Had an unexpected day off, so I spent it writing!

Thank you sooooooo much for every single one of you that left me a review! Its much harder than I thought to write 'smut'...super glad I passed the test!

Here's a little more for ya ;)

The sun rose slowly in the early dawn sky, streaming in faintly through the open window into the quiet bedroom. The rain had faded from the night before, and the heated glow began to make its way across the bed while two forms slept peacefully intertwined, their hands locked together, her leg draped over his, their noses practically touching as they faced one another…

Perfectly content…

She stirred first, the small light catching her eyelid, waking her slowly, as she felt his fingers wrapped securely around her own; remembering it was House that had reached for her hand only a couple hours before, whispering for her to stay close to him as they fell into a satiated sleep.

She opened her eyes…his face was intimately near, the warmth of his bare legs still pressed delicately against her own felt incredible. She moved only slightly, careful not to wake him as she studied his face, thanking whatever fate and good fortune there was that he was by her side once more. Her heart felt completely open to him…maybe for the first time.

No questions, no reservations clouded her mind as she watched him breathing silently next to her. She trusted him…this House…. the one who had been with her since the moment she received his first letter. The one she only saw glimpses of in the past…the one she fell in love with at the bookstore…it was always him, he just hid himself away too often, shielding himself from her, just as she shielded herself from him.

He still possessed all the insane qualities that made him who he was, but something inside herself had changed. She stopped looking for him to hurt her, anticipating the moment he would do it again, and she finally allowed her whole heart to trust in him. It felt amazingly freeing, being with him again was more wonderful than she thought possible, and she couldn't wait to surrender to him, love him for the rest of her life without any more uncertainty.

She watched him continue to sleep beside her, taking in the incredibly handsome lines at the corner of his eyes, studying the salt and pepper stubble upon his face; wanting nothing more than to run her fingers over it, touch his partly opened lips with her own. Finally she succumbed, her heart aching to wake up. Not being able to control her impulse any longer, she leaned into him and placed a soft kiss on his lips, lingering in the feel of his mouth on hers before she pulled away to look at him once more…

"I can always feel you watching me." His voice was groggy and soft, and he spoke without opening his eyes, as Cuddy allowed a vibrant smile to cross her lips from his absolute certainty.

"And I you." She spoke as she felt his fingers tighten their hold on her own, felt his lips find hers blindly while his eyes remained shut.

He pulled away slightly finally opening his eyes to stare sleepily at her. "Hi."

"Hi." she whispered.

She could clearly see a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth, his face seemed relaxed, but his body stirred enticingly against her thigh as she felt his arousal awaken further.

Cuddy smile knowingly at him, unraveling her hand from his, she weaved her arm around his back and brought herself as close as possible to his gloriously warm skin, adjusting her leg to reach further around his body. Her fingers came up and ran through his hair, drawing his lips toward her own. Their mouths met, savoring the feel of each other, tongues meeting delicately together as their kiss began to deepen, their bodies pressing even further together with each moment their lips crashed into each other.

House grabbed her tightly, his hands splayed on her back as he rolled her on top of him, deepening their powerful kiss as he felt her lower herself, her hips teasing a bit before she brought herself fully down on him, and with one move they were connected once again. Both their eyes widened simultaneously from the feelings rolling through their bodies as they gave into the wonderfully intimate sensation… something they had been deprived of for far too long. Instantly fitting together perfectly…something that would never fade…

She moved her body slowly at first, flipping her hair so she could place soft kisses along his neck, as she felt his lips began mimicking her own. Leaving glorious wet marks along her collarbone, inching towards a spot he knew she loved the most, finding it without any hesitations, as she softly moaned her pleasure in his ear, biting his earlobe as she began to move her hips faster.

Suddenly she felt herself being moved, his head rose up from the pillow, bringing her with him so she was cradled seductively in his lap on the bed. Her hands wrapped around his neck as his lips came crashing down on hers, and she could feel his climax mimic her own, both of them moaning softly with each move of her hips. His body began to tremor, pushing her over the edge at the same time. Trying her best to muffle her own cries of pleasure she sucked in his bottom lip and allowed the amazing waves to take over…

Their breathing came out in ragged bursts as they both calmed from the alluring storm they woke up to. House fingered a piece of her hair as he remained exactly where he was; not wanting to disconnect from her yet. "Good morning." He said with a sigh, as he ran his fingers down her spine, feeling the sweat that moistened her skin…loving that it was him that put it there.

She didn't dare to move either, she could stay connected with him forever, "Good morning," she said with a small smile, running her hand over the stubble on his face, before kissing him lightly…she couldn't help herself, it felt like a part of her needed to make up for every minute they spent apart.

"Let's do that again." He teased, eliciting a giggle from her.

"I would love nothing more…but Rachel will be up soon…" She shifted to release him from the hold she still had on his body, as she heard him huff in protest. "Aren't I hurting your leg?" She spoke as she felt his arms tighten around her.

"What leg?" House smirked and leaned into kiss her neck one final time before he allowed her to remove her body from his. She inched carefully away and reached for her robe draped at the foot of the bed, "Can't we finally have naked Sunday?" He whined, watching with discern as she tied the sash on her robe, hiding her body behind it.

She smiled widely, "Not today…but I believe I can arrange for some alone time soon. Maybe we can have 'naked weekend' instead." She huskily replied, coming back over to him on the side of the bed.

"Oh…you do love me." He spoke teasingly, but with incredible sincerity that Cuddy noticed immediately as she placed his boxers in his lap.

"Yes I do." Standing in front of him as he remained seated she brought her hand up to his face and saw his eyes flutter closed as she traced his lips with her thumb, "And you love me." She replied softly.

He opened his eyes and locked into hers, "Yes I do." He spoke without a moment's pause, watching as a smile once again graced her beautiful face.

House couldn't help himself and brought his hand up to her waist, deftly untying the sash from her robe without asking for permission, as her body was unwrapped in front of him. He leaned into her, his hands reaching around delicately and pulling her closer so his lips could began caressing her stomach. He moved his mouth further up her body and began to kiss her skin just below her breasts, his tongue moving teasingly closer to her most sensitive spot; her fingers raked through his hair.

"I did not properly get to say hello to these this morning." He spoke against her, his tongue flicking out to taste her salty flesh. As soon as he connected to his ultimate obsession, he heard her moan with delight, before she gently grabbed his head a pulled him away.

He saw her glance to the clock before she turned her gaze longingly back to him, "Well I think we have at least fifteen more minutes…" She bit her lip, causing House to nearly melt from her simple movement. "Maybe we can continue this in the shower?" She raised her eyebrow teasingly before she brought her hands up and removed the soft fabric from her body, not bothering to wait for a response as she turned away and walked towards the bathroom.

House took a moment to gather himself before he thought his legs would work properly. He shifted upright and walked towards the sound of running water, his insecurities stripping away with each new moment he was happily surrounded by her.

House wrapped a towel around his abdomen and pulled out the drawer he knew held her toothbrushes, hoping that she was still anal enough to keep spares for him to cleanse his mouth with; thinking it best not to irk her first thing in the morning by using hers.

He smiled to himself as the contents inside were revealed to him, she didn't have a new toothbrush for him to open, but his old one. Distinctly marked with his name still written faintly on the side, recalling when he wrote it as a joke for her benefit before placing it in that same drawer…a memento she kept of him. She never let go of him completely…a little secret that made his soul fill with peace, another reminder of how lucky he was to have another chance at happiness.

House finished cleaning up and made his way to the bedroom only to find it empty, her door slightly ajar, signaling Rachel was probably awake, and he began to survey the floor for his crumpled garments, not having another choice but to put them on.

She mutely entered the room, watching him ardently as his towel dropped to the floor and he slipped on his boxers. "Bottom drawer." She spoke softly, standing in the center of the room with a slight bit of guilt in her features.

He looked to her with confusion, "Is that code for sex or-"

"No," she rolled her eyes, "Your clothes…there are some still in the bottom drawer I gave to you…before…" She admitted carefully.

House's eyebrows immediately rose, and a knowing smile formed in the corner of his mouth. "So my toothbrush…and my drawer remained untouched. Beats the vision I had of you holding a bonfire while cursing my name to the gates of hell." He teased as he walked towards the drawer in question.

"I…was out of town." Cuddy defended.

"Yeah…and the couple months before that?" House grabbed out a full clean set of clothes, glancing to the door to check for Rachel before he switched his boxers to the clean ones. "Just admit you were pining for me."

"Oh shut-up." She shook her head, biting back a guilty grin.

"Hey it's okay to come clean here, I'm not one to judge."

"Well at least my pining serves a purpose now…maybe you don't have to rush off so quickly?" Her voice trailed off at the end, as she looked questioningly up to him, watching him slip his shirt over his head.

"Is that what you want?"

"Of course it is." She spoke with quiet honesty, "If…if that is something that you-look I know I'm the one that said that we should take things slow, and ultimately maybe that is the best idea for us…but right now…all I know is…I don't want you to leave."

House studied her as she confessed her need, listening as the most beautiful women he had ever been with openly shared her longing for him. Everything about her in that moment was stunning. Her hair hung in loose curls down her shoulders, still damp from their shower, her body dressed in a soft black shirt and jeans, and her face remained free from makeup that only hid away the intoxicating freckles that speckled her cheeks.

"What about Rachel?" He found his voice.

"We can say…you came by for breakfast." She looked to him, his body moving towards her while she spoke, coming close enough to touch her. His eyes sparkled down at her, as the sound of his shoes hitting the floor beside her bare feet echoed in the room, proof that he wasn't going anywhere. Her heart overflowed, "I'll take that as a yes."

"Well it's hard to refuse when you look at me like that." House watched her tilt her head with a smile before she gently tugged on his shirt, leaning up on her toes to place a luscious kiss on his lips.

"Mommy…" Rachel's muffled bellows sounded through her bedroom door, as Cuddy placed her feet flat against the floor and achingly broke free from their kiss.

"Meet me at the front door in five." He spoke as he reached for his discarded sneakers, crossing to the bed to quickly put them on. He grabbed his cane and came back over to her, cupping her cheek in the palm of his hand, he placed a kiss on her lips before pulling away with a grin, bringing his hand down he reached around and squeezed her magnificent ass. Bringing her body close against his, he gave her one final kiss on the neck and released her, slipping confidently through the open window, this time shutting it behind him.

Cuddy's heart was bursting with pleasure as she walked down the hallway. She opened Rachel's door with a smile still resting upon her lips, incredibly elated to have the chance to spend the morning with the two people she loved the most.

"Hi Mommy." Rachel smiled delightfully back as she bounced up and down on her bed before she remembered the rules. Instead she leapt into Cuddy's arms, and wrapped her body around her like a monkey.

"Well good morning. Seems like somebody has been awake for awhile now." She looked about the room as she spoke, surveying the cluster of stuffed animals sitting on the couch where they had not been the night before.

"Uh-huh." She beamed, "Housie and Lisa wanted to play school. Can I goes to school today too?"

"It's Sunday Rachel, schools are closed."

'Knock…knock…knock.'

Cuddy gave Rachel a smile as she placed her on the bed to see her face, "But I think that might be somebody to see you, right now."

Rachel raised both eyebrows as her eyes bulged, "Who is it?"

"Well I don't know…maybe you should go ask." Cuddy raised her eyebrows too, playing along as Rachel scooted off the bed and flew down the hallway.

"Who is it?" She bellowed at the large wood door separating her from her special guest.

"Telegram." House replied.

"Huh?" Rachel shouted back.

"Beetlejuice." Cuddy heard him tease further before Rachel surprised her by jumping up and down as if that were their secret code.

"House!" She exclaimed while clawing to unlock the door that she could clearly not accomplish on her own.

"How did you know-" Cuddy looked at her fiery daughter as the answer to her question popped into her head. She opened the door widely to him, "You let her watch Beetlejuice?" She spoke to him with a shake of her head.

"What? Who said that?" House looked behind him for an imaginary person to blame, stepping inside to close the door.

Cuddy rolled her eyes and watched as her daughter wrapped her body around his good leg, squeezing him with her eyes tightly shut as he placed a hand on top of her small head.

"Good morning tiny Cuddy."

"Are you here for breakfast?" Rachel pulled back from her death grip on his thigh to ask loudly.

"Yep. What are we having older and wiser Cuddy?"

"Oh…I thought you said you were coming over this morning so that Rachel could help you make pancakes." Cuddy said slowly only daring to look at Rachel.

"Yay!" Her daughter squealed and disappeared to the kitchen, the scraping sound of a chair was instantly heard scuffing up the floor faintly from her direction.

She could feel his gaze bore into her and she instantly saw a perturbed look on his face as she turned her eyes to him. "That…was for letting her watch Beetlejuice." She smirked.

"Oh no! You said his name a third time." He widened his eyes, covering his mouth with his hand, and Cuddy laughed out loud despite herself.

"House…House…House…House…" Rachel began singing an impromptu theme song in a high pitched squeal in order to draw him into the kitchen.

House ignored the song, and studied the love of his life as she formed a fake innocent expression, which was actually immensely sexy he thought. Not that he was going to enable her behavior by confessing that. "You know this means war right?" He spoke mischievously, walking past her towards the kitchen.

"Have fun," she called sweetly, "Rachel make sure House shows you how he can make Mickey Mouse pancakes." She showed no fear.

House stopped in his tracks at the edge of the kitchen and turned back to her. He squinted challengingly, "Game on Mister."

"House let's make Mickey Mouses!" Rachel stood up on her chair and looked out of the kitchen at both of them.

He sighed and turned towards Rachel, "Better yet, how about ones shaped like bowling balls." Cuddy heard House suggest as she turned around with a grin and began to set the table.

"But those is just still circles." Rachel figured out logically, not falling for it.

"Well you can poke your fingers through it to make the holes on top. Then it would really look like a bowling ball."

She heard her daughter gasp in delight, "Can I eat it offs my fingers too."

"Sure! But make sure it's covered first in extra syrup. Don't worry your Mommy won't mind."

He made sure to say that loud enough for Cuddy to hear, and she knew full well that payback would certainly come to bite her in the ass…but it was totally worth it.

House cleared the dishes from a particularly messy breakfast as Cuddy went to answer the telephone. He could hear Rachel's morning cartoons from the family room as he sat back down at the dining room table and sipped his coffee.

During breakfast he tried to stay in the moment. Willing himself not to stare at the wall across from him that still remained unpainted from the horrible mistake he had made. It was the only reminder left, very few bits and pieces remained in his memory, and at this point he wasn't even sure if he held actual facts, or only fabricated visions from his drug addled experience.

He took another sip of coffee as footsteps approached, his eyes still unable to break contact from dwelling on his biggest regret. She saw him staring and followed his line of sight as she sat down next to him.

"Stop." She whispered, watching as he turned his head and looked at her with sadness on his face. "Don't go back there."

"You can't tell me that you will ever forget…that." He spoke solemnly.

Cuddy looked to the wall, wishing she had some magical response that would make all the hurt go away forever. "You're right. Some things…are unforgettable. Like the day I left you…" she whispered looking back to him with the same pain he was feeling, "I wish I could take that hurt away from you too."

"I deserved-"

"No you didn't." She shook her head, speaking with absolute certainty, not bearing to allow him to think that way any longer. "We can't keep doing this…" She reached out and brushed the tips of her fingers against his resting on the table.

House looked to their hands, watching as she delicately grazed his skin. He didn't know what to say, but he knew without question that he never wanted her to stop touching him again.

"An occasionally wise man once told me that people don't change but…sometimes things happen in our lives…forcing perspectives to change." Cuddy leaned forward and laced her fingers in his, forcing him to look into her eyes.

"That man sounds smart…should I be jealous?" He replied, allowing some of the tension he had been holding on to fall away from him. Remembering how he said that to her thousands of miles from where they were standing, only a month before.

"Perhaps." She slyly smiled, "I do have a type."

A small smile appeared across his face as he looked into her eyes, their hands still clasped together on the table. "Was that your sister on the phone?"

"How did you know-?"

"By the way you retreated to your bedroom so she wouldn't hear my voice…haven't told her the gimpy maniac is back in the picture yet?" His thumb caressed her hand as he spoke.

"I just…didn't have the energy for that conversation with her at the moment. I'm not trying to hide you."

"I know."

"But…" She studied him with apprehension. "I forgot that she's on her way to pick Rachel up for the afternoon…she is going to an ice skating show with her cousins. I'm actually…supposed to go with them…I forgot."

"I'll go." He spoke softly. He squeezed her hand one last time before he broke contact and stood up from his chair.

"I'm sorry…with everything happening between us…it slipped my mind. I can get out of it." She mimicked his movement and stood to face him, wanting nothing more than to spend the day curled up alongside him.

"It's okay," He reassured, trying to sound convincing, trying to allow time for their relationship to grow, trying with all his might to remember to take things slow…"Spend the day where you're supposed to."

She nodded slowly, knowing he was right. She stepped closer to him, placing her palms against his chest, aching to be held by him. She held his gaze before she moved her hands along his body and pulled him onto a hug, one that she could stay wrapped in for eternity. She tickled the back of his neck with her fingers, breathed him into her, trying to hold onto a part of him to get her through the day, till she saw him again.

He encircled her small frame willingly, burying his face in her dark hair, chanting to himself that he would survive the day without her. He pulled back and pressed his forehead to hers, leaning into her one final time before he forced himself to disconnect.

She watched as he reached for his cane leaning against the wall, and she watched as he limped towards Rachel in the family room, "See you later kid. Nice job on the pancakes." He stretched his hand out for a fist bump that he taught her at breakfast, something she had thoroughly enjoyed learning, especially with sticky fingers.

"Why are you's going?" Cuddy watched Rachel's face fill with sadness as she learned of his departure. She leaned against the wall in the foyer and watched their interaction.

"Cause you are being dragged to some girlie skating show. Make sure you laugh and cheer when they fall on their skinny behinds okay." House teased, as Cuddy tried not to laugh at his juvenile suggestion.

"I will!" Rachel exclaimed and reached up her hand to fist bump her co-conspirator happily.

House shifted his cane and turned back towards Cuddy, edging to the door, before his heart no longer had the strength to allow him to leave. "I'll see you tomorrow." House spoke softly with his hand on the doorknob.

She stopped him, placing her hand on his upper arm she looked back towards Rachel to make sure she wasn't looking, wanting to ease their relationship slowly back into her life before kissing in front of her daughter. Leaning into him one final time, her lips sought his, lingering in a goodbye kiss that sent chills through her core.

House broke away from her lips, allowing his finger to tickle the soft skin on her neck before he dropped his hand to his side, "Thank you.

"For what?"

"For opening your window."

"Thank you for knocking."

He half-smiled, opening the door wide he stepped into the crisp morning air, "Oh I almost forgot…" He leaned back inside, "Rachel you're Mom just told me that after the lame ice show, you guys get to go eat at Chuck E Cheese!"

"Really? " Rachel screamed with joy, running out still clad in her pajamas to smile up at her Mom.

"That was for the Mickey Mouses." House blurted rapidly, smirking wickedly before he shut the door behind him, walking down her front steps practically singing to himself like an idiot, barely using his cane at all…

The sun was setting on a day that started off like a dream. Waking up to the feeling of her skin against his own, their bodies wonderfully tangled…her confessions of love he could still feel sounding against his lips even in his dreams.

House watched from his spot on the couch as the shadows overtook his apartment, his television barely sounded in front of him as he reached for the remote to turn it off. He had tried many things to distract himself from pining for her all day. Even calling Wilson only to find that he was busy with his own love life, irking House a bit before he realized that was all he wanted to do with his day too.

So he grabbed his keys and went out. Stopping for pizza before he went over to 'check' on Chase, trying to come up with an excuse that would make him seem less like a pathetic loner, but only to discover he couldn't come up with anything.

Thirteen had answered, something House on any normal clear headed day would have anticipated. She smiled at him and swung the door wide, allowing him to come in without expecting any sort of explanations, of which House was thankful for.

So he spent an hour with his two employees. People that had ultimately become his friends, people that he had grown to need in his life…something he was slowly allowing himself to enjoy. He kept up the pretense and checked up on Chases arm and concussion before letting them alone, making his way back to his apartment, where he sat currently, once again at a loss for a proper distraction.

He closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the leather; images of her face swam in his head as he attempted to fall asleep, hoping that at least in his dreams he would get to spend the evening with her.

It felt like hours had gone by before he opened his eyes back up, sleep still evading him no matter how hard he tried. He looked to the clock and then discovered it had only been twenty minutes since he began to feign sleep.

'That's it! ' His mind screamed. Not being able to take it anymore he pushed himself up, grabbing his cane and keys without missing a beat, pulling his arms through his jacket he opened his door widely and stepped into his hallway, and into the path of the object of his desired destination coming towards him.

"Guess we had the same idea." She lightly spoke, her eyes twinkling as she took him in.

He let out a contented sigh, "Well that was easier than I anticipated…where's Rachel?"

"I talked Julia into watching her…I told her I was coming to see you."

"I thought you weren't ready for that."

"Figured I would just get it over with…painfully rip off the band aid."

"I'm assuming she took it well."

"It doesn't matter." She stepped closer to him. "She still agreed to baby-sit."

"For the whole night?"

"Uh-huh." she bit her lip, feeling absolutely exhilarated at the thought of spending the evening with him.

"Is that food I smell…or are you trying out a new perfume?" He teased, seeing perfectly clear that she was holding a bag of food in her left hand.

"It's a four course meal." She held it up between them, "Donatello's cooks much faster than I ever could."

"Oh sorry…if only you had come earlier, I already had pizza with my girlfriends."

"Let me guess…you crashed in on Wilson and his date?"

"No." House defended, "My most attractive friends."

"How is Chase?"

"He's fine." House gave in.

She smirked, "See the thing is, I would have been here sooner but someone suggested to my overly excitable daughter that she was allowed to consume horrific pizza from a place with an oversized rat as a mascot."

"It's a mouse."

"Sure…next time I'm dragging you with us. I know for a fact Rachel will bug me for the rest of her life to take her there again, I think it cost me twenty dollars for her to win a purple plastic ring and a tootsie roll.

"Oh come on. Admit you liked it. I happen to know that ski-ball is my lady's favorite game of all time, I believe those were your precise words…are you going to really deny that you at least had a little fun."

She bit her bottom lip from smiling, "Are you going to let me in, or do I have to find some other annoyingly handsome man to share this with."

House silently grabbed the food from her fingers and backed into his apartment, his eyes never leaving hers as she followed him inside, the door softly closing behind her, tucking them away for the night.