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Chapter 33 - Mad Wedding

Rose and the Doctor came out of the bedroom and walked down the hall together, holding hands.

Howie saw them. "Ha! Did she box your ears or what?"

The Doctor smiled and ran his hand through his hair. Everyone in the room was looking at them. "Howie, would you marry us? Seriously?"

Howie smiled. "Oh hell yeah! I'm not a gospel sharp, but I can figure out how to do this."

The Doctor pointed at him. "Alright. No more drinking for the next few minutes. We're going to give everyone something really good to celebrate."

He tossed his head back and yelled, "Genie! Tony! Jacob! Come in here! Shakes! Send in all of the guard!"

"What in the tarnation?" Howie exclaimed.

The children ran in the room and the front door opened as twelve Quauhtin came in the door looking like they were ready to attack someone.

The Doctor smiled and rocked on his feet. "Rose and I have decided to get married."

Jake shook his head. "Well, duh. We all know that, Doc."

The Doctor shook his head. "No, we would like to get married tonight. Here. With all of you."

Jackie was shocked. "What?"

Pete laughed in disbelief.

Rose spoke, "Mum. We don't want a big thing. We just want something small. Just you lot here."

Jackie continued to look surprised. "Really? No dress?"

Rose smiled at her Mum, "I'm wearing a dress."

Jackie fussed, "Neither one of you are wearing shoes!"

Rose shrugged her shoulders. "So."

Jackie crossed her arms. "Well, that's just crazy!"

The Doctor shrugged his shoulders. "That's what she wants. I'm fine with it. Howie. What do you need us to do?"

Pete and Jake were laughing in disbelief.

Pete looked at him, "Are you serious, Doc?"

He nodded his head. "Oh, yes."

Howie said, "Well, since you aren't one to go the big figure, let's get this show on the road!"

Genie asked the Doctor. "What's going on?"

He picked her up. "I'm going to marry Rose."

"What? Now?" she asked him as she held her hands out in surprise.

"Well, why not? " He laughed at her.

Howie walked over and stood in front of the fireplace in the sitting room. He rubbed his hands together. "Okay, Jake! Get on your phone and find me the words we have to say."

Jake got to work as he laughed. "Just traditional? I can't believe this."

Shakes and his men all spread out around the room. Shakes was smiling with his arms crossed.

Howie said, "Okay, bride here, groom here." he said as he pointed in front of him.

Howie scratched his chin. "We need Jackie and Pete, there." he pointed to the side.

"Okay, we need a ..." Howie thought.

"Best man." the Doctor helped. "Jake. Help me out."

Jake smiled as he ran over and patted the Doctor on the back. "Got your back, mate!"

Rose smiled. "I need a Maid of Honor. How about you, Genie?"

Genie smiled. "For real?" She danced around in celebration as she stood beside of Rose.

The Doctor looked around. "Tony! My little brother! Come here. Stand right here and hold this." He handed him the rings he had brought from the bedroom. He kissed Rose's hands as he held both of them and looked up at her and smiled. "This is mad!"

"Before we even get started with this madness. How drunk is everyone present?" Caroline asked.

"On a scale 1-10, I'm a ... 6." Pete said.

"7.5" Jake said.

"Solid 5, Caroline." Howie told her.

"Doctor?" Caroline asked him.

"Oh, I'm a 1. I'm honestly fine." he told her.

Rose looked at him surprised, "You've been drinking all afternoon!"

He smiled. "I'll explain later."

Jake gave Howie the phone and turned off the stereo that had been playing quietly in the background.

Howie took a deep breath and looked at Rose, "You sure about this?"

Rose was looking at the Doctor. "Yes."

He looked at the Doctor. "Are you sure about this, Doc?"

He didn't take his eyes off of Rose. "More than anything." he smiled.

"Alright then! Dearly beloved. I have to say a few words before I tie these two together. I admit, I'm all abroad with the rush, but I'll try to do a good job for you both. Not just a lick and a promise. We have everyone, well. All over this caboose. And we appear to be all for the shoot."

The Doctor laughed at Howie's words.

'Do you think we're going to be able to remember this?' he asked her.

Rose was smiling. 'It's something I'm sure none of us will forget. How drunk is he?'

Howie continued, "I first met this precious filly a few years ago. And I've allers hoped she would find happiness. She was all dumpish then. Had her heart broken. But, every relationship will hit an excuse -me-ma'am from time to time."

Rose and the Doctor was having a hard time not laughing out loud.

Howie continued, "E'en a'most kilt me. Seeing this beautiful girl so tore up. But, then I met the Space Desperado."

'Space Desperado.' the Doctor mocked in Rose's head and rolled his eyes.

She bit her lip to keep from laughing.

Howie continued, "And I had already decided he must have just didn't care a continental about that filly. I was sure he was a dunderhead. But, he proved me wrong, and has became one of my dearest friends. And someone who I owe more to than I can ever repay."

The Doctor smiled. 'I can understand him. I think he's sobering up.'

Rose shook her head and laughed under her breath.

Howie continued, "So, I ain't going to drag this out, cause there's drinking to be done! Pete, are you alright with this?"

Pete smiled. "Yes. He has my permission."

"Alright. Then, Doctor -"

The Doctor shook his head, "No, no, no. I need Jackie's permission as well."

Howie looked surprised. "Oh! I apologize. Jackie. Are you alright with this?"

Jackie looked surprised and sounded a bit annoyed as she said, "Well, of course I am."

Howie looked down at the phone. "Alright. Let's see. All of that is just ducky. Okay, Rose. Do you take this man. To have to hold, to ...all that stuff?"

Pete fussed at him. "Howie, do it right!"

Howie sighed. "Shut up, Pete! I'm the one marrying today."

Rose laughed. "Yes, I do. All that stuff."

The Doctor laughed. "All that stuff." he mocked. "This is mad."

Howie continued, "Doctor. How about yourself? All that stuff?"

The Doctor looked at Howie, "What are you too bashful to say the words?"

Howie complained. "No, they are just written really small."

Jake grabbed the phone. "Damn! Let me see. To have and to hold. In sickness and in health, richer or poorer, till death you shall part."

Jake handed back the phone.

Rose was laughing under her breath and mumbled. "This is mad."

The Doctor looked at her and said, "I surely do."

Howie looked at the phone. "Okay, it says you give one another rings."

Jackie shook her head and mumbled. "This is the worst."

Howie raised his hands, "Hey! I'm a President, not a preacher! You get what you get!"

Harriet was in tears with laughter. "This is fantastic! I've never enjoyed a wedding more!"

Rose and the Doctor put the rings on each other's fingers. The Doctor rubbed Tony's head. "Thank you, Comrade!" Rose and the Doctor joined hands again and continued to laugh under their breath.

Jackie shook her head and laughed. "Those idiots." she mumbled.

Howie handed the phone back to Jake. "Alright! That's all of that dull music. I think that's everything. Who says you need a doxology works to do this?"

The Doctor looked at him, "A what?"

Pete helped, "A church."

"Oh!" the Doctor laughed and shook his head as he looked at Rose.

"Okay, what's left?" Howie asked.

Pete smiled, "You may kiss the bride. That's all."

The Doctor shook his head. "No, wait! One more thing." He leaned over and whispered his name in Rose's ear.

He leaned up and looked at her. "Did you understand that?"

She smiled and said, "Yes. That is beautiful."

The Doctor smiled and blushed.

Howie declared, "Kiss this woman, Doc! We have drinking to do!"

The Doctor leaned in and kissed Rose. The entire room cheered and clapped. No one louder than Genie and Tony.

The Doctor smiled and said quietly, "Nine and Ten."

Rose laughed at him as she kissed him again.

Lewis had been taking a video the entire time. John had everyone stop and took the group's picture after Aemilius helped them all get arranged where everyone could be seen.

The Doctor declared. "Alright! Let's celebrate!"

Shakes yelled. "Secondary guard is on until 5 am! Primary guard is off!" the Quauhtin left the room, congratulating the Doctor and Rose on the way out.

Genie danced around. "We should dance, Daddy!"

"You're right, little one! Great idea!" The Doctor raised his phone to pick a song.

Jake pushed his phone down and said, "Nope! First song is the best man's choice!" he said.

"Oh, you just made that up!" the Doctor complained.

"Maybe I did, Sinatra. But, you'll like it. I promise." Jake told him as Sinatra's 'You Make Me Feel So Young' started to play.

Rose and the Doctor laughed hysterically.

'Oh, if they only knew.' the Doctor said in Rose's head.

'I know, right?' she laughed as he started to dance with her. The room watched them as they danced. As the song ended, the next song on Jake's phone started to play.

Harriet surprised them all. "Oh, I love this song!" and started to dance.

Rose laughed, "What song is that?"

Jake laughed as he picked up Genie. "Pumped up Kicks by Foster the People."

The Doctor looked surprised that Genie was letting Jake hold her. She laughed and held her arms out as Jake spun her in circles. Rose and the Doctor laughed.

The entire room danced all night. It was a very lively party. Howie had a couple of Quauhtin pop him back to White House to get more whiskey as they found they needed it. Pete and Jackie danced in the corner as if nothing had ever been wrong. Tony danced with Zeus, which made everyone laugh. Caroline and Jake danced when Genie danced with the Doctor and Rose. Pete saw the three of them dancing together and insisted on taking a picture of them.

All of their troubles and worries seemed so very far away.

'I'm so glad you talked me into this Rose.' the Doctor told her.

'You are really stuck with me now.' she smiled at him. 'No matter who drops out the sky.'

He smiled like a loon at her. 'I wouldn't have it any other way.'

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