A/N: I must thank Wheretobe and her story "Little Monster" for being my muse. It's been a while since I wrote any fanfiction. It's also been a while since I wrote in English. I apologize for the grammar mistakes.

Disclaimer: Sadly, not mine.

Summary: HUDDY. One-Shot. Cuddy wakes up alone. House is no longer by her side.

In the middle of the night

By Isabelle S.

You do not know what woke you up, but there you are alone in bed. The cream comforter is tossed towards you and the linens are getting cool. Your bedroom's dark. You are confused. Something is missing. Someone is missing. Your mind jumps a few hours back in time. You remember fighting. Harsh words, spoken earlier that evening, suddenly haunt you. Your shame grips at your heart. Your grief stings your eyes. You bite your lower lip as you try to shut in a wail of frustration. What happened last night took place a million times before. Or did it?

You feel your facial features relax and your lips smoothly curve into a smile. Last night ended differently. Last night, you took him to bed with you. Last night you both made love to each other. He might kid you around later that it was just sex, amazing sex, but you know it was far more than that. You have no doubt that his heart was in it for you.

Your smile slips away as your throat tightens. Your mind fails to understand why he left you in the middle of the night. How could you sleep as he got dress and limped out of the room? Was the sound of the front door closing behind him what had awakened you? Too many questions to which your dread the answers.

You reach the bedside lamp and flick on the light. You slowly sit by the side of the mattress as you look for your bathrobe. All you see is a trail of clothes discarded on the floor. Some are yours and some are his. Your momentary confusion turns into hope – hope to which you do not want to hold on to too tightly for fear of being disappointed.

You rise to your feet. You quietly make your way through the hallway. A soft light coming from the living room illuminates part of it. Your hope becomes anticipation. You take a deep breath as you come to the room's threshold. The sight before you steals your next breath away. You had expected an empty room. You had expected him watching TV or helping himself though the liquor cabinet. You had not expected to find him in pain.

Sorrow, guilt, understanding, and love hit you all at one. You sigh. You should have known, you chid yourself. Your latest argument with him finally finds its meaning. Gregory House is like a wounded animal who will try to prevent further injuries to himself by biting you first. Once he has pushed you away, he will lick his wounds in private. You realize, not for the first time, that the man painfully pacing across your living room is a lot like you. He is just as fragile as he is strong.

Mindful of not getting bit by a snarky remark, you quietly slip onto his path. He turns around and suddenly finds you there. He is visually taken aback by your presence. He was so caught up in his pain that he did not hear you. Your heart aches to see him so tense. Instinctively, you reach for his face and pull him into a deep kiss.

You're a both surprise by the boldness of your gesture, at first. Then, your become a bit worried by the fact thatGregory House is not responding to a kiss. You hold on and finally feel him melt into your embrace. You both relax and slowly part from each other. Your eyes tear up as he looks down at you completely unguarded.

"I'm scare, Cuddy," he admits just above a whisper.

You know how he feels, but tonight you decide to be the strong one. You pull him back into your embrace. You smile as your rest your head on his shoulder. Eventually, you lead him back to your bedroom.

The End.

A/N: Hope you liked it.

March 2008