A/N - Me again! Like I've said for nearly every chapter, sorry for the wait, but...actually, I'm gonna stop with the excuses. The long waits are just not accpetable and I apologise. I hope you guys haven't given up on me :) Now, this chap might get a bit fluffy/OOC or whatever you want to call it, but I think by now you guys realise that all my chaps are like that! A big thank you to Pyewacket75 for helping me bat ideas around when writers block takes hold.
Also, this story has been nominated for the Rock The House awards for Hameron Romance fanfic. A MASSIVE thank you to whoever put this story up, but it is a real honour. I've never been nominated for an award before :) Now, a shameless plug here, it would mean THE WORLD to me if you guys who like this story could vote for me when the voting opens. I haven't seen the other fics in the category, but i'm sure it'll be tough, so all your votes would count. I shall have the link up on my profile and I shall post it at the end of the chap so you guys can check it out. THANK YOU!!
Dislclaimer: Yeah, I don't own House, but I like to work around the writer's mistakes ;)
Chapter Twenty Nine – Everything Will Be Alright
I think about the years I spent just passing through
I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you
But you just smile and take my hand
You've been there you understand
It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true
- Rascal Flatts
A few months later…
Now the beginning of summer, House loved waking up in the mornings. The golden sun streamed through the curtains, landing on him and his sleeping partner, gently waking them. He had never been a morning person, but now, he found himself being woken up by Cameron kissing his neck or the smell of her glorious coffee. Life was good.
However, when House woke up one Monday morning, he stretched and rolled over, expecting to find his arm wrapped around his girlfriends waist – instead, his arm found the sheets, still slighting warm from where she'd been laying.
Confused, House sat up, rubbed his eyes and propped himself up on his hands as he listened for the signs that she was up. But the coffee machine wasn't whirring, the TV wasn't on, the shower wasn't running and she wasn't brushing her teeth. The apartment was silent.
Then he heard groans and retching coming from the bathroom. House sighed sympathetically. He knew she hated being sick and they'd had seafood last night. Heaving himself up, House grabbed his cane and hobbled into the bathroom wearing just his cotton pyjama pants. He knocked on the door softly and then pushed it open.
He was met with the sight of his girlfriend crumpled up by the toilet bowl. Her forehead was sweaty, her eyes were red from crying and she looked pale. She looked up at him as he opened the door and whimpered slightly, ready to cry again. House moved over to the sink, rinsed a cold cloth and then sat down on the floor next to her, his back leaning against the bath.
"C'mere," he whispered quietly, pulling her back against him and gently dabbing her hot skin with the cloth.
He smoothed her hair back off of her face and ran the cloth around her neck, kissing her shoulder affectionately. Cameron leaned into him, her eyes closing as the cool cloth ran over her skin and his lips grazed her shoulder. Despite what anyone said, House could be the most caring and loving man on the planet. Anytime she had a cold or a headache or period pain, House would be there, silently looking after her – a soothing hand on her abdomen as they watched TV together, a simple gesture of leaving her aspirin and water out on the side or bringing back her favourite takeaway and letting her chose a movie.
She never had to ask him for anything – he just seemed to know that she needed looking after and that made her love him even more.
"I told you not to eat those prawns," he joked quietly and Cameron chuckled against him.
Then he turned her around and wiped her tears with his thumb before placing a kiss on her forehead.
"Are you going to throw up again in the next 20 seconds?" he asked, a smirk on his lips.
Cameron smiled again. "Nope, I think I'm good for now,"
House smiled at her. "Good,"
Then he pulled himself up with one leg and reached down to help her up too.
"Right, you brush your teeth and get rid of your vomit breath, then get back into bed and I'll go make you some of that weird tea you like when you're sick," he said, as he tucked her hair behind her ears and stroked it gently.
"Thank you," she said softly and he smiled at her before disappearing out the room.
"I'll call Cuddy too and tell her you're not coming in today," called House from the kitchen.
Cameron smiled as she rinsed her mouth out. She really did love him.
After wiping her mouth, Cameron went back to the bedroom and climbed under the sheets, finding the warmth that her boyfriend had left behind and she snuggled into his gorgeous smelling pillow. House returned quickly with some ginger tea and some pills for the headache he'd knew she'd have in a while. He put them on the side and then climbed under the sheets with her, lying on his side so he was facing her.
"Your tea's on the side," he said quietly, his hand moving to rub her stomach gently.
Cameron turned on her side too and nestled into his body, her hand stroking up his chest and winding around his neck to play with the soft hairs on the nape.
"You always take care of me," she whispered, looking up at him and he smiled.
"I think that's my job, isn't it? Being a good boyfriend requires lots of kissing," he said, grazing his lips over her neck "Lots on cuddling, great sex, listening to you, taking care of you, protecting you and most importantly," He raised his head again and met her eyes "Letting you have the remote every once in a while,"
Cameron chuckled and kissed the underside of his chin "Well, I think you're doing the job perfectly,"
Then her stomach did a flip and she groaned, lowering her head to his chest. House ran his hand over her stomach again.
"You want me to stay here with you today?"
Cameron shook her head against him. "No, it's okay, you go, I'll be alright, its just food poisoning,"
He curled his arms around her a bit more. "You sure?" he said "Because I will quite happily stay here with you all day,"
Cameron laughed. "Stop trying to get off work," she teased "you're not sick,"
"Yes," he said "But my girlfriend is, and I think that is just as important,"
Cameron smiled again. "If you wan't, I'll breath all over you to make you sick too?"
"Oh would you?" he teased and Cameron nuzzled his neck a bit more.
"I'll be fine," she said confidently "You go and save some more lives,"
"Okay, but I'm staying here until you fall asleep again,"
House stroked her hair and Cameron relaxed even more in his arms.
"I love you," she whispered and he kissed the top of her head.
"I love you too,"
*****
Cameron woke a few hours later to find herself alone in bed, but with a piece of paper on the pillow next to her. She rubbed her eyes and then read it.
Gone to work but will be back at lunchtime to check on you.
Watch TV, sleep and don't you even think about going out.
Call me if you need me.
Love you,
G x
He really was so sweet sometimes. Cameron sat up and closed her eyes, waiting for the nausea to wash over her and settle enough so she could get up. Then she lifted herself out of bed and grabbed one of House's sweaters to wear before padding out into the kitchen.
House had left out some crackers and some juice for her so she took a few over to the couch and flicked the TV on. The answering machine was flashing so Cameron pressed it and listened as she settled into the leather.
You have one new message. Message recorded today at 11.21am. *Beep*
"Hey, it's me,"
Cameron smiled at House's voice.
"I guess you're still asleep, and I didn't want to call your cell in case I woke you. Just checking in really…not much going on here…kinda bored with no girlfriend to keep me company – oh well, I guess I'll see you at lunch. Bye,"
Cameron grinned and pressed the delete button on the machine. She'd call him later.
She nibbled her crackers and sipped her juice, but 10 seconds later she regretted it as another wave of nausea washed over her – one that she couldn't ignore. Jumping up, Cameron rushed to the bathroom and got there just in time to hurl into the toilet. She dry heaved a few times before concluding there was nothing left and she flushed the toilet. Collapsing back against the bath, Cameron breathed deeply, wishing House was there to stroke her hair and whisper sweet words into her ear.
God, she hated being sick. She rarely got food poisoning, but when she did, it was always bad. Stupid seafood.
Cameron ran her hand over her stomach, and then suddenly, a thought hit her.
What if it wasn't food poisoning? What if…what if she was pregnant?
Cameron exhaled deeply. Even though her and House had talked about children, they were still safe. She took her pill and most of the time, he'd use a condom too. But accidents can happen. She could have forgotten her pill one day or they'd got caught up in passion. Cameron ran her hand over her face and then stood up shakily. She rinsed her mouth and splashed her face quickly, thoughts running through her head.
Ok, so yeah, they'd talked about it, but it didn't mean they were ready right now. It didn't mean he was ready right now.
Just then, she heard the front door open.
"Allison?"
Cameron came out the bathroom and met House in the hall. He frowned.
"You just been sick again?" he asked and she nodded.
"Oh baby," he soothed, moving over to her and wrapping his arms around her.
Cameron curled into his chest, wondering how she was going to tell him she cold be pregnant.
House pulled back and looked at her. "What's wrong?" he asked, wiping her tears. Tears that she didn't even know were there.
She lowered her head and looked at his sneakers, but House tipped her chin back up with his fingers.
"Allison, what's wrong?" he asked again, worry evident in his voice.
"What if…what if it isn't food poisoning?" she said quietly, looking up at him "What if I'm pregnant, Greg?"
House's eyes widened and then he exhaled deeply, his hands encircling her waist.
"You think you're pregnant?" he asked calmly.
"Well, I've been throwing up, I've got a splitting headache, I feel bloated and…I dunno…maybe I'm being paranoid,"
"Probably," smiled House as he met her eyes "But we can do a test,"
"What if I am pregnant, Greg? What will happen then?" she asked worriedly, looking to him for reassurance, for comfort, for advice.
"If you're pregnant, then you're pregnant," he said "Simple as that. We'll work things out,"
House linked their fingers together and tried to look as calm and confident as possible. But inside, his stomach was doing flips. He knew that he wanted kids with her, but he didn't think it would be so soon. What if he wasn't ready to be a dad? What if he couldn't work things out?
Cameron pressed herself into his body, letting go of his hands and wrapping them tightly around his middle. House sighed and kissed her neck gently.
"Everything will be alright," he whispered, hoping to reassure her "I promise,"
Cameron pulled back and kissed his cheek, comforted by his reassuring words. House smiled and moved his hand down to her stomach, slipping under her shirt to rub the skin.
"So there could be a little person in there," he said, looking down at his hand making circles on her flat stomach. "A little me or a little you,"
Cameron smiled through her tears. "Yeah," she said softly.
"That's kind of exciting right?" he said, grinning.
Cameron laughed. "Exciting and damn scary at the same time,"
"I'll get a test from the drug store on the way home tonight, unless you wanna go and do a blood test at the hospital?"
"No, no, no," said Cameron, shaking her head "I wanna do it here, with you,"
"Okay," he said, leaning in to kiss her but stopping just before his lips touched hers. "I better not; I don't wanna get your germs,"
He smirked and Cameron hit him on the arm before pressing her lips to his quickly.
"I haven't got germs, its food poisoning…or I'm pregnant, and I don't think you can catch that by kissing,"
"Well, if you're not ill, then I guess I can go because I won't be needed to make you lunch and watch daytime TV with you," he teased, turning around and going to walk out.
Cameron laughed and caught up with him, tugging his arm to make him face her.
"Don't go," she begged playfully "I'm still sick and need my amazing boyfriend to look after me,"
"Okay, well call me when he turns up,"
Cameron giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck, surprised at how quickly they could go from being serious to fooling around. Whether it was excitement or anticipation, she didn't know, but he was laughing and she was laughing and he'd promised that everything would be alright. She trusted him. If he said everything will be alright, then it would be.
"Am I the amazing boyfriend then?" he asked innocently.
"Of course," she said "The one and only,"
He smiled and kissed her as he laced his arms around her waist.
"I could be a Dad," he whispered to her, as if just realising it for the first time.
"I could be a Mom," she whispered back.
They looked at each other and tried to figure out what the other was feeling. Excitement, worry, anticipation, fear, joy, nervousness, happiness, apprehension and love - everything was there. But everything would be alright.
"Wanna go watch Jerry Springer and I'll make you up some lunch?" asked House, stroking her hair.
She nodded and moved out of his warmth to make her way to the couch, sinking down into the pillows as House disappeared into the kitchen.
He returned a few minutes later with some sandwiches and juice for them both. He sunk down next to her, wrapping his left arm around her as they ate.
A few hours later, Cameron had her legs across his lap, her body snuggled back against the couch and House trailed his hand over her knees. She ended up dozing off and House smiled down at her. She could be the mother of his child. He was scared, but not as scared as he thought he'd be.
He reached for his phone and dialled Cuddy's number. She answered quickly.
"House, where are you? You went to check on Cameron over 2 hours ago, is everything okay?" she asked, annoyed at his disappearing act, but he could hear the concern in her voice.
"Not really, I'm not coming back in," he said quietly, his eyes never leaving his lover's face. "I'm staying her with Allison,"
"House, is everything okay?"
He sighed. "It will be, but she needs me now,"
Then Cuddy sighed heavily. "Alright, but only because you don't have a case. You still owe me clinic hours, and don't think a sick girlfriend will get you out of them," The annoyance was back.
"Fine," Then he hung up.
*****
A while later, House went out to the drug store and bought four different types of pregnancy test, as he had no idea which one was best. As he drove back, he tapped his fingers against the steering wheel, his nerves beginning to show – but he didn't really know why he was nervous. It was what he wanted, wasn't it? But what if he was a crappy Dad? What is his kid hated him for working to much or just being an ass in general?
Before he knew it, he was bursting in through the apartment door again to find Cameron pacing nervously, waiting for his arrival. House whipped off his coat quickly and handed her the paper bag.
"I got loads," he explained "I didn't know which one was better?"
Cameron smiled at his thoughtfulness and took one out.
"Okay, so I pee on the stick, wait 4 minutes, blah blah blah," she said, reading off of the back of the packet "Then two blue lines means pregnant and one red line means not pregnant,"
"Okay," nodded House "Ready?"
Cameron just nodded and made her way to the bathroom. House began pacing up and down, despite his leg telling him to stop. It was starting to ache, but House knew it was just apprehension.
Cameron returned quickly and they just looked at each other as she went to the kitchen to set the timer on the microwave. They stood together in the kitchen, neither of them saying anything just glancing from the clock to the test to each other. It was the longest four minutes of their lives. Thoughts rushed through their heads; images of what having a kid would be like, what pregnancy would be like - a tiny human being with the best of him and the best of her.
House tapped his cane, Cameron drummed her fingers, the microwave continued to whirr.
House paced up and down, Cameron closed her eyes and sighed deeply, the microwave continued to whirr.
And then it pinged, silencing their thoughts and causing their eyes to flick up to one another's. The test was lying on the counter and neither of them daren't look.
"You look," said Cameron
"No, you look,"
Cameron sighed. "We'll look together,"
She picked up the test, still not looking at the result and moved closer to him.
"Ready?" she asked, looking up at him. He met her eyes and nodded, sighing deeply.
"I'm ready,"
Cameron slowly raised the white stick and moved her hand to reveal the result.
One red line.
She wasn't pregnant.
Cameron closed her eyes as her heart sunk in her chest. Before she knew it, tears were escaping her closed eyes and trickling down her cheeks. She wasn't pregnant. House let out a sigh and enveloped her in his arms. He was surprised at how…disappointed he felt.
When he first heard that she thought she could be pregnant, he felt scared and worried, but excited all the same. The news that she wasn't carrying his baby hit him hard, and upset him more than it should have.
Cameron dropped the test and her hands gripped House's shoulders, her fingers grasping his shirt as she sobbed into his chest. House rubbed her back soothingly and kissed the spot behind her ear to calm her even more.
"It's okay, it's okay," he soothed.
"Why am I this upset?" asked Cameron through her tears as she pulled back to look at him. "When I thought my illness could mean I'm pregnant, I was just scared and I didn't think it was what I wanted yet, I thought it was too soon. But…but I'm upset. I wanted this,"
Her voice was soft as she looked up at him. House pushed the hair back off of her face.
"This isn't the end though," he reassured "It's just the beginning,"
"You wanna try? I mean, really try?" she asked, her eyes searching his.
"We won't start trying to get pregnant;" he said "We'll just stop trying not to,"
Cameron smiled through her tears and hugged him. "I think that could be a good plan," she said "But can we talk about it more tomorrow? I'm kinda tired after all that drama,"
She wiped her tears and then looked up at him. He smiled adoringly at her and stroked her wet cheeks.
"Yeah," he said "We can talk about it more tomorrow,"
Tomorrow - that sounded good. He'd had enough drama for one day. They both had.
AN - My writers block has gone for now as I know where I'm going with this for the next 3 or 4 chapters. Unfortunantly, I have exams coming up soon, and they are a little bitmore important. But I will be back soon. Don't worry.
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