A/N Hey lookie here… I’m not dead! So this snapshot takes place about 9 months into their relationship….

The one in which House has no say…

“House, what’s up with you tonight?” Cameron asked plopping down on the couch next to her boyfriend.

House had been suspiciously withdrawn all night and she couldn’t figure out why. They didn’t have a patient, and as far as she knew they weren’t near any of the anniversaries of the bad things that had happened in his life. He had been uncommonly quiet since the day prior and Cameron had spent the time since then wracking her brain for possible reasons and she had finally given up and decided to simply ask.

“Cameron,” House said solemnly, looking her in the eye, “I don’t think we should do this anymore.”

“Do what?” she asked curiously.

“This,” he said waving a hand between the two of them, “us, you and me.”

Cameron jaw dropped in utter and complete shock and House had to avert his eyes from her widened ones, as he found himself unable to watch the hurt in her face as he knowingly blind-sided her. She was silent for a long moment and House was about to speak when she beat him to it.

“Why.”

By definition it was a question, but the cold frankness of her tone made it more of a demand. Having expected a different kind of reaction, House looked back up at her and was surprised to see her looking straight in front of her, her face devoid of emotion of any kind.

“Cameron… Allison,” he sighed using her rarely used first name, “you can’t honestly believe that this can continue like this. It’s been fun and all, but it can’t possibly last.” House paused and Cameron turned to look at him with cold hard eyes that compelled him to babble in a way he didn’t think possible. “I mean, neither of us planned on this for the long term. Honestly, why would you possibly want to be attached to a crippled, cranky, Vicodin addicted old man? You should be with someone who actually likes people as much as you do and--”

And that was when Cameron started to laugh. And it wasn’t an ironic ’I can’t believe this is happening’ laugh, but a deep belly laugh that only came from real and true amusement. House couldn’t do anything but stare at her with wide eyes wondering he had finally driven her around the bend as her reaction made no sense whatsoever.

“Oh… Oh god…” Cameron gasped several minutes later as she attempted to catch her breath while she wiped the tears of mirth from her eyes. “That’s a good one House, you had me going there for a minute.”

“Cameron, I wasn’t kidding,” he stated at a loss. “I’m breaking up with you.”

“No you’re not,” she replied simply.

“Yes, I am?” he repeated, less confidently this time.

“No, you’re not,” she reiterated firmly. “I’m not allowing it.”

“What do you mean, your not allowing it?” he asked regaining his confidence in his decision. “I’m breaking up with you, you don’t have a choice in the matter, it’s a unilateral decision.”

“And that’s where you’re wrong. And if you think I’m that easy to get rid of you’ve got another think coming, because I’m not going anywhere,” she told him casually. “Now I’m going to go into the kitchen and pour myself a diet coke and get you a beer. Then I’m going to come back and we’re going to sit down and watch the episode of Dirty Jobs you TiVo’ed and you’re going to forget any ridiculous notions you have that you actually have the ability to break up with me because you have a moment of insecurity in thinking that it would be a good idea to get rid of me before I can leave. Got it?”

“Got it,” House replied taken aback by her proclamation.

“Okay,” she said with a smile and a nod, before heading into the kitchen.

“Okay,” he parroted a little dazed.

“So,” Cameron asked after she handed him his beer and inserted herself next to him on the couch leaning against him and putting his arm around her shoulders, “did I pass?”

House, who had not even realized that he was in fact testing her until she pointed it out, let out a barking laugh, kissed her temple and without saying a word, hit play on the TiVo.

A/N I know its not a lot but it helped me flex my writing muscles which are more than a little rusty… so let me know what you thought!