Disclaimer: Not mine. Never gonna happen. :(

A/N: Yes, a bit late. But hey, it's here! The final chapter. Special thanks to my long-time online amiga, Chrissy (aka Kaddison), for beta-ing this thing in an hour or two, or three!

To those wondering, Penny has been crazy busy (so have I). XD We're still in contact and are friends. Haha. I have less time to write and she has less, if any, time to beta. Sad as it is. :(

I like the ending, so I don't think I'll add an epilogue anymore. But let me know if you'd like one, and I'll consider writing one last chapter. No promises, but will do consider. :) Include things you'd like to read, IF EVER I DO END UP WRITING IT, and I'll see if I can fit it in. ;) Again, no promises!

As for the Absence chapter, I'll start working on it again. Not sure when that will be posted, because it has to be perfect. You guys deserve it after such a ridiculously long wait.

I don't think I'll ever be able to express in words just how much I love you guys for sticking with me and my stories! Thank you to everyone who has read this baby, and bigger thanks to everyone who reviewed along the way. Oh, and thanks to those who have Followed this story and added it to their favorites!

Prepare a toothbrush. Fluffiness will make your teeth ache! Enjoy!

BROKEN STRINGS

XXIV

.

"House?" Cuddy called out, her brows furrowing as she caressed his empty side of the bed. It hadn't crossed her mind that he might not have wanted to stay the night.

Last night had been wonderful. It would have been more wonderful if they'd had sex, Cuddy thought longingly, but she wasn't complaining about the time she'd spent with him. They'd talked, flirted, made out, and laughed, simply enjoying the time they had to catch up. Cuddy had invited him to stay the night and he did.

She sighed and stared at the ceiling, lost in thought.

Minutes later, she couldn't help but smile when she heard the pitter-patter of two little feet against the hallway floor.

"Mama!" Rachel whispered, appearing in her mother's side of the bed.

Cuddy pulled Rachel up onto the bed, wrapping her in a hug. "Good morning, baby!" She greeted the giggling little girl and kissed her cheek.

"G'mornin'!" Rachel replied breathlessly, her giggling stopping as she focused her attention on twirling her mother's locks with her little fingers.

"Why do you have flour on your hands?" Cuddy asked, brows drawing together once more as she examined Rachel's hands. Of course, her hair had flour now as well.

"Me an' Hows makin' pancakes," Rachel said with a grin, touching the tip of her mother's nose with her little finger.

The mention of House's name made Cuddy's insides flutter. He hadn't gone. "Oh are you?" Cuddy asked Rachel as she sat both of them up.

"Yes! Pancakes with ice cream!" Rachel squealed and clambered down the bed, running towards the kitchen, yelling, "Howsssss! Mama's uuuuuuuup!"

Cuddy shook her head, an unbelievably happy smile on her lips as she dropped back down onto the mattress.

Words couldn't have described the content and happiness she was feeling at that moment. She closed her eyes, just thankful.

It took her around five minutes before she finally got out of bed. The smell of butter and pancakes called out to her from the kitchen, making her stomach grumble.

She made her way to the scene of the crime, the delicious smell of food practically carrying her there.

"More ice cream!" Rachel giggled, patting House's arm again and again as she watched him scoop strawberry ice cream to top her pancake with.

"That's enough for now, Rachel," Cuddy told her daughter as she walked in on them. She shuddered as House drizzled some Hershey's chocolate syrup on Rachel's pancake as well.

"Pancake or toast?" House asked Cuddy as he set the bottle of Hershey's on the counter.

"Get paaancakes, Mama! Like me!" Rachel urged, her cheeks pink from the sugar high she was probably already on.

Cuddy shook her head, a smirk thrown towards House's direction. "It's only nine in the morning, but she's already about ready to bounce off of the walls."

House reached across the counter, Cuddy furrowing her brows as he did, and wiped traces of flour from the tip of her nose.

Mother pouted at daughter, making the little one giggle at her with sparkling eyes.

Cuddy mouthed the word "toast" to House and he proceeded to hand her a plate with her requested breakfast.

"Thanks," she said before taking a bite.

They were quiet for a while, Rachel filling the silence with her musings about her favorite ice cream flavors.

"So..." Cuddy started, glancing at House. "When are you coming back to work?"

House grinned. "You know."

"I called Stein," Cuddy admitted, a frown on her lips as she remembered that uncomfortable conversation.

She wasn't surprised when House chuckled gutturally, making Rachel smile up at him and ask, "Why you laughing?"

"Oh nothing, young one," House cooed mirthfully, his tone teasing Cuddy.

Grin still attached to his smug face, he asked Cuddy, "So how did that go?"

Cuddy rolled her eyes at him, not answering his question. She continued eating her toast, torn between smiling back at him and slapping the grin off his face.

"I'll be back in a week or two," House told her after a while.

"Okay," Cuddy nodded with a small smile.

"Foreman might be a bit pissed, though." House grinned.

Cuddy smirked, shaking her head.

Remembering her schedule, Cuddy said, "Oh. There's this conference in New York I have to attend in two weeks."

"How many days? Want me to take the rugrat?" House offered without really thinking hard about it. He would not shout it from the rooftops, but he did like spending time with the kid.

"Just three. I've already asked Julia to cover for Rachel, but... I can tell her I found someone closer to home. Do you want to? " Cuddy asked tentatively.

House shrugged, "Sure."

"Great. She's yours for three days," Cuddy smiled. As an afterthought, she added, "Stay here. You can have my room – no snooping! – while I'm away." House arched a brow. "You can bring some stuff over. So you won't have to go back and forth between your house and mine to get things," she explained.

"Okay," he nodded.

"Hows?"

House swung his head to the side, Rachel meeting his gaze with puppy dog eyes.

"More please?"

Cuddy stifled her laugh. Her daughter had him wrapped around her little finger.

"Cuddy?" House turned his attention to the mother of the child beside him. Rachel had already had a lot of pancakes and a hell of a lot more syrup than she should have had. He was actually dreading the running-after that was to commence within the next couple of hours.

Smiling sweetly at House, a hand coming up to cradle her chin, Cuddy told him, "It's your call."

She didn't know she could love him more than she already did at that moment, when he swallowed thickly and looked back at her daughter with the same puppy dog eyes, carefully deliberating the pros and cons of giving in.

"Okay," House acquiesced after a moment, making Cuddy chuckle at his hopelessness.

"You the best, Hows," Rachel said adoringly, smiling sweetly at him, the corner of her mouth smeared with chocolate syrup and ice cream. She was high and drunk on sugar.

"He is, isn't he, honey?" Cuddy grinned, wiping Rachel's face with a napkin.

When Rachel had finally given in to her body's desperate call for a nap, House and Cuddy found themselves sitting on the couch, a silent film playing on the TV they weren't really paying attention to.

Well, Cuddy in particular wasn't paying any attention because House's hand was busy drawing circles along her arm.

"Hey," House spoke, nudging her a little.

"Yeah?" Cuddy murmured, sighing as she pressed herself against him more. She was still fixated on the feel of House's fingers against her bare skin. She was tingly, admittedly.

"Why did you keep this?" House quietly asked, pulling the ring he'd told her meant nothing to him anymore out of his pocket.

Cuddy's heart constricted at the sight of the ring.

"You told me I could do whatever I wanted with it," she said after a moment of silence, gently taking the ring from him.

"I couldn't just throw it away," she whispered, glancing up at him with sad eyes.

"Would you mind if I sold it?" he asked her, a playful smirk on his lips as he watched her caress the ring. "I'll need to have a professional get rid of that engraving, of course."

Cuddy snorted.

"What?" House asked with a grin.

Trying for sweet, Cuddy asked, "Would you mind if I kept it?"

"That ring cost me a ridiculously huge amount of money," House snorted, remembering just how much made him cringe.

Cuddy laughed. "I can't believe you were going to ask me," she told him in a whisper, placing a hand on his chest.

"Me neither," he murmured. "At one point it just felt like the logical next step."

"Now?"

"I'm glad I didn't get to ask you."

Cuddy's eyes lowered as she grazed her thumb against the crown of the ring. Hearing those words from him hurt.

"Don't make that face," House nudged her, placating her by burying his face in the crook of her neck.

"I can't not make this face," Cuddy frowned.

Sighing, House asked her, "With everything going on at that time, even if you had said 'yes', do you think things would be better than how we are now?"

House smiled a little at her as her face softened.

"I'd choose how we are right now over how we were months ago."

Cuddy nodded in agreement. "Despite everything that has transpired, you're right."

"So... Can I sell that ring?" House teased, grinning against her ear as he nuzzled her.

Cuddy sighed, "Not funny."

"It wasn't then, but I think it is, now. Mainly because you're right next to me, holding it, and secretly hoping I'll ask you again someday."

Cuddy scoffed, torn between smiling and rolling her eyes at his confidence.

"What makes you so-"

He cut her off by kissing her, effectively shutting her up at the same time.

2 Weeks Later

House rolled his eyes for what felt like the fifth time that morning.

"Her vitamins are-"

"In the medicine cabinet – where they always are."

"If she looks for me-"

"You'll be on your phone, call any time at all."

"You have my number? The hotel's number? Her pediatrician's number?"

House sighed, "Yes, Mom."

"Don't be like that," Cuddy frowned. "It's been a while since I left her to attend a conference."

"Don't worry, I've got her," he reassured.

"I know," Cuddy smiled fondly at him.

"I can't assure you she won't know how to gamble by the time you get back though," House cracked as she did a final check of her luggage. "Told Wilson we're moving Poker Night here," he grinned.

"Did you at all plan to tell me this?" Cuddy asked, straightening up. She crossed her arms as she stared at him, jaw set.

"Oi, me bilge rat, all hands on deck!" House suddenly shouted, making Cuddy roll her eyes.

Having heard her Captain, Rachel scampered towards them.

The little girl saluted clumsily and giggled, "Cap'n!"

"What did I tell Uncle Wilson about game night?"

Rachel took a few seconds to remember, then said, "Can't. Rachel-sittin'. Nest one. Bye."

House looked at Cuddy with a smirk. House looking at Cuddy made Rachel look at her as well, eyebrows up, not understanding what was happening. Cuddy rolled her eyes before bending down to lift Rachel into her arms.

"Cute." She commented in slight amusement. She nuzzled Rachel's neck playfully, making her daughter laugh shrilly.

"Oh I'm going to miss you," she said, kissing her on the crown of her head.

"It's three days," House smirked, his tone soft and fond.

Cuddy lowered Rachel back to the floor and took a deep breath.

"I'll see you two in three days," Cuddy said, giving Rachel a hug and another kiss. "Be a good girl for House, okay?" The little girl nodded.

"And you," Cuddy started, addressing House as she approached him. Rachel squealed and ran towards her bedroom as Cuddy pulled at his shirt and gave him a soft kiss on the mouth. "Try not to burn down my house – or the hospital – while I'm gone," she murmured disjointedly against his lips as she continued to kiss him.

House hummed against her lips and wrapped his arms around her.

"Kiss me like that more often and I'd probably start behaving," he breathed as they parted.

Cuddy clicked her tongue at that statement. "We can't have that. What would I do without you terrorizing my day?"

"I'm sure we can come up with something."

House waggled his eyebrows, making her roll her eyes in return.

"Hey, kid," House greeted Rachel as he sat down next to her on the couch.

Trying to mimic his voice, Rachel said, "Hey, Howsss."

House smirked and was about to reach a hand into the Lays bag between him and the tyke when she yanked it from his reach.

His eyes widened in surprise to see a different side to Cuddy's daughter.

It made him grin.

"So you're not sharing with me now," he tried to pout but the grin eating at his lips wouldn't stop.

"Yup," she sang, a shit-eating grin plastered on her face as well.

"This means war, miss," House cackled, making Rachel side-eye him slyly.

"Jus' jokin'," she said seconds later, handing him the bag.

"Mean," House stuck his tongue out at her.

The proffered bag of chips was only handed to him for disposal: it was empty.

Rachel returned the gesture, her cheeks pink from trying not to laugh.

"Mama has 'nother one in the cu'board," she revealed in a voice so innocently sweet, grinning from ear to ear. "For you."

House smiled at her, ruffling her hair with a hand. He already knew that, but it was nice knowing that she purposely didn't share just to tease him, knowing there was a bag for him.

"You sly little kelp, you."

3 Days Later

Cuddy was a bit miffed that she had to call a cab upon her arrival. House wasn't answering her calls. She knew it was late, but he'd told her he'd be at the airport to pick her up.

She thanked the cab driver for helping her with the luggage, even gave him a tip.

Silence greeted her as she stepped inside the house.

"I'm home!" Cuddy called out, closing the door behind her.

At first, Cuddy thought House and Rachel were only hiding out somewhere, waiting to pounce.

She dropped her keys on the bureau in the hallway, glancing towards the dining room as she made her way to the living room.

The sight that welcomed her home melted her heart.

Never mind that the furniture wasn't where it was supposed to be. Forget that there were bags of chips, candy and chocolate wrappers on practically every surface. Don't get her started on the toys EVERYWHERE.

There was a tent set-up in the center of her living room, its occupants asleep.

House was on his back, head and leg propped by pillows. Rachel was on her back as well, but perpendicular to House's body, using his rising and falling stomach as her pillow.

Before either moved or woke up Cuddy pulled out her phone and took a picture, smiling as she did. Assured that she had a decent photo, Cuddy quietly made her way to her bedroom and retrieved her real camera. She just couldn't let the moment pass; the two were notorious for moving and shifting when asleep.

She intended to take pictures of three scenes: the first was focused on the entire state of her living room; the second was of the tent with her dynamic duo; and the last focus she had in mind was a close up of the two people her world revolved around.

Finally satisfied, Cuddy put away her camera and changed into more comfortable clothes. She pulled out two blankets from the linen closet and proceeded to the living room.

She glanced at House and Rachel one more time, utterly adoring the sight. With a content sigh, she did what she had wanted to do that morning so many months ago: join them.

As she walked towards her daughter she almost cursed loudly when the sole of her right foot met the sharp edge of a LEGO on the floor. She picked it up, staring murderously at the small rectangle before she set it on the coffee table.

After having gotten over the LEGO piece-induced pain, she approached her daughter once more. Carefully, she covered Rachel with one blanket and kissed her on the forehead. Rachel stirred but did not wake.

She then moved to House's side, lowering herself beside him. When she was about to lay her head on the pillow next to House's head, House stirred and woke up, head turning to the side to look at her. He blinked once and one corner of his mouth tugged up.

"Hey," she breathed, smiling as she ran a hand along the side of his face.

"Hey," he greeted gruffly, voice thick with sleep. He kissed her lightly before nuzzling the side of her face. "Forgot to pick you up. Sorry."

Cuddy smiled against his lips which she had found again. "It's okay."

When they parted, he extended an arm for her to use as a pillow and pulled her against him.

"You two had fun."

"Yup," he confirmed, nose buried in her curls.

Cuddy gently threaded her fingers through Rachel's hair. As House moved to nuzzling her ear, she sighed luxuriously. "I know another thing you two will have fun doing," she murmured, smiling against the side of his face.

"Hmm?"

"Cleaning this mess up."