I'm horrible, I know. But I really didn't think it had been this long without an update. I thought it had been maybe two weeks at most. Sorry about that.

But hey, this is the first time I've reached the double digits in chapter numbers, so how 'bout a 'yay' for that? lol

I do want to finish this story soon, and I have a big plot twist planned in order to do it, it's just finding filler that's keeping me from moving this along at a nice, steady pace.

Anyway, I'm going to shut up now so you can read and review!

It was that time of year again. The leaves were starting to change colours, the air was getting cooler, and people were starting to become aware of the approaching holidays; fall was coming.

But for a certain immunologists' daughter, there was another occasion on its way, and a much more important one at that.

On September 29th, Hayley Cameron was turning 9 years old.

She'd been planning her birthday out in her head for months. She knew exactly what she wanted.

"No," Cameron said, not even bothering to look up from the morning paper.

"Aw, come on Mom," Hayley whined from her adjacent seat at the kitchen table.

"Hayley, do you not understand what 'no' means?"

"It's not like you'll have to do anything. I can do it by myself."

Finally, Cameron set the World News section down. "Hun, this is a big responsibility."

"I know."

"And what if you decide in a few months that you don't want it anymore?"

"I won't. I really really want this Mommy."

"Yeah, like the way you wanted that Scooter, or that Poo-chi, or that-"

"It's different this time!"

"That's what you say every time," her mother responded, unimpressed.

Okay, so begging wasn't working. Hayley decided it was time to try another tactic.

"Fine, I'll just ask Uncle Mike for one then."

Cameron's eyes widened with alarm. "You will do no such thing!" She caught a glance at her watch and noted the time. "Now, come on, you've gotta finish your breakfast and get ready for school."

Cameron closed the paper and got up, heading back into her bedroom to finish getting ready for work. Hayley continued to sit in the kitchen, not touching her food. She just looked around the empty kitchen.

"But I want a pony!"

"Good morning," Cameron said as she entered the diagnostics office.

Foreman and Chase mumbled something in return, and she rolled her eyes. Those two could never come up with something better than that.

She made her way over to the coffee maker and started the pot, as usual. It was practically a reflex for her now.

While she was pouring the second scoop of coffee grinds into the filter, out of the corner of her eye she saw House limping into his office. She had been meaning to talk to him for a while now. They hadn't spoken about that night when they 'accidentally' had dinner together, and although she knew House didn't like to talk about feelings, she couldn't help herself; she had to talk to him.

Cameron pushed the 'on' button on the coffee maker and made a smooth exit out of the conference room through House's adjoining office door. When she entered, he was just slipping that ratty old blue backpack off his shoulder and planting his butt in the chair, preparing to start his day of doing absolutely nothing.

As he turned around in his swivel chair, he finally noticed her leaning against his metal bookshelf, and she was smiling at him.

"What?" House asked.

"I wanted to talk to you," was her only response.

"I'm pretty sure that's what you're already doing."

Cameron sighed. "I wanted to talk to you about our-"

"Don't say date!" House interrupted her. Cameron smiled again. So, he had been thinking about it too, how else would he have known what she was going to say?

"Our dinner," she finished.

"What about it? We sat, we ate, we left."

She smirked when he said that. They were exactly the same words she'd used when she was talking to the boys.

"Unless of course you want to discuss a revenge plot, then I'm all ears."

Cameron let out a small laugh. "No, I think Hayley's learned her lesson. And the rest of them have finally realized that they were taking orders from an almost-nine year old."

"Almost nine year old?" House questioned.

Cameron shook her head. "Yeah, sorry, her birthday's coming up, so she's been going around saying that for the past few weeks." Then she realized that they were getting off topic. She didn't want to be talking about her kid when she was trying to talk about her relationship with House. If she started talking about Hayley, she'd fall back into her soft personality, and someone like that wouldn't be able to handle what she was about to do.

"Anyway," she started again. "I had a nice time, and I know you won't admit it, but I think you did too." She watched his features carefully for just a flicker of recognition, and maybe she was imagining things, but she thought she saw something in his eyes. It wasn't all that long or prominent, but she could swear she saw his eyes glisten for a second, they way they do when thinking of a fond memory. Even if it wasn't there, Cameron decided to let herself think that it was, so she could keep the nerve she'd built up in order to have this conversation.

"Do you want to come over for dinner?"

Even House was surprised by the question. He wasn't surprised that she wanted to have dinner with him, he was already very well aware of her feelings for him; it was her boldness that surprised him. She just came out and asked, didn't hesitate, didn't stutter; she just said it.

He was silent for a moment, and Cameron started to panic slightly. What had she just done? She'd asked her boss out, or rather, in, on a date. Something that was definitely not in line with hospital protocol. And he hadn't said anything. The only thing worse than not being berated by House the instant you opened your mouth was him not saying anything, and making you sweat it out, not knowing which direction he would go.

"Okay," he said simply.

Cameron did a double take. "What did you just say?"

"I said 'okay'. Two syllables, used to signify my agreement with or approval of the previous event or statement."

"Oh." Now that it had been done, Cameron didn't know what to say. "Okay then. Um, how's tonight, around 7? I was thinking we could order Chinese or something."

House gave a short nod, and she backed out of the room as quickly as she could. When she re-entered the conference room, Foreman and Chase noticed she was starting to blush, so she turned away from them, busying herself with the now fresh pot of coffee.

Tonight it was then.

"You're sleeping over at Maddie's," Cameron said as soon as Hayley got into the car.

Hayley set her backpack down on the floor and looked at her mother with confusion written all over her face. "What?"

"Maddie, Jessica, Caitlyn, I don't care, just call one of them and get yourself invited over."

"Mom, what are you talking about?"

"I have a date with House tonight."

"Really?!" Hayley squealed.

"Yes. He's coming over, and we're going to have dinner. Without an audience this time." She turned to Hayley and smiled playfully.

"So, did he like, ask you out or something?"

Cameron pushed down on the brake pedal as she neared a red light. "No, I asked him."

Hayley took a minute to try and wrap her head around that. In her little almost-nine year old mind, that wasn't how it was supposed to work. There was supposed to be flowers and candles, and the guy was supposed to serenade the girl with romantic gestures and conversation. At least that's how it was in the movies and fairytales.

But in the seat next to her, the older Cameron was thinking about how much she felt like she was in the movies or a fairytale.