There were a few statues, and some plaques in copper, but that was all. They had taken all the copper out to sea and that would be the end of it. President Sinclair contacted the colony ship and told them about the Reshnak and not to allow copper on any outside surface.

It was over.

Chapter 40 Wedding Bells

When the job was finally done, Quinn and the Time Lord sat in Quinn's office discussing any loose ends. It was late and Quinn was nursing a whiskey in his hands. The strain and fatigue of the last few days on his face. "Well, it's over. I'm so glad we won't have to dig any more graves. The ten we lost were bad enough."

Quinn leaned forward and looked in the Time Lord's eyes. "You saved this colony John. There's no way in hell we would have known how to stop this. A lot of people would have died before we abandoned this place."

The Time Lord looked at the floor so Quinn couldn't see his eyes. "Life is fleeting Quinn, like smoke. I've seen more death than you can imagine, and it's never gotten any easier." He looked back up at the soldier. "You know what I mean." Quinn stared at the bottom of his glass and nodded.

"The only thing that makes it bearable for me is Rose. Before Rose and I were married, I used to go to the door of her room and wish I could be with her. But I knew she was human and would die long before me. I was convinced that I couldn't take that kind of pain again." Quinn raised his head to question the phrase.

The Time Lord closed his eyes remembering. "I lost my wife and son on Gallifrey." Quinn sat up in his chair and finished his drink, feeling that familiar pain in his gut remembering. "I'm sorry John." "It was 750 years ago and I can still see her face as she married me. I thought I'd never lose her. We were going to be together until the last day of our last regeneration." He paused and sighed deeply, feeling the pain again. "But it was not to be, and it left a hole in me nothing could fill.

When I met Rose, It was like... like I could forget the pain for just a little while. Every day I loved her a little bit more, until the night she convinced me to take a chance on love. She said it was so precious and rare that you grab hold when it comes, because it may never come again.

She was so right. I can't imagine my life without Rose and Alice, and I really don't want to try. I could have lost her to Pete Henderson except for you. You saved all our lives that day and I want to repay you with some advice from a very old man." He stood up to go.

"Louise loves you and you love her. Grab hold and hang on tight. Because if your wife was anything like mine, she wouldn't want you to bury yourself in her grave. If you lose Louise that's just where you'll be. Goodnight Quinn." The Time Lord left without looking back or waiting for a response. He knew this was something Quinn had to come to, himself.

On the way home he looked up at the stars. Their graves were long gone, along with his people and his planet. He tried to shake off the sadness before he got home, but couldn't quite.

When he opened the door and looked into his daughter's eyes, it disappeared. "Daddy, pick me up!" The child held her arms out to him and he picked her up, kissing her cheek. "Alice my little love, did you have a good day today?" "Oh yes daddy. Momma and I have been playing house." He looked at Rose and smiled. He was home.

ppoOoqq

The town register of births and marriages was a very busy man. Nothing like death at hand to bring out the resilience of life. Quinn and Louise were getting married. He had realized the Time Lord was right and asked her the next day. She said yes, after both of them asked Mary if it would be alright.

Mary liked Quinn and was so happy to have a family again. Louise had asked Rose to help her plan it and they had spent the last two months getting organized. Rose would be the maid of honor and Alice and Mary were to be flower girls. Quinn had asked the Time Lord to be his best man who agreed with an "about time" and slap on the back.

They decided to have it in the new park by the waterfall, dedicated to the victims of the Reshnak. A beautiful spot, it would become a popular place for parties of all kinds. Life winning out.

Quinn and Louise had spent a lot of time there on that bench, quietly falling in love. It was spring, the trees were in bloom and the fragrance of flowers filled the air. There were about fifty people invited to fill the folding chairs, but at least a hundred came with standing room only.

A white pavilion tent was set up for the reception with red and white centerpieces on the tables and a three tiered cake in the corner. A band stand and a wooden dance floor had been set up inside.

When the guests arrived and were seated the band began to play. The girls came out first in white lace dresses trimmed in red, and baskets to throw red flower petals. Rose was next in a red satin, A line dress holding a white bouquet.

Louise came out from behind the pavilion in a beautiful white satin gown with a floor length veil holding red flowers. Sargent Holmes, in dress uniform, walked her down the aisle. Quinn's heart stopped when he saw her, but the Time Lord only had eyes for Rose. The groom and best man were in white tuxes with red bow ties and cumberbuns. Quinn had an expression that told this world he was the luckiest man on the planet.

The ceremony was simple and beautiful. At the end when they went back down the aisle as husband and wife, the soldiers from the platoon in dress uniforms held sabres over their heads in tribute. Everything went off just as planned. The crowd that had swelled to several hundred, clapped and cheered them. The rest of the evening was filled with laughter and merriment. Quinn and Louise were so happy. The perfect couple.

On the dance floor the Time Lord held Rose in his arms as if no one else was in the room. They stared into each other's eyes and gave gentle, adoring touches. No one there could doubt how much they loved each other.

The Time Lord was besotted. "You were so beautiful walking down the aisle. You were the only thing I saw. Did you dream of one like this as a girl?" Rose smiled and put her cheek to his as they danced. "Every girl dreams of her wedding, and I was no exception."

He lifted her face to his. "I'm sorry you didn't get it." She looked at him surprised. "Who says I didn't get it? I dreamed of falling in love with an exceptional man who would love me until the end of time. The rest is just theater. I got what I wanted more than anything in this life, and I wouldn't trade it for all the white satin dresses on earth."

He sighed and held her close, swirling her out of the tent. They walked to the darkened tree line. "Mrs. Smith I'm going to kiss you." She turned her face to his, "Mr. Smith I wish you would." They kissed each other in the shadows as if the wedding was their own and then returned to the party. Both of them wishing they could be alone on the planet again at that moment. Rose and the Time Lord danced the night away, well, until 11:00 when they had to put the girls to bed.

With the girls in bed asleep, they renewed their own vows in private.

Chapter 41 Pulsar