DISCLAIMER: House belongs to Fox, not me.

AN. Hope you enjoy this, feel free to read and review, but praise and constructive criticism only please! House may be OOC, but the story needs it otherwise it's not any good.

Chapter 13: Because you loved me

Over the next two days, Cameron moved her hand a few times, grimaced twice and her eyelids fluttered several times a day, but she still had not opened her eyes. House hadn't left her side since that first movement, and Cuddy couldn't resist rubbing it in.

"I told you she was waiting for you," she said smugly and House rolled his eyes.

"You said she was waiting for goodbye, not to wake up. So don't get all, I'm-so-good on me you don't deserve it. Not until you fire Evans and Brewster, anyway."

Evans was still in shock over Cameron's miraculous recovery, which was the news of the hospital. Foreman and Chase were ecstatic, and were as frequent visitors to her as her family.

It was late afternoon, and House was watching TV in Cameron's room accompanied by Hayley and Jason. He and Jason were debating whether Bones and Booth should become a couple (Jason said they should, House was adamant about it not happening), when a low moan interrupted Jason's argument. House immediately switched off the TV and the three gathered around Cameron, hardly daring to breath.

"Allison?" House called to her, and her eyelids fluttered, opened briefly and closed again with a grimace and another groan.

"Close the blinds and turn off the lights," he instructed Hayley, who did so.

"Allie, can you open your eyes again?" House asked her, holding her hand in a death grip.

She tried, but could only manage another flutter.

"Come on, Allie," Hayley begged in a whisper.

"Allison Elizabeth Cameron-Mackenzie, you open your eyes this instant!" Jason threatened, his voice thick with emotion and Cameron frowned.

Hayley half-laughed, half-sobbed. "You gonna let him get away with that, Al?"

There was a pregnant pause, then Cameron's eyes fluttered open a few times, and then remained open as she blinked to focus.

"Hey," House smiled as her blue-grey eyes fixed on his face.

She opened her mouth to talk, but it was dry and she coughed weakly and painfully. Hayley automatically helped her sister sip some water, before she tried again.

"You don't need to say anything," House told her hurriedly, but she persisted.

"G-Greg," she whispered hoarsely and House's heart leapt.

"Yeah?" he asked her softly.

"You- you're crushing my hand," she continued and House looked startled as he loosened his grip on her hand as Hayley and Jason both laughed happily.

"Sorry," he said apologetically.

He leaned forward and kissed her forehead gently. "Get some sleep. We'll talk later," he smiled and Cameron closed her eyes obediently.

"I have to go find Chris and Amanda," Hayley cried excitedly, leaving the room and Jason wiped his eyes as he followed.

When Cameron awoke next, she could tell it was dark outside but she also knew House was still there. Sure enough, as she turned her head slightly she saw him asleep in an uncomfortable chair next to her bed. As though he sensed her gaze on him, House suddenly jerked awake and smiled as he registered her gaze.

"Hi," she said softly, her voice clearer and House moved his chair closer.

"Hi. How do you feel?"

Cameron considered his question. "My head hurts. And everything... feels... squashed... inside."

"That's because everything inside was squashed," House told her bluntly. "You should be fine, though. Everyone's here too."

"Where?" she asked faintly.

"Hotels... accommodation places.... you can see them later," he assured her.

"How long was I asleep?" she asked him.

"Today, about six hours. Total, almost a month."

Cameron's eyes widened slightly in shock as she processed this news. "What happened? I- I just remember leaving the patient's home..."

"You got hit by a trunk," House filled her in and she was stunned.

Then a comfortable silence fell between the couple and House sighed. "I'm so sorry, Allie."

She smiled slightly. "You're just saying that because I almost died," she teased him and House's throat constricted.

"Well, I mean it."

"I know," she said fondly and forgivingly. Then she became serious. "It was just a thing to fill in for fun, Greg. It doesn't mean anything... the answers. I get one at least once a month if not more. And everyone has a different answer."

"I know, your mom explained," he interrupted her and she smiled.

"I remember the first one I answered after we got together... I think Bryan sent it to me. I'd just been watching Up Close and personal. So, I answered Celine Dion's because you loved me. It just depends what song I think of first is," she said simply and House leaned forward and kissed her on the mouth.

"I know," he whispered and she relaxed into the bed, smiling sheepishly.

"I almost lost you," he said softly, cupping her jaw in his hand.

"But you didn't," she replied.

House shook his head emotionally. "What would I do without you?"

Cameron gave him a small smile. "Oh, join a Tibetan monastery and take a vow of silence, no doubt," she answered and House frowned at her.

"Funny. I'm serious though. You're supposed to outlive me," he informed her.

"Oh, I plan to," she replied candidly. "Then when I'm done with you, I'll find a nice Irish, Gerald Butler look-alike guy to replace you," she grinned and House scowled at her.

"Nice," he said sarcastically and she giggled tiredly.

"I love you," she said softly, serious now and House took her hand in his.

"I love you too."

Cameron smiled softly and closed her eyes.

"Marry me."

Her eyes flew open again, and she struggled to sit up as she stared at House in shock. "What?" she gasped.

"Marry me," House repeated earnestly looking into her eyes.

Cameron was speechless. "I- uh- Greg... are you sure?"

The proposal had not been planned, or even thought of, but House had never been more sure of anything in his life. "Yeah, I am. Marry me," he said again and this time, she nodded.

"Ok," she agreed and he leaned forward to kiss her happily.

Both their families and friends were thrilled when they announced their news the next day, although Wilson and Cuddy especially had been taken aback by the news. Blythe and John, as well as Taylor, Riley and Charlie came up to visit the next week, and all gave House grief for not informing contacting them in the past month.

Cameron stayed in hospital for another three weeks after she regained consciousness, undergoing test after test for her damaged organs which were eventually declared healthy. She still tired easily and had dizzy spells if she moved too much, but was desperate to get out of the hospital. Finally, just before her and House's one-year anniversary, she was released with Cuddy's permission although she wasn't allowed back to work for another two weeks.

She put the time to good use, enlisting her mother's help to make the first initial wedding plans before Amanda finally returned home with Marcus. Chris had left with Kym and their children before she had gotten out of hospital; and once Amanda left, Jake and Dan had volunteered their services as wedding planners and the use of La Vie Boheme for the wedding reception.

On the day of their anniversary, Amanda went out with Jake and Dan for the night to give the couple some privacy, and Cameron cooked a simple dinner for them. House came home as she was serving and immediately chastised her for doing too much.

"We could have just ordered in, you know," he scolded her gently.

She smiled at him. "I like cooking, and it's our anniversary. It deserves more than pizza or Chinese from cartons."

"I was thinking Italian," he replied and she swatted his arm lightly.

"You know what I mean, Greg," she rolled her eyes.

After they had eaten, he made her go sit down whilst he packed the dishwasher before joining her on the couch.

"Here, happy anniversary," he said quietly, handing her a small jewellery box.

Cameron hid her surprise and opened it, drawing her breath in sharply as she revealed a simple yet stunning diamond engagement ring.

"I know I said I wanted you to pick it," House said sheepishly. "But I was just walking past when Wilson and I went to lunch, and I couldn't help myself."

Cameron was beaming as she kissed him. "It's gorgeous, I love it," she told him sincerely.

House, somewhat embarrassedly, took the ring out of the box and slid it onto her ring finger.

"Perfect," he announced, studying her now diamond-encrusted hand and leaned over to kiss her again.