Donna and the Doctor walked up the street toward her mother's house, hand in hand. "Are we really going to tell Mum we're getting married?" Donna asked.

" 'Course we are, why wouldn't we?" he said. "You don't have cold feet already?"

"No, it's just – you know I don't need a wedding and all that…stuff." She waved her hand in the air. "It seems so...normal."

He stopped and turned to her. "I want to marry you because I love you, and I want everyone else to know it, too."

"You're such a romantic," she said, reaching up to give him a quick kiss. He caught her around the waist to hold her to him. She pulled away, laughing. "The neighbors will talk," she said.

"Let them." He pulled her back toward him.

"Mum is expecting us." She gasped as he lowered his head to kiss her neck, but he stopped just short of touching her skin and pulled away.

"You're right, of course. Best not be late." He took her hand again and started off toward the house. After a few paces Donna stopped short again.

"I haven't got a ring. Mum will never believe we're engaged without a ring."

"Oh. I should have planned something…" he rummaged through his pockets, then pulled out a box. "Good thing I did," he said, opening the box to reveal a simple diamond ring. He took it out of the box, slipping the box back into his pocket, and took her hand. Donna felt tears in her eyes as she looked at him, her hand trembling a little in his. He had planned this, after all.

He took a deep breath. "Donna Noble," he said, his voice breaking a little, "Will you marry me?" He slipped the ring on her finger.

"Oh, yes, please," she said, throwing her arms around him, no longer caring what the neighbors thought. He laughed and lifted her off the ground in a hug before setting her down and kissing her soundly. They broke apart, laughing. "Now we really will be late, if we don't hurry," she said, taking his hand and starting off for the house again. She held out her hand to admire the ring. "You did all right picking a ring," she said, squeezing his hand. "I love it."

They rang the bell at her mother's house, and Donna straightened his tie as they waited, smiling up at him. He pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, fingers brushing her cheek. They turned, startled, when Wilf opened the door and shouted "There's my girl!" and enveloped her in a hug. "Let me see you. Has he been taking good care of you?" he asked, looking at the Doctor.

"Gramps---" Donna said.

"I told you before, she takes care of me," the Doctor said, shaking his hand. "Good to see you again."

"Well, you both look happy, so you must both be looking out for each other." Wilf led them into the house. "Your mum's waiting for you," he said to Donna.

They found Sylvia in the kitchen. She turned to give Donna a hug. "There you are at last. You're late!"

"Sorry, Mum," Donna said, giving the Doctor a look over her mother's shoulder.

"Well, at least you're here now. It wouldn't kill you to call once in a while, you know."

"We've been...busy," Donna said.

"Too busy to call your mother, I'm sure," Sylvia said. "Well, sit down, you two, and have some tea."

They sat at the kitchen table as Sylvia busied herself with the kettle. Donna looked around the familiar kitchen. So many memories here, most of them good ones. She reached over to cover the Doctor's hand with her own, and caught the sparkle of the new ring on her finger. Her mother did too, as she brought the teapot to the table. She was speechless for a moment, looking from Donna to the Doctor, and they couldn't keep the grins from their faces. "Is that," she said, "what I think it is?"

The Doctor cleared his throat nervously. "Mrs. Noble, I love your daughter very much, and she has agreed to marry me, to my surprise and relief."

"But--" Sylvia sputtered. Donna braced herself for the tirade she thought would follow. Fortunately, Wilf appeared in the kitchen at that moment.

"What's all this?" he asked.

"Donna's getting married! To him!" Sylvia said, pointing at the Doctor accusingly.

"Well, that's wonderful, isn't it?" Wilf beamed at them both.

"Wonderful?" Sylvia asked, her voice rising.

"Yes, wonderful! Look how happy they are!"

"How many times has he put her - or all of us - in danger?"

"He's saved us all, more times than you know," Donna said, sharply. "You know that."

"But, Donna, he's an alien!" Sylvia's voice rose.

Donna looked at the Doctor and started to laugh. "Yes, yes he is," she said. "I'm not going to let you spoil this for me, so you can stop right now." He squeezed her hand, beaming at her.

Sylvia's mouth was already open with her next accusation, but she stopped herself and snapped it closed. She looked at Donna for a long moment, then said. "Will it--" she started. She cleared her throat. "Will it be a traditional ceremony?"

Donna was prepared for almost any response but that one. She looked at the Doctor again. Would it? "We haven't decided on the details," she said, finally.

Sylvia set the teapot down, and took a seat at the table. "Well, the Wednesday girls would never believe this, even if I could tell them, which I obviously can't."

The Doctor shook his head. "I would suggest leaving out the alien part. But you can tell them your daughter's getting married."

Sylvia brightened at that. "Oh, good. I'm so tired of hearing Mary go on about her daughter's wedding. Of course, if I could tell them about grandchildren..." she trailed off.

Donna gave the Doctor a look. "One thing at a time, Mum."

"Of course, wedding first, babies later," she said. "Plenty of time for that. Well, not plenty, but still..."

"Are you saying I'm old?" Donna protested.

"Lots of time for lots of babies," the Doctor said, putting his arm around Donna. She stared at him. Lots of babies? She hoped he was just trying to stay on her mother's good side. One or two babies would be enough, surely.

Sylvia looked pleased. "Well then. Let's talk about some possibilities for your dress."

Wilf interrupted. "Doctor, could I have a word? Outside."

The Doctor looked a little nervous. "Of course," he said, leaning over to give Donna a kiss on the cheek. She felt a rush of relief that they didn't have to hide their affection from her mother and grandfather any more.

"Don't leave me in here alone for too long," she said in a low voice. He just grinned at her and followed Wilf out of the room.

***
"Doctor, seeing as Donna's dad isn't here, I just felt I ought to, you know," Wilf trailed off.

"Give me the usual warning?" the Doctor suggested.

"Yes. I mean, it's tradition, isn't it? The thing is, I've never seen Donna happier than she is with you. I don't want anything to hurt her."

"Nor do I, Mr. Mott."

"Oh, please, call me Wilf. If you're going to be my grandson-in-law, you can't be calling me Mr. Mott, now can you?"

"Wilf it is, then." The Doctor ran his hand through his hair, distractedly. "I don't like to make promises I can't keep. I will promise to do everything I can to keep her safe. She means more to me than she'll ever know." He chuckled. "Don't tell her I said that."

"Don't worry, secret's safe with me," Wilf said, with a grin. "That's settled, then." He looked back at the house. "They've probably already started on the seating chart, if Sylvia's had her way."

"Scary," the Doctor said.

"She is that," Wilf agreed. He gestured back at the house. "I'm just going back in to see what's on the telly. Are you going back in?"

The Doctor shook his head. "I think I'll enjoy your little garden for a few more minutes," he said. He wanted a few moments to himself, just to think.

***

Donna found him in the garden. "You left me in there with her all alone. She's on the phone with everyone she knows now, telling the news." Seeing the thoughtful look on his face, she slipped her arm through his and leaned her head on his shoulder. "Sorry about all that in there."

"She's right, you know. I have put you in danger. Just being with me is dangerous."

"So's walking down the street," she said, trying to keep her tone light.

"It's not the same, and you know it." He pulled away from her.

She took his hand. "We've been together for awhile now, and I have noticed that trouble seems to find you. I'm not afraid. I want to be with you, forever. And I'll tell that to the whole universe if that's what it takes to convince you."

He pulled her into his arms. He's lost so much, she thought. "I don't want to lose you," he said, his voice muffled by her hair.

She squeezed him tighter. "We can survive anything, together," she said. "I love you."

"I love you," he said. "I don't say it enough." He ran his hands over her back in small circles over the silk of her blouse.

"Don't worry, I'll remind you," she said.