-Chapter 29-
"Ro-osie! Hope you're decent, I'm coming in!" Jack said stepping into the wardrobe room of the TARDIS.
"Jack! Really, what now?" Amy asked.
"Beautiful as ever Amy." he said smiling. Amy rolled her eyes.
"Thanks." Amy had on a simple gold dress that went right below her ankles. "How is he?"
Jack laughed. "Doc? Annoyed and frustrated. What did you expect? He's been away from her for almost twelve hours; I think his limit was two and a half."
"Wonderful. So he cracked?"
"Oh yeah, big time. And Rose?"
"Oi! I'm right over here, no need to ask Amy." Rose said from behind a curtain.
Jack smirked. "Sorry Rosie. How ya doin?"
"Fantastic. Just give me a hand would ya? The zipper's being a right pain."
"Sure thing." Jack said. He pulled the curtain back and zipped it quickly, and turned her around.
"Coulda just asked me to turn!" Rose laughed. Jack smiled her favorite smile, the one where he let his guard down and really showed himself. "So?" she asked smirking.
"Stunning. You just might incapacitate him." Jack said. Rose rolled her eyes. "Really. Rose you are beautiful. You make the dress look good."
Rose smiled and hugged him. "Love ya Jack." he hugged her back tightly and kissed her forehead.
"Love you Rose. All grown up huh?"
"I've been grown up for a long time Jack."
"Yeah not as long as me, never forget that kid." he teased and hugged her again. "By the way, I expect details when you get back. I've always wondered you know." he winked. Rose laughed and hit his shoulder.
"You're terrible."
"And you're about to be bonded. Off the market for good. Shame." he teased. She rolled her eyes but smiled.
"Hey you two, get a move on." Amy called.
Jack held out his arm and Rose laced her arm threw it. "Mind if I walk you out?" Jack asked smiling softly.
"I'd love it."
Amy beamed at her. "I still can't believe he's getting hitched. You look so amazing Rose. He's gonna lose a life when he sees you."
Rose smiled. "Hope not."
"Ready?" Jack asked.
"All too."
The Doctor stood passing around the console room. "Doctor, really you should calm down." Rory said.
"Don't think so."
"Doctor, don't worry. I was the same before Amy walked down the aisle. You're just nervous. There's really no point in being nervous though."
"I'm not nervous!" the Doctor said too quickly and Rory chuckled.
Amy came rushing in and smiled at them. "Look at you. Thought you didn't do weddings?"
"I don't, this is a bonding ceremony."
Amy rolled her eyes. "Same difference. Oh let me fix your bow tie." she said and straightened it. "My boys." she stepped back to look at them.
"He wanted to wear his normal jacket." Rory said.
"Couse I did, it's great. Best jacket in the universe."
Any raised her eyebrow. "Oh not the tweed. Doctor you wanted tradition, no one wears tweed at these types of things."
"They should then." he sniffed. Amy smiled.
"Jack's bringing her out by the way."
"Like he's giving her away?" Rory asked.
"What? No, he's not giving Rose away. What does that even mean? Giving Rose away, he doesn't own Rose." the Doctor protested.
Amy laughed. "No stupid, in a wedding the father walks the bride down the aisle and hands her to the groom. Not really a wedding so he's just walking with her. Not literally."
"Oh, right. Good then. So when?"
"Has he been like this the whole time?" Amy asked Rory.
"Yep."
"Been like what?" the Doctor asked fiddling with his bow tie.
"Bouncing on your toes and jittery. I'd hate to see you on coffee." Rory added.
"Coffee is disgusting." the Doctor stated and started messing with the controls.
"Is everything ready?" Amy asked.
"Should be, yes."
"How does this even work?" she asked calmly leaning on the console beside him.
"Well Rose and I hold hands and the TARDIS does its work and the vortex links us. Simple really."
"Do you say anything?" Rory asked.
"Like vows? Don't have to." he said but Amy saw the edges of his ears grow slightly pinker.
"Oh! You still have them don't you? Doctor, that is so unlike you!" Amy said grinning.
"Bad way?" he asked nervous now.
"No! In a very good way. Doctor really, you'll be fine."
"You'll probably forget about us completely when you see her anyway." Rory added. Amy smiled and held his hand.
Jack stood with Rose in the wardrobe room after Amy walked out. He turned to Rose and looked at her very seriously.
"Oh no, please no bad news." Rose said.
He grinned softly. "No Rose, not bad news." she looked at him confused and he smiled. "Rosie, are you ready?" he asked.
Rose smiled at him. "Yeah. I am." he smiled genuinely at her and took her arm.
"Let's get you hitched." Rose laughed and let him lead her out and down the hall.
Jack cleared his throat when they reached the arch leading to the console room. Amy smiled and stood off to the side with Rory. Amy had to nudge the Doctor to get him to stand where e was supposed to.
He couldn't quite see her yet, but he felt her flood of emotions. He was certain his matched hers and he didn't hold them back like he normally would.
Rose took in a breath when she felt his emotions. He didn't often let them go like that. Just a few times before. As they walked down to the doors she looked up. She almost fell over when she saw that look in his eyes. She could definitely feel what he was thinking now. Mine.
She looked up at Jack and he squeezed her arm before stepping back too. The doors opened and she stepped forward.
He saw Rose standing in front of him. Dressed in white. The dress didn't matter; neither did her makeup or hair. Just her. And that smile she was giving him then. He had been technically with someone before but never bonded and he hadn't loved her like he did Rose. He had been with her because the Council told him to. But standing there with Rose, next to the vortex, about to be bonded to her, he had never been happier. Not once in his life, his very long life. Nothing else mattered. Then he was ready to forget his past. To be with Rose, it was worth living with those memories that weren't as powerful as they were while she was gone.
Rose saw it in his eyes and felt him lose some of his pain. She had no idea what he was actually thinking but she beamed at him. Living in that paralleled world, leaving her family, it didn't matter. This was where she was meant to be, where she needed to be. She almost didn't notice when a faint light started to wrap around their arms.
"Rose Marion Tyler." he started. He had known what he wanted to tell her earlier but now he had forgotten it all. "I lost hope. I lost hope that I would ever be back to you again. I had given up. But I have never known how much I love you more than I do right now. I...you are the most important thing to me. I will never lose you again."
"Doctor I love you. I have always loved you. That hasn't changed. And it never will. And no matter what I say I don't think it's going to come close to how I feel."
The light grew brighter and he leaned over to kiss her. When he did her eyes flew open. It felt like her mind was opened and for a moment it felt empty. Then she felt him so much stronger than she had before.
He felt her mind join with his as soon as their lips touched. His mind that had been so alone and cold for so long felt warm again. He brought her closer into his arms and held her tightly.
Amy was smiling widely and squeezing Rory's hand. She never knew that the Doctor had this side to him, one that had him saying that vow to Rose. Jack was grinning. His two best friends were finally together. And it only took sixty some years.
When the Doctor finally pulled back slightly do she could breathe he pressed his forehead to hers.
"Hello." this time she pushed the thought to him. She saw his eyes open and he beamed at her.
He heard it very clearly in his head. He couldn't help but beam at her. He hadn't felt that feeling since his people were around, well and when they were on good terms with him. "Hello." he saw her grin and he pulled her closer. He whispered his name to her softly. His true name, in Gallifraian. Her eyes widened and she repeated it in his head.
He blinked a few times. Even though he had said it, he hadn't heard it spoken by another person since before the end of the war. Hearing Rose say it was another matter entirely and sent a shiver up his spine. She felt what he did and smiled. She held onto his arms a little stronger and that look in his eyes made her happier than anything else ever could. He was happy, more than happy.
Suddenly the temperature in the TARDIS dropped and the doors slammed shut. Rose almost stumbled back but the Doctor held onto her.
"Doctor, is that supposed to happen?" Rory asked slowly.
"No. Not really, no." he said confused. The lights dimmed.
A strange laugh echoed through the room and the Doctor froze. So did Jack. That wasn't right. That was entirely impossible actually. That laugh. The one he knew all too well. He had heard it every day for an entire year. Even though that year never really happened.
"Doctor..." Jack started.
"No. It can't be."
Rose looked up at him confused. She felt his fear and confusion. Then she felt pain as he remembered that year that never was. She heard a name echo through his head.
"Hello there!" the voice said. "Did you miss me? I certainly missed you, and look, brand new toys too. Oh it's Christmas!"
The Doctor moved in front of Rose and grabbed her hand. "No." he said quietly. His voice hard. "Who is this? Show yourself!" he nearly shouted.
"Oh is that any way to treat an old friend, Doctor? And you didn't even invite me to your little illegal bonding ceremony! I'm shocked. Of course my invite must have gotten lost in the mail, hadn't it?"
"You're not possible."
"Oh really? I believe I beg to differ."
"Doctor...who or what is that?" Amy asked.
"Oh you didn't mention little old me? I'm offended, Doctor." the Doctor didn't say anything and Rose tightened her grip on his hand. The voice laughed again.
"I'm the Master, darling."
I hope you like it so far! And yes, he's back! I just had to, I love him so much, especially how John Simm plays him! He wont be the only familiar face popping back up...
