cuddy was slightly shorter than her daughter, and about twenty-five pounds heavier. They shared blue eyes and brown hair but otherwise, Lisa took more after her father. She'd definitely gotten his nose and curly hair. Cuddy's main inheritance from her mother had been shopping, obviously, and a belief that a successful woman was always well-groomed and well-dressed. Her mother might not have the figure she'd had before marriage and three children, but she always looked her best and her best was not too shabby.

"I already told you all I'm going to tell you," Cuddy said.

"You told us he's a doctor," her mother said as she began to fold some of the clothes. "Do you really think we're going to let it go at that?"

Cuddy let out an exasperated sigh. No, she definitely knew her parents weren't going to let it go at that but she definitely wasn't telling any more. If House wasn't going to be part of this baby's life, there was no point in telling her parents about a man they'd never meet. And, on the slim chance that they would ever meet House, she didn't want to prejudice them by anything she might say. Especially anything she might say right then when she was so emotionally raw. House could make enemies well enough on his own. He didn't need her spelling out his faults to her parents. If they ever met, she wanted them to judge House by their own experiences.

"I think I hear Dad. He probably needs you for something."

Her mother let out a disdainful snort. "Please. He's probably sleeping in the Lazy Boy, worn out by the exertion of watching football all day."

"Maybe he needs me for something," Cuddy said although she didn't hold much hope of evading her mother's questions.

"Dr. Daddy," her mother said, pressing on as if Cuddy hadn't spoken. "Not your husband. Not your fiance. Is he at least your boyfriend?"

"It's complicated."

"Complicated how? Is it one of those...friends with benefits things?"

"Mom?" Cuddy said, staring at her in shock.

"What? I know about these things. I do watch television." Her mother held a blouse up to Cuddy and nodded. "Red's a good color for you." She laid the blouse down and began to fold it. "Is he gay?"

"Mom!" Cuddy shook her head in disbelief. Yes, she knew her mother was not ignorant of the world around her but still, some of the things she said. "No, he's not gay. Why would you even ask?"

"Sometimes, things don't work out normally so people make other...arrangements. I'm just trying to understand your arrangement."

"We're...still working that out," Cuddy said. God , she hoped they could still work something out. She hadn't lied to House when she told him she wanted him in their child's life even if they couldn't solve their differences. She wanted her child to have a father. And she wanted House to have the chance to experience being a father. She wanted him to see he could be a good father.

"Do you love him?"

"Yes."

"Does he love you?" her mother persisted, tossing a baby blanket into the suitcase half folded.

"As much as he can." Cuddy shook her head. Even that was giving away too much. She didn't want her parents worrying about her. She didn't want them...fussing. She could handle it by herself. She'd be fine. And they'd be happier not knowing all the details. "Is Dad angry?"

"At you? Why would he be?" Her mother reached for another blouse to fold. She gave an off-hand shrug when Cuddy looked at her. "He's disappointed. You're his only daughter and he looked forward to dancing at your wedding."

"Bet he didn't look forward to paying for it," Cuddy said dryly.

Her mother patted her on the shoulder. "That's why you have me, Lisa."

"Are you disappointed?" Cuddy ducked her head, then forced herself to lift her chin and look directly at her mother.

"I love you. The rest is details," her mother said dismissively. Cuddy hesitated, then turned to close the suitcase. She couldn't imagine it was that simple. She knew she'd shocked her parents with the news. It wasn't the first time she'd ever shocked them--she wasn't exactly a 'traditional' woman--but this was shocking on a whole different level. Still, she knew, too, that they did love her in spite of everything and maybe that did simplify things.

"I love you, too. Thank you," she said, embracing her mother.

"Good." Her mother squeezed her tight then pulled back to look at her, eyebrows arched in a warning. "I still want to know more about Dr. Daddy."