Hello everyone! Chapter 35 is ready for you to read :-) Thank you all for your reviews and comments, I hope you'll enjoy this chapter too...

Disclaimer: I don't own House MD...

Chapter 35: Dinner with friends

It had been a week since they learnt that Scott was out of jail and that every member of the police force was looking for her. And fortunately it had been an uneventful week.

House was worried and kept an eye on Cameron everywhere she would go. Cameron was worried too but tried not to show it to much because then House would find an excuse to overreact again.

The rest of the hospital didn't know this bit of information, except from Cuddy and Wilson of course, who were trying to do anything to help their friends. They were also trying to help themselves since it had been a week since their fight and not one of them had made a move to fix things.

Wilson would spend most of his time at House and Cameron's place, unsuccessfully trying to forget about her. House would threaten him that if he didn't make a move to talk to her then he would take matters in his own hands. And that could never be good… Cameron would tell him to just talk to her and express his feelings, House would be his usual sarcastic self at her and she would threaten him that he would sleep on the couch with Wilson with a smirk on her face. And all this bunter between them would only make him more depressed, make him want to go find her. But he wouldn't… he needed time…

Cuddy, on the other hand, was obsessing with work. She wanted to keep her mind off of him, stop thinking all the time about his smile and expressive brown eyes. And work was the only way she could distract her mind, stop her thoughts from drifting back to him. At least for a while… when she returned home at night she couldn't stop the images that flooded her mind and she would hug his pillow tight against her body. Times like these she just wanted to go and find him, But she wouldn't… she needed time…

Cameron and House were watching everything close by. And they were determined to do something to help their friends. But they didn't know what exactly…

Cameron was sitting in her office, doing some charting when she saw Wilson passing by her office. He glanced in and when he saw her he turned and headed for her office.

He entered and went to sit down on one of the chairs in front of her desk. He was silent for some moments, fidgeting with his hands, his eyes glued to the floor. And then he raised his head to look at her only to find her looking back at him with a gentle look in her eyes.

"Hey… How are you doing?" she asked him in a soft tone.

"I don't know…" he confessed sadly and averted his gaze.

She got up and dragged a chair so that she was facing him and sat down in front of him. She reached out and took one of his hands in hers, making him look straight in her eyes again.

"I was always the one that gave advice you know…" he said in a low tone and gave her a weak smile.

"This is the first time I desperately need for some advice to make things right again. I don't like to feel like that. With all my previous relationships it was never like that. Hence the three failed marriages I guess…" he continued, never dropping her gaze.

"But this time is different… I don't want this to end. I feel like I need her in order to survive, to feel that I'm alive, to… I don't know…"

"I know what you mean…" she said, smiling gently. "And that's why you have to talk to her. Tell her all these things; tell her how you really feel about her. I know that it's not an easy thing; I've been through this… And you know how House is…" she added with a slight smirk which earned her a small laugh.

"But, if you want this to work out you'll have to talk. And I am sure that she feels the same way." She said something that made him raise his eyebrows at her.

"Come on Jimmy! Do you really think that she doesn't feel the same about you? Haven't you seen her the past week? She's miserable, working for hours, trying to keep her mind away from everything… She needs you as much as you need her. So, do something…" she said and squeezed his hand reassuringly.

Her soft expression and gentle gaze made him relax a little and rethink everything. Maybe she was right. But in order to find out he would have to try…

"Thanks Allison…" he said and enveloped her in a hug. She hugged him back and rubbed his back soothingly.

"Anytime Jimmy… anytime…" she whispered to him.

"Hey! That's my girl you are hugging there, get your own!" sounded House's voice from the door and made them break their embrace.

"You are unbelievable!" said Cameron with a smirk.

"Yeah, that's what you said last night too." House said and winked at her, making Wilson furrow his eyebrows and Cameron blush a little.

"Ok, time to go, I don't need any mental images to haunt me for the rest of my life…" said Wilson and stood up to leave.

"Thanks again Allison." He said again with a small smile and headed out of her office.

"We need to do something…" said Cameron as House sat on the chair where Wilson was sitting and planted his lips on hers for a quick kiss.

"Oh yeah? And what do you have in mind Miss Matchmaker?" he asked her with a smirk.

"Dinner… But not just a simple meal…" she said and he could see the glint in her eyes as the plan was forming.

"Wait… that sounds familiar…" he said and brought his hand up to his chin pretending to think.

"Get over your self." She said and slapped him playfully on his forearm.

"We are going to invite them both for dinner tonight. So simple." She stated and looked deeply into his eyes.

"Yeah, great plan… And they either kill each other or shag each other on our couch." He replied sarcastically.

"Really mature." She scoffed

"Ok. So let's say that we proceed with your plan. What do we manage?"

"We manage to get them in the same room… and eventually talk. They keep avoiding each other for a week now, it's ridiculous!" she said to him.

He thought for a while, all the time never dropping her gaze.

"Fine… But I'm not cleaning the blood from the carpet after they kill each other in our living room." He said and headed off to inform Cuddy and Wilson about the dinner.

"I'll get a cleaner!" she shouted at him, a smirk playing on her lips.

"And I'll get the day off!" he shouted back at her and disappeared down the corridor.

Time past by really fast that day. There was a lot of work to be done at the Immunology Department and the Diagnostics had a new patient who was in a critical condition.

Despite all that they managed to get home on their usual time. Cameron took a quick shower and went to prepare dinner while House was sitting on the couch and watching his favorite soap operas.

She had started making the salad when she felt two strong arms wrapping around her waist and his hot breath caressing her neck.

"Greg…" she breathed his name, making shivers run down his spine. And he took that as a sign to continue his ministrations, placing small kisses all over her neck.

"You know… I should really finish with the salads so I can set the table. They are going to be here in about an hour."

"That's plenty of time…" he said and continued placing kisses on the sensitive skin of her neck.

She just closed her eyes and leaned deeper in his embrace, enjoying the feel of his lips against her skin.

"Stop distracting me…" she managed to mumble.

"But you like it." He said and she turned in his embrace in order to face him.

"Yes, but that's not the point…" she replied and placed a soft kiss on his lips.

"That's exactly the point!" he exclaimed and dropped his head in the crook of her neck, inhaling deeply.

She just smiled and laced her hands through his hair.

"Well, If you are a good boy I promise I'll make it up to you…" she said suggestively and felt him smile against her skin.

He placed one last kiss were neck meets shoulder and went to sit on the couch again, trying to find something good to watch.

"Will you get the door?" asked Cameron from inside the kitchen and House got up in order to answer the door.

He opened the door to reveal Cuddy and Wilson standing on the threshold looking a little edgy.

"Finally you are here! I'm hungry and Allison wouldn't feed me unless you two arrived." House exclaimed and hanged their coats.

At that moment Cameron emerged from the kitchen holding a bottle of wine and placed it next to the glasses on the table.

"Welcome!" she said and went to give a hug to Cuddy and Wilson. "Come in, let's go in the living room." She said and everyone followed her, while House was whining.

"I'm hungry mommy! You said we would eat when our guests arrived!" he said a sat heavily in his armchair.

"I also told you to behave, or else…" she trailed off and smirked at him.

"That's black mailing…" he stated and sipped his wine.

They talked for quite some time and then they went to the dining room to eat dinner.

All the time Wilson and Cuddy tried to avoid looking at each other but to no avail. Every now and then thy kept glancing at each other something that didn't go unnoticed by House and Cameron. Now, they would have to figure a way to make them actually talk.

"I'm taking these in the kitchen and I'll be right back…" said Cameron, motioning at the plates on the table.

"Wait, I need to find my Vicodin, I'm coming with…" said House and followed her.

When they were in the kitchen she turned her attention back to him, after placing the plates in the sink.

"Now they are going to kill us for leaving them alone like that…" she told him.

"I don't care, I really need my pills, I haven't taken any since noon…" he said and dry swallowed one pill.

"Noon?" she asked him, the surprise evident in her voice.

"Yeah… Why?" he asked her.

"How many have you taken today?"

"I think this is the fourth… I got one when I woke up, two after lunch and one now, yes it's the fourth…" he said and was surprised when she leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on his lips, drawing him closer till there was no space between their bodies.

"What was that for?" he asked her when they broke their kiss.

"I just needed a kiss…" she said but she couldn't hide from him.

He had managed to surprise her and actually, he had managed to make her feel proud of him. He could see it in her eyes, in those expressive green-blue eyes that could make him drown in them. He was actually proud of himself too. It was a huge step for him, a step that he never believed he would take. But now, he had managed to control his addiction and for the first time in years he felt good. He placed one last kiss on her lips and laced his hand with hers.

"Come on, let's go out there before they stab one another…" he said and they headed to the living room.

Meanwhile, in the living room…

Cuddy and Wilson remained silent when House and Cameron headed to the kitchen.

They just stared in front of them, denying looking at each other. But they couldn't help the small glances.

"James…"

"Lisa…"

They both said the other's name at the same time making it even more awkward than it was.

"You go first…" said Cuddy making Wilson exhale heavily.

"I… I don't know were to start…" he said and dropped his gaze to the floor.

"You think that I can?" said Cuddy and stared intently at him.

"So what do we do now?" he asked, hoping that she would say something to make things easier for both of them.

"I don't know James… I don't know…" she said "I think it's time I head home, it's late…"

"Lisa, please!" pleaded Wilson but at that point House and Cameron returned to the living room.

"I think I'm going to head off… It's getting late and I have to wake up early in the morning." Said Cuddy and stood up.

She hugged Cameron goodbye and after saying goodnight she exited the door and went to her car.

"If you not go after her, you are an idiot." Said House suddenly and made both Cameron and Wilson turn to look at him.

"Maybe he's right…" added Cameron and looked at Wilson "You can't avoid this forever…" she said and Wilson gave up in defeat.

Without a word he ran out of the house and towards his car. He drove to her place and arrived the time she was getting out of her car.

"Lisa!" he shouted and ran towards her.

"James, please… apparently there is nothing we have to say." She pleaded but he had managed to grip her forearm and wasn't willing to let go.

"No… I haven't talked yet…" he said and loosened his grip on her forearm and placed both his hands around her waist in order to keep her form walking away.

"The thing is that as much as I want to deny it I need you… I need you in my life in order to feel that I am alive, I need to be with you, I need to be next to you, I need to feel that you need me too, I need to love you…" he whispered the last part, his lips now barely away of hers.

"I love you Lisa and I don't want this relationship to end because, frankly, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me… I don't want to lose you… And I don't want to hide anymore… I'm yours… and I want everyone to know that…"

She didn't respond with words. She just leaned closer to him till her body was flat against his and claimed his lips with hers in a fierce and passionate kiss that left them both gasping for air. He hugged her tight and she buried her face in his chest.

"I love you too James… and I missed you, God, I missed you…" she said and tightened her grip around his waist.

"I missed you too…" he said and kissed her forehead gently. They staid out there, just enjoying the feeling of being this close again when Cuddy spoke.

"Let's go inside… It's cold out here…" she mumbled in his chest and they laced their hands and got inside the house. They had to make up that last week…

At House and Cameron's place things were quiet. They were both sitting on the couch, Cameron snuggled in his right side with both her legs on top of his and they were watching an old Christmas movie.

At some point Cameron turned to look out of the window only to see small white flakes falling from the sky.

"Look… it's snowing…" she said at House and leaned deeper in his embrace.

House looked out of the window and tightened his embrace on her.

"What do you think of getting married on Christmas day?" he asked suddenly and made her turn her full attention to him, her green-blue eyes glued on his cerulean blue ones.

"Are you serious? It's only two weeks till Christmas…" she questioned him.

He smiled gently at her and leaned down to place a kiss on her lips.

"Yeah… I mean, if you are ok with it… if you want something big and fancy…" he started but he was cut off by her lips on his.

"I just want you…" she mumbled on his lips "And I never was the type to dream of big and fancy weddings…" she said with a smirk and made him smile.

"Okay then, Christmas it is." He said and placed his lips on hers once again, the movie that played on the TV long forgotten as they got lost in each other…