Hi guys! Here is a new drabble for you. Apologies for the delay - school is just as crazy this semester...

It's set at the end of 2.03 "Humpty Dumpty", and is divided into two parts. If you have the feeling that the first part only exists to mention how House and Cuddy say I love you, that's cause, well... you're right. :-D But I hope it won't stop you from enjoying the second part as well, which is the one thing that popped into my head when I saw the episode again (three times. Or four? Damn I really love those Monday nights re-run!).

Thank you for your feedback! I hope you'll enjoy this one.

40. The key is under the mat.

Knowing he would pay her a visit, Cuddy had just popped her homemade mac and cheese into the oven when House knocked on her door.

"You moved the key," he accused. "It wasn't under the flower pot."

She grinned and let him through. "I moved it since someone used it to break into my house and go through my things."

"It's not a break-in if I have a key," he said, dangling a set of said keys in front of her eyes. "The key is under the mat. I'm not an idiot." She snatched it from his hand and swatted his backside, before she took his hand and led him to the kitchen.

Later on that night, they were just laying together above the sheets, dozing and lazily touching each other, when the sudden rushing sound of rain pouring from the sky jolted her awake. "Do you hear that?"

"Hm," was his reply. His long day had already sapped his energy, and their recent activity hadn't helped, either. Cuddy slipped out of bed and, feeling a chill freeze on her skin, donned a white nightgown before heading to the dining room. Above the clamour of the rain, she could hear the distinct sound of rain drops trickling onto her mahogany table. With a sigh, she heated up some tea and placed a large pot on the table. The rain wouldn't last, but even if it did she eyeballed that it would do for the night. She wouldn't have to get up again.

"It's raining in my dining room," she announced as she sat on the bed, turning her back to him, and sipped her tea. "I put a pot on the table. Should be enough for the night."

There was a pause. "And now your guilt is catching up with you," he said, which was more an affirmation than it was a question. "Roberto will be fine. The hospital will give him enough money to live happily ever after without having to work a day in his life," he repeated mechanically, indifferent as to whether it would make her feel better; it was the truth, and to him it was all that mattered.

"Alfredo."

Cuddy finished her tea and set the mug on the bedside table, before joining him in bed again. She lay across from him, but didn't meet his eyes.

"Well, now you're overdressed," he said, flicking the strap of her nightgown so that it rested across her bicep.

She looked up at him, but made no move to indicate that she was willing to take off her clothes.

"What you said to me today…"

He sighed. "I said you were a good boss, get over it."

"You said I'll never be happy."

"I meant that," he said after a pause.

"What a relief," she quipped.

"Does that mean you shouldn't try?"

"Do you think I should?"

They talked in hushed voices. Sometimes for a few seconds she could fool herself into believing that there was a reason for it, such as the paper-thin walls of her dorm room in college or a sleeping infant in the next room.

"Don't resign yourself to be miserable. It's not like you."

"But it's hopeless."

"True. You're not happy unless things are right. Unfortunately, nothing's ever right." He took one of her hands, and fiddled with her fingers. "We're not even right."

"You feel right."

"Well, maybe that's a start. It's human to try. You're human."

She smirked. "You're not?"

He kissed her hand. "Have you met me?"

Cuddy smiled and cupped his cheek, kissing him sweetly.

"I don't think Cameron's over her crush on you, by the way," she said after a while. "She asked questions."

"What did you tell her?"

"That I knew you back in Michigan. That you were a legend." She laughed quietly.

House rolled his eyes. "Why are they all crazy for me?"

"It's the extra wood." More laughter ensued.

"Guess I have to thank you for my newfound popularity then," he quipped with a smirk, but her laughter died down.

He sighed.

"I'd forgotten about that guilt. God, woman, is anything not off limits with you?"

When that didn't seem to help her feel better, he gave her a kiss to soothe her; words failed him whenever he tried to tell her that he didn't resent her as much as she imagined.

"You're a good boss," he told her when he pulled away. "You may be a crappy doctor, but…" She rolled her eyes. He smirked. "You care. And you're right where you should be."

She processed his words, and eventually ran her thumb along his jaw line. "I am, huh?"

They looked into each other's eyes with a smile. House gently pushed her onto her back, letting her sit up so that he could pull her nightgown above her head. He kissed her lips and quickly moved on to her neck, following a trail all along her torso as she held onto his shoulders.

"By the way, I'm not staying at your place again," he told her navel. "You've got some really gross shit down your sink. And that's not a metaphor."

"Ugh."

She let her thoughts wander as he continued on his way downward.

It's human to try.

A sleeping infant in the next room.

…Huh.

You also have to thank antares.78 for her one-shot "Hidden truths" (thanks girl!). I just really love the idea of House and Cuddy being in a secret relationship...

I also wanted to add a scene in which Cuddy realised that she wanted kids (since we never found out until she asked House for the injections!) and would decide to act on it instead of waiting for the right guy to come along - and their conversation here would be the perfect catalyst... (but obviously I couldn't tell you that until the end of the drabble. :D)

Thank you for reading!