Sorry for the wait guys, I was sick, then I hd a ton of work to do (seriously, sixth form sucks) and now I'm in the process of moving house so I don't have internet access... I'm posting this at school:)

Chapter twenty three- His girl.

Sun streamed through the window, into the warm room which the freezing weather outside hadn't encroached upon. It was eight o'clock on Christmas morning. Across Princeton, excited children were already awake, tearing into presents with enthusiasm whilst bleary eyed parents looked on. No such goings on were in full flow at House's place. He and Cameron were snuggled under the coverlet together, breathing deeply.

Hers were the first eyes to flicker open. She sighed contentedly at the warm arms around her, and couldn't quite believe how happy she was. She considered that she had never felt this happy ever. Delayed gratification. She grinned harder realising she was analysing herself already. That was his influence on her, no doubt. She carefully turned around in his arms so that she was looking up at his face. He did look peaceful in his sleep, and she was highly amused at his heavy breathing which she could imagine would easily turn into a snore should he get a cold. He's even sexy in his sleep! She thought smugly to herself. Smug. Yet another unattractive, or attractive depending on how you look at it, quality from him.

The early hours of the morning passed quickly. It wasn't that they didn't speak. Of course they did. They exchanged 'Merry Christmas' and kissed. For a while, they didn't need to talk. Just them being together was enough. Neither could quite believe it. Neither thought this would ever happen. They were half lying, half sitting in bed his arms wrapped around her when he said:

"My Christmas present?"

"I brought it, don't worry"

"I have you well trained" He drawled out lazily and pecked her on the top of the head

"Mm-hmm" She couldn't be bothered to think of some witty response. She was enjoying his warmth against her as the snow fell outside and the perfectly relaxed state she found herself in all of a sudden.

It was eleven o'clock before they made their way out of his room. She had slung on a jumper and jeans and he had his usual shirt, band tee and jeans on. They slowly made their way through their pile of gifts (Cameron had brought hers from home). She had seated herself on the rug next to the sofa and he was on the aforementioned sofa. It was no surprise that she had a considerably larger pile of gifts than he did, and on noticing this he said in a deliberately childish voice said:

"No fair"

"You can have some of them if you want…" she continued "but I'm guessing they're all bath products and gift vouchers"

"Vouchers for where?"

She sighed, reading the label of one of the gift bags.

"Uh, book stores" she didn't look up as she continued, but if she had have done she would have seen the 'bo-ring' expression on his face "Maybe clothes stores, you know… Bebe, Wet Seal, places like that…" She tore open the bag carefully and got out the gift "Underwear stores"

He perked up then:

"And who buys you those?" He asked smirking

"Those what?" she then realised what he was talking about and smiled up at him "Oh, various aunts, my sister. People like that.

"No dirty uncles then." He stated "It would've explained the damage but, there's always your birthday"

She threw a piece of balled up wrapping paper at his head, and hit the bulls eye.

Their gifts to one another had been left unopened until they were the only ones left. It took the pair a moment or two to decide on who would open their gift up first, but it was decided it would be Cameron.

She pulled at the wrapping paper slowly, being careful not to rip it any more than necessary. She would have predicted a snide comment about this but to her pleasant surprise he just watched her with a slightly amused expression on his face.

She pulled out the gift and smiled up at him. It was the Desperate Housewives box set, including the episodes they had watched in his office. Suddenly he looked a little nervous, like he needed confirmation that he had got her the right thing, he asked:

"I saw in your apartment… you don't have it already." He looked down at her, and added "You're smiling, so I'm guessing I wasn't completely off the mark?"

She stood up and walked towards him, settling herself on his lap and kissing him.

"Not completely" kiss "It's perfect" kiss.

She had once again seen the insecurity in his eyes and she had immediately wanted to eradicate it. When the look had passed from his features, he said:

"You're not going open the card?" That was House-speak for 'I'm Ok now'

She went over to the aforementioned card and opened it. She let her eyes skim the page and her smile widened, before she looked over at him and said:

"I presume you wrote this AFTER the night of the party"

He pretended to be confused "What party?" then he pretended to register embarrassment on his features "Oh THAT party! Ooops!"

"Well, the 'love, Stud' kinda gave you away" She grinned, picking up her gift to him up from the floor and walking over to him, passing it over.

He ripped the paper mercilessly in comparison to her and deposited it on the floor, looking with raised eyebrows at her gift choice, saying the title of the book out loud:

"Guide to Etiquette. Doctor's edition, bedside manner. How thoughtful!" He chuckled under his breath, and just as he was about to put his novelty gift to one side, she spoke:

"Open it"

He furrowed his brow slightly, but did as commanded. An envelope landed on his lap, with the unmistakable loopy G's of 'Greg' written on the front. He opened this, and looked astounded, he looked back up at Cameron who was watching him with her arms folded, he managed to speak:

"For real?"

"Uh, yes. They really are all-access passes to the monster trucks extravaganza next year."

"They were all sold out" He flipped the passes over in his hands, looking at them with awe.

"Well no- not exactly. I told Wilson to tell you that. His suggestion. Well, my idea for monster truck shows, he told me this one was monster truck heaven."

"It sure is"

He invited her back to his lap… she really was his girl.