Title: Dreams

Author: mmorgan317 (LJ) or pisces317 (FF)

Rating: PG-13, will rate individual chapter if strong content applies

Summary: What happens when House and Wilson adopt a "troubled" teen?

Spoilers: None that I can think of, will warn if something pops up

Disclaimer: Not mine, just borrowing.

Author's Notes: ~Personal Warning~ I had a dream last night that has prompted me to write this story. The dream made me long for something I've longed for for over 16 years – fatherly love.

AN2: This story will have a fairly depressed air to it but there will be chapters of happiness for the new family.

Chapter 1:

House grumpily woke to the sound of Wilson's alarm blaring loudly. He wasn't happy to have been dragged out of his pleasant dream but waking up to being snuggled with Wilson, the man's scent wafting over him and surrounding him like a blanket, made up for it easily.

The alarm continued its sleep shattering blare and still Wilson slept on so House opted for rolling onto Wilson and turning it off himself. The oncologist groaned with House's actions and for a second House felt guilt clench his stomach; he'd forgotten that Wilson had hurt his back a few days ago and that while he was feeling better, it wasn't 100% yet.

Movement in the kitchen alerted House that Maria was awake and making a pot of coffee. He let loose a small smirk with the thought of their adopted daughter but soon felt the smirk grow into an alarmingly wide grin, spreading warmth into his blue eyes.

They'd been officially a family for just under a year and were still getting used to each other but while Maria often pretended that things were fine and she was happy, House could tell that she wasn't. He recognized the self destructive behavior that he himself often indulged in, though hers was different from his.

He smiled again when he recognized that though she wasn't biologically theirs, she had little quirks of her own that resembled both of them. Her ability to placate others and easily lie to them about her own true feelings was Wilson to the T while her true unhappiness and determination to torture herself for nothing was ALL House.

Beside him, Wilson rolled over onto his back, a grimace crossing his face before quickly leaving it. Groggy brown eyes opened, staring at him without focus. The pupils dilated and Wilson smiled a loopy smile. "Hey," he greeted. He'd learned long ago not to say 'Good Morning' to House ever because in the diagnostician's opinion – it NEVER was a good morning.

"Morning sleeping beauty," House greeted in return with a smile.

Wilson inhaled deeply, unable to stop the smile that came upon his face, "Maria made coffee again?"

"Yep!" House turned over to his right, used his well toned arms to leverage himself to a sitting position and popped a couple Ibuprofen to ease the searing pain in his damaged thigh.

"She does know that she doesn't have to do that right?" Wilson asked, easing his own aching body off the bed. He grimaced as pain shot through his lower back but made no move to ease it. He didn't want House's focus on him today.

"Yeah, I think the thousand times you have told her may have sunk in." House sniped.

"Not necessarily, she is as stubborn as you are."

House turned towards his lover and put on a hurt expression, "I listen to you, I just don't do what you say."

Wilson was about to make a salacious comment but Maria called out, "Guys, it's time to get up! You can't be late for work, Cuddy will kill you both!"

With a groan, Wilson turned to look at the clock and nearly fell off the bed in shock when he realized that they only had half an hour to get dressed and to work. He stood up, zooming around the room like a frantic hummingbird, "You changed my alarm again?" He called out exasperatedly while trying to quickly ease his aching body into his clothes.

House merely laughed, "You've known me how long?"

"House!" Wilson lectured loudly. He turned around to continue only to hiss when pain radiated through his back and down his legs. Instinctively, he put a hand on his lower back to try to massage the pain away.

House found himself unable to stop the wince that crossed his face. He didn't like to see Wilson in pain and while he wouldn't normally show anyone at work his true feelings, he had no problems showing his family.

He limped over to his friend and pulled him into a hug, his strong hands taking over the duties of massaging. He allowed his hands and body to relay the message he couldn't bring himself to say out lout: I'm sorry. Don't Worry. And I love you!

"Not that I don't enjoy seeing you two be loving towards each other but you really don't have time for it right now." Maria's soft voice announced.

The men turned to find her leaning in the doorway with two to-go mugs of coffee in one hand, House's backpack slung over her shoulder, two coats resting on top of the strap and Wilson's brief case in her available hand.

"Those months of waitressing sure helped make you able to multitask." House commented upon seeing her.

Maria gave a smirk that was both sultry and beguiling, "I've always been able to multitask, you just wouldn't know about it."

Wilson choked on his first sip of coffee and House returned the smirk. Yes, he knew that she was popular with men and it didn't surprise him but Wilson chose to remain ignorant to the idea.

"And on that note, we have to go." Wilson commented with a smile. Despite House's thoughts that he was ignorant to the men that floated through Maria's life, he wasn't. He understood that she would have many boyfriends.

Maria had a way about her that drew most guys, young or old, to her. She could keep up with House even when he was at his snarkiest but she could be compassionate when she could tell that Wilson needed it as well.

Standing at just over 5'3" and weighing in at 135, she was petite but there was a hidden strength that many other than House and Wilson didn't see. Her long, wavy chestnut hair accented her round face and porcelain skin. The honey brown eyes poked out from under long, thick eyelashes, easily drawing anyone in who looked long enough.

She had an adaptive personality which easily allowed her to get along with everyone yet she held them all at arms length, not letting them get too close.

It made him sad to realize just how lonely she was but knew it would take time for her to trust him enough to let him in.

Sensing his intentions, Maria interrupted him with a, "Go! I'll meet you at the hospital after school. I'm assuming you both will be working late?"

Wilson remembered his schedule for the day and almost felt immediately drained, "Probably," he admitted with a blush. He felt guilty because he and House couldn't offer her a traditional family home but then again, if she'd wanted traditional she probably wouldn't have opted to have two men be her parents.

"K, I'll pick up some dinner on the way. Pizza sound good?"

"Sounds perfect!" House called out. He'd already begun making his way to the door.

Maria smiled a warm, welcoming smile then leaned in and gave Wilson a gentle hug and a peck on the cheek. "I'll see you later. Try not to wear yourself out chasing after him."

A warmth Wilson hadn't felt for a long time spread through him, heating his cheeks. Though she was outwardly saying to not let House off his leash, he'd heard the warning underneath them: Be careful. "Thanks."

Walking stiffly to the door, Wilson met up with House and left. Before getting into the car, he looked back into the apartment window and felt himself looking forward to the evening when he could share a meal with his family.

Maria watched with fond concern as her adoptive parents slowly made their way to the car. She worried about both of them equally but would only allow it to come through with Wilson. House hated concern. He thought it a step above pity and pity was something he would NOT accept.

As they drove away, the fond expression in her eyes turned to sadness. Last night she'd dreamt about her father before he'd died. She felt his love cocoon her, protect her, so much so that when she'd awoken, she immediately missed the warmth. She blushed when she'd remembered the tears she had allowed to stream down her cheeks as she lay in bed, quietly crying so as not to wake the men.

When she was 10, her father had come down with a mysterious illness that had had five doctors stumped. By the time he'd been referred to House, the disease had been too far advanced. He'd stayed alive long enough for House to figure out what it was – the puzzle being the main thing that kept him going.

Her mother had fallen ill shortly after her father had died. After two consults and several blood tests she'd been referred to Wilson. She knew the news was bad from the look on his face alone. Her time spent around House during her father's illness (and therefore Wilson as well) had allowed her to learn the oncologist's facial expressions better than most.

Wilson informed them that her mother was in the later stages of ovarian cancer. It had metastasized to her lungs sometime during her months of refusing to get checked out and now there wasn't anything he could do but make her comfortable.

It had made her sad to hear but Maria knew she would not mourn her mother as much as she did her father. She and her mother had never been close and so they didn't share the same connection as she and her father had.

She'd remained strong for her mother in her final days in the hospital. She welcomed visits from Wilson and House's team. She'd been pleasantly surprised when House himself had started visiting with her; talking to her, trading barbs and snarky comments and playing various mind games that she returned in kind.

When the two men had come to her the night her mother had died and suggested that she stay with them she had felt honored and shy. She could tell that Wilson thought they should have waited longer but House had talked him into saying something now.

Staying for the night turned into staying until after the funeral. When a social worker had come up to her to talk about finding her a foster home, Maria about had a panic attack. The only thing that had stopped her was House's strong hand on her shoulder, grounding her, assuring her.

House immediately told the social worker that he and Wilson were her foster parents and already had paperwork started to become her adoptive parents. She kept her mask of calm on her face but inside she was shocked beyond belief.

A part of her wanted so dearly to believe him but she also knew that House had no problem with lying to public officials when it suited him. When Wilson confirmed House's statement and actually pulled out the forms from his jacket pocket, Maria felt herself go weak in the knees and her breathing increase tenfold.

She waited until the social worker left then all but collapsed onto the stone bench by a random grave. The two men apologized for not telling her sooner and for not discussing it with her before announcing it so publicly.

The surprise kept coming when House looked truly concerned about her and apologetic as well.

After slowing her breathing down to a more manageable level she quickly and vehemently assured her guardians that she couldn't be happier with their decision, though a bit surprised.

A short heart to heart talk later, they'd all agreed on some ground rules (for everyone). The first was no hookers to which Wilson nor Maria had trouble abiding by. The second was no lies. Secrets were alright and understandable but if any of them were asked a direct question, they weren't allowed to lie. The third and final was that she did NOT have to call them father, dad, papa or anything which she was very grateful for. She was perfectly comfortable referring to them as House and Wilson and while it was a bit unconventional, it worked for them.

Her phone chirped, breaking her out of her painful memories. She smiled at the reminder sent by House to get her butt moving or else she'd be late for school. The man never failed to surprise her with just how much he understood her.

She responded quickly thanking him for the reminder and reminding him to take it easy on Wilson today or else he'd have her to deal with. Tossing her phone onto her bed, Maria hopped into the shower to get to school on time for her morning pre-calculus class.

Like Wilson, she looked forward to after school when she could be around the two people who made her most comfortable.

All mistakes are mine, I apologize for not beta-ing. I was too impatient to get this thing posted. Please review and let me know what you think!