"What's the theme?" I ask woefully, fingering a dress. There's a hospital fundraiser, and thus I have been dragged shopping.

"Top Hat" Cameron holds a dress up and examines herself in the mirror. "What do you think of this?" I wander over.

"I think you look beautiful in everything." I bury my face in her hair. She sighs.

"But is it appropriate?"

I pause to actually look at the dress made of turquoise satin, off the shoulder and cascading towards the floor. It suits her perfectly. "Definitely. Go try it on."

She examines me, surprised. "Okay…" she trails off towards the dressing room. I continue my own search in the mean time. Top Hat. Well, that certainly means I'm taking the opportunity to wear a hat. I conclude I want something slinky and black. And perhaps a tie.

This is Cameron and I's first event as a couple, and it worries me a little. I've never done anything like this before. Long term relationships have never exactly been my thing. But then, neither have formal events.

"Zip me up?" Cameron has emerged from the dressing room. I zip her up and she turns around.

"You're getting that." I inform her. She raises an eyebrow at me and looks in the mirror.

"I do like it." She agrees, stroking the soft fabric.

"And you're getting it." I re-iterate.

She smiles at me. "I take this to mean you like the dress?" I nod vehemently. "Okay." She decides. "I'll get it." She examines herself once more in the mirror before returning to the dressing room to change.

I continue my search for something black. Cameron joins me in a few minutes. "Anything you like?" she questions.

I shake my head. "I want something black and slinky." I whine. "And a hat."

She grins. "A top hat perchance?"

I shrug. "Or a fedora."

A week or so later I am in the bathroom, putting on makeup, with Cameron beside me doing the same. My hair is pulled back into a sleek bun. My dress is slinky. I have a hat.

I return to our room and pick up my bag. "We should go."

"Are you sure the necklace looks good?" Cameron turns to me, gesturing to the three-string black pearl necklace around her neck. I roll my eyes.

"You look absolutely gorgeous, Allison."

She blushes and exits the bathroom, kissing me gently on the cheek. "And so do you."

"Well then we'll be sure to stun everybody" I smirk.

"Indeed." Cameron picks up her own bag from the bed. "All right, let's go."

I take a deep breath as I walk into a transformed conference room with Allison Cameron on my arm. I feel like all eyes are on us, scrutinising us, judging us, when in reality the room is so full of giddy doctors and donors that no-one has even noticed us yet.

We locate the bar and get glasses of champagne.

"Well, well, well, isn't this a surprise." House's voice filters over us.

"Should have guessed you'd be near the bar" I mutter under my breath, before turning, pulling Cameron with me, and heading away from House. He follows us. Luckily, Wilson intervenes, waving us towards his table. Having Wilson as a buffer may keep me from losing it at House completely. Cameron guides me towards Wilson's table and sits down, her hand still in mine. I follow suit, taking a deep breath.

Wilson smiles, interested. "I didn't know you two were together."

Cameron nods. "For about nine months now." I am busy trying to keep my cool as House takes a seat at the table.

"Wow." Wilson is evidently surprised.

Cameron chuckles. "I guess we kept it pretty quiet, didn't we?" she looks to me and squeezes my hand in comfort.

I nod. "Yeah. Didn't want certain people making a big deal out of it." I direct this at a certain someone who is grinning at me from beside Wilson.

"A big deal out of what?" Just what we need. Cuddy. I grit my teeth.

Wilson saves us. "Allison and Remy are dating, isn't that nice?" He smiles one of his dazzling smiles up at Cuddy.

"Oh." She takes a seat beside me rather less gracefully than usual. "Really?"

Cameron and I bob our heads in assent.

"For nine months." House feels the need to put in, his grin growing.

I sneak a glance at Cuddy, who seems to be on the verge of a heart attack wondering how this managed to escape her notice for so long. "If it helps, no-one knew." I smile a little in her direction. She nods vaguely.

"I'll be right back. I'm getting some champagne." She stands and heads purposefully in the direction of the bar.

I can't help but grin. Cameron looks worried.

"I'll go talk to her." Wilson beelines after Cuddy, abandoning us with House.

"Causing quite the stir, aren't you." He points out, stirring his martini lazily with the olive stick.

"Shut up." I tell him. I don't like the shade of pale Cameron is turning. I squeeze her hand. "You okay?" I whisper. She shakes her head.

"Chase." She murmurs, and I follow the direction of her gaze. Chase has just entered the room with Foreman and is glaring in our direction, fists clenched.

"You want to leave?"

She shakes her head. "We have every right to be here."

I kiss her hair gently.

House snorts. "Touching" he stands to leave, draining his martini glass, as Cuddy and Wilson return. Cuddy looks far calmer. I smile at Wilson and receive one in return. Talking with them provides a much needed distraction. Cameron gradually returns to a normal colour.

"Well that wasn't a complete disaster." I comment as we lie in bed that night.

Cameron snuggles into me. "No. It wasn't." she murmurs.

"Thank God for Wilson."

She chuckles. "Here's to that."