Authors note: I had planned this story to be a bit longer but fearing all these chapters will start to sound old or repeated, I had cut some scenes to bring the story to a quick end. Don't worry, I have one last drama scene planned out. Hope ya'll will keep with me and follow to the end. Oh and forgive for my grammar and spelling errors, my last two beta's have left me to do their own thing so I am left to do this on my own and I plain suck at it so I'm just warning you now.

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This was nerve wrecking. Annabelle glanced strongly at her dance partner, getting herself ready for anything he might pull. Was he going to try and humiliate her? She was startled when he stopped and turned fully towards her. She took a step back when he took her by the hand.

"Wilson." She started but he shock his head, his free hand resting lightly upon her hip. "I wont do anything.. I just needed to talk

They began to move, small little steps side to side. She could feel his palms becoming warm with a hint of wetness. Was he nervous? Her hand rested onto his forearm that held her hip so and let him lead her around, her eyes looking up into his own. Searching, they looked so sad, so lonely. Tilting her head back down, she pressed her lips together. This wasn't her business. She needed to take care of House not his friend.

"Ann… Can I ask you something?"

She perked back up, her eyes wide. He looked down at her serious, his fingers giving her hip a soft squeeze. She didn't know what to make of this, she should be cold towards him for how he treated House, his own best friend but of all the stories she heard, all the things House said he gave up, it was getter harder and harder to keep herself from feeling sorry towards him. But for the time being, she'll just keep herself in check and keep saying he was still the mean old S.O.B. who broke House's heart.

"Earlier… When I asked you why you were making my life miserable, you said because I deserved it." She gave a slow nod, remembering their outburst that afternoon. What was he getting at she wondered, was he going to tell her to apologize for it?

"Was it because of the karaoke night? Because I didn't show up?"

Wilson watched her and she huffed, her eyes glancing away to the other couples beside them. "Well yes, that and the other times."

"What other times?"

She looked back with disbelief, her brows narrowed. "Don't play stupid, I know for a fact House asked you to go with him on several events that you backed out on. I hate monster trucks shows and when House called me telling me you didn't want to go to the event, I had."

"What Monster Truck event?"

She fumed, her bangs curling in on her red cheeks. "Not only that, but he had three movie nights he called you for and I was there to watch him wait for you. You're low of the low Wilson, if you were going to bail, you should have just said…no…" She choose that moment to look up, to glare at him and his facial expression made her words jump back down her throat. His body had stopped moving, leaving them stranded in the middle of the dance floor. His eyes were wide, lips part. He shock his head before he started to narrow his brow. "W-When.. I don't remember any… House never called me."

"What are you saying, of course he called."

"I-I don't get it." His hands dropped from her, raising to dig into his coat pocket for his phone. "I never got a call. I-I thought House was still mad at me, I don't understand. Why didn't he just ask me in person?"

Annabelle could not believe what she was seeing. If Wilson was faking this 'going dumb' then he was doing a very good job. She watched him fuss over his phone, his fingers tracking, was he just doing this for show? Taking a step closer, she reached up and touched his face, jerking him out of his search to look onto her. She stared into his eyes, looking, trying to find that one flicker of amusement, of doubt that gave her all the reason to slap him across the face and leave.

All she saw was panic, sheer terrifying panic.

"Oh god…. You didn't know?"

He shock his head, his arms falling to his side. How could this happen? He always checked his phone so there was no way he could of missed… A sudden realization struck him. He remember nights, when he was watching T.V. or when he was getting read for bed, his phone went off. He remembered reaching out to get it only to have Sam pick it up for him. He remembered her smiling face as she waved him to go back to what he was doing and answer the phone. Every time she got off and he asked who it was, she always said it was House calling to bother him. Never to ask him out, just to bother. He remembered her hushed voice when she spoke to House but he never asked what she said. He would try to take the phone to call him back but Sam just scooted close, straddled him and pulled him close to smother him in kisses that he just forgot.

Sam was behind all this? Why would she make him stand House up? Why did she refuse events she knew he would go too…

Annabelle pulled him slowly and in his sudden awaking, he could only follow. Why? Why did Sam do it? What did she have to gain? He felt arms wrap around his neck, fingers digging into his hair lightly. "Sorry." That voice whispered into his ear. He turned his head a little to press his cheek into her own, feeling her breath on his ear. "I'm so sorry…" She cooed to him, holding him close. "Man… Now I feel bad about the drink." All Wilson could do was chuckle before wrapping his arms around her waist, hugging her back lightly. He just let another person wedge a gap between his best friend of twenty years, blindly, just because he didn't pay attention. "Not as bad as I feel."

He closed his eyes a little to her running fingers, petting him away into a calm state. Maybe this was why House liked her so much, she was very good at making him relax. "Just explain to House what happened. It'll be okay."

"Its to late. Things changed to much to go back to normal."

"That's not true." She argued lightly, pulling away so she could looked up to him, her face set in honesty. "He would take you back in a heart beat, just tell him."

"You don't know House like I-"

"Wilson, I know a lot of things about House that you don't."

Standing up straight, he sighed deeply before throwing his hands at her. "What don't I know then?"

She looked away then, her fingers trailing down along his shoulders to his forearms. "Its not my place to say." She confessed lightly. "Just know, you have no idea how much he cares for you Wilson. No idea…"

He narrowed his brows at her words. He had hoped House cared for him, of all people House was the only person who would accept Wilson, mistake and all.

"I'm just jeopardizing myself telling you this." She whispered helplessly, her hands falling off his arm. "Thinking you stood him up, him knowing you were with Samantha every night, that you picked her over him. House took it hard. You know how selfish he is… Just think."

"I didn't pick anyone!"

"Oh Wilson… Don't be blind and ignore the answer." Her hands patted his arm lightly, a sad smile on her lips. "Now.. You need to fix it."

"How?"

"I have no idea." She answered honestly. "But you have too."

"Mind if I cut in?"

Both Wilson and Annabelle jumped at House's voice, turning to look at him. Annabelle began to laugh weakly as Wilson rubbed the back of his neck. "Something happened between you two." House mused, pointing to them with his cane. "Should I be worried?"

"Well, if you think Wilson and I becoming friends is something to be concern about, this yes. You should." She reached over and tugged Wilson's arm, giving it a hug for good measure. House just sighed, stabbing his cane between them, dislodging them apart. "Yeah yeah, peachy. How about giving me back my girlfriend and you can get your own. She's bringing the poker table down."

Wilson slumped his shoulders a little before muttering, "Great." Looking towards Annabelle, he watched how House moved closer to her, settling his hand on the small of her back. She gave him a sad smile, this told Wilson she knew something he didn't. "Thanks… for the dance Ann."

"Your welcome." She watched him turn and leave, mingling his way back into the crowed and towards the gambling tables. She truly believed if they had started out on the right foot, she would have really liked him. With a tap of his cane, House pulled Annabelle towards him making her squeal, pressing her close to his chest muttering. "Since I'm out here. I 'guess' I should get this over and done with."

Her eyes were wide when she felt his heart beat against her cheek. His left hand held her back and cane, making her flinch as it dug into her spine but his right hand held her left so lightly, she didn't mind the discomfort. Closing her eyes, she began to think, her free hand reaching up to curl into his suit.

So, this was just an misunderstanding. House's thoughts of Wilson hating him, of picking Sam over him was false. What will Wilson do now that he knows the truth? What will House do when he finds out? Bowing her head a little, she felt her heart give a painful squeeze. She said she wanted to make House happy, she wanted to help him find the light in his darkness and help him keep his nightmares at bay.

What if this little bit of information was all House needed for him to turn to Wilson again. What if this action was all Wilson needed to turn back to House. They would return to normal and House would finally be by his side.

He would not need her.

That answer made her sick to her stomach. Why should she be upset? She knew this would happen. She knew that maybe one day House would get his dream, she didn't know how, but it would happen. So she kept telling herself, she was there to help. She was there to be Wilson's replacement until he returned and yet, with every day she spent with House, she began to care for him more and more. His rough side was hard to get by but when he soften towards her, letting her touch him, letting her take care of him. She liked him.. Really liked him. But she had to tell him.

"House, I need to tell you something." She pulled away but House snatched her right hand, "Lift up." He commanded, she blinked up at him confused. He sighed and made a circle motion with his free hand leading her to slowly push onto the tips of her feet. His hand touched her arm and began to spin her, making her kick her left foot out so she didn't have to stop to trade feet. He twirled her three times before stopping her, she just followed him, unsure of his motives.

He moved with her slowly, careful of his steps due to his leg but he still managed to twirl her around him, to throw her out into a high kick before spinning her back. The dress was perfect in her movements, flowing around her like mist in a dream. House chuckled to himself selfishly as people stopped to stare, to watch in awe of his girls dancing, of their grace. Yes it was showing off and House freakin loved it.

When the music began to come to an end, he pulled her back into his arms, holding her close as they stepped back into the slow dance, back into the regular rhythm.

So that was why House wanted her to wear the shoes. She didn't know if she should be either honored or embarrassed at the attention they got.

"Alright, what did you want to tell me?"

She stiffen a little before glancing up, letting her eyes rest on his face. Her heart sank when she saw him smile. His face had soften, those blue eyes glittering with delight in the dim lights, his lips giving her an honest to god smile that melted her very bones. He didn't look normal, he didn't look the same. He was so handsome and that made it harder for her to confess. "Its uh… About Wilson."

His right eyebrow shot up but he didn't lose that smile, he just kept staring, leaning in closer to touch his nose with her own. Why was he making this so hard on her? Did he know how much this would hurt? How much his softer side made her want to be selfish and keep him? She was there to help him so he could help her.

"What about him?" He whispered.

Closing her eyes, she felt her heart give one last plea. Reaching up, she touched his face lightly. "… He's a good dancer."

House chuckled, stealing a quick kiss from her. A kiss leaving a bitter taste in her mouth. Yes, she was selfish, a self center lying bitch. If she told him the truth, then everything would change, she would no longer be his light or companion.

As he pulled her close, resting his chin on top of her head, she blinked back her tears. House would find out the truth until then she would live in the moment and just hope it wouldn't come to soon.

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