Chapter 4

"Wait a minute. We've spent the last three days together and you never told me you could cook," House teased, watching Cameron move about her kitchen as she fixed a pie.

She laughed. "So?" she asked. Cameron moved so gracefully and with so much confidence. The way House saw it, something delicious was cooking in that oven and it was more than just the cherry pie.

"So?" he repeated. "I almost kept Wilson." House put the back of his hand to his forehead and cried wistfully, "I didn't think I'd ever find another cook as good as that man."

Her head popped up from underneath the counter to smile at him. "Well, I guess you were lucky," she said as she began cleaning up the kitchen. "Now, you better get ready or we'll never be there on time."

"Geez," he sniffed dramatically. "If I had known I was dating a dominatrix, I would have bought you a whip."

She threw her dish towel at him as he went into her bedroom to get dressed. For the first time in a long time, Cameron felt normal. Today, she was more than just a doctor. Her life had become so wrapped up in her work, but today she felt like a woman. In just a few minutes, she was going to be eating dinner with friends. She would be laughing and enjoying herself. No worries tonight. Cameron stopped what she was doing and smiled. She knew that once dinner was over, she would be coming home with House.

House came back into the kitchen wearing a nice jacket and shirt to go underneath. He had actually dressed up and appropriately. Cameron's brow lifted as she wondered, and hoped, that he had done it for her. Seeing her surprised reaction, he lifted his arms up so that she could examine him. "What?" he asked. "Do you want me to change?"

Cameron noticed that his chin was cocked and he had that look on his face. The one when he was actually vulnerable, but desperately trying to hide it. She knew the question went deeper than his suit jacket. Cameron wrapped her arms around him, putting her chin on his chest. "No, Greg. I like you just the way you are."

His throat was thick, but he tried to ignore it. House kissed her on the nose, and then said, "Come on. You grab the pie and I'll drive."

She tossed him a worried glance. He rolled his eyes. "The car. I'll drive the car." He wrapped his arm around her waist as they left the apartment.

They parked and got out of the car. As they reached the desired door, House said with feigned fear, "Whatever you do, don't look her straight in the eye. The woman's high on fertility drugs and the fluffy cloud dreams of angels and babies. She's capable of anything."

Cameron chuckled, pondering how feign his fear was after all. She knocked on the door, and they waited for a response. A couple seconds later, Wilson opened the door.

With a wide grin, he exclaimed, "Hey! You're here. Thanks for the pie."

As House stepped into the apartment, he said, "I made it. Chicks these days. All about the work and sex, no time to learn how to cook."

Cameron didn't even flinch. Taking off her coat, she retorted, "I'm sure you're aware that in the language of House that means 'Thank you for inviting us; you have a lovely home.'"

Everything went by much smoother once dinner was served, although everyone thought it seemed a little odd. Wilson and Cuddy were holding hands. House was playing with Cameron's foot underneath the table, and no one commented on the fact that these four were now couples.

The conversation finally lagged. House jutted out his lips as he looked about the apartment. "So, I got this guy in the clinic today," he blurted "A cat bit off his little toe."

All three stared at him for a few minutes. Then laughter rolled as they looked at his expectant face. House smiled as he continued. "I'm serious. He was trying to teach his cat how to do a somersault and it freaked out and ate his toe."

Strange doctor tales ensued for another hour from all four of them. Finally, House asked, "So, there's a reason why we're here right?"

Cuddy guffawed. "A dinner with friends isn't reason enough?"

House gave his head a shake. "Not this fancy," he said. Nodding to the table, he added, "There are candles. You have on your favorite dress. And the last time you had something important to say, you invited me to lunch at a trendy new bistro. What's going on?"

Cuddy looked over at a stunned Cameron. "Damn. He manages to figure it out every time."

Wilson sighed. Squeezing Cuddy's hand, he said, "We are going to have a baby."

TBC