Chapter Text
It was another day at the hospital, and they didn’t have anyone to watch Evelien, so she was with House and Wilson at work, and they went by their daily routines.
House grumbled to himself while working in his office, trying to read messy handwriting from one of his newest team members.
“Maybe instead of medicine he should’ve studied English,” he murmurs under his breath.
The door of his office opened, revealing the small frame of Evelien, holding a cup of coffee with a grin on her face.
“You’re supposed to be with Dada, and what are you doing with that?” he perked up from his laid-back position, seeing the coffee cup with a mix of curiosity and concern.
“Dada let me bring this!” Her feet spattered against the ground as she bubbly went up to him, handing him the coffee cup.
“And, you didn’t drink any, right? You know this is a grown-up drink.”
She giggled mischievously, and that was all that house needed. He checked the cup and saw that a good amount had been drunk. He groaned and dragged his hand over his face.
“Evelien Grace House, you know better; you’re going to be wound up now.” He realized that he was fighting a losing battle; she was already giddy, bouncing around. He sighed, knowing that it was only temporary, but it was going to feel like an eternity, an eternity he was not about to deal with. He sets the cup down on his desk and stands up, taking her hand.
“Come on, I’m going to let Wilson deal with this,” he guided Evelien out of his office and to Wilson’s
“Wilson,” Evelien said slowly, like she was testing how it sounded. House quickly corrected her.
“No, No, you don’t say that, you say Dada, not Wilson, okay?”
Evelien thought for a second before nodding.
House felt a wave of relief at her understanding, and they continued to walk.
“It’s bad enough he acts like a mother hen; if he hears you calling him by his first name, he’ll kill me for sure,” he said to himself.
They finally make it to Wilson’s office, and Evelien knocks on the door before going in and seeing Wilson. “Dada!” she said, happily running to him. Wilson held out his arms, caught her, and put her in his lap.
“Hey, princess! I see you gave Daddy his coffee,” he smiled and looked up to House. His smile faded when he was met with a scolding look.
“What?”
“You trusted my offspring that doesn’t have a fully developed frontal lobe with coffee, that’s what, she drank it,” House said, walking closer with his cane tapping on the ground.
Wilson’s eyes widened. “Evelien, is this true?! Did you drink the coffee that was for daddy?” he looked down at her, hoping House was just kidding, but then she laughed, and that was all he needed.
“Gosh dang it- I’m sorry, House.” Before he could finish, House cut him off.
“Yeah, you’re gonna be. She’s your problem until she eventually crashes from her caffeine high.”
Wilson admits fault and nods; the two men look down at Evelien, who's practically vibrating with energy. She looks between the two, smiling widely before speaking.
“Wilson!”
House looks a mix of mortified and amused.
"Really, House? I leave her with you for two minutes, and now she calls me Wilson?" Wilson groaned, rubbing his forehead.
House put his hands up defensively. "Hey, don't look at me! You're the one who let her drink half of my coffee. I was just trying to prevent her from picking up your bad habits—and your name."
Wilson shot him a glare but couldn't quite hide his smirk. "You need to correct her. I’m assuming she's done this once already today?"
"Yeah, because if you heard her call you Wilson, I’d never hear the end of it!" House shot back, feigning exasperation. "Besides, Dada is your thing. I'm more of a 'Daddy of Sarcasm.'"
Evelien, still giddy and oblivious, beamed at both of them. "Wilson! Dada!"
Wilson shook his head, struggling not to laugh. "Great. She’s got options now. Next thing I know, she’ll be calling you Dr. House in the middle of daycare."
"Only if she's trying to get out of trouble," House retorted. He nudged Evelien playfully. "Alright, kiddo, which of us is more fun?"
Evelien thought about it very seriously, then gave the only answer that made sense to her: "Ice cream!"
Wilson and House exchanged a look—equal parts exasperated and fond—while Evelien began to chatter excitedly about sprinkles, completely missing the point of their banter.
Wilson cracked a smile. “That’s a win for both of us.”
House winked at Wilson. “See? Parenting. Nailed it.”
“Alright, sweetheart,” Wilson said, lifting Evelien from his lap, “let’s see if we can burn some of that energy off before Daddy decides to run lab tests on you.”
House raised an eyebrow. “Run? No. Observe like a scientist watching a hurricane hit Florida? Yes.”
Evelien was now spinning in circles, humming to herself, one sock already halfway off.
Wilson shot House a look. “You could help, you know.”
“I am helping,” House said, feet up on Wilson’s desk. “I’m providing moral support.”
“Your version of moral support usually involves insults.”
“Exactly. Builds character.”
Wilson pinched the bridge of his nose. “You’re impossible.”
House smirked. “You say that like it’s new information.”
Before Wilson could respond, a loud thunk echoed as Evelien tripped over her sock and fell onto the floor, giggling uncontrollably.
“See?” House said. “Natural selection in progress.”
“Greg.” Wilson gave him a sharp look and knelt beside Evelien. “You okay, princess?”
Evelien popped up like nothing happened, hair a mess and grin wide. “I’m a tornado!”
House smirked. “Accurate. Category Five.”
Wilson stood and sighed. “Alright, tornado. Let’s go visit Uncle Foreman, hmm? He likes kids.”
House scoffed. “He likes peace and quiet. Bringing her there is like dropping a live grenade into a yoga class.”
Evelien gasped. “Grenade!”
Wilson gave House a look. “Great. Now she’s learning military vocabulary.”
House shrugged. “Could be worse. She could’ve repeated what I said about Chase’s haircut this morning.”
“House!” Wilson hissed. “You can’t just—”
“—say the truth? I can and did.”
Before the argument could escalate, Evelien tugged on Wilson’s sleeve. “Dada, can we get ice cream now?”
House perked up. “See? She’s got priorities. She’s definitely mine.”
Wilson crossed his arms. “You realize she’s still vibrating from coffee, right? Ice cream is just—”
“Fuel for her next phase,” House interrupted. “We can use it strategically. Caffeine and sugar will knock her out later. Science.”
Wilson groaned. “That’s not how that works.”
House leaned in with a sly grin. “It’s how it works in my hypothesis.”
“Your hypothesis also involved letting her watch horror movies because it ‘builds emotional resilience.’”
“She didn’t even flinch when the clown appeared,” House said proudly. “That’s progress.”
Wilson gave him an incredulous look. “She laughed, Greg.”
“Exactly. My genes at work.”
Wilson rolled his eyes but smiled despite himself. “Remind me again why I love you?”
House tilted his head. “Because I’m tall, mysterious, and play piano?”
“Because you’re a disaster with a heart you pretend doesn’t exist,” Wilson replied smoothly.
House smirked. “Flattery’ll get you everywhere, Dada.”
Evelien gasped dramatically. “Dada said a bad word!”
Wilson blinked. “What word?”
“‘Disaster!’” she announced proudly.
House laughed. “She’s not wrong.”
Wilson sighed and picked her up. “Alright, you two maniacs. Cafeteria, ice cream, and then—”
“Nap,” House interrupted. “For all of us.”
Wilson glanced over. “You don’t nap.”
“I will if it means peace and quiet,” House said, following behind them, cane clicking rhythmically.
As they walked down the hall, Wilson gave him a sideways glance. “You know, for someone who claims to hate people, you’re surprisingly good at this whole family thing.”
House shrugged. “Yeah, well. Don’t tell anyone. I have a reputation to maintain.”
Wilson smiled softly. “Your secret’s safe with me, Daddy of Sarcasm.”
House groaned. “Don’t encourage her.”
Evelien giggled between them. “Daddy of S’casm!”
House shot Wilson a look. “You’re the worst influence.”
Wilson chuckled. “You love it.”
House smirked. “Unfortunately, yes.”