The morning of the wedding, though sadly the Doctor won't be singing "Get me to the Church on time " :-)

That night the Doctor hadn't slept, he didn't need much sleep, and was far too excited anyway, as he bounded around the TARDIS, making sure everything was working perfectly, stroking the console in awe and gratitude for what she had done. He'd been married before, but this was different. River, for example, had been amazing, but she was very similar to him, too similar, and you can't have two lunatics running the asylum!

Clara was different though, she was warm and human, and together with the Doctor fitted so well, so so well. Like two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle that fitted together perfectly (and not like the annoying bits of sky that take ages to put together), like yin and yang, like fish fingers and custard (though Clara would probably prefer a different food analogy – fish and chips?). Every lonely monster needs a Companion, indeed.

The TARDIS had given him the chance of a normal life, well normal in relative terms, but someone to share his adventures with, and maybe the possibility of a child. A little Timelord or Timelady running around the TARDIS, the patter of tiny feet, though that description would cover Clara as well, no scrub that, don't bring up her stature again! It had been a long time, so long since Susan had left him, time to have a family on board again!

The Doctor's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of knocking on the door. The Doctor bounded over, it was Captain Jack.

"Wakey wakey lover boy, looking forward to the big day?"

"Morning Jack. Oh definitely, it's all going to be splendid!"

"Just popped over to make sure you didn't have cold feet, it's a big commitment this! Not like your usual human Companions, who will be gone in the blink of an eye in your timescale, no this one's for life. Indeed it's like a human wedding from the 21st century, Till Death Us Do Part."

"Jack, I'm very ready for this!"

"I thought so, she's perfect for you; the TARDIS always knows what you need, even if you don't realise it at the time. I'll see you later."

As Captain Jack left, the Doctor pondered that last statement. Yes, the TARDIS always knows what he needs, nobody knew him like she did, she'd been the ultimate mother figure for him, and now she'd found him the perfect bride.

The Doctor went for a walk outside to breath in the beautiful clean air of Qudochi. He didn't have much to do in terms of pre wedding preparation, especially as he was under strict instructions not to enter the hotel that morning in case he saw the bride! The Doctor walked along the beach, where he bumped into Cara.

"Morning Cara. It's beautiful here isn't it."

"Morning Doctor, yes it's lovely. I always go for a walk or run along the beach before I start work; when I see this view, I realise that life is good, and how lucky I am. You must see amazing things Doctor in your travels, planets of unimaginable beauty, and meeting all those people from throughout history, wow. Clara was telling us last night about some of the places you've been to."

"Indeed, being able to travel anywhere in time and space is amazing, but it's not all fun and games. Sometimes it's dangerous, really dangerous, and there are times you meet people so terrible and evil that it can be soul destroying. As well as beauty and wonder, I've seen so much death and destruction, that you wonder if it's all worth it. Yet somehow, I always get spurred on to the next place, I move on."

"Will Clara be able to move on?"

"I hope so, it will be more difficult for her, as she retains some of her human essence that makes her so special, but I believe her brain will cope. She will never forget the victims, but won't be haunted by the memories of them."

"Doctor, please make sure Clara is never a victim."

"I swear I'll do everything in my power to keep her safe. I've waited 2000 years for someone like Clara, she means everything to me."

"Promise?"

"Promise, cross my hearts."

Cara kissed the Doctor on the cheek.

"Thank you Doctor, now I must be getting back, I don't want the robots getting tetchy!"

Cara laughed as she jogged back to the hotel, exchanging a wave with the Doctor. The Doctor sighed; he'd learned to cope with pain, the man who forgets. Would Clara ever be the same? But then would he want Clara to be the same, sometimes he needed that prick of human conscience to drag him back from the brink, and he hoped Clara would never lose that.

Back in the hotel, Clara woke. Today was the day, the big day. She'd gone easy on the cocktails the night before, so bounced out of bed, though looking at the sparse number of people who'd made it down for breakfast, many of the guests had indulged rather more!

"That was quite an evening here" laughed Martha who joined her, "Let's just say that the cocktails went down a storm. My husband certainly enjoyed them!"

"Great, er where is Mickey?"

"He's not hungry, I said that I'd bring him back a piece of plain toast!"

"So was it a good night?"

"Yes, everyone was getting on really well. Your father had a good time, talking to people, finding out more about the Doctor."

"Oh."

Martha smiled.

"No need to worry, he seemed really excited about it all!"

"Has your family ever met the Doctor?"

"Yes." Martha's smile faded. "Our family got caught up in some nasty business involving the Master when he controlled the world. Not pleasant."

Clara looked puzzled.

"I don't remember that?"

"Oh, time got rewritten, that year doesn't exist anymore. But my family still remembers, they were there."

"I'm sorry to hear that. Are they ok?"

"Fine now, thanks, but I think they're very happy to stay out of any involvement with the Doctor now. Not his fault at all, of course, but you know how it is."

"I understand."

Clara met her family on the way out of the breakfast room.

"Your father is a bit the worse the wear this morning" Gran laughed, "But then he always was a bit of a lightweight. I remember when he was a lad, going out for the first time with his friends, oh he had some terrible hangovers, used to spend all of Sunday in bed."

"Thank you mother" replied a slightly frail Dave Oswald. "Yes, those cocktails were rather strong, but I heard some amazing things last night, stories of where the Doctor's been and what he's done. Clara, you've definitely found yourself a good 'un there!"

"Thanks dad!" exclaimed Clara giving her father a hug. "Now get some breakfast down you, you've got a daughter to give away!"

Back in her hotel room Clara lay down on the bed. Her dress was hanging outside the wardrobe, in a few hours she would be The Doctor's Wife. She then closed her eyes and thought back to Clara Oswin's wedding, and the pain she had felt that day, knowing that as a human she could never marry the man she loved. How she was about to walk away from him forever. It all seemed too miraculous to be true, her transformation into a Timelady. Indeed, Clara sometimes wondered if this was some weird and impossible dream, from which she would wake up and find herself human again. But no, it was real, because if this had been her fantasy life, someone else would have been there as well.

A tear then trickled down Clara's cheek as she thought about the one person that she wished could be here to see her that day, the woman who would always be there for her, how Ellie would have been so proud of her. Clara got up and took the book out from her suitcase, 101 places to visit. Now with the Doctor, Clara would be visiting a million and one places, but this book, Ellie's book would always be a reminder of when a trip on the train to Manchester would be something to look forward to for weeks, when the world out there seemed so big and scary.

Clara's contemplation was interrupted by a knock on her door. She got up and opened it, and saw Clara Oswin and Lara outside, who were there to help get her ready.

"Morning Clara, all ready for your big day?"

"Definitely!"

Clara wistfully looked up at the skies, before carefully placing the book back in her suitcase. She knew Ellie would be smiling down on her.

Back in the TARDIS, The Doctor put on his wedding suit. Jack had chosen it for him, having dared to suggest that he might have better judgement on such matters! The Doctor had got his way on the bow tie front though. Looking in the mirror he had to admit he looked very dapper, and almost thanked Jack when he arrived to escort him to the chapel.

The Grand Hotel had its own chapel, available all faiths for services, but mainly used for weddings. The Doctor walked around it nervously before re-joining Jack outside, ready to welcome the guests. Slowly they started to arrive, and the chapel filled up as everyone sat down in anticipation, including Cara who had been given dispensation by the hotel to attend, and sat at the back. Clara Oswin was amongst the last to arrive, giving the Doctor an encouraging word as she greeted him.

"I've just left your bride, she looks stunning. I'm so pleased for you."

Back in the hotel, Clara was ready and waiting in reception; with her were her bridesmaids Lara and Angie, and Artie who was a page boy, the four of them nervously standing in silence. Finally her father arrived, and silently took her by the hand. The two of them then slowly walked along the covered passageway that led to the chapel, Lara, Angie and Artie holding her train. Just before they got there, Dave stopped and finally spoke.

"Clara, I'm so proud of you, and I know Ellie would be so proud of you as well. You've got an amazing life ahead of you, just pay us a visit every now and then, we'd love to hear about what you get up to."

"Of course dad. Thank you for everything!"

Clara gently hugged him, being careful not to crease her dress, then the two continued walking to the chapel, where the robot organist spotted them and started playing.

Here comes the bride…

Nearly there now!

Thanks for the reviews and sticking with this story to the end. I bet Clara makes a beautiful bride, but have no idea what the something blue is that she's wearing :-)