"Oh my lord, is that really Ally?" a robust woman called from the door
"Aunt Betty" Cameron hugged the strange woman
"You've gotten skinnier or I've gotten bigger" she grinned spying House, "Who's the fella?"
"This is…"
"Gregory House, I work with Cameron in Princeton" House extended a hand
"Betty Roberts, I married into the family. The man talking to John is my husband James"
"Well it's nice to meet more of the family" House grinned, pulling Cameron away as soon at Betty left them, "I have something for you"
"Really? What?"
House reached into his pocket, "I'm not sure now is a great time to show you"
"I think I can guess what it might be, did you talk to dad about it?"
"Of course not, I walked into town myself" House grinned
"Give me a minute and I'll tell mum quietly, then can I have it?" Cameron pouted
"Ok, ok just inform your mum first"
"Mum, can I borrow you for a second?" Cameron called over the crowd
"Sure honey, excuse me Betty" Harriet pushed through the crowd, "What is it Ally?"
"I need to tell you something" Cameron smiled weakly, "And whatever you do, don't alert the press, or them for that matter" Cameron stared pointedly at her family, "Daddy knows"
"Daddy?" House sniggered
"Yes daddy, now shush" Cameron turned back to her mum, "Mum, Greg asked me to marry him"
A squeal erupted from Harriet before she clamped a hand over her mouth, "Are you serious?" Harriet's eyes were gleaming, "When?"
"This morning" House replied
"So checking on the beer was…"
"Buying the ring" House steadied himself for the onslaught
"Oh sweetheart, it's going to be hard to keep this, at least tonight" she sighed, "The whole family is coming"
"At least we can get it over with now" House smiled encouragingly at Cameron
"You want to be fed to the wolves"
"Like I said my family is next" House pulled the box out, "This is yours too"
Cameron opened the box, Harriet gasped and Cameron shook as she took it out, "Here let me" House slid it gently onto her finger.
"Greg…it's…beautiful"
House looked at Cameron, "I know you are"
Harriet brushed away her tears as more family entered the house, "You two can announce it however you like"
"Thanks mum"
"Harriet, I had no Idea when we came home that you would have Ally staying the week!" A skinnier woman made her way through the crowd, "Oh look at you, a doctor and everything"
"Selena" Cameron hugged her, "How's life?"
"Same old, same old…I don't believe I know the gentleman behind you" Selena gazed over House
"You wouldn't have, this is Gregory House. He works with me at the hospital"
"The Gregory House?" a voice came from behind Selena
"Jeremy" Cameron smiled "and yes, the Gregory House"
"Nice to meet a world renowned doctor" Jeremy extended his hand
"Nice to meet a fan" House shook
"Jeremy is one of the two GPs here" Cameron explained
"Explains how you know who I am"
"Also explains how I know that Cameron doesn't work with you but for you"
"Matter of opinion, we work as a team" House rebutted
"You're still her superior, interesting superiors taking trips with their employees"
"I asked mummy first if you're going to ask, mine, hers and the hospitals" House was wearing thin on civilities with this man.
"Do you make a habit of travelling with your employees doctor House?" the attention was on them now.
"It depends on the situation, conferences yes"
"This is not a conference"
"Allison is not a normal employee, if you can call her that. She's one of the best immunologists in the hospital; I wouldn't be surprised if she gets head when the old one leaves. So basically we're on par, only I have a cooler title" House elaborated
"And what title is that?"
"Oh, I'm a certified diagnostician with a double specialty of infectious disease and nephrology" House rattled off, "Nifty hu?"
"Doesn't excuse the fact that your taking advantage of my cousin" Jeremy accused
House faltered, "I'm sorry did you say taking advantage?"
"Yea, coming along meeting the family…only means one thing…"
"Yea that I'm marrying her you moron" House slipped, "I'm Allison's fiancée"
"Ally is this true?"
"Yea it is Jeremy, now lay off ok? You're a doctor, you're both doctors for crying out loud" Cameron snapped
"I'm sorry" House whispered to her
"I am so telling Wilson you said that" Cameron laughed, "Now can we just have dinner please?"
"Sure" House grinned, "After you Jeremy"
Cameron couldn't help but notice the self satisfaction planted on House's face, "Drop the face Greg, it's annoying" Cameron whispered taking her seat.
"Mummy do I have to?" he grumbled back at her causing her to laugh.
"So Greg is it?" Uncle James, Aunt Betty's husband began.
"Yes…er…"
"James" Cameron whispered
"James" House smiled.
"How long have you known our Ally?" James asked.
House looked at Cameron, "About…two? No two and a bit years" he replied.
"And she works for you?"
"With me" House corrected.
"With you, right" Jeremy muttered.
"Right, ok I get you don't like me, not many people do…my choice; but please, I don't usually tolerate comments like that directed at me or my people, can't we just have dinner?" House stunned Cameron by taking the high road.
James continued, "So, you work together; how did you move past the work relationship?"
"Slowly" Cameron grinned at House, "Greg here isn't one for letting people close, which is the reason why only a select few can tolerate him"
"Well, that's sweet that Ally can get close enough" Aunt Betty sighed, "You are older than her though aren't you?"
"Yes, which was a reason why I was reluctant to let the relationship move outside the work perimeters" House answered this one.
"So let me get this straight" James begun, grinning, "You were apprehensive about starting anything with Ally because you were a bastard to everyone, older than she is and you work with her"
"Yes, that's about it actually" House gave James a grateful look.
"There you go Jeremy, he isn't taking advantage of her…I'd say Ally is taking advantage of him!" James laughed; the table erupting with comfortable laughter and chatter.
'BRING! BRING!'
"Sorry" House reached into his pocket, "It's Jimmy" he explained to Cameron.
"Take it" Cameron smiled, "Jimmy is Greg's best friend" she explained to her family who understood.
"Hey Jimmy! Yea I'm good, had a relaxing day actually. Take me off speaker phone; if they want to know how Cameron is fairing it with me then they can call her them-bloody-selves! Actually I am busy at the moment…dinner time…no with the family…no the entire family…hang on, yes Ally?" House faced her.
"Just wanted you to say hello for me" Cameron smiled
"Anything else?"
"Um…how's their workload?"
"Not asking that"
"How about you just tell Jimmy about this then?" Cameron held out her hand.
"Yes I realise you're still on the line, Ally wants to know how the case load is?" Cameron shook her head at him grinning. "Since about last week, it's easier to call her by her first name then everyone by Cameron…hang on again…yes John?" House looked at the family table.
"See if your friend has free time this weekend, he should come down for the party on Saturday" John called.
"Right ok, hey John wants to know if you were interested in coming down on Saturday for a party? I'll tell you when you get here, if you'll come that is, otherwise you'll have to wait another week, remember I have three weeks off…only just into my second" House grinned into the phone, "Why yes I am actually…so I'll see you Saturday then? Great, oh and don't bring Chase, Cuddy or Foreman…if you even think of bringing Julie I with feed her to the snakes and let the bull trample her…she is not ruining Saturday…ok bye"
"Is he coming?" Cameron asked as House sat back down.
"Yep, he wants to know what the party is for…won't tell him…love having him on egg shells for no reason. But it does look like Saturday will be an interesting party" House gave Cameron a soft kiss in her cheek before they continued with the discussions about Saturday, that had been planned by Harriet for a small Engagement Party.
A/N: Sorry it's late…internet connects is screwing up for some reason…I hope you like it, the next one will be about Wilson coming down on Saturday!
F-A