A/N: Well, my saga is nearly complete. Here's some fluff and cheesy goodness for my lovely readers. I've one more chapter after this one and then…who knows? Please review, thanks!
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They sat at the bar for a couple of hours while a Grateful Dead cover band played in time with their drink orders. House still found himself intrigued by this woman who had such a diverse taste in music. They'd never disagreed on anything when it came to good music.
They left around eleven and headed to House's place. "Dessert," he explained.
"Ah," was all she said in reply, a smirk on her face. He was always up to something.
He opened the front door to complete darkness. As Cameron instinctively reached for the light switch, he quickly placed his hand over hers. "Nope, not yet," he said, somewhat cheerfully. "You know your way around my place. Take off your shoes and jacket, I'll be right back." He headed towards the kitchen. As her eyes grew used to the dark, Cameron noticed something…different about her surroundings, but she couldn't quite put a finger on what it was.
Then she heard a spark, as a large, six-wick candle was lit in the kitchen. She looked and saw two open cardboard containers, one with a cheesecake in it and one with what looked like an apple pie. "What?" He shot her his 'innocent' look, the one he usually reserved for Cuddy while trying to get out of clinic duty. "I said we were coming back for dessert."
Cameron laughed. "So you did." She looked around the kitchen in the faint light and finally realized the difference. "You cleaned," she said, surprised. "I mean, it looks like you took everything out and really cleaned."
"It's part of the new me," he said with a hint of sarcasm. "Besides, we wouldn't want all the cockroaches clamoring for your attention." She blushed and hoped he was kidding about there actually being cockroaches in his apartment.
House reached for plates and a knife. "What do we need that for?" Cameron suddenly asked. "Just grab a couple of forks and let's pig out in front of the TV." Her face was covered with a devious grin.
He smiled, amused at her attitude. It was another reason he'd finally admitted to falling for her; underneath Cameron the doctor and Cameron the emotional woman, she really was a no-bullshit type of person, throwing rules and etiquette out the window at the times when those things really didn't matter. "Of course, what was I thinking? I got dibs on the remote."
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House sat at the right end of the couch, while Cameron had gotten comfortable, stretched out with her feet resting lightly on his good leg. The credits were rolling on an episode of 'Whose Line is it Anyway?' They'd eaten pie and cheesecake until they were too full to enjoy the taste anymore. He switched off the TV and turned to her. "I…guess I'd better take you home. We may get a case tomorrow."
"Yeah…" she let her voice trail off. "Play for me," the thought sprung from her mind. She knew he didn't like playing for anyone, and she'd never expected him to change for her. "I just…don't feel like going home yet. I mean, if you're tired then you should take me home, but…"
"No," he said softly. "I'll play." His mouth turned into a small smile. "Any requests?" He set the remote down on the coffee table and got up to head over to the piano as Cameron turned to sit up, tucking her feet into the couch cushions.
"Surprise me." He nodded at her and sat down, playing a few scales before starting into 'Nightswimming'.
"Mmm, that's my favorite R.E.M. song." Cameron closed her eyes and whispered the words. She thought at that moment that there wasn't anywhere else in the world she'd rather be. She opened her eyes and smiled at the man before her. She knew that she would just have to give up her fears and trust him. They'd gotten this far, and she'd missed feeling so happy.
"Come on and sit next to me," he whispered as he finished up the song. Cameron unfolded herself from the couch and sat down on the hard piano bench. House put an arm around her and she leaned into him. They sat like that for a few moments, both of them reliving the past few months in their heads. "Stay with me tonight."
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They arrived together at the hospital the next morning, after House drove Cameron back to her own apartment to shower and change. They'd talked into the night, House coming to a greater understanding of Cameron's fears. She'd revealed bits and pieces of her life story that he hadn't already known, and he'd reassured her, in his own way of course, that he'd be there for her. They'd finally fallen asleep on the couch together just before dawn.
It was amazing how one could run on such little sleep, Cameron thought to herself that morning. But then again, she hadn't had such a wonderful evening in quite a long time. That morning of course, the hospital was abuzz about the costume ball coming up the next night. Meanwhile, someone had decorated the lobby with fake cobwebs and plastic spiders, and wherever there was a dish of candy sitting out, House's hand was dipping in it. He left Cameron, who headed straight to diagnostics, and went to pop in on Wilson.
"So? I notice you two came in together today. Did you get some?" House rolled his eyes at his friend's candid question. Leave it to Wilson to get right to the point.
"This is Cameron we're talking about. Keep it up and I may have to tell her on you." House tossed him something in a paper bag. "Here's the stuff you asked for. How come you couldn't get your own costume?"
Wilson was busy going through files on his desk and pulling out more paperwork from shelves and drawers. "Because, I've been busy with work, unlike you, and I have an old patient coming back in on Monday because she's had a relapse and…" He flopped back into his chair and closed his eyes. "You know it's funny, when I have a wife, whom I never see except when she's pissed and needs to nag at me, I'm perfectly functional as a working adult. But when I have to go back to an empty place…forget it. It was final today, so you can do your happy dance now." Wilson looked pointedly at House.
House just stared before he finally said, "Maybe we should take a trip down to the pharmacy, I'll write you a prescription for your PMS. See you at lunch." He walked out the door, and Wilson just laughed.
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"I'm not going to tell you what it is! You'll just have to be surprised." Cameron was talking to Chase and Foreman in the conference room and setting up a pot of coffee. "And just what are the two of you planning?"
"Nope," Chase said around the end of his pencil. "If you won't tell, I won't tell. Besides, we have a bet. Which I am going to win."
"Just…keep your pants on Chase. We'll see tomorrow night, won't we?" Foreman said as he turned to look at Cameron. "So? Anything fun happen last night that we should know about? I saw you two come in together." He raised an eyebrow.
"We went trick-or-treating," House came into the room and answered for her. "Do we have a case this morning? No? That's what I thought." He glanced at Cameron with a slight wink and headed to his office, Foreman and Chase snickering after him.
"Look, Cam, we're…happy for you. Really. We just want all the juicy details." Foreman grinned.
"Well, you're going to be left wanting. We just talked. And had dessert." Cameron said plainly. A happy grin escaped her face though, and her fellow doctors took that as an admission of guilty pleasure.
"Whatever you say," Chase said, his eyes narrowed. "So, anyone want to scare some nurses, seeing as how we have nothing better to do?"
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There was a knock on the glass and the door opened. "Dr. House, do you realize that your employees are currently in the clinic scaring my nurses?" Cuddy asked, slightly mocking. "You've taught them well, I suppose. So what did Cameron rope you into wearing tomorrow night?"
"Actually," House rose from his desk, "I got lucky. All I have to do is dust off a twenty-year-old tweed suit I found in the back of my closet. What about you?" He lowered his eyes and gave her a Stare.
Cuddy smirked. "Nice try, House, but my lips are sealed. Gotta have fun every once in a while, right?" As she turned to leave, she stopped. "I still need you in the clinic today. And try not to scare any patients."
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Around one o'clock, Cameron wandered down to the cafeteria for a late lunch. Halloween was like a full moon; for some reason there was always an influx of people in the clinic and they'd all been pretty busy that morning. She spied Wilson sitting near a window and went to join him. "Hey," her voice was cheerful, "Where's House?"
"He left a few minutes ago; General Hospital is on." Wilson rolled his eyes.
"Right," she replied. "So…" She stabbed a fork into her salad and stirred it around before taking a small bite. "What are you doing tomorrow night?"
"It's a surprise, just like everyone else seems to be doing around here. You know this thing was House's idea, right?"
"What?" Cameron raised an eyebrow and spoke around a mouthful of lettuce and sprouts. "The costume ball…was House's idea?"
"Yep, that's what Cuddy told me." Wilson swirled a cold French fry through the last of the ketchup on his plate and popped it in his mouth. "As far as I know, he just wanted an excuse to see you all dressed up again. And then there's the entertaining factor of being able to watch all his friends and colleagues make fools out of themselves."
"Hmm," Cameron thought about what he'd just said. "There's no other reason that you know of? I mean, besides free candy?"
"Nope."
"Well, if I don't see you before I leave today, I guess I'll see you tomorrow night." Cameron gathered her tray and got up.
"Hey, Cameron," Wilson stood up and smiled. "I'm glad you've made up your mind. You make him happy, you know."
She returned his smile. "I know. He makes me happy too."
