a/n: I originally started this story just to get myself over a little bit of writer's block, but then the characters took over and ran with it…
Chapter 3
"Are you sure?" the Doctor asked disbelievingly, looking quickly from Rose to John and back.
"Of course I'm sure!" Rose said with a wide smile.
John just nodded.
"Doctor, you did say we were going to be stuck here for several hours while the TARDIS repaired itself," Amy reminded him.
"What's wrong with the TARDIS?" John demanded.
"Oh, you know, rough landing, parallel universe, the usual," the Doctor replied.
"Well, if I'm going to a wedding, I've got to change!" Amy practically squealed and ran inside the TARDIS.
"Can we…" John jerked his head toward the TARDIS.
The Doctor's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, yes, yes of course. Please do." He stepped away from the TARDIS door.
John and Rose entered the TARDIS. And stopped in amazement.
Rose gasped.
"Blimey." John shook his head as he walked forward. He looked around the console room. "What happened?"
The glowing coral struts and metal walkways had been replaced with smooth walls, gleaming lights and shining glass. The room seemed larger as well, with an additional level, more walkways, and an extra door leading back into the bowels of the ship.
"Rough regeneration. Practically blew up the interior of the console room. She rebuilt herself."
"She's beautiful," Rose breathed. John nodded.
"I like it," the Doctor said, caressing the console.
"Listen, I need to make a phone call," John said to the Doctor. "I'll be right outside if you need me." He said this to Rose, walking to her and taking her hand.
"Okay," she said, and gently kissed him.
John walked back to the door, turning once to look at the Doctor and Rose before he walked outside.
The Doctor and Rose stood in uncomfortable silence for a moment.
Rose took a deep breath, and let it out slowly.
"So, how are you?" she asked finally.
"Me?" the Doctor asked. "I'm fine."
"You're younger."
"No, I'm older," he said. "I just look younger." A lock of his fringe fell in his eyes and he brushed it back with his hand.
"How long has it been since..." she asked tentatively.
He took a deep breath and let it out in a rush. "Two years, four months, eleven days, thirteen hours, twenty-two minutes and fifteen, no, seventeen seconds. Roughly."
She smiled at his answer. "Same here," she said lightly. She took a moment to really look him over, from his floppy hair to his heavy boots. "So, first it was leather and jumpers, and then it was pinstripes and trainers. What is it now, tweed and bowties?" she asked.
"Bowties are cool," he answered automatically, touching his red bowtie as he said it.
Rose smiled. "Are they?" she asked.
"Yes," he said decisively.
"So… Amy," Rose said, jerking her head towards the bowels of the TARDIS. "Is she my replacement?"
"No." The Doctor gazed at her. He shook his head. "No one could ever replace you, Rose," he said meaningfully. For a moment, they stared into each other's eyes.
Biting her lip, Rose looked away first. She turned from him and looked around the console room again.
"'S all different," she said. "New TARDIS, new you…"
"New, new, new Doctor," he said.
"No, that's him," she said, gesturing at the door. "You must be the new, new, new, new Doctor."
"Something like that." He watched her walk around the room, skirt back over one arm, touching things gently as if to convince herself they were real. "Rose, are you alright?"
"Me?" She smiled, small and slightly sadly. "I'm always alright."
"Hey, that's my line," he joked.
"I learned from the best," she said, grinning at him.
She paused for a moment, and then walked back to the console. "'S so different," she whispered. "Y'know, I was really angry with you for a long time," she said, not looking at him. "You lied to me about Donna, and you didn't even say goodbye."
"I'm sorry, Rose," he said softly.
"'S alright," she said, trailing a finger along the console. "I'm not angry anymore."
"I'm glad." He paused, inwardly debating, and then, decision made, went up to her. He turned her around, staring into her eyes. "Are you happy?"
"Doctor, if you are asking if I forgive you…" Rose said. "Yes, I forgive you."
"But are you happy?" He reached out and took her hand in his. Without thinking, they automatically laced their fingers together.
She paused, biting her lower lip again. She took a deep breath.
"This is not the life I would have chosen for myself," she said carefully. "I promised you forever and I meant it. I was never gonna leave you. You said I could stay with you forever, and then you left me."
The Doctor looked troubled. He took a step closer to her. With his free hand, he gently lifted her chin and stared at her intently. "Do you love him, Rose?"
"Of course I love him. How could I not? He's you."
The door to the TARDIS opened and John popped his head in. "Listen, change of plans, just got off the phone with…" His voice trailed off as he saw his fiancée next to the Doctor, the Doctor holding her hand in one of his, his other hand cupping her face. Eyes wide, he swallowed nervously and tugged on his left ear.
Amy entered the console room from the back, now wearing a short, shimmering gold dress which she thought showed off her long legs to their best advantage. She had taken the time to put her hair up and freshen her makeup. Her eyes widened as she saw John at the TARDIS door, and Rose and the Doctor near the console, standing much, much too close together than Amy thought proper for a woman wearing her wedding dress.
"Oops," Amy said.
