Thanks to Always.V.G16 for faving my story.

NicoleR85: thanks!

frosty600: thank you. here's the next part.

AN: small mature scene at the end.

With some nifty piloting on Alyssa's part, with quite a bit of help from the TARDIS and of course the Doctor pitching in too, they were able to pick up the others from their various locations. "Ok Doctor, we're all here so what's the big news?" Steve asked.

"I'm gonna take a wild guess and say that there's either a mini Doc or mini Ali on the way", Jack spoke up.

"No, I'm not pregnant", Alyssa said. To the Doctor she added "why do people think I am?"

"Well, I figured you two must've danced a fair few times", Jack said with a suggestive look "So is he a good dance partner?" he asked "you can be honest, you're among friends".

"What my parents do behind closed doors is none of your business", Jenny said sternly to Jack.

"Thank you Jenny", Alyssa said "Now we do have some news and it has nothing to do with a baby. The Doctor and I are engaged". The reactions that followed were a mix of applause, cheers and even a 'bloody hell' from Jack.

"Language, there's a child present", the Doctor said sternly earning laughs from everyone else.

"I'm so happy for you and dad", Jenny said giving Alyssa a hug.

"Thank you, honey", Alyssa said "and I would love it if you'll be my maid of honour".

Jenny broke out in a big grin and hugged her mother again, tightly this time "I would love to! Thank you so much mum!" she said happily.

"Your welcome", Alyssa said moving back. She touched the blonde's face fondly "there's no one I'd rather be as my maid of honour". Alyssa then received a congratulations from Martha. While she was speaking to the black woman, Jack gave his congratulations to the Doctor.

"Would you mind being my best man Jack?" the Time Lord asked.

"Of course I would!" Jack clapped him on the shoulder "I'm really gonna enjoy throwing your bachelor party". The Doctor watched him go over to Alyssa to congratulate her, his shoulders slumped.

"Great", the Time Lord grumbled. He could only imagine what Jack's idea of a bachelor party would be like and for some reason it made him a little uneasy.

"Don't worry Doctor, I'll help him organise it", Steve assured him, having seen the expression on the Doctor's face.

"Thanks Steve", the Doctor said.

"I am happy for you two. Didn't take you very long to ask her did it? And to think it wouldn't have been possible if Martha and I hadn't 'helped' get the pair of you together", Steve remarked.

"I know. And I appreciate it Steve, really", the Doctor said looking lovingly over at his fiancé who was still chatting away to Jack.

"You think that you guys will have children in the near future?" Steve asked "I know you've got Jenny…but I mean children that are biologically both yours and Ali's".

"I don't know. We haven't really talked about it Steve", the Doctor replied.

"Do you want to though?" Steve questioned.

"Yes, I'd love to start a family with her", the Doctor admitted "I'd like nothing more".

"It'll happen, one day", Steve said patting him on the shoulder.

"Yeah, one day", the Doctor agreed. And he honestly couldn't wait for the day when Alyssa would tell him that she was excepting their child.

Later…

The Doctor stuck his head around the door of his and Alyssa's bedroom. "You nearly ready yet?" he asked Alyssa.

"Not quite. This stupid zip has gotten stuck", Alyssa replied turning to the Doctor "Would you mind giving me a hand?"

"Not at all", the Doctor replied stepping into the room. He carefully grasped the zip and pulled it up.

"Thanks. Now, what do you think?" Alyssa asked turning around so the Doctor could see her whole outfit. It was a simple dark green a line cocktail dress with ¾ length lace sleeves.

"Beautiful as always", the Doctor replied "in fact I'm tempted to skip dinner…" he stepped forward, placing his hands on her hips "and go straight for an adventure", he murmured in her ear, making her shiver.

"We can't skip Doctor", Alyssa said "mum's taking us out to dinner to celebrate our engagement".

"What if I've decided I wanna celebrate a different way?" the Doctor asked kissing her neck. Alyssa closed her eyes at the sensation of the words against her skin. It was so easy to agree but then she remembered that fact that it had been a few weeks since she'd seen her mother, the last time being when they brought Jenny to meet Sarah.

With a little effort, she managed to move out of his grasp. "As tempting as it may be, we have to go to the dinner", she said and the Doctor pouted "but afterwards we can celebrate with an adventure, that's a promise".

The Doctor immediately brightened at that prospect. He cupped her face and kissed her but only very briefly. If he kissed her for a fraction of a second longer, he would've made love to her then and there. The Doctor took Alyssa's hand and together they left the bedroom.

The dinner was thoroughly enjoyable, though Sarah did remark it was a shame that Jenny couldn't join them. The young blonde had to go back to Messaline, there was still a lot of work to be done between the relations of the Hath and the humans. Alyssa promised her mother that when Jenny was available, that they would have another dinner together, all four of them as a family. Well…technically they were family now that the Doctor and Alyssa were engaged.

As soon as the TARDIS was in the time vortex, Donna went straight to bed. The Doctor and Alyssa went to their bedroom too but not to sleep. They had something else in mind. It wasn't long before breathy moans filled the air as their bodies moved together. "I'm close", Alyssa moaned feeling the coil in her stomach tighten.

"Me too love", the Doctor agreed. A few thrusts later had Alyssa throwing her head back as she came, the Doctor following suit not long after. The red head laid down on the Time Lord's body, closing her eyes. She hummed in content as the Doctor ran his hand up and down her spine. "I love you Ali, so much", he murmured.

Alyssa lifted her head up to meet his eyes "I love you too", she said and gave him a tender kiss "I can't wait to be Mrs Doctor".

Next chapter: a nice calming trip to Shan Shen might not be so calming after all…