DISCLAIMER: I love Huddy (and Wilson), but I did not invent them. David Shore did.

CHAPTER 1

The alarm went off too early. House and Cuddy had gotten in very late from their Vegas trip, but had to get back to work that day. House hit the alarm clock and rolled over against Cuddy's body. She was warm and smelled good and he didn't see any reason to rush out of bed. He just buried his face in her hair and slowly ran his hand along her body.

"You always do this," Cuddy mumbled.

"Hmm?" House murmured, still half asleep.

"You make it a hundred times more difficult to get out of bed," she told him.

"Then don't," he said, pulling her closer. She could feel him "waking up" behind her and was tempted to follow his suggestion. He kissed her shoulder and convinced her a little more. His hand skated across her belly and sealed the deal. She turned her head and rolled over to look at him. They kissed softly, and then the kisses turned more intense. House's hand moved to her ass and pulled her against him. He kissed her chin. Then…

"Mama?" came over the monitor. "Mama?" again. Cuddy sighed. Many times they would still manage a quickie when this happened, but Cuddy hadn't seen Rachel in almost a week, their flight getting in so late the night before.

"Go get your girl," House told her. "I've hogged you all week." Cuddy smiled and got up, excited to scoop Rachel up. "I'll make coffee," House said, pulling on some underwear and pants and shuffling to the kitchen.

"Hi, my baby!" House was in the kitchen and heard Cuddy down the hall.

"Mama!" Rachel shouted. He heard the rustling of Cuddy getting her out of the crib and Rachel just murmuring "Mama. Mama," as she cuddled Cuddy. They came into the kitchen and Rachel looked around. "H-ows," she declared.

House looked at her. "Hey," he replied. Rachel cracked up.

"She's such an easy audience," he observed, pouring two cups of coffee and scanning the cereals.

"Ugh, I don't want to go back to work!" Cuddy declared, flopping into a kitchen chair and cuddling Rachel. House poured a sippy cup of milk and handed that and a cup of coffee to Cuddy.

"Post-vacation blues," he noted. "Don't worry, by lunch you'll have forgotten how taking a break even felt." Cuddy wrinkled her nose, hating that idea. "Hope Wilson's been okay dealing with Bauer."

"He would have called you if something happened, don't you think?" Cuddy asked.

"Hard to say. He probably would make a pro/con chart about whether or not to bother us," he hypothesized. Cuddy laughed and nodded.

"You wanna shower first or second?" she asked.

"I want to shower simultaneously," he replied.

"I know, but we have this small child that needs breakfast," she explained.

House looked at Rachel with a fake scowl. "Buzzkill," he said to her.

"H-ows!" she yelled, laughing.

"You go first," he said. "I can pour Cheerios."

Cuddy put Rachel in her high chair and kissed House on the cheek before padding off to shower. House sipped his coffee and stared at Rachel. "Miss me?" he asked.

"H-ows!" she yelled, cracking up.