I'm about to marry the Doctor
Rose smiled and bit her lip at the thought. She was filled with anticipation and nerves of the best kind. But as excited as she was to get to the Doctor she stopped and paused a moment at the door before exiting the TARDIS. They were about to be connected completely in every way and she wanted to remember every single thing about this moment forever. She almost couldn't believe it was happening; it seemed too good to be true. But she knew right this second he was already waiting for her. She laughed a little to herself as she thought about what was about to happen.
She thought about the past and how far they had come. She couldn't believe it had only been a couple of years since she had walked through these very doors for the first time. How different things had been back then! She hadn't even known that aliens existed when she'd followed him in here. If anyone would have told her then that she'd be marrying that same alien someday she would have never believed it.
The Doctor had been so different back then. He had been so closed off. He'd been hurting so badly and so afraid of that pain. At times, she had thought he'd never open himself up to loving someone again. She had been so different back then. She had been so unsure of herself, so willing to accept less in life. She never would have thought she'd let herself be loved. They'd been friends first, companions sharing life and adventure together. Then somewhere along the line (where it had happened exactly neither of them really knew) they had fallen in love. They had both helped each other over their insecurities without even knowing what they were doing for the other. There was so much behind them but even more ahead of them. Theirs was a beautiful story, both the parts that were already written and the parts that were yet to be.
Her eyes teared up when she thought about the past several months. She had thought it had all come to end for them. There had been so many times she had feared their story was over. But it wasn't. In a way, it was almost just beginning. She smiled, ready to meet him now and not willing to pause a moment longer. She looked down at her dress, making sure everything was in place before she reached out and opened the door.
What she was walking into was a surprise to her. The Doctor hadn't told her where they were going; he'd wanted it to be a surprise. She had agreed right away knowing he knew all the best places. And with her family in a different universe, there was no place she had any attachment to for having her wedding. She had known he would pick somewhere special and she was looking forward to seeing where that place was.
She walked out into a golden atmosphere. She was in a forest area but you would never be able to tell it from all the light. Everything around her was a deep, rich yellow. The air was so thick, and it surrounded her in a haze but it was warm and beautiful as it wrapped around her. It followed her while she walked like a cheerful embrace. It was like being right in the midst of the brightest sunrise and there was something about it that was strangely familiar.
Sprinkled throughout the golden haze were brighter flecks. It was almost like fireflies here and there but when she reached out to touch them she knew they weren't an insect or anything living for that matter. It was almost like light reflecting off of something but she couldn't see anything that would be giving off a reflection. The unknown particles slowly moved around her and she twirled a few times just to watch them swirl around her.
In front of her was a small chapel made of stone. It was nestled in the woods and even had greenery growing on the sides of it as if it were becoming part of the woods itself. As she walked towards it she noticed that Jack was waiting for her in front of the door.
He smiled at her when reached him. His expression was a serious one today and if she wasn't mistaken it was just a little bit emotional too. He sighed. "Look at you," he said with a smile.
"What do think? Will it do?" she said holding her arms out and looking down at her dress again.
"It will more than do or that Doctor is even more of idiot than I thought," he said with a laugh.
"Can't quite believe we finally found our way here," she said with a smile, nerves growing and filling up her belly.
"Well, I'll admit this sure isn't how I saw things ending that day I daringly saved a cute blonde from the skies."
"I'm sure it isn't," she said laughing. "Are you sorry about that?" she added quietly.
"Not at all. Things…they turned out even better than I expected. I love you." She reached out and hugged him and he added. "I love that old Doctor too but if you tell him I said so I will deny it."
Rose smiled. "I'm pretty sure he already knows that," she whispered into his ear. "I'm really glad you could be here."
"Me too."
He pulled back and extended his arm for her to take. "Now, come on before I change my mind about this giving you away thing." She took this arm, noticing as she did that her hand shook only slightly with nervous excitement. Jack opened the door and they walked into the chapel.
It was a tiny building but it was very cute. There was only room for a few pews on either side of the aisle and there were only three small stained glass windows on each of the side walls. The thick rich light from outside shown through them creating a more beautiful display of colors than she'd ever seen from such a window before.
But all of this she hardly noticed because her eyes were fixed ahead of her. The Doctor watched her as she walked down the aisle towards him and she could practically feel the emotions bursting from him at the sight of her. You look so beautiful, he said. She smiled and blushed shyly. She was glad that the walk was a short one.
"So, you like it?" she asked when they had reached the front of the building and Jack had handed her over to him. She was standing in front of him, both of her hands held securely in his. "When I went to into the wardrobe to pick a dress this was the only article of clothing that was in there. I figured the TARDIS might be suggesting that you would approve of it."
She was wearing a simple floor length white dress. It had small short sleeves and a beaded bodice. It was covered in small sparkles that when the light hit them just right shown a dark opulent blue. It was a kind of dress that she wouldn't ever have pictured herself in but the second she'd seen it she knew it was just right. She wore a veil that hung down her back. It was translucent but shimmered in a way she'd never seen material do before. It was clearly made of something not of her world.
"She was right," the Doctor said with a smile.
He was dressed in his regular pinstripe suit. He'd offered to wear his tux but she'd asked him to wear this instead. She knew that he had very strong negative feelings against the tux because he claimed that something terrible always happened when he wore it. And, although she was sure she could give him some good memories to attach to his tux, she preferred him in his every day look anyway.
"It's a beautiful planet you've picked," she said quietly, smiling at him.
The Doctor smiled playfully back at her like he had a secret. "Do you wonder why I picked it?"
"Why?"
Rose felt his mind reach towards hers. It reminds me of the inside of you, he whispered, giving her mind a brush of affection that she felt shoot through every part of her. She closed her eyes, a bit dazed at the touch but glad to be. She was also now very grateful that this ceremony would be a quick one. The Doctor had explained to her that the ceremony it's self would be a simple one. Unlike human weddings that put a lot of emphasis on the marriage ceremony and reception, the most important part of their wedding would be the bonding that occurred between them. That would happen later, in private, between just the two of them.
The emotions in his words now held hinted at that. They contained a passion and desire and love unconcealed in every way; it was unlike anything she'd ever felt from him. He was not holding anything of himself back and she was looking forward to later with even more anticipation than she'd had before.
She felt him tug on her mind gently to call her back to the present. Still feeling quite weak in the knees she opened her eyes and looked at him. Jack smiled knowingly at them, aware something was going on he couldn't see but not calling them out on it this time. The Doctor nodded towards him, indicating he was to do his part.
Jack reached out his hand to Rose, placing it softly against her back. "I consent and gladly give," he said giving her a pat before withdrawing his hand.
The Doctor reached into his pocket and took out a long ribbon. It was a deep red with fine gold embroidery on it. When she saw it she realized that it was not just some ordinary ribbon; it had been created specifically for this purpose. She didn't even know how long he must have been holding onto since it must have come from his planet. She was touched as she realized how long he must have waited to use it, how long he must have waited for her. This had been a long time in the making for both of them but he had been waiting even longer than she had.
He had taken it and held on to it long before he even knew who it would be for. There had been a spot for her in his hearts before he ever met her; before he even knew her name or face. At times, in her past, she hadn't even known if love was real or if it was something she could actually have. But he had believed in it. Though he hadn't always known who it was he was waiting on he'd believed in love and believed it would be true for him someday. For the longest time she thought he'd been the unbeliever but it was her who had been the doubter all along. He'd claimed not to be a romantic but he had been one from the start.
Until she had met the Doctor, Rose really hadn't believed in love. Life hadn't given her any proof of it in what she'd seen around her. If there had been any part of her that had believed in it at all she'd always thought it was for others but never for herself. Life had been so painful at times, like the dark days when she'd been with Jimmy. For so many years she'd believed she was unlovable in every way and unworthy of affection. She was so glad that those miserable days and her much sadder self were far back in the past and were never to return.
She gladly took her end of the ribbon in her right hand and wound it around her hand as he did his, until both their hands were touching, bound together, side by side. It symbolized the mental bond they shared, that invisible but very real thread that already connected them. Though it was only a symbol of the greater thing they shared and felt inside it was still amazing to see symbolized in front of them and reminded her of its significance.
Rose looked at the Doctor and watched him for what would happen next. Their wedding was to be a mix of human and Gallifreyian traditions but she'd left the order of things up to him. She smiled, feeling the excitement and anticipation bubbling up inside of her. She knew part of what to expect but so much of this was still a wonderful mystery to her.
Finally, he spoke. "I want to give you my name," he said seriously. She wanted to say something in response but found she could only nod her head in eager agreement.
Their right hands were still joined between them with the ribbon and he took his left arm and wrapped it tightly around her waist, holding her securely against him. He leaned in towards her ear and she found herself holding her breath, clutching his jacket in her other hand and closing her eyes as she waited.
He spoke his name and it was like nothing she could possibly describe. She wasn't sure if he had spoken with words or thoughts; it was suddenly just…there. The breath she'd held left her lips in a gasp and she was glad her eyes were already closed because everything was spinning around her. She felt limp and now she knew why he had reached out to hold on to her. She was glad his arm was around her to steady her as she took in his name and processed it.
She felt his name in every fiber of her being. It was so powerful. It was all of him, all at once. No wonder it was a secret. She took it carefully into her mind and hid it away. It was a secret; her secret now too. She was the only one to know him by this name. It was meant for only her to know. She wanted to find a way to describe the name but it wasn't just a word; it was an experience and all she could do was feel it.
After a long moment she was finally able to open her eyes and look at him. His arm was still around her and she was glad because she still fought to gain some strength. He was patiently watching her, pleased to have her see him in this way. She could feel how good he felt in being able to share this with her. It had been so long since anyone had known him by his real name. That must have been so hard. Names seemed so commonplace to her but his was a secret he had to keep inside. She'd never understood before how hard that must have been for him. It was a lonely situation and she felt the burden of it lifting off of him.
"I wish I had a name to give you," she whispered leaning in even closer to him. There was no insecurity or doubt as there once would have been in finding there was something he could give her but she couldn't give him. She was only filled with gratitude and awe of what he had shared and she wished to be able to return that.
"Rose," he said with a warm smile. "My dear Rose…if you had a secret name to give me I'm not sure I could survive receiving it; it would be so magnificent."
She laughed a little and he hugged her tighter to himself. She pressed her forehead to his briefly. She felt herself just on the edge of finishing them off. She was so content, so utterly filled at joy with what they were creating here between them. He laughed inside her head and she felt him send her a little strength she needed to finish the ceremony. Stay with me; just a little longer. We're almost there
We can't get there fast enough, she said with smile and it increased just a bit when she felt his mind falter a little at thoughts of their near future.
He pulled back, looking the happiest she'd probably ever seen him and took her left hand in his.
Jack spoke up now to lead them in their human wedding vows. "Doctor, do you take Rose to be your wedded wife? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health?"
The Doctor smiled widely and, never taking his eyes away from her, promised, "I do."
"Do you promise to be unto her ever faithful, devoted and true?"
"I do."
"Will you love her without reservation?"
"I will."
"Will you grow with her in mind and spirit?"
"I will."
Jack now turned towards Rose. "Rose, do you take the Doctor to be your wedded husband? Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health?"
Rose smiled, agreeing as quickly as she could, feeling the love and happiness pouring from her heart. "I do."
"Do you promise to be unto him ever faithful, devoted and true?"
"I do."
"Will you love him without reservation?"
"I will."
"Will you grow with him in mind and spirit?"
"I will."
The Doctor let go of her hand briefly and reached into his pocket. When he pulled it out he held Rose's ring. She held out her hand and he slipped the ring onto her finger and held it there. "With this ring I thee wed, and with all my heart's affections I thee endow. Where you go I will go, where you stay I will stay. Whatever may come I will be there. Thereto I pledge my love."
"I accept this ring as a sign of the covenant we have made."
Rose pulled her hand back and reached for the Doctor's ring that Jack had been holding onto for her. She slid the ring on the Doctor's finger and held it there. "With this ring I thee wed, and with all my heart's affections I thee endow. Where you go I will go, where you stay I will stay. Whatever may come I will be there. Thereto I pledge my love. "
"I accept this ring as a sign of the covenant we have made," he said. She wrapped her hand around his and interlaced their fingers together.
"I love you so much," she said eagerly, the words just busting out in the moment.
He smiled at her so warmly in response she felt it under her skin. "I love you so much."
He lingered there, with his hand wrapped in hers, for a moment before he withdrew his hand and pressed the slightest touch of his fingertips against her temple.
She felt the Doctor move further into her mind and he spoke to lead them in the vows of their bond.
Will you vow to be my bond mate? Will you unite your mind to mine and take it as your own? Will you enter the deepest part of me, look at me completely, and knit your heart with mine? Will you bond yourself wholly to me, connect yourself to me entirely and stand by me for all of time?
A few tears threatened to run down Rose's face at the sweet vows the Doctor asked of her. It seemed too good to be true that he was there and asking this amazing thing of her but it wasn't. It was real and with complete certainty, with not the slightest doubt or reservation in her mind she answered him.
I will, she answered, having never been more sure of anything in her life.
She felt his joy running over and covering her and it made her own happiness even greater. The tears she'd been trying to hold back before now ran down her face as she prepared to ask him for his promise.
Will you vow to be my bond mate? Will you unite your mind to mine and take it as your own? Will you enter the deepest part of me, look at me completely, and knit your hearts with mine? Will you bond yourself wholly to me, connect yourself to me entirely and stand by me for all of time?
The Doctor wrapped his mind around hers, holding her with the deepest affection before he answered with all the assurance possible. I will
She reached out her mind to his and embraced him. They closed their eyes and held each other in their minds, a gesture of love that was only possible because of that special bond inside; the very one now illustrated by their joined hands.
Jack watched them for a few minutes but sensing the exchange between them was over he smiled and made his declaration. "You are now husband and wife and bond mates for life."
The Doctor didn't even need the command to kiss his new bride. He gathered Rose in his arms and kissed her deeply. The man who had always been so hesitate of physical affection had no problem with it what so ever. He seemed to have decided to make up for all of the lost time, maybe even, it seemed, all in this moment.
She kissed him feeling her heart opening wide and the force of it reaching out to pull him in. She wanted to complete this bond between them; she needed to. She'd have done it too, right then and right there had the Doctor not pulled his lips back and urged her to wait. The force inside of her was greater than any she'd ever known and she'd all but forgotten where they were and that they weren't alone yet.
She opened her eyes and looked at him. She felt disappointed to have to wait even a second longer to receive those pieces of him she didn't already have and she didn't think she could have found it within herself to have been embarrassed if Jack had been there and watching while they had done it.
The Doctor smiled at all her eagerness and she could feel that waiting was the last thing he desired as well. Soon, he promised.
She felt the pull inside of her grow all the more at his promise. But somehow she found the strength to make herself move. She took his arm and walked with him out of the chapel and back to the TARDIS.
