Chapter Thirty Five
True to his word, Harry did indeed know a shortcut. They arrived at the Unit gates with time to spare. He showed his Unit identification at the gates and they were quickly waved through. They proceeded past the newly built structures and headed north on a tidy dirt road through the woods. When they arrived the Doctor was more than pleased. In the clearing where the original smaller Unit headquarters had stood was a large paved area. The left side of the area had been set up with many tables covered in white tablecloths and pink and white roses. A wooden dance floor had been installed in the middle. Thousands of twinkle lights were ready to be illuminated as soon as the sun began to set. Beyond the tables, caterers were setting up a long and extensive variety of foods. A band was setting up to the right of the tables.
The old parking area had been refurbished and multiple valets were waiting. To the right, rows of white seats with an isle covered in pale pink carpet that ran between them awaited the bride. A raised area had been built to accommodate the chaplain, the organist who was seated behind the organ waiting, the bride and groom. It was also covered in carpeting and had large pale pink and white rose sprays on both sides.
"Well?" Harry asked as he put his sunglasses on. "Is this what you wanted?" The Doctor had explained what he wanted. He knew that Kate had undertaken the majority of the work seeing it as her personal mission to make sure everything was right. He reached into his pocket and retrieved two of his own specially compounded version of Gallifreyan aspirin. He was determined not to let this hangover take him down.
The Doctor looked around in a circle while crossing his fingers atop his head. They had done a magnificent job. Everything was where and how he wanted it. He knew once Sarah figured it out she would be doubly pleased. "It's perfect Harry just perfect! You as well as Kate have outdone yourselves."
Kate approached the pair. "I have word from the gate that the guests have started arriving. Let's get you to the groom's room. Behind and to the right of the podium, they'd set up a groom's tent. Kate was for once dressed not in her usual Unit uniform but a billowy pale blue dress.
"Kate, I can't thank you and Harry enough. It must have taken a great number of people to put this in motion." the Doctor commented as he took it all in as they walked.
Kate exchanged a smile with Harry and answered, "You know what they say. It takes a village to get a Time Lord and a human married."
"Do they?" the Doctor asked.
"No." Kate laughed.
"Have you seen Sarah?" he asked as they went into the tent.
"Yes and before you ask, she is fine. When I left Helena and Maya were taking good care of her." She looked at her phone and said, "She's on her way here." Kate looked back as the organist began to play. "Guests must be getting seated. If you need anything you should find it here. There are drinks in the refrigerator in the corner and nibbles on the table." She listened as someone spoke to her over the small earpiece she wore. "It seems the guests are all arriving and the tracker on Sarah's limousine shows she's about a mile from the gate. I have to make sure the aisle runner is down." She looked back as she exited the tent. "Good luck Doctor." After seeing the nervous look on his face added, "It will be fine." She looked to Harry and said, "You need to get to the other end of the aisle and wait on Sarah."
"Yes Ma'am." Harry saluted with a smile, his headache now greatly improved. He looked back to his old friend. "You okay?"
"I'm great. I've been waiting for this day for centuries Harry."
"I'm glad you and Sarah Jane are happy Doctor, I really am." Harry shook the Doctor's hand warmly.
The tent flap swung back and his old friend Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart came through assisted by his cane. "Sullivan you better get a move on. Kate's having a fit out there."
Harry slipped past the Brigadier faster than he had in years, his hangover now a thing of the past at the threat of Kate's displeasure. Like her father before her, she took no prisoners when she was upset, regardless of their rank.
The Brigadier laughed. "That got him moving." He waved off the Doctor and using his cane moved to the nearest chair and sat down heavily. "I still feel bad that I won't be able to walk Miss. Smith down the aisle."
"She completely understands Brigadier. Besides her loss is my gain. I get you as my best man." He sat down across from the Brigadier. "Besides, you know if Harry gives her cause, she'll enjoy tormenting him as they walk down that isle."
"That's true." He sighed and looked around. "Do you know, I miss the old Unit? It was more like a family home. I know that time marches on but even with all that we did, we managed it all with so much less." the Brigadier reminisced.
"It was a simpler time. Your people weren't as advanced and I was so much younger, so full of ideals." The Doctor shook his head. He used to have so much hope about everything and everyone. He'd had hundreds of years to revise his interpretation of the universe. There were times it had made him bitter. He knew that now that Sarah was by his side, she'd help him see things clearer.
"And you're not anymore?" the Brigadier asked, puzzled.
"Let's say my ideals have changed. There's still good out there, it's just harder to find than it used to be." the Doctor answered honestly.
"I know what you mean Doctor. I know what you mean." The Brigadier leaned heavily on his stick.
Benton entered the tent. "Sir," he saluted the Brigadier making the Brigadier and Doctor exchange a smile of amusement, "you and the Doctor need to take your places." He began to turn around and then said, "I'm supposed to put this on you." He approached the Doctor and pinned two rose buds to the tux's lapel. He went to the tent flap and held it open for the men. "Good luck Doctor."
The Doctor helped the Brigadier to his feet and the pair left the tent. The Doctor took his place on the podium and the Brigadier sat in a chair next to it. The Doctor smiled at the Brigadier as he awaited Sarah's arrival.
As the limousine pulled through the Unit gates Sarah found that her mind was totally peaceful. No worries of an alien invasion and no worries about her future. She knew that no matter what happened in the future, it was going to happen and there was nothing she could do about it. So she decided last night as she waited in her bed for sleep to take her away that today would be all about the love affair that she had been lucky enough to be part of, a love affair that had begun quite a while ago for her and hundreds of years ago for the Doctor.
As they approached the setting it occurred to Sarah exactly where they were. It was a trip she'd made many times on her own so she knew the area intimately. She and the Doctor in his previous incarnations had taken walks in these woods many, many times. This was where the old Unit building was located, now since long gone though the memory lived on in Sarah's brain so clearly. If she closed her eyes she could still see the building standing there.
Helena and Maya were watching her with confusion as the emotions played themselves through, her expressions changing to reflect each one. She explained, "This was the site of the old Unit grounds. This is where we fell in love. I spent so much time here with the Doctor. He picked the perfect spot; he couldn't have chosen any better." The limousine stopped and Major Jackson came around and opened the door but it was Harry's hand that came forward to help Sarah out.
Harry with Helena and Maya's help maneuvered Sarah and her dress out of the vehicle. Harry was beside himself. Sarah had never looked more beautiful and with a tear in his eye he said, "I say Sarah Jane you look absolutely beautiful."
Sarah was almost overcome herself when she saw the tears in Harry's eyes. "You look wonderful too Harry. Your tuxedo looks very becoming on you." Then remembering back to their encounter at Thinktank and she added, "You look just like James Bond."
Harry remembered her kidding him about that so many years ago now. "Just call me Sullivan, Harry Sullivan." They both laughed breaking the tension of the tears that threatened to overcome them.
Kate approached them after making one last check to reassure herself that everything was ready. She had set up a screen between the guests and the limousine at the end of the runner giving Sarah a moment of privacy from her guests before the wedding started. "Sarah Jane, we're ready when you are."
Sarah stepped forward while the women behind her primped her dress and straightened her train. "Kate all those years ago when I attended your birthday parties I never thought we'd all be here. I think I must have attended at least ten of your birthday parties, they were always so much fun and you were always such a beautiful child. I'm amazed at the woman you've become. You are beautiful inside as well as out. I cannot thank you enough for everything you've done for the Doctor and me." Sarah reached forward and hugged Kate.
"Sarah Jane, I don't know what to say except thank you. You and the Doctor were always my favorite birthday guests. I used to beg Dad to invite the two of you months in advance so that you'd be there. So I'm honored to return the favor by throwing this little party for you…"
"Little party? Kate a wedding is nothing like a little party. I know how much work you've put into this and I'll be eternally grateful for the love and kindness you've shown us." Sarah looked back at Helena and Maya. "You two have been a godsend, I hope you realize that. I've never really had women friends so I want to make sure the three of you know how happy you've made me." Helena and Maya smiled and nodded both tearing up. "And Harry, my Harry we've fought aliens and survived wars together. Never in the past when we were running for our lives across alien planets did I think we'd be standing here on my wedding day. There were times when I really didn't think we'd make it out alive in fact." The pair laughed.
"That much is true Sarah Jane." He could see Kate signaling him over his shoulder. Harry leaned forward and whispered to a smiling and understanding Sarah. "If we don't get started Kate is going to send me to an alien planet." He stood straight and said to Kate, "We're ready, right?" Sarah shook her head and smiled back at her attendants.
Kate spoke into her headset and the organist began playing. "All right Sarah Jane, this is it. Helena you're first, then Maya and then you Harry and Sarah Jane."
The three women adjusted Sarah's train and dress one last time and Helena stopped and lightly embraced Sarah. She looked back at Maya and smiled. "You have all of our love and hopes Sarah Jane." Maya leaned in and embraced her as well.
"Thank you so much for everything." Sarah said, her voice all but failing her. Helena and Maya adjusted their dresses and flowers and after the screen was removed began their descent down the aisle.
Kate pulled the short part of Sarah's veil forward and after a few seconds of adjustment she squeezed Sarah's hands and said, "Beautiful!" Sarah beamed.
Harry took Sarah's hand and placed it over his arm. "Let's go." he said. He guided her forward and they started down the aisle.
Everyone stood as soon as they saw Sarah. There were multiple exclamations of joy and admiration as they observed how beautiful Sarah looked. As Sarah looked at her guests, she was in awe that everyone they had invited had come. She tried to make eye contact with as many of her Alphan and Unit friends as possible but when she looked at the end of the aisle she was truly surprised. There he stood not in his usual leather jacket and pants but in a tuxedo. He looked so handsome in his tux complete with bow tie. As he smiled at her, her heart melted once again. He had told her once that she was his reward but the truth was he was hers. This was such a natural progression of their relationship. As much as he balked at human behaviors, the Doctor was a classic and traditional human male in so many ways, though she would never tell him that.
As Sarah came into view the Doctor felt his knees get weak. She was always lovely and many times beautiful but this was so far beyond beautiful. Magnificent was a good choice but she was beyond that. He rarely looked at what she wore, instead preferring to simply look at her and not her wrappings. But he knew she'd painstakingly shopped for her wedding dress and it showed. Her dress accentuated all her curves and was breathtaking. To his side the Brigadier stood and joined him, taking his place as his best man.
"She's beautiful, just beautiful." the Brigadier whispered into his ear. It was hard to believe this was the same plucky sometimes annoying reporter that had shown up at Unit so many, many years ago. Even then Sarah Jane felt like family and though he'd never admit it, he enjoyed her visits. He knew back then that the Doctor had feelings for Sarah Jane. They'd discussed it and he'd warned the Doctor that Sarah was young and human. The Doctor had admitted to him that he was more than aware of their differences and he would go slowly and only proceed if Sarah was ready for a relationship.
The Doctor had been in his third incarnation then and the Brigadier had been resistant to a relationship between the pair. Years later he was able to understand that the Doctor was a great deal older than either he or Sarah but that his soul was so very young. Looking at him now, his appearance was still older than that of Sarah Jane but he now understood. It was only a package for the soul and their souls would soon be as one. He smiled at the thought as he watched Sarah Jane approach the platform.
A few steps before they reached the platform Harry and Sarah stopped. Harry pulled the shorter part of the veil from Sarah's face. "This is where I give you away. To be honest Sarah Jane, you're asking a lot. We've been through life and death together and I'll always keep a part of you in my heart. I wish you only the best." Harry leaned forward and kissed her cheek.
"Thank you so much for the entire journey Harry. I'll never ever forget you." Sarah said with tears in her eyes.
"Take good care of her Doctor." he said as he reached up and shook the Doctor's hand. Harry took her arm again and helped her to step up next to the Doctor on the platform.
"Count on it Harry." the Doctor said as he shook his old friend's hand. It was always hard to see his human friends grow older. He could see in his mind's eye all of his adventures with Harry. He specifically remembered pulling Harry out of a giant clam on Skaro and smiled. Harry turned and sat in his seat next to Benton.
The Doctor and Sarah beamed at one another, their reward finally here. "Perfect choice for the ceremony Doctor," she whispered and then with tears in her eyes added, "if I'm not mistaken this is the spot where your old lab was. Am I right?"
The Doctor's smile radiated at her revelation. "Exactly! I knew you would figure it out." he whispered to her.
The chaplain cleared his throat. The pair looked at one another and smiled not quite feeling the chastisement the chaplain hoped to convey. "Let us begin." the chaplain said.