Saving Grace:
The Apartment
Unnecessary disclaimer: None of the characters appearing in the TV show "House, M. D." belong to me.
Abstract: When Cameron's marriage with Chase falls apart, she decides that she cannot wait for another man to come around to be a mom. What happens when a wrench gets thrown in her plans? HC
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"Not much of a nursery, is it?" Cameron said, wiping her hands on her jeans as she surveyed her and House's work.
The room was crowded at best, with a yellow and white crib with matching changing table, rocking chair, and swing joining the bed, nightstands, and dresser that had previously populated the room.
This was only the tip of the iceberg. Cameron had several more boxes of baby items packed away in the closet and every other nook and cranny in the apartment.
"I always thought you'd pick pink," House said, observing the room.
Cameron smiled deviously. "I bought the piano in pink."
"You didn't," House stated in wide-eyed horror.
"I did," she said, grinning widely.
"What if you have a boy someday and he wants to play, but you and your stupid pink piano keep him from it and he never becomes a great pianist?" House argued.
Cameron raised an eyebrow. "I'm a single mom, I think one kid's enough for me."
House had never really thought of it that way—he was here, wasn't he? He shrugged. "Fine, keep your pink piano, see if I care."
Cameron laughed. "You want it for yourself, don't you?"
House glared at her. "Hey, I can think about people other than myself! I do things for you and Grace all the time!"
Cameron had looked as if she was about to laugh, but at the last few words her expression changed.
Hose gave her an odd look.
"It's nothing, really," Cameron said softly. "But I've decided on a different name."
House raised an eyebrow. They'd already been calling the kid Grace for a while.
Cameron explained, "After the other night, when you played that piece…" Cameron paused with tears in her eyes. "I decided I want to name her after Mom."
"And what was her name?" House asked curiously.
"Eleanor." She said in a whisper.
House nodded silently, and suddenly Cameron's arms were wrapped around his neck. "Thank you," she added tearfully.
"For what?" House said in confusion.
"Not letting me forget Mom."
-
Days passed uneventfully, with only the steady growth of Cameron's belly to distinguish the date. She crossed days off her calendar, counting down to the arrival of Eleanor Cameron.
Things went smoothly, almost too smoothly for a while.
-
House opened the door to the apartment, revealing Cameron sitting on the couch, one hand on her seven-month belly and the other working away on her laptop. She didn't look up as he entered, so he walked up behind her to see what she was doing.
"What are you looking at apartment listings for?" he asked.
She looked up finally, giving him that brilliant smile that melted his insides, and pushed her reading glasses up her nose. "We never really talked about it, but I'm sure you're itching to get this place back to yourself. I'm looking for somewhere to move into soon after the baby is born. It's far too crowded in here already, and I've only unpacked the newborn supplies."
House felt like he had been punched in the stomach, but Cameron went back to work, oblivious. He hadn't thought much about the end of all this, about her leaving. He looked around. He really did not want to face this apartment alone every night again.
He stomped off to the kitchen angrily. Angry at what, he couldn't quite decide. Angry at her for leaving him. Angry at himself for caring about her leaving. Angry that he was put in this situation at all.
He banged around in the cabinets, searching for a glass for his scotch. He needed a drink tonight.
"What's going on?" Cameron asked confusedly from the doorway. House jumped in surprise.
"Jesus, woman! Don't sneak up on me like that!" he shouted.
"I'm sorry," she responded, bewildered, and padded over to the kitchen table where she sat down to observe him.
He slammed some more cabinet doors. "Damn it, why do you move all my things around?"
She got up quickly for a woman in her state and pulled a glass out of the cupboard and handed it to him. He slammed it down on the counter and went to find his bottle of scotch.
"What's gotten into you tonight?" Cameron asked.
He slammed the liquor cabinet. "Nothing," he answered, a bald faced lie.
Cameron raised her eyebrows. "Doesn't seem like nothing… you're a little loud."
"And you're a little annoying!" he countered angrily.
Her eyes filled with tears and House rolled his eyes skyward. Damn pregnant hormones always making him feel like an ass.
"Look, I didn't mean it," he qualified.
She just shook her head at him and ran to her bedroom. His eyes followed her down the hallway to the door, which she unceremoniously slammed behind her.
Great. He'd done it again. Could things get any worse? She was planning moving out in a few months and now she hated him. Just great.
He took his glass of scotch and set it on the piano. He sat down on the bench and stared at the glass. It really wasn't looking too appealing at the moment, but he took a swig anyway before beginning to play to clear his head. He stuck with pieces only in minor keys, beginning with a couple Chopin nocturnes and ending with Greensleeves.
He didn't know how much time had passed, but he saw her enter the room quietly out of the corner of his eye. He kept playing. He wasn't ready to face her yet.
Eventually the music stopped, and all was quiet. House broke the silence, still facing the piano keys. "You going to talk or just sit there?" he asked.
"I wanted to listen. I was trying not to annoy you," she answered quietly.
He winced at hearing his words thrown back at him.
Before he had a chance to process his thoughts she spoke again. "I can move out sooner, you know, if you want. You don't need to feel responsible."
"No," he said sternly, turning to face her. "You shouldn't be alone during this."
Cameron sighed. "I have other people to stay with."
"But I'm a doctor," House countered.
"I have other doctor friends," she said with a faint smile.
"Fine, then, go," House said angrily, turning back to the piano.
Cameron looked at him in exasperation. Would she ever really understand this man?
She got up and headed towards the piano to stand in front of him. "I don't get it," she vented. "You act like you're sick of me being here and want me to move out, then when I offer, you get mad at me? Please explain this to me! I'm too tired to argue anymore," she continued passionately.
"Look," he said, staring at her in annoyance and frustration. "I wasn't mad because I wanted you to leave. Hell, I only said you were annoying cause I was mad, and you take my words and throw them back in my face like I meant it."
"Then what the hell was wrong?" she asked in an exasperated tone. She stared back at him with tired, frustrated eyes, waiting for him to explain.
House sighed, running a hand across his face. She was going to make him say it. "Fine. I didn't want you to leave. I like you. I like having you here! Happy now?"
He stormed off to his bedroom, not forgetting to pick up his glass of scotch on the way. It was looking more enticing by the second. Cameron stared after him in shock. Did he just say what she thought he'd said?
-
