I'd like to thank all the wonderful people who have taken the time to review, it really makes my day!

Chapter Twenty four

House lay on the bed, his tie loosened and jacket off, he looked at his sleeping wife, he had returned upstairs to find her sound asleep, the gown she had worn that day hanging on a hanger in all its splendour. Today had been a good day, great even! He felt a contentment that he had rarely felt in his life. He turned gently on the bed beside Dom so as not to wake her, as he watched her sleep, he reflected on the years since he had met her, the joy and laughter they had shared with their crazy family put a soft smile on his face. Who would have thought this beautiful young woman would be the one who would make him feel secure, worthy of love. He thought back to the time when he doubted himself as a father, she had quelled his fears effortlessly; she had such belief in him that he had found he could actually believe in himself. His life had dramatically changed the day he was led out to the visitors' room in the prison, so battered and bruised that he could hardly walk, to see her sweet face on the other side of the glass. He never went back to the hell that was his wing of the prison, she had demanded he get medical attention and less than a week later he had been shifted to a rehabilitation place where his new life began. She had literally saved his life, now she was his life and he didn't care who knew it! It was after five, he really should wake Dom, she would want to do her hair and makeup before their guests arrived. Ania and Sam said they would get the twins ready; Wilson had been snoozing in the lounge when House had returned from the restaurant; he presumed that he would be retiring ties again shortly. Dom was so sound asleep, he was glad he had persuaded her to lie down for a while, now he had to wake her. He moved closer and touched her cheek, she stirred.

"About time you got here!" she said huskily

"I've been here a while" he said quietly

"Why didn't you wake me?"

"Because you are really tired, and I'm a considerate husband, it's time to start get ready people will be arriving soon."

"I wish you had woken me" she said as she slid over and wrapped her arms around him, he hugged her close and they kissed each other softly she looked in his eyes and said "I can get ready really really quickly!"

He grinned "As tempting as that is, I think we'd better get up. I'm trying not to piss anyone off today"

Dom pouted "I'm sure they'd get over it, me on the other hand…" she kissed him again this time with increasing passion.

"I think you've been hanging around with me too long, I'm a bad influence! You hate being late" he grinned, his voice husky. "Rein check?"

Dom smiled she had her trump card to play "Ok" she said, House was a little disappointed that she had caved so easily, but he expected her to want to be on time she had always been big on punctuality. Dom sat up, the sheet sliding from her; she was wearing stunning white underwear with matching stockings and suspenders she even had a baby blue garter. She had left it on especially to drive Greg a little wild "what do you think?" she asked flirtatiously as she lay back on the coffee coloured sheets. His eyes raked over her not missing a detail.

"I think we're going to be very late!"

"Do you know what time it is?" Wilson was flapping like a mother hen "People are already downstairs!"

"You'd better get this tie tied for me then!" House replied he was feeling very mellow "Where is everyone?"

"Downstairs, dinner supposed to be severed in about 40 minutes, Sam has just taken the twins down, we let them sleep as long as possible. Shit House did you sleep in this shirt!" he looked at the wrinkles in the once pristine white shirt, you can't wear that, I'll iron it for you"

"The jacket will cover it" House shrugged

"I like him a little wrinkly!" neither of them had heard Dom approach, true to her word she was ready quickly, she wiggled his tie so it wasn't quite perfect, which really annoyed Wilson who was taking his best man duties seriously!

"Well if wrinkles do it for you it explains the attraction! I always wondered?" said Wilson

"No one messes with Wilsons ties" House said at Dom's questioning look at the unusually pissy Wilson

Dom giggled as House hugged her, he turned and told Wilson "You go we'll be down soon"

"Like hell! You are coming with me, it would be just like you to go back to bed and not show up!"

He handed House his jacket, and resisted the temptation to redo the Windsor knot on Houses tie.

Things were no better in the lift, Wilson turned to say something to House to see the newlyweds lip locked. House had his back to Wilson, Dom's arms were under his jacket, the lift opened Dom and House didn't even notice. Wilson had the feeling that they'd forgotten he was there!

"OK you two, let's go."

House limped around still keeping Dom close to him "You go announce we're here or something, we'll be out soon".

"House there's a room full of people, this is becoming embarrassing!"

"Wilson if I walk out there now believe me that would be more embarrassing, they won't be looking at my rumpled shirt and crooked tie" House replied, Dom was giggling like a schoolgirl.

Wilson looked at the two of them before the penny dropped he blushed slightly "What the hell, House you're not fifteen!"

"If you knew what Mrs House was wearing under this beautiful gown you wouldn't be surprised!"

"One aims to please!" Dom flirted shamelessly

Wilson said in a firm voice "This stops now, or I'll go get Blythe! Start thinking what "that" Mrs House is wearing, it should help!"

"Buzz kill!"

"We'd better go, Greg" Dom said softly

Wilson smiled to himself; a joyful House was a sight to behold, the older man was happy and he didn't care who knew it, and more significant was the fact that he was letting himself enjoy the moment, embracing it as a rare and special thing.

"I'll go and check on the catering before we go in, do you want to wait here so we can walk in together?" Dom asked House

"OK" he replied "Don't be long"

Wilson and House waited in the foyer for Dom, most people had already arrived and were in the dining room. House looked out the window onto the street to see Stacy and Mark Warner exiting a taxi on the street, he walked over and opened the door; Stacey was looking at the sign that read "Closed for private function" she turned to Mark and said

"This must be the place, trust Greg to find a place with House in the title, I bet he went out of his way to do that just to bug Cuddy!"

"Doesn't sound like me?" House said in a loud voice starling them both "Hurray up you're late!" he stood so the automatic door would stay open for them.

Wilson had no idea that House had invited Stacy and Mark and he was gobsmacked

"Wilson, take Stacy and Mark in, they're seated beside Cuddy and Monroe. I'd better wait for the wife!"

"You are married?" Stacy asked in disbelief, she was even more surprised to see a shiny gold band gracing his finger.

"Yeah, I got married in between my visits to the asylum and jail, Wilson will fill you in!"

House was enjoying the shocked look on both the Warner's faces; Wilson was giving him the evils.

He turned as Dom approached, Stacy watched in amazement at the soft expression on his face.

"No dramas in the kitchen?" He asked slipping an arm around her, "Dominica, meet Stacy and Mark Warner"

There was a quick exchange of pleasantries before Marie Clare came and hustled Wilson and the Warner's into the dining room.

When House and Dom entered the dining room Wilson announced them calling them the recently remarried Mr and Mrs House. As they entered Billy pulled a string and all manner of Balloons, confetti and such like tumbled down onto the couple. Sophie and Will were out in front, Sophie giggled, but the young Wilson laughed so loudly, he had been beside himself with excitement when Billy had explained what they were going to do when his mom and dad entered the room, he was a sight, he was back in the little suit he had worn for the ceremony and he was jumping up and down and laughing like it was the funniest thing he had ever seen!

House and Dom found themselves laughing happily as the watched the child laugh uncontrollably.

"Daddy you have stuff in your hair!" he said gleefully

House bent over the little boy and shook, causing confetti to fall down on Will, making him shriek and try to shake it off. It was a moving moment for some people in the room, watching House interact playfully with his son, Sophie was trying to brush off the confetti that had floated into her hair and she too was laughing uncontrollably.

Stacy Warner stood beside Lisa Cuddy, she was still in shock, Greg was married and a father, she felt a wave of emotion pass over her, relief, joy and a tiny bit of jealousy. She watched as he moved still using his cane in the wrong hand, his leg still weak, but the look of constant pain was absent from his handsome features. She watched as he accepted congratulations from number of people, a man she recognised as Dr Chase dropped a kiss on Dom's cheek and turned to House to say

"I'm very hurt that you didn't ask me to marry you, after all.."

"Chase you have great hair and you are mildly attractive, but no contest" House cut in

Chase continued "I have a hundred per cent success rate as a marriage celebrant"

Everyone was seated and entrées were served, and consumed when House got to his feet.

The room hushed as he looked around the room at the collection of people they had invited, most were from PPTH, Dominica's medical and rehab team, his former fellows, Cuddy and Monroe. House had really enjoyed the look on Cuddy, Wilson and his earlier fellows' faces when Michael Tritter walked up and shook House's hand. House had been a little surprised to see the man there; he was even more shocked when he took his seat at the family table beside Ania. He had shot Dom a shocked look and she had just raised her eyebrows and smiled. There were people from the rehab centre; guards that had been kind to Billy and always kept in touch, and the medical officer who had helped House through his rehab. There were people that had helped Dom in her early days as a struggling young woman trying desperately to stay and survive in America.

"Good evening, welcome, Dominica and I are delighted that you could join us on this auspicious occasion; you may be wondering just what we are here to celebrate so I'll bring you up to speed. Today Dom and I have formally adopted our eldest son of whom we have been guardian of for roughly four years, I would like to introduce you to William Timms House, or Billy as he is to us!"

Billy stood and House said "I'd ask you to all be upstanding and drink a toast to one of the most outstanding young men I have ever met"

Billy blushed at Houses words luckily he had let his hair out of his ponytail so he was spared having to face everyone. Jed and Patrick whistled loudly! When everyone took their seats House was surprised when Billy remained standing, he then began to speak.

"I would just like to say, that a little over four years ago I had no-one, but thanks to these two wonderful people right here" his voice was emotional everyone could tell how hard he was trying to hold it together "I now have parents, a brother and sister, grandparents." He gestured toward the members of his family "I even have some crazy uncles"

"Who you callin crazy boy?" Elli asked gruffly making everyone chuckle.

Billy laughed "I don't know anybody that has a cooler family than me, so thanks." He looked at House and Dom before taking his seat.

House spoke again "A little over a month ago Dom was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour which it seemed would shorten her life dramatically" House was becoming a little choked up Dom reached and took his hand.

"Then daddy fixed her all up!" Sophie said loudly

"Much as I'd like to take credit Sophie, the fact that your mom is better is thanks to a lot of people in this room, I in fact was a blithering idiot! I would like to thank the wild Irishman sitting over there, he is a genius and a pioneer" he gestured to Monroe "and Cuddy, who has the courage to let people break new ground, without you Dom wouldn't have stood a chance. The nursing and rehab team who did an amazing job, it's hard to believe that for a while we had matching limps! " He gave Dom a wry smile. "We also as rumoured had a ceremony to reaffirm our commitment to each other. We are a family with a lot to celebrate and we are very glad you could join us"

House sat down and the waiting staff began serve the main course.

House had just finished his meal, and rather a lot of Dom's when he turned to Dom "You didn't invite our lawyer did you?"

"No, I felt the fact we have fed and educated his kids was quite enough," she joked "why?" she asked

"Because he has just walked in the door" House got to his feet and walked toward the short balding man.

"Dr House" he said worriedly as House met him right beside the table where Cuddy and Stacy sat "I'm afraid we have a problem"

I'd love to know if you are reading!