Hi everyone. Here's the chapter you've all been waiting for. Before I let you all go on to read this, I have a few things to say, like always except that this is more on the emotional note. Look at the publication date of this fic. It's been a year ago today that I posted this, and I just want to thank you all so much for your support. I mean it's not the best of fics, but it's been insanely popular from the start, and I am so thankful for those of you who have stuck around the entire time. I mean, it's almost at 1000 reviews, and I hope that by the ending, it has surpassed it. But anyway, I just want to thank you all for this, it really means the world to me that you like this story my imagination has come up with, and it really touches me when you review and let me know how you feel about it, or give me ideas. So really, thank you all. Also, a big shout out to paramorefreak24 who was my whiteboard during the entirety of this chapter, even going as far as to write a small part for me. Go on and read her fics! Also, read 'Thunder Road' by TeddisonEddison. That is all. I'm going to stop talking now, enjoy the longest chapter yet (7,625) and don't forget to leave a review! :')
"I'll see you the day after tomorrow." Cuddy said softly as she ran her hands along House's arms. Their wedding was only two days away. They were saying their goodbyes so early because although they were all headed in the same direction, Cuddy's mother and sister had insisted that they all drive to Atlantic City in different cars; the men in one, and the women in other. Considering that it was a three hour drive and it was nearing midafternoon, Cuddy knew that he mother and sister would most likely rush her off to dinner, especially considering the fact that some of her close friends would also be meeting them there a night early.
"Guess so Cuddles." He replied before leaning down and kissing her. She wrapped her arms around his neck before smiling against his lips.
"Don't have too much fun at your bachelor party… No licking any of the strippers." She said playfully although she actually meant it.
"I'm not Wilson, and I could say the same to you." He teased.
She rolled her eyes. She would never admit that she was a little afraid of whatever her friends had planned for her bridal shower.
"Ok. So, I'll see you on Friday. And make sure Wilson doesn't lose his pants!" She gave him a quick peck before heading off towards her sister and mother who were currently waiting for her by her car.
"You two are like lovesick teenagers." Julia teased, nudging her in the stomach.
"Shut up." She replied giving her sister a playful shove.
"Look at you two, both in your forties and acting like a bunch of little girls. Rachel is better behaved than you two are." Arlene commented as she shut the hatchback of Cuddy's Lexus, Rachel nodding at her side.
Cuddy let out a soft laugh at her daughter before extending her arms to her.
"Come give me a hug." She said knowing she didn't even need to ask when she felt her daughter's arms around her neck.
"I love you momma." Rachel said softly.
"I love you too baby." Cuddy replied just as softly.
"Enough hallmark moments. If we want to make it to Atlantic City before our dinner reservation with those annoying friends of yours we need to leave now." Arlene commanded, getting into the driver's seat.
Cuddy rolled her eyes at her mother before telling Rachel to get into the car and getting in right after her.
They checked into the Trump resort at half past seven. They checked into their rooms, and quickly showered and changed in order to make dinner on time. Cuddy changed into the red dinner dress she had made sure to pack. It was off shoulder and ended just above her knee. She and Julia left their kids in one of the playrooms that were supervised by hotel employees; there was no way they would be able to focus on their children during the night with so much going on.
"Lisa, don't you think that dress is too short for you?"
"No mother."
"Mom, jeez leave her alone. She's getting married the day after tomorrow, let her do what she wants. Lise, you look fine, ignore her, she's just being her usual self."
Cuddy completely ignored them both, not willing to let it bother her. Nothing could ruin the current mood she was in.
She was about to retort to another of her mother's snarky comments, she heard a familiar voice calling her name. She turned and couldn't help the smile that spread across her face when she spotted her.
Katherine Rodriguez had been her closest friend since Med School. She was five feet tall, olive skinned, dark haired, extremelyopinionated, and blunt.
"Lisa!" Katherine exclaimed as she strode towards her.
"Kat! It's been over a year since we last saw one another. How are you!" Cuddy asked as they embraced.
"Well you know, still coping with the divorce. I threw the bastard's stuff out onto the front lawn before I left for here." She replied shrugging nonchalantly. "But who cares about me. How are you? How are Rachel and House?"
"I'm great. Rachel's fantastic. She'll be so happy to see you. As for House, he's still the same as when you met him last year, only you know, a betrothed man now." Cuddy said letting out chuckle.
"Ah so same arrogant ass from Med School? Some things never change."
"They really don't." Cuddy laughed.
She had such a small amount of close friends that when she did see them all in one place it made her realize just how much she missed them. Usually she would meet with one of them every few months or so, but since the last time she had seen Kat was a month before she had gotten into the car accident, she had honestly had no time at all to meet up with any of the other girls. They would sometimes speak over the phone or Skype, but it wasn't the same as speaking face to face.
Dinner consisted of catching up with everyone since they had last spoken. Seeing as she hadn't had much time to speak to anyone in over four months, there was a lot of catching up to do. She was glad to hear that things had been going great for her friends in the past few months. Some had gotten promoted at their jobs, others had started new relationships or taken the next step with their significant others; she was as happy for them as they were for her.
"So how excited are you for Friday?" Melissa, PPTH's Pediatric surgeon asked excitedly leaning forward.
Cuddy laughed at her friend's enthusiasm. Melissa was one of the country's best surgeons and Cuddy had immediately employed her when she had applied at PPTH a little over five years ago. She was one of the sweetest people Cuddy had met and although they weren't best friends, she liked to consider Melissa as her close friend.
"Extremely. You've heard me talk nothing but wedding plans for the past six months, you shouldn't have even needed to ask that!"
"It's true. If I walked into her office to get something signed off, the second she realized it was me, she would already have something to ask my opinion on!"
There was the sound of laughter as the entire table chuckled.
They spent the remainder of the night conversing as they drank cocktails and such.
House watched as Wilson drunkenly stumbled along beside him, trying his best not to laugh at his friend. It was just past two in the morning and they were on the way back from the hotel's bar. They had spent the evening drinking while watching a baseball game with the rest of the males invited to the wedding. House hated to admit it but it was rather enjoyable, especially when he had watched Chase accidentally hit Taub in the ass with a dart.
He couldn't help but feel the nervous in the pit of his stomach begin to set in at the thought of getting married on Friday. Looking at his clock, he realized he had less than thirty – five hours left as a single man. But it did nothing to his mood. He didn't care that his bachelorhood was finally ending. It had ended the day Cuddy had ended things with him. He had never planned on being in a relationship with anyone else after her, and he was glad that she had given him the chance to prove himself to her again.
He remembered how when she had told him she was willing to try it again, he had said he wasn't ready. After he had pined for her during the entirety of their time apart, he said no. Then he had woken up with her draped across his chest in his hospital room and it had hit him just how much he missed her and that waiting would do more damage than good. So he had told her that he was willing to try it again as long as she accepted him as he was.
Now here he was almost two years later, just hours away from marrying the woman whom he had one point feared he had lost forever. Just hours away from making her his wife and proving to her and the world that he could do better for her. That he could make her happy and for the first time in his life, he was proud of himself.
"Lisa, get up."
Cuddy groaned as she felt an incessant poking in her side. She buried herself deeper under the comforters of her lush hotel bed.
"Lisa, it is five – thirty am, you are getting married today. Get your ass up."
At the sound of the words 'getting married', she instantly popped up.
"Jules! I was supposed to be up at four! Why didn't you wake me earlier!"
"Because honey, you didn't need to be up at four, I know you love being early, but that was too early, even for you. Go get showered, wash your hair, get Rachel showered so we can go down and get our hair done."
"You still need to shower."
"I did that when I decided to let you sleep an extra hour, not get up."
She groaned as her elder sister pulled her up by the arms and directed her towards the bathroom, shoving her clothes in her direction. She turned, shutting and locking the door behind her. She leaned against the back of the door and closed her eyes for a moment before sinking down onto the floor, pulling her knees to her chest.
"I'm getting married today."
"I swear to god Wilson, if you hit me with that pillow one more time I am going to kick you in the nuts." House growled as he groggily rubbed at his eyes.
"Get up, get showered. You have things to do. There's no way in hell you're to be late to your own wedding because Cuddy will have my head."
He rolled his eyes at his friend. Leave it to Wilson to be more worried than the groom himself. House looked at the clock on his bedside table, it was just a little after six. Why in the world was he awake so early when all he had to do was get dressed, and make sure that he made it to the ballroom on time.
The wedding wasn't until noon, what was he going to do for the five hours after he showered?
He laid back down into his bed, before receiving a blow to the face with a pillow.
"Get your ass up and go shower House." Wilson commanded.
"I told you that if you hit me one more time I was going to hit you." House growled, making his way to stand.
"You can't hit me if you can't catch me." Wilson replied running towards the door. "You have an hour and a half to be showered, or I swear to god I will get both your mother and Arlene in here to get you in place." With that, he was out of the room.
House shook his head before standing and making his way into the bathroom.
Three and a half hours later Cuddy let out a huffed sigh as the hairstylist brushed her hair and the make-up artist applied yet another layer of cover up to her face.
"Oh honey, I'm sorry I insist on using so much make up on that gorgeous face of yours but I guarantee ya, you'll love what you see when I'm done with ya." The make-up artist drawled in a thick Brooklyn accent.
"Your hair is so fine and beautiful. Do you want it up or down?" The hair stylist asked as he snapped his gum, pulling a stand of her hair behind her ear.
"Down." She replied softly.
"Okay good, because if you had said up, I would have convinced you otherwise, because I already know exactly what I'm doing with your hair, and you are going to look stunning."
She nodded her acknowledgement before giving her attention to one of the magazines that were available for her entertainment.
She flipped through the pages, quickly losing interest in the contents of the magazine. Her mind was running at a million miles an hour. She hated to admit it to herself, but she was a complete and utter wreck inside. She was so nervous that she had barely been able to eat her breakfast earlier in the morning. She wouldn't have eaten it if her mother and sister hadn't been so insistent on her getting a bite to eat. She wondered if it her nervous were written all over her face.
She thought of House, and wondered if he was as nervous as she was. She chuckled at the thought of Wilson dealing with House and whatever mood he was currently in. A small part of her felt guilty for subjecting Wilson to the duty of making sure House did nothing stupid or reckless, but she knew that he had no problem with having to take care of his best friend because he did it all the time.
She sat deep in thought for so long that she hadn't realized when her hair and make-up had been finished.
"You ready to see what you look like?" The hairstylist asked as he slipped the simple yet gorgeous tiara into her hair.
She nodded, feeling her stomach clench as her chair spun and she saw herself in the mirror.
She felt her jaw drop and heard herself take a sharp intake of breath at her appearance. She looked stunning. She had always known she was attractive, above average, but she had never seen herself look so beautiful.
Although it had seemed as though there were pounds of make-up being applied to her face, in reality there had not been much done. There was a light layer of foundation to smooth her skin, and a very light pink blush applied to her cheeks. Her lips were a light pink, and her eye shadow was a light brown mixed with a bit of red, contrasting nicely with her grey eyes and making them pop more than usual.
Her hair was in loose curls, cascading down her back. The diamond encrusted headband was safely secured in her hair, half hidden, yet still in sight. She had to try her hardest to not let the tears that were threatening to spill over her eye lids. She stifled a sob before grabbing one of the various tissues being held out to her. She dabbed at her eyes, careful not to ruin her make up before taking a deep breath and composing herself.
"I can do this." She thought to herself as she sat up and smiled.
"Are those good tears or bad ones?" The make-up artist asked wearily, her eyebrows knitting together.
Cuddy let out a soft laugh.
"They're tears of joy… Thank you so much for this… I don't even know your names…"
"I'm Jay, and she's Jade and no, don't thank us. It's our job to make you look your best on your big day. Thank you for giving us the honor of assisting you." The hairstylist replied as he and the make-up artist made their way to leave.
"Wait, if it's okay with you two, I'd like to get a picture with you both. I want to remember this."
"Of course it is." Jade replied.
"Jules! Get take a quick picture of us for the album please!"
She posed with Jay and Jade before her sister snapped the picture of them.
"Thank you so much." Cuddy said once more, giving them both a hug before making her way back upstairs.
When she found made her way back to her hotel room, it was already half past ten. She was not at all surprised to find Kat impatiently waiting for her outside of her suite.
"Holy shit. Lisa, you look gorgeous." Her best friend commented as she caught sight of her, the look of pure annoyance leaving her face in an instant. "I would hug you, but I don't want to mess up your hair."
Cuddy let out a laugh before pulling Kat towards her.
"I'm so happy for you. I knew I'd get to see you walk down the aisle one day."
"You don't know how glad I am that you're here."
The two friends embraced for a little longer before Kat pulled away.
"Well, are we going to get you dressed or what!"
Wilson watched as House paced back and forth in the hallway outside of their shared room. It seemed that his nerves were final setting in. He had no idea how the hell it was possible for House to pace back and forth for so long without his leg bothering him. He guessed the physical therapy he had started months ago had actually been helping.
After several more minutes of House's incessant pacing it was beginning to bother him. He had never seen him so nervous about anything in the almost two decades that they had known each other for. For someone as arrogant and confident in themselves as House was, it was an perplexing to see him so out of character.
"House, calm down. I've never seen you so nervous before."
"Don't tell me to calm down. You've done this three times, I was there for the second two, and you couldn't calm down. Your hands were clammy and you were sweating like a pig. Let's not forget the fact that you were hunched over the toilet bowl up until it was literally five minutes before either one of them was walking down the aisle. So compared to you, I am calm, so don't tell me to calm down."
Wilson rolled his eyes as House continued to pace down the hall.
"House, seriously. You have no reason to be nervous. Sure, it seems nerve wracking right now, but when you're waiting for her at the end of that aisle, you won't even remember the nervous, you won't even remember your own name. The only thing on your mind will be her, how gorgeous she looks, and how much you love her. Now stop pacing."
He was surprised when House stopped pacing. It might have just been the first time in their friendship that House had ever listened to him.
"You're right. I can do this. If you ever tell someone I said you were right, I will kick you in the groin."
"Of course you will House."
House looked at his watch. It was fifteen minutes until noon, and he was internally freaking out. He could feel his heart racing at a thousand beats a minute and he was honestly surprised at how he hadn't managed to pass out yet. He was thankful he hadn't because that would put a damper on things.
"You're pacing again." He heard Wilson say. He stopped pacing and looked up to find Wilson standing in front of him with his mother.
"Hi mom." House said as his mother embraced him.
"Oh Gregory. My little boy… I never thought I would see the day where you would be getting married. I had honestly begun to give up hope. But thank God you're finally settling down. Even if it took you so long. I'm so happy for you son… I am so proud of you. I always knew you would get yourself together, even if your father didn't think you ever would. I always had faith in you. I knew you would get it right."
"Thanks mom." He whispered into her ear as she gave him a reassuring squeeze.
"You're welcome son. I love you. Don't you ever forget that."
"I know. I love you too."
She was trying her hardest to not have a panic attack as she waited inside the bridal room. It was five minutes until she was supposed to be walking down the aisle. She was so nervous she was shaking.
"Lisa, calm down. Jesus, you've no reason to be this nervous. Take a deep breath before you end up passing out when I walk you down the aisle, and God knows I don't want to deal with that." Her mother said from behind her.
"Gee Ma, very reassuring." She huffed.
There was a knock at the door, and in walked Wilson.
"How're you doing?" He asked walking over to her, hands in his pockets.
"You have no idea how hard I'm trying not to pee myself right now." She replied.
"Ah, so you're in the same boat as House then? Great, seems like you'll both be doing well when you're up there saying your vows and declaring your love for one another in front of everyone."
"Shut up Wilson, you're making my nerves worse."
"Sorry."
"How is he though?" She asked, her heart racing as she thought about what was going to happen in several minutes.
"I told you, he's as nervous as you are. I came over here to check on you because his mother went over to check on him. He's been pacing for the past two hours."
"How's his leg?"
"Fine. It's like he's forgotten its existence."
Before she could speak, there was another knock on the door.
"It's noon." Thirteen said as she popped her head into the room.
"Let's get this show on the road."
House watched as Wilson and Cuddy's maid of honor Kat walked down the aisle in the middle of the middle of the room. He chuckled as he noted the expression on Chantal, Wilson's girlfriend's face as his best friend walked down the aisle with the other woman. He couldn't help but smirk as Julia came down the aisle with Thirteen at her side.
"Don't pass out old man." His fellow murmured smiling as she stepped beside Wilson. He had needed to another usher at his side and instead of picking one of his male fellows, he had picked Thirteen. She was more of a man than the men who worked for him, and it would be amusing to have something different than at most weddings.
"Don't count on it lesbian." He murmured back, smirking.
Rachel came down the aisle throwing the flower pettles, and he couldn't help but smile at her as she did so.
His heart beat increased, and he gave his attention the floor as he waited for the moment to come. The anxiety was terrible.
House looked up from the ground as the music started playing, and for what seemed like the first time in his life, he was completely and absolutely speechless.
Cuddy was slowly walking towards him in a soft, glowing manner, almost like an angel beginning to fly away. She wore an almost sly, sheepish grin as she carried a bouquet of white Roses in her hands. Her dress was simple, yet so, so elegant, just like her. He had always sound her to be beautiful, but now, now she was simply breathtaking.
For the ten seconds it takes her to walk down the aisle, House did the only thing he could do right. He thought. He thought about how he didn't deserve one bit of her pure heart, yet she gave it to him every day. She gave him her entire heart to hold, and he gave his to her. And somehow, in some way, it worked for them.
House blinked once, shaking himself out of his reverie, and then the small grin meant only for her began to grow on his face. Watching her had made his nerves completely disappear.
This was it. The one and only love of his life was walking down the aisle towards him. His only savior. His only lifeline. His other half. His soul mate.
She was gripping her mother's hand has hard as she could in order to calm her nerves. As she walked down the aisle, she kept her eyes on House, feeling her nerves die away. She couldn't help but contain the enormous smile on her face as her mother kissed her cheek before placing her hand in House's.
She looked at him and the smirk he was wearing, unable to contain her joy. She gave his hand a squeeze before they turned their attention towards the justice of peace.
He was a portly man, in his late sixties with a booming voice. It was amusing that although he was completely harmless, the man's voice commanded so much presence and obedience.
"Hello ladies and gentlemen. As you can see, we're here on this lovely May afternoon to witness the union of Gregory House and Lisa Cuddy. Seeing as this is a civil union ceremony, we don't have to go through all of that religious hullabaloo. Although they have requested to say a few words to one another before sealing the deal, so without further ado, let's hear what these two have to say about one another."
"Go first Cuddles." House said nudging her in the side.
"I knew this would happen…" She murmured, causing everyone to laugh.
She took a deep breath, her nerves suddenly returning as she turned to Kat who was holding out the piece of paper with what she wanted to say on it.
Reluctantly, she let go of House's hand to hold her paper with both of hers in order to keep it still long enough.
"First of all, I would like to say that I know many of you are wondering what the hell I'm doing marrying House. I bet you all thought I would end up with someone else, someone you think is way better for me. I bet you all thought I would have ended up marrying Lucas. But obviously I'm not. And if you have a problem with that, you obviously wouldn't be here right now. Anyway. That's not important. What's important is this moment. In this moment I am standing across from my best friend, my other half. Two years ago on this day I decided to tell House how I felt about him, and it was honestly the best decision I have ever made in my life. Well, second best to adopting my daughter. But that's besides the point. Today I stand in front of you all, finally giving my all to the only man to ever affect me."
She took a deep breath, feeling her nerves die a bit before continuing.
"House and I have known each other since I was eighteen. That's twenty –eight years. And although there were some years lost since then, I'm sure that we've made up for the lost time."
She looked away from everyone and turned her attention to House. "
You intrigued me the almost thirty years ago, and you still intrigues me today. I know to most you seem like an ass – believe me, you are an ass, but I've been lucky enough to see the side of you that loves unconditionally. You have proven yourself to me countless times, and although you don't believe it, you do deserve me. We have been through hell and back over the course of our relationship, a relationship that has gone from friendship to romantic relationship, to post romantic, and back to romantic. The near death experiences for both of us have done nothing but make me realize how much I love you, and how much I do need you with me. I had never thought I would see the day when I would love someone so much that it physically hurt to not be with them, and then there came you. The three months we were separated where the worst three months of my life. But I wouldn't undo them because we wouldn't be where we are now. Since then you have given me everything I have ever wanted in life. You have been a loving father to our daughter, you have put up with my family, and most of all you has put up with me. I know I'm not the easiest person to deal with, and I know that I drive you insane, but you've put up with it all…"
There was a lump forming in her throat as she was nearing the end of it. She looked at his face for a moment and noticed his expression was impassive, but the small light in his eyes said it all. She swallowed the lump in her throat.
"Even when I didn't deserve it. I guess what I'm trying to say is that through everything I still love you. I wish I didn't, but I can't help it, and I couldn't have it any other way."
Cuddy wiped at her eyes before smiling at House who was currently intently watching her.
"Your turn." She said taking his hand and squeezing it.
House pulled out the square piece of paper from his breast pocket before turning to everyone in the room.
"I had originally had something written on a piece of paper, but you know what? Screw it." He said ripping the paper into pieces and throwing it into the air like confetti.
"Anyway. For once, I'm going to say what I really feel in front of people. First, let me quote the great Johnathon Safran Foer, whoever the hell that is. But as I was saying, the quote. 'I love you' means that I accept you for the person that you are, and that I do not wish to change you into someone else. It means that I will love you and stand by you even through the worst of times. It means loving you even when you're in a bad mood, or too tired to do the things I want to do. It means loving you when you're down, not just when you're fun to be with. 'I love you' means that I know your deepest secrets and do not judge you for them, asking in return that you do not judge me for mine. It means that I care enough to fight for what we have and that I love you enough not to let go. It means thinking of you, dreaming of you, wanting and needing you constantly, and hoping you feel the same way for me.' Now, that quote is complete and utter bullshit. Over the course of our relationship, Cuddy and I have done the complete opposite of that quote. We have tried to change one another. We have failed to stand by each other at the worst of times. We hate each other when one of us is in a bad mood. Okay, I'm lying. The first half of that quote is complete and utter bullshit. But the second half, that sounds more like us. Cuddy, you love me when I'm down. You know my deepest secrets, and yet you somehow fell in love with me. You've fought for what we have. I love you enough to not let go. I think of you all the time. I always dream of you, I always want you. I will always need you."
He looked her straight in the eyes before continuing.
"You are my savoir. I would probably be six feet under if it weren't for you, and I think everyone in this room knows that it's true. You are the reason that I am still alive. I don't know what I would do without you because I need you in my life. My life without you is incomplete, and the months when we were apart where the lowest points of my life. I'm so used to waking up beside you every morning that I can't picture a life without you. Sure we have our arguments. I'll end up sleeping on the couch, you'll go to bed crying. But every relationship has its ups and downs. You are the best thing to ever happen to me. You have been there for everything. The infarction, the coma, the mental breakdown, the emotional breakdowns, and yet you've still given me a chance. When I told you that you were my life, I meant it. I will always choose you. You are the most incredible woman I have ever known, and you will always be the most incredible woman I have ever known."
He watched as she wiped away at her tears before she took one of his hands.
"Line stealer." She mumbled letting out a soft laugh. He smiled at her, shaking his head at the joke that only the two of them understood.
"Is that all you have to say?" The justice of peace asked.
"I don't know, you tell me." House replied looking at Cuddy.
"That's it."
"Alright then. Now before I give these two passionate love birds permission to put on their rings, does anyone object?"
House looked around the room, ready to punch anyone who dared ruin the moment.
"No? Alright, fantastic. So, the rings?"
House turned to Wilson who had pulled the rings from his pockets.
"Okay so Greg, slip the ring onto Lisa's finger and say 'With this ring, I thee wed'."
He did as he was told, watching Cuddy bite her lower lip as it began to tremble.
"With this ring, I thee wed."
"Great, now Lisa, slip the ring onto Greg's finger and say the same."
House extended his hand out as Cuddy slipped the ring onto his finger.
"With this ring, I thee wed."
"That's it. I know pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss your bride."
He couldn't help but smile down at her, wrapping an arm around her waist as she held his face between her hands, their lips meeting for the first time as husband and wife.
Cuddy couldn't contain the smile on her lips as she sat beside House at the reception. Their hands were intertwined and her head was against his shoulder. She had never thought she could feel so happy in her lifetime.
There was the sound of silverware clinking against glass, and she turned her attention to Wilson, who had stood from his place beside House. She shook her head, preparing herself for whatever speech the best man had prepared.
"Hi. So as custom in weddings, it's the Best Man's job to make a toast to the Bride and Groom. So, here I go. I've known House since the early nineties, so that's roughly twenty years. And in
those twenty years the only person I have seen him try to change for is Cuddy. Forget love at first sight. For these two it was lust at first sight, and as time went on, it turned into love. I don't know anyone else who can handle House like Cuddy can, and I have never seen him love anyone, or anything for that matter, more than he loves her. These two are the perfectly imperfect example of what can come if two people are willing to better themselves, and put the past aside in order to be together."
She watched as Wilson turned to them, a goofy smile on his face.
"I love you two to death, and all I have to say is I told you so. May you two have a plethora of years full of your banter and love, and don't get divorced because I'm not choosing sides. Cheers!"
Cuddy let out a giggle at Wilson's speech before standing and embracing him.
"That was great Wilson." She murmured into his ear as he gave her a squeeze.
"I'm happy for you two. I did say so. It just took a little time."
"You did… Thank you for helping me see that."
If it weren't for Wilson's constant harassment when she and House had first ended things, they probably wouldn't have gotten to where they now were. If it weren't for Wilson giving House advice and listening to her when she was upset, none of this would have ever been possible. In a way, she and House did owe it all to Wilson.
"It was my pleasure."
Their embrace lasted a few more seconds before the MC announced that it was time for her and House to have their first dance.
"But mom, do we have to?" He whined as she pulled him up.
She rolled her eyes before leading him onto the dance floor as She & Him's reindition of "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" filled the room.
She leaned her head against his chest, his arms around her waist, holding her close as they swayed together to the song. It was a song she had chosen specifically for him.
I don't like you
But I love you
Seems that I'm always
Thinking of you
Oh, oh, oh,
You treat me badly
I love you madly
You've really got a hold on me
Baby, I don't want you
But I need you
Don't want to kiss you
But I need to
Oh, oh, oh
You do me wrong now
My love is strong now
You've really got a hold on me
The song was one to perfectly describe her feelings when it came to him. There were times when she didn't like him. As a matter of fact there were times when she hated him and wanted nothing to do with him, but she could never deny that she loved him. She could never get him out of her head, she was always thinking of him. How could she not think of him? He was her other half, the person that completed her.
There were times when he treated her badly. When their arguments turned into shouting matches, or one of his jokes went a little too far and the night ended with them sleeping in separate beds, but no matter what, she would always love him.
There were times when she didn't want him, but when she did, she needed him. She needed his body and mind, she needed every part of him. He had a hold on her, and it was a hold that nothing could break. She would always come back to him.
House rested his head on top of Cuddy's as the song changed into one he had chosen. Normally the bride and groom would dance for one song, then it would change and someone else would step in, but they weren't normal. They had each chosen a song to dedicate to the other and now it was his turn.
Your skin, oh yeah, your skin and bones
Turn into something beautiful
D'you know? You know I love you so
You know I love you so
She was the most beautiful woman he had ever had the fortune to lay his eyes on, not only on the outside, but on the inside as well. She was the most forgiving person he knew. The years of verbal abuse he had put her through; the years of emotional pain he had caused her were all forgiven. She had put them all behind them. He didn't deserve her, but she was the best thing to ever happen to him. He loved her more than he had ever loved anyone.
I swam across,
I jumped across for you,
Oh what a thing to do.
Cos you were all "Yellow",
I drew a line,
I drew a line for you,
Oh what a thing to do,
And it was all "Yellow."
He had crossed lines he had told himself he would never cross for woman in order to be with her. He had given up the drugs that had kept his pain at a minimum to prove to her that he deserved a chance. He would do whatever it took to be with her; he haddone whatever he had needed to so that they could be happy together.
Look at the stars,
Look how they shine for you,
And all the things that you do.
The stars in his universe shown only for Cuddy. They would always shine for her and the infinite list of things she had done for him, and would definitely do for him in the future. It was all for her.
"All this time I was waiting for something… Something to make give me a modicum of happiness, something to take me out of my misery… All this time I was waiting for you." He whispered for only her to hear before looking down at her.
"I never thought I would have this day… I spent years waiting for the perfect man…But perfect men don't exist. We are all imperfect, and what I was waiting for was standing beside me all along." She replied caressing his cheek.
"Well more like standing behind you and staring at your ass…"
He watched a smile spread across her face before leaning down and pressing his lips against hers.
It was half past three when they had finally left everyone at the reception. Part of the package they had paid for included a complimentary room for the newlywed couple. She leaned against the wall as House slid the key card through the slot.
"What do you think you're doing?" He asked stopping her as she made to enter the room.
"Walking into our hotel room?" She replied, wondering why he had asked such a ridiculous quested.
"No you're not."
"House, come on let me in." She wrapped her arms around his neck and put on her most seductive tone of voice.
"No." He replied, not moving from his blockade of the door.
"Why not!"
"Because," She let out a squeak when she felt him scoop her into his arms. "The groom is supposed to carry the bride over the threshold." He smirked as he entered the room and shut the door behind him.
"You don't have to do this. Your leg –"
"Is fine." He replied, laying her down on the circular bed located in the center of the room.
She couldn't stop the small stream of tears that his gesture had brought on. It amazed her how he could try so hard just to bring her happiness, just to make sure her wedding day was perfect.
"It's no big deal Cuddles, stop crying."
"Shut up." She replied smacking him lightly as he sat beside her.
"You're such an abusive wife." He emphasized as a smirk grew across his face.
She sat up on her knees and turned to face him, her arms wrapping against his neck.
"I love you." She responded before leaning forward to kiss him.
Their lips met and the never ending spark between them was lit to life. She could feel the arousal in the pit of her stomach begin to bubble as their tongues clashed, his teeth grazing her bottom lip. Her hands moved from his neck to his chest, her fingers unbuttoning his shirt before pushing it off along with his tux.
She made way to kiss his neck, but he stopped her, flipping her onto her back and slipping a hand behind her to unzip her dress. She slipped out of it, and she let out a soft moan as his cool lips made contact with the hollow of her throat. She moved her hands to his pants, unzipping them and grazing him through the fabric of his boxers. He pulled his pants off before pulling her against him, their lips meeting once more. The passion behind their actions was what kept their relationship alive.
"Wait." She said pulling away. She unclasped her bra, letting out a soft chuckle as House's eyes widened at the fact that it was one of the bras that unclasped at the front. "There." She replied, pulling him to her, her breasts pressed firmly against his chest.
She giggled when she felt his hands slip beneath her and cup her ass as she ran her foot along his calf. He pulled her thong down to her knees before pulling off his own boxers. Cuddy bit her lip as she felt his cock tease her entrance before letting out a sharp gasp when he thrust into her.
She moaned softly as he thrust himself deeper into her, her nails running along his back. She brought her lips to his neck, kissing a trail along it before reaching his face and his continuing along his jaw. She moved a hand up to his cheek and caressed it as he hovered above her.
She could feel herself come closer to the edge as he picked up pace, her lower region clenching as she felt herself go over the edge. She moaned out his name as their hands intertwined and she couldn't help but smile as he kissed her left ring finger.
House brushed his lips over Cuddy's ring finger as she rode out the rest of her climax. He could feel himself close as her walls clenched around his member, the feeling causing him to increase his pace as her nails dug into his shoulder blades.
His lips found hers and she gnawed hungrily at his lower lip, a desperate whimper escaping her as she did so. The sounds of pleasure he was causing her to make brought him over the edge. The fact that he could make her express herself in such a way was always what made him reach his edge.
He groaned her name out before collapsing on top of her. After several seconds he flipped onto his back and pulled her up against him, holding her to himself as close as possible.
Her cheeks were flushed and she was wearing a blissful smile as she looked down at him. He brought a hand to her face and held it there as she leaned into his touch.
No matter what happened to him in life, he knew that he would always have her.