"Greg. Greg, I know you're there. I can practically see you sitting next to the phone…drinking your beer…Dammit, Greg! Pick up the phone! I swear to God … fine. But you can't ignore me forever. Just call me."

The screeching beep echoed through the apartment, ending Emily's message. House glanced over at the answering machine, now telling him that he had six new messages. He hadn't been avoiding his sister, not really. But since their reunion nearly eight months before, he had assumed the job of older brother; the one never too eager to talk to his sister. Making up for lost time; that's what he told Cameron every time she'd narrow her eyes as Emily's voice recorded, House pretending he couldn't hear a thing, That was the look she was shooting him now, her lips pressed into a thin line. House took a sip of his beer, his eyes straight ahead on the basketball game. Cameron pulled her bare feet up on the couch inspecting her newly painted toes. Peach Shimmer. The color House had randomly chosen out of her bag the night before.

"House…"

"Cameron."

Even though they had been secretly – with the exception of Wilson and Cuddy – dating for several months, they still called each other by their last names. It was mostly out of habit, but they also figured that if they got too used to using first names at home, it could possibly slip out around the office. They were careful at the hospital, House sure to annoy Cameron as much as usual, Cameron sure to react just as explosively as ever. Luckily, Wilson and Cuddy were busy figuring out their relationship, and could not be bothered to not-so-subtly hint anything to anyone.

And that was another thing. Wilson and Cuddy. Cuddy and Wilson. It still sounded like nails on a chalkboard to House. Unlike House and Cameron, Wilson and Cuddy didn't have that option of pretending. Cuddy was due in less than a month, and her stomach had expanded to the size of a small boulder. When she first started showing, that was when the rumors started flying, before she and Wilson had said anything. Almost the whole hospital suspected House was the father. The day Wilson came to work with a dozen pink roses (Cuddy's favorite) fully settled the general knowledge that Wilson was Cuddy's guy.

Cameron shook her glass, the ice jumping around in the lemonade. Though House had air conditioning installed in his apartment, the heat was still getting to them. Cameron had been crashing at his place since the beginning of June, unable to bear the stuffiness in her own apartment. She wished that House would just come out and ask her to move in, but she knew that he probably wasn't ready to take that step yet. House took another sip of his beer. Silence roamed through the apartment like it owned the place, save for the sounds of the basketball game on TV.

House glanced over at Cameron, and, seeing the sharp lines etched onto her face, let out a heavy sigh, and scooted down the couch so that their sides were touching. Cameron smiled; it was on the occasion that he would do something as simple yet as intimate as this that she would remember why she loved him. She rested her head on his shoulder, letting him wrap his strong arm around her, pulling her close. His hand sneaked beyond the waistband of her pajama pants, tangling with the straps of her underwear.

"I think I need a shower," Cameron said suddenly. House glanced at the clock on the wall.

"It's almost four-thirty," he informed her.

"So. Never too late to get clean." She pulled his hand from its hiding place, and got to her feet, smirking down at a bewildered House. "It's OK, there is method to my madness," she said coyly, leaning down to kiss him square on the forehead. House leaned his head back and watched her pad down the hallway to his bedroom. A year earlier he never even would have allowed himself to imagine having someone halfas beautiful as Cameron fall in love with him. He still tried not to think too much about it, afraid that this might all just be some wonderful dream.

Barely even twenty minutes later Cameron came back into the living room, her hair still damp from the shower. She had on some short shorts that were almost hidden under one of House's many Rolling Stones shirts. What may have looked ridiculous on anyone else made her look like a supermodel.

"Are those Chase's shorts?" House asked, lifting up the hem of her shirt with his cane. She just rolled her eyes and tugged on the cane.

"Come on, get up. We're going."

"Going? Where?"

"If I told you, that would defeat the purpose of keeping it a surprise," she said playfully. House raised an eyebrow, contemplating her for a moment. Her eyes were bright with excitement, and his defenses weakened. He had wanted nothing more than to spend his day off lounging on the couch with a beer and the woman he loved. And he had almost made it. Letting out a breath he had been holding, House got slowly to his feet, and followed Cameron out his front door.

Cameron led him by the hand down to his bike, quickly snapping his cane into its holder. She swung her leg over, waiting for House to get settled behind her. Ever since he had taught her how to drive the thing after the snow had gone, she only wanted to take the bike anywhere and only if she could drive. He didn't mind; it made her happy, so he was happy.

House got on behind her, the both of them pulling on their helmets. As soon as his arms had slunk around her waist, Cameron started the bike, and took off. You'd never know it from looking at her that she was a speed demon, House had thought. Her first time driving it, his arms had gone stiff from holding her so tight. It was thrilling to ride with her driving, because she didn't feel like she had to protect her passenger.

Cameron drove around for a while, enjoying the feeling of House behind her, his hands sneaking under her shirt, tickling her stomach. She loved the feeling of his hands on her skin, like leather to silk. But eventually she felt she had the need to have something to show for her efforts, and came to a smooth stop beside the pond. It was at the pond that House had taught Cameron how to fish, and where Cameron had taught House to lose gracefully when it came to seeing who could catch the most.

"You don't have any fishing poles," House noted, easing off the bike.

"No I don't…but they do." Cameron's voice had that playful tone about it again and House looked around to see Cuddy and Wilson making their way towards them with fishing poles and Wilson's worn tackle box. Cuddy was draped in a loose floral summer dress, an old woven hat shading her eyes. She held a bowl of sliced watermelon out in front of her swollen belly. As strange as it was for House to admit, Cuddy looked genuinely happy next to Wilson. When she had discovered that she was pregnant, things hadn't looked so good for her and Wilson's future. But it hadn't taken them long to realize that they needed each other. It bothered Cameron that they were going to have an illegitimate child, but House knew that Wilson wasn't ready to go that far yet. Not after three failed marriages. No. It was better to wait now.

"Someone order some fun in the sun?" Wilson called. House raised an eyebrow. This was one change Wilson's thing with Cuddy House did not enjoy; Wilson was constantly cheery. Always walking around with a smile on his face and a spring in his step. It got somewhat sickening after a while. Wilson went over to the shore, gently setting down the gear. Cameron hurried over to Cuddy to take the bowl from her. Cuddy had gotten so huge that any movement she made looked painful.

"Lisa, you look nice," Cameron breathed.

"Thanks…so do you," she returned with a smile. Unconsciously, Cameron smoothed a hand over her stomach.

The four gathered around the bowl of watermelon as Cameron set it on a picnic table. There is something about eating watermelon on a sunny day that just makes you happy. Each sloppy bite dripping with the pink juices, rimming your mouth, dripping down your arm. It's a mess, but delicious. House looked ridiculous, chasing the speedily drops down his forearm with his tongue, while Cuddy went the safe route, cutting bite sized chunks of with a plastic fork. They emptied the bowl with amazing speed, House and Wilson having a contest to see who could spit their seeds the farthest. It was only after Cameron thought she'd join and beat them both, that they decided it was fishing time. Cuddy sat with her back against the trunk of the big oak tree and watched them. Wilson only caught two fish before he decided to give Cuddy some company. The sun was sinking over the horizon, basking them in the twilight.

"Look at that," Cameron whispered, looking over House's shoulder. He turned to see Cuddy lying in Wilson's arms, and both of them appeared to be asleep. House's first instinct was to gag, but as he looked at his friend, he saw how content he was. It almost made him sad; to know that this was one of the few times he had ever seen James look that way.

"We should get going," House said, shaking himself out of his reverie. "It's gonna get dark real soon, and I don't trust you driving in the dark."

"I only hit that trash can once," Cameron argued with a smile. House shrugged, in a whatever you say gesture. Chuckling to herself, Cameron went to wake Cuddy and Wilson while House loaded Wilson's car. The day hadn't been such a total waste after. House knew that. He was glad he had Cameron to drag him off on nearly pointless days out. And he was glad to have Cameron to save him from being alone.