A/N: there is a little bit of recommended listening for this chapter - 'They Can't Take That Away From Me' by Fred Astaire, 'My Girl' by The Temptations, 'Oh Darling' by The Beatles and 'Let There Be Love' by Oasis. Youtube them and they'll come up - if you have the time they will add something to this chapter.
I don't own Doctor Who or any of the songs or artists listed above.
Chapter Eleven
And before she knew it, Ella was walking down the aisle again, linked through Connor Middleton's left arm with Donna hanging on his right, behind the newly declared man and wife, Mr and Mrs Thomas Milligan. Everyone had behaved very well, Francine had confined herself to a few quite tears and the rest of the congregation to sparkling eyes and broad smiles, no one had objected when offered the chance and, most importantly, there had been not one single alien invasion or threat to the Earth as we know it. The whole service had been a complete success.
Tom and Martha hurried into their waiting car and the others scrambled into other transport as best the could for the short journey to the hotel the reception was being held in, Jack was heard to observe that this was how you were supposed to do a wedding, in easy reach of everyone. Gwen hit him.
Food, speeches and champagne were the order of the day and for several hours a contented hum spread over the congregation, broken every now and again by ripples of happy laughter. Connor made a funny, clever speech and Tom managed to slip in the bit about people who were important to Martha being important to him, leaving Ella thrilled he'd used her idea. The only slightly discordant note was struck when the Doctor suddenly remembered he was supposed to have a button hole. At first he thought he'd taken it off and mislaid it, or possibly never even put in and confined himself to very quietly and as unobtrusively as possible searching his pockets. Except that the things he did find in his pockets weren't particularly unobtrusive, Gwen and Tosh who were sitting either side of him couldn't tear their fascinated gazes from the steadily growing pile of stuff, unfortunately none of that stuff was a button hole. Thinking back, the Doctor came to a realisation, and looked down the table to where Ella was chatting to Connor and Jack. He frowned heavily before suddenly getting to his feet.
A moment later Ella heard a low voice in her ear.
"You forgot about me."
There was only the slightest hint of reproach in his voice, but she spun around guiltily, was it even possible that he knew she'd been flirting?
"What? No I didn't!" She was covered in confusion now, Connor and Jack looking bemused and the Doctor smiling at her in just that way he had, the one that still made her go more than a little weak at the knees while her stomach took the time to dissolve.
"Yeah, you did. You didn't give me my button hole." He nodded slightly to the lapel of Jack's jacket.
"Oh, yes, sorry," She turned away from him for inspiration, eyes lighting on her bouquet of cream roses. "Here,"
She took one for the bunch and pinned it carefully to his tux. Her gaze was fixed on her task but his eyes were watching her, their heads bent close together.
"There." she said and lent back, but he reached out his hand to grasp hers, holding her in place. He looked down at himself and smiled.
"Thanks."
"That's ok." She was definitely disconcerted now, he had that searching your soul look in his eyes. Suddenly they flicked up a little higher and he frowned. "What?" she asked quickly, her free hand flying to her hair to check it.
"I thought you were going to wear a fascinator,"
"I am," her hand gestured to a few white feathers that wreathed her head, contrasting strikingly with her dark curls.
"Oh," he sounded rather disappointed. "It's not very fascinating, is it?"
"What were you expecting? Tinsel? And fairy lights? And music?" Ella smiled again, they were back on familiar ground, he grinned back at her.
"Yeah, like in the Vicar of Dibley."
"Sorry to disappoint." He shook his head at her. "What?"
"Nothing." And he smiled enigmatically before leaving her staring after him, confused again.
It wasn't long after that the floor was cleared and Tom and Martha had yet another duty to perform. The opening bars of Fred Astaire singing 'They Can't Take That Away From Me' filled the room and Martha moved into her husband's arms. Having held off during the actual ceremony, Ella couldn't help getting a little teary eyed over the pair of them. She was standing at the side of the room surrounded by her friends and to see Martha and Tom so happy was - well, it was getting on for a Disney moment. The Doctor happening to enter her line of vision at that moment, she smiled softly at him and he returned it, neither of them actually needing to speak.
When the song ended Clive came forward to take his place with Martha and Tom went to dance with Francine, The Temptations began to sing 'My Girl' and the day began to turn more fairy tale like than ever.
A couple of hours later the party was in full swing, the dance floor was crowded and champagne continued to flow. Sitting at one of the round tables at the side of the room, the Doctor, Ella, Donna, Jack, Ianto, Owen and Tosh were playing 'I have never' and were all quickly becoming more than a little worse for wear. It had started off easily enough with only Jack and the Doctor having to drink when Ianto declared he had never died but after twenty minutes only Owen didn't have to drink as he declared he had never kissed an alien, Ella dissolving into giggles as Jack tried to find out what alien she kissed. Playing the game with this sort of group was unusual to say the least. It degenerated even further when Tosh announced she had never faked a marriage, as was to be expected Jack downed his shot but then so did Ella and the Doctor and several comments Ella had made about wedding dresses were recalled by the others. The game was abandoned as they delved for times, dates and details.
As the opening bars of The Beatles 'Oh Darling' began to play Martha appeared at the table, holding out a hand to the Doctor.
"Remember?" she asked.
"Oh yes."
"Come on then," she took his hand and jerked her head towards the dance floor. The Doctor sent a hopeful look towards the others. Ella was still being interrogated and all Donna offered was a comment that the bride rules while propelling him out of his chair. By the time he reached the dance floor he was resigned to his fate and happily took Martha in his arms. The circled for a while and then he looked her in the eye and said, softly,
"1969."
"Yeah," she replied, smiling slightly at the memories.
"I'm sorry." he said, sincerity shining in his eyes.
"Don't be," Martha squeezed his hand gently. "And don't talk like it's all over."
John Lennon's voice took over the conversation for a moment.
When you told me
You didn't need me anymore
Well you know I nearly broke down and cried
"It is a bit though, isn't it." The Doctor stated, not really asking her a question. Martha hesitated, staring at his chest before finding the courage to look him in the eye again. She found that he was smiling and managed to smile back, admitting that what he said had some truth to it. "I'm going to miss you, Martha Jones.
"I'll miss you too, Doctor."
The spent the rest of the song in silence, each thinking of the time they had spent together.
With the demise of the drinking game, the occupants of the table had galvanised themselves into action, whether going to fetch more food and drink or taking to the dance floor. Donna had been taken for a spin by Connor and Tom discovered Ella leaning on the back of her chair and watching the dancing couples thoughtfully.
"Ella, would you like to dance?"
Her thoughtful expression was replaced by a blinding smile.
"Dr Tom, I'd love to!"
He took her hand and lead her onto the floor as the song changed from the Jackson 5 belting out 'I Want You Back' to Oasis crooning 'Let There Be Love'. They chatted for a little while before Ella was caught up in the lyrics and sang along softly with Liam Gallagher for a few lines.
"Come on baby blue
Shake up your tired eyes
The world is waiting for you
May all your dreaming fill the empty sky"
She stopped and smiled at him slightly.
"Sorry."
He grinned back.
"I haven't even wished you happy!" she exclaimed suddenly, effectively changing the subject. "Not that I need, I know you two are going to be blissfully happy."
"Thank you."
The song came to a gentle end and she stepped away from him.
"Have a great life, Dr Tom." He smiled and nodded, and she returned to her table, satisfied that Martha would also have a great life.
A/N: I don't own the Vicar of Dibley either. Please review and let me know what you think of song choice - I thought about it quite a lot! xx
