Candy Canes and Mistletoe

Chapter 34

A/N: Ok, let me just say that last night's episode was epic! I was so moved by the parallels and the mirroring of the patient's situation to his own life and the decisions he's made because of his leg. So brilliant. I think the introspection and the writing, not mention how fantastic Hugh is, was at it's finest. The scene where he admits all of his mistakes because of his leg was HUGE! I am even happy with the ending and we all know how much I am not a fan of Cuddy. But to me, it finally it made sense. It was so good to see him have a little light shine of him, and feel happiness for a change. My faith in this show has been restored and I am so looking forward to see how they move on from here... That said, I will forever ship my little Thirteen/House dingy... I just love them too much!

Enjoy!

A little disclaimer... I own none of the fabulous characters of House. I only steal their amazing wit and learn everyday how to develop such deep and moving characters of my own.

There was a knock at the door and House looked over his shoulder at Remy who was busy gathering her purse and various essentials together. Stopping her ministrations, she made a face at him and then rolled her eyes.

"No, don't get up. I'll get it," she announced with a slight edge to her voice as she moved for the door.

"Oh would you? Thanks," he grinned at her and then chuckled turning his attention back to the piles he was sorting. Catering places, florists, photographers, and DJ companies… the amount of vendors was mind-boggling. J. Terrance had them busy like beavers looking at the plethora of possibilities to make this wedding happen.

House heard the door open and Wilson's voice as he entered. "Hello Remy, where are you off to all dressed up?"

"I have a doctor's appointment," she told him coming back down the entrance hall and into the dining room.

"Oh?" Wilson replied curiously as he followed her in.

House could hear her chuckle. "Don't worry, it's just the gyno and no, I'm not pregnant."

Remy picked up her purse and bent to kiss House on the head. "I'll see you later," she said with a wink and then turned to Wilson. "Don't let him get too involved in all this wedding stuff. He's been arranging and organizing for days. He needs a shower and some food."

Wilson nodded and then shook his head. "I can see that," he gestured in the general direction of the covered dining room table.

"Red Bull and lemon chiffon angel food cake are food, you know," House objected as he placed another photographer's portfolio on the pile for documentary style wedding photography. That must be a trend because that pile seemed to be a lot bigger than the traditional style wedding photography. Interesting… definitely something to think about.

Remy leaned in and gave Wilson a kiss on the cheek, "He's been living off of it for the past three days. Real food, real sunlight and no more wedding talk for six hours straight."

"Yes, ma'am," Wilson agreed and watched Remy leave the apartment. Turning his attention back to House, he pushed his hands into his trouser pockets and perused the scene in front of him. "Tell me why Remy is dressed and going out into the world today and you're sitting here at home, still in your pajamas and it's 2:30 in the afternoon?"

"She feels the need to make a difference, or something like that?" House proposed sarcastically and shrugged as he placed another magazine clipping into the flower pile. "Do you think that blue hydrangeas go well with cream and yellow roses?"

Wilson shook his head. "Nah, too deep of a blue if the yellow's not bold."

House grinned and then pointed at him. "Now there's the spirit. Come, sit. I've missed your kevetching and mother-henning."

"Well, you never call, you never write…" Wilson lamented like the good Jewish mother he was. It had been over three weeks since they'd last seen each other. Just having him here now, made House smile. For as much as he didn't miss the drama of the hospital, he did miss the daily banter he shared with his best friend. House supposed it was all part of the moving on process, but it felt weird to not see his friend day in and day out like he was used to.

Wilson rested his hand on the back of a chair and looked pointedly at him. "How about you take your future wife's advice and go shower because your eau de Haus Frau isn't quite what it used to be."

"You just want to get me out of my pants," House replied with a wink. "You know I'm not that easy."

"Fine. We'll grab a late lunch, my treat," Wilson negotiated.

House rose from the table and grabbed his cane. He was hungry and Wilson was always good for a decent lunch and some company. "Charlie's bar and Grille, I'm in the mood for steak."

"Aren't you always when I'm paying?" Wilson muttered and situated himself onto the couch to wait for House to get cleaned up.

A short while later, they were seated at the restaurant and were waiting for their lunch orders to come. They caught up with each other over drinks.

"How are things with Nora?" House asked taking a sip of his iced tea.

"Very good," Wilson told him. "We're thinking about taking a vacation together. Maybe to Cape Cod or something."

"Martha's Vineyard is supposed to be nice," House mentioned. "I've never actually been."

Wilson regarded House for a long moment over the foam in his beer. "Are you ok?"

House rolled his eyes. "Yes, I'm ok. Don't get all gooey and overprotective on me, we're two dude's having lunch over your beer. I'm fine."

"I know," Wilson nodded, "That's what has me worried."

"What, that I'm fine?" House laughed. "For years you've been trying to get me to feel fine without drugs and other obsessive tendencies and now that I am, it's a problem?"

"No," Wilson doubled back, "It's just different. It's been three weeks and you haven't tried to manipulate, cajole or connive your way back."

"I know, weird huh?"

"Definitely weird," Wilson admitted. "Don't you miss it?"

"The hospital, no." House looked out the window. "For the first time in maybe forty years, I'm enjoying life. For real. I love being home, spending time with Rem, just doing simple everyday stuff. Nothing is nagging at me to solve it; nothing is pushing me to do crazy things. I feel… normal."

Wilson sat back in his chair and ran his hand over his jaw. "Wow. That's really great, House. I don't know what to say."

"How about you take it for what it is and stop waiting for the other shoe to drop?"

"I'm not waiting for the other shoe to drop," Wilson scoffed, offended that he didn't believe his intentions.

"That was always the problem with you and Cuddy. You could never believe that I would be ok if you left me to my own devices." House sipped his iced tea and then a thought dawned on him. "Wait a minute," he jabbed a finger at his friend. "You're not here as a double agent are you? You're not here as Cuddy's negotiator to try and get me back, are you? Because that would be a really shitty thing…. Especially after I just emoted with you."

"No, no, no," Wilson held his hands up to stop his train of thought. "She didn't send me, she isn't trying to manipulate anything. I'm here because I wanted to see how you were. I miss my friend."

"Good because I'm never going back to work for that bitch again," House said a bit too harshly.

"She feels bad about what happened, you know," Wilson informed him carefully.

"She should."

"She's still not over it."

"No I'm sure she isn't. Her biggest cash cow has left the ranch. Now she's just a regular, plain vanilla teaching hospital. I'll bet she won't be over it for quite some time."

"That's not what I mean and you know it," Wilson said.

House shrugged and shook his head. "She had her chance."

"She realizes that, it was just a shock to finally realize that you were indeed capable of a lasting relationship," Wilson told him.

"I wouldn't have been with her," House admitted shaking his head regretfully. "And deep down she knows that, too. That's why she stayed away from me and is with Lucas. We're like oil and water. No matter how hard we'd try to mix, I'd always float right back to the top and she'd be trying to bring me back down. Look at what happened. Her reaction was way out of line."

"Yes, it was," Wilson agreed. "After you left that day, I lit into her pretty good. I'm surprised she didn't fire me too for insubordination. What she did was selfish and childish, and driven purely out of jealousy. She knows that, she just doesn't know how to make amends."

"I don't want her to make amends," House said, "Not to me anyway."

Wilson nodded and frowned. "Remy took it hard, I know."

"She really does want to make a difference before she goes," House explained, knowing how much compassion and empathy Remy needed to put out to her patients. "She saw her work on the team as some sort of special calling, a way to make a true impact on people who were given a second chance at life. She worked hard for her patients because she knew they were going to out live her. Cuddy yanked that away from her, just like Foreman did before her. That's why she came back. It wasn't because of me. She loved that job just as much, if not more than I did."

"That job was a way of life for you," Wilson countered, disagreeing with him. "You couldn't live without the mystery of the incurable disease. You lived for the challenge."

"You're right," House agreed. "I did. Now it means nothing to me."

"I might actually believe you," Wilson scoffed.

Their steaks came and they ate without any further talk of Cuddy and the whole debacle that once was his safe haven. As they talked about what he and Remy had been doing for the past three weeks, Wilson relayed a funny story of a recent weekend outing with Nora. There was an accidental misunderstanding in an Atlantic City Casino where the staff mistakenly believed that Nora was one of the Kennedy's. Needless to say, the food and drinks and multiple special amenities poured over them like they were celebrities. They were treated like royalty, so who were they to not inform them that she was in no way shape or form related to the Kennedy's? House admitted that Nora did have that look, and that they should try it somewhere else to see if they could pull it off again.

Suddenly House's cell phone sang out…

One singular sensation
Every little step he takes.
One thrilling combination
Every move that he makes.

House withdrew his cell phone from its clip on his belt and gave Wilson an apologetic grimace. "It's the wedding planner."

Wilson made a curious frown and nodded for him to take the call.

"You have reached the Hunkalicious House Hotline, what can I do for you today?"

"Oh dahling, it's more like what can J. Terrance do for you today," the sultry man voice came over the line.

"What can you do for me today?" House prompted. "Don't tell me you found a strip club that hosts backyard weddings? I may just marry you instead."

"Oh honey, you couldn't handle this much man," J. Terrance boasted coyly. "No, Sexy Sam, I've got one better. I have two amazing friends that own a gorgeous farmhouse B&B just outside of Lambertville. They normally don't do this sort of event planning type of a thing but, because they just simply adore little old me, they're willing to do it for you."

"Excellent," House said and beamed a grin at Wilson. "So when can we see it?"

"Right now," J. Terrance announced.

"Right now is not a good time."

"Right now is the only time Cutie Buns, the proprietors are out of town for the next few days before the summer season starts and because the economy is in the crapper, they're exploring this as an option for them," J. Terrance informed him. "If you want to marry that goddess woman of yours within the next month, you'll get your sexy, crooked ass over here right away."

House rolled his eyes and agreed. J. Terrance gave him the address as he penned it on a napkin before shutting his phone. "Come on," he urged Wilson tossing three twenties down on the table.

"I thought I was buying," Wilson looked at him curiously sipping the rest of his beer and straightening his tie as he stood to go.

"We've gotta see a queen about a wedding."