John felt a nervous shiver make its way down his spine as he tied on his tie. Once he was satisfied with it, he observed himself in the mirror.
He looked quite dashing, if he did say so himself. The silky black jacket fit him just right, well tailored to his skinny form. The dark grey vest he wore was only visible if he untied his jacket – which he did and undid several times before deciding it looked much better buttoned up. His white collared shirt contrasted nicely with the dark grey tie. His perfectly pleated black trousers reached his meticulously shined shoes, though he grinned when he thought of the socks he wore – invisible under the trousers, but he knew they'd be a laugh when Rose spotted them.
She'd had them made special for him – tall blue socks that I read I'm the Doctor. He made sure they were well hidden – while Rose would laugh, he knew Jackie would not.
He was brought from his reverie when Pete poked his head through the doorway. "Ready, John?"
John took grinned widely. "I've been ready for years, Pete." He responded, following Rose's father out of the room.
Rose breathed deeply as she stared herself in the mirror, ignoring her mother's fussing over her hair.
Her makeup had been expertly done, a perfect mix of pink and nude colours to make her look flawless and make her whiskey-coloured eyes shine brightly. Her hair had been braided and twisted into a complex do, a light veil carefully clipped in the center so that it flowed from beneath the complicated bun. A few loose, curled locks framed her face, and her mother carefully placed a white hair band with small pink flowers on top of her head.
Her dress was really rather simple. It was a perfectly white, strapless dress that hugged her figure tightly, bound by the lace up black bodice. The bodice and hem of the dress carefully decorated with embroidery and crystals, which reflected off the lights in the room and made her sparkle slightly. The top two inches of the bodice was a beautiful TARDIS blue, artfully decorated with embroidery. The lace at the back of the bodice was the same blue, and where the white satin split to reveal more embroidered lace in the back, the edges were blue. Carefully, Gwen was tying a blue ribbon around her waist, finishing with a small bow and letting the loose pieces hang. The dress had a small train that Rose was certain (mostly certain) she would not trip over.
"You look lovely, Rose." Gwen told her, sipping from a Champaign flute and looking her friend over with approval.
Rose let out a shaky breath, "Thanks, Gwen," she replied to her maid of honor with a nervous smile. She smoothed the side of her dress carefully, not wanting to ruin the beautiful garment.
The door to the dressing room opened and Jackie popped her head in, gasping when she caught sight of her daughter. "Oh, sweetheart," Jackie breathed, entering the room completely and closing the door behind her. "You look so beautiful."
"Thanks, mum." Rose said with another smile.
"Well," Jackie straightened out. "It's time. Are you ready?"
"I've been ready forever," she extended her hand to her mother, who took it and carefully led Rose out of the room.
The Tyler Mansion had been completely redecorated for the wedding. White chairs had been carefully set up, perfectly aligned, to face the new large white wedding arch. A long red carpet created an aisle that led directly to it, and there seemed to be flowers everywhere.
John felt his nose twitch, but refused to allow himself to sneeze. He did sniffle, earning himself a knowing grin from Pete. There were several people already there, mingling about. John didn't know many of them, and know that Rose had been very frustrated when her mother had insisted on inviting so many people. She'd managed to convince her mother to limit the guest list quite significantly – Jackie had originally been planning on inviting well over 250 people, but Rose had argued, and, as usual, the bride was right. They'd limited the guest list to about 75 people. Rose still felt like this was far too many people, most of whom she didn't even know, but Jackie would not concede to less and Rose had grudgingly agreed, so long as no media were permitted on site.
The president of Britain, a miss Harriet Jones (who did not know Rose, though Rose still felt giddy at the sight of her alive and well) was invited and in attendance, chatting rather amicably with several Torchwood operatives.
Richard Paler, who John did not know well, came up to him, offering his hand. John shook it with a smile, meeting the older man's eyes. "You're a lucky man, Mister Smith," Paler told him earnestly.
"I know, sir," John replied respectfully, knowing full well that this man had been one of the few that Rose had tolerated and even admired in her time here alone.
"None of that," Paler clasped John's shoulder. "It's Richard."
"Richard," John repeated with a smile, giving the man a nod of appreciation.
"It was very kind of you two to think of me." Paler said casually. "I heard the invitation list was severely cut." He continued with an amused twinkle in his eyes.
John grinned. "You were at the top of Rose's list, Richard. She thinks very highly of you."
Paler laughed, "And I her. She's a very determined young woman. You'll have your work cut out for you, John."
John chuckled. "Don't I know it."
Paler offered him a final smile before walking to his seat as the string quartet began to play a slow tune that John didn't recognize but that instantly screamed Rose. People everywhere began to move to their seats, and John stood, eyes on the end of the long red carpet, on his side of the wedding arch. Harriet Jones, who was officiating the wedding, stood proudly next to him.
First down the aisle was Tony, looking smart in his suit, grinning widely as he carried the rings towards John. John grinned as he watched his soon-to-be brother-in-law carefully carry the pillow that held two delicate silver rings, each inscribed with the bride and groom's names in circular Gallifreyan.
Next down the aisle were Gwen and Jake, best man and maid of honor, walking arm in arm with wide smiles. Jake moved to stand next to John, grinning at him, while Gwen moved to the other side of the arch, standing out of the way. She smiled widely at John, giving him an approving eyebrow raise, which he returned, nodding to her dress. She grinned, revealing the gap between her teeth.
The music changed and suddenly there was Rose, arm in arm with Pete, who was looking at her proudly.
John felt his throat constrict at the sight of her. She was glowing in her beautiful white dress, proudly displaying the TARDIS blue that brought tears to his eyes. Their eyes met and she grinned widely at him, giving him the tongue-touched smile he loved so much. He didn't take his eyes off her while she made her way to him, unable to look away from her. She was pure beauty.
When she finally reached him, he could see the tears brimming in her own eyes. He watched as she leaned over to kiss Pete on the cheek. Pete returned the gesture and carefully took Rose's hand and placed it in John's.
As it always did, having Rose's hand in his felt right, and he gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
"Hi," She said quietly, still smiling widely at him.
"Hi," he replied, grinning just as widely, as he led to toward Harriet Jones, who smiled knowingly at them.
"Friends and family," Harriet began. "We are gathered here today to celebrate the joyous union of Rose Marion Tyler and John Alistair Smith in marriage. Rose, John, today you begin the wondrous journey of marriage, hand in hand, standing together. You are leaving you separate lives behind to lead one joint life, as a team.
"True marriage is more than joining the bonds of marriage of two persons; it is the union of two hearts. It lives on the love you give each other and never grows old, but thrives on the joy of each new day. Marriage is love. May you always be able to talk things over, to confide in each other, to laugh with each other, to enjoy life together, and to share moments of quiet and peace, when the day is done. May you be blessed with a lifetime of happiness and a home of warmth and understanding.
"I understand the two of you have written your own vows?" Harriet asked, and, with a nod from both, continued, "then Rose, you go ahead."
Rose cleared her throat, meeting John's smiling eyes. She took a deep breath before beginning. "John, before I met you, my life was so boring. I never thought that I would be so lucky to meet you, to run with you, to love you, and to have you love me in return," Rose smiled a John, fighting back tears. "You've shown me so many wonderful, beautiful things, taken me on so many adventures I never thought I would have. From 'run', you've shown me a different side of myself, a side I never thought I had. Even though we don't travel like we used to, I think we've had different adventures, adventures that are just as good, adventures I wouldn't give up for the universe," she gave him a tongue-touched smile. "You've shown me, like you show everyone you touch, that I can be brilliant, and when I'm with you, I feel brilliant. In this world that I've never felt at home in, you make me feel like I belong. And for the rest of time, there is no place I'd rather be than at your side, if you'll have me." She finished, taking a ring from Harriet Jones and holding out her hand. Carefully, John placed his left hand in hers, and she slipped the silver band onto his finger, sniffling slightly.
Harriet smiled. "John?"
John smiled, looking at his Rose. "Rose, I always thought I'd seen everything. When came blundering into my life," they exchanged a secret smile, "I didn't know what to make of you. And then, knowing you only for a day, I told you my darkest secret – the one I thought I wouldn't share with anyone. I told you that I was travelling alone, because there was no one left. And then you said –"
"There's me." Rose cut in, making their audience chuckle and John smile widely.
"And ever since, you have my person, my best friend, my love. You showed me sides of me that I thought were lost, drowned out by loss and sorrow. Before you, I'd never had someone who cared so much for me that they were willing to risk everything, just to keep me with them. You've never judged me, just supported the decisions I made when I felt the weight of the universe on my shoulders. And when I needed you most – to remind me of who I really am, there you were. You've always been there. And I can't believe I could ever be so lucky as to find you.
"So," he took the second silver band from Harriet and offered his hand, much as she had early. She placed her left hand in his. "If you'll have me, Rose Tyler, I'd like to love you for the rest of my human life." He carefully placed the band on her finger.
"By the powers invested in me by the People's Republic of Great Britain, I pronounce you husband and wife. John, you may kiss the bride." Harriet continued.
John thought he heard Rose mutter finally under her breath, and smiled widely at her. Carefully and softly, he pressed his lips to hers, feeling her smile under the kiss and holding her tightly. When they broke apart, much too soon, in his opinion, she was smiling widely at him, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Harriet said with a smile, "I present to you, for the first time, John and Rose Smith."