A/N: One more chapter to go!
Disclaimer: DOH
"It's raining."
Cameron waits for more, but more doesn't come.
"Yeah, that's what the forecast called for."
"Those idiots are never right."
"Looks to me like you're the idiot right now."
Stepping back, she allows him entrance, shutting the door behind him as he limps toward the loveseat.
"I was thinking tomorrow you could come see me."
"Why?" she asks, her awkward steps causing her to frown in irritation.
"Because I'm a lonely soul and you brighten my day."
"Right."
He watches her sit beside him with a groan lasting a few seconds before reaching for a half eaten peanut butter sandwich.
"All you do is eat."
"I'm pregnant."
"Likely story."
"House," she rolls her eyes, "what are you here for?"
"I'm doing all the work. It's not fair."
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm always coming here. I kissed you. I told you I loved you. I set up your shower yesterday."
"Okay," she raises her pointer finger, "first of all, I'm not going to be driving to your apartment with my stomach out to here. Secondly, ninety-four percent is not enough for me to even think about getting together. And last, you didn't do anything for the shower!"
"But you've got to admit those are pretty big things for me."
Chewing slowly, she looks at him with a slight squint of her eyes.
"If you really wanted to prove something to me, you'd ask me to stay with you until Brennan's born."
She watches his eyes widen, his mouth tighten, and his color actually lighten a shade. Putting the last bite into her mouth, she can't help but smile because she knows she's cornered him, and that's a great feeling, no matter the answer.
"See, House? You're – ."
"Fine."
She chokes.
"Home sweet House."
"That's not funny," she mutters as she walks past him to find the bathroom.
"I thought it was!"
At the sound of the bathroom door closing, he tosses his keys onto the nearby stand and looks down at the suitcase by his feet. Now that it's over and done with, he hardly believes he's done this.
She taps her fingertips on the end of the armrest as he keeps his distance on the piano seat. Thinking for the hundredth time he's made a beyond disastrous mistake, he leans back slightly to sit straight.
"Why is this weird?"
Thank God he's finally said something, she mentally sighs.
"What did you expect?"
"I don't know."
And what's funny is, neither does she.
"You're not…sleeping with me."
"Where else am I going to sleep?"
"On the couch."
"It hurts my leg."
"Everything hurts your leg."
"My bed," he opens his drawer to pull out a pair of drawstring pants, "doesn't."
Zipping up her suitcase, she straightens out the wrinkles in her nightgown even though she's seconds away from slipping under the covers.
"No way, House."
"If you try to feel me up, I'll kick you."
"If you try to fondle me, I'll…enjoy it."
Snorting softly, Cameron closes her eyes as he flicks the light off and she feels the bed shifting under his moving body. Soon, all is still and all she can hear is his breathing mixing with the sound of hers.
"Do you have to look at me while I sleep?"
"House, my eyes are already closed."
"I can't tell."
"Trust me."
"Turn around."
"I'm pregnant!"
"And?"
"Why don't you just turn away and that'll solve your problem."
"I'm comfortable."
"Well, so am I."
Two minutes pass and she finally begins to feel the drowsy hands of sleep clasping over her, until he opens his mouth again.
"Cameron?"
"What?"
"Seriously. Turn over."
The third time that morning she goes to the bathroom, he throws an arm over his head and sighs. It's not even half past eight and she's driving him insane.
By the time she comes out, he's swallowing two vicodin.
"I hate your bladder."
Groggy, she merely grunts as she sits heavily on the bed before swinging her legs over and pulling the comforter over her body as she turns her back to him.
"What are you making?"
"Soup."
He looks around his kitchen. "As in, Campbells?"
"Yes."
"From my cabinets?"
"Yes."
"Ah," House leans against his island, flicking the pack of already opened crackers.
"You have a good, I mean, interesting day at work?"
"Foreman got pissed at me. Thirteen told me to screw myself. Kutner put a guy into a coma. Taub threatened to quit. Wilson lectured me about you. And Cuddy made sure to tell me I'm not getting out of clinic hours tomorrow."
Watching her stir the pot, he crosses his arms across his chest.
"What'd you do all day?"
"I reorganized your DVDs."
"What?!"
"House?"
"If I'd known you talked this much, I wouldn't have let you stay."
She wets her lips, bringing the pillow closer to her face.
"Are you scared?"
He finds himself momentarily paralyzed, but then he turns his head to the right.
"You're going to be okay."
"I just…I just don't know. Everything's going to change."
"Not all change is bad," he whispers gruffly in her direction.
Smiling in spite of her fear, Cameron scoots her body closer to his. And he doesn't move away.
"So, today's the big day?"
"Yeah."
Wilson frowns at House's sharp tone and decides to sit down in front of House's desk as he watches the man stare out the window.
"What's going on? Everything okay?"
"Do you think I made a mistake?"
Finding himself suddenly on edge, Wilson shifts his feet. "Uh, with what?"
"Cameron. The kid. All of it."
"House, are you – are you backing out?"
With a knock on the window, House turns slightly to look at Wilson.
"I don't know."
"You can't!"
"Why?"
Standing, Wilson motions with his hands in no set pattern, trying to find the words, the reasons, that are surely somewhere inside.
"You're just afraid. It's a big change."
"Would you want me to be a father?"
"There's no going back, House."
Looking downwards, House sighs before limping forward on his cane. He needs some air.
"Are you – ?"
"No," she interrupts him, shifting the phone by her ear as she refolds her shirt. "Still the same. I was just calling to let you know."
"Oh."
The long pause causes her to stop in her actions.
"House, you okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Cameron…."
"What?"
On the other end, House brings a fist to his forehead.
"Never mind."
He's done this to her before. The distance, the cold shoulder, the aloofness, the annoyance. She just hadn't expected it so soon after his declaration of love.
With a firm grip, she opens the door of the complex and finds him sitting on the steps. What she's come to say, she doesn't know.
"You okay?"
Cameron doesn't answer, and instead, lowers herself down with the aid of his arm to sit beside him. Catching her breath, she watches three cars drive past along with one couple walking down across the street. The sun already giving way to dusk, she briefly wonders why she'd bothered in the first place. Why she'd believed him when she knows he's as tied down as a northern wind.
"What are you thinking, House?"
House watches the building across the street as a curtain parts to reveal a lamplight.
"I'm thinking that I saw two shadows from up there, but that man's wife is never here on Fridays and Saturdays."
Swallowing, she covers part of her mouth with her hand.
"You've changed your mind. Haven't you?"
He looks down to his feet before looking at her.
"Damnit, House." Her eyes begin to burn. "What the hell is wrong with you? Two days ago you were sure you wanted me, and now you can barely look at me."
"Cameron," he rubs his forehead. He hadn't expected this to happen, especially not on the day she's supposed to give birth, but it's here. And he's not ready. God, he's beyond not ready.
"I'm not ready to do this, to be this. I thought…but now…."
"And you think I am?"
She needs him to see her, and so she captures his face against his resistance and forces him to look at her, inches away from her own face. Can he see it? Does he really think he's alone in this feeling?
"I can't be a father, Cameron."
"Why?"
"Look at what I'm doing to you."
"You're afraid."
"I'm selfish."
"We all are."
"Not you."
She can feel the water in her eyes begin to spill over.
"House…" her fingers lightly brush across his cheeks, "I can't do this without you. Not anymore."
He closes his eyes and leans into her hands momentarily before looking at her again.
"I'm the wrong person for all of this."
"No, you're not."
She can see it in his eyes, the thought that he's going to mess everything up like he always does. And she has no doubt he will, but that's what's changed with both of them. When one bends, the other is stronger. Always. It's just taken her a long time to realize it.
"Please don't do this, House. I'm not asking you to marry me or be there every day with Brennan. I just need to know you're here."
Pulling back, he draws her hands away from his face, but keeps holding her wrists.
"I'm self-destructing, Cameron."
"I know. And I still…still love you. God," she scoffs as she leans her forehead onto his shoulder, "we're a lame cliché aren't we?"
"Wilson thinks lame works for us."