Title: Happily Ever After
Author: Amanda
Feedback: sweety167yahoo.ca
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I'm not really sure who owns House M.D., but I know it's not me.
Spoilers/Continuity: AU/Future Fic
Pairing: Cameron/ House
Warning: Character Death.
Summary: Happily ever after is a lie everyone tells.
Completed: January 23, 2007

"And they lived happily ever after?"

Allison Cameron looked down at the pair of sparkling blue eyes that were gazing up at her with hope and excitement. Had she really zoned out that far during her daughter's favourite story?

"Mommy?" her daughter prodded again. For a moment, the eyes took on a familiar, questioning stare. But in a blink, the innocence was back.

It seemed she had. But given what day it was, she was surprised to be functioning at all. Five years today. It was five years ago today.

She reached down to stroke the wispy brown hair of the four year old's head. So small, but such piercing eyes. Haunting now. Unnerving.

And the question mocked her. Did they? Did anyone ever really live happily ever after like it said in all the fairy tales she read? Cameron was struck with the urge to tell her child the truth. The whole blunt, ugly truth. No. No they didn't live happily ever after. The Prince wasn't charming. The Princess couldn't save him. And there was no fairy godmother to make it all sunshine and puppies.

But she couldn't do that.

She couldn't bring herself to rob that innocence from those bright blue eyes with something as dirty and sordid as the truth. That sweet hopefulness that let's you believe that it's possible to have the happy ending was important. It was needed.

Why not let the child believe that anything was possible? Like she believed, once. Before one too many overdoses. Bitterly, she could vaguely remember the time before, when one overdose was too many. Not something you expected every few months.

Unrealistic. The voice in the back of her head grunted.

There was even a time before when she thought everyone could be cured. When all it would take was a little extra care, some hope and a lot of patients. Love never hurt either.

Idealistic. She could hear the sneer, as sharp as it had ever been.

But she learned. Was faced with the reality, the cold, bitter reality. She could still see him, sprawled out on the floor of his living room. Empty bottles. Scotch. Vicodin. The stillness in the air that screamed this time it was different. This time was it.

And seven months later she was a single mother. That's not happily ever after…

It's reality. A cocky smirk flashed in her memory.

She looked down at her child, their child and smiled; "Of course they lived happily ever after."

After all, everyone lies.

end.