NicoleR85: thanks!

~10th Doctor's TARDIS~

As soon as the Doctor set the TARDIS into the time vortex, he took Alyssa's hand and led her off into the depths of the ship. He was going to wait for the perfect moment to do this but River's question and how she told him that he and his girl were meant to be together…made him realise that he didn't want to wait any more. He was going to do it right now.

"What are we doing here?" Alyssa asked as the Doctor opened the door to the Japanese garden.

"You'll see", the Doctor replied. Each step he took towards the rotunda made his hearts beat faster, even his hands started to sweat. But he didn't deviate from his course. He was going to do it and a little nervousness was not going to stop him. Eventually they reached the rotunda, the pair sat down on the bench. The Doctor took Alyssa's hands. "When we first met, I was broken…distraught by the loss of Rose. And then you did something remarkable, you put me back together. I may have the title of the Doctor but you're the true healer. You healed me" the Doctor swallowed and continued "I took you on as a companion and showed you the wonders of the universe. Then I fell in love with you. Though it took me a while and a lot of prodding from Martha to realise it" that earned him a smile from Alyssa "But now I have, this is the happiest I have ever been in all my lives. I love you, my brilliant Ali. More than words could possibly express which is why…" the Doctor moved off the bench, pulling a box out of his pocket as he got down on one knee. Alyssa was pretty sure her heart stopped when he did that. She let out a gasp when the Doctor opened the box to reveal a beautiful ring inside "Alyssa Palmer would you do this mad man of not just being the mother of my child but my wife as well?"

What happened next was something the Doctor wasn't expecting. Alyssa jumped off the bench, tackling him to the floor, pressing her lips against his. She kissed him long and hard. "I take it that was a yes?" the Doctor asked as if he needed any more confirmation than that kiss.

"Yes spaceman. A thousand times yes", Alyssa replied. The Doctor gave her the biggest smile ever before he pulled her down, connecting their mouths once more. The kiss lasted for a full 5 minutes and when the parted, both their faces where flushed. Neither of them cared though, they were just too happy! The Doctor took Alyssa's hand, sliding the ring onto her finger.

"You have no idea how happy this makes me", the Doctor said.

"Actually I do. Empath remember?" Alyssa reminded him.

The Doctor laughed "Right. Forgot about that", he admitted. He stood up, pulling her with him. "So, how would you like to celebrate fiancée?" the Time Lord asked. Alyssa smiled, feeling rather giddy at the fact that he'd just called her his fiancée.

"I have an idea, fiancé", the red head replied and then whispered it into his ear. The Doctor kissed her quickly, scooping her up into his arms. He then hurried out of the Japanese Garden, eager to get to their bedroom.

When he got there, the Doctor set Alyssa down in the middle of the room, went to the door and closed it. He strode back over to Alyssa and captured her lips with his own, pulling her flush against him. As they kissed, one of his hands wound its way into her lovely red locks while the other settled in the small of her back. Alyssa's hands placed themselves on back of the Doctor's jacket, fisting the material as the kiss grew more heated.

Soon clothing they were removing each other's clothing giving quick kisses in between. First was the footwear and the Doctor socks…since Alyssa was wearing wedge sandals. Then the Doctor's jacket, shirt and tie was dumped on the floor leaving his top half exposed. The Time Lord reached down, grasped hold of her dress and slowly pulled it up making sure that his hands skimmed over her body as he did so. The garment was dropped onto the floor leaving Alyssa in the green two-piece she'd planned to wear for their day at the beach.

The Doctor cupped her face and pressed his lips to hers, pouring as much love into it as possible. "I love you", he breathed "so much".

"I love you too", Alyssa said.


Donna looked up from the magazine she'd been reading while eating her breakfast when she heard the Doctor and Alyssa's voices approach the kitchen. "Doctor stop it", Alyssa giggled.

"Mmm I don't think so", the Doctor said.

Donna watched Alyssa enter the kitchen, closely followed by the Doctor. "About time you two lovebirds were up", she remarked, noting how Alyssa was only wearing the Doctor's shirt while the Time Lord was just in a pair of pyjama bottoms.

"Sorry Donna, we got a tiny bit distracted", Alyssa confessed as the Doctor hugged her from behind "We've actually got some news, haven't we dear?" she said leaning back against the Time Lord.

"Yes we do love", the Doctor agreed.

"The Doctor proposed last night" Alyssa stepped out of the Doctor's arms and held out the hand where on her ring finger was her engagement ring "we're engaged".

"Oh my god!" Donna exclaimed "Ali that's wonderful!" She hugged the red head tightly "I'm so happy for you!"

"Thanks", Alyssa said. Donna stepped back and hugged the Doctor as well.

"Congrats spaceman", she said.

"Thanks Donna", he said.

"This is a cause for celebration", Donna declared "do you have any alcohol?" she asked the Doctor. He shook his head.

"No, I don't drink any", the Time Lord replied. Even if he did, he wouldn't since Alyssa wasn't able to in her current condition. It would not be fair.

"How about a celebratory cup of tea for the moment?" the empath suggested "and perhaps we can go out to dinner later".

"Sounds good to me", the Doctor agreed.

"Yeah, me too", Donna said. It wasn't long before the trio were sitting at the kitchen table with a mug of tea each. "So how did he propose?" Donna asked Alyssa "was it traditional? Or some weird alien way?"

"It was traditional", Alyssa replied before the Doctor could protest over what Donna had said "very romantic, I loved it" she glanced at the Doctor "and I love you".

"I love you too" Donna smiled over her cup as the engaged couple kissed.

"Donna, I was wondering if you'd be my bridesmaid", Alyssa said to the ginger when she and the Doctor parted.

"I'd love to", Donna said happily.

"Great. Now, all we've got to do is tell my mum, Martha, Steve, Jenny…oh and Jack too", Alyssa said.

"Do we have to tell Jack?" the Doctor asked in an almost whine "you know what he'll be like. Innuendos galore".

"I'm sure he won't be like that", Alyssa said earning her a look from the Doctor.

"Ali, he teased me about our relationship", the Doctor told her "he'll do the same with our engagement".

"If he does, I'm pretty sure we'll be able to handle it", Alyssa said "And if he gets a little too out of line…we can always tell him about our 'adventures'", she added with smirk.

The Doctor grinned "I like that idea", he said. He could imagine the 51st century man getting rather flustered when the when they tell him about their many adventures in the bedroom.


The first stop the trio made was at Alyssa's home. "So does your mum know about the Doctor being an alien and that you're travelling through time and space in a police box?" Donna asked as they made their way up the path.

"Yep", Alyssa replied.

"And she was ok with it?" Donna questioned.

"Oh yes…once she got over the shock of it", Alyssa answered "though I wouldn't mention anything like us almost being sacrificed in Pompeii. That's the kind of thing that would have my mum asking me to stop travelling with the Doctor even if I am pregnant with his kid".

"Don't worry, I won't", Donna promised. Alyssa unlocked the front door, pushed it open to reveal the last person she'd expected to see, in her house at least. Her father Mathew Palmer.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Alyssa demanded entering her home, followed by the Doctor and Donna.

"Hello to you too", Mathew said not too bothered by his daughter's demand "my goodness you've grown".

"Well, I was four the last time you saw me", the empath shot back "And you didn't answer my question, what the hell are you doing here?"

"Your mother invited me over", Mathew replied.

"Liar", Alyssa said bluntly "mum would never invite you over, not in a million years" she pushed past her dad to go further into the house "Mum! Mum! You here?"

The red haired woman exited the kitchen. "Oh, you're still here", she said eyeing her ex-husband "thought you left".

"I was then our daughter turned up", Mathew said.

"Well your daughter would like you to leave, right now", Alyssa said to him.

"Alright, I'll go. But I wonder, could we get together some time? We can catch up on what I've missed"

"No", Alyssa said "that's never ever going to happen dad. Now get the hell out of our house". Thankfully Mathew left without any arguments. Alyssa then turned to her mother "what was dad doing here?" she asked.

"It doesn't matter honey", Sarah said "Now, what brings you back home?" she asked leading the trio into the living room.

"Well, the Doctor and I have got something to tell you", Alyssa answered "But first I'd like to introduce you to Donna Noble, a friend and travelling companion of ours. Donna this is my mum, Sarah Palmer".

"It's lovely to meet you Mrs Palmer", Donna said holding out her hand.

"You can call me Sarah if you like, you're Ali's friend after all", Sarah said shaking the ginger's hand. She then indicated for the trio to sit, which they did. "How are you liking the travelling Donna?"

"I'm loving it", Donna replied.

"I'm glad to hear it", Sarah said "Now I believe you and the Doctor had something to tell me?" she asked glancing at her daughter.

"Yes, we do", Alyssa replied "we're engaged mum".

"Really?" Sarah asked and Alyssa nodded, showing her the ring "that's amazing honey!" The two red heads got up and hugged. "When did this happen?" Sarah questioned as she gave the Doctor a hug as well.

"I proposed to her last night", the Doctor answered.

"I'm going to take you all out to dinner tonight, to celebrate", Sarah said moving back from the Doctor".

"Dinner sounds great mum", Alyssa said "we've got a few more people to see but we'll try to get back for about 7ish".

"We'll get back for then so long as Ali is piloting", Donna spoke up "she's a much better pilot".

"I'm not that good Donna", Alyssa said "I still get a lot of help from Sexy", she admitted. The woman said her farewells to her mother, Doctor and Donna doing the same before they headed back to the TARDIS.


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.

"Well, you are right, Jack", Alyssa confirmed "I am pregnant".

"And…we're also getting married", the Doctor added. There was a mixed bag of responses, including a 'bloody hell' from Jack. "Language, there's a child present", the Time Lord said, mock sternly, putting a hand on Alyssa's stomach and nodding to Jenny as well which earned a few laughs.

"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 fiancée who was still chatting away to Jack.

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 prior to telling her mother about the engagement, the last time she'd seen her was to bring Jenny to meet Sarah. And that was several weeks ago.

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.