DISCLAIMER: House MD belongs to FOX, not me. Remember, if you hate, don't review!
Four
Dinner went well, mostly. Cuddy cooked, and the conversation moved easily. As Cuddy cleared the table, Cameron turned pale and suddenly excused herself. House quietly followed her at a distance to the bathroom, where he held back her hair and rubbed her back soothingly as she threw up most of what she had just eaten.
"I'm guessing it doesn't taste the same coming up as it did going down," House remarked.
Cameron gave a weak chuckle and leaned back against the wall, shivering. "Not exactly."
House joined her against the wall, and they sat in silence.
"So, how are you doing?"
She glanced sideways at him. "Ok. I told my parents earlier. They seemed to take it alright. My Dad only made two threats to kill Brent, so that's something."
"You don't want him dead?" House asked suspiciously.
She grinned. "Not all the time. I hate that he's making this decision based on his childhood, and that he can't accept that the times are different. I hate that he made me choose between him and our baby."
"And how hard was it to pick the baby?"
She smiled. "It was the easiest decision I've ever made in my life. And I'd do it again, every time. I kind of feel sorry for Brent a little. He was so sure I'd pick him, and be a good little wife and get an abortion."
House gave her hand a reassuringly squeeze. "You're gonna be a great mom, Cameron. This is a lucky kid."
"Still Cameron, is it?" she teased him.
He shrugged sheepishly. "Habit. What's your new last name?"
"I guess it's back to Cameron," she sighed sadly. "But it was Connelly."
"Allison Connelly," House repeated slowly, trying it out. "You're better off with Cameron."
"So, how have you been?" she asked quietly after a pause.
House shrugged. "Ok. New fellows... more useless than you three were. Cases... I think diseases are getting stupid. They're not even trying anymore."
"Bummer," Cameron replied sarcastically, but she was smiling. "So, new fellows?"
"Yeah. Radiologist, oncologist and gynaecologist."
Cameron looked surprised. "I'm sure the gynaecologist has proved helpful many times if you're still getting the same type cases we got."
"Not really, but she's hot, so it all balances out."
Cameron nodded in understanding. "Of course. You need your lobby art. What's her damage?"
"Dead husband."
He laughed at Cameron's stunned look. "Nah, just joshing ya. She's got issues with her boyfriend. He meets her every day for lunch, and at least every week, they have a big blowout in the middle of a public place. It's hugely entertaining."
She rolled her eyes. "I'm sure."
Cameron took a deep breath as another slight wave of nausea hit her. "I can't wait till this ends."
"I'm sure. How long are you going to be here for? Do you know?"
Cameron nodded. "I decided I'm going to go home. To Chicago. I just want to be around my mom right now, and my sisters."
House paused, disappointed. "Oh. So, you're not taking up Cuddy's job offer?"
"It sounds amazing. But while I'm single, pregnant and alone, I just want to be with my family. People who love me."
House hesitated. "You have me." To cover his embarrassment, he quickly added. "And Cuddy and Wilson. If Foreman and Chase were still here that's two more."
Cameron smiled knowingly. "I know. But it's not the same as my mom. Do you still hear from the boys?"
House sighed, acknowledging the change of subject and complied. "Chase sends Christmas cards. Suck-up. Foreman sends articles of his achievements. You?"
"E mails. A few phone calls. Christmas cards. I called them after I talked to my mom. Foreman wants to come out when the baby's born, and Chase said he might too."
"Class reunion," House snarked.
Cameron grinned slightly. "Will you come?"
"To Chicago? Do you want me to?"
She nodded quietly. "Yeah I do. A lot."
House sighed. "Then I'll come. Don't expect a present," he warned.
"Fine," she smiled. Then another wave of nausea hit, and she buried her head in the toilet once more.
"Are you alright?" Cuddy asked in concern, when Cameron and House returned from the bathroom.
Cameron nodded grimly. "Fine, just morning sickness. It was a great dinner Lisa, thanks."
"How would you know?" demanded House. "You just threw it all back up!"
She glared at him. "Have you changed at all?"
"Nope," he said cheerfully. "I'm still the lovable, brilliant man you left behind."
"You're Chase?" Cameron teased him.
House pretended to be offended. "Don't insult me like that. And Chase is anything but brilliant."
"He's not stupid, or you wouldn't have hired him," Cameron retorted.
"Yeah, well. What do you know? You're leaving for Chicago!"
"No, I'm leaving for home," she corrected him.
Wilson and Cuddy were watching the two's exchange in amusement.
"When do you leave?" Wilson asked her.
"Uh, on the weekend," she replied.
The three took her to the airport that weekend, and Cameron made them all promise to come out to Chicago when the baby was born.
"What is it with us and airports?" House murmured in her ear as he reluctantly hugged her goodbye.
Cameron laughed softly and shook her head. "I don't know. You promise you'll come to Chicago?"
He rolled his eyes. "Yes, I promise. Geez, pregnant women!" He chanced a glance at Wilson and Cuddy who were a short distance away and then sighed. "Take care of yourself," he told her sternly.
"I will," she nodded.
She gave a last hug to Wilson and Cuddy then boarded the plane. When she had disappeared from view, Cuddy whirled around to face House.
"Ok, what's the deal with you and Allison?"
House was startled. "What do you mean?"
"The other night in the bathroom, just now in the airport... what's going on? You keep having these... moments," she struggled to find the right words.
House shrugged. "Well, I'm not her boss anymore, so I guess we're friends."
Wilson scoffed. "You don't have friends... except me. And I wasn't aware you and Allison had kept in touch much since she'd left?"
In truth, Cameron had emailed House regularly until she had married Brent and send annual Christmas and birthday cards, but he hadn't done anything in return.
"A little," he admitted. "So what? I'm in touch with Chase and Foreman."
"No," Wilson corrected. "Chase and Foreman are in contact with you. You do nothing. House, seriously, what's going on?"
"Nothing at all," House said with a small sigh, before walking away. He continued to deny anything until Cuddy and Wilson sat him down in Cuddy's living room, and not-so-subtly ordered him to talk.
"We kissed," he finally admitted, and Cuddy and Wilson's jaws dropped.
"What? When?" Wilson demanded.
"Three years ago before she left for Ireland."
He told them reluctantly about the letter she had left him, and their conversation in the airport, most importantly, that she had told him she loved him seconds before she had boarded the plane.
"So, that's why you didn't go to the wedding?" Cuddy asked him softly.
"Yeah," he nodded.
Wilson and Cuddy exchanged odd looks with one another and then Wilson sighed. "Well, what about now?"
"What do you mean?" he asked innocently.
"House, do you love her?"
House hesitated, and then sighed. "Yeah."
"And the baby?" Cuddy inquired.
He shrugged. "Well, it's not my kid."
"Does that matter?"
House thought about it for a moment. He pictured Cameron, and the way she had held her stomach protectively whenever the baby was mentioned, and then smiled. "No."
Cuddy nearly wept with relief. "Then why the hell did you let her get on that plane?"
He shrugged. "She wanted to go. Be with her mom or whatever."
Wilson sighed, a tired smile on his face, completely thrilled his friend had finally seen what he and Cuddy had known for years.
"House, did you ever think she only wanted to go, because you didn't ask her to stay?"
In truth, House hadn't and he gaped at his friend. "So, what should I do?"
"Go to Chicago, you idiot!" Wilson and Cuddy said in unison.
House nodded and headed for the door, before turning back at the last second. "By the way, how long have you two been together?"
Cuddy turned white with shock, whilst Wilson reddened slightly. "Six months," he admitted sheepishly, and House grinned.
"Cool, I win the pot. See ya!"
After he had gone, Cuddy still ashen, turned to Wilson. "He wins the pot?"
Ok, this may be a little unrealistic, but I wrote this chapter 3 months after I wrote chapter 3 because of massive writers block, so just deal.