Disclaimer: I don't own House or any of these characters, Nor do I own the song lyrics that belong to Apple Records and The Beatles. Thanks to everyone who read or reviewed this. Maybe I'll write another.

VI

You've done harder things in your life, Allison Cameron. You've told a father that his new-born baby boy had been killed in a house fire that he'd started, you've assisted in the suicide of one of your patients, you've watched your own husband die, this is not that difficult for you.

Cuddy was right and it hadn't been difficult. It had been surprisingly easy for her. Saying goodbye to House. Watching him laughing and joking with Wilson. Raising a glass to the good doctor and wishing him all the best for his life of "Bermuda shorts, surfer chicks, the Beach Boys and smoking pot" – his words not hers. And she'd even hugged him and slipped a box of cigars into his coat pocket.

And now she was at home, slipping out of the dress that made House say "Wow" and down his glass of wine. And pulling her old comfortable robe around her shoulders. And predictably, it was raining outside. Perhaps House had a point, after all.

A lot of it made sense, and her need to solve puzzles was almost as well developed as his. He could start again at a hospital where no one would know him, or ask him how he lost his leg. He could create a new life for himself. Completely. He would have a chance to wipe the slate clean in a place where his lawsuits, ex-girlfriends, and angry ex-patients wouldn't interfere with his life. His big chance.

She fell asleep on the sofa feeling light headed and empty and didn't wake until the dawn streaked through the blinds.

A tap at the door.

At first she didn't hear it. The rain was coming down hard.

"I don't want to let you in." She said honestly. Her back resting against the door as she surveyed her messy living room, sieving every discarded piece of paper through her befuddled mind.

"It's too late for that." He said and then knocked harder until she relented.

House walked into her apartment.

"Listen," he said. "I heard about your promotion and I want you to know…that you can have my PSP. I left it in the second to bottom drawer of my desk. Claim it before Wilson does."

She smiled. She couldn't help it. She could feel tears springing up in her eyes.

"When's your flight?"

"Tomorrow morning. I get extra leg room." He almost smiled too.

"What do you want?" She said taking a step towards him.

"You might want to rephrase that question." He raised his hand tentatively and ran it down her cheek. She nuzzled into it.

"What did you come here for?"

"You." He murmured. "I got you a present."

"I don't need a present."

She stepped away from him. "You want a coffee? My final offer?"

He nodded.

She went out into the kitchen leaving him in her living room.

"Maybe you should have it different this time." She called through. "Maybe you should go for extra sugar? Just to shake things up a little?"

"Hey, I want to be sentimental here." He called back. "Give me my coffee how I like it. God knows, I'll have to settle for poor imitations in the future."

The rain was starting to clear. She peered out of the window as the coffee maker bubbled away and she wondered if there'd be a rainbow. She hadn't seen a rainbow for years.

She poured the two mugs and walked carefully into the living room. It wasn't until she'd put them down on the table that she realised.

Empty. The room was empty. No rain. No House. Silent.

She flopped down onto the sofa and sighed. It had had to end. Right from the first second he'd told her she was pretty. It could have only ended one way. She was not what he needed. He needed sunshine and a fresh start.

She spied a white envelope on the coffee table and picked it up. She slowly turned it over in her hand:

When it rains and shines

it's just a state of mind.

She ran her fingers over his scrawled writing. She opened the envelope and shakily pulled out a return plane ticket to California.

Cameron dashed to the window just in time to see House's bike disappear into the distance. The road framed by the beginnings of a rainbow.

The dark clouds slowly dispersing.

The End.