Chapter Three: Tag-Team Wrestling

House was in his kitchen when he heard a knock at the door. He thought that perhaps it was Wilson, bringing food with him under the Cuddy-sanctioned guise of shadowing his every move. But when he opened his door he was surprised to see Cuddy standing there instead. She was holding a black suit carrier and a pair of men's leather shoes. She smiled sheepishly at him. House was confused for a moment before he nodded in grudging admiration.

"Don't you have more important things to do? Like making a list of all the single men that'll be at your cousin's wedding?" House said in greeting.

"I can write the list during the flight." Cuddy retorted. "Here, take the tux. I have a taxi waiting to take me to the airport." House took the suit carrier and the shoes from her, placing them on the table near the door.

Cuddy knew that it was too much to hope that House would get a haircut or shave for the ceremony, but she knew that House was capable of doing something ridiculous like 'accidentally' driving over his dinner jacket so that he would be 'forced' to wear jeans and a loud garish t-shirt instead. She wasn't going to take any chances. Giving him a brand new tuxedo would preempt all the lame excuses House had no doubt already thought of.

"There is a shirt and tie with the suit. Do not ruin them or I will take what they cost from your salary." She warned.

"Yes, mom." Cuddy rolled her eyes at his comment before she took a step forward. She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck. House was too surprised to push her away and prevent her from hugging him.

"I'm proud of you." She said sincerely. He didn't know why she was suddenly being nice to him, but he wasn't going to let her think he'd tolerate it.

"Okay, that's enough." House loudly announced. He patted her awkwardly on the shoulder signalling that she should pull away.

"I want you to send me a photo of you with the award in your hand to prove you actually went to the ceremony." Cuddy added.

"It's amazing what you can do with computers nowadays. I've got a photo of me standing next to the Eiffel Tower, but I've never been there."

"House, I don't have time for this." She sighed as she looked at her watch.

"Wilson can send you the photo, okay?" He relented.

"Don't say or do anything too offensive during the acceptance speech." Cuddy called out as she headed to the cab.

"As if I would!" House replied. As he shut the door he realised he had not even thought of what he should include in the speech. He had been too busy complaining about having to go to the ceremony. He then picked up the bag and the shoes to store them away in his bedroom. He heard a knock on the door and grumbled under his breath that Cuddy was starting to really annoy him. He walked back to his front door to open it.

"Cuddy..." House's voice trailed off as he saw Wilson with a bag that looked as if it contained enough take-out food to last them for days.

"Your eyesight must be really bad." Wilson joked. House opened the door to let Wilson inside the apartment. Wilson took the bag into the kitchen and began to serve the rice and curry onto plates for the both of them.

"Where's the beer?" House asked as he peered into the take-out bag.

"I...forgot?" Wilson replied, clearly lying.

"What did she say to you?" House demanded.

"You're not allowed to have a hangover tomorrow." Wilson confessed.

"What did I do to deserve being tag-team wrestled by you and Cuddy?!" House objected.

"Anyone else would be pleased to be getting an award, House." Wilson couldn't help laughing at the look of dismay on House's face.

"Will they change their mind if I tell them I kill puppies and kittens for fun?"

"No, it's a done deal." Wilson took their plates to the living room. They sat down on the couch so that they could eat their meal. House then started to wonder why Wilson was really going along with Cuddy's orders.

"You don't have to go with me tomorrow if you don't want to." House suddenly felt nervous as he waited for Wilson's response. "I can send Cuddy a photo of me with the stupid award." He suggested.

"No, I don't mind, House. It might be fun. Well, New York will be fun. The last time we went to New York was..."

"...your last bachelor party." House interrupted. He only had vague memories of it. Somehow he had managed to get Wilson to the wedding in a reasonably fit state, although it had given Julie one more reason to hate him.

"Maybe we can find that bar we got thrown out of." Wilson suggested, smiling warmly as he recollected the colourful language House had used as he had left the bar.

"It was your 'singing' that got us thrown out." House reminded him.

"I don't remember." Wilson lied. His expression was the perfect picture of innocence which caused House to scoff with incredulity.

"Yeah, it'll be fun." House quietly added before continuing his meal. He was looking forward to the weekend now that he knew for certain that Wilson was going with him willingly.