And now...on with the wedding!
CHAPTER NINE
Five months later, on October 15th, Melissa walked down the isle toward Rog in a small historic chapel just outside Bath, England. There were only ten pews on either side of the isle, with lavender leaves garnishing the ends with deep purple ribbon, simple white flowers behind the Reverend, and beautiful, soft Celtic music being played in the background. The violins and strings made the whole event so surreal to the two, as both Melissa and Rog loved everything British. Nothing more could have been done to make the wedding any more spectacular than it was now.
Melissa wore a long sleeved, V-neck, deep blue Renaissance style dress, with the front detailed with flowers and leaves, and flowers adorning the back of the dress. For her hair piece she wore a flowered 'circle' with lavender and white flowers, with navy blue and white ribbon streaming down the back. Rog wore a white shirt under a deep blue tux jacket, with a plaid skirt patterned in the colors of his English ancestry, which, thankfully, were purple, white and green.
As Melissa walked down the isle toward Rog, she looked at her Maid of Honor, Cameron, who looked beautiful in the pale
lavender dress with flower head piece as well. Standing next to Rog was Chase, his best man. They had grown close over the past few months because the two couples went out quite often for dinners and dancing. Then, as she approached the pews where her quests were standing, she made sure she winked at Sarah, Charlie and Wilson, Foreman and his new (good) girlfriend, Nancy, and Cuddy, who were all also beautifully decked out. She had never seen them in formal wear and they were sharp looking.
The person on her arm, who was giving her away, was a man she'd grown to admire and respect and love, even though not too many people did. He actually shaved for the occasion, even though he moaned and groaned when Melissa asked him to. But he had to leave a little stubble, just to prove his was still that rebellious boy he always was, and always would be. His dark blue tux only accentuated his blue eyes, and Melissa had to tear her eyes away from his when she first saw him. His eyes simply mesmerized her.
When they reached the Reverend, House turned to Melissa with a sad expression on his face, then smiled at her genuinely. He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek, she kissed him back then he stood next to Chase. She watched him walk away, and noticed there was a deep purple ribbon he'd placed at the crook of the cane. She smiled and it hit her all at once how much he did care about her.
"Lovvved wans, we ah he-ah toda-ah to wetness thu marriage ov Melissa Jean Fitzhugh ahnd Roger Philip Nelson in holey matrahmoney. Thay wish to thonk those thot mayed thu lawng trip to ba aht this special day-ah..." The Reverend said a few more words in his British accent.
"Ahnd now, well the ring bare-ah ple-ahs come hith-ah." The Reverend said.
Sarah and little Charlie stood at the back of the church with Charlie holding a deep purple, wool pillow with the rings on top. The tux Sarah picked out for him made him look like a grown-up midget, and the cutest little thing Melissa had ever seen. Sarah had to give him a little push to let him know it was time to walk down the isle. He pulled his shoulders back, stuck his chin up in the air and walked down the isle...in two seconds flat. The little tyke was so nervous he wasn't paying attention to how fast he was walking. Echoes of laughter filled the church.
"Melissa Jean, well you ple-ahs tayke yor rang..." Melissa did.
"Roger Philip, well you ple-ahs tayke yor rang." Roger did so, as he winked at Charlie. Charlie put on a huge smile then walked straight to 'Uncle Gweg' and plopped right down by his feet, Indian style, with his elbows on his knees and his chin in his hands, ready to watch the rest of the 'show.'
"Behfor weigh proce-ahd, I-ah most ahsk eff they-ah is enywon out the-arh thot weshes to object tu thus union." The Reverend asked.
Melissa had been calm and excited during the whole ceremony, and when the Reverend spoke those words, she never flinched, or dreamed anyone would object. Everyone had been supportive of the marriage, and the flight 3,000 miles away to a foreign country.
The church was silent for a brief moment. As Melissa and Rog stood there ready for the next part, a male voice echoed throughout the church. Both Melissa and Rog turned their heads to the man that did object.
Charlie jumped at the voice that belted out of the man that stood behind him. He started crying and ran to Sarah's arms. Sarah wanted to smile, but was in shock at the "I object" that came out of House's mouth.
Actually, every eye in that church was now on House, and he felt the burn of the fireballs being thrown at him.
"Melissa, may I speak to you for a moment?" House asked, standing there with his face and neck beet red and his whole body tense. She just stared at him dumbfounded.
"Please, just give me a minute." He said as he looked at Rog for the first time. Rog still hadn't completely warmed up to House, but now, five months later, all that had been taken away.
Melissa looked at Rog, who nodded his head. She looked at House, handed the bouquet to Cameron then turned and walked down the isle. She had never been so humiliated, embarrassed and totally ashamed to look at her guests, who had spent so much money for the trip. She pushed open the door, walked through and stood by the entrance door. A second later House limped through with a look on his face she'd never seen.
"What the hell is your problem?" Melissa screamed.
"Missy, please, just listen to me."
"'Missy?' Don't Missy me, Greg! God, I can't believe this. You're miserable, so you just have to make everyone else?" House's face changed immediately into defensive mode.
"Look, I'm not so miserable I cry myself to sleep at night! I've heard you! And I'm not so miserable that I marry a woman who I don't really love."
Melissa narrowed her eyes and shook her head. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Don't play stupid with me!" House yelled back.
Wilson stuck his head through the door. "Is everything ok out here?"
"Yes!" Melissa said and started to walk toward Wilson.
"NO!" House said.
He grabbed her by the elbow to make her stop but she yanked her elbow away, turned and stormed out of the church. The warm fall sun hit her face as she walked down the walkway, the sound of fallen leaves from centuries old trees around the church crumpling under her feet. She was breathing heavy and was started to hyperventilate. She crossed over into the grass and kept on walking, trying to escape.
She'd heard footsteps behind her, hoping it was Cameron, or Cuddy, anyone other than House. But she couldn't hide the identity with one solid 'crunch' of a foot and a crinkly 'thud.' She knew it was him. She stomped her feet harder and faster with each step but felt a hard, solid hand on her shoulder. She jerked it away and started to run.
"Damnit, Melissa! Hold up!" House screamed.
She took a couple more steps then stopped as she reached a bench in a little garden in the corner of the church grounds. Tears started to come to her eyes, even though she tried her hardest not to cry. She held onto the back of the bench with her back to him so tightly her knuckles started to turn white. House got a firm grip on her shoulders and turned her around hard. Tears rolled down her cheeks, smearing her makeup. He could feel her whole body shake.
"Wh...why...doin...this, Greg? I don...rstand." She said, trying to catch her breath, but she didn't look at him.
"I couldn't tell you before. You were so happy and excited...I was wrong for that. But I can't let you go through with this."
She wiped her cheeks and put her hands on the back of the bench and looked directly in his eyes.
"And why not?" She asked defiantly.
"Because, I think you know why." He answered.
"Gawd! Would you stop play..." She started to say.
House didn't let her finish because he had pulled her close to him, put his left arm around her waist and kissed her. Really kissed her. Deeply, passionately, with more meaning and feeling than he'd ever kissed Stacy. And Melissa didn't pull back; didn't resist his kiss. She put her arms around his neck and pressed her body against his.
She had her eyes closed but she did feel his body be pulled away from hers, and when she opened them she saw Rog standing two feet from House, his hand in a fist. He had it pulled back and before Melissa could react Rog swung for House's chin. His head went flying to the right as he lost his balance and fell on the grass.
"Rog!" Melissa said as she looked at him then looked down at House, who was just sitting up holding his chin.
"Greg! Are you ok?" She said as she knelt down and put her hand on his chin. There was a little cut but it wasn't bad at all. Melissa turned and glared at Rog.
"Why the hell did you do that, Rog?" She demanded.
Then she noticed everyone was standing off at a distance being held back by Cuddy. Wilson was holding Charlie in his arms because he'd started to cry when he saw his Uncle Greg get punched. Sarah grabbed him and walked to the back of the church to keep him from seeing what was going on. House slowly stood up and Melissa helped him.
"You..." Rog said as he looked at House. "You..." He said as he looked at Melissa. "I knew you two were up to something, but I couldn't, or wouldn't, believe it. God, how could you do this, Melissa?"
"Rog, lis..." Melissa started to say.
"NO! I won't! You had everyone fly over here, spend a lot of money to humiliate me!" Rog calmed down a little bit and ran his hand through his hair. "I'm going back to the inn. I'm packing and flying home tomorrow." He said as he started to walk away.
"Rog, I know this was wrong, but wait!" She called out to him. She glanced at House who said, "Go."
And she started off after Rog. She saw Chase walk toward them but she waved him off and gave the 'wait a second' gesture with her finger. She followed him until they were far enough from the church, and ears of their friends, to talk to him. Or, more like so no one could hear what Rog screamed. Rog stopped at the rental car and reached for the door handle. She reached her hand out to stop him. With her right hand she put her hand on his cheek and moved his face toward hers.
"Rog, it's not what you think. Can't we talk about this?" She pleaded.
"Apparently, after that kiss, there's nothing to talk about." He shot back.
"I know it's weird, but he's right."
"What do you mean he's right? Right about what?" He demanded.
"Rog, I do love you, but I'm not in love with you. I tried to NOT love Greg, but...God. You can't help who you fall in love with."
"Then why all this? This whole charade? Just to prove to yourself you didn't love him?"
"It wasn't like that. We never even talked about going out as 'a couple.' We were just close, as close as any man and woman can be without having sex." She said.
"Oh, correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought that was you and I?" He said.
Melissa sighed. "Rog, I am sorry about this."
"Damn straight! You should be. I hope you two are happy together. Hey, wait, the Reverend is still free! Why don't you two get married now! It's what you want, isn't it?" He said, then grabbed for the door again, got in and burned rubber out of the parking lot.
She just stood there shocked. Cameron came up behind her and put her arm around Melissa.
"God, I didn't mean for this to happen. Why didn't you ever say anything, Allie?" She said as she buried her face in Cameron's shoulder and started crying hard.
"What? Tell you you were in love with someone else when you were so happy with Rog? I wasn't going to." Cameron told her.
House came up behind them and patted Melissa on the shoulder. Cameron pushed Melissa away from her to House and suggested everyone go back to the inn.
"Oh, Allie, I can't fa...ce him there! I just can't!" She cried as she looked at House. "And the Rever..." She started to say.
"Don't worry about it. I'll take care of it." House offered.
"No, you won't." Cuddy said as she approached them. "I will. House, you, Chase, Cameron and Melissa go on back to the inn. I'll take care of everything here, ok?"
"Lisa, I can't let you do that." Melissa protested.
"Oh, yes you can." House said as he put his hand on Melissa's back and escorted her to the car he drove.
Chase and Cameron sat in the back seat, and, on empty stomachs with House driving, they both looked at each other in shock at the shade of green they both were turning. They knew there was a reason House drove alone, and why they drove in Wilson's mini-van. House was a dangerous driver in the States, much less another country.
Melissa sat in the front with her head on the head rest and her eyes closed, with House's hand on her right knee. He drove in silence back to the inn. When they pulled into the parking lot, they saw Rog's car with 'just married' on the back window. Melissa's stomach dropped when she saw it, and Cameron whispered to Chase it might be a good idea to clean that off, which he nodded in agreement.
"Missy, you and House go on in. We have a few things to take care of." Chase said.
House held Melissa's hand as they walked to the entrance of the inn. She dreaded running into him, and she felt safe with House next to her. 'Safe? What am I afraid of? I can't blame him, though.' She thought to herself as they headed to the stairs.
"Oh! Uh...wa...oh. The groom...er, Rawg said don't wait up fo him." Mrs. Stone said, the owner of the inn. House nodded and Melissa said thanks. "Would you oll ly-ack lunch?" Mrs. Stone asked.
"No, thank you. That's kind but we don't want to put you through the trouble." Melissa said as she turned to look at her.
Mrs. Stone frowned at seeing Melissa's eyes red and swollen. "Noh problem a'all. Eye'm mah-king sumthing fo' school. It'll bah reddy in an hou', ok?"
"Thank you. That would be nice." House said as they walked up the stairs.
Melissa tried putting the key in the bedroom door but couldn't get it in, so House grabbed it, unlocked it and opened the door for Melissa to walk through.
"You know, this isn't the way I thought I'd be walking through this door, Greg." Melissa said solemnly. She walked to the bed and sat down. He stood and stared at her, but she couldn't look at him. She didn't know what to say.
"Melissa, tell me I'm wrong." House said as he sat down next to her. She looked at him confused, but then it dawned on her what he meant.
"Tell me I'm wrong about how you feel about me, and I'll never mention it again." He said.
"I guess I didn't want to."
"Didn't want to what?" He asked.
"I didn't want to admit to myself I was starting to feel differently about you. I mean, you're twice my age and we work in the same hospital and you have the baby with your ex and it would be too difficult."
"Hunny, age has nothing to do with it. And who cares what anyone thinks about us at work? It sounds like you're building excuses to me."
"I do care what others think! You're Rog's boss, for Pete's sake!" She said as she stood up and walked to the window. "His boss objected at his wedding and stole his fiancé? Oh, that's priceless, Greg."
"So, what do I do? Fire Rog?" House asked.
"NO! Don't you dare! This isn't going to be easy, on anyone. I can get a job somewhere else, but you two. Damnit."
House stood up and stood behind Melissa. He wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in her neck, smelling her hair and perfume. She closed her eyes as she threw her head back and with her right arm reached up for the back of his neck and kissed him. For once, she really did feel safe, and loved. But she couldn't do this, shouldn't be doing this. Not now. Not here.
"Gre...Greg." Melissa said after she tore her lips away from his. "I'm really beat, and I wouldn't mind closing my eyes before lunch. Do you mind?"
"No, I don't mind. I need to close my eyes, too. Do you want the left or right side of the bed?" House asked, brushing his nose against the back of her neck, which sent chills down her spine. She found herself leaning into him and immediately pulled away.
She turned around and looked him in the eyes. "I can't do this. Not here. Go to your own room." She said.
"Melissa, I wasn't implying we have sex." He said, but there was no truth in that statement.
"No, not while Rog is here. I hurt him already. I'm not doing it again by sharing a room with the man that stopped his wedding."
"We're all grown ups, here, Melissa."
"I don't care, Greg. Please. Try to understand."
House sighed and kissed her on the cheek. "Honestly, after I walked you down the isle, it killed me to give you away. I wanted you all to myself. I had no idea I was going to do what I did."
"I believe you, babe." She whispered. House took her hand to take her to the bed. He pulled the covers down and she got under the top sheet. He bent down and kissed her, and she kissed him back.
"I'll come get you when lunch is ready." He said. She grumbled 'ok' and closed her eyes. House stood at the side of the bed and stared at her for a quick second, then walked out the door quietly. But she didn't sleep.
She got out of bed, took off her 'wedding dress', threw it on the chair and crawled back into bed. She thought of Stacy when she came to visit with the baby, Charnie, back in July. House told her he was going to Wilson's, but she found out later that same day, from House, that he actually went to meet Stacy and Charnie.
FLASHBACK TO HOUSE'S LIVING ROOM WHEN HE CAME BACK
House walks into the apartment and it seems to Melissa that he aged ten years.
"What happened to you, Doc? Did you and Wilson have a fight?" She asks. He doesn't answer but goes to the liquor cabinet, pours a glass half full of Scotch and drinks it all in one swallow.
"Greg, what's wrong? What happened?" Melissa asks, sitting on the edge of the couch and stares at him.
He stands with his back to her for a moment then turns around and stares at her. He contemplates whether he should tell her. Maybe Dr. Parker was right. Maybe he should open up to Melissa.
"Missy..." He starts to say, and she frowns at him because he rarely, if ever, calls her Missy.
"You know I told you I'm a father back in May, right?" She nods her head. "Stacy, my ex, you know about her. I was with her one night. And she got pregnant. I didn't plan it, it just happened." Melissa looks at him like she doesn't believe the last sentence, which is smart on her part.
"She wasn't going to tell her husband, and she didn't. But Mark died from complications from his prior condition a month after she had the baby and she thought it was okay to bring me my little girl."
She shakes her head in amazement. "'Bring you Charnie?' And she looked so much like Mark he believed she was his?"
"Well, no, because the little squirt's eyes changed from brown to my blue a week before he got sick. He never confronted her with it, but the stress of knowing caused further complications."
"Greg, that sounds like something from the Young and the Restless. That's hard to believe."
"Yeah, who you tellin'?" He says.
"And Stacy wants to get back with you?" (Which was her second clue her feelings started to change toward him; she was actually jealous and worried she wanted him back. Her first clue being the dream she had where she kissed him while he slept on the couch.)
House nods his head. "She mentioned it, but thank God I've had counseling with Dr. Parker, because I would have caved. I almost did. But I didn't."
Melissa sighs with relief. "Wow, I don't know what to say."
FLASHFORWARD TO THE PRESENT
Melissa lay in bed a few minutes and she heard Charlie's giggles downstairs. She looked at the clock and only 30 minutes had passed. Melissa sat up in bed, walked to the ensuite bathroom and fixed up her face. She looked like she aged ten years herself. And for a 21 year-old, that's pretty sad. She changed into slacks and a blouse then headed downstairs.
In the living room Sarah, Wilson and Charlie were coloring in his book. Wilson kept coloring outside the lines and Charlie would fuss at him.
"Stay in 'bteen lines, Daddy! Here, wet me sho' you!" Then he'd grab the crayon from Wilson and start to color.
"Hi, Melissa. Did you sleep well?" Sarah asked.
Charlie looked up at Melissa in the doorway. "Mewissa! Wanna cowoh wif us?" He asked excitedly.
"I'd love to, Buddy, but maybe later, ok?" She told him as nicely as she could, which was an apparent failed attempt to do so. Charlie looked at his Dad.
"There's coffee on the dining room table. That'll wake you right up." Wilson told her.
"Where is everybody?" Melissa asked as she walked through the living to the adjoining room.
"Mrs. Stone told us Rog was at the Flying Sheep Pub right down the street. Everyone but House went. He's upstairs sleeping." Melissa nodded her head.
As she was pouring her coffee she looked out through the breakfast room window at the backyard and saw a swinging bench right next to the garden that was big enough for four people. She took her cup and stuck her head in the kitchen, where she'd heard Mrs. Stone cooking. She asked if she could go in the back and Mrs. Stone said, "by ull means! Of cause."
So she opened the sliding glass door and went to the bench. The mid-Fall air was crisp and cool, with the smell of dying leaves and mulch surrounding her. The smell of the annuals soothed her as she sat down and started to swing. Almost right away her stress seemed to ease up a bit as the hot coffee warmed her from the chill around her.
A few minutes later, she heard laughter coming from the front of the house, and assumed it was the gang. Immediately her stomach churned at the thought of seeing Rog again, especially after what just happened. She just prayed Rog wouldn't come in the back. 'Ok, now, that's real mature.' She thought to herself. She closed her eyes and tried to pretend she was somewhere else, anywhere else but here, with the man she dumped and the other man she was madly in love with.
"Is this seat taken?" She heard a voice a few minutes later. It startled her and the coffee mug she'd been holding got knocked over and a little bit of coffee landed on her knee.
"Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you." Rog said as he stood over her.
"No, sit, please, Rog." She said as she patted her knee.
"Melissa, I am so sorry for the way I acted an..." He started to say.
"Rog, you have nothing to apologize for. It was my fault. I didn't mean to hurt you. Please know that."
"Missy, don't. I've just had an hour lecture from some wise people for their ages and I saw it too. I don't know why I didn't say anything. I should have."
"Rog, will it be a problem working with Gre...I mean House?" She asked.
He turned to look at her. "No, not at all. He's still going to be a pain in the ass, girl!" He said with a smile.
She couldn't help but laugh, but then stopped and reached into her pocket. She pulled out her engagement ring.
"Here. This is yours."
"Oh, no. You keep it."
"No, Rog. Save it for someone you love, and who loves you back." She said sweetly, and sincerely. He looked at her like he was heartbroken, then his face softened and he took the ring.
"You are an amazing woman, you know that?" He said as he stood up and reached out for her hand.
"And you, Roger Philip Nelson, are an amazing man." She said as she reached out for a hug.
"Mrs. Stone said lunch is ready. Come on. I want to throw some ice at House to wake him up." He said laughing.
"Uh, make sure you have time to run from him." She said as they walked to the door.
"Oh, please. The man's a cripple. He can't catch me." He laughed as he slid the screen door open, which came off its hinges and came down on him. Melissa thought quick and grabbed the corner of it and propped it back up. Then she burst out laughing.
"I'm not going to be the one to tell her you broke her door, Rog!" She said as she slid open the glass door.
"Hey! You're 3,000 miles from home and you still break something! Way to go!" House said as he walked into the dining room.
Rog shook his head then grinned, and everyone laughed as they walked to the table and sat down.
"Oh! Thot is my fawt! I should 'ef tald you thot was broken." Mrs. Stone said as she brought in a Shepard's Pie and bread for everyone.
And the gang at Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital sat down to eat, in Bath, England, a traditional English meal like they were family, again, like they did when they ate at the cabin, one big happy family.
"Well, I-um awf to thu banquette. Jost le-have thu playtes awn thu table. Isle clean up whan I get bock." Mrs. Stone said as she walked out though the living room.
"Hey, Eric, did you think that was a smart idea for us to get married back at the church?" Nancy asked as she looked at Foreman. He had just put a forkful of food in his mouth and almost choked on it. He tried chewing faster and looked around at the group, who all had their mouths open baring down him.
"Uh, Nance…" Foreman started to say.
"Oh! You guys are soo easy!" She said as she laughed.
Unfortunately for her, no one else did, and a piece of bread went flying across the table and hit her on the cheek. Charlie thought it was hysterical, so he grabbed a fistful of grilled cheese sandwich ('chepart's pie? I done like da gween and owange stuff.' He
whined so Mrs. Stone made him the sandwich.) and aimed at Nancy, too. Luckily it landed on her blouse and everyone laughed.
"Gregory William House! I will not allow you to teach my son bad table manners! How could you?" Sarah hollered with a serious expression on her face. She picked up the fork, put a pea on the end, aimed it at House and in one swift movement pulled it back and let go. It flew across the table beautifully and hit him right on the end of the nose. Again, a roar of laughter bellowed out, but not from House.
"James Charles Wilson! I will not allow you teach your baby's mommy bad table manners! How could you?" House repeated, sounding the best he could like a girl, quickly grabbed a carrot and threw it at Wilson.
The next thing everyone knew carrots, green beans, bits of meat and bread were being thrown around the table. Chase grabbed a handful and smeared it into Cameron's face, who in turn threw a handful at Foreman, who threw a handful at House (just because he needed to), and everyone else threw handfuls at everyone else. There was laughter and screaming and loud giggles from Charlie, who innocently enough was spared the majority of the onslaught of flying food.
By the time Cuddy got a face and mouthful of peas, there was no more food to be thrown around. Their laughter subsided and Charlie clapped his hands. "Mo! Mo! Dat was fuun!" Sarah looked at Charlie, then down at her clothes. She looked up at Wilson. "Oh, my God! What have we done!" She asked.
She looked around the breakfast room. There was food splattered on the glass windows, curtains, walls, everything, including the faces, hair and clothes on the gang. But luckily there was no furniture in the room other than the table which was covered.
"We need to get this cleaned up!" Cuddy said.
"Hey, that's why we pay for the room!" House said but everyone ignored him.
"I have got to get Charlie in the tub! Thank goodness it's time for his nap." Sarah said as she undid the high chair and pulled him out. "Say goodnight to everyone, Charlie." Sarah said as she walked toward the living room.
"Goonye evieboddy!" Charlie called.
"Melissa, Chase, you two take a shower. Cameron, can you find a bucket and mop? Foreman and Nancy, look for paper tow…" Cuddy started to bark orders.
"Uh, Ms. Cuddy? I don't think it's a good idea if Melissa and Chase take a shower together. And may I just mention that outside the office, you are not their boss?" House told her.
Cuddy grabbed a few bowls but stopped cold. "House, go in the living room." She told him.
"Yes, boss." House said, and immediately walked into the living room, propped his feet on the ottoman and flipped through a magazine.
An hour later, while the gang took turns taking showers cleaning themselves up, they had the breakfast room cleaned up as well. They all sat down in the living room, exhausted, except for Sarah and Wilson who stayed upstairs with Charlie.
"Think she'll notice the peas on the curtains?" House asked.
"House, SHUT UP!" They all said in unison.
"Hey! Who wants to go see the Roman Baths? I'll drive." House offered. Foreman and Chase shook their heads while Cameron smiled.
"I'm beat, but why don't you two go?" Cameron said as she looked at both House and Melissa. Melissa looked over at House with a 'can we?' look on her face. He grinned at her and started to stand up.
"But I'm driving!" Melissa shouted as they walked out of the room. "You're worse in a vehicle than you are on your bike!"
"No, you're not driving!" House said.
"I AM too!"
"You are NOT!" House screamed as the door closed behind them.
"Yes, I am because I have the key!" She said as she shook the key in his face. He was quicker than she thought and he swiftly grabbed the key and put it down the front of his pants then grinned at her evilly.
"Come and get it now, little girl." House said.
"Greg, you are warped, completely warped. You need serious help." She told him as she walked to the passenger side of the car.
"Oh, I need more help than you can ever imagine." House said with a smirk as he closed the door and started the engine. She put her seat belt on, sat back and gave House a smile.
They pulled out of the driveway and turned to head into the ancient village. The mild, rolling hills of the area around Bath were just like any other mountain route, but when they turned a corner there, ahead of them, was a cosmopolitan like neither of them had ever seen. They could see roof tops in semi-circles in a huge, deep valley, yet the valley didn't seem that distant. Up ahead there was a pull-off to view the city. She asked him if they could pull over, but he was already pulling into the gravel car park. They walked toward the 4-foot high brick wall that overlooked the village.
"Greg, can you imagine what it must have been like here 2,000 years ago? I don't see where much could have changed." She said
as they stood next to each other with their arms around the other's waist. "It's the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life."
House turned to look to look at her. "But it's not the most beautiful thing I've seen." He said, trying to be sexy.
"Oh, that's the best line you can come up with? Wow, I'm sending you to 'How to Be Sexy 101' when we get back." She said with a laugh.
She stood on her tip toes, threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. It felt right to be in his arms. But she still had to watch herself. She didn't want to get herself all worked up.
"Ok, ok." She said as she tore herself away from him. "Let's get down there."
House and Melissa spent about an hour walking through the village, which included the tour of the Roman Baths built under the city millennium ago. They stood on street level, and on all four sides anyone could look down with a perfect view of the bath, which was green from all the minerals in the water; its steaming spray of mist rising up to street level to the statues that stood on all four corners; and the odor of something neither had smelled before assault their noses.
Melissa grabbed House and pulled him to the bath tour. They walked among the ruins, stones bigger than she'd ever seen them before and the areas of excavation that were still going on. They stood at the same level as the bath and heard the tour guide tell them of the history of the baths…
From their foundations 2,000 years earlier by the Romans; the many levels of streets built up over the bath area; stories of woman (and some men) getting their underarms plucked one by one at the bath as they soaked and gossiped with their neighbor. While the bath was indeed a general cleansing area, it was also for beautification of the local residents.
Just after the sun fell below the barren tree tops over the hillside, Melissa and House left the village to head back to the Inn. It had been a long day for the both of them, and they didn't know if the time alone or the steam from the bath made them instantly drained of the little bit of energy they had left. As he drove up the street where the Inn was, she leaned over and kissed his cheek.
"Hmmm! You taste like carrots. Yummy." She teased.
"Oh, uh. You know? I can't even think of a comeback for that." He said as he pulled into the driveway and turned the engine off.
"Hey, there's a spot I want to take you." She said as she opened her door and ran to the end of the driveway.
"Woman! What are you doing?" He called after her.
"Just come here. I want to take you somewhere." She said as she walked toward him with her hand stretched out.
"Melissa, I'm tired and my leg really is hurting."
"I know, and I'm sorry, but this will be worth it, I promise you." She said as she pulled him down the sidewalk just a couple of houses. She headed toward some trees where a little path had been laid from eons of people taking the same path.
"Wow, kinky! I like that!" He said. She squeezed his hand real tight, tight enough to make him smirk but not cry out.
"Ok, now, close your eyes." She said after they'd taken just a few steps.
"Uh, no."
"Ok, 'Trust 101' class starts now, dude. Close those blue peepers of yours!" She demanded.
"You know, that 101 class stuff is getting really irritating." House said as he shut his eyes.
"It's ok. When we get back I'll sign you up for 'Patience 101' class. Now be quiet. Ok, here we go." Melissa said as she turned him around gently. "Open 'em." She said.
Laid out in front of him was a valley of mossy green fields shaded from the setting sun. There was a light mist over the fields where sheep were grazing and he could hear the distant 'bahhahass' from them. He looked to his right, then his left.
"Ok, what am I supposed to be looking at?" He asked teasingly.
"Angelina Jolie is out there." She shot back. "But just LOOK at it, Greg! Isn't it amazing?" She said.
"Yeah, it is, if you like that sort of thing."
She smacked his arm hard enough to make her hand sting. "Dang, woman! That hurt!" He said as he rubbed his arm.
"You have no romantic bone in your body, do you?" She asked.
"Yes, I do. I have one" He said sarcastically.
She smacked him again. "OW! Would you knock it off!" House said loudly. Then he grabbed her by the neck and pulled her close to him playfully.
"It's only beautiful because you're here with me." He said.
"Ok, that's better. See, you are a quick learner!" She told him smiling at him. Then she sat down on a boulder from the hillside. "Come sit with me." She softly whispered.
He looked down at her and smiled a genuine, warm smile. He laid the cane on the side of the boulder and sat down next to her, in obvious pain. He leaned his body toward hers until his shoulder was touching hers and he looked out over the fields. She laid her head on his shoulder and moved closer to him for warmth.
"Greg, can we take it slow?" She asked him softly, as if she weren't comfortable with the question.
He turned to look at her. "Take what slow?"
"Us."
"Oh. Well, I'm not as young as I used to be and I might keel over with a heart attack tomorrow so I don't want to take it that slow."
Melissa shook her head. "Greg, I'm taking about making love. Rog gave me some AIDS research papers and I read up on them bu…"
"Would you stop worrying? I am a doctor" He said trying to reassure her.
"Yeah, well, you know me. I wouldn't be happy if I had nothing to worry about." She told him.
"Come on, I'm cold and my butt is getting numb." He said as he stood up. She smiled at him.
"You know, I can't even think of a comeback for that." She teased him as she stood on the small boulder, making her the same height as he. He leaned into her, and she into him with their arms locked around the others'. She put her hand on his cheek and looked him deeply, affectionately, lovingly.
"I'll have patience with you if you have patience with me." She told him.
"Honey, no one has patience with me and I don't expect you to, either." He said with a laugh. And they kissed again.
House tore his lips away from hers and said, "Where did you learn to kiss like that?"
"Practice…with my pillow." She said with a snort.
"Oh, girl, that snort is real sexy! You have to come to class with me, too."
"Not your class, 'How to Kiss 101.' I think you should be in the advanced class." She told him.
He tightened his grip around her waist and slowly lifted her down from the boulder then they slowly and reluctantly walked back to the Inn. As they walked in the door, everyone was sitting in the living room watching the local news.
"Uncle Gweg! Aunt Mewissa! We been waitin' for you!" Charlie said as he ran toward Melissa and she picked him up in one swoop and swung him around. He squealed with delight.
"Man, we're hungry! We're going to the Flying Donkey's Head for dinner." Foreman said as he stood up. He noticed the grimace on House's face when he said the name. "Wow, Nancy, he IS easy!" Foreman laughed.
"Isn't there a McDonald's around here?" House asked as the rest of the group walked toward them putting on their jackets.
"Dr. House, quit complaining, turn around and let's go." Cuddy said as the gang headed out the door.
When they got back from dinner later that evening everyone was completely full and completely tired. Everyone went to bed but Chase and Cameron, who sat downstairs to watch a little bit of t.v.
"Missy, can I talk to you for a sec?" Rog asked as he took her coat and hung it up on the coat rack on the wall. House glared at him at the 'move' he put on 'his' girl, in which Melissa noticed and elbowed House in his stomach.
"Of course." She said as the two walked to the dining room and House sat with Cameron and Chase. When they were done with their talk, Rog headed upstairs to bed.
House dozed off in the chair for a few minutes until Melissa smacked her hand against his left knee.
"Come on, old man. We're going to bed." She said as he jerked awake and his eyes flew open.
"Oh, is Angelina here?" He teased.
"Grow up." She told him as she pulled him up off the chair.
"I am all grown up. You gonna weed me a bedtime stowy? I like Darla Does Denver. It's full of action packed suspense." He said as they walked out of the living room.
"Shut up, Greg." She told him with a grin. She said goodnight to the two on the couch and they headed upstairs.
"Hey, wait, uh, I like it when you're forceful, but isn't this going a bit too far?" House said as they approached her bedroom door.
"Greg, Rog said he didn't have a problem with us being together." She told him as she unlocked the door.
"He gave you permission for us to have sex?" He asked.
"No, you idiot! He's mature, unlike you!" She teased as she walked through the door and closed it behind her.
She walked to the bathroom and cleaned her face before she brushed her teeth. House sat on the bed and watched her. Just watching her move was sexy, and he wanted nothing more than to fall asleep in her arms. She walked out with two pills in her hand and handed them to House.
"Oh, are you drugging me?" He asked, although he knew they were his Vicodin.
She just stood there and stared at him until he reached out and grabbed them. He held them in his hands for a moment as he watched her grab a nightgown and walk into the bathroom, closing the door behind her. He looked at the pills in his hand.
'Well, she risked a lot for me. Can't I do the same for her?' He thought to himself then he slipped the pills into his jeans pocket, but not without noticing the throbbing pain in his right leg. He stood up and pulled the covers down off the bed. He quickly unbuttoned his shirt and pulled down the jeans, throwing them on the back of a chair. He crawled into bed and pulled the sheets up to his chin, and waited patiently as he stared at the bathroom door for Melissa.
Downstairs in the living room, Chase and Cameron were watching an old British comedy on the BBC. It was about a prince's butler and his 'assistant', for lack of a better word. The Prince was a complete moron, and the assistant was even dumber. Cameron thought the man that played the Prince was sexy in his long, elegant clothes and ruffled night shirt in one scene.
"Uggh! He is not! He's got on all that makeup like a gurl!" Chase debated.
"You're just jealous because us American gals have a weak spot for British accents."
"What? You can hardly tell them apart from Australian." He said.
"Well, he is funny." Cameron said.
"Oh, please. A can of spam is funnier than he is!"
She cocked her head and looked at him. "You are jealous! Unbelievable." She said, but she was just teasing him, but he didn't get the jest. "I think Nancy is right! You men are easy!" Cameron said as she threw the pillow at his face.
"Ow! Ewe may me by my 'ongue!" Chase said as he leaned toward her.
"I'm sorry, babe, let me see!" As they got closer to one another he stuck out his tongue and gave her a long, wet slurp on her cheek.
"Ugh! That was sooo gross! I can't believe you did that! Eeeww!" She yelled, then realized how late it was and lowered her voice then she laughed softly.
"You deserved that!" He told her.
"I did not!" She protested.
"Did to!" He said as he leaned in closer with his tongue out like he was going to do it again.
"Youwillnot…." She started to say as she stood up and stood at the end of the couch. "You have been working with House too long. He's becoming a bad influence on you." She said seriously, but was just egging him on.
"Hey! I'm proud to be just like House! I mean, I watch porno and can have as much sex as the next guy and love my Vicodin." He said as he was imitating House.
"I'm going to bed." Cameron said as she turned around and turned off the t.v.
"Come here, first." He told her.
"Pardon me? No, I'm going up."
"Come here, woman!" Chase demanded.
"Oh, well, since you put it that way, goodnight!" Cameron said then stormed upstairs with a grin on her face. But she knew he'd be right behind her. After all, they were sharing the same bedroom. Cameron quickly put on her negligee she'd brought for the trip to surprise Chase, and now was the perfect opportunity to wear it. After all, they only had tonight at the Inn and the next night in London, then flying out the morning after that.
When she heard a knock on the door she went to it and flung it open. Standing there, with his eyes bugged out of his head and his mouth wide open, was House. Staring at Cameron, in her negligee, with a clear view of her 'fun bags.'
"Wow, very nice." He said with a sadistic grin.
"What do you want?" She asked as she hid behind the door and just poked her head out.
"Chase."
"He's downstairs." She told him.
"Ok. Hey, can I get an 8x10 of you in that?" He asked right before she slammed the door in his face.
Then she heard a knock on the door again. She flung it open and started to say, "Go away!" when she was silenced by Chase standing at the door.
"What's wrong with you?" Chase asked as he walked in the room and she closed the door behind him.
"Did you see House?" She asked him.
"No, I didn't."
"Oh, you would have. He was just here, I mean a millisecond ago." Or was he, really, just here? Was it her imagination playing tricks on her? Nasty tricks. But tricks that wouldn't work, nonetheless.
"You look beautiful, Allison." Chase said as he stepped toward her. "Are you sure you are alright?"
She looked at him, nodded her head and took one step closer to him. She put her arms around his neck and led him to the bed, where she quickly turned him around so he'd fall on the bed with her on top of him.
"Have you been doing Meth again?" Chase asked with a grin as he kissed her back passionately.
"No, I don't need it anymore. I have you, now. You're a much better choice." She said as she rolled herself over so that Chase was now lying on top of her.
Either they were both extremely tired or just needed one another that night, neither one of them let their inhibitions come to the surface. The love they made that night reaffirmed what they felt about each other: that they truly were in love, and no one would ever take that away from them.
After they made love, Chase lie in Cameron's arms and fell asleep, while Cameron stayed awake a little longer, thinking: She was glad House and Melissa got together. Somehow she changed him in a way Cameron knew she couldn't have. It was better that way. Besides, she was happy with Chase, really happy. Cameron ran her finger over Chase's cheek and was thankful she had
him. Everything was perfect. And Cameron fell asleep content and peaceful, with Chase by her side.
Back in Melissa's room, House closed his eyes for just a minute, just to rest them, before he would watch her walk from the bathroom to him. He felt the bed shake a little as it jerked him awake from that semi-sleep stage. He felt her cool, smooth-satin gown brush against his skin as she lied next to him and put her head in her right hand.
"Angelina?" House said with a grin on his face.
"No, baby, her fake lips are bigger than mine. Mine are real." She said, staring at him as he opened his eyes.
"So are your fun bags." House teased.
She giggled and put her left hand on the blanket that covered his neck and slowly pulled it down to his chest. She watched his eyes the whole time and his eyes turned even bluer than they were and his face softened to an angelic glow. She pressed her body closer to his and buried her face in his neck as she ran her foot up and down his left leg. He pulled his left arm up to nestle her head in his arm.
"Is this weird to you?" She asked him.
"No. Is it to you?"
"Hmm-hmmph. I like it." She said, running her hand down to his waist and to his right thigh. She felt his body tense when she touched the beginning of his scar.
"Donn…" He whispered.
She 'sshhh'd' him, then pulled the sheet down to his ankles and he glared at her the whole time, not trusting her, scared of her, ashamed of himself. She sat on his left and gently, softly, ran the tips of her fingers over the top of the scar moving slowly down. Just like she had in her dream, and it felt exactly the same.
She looked up at him to see how he was coping with what she was doing, and as soon as their eyes met it seemed to her that he finally relaxed, and trusted her, completely. They didn't make love that night, but they made the most important steps: They confronted their feelings about one another, and both chose to trust the other, a big step. And it was enough for them, for now, anyway.
Later that night, Melissa rolled over and stretched her arm out for him, but her hand was met with the bed sheet.
"Greg?" She whispered as she opened her eyes. She saw him standing in front of the window with the cane in his right hand, and it was quite apparent, even from the back that he was in a lot of pain.
"What is it, baby?" She asked as she got out of bed and walked up beside him. He stared out the window in deep thought and didn't look at her. She took a step in front of him and looked at his face.
"Please, talk to me." She begged. He finally looked down at her.
"This is the single, most scary thing I have ever done in my life." He simply said. She frowned at him, waiting for him to explain further, but he didn't.
"What do you mean?"
He turned to look at her. "I mean this…us."
"I know. I'm scared, too. I think it's perfectly natural, considering our circumstances. No one ever said love is a definite thing. All I know is how I feel about you." She told him.
House nodded his head. "It's not going to be easy, but I'm willing to give us a try."
"It will work out. If it's meant to be, it'll happen. And I like it so far." She told him. "Now, get your 'buns of yogurt' back to
bed." He sat on the bed and she noticed his face contort in pain when he lifted his right leg up onto the bed.
"Greg, you took the Vicodin, right?" He nodded his head.
"Hmm. I don't believe you. Then why are you still in pain?"
"Because we haven't had sex yet." House said trying to be funny but it didn't work.
"What did you do with them?" She demanded.
He looked at her to determine if she was going to break, and she didn't. 'Good girl.' He thought to himself.
"They're in my jeans pocket." He simply said. She walked over to the jeans, pulled them out of the pocket and handed them to him.
"Swallow." She told him. He took them and did so.
She bent over and gave him a long, hard kiss. But it wasn't because she wanted to; she did it to tell if he really did swallow the pills or not. And he did. 'Good boy.' She thought to herself.
Melissa and House have confessed their love for each other. But what happens to Rog? Does he get his revenge on House for 'stealing' his girl? Hmmmm