Unexpected, Unsurprising, Unforgettable Chapter 11, a house, m.d. fanfic

AN: Hello again all! I must – once again – apologize for the delay in this chapter. I had very stumbling blocks and couldn't get it out earlier. I will tell you this… I hope that this chapter will hold you all over for a long time because I don't think that I will be able to update for an even longer interval. Please be kind in… read and review. )

Oh, and thank you to HA… I know there were probably quite a few mistakes in this and you're a doll!!

Chapter 11

Cuddy now had less than 45 minutes to get to the chapel for the wedding. This was turning into a nightmare. All she needed to do was get dressed, but she was getting some serious cold feet.

"Snap out of it, Lisa. When you get back to Princeton you'll just say that it was a drunken thing and get an annulment. Nothing to it right?" She was questioning herself as she looked at herself in the mirror. Her makeup was ready and Catherine had pinned her hair up for her.

She looked at the dress hanging by the dresser. It was truly a beautiful dress and she had spent a fortune on it. All she could hope for now was that House liked it, even if it was just a little. Judging by the low cut neckline, he was going to drool all over her.

Slowly she got dressed, mindful of the thin straps and the delicate hem. She felt like a princess putting on her gowns for a royal ball that her parents were throwing her, where she would meet Prince Charming and fall madly in love, and live happily ever after….yeah, like that was likely to come true. She knew exactly who was throwing the bash and that happily ever afters were foreign terms when dealing with House, never mind that he was so far away from being a prince, much less… charming. Even though she had stopped picturing herself getting married, she couldn't help the butterflies from beginning their dance through her stomach.

Lisa caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and her breath hitched in her throat. Even she had to admit that she looked stunning. She always knew there was something about a bride that made her look radiant and now she knew what it was…she was feeling it at that very moment…it was love, and Lisa Cuddy was not going to admit that anytime soon.

She looked down at her ring finger and caressed it gently. In a few minutes she would have a physical reminder of her plans…and she was actually going to be someone's family from that point on. She hadn't been a part of a family for who knows how long and to think that he would start being a legitimate family member again was a strange idea. She was going to become a wife to House, and even though she knew it was only temporary, she was going to have to act accordingly for a bit and what was that going to do to her?

"This is the life you chose for yourself, Lisa. Now that you've made your bed, you've gotta lie in it." At least the groom was someone she truly did respect and called a friend…even if he didn't know it…yet.

"Why did I ever agree to this?" She knew the answer to that question. Whenever it was anything involving her personal life it was always the same…House. He made her do things she never thought she would do, give up and take up thing she never thought she would. He just had that effect on her and she couldn't deny him anything.

She couldn't help being weak around him because he just made her feel secure and like nothing else mattered. Maybe Don had been right; maybe she was only ever alive when she was with him.

Her musings were interrupted by a knock on the door. It opened to reveal Catherine holding some things in her hand.

"I don't think I can do this."

Catherine just smiled and lied the objects on the vanity. "Tell me something. When you wake up in the morning, who is the first person you think about?"

"House. I need to start thinking about the latest thing he has or will do to the hospital."

"And when you go to sleep?"

"The same infuriating man, for the same reason too. I don't know how he does it."

"What about during the day, where do your thoughts wander?"

"The clinic, but only because I have a certain doctor who hates completing his hours and I always wind up having to chase him down."

"And that doctor would be…"

"House, but I do have to chase Wilson too. Though that is usually because some nurse or another has caught his eye and he decides to slip away to some room and smooch."

"What about when you're feeling down or upset about something, anything, who is the one person you can count on to cheer you up and help you feel better? Who knows you better than you know yourself, and who tells you the truth, and vice versa, no matter what?"

"All right, I see your point, House on all accounts. Who asked you to butt in anyway? I was doing fine with my self pity, you know."

Catherine really laughed this time. "Sure, now let's get you finished up."

"Sure, preparing myself for the final curtain call is always fun."

"It should be. I remember my first wedding. I felt like I was walking on clouds…though that may have been the coke."

"My last final at Michigan I was so plastered I don't know how I managed to pass."

The women went over the final checklist and made sure everything was in place. Right before they left the house Lindsay remembered something. "Oh my God, do you have your something old, new, borrowed and blue?"

Lisa had a question mark on her face. "I'm Jewish, the Christian wedding is for Greg's benefit."

"It doesn't matter, its tradition."

Lisa rolled her eyes, teenagers. She looked at Catherine for help only to find the woman had already gone in search of the missing items.

"Let's see," she said when she came back, "the dress and shoes are new; the earrings are mine, so they are borrowed; this blue handkerchief is blue, and matches the dress so thank God for that one; and finally old…I have no idea."

"It's not really necessary, I got ¾ already."

Lindsay looked aghast at what the doctor was suggesting. It was right near blasphemy for the girl. Suddenly the CSI's eyes light up and she rushed out of the hallway once more. When she came back a bracelet was found in her hands.

"This bracelet was my great-grandmother's, so it counts as old. Here, let me put it on for you."

Lisa looked down at herself once more. "Am I ready now?"

The Willows women looked at each other and gave a nod of approval. "You'll knock him off his feet," the older of the two said.

"Hopefully not too far, he gets cranky when he can't get up by himself."

They made their way to the car together. "Gil is going to meet us there. He'll be on call, but so far crime seems to be slow in Vegas tonight. You sure have a lot of power; maybe we should have you down here more often."

Lisa shook her head. "That would be House's doing. He prides himself in being the center of attention everywhere he goes."

House arrived early at the chapel and had a good look around the place. When she said she was going to choose a nice place she wasn't kidding.

He went to the attending and introduced himself. Promptly he was taken to a room with a couple of couches and they had him sit, drink, and wait.

"Everything in this room is included in the package, so please feel free to use it to your hearts content."

"Nice."

Of course, this being House, he did just that.

He wasn't alone for long. Soon a geeky looking man, with salt and pepper hair, and thick glasses appeared.

"Is this the…uh…" He looked at a piece of paper in his hands. "… House and Cuddy wedding?"

"Yes, it just happens to be. And you are?"

The man fumbled with the door and stumbled in. "Hi, I'm Gil Grissom. My fiancée, Catherine, met your fiancée, Lisa, today and I got roped into coming to the wedding. You're Greg, right? I hope you don't mind."

"Hmm, I guess you can stay," he said without much care, as if it depended on him…HA! "Help yourself to some booze. I have a feeling that we will be here a while."

"Thanks." They got comfortable and began an amiable conversation…. Yes, House is capable of such things sometimes.

"Catherine said you were here for the AMA conference. What specialty are you?"

Glad for the conversation in his favor, House decided Gil was a man worth talking to, until he got bored anyway.

"I am a diagnostician with a double specialty in nephrology and infectious disease. Are you a doctor too?"

Gil laughed slightly. "No, I am a crime scene investigator and entomologist. I also had a brief stint as a Medical Examiner in California, but that was a long time ago."

"Nice. Any interesting cases?"

"A few, a few macabre also, but you have probably had some interesting ones too. If I am correct, then you are that infamous doctor from Jersey who is absurdly cruel with his patients, but also has the highest survival rate."

"You might be right, but I think you forgot incredibly handsome and creative."

"Of course, how could I? Humble too."

"Thanks, I try not to lay it on too thick, but the lady's just love it."

This was definitely a man Greg could get used to, possibly even turn into a friend competing for James' place. Nah, Jimmy boy knew too much. Then again, he didn't know Greg was getting married, did he?

Once the uncomfortable silence had been broken both men felt content to sit in their own worlds for a while.

Greg pulled out the rings he'd bought and looked at them. A smile played at the corner of his lips. He could hardly believe this was happening. Lisa Cuddy had actually agreed to marry him!

Gil noticed what he was looking at and a smile threatened to emerge on his face. He knew that feeling well; he'd experienced it before too. Every time he even glimpsed the ring he'd bought for Catherine he felt it, and probably looked that way too. The look told of a man completely besotted with a woman. It was the utter joy of having found the 'perfect' ring for her delicate fingers, and knowing that she would earnestly love it as much as you had. It was a wonderful feeling, and if he'd had any doubt about this man's love for the woman he was about to marry, that look would have completely taken it away.

"When did you know?" he asked of the groom.

House was startled out of his reverie. He'd almost completely forgotten that he wasn't alone in the room; thank God he hadn't said anything out loud.

"Know what?"

"That Lisa was the one for you."

"My third year of Medical School, on our second date when she wouldn't sleep with me, I was hooked."

"And it took you this long to act on it? And I thought I was slow with Catherine. What happened?" Maybe this guy had had just as much bad luck with his lady as he'd had with his.

"I wound up leaving for Johns Hopkins and we lost touch. When we met up again I was already with someone else, and…that's when I…got sick." Changing topics quickly he continued. "What about you, when did you know?"

Gil could tell that his 'sickness' was most likely a touchy, or personal, topic and moved on as normal. House, for his part, really was interested in what this guy had o say.

Gil remembered vividly. "After our first conversation, she was still dancing at the time and was in a steady relationship, but she captivated me. I'd never met anyone like her, and won't ever again. We became friends, I attended her wedding, helped her quit dancing and all her other addictions, stood by her as her husband beat her…pretty pitiful I guess, but I got the girl in the end."

"What kinda dancer was she?"

At this question Gil had to smile. Guessing by the calculating look on Greg's face he had already figured it out. "Exotic."

"You naughty boy, you! Maybe she can give Cuddlekins some lessons."

They shared a laugh. "You never know, maybe she already has. Guess you'll find out tonight."

House became somber, "Yeah, maybe." He knew it wouldn't happen for them, again, tonight. Cuddy didn't love him, and she had too much of an attachment to him to do that. He'd first have to make her fall for him all over again before any of the fun stuff started. That would already be half the fun.

"I'm guessing she divorced the guy who treated her like a punching bag."

"Yeah, she did. When he died I was actually relieved, I know that's wrong, but he couldn't hurt her or Lindsay anymore."

"Lindsay?"

"Her daughter."

House could understand the feeling of relief. He couldn't count the number of times he'd wished his father was dead as a child.

Gil looked at his watch. He knew women took long to get ready, Catherine was no exception, but this was too much. At this rate there might not even be a wedding anymore.

"I wonder what's keeping them."

"They'll be here soon. You know women, if it's not one thing it's another. Relax."

Just then, a woman appeared at the door and asked them to follow her. She took them to where the ceremony would be taking place and left them at the Alter.

Greg looked around uncomfortably before looking to Gil. "I know we only just met but I seem to be without a best-man. Do you think you could do me the honor? I would really appreciate it."

"Of course, it would be my honor."

Greg pulled out the rings from his pocket and handed them to Gil saying, "Here, it's your job to hold these. Lose them and I'll kill you."

"I have no doubt about that."

Gil accepted the rings with a smile on his face. He could tell that this man had more bark than bite and that what he said was mostly to get a rise out of people. It reminded him of Catherine somewhat.

They again stood in a comfortable and companionable silence while they awaited the arrival of the beauties to their beasts. Soon the minister arrived and placed the license on the table.

This was the first time that he noticed some of the arrangements on the table. There was a required flower centerpiece – for, what was a wedding without flowers? – But there were also three candles, one large and two others a bit smaller. On the walls there were picturesque scones that seemed to have fallen right out of a Disney recreated fairy tale. The few chairs in the room formed a semi-circle around the Alter which had a chuppah-like piece standing ornately in the middle.

It seemed that Cuddy had thought of everything to incorporate their lives. Colors in the room seemed to represent them to a deep extent.

Minutes after the minister had finished setting up a song started playing from a very well hidden sound system. It was Berlin's "Take my Breath Away", the first song they had danced to as a couple way back when, and the one that he always said described what Lisa did to him.

Perfect.

Time started coming to a halt as the double doors leading in began to inch open at snail pace. In fact, he was pretty sure a snail moved faster than those doors were at that moment.

The first person to walk in was Lindsey, acting as flower girl and looking like an angel in Gil's eyes. Greg didn't notice her; he was waiting on the main course so to speak. So when Catherine walked in right after her as the maid of honor he began to really become impatient. Where was his bride for God's sake?!

And, just as the chorus was about to kick in for a second time, Lisa walked through the doors and Greg seemed to have been planted to the ground. Nothing would have managed to have moved him at the precise moment. His Goddess was walking towards him and nothing else seemed to be even slightly important. The only thing that managed to keep him on his feet was the cane that was straining under his weight as he couldn't have held himself up with even his good leg if he had tried.

She was perfect, and she was about to become eternally his. What had he done to deserve this?

Just as the song was coming to an end, Lisa was standing by his side and he was taking hold of her hand. She smiled at him shyly and even though he had scoffed at the idea of a blushing bride before, at the moment there was nothing purer than the woman standing before him.

They turned toward the priest who began, what both Greg and Lisa hoped would be, the shortest wedding of all time.

"We have gathered here today to join this man, Gregory House, to this woman, Lisa Cuddy. Marriage is a sacred union that should not be entered with a light heart. Are both of you absolutely sure that this is the deepest desire in your hearts?"

The words uttered by the minister reeked of a script repeated verbatim, but neither seemed to notice. And the answer was surprisingly simple and heartfelt to both of them.

"Yes."

Their answers were indiscernible as to their origin, for both parties managed to utter the single word at the same time and in octaves so similar it was as if they were already one with each other.

"Wonderful. Then let us continue. The rings please."

Gil was about to step forward when Greg signaled for him to stop as he spoke. "You were getting them, right?"

Lisa froze to the spot for a moment and her eyes seemed to want to pop out of their sockets. And everything was going so well. Why did he always have to mess things up? Why did things always have to go against her and her happiness with the man she loved?

"I can't believe this. I told you that if you messed up even once this would be over. This was a simple objective. You even had one of my rings to compare if you needed it. How could you do this?"

What she didn't notice during her rant was Gil placing the boxes discreetly in Greg's hand the latter man opening them. Greg placed the boxes in front of him and looked Lisa in the eyes with the most sincere expression he could muster.

During all of this, the minister was preparing to gather his things and leave. This type of situation was all too common in the Vegas wedding business. He would never understand how people could get married like they did in Vegas. When he noticed that the yelling had stopped he was broken out of his reverie to find the bride staring bug-eyed at the jewelers boxes in the grooms hand.

Lisa Cuddy was in absolute shock. He'd pulled one over on her yet again. Would she ever learn to read him?

Her hands trembled towards the boxes being held in front of her and she gently lifted them for closer inspection. They were beautiful. It was as if he had read her mind and gotten her the exact rings that her heart had been yearning for. They were neither too flashy nor too modest and would look perfect on her finger. He always did this to her. Mess up royally and manage to redeem himself in an even greater manner.

She looked up and into the eyes of her husband to be and noticed the relieved expression that had settled there. Quickly it was replaced by the smug mask he was so good at conjuring. He couldn't fool her though. She knew what was hidden deep in his heart and even if her mind didn't realize it yet, her heart already felt his love and devotion.

Without really knowing it, this was the moment that concreted her love for him and the fact that she would do anything to stay married to this fool. Even if she had to beat him over the head with his own cane, she would find a way to make him love her. Her mind was certain of what her heart had already known from the beginning.

They were broken out of their personal moment by the minister clearing his throat.

"Greg, place the rings on her finger and repeat after me."

He took the rings out of the box and took hold of her hand, gently sliding the rings half way and holding them there, waiting for the minister's next words.

"I Gregory House, take thee, Lisa Cuddy…"

"To be my lawfully wedded wife,"

"To love, honor and protect,"

"For richer or poorer,"

"In sickness and in health,"

"In sickness or in health,"

"Through the good times and the bad,"

"As long as we both shall live,"

"And with this ring I thou wed."

In his mind he also added, 'And with this ring I seal my fate as a confirmed married man for the rest of my life. Please don't let me regret this choice and love me back even half as much as I love you.'

He slid the rings completely onto her finger and brought her hand up to his mouth placing an affectionate kiss on top of them.

"Now Lisa, take the other ring, place it on Gregory's finger and repeat after me."

She took the matching ring from it's box and did the same as Greg, only sliding it in half way onto his finger.

"I Lisa Cuddy, take thee, Gregory House …"

"To be my lawfully wedded husband,"

"To love, honor and protect,"

"For richer or poorer,"

"In sickness and in health,"

"In sickness or in health,"

"Through the good times and the bad,"

"As long as we both shall live,"

"And with this ring I thee wed."

With that final line Lisa meticulously slid the ring fully into place and repeated his actions, taking his hand up to her mouth and placing a barely there kiss on it. A tear unwillingly slid down her face. She knew she'd meant the words spoken from the bottom of her heart. In her eyes House saw the same thing. She'd been there before and she would continue to be there, that was who he was, there was no doubting that. And now, her mind had finally reached the same conclusions her heart had long ago. There was no way in hell or high waters that would she dare give him a divorce. He asked to marry her? Well, now he was in for the whole ride, no backing out, no get out of jail card, just him and her and a life together…. 'as long we both shall live.'

"By the powers vested in me by the state of Nevada and the Church of the Redemption, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Mr. House, you may now kiss Mrs. House."

With those words Greg took Lisa's hands fully into his and bore holes deep in to her eyes. Inwardly he thought, 'I'm in this for the long haul baby, and I'll tie you down if you even think of moving.'

Lisa had some thought of her own as Greg brought his head down a few pegs for the long awaited kiss. 'You are about to find out the true definition of ball and chain Gregory House. Only this ball and chain won't ever break you free.'

As their lips met, their eyes closed on their own and their breathing became tandem. All at once they became one in that simple kiss that seemed to last an eternity. Of course when they broke apart they realized they hadn't been joined for even two seconds. The minister looked at them in mock harshness.

"You call that a kiss? I see more love between fish!"

Lisa laughed slightly against Greg's chest. Now Greg couldn't have a minister calling him a prude, now could he? He lifted Lisa's head and looked deeply into her eyes before he lowered his mouth to hers again. This time he took his sweet and deliberate time and kissed the lights out of the woman in his arms. Soon she was returning with all that she was receiving, wrapping her arms around her husband and pulling him into her. This was definitely better than the first time around her mind decided, definitely better. And there was no way that anyone was going to pull her out of this bliss, except of course her own lungs who had started to protest under the lack of oxygen. They just had to be party stoppers.

Slowly and unwillingly they pulled away from each other, both afraid to break the kiss and be brought back to the reality they were facing. And to think, all this started with just trying to piss of an annoying man from their past.

They were entirely broken out of their little world from he catcalls coming from the direction of their sole guests. When Lindsey called out for them to get a room Greg stuck his tongue and declared that they already did. To which she maturely protested with an award winning, "Eww!"

"You started it!"

"But you didn't have to continue it."

Lisa and Catherine rolled their eyes simultaneously. "Children," declared Lisa, "If you have finished squabbling, we have a reception to get to."

"But mo-om!!" Greg's protest fell to deaf ears, which were at that moment being taken by their owner's shapely body out and through to the reception room.

"Hey! You can't leave without your husband! There are laws about this."

Without even turning around Lisa answered him, "Stop complaining and get your ass over here then."

Greg hurried as fast as he could to the next room and was met with a champagne glass in his hand. Gil decided that it was his job as best man to give a speech for the happy couple. Of course, he had no idea where to start seeing as he had just met said happy couple, but what the hell.

"To Lisa and Greg, may you always be as in love as you are at this moment."

They all drank to the small toast, but none could pretend that the temperature hadn't dropped several degrees when the word love was uttered. Gil was clueless.

They enjoyed their time together for a bit until Greg had a look at his watch and noticed that it was time for his first surprise for his new bride.

"Lisa, I think we'd better get going."

Just as he had expected, she was confused. "What? Are you insinuating that you are expecting a real wedding night?" she whispered to him harshly.

"No, but I am insinuating that I made dinner plans for the two of us."

"Oh…well then. I guess we should go." She turned to Catherine and Gil. "Thank you so much for coming tonight. You have no idea how glad I am."

"Are you kidding me? This is some of the most fun I've had in a while."

"Good. Now you better call me for your wedding. There is no way that I will be missing that."

"I will. Now go and enjoy that man of yours. I expect a call tomorrow with some details."

They shared a laugh. "I doubt there will be much to tell, but sure. Maybe we can get together again before the week is up."

"Love to."

Greg pulled her away from their new friends and took her outside, where she expected them to find a taxi. He guided her to the awaiting limousine and had to grin at the surprise etched on her face. Maybe the dinner wouldn't be as nerve wrecking as he'd thought it would.

As the car pulled away from the curb Lisa's thoughts drifted to the man sitting beside her. So far everything had gone perfectly to plan it seemed. She could almost let herself believe that it was her own fairy tale coming true, almost. There was still this nagging voice in the back of her mind, which sounded frighteningly similar to Nurse Brenda's, which kept reminding her that none of this was real.