THE NAME OF THE DOCTOR

Some time had passed since the events with the Daleks and the reality bomb. The new Doctor was still acclimating to 'the slow path', as he called it, but Rose thought he was getting the hang of it. She knew he needed involvement and activity so she had recently introduced him to their reality's version of Torchwood. He'd lost none of his brilliance and imagination, so they found him quite helpful in adapting alien technology.

Surprisingly, he was also excellent with little Tony. The toddler had quickly become attached to "Unca Doc" and despite Jackie's initial strong reservations, the Doctor had proven to be both capable and responsible with the tyke. Rose watched him now, working with Tony to build some outlandish creation with an erector set. She'd noticed that he treated the little boy just as he did adults, perhaps with a little more patience, but as if his ideas and conversations were equally important to anything from grownups. She wondered idly if that was because he valued this child or because to him, humans of any age were all children.

"Unca Doc, look!" Tony exclaimed, fitting another gear onto their creation.

"Very good, Tony," he said approvingly, then glanced up to see Rose watching them. He smiled, his eyes taking on a special warmth just for her. He quickly unfolded his legs and gracefully regained his feet. "He'll be occupied for the next hour with that," he said, nodding in the boy's direction.

"Mum just got back," Rose replied, "so you're relieved of duty."

Jackie bustled in and swooped down to give her son a hug and a kiss. "Are you all set for tonight?" she asked as she straightened up. "You'll be there on time?"

The Doctor sighed. "Relax, Jackie, we'll be there."

"Good," she said, adding sharply as she left the room, "Rose, I'm counting on you."

Rose couldn't help laughing at the indignation on the Doctor's face. It was a sore point between him and Jackie that he had trouble dealing with the minutia of day-to-day life. Time travel had given Rose a wider perspective, but her mother often lost patience with him.

Holding hands, they strolled out into the garden. "Mum's just anxious that everything go right tonight," Rose said comfortingly to him. "The wedding vow renewal is really important to her and Dad."

"I know," he paused and then tugged her over to sit next to him on a bench. "Rose," he said hesitantly, "have you ever thought..? That is, would you..?"

"What?" she asked, surprised at his manner. He looked very serious all of a sudden, and yet almost tentative. Quite unlike himself.

"I'm staying, you know. I'm not going off anywhere."

"Yeah, I know," she assured him, a little unsettled by the intensity of his gaze.

"We could make this permanent," he said, trying for an off-hand tone.

"Are… are you asking me to marry you?" she asked cautiously. She had dreamed of it too many times to be sure this wasn't just wishful thinking on her part.

He swallowed and nodded, taking her hands in his. "Rose Tyler, will you marry me?"

"Yes! Yes!" she cried, flinging her arms around him. After a long, satisfying kiss she pulled back. "There is one thing, though. I haven't mentioned it, but if we're going to get married…"

"What?" he asked in concern.

"I can't call my husband 'Doctor,'" she said. "Can't you tell me your real name now?"

He sat back and considered her for a moment, then a smile crept across his face. "Well, under the circumstances," he said. Then he leaned forward and whispered in her ear…