A/N: Wrote this for a challenge at livejournal and forgot all about it until now. The challenge was "autumn." This is fluffity fluff, so if that's not your thing, give it a pass. Many thanks to jesmel for beta reading.
Equinox
Just as she was arranging the corn stalks and pumpkins in a pleasing way in the center of the conference table, House strode in and stopped abruptly.
"Seriously?" he said, grimacing at the sight on the table.
"I... thought it would be cheering," she said, "with the weather the way it's been and..."
"Yeah yeah yeah, I'm all twitterpated with Autumn glee now," he grumped. And with that, he snatched one of the pumpkins off the table and shut himself in his office.
The next morning she arrived early and did her own abrupt stop at the sight on the table. There in the center were the pumpkins- her pumpkins- four squat round ones surrounding a taller thin one, but now each was carved with a silhouette. The Chase pumpkin had... well she could only describe it as a stupid look on its face and corn silk arranged on the top of it in a blond coif that made it instantly recognizable.
The next pumpkin had a look of superior exasperation that was trademark Foreman, his thumb and forefinger cupping his chin. She was astonished at how closely they resembled their human counterparts. Beside Foreman was Wilson, complete with ugly tie and pocket protector and beside Wilson was a... well, a witch with cleavage and curly dark hair made out of corn stalks that were blackened with... something, possibly the whiteboard marker.
In the middle of the four was the taller, thinner pumpkin, carved with a scowl, a long exaggerated chin, a day's worth of stubble and a cane.
Cameron couldn't move. She just stared, mouth agape, taking in all the details and then she released a huff of laughter when she noticed the cane on House's pumpkin had little flames.
"You were right," he said, entering the room just behind her. "Decorating is fun. Who knew?"
"I can't believe you did this. It's amazing. But... where's me?"
He moved to his office and she thought he was going to ignore her altogether, but instead he gestured for her to follow.
"Couldn't do you justice," he said. "This will have to do." He opened his desk drawer and pulled out the last pumpkin and passed it to her, glancing away as if suddenly fascinated with the blinds.
On the pumpkin was carved an elaborate heart, with the initials H & C intricately interconnected inside it. Her own heart constricted with such joy, she had to blink back tears.
"You don't have to share that with the rest of the class," he muttered, shifting his weight from one leg to the other, and gazing at her briefly.
"I... won't," she said, smiling. "It's beautiful. Thank you." And then she stepped forward and kissed him, which he seemed to welcome given the enthusiastic way he clutched her to him and returned her kissed.
They disentangled just as they heard Chase and Foreman enter the conference room and she tucked her pumpkin back in his drawer for safe keeping.
"Better get to work," she said with a happy sigh. "Maybe we can continue this... discussion later."
"Yup," he said, grinning back and touching his lips with his fingers. As she left the room, he called after her, his voice loud and comical and happy, she noted.
"Wait'll you see what I do for Winter Solstice."
A/N 2: Anyone waiting for the conclusion of Come to my Window will be happy to know it has been sent off to my beta reader, and I should have it posted it within a few days. Thanks for your patience.