Previously…

He was right. The unimaginable connection between them even this tiny ordinary wedding ceremony must have strengthened – if this hadn't been partly the Doctor's improvement, anyway – the Time Lord winked at her in reaction to this idea – has been making her feel so many new emotions. Either that, or Rose has miraculously acquired the ability to quickly identify and discern all the feelings within her… It was almost becoming too much, really.

The Doctor has pulled her closer. "A side-effect of having had so many emotions attacking you at once, Rose," he muttered soothingly, getting a tiny smile in return.

Love and Medicine

Chapter Eleven

"I need to take care of some important things first," Rose nudged the Doctor, ignoring his pout. "The wedding's over. I need to change. Surely, you don't expect me to be wearing this dress forever? Or for another seven or so hours?"

"Why not?" He was honestly surprised. Don't you like it?

She rolled her eyes at him. "I love it, of course I do, Doctor. Love all the things the clever TARDIS keeps doing for me, too."

The unmistakable amusement reaching her has only made Rose giggle.

"Must you? Really?"

"I have almost died today," Rose reminded. "Surely, a dress can't be more important than-"

He nodded gravely, but said nothing on the subject, not wishing to return to the might-have-beens. "Does wearing it hurt you, love?"

The girl sighed at him. The way the Time Lord's eyes were travelling up and down the garment was… curious. She put it on his unuttered wish to see the dress off her, for something more, very likely, and giggled lightly. "Does it hurt you?" She countered.

"I know what you're thinking," he muttered. "But, Rose… this is more important than anything. You wearing a dress meant for a Time Lady can either elate you, cure you or… break you."

"Do you mean it can turn me into someone else?" All of a sudden, the unbelievable, fantastical ideas no longer seemed so unlikely. She inhaled. "I am someone else. Husband."

"This doesn't change the fact you are human, love."

"Are you afraid a dress can do anything? Hurt me? Don't be stupid, Doctor. Has something happened to Martha while she was wearing hers?"

The Doctor sighed. Martha's dress was ordinary. Meant for a human woman. Not created specifically for a person bordering on… so many incredible, dangerous things.

"It's your wedding dress… and wearing it is changing you as we speak."

Rose backed away, terrified. "Is this why you wanted-"

"No. Removing it was necessary while working on fixing your wounds," the Doctor assured her. "For ordinary reasons." And for those other, he understood his mistake the moment she froze. Having Martha nearby would have certainly helped right now.

Do I need to know?

"First, I need to know. My love. How do you feel? Better? Worse?"

She shook her head, incredulous. Different.

Different how?

"Married to a Time Lord kind of different." Incomplete kind of different. Suddenly, the shadow of a smile constantly toying on her lips looked completely fake.

He grabbed her. The Doctor knew one thing that could never, was never to be completed. "Have I missed something during the ceremony? Forgot to say something? To do something?"

No. The TARDIS keeps urging me to do something, but I don't know what that is.

"Maybe… maybe it will be gone the moment you take off the dress?" He guessed.

Maybe, she agreed. But I suddenly don't want to. "It's as if… as if it was protecting me somehow? Preparing me for something?"

"I'm glad it does not have any unpleasant side-effects on you, darling." It has more or less opened the way for him… for them to reach for something beyond human tradition. If not for changing them both into two people connected in ways much more complicated than what has been stated in their marriage certificate-

What is it? Rose was suddenly uncomfortable, the Doctor's loving, caring and… puzzling thoughts enveloping her.

The strange welcoming feeling has made her to abandon her original plans entirely. I am doing something right, is this it, old girl? Fine, if the vessel wanted for Rose to keep the exceptional, personally-fitted (the memory of it being somewhat extravagant so as to mask her wounds has made her shudder inwardly - dress on… why not?

The Doctor eyed his wife lovingly. I knew you would change your mind, Rose.

It makes me feel somehow light-headed. Is this supposed to be happening?

The alien smirked. "The TARDIS simply cannot contain her excitement about us finally being together. It's only natural some of it reaches you."

She blinked. "It's… okay, I suppose. As long as the ship keeps away from invading my personal, my secret thoughts."

"Does it feel like she is doing it?" If he knew his vessel half as well as he believed he did…

"Yes, actually," she sighed.

The Doctor froze. "Do you want her to stop?"

"Of course not," she smiled, aware of the relieved sigh having escaped his lips. "It's just- she wouldn't say. What does such a behaviour mean?"

You are a part of the family now, Rose. Of course she wants to know how to make you feel better, always.

What did she mean by incomplete? Surely, she does not mean the fact I am – more or less – still human?

The Doctor eyed her thoughtfully, a wide grin enlightening his features. "I'm sure she means our marriage bond is incomplete."

Another kind of marriage? A ritual of some sorts?

Yes. In a way. The Time Lord looked at her with adoration. His wife, his Rose, his love, always so clever.

What makes it complete? Rose did not look surprised or frightened, just curious.

We would need to form a telepathic marriage bond. He inhaled. It's nothing frightening, he assured. It's a Time Lord ceremony. Usually only performed between two of the same species… But exceptions are known to happen.

The TARDIS objected loudly.

"What do you mean, this does not have to be an exception?!"

Rose could swear her headache was returning. "It doesn't matter. Just… don't shout," she pleaded. We will perform whatever is necessary. Just give me a moment, TARDIS?

Do you understand what you have just agreed to, love? Rose was surprised to hear fear in his voice.

"Not really," she admitted. "But she is my friend. Considers me a part of the family, you said. The girl can't hurt me."

Not on intention, no.

I'm not sure I understand…

"Martha Jones should be back with us in, say, ten hours," the Doctor changed the topic suddenly. "Should we postpone the ceremony and what comes with it until then, or

The sudden change put Rose on alert. "Is her presence absolutely necessary?"

On the contrary, love, on the contrary, he pulled her into a self-explicatory, breath-taking kiss.

Only when the bond was properly formed did Rose understand what the incomplete actually meant.

Only when Martha returned did she understand what having two amorous, newly married (bonded, they called it) Time Lords travelling together with you truly meant.

Coming up on them snogging had been nothing, she understood. And maybe, just maybe leaving travelling time and space behind for good has not been such a poor idea, after all.

The End

A/N. This is hurried, yes. Did Martha leave them, after all? Or continued travelling with them? It's for you to decide. Time Lady Rose was always supposed to happen. Yay.

Your opinions are always needed. :)