A/N: Okay, here's chapter two. I'm sorry I didn't post it earlier, but a) then it was my b-day, b) then my computer was broken, c) I couldn't login, and d) I couldn't figure out how to put up a new story and the e) my computer broke AGAIN! So I am sorry. And I was pretty mad. And I couldn't find my house key, so I had to break into my house. Which was just ridiculous. So yeah. But I'm pretty much done rambling now, so I guess it's story time! Oh, wait! Thank you Limaccia, AllyCameron, JackSam, mikesfbuddynomore, Nahya, sabu53, catgrl, MioneSevShipper for reviewing/ adding me to favorites or whatever you did. I will love you guys forever in a non- creepy way!!

Chapter Two

Stories Are Told

Disclaimer: Wasn't mine. Isn't mine. Won't be mine.

A month and a half later, the entire hospital was still in shock that Evangeline, the steadfast Christian, and House, the atheist cynic, were the best of friends. Of course, the entire hospital wasn't privy to the conversation House and Evangeline had on the roof two weeks after her arrival in New Jersey.

*Flashback*

"So you're an orphan?" House asked bluntly. He'd gone up to the roof to hide from Cuddy and daydream about Cameron. He really wanted to be alone, so he decided that if he were inordinately rude to Evangeline, she would go away.

Evangeline had figured as much. She also had already decided that the aunt and House were meant to be together, so she was going to do anything and everything in her power to get them together.

"Yeah. My parents died in a car crash last year, while I was away at boarding school. It was right before summer break, and we had plans to go on a cruise. Instead, they were buried. I cried for days."

"You were close to your parents, then?" House didn't know why he wanted to know this girl's story. He didn't even like kids, and yet here he was, talking to a girl he barely knew.

"Oh, yes! I didn't see them much, because I was always away at school. I came home for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and summer. But they always had business trips and conferences and things like that. When I was younger, they'd coordinate their schedules so that one of them were always home with me, but then they got a new boss who made them work all the time. I tried not to show how much it bothered me. It wasn't their fault, and I didn't want them to feel bad." Evangeline's eyes were rimmed with red, and filling up with suppressed tears.

"My mom loved to cook. When we were both home, we'd give the cooks some time off and have fun. We normally had to order in because we made such a mess, but I loved those times with her. She didn't seem like a mom, just one of my friends. And Daddy, he was wonderful. He taught me how to read. We'd spend hours together in the library. Even if he was doing paperwork, I knew I could tell him anything.

"When they died… I felt so lost. Even though I rarely saw then them, I still loved them. They were my parents. I didn't only love them from duty though. I loved them because they were always trying to make life better for me, even if it meant giving up something. I know they were always gone so I could have a good life. And I did. We had a huge house- a mansion, really. We were the richest people in Philadelphia. I had bodyguards to follow me around so I didn't get kidnapped. And indoor and outdoor pool, huge gardens, a horse, riding lessons, whatever I wanted. The bodyguards were always inconspicuous, when I went anywhere. My boarding school is in Manhattan, and it's with a bunch of other rich kids. The best of the best- the best teachers, French chefs, huge dorms. And I had friends there. We were all equals- being wealthy was no big deal. But I don't want to go back. If Aunt Allison will let me, I want to stay here. I could have a chance to see what it's like for everyone. I could be normal."

She fell quiet for a minute. "But what's your story? There's something, something that's eating at you from the inside. There's someone, or something, you haven't forgiven yet."

House took a deep breath and let it out. Only Wilson knew his story. He considered not telling her, but he felt like he could trust this vertically challenged teen.

"My story is much different from yours. I was abused as a child. My dad locked me up on bread and water, threw me out in the snow with light clothes on, whipped me, and other horrors. I learned very early on that I had to be perfect. That, of course, is impossible, and so I was punished. My mom never could do anything. He abused her too. And I hate him. I hate him for doing that to us. I hate the Marines for making him that way."

"You hate your dad for being heartless and cold. But aren't you heartless and cold sometimes, too?"

"Yeah, but I've got other reasons."

"So did your dad bum your leg too?" Evangeline asked.

"No, that's a different story. I was dating Stacy, and I started to get a lot of pain in my leg. I went to the doctors, who prescribed pain relief and bed rest. I finally figured out it was an infarction, and the doctors wanted to amputate my leg. I wouldn't let them. I told them to them to try a bypass to restore the circulation. It worked, but I was in a lot of pain. I told the doctors to put me in a coma, and Stacy was my proxy. She decided to go against my wishes and take out the dead muscle tissue. Because they pulled out so much tissue, I have limited use of my leg, and since they waited so long for the procedure, I have limited use of my leg. I told her I forgave her, but she was torn by guilt and couldn't bear to see my pain and know that she caused it. We had huge fights and finally she walked out of my life. I buried myself in my work and tried not to think of her anymore. For the most part, I succeeded."

"But you still haven't forgiven her or your dad. You should, you know. I never even got to tell my parents I loved them before they were taken away from me. And they were atheists, so I won't see them in Heaven. And I know that you don't believe that I would see them anyways, but I don't care."

"Actually, I was wondering how you became a Christian if your parents were atheists." There was also a part of his brain wanting to make a snarky comment, but Cameron had told him not to.

"My nanny was a Christian, and she taught me about Jesus even before I could understand. When I was four years old, I accepted Him as my Savior." They sat in solitude for several minutes before House spoke.

"What do you think of everyone here?"

"I think that Foreman is kind and big brother-ish. Wilson is like that too. He seems kind of sad sometimes, but I don't know why. Cuddy is nice and it seems like she'd do anything for the hospital. Personally, I think Wilson and Cuddy would make a good couple." She didn't mention Chase, and House wanted to know why.

"What about Wombat?"

Evangeline shifted a little. "Well, I know I'm supposed to love my neighbor, but I can't seem to like him, or even want to. I.… There's something about him, a feeling, a sixth sense, if you will… I just don't feel like I can trust him. Does that make any sense?"

"It makes perfect sense. You don't trust him because he isn't trustworthy."

"Then why… Never mind."

"What were you going to ask?"

"Well… I don't mean to pry, but if you don't trust him, why did you hire him?"

House almost smiled at Evangeline's question. She asked it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I hired him because his dad asked me to."

"I wouldn't have taken you as someone who does things just because they're asked. But I shouldn't judge people either. I didn't think you could be as mean as people make you out to be."

House really did smile at this. "What do they say about me?"

"Well, they don't really come out and say anything, but they all look at you like you're going to eat me when I'm around you."

"You're observant, aren't you?"

"You're in love with my aunt, aren't you?" Evangeline asked in return. "I wouldn't say anything, even though I know you are. You watch her. Not in a creepy way, just with a soft look in your eyes. And your expression says, 'You mess with her, you're going to get whacked with my cane.' Nobody else has noticed. Well, Wilson might have, but I don't think so. He's too busy looking at Cuddy with puppy- dog eyes.

House didn't bother to reply. He couldn't live to this naïve, innocent, pixie- like girl, who looked just like his Cameron.

"It's okay. It'll work out. I know it will. She likes you too. She's just afraid you don't like her. But no worries. I'll figure something out."

"Wait. You've only been here two weeks. How could you figure out how your aunt and I feel in so short amount of time?"

"Actually, I had no idea you felt that way. It was a wild guess."

"Wait! Does this mean you don't know how Cameron feels?"

"House! If you had meant it, and my aunt didn't love you back, I wouldn't have pretended that she did. I'm not sadistic," Evangeline said indignantly.

**End Flashback**

So, how'd you like it? I'm probably not going to update for a while, because I'm starting a new story. It's a Harry Potter fanfic. I wasn't even planning to write it, but I got this idea and it wouldn't go away. So, it might be a while. And this chapter was pretty long, I thought. Of course, I also hate typing.

-Bean