A/N: This story was written for the Saturday Night Writing Challenge at FoxHouse. The prompt for this fic is a photograph of a group of penguins, perched on a rocky ledge overlooking a stream. Their colours, black and white, and a little penguin who was about to dive into the water, "taking the plunge", so to speak, were the inspirations for this wedding fantasy.

Betas: My sincere thanks to my friends, jellybean728 and teddikayg65 for brainstorming with me on this story. Their help and support was invaluable.

Marry Me …

Chapter 1

"All right, ladies, just lean in a little closer to the bride. Perfect! Say cheese!"
"Cheese!"

"Got it! I'm going to set up in the church now, Dr. Cameron, and get ready for your big entrance."

"Thanks, Derek." Cameron wandered over to the window as she smiled at her bridesmaids, who were giggling like schoolgirls as they fussed over each other's hair.

December 1st … my wedding day …
The ground was covered with a dusting of snow, but the sun shone brightly in an azure sky.

"Allison. Are you all ready?"
"Sorry, Lisa … what did you say?"

"I just asked if you were ready. You were a million miles away," Cuddy said, giving her a gentle hug. "Now, have we forgotten anything?"
"I don't think so."

"Well, let's check again, just to be sure. Something old?" began Cuddy.
"My grandmother's pearls," Cameron replied, running her fingertips over the antique necklace.

"Something new?" her sister Jenny chimed in.
"My wedding dress."

"Something borrowed?" asked Chase's sister, Kym.
"Your mother's earrings."

"Something blue?" they said in unison.
Cameron blushed. "My garter."

"Oh, that garter!" Cameron's mother said, in a disgusted tone.
"Please, Mom, leave it alone."

"Is there a problem with the garter?" Cuddy asked.
Cameron begged, "Lisa, please. Don't get her started."

"Yes, there most certainly is a problem with the garter. Show her Allison …"
Helen Cameron was like a bulldog with a raw, juicy bone in its mouth.
She was not going to let this go.

"Mom …"
"Allison …"

Cameron lifted the hem of her gown to reveal a rather tatty blue garter encircling her stocking-clad leg above her right knee.
"See?" Helen asked.

"Um, I'm not sure what the problem is. I'm sorry," Cuddy said, trying to be as diplomatic as possible,
having realized she'd opened up a huge can of worms.

"I'll show you." Helen reached for her purse and pulled out a small rectangular box. She handed it to Cuddy, who gingerly removed its top.

"This is exquisite." Cuddy lifted an elegant blue silk garter from the box. It was elaborately embellished with ribbon roses,
shimmering seed pearls and pale blue Swarovski crystals.

"I ordered the garter from England, but Allison insists on wearing that ratty thing instead. I just don't understand it! And your dresses …"

"Forgive me, girls," she said, turning to the bridesmaids, "you do look lovely, but I can't believe you're wearing black gowns.
This is a wedding, not a funeral!" Helen said, crying tears of frustration.

"Mom, you're just over-wrought," Jenny said, hugging her mother. "Remember how I explained that black and white weddings are very fashionable these days? I think we look great! And doesn't Allison look beautiful?"

Cameron smiled back at her sister as she looked at her reflection in the full-length mirror. Her Vera Wang gown was truly a dream-come-true. The strapless dress, with its fitted bodice and full ballerina skirt, was a confection of French tulle and white satin. Her tiny waist was accented by a black velvet sash and taffeta roses and she held a bouquet of burgundy-black calla lilies in her delicate hands.

"Yes, she does," agreed Helen, as she went to give Cameron a hug. "Darling, I'm so sorry. I won't mention the garter again.
I'll just pretend that you're wearing the one I bought you, when you marry Robert today."

Cameron breathed a huge sigh of relief. "Thanks, Mom."

"Oh, he's going to look so dashing in his tuxedo. Lisa, won't my Allison and Robert make beautiful babies together?
I can hardly wait to be a grandmother!" Helen gushed.

When Cameron heard her mother's words, she thought she was going to be ill and quickly reached for a chair.

"Yes they will, Helen. They're the perfect couple. Allison, are you okay?" Cuddy asked, noticing the colour drain from Cameron's face.

"I'm fine, Lisa. The excitement's just getting to me. Would you mind giving me a few minutes alone before the ceremony starts?" she asked, smiling at her Mother and her bridesmaids.

"Of course, darling. We'll be right outside if you need us."
Cameron's mother kissed her gently on her forehead and followed the girls into the church vestibule.

A perfect couple … a perfect romance … it's all a sham.
There's only one man I want to marry.
There's only one man I want to father my children …
And it's not the man I go to bed with every night.

She lifted the hem of her skirt and gently fingered the blue satin garter as she thought back to last night …

oOoOo

Cameron surveyed her honeymoon wardrobe, laid out on her bed, waiting to be packed.
Why did I ever agree to go back to Australia with Robert's family for a three-week honeymoon?

All she wanted to do was slip into a hot bath and forget about the wedding extravaganza her mother had planned for a precious few minutes. She quickly shed her blue jeans, sweatshirt and bra, and was about to remove her lacey white thong when she heard a sharp knock at her door.

Cameron looked at the clock on her bedside table.
Eleven o'clock? Who could that be?

Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock …
"I'm coming, I'm coming …"

Cameron hastily wrapped a white silk robe around her near-naked body and ran down the hall.
She peered through the peephole and opened the door.

"House? What are you doing here?" His blue eyes stared at her with an intensity that instantly ignited the fire she felt in her core whenever he was near. "You're supposed to be at the bachelor party. Oh, God. Has something happened to Robert?"

House rolled his eyes with impatience as he waited for Cameron to finish. "No, nothing's happened to Robert," he said in a mocking tone,
"I just left the party early, that's all. Can I come in?"

"Um, sure," Cameron said, tightening the belt of her robe. Her heart skipped a beat as he brushed past her.
"Have a seat. I was just about to make myself a cup of tea, and then take a bath. Would you like to join me?"

House smirked. "In the bath? Yes. In a cup of tea? No. I hate tea."
"Too bad. It's tea or nothing. My nerves are bad enough without drinking more coffee."

"Well then, I take mine with milk and sugar." House acquiesced.
Cameron smiled. "I'll put the kettle on."

House watched as she padded to the kitchen in her bare feet, stirring at the sight of her satiny robe falling seductively over her perfect behind.

He had never been to Chase's apartment. Its furnishings were surprisingly elegant, in a contemporary style that House knew was not to Cameron's taste. There were wedding gifts everywhere, some opened, some not.

"Just checkin' out your loot."

Cameron smiled. "We've received some lovely gifts. I'll have a lot of thank you notes to write when we get back from our honeymoon.
Let's sit here." House followed Cameron as she carried their tea to the coffee table and sat beside her on the sofa. Ever mindful of his leg, Cameron waited until House was settled and then handed him his drink.

She watched as he drank his tea, quivering at the sight of his tongue licking a stray drop from his lips.

Like everything with House, her reaction did not go unnoticed.
"You're shaking … are you cold?" Cameron could feel the blood rush to her cheeks as House glanced pointedly at her hardened nipples.

"Maybe … just a little. " She had to change the subject. "So you never did say. Why did you leave the party early?
I thought you were in charge of making sure that Robert got to the hotel safely tonight."

"I gave the job to Wilson. I had something important I wanted to do."

House took another sip of his tea and then set the cup and saucer back on the table.
"I had to see you … one last time."

Cameron swallowed hard. "One last time? Why?"

"Because I …" House paused, searching for the strength to tell her the reason.
This is your last chance, idiot … don't blow it …
But the words never came.

"Because, I have a present for you."
"A present? House, you already sent us a present."

"I did?" House said with genuine astonishment. "Oh yea, Wilson said that he'd pick something out for me. What did I get you?"
"Eight Waterford crystal wine glasses."

"Geez, Wilson spends my money like a drunken sailor!" House said, pretending to be cross.
Cameron smiled to herself, knowing how much House hated "nice" moments.

"So, what's my present?" she asked.
"This." House snapped a blue satin garter that he wore on his left arm.

Cameron laughed. "Where did you get that?"
"I won it!" House said proudly. "At the Wombat's bachelor party."

Cameron covered her face with her hands. "I'm afraid to ask …"
"We were playing 'Pin-The-Tail-On-The-Hooker', and I got the closest to the target and …"

"Hookers? There were hookers at the party?" she seethed.
"Uh, oh." House's boyish grin soon dissolved her fury. "Maybe they were strippers … I forget."

"Forget, my ass …" Cameron smirked.
"I could never forget your ass," he said softly.