A/N: Just a random drabble that popped into my head – sorry it's so depressing. Leave a review if you remember! The title and lyrics (the first line) are from the song, The Sound of Settling, by Death Cab for Cutie. Enjoy!

And I'll sit and wonder of every love that could have been.

Despite what she told herself, working in the ER wasn't quite as good as being his fellow, and she knew it. Just like she knew that dating Chase wasn't as good as dating House would have been. And just like she knew she was settling.

But really, what else could she do?

If he had asked - if he had just damn hinted – then she would have stayed, would have waited. She would have waited forever and a day.

But no. House would never admit that maybe Allison Cameron wasn't just his naïve little duckling who was too attached to patients. He would never admit that he might have, just maybe, felt something for her.

And so she had settled. Settled for a job that bored her half the time she was there, and settled for a boyfriend she couldn't stand half the time she was with him.

She hated herself for it, but she couldn't stand to be alone, and she couldn't manage to see him everyday and know he would never tell her. Maybe if she had been a little bolder, maybe if she had done everything differently.

Maybe, maybe, maybe.

---

Despite what he told himself, playing Survivor and the Bachelor with a ridiculous amount of fellows wasn't as good as having her make his coffee each morning, and he knew it. Just like he knew that calling a stripper wasn't as good as taking Cameron to dinner. And just like he knew he was settling.

But really, what else could he do?

If she had asked – if she had just damn hinted – he would have let her in, would have loved her. He would have been happy.

But no. Allison Cameron would never admit that maybe she still loved House, and that she had never given up even when she said she had. If she hadn't relented, hadn't dated Chase instead, he would have eventually folded. But she had moved on.

And so he had settled. Settled for strippers every Wednesday that he didn't care about, and settled for interns who were only a game to him.

He hated himself for it, but he wasn't sure if he could be happy, and he couldn't manage to look at her everyday and wonder what it might be like. Maybe if he had been less of a coward, maybe if had been less of a misanthropic bastard.

Maybe, maybe, maybe.