A/N The Doctor and Rose finally seem to have the troubles behind them…or do they?

Chapter 25

Rose soon marveled that only a short time before she had been so anxious and uncertain about how her evening with the Doctor would end, nervously contemplating whether they were emotionally ready to resume complete intimacy, to then reaching the point of having absolutely no doubts that she wanted to share herself with the Doctor fully that very night. The fantasized, passionate reunion might have been delayed by the issues that had entangled them, but after having finally overcome them, she then wanted nothing more than to show the Doctor how much she had missed him; how much she wanted him; how much she loved him.

Unfortunately, it seemed that would still have to wait. After a passionate and rather spectacular kiss in the back garden, it was then time to share the news of their new intentions, which had soon involved an overenthusiastic Jackie gushing and proclaiming that it was 'about bloody time.' Then as the evening grew late, the Doctor had regretfully needed to leave Rose for the night and head to Torchwood. Requiring little sleep, he instead had to make the most of the precious little time they had left before the portal closed. So he went straight to 'round the clock work on modifications and enhancements to the Dimension Cannon.

The clock was ticking, and there was much to do before departing. Not the least of which now also included planning some sort of wedding. When the Doctor had proposed in his own unique way, Rose really hadn't known at first just what he had in mind for the actual exchanging of vows. It would've been lovely to finally have the opportunity to include her family, but was there time for that? And did he have something altogether different in mind? This was the Doctor, after all, so maybe he had plans for something off-world, she had mused. Perhaps another new cultural experience he wanted to introduce her to. Or maybe even a small ritual that only involved the two of them, somehow incorporating Gallifreyan tradition of some sort, even though they were already bonded in that way.

She was surprised, then, to learn he'd had a traditional Earth ceremony in mind, wanting to give her the 'human experience' she'd missed out on before. Rose thought to herself that the nature of the groom himself might technically negate that human experience to a degree, but that didn't stop her heart from melting at his unexpected sentiment. However, considering they only had four days before departing at the time his proposal was made, she soon had her doubts about whether such a ceremony could be pulled off in time to include her family. He might've had the best of intentions when suggesting it, but this alien male really didn't know the first thing about weddings. Then again, maybe that was just males in general.

The mother of the bride-to-be (again) was quick to step in and make a list of the bare necessities, each one seeming to put this further out of the realm of possibility, considering their limited time. There was a venue to select and reserve; a guest list to make and send out with formal, proper notice; a dress to be selected, purchased and fitted; rings to be chosen and bought; flower arrangements and color themes to choose; the menu to plan; the reception to organize; not to mention the little detail of providing records to the Register Office, along with a publicized intent to marry fifteen days prior to the ceremony. Then there was the fact that if they tried to register a new marriage, the media could catch wind and have a field day, considering she was already reported as married. It seemed the unfeasible list went on and on.

And so, they settled on the only viable option, which was all either of them wanted, really. A simple, fundamental renewing of their vows. In this way, there would be no formalities to follow. Jackie, however, insisted on a few. She wanted her daughter to have a proper ceremony, one that her family could finally attend, considering that had not been possible the first time the Doctor and Rose had wed, unexpectedly, on a far-off world. At the very least, she wanted Rose to have a ring and a dress.

Rose tried to tell her mum that such things didn't matter to her. A wedding and marriage was something of profound significance, yes. But it was about the solemn commitment which forged hearts and lives together that made it so. It wasn't about the frills that often came along with it. Even still, Jackie wanted to do her best to make it as much of a proper event for Rose as she could.

With only four days remaining before the TARDIS would have to depart, Jackie had told them on the night they shared the news that if they would allow her two of those remaining days, she could help make all the arrangements for them. The Doctor wasn't particular about the details, and neither was Rose, really, so they allowed her this. Plus, Rose was glad her mum had this opportunity since she'd missed out the first time around.

Working quickly, Jackie had managed to arrange with the minister of a nearby quaint church in Hampstead to allow them the sanctuary for the designated afternoon. The minister was an old family acquaintance of Pete's and had performed his and Jackie's own private ceremony a little over three years prior on the grounds of the Tyler mansion. The kind, aged clergyman, Reverend Wentworth, agreed to arrange his schedule so that he could be on hand as overseer for the last-minute ceremony.

Meanwhile, Donna had been busy throughout it all by helping Jackie with the speedy preparations, including assisting Rose in the near-impossible task of finding a dress on such short notice. They somehow managed it, though. At the first shop they tried, Rose had found an elegant off-the-shoulder dress in flowing silk which had immediately captured her eye. The white lustrous fabric incorporated delicate blue accents –TARDIS blue, which sold her on the gown in a heartbeat. A fine blue thread was woven throughout the bodice and A-line skirt in a swirling fashion, accenting the blue silk sash which tied about the waist and flowed elegantly down the back.

The gown gave Jackie an idea for the ceremony's color theme, to which Rose easily agreed. The church procured for the occasion was to be adorned in simple white roses and blue delphiniums, delivered on short notice thanks to the pull of the Tyler name. Aside from all this, the guest list had also been made, but was a relatively simple task considering it consisted of only Rose's family and a very small handful of Torchwood colleagues, along with Donna, of course; and Rose had intuitively included Shaun on the list as well.

Astonishingly, things all seemed to be coming together without a hitch, but what the Doctor and Rose were still lacking and had yet to have a fair amount of in this whirlwind was alone time. Proper alone time, at last. But it looked like that wasn't going to happen until the madness of their last few days here was sorted. They had waited this long. If they had to wait a little longer, well…their 'wedding night' was certainly going to be that much more anticipated, to say the least.

While the plans for the ceremony were being made, the Doctor continued to spend what limited time was available at Torchwood, focusing his attention on the Dimension Cannon. He instructed the team of scientists and engineers on an operating method that would further decrease the possible damage to the walls of reality that might accumulate with repeated use. With these modifications, his latest projections showed that he might be able to shave off several months of recovery time between dimensional jumps, putting the wait time somewhere closer to eighteen months. It would still mean roughly a year and a half between visits, but in time they might be able to further improve upon the system, both in frequency and total allotted usage.

He also worked with the team to synchronize the future firing times to that of the TARDIS' efforts on the other side, which would theoretically be made possible through implementation of a trans-dimensional chronometer the Doctor had constructed that would track the exact passage of time on both sides of the void. Assisting this synchrony would also be the communications system routed through the Cannon and now linked to the TARDIS. In addition to this function and its potential for personal use, open communications would also allow Torchwood to contact the Doctor in times of emergency. If he continued to improve upon the Cannon's future frequency of use as hoped, he and Rose may be more readily available to help defend this universe as well, should the need ever arise.

And finally, he spent the remainder of the night before the ceremony preparing the TARDIS for the return trip through the void, ensuring all her systems were in full-functioning order. Allocating a small amount of reserve energy, the Doctor had moved the recuperated ship from its resting place in Hertfordshire to Torchwood, and then to Rose's flat the day of the ceremony so it would be close at hand once they were ready to depart. Rose had not been there at the time, instead swept up in last-minute preparations with her mum and Donna. He hoped to surprise her with it that evening once they would finally be alone. Knowing their shared room aboard the TARDIS was waiting for them at the end of this day was a dream neither would have even allowed themselves to hope for just a short time ago.

In the span of two days, the ceremony was set, the Dimension Cannon's future use formulated, and the TARDIS prepared for the return trip across the void. Surely it would all be a smooth venture from here.

-:-:-:-

Mere days after being reunited with the Doctor, Rose found herself gazing surreally at her reflection in the full-length mirror in a small, sunlit back room of the church, having just donned her gown. Her hair was worn down around her shoulders, and styled in long flowing spirals. She wore no veil. It wasn't customary for renewing vows, and she had already unveiled herself to the Doctor long ago. This time, she was re-presenting herself to him openly, in every way.

"Oh, sweetheart, you're gorgeous," Jackie complimented as she stood beside Rose, her voice emotional and eyes misting over as she beheld the sight of her daughter.

"You really are," Donna agreed, stepping up on the other side of her at the mirror. "No doubt about it…the Doctor is the luckiest alien alive."

Rose smiled briefly, ducking her eyes. "Thanks, both of you. None of this could've come together so fast without either of you." She ran her fingers lightly down the front of her skirt, noticing the slight tremor in her hands as she chuckled shyly. "I dunno why I feel so nervous! 'S not like I haven't done this before. That was all so…different, though. Before, I was just so scared and angry last time I was in this position, thinkin' I was being forced into marrying someone else in order to protect the Doctor and prevent a war on a planet that wasn't my own. Then when the Doctor arranged for it to be him that I actually married, I could barely even think at all. But this time it's intended to be about us right from the start. There's no other outside reason for doing this. This time it's all so…"

"Deliberate?" Donna concluded.

"Yeah," Rose breathed out.

"You're not havin' second thoughts, are you?" Jackie questioned with concern. It wasn't like her self-assured daughter to be so nervous.

Rose turned to her. "No. 'Course not." She bit her lower lip. "Do you…think he is?"

"He had better not!" Jackie began. "If he is, so help me I'll–"

"Oh, I'd help you, for sure!" Donna cut in. She then looked at Rose with reassurance. "But I know he's not having second thoughts about this. About himself? Probably. But about you? No."

Rose gave her a grateful smile. She took in the appearance of the other two women, both now dressed and ready as well.

"You look lovely too, Mum," she complimented Jackie, who was dressed in a classy champagne-toned dress with matching tailored jacket.

"You too, Donna," Rose admired. Complimentary to the accents in Rose's own gown, Donna's deep blue dress with diagonally-pleated bodice flattered her shape and tone. "I'm sure Shaun will agree," Rose added with a tongue-in-teeth grin.

"Do you think?" she asked anxiously, then caught herself, affecting an air of nonchalance. "Not that it matters one way or the other."

"Oh, come off it," Rose grinned. "I've seen you two together, and that look you get whenever his name comes up, not to mention risking your neck to go after him that night." She then hesitated, concerned about what would soon become of the two of them. "But, Donna…what do you plan to do next? I mean…the TARDIS can't stay much longer."

Donna glanced down and briefly shrugged. "I dunno, really. We haven't had time to really talk about it." Donna looked back up, sounding a little more pragmatic. "But it's not like I could just stay here long-term without my mum or my gramps even knowing where I've gone off to, without saying a word to them first. Plus Gramps is getting on in years, so…I don't want to stray too far for too long these days." She shrugged again, putting on a resigned smile. "Who knows? Sometimes long-distance relationships work out in the end. Mind you, this arrangement is taking it to the extreme. But maybe I'll pop back over with you and the Doctor next time, see how it goes and if Shaun's even still remotely interested."

"If he's worth it then he'll wait," Jackie interjected sagely. "And if he doesn't, there are plenty more blokes out there. Why, before I met back up with Pete–"

"Mum," Rose cut in with a roll of her eyes, "we really don't want to hear this."

Her hands went to her hips. "What? They were all decent!" Jackie tilted her head in thought. "Well…there was Harvey from the petrol station. Had some kinks, that one…"

Donna smirked as Rose groaned. "Oh, enough about Shaun and Harvey," Donna diverted. "I want to hear more about the Doctor. I still can't believe Martian Boy actually proposed! Go on…tell us how he did it – what he said, if he got on one knee, the romantic works. 'Course, knowing him it probably involved some barmy gibberish and the sonic screwdriver."

Donna and Jackie both cackled, but Rose simply smiled softly, a feeling of spreading warmth filling her as she recalled the moment of total openness and honesty. It might not have been a storybook proposal, but she wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

"It was just…well, it was perfect," she answered quietly, expression soft. "Maybe not some fanciful moment with poetic words, but…it was him. That's all that mattered."

The other two women's expressions couldn't help but soften to tender smiles.

The moment was abruptly broken as the three were suddenly interrupted by the door to the room flying open. They turned in rapid unison to see Mickey Smith bursting through the doorway.

"Mickey!" Jackie gasped as the gray-suited man stormed into the room, eyes urgent as they fixed on Rose. "What the bleedin'–"

"Sorry! But we've gotta go. Now!" he insisted.

"What are you talkin' about?" the mother of the bride demanded. "The only place Rose is goin' is down the aisle!"

"Micks, what is it?" Rose asked her former field partner calmly but urgently.

"We've just gotten word that more ships have been detected nearing Earth's orbit, with the same energy signature as the one that crashed, but this time they're not cloaked. It's like they want us to know they're coming."

"More!" Donna gasped.

Mickey nodded. "Looks like this isn't over. Everyone's loadin' up to head to Torchwood. The Doctor says run!" With that, Mickey turned and dashed back out of the room.

A look of disbelief crossed Rose's face, followed by acceptance and resolve. This was her life. Their life. She should have known to expect nothing less.

Rose hiked up the flowing skirt of her gown and kicked off her heels. "Right. Running it is," she proclaimed.

"B-but…!" Jackie stuttered, reaching out feebly as Rose whizzed past.

"Sorry, Mum!" she called back, following swiftly in the direction Mickey had gone.

Donna quickly joined in, falling in step behind Rose. "Oi! I'm coming too!"

Seconds later, Jackie was left standing in an empty room, staring after the blurred forms that had just dashed from sight.

Just then, Pete burst in carrying Tony. He quickly passed over the tuxedo-clad tot into his mother's arms. "Sorry, Jacks. But this is serious. Johnny has the car waiting for you out front. Take Tony home, get to the basement to secure yourselves, and stay there with him until this is over. I'll let you know as soon as everything's clear." He quickly pressed a kiss to his son's head, then Jackie's lips, before sprinting away.

"But the ceremony!" she called out, her voice resounding in a now-empty room.

"Sort of fitting, don't you think?" her husband's voice echoed back from down the hall, his tone a mix of weariness and wry humor.

Outside, the Doctor, who had been putting off donning his tux until the very last minute in order to thwart any bad luck (for all the good it did) was still clad in his brown pinstripes and currently ushering the handful of guests, now in full Torchwood operative mode, into a waiting van.

"In, in, in!" the Doctor hastened them, rapidly waving his arm.

Rose was one of the last ones through, awkwardly scrambling in amid the ample fabric of her gown. It caught on the edge of the door as she squeezed past, the hem of the skirt ripping a good six inches. The Doctor wedged in beside her on the floorboards as the van tore off. She clutched his arm to keep from toppling over backwards.

"For what it's worth, you look lovely," he said with an apologetic smile as his eyes took in her appearance.

Despite the situation, he regarded her with such emotion and tenderness that all else surrounding them was briefly zoned out.

Rose shoved a few tousled curls out of her face, angling her head to look up at him with her own brief smile. "For better or worse, eh?"

Thinking their troubles were behind them, the Doctor and Rose had been blissfully unaware that the remains of the energy ship in the cordoned off forest of Norfolk had revived the very last of its dying embers to release a signal out to all its kind throughout the cosmos, one that was only emitted if struck by an overpowering threat.

Members of the Prime Consciousness were, by principle, non-violent. But one of their own had been eradicated. Cohorts were coming, and their justice demanded this offense be avenged.