Dinner Dates

The staff of PPTH all had a big night planned. After all, it was a Friday night! And what a marvelous Friday night it was. The sky was now completely clear from the rainy days that had just passed. The stars were shining, and the moon was full. Yes, tonight was definitely the perfect night.

Chase was taking his girlfriend, Katie, to Café Spoleto for dinner. He had reservations for them at 7:30. Much to his surprise, Katie was completely ready to go when he arrived at her apartment, which gave them a little time to walk down the street under the stars before it was time to go to dinner.

Katie had on a stunning grey dress, and Chase was dressed in his usual black suit. By the time they were seated at their table, Katie's smile was brighter than the stars in the sky. It was fair to say that today had been one of the best days of her life.

"I still can't believe I'm going to Australia," she exclaimed. "I'm so excited!"

"Don't get too excited yet," said Chase. "I still have to get House give me the all clear."

Katie frowned. "He'll let us go."

"Oh yeah?" asked Chase, confused. "What makes you think that?"

Katie suddenly grinned. "Because if he doesn't, he'll never get his PSP back."

Chase's eyes widened. How did Katie get her hands on House's PSP?

&&&&&

House was frantically limping around his apartment in search of his PSP. He was sure that he hadn't left it in his office. Think, House, think. When was the last time you saw it?

"Greg, are you ready to go?" Cameron let herself into House's apartment, as usual.

"What?"

"I asked if you were ready to go." Cameron walked into the kitchen to find House on the ground looking under his refrigerator. He was still dressed in his jeans and tee. "Which, by the looks of it… you aren't. What are you doing on the floor?"

"I refused to feed Steve, and he banged me on the head with a frying pan."

"What?"

"I'm looking for my PSP."

"You're looking for your PSP… under the refrigerator?"

"Hey, remember when I found my headphones in the mini-fridge?"

Cameron chuckled, and gave a shrug. Okay, so maybe it was possible for him to lose his PSP under the refrigerator. "Here, let me help you up." She offered House her hand.

House took her hand and used his cane to also help him stand. "I can't find it."

"Last I saw… Grace was playing with it."

House got a devious look on his face. "Grace."

"You never got it back from her?"

"She stole my PSP!"

Cameron rolled her eyes. "Now, now, I'm sure she didn't steal it… She probably just didn't have time to give it back. I mean, you never went back to visit. Maybe she left it with one of the nurses or something."

"She did it on purpose."

"Greg, I'm pretty sure Angi bought her a PSP of her own about a year ago."

"Then why did she need mine?"

"Because her PSP is in New York… Look, are you going to get ready for dinner, or should I call someone else to go eat with me?" Cameron's eyebrows rose suggestively.

This is when House decided to change into some brown pants and a sport coat. It was no suit, but it was the best Cameron could usually get, so she took it.

&&&&&

Wilson took Cuddy to the new Chinese restaurant, just a few miles from the hospital. It was a very nice restaurant, not one he would ever consider taking House to just for lunch. Cuddy was wearing a silky teal dress that flowed to her knees, and hugged all the right spots. Wilson was wearing a suit without a tie, and he made it a point to leave the top button of his shirt undone.

"I'm so glad we finally talked this all out," started Cuddy. "You can't imagine how hard it was…."

"How hard what was?"

Cuddy was hesitant at first, but then realized this was Wilson she was talking to. "I thought… I thought maybe that you wouldn't want to be involved. I mean, we broke up for a reason, and I thought that maybe you weren't interested in… donating sperm anymore." Cuddy chuckled at her wording.

Wilson chuckled as well. "Lisa, the instant I broke up with you, I knew it was a mistake… you know that right?"

Cuddy fiddled with her fork briefly and put her napkin in her lap. "Really?"

"Yeah, really," he replied quickly. "I couldn't believe what I had done."

Cuddy tried to hide her blush as the waiter walked over to their table.

"May I get you two any drinks to start off tonight? A wine perhaps?"

"No more alcohol for me," Cuddy sighed.

This was a reality now. Lisa Cuddy and James Wilson were going to have a child together.

&&&&&

Cameron was a little disappointed. She had been hoping to have a nice, classy dinner with House. But then it hit her. This was House they were talking about. Instead of a fancy restaurant, the two of them decided to just go to The White Lion for dinner. It really was okay with Cameron. She had had many dinners with Foreman and Chase there before, and she had to admit that they had great food.

They didn't take the bike, of course, because Cameron wasn't exactly wearing biking clothing. Instead, she wore a loose, red dress that was perfect for clubbing, eating out, or just a night on the town.

When they entered The White Lion, Cameron was smiling, but her smile quickly faded. She stopped dead, right in front of the hostess.

"What's wrong?" asked House, who had followed her into the restaurant.

"Isn't that…. Isn't that Ray and Whitner?"

"Oh crap."

Cameron and House quickly asked the hostess for a seat in the hopes that Whitner would not realize they were here together.

&&&&&

Whitner and Ray were chatting away about their latest findings (Whitner was trying to work up to the secret relationship that was Grant-House) when Whitner noticed something rather alarming. She turned her head in surprise.

"What is it?" asked Ray.

"Isn't that…."

"Isn't that who?"

"Over there," said Whitner pointing to a corner of the restaurant. "Isn't that Dr. Cameron with Dr. House?"

Ray panicked. She knew that her cousin and Allison were trying to keep their relationship a secret at work. "Um, no, you're probably mistaken. I mean, House and his fellow? Come on."

"No, I'm sure that's them!"

"No, that's impossible."

"No, look! Over there!" Whitner turned back to look at Ray. She was blushing and hiding behind her drink. "What are you hiding?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"You knew about this… didn't you?"

"About what?"

"House and Cameron are dating, aren't they?"

"Of course not…. They're probably just… having dinner… together."

Whitner's eyebrows rose in suspicion. "They have dinner together often?"

Ray gave up. She knew. "Please don't tell anyone."

Whitner grinned. So the grumpy old Dr. House and a young, little girlfriend! Oh, this was just too good. "And why can't I tell anyone?"

"Please don't!" pleaded Ray. "They'll kill me if you do. They're trying to keep this a secret."

"Why?"

"Are you kidding?" Ray nearly shouted it. "If the whole hospital finds out, Cuddy's going to have to transfer Cameron or maybe even fire her."

"Cuddy's in on this too?"

Ray closed her mouth quickly.

Whitner grinned again. "There's more, isn't there?"

Ray shook her head rapidly.

"Why is Cuddy protecting them?"

"They're just… friends…," claimed Ray. She knew the real reasons for all the secrecy, but she had already said too much. "Cuddy is just trying to help House and Cameron because they're friends."

Whitner knew she was lying, but she also knew that she wasn't going to get anymore out of her now. Instead, she planned to do a little investigating on her own.

&&&&&

Charlie and Angi took Grace to one of her favorite restaurants, Red Robin. She just loved their milkshakes. They both hoped that it might help lighten the blow a little. Obviously having a shake in front of you while your parents tell you that they are splitting up is not going to make you smile, but maybe you won't cry… as much.

"So, are you really feeling better?" asked Angi, worried as usual.

Grace nodded. "I'm so glad to be out of that hospital."

Angi smiled. "Well, I'm just glad to hear that you're going to be okay."

Grace smiled up at her mother as she nursed her chocolate milkshake. "What were you guys talking about earlier?"

"What's that?" asked Charlie.

Grace looked at her mother. "You and Aunt Ally said something about telling me something. What was it?"

Angi let out a sigh as she turned to Charlie.

Charlie began the conversation for his soon to be ex-wife. "Sweetie, your mother and I have something really important to tell you."

Grace wasn't feeling too good about this, and they hadn't even said much yet.

"Grace, sweetheart," began Angela. "Grace, your father and I… are getting a divorce."

Grace frowned slightly. She didn't cry or scream. She just seemed to be deep in thought, and her parents could only assume what ideas were running through her head. "Does this mean I get to meet my real dad?"

Angela and Charlie's jaws both dropped. Neither of them thought that she even knew that she wasn't actually Charlie's daughter. How had she found out? Surely Allison wouldn't have told her. They both sat there staring at their daughter in complete shock.