We're married six weeks later on the first of December. It's a quiet ceremony, conducted by a justice of the peace that Wilson knew from one of his marriages. My dress is simple, an empire waist and cap sleeves, the hem falling to my knees. I have flowers in my hair. House wears a suit, no tie. The usual suspects are here: Cuddy, Wilson, Chase, Kutner, Stacy, my family, my college friends. Cameron is here to keep up appearances and because House still thinks of her as a friend. She's extremely touchy feely with Chase and I'm hoping she's opened her eyes and discovered she has a wonderful man to love her; a man that isn't my man.
I meet House's mother for the first time. She was unaware of my existence until he'd asked me to move in with him and until now didn't know how serious it was. She's a sweet woman and is proud that her son found someone to love. She's here for two days only and I think House is secretly happy that she's here and that his father is dead and unable to come.
When I say I do, it feels so right and so perfect. We kiss and are announced as Mr. and Mrs. House. It's the happiest day of my life and I can't stop looking at House, my husband. I've fallen in love with a man more than twice my age, with a terrible attitude, a limp and a Vicodin addiction and I don't care about any of that. All he wanted was someone to talk to, someone to take care of him and have sex with him and we've turned it into marriage.
The reception is a blast, with a jazz band playing and an open bar, the liquor flowing. Our first dance is to "At Last," originally performed by Etta James. I ask him if I'm dreaming and he chuckles and kisses my forehead. He tells me no, unfortunately I did end up marrying him. I laugh and rest my head on his shoulder and we sway slowly to the music.
The song ends and we kiss and my father and I dance and House dances with Alexis, at her insistence. I watch as he lets her stand on his feet and he clumsily dances with her. My father tells me I look beautiful and he's happy for me. He wishes my mother were still around to see this and I agree with him.
The night is endless dancing and drinking. I dance with Wilson, Chase, Kutner, my brothers and House. I barely get a break between and when dinner is served, I'm glad to sit. I've been fighting off an ear infection the last few days and the antibiotics have been giving me an upset stomach, but nothing can ruin tonight.
I'm sitting between House and Cuddy and I notice she looks a little green and ask her if everything's okay. She looks up at me, her big blue eyes full of worry. In a hushed voice, she tells me that she's been trying to get pregnant for such a long time, but the embryos never took, but the night of the engagement party, she and Wilson had unprotected sex. She's pregnant, six weeks along.
I laugh, excited. Wilson wants children, this I know and I feel like their relationship has turned into something solid in the past few weeks. I ask her how he feels about it and she tells me she hasn't told him yet, hasn't told anyone yet. I hug her and congratulate her and reassure her that he'll be happy.
House, who we thought was busy talking to my father, turns to Wilson and congratulates him for knocking Cuddy up. There's silence at the table for a moment, everyone shocked. Cuddy tells House he's an asshole and he smiles that smile of his that says oh well! Leave it to House to completely ruin news.
At the end of the evening, we're driven back to our apartment and he apologizes for not being able to carry me over the threshold. I tell him I've never been one for the Disney fairytale and we walk into the house. We stand in the living room, holding each other and he thanks me for marrying him. I laugh and say he's welcome, any time. He says he loves me and I tell him I love him back.
We undress each other and fall into bed, our first time as a married couple. He takes a moment to look at my naked body and he tells me I'm gorgeous, calling me Mrs. House. This time is different and we both know it. There's something about our urgency, our need and we come simultaneously and it's earth shattering.
xXxXx
We're married six weeks later. The ceremony is simple, conducted by a justice of the peace and not some Bible thumping minister. Wilson serves as my best man and Gerri is Henri's maid of honor. Henri looks amazing, her hair up and little white flowers in it. Her dress is simple but hugs her body in all the right places and she looks sexy. I'm in a suit, no tie and I'm glad we didn't make a huge fuss about getting dressed up.
The usual suspects are here: Cuddy, Wilson, Chase, Kutner, Stacy, Henri's family and college friends. Cameron is here to keep up appearances and because although she nearly ruined Henri and I, I still like her as a person. She's extremely touchy feely with Chase and I think she's opened her eyes and discovered she loves him.
My mother is here, meeting Henri for the first time. I told her about her when she first moved in, but I don't think she realized how serious I was until now. She's here for only two days, meeting the woman I've been fortunate enough to fall in love with. She tells me she's proud of me and wishes my father was here to see it; I don't wish that. I'm glad he isn't here.
I've been nervous all day, but when I say I do, it feels right. We kiss and are announced as Mr. and Mrs. House. It's the happiest day of my life and I can't stop looking at Henri, my wife. I never thought there would be a Mrs. House. I'm an old crippled man with a bad, abrasive attitude and a Vicodin addiction and I'm married to a young, beautiful, intelligent woman who is unlike anyone I've ever known. All I wanted was someone to talk to, someone to take care of me and have sex with me and it's turned into marriage and I'm okay with that. Actually, I'm happy with it.
The reception is a blast, with a jazz band and an open bar and it's relaxed and stress-free. Our first dance is to "At Last" and I love the feeling of her slim, warm body under my hands as we dance. She asks me if she's dreaming and I laugh and kiss her forehead. I tell her no, unfortunately she did end up marrying me. She laughs and rests her head on my shoulder and we sway slowly to the music.
The song ends and we kiss and Henri and her father dance and at her urging, I dance with Alexis. I feel awkward when she stands on my feet and I take her hands and clumsily move her around the dance floor as best as I can with my bum leg.
The night is endless dancing and drinking. I dance with Cuddy, Sherry, my mother and Thirteen. I even have a quick rotation around the floor with Wilson. I barely get a break between and when dinner is served, I'm glad to sit. My leg is killing me and I have to take an extra couple of Vicodin in hopes that the pain will subside quickly enough to enjoy the rest of the evening.
I'm sitting between Henri and her father and I overhear Henri talking to Cuddy in whispers. I can't really hear much of what's said, but I pick up a few words and one of them perks my ears: pregnant. Cuddy hasn't had a drop of alcohol all night, which is unlike her at a party. She's been looking fatigued and now I know.
I turn to Wilson and congratulate him for knocking Cuddy up. There's silence at the table for a moment, everyone shocked. Cuddy tells me I'm an asshole and I give her that smile that says oh well! I know Cuddy has been trying to get pregnant for years and Wilson, a three time loser in marriage, wants children but until now has had no prospects. They've been giving the impression that this budding romance might turn into something real and I'm glad for them.
At the end of the evening, we're driven back to our apartment and I apologize for not being able to carry her over the threshold. I'm an old cripple and I can't do those romantic tasks that marriage requires. She tells me she's never been one for the Disney fairytale and we walk into the house. We stand in the living room, holding each other and I thank her for marrying me. I never thought anyone would like me enough to marry me and I never thought I'd like anyone enough to marry.
She says I'm welcome, any time. I tell her I love her and she says she loves me back. I also never thought I'd love someone so intensely.
We undress each other and fall into bed, our first time as a married couple. I take a moment to look at her naked body and I tell Mrs. House she's gorgeous. She really, truly is. I'm a lucky man to have such a beautiful woman to love. This time is different and we both know it. There's something about our urgency, our need and we come simultaneously and it's earth shattering.
xXxXx
A/N: Hey, readers... I just wanted to thank you for all the support. I'm nearly at 10,000 hits and that's amazing. I just wanted to let you guys know that I know I've spoiled you with nearly daily updates, but I may not update as often for the next couple of days. I've had the next 10 chapters written, but I discovered that I've gone in a direction that I'm not ready to be in so I'm doing a major rewrite. I've never written a story like this before, in first person, and I'm pleased to know that people seem to like it. I know at times my overlap may be daunting, but the method helps me get both characters' POVs in and it also helps me write faster and farther; I've never written something past 17 chapters. Anyway, keep up with reading and reviewing, I do appreciate it and if you guys ever have questions, let me know via review.