Blessings {Cuddy}

[Dr Angel Fraser]

Angel and Cuddy had agreed to have the blessing take place at Angel's place, where Angel would be able to prepare for the ritual that was to take place. Having just finished cleansing herself, Angel dressed in a loose fitting white dress, choosing to leave her long brown hair down. Humming quietly to herself she made her way into the backyard to set everything up on her altar. Once it was set up to her standards, she then went about setting up the candles at the corners for her circle. Looking around, she was satisfied at her preparations so she went back into her house to get the blessings she had written as well as her circle casting.

Glancing at the clock, she smiled, knowing that Cuddy would be here very soon.

[Dr. Lisa Cuddy]

Cuddy hadn't bothered to change out of her work clothes before finding something light to eat. She didn't have time to cook before she had to be at Angel's house, so she made a sandwich. She brushed her hair as she ate, and brushed her teeth when she'd finished eating. Grabbing her car keys, Cuddy left her house and made her way to the car.

As she drove, she thought. Sure, she'd agreed to do this, but she still didn't know what all was going to happen. She trusted Angel, but she hadn't had a lot of contact with her friend's religious practices. But she supposed it wouldn't hurt to give this blessing thing a shot. Following the directions Angel had given her, it didn't take too long to arrive at the place. She parked at the curb and got out of the car, locking the doors. Making her way to the front door, she took a couple deep breaths before knocking once on the door.

[Dr Angel Fraser]

Angel's ears perked up when she heard the sound of a car parking. The knock on her door made her smile, knowing exactly who it was at the door. Opening the door, she looked her friend over. "Welcome to my place." She greeted, motioning for Cuddy to step inside. "Everything's ready outside."

Closing the door behind Cuddy, she moved to stand next to her. "Now, are you absolutely sure you want to do this, because once you've entered the circle, you can't leave until I've banished it." She said, wanting to make sure that Cuddy was aware of protocol. "If you are, then I suggest you go to the washroom now cause again, you won't be able to leave until it's over. Believe me, the Goddess doesn't allow bathroom breaks." Angel chuckled, wrinkling her nose.

[Dr. Lisa Cuddy]

Lisa stepped into the house when Angel opened the door, looking around. It really was a nice place, and Cuddy could only imagine what the rest of the place looked like if the front room looked like this. She found herself wondering what the backyard looked like. She nodded when Angel told her everything was outside.

"Yeah. I'm positive I want to do this." Cuddy nodded again, a smile on her face. She would do anything to ensure that her child was safe. Especially given the risks involved with a woman of her age being pregnant. She had her family to think of...her child, her boyfriend. It still felt weird referring to House like that... She cleared her thoughts. "I'm ready," she stated. She'd taken care of everything before she'd left her own house, so there was really nothing she had to do now except let Angel do whatever it was she was going to do.

[Dr Angel Fraser]

"Alright, just making sure." Angel smiled reassuringly. She motioned for Cuddy to follow her through the house to her backyard. "Everything is ready to go, I was just waiting on you." She added, making her way towards the backyard. Holding the door for Cuddy, she waited as Cuddy crossed over the threshold to her backyard.

"Now, I need you to clear your mind. Take a couple of minutes just to focus on your breathing. In through your nose, out through your mouth." Angel instructed, as she herself did the same. "Let any negative thoughts out, forgetting them because we need complete positivity. Picture your child, holding it, loving it..." She continued, while she moved to the center of the circle. "Now, stay where you are, I will invite you into the circle. When I do, I will as you how do you enter, to which you respond, in perfect love and perfect trust."

[Dr. Lisa Cuddy]

Cuddy followed Angel through the house, trying not to look around too much. She was there for a reason; maybe she could stare at everything the next time she was invited over. When Angel opened the door to the backyard, Cuddy stepped over the threshold and took it all in. The yard was huge! Plenty of room for a kid to run around and play. Well..at least she knew the kid would get his exercise while staying with Auntie Angel... She couldn't help but chuckle a little at that thought.

Angel was speaking again, and Lisa focused her attention on her friend's instructions. She breathed as she was told to, clearing everything from her mind. Cuddy focused completely on Angel's words, doing everything she was told to do. She smiled as she imagined holding her baby, wide eyes staring up at her, small hands reaching up toward her. Her perfect baby...the perfect combination of House and herself...

She nodded, still smiling, so filled with love for her child.

[Dr Angel Fraser]

Angel closed her eyes for a moment before grabbing her matches. Clearing throat, she raised her hand, picking up her wand off the altar. She pointed at the eastern candle first, and spoke as she turned clockwise slowly, imagining a thin ribbon of light creating a circle around her.

"I consecrate this circle of power, to the Ancient Ones
Here may they manifest and Bless their children
This is a time, that is not a time, in a place, that is not
a place, on a day that is not a day.
We stand on the threshold between worlds, before the veil
of mysteries.
May the Ancient Ones help and protect us in our journey.
By the powers of the ancient ones, I bind all power within
this circle, into this spell.
So mote it be."

Turning to face Cuddy, she smiled, pointing her wand at Cuddy.

"Let all those that are joined within this circle, come forward In love and peace, and announce themselves.

What is your name and how do you wish to join in?"

[Dr. Lisa Cuddy]

Cuddy listened as Angel spoke, waiting for her cue. She kept her focus, breathing deeply. She let out a breath as Angel cued her. She swallowed the sudden lump in her throat, wanting to be certain her words were clear. As instructed, she spoke.

"Lisa Cuddy enters in perfect love and perfect trust," she replied, hoping she was doing it right. She would hate to screw up Angel's ritual...

[Dr Angel Fraser]

Angel smiled, noticing the slight nervous hint in Cuddy's voice. She had to admit, her friend was doing a very good job for someone who had never studied. Moving to the edge of her circle, she used her wand and created a "doorway" into the circle. She motioned Cuddy to step in, and once Lisa had entered, she closed the "doorway" so that nothing else could enter.

Moving back to her altar, she picked up her long matches and lit one, moving to the East candle again. In a clear voice, she continued casting her circle.

Hail to the Guardians of the East. Blessed air who cools us the breath of life in all, welcome to the circle.
Hail to the Guardian of the South. Sacred flame that sparks
life in all, our protection and father, welcome to the
circle.
Hail to the Guardians of the West. Waters of life, where all
are cleansed and reborn, welcome to the circle.
Hail to the Guardians of the North. Mighty earth who feeds
us, our home and mother, welcome to the circle.

This circle is bound, with power all around.
Between the worlds I stand, with protection at hand.

As she spoke, she moved to each corner, lighting the candles as she went. Smiling she returned to her altar, her focus now on the white candle in the center of it.

I invoke and call upon thee O mother Goddess, and
O Father God, from who all is given, in love,
We invite you into our circle; Touch us, change us,
Make us whole.

Lighting the center candle, she turned back to face Cuddy. Placing her hands on Cuddy's stomach, which wasn't showing yet, she smiled at her friend.

"Great God and Goddess, I ask you to bless Lisa Cuddy and baby House. I ask that you watch over them, make them strong and see them through their path to birth. May baby House be born without complications and protect his mother from any serious problems that may arise. I ask you to do this Great God and Goddess. S mote it be."

[Dr. Lisa Cuddy]

Cuddy stepped forward when motioned to do so, and stopped when she felt that she should. She watched Angel light the candles, listened as she spoke. She had to keep reminding herself that Angel knew what she was doing. This whole thing was new to Cuddy, and she had to trust that Angel knew that too. But she trusted Angel implicitly.

Lisa smiled back at Angel when her friend touched her stomach. Her smile grew as the child was referred to with House's last name. She imagined having her baby's name written like that on the birth certificate... Last Name: House. It would be official, and House would probably have moved into her place almost completely by that time. Her head filled itself with thoughts of waking up next to him every morning, both of them raising their baby together.

[Dr Angel Fraser]

Angel smiled, noticing how positive her friend looked. "You're glowing." She said softly, removing her hands from her friend's stomach. "Almost done." She added, moving back towards the center of the circle. Holding her arms up, she spoke.

"Great Goddess and God, We thank thee for thy presence,
For your circle, For your light and love, For the night
And change, We ask for your blessings as you depart.
Hail and Farewell. Blessed Be."

Leaning over, she blew out the candle on her altar, then moved to the East candle.

"Hail to the Guardians of the East. Thank you for attending
our circle. Go in peace and know you are always
welcome here.
Hail to the Guardians of the South. Thank you for attending
our circle. Go in peace and know that you are always
welcome here.
Hail to the Guardians of the West. Thank you for attending
our circle. Go in peace and know that you are always
welcome here.
Hail to the Guardians of the North. Thank you for attending
our circle. Go in peace and know that you are always
welcome here."

As she moved to each candle, she blew them out one by one. Closing her eyes, she picked up her wand again and pointed it West. In a calm voice, she spoke, moving counter-clockwise.

"The circle is open, but not unbroken
May the peace of the Goddess and God, go in our
hearts.
Merry Meet, and Merry Part, and Merry Meet again.
Blessed Be. So mote it be."

Putting her wand down, she took a deep breath. Releasing it, she moved to Lisa. "Congratulations Lisa, you've experienced your first Wiccan circle." She smiled, hugging her. "Why don't we go get something to nibble in. I believe I still have some sugar cookies I made earlier this week."

[Dr. Lisa Cuddy]

Glowing? Cuddy didn't doubt that, not for a moment. And she was sure Angel wasn't referring to the natural glow of pregnancy. She nodded once, quickly, when Angel mentioned that they were almost done. She wondered if it would have been different if they'd asked House to come along. She'd wanted to, but she hadn't seen him since he'd come to her office the week previously.

She watched Angel blow out the candles and didn't move until Angel approached her. She returned her friend's hug, feeling a great load off of her mind. Her baby would be safe, and so would she. She had to believe that, had to believe that nothing would go wrong. That everything would be fine. She didn't think her or House would be able to take the heartbreak if something horrible were to happen. So she just had to keep telling herself that everything would be fine.

"That sounds wonderful," Cuddy replied. She hadn't had sugar cookies in a while, and she didn't want to go back home just yet.

[Dr Angel Fraser]

Angel smiled, glad that Lisa would stay for a little bit. "Hm, would you care for a tour of my house too? It's small, but I like it here." She said as they moved into the house. Spotting a black shadow moving in the corner of her eye, she quickly moved to scoop up her cat. "There you are, I thought you had managed to get loose." She chuckled, stroking her cat. "Lisa, this is Shadow, my faithful friend that keeps me sane." She smiled, walking down the hallway.

"We have my room to the left, the guest room to the right, bathroom next to the guest room, and kitchen right here." She said as they moved down the hallway. "The living room is just up front near the door."

[Dr. Lisa Cuddy]

Nodding, Cuddy followed Angel back into the house. She blinked when she saw the cat. Then she started thinking about what House would say if she decided she wanted a pet for their family. Which, of course, got her thinking what kind of pet she would want. If the thought stayed with her after she left Angel's house, she'd take it up with House. See what he thought.

Suddenly, Cuddy got the most interesting thought and couldn't hold back a small giggle as she followed Angel down the hallway to the kitchen. It wasn't so much interesting as very probably a plan for the future. Since she could actually see it happening and all.

[Dr Angel Fraser]

Walking into the kitchen, she put the cat down and set about getting the cookies. Taking them off the counter, she moved to the table and put them there. "Something to drink? I have coffee, tea, milk, and I think I may have some juice." She said, moving towards the fridge.

Raising an eyebrow at Cuddy's giggles, she looked at her friend. "And just what are you thinking about?" She inquired, a smile on her lips. She was interested in just what Cuddy was thinking about, more than likely that having something to do with House and the baby.