I'm sorry for the delay in the update, and I'm sorry that this is so short. I've been over my head with rehearsals and shows and theatrical competitions that I haven't had the time to write much, and on top of that my personal life is falling apart at the seems. Bare with me, I have off until Monday and it's 4am now, I'm going to spend the next few days writing the continuation of this chapter. For now there's this. Have a great thanksgiving if you celebrate it.
"What are you two doing tonight?"
House took a gulp of his soda before replying to Wilson's question.
"I'm taking her up to the city for the two nights; she just doesn't know it yet."
It was Cuddy's birthday and he had planned a little getaway for the two. He knew she was overly stressed with the adoption and with her workload, he also knew she was anxious over the results of recent blood tests she would receive at the end of the week. Going away for a few days would do them both good.
"What are you going to be doing up there?"
"We're going to see a musical. She's been talking about wanting to see some musical called 'In The Heights' lately so I got orchestra tickets for tomorrow night."
"Sounds great. What are you doing about Rachel?"
"She's at Julia's for the day since they didn't have school. She's going to be staying with her while we're there. Already talked to Julia about it."
"You've got everything set then huh?"
"Yup, bags packed and in the back of the car, I've just gotta wait until around four for us to leave, and then we'll be all set."
"Have fun with that."
"Oh, I shall." House replied, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.
"Thanks for the mental image." Wilson remarked, shaking his head.
"You know you enjoyed it, so you're welcome." He rebuked, letting out a low chuckle at his friend's current expression.
Two hours later House entered Cuddy's office, shutting the door behind him and locking it.
"No office sex." She said immediately as he approached her. "Not even on birthdays remember?"
She was standing near her coat rack, grabbing her scarf and wrapping it around her neck. He reached her and pulled her towards him by the hips, his lips finding hers in an almost needy manner. He smirked against her as she let out the smallest of moans as his hands slipped down to her ass, holding her firmly against him.
"Houseeee." She groaned, extending his name as she pulled away from him.
"Finish putting on your coat so we can leave. Why would I want office sex when we'll be having much more comfortable sex later on tonight?" He teased, rubbing circles into her back with his thumbs.
"Why are you in such a rush to leave?" She questioned, pulling on her coat and buttoning it to the top.
"When am I not in a rush to leave?" He challenged back.
"Good point." She responded.
He watched as she shook her hair out from the back of her coat before extending his arm to her.
"Such a gentlemen today, aren't we? If only everyday was my birthday." She laughed, hooking her arm into his.
They walked out of her office arm in arm, something that was not much of an oddity to the rest of the hospital. They had become a little more open about their relationship in the work place; they weren't as subtle with touching, often found with his hand on her hip or around her waist when they happened to be side by side.
They stepped outside to find that it had started to snow lightly and quickly made their way to the car. He turned the heat up once they had entered the car, noting that Cuddy's nose had turned red.
"You look like Rudolph." He teased as she held her hands in front of the heater.
"Shut up, you jerk." She replied.
"It's cute." He continued as he pulled out of the parking space.
He watched from the corner of his eye as she began to fiddle with the radio controls, settling on a station. He smiled slightly as he saw her mouth the words to the song that was currently playing.
"You missed the exit to go home." She said suddenly as he indeed passed the exit that led to their shared home.
"We're not going home. We're going out of town."
"What do you mean we're going out of town? I don't have any clothes packed."
"We're going out to the city. I packed your clothes, the hospital knows you're going to be gone until Thursday, you're good to go."
"What? What about Rachel?"
"Julia's got her until then. I dropped her off this morning with clothes for the next few days, she's got all her essentials."
"What are we even going to the city for?"
"I got you orchestra tickets to that musical you wanted to see. Tomorrow night at eight. So close to the pit you could probably fall into it."
"You're kidding right?"
"Nope. Open the glove compartment, they're in a white envelope."
He smiled as she pulled the envelope out of the glove compartment and opened it, letting out an uncharacteristic squeal.
"There's also a note from yours truly." He continued.
"Dear Cuddy, I can't believe it's already been a hundred years since your dinosaur of a mother hatched you. You don't look a day over forty-six, which incidentally, you now are. I know you'll enjoy the musical tomorrow, and you'll enjoy whatever else I may or may not have planned for you. I love you, and happy birthday. – House." She read out loud, before putting the note back into the envelope.
"Thank you. It really means a lot." She continued, reaching over and kissing his cheek.
"You're welcome."
"God that was fantastic." She panted as he dropped down beside her. They were both nude and covered in sweat, trying to catch their breath after spending several hours having what she currently ranked in their top ten sexual encounters.
Cuddy propped herself up on her elbow, reaching her other hand out and running it across House's chest.
"More like mind blowing. Those lips of yours…" He trailed off and she smirked before leaning forward to give him a heated kiss, her hair cascading around their faces.
It was sometime in the middle of the night, they had lost track of time the second they had stepped foot inside of their hotel room. He'd pressed her against the wall, kissed her, and then had continued his way down her body to bury his face between her legs.
Eventually they had found their way onto the plush and comfortable bed they were now spread across.
She pulled away from him, resting her head in the crook of his neck before draping her leg across him.
"What are we doing before the musical tomorrow?" She asked, smiling as she felt his arm wrap around her.
"More of this. Then we can see the show and there are a few other things I might have up my sleeve for us to do."
"Oh? Well then, that sounds like a promising evening." She smirked, feeling his hand run along her spine, stopping at the scar left by the surgery that had almost killed her.
She stiffened as his fingers traced the indentation in her skin.
"I know I don't say things like this often…but do you remember when I used to tease you constantly before we got together, the sexual comments, the flirting, and the harassment? I did it because I never thought that I would actually stand a chance with you. I never actually thought that you would give me a chance. But you did…and I fucked it up. But you gave me another chance, and I still can't believe that any of this has happened. That however the hell this screwed up world functions it's given someone like me, someone like you."
"What do you mean someone like me?" She asked slightly offended but trying her best not to show it.
"I mean someone who gives people second chances, don't take it badly before letting me explain myself. Or in my case multiple chances; I told you once that you saw the world as it was, and as it could be. You don't see the gaping chasm in between. I said that almost ten years ago and it's still one of the most accurate things about you. Anyone else would have given up on me after all of the idiotic things I've done, after all of the pain I've caused the people I love. But you're not anyone else. You fought for me, and I've never had anyone who would do that for me."
"Of course I would fight for you, for us House. You know how much I love you, and how miserable I would be without you. You're a part of me that I would never be able to let go of."
"As I was trying to say, I'm lucky to have you as my wife. There's no one else I would rather have nagging me around and controlling me for the rest of my life. Literally, I don't think either of us will ever retire or plan on leaving the hospital, so you will be controlling me for the rest of my life."
"You always have to end these uncharacteristic moments with something that is characteristically like you." Cuddy replied, kissing his cheek as she heard him let out a low laugh.
"If I didn't it wouldn't be a memorable moment."
"You're right."
She turned to look at the clock on the bedside table. It was just passed three am.
"We should really go to sleep." She yawned, nestling into his chest.
"I guess…" House replied before pressing his lips against her forehead. "Good night Cuddy."
"Good night House."
For what was probably the millionth time in the last decade, House watched as Cuddy stood in front of the bathroom mirror, applying her make up. He was secretly relieved to see that it was a much lighter application, something he had noted she did a lot more often these days. He could tell that she was comfortable in her skin, knowing that despite the fact that she was nearing fifty she still looked like she was at least ten years younger than her actual age.
"Okay, I'm ready to go."
He watched her walk across the room and towards the door, grabbing her coat off of the hook and slipping it on, tying it snuggly around her small waist. He stood, with the help of his cane and limped to her side, pulling her against him and wrapping his arm against her waist.
He heard her chuckle as she buried her face into the crook of his neck, inhaling her scent as she wrapped an arm around him.
They pulled apart and he opened the door, leading them both out of the room and to what he had planned for the night.
