Chapter 19

A/N: Thanks for all the feedback, everyone! It's good to be back. :)

Disclaimer: I know nothing! I mean, I OWN nothing.

Fall quickly melted into winter as the weeks passed by, and Princeton was soon covered in a blanket of soft white snow. The winters were cold here, colder than they'd been in Harrisburg. It was sweater weather, and House's ancient car was having trouble starting. I'd been stowing money away whenever I didn't give my money directly to House or throw it into the grocery budget, and I thought a new car wouldn't be a bad idea in the future.

Christmas time came over night. I woke up one morning, and while riding with House to the hospital, I saw that the city, campus, and hospital had all been decked out thoroughly in evergreen wreaths and Christmas lights. It made me smile; I'd always loved Christmas. However, it put a frown on House's face. I knew he wasn't much into holidays. After all, House was a 'down with religion' kind of guy. Predictably, religious holidays wouldn't be his forte.

Naturally, this presented a problem, as I wanted to deck the halls. Specifically, the halls of the apartment. But I'd learned from Kutner's misstep in It's a Wonderful Lie that House was not a fan of Christmas decorations in his general proximity. However, I did pick up one of those cute little one foot tall Christmas trees and stand it up on the coffee table, somewhat defiantly.

When House came home from work that day, his eyes immediately went to it, then scanned over the rest of the apartment, as if expecting there to be more. He seemed surprised when there wasn't. "Christmas trees? I thought you prided yourself on knowing what annoys me."

"If I had my way, everything in here would be covered in red and green. I think my restraint is admirable," I commented offhandedly, tapping away on the computer, as I was currently working on one of my classes.

"That's not the word I would choose," House said, making his way into the living room and letting the door close behind him. He leaned his cane against the sofa before picking up the miniature tree and promptly depositing it in the trash can with a loud thud. He retrieved his cane and looked at me pointedly. I glared back, lips pursed.

"You are such a killjoy," I grumbled. "I don't care what you say, I'm still getting you a Christmas present."

House shrugged indifferently. "I've never been one to complain about free crap, even if it's an outdated pagan gift-giving ritual adopted to suit corporate America using the facade of being a Christian holiday, which in and of itself is a farce since-"

I held up a hand. "Please. You haven't given me a night off from the anti-Christian sentiments since it started snowing."

"And you expect me to now?"

"Not really, but it'd be nice," I responded. House snorted, making his way to the kitchen to get himself a beer. He'd run out of scotch and had so far hadn't gone to the store to get more. I was privately hoping that my plan to try to break House's alcohol habit before it worsened was working.

"I thought you'd be used to it by now," House called from the kitchen. "And you're going to have to join me in my Christmas ritual, this year."

"You mean getting drunk out of your mind and watching It's a Wonderful Life with or without Wilson, depending?" I questioned.

"Yep. Remember to get eggnog when you go to the store."

"Absolutely," I agreed. "Nonalcoholic eggnog."

House groaned, and I laughed. Between Wilson and myself, House would never be able to have any fun.

The week proceeding Christmas was a busy one. On the 22nd of December, House and the team moved onto the next episode, Damned If You Do, one of my personal favorites, even though the irony level had been cranked up to almost intolerable levels after "Chase" had aired. Chase looked at me weird all that day, because I burst out laughing when he said that he hated nuns. Oops.

My Christmas vacation had begun for school, and my boss at the coffee shop, Ms. Fiely, had given me the next week off of work, since the coffee shop wasn't open during the brunt of the Christmas holiday. So, I would be spending a lot of time at PPTH to avoid the boredom of being alone in the apartment.

I still played for the kids in pediatrics when I was at the hospital sometimes, to give Jon, the guy who usually played, a break. When I'd finished up one day, Brandy pulled me aside and asked if I wanted to volunteer to help wrap presents for the long-term kids as a kind of Santa's workshop deal on Christmas Eve. They had a few volunteers from a church group, but they were running low. As far as I knew, House and co. would be in the hospital keeping Sister Augustine from biting it, so I happily agreed.

On Christmas Eve, I found myself in the nurse's lounge of the pediatrics department, wrapping present after present with other kids my age as cheesy Christmas music played merrily in the background. Itwas weird being around teenagers, and that in and of itself was odd. I guess I'd just gotten used to being around adults.

As Christmas day approached, my feelings towards the holiday were starting to become bittersweet. I'd never spent Christmas without my mom, dad, and brother. Christmas was an important holiday for the Carharts, and celebrating without them, that was going to be hard. Really hard. I promised myself already that I wouldn't cry tomorrow.

"Done wrapping those, Anya?" Brandy asked me, interrupting me from my thoughts.

"Yep," I nodded to the pile of glistening presents beside me. "Wrapped and ready to roll. How many more do we have?" I inquired, brushing some sparkles off of my red blouse. I suddenly had a much stronger respect for what my mom and dad did every Christmas. Wrapping toys was a hell of a lot more difficult than it appeared.

"Only a few more," she told me with a small smile. Brandy handed me a small bag - a few toy trucks, and then a Barbie doll.

"Alright, I'll have them done before Santa gets here," I assured her as I set about enfolding the Barbie doll (Doctor Barbie - shocker) in shiny green wrapping paper. Surrounded by the other volunteers and the gentle thrum of the hospital, along with the scent of pine and the Christmas lights everywhere, I was definitely in the spirit.

I began humming "Jingle Bell Rock" as I continued my work, and I wondered curiously when House was going to find the cure for Sister Augustine. He should be close, by now, since he had already ordered the full body scan. As soon as Chase, Cameron, and Foreman completed that, they'd see the IUD, and House would put one and two together about the copper allergy.

As if my thoughts had summoned him, I heard the telltale sound of a cane hitting linoleum. "So, you're one of Santa's elves. Certainly explains the height."

"Ooh, a short joke. Right in the self esteem," I replied, smirking. "You get your diagnosis?"

"Obviously, or I wouldn't be down here watching you play your part in the cult-ritual-turned-commercial-farce that is Christmas."

"Thank you for that dash of cold water," I commented as I placed a red bow on the top of the now wrapped Barbie.

"Sorry, left my Christmas cheer at the store," he snarked, sitting down in the vacant chair next to me, bright blue eyes sweeping over the volunteer wrapping station. "You ready to go, or are you going to help make cookies and saddle up the reindeer too?"

I raised an eyebrow at him as I snatched one of the toy trucks up. I motioned to the other one. "If you wrap that one, we'll be out of here in about two minutes."

He stared at me. "Are you serious?" I had to suppress a grin at that. Yes, House wrapping presents would be incredibly out of character for him, which is why the idea of him doing so was absolutely comical.

"Come on, haven't you ever wrapped a present before?" I asked, grabbing a new roll of pale blue paper. House eyed my newly wrapped Barbie doll.

"I have, but apparently you haven't. That resembles a tumor more closely than a doll," he pointed out, but he still took the remaining truck and turned it in his hand, before sighing and reaching for some wrapping paper.

Okay, I couldn't hide a smile that time.

A minute later, three presents sat in front of us, two of them rather lumpy and poorly wrapped (my own) and one handsome, neat package courtesy of House. I never expected House to be good at gift wrapping, of all things. Of course, was there really anything he was bad at, other than expressing his emotions and adhering to societal norms?

"Done. Now come on, we've got to go get the Oncologist Boy Wonder," House said, standing up with a wince, his hand flying to his thigh.

"You okay?" I asked, even though I knew it was pointless to do so.

"Peachy," he grunted, heading off in the direction of the elevator, of course expecting me to follow him. I sighed, standing up and stretching.

"Thanks so much for all your help," Brandy said, scooping up the presents. "I hope you and your father have a good Christmas." You and your father.

"You too," I replied, trying to smile as her last sentiment rang through my head. I turned on my heel and trotted after House, who had already gained a considerable lead on me. "So Wilson's coming over? What about his wife?"

"In his words, 'she's used to being alone,'" was House's response, and I frowned slightly, remembering when Wilson said that in the episode.

"So he's going to leave his wife alone on Christmas Eve? Why don't we go over there instead?" I proposed. I hadn't even met Julie, and for some reason that was beyond me, her name had only been mentioned once or twice in the entirety of the series and she was never shown, but I still felt bad for her.

Wilson was a good guy, but he seemed to be a pretty crappy husband, and that fact was even more painfully obvious in person than it had been on TV.

"Oh, he offered. But Julie hates me, I hate Julie - it's a mutual hate/hate relationship. Trust me, she'll be happier spending Christmas alone," he told me, but I still felt uneasy about the situation. No one should be alone on Christmas.

We stepped into the first floor elevator, and House hit the button for the third floor. A brief ride later, and we were a few steps away from Wilson's office. House unceremoniously banged on the door with his cane.

"Hold on!" Wilson called from behind the thick door. A second later, the oncologist appeared in front of them, briefcase tucked under on arm, and coat slung over the other. "Ready to head out?" he asked, directing the question at both of us.

"Let's roll."

I finally broke down, and on the drive over to the apartment, I gave House my blessing to pick up some real eggnog ("I'm not going to get it if I have to listen to you bitch for a week about it!") and picked up a large pizza as well. We then arrived back at Baker Street, and Wilson was already there waiting for us.

Once inside, I turned on the lights of the little Christmas tree I had bought earlier in the week, which I had pulled out of the trash can after House had disposed of it, and we all settled on the couch. We were all in a good mood. House had cured a patient, so he was riding his natural high from that, Wilson wasn't with his wife, and I was with House and Wilson, something that almost never failed to make me smile.

We popped in "It's a Wonderful Life" and enjoyed ourselves. I drank my non-alcoholic eggnog that we'd already had in the house, ate pizza, and listened to House and Wilson's running commentary on the movie. When it finished around eleven o'clock, I decided it was time to bring out my surprise.

It was stupid, but... eh. I thought House deserved a Christmas present. And Wilson too. So, I'd gone Christmas shopping for the two of them a few days ago. I cleared my throat as the ending credits played.

"Guys," I said. House and Wilson both turned to look at me. Both were sufficiently drunk at this point, which was all the better for me, since it would probably make it less likely that House would make fun of me.

"Yeah?" Wilson replied. I wide smile broke out on my face, in spite of myself.

"I have presents." In response, Wilson tilted his head, and House arched an eyebrow. Before either of them could say anything, I went to my little dresser behind the couch. In the bottom drawer were House and Wilson's gifts. I brought them out and handed them to the two doctors, who both looked at their presents curiously.

House, without further ado, tore his open. He whistled appreciatively. "A 1973 original Elvis Sun recording." He looked surprised. "This is actually cool."

I felt my heart lift a bit. Okay, I'd kind of cheated and gotten him the same Thirteen had bought him for Christmas in season four, but still. I knew that he would like it, so it seemed like a safe bet.

Wilson proceeded to unwrap his present. Upon doing so, his cheeks flushed bright red. I suppressed a giggle. "I forgot," Wilson said with a stilted laugh. "You know everything about me."

"If he got porn, I'm going to be jack-pissed," House commented, leaning forward to try to see what I got Wilson. He quickly shielded it from view, hiding it behind one of the pillows on the sofa. House carefully set down his record on the coffee table before diving at Wilson in an attempt to see what he was holding. The two drunken doctors quickly fell into a haphazard wrestling match, which couldn't have been doing any favors for House's leg.

I finally lost it. I burst out laughing and sagged into the armchair, watching House and Wilson scramble on the couch. House eventually kicked Wilson hard enough in the shin that he managed to get a hold of the present, and he joined in my laughter.

"A Chorus Line?" House burst out, falling back onto his side of the couch with an actual, genuine chuckle, one of the few I'd ever heard from him. "Are you shitting me?"

Wilson blushed furiously, tucking the DVD in his bag, which sat nearby. "Thank you, Anya," he muttered. "I love it."

"I know," I replied with a smile. "Oh, I know. Season six, episode ten, 'The Down Low'."

Wilson snorted slightly, taking another sip of his eggnog. "I'm sorry I didn't get you anything."

"Uh, Wilson, I'm spending Christmas Eve with my two favorite characters," I responded with a smile. "You guys are my present."

"Sorry I forgot to wrap him," House said, before taking the bow that had been on his record and sticking it to Wilson's forehead. "There. Problem solved." He downed what must have been his eighth drink that night before flopping his head against the back of the couch. Wilson took the bow that he'd removed from his DVD and smacked it onto House's face. House glared at Wilson. Wilson stuck his tongue out at him.

The rest of the evening was spent talking about everything and nothing at the same time, until House eventually was so thoroughly intoxicated that he was singing old Christmas carols at the top of his lungs, with Wilson singing along drunkenly. Even wasted, House had a good voice. I cheerily joined in, though I decided that it was high time to cut off the boys, or else they'd be so hung over tomorrow they wouldn't be able to function.

A few hours I later, I found myself the only sober and awake person left in the apartment. I grabbed a blanket from the hall closet and settled down in the arm chair at two o'clock that morning. House and Wilson were passed out on the couch, Wilson's head resting on House's shoulder and House's cheek pressed against the top of Wilson's head. They were adorable. I settled in, turning off the living room light and saying my prayers quietly to myself, along with a 'merry Christmas' to my family, wherever they were, before closing my eyes.

It was, undoubtedly, the oddest Christmas Eve of my entire life. But that wasn't to say it was bad. No... it wasn't bad at all. I'd even venture to say that it was good.