Hi guys! A few days ago I stumbled into this tumblr post (p0ck3tf0x dot tumblr dot com /post/98502010026, called 100 Ways to Say I Love You). As I read it, I - like I usually do - pictured House and Cuddy and figured that hey, that could definitely work as a fanfic.
So I decided to write roughly one hundred drabbles, one for each way to say I love you. Roughly, since I may slip one or two or three ways in the same drabble or not write about some of them. That is yet to be decided.
Each drabble will be independent from the others, and will take place at different times in House and Cuddy's history : could be medical school, could be season one, could be season seven, could be no season in particular, could be one precise moment.
I've always wanted to write tiny fics depicting House and Cuddy doing sweet things for each other in their relationship, especially domestic fluff, as it's often been done in fanfictions, but always lacked the inspiration. And it seems that I have it now.
This will also allow me to exercise my writing muscle, as I haven't written anything since - at best, but I'm not sure - last December and finally, finally, work on From The Cradle To The Grave and get it done once and for all!
This story (or stories) is a work in progress, but I'm hoping to write at least one every day - which is the whole point of exercising my writing muscle, right?
Do let me know what you think if you read this fic. It's been a long, long time since I've heard from you guys :)
One Hundred Ways To Say I Love You
1. Pull over. Let me drive for a while.
(Season seven)
"Why did we have dinner at your sister's again?" House asked as he slid into the passenger's seat.
"Because she invited us and she wanted to get to know you better," Cuddy replied monotonously as she turned on the ignition.
"Once more with feeling."
She sighed. "Because I thought Rachel should spend the weekend with her cousins. Whom she barely ever sees, by the way."
"Nice cousins." She pulled out of the driveway. "Except for that one who spilled grape juice on your blouse."
She glanced down at her grey top. "It's fine, most of it's gone anyway. I can probably save it."
"And the other two who threw a tantrum every ten minutes. What was that all about actually?" She shrugged. "With your sister being a stay-at-home mom, you'd figure she'd have more control over her kids."
"So you did listen to what she was telling you over dinner!"
He snorted. "I wasn't, she just mentioned it once or twice. Or twelve times. Insisting on just how fulfilled she was while staring at you."
"Besides, you can't blame her. She has three kids!"
"Well, if you can't manage kids, don't make them."
The light went green. "Oh come on," Cuddy muttered as the car in front of them wouldn't budge.
"Is she always like this with you?"
"Yeah well, you should see her when Mom's here. When will you finally find a husband? Rachel needs a daddy. How much time do you actually spend with her anyway? Jesus," she scoffed. "I wish I'd had a drink."
"I'll remember to sneak a flask in next time."
"Make sure Jules doesn't find it, or else she'll take the car keys and make us spend the night."
"I bet this 'don't drink and drive' charade is from the last time she had guests for dinner, and they were so bored they drunk themselves unconscious."
She smirked. They slipped into a comfortable, tired silence. Cuddy rubbed her neck, occasionally glanced at the backseat through the rear-view mirror.
"She'll be fine," House told her.
"Yeah." She smiled. "I'm just not used to the car being so quiet. Or the house, for that matter."
"Trust me, we'll make plenty of noise," he assured her with a wink. She smiled faintly but did not indulge him. "Pull over," he told her. She opened her mouth to protest. "Let me drive for a while."
She did as she was told without a word. They switched seats and House pulled back into a traffic. As they drove, Cuddy's restlessness ebbed away and her eyelids closed on their own volition – just as he'd predicted.
"I used to wish I had as many kids as Julia," she eventually sighed as she wrapped her coat around herself. "But I'm glad it's just Rachel and me. I may not be a housewife or a soccer mom like my sister, but I'm doing my best. It's all that matters."
"Good kid."
"Yeah. She doesn't even like grape juice. I think I'm doing it right." They chuckled. He took her hand, placed it on his knee and gave it a gentle squeeze.
I also have a tumblr now! youreorangeyoumoron dot tumblr dot com. Next drabble will be published in a few days. Thank you for reading :)
