Playtime
It was Wednesday afternoon when Cameron drove Angi and Charlie to the airport. They had 4 days to spark Charlie's memory, and they weren't going to waste any of it driving.
"Thanks so much for doing this, Ally," said Angela. "We really appreciate it."
Charlie didn't say anything about the matter. He was still unsure about this whole trip to New York. "Will we be back before you leave for Boston, Ally?"
Cameron sighed. "Charlie, Angi's going to Boston, not me."
Charlie seemed offended and confused at the same time.
Cameron realized this would be the only way to make it work. "Charlie," she said. "I know you don't remember her now, but Angela is your wife. You have to trust her; she's going to help you get your memory back."
Charlie looked into Cameron's eyes and realized that she was telling the truth. He gave her a nod before handing the attendant his plane ticket. Angi thanked Cameron once more before doing the same. They said their final goodbyes to Cameron before boarding the airplane.
&&&&&
Meanwhile, House had played chauffer to Grace all afternoon. He had convinced Cameron that it would be better for her and Grace to stay at his place for the remainder of the week instead of her own. He mentioned something about Grace being able to play video games, guitar, and piano while she was bored, but Cameron couldn't really remember. All she knew was the real reason House had insisted upon the arrangement was because he didn't want to spend the next 4 days in an empty apartment. He just wouldn't admit it. So, while Cameron took Grace's parents to the airport, he got the job of taking the kid to Cameron's place to collect her things.
"God, got enough things?" he joked as Grace struggled to pick up her heavy bag.
"I wanted to make sure I have everything," she said. "Mom and Dad said we might have a calm weekend in the apartment, so I made sure to bring lots to do."
House observed the overly stuffed bag. "No kidding," he quipped. "Well, I have a piano, some guitars, and video games at my place if you want."
Grace smiled. His place sounded like more fun than her Aunt Ally's. "Thanks, Dr. House."
House tried not to smile (he had a reputation to uphold you know), but he could barely help himself. "You can call me Greg."
Grace walked out the door of her aunt's apartment and tossed her bag into House's corvette, where she soon sat down in the passenger seat. "In that case, thanks, Greg."
&&&&&
House and Grace arrived at an electronics store, and Grace was confused, but got out of the car anyways.
"Why are we coming here?"
House led her into the small gaming store. "I'm just picking something up."
Grace nodded and browsed around. She liked playing video games, too. Her parents often told her it was a waste of time and that she should focus more on her music and studies, but she couldn't help herself. She soon became bored with browsing and went to meet up with House at the cashier's counter. Once she caught sight of the game he was picking up, she beamed. "You got the new Grand Theft Auto game?!" she nearly shouted. "It isn't supposed to come out until this October!"
House winked. "I know a guy who knows a guy."
Grace grinned. "Can I play it, pretty, pretty please?!"
House nearly laughed. "Your parents let you play Grand Theft Auto?"
She shrugged. "They don't try to shield me from things that they know I'll find out about anyways."
House smirked. "Fine, but I call first player."
Grace agreed to his terms, and the two returned to the corvette. Needless to say, they were both eager to head home and try out the new video game.
&&&&&
Cameron walked through the door of House's apartment without even knocking. She simply used the key above the door; she'd come to think of it as her own key. That was okay, though, because House never seemed to mind her walking in uninvited. Heck, he did it all the time anyways.
Once inside the apartment, Cameron set down the groceries she'd bought – If Grace was going to be staying with them for the next few days, they would at least have reasonable meals. Once she placed her own bag (she'd stopped by her place on the way back from the airport) in House's room, she strolled into the living room where Grace and House sat on the couch. She couldn't help but laugh.
House and Grace were completely engaged in whatever game they were playing, and surprisingly had paid very little attention to her entrance.
Without taking his eyes off of the screen, House asked Cameron, "What's so funny?"
"You are," said Cameron loudly above the noise of crashing cars and rock music.
"Why are we so funny?" asked Grace. Her eyes, like House's, never left the television screen.
Cameron just smirked at the two of them. They were like two peas in a pod. "Nothing."
On that final note, she retreated into the kitchen and began to stock it with the groceries she'd bought. Once she was done, she started making dinner for the three of them. House would probably object and say that pizza or Chinese would be fine, but he would be wrong. No way was Cameron going to eat that much take-out.
&&&&&
It was nearly 6:00pm when House and Grace's names were called from the kitchen.
"What do you want?!" shouted House, completely focused on the game.
"Dinner's ready!" shouted Cameron.
"Damn," sighed House. He paused the game.
Grace sighed as well. "Maybe we can play after dinner."
House nodded as he and Grace walked into the kitchen. It smelled… delicious.
"I made spaghetti," said Cameron. "I hope that's okay."
House and Grace both sat down at the table, as did Cameron.
"Anything's okay," House grinned. "It smells great."
"It looks great, too, Aunt Ally," added Grace. Like House, she quickly dug into her dinner.
Dinner was casual and enjoyable. House and Grace described the video game that they'd been playing to Cameron. She enjoyed watching her niece so enthusiastic, especially during the hard times of her parents. It wasn't too bad seeing House smile for once in his life either. Once all three plates of spaghetti had been completely licked clean, Cameron took the plates and put them into the sink. She quickly returned with three bowls of chocolate ice cream though. This pleased everyone, especially Cameron. Maybe she'd been successful in getting House happy enough to agree to anything….
"So did you ask him yet?" asked Grace right before shoving a giant spoonful of ice cream into her mouth.
Cameron laughed. "Small bites, Gracie," she said. "And no I haven't."
"Did you ask who what?" House took downed another spoonful of ice cream before observing Cameron's eyes. She looked reluctant, almost… guilty.
"Well," said Cameron. "Grace decided that she still wanted to go to the beach this weekend."
"Okay…," said House. There was no way this was going to end well for him.
"And," continued Cameron, "We were wondering if you would join us."
House looked into the hopeful eyes of Grace and Cameron. God, why did they have to do that to him? There was no way he could say no now. Well, he could, but he'd most likely be sleeping alone that night. He heaved a dramatic sigh. "I suppose…."
Grace beamed at House and then turned to her Aunt Ally. Cameron was smiling just as widely.
"What?" House asked. "You thought I'd say no?"
Cameron and Grace didn't answer. Instead, they just finished off their bowls of ice cream rather quickly. So, House did the same.
&&&&&
After dinner, House and Grace played Grand Theft Auto for another few hours before Cameron insisted that they do something else. So, Grace played a few songs on one of House's guitars. Much to his surprise, she was rather talented for an 11-year-old.
At 10:00, House pulled some blankets and pillows out of his closet and made up the couch for Grace. After having Wilson spend so many nights there after divorces, you'd have thought House would consider transforming his storage room into a spare bedroom. Well, he was too lazy, so this would have to do for now.
"You comfy?" asked Cameron. House was just waiting by the bedroom door. Tuck-in time wasn't really his thing. At least not for now.
Grace nodded happily. "Yup."
"Can I get you anything else?" asked Cameron. "A glass of water or something?"
Grace shook her head no. "Good night Aunt Ally," she said sleepily.
Cameron kissed her niece on the forehead and gave her a hug before going to join House in the bedroom.
Grace watched her aunt walk off down the hall towards House. "Goodnight, Greg."
House nodded his goodnight in the child's direction.
&&&&&
Cameron lay in bed next to House. He had a smirk on his face, the same expression that he got whenever he'd solved a puzzle.
"Why are you so happy?" asked Cameron.
"You made that dinner and let us play our video game just so I'd say yes."
Cameron blushed. "It worked didn't it?"
"I suppose so," whined House childishly. "But I can think of one more thing to make the situation better."
Cameron rolled her eyes. "Greg, Grace is in the other room!"
"Well then you'd better keep quiet," he whispered before he captured Cameron's mouth in his own.