At 5am just as the sun was beginning to rise, Ellie was the first to awake.

She tried to turn over to one side, her eyes still half closed but something was in the way, so she tried to roll the other way but felt something blocking her again.

The little girl wiggled uncomfortably and opened her eyes. On her left was her mother. Then she looked to her right and saw her father, his eyes closed and his facial feature relaxed.

Ellie observed him sleeping. In a way she was a little scared of him. He was so intimidating and she had only ever heard him angry.

Watching him sleep made her feel better though. She really wanted to know her dad, despite the amount of times that he'd been mean. She just felt like she needed him like she needed her mommy.

She wanted him to play with her, to tickle her, to carry her and talk to her, to kiss her and hug her and want her just like how mommy wanted her.

Slightly fascinated by her father close presence she reached out her little hand and felt his shirt, instantly moving her hand back as her father moved.

The toddler looked back over at her mom- she was still sound asleep.

House's had now put one arm over the cover towards Ellie.

She saw it and pulled it closer, being careful not to wake him.

She looked at his hand. It was so big comparing to hers.

Wrapping her little hand around one of his fingers, she felt its warmth.

Ellie pulled it a little and House subconsciously twitched his hand.

She giggled a little and did it again watching her father's reaction.

--------------------------

House started to hear the chuckles of a small child and feel a constant annoying tug at his finger.

Keeping his eyes closed, he pulled away his hand and slipped it under the covers.

He let out a long breath and tried to sleep some more.

Not long after he felt a hand squeezing at his nose.

He shook his head and turned it to the other side.

Ellie looked at her mother- still asleep surprisingly.

The little girl started to get bored, she couldn't get out of bed because her mom and dad were in the way, so she decided to join them and sleep again.

This time she looked to her father who was lying on his back, one arm over his head on the pillow and the other under the covers.

Ellie shifted over to him a little and buried her head close to his side.

House's eyes opened immediately and moved his head to see what had gotten so close to him.

Almost forgetting that he had stayed the night in the hotel, he was slightly alarmed to see Allison lying next to him. However she seemed too far away to have felt so close.

House looked down and saw Ellie, a small mound curled into his side.

A sudden strain of awkwardness was felt within him. His usual reaction would have typically been to push her away from him, however he didn't.

He could see an edge of a smile on her lips as she breathed softly with her eyes closed.

He didn't want to move in case it disturbed her; his body has stiffened to the position that it was in.

Moving a the arm that was lying over his head, he lowered it towards Ellie and turned rigidly wrapping it around her in a hugging type of position

He held her close to him, watching her as she slept. Something about this gave him goose bumps. Was he softening up? Was he really doing what he thought he was doing?

All this concentration to his actions had not allowed him to realise that Cameron had woken up and turned over, watching him the whole time.

She smiled, feeling her heart beat fast and heavy.

'Good morning' she whispered.

House's head sprung up and looked at her, his face blushing to some extent.

'I was just…'

Allison grinned. 'Its fine, relax'

House sighed and looked back down at Ellie.

For a while the three lay there, silently.

Cameron watched House with their daughter.

------------------------

It was 5:30am. The sun had completely risen and sounds of traffic could begin to be heard.

Ellie awoke again.

House felt her movement and moved a little as Allison still lay on her side watching the two.

The little girl looked up and met eyes with her father.

'Good morning Daddy' she said tiredly.

Cameron tensed as she looked at House waiting for his reaction.

He took a long look at his little girl, a wave of emotions poured over him. There was anger (somehow there was always anger) and there was that urge to accept it. He felt himself calm as he thought it out. It didn't take too long for him to reply.

'Morning Ellie'

He pulled her in a little more, giving her a hug.

Allison's eyes watered as she saw his small embrace.

House looked up at Cameron and saw the tears in her eyes.

Ellie looked over.

'Why are you crying mommy?'

'Because mommy is happy sweetie'

'But people don't cry when they're happy'

'Some people do- don't worry, you'll understand when you grow up'

Allison sniffed.

'Mommy?'

Cameron blinked out a few tears.

'Yes Ellie?'

'I love you'

Allison smiled.

'I love you to Ellie'

The little girl looked back at her father. He had the ''missing out'' expression on his face.

' I love you daddy'

House stared at her. This was too much for one morning. He had hardly gotten to know his little girl, and 'love' was too soon a word to use. How was he to reply this one?

Looking at Cameron, his eyes were returned with hers. They were full of willingness and anxiety. She knew that her daughter had said too much.

Ellie watched her father, waiting innocently for him to return the words. Mommy did it, so daddy would too- right?

He turned back down to his little girl. He didn't want to let her down. She looked so harmless. He knew she hadn't said those words to put him in a position he couldn't deal with. He knew the words came out with good intention.

Any four year old would say it to their mom and dad.

Her eyes began to trail down in disappointment.

Allison closed her eyes; she couldn't bear seeing her little girl upset again.

A small frown showed up on Ellie's face and House was not going to see it lead to something else- not today. He had to try and fix things up from now on.

He was nervous and uneasy on his reply.

'I… love you too'

Cameron opened her eyes; tears were streaming down her face now as she buried it into her pillow. Her body shook as she sobbed.

Her little girl quickly shifted over to her mother, giving her the biggest hug she could give.

'No mommy, don't cry- mommy?'

House sighed as he watched his daughter moved from his arms to hold onto her mother. She was so much like Allison. The same caring nature was within her.

As he looked on he began to feel alone. This is what he had been missing out on. He'd missed four years of his little girls life, he'd missed seeing her grow up, say her first words, he'd missed her learning about happiness and sadness and most of all he'd missed four whole years of having a family.

The warmness of Ellie could still be felt along his arms.

--------------------------------

'Hello House?'

Wilson voice rung through House cell phone.

'Yeah?'

'Are you and Allison gonna be ready? I'll be around in about 20- 25 minutes'

House paused Allison. The name was so unknown to his ears. He hadn't used it too many times. He never thought of Cameron as Allison. And it didn't seem like the name referred to the same person but he wanted to use it. It would be another step for him if he did.

'House?'

'Yeah I'm here. We'll be ready'

'You better be. See you then'

Allison sat up, Ellie still hugging her tightly.

'Mommy?'

'Mommy's okay Ellie, don't worry'

He hung up the phone and remained on his side, looking at them.

Even in tears, she was beautiful. He didn't know what to do. He didn't know how to comfort her because he didn't comfort many people. And as much as he wanted to he couldn't because he was afraid to hurt her again.

So he got up and went to the bathroom leaving his daughter to comfort her mother.

Cameron looked at her little girl and hugged her back.

Seeing that House had gone to the bathroom, she quickly got up and changed into a set of clothes, helping her daughter change as well.

When he came out, they were both ready and all they needed to do was brush their teeth.

'Wow, you two are quick'

Allison smiled at him, and led her daughter into the bathroom.

He sat down on the bed and rubbed his face.

--------------------------------

House got out of the car without a word.

'Thanks for the ride Wilson'

'Anytime, so I'll see you two at work?- do you need a lift there?'

'No we should be fine. There's always cabs driving by'

The both looked at House who was at the trunk, starting unload the luggage.

He hurried over to help him before shortly returning to Cameron.

'His just nervous… and excited'

'Yeh, lets hope so'

'Believe me I know. His just got that look in his eyes'

'Well you know him best'

'You do to Cam'

'Hmm- yeah well see you later'

Allison put her hand out for her daughter to hold.

'Come on Ellie'

-------------------------------------------

After some struggle with getting the bags into the house, House and Cameron were finally able to take a breathe of air.

She and Ellie stood awkwardly to one side not knowing what to do.

House looked at them.

'What are we little kids now-?'

'She is'

' Pfft. Well if your gonna stay here, I doubt you'll be living next to that wall so you might as well get use to the place'

Cameron glared at him and took a few steps more into the room.

'Umm… bathrooms over there, bedrooms there, kitchens there, and you're standing in my lounge room and that's the coach'

'A couch isn't a room'

'Well, if you knew the amount of time I spend in it, it soon becomes one'

'Ass'

'Guilty'

'Hang on… you only have one bedroom'

'Yeah- your point'

' Where are we gona-'

'Sleep?'

She gave an uncertain nod

'You can bunk on the coach'

Allison looked at him stunned.

' No…. well I thought you could sleep with me. I mean I have a reasonable large double. It won't be too squashy. After yesterday night I'm guessing it would be okay'

'… Sure'

Ellie tugged at her mom's hand.

'I'm hungwry'

House looked at her.

'Ellie?'

The toddler looked to him.

' Want food?'

'Yesh'

He smirked a bit and beckoned for her to follow.

Allison released her daughter as she watched her trot after him.

She knew that he'd brighten up. Every moment of hell with him was always compromised. For her it was at least.

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A/N; I'm sorry again for my slow updating. I should really pre-write chapters. But then I feel like I need to post them the moment I finish. There's been lots of schoolwork lately so I'm juggling.

Did I still pass? I think I'm going to put a little more drama in the coming chapters. You know- get some action going. Ideas are welcome.