A/N: All credit and praise goes to moonbean for helping me out with the wedding! I have dabbled with it slightly, ignoring the most trivial stuff like pointless prayers and that which would take up valuable space. That being said, it's 2100 words long which means it a slightly longer chapter overall. It's gone onto three parts now, we've got the session outside and I'm yet to decide whether I'm gonna bother with a reception coz I read Fayth3's fic yesterday and I can't possibly top that. So if you want to see a good reception read hers and pretend it's the Doctor and Rose getting married instead :P Less work for me:D

Chapter 16 – Doctor Who: The Wedding (Uncut) Part Two

Jackie suddenly got up from the side and trotted to Rose, handing her a piece of paper with a huge speech printed messily onto it. She had her life story and he had a memory chamber full of cobwebs.

"I haven't really gone over these vows, so I'm a bit rusty," she apologised, a little to the crowd but more to the man currently standing infront of her. She cleared her throat, looking down to the paper in her hand. "I thought about these vows long and hard, and to be honest, I found it really difficult to think of them. The year I've known you has really flown by for me, so much fun and change at every turn it's been like riding a roller coaster.

"We've been through so much together and you've almost always been the one to lead us both through. Not only that but you've always been there, whenever I thought the worst was gonna happen there you were, smiling like nothin' was happenin' and puttin' everythin' right.

"The changes we've gone through – although you've definitely changed more…" – the Doctor beamed – "…my life is worth livin' because every day to you isn't get up, go to work, eat chips and go to bed, it's get up, crash land the TARDIS, fall in a plot to take over a planet, escape the gunfire, put things right, go back to the TARDIS, eat chips then go to bed.

"There's nothin' I can possibly vow to you because there's really nothin' I can do. The only thing I can vow to you is that I'll always be here, I'll always love you and Rory, I'll stop you when you go too far and keep you sane. If something happens to either one of us – which it won't – I know that we're both capable."

The entire church burst into applause, and Rose watched with untainted amusement as the Doctor suddenly tore his gaze from her, and looked directly towards the floor with his cheeks flushed red in deep embarrassment.

The applause started to die as the Doctor's mind went with it, his body now fully seized up.

Everyone had calmed now, a few coughs and it was back to silence. Everyone was waiting patiently for him. He'd given speeches debating the second Law of Time to an entire assembly of Time Lord officials in his second year, no less than seven hundred superior Time Lords watching from the stands critically, assessing his every word. This was absolutely nothing compared to that and then he hadn't been remotely nervous. Why here? Why now? He'd never been nervous in all his lives and here he was, unable to speak. He looked up from his shoes, meeting Rose's gaze. She squeezed his hand; helping his nerves shift a little.

He opened his mouth and forced his larynx to operate, managing to emit a tiny squeak as though he were a small helpless bunny rabbit sitting infront of the hunter's gun. Maybe he was.

He looked back to the floor again. Silent seconds passed.

Then without any warning at all, he was making some sort of sound, his mouth forming words out of the strange droning sound coming out.

"Rooe…Roz…Rose," he found the word on the third try, tongue tripping rather distinguishably over the syllables, he thought. "We…well, I…don't think I've ever been so nervous in my entire life and that's really saying something. I don't know why I'm actually nervous, I've got no reason to be really…I'm usually quite good at talking but right now I'm totally speechless. I didn't, or rather, I couldn't write my vows, so I'm gonna make 'em up now."

He looked up at her, two beautiful eyes staring back at him full of apprehension of the words he was about to say. They clicked. Oh thank Rassilon, he could remember the sentences.

"My blossoming Rose, a glowing red ruby in the heart of a sun – rare and virtuous, beautiful and true. If these are my vows to be, then forever let them stand."

Right, that was it. He was on his own now.

"I vow if I take your hand always I could feel your radiance, the fire that burns within your heart, burning as bright as summer and double the pleasure. If I take your hand now, I vow to show you the Universe and be back in time for tea. If I take your hand now I vow to be your husband, not just for eternity, but another few aswell.

"I vow to carry you forth in a field of gold, and hold you tight in my arms – never looking back to a past of dark. Rose, Rose, my bright-eyed Rose, if you'll be my Juliet I'll be your Romeo, wanting to be with you, wanting your touch, your kiss. Your gentle voice caressing my every emotion, my every aching muscle sudden healed once more.

"I vow to call to you Rose: from the highest of peaks, the lowest of valleys, the twistiest…" – he winced at the word, unable to find any other – "…of streams, the longest of paths. My feet shall not tire and my hearts will not ache…as long as you're with me. I'll take you to the stars; I'll take you to the moon. I'll even take you to McDonalds if that's what you want.

"I vow to never stop fighting in your name, I'll protect you, Rory and our baby girl until the end of time itself. I vow not to let harm come to any of you, but if it does, then whoever or whatever caused it will pay.

"I vow forever to stand by my words. Rose, Rose, my beautiful Rose, if I don't stay true to the words I have spoke, then kick me in the balls – I'll deserve it."

Okay, not the most sophisticated of endings but he felt it worked well in contrast. The whole building was in stunned silence with the words that had just come out of his mouth, as if waiting for the bride's approval.

Rose was staring at him, eyes watering with sheer joy.

"Oh Doctor…" she whispered, though her voice echoed around the church interior. "That was so beautiful…"

Phew.

The church audience burst into applause as relief cascaded through the Doctor like a gushing river, closing his eyes and bowing his head to the floor once more. The church slowly began to silence once more as the priest spoke again:

"And now, a couple of readings."

The Doctor watched Mickey as he made to speak to the audience, a slip of paper clutched tightly in one hand. The Doctor had no idea what Jackie had arranged so it was going to be as much of a surprise to him as it would be to everyone else.

"Let me not to the marriage of true minds,

Admit impediments. Love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds,

Or bends with the remover to remove…"

Shakespeare, the Doctor realised as the complex words toppled in a well-rehearsed fashion from Mickey Smith's lips. Sonnet 116, if he wasn't mistaken.

"O no! it is an ever-fixed mark

That looks on tempests and is never shaken;

It is the star to every wandering bark,

Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.

Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks

Within his bending sickle's compass come:

Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,

But bears it out even to the edge of doom.

If this be error and upon me proved,

I never writ, nor no man ever loved."

The Doctor gazed past the veil into Rose's eyes, just about making out the deep brown of her eyes as she stared up at him, lovingly. The church burst into applause as the vicar made to carry on – but then a loud voice interrupted.

"I've got somethin' I'd like to recite," Jack said, and the Doctor smiled slightly as he saw the vicar slowly falling way to impatience.

"Yes?" he asked curtly.

Jack grinned, withdrawing a piece of paper out of his pocket and getting onto his feet. He walked over to the bride's side, offering a hand out to Rory. They boy's eyes flickered to his fathers, who nodded reassurance of this strange new man. Rory beamed, taking the hand and following Jack as he got onto the stage.

"I'll help you with the big words," Jack whispered in the child's ear as he knelt down behind him, holding the paper out infront of them both with his head over Rory's shoulder. Rory nodded, looking at the letters printed into words and trying to make sense of them.

"Love…" Rory started, but instantly frowned at the next word. Jack caught him with a safety net.

"Vaunteth."

"Vaunteth not its-elf, is not puffed up, do…"

"Doeth."

"Doeth not bee-have its-elf un…s-seem-ly. Seek-ith not her own. Is not ease-ally provoked. Think-ith no evil. Re…re…"

"Rejoiceth."

"Yeah that, not in in-eckquit-ee, but rejo…do that word in the truth. Bear-ith all things. Be-leeve-ith all things. Hop-eth all things. Endure-eth all things. Love never fails."

Rory grinned as he came to an end, looking up at the Doctor for praise. His dad was grinning and clapping his hands applaudingly, truly proud of his efforts. The church chorused an 'aww' as Jack lead the child back to his seat, back to the care of Jackie Tyler. He gave her a wink- but said no more. Jackie's heart fluttered.

"The rings?"

Mickey launched forward instantly, eager to play his part in this with perfect precision. He reached inside his jacket pocket and withdrew his clenched fist, opening to reveal one ring sitting in his palm. The Doctor paled incredibly, blinking at the singular ring Mickey held before patting himself down, trying in vain to find it.

The Doctor suddenly went white as he realised he had not infact given the ring to Mickey. He started to pat himself down quickly, earning a few rolls of the eyes from the audience as he finally struck lucky, pulling out something small and golden from within. He gave it to Mickey, who handed both rings to the minister.

"The wedding ring is a symbol of eternity. It is an outward sign of an inward and spiritual bond which unites two hearts in endless love. And now as a token of your love and of your deep desire to be forever united in heart and soul, you John, may place a ring on the finger of your bride."

"Rose, I give you this ring as a sign of our marriage. With my body I honour you, all that I am I give to you, and all that I have I share with you, within the love of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit," the Doctor said, pushing the ring onto her finger.

"By the same token Rose, you may place a ring on the finger of your groom."

"Do-John," she hastily corrected herself. "I give you this ring as a sign of our marriage. With my body I honour you, all that I am I give to you, and all that I have I share with you, within the love of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit." She pushed the ring onto his finger, letting her hand stay there for a moment before drawing it away.

"In the presence of God, and before this congregation, John and Rose have given their consent and made their marriage vows to each other. They have declared their marriage by the joining of hands and by the giving and receiving of rings. I therefore proclaim that they are husband and wife. Those whom God has joined together let no one put asunder. You may now kiss your bride."

So he did.

He lifted the veil carefully off of her face, seeing a beautiful Rose Tyler – correction – Rose Sigma-Tyler staring right back at him. He smiled gently at her, leaning forward and tilting his head as their lips met. Not surprisingly, the next thing the Doctor heard was Jack saying, "ooo!" as the entire church erupted into applause and cheers at the sight now before them.

They parted, turned and knelt down infront of the minister together still holding hands.

"The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you, and give you peace."

This was it. They were married. He couldn't quite believe it was happening as he pushed himself onto his feet beside her, pulling her gently onto two feet. The wedding theme was obscenely loud in his ears as they turned towards the aisle and began to walk towards a new life, Rose tossing the bouquet of flowers she held over her shoulder. The entire congregation were whooping and applauding and the Doctor couldn't help but smile. He turned just in time to see the bouquet land, rather conveniently on K9's back.

He broadened his smile.