From Chapter Two

"Life's a bitch and then you die." Your preaching to the choir! HIV, I Love You, I want to embarrass the heck out of you, feed my already over-grown ego…All in two days! Does it ever end?

House on the other hand was sitting spell bound in the bath room wondering what he said wrong. All he was seeking was reassurance. It had nothing to do with ego.

It was eight o'clock that night and Cameron had just polished off her second pint of Ben and Jerry's that week, this time it was Phish Food.

Ugh. This is a two pints week, which is not a good sign. And it isn't over yet! You know what? It is time to teach that miserable excuse for a human being a lesson.

Cameron headed out for House's apartment across town and approached the door. What she heard when she got there was beautiful but laced with melancholy and longing. She could hear House playing the piano and stood spell bound for a moment before knocking.

It took a few minutes but House answered, already drunk and slurring his words.

"Scome on in Doc."

"How much have you had to drink House?" It was the only question she could ask, because the question she wanted to ask, "Why are you drunk?" was off limits.

"Come on House; let's get you a cup of coffee and some aspirin. Then we'll talk."

Great. So now not only do I make him coffee at work but I have to make him coffee at home to sober him up?

Half an hour and several cups of coffee later House was coherent enough to carry on an intelligible conversation and so began the inquisition.

"Dr. Cameron, do you know why I asked you 'Why do you want me to like you?'"

"Because you enjoy messing with my head based on the fact that you know I like you. This was made clear by the stunt you pulled yesterday."

"Your diagnosis is wrong, as per usual I might add. I needed to know you still like me. I…I like you."

"Yeah, I know. You think I look good. That is no news flash."

"No. I like YOU. Not just your looks, everything about you. The way your heart sometimes rules your head and how you care so much about your patients you can't let them die alone. Also how you tried to learn to manipulate people by reading that book so people wouldn't walk all over you. And how you are learning to stand up to me. You are smart and caring, and in your words, not mine, 'look good'"

Good Lord! House has a heart after all! Complete with emotions! Who knew?

Cameron knew that with House's revelation she had her chance do what she had wanted to do for a year, kiss him. She began to lean in, but when he didn't return the action she looked up at him tentatively with a question mark evident in her eyes.

A light bulb went off in House's mind about want was going on, and he closed the distance for her. Exploration quickly turned into a kiss full of need and desire.

Wow! I don't think I have ever been kissed like this. Then again House always has had a smart mouth. Ohhhh!!!! Please don't let this end anytime soon!

The need for air eventually won out much to each of their's great dismay and they pulled apart. But instead of feeling uncomfortable as they often felt they might if, no when, this day came, they locked eyes with each other and smiled. Well, House's was more of a smirk but what can you expect? Cameron's on the other hand fit her personality just as well as House's did his, hers was a shy smile. You could she the light dancing in her eyes none the less.

Feeling a new sense of power Cameron asked House to play her something on the piano. When he asked her what she wanted to hear she said, "Surprise me."

The first chords of Lifehouse's "You and Me," resonated through the apartment and Cameron was slightly surprised. To the best of her knowledge her boss listened to classic rock, but by the time the third verse, "There's something about you now, I can't quite figure out. Everything she does is beautiful. Everything she does is right," was done she was in tears.

Damn him for making me cry! Its just that, that was the most beautiful song I have ever heard. I never knew he sang too. I guess I'll add that to another thing his mouth is good at.

"Cam…Allison," watching her there, there was no way she was just Cameron to him just then, "What's wrong?" Some things about women were always a mystery. Like why they cried so often.

"Noth," sniffle, "Nothings wrong. I am," hiccup, "Happy."

"Of course. That makes a hell of a lot of sense seeing as you're crying your eyes out."

"House, these are happy tears! You just did something that made me happier than I thought you ever could."

House knew then and there he would never understand women, especially this one, but he was willing to spend the rest of his life, or at least as long as she would let him, trying.

In a few minutes the crying stopped and a gloomy expression crossed Cameron's face. This is a face House knew was unhappiness, even he couldn't mistake this one.

"What's wrong?"

"I get my HIV test back tomorrow."