Hello, hello!
I hope you are all having a great time during the holidays!

Another festive chapter from me :) As I said in this one you will read about House, Cameron and Beth's Christmas day. Well, to be more exact, Christmas morning. I'll probably post one more chapter before the end of the year but it's not a hundred percent sure.

Thank you all for reading my story and for taking the time to drop me a comment!
I hope you will enjoy reading this chapter :)

Disclaimer: I don't own House M.D.

Chapter 25: Christmas day

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Christmas Eve and Cameron was in her office at the hospital. House had grumbled and had told her to stay at home but she had replied that her patients wouldn't miraculously get diagnosed and cured.

Eventually he ended up at the hospital as well because his patient went into cardiac arrest. His parents had taken Beth and the bunny for the day while they worked at the hospital.

So she was currently checking the new admissions to her department when she heard his voice.

"Why do people get sick on Christmas Eve?" he asked, not really expecting an answer.

He was leaning against the door frame and he was looking at her with a raised eyebrow, his cane hooked at his arm.

"Am I supposed to answer?"

"Nope, I was just looking for an opening line and that just popped in my head." He replied and he walked into her office in order to take a sit in front of her desk.

"What are you doing? And, yes, you are supposed to answer this one." He stated looking expectantly at her.

"I'm checking the history of my new patient. I'm going to go and check her in a while. What are you doing?" she asked this time and he just shrugged.

"I figured out what's wrong with my patient and now I have nothing to do!" he exclaimed and propped his feet on her desk.

She quirked an eyebrow and she pointed to the coffee machine.

"Suit yourself, I just brewed a new pot." She said and he gave her a nod.

He took the red mug that was resting next to the coffee machine and he filled it with the hot liquid. He sat back down and grabbed the file she was holding in her hands.

"Ever heard of doctor-patient confidentiality?" she asked with a little smirk.

He snorted and he studied the symptoms of her new patient.

"That's not interesting, she has Addison's disease." He said nonchalantly, tossing the file back on her desk.

"I already knew that Greg." She stated, taking the file in her hands once again.

"Then why are you still reading it?" he asked incredulously.

"Because I'm not you." She replied with a smirk.

"Yeah… good point."

He looked at her as she studied her patients' files. She was concentrated, deep in thought as she tried to figure everything out.

He smiled to himself and it was at that moment that she turned to look at him.

"What?" she asked with a smile of her own.

"Nothing…" he said and stood up.

"Riiight." She dragged out and he gave her a small wink.

"Where are you going?"

"See where Wilson is. Where are you going?" he asked when she stood up as well.

"Give Haley's discharge papers to my parents. And ask them if they want to have dinner with us tomorrow night…" she said looking straight into his eyes, waiting for his reaction.

"Ok…" was the only thing he said and she smiled at him.

"Don't bug Wilson a lot!" she said at his retrieving back but he just waved his hand at her and made his way to Wilson's office.

When he was out of her sight she exited her office as well and she started walking towards Haley's room.

She reached her destination a few minutes later and she found Haley alone in the room.

"Aunt Allison!" she exclaimed happily and she got out of bed in order to give her a hug.

Cameron hugged the little girl and she gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"Sooo, how are you feeling today?" she asked and she took a sit on the bed next to Haley.

"I'm great! And bored." She admitted with a small smile.

"You are not going to be bored for long." She stated cryptically and Haley looked at her with raised eyebrows.

"These are your discharge papers which means that when your grandparents sign them you can finally return home." She explained and Haley beamed widely at her.

"Really? I can go?" she asked in enthusiasm and Cameron nodded in confirmation.

"This is awesome!" Haley said happily, a wide grin on her lips.

"What is awesome?" asked Helen who was standing by the door with Jason.

Cameron and Haley turned to look at them and Haley spoke before Cameron could say anything.

"Aunt Allison said that I can leave the hospital today!" she said enthusiastically making her grandparents smile widely at her.

"This is great news sweetheart!" Helen said and walked to her granddaughter and took a sit on the bed opposite to her daughter.

"All you have to do is sign these and she is good to go." Cameron said with a small smile, handing the papers to her mother.

Helen accepted them gratefully and Jason went to stand next to her.

"Thank you, Allison… for everything you have done. We don't know what would have happened if you hadn't helped us. We are grateful." She said, looking at Cameron.

"Does that mean that we are leaving and that I won't see Aunt Allison, Uncle Greg and Beth again?" Haley asked, sadness evident in her voice.

Her grandparents didn't say a thing so she turned to look at Cameron.

"Of course you will see us again. Just because you are going back home doesn't mean that you can't visit us." She said reassuringly, caressing Haley's cheek tenderly.

Haley smiled at her and Cameron stood up and after ruffling the little girl's hair she headed for the door.

She hesitated momentarily but then she turned around to look at her parents.

Helen and Jason looked expectantly at her and she took a deep breath, preparing for what she was about to say.

"Listen… tomorrow night we are having dinner all together. Not something big, Greg's parents, maybe James and Lisa. I was wondering if you would like to come and have dinner with us. I mean, if you haven't planned anything else and if you are not leaving to return home today." She said and although it felt a little awkward when she saw the huge smiles on her parents' faces she relaxed a little.

At first they were too shocked to talk but after some moments they smiled widely at her.

"We would love to come." Jason replied, smiling softly at his daughter.

"Thank you Allison and we will definitely come." Helen added and Cameron gave them a curt nod and a small smile.

"Ok then. I'll call you to tell you the time and our address." She said and, after winking at Haley who smiled, she exited the room and headed to House's office.

She reached Diagnostics a few minutes later and he found him there with Wilson.

"Hey Jimmy." She greeted him with a smile and he stood up in order to hug her.

"Don't forget, she is my wife!" House exclaimed and they broke apart, both looking at him with raised eyebrows.

"Even if I wanted to you don't let me forget." Wilson replied with a smirk, his arm still around Cameron's waist.

House narrowed his eyes and stood up. He caught Cameron hand in his and he dragged her to him.

"Mine." He stated before wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Mature Greg." Cameron commented with a smile and she dropped a small kiss on his lips.

"By the way, what are you and Lisa doing tomorrow night?" she asked Wilson.

"Nothing in particular. We were thinking of having dinner together and then staying at home." He replied and returned to his sit.

House walked towards his chair as well and he pulled Cameron to him, making her sit on his good leg.

"Why don't you come to our place? We are going to have a small dinner, Greg's parents, my parents." She said and at that both men raised their eyebrows questioningly.

"You talked to them?" Wilson asked and she nodded.

"Yeah… I was tired of that cat and mouse game. And, it's Christmas sooo…" she dragged out.

Wilson smiled at her and House squeezed her hip gently.

"I'll see you tomorrow night then. I'm going to tell Lisa." Wilson announced and headed for the door but stopped before he exited and turned around again.

"You don't mind that I bought a bicycle for Beth, do you?" he asked casually making his friends smile.

"But I specifically asked for a pony!" House whined childishly and Wilson laughed at his best friend's actions.

"Sorry, no pony." He said looking at House with a smirk.

"She is gonna love it Jimmy." Cameron said reassuringly earning a grin from Wilson.

"Ok, I'm off." He said and left for Cuddy's office, leaving them alone.

"Where is our present?" House asked, looking at her with a raised eyebrow.

"James has it, along with the guitar we bought for her birthday. We are going to pass by his place to take it and put it under the tree when she falls asleep." Cameron explained and House nodded.

"When are your parents bringing Beth?" she asked.

"Half an hour or so." He replied and tilted her head, bringing her lips closer to his.

"Which means that we have some time." He concluded with a small smirk and he claimed her lips with his.

xOxOx

"Mommy, daddy wake up! It's Christmas!" Beth said enthusiastically jumping on their bed.

"Does our kid have an internal alarm clock or something?" House mumbled and he scooted to Cameron's side of the bed and he buried his head in the crook of her neck.

"Wake up, wake up!" she said again jumping up and down.

Cameron disentangled herself from House's embrace and she took Beth into her arms and kissed her cheek softly.

"Merry Christmas sweety." She said to her daughter with a smile and Beth wrapped her arms around her mother's neck tightly.

"Merry Christmas mommy!" she replied.

"What, no hug for me?" House asked, looking at them.

Beth grinned and threw her arms around his neck.

"Merry Christmas daddy!" she said happily, hugging him tightly.

"Merry Christmas angel." he replied and placed a kiss on her forehead.

She pulled back and looked at him expectantly and he knew exactly what she expected to hear. He kissed the tip of her nose and he tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"Santa Claus can't help make my leg better Beth." He explained and she looked at him sadly. He tilted her chin in order to look into her eyes again and he smiled.

"But having you makes it a lot better." He said truthfully and the smile returned on her beautiful face.

She gave him a hug and then she pulled back and looked at her parents.

"Sooo, do you think he brought a present instead?" she asked.

"Why don't we go and check?" Cameron asked and Beth nodded vigorously.

"Come on, let's go!" she said enthusiastically and she practically run out of the room and towards the living room.

He turned to her and placed a kiss on her lips, soft, tender.

"Merry Christmas Greg…" she mumbled against his lips, smiling softly at him.

"Merry Christmas indeed..." He replied and kissed her again but they had to break apart since Beth was shouting for them to go to the living room.

He leaned down and placed a kiss on the small bump of her belly and then they got out of bed and they followed Beth to the living room.

"Look mommy, Santa did come last night! He drunk the milk and ate the cookies I left for him!" Beth exclaimed, a wide grin on her lips.

"Nice cookies by the way, you should make them more often." He whispered into Cameron's ear and she shook her head in amusement.

"Santa left presents for you too!" Beth said as she studied the name on the boxes.

"See? I told you that Santa loves me!" House stated matter-of-factly making Beth giggle.

"Can I open my present now?" Beth asked, jumping enthusiastically up and down.

"Of course!" Cameron replied and Beth immediately went to the tree and started reading the tags on the Christmas presents.

"Daddy, I don't think a pony fits in here." She said thoughtfully, looking at the box with his name on it.

"Well… I can try again next year." He said ruffling his daughter's hair.

"Why don't you open up your present? See what Santa brought you." He encouraged and took a sit next to her on the floor.

Cameron sat right next to him and he draped his arm over her shoulders.

Beth took the package with her name on it and studied it with a glint in her eyes that only a little kid can have.

She ripped the wrapping paper eagerly and then she looked at the box in her hands with wide eyes.

"Daddy it's my own PSP! And it's pink daddy, look!" she exclaimed showing her new toy to her father with a wide grin on her lips.

"Look at that! Now we will play together." He replied, smiling widely at her.

"That has my name on it too!" she said, taking another box in her hands.

"Well, open that one too." Cameron said, loving the way Beth was acting, with so much enthusiasm.

Beth opened her next present quickly and looked at the content in awe.

"I have my own games too! And there is also a teddy bear in there!" she said, hugging the brown, fuzzy teddy bear and holding the box with the games.

"I guess Santa knew exactly what to bring to you." House commented with a smirk and Beth shrugged.

"They are awesome! But I really wanted him to bring you what I asked…" she mumbled and he took her small hand in his and drew her to him.

He kissed her cheek softly and he hugged her tightly.

"I know angel." He said in a low tone looking straight into her eyes.

She gave him a smile and she walked back to the Christmas tree in order to take one of the other boxes.

She went to her mother this time, handed her the present and she snuggled in her embrace. Cameron kissed her daughter's head and looked at the present in her hands.

"Let's see what Santa brought for me." She said, looking at House who winked at her.

She took her time unwrapping the box much to House's frustration.

"Oh, just rip it!" he said and reached for the box but she swatted his hand away.

"I want to take my time." She stated and he rolled his eyes.

"Fine, I'll just open mine!" he exclaimed and took the other box that was under the tree into his hands.

He didn't open it though. At that moment she had finally opened her present and she was looking at the gift in her hands with awe.

"Where on earth…" she started but he cut her off.

"Did Santa find that?" he continued her sentence, one of his usual smirks playing on his lips.

"Santa is great mommy, he can find anything! But… what is that?" she asked with a raised eyebrow making her parents laugh lightly.

"These are mommy's favorite classical songs and not only. They are tablatures for the guitar, do you know what that is?" she asked looking at Beth who nodded.

"It's the Ultimate Collection!" House added catching Cameron's eye who was looking at him with a soft expression.

She mouthed a 'thank you' and he smiled at her tenderly.

"And now I will open my present!" he said enthusiastically and ripped the wrapping paper like Beth had done earlier.

"Ok… Santa did find that. But how did he manage to find this one?" he asked incredulously, his eyes locking with Cameron's who smiled widely at him.

"You have to admit that Santa is pretty good." She commented, her gaze always locked with his.

"I told you, Santa is great!" Beth said, wrapping her arms around Cameron's neck.

"Do you know how long I have been looking for this record and CDs?" he asked her and she shrugged.

"Santa is great." She used Beth's words making him laugh and shake his head in amusement.

"Hey, maybe you should check the stocking you hung in your room too. Who knows, he might have left something in there too." Cameron said and Beth almost run towards her room.

"I'll bring Ricky too!" she shouted as she made her way to her bedroom.

Before Cameron could say anything he dragged her to him and made her sit between his parted thighs.

His hand cupped her left cheek and he brought her face close to his, claiming her lips with his in a tender kiss.

"Thank you…" she mumbled against his lips and rested her forehead on his.

"For the kiss, the present or last night?" he asked waggling his eyebrows.

"All three of them?" she said and pressed her lips to his once again.

"Thank you too, then…" he mumbled and placed a kiss on her forehead.

She sat on the floor, resting her back against his chest while his hands rested on her stomach. Her head was tucked under his chin and they stayed silent for some moments before he decided to speak.

"Ok, spill, where did you find it? You know I have looked everywhere and I couldn't find it." He said and she smirked.

"If you tell me where you found the tablatures." She said matter-of-factly.

"Not fair…" he whined.

"Are you kidding me? That's the definition of fair!" she exclaimed with a small laugh.

"Fine... I had a patient once. He was obsessed with everything that had to do with guitars."

"And that is probably the reason you had taken his case." She interrupted and he nodded curtly.

"He had a huge collection and he had come to me as a last resort. After a week of numerous symptoms and diagnoses I had figured out what was wrong. He had told me back then that he owed me and that I could have whichever piece of his collection I wanted. So I trucked him down and as you can see he was being honest…" he said pointing to the tablatures that were resting on the coffee table.

"Your turn now…" he stated.

"Well, over the years that I have been studying music I have met many people who collect disks and CDs. And with many of them I have stayed in contact through e-mail and letters. One of my best friend's in high school is working for a record label and I asked him if he could find it. Apparently he did." She said, turning to look at him.

"It's one of the best gifts ever." He said placing a small kiss on her lips.

"I have to agree…" she mumbled but she didn't get the chance to kiss him again since Beth returned with Ricky in her hands.

"Look, Santa left candies and a toy for Ricky too!" she exclaimed and then looked at her parents with raised eyebrows inquisitively.

"What are you two doing?" she asked, looking at them curiously.

House and Cameron looked at each other and then back to their daughter.

"Ok, why don't we prepare breakfast?" Cameron asked and stood up and then helped House to stand up as well.

"Pancakes and waffles!" he exclaimed grabbing his cane that was on the couch.

Beth broke into a smile and they all headed to the kitchen to prepare their Christmas breakfast.