Chapter 21

On Friday evening, the guests arrived at Marsden House and were amazed at the quiet elegance of the old house. It didn't seem like the type of place that House would have a dinner party at, but there was no mistaking the address. Their cars were parked by the valets and their coats were taken by the coat check. Then they were led to the room where the party would take place.

As each guest entered the small dining room, they were greeted by a hostess who took their names, checked them off a list and directed them to help themselves to drinks. They were more amazed to see the beautiful stone fireplace decorated with pale pink and deep red roses and trimmed with grey satin ribbon. It seemed to be set up for something, but no one could guess what. They found seats at the table with place cards listing their names.

When Wilson arrived, wearing a charcoal grey suit, as requested, she said to him, "Dr. Wilson, could you please go through that door?"

She indicated a door to the right of the fireplace.

"Why?" he asked.

"Dr. House has requested that you meet him there."

Assuming that House needed his help with the party, Wilson went through the door. There he found House waiting for him. But it was House's appearance that made him speechless. He was wearing a pearl grey suit with a snow white shirt and a deep red tie. There was a deep red rose pinned to his lapel. His hair was combed and trimmed and he was even wearing grey dress shoes! The suit and tie made his blue eyes shimmer from his cleanly shaven face. Wait! Wilson rubbed his eyes. Was he seeing things? House had shaved?

He finally found his voice. "What's going on? Are you feeling alright?"

"Feeling great." House said. "Well, actually, a little nervous, but that's normal I guess. You'd probably know that better than me, considering your experience with this."

"Experience with what? Dinner parties?"

"Nope. Weddings."

"Weddings? Are you telling me…?"

"Yep. I'm getting married tonight. How do you feel about being my best man?"

Wilson was stunned. "You're getting married? And you never told me?"

"We just decided."

"No way. You could never have gotten this place on short notice."

"And yet we did."

"This is too unbelievable, even for you!"

"Does that mean you don't want to be my best man?" House asked snippily, but there was a hint of concern in his eyes. It never occurred to him that Wilson wouldn't want to do it. Who else could he ask to be best man?

Wilson saw the look. "Of course I want to be your best man. I just would have hoped to get more notice than about five minutes."

"Come on, you work well under pressure."

Almost the same scene was being enacted in the small room to the left of the fireplace, where Kate was informing Joanne that she was her Maid of Honor.

"Katie, are you telling me that you planned an entire wedding in one week? And that you want me to be your attendant without giving me any notice?"

Kate looked sheepish. "That's about it."

"Katherine Martin, that is appalling! If I didn't love you as much as I do, I would walk right out of here and refuse to go along with this little game."

"Jo, you won't do that." Kate tried to appease her friend. She knew she was in trouble when Joanne called her Katherine.

"No, of course, I won't. But expect a lecture concerning this later." Then she went to Kate and hugged her. "But I am happy for you. And for Gregory. Does he know what a wonderful girl he's getting?"

Kate smiled at being called a girl. "I think so. But I'm getting a good man as well."

"Yes, you are."

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At a few minutes past eight, the hostess signaled to a woman who had been sitting by herself in the corner. She rose from her seat and moved to the center of the fireplace. The hostess asked all of the guests to put their drinks on the tables and to gather around the fireplace. When they had all done so, the woman standing in the center, introduced herself.

"Good evening. I am Martha Abernathy. You have all been invited here this evening to witness the marriage of Greg and Kate." She paused when the astonished guests began to speak at once. Then she raised her hand to signal for silence. "I am the justice of the peace and I will be presiding over the ceremony." Once all of the people had calmed down, she nodded to the hostess who knocked on the door at the right. Wilson and House entered the room. House's appearance amazed everyone. They had never seen him look so dashing. He walked in slowly, leaning on a silver cane decorated with deep red roses and satin ribbon.

Once the men had taken their places on the right side of Martha, she nodded to the hostess again and the knock was repeated for the door on the right. Joanne entered the room pushing the stroller where Emily sat dressed in a pink lace dress with a deep red ribbon around her chubby waist. There was a matching baby headband on her downy head. Her curious blue eyes were surveying the room. House smiled at his daughter. The guests were entranced.

After Joanne and Emily had taken their places, the bride entered. Kate wore a deep red silk dress. It skimmed the top of her breasts in a square cut. The sleeves were tight and went to the top of her elbows. It flowed down her body and ended just below her knee in a flaired skirt. There were no decorations on it. She carried a small mix of red and pink long stem roses in her arms.

She walked in slowly. House couldn't take his eyes off of her. She had never looked lovelier and he couldn't believe this amazing woman actually wanted to marry him. He had been nervous earlier, but now he just wanted to get it done, before she came to her senses and ran screaming from the room.

When she reached the center of the room, House stepped forward and took her hand. Their eyes met and both smiled. They turned to Martha and she began the ceremony.

"Friends, you have all been invited because you are important to Greg and Kate and they wish for you to share the joy of their marriage ceremony."

She began the reading the vows and asked the bride and groom to repeat them.

Kate said, "I, Kate, take you, Greg, to be my husband. I will be true to you in sickness and health, richer or poorer, for better or worse, until death." She smiled at him.

House opened his mouth to begin his recitation of the vows and suddenly couldn't speak. His throat closed up and emotion filled him. He felt that if he tried to speak he would break down and cry. He tried swallowing a few times, hoping to find his voice.

Kate watched him, wondering what was happening. Had he changed his mind? The guests were thinking the same thing. Wilson, standing beside him, realized that he was having difficulty. He reached out a hand and put it on House's arm. House turned and looked at Wilson. The younger man smiled at him and nodded. House smiled in return, then turned back to his bride.

"I, Greg, take you, Kate, to be my wife. I will be true to you in sickness and health, richer or poorer, for better or worse, until death."

There was a collective sigh from the guests, relieved that he had gone through with it.

Martha asked them for the rings. They had each given the wedding band to their attendants. Kate retrieved one from Joanne, House did the same with Wilson. They slipped the plain gold bands on each others fingers, saying, "With this ring, I take you for the rest of my life."

Martha smiled and said, "By the power vested in me by the states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now share your first married kiss."

House reached for Kate and pulled her into his arms. They shared a long kiss that would have been longer, except that everyone started cheering. They broke apart, smiling. Emily started fussing, so Kate picked her up and together they both kissed her as well.

Martha said, "I now introduce to you, for the first time, Doctor and Mrs. House!"

The guests cheered again, then everyone gathered around the bride and groom for kisses and well wishes. House held on to Kate's hand, afraid to let go of her.

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Several hours later, House and Kate lay in each others' arms after having made love for the first time as a married couple. They would take a honeymoon sometime later, but for now there was too much to do. They were just happy to be together.

"I was afraid you were about to back out." Kate said, reminding him of his hesitation.

"Never." He responded, embarrassed about his actions.

"It's alright," she said. "I understand. I think it was sweet and wonderful that you felt so much you couldn't speak."

He was silent for several moments, just looking at her. "I love you. I always will."

She smiled and snuggled closer to him.