Feeling the painful disconnect from Donna the Doctor opened his eyes, relying on his Time Lord reflexes to catch her before she hit the ground, "Donna," he called softly trying to get her to respond as the TARDIS hummed disapprovingly at him. "I know," he sighed picking his bride up and carrying her to her bed. This wasn't exactly the way he thought they'd celebrate their realization of each other's love. The Doctor positioned Donna comfortable on her bed, tucking a ginger curl behind her ear he sat down next to her watching her sleep off the mental drain he had just caused. He couldn't stand the thought of being away from her so he lay down next to her, watching as her mind recovered.
Coming to the first thing Donna noticed was the double heart beat in her ear, "hey, you're okay," the Doctor's voice boomed into her ears causing her head to pound. Donna winced in pain, "not so loud she told him. He was quiet for a moment, smiling she thought, before he spoke again, "is this better," he questioned at a lower and softer tone. Donna grinned nuzzling into the chest of his button down, noticing his jacket was missing, "what happened," she asked.
Stroking her arm the Doctor planted a kiss on her head, "well you scared me for one," he chuckled, "I think it was all just too much for your mind. You're a bit overloaded between last night and today," he explained. Opening her eyes Donna gazed into his golden brown ones, "so I passed out like a dork," she sputtered. He shook his head, "no, your mind just needed a nap," he corrected her. "Your lips didn't move," she gasped at hearing his words, "you were talking but your mouth. Oh God this is some wizard dream isn't it," she worried. Taking her hand, the Doctor interlaced his fingers with hers, "I'm projecting. I just wanted to try it. It's not the same as mentally merging so it shouldn't affect you especially since you are doing it too," he announced.
Quietly mulling over his words Donna realized what he said, "I'm projecting," she questioned shocked. Nodding in conformation he gave her a smile and kiss on her forehead, "quite like a pro too," he announced proudly, "I'm sorry. I guess I can't resist having a connection like this. I let the one earlier go on longer than I should have," he confessed. She took his hand interlacing their fingers, "it's okay," she paused, "you were showing me some pretty important things if I remember correctly," she blushed. The Doctor sighed playing with her fingers, "yeah but I knew better. I'm an old selfish man," he admitted as that TARDIS hummed in agreement.
"Is this how the TARDIS talks to you," she questioned as the Doctor rolled his eyes. He leaned his head against hers, "yep," he replied. Donna shook her head under his, "in other words you don't have to talk to the TARDIS aloud but you choose to," she mentally giggled hearing short gentle hums from the TARDIS as well. The Doctor feigned hurt, "oi, now I'll have two of you ganging up on me," he whined. The TARDIS hummed a reply back at him, the same odd hum she had never heard before they return, "what's wrong with her," Donna asked. Surprise registered on his face, "why do you think something is wrong with the TARDIS," he questioned gauging her reaction carefully. Closing her eyes and relaxing more into him Donna shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know. I've never heard that noise before but she's done it twice since we've been back. Like she isn't happy or something," Donna said.
The Doctor turned his head to kiss hers again, "my perceptive Earth girl," he beamed, "you're right. She isn't happy with me in the least," he confessed. Donna at the helpless poor old git, "well what did you do," she sighed. The TARDIS hummed at him again, this time shorter but in the same manner as before, "sounds like she's about had it with you," Donna giggled. "She's a lot like you, not too fond of the word no," he joked a little too serious for his own good. Reaching her hand up Donna smacked him lightly on the face, "oi, watch it," she warned as the TARDIS gave her a hum of approval.
Donna placed her hand on the wall above the bed, "I'm sorry girl, he thinks he knows best but we know better," she giggled rubbing the wall in a sideways eight. "Yes my Earth girl, our Doctor is very stubborn," Donna heard. Flashing her eyes open Donna looked at the Doctor confused, "I just, did I, was that," she stammered unable to form a consistent thought. His huge grin gave away the answer before he did, "now you see why she was mad at me. She wanted to talk to our Earth girl but I wouldn't let her until I thought you were ready," he explained. "She actually has a voice, an actual voice. I heard her. It's not just hums that you somehow understand," she uttered stunned. The Doctor sighed, "she's a sentient being Donna, I've told you this," he reminded her. Her mouth hung open in surprise, "yes, but, they are full sentences," Donna objected.
Choking a laugh within his chest he tried to find the words to explain how special their connection was, "it's never been like that before. The way your mind interacted with mine, it fit so perfectly. Almost as if," he trailed off unsure he wanted to express the thought rattling around his head. Noticing his sudden loss for words Donna turned facing him, "what is it Doctor," she questioned staring into his eyes. "Tell her my Doctor," the TARDIS encouraged not bothering to hide her words from Donna. He took a deep breath as Donna brushed the fringe from his eye allowing her hand to linger on his cheek, "when Time Lords mate we create a mental connection. With you it was different."
Different, the one word that terrified Donna more than anything else, "how," she asked as he began to feel her fret, "how was it different," she worried. Seeing the fear in her eyes the Doctor leaned, pressing his lips to hers and stealing a kiss, "almost like I've been waiting for you all my life," he answered putting her dread at ease, "you fit perfectly. My mind wanted to give everything away," he explained. Donna listened intently to what he was saying, "who would have thought the oncoming storm was such a romantic," she laughed throwing her arms around his neck and pulling him closer. "Is that a confession of love Mrs. Noble," he purred into her ear. Donna gazed into the chocolate browns that had become home, "like you needed to ask," she affirmed.
Wiping the smile from his face The Doctor stared into Donna's soul, "then there is something we have to do," he grinned. Donna rolled her eyes, "kiss the bride," she joked. Hopping off the bed he grabbed her hand pulling her along with him to the console room and set the TARDIS in flight. Coming to a stop Donna believed they were still in the vortex as the Doctor beckoned her from the jump seat and to the doors, "on Gallifrey there are two wedding traditions. One we have already completed but the other is something that must be done secretly, because it is only for the bride and groom," he stopped swallowing hard. The Doctor took her hands opening the doors, welcome to the Medusa Cascade, I came here when I was just a kid. Wrote my names in the stars, as my wife it is the final seal in our marriage contract for you to know my name," he explained. "No one knows your name," she protested. He held a finger up to stop her, "you will," he hinted.
The Doctor wrapped his arms around Donna's waist pulling her close to him as she shivered, "what if something happens? What if someone tries to get it from me," she worried. He placed a kiss on her neck, "Donna Noble I know you well enough to trust you with it. I know you would do anything for me just as I would for you my love," he promised squelching Donna's fears. He raised a hand pointing to the sky, "do you see those stars right there," he asked. She shook her head, "they all look the same," Donna frowned. Taking her hand the Doctor used her finger to point, "those right there," he said pointing them out, "see how they form a circle with a line across the middle," he questioned. With his help she could see the circle, "yes. I do," she announced excitedly. Moving her hand to the right slightly he traced out another image in the sky, "and this here how it looks like an E," he pointed out. Looking at it she scrunched her face, "looks more like a sideways M to me," she confessed.
Laughing he let go of her hand, "what," Donna shot turning to him. The Doctor just smiled at his bride, "yes, the 'sideways M'," he pause. Those are symbols. That's my name," he told her leaning in next to her ear, "Theta Sigma," he revealed. Swallowing hard Donna tried to hold back the tears welling in her eyes, "I'm Mrs. Sigma," she asked smiling through the tears. "Well, no, more like Mrs. Lungbarrow. I'm Theta Sigma from the house of Lungbarrow," he stopped and took her hand in his, "I gave that up a long time ago Donna. I ran from them, from who they thought I should be. I've run from a lot of things. I'm a coward," he sighed.
Cupping his cheek with her hand Donna reached up and kissed him, "Theta you're the bravest person I know. I'm proud that you're my husband," she promised. Feeling the sadness stem from her and enthralled by hearing his true name on the lips of another person, not just any person, but that of Donna Noble, his wife The Doctor was overcome with emotion and threw his arms around Donna hugging her tight. Loosening the hold he had on her the Doctor gazed into her blue eyes, "where would you like to go next Mrs. Noble," he questioned. Donna wrapped her arms around his neck, "why don't we get acquainted with some of the more domestic sides of marriage," she hinted flashing some of her fantasies from the shower for the Doctor to see. Taking her hands from his neck, he interlaced his fingers with hers, "allons-y," he cheered leading her into the bedroom.