Chapter 12

Cameron entered the apartment to find House by his piano with a half-empty bottle of scotch. Just like earlier that evening, she took in the way his fingers flowed freely across the keys, savoring the image of him swaying ever so slightly to the music with his eyes shut tight.

No matter how much she wanted to preserve the intimacy of the moment, she knew it was time to officially end their last evening together.

In fact, it was time to put an end to the thought of them being together.

But before she could turn away, House replaced the classical piece he was playing with a song she instantly recognized.

You said, you don't know me; you don't even care

It was a song so fitting that it almost brought tears to her eyes. She watched him silently as she leaned against the wall for support.

She said, I think I'm going to Boston

I think I'll start a new life;

I think I'll start it over

He turned to lock his eyes with hers as the final note echoed through his apartment.

"You really think I don't care?" he asked softly.

"I know you do." she admitted in a whisper. Although believing that he didn't would make the fact that they could never be together easier to accept, she knew it wasn't the truth.

She smiled sadly. "You always have."

"Then why?"

"It's not enough." she explained with regret. "We'll always go back to the way we started out as – two people with this almost magnetic attraction between them. But what we feel is never strong enough to turn us into something more. There's going to be moments where we'll come close, like right now…but that's all it can ever be. Moments."

His eyes followed the silent tear that rolled down her face. "You don't know that."

"I do, House." she countered forcefully.

"You don't. You're just running away." he said harshly as anger seeped through him. If she truly believed that they could be nothing more, she wouldn't have fought for them since the day they met. "A little hypocritical, don't you think? You've always accused me of running from my emotions. What are you doing now?"

She returned an icy stare in his direction. "I may be running away, but don't you dare say I'm hypocritical. You run away the second you think you can get hurt. I've been constantly running towards you for three years regardless of how you hurt me."

"I'm not running away so I can't get hurt, House." she continued, her voice breaking with the pain of her admission. "I'm running away because I'm already hurt and any more pain will break me."

The anger that House felt just moments ago vanished instantly at her words. He knew that he had hurt her in more ways than he thought, but never did he intend to break her.

Hell, he never even intended to hurt her.

Cameron stood silently, waiting for his retort.

When he had none, she took it as her cue to leave. "Good night, House." she said resignedly as she made her way towards his room.

This was the final farewell.

He knew that she would be gone by the time he woke up tomorrow. She'd be out of his life, and it'd be for good this time.

Shaking his head, he reached for the cane resting by his side.

He couldn't just let it end this way; because unlike Cameron, he couldn't convince himself that their feelings weren't enough.

Not this time.

"Allison, wait." Pushing himself up from the piano bench, he started his way towards her.

Cameron wasn't sure whether it was his use of her name or the rare emotion she heard in his voice that stopped her.

But she did as she was told.

She waited.

She continued to wait motionlessly as he closed the distance between them with each uneven step he took, his gaze never leaving hers.

Her heart threatened to halt at the proximity as they stood, bodies barely touching.

"You have every right to run away from a bastard like me," he said softly, taking the final step forward and pulling her into his arms, "but let me finish what I have to say before you do."

She nodded faintly against his shoulder, uncertain if she was prepared for what he was about to say.

"I'm never faithful to women I date."

She tensed at his words.

"Let me continue." he pleaded gently against her ear as he tightened his hold. "I have this need to distance myself before anyone can get close…but for some reason unknown to me, I couldn't do that to you."

"What do you mean?" she whispered.

"Nothing happened between me and Honey that night."

That was all he could give her.

House was not the type to ever explain his actions to anyone; he also knew that no words could justify what he did. All he could do was hope that she would take his words.

He let out the breath he didn't know he was holding when he finally felt her relax in his arms.

"I don't want to just give you my crippled body." he muttered, lifting one arm to gently stroke the back of her head.

Dampness seeped through his shirt as he felt Cameron tremble faintly in his embrace. "Allison." he said, pulling away slightly to lock his eyes with hers once more.

He needed her to see his sincerity.

"I want to have a real relationship with you. I don't know if it's possible, but I'm willing to try."

She returned his gaze with the familiar faith and hope he had always found in her eyes.

He didn't want to betray that trust in those green eyes again. So gently wiping away her tears, he made a promise to a woman for the first time without intending to ever use his handy 'everybody lies' excuse as his backup plan. "I know I'm going to hurt you without even realizing…but I won't be unfaithful to you when we're together. You're not going to find another wom –"

He couldn't finish.

His words were cut off by Cameron who had reached behind his neck and pulled him into a kiss that was filled with the countless emotions floating through their minds.

It was desperate as they recalled how close they were to losing one another.

It was passionate as they lost themselves in each other's arms.

And it was slow and deliberate as they realized that it was only the beginning.

"I don't need any promises." she whispered when they finally parted. "Knowing that you'll try is enough."

House nodded and held her tightly in silence.

They've shared moments like this in the past, but they were all intended to be meaningless and forgotten the next day; for the first time, they were sharing an embrace that was filled with the promise of tomorrow.

Cameron smiled.

"House, th –"

She was interrupted by the touch of his finger on her lips.

Her head tilted slightly in confusion.

"It's Greg for you." he corrected. "And don't thank me. Just don't leave my side after I make love to you. Not tonight, and never again."

Her smile widened. "Oh, Greg's mighty confident that there will be sex tonight. I'm not the type to put out on the first date, you know." No, a disastrous date that she forced him into definitely did not count in Cameron's book.

He grinned mischievously, certain that there was no way she could win this argument. "Lucky for me, our first date was spent admiring the wonders of four-wheeled monsters."

"But you said it wasn't a date." she reminded him smugly.

He shrugged. "Everybody lies, Allison."

He impatiently captured her lips in his once again. She didn't argue; she simply pulled him closer to deepen the kiss as she led the way to his room.

Shutting the bedroom door behind them, he slowed his pace to plant a trail of kisses down her jaw and along her neckline.

As she felt his hands gradually slide up her body beneath her dress, she moaned in desire.

She wanted him more than she ever had.

And she needed him now.

Moving her hands to the front of his buttoned shirt, her fingers worked impatiently to free him from his clothes.

"Allison," he whispered, stopping her hands with his grasp, "we have time." He wanted this time to be different; it should be because it was no longer meaningless sex as part of an arrangement.

He wanted them to take their time.

"We do." she whispered in reply, fully understanding the meaning of his words.

So that's what they did. They kissed and caressed each other's bodies, memorizing every touch in the darkness of the moonlit room.

Towering over her as she lay on her back, House paused.

"You sure about this?" he asked softly as if it was their first time.

"If you are."

Without an ounce of hesitation, he entered her. He hasn't been more certain about anything for a long time. Not even in the times he knew the correct diagnosis only seconds after receiving a new case.

The contentment they felt as their bodies united made all the pain they had endured worth it.

Hours later, Cameron lay in House's bed thinking about the next day. A part of her couldn't help but wonder if he would change his mind when he woke up.

She shifted uncomfortably towards the edge of the bed at that thought.

Sensing her movements, House turned to his side. "I thought I made it clear you're not allowed to leave after sex." he mumbled sleepily as he pulled her closer once again.

She smiled.

Somehow, by the way he kept his arms protectively around her as he fell back into slumber, House had managed to reassure her without a word that there was indeed nothing to worry about.

TBC

A/N: As promised, here's the next chapter. The lyrics used in this chapter is 'Boston' by Augustana. As always, thanks for reading and all your wonderful reviews. Hope you guys like this!