"Rules of Engagement"

Chapter Eight: A Very Merry Christmas

Author's Note: I don't have much time on my hands to update with school. If I don't update in a while, don't panic. Maybe I can get some guest writers to ease the load. Plus I haven't been getting a lot of reviews. A trequel doesn't seem worth it, for right now at least.

The snow was gently falling as they rode to House's parents Christmas party. They were on hour one of their two and a half hour journey. House wasn't driving his usual speed (really fast) because he was in no hurry to get there. He sang along to his classic rock station on the radio while Cameron listened to his iPod. She had pretty much taken over it and put all of her songs on there. it was starting to piss him off.

"I can't believe you took over my iPod. What's next, my Gameboy?" House said

"I didn't take it over." She said hitting pause.

"Dictator" he coughed.

"Very funny. You control the radio and since I can't listen to your music 24/7, I use your iPod." Cameron argued.

"Who are you listening to?"

"The Killers."

"Yea, you defiantly took over my precious iPod. I would never put such a disgraceful band like that on there."

"They are not disgraceful. Besides they sound just like the Bravery, which is the only band whose members aren't dead."

"You have no clue what you are talking about. And the Bravery and the Killers? In my eyes those two bands aren't of comparison." He glanced at her "I don't know you."

"If you would just give them the time of-"

"-who are you? How did you get in my car?"

She smiled a devilish grin and searched through the glove compartment. She took out a white cord and plugged it into the cigarette lighter.

"Ally, don't tell me you are going to-"

"I thought you didn't know who I am."

"it jsut slipped my mind for a second there." He tried to grab his iPod but she pulled it away. "Don't you dare."

Her grin widened as she took out the speakers and stuffed them in her pocket. "Apologize for calling the Killers a disgraceful band."

"Nope."

"You asked for it." She plugged the other end of the white cord into the bottom of the iPod and began looking for the right song to play.

"I can always unplug it while you are not looking."

"Then I will cry."

"You will cry?"

She let out a fake sniffle. "That would be an interesting story to tell your parents."

"Yes it would, but.."

"Ah, ha." She said finding the perfect Killers song. Andy you're a star filled the speakers much to his dismay. Knowing her, she really would cry if he took the iPod out, so he just had to deal with it.

House didn't care how glamorous Indie Rock & Roll was or how there was no motive for that crime. After going through practically their whole album, twice. She finally changed the playlist. Thank god! ThenHe looked at the dashboard. He was almost out of gas. "I hate this car. It sucks gas like a SUV. I don't understand it. It was all Wilson's idea to get this thing in the first place. Only if my dream car didn't break down like that. I had to sell that thing for scraps. It was so beautiful." He pulled off the expressway and tried to find a gas station. "Soon this car will be all yours. Lucky you!" he said sarcastically.

"I don't mind. It's still a pretty car, and I don't do much driving anyway. I mostly go with you everywhere" Cameron had sold her car and they were going to use that money to buy House a new one since he hated the Lexus. In exchange she was going to get the Lexus, which she liked a lot better than her old car. It wasn't a bad deal.

He found a Citgo gas station and pulled into it. "Twenty regular" House muttered. "I am going to start car shopping Friday." He said to Cameron while the worker filled up the tank.

"Do you have any idea what you want? Let me guess, some kind of a muscle car."

"I am not going to get my hopes up." She smiled in response. "Why are you smiling?"

"No reason." She lied, not wanting to give away his extravagant Christmas gift.

They arrived at his parents house a little late. They could tell because in front of the rather large white colonial, there were tons of cars parked already. Obviously they had more friends than their son.

"Here we are, the house of House" he said.

Cameron laughed. "Nice wordplay."

"Hey, once we are married you better get used to it. People will say tons of little references to your last name like that."

"I don't mind."

"You sure you want to go in there, if you want to leave I am all game."

"Grab the gifts in the backseat please."

He picked up the gifts for his parents, which she forced him to buy. As they got out of the car her gave her a kiss on the cheek. "What ever happens in there, I love you."

"I love you too but you are making it sound like they are a bunch of Nazis."

House thoguht about it for a second. "I wouldn't put it past them."

Cameron grabbed his arm and pulled him into the house. The house was very nicely decorated with Christmas decorations in every nook and cranny. The party was very crowded, and at first they House didn't recognize anyone.

"I think we are at the wrong party" he laughed.

"No you are not." voice said behind them. House turned around and realized it was his mother. She was in her mid sixties but was in very good shape. you can tell she had aged very little except for her grey hair.

"Hey" he said in a very monotone voice.

"You sound excited. Give me a hug." She said as she hugged her son. He looked very uncomfortable.

"Mom, this is-" He said trying to introduce Cameron before he was interrupted.

"-Allison. It is so nice to finally meet you. You can call me Blythe by the way. Wow, you are goregous."

"Thank you very much. It's nice nice to meet you as well. We brought you gifts." Cameron said as on cue, House handed his mother the gifts.

"You didn't have to do that. I'll put these under the tree and open them tomorrow. You don't mind right?"

"Nope, not at all." Cameron said politely.

"Ok, well dinner will be served soon. In the mean time, go mingle. Greg your cousins are over there."

"Oh, Goody."

"Don't give me an attitude" she snapped. "Your father is around, somewhere. And I think your brother is by the bar. I'll talk to you two later."

"Alright" Cameron said.

"To the bar we go. You can meet my brother Ryan. You'll like his wife, she has horses."

"Really?"

"Yup. Don't be too nice to her, she just might give you one and I refuse to have such a beast living in my apartment."

Cameron laughed and followed her fiancé through the crowd. When they arrived at the make shift bar they found House's brother sitting on a bar stool with a beer in hand. He looked like a younger more plump version of House.

"Greg long time no see." He said, happy that his brother was there. Maybe now he wouldn't be so bored. Not that all the beer he was consuming wasn't entertaining him enough.

"This is Ally, my fiancé. Ally this is Ryan." House said.

"Nice to meet you" he said extending his arm. He wanted to know how his brother had gotten such a hot fiancé, but he wasn't going to ask. Ryan knew Greg would practically bite his head off.

"Pleasure to meet you also." She said shaking his hand.

"Take a seat.Either of you want a beer?"

"Have I ever turned down free beer? Ally you want one?" House laughed.

"Sure, only one though. I don't want to get drunk at your parents Christmas party" She laughed. Ryan handed them both a beer.

"Come on, that is what Christmas parties are for, getting wasted." Ryan laughed.

"I can drink to that." House said taking a swig of his beer. Cameron flashed him a you-are-so-not-getting-drunk look. He tried to ignore her, but he realized getting drunk wouldn't be a good idea. "But getting wasted isn't as fun as it used to be once your past you college days. Especially on this crap. No Smirnoff?"

"No this is all they have." Ryan said "Awe, Greg is all grown up now."

"Not entirely." Cameron laughed taking a sip of her beer.

Ryan laughed. "That's true. How is the whole doctor thing going for you two."

"Very well." she said.

"Same old." House said.

"Then you won't mind helping me. I have been getting elbow pain..."

"Sorry, I don't give out free medical advice." House said.

"How long would you say each attack last?" Cameron asked.

"It varies. From a few hours to a few days."

"Would you describe the pain as intense?"

"Defiantly."

"How is your blood pressure?"

"Last time I got checked, it was a little high."

"I would suggest going back to the doctor. I would guess you have Gout, which is a livable condition and there is medications available to subside the pain. You would need some tests to be sure."

"Thank you Allison. It's good to have a doctor in the family that isn't an ass." Ryan said. "Greg, she is a better doctor than you anyway."

"She just might be." House said finishing his beer.

"All of our cousins are in the living room. I suppose it would be the right thing to say hello."

"Hell no." he replied in usual House fashion.

"Exactly what I was thinking." Ryan said as he opened up another beer.

"Come on Greg, I would like to meet them." She said.

"I don't even remember them. Seriously, I don't know any of their names."

"Sure you don't" Cameron laughed.

"I am serious." he said.

"You are never serious."

"Figures you would all be by the bar." said a voice from behind them.All three of them spun around in their bar stools. In front of them stood a tall, older man. Cameron could tell that he was her fiancé's father even though he didn't look anything like him. The only thing the father and son pair had in common were their matching steel blue eyes.

"Well hello there. Want a beer?" the not so kind doctor said.

"Not right now." He said

"Dad this is Ally, my fiancé"

Cameron extended her arm and he shook it. She noticed he had a very strong grip. "Nice to finally meet you. You can call me John."

"It's nice to meet you as well."

"I am happy he is finally tying the knot."

"Not everyone gets married in their twenties." Greg grunted.

"But not everyone waits until their forty. I don't care, as long as your happy." John responded.

"I am."

"That's good to hear. I'd love to chit chat with you but I have to get upstairs. I suggest you join me, since dinner is ready"

Ryan slammed his beer down. "Good, I am starving."

At the party, all the guests sat at a series of tables. Throughout the dinner, House should of been socializing with his extended family, who for the most part he hadn't seen in years. But he was too preoccupied with Cameron. She briefly talked with her soon to be brother-in-law's wife but other than that, her eyes and thoughts were focused on House. As she talked with him, she suddenly had the strange urge to kiss him, but she restrained herself. That would be too awkward. She noticed for the most part had very little in common with her fiancé. He was the only one at the table saying sarcastic comments. Surprisingly, they were the typical American family. Of course hardly anything about them was perfect, but for the most part, she liked them. After dessert she had a conversation with his mother in the dining room. Mostly about the wedding and the honeymoon. Then the question Cameron knew was coming, came.

"What about a family?" Blythe asked.

"We both want one, but it will have to be after the wedding and when the working situation is worked out."

"I'm so happy for you. I never thought I have grandchildren." She was about to give Cameron a hug, until she was interrupted.

"Sorry to ruin your little moment, but Ally we have to get going, it is really starting to snow. I don't want to be stuck here." House said in an irritated tone.

"Are you implying that you would rather drive through a snow storm than spend the night?"

"I'd love to have a sleep over but it seems I forgot my pjs."

"I can't force you... Well, keep in touch. At least you can give me a hug." House stood there, numb. He glanced at Cameron who was glaring at him. Taking the hint, he gave his mother a hug.

"Tell Dad, I said good bye."

"Where is he?"

"With the rest of the party at the bar. Probably wasted by now."

"You haven't been drinking right? Are you are alright to drive?"

"Yes, I have limits." He flashed a smile to Cameron. Blythe couldn't help but give her future daughter-in-law a hug before they left. House had his low beams on as they drove through the snow storm.

"I love the snow, it is so pretty."

"Not to drive through. Hopefully we will be home by eleven." He said.

"You know, I liked your family. Your parents in particular. You made it seem that they were dreadful human beings, though." Cameron said. She waited for a reply, but he didn't say anything. "What did they do to you? You clearly have something against them."

He sighed. "It's just how they always treated me. I had to be on every sports team and I had to have the best grades. I was smart, but never smart enough. My first few years of college my grades slipped mainly because of um.. non scholastic activities. Then cut me off. I started concentrating on school, mainly because I was paying for college myself. It all payed off because when I applied to med school, they offered to pay for it."

"Every parent pressures their children. Maybe yours more than others. You still have to love them, you wouldn't be the great man you are today without them."

He hated to admit it but she was right.

"Didn't you go to college with Lisa?"

"Cuddy? She is younger than me, but was quite the wild child believe it or not. I have so much dirt on her it isn't funny."

"Spill it." She said with a grin.

"I can't tell you everything. One night when she was extremely drunk she got a tattoo of a flower on her ass. Probably still there." He laughed. "I spent many nights holding her hair back as she puked, and pulling her away from bad situations particularly with frat guys. She was my drinking buddy. I always admired the fact that she could hold her alcohol."

"So you were friends?"

"I guess. By the way, this conversation very happened. If you tell her I said anything, she'll enslave me in the Clinic for months."

"My lips are sealed. Did you ever have a relationship with her?"

"No, thank god."

"Did you ever sleep with her?"

This time he was silent. She just had to ask that, didn't she? It was just once while they were interning at Mount Sinai. House could lie to himself and say he didn't enjoy it but he did. He had never had actually feelings for her though. That is the reason why sex with his boss was nothing in comparison to sex with Cameron. He actually loved Cameron. Cuddy? Well let's not go there.

"Greg!"

"It was only sex. Nothing more, nothing less."

"Was this a recent event?"

"Decades ago. You're not jealous are you?"

"Of course not. What happened years ago was your business."

"You have no reason to be. Rest assured I enjoy your company in bed much more than hers."

"Good. Otherwise, you wouldn't get you present tomorrow."

"Oh, what is it?"

"It's a surprise."

Everyone has memories of Christmas morning from their child hood. Looking under the Christmas tree for presents. Hoping for your dream gift. Spending time with your family. It varies from person to person. The two doctors didn't have a Christmas tree or much decorations. It would be awkward for the two atheists. Still Cameron was determined to make this a Christmas to remember.

House woke up around ten to the smell of Chocolate Chip cookies. He threw on a newt-shirt and a pair of sweat pants. His inner child kicked into gear as he made his way as fast as he could to the kitchen. Cameron was wearing blank sweat pants with a plain grey t-shirt and her hair tied back as she fanned the cookies with her hands.

"How did you know I was a sucker for cookies?" He said in a very happy tone.

"I just know things. I thought I give you a treat." She said handing him a cookie. "They should be cool enough now."

He took a bite into a cookie. "These are really good. You are the best."

"It's kind of like a Christmas tradition for me. I spent many lonely Christmas mornings cooking. The only difference is now I am not lonely."' she said taking a bite into one herself.

"And you are not going to spend the whole morning cooking. I'll make sure of that." House ate one last cookie and then limped off into the hallway. When he came back his hands were full with gifts.

"You spoil me" Cameron said as she rattled the first small box.

"Like that rock on your finger is any indication" he scoffed.

She smiled as she opened the package. "A mini iPod! Greg you really didn't have to."

"Yes I did. Now I can have my own iPod all to myself.."

"I love it, it's pink!" She said happily as she took it out of the package.

"Flip it over."

On the back, 'I love you' was engraved in small white letters. She gave him a kiss on the lips. "I love you too. You can be the sweetest thing, sometimes."

"Sometimes is the key word in that sentence."

00000000000000000000000000000

Cameron finished opening her gifts from him, which were mostly cute little t shirts. She was convinced that he didn't pick them out by himself. He probably paid Cuddy to go off to the mall an pick something out for her. At least he had good intentions.

"Don't think I forgot about you." She said handing him a small case.

"I was hoping you didn't." He tore off the wrapping paper which revealed a glasses case. He opened it up and sure enough inside there was a pair of sunglasses by some designer who's name he couldn't pronounce. "Nice!"

"That is part one of your gift."

"Part one? Where is part two?"

"Grab your jacket"

It wasn't that cold for a December day, but House and Cameron were still bundled up. The apartment building's lobby was completely empty other than their doorman, Bentley.

"You work holidays?" House asked.

"I live to serve." said the happy doorman.

Cameron handed him an envelope which held his holiday bonus as she walked outside

"Thank you, Dr. Cameron! Have a Merry Christmas." He said as he opened the door. It didn't take much long for House to notice his present as they stood in the parking lot. The truth was she didn't sell her car, she traded it in for his Christmas gift, a new metallic silver Mustang convertible. Of course the value of her old car and his present didn't match up, so she had to pay the difference. She would still have to make payments for a while. It was all worth it though. He had done so much for her. The price was marked down because of clearance and because most people don't buy a convertible in the winter. But House rarely ever blended in with the crowd, why should his car?

He was shocked. No words escaped his mouth as he just stared at the silver convertible with a giant red bow on top.

"Merry Christmas!" She said as she hugged him.

"Wow. Thank you. But how did you.. why did you..?"

"I love you. That's a good enough reason."

"You really went over board.

"You deserve it. All the things you have done for me, it was the least I could do." She said giving him the keys.

"There is only one thing we can do now."

"What is that?"

"Take a ride of course. There sin't that much snow on the ground" House said as he flung open the driver side door and sat inside. "I'll let you get shotgun."