Hello!

This new drabble was requested by my friend IndyStarkDeanJr a while ago. I hope you'll find I did your idea justice!

It's set in season 7 (unless you want it to be a secret-relationship-AU).

Thank you for your comments from last time! I always appreciate them. As I'm currently working on a new, big fic, which hopefully I'll be able to begin publishing in October (stay tuned!), I haven't been working on this current fic, so updates might be scarce from now on. But don't worry, I won't give up so close to the end!

73. I brought you an umbrella.

They'd gone out to dinner that Tuesday night, since the weather had been so nice all day. House had made the most of it and played hooky, lying on a picnic table all afternoon. Cuddy hadn't been so lucky, but she had enjoyed the warmth of the sun hitting her back when she sat at her desk. However, just as they ordered dessert, it began pouring outside.

"It won't last," he reassured her. "Storm just needed to burst."

"Besides it will finally be cooler out," she agreed.

But by the time they'd finished the chocolate mousse they ate with two spoons, her green tea and his coffee, the rain hadn't let on.

Cuddy, always ready and organised, had a pocket umbrella in her purse. House only wore a tee-shirt and jeans.

They stood under the awning of the restaurant, waiting for an opportunity to cross the road and get to her car. Cuddy opened her umbrella when they decided to make their move, House awkwardly bending over for a couple steps before he decided to hold the umbrella instead, moving it a bit too far to the right. Cuddy grabbed his arm to avoid getting wet, stepping right into a puddle. She heard House snicker and it amused her – which probably wouldn't have been the case hadn't she been a little tipsy.

As they crossed the road, a gust of wind upturned her flimsy umbrella. They were soaked instantly, causing House to curse and Cuddy to laugh. She picked up the pace so she could open the trunk for him to toss the umbrella inside. When she'd slammed the door of the trunk shut, he grabbed her cheeks and gave her a kiss as a thank you.

"Let's get home," he said as he pushed her wet hair away from her forehead.

When they made it back home, he tried to turn the umbrella the right away again; but the wind had torn off parts of the metal frame.

"Oh, well," Cuddy had shrugged, before taking his hand and leading him towards the bedroom. She was interested in something else. They shed their clothes and left them to dry in the bathtub.

The next morning, Cuddy was relieved to see a cloudless sky when she parted the curtains. She got ready for work, kissed House who was still in bed, and headed outside. House, as usual, arrived late. It was only an hour before he stormed into her office and harassed her for her approval of a risky procedure, which he eventually obtained.

"Are you bringing me consent?" she asked without looking up from her papers when he walked back in, a few minutes later.

"Nope." She glanced up. He pulled an item from behind his back. "I brought you an umbrella."

She grinned almost instantly, in spite of herself. It was an umbrella similar to the tiny black flimsy one from the previous night, that she liked to always keep in her purse in case it rained on a day when she hadn't packed her good umbrella.

"It won't rain today," she said.

"No, but I'll take you on a lot of other dates. Better be prepared."

Her grin widened.