Hello again. I'm updating so soon because well you were all so nice! Hehe! Special thanks must go to: Rachel, Kat C Healy, sabu53, fishyfin1, kpreh, Josu2003, sweetgreuy, SilvaK, labelbasher, nyakattia. You guys are so great! Oh and thanks for those who've put this in their alert list and fav list too. I'm so smiling very much right now!

I'm not going to be talking much about House and Cameron's history I'm afraid, well I am talking about their history but not how they got together. A couple of times it's mentioned briefly, but not in any detail... I'm probably only going to start writing about their dating period later in the story... much later. I hope the wait will be worth it.

All the chapters are going to be really long; I did get a bit carried away. But please stick with it as there is some nice stuff happening soon (hence the horrendous amounts of House being out of character. Although House being in love and fathering a child with Cameron is a little out of character anyway so the story is always going to be a little far-fetched.)

This chapter and the next chapter are closely linked so I will upload chapter 3 soonish so you can read what happens next. Well I guess all chapters follow on from one another –oh forget it, I'm mumbling now.

Your comments are so welcome so please keep on telling me what you like, don't like, find interesting, find so boring you end up skipping parts, and anything else you feel you should share with me.

Enjoy!

Chapter 2 - Couvades Syndrome

"Greg"

No reply

"...Greg," Cameron paused in her packing and sighed. Even if he was standing at the front door he could only be 20 steps away at the most. She dropped a black band shirt onto the bed and walked into the hallway. "Greg," she repeated, a little louder this time on approaching the sitting room. He was sitting at his piano when he glanced upwards to meet her eyes.

"Sorry..." he mumbled softly, "Did you want something?"

She left her quandary for the moment and instead joined him at his side. He scooted to the left so she could share the piano bench.

"You're not playing," she stated while trying to read some music sheets that were set out on its stand. He shook his head.

"No,"

"...Something bothering you?" Although it was a question Cameron knew him well enough to know he had reservations about their trip to New York. But he remained vague with another shake of the head and he turned to her.

"No." But she was persistent. With her right hand resting on her hip she gave a look of scepticism. And he caved.

"I'm just..." he blew out of a puff of air to the sighed before touching her thigh with his palm. "Do you think Daniel will like me?" She snorted.

"Yes. But like you care either way."

"But I care that you care what he thinks." He admitted, still in a light and unlike House tone.

"I know he'll like you. In fact I'm positive." She placed her other hand on top of his and smiled. "He'd only want what's best for me, and you are."

"See..." he replied unconvinced. "I don't think he'll see it like that."

"You don't know him."

"He's your big brother Allie!" He paused. "When we meet he's gonna see the old, crippled-"

"Stop that!" she snapped finally. "He isn't as petty as you. As long as you don't go out of your way to annoy him you'll be fine."

"I can't help it sometimes... besides when he finds out your pregnant, out of wed-lock..."

Cameron rolled her eyes and squeezed his hand reassuringly.

"As much as I do love your new emotional side, I'd rather normal you met my brother." She screwed her eyes up when his last point hit her. "When did you worry about marriage?"

"I didn't... I just think he might." A giggle erupted from her fragile lips. "What?"

"Do you know why we're meeting?"

"To show me off?" He asked with raised eyebrows.

"Because he doesn't want to get married himself, and mum is tormenting him." House's shoulders relaxed a little. "He's trying to keep his new girlfriend out of her way for now. She's quite a nuisance to Daniel."

"What about you?" Cameron shrugged her shoulders.

"I've been there, done that all ready. She's giving me free reign so to speak from now on." He winced a little at his digging. He personally found her past husband a fragile issue. Although Cameron was quite happy to discuss issues that involved him now, House wasn't so sure.

"Does your mother even know about me?" Her cheeks turned a dazzling pink.

"Enough."

That was not encouraging.

"Enough? What's that supposed to mean?"

"I, err, you know, in passing comments ...from time-to-time... may have mentioned you."

"Good things?" He enquired, causing her skin to darken to a cherry red tinge.

"Of course, well... perhaps, when I was angry, I might have, in the past..." His eyebrows were close to touching his hairline, which in itself was remarkable.

"What?"

"Moaned about you a little?" His amusement turned to a scowl. "But, they were silly things," Her hand moved from her lap to his chest as she comforted him. "Honestly, I wouldn't worry, I've told her lots of nice things about you to make up for it."

"Allie," He warned hesitantly. "I am going to be the father of her grandchild... I don't think I've ever done enough nice things to compensate for all the crap I've dealt you over the past two years."

She laughed with a shaking head.

"You are silly Greg," she replied after her outburst subsided. "And here I was thinking you were okay about meeting my family."

"Am not- silly that is. I just want to know what sort of place I'm at with your family. Have you bigged me up too much?"

"Never. You are the best diagnostician in the country. I fear I haven't bigged you up enough."

He scowled again.

"That clearly isn't an issue. Cuddy doesn't even let me greet benefactors anymore for fear I'll end up getting us sued." Cameron hid a grin. "And if, heaven forbid, I do come across them in my daily ramble through the hospital, she explains who I am and then scuttles away." He gave a puppy-eyed expression. "I'm used for my attributes then thrown away like a used tissue." He dropped his head theatrically. "It hurts."

"Aw, poor baby." She kissed him on the cheek. "You are all emotional today, aren't you?" he glanced up at her guardedly. "Are you sure you aren't suffering from couvades synd-?"

"No." He said, cutting her off sharply. "I am not sympathising with you on anything at the moment. We are talking about my woes here, aren't we?" She nodded unconvinced.

"Alright..." she pulled both her hands from his chest and wrapped them around one of his. Cameron made sure she was looking directly into his eyes before she continued. "I love you immensely. My brother, give or take the fact he's as macho as you and therefore will never admit it, will love you. And, when you meet her, my mother will also love you. Okay?"

"Uh..."

"Good." She placed another kiss on him, only this time on his lips, before releasing her grip. "How about I finish packing for you while you ring up Wilson and talk to him about it? I know you're dying too, and I don't think I can quite cut the mustard when it comes down to your worries."

"You can..." he countered.

"No. If you have a problem with me directly and you need to tell me then of course I'll listen. But, everything else that makes your blood boil should be left to your best buddy. He is, after all, there to deal with these things."

House stiffened.

"Ah, hmmm, well you see, I did kinda, ask you to talk to him didn't I?" She sighed.

He was right.

"Yes, well we come as a duo now, don't we?" she rationalized. "If someone has a problem they can talk to both of us. I should deal with romantic entanglements and you can answer dilemmas involving sports. The rest we deal together." He smiled at her.

"I guess. You're getting quite the bossy one aren't you?" She smiled back.

"Go talk to Wilson." She leapt off the piano bench and headed back to the bedroom. As she made it to the corridor she spun on one foot and shook her head. "I was going to ask whether you wanted to take a coat with you."

House had managed to grab the cordless handset that was resting on the piano top before answering.

"Nah, Just a couple of jackets," He dialled the number without even thinking. "Put a tie in there too."

Cameron almost lost her footing.

"...Seriously?"

"Yeah... I wanna look the part when I meet your brother." She let out another laugh as her body disappeared from view. She may have already made it to the bedroom but he could still hear her little voice clearly.

"I don't think I know you anymore,"

He chuckled softly while listening to the ringing in his ear. On the third buzz it was picked up.

"Hey," he had Caller ID too. "Aren't you meant to be packing?"

"Nah," House replied before tapping out a single Vicodin on to the hardwood piano top. "Allie volunteered."

"I see," Wilson didn't sound convinced.

"She also told me to call you."

"Right... why?"

"The whole 'brother meeting thing' it's currently causing me to have pains in my chest that I would otherwise refer to as mini-heart attacks."

Wilson gasped down the phone.

"What?!"

"Joking, joking..." House muttered while scooping up the white oval pill and placing it on his tongue. He began to taste the bitterness of the powdery coating before swallowing it without water.

"Ha ha"

"Well it's too late now." He paused and returned to original topic of conversation. "You've met brothers of girlfriends before, right? How did you act so they didn't feel like crushing your face against a brick wall afterwards?"

"My first attempt was abysmal. I bad-mouthed the Boston Red-Socks, who he watched week-in wee-out due to his ownership of a season-ticket. Knocked a glass of red-wine down his shirt and laughed at a story he was telling that wasn't funny. Oh, and paid for the bill, which deeply insulted him as he knew I earned at least twice as much as he did."

"So why was he insulted?"

"He and his wife had invited us out in the first place." House sighed.

"Well done Jimmy..."

"I learnt from my mistakes though-"

"One would hope you did."

"-I kept to light-hearted conversation and only drank white wine. Also, if he did begin to talk about something I would also wait to see everyone else's reaction first; it's easier that way. Finally I always offered to pay the bill, but usually went half-and-half with him."

"I see."

"But if you're going to do that I would mention it to Cameron first."

"Why?" House asked cagily.

"She might fall off her chair if you don't." House grunted with annoyance and heard Wilson chuckle down the phone.

"Now you're laughing." He muttered. "Oh, how did it go with Susan?"

House heard a long sigh.

"I let her down easy, like Cameron suggested."

He shrugged without thinking, but quickly replied knowing full well his phone had no video link.

"Ah well... at least that means there's one less woman in the hospital for you to propose to in the future... then again..."

"Good luck, House. Call me when you get back." Wilson hung up the phone immediately, not waiting for House's comeback... which clearly annoyed him as he hobbled, without cane, back to the answer machine to re-cradle the handset.

Cameron stumbled back into the sitting room with his small suitcase behind her, hers already at the door. She smiled happily.

"Did you get any good tips from Wilson?"

"Sure." He said not really thinking clearly. "No red wine."

At first she thought he was joking, but the unfocused eyes told her otherwise. He was clearly thinking about it too hard. Letting go of the holdall's handle she wandered over to him with open arms. The hug was mechanical like his vision.

"Hey, don't worry about it." She said into his shirt. House looked down at her while he played with her hair. "If it does all go haywire then you never have to see him again. I promise." She felt him kiss her forehead.

"You wait till you meet my parents." She laughed; the wanderer had returned.

"You forget; I've already met them."

"Once," he clarified. "And I was only your boss then... only your boss, not your lover or the father of your child."

"I guess so. I'm sure I'll get all moody like this as well and then you can be the comforter."

"I'm not a blanket kind of guy." She looked up at him, her eyes lingering on the three-day old stubble.

"No you are not."

House managed to find the number of a cab firm that was reliable and rang for one immediately. Cameron grabbed a coat and slung it over her forearm while he moved to grab his cane. Closing the piano lid with one hand, House collected the orange coloured bottle with the other. He smiled on checking how many he had left.

Plenty

Although not prompt, the cab did arrive in time for them to grab a coffee at the station before getting on the train. Cameron had quickly grabbed four seats, warning other people off before House could sit down. She reminded him of a lioness protecting her cubs, which he found reassuring considering her mother-to-be status.

"So where are we staying?" he asked as she leant her head against his shoulder. She was busy gazing through the window to answer, causing him to nudge her delicately until he got her attention. He asked again.

"I told you I'm not telling. This is meant to be a romantic weekend for us too," she replied, whispering to avoid awkward glances with their fellow passengers.

"But I don't like surprises"

She elbowed him in the side before glancing back out the window.

"I think you'll like this one."

He began to tap his cane on the floor of the train, alternating between a 'tap, tap-tap' rhythm and a pause for coffee sipping. Unbeknown to him Cameron's sipping coordinated with his own. After a few minutes of aggravating an older man sitting opposite, House nudged her again, to which she grunted at before looking up at him.

"Yes?"

"Just wondering... as I do,"

"Go on," she took another sip of black coffee.

"Whether I should foot the bill for our lunch with Daniel." Cameron promptly spluttered the contents of her mouthful on to the floor, her seat and pant leg. She brushed the drips with the back of her hand and hoped it did not stain.

"Do-What?"

"Pay." He reiterated. "It would be the gentlemanly thing to do." She pulled herself off his shoulder and looked at him cynically.

"What spurred on this gesture? Was it Wilson?"

"No. He told me not too. Thought I might insult your brother"

"I see. Are you trying to impress him?" She countered softly while placing her coffee cup on the floor. It was best in the circumstances.

"Maybe." He replied. "I don't know."

"Okay. Greg, you need to stop all this," she pleaded, again barely above a whisper. "This isn't a test for you. There is no fail or pass, just a brother and sister and her boyfriend meeting for lunch. They exchange pleasantries while ordering and then discuss what's happening in each other's lives. Don't analyze this more than necessary."

He shrugged off her look and began to tap the floor again.

"What does your brother do?" Cameron let out an exasperated gasp.

"Will you stop this game if I answer this question?" She said with animated hands. He smiled and nodded. She let out another sigh, this time in relief before glancing at her hands. They were dropped back into her lap while she thought about answering the question. "He's works for a finance company."

"Is he a decision maker?"

"You said you'd drop with the questions if I answered that one."

"I'm adding more depth to the original question. Forgive me if I thought you're answer was too simple for my tastes."

"Yeah he makes decisions."

"Important ones?" She thumped him in the arm, but both of them knew it hurt her more than it did him.

"Ouch," he said simply for the benefit of those around him.

"Cut it out," she mumbled before resting her head against the side of the train and looking out the window once more.

"Fine," he growled before examining further into the carriage.

Only half an hour to go

This did drag out as House expected. Cameron had kept up her 'watching nothing' outside and sipping cold coffee, while he read every single advertisement stuck in the vicinity. He wondered whether the new Nike Shox Turbo were actually better than walking on air. He doubted it.

The station was busy for nine pm, and for a man with a cane this caused more aggravation than House's short fuse could handle. He almost hit a young man when he abruptly stopped on the platform on alighting.

"Hey! Hey!" House screamed at the boy, who he assumed to be a student due to his lack of mobility and speed at doing practically anything. Cameron covered her eyes and scanned for a space to take their luggage. "Man with cane, man with cane..."

"Huh?"

Cameron scrunched up her nose and pulled both cases away from the edge of the platform, she did not want to be included in House's antics, especially since he was now drawing a small crowd.

"I'm a cripple..." House continued to the dazed boy. "I could've broken my other leg because you're in your own little world." Cameron rolled her eyes.

"Oh, sorry dude." The boy managed to say and with a flick of his messy hair he wandered off with the rest of the commuters. House smiled before joining Cameron with the bags.

"Like you've ever been considerate to other people," She said softly but with added venom.

"How like you to protect someone you've never met before. Noble Cameron you should be called." She shook her head before searching for the exit. He smiled before following her. "Oh Noble Cameron, where are we going now?"

"To grab a taxi, it's late and I wanna get to the hotel."

As they left the station the large imposing skyscrapers surrounded them. Lights inside building twinkled as the busy junction beside them screamed anger in the form of revving engines and beeping car horns. Cameron quickly spotted a yellow cab and ran for it; knocking people out the way in her wake. House again followed with his suitcase slowly. As he approached the door Cameron smiled at him with knowing eyes.

"What?" He asked suspiciously as he lifted up his bag to put in the boot.

"I've told him," she pointed towards the front of the cab. "Not to mention where we're going. You'll know from the outside soon enough" He clambered onto the seat. "I hope you like it."

House glanced at her; she honestly looked a little worried about his opinion. With another sigh he reached for her hand and squeezed it tight.

"I'm sure I'll love it." And they were off, if not a little slowly due to the amount of traffic always present in New York. It did give them time, however, to admire the view. "I always forget how big the buildings are here." He mumbled. "Amazing really"

The cab continued moving up the avenue towards their destination as quite a pace and before long the sandstone building came into the view. The four flags fluttered in the little breeze and they both gingerly exited the cab. A porter was already retrieving their suitcases.

House's lips were parted in awe as he pretended, poorly, that he had no idea where he was. Cameron, knowing him too well, wasn't convinced.

"Come on," she chirped before opening her palm for him to take. He accepted and they moved through the glass doors and into the marble reception.

"Allie," he purred, which made her shiver in response. "How did you manage to get us in here? It's..." he wasn't sure what word would adequately sum up the Four Seasons hotel. "Impressive."

"I told you I wanted it to be special... my brother always speaks highly of it..." she inwardly groaned at her stupidity.

House stopped half-way between the desk and entrance and growled.

"'Speaks highly of it'? He's here a lot then?" Cameron couldn't bring herself to lie.

"For business, yeah... don't look at me like that." He began to move forward, their hand holding forgotten.

"Is he staying here this weekend?" House pushed for more information to Cameron's only sibling, who by all accounts was rich, successful and, if the genes had been equally giving, good-looking too. She nodded while walking by his side.

"We're meeting him in the bar tomorrow lunchtime before we go the restaurant." The lady behind the desk was already beaming before Cameron's hands felt the cool wooden top.

"Good evening and welcome to The Four Seasons Hotel." House, not at home to the new luxury found her polite and welcoming tone unnerving.

"Hello, we're under the name of Dr. Cameron." A few keyboard taps later and their room had been found. Another smile spread across the lady's lips.

"Very good madam." She paused to retrieve a card from beneath desk. "You are in one of our deluxe rooms with a terrace. Our porter shall attend to your luggage; on behalf of the hotel we hope you have a pleasant stay. Do not hesitate to use the phone if you require anything." Cameron grabbed the card and turned to elevator; House kept up with her and could not help by grin.

"Anything?" he wondered with a devil-like look. She chuckled softly behind a dainty hand.

"Why do you have to make every question sound dirty?" she asked before stepping into the square cabin with their porter. He shrugged.

"I just want to know that this Hotel lives up to the hype. If they say anything, they mean anything."

A ping announced they'd reached their floor and the porter found their room efficiently. Within moments Cameron and House were standing in the large sitting room while he placed their bags by the door. House barely managed to give him a handsome tip before falling into a leather chair.

"Woah, Allie." She remained standing in front of him. "This is the largest hotel room I've ever been in. Seriously the bathroom is bigger than my flat."

Cameron moved to sit down on the arm of his chair. He instinctively began to rub her back with his left hand while she rested hers on her knees.

"Do you like it?" She leant down to kiss him on the lips.

"Oh, definitely" He replied before kissing her back.

The sudden rush caused Cameron to fall onto his good thigh and tangle her fingers into his hair. They stayed like that for several moments until they both ran out of breath. She brushed her lips across his jaw before letting her head settle on his shoulder and allowing her legs dangle over the other arm of the chair.

"Can we order room service?" He asked after a few minutes while drawing circles with his fingers on her clothes-covered hip. Another giggle escaped her lips.

"Are you hungry?" Her voice was lower than usual, dry from lack of water and therefore rough as well. House liked it unsurprisingly; it was sexy on her.

"In more ways than one," He nipped her cheek with his teeth making her squeal. He liked that as well. "But seriously, I'm starving." She patted his shoulder and managed to get up.

"Fine, you order whatever you like. I'll have a ham omelette, no tomatoes." She shrugged off her coat and let it land on one of the sofas. "I'm going in the shower." He slowly got up and hobbled to the phone, leaving his cane by the chair. She poked her head back around the doorway and smiled. "Order some desert – anything that contains lots of chocolate."

House chuckled and place the phone to his ear.

"One ham omelette without tomatoes and a Reuben sandwich- hold the pickles and a plate of fries. A bottle of Bourbon whiskey and some cranberry juice as well... and what deserts do you have?" A posh voice listed several. "Alright we'll have theChocolate Devil's Food Cake, uh... with ice-cream. Thanks."

Opposite, the door of the bathroom was ajar letting the steam created by the giant shower pour through. Leaving the cane by the chair House moved inside. He couldn't see much bar a creamy body shaped outline through the glass panel, which was now misty.

"Your plate of chocolate is on its way." He murmured while turning to sit down on the toilet- lid closed. He watched Cameron's body jump slightly at his close-proximity before she continued washing.

"That's good to hear." She replied, naturally looking upwards to elevate her voice. "Are you going to just sit there or come in and join me?" she asked enthusiastically.

"Uh... no unfortunately I'll have to wait until my Reuben's delivered. At least one of us should look respectable, don't you think?" He heard a muffled grunt of annoyance.

"You can make it up to me later."

"That" he replied sincerely. "I do not mind doing."

The room service was efficient enough that Cameron was still drying when it arrived. Another tip later and House tucked into it. He was impressed. With one hand he scooped up a handful of fries from a central plate and put them on his own.

"Allie, come on" he shouted while taking another bite.

Barefooted, she pattered through in the hotel's complimentary robe and spotted the tray of goodies by the bed. House was sitting on the bed with his back against the headrest and legs straight out in front of him. On his lap he had a pillow to sit the plate on, his bottle and glass on the bedside table. With a mouth full of fries he smiled at her before tapping the duvet to his left with a clean hand.

"Come on, I got you cranberry juice." He managed to say after a few seconds of munching. She smiled before grabbing her own plate and a glass for herself.

"Well done for remembering" she said before joining him on the bed.

"Thanks," he smiled. "I do try."

Cameron looked forwards and out of the large floor to ceiling window. They could see out onto the twinkling lights of Manhattan and a pretty little private terrace. She found herself glancing occasionally back at House, who was also examining the view. As she did something inside her fluttered; and she realised there was nowhere else she would rather be than there.

It was a contented picture she painted, and House could see that. His peripheral vision was that good. He also knew that he felt the same – something that hadn't occurred to him in a long time.

"It's nice here isn't it?" He whispered while reaching for his half-full glass. Cameron looked at him. He drank a little of his whiskey before putting it down. She nodded while staring directly into his eyes.

"Yeah"

T.B.C...

Thanks again everyone for reading, if you could review as well I would be very, very, very happy. Thanks!!