Thirteen checked the clock. Maybe Cameron had already gone down to breakfast with her parents. Thirteen straightened out her clothes and put her hair up before going downstairs.
She saw Cameron's parents sitting at a table eating their breakfast. As she walked up Mrs. Cameron smiled, "Good morning."
"Good morning," Thirteen replied and looked around, "Have you see Cameron?"
Mr. Cameron nodded, "She said she had to go to work."
Thirteen looked confused, "Oh, I didn't know she was on call." Thirteen checked her phone, "I actually have to be at work in half an hour so it was nice meeting you two."
They both stood up to hug her. "It was nice meeting you too ," Mrs. Cameron told her.
Thirteen got in her car and drove back to the hospital. She was glad she kept extra clothes in her locker and changed before walking into the diagnostic office.
"Hey," Kutner said to her.
"Hey," Thirteen replied.
Taub sat quietly reading the paper.
House walked in and surveyed the group, "Taub, you're in the ER today. Apparently Dr. Cameron gets more sick days than I do."
"She's not here?" Thirteen asked.
"No, that's why Taub's going to put on a blonde wig and go work in the ER," House looked at Taub.
Taub got up and walked out.
Thirteen got up and got some coffee. When she turned back around, House was watching her. "Why do you care if Cameron's not here?"
Thirteen decided to answer with a question, "How was your Christmas?"
House was silent. He finally said, "We don't have a patient right now so you two better make yourselves scarce before Cuddy asks you to do something."
Kutner and Thirteen stood up. Once they were down the hallway, Thirteen took out her phone and called Cameron. When she got the voicemail, she left a message, "Hey it's me. You're parents told me that you were going to work and then I got to work and House said you weren't here. So…just call me to let me know you're okay." She hung up and sighed.
"Was that Dr. Cameron?" Kutner asked cautiously.
Thirteen dropped her phone in her pocket. "Yeah."
"Do you wanna talk about it," Kutner asked when they arrived at the elevators.
"Not really," Thirteen told him.
"My apartment's just a few blocks from here," Kutner offered, "Do you wanna go play Xbox or something?"
Thirteen actually smiled a little bit and thought about her answer for a moment, "Sure."
A few minutes later, Thirteen was sitting on Kutner's couch with a wireless controller in her hand shooting at aliens.
"So you know Cameron's parents?" Kutner asked.
"Yeah," Thirteen replied not looking away from the TV, "I met them last night."
"You two are really great friends?" Kutner probed.
"I thought we were," Thirteen sighed.
"Girls are crazy," Kutner commented.
Thirteen smirked, "I'd have to agree with you."
They played video games for another hour before they successfully beat the game. Thirteen leaned back on the couch and yawned, "That was fun. Even if you did hide behind tree and wait for me to take out everyone."
Kutner smiled, "I didn't think you'd be that good."
"Never underestimate someone who's college roommate was a video game designer," Thirteen replied.
They decided to go back to the hospital to see if they could help out. While they walked back, Thirteen's phone beeped. She checked and saw that she had a text message. Her heart started racing when she saw who it was from. She opened the message from Cameron and held her breath while she read. I'm okay. I'm sorry I left in the middle of the night. I just need some time to think. I'm just a little overwhelmed right now. - Cam
Thirteen closed the message and took a deep breath.
"What's wrong?" Kutner asked.
"I don't even know," Thirteen sighed.
In the next two weeks Thirteen had barely seen Cameron and they hadn't said anything to each other. Cameron always looked nervous around Thirteen and Thirteen just wanted to know what was wrong. Thirteen had sent a text message to remind Cameron of the rock climbing date they had, but Cameron didn't show up. She'd also called a number of time each time leaving a message telling Cameron that she was worried and wanted to know what was wrong.
House brought her out of her thoughts, "Do you know what happened to Chase and Cameron? Word around the water cooler is that she dumped him. You wouldn't happen to have anything to do with that would you?"
Thirteen just shrugged, "I don't know. Why don't you ask her?"
"You're no fun," House told her.
For the rest of the day, Thirteen just went through the motions, all of the time thinking about the blonde head of the ER.
After work, Kutner caught up with as she was walking out, "Happy Birthday."
"Thanks," Thirteen forced a smile.
"Do you wanna go out for drinks or something?" Kutner asked, "I'm sure we can find you a babe who will make your birthday happier."
Thirteen chuckled, "Okay."
Cameron watched Thirteen walk out the door with Kutner. She couldn't stop thinking about her. She was amazed at how one kiss changed the way she saw everything. She just needed to gather the courage to talk to Thirteen. She figured tonight was a great time to. Plus she had an excuse. She got Thirteen a birthday present.
"No one?" Kutner asked looking around the bar.
Thirteen shook her head.
"You really need to talk to Cameron," Kutner told her, "It's obvious you're not getting over her anytime soon so just talk to her."
Thirteen let out a long breath, "You're right."
A few minutes later, Kutner was dropping Thirteen off at her apartment.
"Thanks," Thirteen smiled at him.
"No problem," Kutner replied.
Thirteen got out and walked to her apartment. After she was in the door and took her jacket off, there was a knock on the door.
Thirteen didn't check her peephole, figuring that Kutner wanted to tell her something or she left something in his car. She was stunned into silence when she saw who it was.
"First of all," Cameron said nervously fidgeting with the flowers in her hand, "I'm sorry I didn't call. I just figured if I called you'd hang up, so I came here hoping that you'd listen. And if that didn't work I'd make a scene until you let me in."
Thirteen was silent and just letting Cameron talk.
Cameron was even more nervous that Thirteen wasn't saying anything. "This are for you," she handed Thirteen the flowers.
Thirteen took them and looked at them, "These are my favorite."
"I know," Cameron answered quietly. "Anyway, I know it's your birthday so I was wondering if I could try to make up for two weeks being completely adolescent tonight. Please?"
Thirteen could see Cameron nervous and didn't think she could stand seeing her like that much longer. She smiled softly, "Sure."
Cameron let out a sigh of relief, "C'mon. I have a bunch of surprises for you."
"Really?" Thirteen beamed grabbing her jacket.
"Yes," Cameron smiled.
Thirteen followed Cameron to her car and got in. Thirteen smiled when the music came on, "I love this song."
Cameron smirked, "You say that a lot."
"I like music," Thirteen chuckled.
"Actually this is a CD of all the songs I remember you telling me that you love," Cameron stated.
"Really?" Thirteen asked completely flattered.
"Yeah," Cameron bashfully nodded.
They listened to music the rest of the way to where they were going which Thirteen figured was a park.
She followed Cameron up and over a hill before she saw their destination. There was a small ice rink lit up by huge lights. The whole thing was empty except for a man sitting in a little booth by the entrance.
He smiled as they walked over, "Hello Dr. Cameron." He picked up two pair of ice skates and handed them to the girl.
"Hi George," Cameron smiled back. They got their skates and put them on.
Thirteen cautiously stepped out onto the ice before muscle memory took over and she glided over the ice. Cameron quickly followed her and started skating backwards in front of Thirteen.
"Show off," Thirteen smiled. She took Cameron's hands while they skated, "How do you know that guy?"
"I talked to him earlier today," Cameron replied, "Apparently this place closes at eight."
Thirteen checked her watch, "It's almost ten."
"I know," Cameron smiled and turned around. She started skating away and Thirteen sped up to catch up to her.
After half an hour of tag and skating around together, they'd decided they were done. They got back into the car and Cameron drove them away.
When Cameron parked at an apartment building, Thirteen raised an eyebrow, "Where are we?"
"My new apartment," Cameron smiled and got out.
Thirteen got out with her, "You're new apartment?"
Cameron nodded.
"So you really did break up with him," Thirteen said quietly following Cameron inside and to the elevator.
"Yup," Cameron nodded and pressed the button for her floor.
Thirteen was quiet all the way up, trying to sort everything out.
When the doors opened, they got out and Cameron walked to her door with Thirteen in tow. Cameron unlocked the door and let Thirteen in.
It was sparsely furnished, but still welcoming and cozy. "I like it," Thirteen looked around, "It's so you."
"Thanks," Cameron smiled and closed the door behind her. She stepped into the kitchen and returned with a small pink box. She set the box on the coffee table.
Thirteen raised an eyebrow.
"It's your birthday cake," Cameron sat on the couch, "You have to eat cake before you open your present."
Thirteen smiled and nodded, "Okay."
Cameron opened the box and inside were two cupcakes. One with 'Happy' written in icing across it and the other with 'B-Day' on it.
Thirteen chuckled.
"It was a little last minute to get an actual cake," Cameron told Thirteen.
"It's okay," Thirteen smiled, "This is great."
They quietly ate their cupcakes and when they were done, Cameron disappeared and returned with a neatly wrapped box. She handed it to Thirteen.
"Thank you," Thirteen smiled sweetly with the present in her lap.
"You haven't even opened it yet," Cameron smirked.
Thirteen held Cameron's eyes, "I mean for tonight. This is the most anyone's ever done for my birthday."
Cameron smiled, "I wanted tonight to be special."
"It was," Thirteen replied.
"Open it," Cameron scooted closer to Thirteen.
Thirteen took off the wrapping paper and was left with a long velvet box. She glanced at Cameron before opening the box. Inside was a thin silver chain with an open heart pendant dangling from the bottom.
"It's beautiful," Thirteen said quiet and took it out. She handed it to Cameron who put it on her. When Cameron was done, Thirteen turned around and hugged Cameron, "Thank you."
Cameron smiled, "You're welcome."
Thirteen looked down at the necklace and ran her finger over it. Then she looked at Cameron. She saw a white flurry and said, "It's snowing."
Cameron smiled and stood up. She held her hands out for Thirteen who took them and let Cameron pulled her up. She dropped one of Thirteen's hands and held her other one, leading her to the set of French doors Thirteen hadn't noticed before.
Cameron opened them and there was a very small wrought iron balcony over a street. She pulled Thirteen out onto it and looked up.
Thirteen stood mesmerized by the woman holding her hand. White flakes were falling into her blonde hair and over her beautiful face. She felt a whole bunch of butterflies start fluttering around in her stomach at once.
Cameron looked back down to see Thirteen looking at her. She smiled and took Thirteen's other hand. She pulled Thirteen a little closer and held her eyes.
Thirteen let go of Cameron's hands and laced her fingers together behind Cameron's neck. "You're amazing."
Cameron beamed and rested her hands on Thirteen's hips, "Only for you."
Thirteen leaned in and softly pressed her lips against Cameron's. Cameron leaned into Thirteen and deepened the kiss. Hands started to explore and tongues started to dance. It took a few minutes for either woman to realize that they were both freezing,
Thirteen reluctantly shivered out of the kiss. She was grinning from ear to ear as was Cameron.
"What do you say way continue this inside?" Cameron asked pushing the doors back open.
Thirteen just smiled and followed Cameron inside. She had a sparkle in her eyes that hadn't been there in a while. At that moment she was deliriously happy and as she closed the doors to the balcony, she thought, Best birthday ever.