Hello everyone! Sorry this took a few days longer than usual. This drabble is set in season seven. Enjoy! :D

15. One more chapter.

The first time House had read for her, she'd just had an exhausting day – to which he had, as usual, contributed – and couldn't focus on the novel she was reading in bed. Well aware that reading was one of her favourite ways to relax, along with bubble baths, tea and white wine, he'd taken the book from her hands and started reading aloud. It had taken her a moment to be sure that he wasn't pulling a prank on her, and she pat her pillow and settled more comfortably in bed.

He'd done it a few more times, eliciting less and less surprise as time went on. Eventually, Cuddy just handed him her book when they went to bed.

That day, they had a fight about him demanding a biopsy and her insisting that it was unnecessarily dangerous and he'd have to find another way – nothing out of the ordinary. Then another fight, about him ignoring her and doing the biopsy anyway, and his patient losing an eye and threatening to sue. Cuddy had barely talked to him at home, and when he joined her in bed she gave him her current bedside reading.

"If you're too lazy to read them yourself, just get audiobooks," he said, only half teasing her.

Her face fell just the tiniest bit, but enough for him to see. "Fine." She turned away from him and switched off her light. House reached around her and grabbed the book. He propped his back against the headboard and started reading aloud. Cuddy eventually rolled onto her back and stared absently as he turned the pages.

"One more chapter," she demanded when he was done. He quickly flipped through the pages.

"It's twenty pages," he sighed. She shrugged. He closed the book.

"You know, my father used to read me a bedtime story every night."

"You have weird fantasies. But okay," he said as he opened the novel again. "If that's what you're into, I'll read you another chapter and then spank you."

She smiled faintly and put her head on his shoulder as he resumed his reading.

She liked the sound of his voice, she liked that he took his time. And she missed her dad. House reading aloud to her somehow made her feel closer to him, now that she couldn't run to him for comfort anymore. She may not be able to call him for advice like she used to do, but at least she got to reminisce happy moments with her father after a shitty day.

And House, although he'd rather be caught dead than admit it, enjoyed this sweet, peaceful way of reconciling after they'd had a fight at the hospital. But his favourite part was still makeup sex.

It only took her five pages to fall asleep, her head getting heavier on his shoulder. He gently laid it back on her pillow, put her book on his nightstand and turned off the light.

Looked like makeup sex would wait.