I don't own House md, if I did things would be so different…

Chapter 19

Cameron was worried last time she almost said the 'L' word to House, not that he didn't already knew, the man could read her like an open book, but still hearing the words was a different thing and she was afraid he would freak out.

Maybe she should sleep on it and things would be clearer in the morning. House had a patient with some obscure disease and would probably spend the night at the hospital. She was in deep slumber when she felt the mattress dip.

"Hey." She mumbled sleepily.

"Shh. Go back to sleep."

"I thought you'd go to your place or stay at the hospital."

"The patient is sable and Wilson is annoying."

"Mmm… You used your key."

"Keys are meant to be used. Now go back to sleep. It's late."

She closed her eyes and nodded her head, she turned around so he could spoon her and put his right leg in between hers. They molded their bodies so every inch of skin was touching, plus Cameron liked the idea of cuddling with the mean bad Greg House.

He remembered when Cameron gave him his sets of keys, it was when he found out that Wilson had keys to her home since she moved back, just to be safe, she told him. Then he went on and on whining to Cameron and making sarcastic remarks which earn him some mocking jokes from Wilson. Tired of his childish whining she finally shoved a new set of keys at him saying he could shut up now, and then kissed him deeply.

"I have a case for you."

"Is it interesting?" He asked Cuddy as she stepped into his office.

"I think you're gonna like it."

"We'll see." House thought Cuddy would just turn around and leave but she stayed put.

"House, is everything ok?"

"Nothing is always ok with me. You should know that by now." She rolled her eyes.

"I mean you've been different lately. You still make your team suffer, you mess with Wilson and he messes with you back. And you still make the nurses cry, but you seemed different, you look … happy." As happy as House could ever be.

"And so after getting to that brilliant conclusion you decide to come up here and ask if I'm ok?"

"Despite everything I care for you."

"Thanks. That makes me feel all warm inside."

"Fine! I'll be on my way."

Cuddy couldn't help but feel sad, House was happier now than he ever was when they were together, and that should tell her something, that he never felt the same way she did for him. Whatever or whoever was making House feel this way was making her feel jealous. She couldn't help it.

Wilson was acting weird, House had just come from his office to go for lunch but he wasn't there, again. Also he was spending more and more nights out and arriving late. At first House thought he was just giving him space because of him and Cameron but now he knew something was up, since Wilson wasn't in his office he went ahead and snooped around.

"Wilson cancer boy, I had to pay for my lunch today! You're failing in your duties as best friend." That was Wilson's greeting when he arrived to his office, his sarcastic friend was lying in his office couch like he owned the place.

"Then I guess you've been failing for years now." He took his seat behind his desk.

"Let's not talk about me, this is your time."

"You went through my things again?"

"You're acting strange, I was concerned. Wilson do you have a new girlfriend you're not sharing?"

"You're such a good friend. You deduce that because I skipped lunch with you?"

"I'm that good."

"And I bet Cameron knows something." He added.

"Yes, because we've been secretly dating since she came back."

"Ah ah. That doesn't explain the late nights which means you do have a new girlfriend!"

"Yes I do!"

"Seriously?" He's a little stunned.

"No." Wilson said keeping his face straight.

House got up and made his way to the door.

"Where are you going?"

"Away. You're no fun today." Wilson shook his head smiling.

Cameron was in the kitchen making dinner, there's only so much take out a person can tolerate plus she kind of enjoyed the idea if cooking dinner for the both of them.

"A little help would be nice." House was leaned against the counter watching her movements.

"Cooking is a women thing."

"Wilson cooks." She threw back.

"My point exactly." She rolled her eyes.

"Didn't you take cooking lessons?"

"And then I came to my senses and look what I got!" He pointed at her cooking for him.

"I think Wilson has new girlfriend, someone from Peds, he's been sneaking up there and thinks I haven't noticed." At this Cameron can't help but laugh.

"What's so funny? Wait, what do you know?"

"I know nothing." She smirked not making eye contact.

"You weren't surprised which means you already knew about it. Spill it."

"Wilson's been dating a doctor from Peds for quite a while now. For someone who notices everything you missed what was going on right in front of you."

"You two have conspiring against me! I'm shocked! And how come he didn't tell me? I'm his best friend not you!"

"He didn't want you meddling until he knew if it was serious, it takes a little preparation to introduce you, he didn't want to scare her so soon."

"Since you seemed to be all knowing about this, please enlighten me as to why I didn't notice it before oh wise one?"

"You've been … distracted."

Realization downed on him.

"You've been distracting me!" He accused pointing with his cane to her.

"True. But you can't say it hasn't been fun." She smiled sexily at him.

"I guess. Doesn't change the fact that you both still tricked me."

"And I'm sure we'll pay for it."

"Oh you will."

"So are you going to help me with dinner or not?"

"Not."

"If you don't I'll tell Wilson you like to cuddle." She threatens.

"You wouldn't dare." He faked mock horror.

"Oh I think we've establish that I do a lot of things you're not expecting me to."

House pondered for a second, he was certainly rubbing off on her. Wilson would never shut up about it. He could already see the grin in Wilson's face, 'House and Cameron sitting in a tree k i s s i n g. The horror, the horror.
His musings were interrupted when Cameron cursed.

"Damn it!" He looked in her direction and saw the bloody knife and Cameron putting her hand under the cold water in the sink.

"Let me see it."

"It's nothing deep, just a cut."

"Where's your first aid kit?"

"In the bathroom under the sink." She rolled a towel around her hand and went to sit on the couch in the living room.

"Ok, let's see the damage." He carefully unrolled the towel and started to work on her finger.

"So you're gonna chop off your fingers every time you want my help in the kitchen? Cause I gotta tell you it's not a good long term plan, you only have ten fingers." He joked while he cleaned the wound and started bandaging it.

Cameron was having a hard time controlling herself, the way he was taking care of her wound with so much tenderness, she could see the love in his eyes.

"All done!" He raised her hand and kissed it softly.

She couldn't hold back any longer.

"I love you." She blurted out. She always thought the first time she'd say it would be in the heat of their lovemaking.

"I guess homemade dinner is out of the question now. Chinese?" He moved to pick up the phone.

Cameron wasn't expecting him to say it back even though she knew he loved her, but he didn't even flinch, it was like he didn't even heard her. There was absolutely no reaction what so ever. Not sure how her voice would sound she just nodded her head to answer his question. If this were years ago she would push the subject until she got a reaction, now she was just going to wait for it to sink in. At least for now, after all he was never good dealing with emotions.

The rest of the evening was like any other one, they had dinner watched General Hospital, House acted absolutely normal. Cameron was trying to not to show her disappointment but it wasn't easy.

"It's late, I'm going to bed." She got up from the couch and placed a small kiss on his lips.

"Ok. I'll be there in a minute."

Sitting alone in the living room House thought about Cameron's words. He already knew she loved him and he was sure he loved her too. In fact thinking back to his previous relationships with Cuddy and even Stacy when he thought he loved them, he was now sure that his feelings for Cameron were so much more stronger and that was a bit overwhelming. He was deeply in love with her. He just needed to voice it out loud, which wasn't exactly easy but she deserved it.

He turned off the TV and headed to the bedroom, Cameron was curled up on her side, her back turned to him. He stripped down to his boxers and t-shirt and went under the covers. He reached for her and she turned around to face him pillowing his bicep and her injured hand on his chest over his heart. He took her hand in his larger one and kissed it softly like he had done previously when she told him the words.

"This is going to need to be changed tomorrow."

"I'll have one of the nurses change it when I get to the hospital." She mumbled half asleep.

"No. I'll do it in the morning before you leave."

"Ok." She was almost asleep when she heard him sigh.

"I love you too." It only took him a few hours to say it back. Not bad considering this was House.

Cameron shot her eyes open but didn't move afraid she would break the moment, a full wide grin appeared on her face, and she had to fight back tears of joy. Despite her efforts House could tell she was smiling against his chest. It felt so right.

"I know." She snuggled closer to him and he tightened his embrace around her. She went back asleep more content than ever. He glanced down at her one last time before he joined her in deep slumber.
Yes, he was definitely where he belonged.

We're almost at the end…

R&R