A/N: So sorry it has been so long! I've been struggling with how to end this story, and I just finally decided to keep it pretty simple. I also had to tend to my daughter and husband, who have been sick with a nasty cold over the weekend, and Iheard from a couple of long-lost friends, so I've been catching up with them. A lot of this story has been based on some of the places I have fond memories of, and so maybe that got in the way of my writing. Anyway, feel free to throw tomatoes, because Idefinitely feel like I could have done better. This is the last chapter, and I'd like to continue my story, but I don't know if I have it in me. Please review, good and bad, and lots of thanks to those of you who've been enjoying and reviewing!

Disclaimer: I don't own House, but sometimes I think I know how he feels

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Somehow, House managed to get up and get ready without much fuss after Cameron had cheerfully shown up at his door before dawn. Without fanfare, they hit the road at quarter to six.

"Don't worry about breakfast," Cameron said after they were on the road. "I know a place." She smiled, and House noticed that her eyes were shining.

"You're looking extra chipper this morning," he mused.

"Yeah," she smiled a little and he thought he saw her blush. "I…had a good dream," she said slowly. "I slept good."

House nodded and turned back to look at the road pass them by. The trip itself was pretty uneventful; they stopped at a little diner for breakfast and listened to music, chatting here and there in between songs, until they reached Ocean Shores just past eleven. It was a sleepy beach town, not too many people, but enough to make it interesting. Cameron pulled the truck right down to the beach and parked in the soft sand. She sat back and stared at the ocean for a moment.

She smiled wide, "I love it here. I haven't been out here in a long time. It's so…powerful, the edge of the world."

"Yeah," House became a little uncomfortable. He was starting to feel like he'd invaded her world but whatever happened now, it had been worth it. He knew that he had to tell her he loved her before they went back to Jersey, back to reality. "So..what's there to do here?" He finally asked.

"Well," Cameron thought for a moment, "we could go for a horseback ride. There's also an arcade down the beach a ways." She frowned. "There's go-carts a few miles south of town, but…" She wondered about his leg for the first time in a week; it made her feel selfish.

"Sure," House said, "let's do that. I'm paying." He grinned. "Then we can come back to the beach. We have all day," he added.

Cameron bit her lip and grinned back at him. "Okay," she agreed, as she pulled back out onto the road.

When they got to Go-Kart World, Cameron looked back at House with a worried face. "Are you sure you want to do this?" She paused. "Your leg – "

"My leg is fine," he interrupted her. And it was; being with her really had made his pain lessen. He squinted at the go-carts. "Although I may be too tall to get into one of those things. Oh well, let's go."

They happened to be the only people there; the day was cool and a bit cloudy, typical of the north Pacific shore, even in summer. House quickly lapped Cameron more than once, and decided to have some fun. He lightly bumped the back of her cart and then sped off. Cameron furrowed her eyes and sped up.

"I'll get you for that!" She yelled over the noise. She looked like a little kid in her helmet and with a silly grin on her face, but she managed to catch up to House and bump him back, harder.

They rode around the track for about an hour or so, laughing and having a good time. It reminded House of the time they'd gone to the monster truck show, and for a moment he regretted that he hadn't asked her back out after that. It wasn't the right time, he reminded himself. I wasn't ready. I am now. Why'd I have to get shot to figure this out?

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After eating a late lunch at a nearby Mexican restaurant they headed to the arcade. "The best part about this place is that there's a little photo booth in it, takes two polaroids for a few bucks," Cameron explained. "What do you say?" Her smile was one that could melt hearts.

House pondered this for a moment. He'd never really liked getting his picture taken, but he wanted a memory of this day, before he screwed it up for good. "Okay," he said, "as long as I get to keep both pictures." He smirked.

"House," Cameron said, "don't be a jerk," she joked. "Come on!" She grabbed his hand, her hands were soft, and dragged him into the tiny booth.

The two of them squirmed around a bit before House surprised Cameron by pulling her onto his lap. "Cheese!" He exclaimed.

Cameron was surprised at the smile he'd put on for the camera. It almost seemed as if he were…happy.

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They made their way to the beach again, just the two of them sitting in the soft sand. It was almost sunset. Cameron was deep in thought, remembering times past that she had visited this shore. Somehow, none of those times compared to right now. She'd known House a long time and had never imagined that they'd be sitting here together. She was happy she could consider him her friend, but at the same time saddened a little, that it could never be more than that. It was strange, how you could love someone and not really know them, how feelings could surge, fade, and then reappear.

"I was so afraid I'd lost you that day," she said almost to herself.

House had been listening to the waves. "What?" He turned to look at her, his blue eyes the color of the sea.

"What?" She still remembered that day, the day he'd been shot, like it was yesterday. I'm horrible, she thought. My mom just died and all I can think about…is him. "House.." she didn't know what to say anymore. "You're…my friend," she spoke cautiously. "When that guy shot you…"

"Cameron," he surprised himself by taking hold of her by the shoulders. "Don't think about that anymore. It's done; it's over with. I'm still here." He let go, afraid that to touch her would give him away.

Suddenly she got up, kicked her shoes off, and trotted down to the water, her hair flying in the wind. House stood up and shaded his face from the sun. Cameron turned around, her feet now awash. "House!" She shouted with a smile. "Come on!"

As in dreams gone before, the sun was setting against her silhouette, only this time it was real. He knew he couldn't keep it in any longer. He slowly pulled off his shoes and walked down the beach to join her. She turned smiled at the sight of him, barefoot. When he caught up to her, he grabbed her into an embrace. He cupped her face in his hands and just stared. She was wide-eyed, a classic beauty. Say it now, or you'll never be able to, he thought to himself. "Cameron?" It came out as a question. "I love you." As simply as he'd say anything, he finally put it out there. He waited, his heart pounding in his chest like it hadn't in years. He felt alive again.

"I thought you'd never let go," she said with a smile, and closed her eyes as he gently kissed her. I've found meaning.

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Post Note: Please go to hellomagazine dot com and vote for Hugh Laurie as June's most attractive man!