A/N: I'm glad you guys loved the first chapter. I'm not exactly sure where this is going. It'll be totally AU based on what happens in season 6. Just roll with it :)

Chapter 2

As soon as House came through the lobby that morning, everyone knew enough to stay clear. He was obviously on a mission as he headed to Cuddy's office.

"Dr. House, you can't go in there.." her assistant called after him.

"Screw off. This is business," he barked over his shoulder as he opened the door and went in.

"I'm sorry, Dr. Cuddy, he just barged right in.."

Cuddy looked up to see a very distraught House and glanced at her assistant. "It's fine. Go back to your desk."

Once the door was closed, House sighed and flopped into a chair. "Cameron quit."

"I know."

"Do you know what her plans are?"

Cuddy arched an eyebrow. "Don't you?"

"No."

"Well I can't help you, even if I did know."

"Come on, this is Cameron. Yesterday she actually told me she loved me. And then she kisses me on the cheek and walks right out of my life."

"Do you love her, House?" She asked him, looking very serious.

"No. I don't know. I don't know anything anymore. I just feel.."

"Lost?"

House glanced at her. "You know where she is don't you?"

"She's staying at a hotel on the other side of town. She's flying to Paris tonight for a job interview."

"Paris?"

"That's what she said. Normally I wouldn't be telling you any of this. But I know you." She reached into a drawer and handed him a paper. "You wouldn't be hassling me just to mess with her."

"I..dreamed about her last night. It seemed so real. I took it as a sign."

"She's still technically married, House. At least wait for the ink on the divorce papers to dry before you go and do anything stupid."

"What do you think I'm going to do?" he snapped.

"I'm not sure. That makes it even more scary."

"I'm not going to do anything crazy, so relax."

"I've been watching you and Cameron for years. All you've had to do is crook your finger and she'd come running. But when she took a chance and made a move, you'd go running in the other direction. It's time to stop running, House."

"So what are you saying?"

"I'm saying you should just go with what you feel right now and do something about it. I know you're afraid of getting hurt but we all are. I highly doubt Cameron's going to break your heart."

"That's not what I'm worried about."

"You're afraid of breaking hers?"

The soft nod was enough confirmation and Cuddy sighed. "Give her some time, House. If you still feel like this in a month, then I'll give you the time you need to pursue this. You don't want to go to her now when she's vulnerable. Give her time to heal and think about things. Who knows? Maybe she'll come to you."

"I doubt it," he said as he got up from the chair and left her office.

* * *

Three months later…

Paris was simply beautiful in winter. Especially at Christmas time. The "City of Lights" certainly lived up to its name. Every tree had lights in it and the Eiffel Tower looked beautiful as ever. The only thing missing was someone to enjoy it with.
She and Chase were officially divorced. He sent the papers a week after she arrived in Paris and she promptly signed them and mailed them back to the lawyer. She wasn't sure why she didn't feel upset about it. She should have. Shouldn't she? She really did love him at one time in her life.

She sat at her desk in her office and rubbed her temples. Get real! You never loved Chase! He was just a toy to keep you occupied while you stared after House like a lovesick puppy! The sad thing is that Chase legitimately loved you and he never suspected that you didn't feel the same. So don't deny that you didn't marry Chase just to help you forget about House. And let's not forget how you felt guilty when House lost his mind and went to Mayfield.

"Long day?"

The voice made her jump and she almost knocked over her coffee cup. She looked at the doorway to see Dr. Mike Crane standing there, smiling at her.

"Yeah. What can I do for you?"

"I was just walking by and saw you like that. Do you have a headache?"

"I'm beginning to," she sighed as she looked in her purse for some Advil. The man was persistent and it was also getting on her nerves. It didn't help that he was the top panty-peeler of the hospital. He'd give James Wilson a run for his money in that department.

She found the pill bottle, took 2 and swallowed them dry. Doing that in front of Dr. Crane made her think of House and his former Vicodin habit and she chuckled softly to herself.

"How about dinner tonight?"

"Sorry but I.."

"Just dinner. Between two collegues."

"Again, thanks but no thanks."

Dr. Crane looked pissed. She was turning him down? Did hell freeze over?

"Ya know, Dr. Cameron, I've noticed you since the first day you came here."

Her head shot up from her papers and she glared at him. "Am I supposed to be flattered by this? That you noticed me before anyone else? Sorry I can't say the same about you."

He scratched his head. This was supposed to be easier. Everyone said she was such a sweetie. She should be swooning right now, not getting annoyed. He switched to another tactic.

"So I hear you're from Jersey."

"Not originally. Please, Dr. Crane. I have a lot of work to get done before I leave for the day."

"Okay," he said, accepting defeat for the time being. "But I'll be coming back this way at the end of my shift so if you change your mind, just give me a shout."

Like hell. She gave him a curt wave, still looking over her files, not looking up at him. Hoping that would be enough of a hint that she wasn't interested. Honestly, the man gave her the creeps.

An hour went by and she finished her work early. Glancing at the clock she decided to take off before Dr. Crane pursued her again. But luck wasn't on her side.

He found her in the parking garage, trying to start a car that clearly had a dead battery.

"Your car battery is as dead as a doornail."

"So I've discovered. Do you have jumper cables, by any chance?"

"Nope. Sorry. But I do have a car that works. Come on, I'll give you a ride."

Cameron looked at him with extreme suspicion and he laughed. "My intentions are extremely honorable, I assure you, Dr. Cameron. Of course, for my trouble would you allow me to take you to dinner on the way to your house?"
She couldn't believe the nerve of this guy. She glanced at her watch. "It's only 4 O'clock. I'm not hungry yet. I think I'll just get a cab home. Thanks anyway."

She grabbed her things, locked her car and then hurried off without so much as a goodbye to him.

Little did she know that she made a big mistake. Women didn't turn him down. He'd just have to push a little harder next time. He knew she'd give in sooner or later.

* * *

"Okay so who is he?"

Cameron looked up and smiled at her friend Jenn. She was another doctor in the Immunology department and the two of them had gotten to be good friends over the last month when she transferred in from London.

"Who is who and what are you talking about?"

"Well you're obviously not interested in Dr. Crane, although I can't imagine why. The man is a sexual God. So there must be someone else."

"There's nobody else."

"Then why are you ignoring Dr. Crane?"

"Because he's not my type."

"He's everyone's type, Allison."

"Apparently not."

"Are you missing your ex-husband? Is that it?"

"No." I'm missing my ex-boss.

Jenn sighed. "Well, whoever he is, he must really be something."

Yes he is. She sighed wistfully and returned to her work.

* * *

Valentine's Day was fast approaching and House felt more alone than he thought possible. Why, he could only guess. It was just another day to him. Always had been. And yet, he still felt sad, and a longing for something.

God, I'm getting sentimental in my old age, he chuckled to himself. After all, he was 50, soon to be 51 and he was miserable and alone. Cuddy had Lucas and who did he have? Wilson? Not bloody likely. Even Nora, their neighbor, no longer spoke to either of them.

The more days that past, the quicker the memory of that dream faded. He tried to keep it fresh in his mind, and it worked for awhile, but all dreams fade eventually to make room for new ones.

It was then he realized he had to do something. Anything.

He opened his laptop and did some surfing until he found what he was looking for. Ten minutes later, he was closing the laptop as Wilson breezed in for lunch.

"Lunch?"

"Yeah. You're buying."

"Of course."

* * *

Mike Crane walked by Cameron's office and looked in as he usually did but something made him stop. Sitting on her desk was a very large arrangement of seasonal flowers. "What the.." he stared at the bouquet for a minute and then stormed off.

Two hours later, Cameron returned to her office with Jenn.

"Wow!" was Jenn's first reaction when she saw the beautiful spray of flowers.

Cameron walked over to them and took the card out of the envelope.

There was just one line: Happy Valentine's Day to my Favorite Immunologist.

There was no name, but she didn't have to guess who they were from. It had House written all over it. He'd never be so cliché as to send roses.

As if on cue, a delivery boy brought in a huge vase with a dozen red and white roses and she groaned. They were beautiful, but they paled next to House's flowers.

"Oh my God, Allison! What are you up to?"

She took the card and briefly glanced at it before tossing it in the trash. "You want em?"

Jenn looked shocked. "Me?"

"They're from Mike Crane."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I don't want them. I don't want to encourage him."

Jenn happily took the roses to her own office as Cameron admired House's bouquet. He completely outdid himself. The question was why? They hadn't spoken to each other since the day she left Princeton.

But she couldn't stop thinking about that dream she'd had the night she left. It seemed so real. Was it possible House was still thinking about her?

She went to her computer, composed an email to him and before she had second thoughts, hit send. The ball was in his court now. What he did with it, was up to him.