Disclaimer…Make love, not lawsuits! I don't own anything.

Author's Note…I know, I am so evil to leave last chapter like that. Enjoy this one…and please review! Also, I haven't got any reviews pertaining to this but I just want to make it clear (because I have a line that might hint at it) that Cameron is not in love with House.

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Ever since she was three years old, Cameron had fantasized about what it would be like when her Prince Charming told her that he loved her. He would be perfectly handsome and chivalrous, complete with three roses; lavender for love at first sight, pink for forever, and red-tipped yellow for falling in love. She would be wearing Audrey Hepburn's Breakfast at Tiffany's dress, but in pale yellow with a modest pearl necklace. He would be riding a white horse, she would be in a garden, he would have just finished fighting off some kind of evil oppressor, and they would be dancing.

Cameron had a million and one visions of her ideal declaration, but she had never guessed that the one she would remember for the rest of her life, the one she would tell her children and her children's children about would include pajamas, running mascara, coffee with chocolate syrup, and fear.

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When he had said those four small words, she had actually fallen off the couch. She was crying again. "You…you can't mean that."

Wilson stood up and took her dry hands in his. "I do."

"You…no, no…we've only been together for a couple months…"

"Eight weeks and four days."

Cameron's eyes widened slightly. "Yeah, but there's no way you can know, I mean…"

"I know."

"But how?"

Wilson shrugged. "I…I can just feel it."

"Well, did you feel it with…have you felt it with other women?"

Wilson cupped her tear-streaked face in his hands. "No." His answer was firm and solid, just as Cameron wanted it to be. She wouldn't have accepted anything else.

He wouldn't have given her anything else.

Wilson held her close. "Come on. Why are you so upset?"

She was sobbing now. "Because…because I love you too."

Cameron leaned into his chest, still crying. But out of what? Fear? Apprehension? Anxiety?

No. Joy.

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It was 2:09 in the morning, but Cameron was too excited to sleep. Cuddled up next to the warm, sleeping mass that was Wilson, she tried to think of words to describe her thrilled state of being. Bliss. Ecstasy. Elation. Love. Shaky. Tremble. Paradise. Perfect harmony. Amazing. Exquisite. Beautiful.

She loved a man that made her feel beautiful.

Her train of thought was interrupted by three sharp raps at the door. Wilson stirred groggily in his sleep and muttered something. Cameron smiled although any other night, she would have been hiding under her covers. Even though it was the middle of winter and the hard floor was cold to her bare feet, she still felt warm inside. She slipped on a pair of flannels (she was already wearing a t-shirt) and answered the door.

It was House. He gave her an apologetic look. "Hi."

Cameron crossed her arms. To tell the truth, she wasn't very mad at him. Her position in the minor-feud was out of pure loyalty, something she was now sure her significant other possessed, at least for her. "Hello."

"Look, I just wanted to apologize…"

"At 2:15 in the morning?"

"I admit; I could have chosen better timing."

"You've made a lot of bad choices today."

"Well technically, I've only had two hours to make bad decisions but…well, that was a pretty cheap shot."

"You've made those before, too."

"Frosty."

Cameron sighed. House shuffled his feet. "Ok, look. I'm sorry for today, I really am. And as for what I'm about to say, I'm asking for forgiveness for that too. It's just…"

"You sure do have a lot of words for sorry."

"Well, I'm no Katie Holmes, but I do try."

Cameron snickered. She hated it, but she had a hard time being mad at this guy. She just hoped Wilson was the same. "Just what?"

"You know Wilson's track record. I don't want you to get hurt. Because I have no doubt he doesn't love you-he does-he might not have told you yet, but he does-but he has a tendency to hurt the ones he loves. So just…just be careful."

Any other woman would have been incredibly offended to hear that about their lover and about themselves, but not Cameron. She knew he meant well, and she appreciated the apology and what he had told her, even though she had complete faith in Wilson after that night. She smiled. Nothing could get her down tonight. "I will be."

That's what he doesn't get. You can't be careful if you love somebody and want to be loved back. You have to put your totally raw and (metaphorically) naked self out there in order to be truly loved and to love back. Otherwise it's just…just a lie.

Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder. It was Wilson. "Hello, House."

"Guess Cameron's chirpiness is contagious tonight."

"What do you want?"

"He was apologizing" Cameron piped up. "Right?"

"Yeah, I was. Hard to believe, I know. Please, no pictures."

"Well, I want to hear it."

"Oh, that's the thing. I can only say it once a year. And who woulda thunk the one time I say it is right at the beginning of a new year! Looks like you're gonna have to wait twelve months. Too bad."

"House…"

"Ok, ok. I'm sorry. Happy now? Good, I'm going home." House turned and left, leaving a confused Wilson and a partially satisfied Cameron at the doorway.

After a moment of silence, Wilson spoke. "Why'd you stick up for him?"

Cameron yawned. "I did not stick up for him."

"Well, you led him on to sticking up for himself. That's something."

Cameron shrugged.

"Why'dja do it?"

"You guys are best friends. I don't want to be the thing that ruins your closeness. Besides…"

"You wouldn't be" Wilson interrupted.

"No, but I would be a symbol of it. And let me finish: Besides, work would be awful because for one; it would be incredibly awkward and two; House would make an even worse boss without you."

Wilson smiled and yawned. "We've both had a long night. Aren't you tired?"

"Now I am. Man, I am going to be falling asleep at work tomorrow."

"'Night."

"'Night. I'll be in, in just a minute. I'm just gonna use the bathroom first."

Wilson nodded but Cameron could tell he was struggling to stay awake. After he went into the bedroom, she reached into her purse and pulled out her wallet. She fished around the change part until she finally pulled out a penny. She quietly treaded by the door and slipped it heads-up on the inside of Wilson's shoe. Cameron just knew he would need something lucky tomorrow.

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Author's Note…Aww! I think that angst fics may be my strength (I hate to be a loser but check out "Countdown"…I think it's pretty decent) but I love writing stuff like this because it gives me this great big smile and makes me all "well, that's how I want it to be for me!" Yeah, don't make fun of me. Ok, please review…thanks!