Hello!

This new drabble is set in season 3, precisely after that episode in which House crashes Cuddy's date, like, twice. It's yet another secret relationship AU (I'm a sucker for that shit)

Don't really remember what prompted this snowstorm idea. But maybe it will help some of you guys if you're suffering through a heat wave?

Thank you for the kind words you left last time! They really made my day. :D

Enjoy, and I'll see you soon!

47. There is enough room for both of us.

"You drove here? With this snow?"

House was standing on her porch, nestled in a thick winter coat. He'd tucked his hands in his pocket and his chin into his chest, trying to protect himself from the frosty wind and the little snowflakes that had started falling again just moments ago.

"Put my snow chains on and everything, Mommy."

"What are you doing here?"

Cuddy pulled the tails of her coat, under which she was wearing a couple of sweaters, tighter against her frame as a gust of wind blew past her.

"In case you hadn't noticed, power's out. You have a fireplace."

"You have a fireplace."

"Haven't had the chimney swept. You did." She arched an eyebrow. "Suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning was tempting, but you'd miss me far too much."

"Okay," she dismissed him.

"You're more practical," he explained. "And a control freak. Of course you had your chimney swept. Also you had a fire on when you had your date over the other day. What was his name…"

He pretended to try and remember, even though they both knew he wouldn't. She stood there and stared at him, vaguely impressed by the shenanigans he'd pulled so far to try and get into her house.

"Whatever his name was, at least he didn't get to sweep your chimney!" She opened her mouth in shock. "You're gonna let me in or what?!" he cut her off before she could insult him.

"Fine," she yielded as she turned around and left the door open. He followed her, shutting it behind him. Mechanically, he tried to remove his coat, but quickly realised that it wasn't much warmer inside. He hissed as he buttoned it back up.

Taking pity on him, Cuddy stepped in front of him and rubbed his arms vigorously. "Come on, let's get you warm."

With a smile, he let her for a few seconds, then rubbed her own arms as well. She laughed, and he pulled her towards him, rubbing her back, as her arms closed around his waist and she rested her cheek against his chest.

"God, stop. My skin is so dry it's gonna fall off."

"I'll rub moisturizer all over you," he promised into her ear, his hands stilling.

"Ugh. I'm not taking off any layers of clothing with this cold. Come on," she told him as they parted, motioning towards the kitchen. "Let's heat up some pasta."

She grabbed the candle she'd left by the front door and he followed her.

Though he'd talked of her fireplace, neither decided to actually light a fire; the soft warmth of the myriad of candles Cuddy had scattered across her kitchen, in complement to the layers of clothing they were both wearing, proved to be just enough. He watched her cook pasta on her portable stove, helped her set the table. Over dinner, she told him all about how she'd seen that the auxiliary generator at the hospital had run out of fuel when she'd checked it out after the weather forecast had announced a dreadful snowstorm, and all about everything she'd had to do to ensure the fuel would be delivered in time – the phone calls she'd made, the favours she was owed – and he listened quietly. PPTH was therefore running smoothly and she could spend the night holed up at home in peace while the snow storm raged outside.

When they decided to call it a day, he insisted to sleep in her bed, in order to share body heat.

"Fine," she agreed. "But I'm too cold to have sex, if that's what you have in mind."

"Give me a break. I don't always think about sex." She arched an eyebrow. "Little Greg is too cold, anyway," he admitted, causing her to roll her eyes.

They settled in bed together, having removed their coats to be more comfortable, and wrapped their arms around each other while they lay face to face.

But this time, candles weren't enough to warm them up. There was a chill in the air that was just enough to prevent them from falling asleep. Cuddy sighed and tucked her hands into her sleeves.

"Works better if we're skin to skin," he added eventually.

"It pains me to acknowledge that you're right." He didn't say anything. "Just the torso, then," she yielded.

"Just the torso."

They removed their sweaters and tried again, in a tighter embrace this time. Her nose was buried in his shoulder and her breasts were squeezed against his chest, the very top of his pubic hair tickling her stomach.

"Oh my God," she sighed. He wasn't much warmer than her, but she was surprised by how efficient it was and how warmer she felt already. She felt a chill along her spine and House, seeing the goosebumps on her skin, covered her back with his large palms.

They fell asleep within minutes.

House woke up in the middle of the night, his muscles pulled taut as he tried to shield himself from the cold. They'd somehow parted during the night, and now Cuddy was curled up into a ball next to him, shivering.

"Put your clothes back on," he instructed, shaking her awake. Without waiting for her, he slipped on one of his sweaters, pulled the sheets and blankets away from the bed and took them with him into the living-room. He spread them out in front of the fireplace and kneeled down.

"What are you doing?" Cuddy mumbled behind him, her eyes half-closed. She shifted from one foot to the other trying to keep herself warm.

"Making a fire, what does it look like?"

Once he was assured the fire would be burning steadily, he grabbed some pillows from the couch and settled down under the blankets, leaving her room close to the hearth. Cuddy stood there, watching him in awe.

"Come on," he beckoned. "There is enough room for both of us."

She grinned and did as she was told, laying close to him with her back to the fireplace. The warmth of the fire reached her through the layers of blankets and thick clothing – it was much better than back in her bedroom, trying meekly to share their body heat.

She sighed with contentment. "This is nice."

He looked down at her. "Yeah, it is."

Cuddy smiled, and tilted her head towards him to kiss him gently on the mouth.

Once again, they were asleep within minutes.

A/N: As OldSFfan pointed it out: don't use portable stoves indoors. You will be dead. Thank you.