Author's Note: A note to any and all readers. I officially hate trying to rewrite episodes. Don't expect many more in the future. It's quite probable that I'll figure out some way to skip the rest of the episode, make it a flashback or something like that so I only have to write the important bits. Bear with me, I know this was way too long in coming but once you get started it's supposed to get easier, right?

Wish me luck,

Sephri

In a back alley a large wooden blue box materialized out of thin air. A red-headed woman in a wedding dress stepped out from the doors.

"I said, "Saint Mary's". What is this? What kind of Martian are you?" Donna growled.

Rose and the Doctor followed her out. Rose was still miffed about Donna's earlier comments and rolled her eyes again. "He's not from Mars," she responded. She looked to her alien colleague for some clarification but he was inspecting the TARDIS with a disturbed look on his face. "Doctor?"

"Something's wrong with her…" He murmured. He stroked her side and laid his head to her paneling. "It's like she's recalibrating." He frowned and made for the console, pausing to instruct Rose. "Talk to her, find out if she's had any sort of alien contact. I need to see what's wrong with the TARDIS."

Rose made to object but the Time Lord had already disappeared back inside his ship. Rose sighed in exasperation. "Right, Donna—"

"Leave me alone," she hissed, seeming terrified and frustrated at the same time. "I just want to get married." She spun on her heel and stomped towards the end of the alley.

Rose ran after. "Wait, Donna it's not safe! We need to find out what happened. Please, just wait for the Doctor." She grabbed her arm to try and stall her.

"Let go of me! You're all mad! He's mad, you're mad, that box is mad, you're all mad!" She hurried off again towards the main street.

Rose hurried back to the Doctor and called in, "Doctor, she's running off. We have to hurry!"

The lanky man sprinted down the ramp and out the doors, pulling them shut behind him. "Come on, then," he chattered. He scooped up Rose's hand in his and smiled his cheeky grin. "We're late for a wedding."

The duo broke into a run chasing down their bride-to-be. "Donna, wait! We need to talk to you." She is busy trying to hail a cab when they finally catch up.

"What part of 'leave me alone' don't you understand?" She growled vehemently. She waved her arm in another vain attempt to hail a passing taxi but it ignored her. "It's ten past three! I'm missing my own wedding!" she yelled heatedly.

Rose is the first to speak again, "Why don't you call them? I have my mobile. You can dial them and tell them where you are." Rose drew it from her pocket and offered it to the distressed woman.

Donna stopped in her tracks. "Um, yeah. Thanks." She took the phone and started to dial, walking quickly down the road. "Mum, please pick up!" she mumbled.

Rose and the Doctor follow her and start comparing notes. "She certainly acts human. She's got the attitude," Rose observed.

The Doctor rubbed his chin, "Reminds me of your mother." Rose smiled for a moment before remembering sadly what happened. The Doctor glanced at her and realized his mistake. "I'm sorry, that was tactless."

Rose chuckled. "You recognized that?"

"Oi, what's that mean?" The Doctor recoiled.

Rose tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, smiling again. "Nothing, Doctor. It just reminds me of the old you."

"Oh," the Doctor contemplated for a moment before a smile split his cheeks.

Donna approached them again, still steaming. "I can't get hold of them." She held out the phone to Rose. "Thanks for that. I'm going to try and get back."

Rose took the mobile back and pocketed it. "How? You haven't got money or your own phone."

The Doctor nodded. "She's right. Why don't we go back to the TARDIS and we can give you a lift?"

Donna shook her head aggressively. "Why don't you just lend me some money? It's the least you can do, since, you know, you kidnapped me."

Rose rolled her eyes again and looked past the confrontation, deciding not to get involved. A band of Santas playing brass instruments caught her eye across the way. There was something off about them and a memory floated to her mind's eye. Mickey by her side as they walked through a crowded market, they talked about the Doctor, sick in bed at the time, and Christmas and her mother. Then the same Santas that she saw across the road had ambushed them, spewing flames from their instruments. Rose gasped. "Doctor, look! Across the road."

The Doctor followed her gesture and grew very serious. "Donna, is it Christmas?"

Donna rolled her eyes, "Of course, it's Christmas. Why are you changing the subject?" She shaded her eyes and peered across the road as well. "What, it's just some band in costume." She turned back to the business at hand, getting a taxi.

"Come on, Donna," the Doctor warned, taking her arm. "It's not safe. Those Santas are dangerous."

Donna recoiled from him. "What the hell are you on about, dangerous Santas? I'm going to my wedding now and you will not stop me." She waved down another cab and this one stopped for her.

The Doctor held out his hands, trying to stall her a moment more. "At least let us go with you, to protect you."

Donna scoffed. "Protect me from what? Christmas trees?"

"Yes, exactly!" The Doctor babbled. "Evil Christmas trees and Santa-masked pyromaniacs! Please I'll take you to your wedding right now, ten minutes ago even, just come with me please!"

"What do you mean ten minutes?" Donna queried.

"I'll explain on the way," Rose offered. She felt like she had been a bit harsh on the woman since they had met and owed her something. She set her hand on the bride's shoulder.

Donna's brow wrinkled as she thought over their offer. "I suppose…" she trailed off.

Rose beamed and the Doctor smiled, though his eyes were still dark with worry. Rose took his hand and Donna's and headed back towards the TARDIS. "As you said, Doctor, we have a wedding to get to!" she chirped. She pulled the two along with her briskly. Yet as they neared the alleyway, she slowed and leaned against the wall.

"Rose, are you alright?" the Doctor asked catching her as she slid down the bricks.

Her eyes were heavy and she couldn't think straight. "I don't know… I feel kind of… drained suddenly." She shook her head, groaning. "We need to get back to the TARDIS," she murmured. She sighed and her eyes closed.

"What's wrong with her?" Donna asked. "Is she alright?"

The Doctor checked her pulse at her neck and breathed a sigh of relief. "She's unconscious." He scooped her into his arms. "We need to get to the TARDIS. There are things going on here that I don't understand." He took off at a light jog, checking over his shoulder.

Donna followed with her skirt in her hands. "And you understand everything, right?"

"Yes, usually," the Doctor puffed. He scratched at the door of the TARDIS with his trainer and she opened. "Thanks, love," he murmured as he walked in, Donna on his heels. She closed the door behind them. He found a flat shelf-like surface to lay Rose on where he could observe her and still operate the TARDIS. He pulled his coat from its place on the coral support and folded it up. He placed it under her head and brushed the hair from her face. His face softened for a moment before jumping into action. "Right, Saint Mary's, Chiswick, London!" he crowed. He flipped a lever and the TARDIS shuddered. "Hold on tight, Donna."