Two months later Chase, Cameron and Foreman were bouncing around ideas for the diagnosis of their new patient. House had been mysteriously closeted up in Wilson's office for an hour now, and Foreman and Cameron had been exchanging winks and grins all morning. Chase was sure something was up; House was being evasive, Cameron and Foreman weren't their usual annoying selves, and Wilson burst out laughing every time Chase came near him, although Chase thought that that might have been due to the fact that he still wore his Socceroos scarf wound around his neck or his waist.
Chase sipped his coffee carefully – he was still suspicious of any coffee that wasn't made by himself or House, although he had good reason. Cameron's coffee was like drinking glorified mud, Foreman's was always too sugary, and Wilson's was always too weak. House made it just right. But he couldn't relax. His heart was starting to pound as he tried to imagine all kinds of scenarios that might make House secretive. What could his beloved be up to? Was he cheating? Was he breaking up with him? Was he going to accuse Chase of cheating? Suggest a move out of their apartment?
For the last two months Chase had been happier than he'd ever been. He and House would take turns cooking, Chase would clean (House claimed that a bung leg was not conducive to cleaning), House would do laundry (although Chase still had to hang it out), they'd both go shopping… Then at night, when all the dishes were packed away, House and Chase would go into the bedroom and play. House had discovered a whole new side of his intensivist; a side that made him cheeky and naughty, and a very sexy, highly skilled seduction machine. Chase, meanwhile, had learned that while House had a bung leg, he could be highly domineering and powerful when it came to the bedroom. He had also learned what House liked very quickly, and sometimes at work Cameron, Foreman or Wilson would catch him with a wicked expression on his face as he thought about how he was going to tease and seduce his partner tonight. House's favourite was when Chase put on the stripper act, but tonight Chase was planning a scenario involving straps and the bed. However, that would all mean nothing if House remained in Wilson's office for the rest of the day.
A sudden, terrible thought smote Chase. House had admitted that he'd once had a relationship with Wilson. What if they were back together?
Chase trembled so violently that his coffee sloshed over the rim of his cup and the other two ducklings looked over at him in alarm, but once the image of House and Wilson locked together was in his head, it wouldn't go away. He had never been so frightened before, except when he couldn't remember. But then he'd had House to comfort him and reassure him and love him. Now, he couldn't be sure.
Chase was standing alone in the diagnostics room when his pager went off. It read Emergency ICU 7. Come quick. He went as fast as he possibly could. An emergency in the ICU that needed his attention? It must be serious. He only hoped that it wouldn't make him late to meet House after work.
Chase stepped into ICU room seven and froze. There was no patient in the bed, but standing around the room were Cameron, Foreman, Wilson and House! The blinds were closed and Wilson shut the door as Chase entered. They were all…smiling?
Then Cameron and Foreman stepped forward and guided Chase to sit on the bed. And suddenly Chase remembered. ICU seven had been his room after the attack. What was going on?
Then Cameron, with a huge grin on her face, began.
'You're one of a kind, special and true,'
'And never before did we know,' Foreman continued.
'How much you meant to all of us here,' Wilson added,
'Or how much I did love you.' House put in.
'Then came a terrible day, which we hate to recall,'
'And we learnt pretty quick how important you are,'
'How you fit in with our lives everyday,'
'And how I'd never told you at all.'
'But with luck you recovered, to be strong again,'
'Came back from the brink, of life and death,'
'Found a cure so unique, it had to be you,'
'And finally I told you, and made you the happiest of men.'
'So we gather here today as witness to thee,'
'And hope your happiness will always last.'
'Greg has something important to say to you, Chase.'
'I love you dearly, Robert, and will you marry me?'
This last struck Chase with such surprise that all he could do was choke. 'W-What?'
House looked uncomfortable at repeating himself. 'I am asking you, Robert Chase, if you would be my life partner.'
Chase's eyes lit up. 'Oh Greg! I knew I shouldn't have worried!'
'Worried? About what?'
'I thought,' Chase said, blushing furiously, 'that you were going to break up with me for Wilson, or something.'
'What? God, Chase, Wilson's not half as good-looking as you are!'
Chase laughed. 'It's just when you're cooped up in his office half the day…'
'Yeah, I get the picture. I just needed to go over the final plan for this with him.'
'Did you write the poem? It was very sweet.'
'Yeah. Don't ask me to write one ever again, though.'
'Hang on, Chase,' yelped Foreman exasperatedly, 'you haven't given House an answer yet!'
'Oh!' Chase laughed, then turned to House, eyes serious. 'Gregory House, of course I'll marry you!' he cried.
Stiffly, House lowered himself onto one knee (with a little help from Wilson) and stretched out a little velvet box. He opened it. Inside lay a beautiful golden band, inset with little emeralds and sapphires, and practically glowing in the light.
'Oh Greg!' Chase gasped, 'It's too beautiful. Too much!'
'It would never be enough,' House whispered, his eyes shining as he took in Chase's reaction. He took Chase's left hand in his, gently.
Chase smiled as House slid the band onto his finger, and the other three doctors cheered.
Three weeks later Chase was standing with Foreman and Cameron in a little room in the back of Wilson's country house. The house was big and old and beautiful, and Wilson kept it because it had been in the family for years. He had suggested it as House and Chase's wedding venue. All the necessary legal papers for changing Chase's surname to House had been drawn up, but at work they would continue to call him Chase to avoid confusion.
Chase was wearing a lovely white suit, with a navy-blue shirt and a white-and-blue tie. His hair was brushed neatly as always, and he carried a bouquet of white camellias and roses. Foreman was to be Chase's best man, and he was wearing a navy suit. Cameron was to carry the rings and she wore a long navy gown.
House, meanwhile, was pacing nervously (as best he could). He wore an identical white suit to Chase, but his shirt and the blue on his tie were much lighter blues, closer to the colour of Chase's eyes. Wilson, meanwhile, was wearing a similar navy suit to Foreman. He was to act as House's best man during the ceremony and at that moment was acting as House's calming-down aid. Then finally it was time.
House stood at the little altar that had been set up, and watched, Wilson standing beside him, as Cuddy escorted Chase down the aisle. House's breath vanished; never had he seen anything so beautiful before in his life.
When, finally, House uttered the words, 'I do,' he felt as though a huge weight was lifted off his chest. And when Chase chimed in with 'I do,' as well, House felt so happy that he thought he would burst. And when the celebrant spoke the immortal words 'You may kiss,' House and Chase kissed so passionately that the four other doctors present cheered. As they kissed, Chase tossed the bouquet over his shoulder. Cameron caught it, glanced sideways at Foreman and blushed. Foreman blushed too, but took her hand in his.
Robert stood on the verandah of their hotel room. Greg had surprised him for their honeymoon with tickets to Australia, and now they were in a hotel on the Gold Coast, at the very beginning of their tour around Australia. Cuddy had been reluctant to give them that much leave, but both had wheedled and begged and she had given them two months – but only if they did double clinic duty for a month after they got back. He was watching the sun set over the ocean – it was very beautiful.
'Oi! Robert House, get your pretty little ass in here!'
Robert laughed. 'No, you get your ass out here!'
Greg came to join him at the rail, placing an arm around his waist.
'Isn't that beautiful?' Robert asked, gesturing to the sunset.
'I can see a sight that is lovelier,' Greg replied, his eyes on Robert.
Robert laughed and kissed him. 'Come to bed, dear,' Greg murmured against his lips.
They went inside and slipped under the covers, and for a long time the only sounds were moans and laughter coming from that hotel room, and the sigh of the waves against the shores of Australia.
End.