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Chapter 32 - A Mad Idea

Pizza was delivered for the party and the Quauhtins. The architect left right after the plans were approved. The talk of the night included the relief that the attacks seemed to have stopped for the moment, the island home, the upcoming football match, things Pete and Jackie needed to see while on holiday and Genie. Rose was surprised to find out that the Doctor had sent some people in to box up everything in the flat Genie shared with her mum and had everything put away in storage. "I'll help her go through it one day. She won't be ready for that for a long while yet." he told them.

Jackie walked over to the kitchen and put six jars of jam in the cabinet. The Doctor saw her and laughed. "Thank you, Jackie! I wasn't serious."

She laughed at him and walked back in the living room where the talk went straight to the wedding. Rose moaned as she curled up on the couch.

The Doctor heard her voice in his head. 'Oh god. Wedding plans in full gear here. What are you talking about?'

'My embarrassing video. Apparently, everyone in this room as seen it now.' he moaned as he rubbed his face.

'We are going to Disney in the morning.' the Doctor looked surprised at Rose. 'Is Jacob staying the night here, as well?'

'I already called Michelle, and he's got a ticket. Don't worry.'

"Wow. You are brilliant, woman!" the Doctor smiled at her.

Pete looked at him, "That she is. Is there something in particular, though?"

Rose told the room, "Michelle got the children, the Doctor and myself all tickets to Disney in the morning. The children have no idea."

The Doctor told them, "We are also taking Shakes, Lewis, John and Sam."

Rose smiled, "The General Manager knows the Doctor is coming, but not me. So, he is giving us a personal tour of the park."

The Doctor looked surprised. "What?! I didn't know that! Brilliant!"

Rose smiled. "Yeah, I told Michelle that you are the most impatient person in the world. She needed to fix something where we didn't have to wait in line or you would be a nightmare."

He smiled. "Oh, well. Waiting is a new thing for me."

Pete laughed, "Oh the children will love that! Three children at Disneyworld-"

"Four!" Jackie interrupted. "He's the biggest child I've ever met!" she pointed at the Doctor.

Pete laughed, "That will really help me out! Disney is wanting us to put their name on the children's version of that bone regrowth machine. Makes it seem more friendly for kids if Mickey is on the poster for it in the hospital."

The Doctor looked surprised. "There's no difference between using that for an adult or a child! Why are their two different versions?"

Pete laughed at him. "That's the reason I do this side of the business, and you just create. Trust me. Go have a great time. Let them take their pictures with Doctor Smith and a bunch of children. Creator of the machine they have their character on. That will help me out. Then, I won't have to go and suffer in that Atlanta heat. Thank you!"

The Doctor nodded. "Well, alright."

Then, Caroline called across the room. "Howie Shepherd! Are you drunk, yet?"

"Yes, ma'am. I'm certain!" he said proudly.

Caroline laughed at him. "We have a question. Can the President of the United States marry someone? Harriet says she can't, but thinks you can."

The Doctor hung his head and laughed hysterically. Rose heard him in her head. 'Oh my! Can you imagine that, Rose?'

Rose smiled.

Howie was scratching his chin. "Hmmm... well. Let me have a think on this. I'm pretty level headed at the moment. On a plateau! You have great timing woman!"

Pete took a drink and remarked, "That's an interesting question. I wonder."

Howie said, "Well, there is no provision in the Constitution granting the authority to marry to the President. I'm not sure of any law that says I can. The authority to marry is traditionally reserved to the judicial branch, not the executive branch. But, each state is different in their laws on who can do what."

The Doctor was shocked. "Howie! This is the clearest I've ever heard you speak!"

"It's law, son. I preach it plain. Even if I'm shot in the neck. Can't even help it." Howie explained.

They all laughed.

The Doctor laughed, "You know that is a very interesting question. It occurs to me that one of the titles of the President of the United States is 'Chief Magistrate.' Am I right?"

Howie agreed. "That's true! Hell! I can hitch these two! What do you say!? I'd be pleased as punch to do it!"

Rose was shocked. "What? You! Marry us?"

The Doctor laughed, "Why not? Lincoln unified an entire nation that was in two. That's sortof...similar."

Pete and Jake were laughing.

Rose shook her head as Caroline, Harriet and Jackie went crazy planning where they should have the wedding, who should be invited, how they should do everything for the press, etc.

Rose stood up and walked over to the Doctor. She held him from behind. 'Can I speak to you for a minute?'

"Oh no! I'm in trouble!" he announced.

Rose laughed. "No. Just a quick word."

Pete laughed. "Yep, deep trouble."

"Shit up to your eyes, mate!" Jake teased him.

Rose lead him down the hallway into their bedroom. She closed both of the doors and looked at him.

"Okay, how drunk are you? Seriously." Rose began.

He shook his head. "Not bad. Really. See. Clear headed Doctor." He grabbed her hands and she could feel he wasn't as absentminded as she had felt him be in the past.

"Okay, I have something to ask you. And you are going to think I'm mad." Rose told him.

He smiled. "Never. What do you want to say?"

"I can't stand the idea of living with my mum driving me crazy about a wedding or planning a wedding. It's not anything I would want."

He smiled. "What would you want?"

"To run away!" Rose laughed.

"Phhh...if I'm not running, you can't either!" he told her. He put his hands on his hips and looked down at her.

"We are already married!" Rose reasoned. "This is just the ceremony for here!"

He shook his head. "We can't tell Jackie that! She'll kill us!"

"Is the Oncoming Storm scared of Jackie Tyler?" Rose teased him.

"Hell yeah, I am! She's crazy!" he insisted with a smile.

Rose looked at him and took his hands. He could feel her dread. "Seriously. I don't want a big deal. I don't even care for a dress. I just want it to be something very small. No press. No fancy photographer. Nothing like that."

He smiled. "What are you saying?"

"Let's do it here. Tonight."

"Tonight!? Are you drunk, woman?" he asked as he walked away and rubbed his head.

Rose laughed. "I knew you would think I was mad. But, I'm serious. I know you are so impatient and I'm surprised you have even put up with this entire engagement stuff this long. Let's just do it! Everyone I want to be there is here. No one else. Do we need anyone special for your side of the ceremony?"

He thought. "Me, you, your parents. That's all."

"We're all here." she said as she tossed her hands.

"You're serious." he said.

"Dead serious." Rose told him.

He looked at himself. "Me, just like this. In a t-shirt, jeans, my bare feet?"

She looked at herself. "Yes! Me here. Just like this in my bare feet and a skirt! Would you rather wear a tux?"

He laughed and shook his head. "Oh, this is crazy. What about Genie? We were going to adopt her on the same day."

"It will take a few days to get my name changed and such. We can do it another time." Rose reasoned. "Well, wait. This won't work. We don't have rings. Damn."

"No, we do! I got both of our rings when Pete and I had that other jewelry made. I've been meaning to show them to you. Just slipped my mind." he told her.

Rose looked surprised. She smiled. "Really? You really did that?"

He stood there thinking. "Are you sure about this?"

She rocked on her feet. "Let's let that crazy cowboy marry us tonight, sweetheart. Allons-y!"

He shook his head and laughed.

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