And we've come to the end of another tale. Thank you for all you reviews, and thank you to all of you who have favorited and alerted this one. I appreciate all of them. As usual, I don't own House or Wilson.

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After a long flight and what seems like an endless journey through security, they finally arrive at their hotel. He glances over at her as they enter, secretly pleased at her reaction.

"It's beautiful." She whispers as they approach the sign in desk.

He almost tells her about the room itself, but decides to let her see for herself. They step onto the elevator that carries them to their floor, and he soon finds their room, inserting the keycard.

Her eyes go wide when he opens the door, taking in the luxurious furnishings and rich colors. Even he's a little impressed. The website hardly does the room justice.

She squeezes him around his waist, nearly crushing his ribs. He coughs slightly and places an arm around her shoulders.

"So you like it?" He teases.

"Hell, yes!" She squeezes him one more time before releasing him and making a beeline to the bed, climbing onto it and lying across it. "Come lie down with me."

He's tired and sore from the long flight, and the idea of just lying down anywhere sounds like a fine idea to him. The fact that it's in a luxury suite in Vegas with this woman is just a bonus.

He limps over to the bed and eases himself down, toeing off his shoes and settling in next to her. She immediately rolls toward him and slides an arm over his waist, sighing contentedly.

"I think I could die happy now." She tells him.

"Not yet." He answers, shifting to face her and smoothing a hand along her hip. "Not until I put that other ring on your finger. And maybe not even after that."

She props herself up on an elbow, a teasing smile creeping across her face. "Aw, are you getting sentimental on me?"

"Maybe." He replies with a chuckle. "Don't bother telling on me. No one would believe you anyway."

"I kind of like it." She tells him. "It suits you."

He huffs and rolls his eyes, much to her apparent amusement. Never in a million years did he think he would find this again, not just love, but total acceptance of all parts of his personality.

He's not an easy man to love, he's well aware of that. He's stubborn, temperamental, not one to reveal much of what's going on in his mind. She's managed to draw him out, push back when he pushes too hard, stand toe to toe with him in his less than charming moments.

Thanks in part to her, those moments are coming fewer and farther between. They've built a level of trust that he's never had with anyone, and it allows him greater freedom to just be himself.

She shifts closer to him, curling into his chest, and he instinctively wraps his arm tighter around her, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. He smiles a little to himself as he hears her breathing even out, a slight snore escaping her.

He closes his own eyes, feeling himself drift away next to her. This trip is already off to a great start.

# # #

He awakens some time later to the feel of something stirring next to him. He opens his eyes to find her looking down at him with an impish smile on her face.

"What?" He's immediately suspicious.

"Nothing." Her tone is teasing. "Just seeing if you're awake."

"I am now." He shifts so that he's sitting up, warily watching her. She appears to be a bundle of barely contained energy, and he can only imagine why.

"Good." She chirps. "I was doing a little research while you were sleeping. Did you know we can do gown and tux rental as part of a wedding package? We can even do a drive-thru wedding. And the wedding license bureau is open almost all the time."

He's pleasantly surprised at her enthusiasm. "So what are you trying to say?"

She laughs and rolls her eyes, leaning forward to give him a firm kiss. "I'm saying that we can get hitched as soon as you're ready."

"I'm guessing you want to do this soon." He teases her.

"Yes." She scoots off the bed. "Come on. I've got the whole thing planned out."

A bit of fear clutches at him. The idea that he's getting dragged along for the ride doesn't exactly sit well with him. "Don't I get a say in this?" He grumbles.

She pauses, a slightly guilty expression crossing her face. "Sorry. Guess I kind of got caught up in the excitement."

He can't help but smile as he eases himself off the bed and limps toward her, taking her into his arms and kissing the top of her head. "It is kind of exciting."

"Yeah, but…we don't have to make all the plans right this minute." She concedes.

"I'm cool with however you want to do this. Really." He tells her. "As long as I get food first."

She lets out a short laugh, pushing herself up on tiptoe to give him a kiss. "You have a deal, sir."

They enter one of the restaurants at the hotel, an elegant bistro, and she requests an outside table. Once seated, they order drinks and fall into their usual easy casual chat as they observe the people walking by.

"So I've given it a little more thought." She tells him as they share the warm Brie appetizer. "I don't want to rent a gown."

"Fine by me." He answers, reaching over to wipe a bit of Brie that didn't quite make it into her mouth. "What were you thinking instead?"

Her eyes sparkle with mirth. "I think I'll surprise you. The only thing I'll say is that it won't be fancy."

"I like that." He replies with a smile. "Were you serious about the drive-thru thing?"

"Absolutely!" Her eyes light up. "We could get married right there in the convertible."

"Even better."

Their meals arrive not long after, and they chat about more wedding details, stealing bites off each other's plates as they linger over the meal.

"Would you care for dessert?" The waiter asks them both.

They order a chocolate mousse and a crème brulee, savoring them both, mock fighting each other for the last bites.

Finally the check arrives, and he tucks his credit card in the holder, awaiting their waiter's return. Transaction complete, they leave the bistro hand in hand, taking some time to wander around the hotel.

They soon find their way to one of the shopping areas, and he lets out a short huff. "You tricked me, woman."

"Not at all." She laughs. "I'm just looking, anyway."

He rolls his eyes. "I think it's time for me to find a casino. You know, the real reason people come to Vegas."

"Fine." She teases him. "All this stuff is way out of my price range, anyway. I'll catch a cab and go elsewhere."

"Call me when you're done." He tells her. "We'll find something to do."

They separate, and he finds his way to the casino. The place is dazzling, slot machines chiming, lights flashing everywhere. It's a epileptic's nightmare, but it's close to his idea of heaven.

Slots, however, aren't his thing. He goes off in search of table games, taking a seat at one of the lower stakes poker tables.

He finds the people at the table more interesting than the game itself. More than a few of them resemble wannabe professionals, though their play is anything but. It's amusing, and he takes great pleasure in taking their money.

His mind starts wandering a couple of hours in, wondering just what kind of dress she has in mind. Almost anything would look good on her, he thinks. Ultimately, he's not that concerned with what she looks like. As long as they leave this place with rings on their fingers and a valid marriage certificate, things will be good in his book.

As if on cue, his phone starting singing in his pocket. He leaves the table to answer, attempting to find a quiet spot in this noisy casino.

It turns out there's no need. She's sent him a text. All done shopping. Meet me back in our room. I have something to show you.

A slight smile curves over his lips at the idea. Whatever it is, it's bound to be good.

He makes it back up to their room, sliding in his keycard and entering the suite. It's quiet, and at first he's suspicious. "Hello?"

"Just a minute!" She calls out from the bathroom. "Have a seat on the couch!"

He eases himself onto a couch, curious at what she could possibly be doing in there. Soon she emerges in a thick white robe, padding over to where he's seated.

"While I was out finding my dress…I found a little something for you, too." She leans over him to give him a quick kiss.

"Is that right?" He's even more interested, and he can feel the stirring in his jeans as the possibilities race through his head. "Well, let's see it."

She unties the robe, letting it slowly fall off her shoulders and hit the floor. He's speechless, taking in the white corset that hugs her body, the garters hanging below, her panties a mere slip of fabric covering the most important parts.

He holds a hand out to her, and she steps closer, taking his hand as he pulls her to him. His other hand smoothes over the fabric, his fingers spreading out over her lower back while his eyes travel appreciatively over her body.

"Me likey." He growls, pulling her down to straddle him, placing kisses along the flesh that spills out over the cups.

"Thought you would." She murmurs in response. "I'm thinking of wearing this under the dress."

"You do that and we'll never make it to the chapel." He answers, letting his hands travel over her body, giving her breasts a light squeeze.

She responds with a laugh, followed by a little sigh, draping her arms over his shoulders as his hands continue their roaming journey.

"How do I get you out of this thing?" He grumbles.

She reaches behind her to loosen the laces, and he tugs it down enough to take a breast in each hand, lightly running his tongue over each nipple before taking it in his mouth and sucking.

She sighs in response, caressing the back of his head. While continuing to play with one breast, he slides his other hand downward, reaching into her panties to start caressing the flesh there, playing around her opening with one finger. A soft gasp escapes her, and she shifts slightly to accommodate him.

He slides that finger deep inside her, thrilling to the soft moan the movement produces, continuing to stroke while playing with her ever hardening flesh with his thumb. She's so close to the edge, wrapping her arms around his neck, her breath rough in his ear.

A slight movement of his finger inside her produce the reaction he's looking for, and she tenses around him, letting out a low moan as she goes over, burying her face in his neck. Soon she lifts her head and gives him a long, lingering kiss before pushing herself off him.

He leans back, spreading his arms out along the back of the couch to watch her as she slowly slips out of the corset and panties before returning to him. She quickly slides his t-shirt up and off his body before moving to unfasten his jeans. He moves just enough to allow her to remove both the jeans and his boxers before she straddles him again, taking his hardening flesh in her hand.

The lingerie is a nice touch, certainly, but this is how he likes her best, warm and naked, pressed skin to skin against him. He takes hold of her hips and pulls her forward, and she wastes no time guiding him inside her.

He adjusts himself just enough to achieve maximum stroke, and he slowly starts stroking inside her, bringing her down to him for a long, seemingly neverending kiss as they rock together.

It doesn't take long for the sweet friction to take him to the edge and over, and he gives one final thrust before unloading, pulling her tightly to him until he finally relaxes with a rough groan.

He gives her a quick kiss, taking her face in his hands and stroking her cheekbones with his thumbs. She regards him with a questioning expression.

"What's up?"

"Nothing now." He answers with a trademark deflection.

She rolls her eyes, even as an amused expression crosses her face. "Think I'll go to bed. It's been one hell of a day."

"Don't bother getting dressed." He teases. "I'm just going to ravish you again anyway."

"Then the same goes for you." She responds with a smile. "No sense having anything in the way."

He likes the way she thinks, and he toes out of his shoes before dropping his jeans and boxers to the floor before rising to join her in the bed.

He wraps himself around her, spreading his fingers over her stomach and pressing a kiss into her neck. "So, when does the marriage license bureau open?

"Eight in the morning." She answers. "Why?"

"Because…the sooner we can get that license, the sooner we can get hitched, and the sooner we can start the honeymoon."

She lets out a short laugh and squeezes his hand. "Seems like we've already gotten a head start on that."

"That was just the rehearsal." He tells her.

"Hell of a rehearsal, babe." She teases.

"All the more reason to get the wedding done." He explains patiently. "So what do you say?"

She turns over so that she faces him, planting a kiss on his lips. "I say that you'd better get some sleep. We've got an early day tomorrow."

He laughs and kisses her hard in response, rolling her over to her back. First things first, he decides, making good on his promise to ravish her further. Sleep can wait a while.

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The next day they hit the ground running, starting with breakfast at one of the cafés inside the hotel before climbing into the convertible to get their marriage license.

The place is a flurry of activity, and he can't help but get caught up in the excitement that surrounds him. Ordinarily the idea of being in the same room with so many happy couples would have given him a rash, at the very least. Now he finds himself part of one of those couples, and it isn't so bad.

After filling out the form and answering a few questions, they leave, license in hand, and head off in search of a jewelry store for rings.

They find almost exactly what they're looking for, and he's grateful for her foresight and her meticulous research. This would have been nearly impossible otherwise.

The clerk takes out the ring he points toward, a simple white gold band. It's a good fit, and he studies it on his finger, moving it around so that it catches the light.

He's not a jewelry man, never has been, but this is one piece of jewelry he'll wear for life. A wave of emotion rises in him at the significance of this simple gold band, the symbol of a lifelong bond to another person.

The feel of her hand grasping his snaps him out of his thoughts, and he turns his head to see her eyes shining with unshed tears, a slight smile gracing her face.

"It looks good on you, babe." She tells him, her voice slightly choked with emotion.

He nods, not quite trusting himself enough to speak. Finally he takes a deep breath and removes the ring. "We'll take it." He tells the clerk. "And a matching one for the lady."

The clerk finds one in her size, and she removes the solitaire long enough to slip on the band, following it with her engagement ring.

He nearly does lose it then, reaching across to feel both rings on her finger. She regards him with a questioning look, and he quickly clears his throat and nods. "I like it. That's all."

Her smile grows wider as she takes both bands off, handing the wedding band back to the clerk. "Guess we'll take both."

The clerk nods and smiles, clearly used to the emotional display. He completes the transaction, handing the bag containing both rings to them. "Have a good day, a good wedding, and a happy marriage."

"Thank you." They chorus, and he winces at the idea of another one of 'those' moments happening again. She merely laughs and squeezes his hand, and they climb into the car for the ride back to the hotel.

He lets out a long sigh as he flops across the bed, and she isn't far behind him. It's barely noon, and he's already exhausted.

"So we're done now, right?" He asks her, absentmindedly stroking her hair.

"Yep." She replies, snuggling closer to him. "All that's left is the marrying part, and we can do that whenever you're ready."

He closes his eyes briefly, but his excitement and nerves win out over his desire to rest. "How about now?"

She lifts her head to look at him. "Are you sure?"

He thinks for a moment, then nods firmly. "This I'm sure of. Let's do it."

She lets out a girlish squeal, dropping a quick kiss on his lips before practically bouncing off the bed, grabbing the dress bag and heading into the bathroom.

He chuckles and sits up, pushing himself off the bed and limping over to the closet where his suit hangs. His best friend was a big help in putting the thing together, and he's actually grateful for his assistance. Suits aren't his thing, but for her, he'll do it.

He's dressed when she emerges from the bathroom, just tying his tie as she approaches.

"Aren't you handsome?" She smiles warmly, sliding her arms around his waist. "I haven't seen you so dressed up since the Vegas Night fundraiser."

"Don't expect it too often." He warns her. "Once a year is about all you get."

"Fine by me." She laughs. "That's about all you'll get out of me, too."

He turns around, seeing her in her dress for the first time. It's a simple ivory dress, with thin straps, hitting her just above the knee. He knows she's wearing that corset underneath, and he wonders how the hell he's going to get through the ceremony.

"Wow." It's all he can manage to get out. "You look…amazing."

"Glad you like it." She answers, pressing a quick kiss to his lips. "Ready?"

He gestures for her to go ahead of him, mostly so he can check out the rear view. She turns to look over her shoulder.

"Like what you see?" She teases.

"Of course." He reaches out to lightly smack her on the rear.

They continue teasing and joking with each other all the way to the car, and she directs him to the wedding chapel, pulling in under the drive-thru canopy.

"Good afternoon." They're greeted cheerfully. "Religious or civil ceremony?"

"Civil." He immediately speaks up.

The man at the window nods firmly, taking their IDs and marriage license. Soon he's back, ready to start the ceremony.

"We are gathered here to join these two in matrimony." The man glanced at him. "Do you take the woman to be your wife, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, as long as you both shall live?"

"Sure do." He answers with a smile, squeezing her hand.

"And you…" The man glances at her. "Do you take this man to be your husband, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, as long as you both shall live?"

"I do." She smiles warmly, squeezing his hand in response.

"Please take your rings…" They follow the man's directions, preparing to place the rings on each other's fingers.

"You." The man points to him. "Repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed."

"With this ring, I thee wed." He repeats softly, sliding the ring on her finger.

"Now you." The man points to her. "Repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed."

"With this ring, I thee wed." She repeats, soundly slightly choked, and she slides the ring onto his finger.

"By the power vested in me by the State of Nevada, I hereby pronounce you husband and wife." The man winks at him. "Kiss your bride."

He kisses her thoroughly, paying no mind to the popping flashbulbs around him. They've done it. They're hitched, married, and a million other synonyms.

They finally break off the kiss, finishing with one more brief kiss before leaving the drive-thru chapel behind. He squeals the tires pulling out of the parking lot, and she lets out a loud laugh in response.

When they pull into the parking spot back at the hotel, he pulls her into his arms for another long kiss. He's thrilled beyond all reason, flying high on the sensation. He still can't quite believe what's happened.

"We did it." He tells her after they break apart. "We really did it."

"We sure did." She laughs, her bright eyes sparkling with joy before she kisses him one more time. "I love you, hubby."

He can't help smiling widely at that. "And I love you, my wife."

They make their way back up to their suite, barely able to keep their hands off each other, ignoring the amused reactions from people around them.

"Just married, huh?" An older man asks in a gravelly voice.

"Just about half an hour ago." He answers, his arms still wrapped around her.

"Good for you, son." The man nods. "My wife and I were married for sixty years. Best years of my life. Just lost her last year." He gives them a steady look. "Take good care of each other, for as long as you've got."

"I fully intend to." He tells the man, a little something clutching at him. Most likely he would be the one to go first. Time isn't exactly on his side. Not only is he significantly older than her, but his body has taken so much abuse over the years that it's a wonder he's still here at all.

"Same here." She pipes up, squeezing him around the waist.

He swallows a little lump that's grown in his throat as they step off the elevator and leave the older man behind. Finally he's able to speak. "Do you really mean that? About taking care of me."

She stops, sighing a little as she takes his hands in hers, her thumb brushing over his ring. "Of course I did. In sickness and in health, remember?"

He huffs slightly, not entirely comfortable expressing what's on his mind. "Chances are good you'll be the one taking care of me. Hell, I'm pretty sure you'll outlive me." He squeezes her hands, his next words coming out roughly. "I…don't want to leave you behind."

"Let's not worry about that right now." She tells him softly. "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. In the meantime, if you're that damn worried about it…take out a good insurance policy."

He can't help laughing at that, even as he thinks it's not a bad idea. It would be a good way to make sure she's taken care of down the road. "I'll do that. Now then…isn't there usually something that happens after the wedding?"

"Yes…" She smiles a little then, and they proceed to their suite, stepping inside.

He wants to strip her down right then and there, but he has one thing to do first. He takes out his phone and calls his friend.

"Hello?"

"It's me." He smirks at his friend's uncertain sounding voice. "The deed is done. I am officially a married man, so…no more hitting on me."

She snorts and rolls her eyes, shaking her head in amusement as his friend chuckles on the other end. "Congratulations. I hope someone took pictures."

"Yep. You'll see them when my wife and I get home." He can't seem to wipe the broad smile off his face.

"Can't wait to see them." There's a brief pause. "I'm happy for you. Really happy for you."

"Thanks." He glances over at his wife, who's taking down her hair and taking off her jewelry. "I'm pretty damned happy for me, too."

"You deserve it." His friend tells him. "It's been a long time coming."

"Yeah." He doesn't trust his voice to speak further. He clears his throat and goes for bravado instead. "Well, it's been a blast chatting with you, but I've got a wedding night to start."

His friend laughs. "It's four in the afternoon where you are."

"No matter." He answers. "After the wedding comes the wedding night. You of all people should know that. See you when we get back."

He closes his phone before his friend has a chance to reply, shoving it back in his pocket and limping over to her, pressing a kiss into her shoulder. "Can I help you with that?"

"Of course."

He unzips her, revealing the same lingerie she was wearing the night before. His hands wander over her, taking in the full effect of the corset plus stockings, noticing something else.

"You naughty woman." He murmurs. "You went without underwear."

She laughs, turning to face him. "Like it?"

"Love it." He nudges her toward the bed, and she lies across it, watching as he undresses to join her.

They make love for the first time as husband and wife, passionate and tender, and it's just as good as it ever was. Possibly better now that they're legally bound.

Afterward, they curl up together in the large bed for a nap. It's been a busy day, and he just wants to enjoy this, the simple pleasure of lying with his wife. Before long they'll return to their regular lives, settling into the business of finding a new place to live, possibly bringing a child into the world together.

The thought scares him, but he pushes it aside. As long as he has this woman at his side, he's going to try not to worry too much about the future. Whatever it brings, he knows she'll be there. In sickness, in health, for richer, for poorer, for as long as they both shall live. He hopes with all his heart that it will be a good long time. He can't imagine it any other way.

THE END

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And now I hand it back over to you, dear readers. Read and review.