Hi guys!
First off... Thank you for your feedback! I never would have guessed that 300 words about an ear would elicit such enthusiasm... But it went straight to my heart! So thank you for that.
This new one is set in season 7, and I hope you will like it as well.

66. I'll pick it up after work.

He always heard her footsteps in the hallway before he saw her come into his office, no matter how busy it was. He wasn't sure if her heels made her louder than everyone else, or if his brain was attuned to her noises in particular, but he always heard her first. It was particularly helpful for him, as he was able to deduce her mood based on the noise.

Before they started dating, her footsteps were most frequently rapid and loud – pissed off Cuddy. Then there were the slower, lighter footsteps that still had a tone of determination – worried Cuddy who didn't want to let it show.

After Trenton, her footsteps were sometimes either tranquil or heavy – either she wanted to see him for the sake of it, or she was tired and wanted to catch a break in his company.

It was late afternoon, and when he first heard her heels coming from the elevator, he expected to hear the heavy, tired footsteps – he hadn't done anything today that warranted the pissed-off footsteps.

But slow, reluctant footsteps? Those were new.

Cuddy pushed the door open and, without a word, sat in one of the chairs facing his desk – or rather, on the edge of the chair, resting her hands beside each thigh

"Uh-oh," House said, removing his glasses. "What have you done?"

She pursed her lips. "So I know we said we wouldn't make a big deal out of your birthday."

He rolled his eyes. Not a great conversation-starter. His birthday wasn't a cause for celebration, and he didn't understand why everyone around him felt they had to do something for the occasion. He had one every year! And quite a bunch of them, too. He'd grown bored of birthdays long ago.

He had, however, let her wish him a happy birthday before she left for work, in a tone that had let him think that her celebrating his birthday wasn't about him growing a year older, but rather about her being thankful for his presence by her side for yet another year.

(He'd chosen not to dwell on it)

"My board meeting got rescheduled to today at 6 o'clock. As you know, I'm a terrible cook, so I had a cake baked for you, and I'm not gonna be able to pick it up before closing time." He stayed silent, which prompted her to add, "I know, I ruined the surprise. I'm sorry."

She looked genuinely upset about the damn cake.

He shrugged off-handedly. "Give me the address. I'll pick it up after work. I may not wait for you to get home to start eating, though," he cracked.

"You'd do that?" she asked, eyes wide with hope. He nodded. "It's the bakery that's on the way, across from the Italian restaurant. Cake's already paid for."

"Good, 'cause I certainly wasn't going to pay for my own cake."

She beamed. Like – her smile was more radiant than the sun itself.

He was still trying to convince himself that he'd agreed to picking up the cake to ensure sex with her tonight, like when he'd first babysat Rachel, but that smile…

Cuddy stood up and thanked him softly, before leaning over the desk – giving him a glorious shot of her cleavage, on purpose no doubt – and kissing him on the mouth.

Her footsteps were significantly lighter when she walked out.