A/N: Hello my lovely readers.

Huge thanks to those who read and reviewed since the last time, you guys have absolutely made my day. I was going to post on Christmas Eve, but of course I simply didn't have any time. In my country Christmas Eve is the main day, we have a huge Christmas dinner, and open our presents, as well as we go to church. Instead I decided to post these today.

I hope you all have had a very merry Christmas, and I thank you all for reading these little stories.

I will post one more chapter just to make up for not posting on Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day, that one will be up before new year's eve.

VIII

Candy Caned

The annual PPTH Christmas gala was the event of the year. To House it was a bothersome thing that seemed just as useless as any other social gathering, but he was forced to go.

As House picked up a drink from the tray one of the waiters presented to him, he thought of the terrible situation he was in. He felt incredibly uncomfortable. He just wanted to stay in his underwear and watch some crap TV, but instead he found himself in his tux, wearing a tie that felt uncomfortably tight around his neck, socializing with people he didn't even bother remembering the names of. These things were definitely not his cup of tea.

There was only one reason he was in this hell; Cuddy.

It wasn't that she had forced him into this or anything. In fact she had strongly encouraged him to stay home, and after some overthinking he realized that it was probably for the best. But when he sat on their bed and watched her get ready he had a terrible feeling in the pit of his stomach. It was a feeling he had never felt before in his life.

There he sat, in his boxers, and as in a heavy dream she had emerged from the bathroom in a glorious fiery red form-fitting gown that was tight in all the right places. She had turned around; her back exposed, and asked him to zip up. When he zipped up his hands touched her creamy skin, and at that moment he realized something. Someone else could have been in those steps. There could have been some preppy, lucky fellow who would be the one zipping up her dress, and not him.

This horrible feeling ran like poison through his veins. He felt this possession seize him, and he wanted everyone to know that she was his. So he had told her that he would be there, and much to his surprise she seemed happy about it.

The minute they stepped inside the room he regretted his decision. He kind of didn't care whether someone would flirt with her, because this hell was definitely not worth it.

Soon he found Wilson and together they stood by one of the Dorian columns and watched people pass by, enjoying themselves as best as they could.

Wilson had his eyes on the women who passed them, listening half-heartedly to House size them up.

"This one is nice." He pointed at a tall blonde by the bar.

"They aren't meat, they're people." House reminded him much to Wilson's surprise.

"Way too tall though." He added, which provoked a tired sigh from Wilson.

"You're just comparing them to Cuddy."

"So?"

"So, you're biased."

"I'm not biased, I'm just…"

"Happy?"

House grimaced disliking the sentimentality.

"House, just admit it. You're finally happy, enjoy it."

House shook his head, but froze when he spotted Cuddy at the other end of the room. She was talking to a man who leaned uncomfortably close to her. She didn't seem to give it much attention and continued to speak as if she didn't even notice that he was staring a little bit too openly at her cleavage.

House wasn't sure whether he should be angry or not. He knew that pursuing donors was a part of her job, but the surge to march over to her and drag her away had never been so strong.

Fortunately she stopped talking to the man. She received a glass of champagne, a candy cane propped on the rim of the glass.

She picked it up and glanced up, her head looking back and forth until her eyes landed on him.

She looked directly at him and smiled subtly when she saw that he was watching her. Her sultry eyes never left his as she put the champagne glass to her lips.

He watched her as she put the candy cane in her mouth. She twirled it in her mouth and pulled it slowly between her red lips. She winked at him when she saw that he was watching her.

He gulped, not even pretending to listen to Wilson who chatted on and on.

He watched her lips part slightly, the vibrant colors of the candy drowning into her mouth. She sucked on the striped candy, watching him endearingly.

"House."

"Yeah." He said without looking at Wilson.

"Are you even listening to me?"

"No."

"Then what are…oh."

He looked between House and Cuddy who gave each other lustful looks. It was as if they were the only people in the room

"You're a lovesick fool, do you know that?"

House tore his eyes from Cuddy and stared at Wilson questioningly.

"What? Did you say something?"

"You're unbelievable. Go to her."

"No can do."

"Why not?" Wilson asked in exasperation. House merely smirked and clapped him on the shoulder.

"What's the fun in that?"

Wilson groaned and followed House.

"What are you doing?"

House didn't even listen to him, and walked by the wall, while observing Cuddy. They disappeared momentarily behind a column, obscuring their sight to Cuddy. Once they walked past it Cuddy was gone.

"Where did she go?" Wilson asked House, but he too had disappeared.

It was as if they were dancing waltz, while one took a step forward the other took a step backwards.

He spotted Cuddy stop by the exit, her eyes boring into his before she disappeared through the door.

House walked subtly across the floor and to the exit.

Cuddy stood in the

He appeared behind her and grabbed her waist unexpectedly, and pinned her against the wall.

"You," he whispered huskily in her ear, "are such a tease."

"What on earth are you talking about?"

"You're little stunt…" He growled.

One fine eyebrow rose.

"My stunt?"

"That candy cane stunt."

"I just love candy canes." She purred into his ear, then kissed his lips passionately. They barely managed to stumble into the bathroom and lock the door behind them.

Thirty minutes later they walked into the ballroom, both unusually composed. Wilson walked over to them with his hands raised up in exasperation.

"Where have you been?"

"I don't know what you are talking about, we've been here." Cuddy said calmly, and surely. Wilson looked at House who couldn't quite hide his smirk.

"You…" Wilson pointed his finger up, but stopped mid sentence. "You know what? I don't want to know, but people have been looking for you Cuddy."

"Who?"

"That donor you've been talking to all night."

Cuddy squeezed House's hand and excused herself.

House and Wilson watched her walk away.

"Do you want to know what we were doing?"

"No."

"Fine."

House picked up a champagne glass and put a candy cane in his mouth. Cuddy chose that exact moment to look at him. He winked at her, and twirled the cane in his mouth.

Wilson merely shook his head and muttered something under his breath. It went completely unnoticed to House, his eyes on Cuddy.

IX

Jingle Bell Rock

'Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock.'

The music played in the speakers in the hospital's cafeteria. House and Cuddy sat and ate their lunch.

"God, I hate that song." House muttered.

"Why?" Cuddy asked between bites.

"Because it sucks. I mean, what's the point of it? It's the same thing for about two minutes…why would anyone bother composing something like that?"

Cuddy chuckled, shaking her head.

"You're unbelievable."

"Why?"

She moved her salad around with her fork as she thought.

"I don't know. I guess this is just typical you."

House merely looked at her suspiciously.

The next day House and Cuddy picked Rachel up at her grandma's house.

In the car Rachel suddenly started to sing.

"Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock. Jingle bells swing and…"

"Rachel, will you please stop singing that song?"

"Ok."

House turned his head back and looked at Rachel who sat happily in her seat. She kicked her legs back and forth, and played with her teddy bear.

Satisfied he turned his eyes to the road. Unfortunately Rachel started to sing the song again.

"Rachel." House warned her. She stopped for about ten seconds until he heard her soft humming of the song.

House bit the inside of his cheek to prevent himself from snapping.

"Cuddy, will you tell her to stop?" He said through gritted teeth.

"Why? She's just singing." Cuddy said disinterested, her head bent over her phone.

He tried, he really tried, but as he tried harder to ignore her the more it went on his nerves.

"Rachel." He finally snapped. Rachel stopped singing and gasped.

"House, what is the matter with you?"

"I just hate that goddamn song."

"Rachel, honey, please stop, or you'll drive House insane."

"But I like the song."

Cuddy glared at House.

"I know but you can sing it when he can't hear."

When they finally got home the atmosphere wasn't the best. Cuddy strode into the kitchen with the grocery bags and began to cook.

They stood in silence and chopped vegetables.

"I don't know why this song bothers you so much." She said irritated.

"Everyone has at least one Christmas song that they can't stand. This one is mine."

"Fine, fine, it's just so pointless."

Cuddy stood up and began to stir in the pot.

The radio station began to play Santa baby. Cuddy stopped stirring, and made a face.

"God I hate that song." Cuddy muttered, and turned off the radio.

House looked at her in exasperation, and raised his arms up, his mouth hanging open.

"You just said…this is so…eh, whatever." He sighed and shook his head tiredly. It was no use.

X

Christmas Lights

The snow twirled in the air, falling lazily on the earth. He sat by his piano, a pill bottle and a glass of scotch stood on the shiny white surface. A not so jolly tune flowed through the apartment, illustrating the feelings within.

Something was missing from his life, something monumental he couldn't quite place. He looked outside the window, at the falling snow and continued to play.

How many Christmases had he spent alone? How many times had he drowned his misery in pills and booze, just to make his miserable life even worse?

He had come far in convincing himself that this was the life he wanted to live, that he was better off alone. But no matter hard he tried to convince himself, there was always a part of him that had its doubts.

Those doubts became worse during this time of year. No matter how hard he resisted against the old cliché that Christmas was a time with the family. How could one day change anything? Yet it did. He couldn't change that, even though he would try.

Christmas was by far the worst time of the year. That one night he wallowed in his own misery and thought of all the things he didn't have. He had never wanted little brats or a devoted wife, but the thought of having someone in his life other than Wilson and his mom, that was something he silently wished for. Stacy had been his last stable relationship, and for a while he believed that she was the one. But now she was gone, and much to his surprise he didn't long for her presence on these cold lonely nights. He longed for someone he couldn't have. She was the forbidden fruit that was always in his grasp but never his.

She was probably now surrounded by family, and him. That bastard kept rubbing it in his face that she was his and his alone. Always giving him arrogant looks telling him silently that he was the one who got his woman, and he was never going to let her go. House couldn't blame him; she was the woman he would never let go if she was his. Three years before he would have thought differently, but now, well things had changed. Things had changed a lot.

House took a gulp of his scotch, and looked outside the window at the falling snow. Maybe he was better off. Only misery followed him, and whoever dared to care for him. She was much better off without him.

He stopped playing and picked up his cane for support. He was wobbly on his feet, and barely made it to his bedroom where he lay down and passed out. His last thoughts were of her, and a small hope for happier times.

Cuddy sat in her living room, her head resting on Lucas's shoulder. He was talking about something but she wasn't listening. Her thoughts were elsewhere.

Lucas grasped her hand and traced circles with his thumb; she barely noticed his touch, her hand motionless in his. She stared at the falling snow, her thoughts far from the man who was sitting in the couch beside her.

Somehow the night hadn't been as special as she had thought it would be. She felt like something important was missing, for a second her rational side told her exactly what, or more specifically who was missing. She silenced that voice down as quickly as it came. Her life was complete, she had a loving boyfriend and a child she loved more than anything, what more could she ask for?

Her unwanted thoughts could only be for him and no other. How many times had she thought of every possibility she had but never used? How many moments had passed between them that could have meant something more? How many times had she walked away?

And now she was stuck with a man she didn't really love, wishing to be with someone she couldn't have.

Maybe one day things would change, but for now she would have to accept the things the way they were.

"Lisa."

"Mm-hmm." She mumbled.

"Wanna go to bed?" Lucas asked. Without her notice he had left the couch and stood in the doorway.

"In a minute." She said, and watched him leave.

She bit her lip, and hoped that he wasn't having too miserable Christmas. She allowed her thoughts to linger on thoughts she rarely dared to think of, and for one moment she wished that she was going to bed with him and not Lucas. But that wasn't her reality, and she needed to get her head out of the clouds.

House wasn't the safe choice, and she had to think about her daughter. But, god how she wished that he was hers, and to that she held on to as she walked into her bedroom, into bed with a man she didn't even love.

Christmas lights twinkled on the Christmas tree in the corner, the lights shimmering in the dark, illuminating the emptiness of the darkness, bringing a presence of hope.