"Careful- you'll vaporise it on that setting," the Doctor said, reaching for Donna's sonic screwdriver.

"You said setting 16B!" she protested, moving it out of his reach.

"I said 16D. Why would I say 16B?" The Doctor responded, reaching for it again. At Donna's glare, he said, "Well, maybe I said 16B, but I didn't mean to."

"You could just make a list for me. I memorized the Dewey Decimal system in two days flat, I think I can manage your odd little category system."

"It's better if you use each setting - it'll help you remember."

"Well, stop distracting me then. And giving me the wrong setting number."

"Was I distracting you?" he asked, leaning over her shoulder again. She could feel his breath on her cheek, and she shivered.

"Yes," she said, "and you're doing it on purpose."

He kissed her cheek, then moved away. "Sorry," he said, grinning.

"You're not sorry, either," she said, turning and sliding her arms around his waist. "But I forgive you anyway."

He brushed her hair back from her shoulder and kissed her neck. "Why don't you go try on your wedding dress," he said.

"You're not tricking me into that, either. It's bad luck for you to see it before the wedding. I don't know why you're so keen on it anyway."

"I like you in a wedding dress," he said.

"Well, you'll see me in it soon enough. Anyway, it's at the house with Mum. I'm staying there the night before, so it's easier that way."

"Oh, I had forgotten that."

She smiled at his pout. "You'll be going out with Jack and Ianto anyway - you don't need me about. Nerys and the girls and I are going out for drinks."

He groaned. "Oh God, Jack. What does he have planned?"

"I'm sure it will be fine," she said, grinning.

***
Donna woke slowly, shielding her eyes from the light coming in the window. Her head pounded and her eyes felt gritty. Where was she? Not the TARDIS, it was too quiet. Ah, yes, her old bedroom. She turned over in bed, and caught sight of her wedding dress hanging in the wardrobe. She smiled, remembering today was the day, at last, then winced as her eyes reacted to the light. She, Nerys, Martha and the others had been out far too late last night, drinking and telling stories - girl talk. The door to her bedroom opened, and her mother said, far too loudly, "Nerys is here to take you to the hairdresser. For heaven's sake, get out of bed and get dressed! You'll be late!"

Donna groaned, but sat up, holding her head in her hand. "Have you got any paracetamol? My head is killing me."

"You'd think you'd have learned better by now," her mother said, but she went to find the medicine. She returned quickly with the medicine and a glass of water.

"Thanks, Mum," Donna said, swallowing the pills.

"Well, hurry up, then. We're on a tight schedule."

"Tell Nerys I'll be five minutes. I want to shower first."

Her mother sighed, but went out to tell her. Donna quickly showered and dressed, then went downstairs. Nerys sat at the foot of the stairs, holding her head.

"How much did we drink?" Donna asked.

"I'm never drinking again," Nerys said. "Don't suppose your Doctor has a cure for a hangover?"

"I doubt it," Donna said, then brightened at a thought. "I bet Jack does, though. I'll call him on the way to the salon. And let's stop for some coffee first."

In the car, Donna dialed Jack's number. He answered after a few rings. "Donna? Everything okay?"

"Everything's fine, except for a hangover. Don't suppose you know a cure?"

"Rough hen night?"

"Just girl talk and drinking. You?"

"Sounds like I should have been at your party. The Doctor was tucked away in the TARDIS by ten o'clock. He spent the whole night at the bar jumping every time the door opened, sure that a stripper was about to walk in. It was priceless."

Donna laughed, then rubbed her temple. "Poor dear. He was so worried about what you might do."

Jack chuckled. "It was more fun this way."

"Maybe I'll get him a stripper for the honeymoon, just to see his face."

Jack was silent for a moment, and Donna wandered whether the connection had been lost, but then he said, "Donna, will you marry me?"

"Sorry, already getting married today. Maybe next time." She laughed again. "Anyway, hangover cure?"

"I have just the thing. Are you at home?"

"We're on our way to the salon."

"I'll meet you there." Donna gave him the address and rang off.

"He says he has something," Donna told Nerys.

"Thank God."

***
Donna looked up as Jack walked into the salon. He grinned, holding up a bottle of pills and large bottles of water. "Vitamins and minerals, and lots of water. You'll be feeling like yourself again in no time."

"Thank you - you're a lifesaver," Donna said. Jack handed some vitamins and the other bottle of water to Nerys, then sat down in the empty chair next to Donna.

"All ready for the big day?" he asked, meeting her eyes in the mirror.

"I think so. Mum has everything on a schedule, so I'm just doing as I'm told for once. I feel a bit out of control, actually."

He smiled at her. "At the end of the day you'll be married. That's what counts."

"Try telling that to my mother. She thinks the flower arrangements are more important."

He laughed. "I'm planning to stay out of her way."

"Wish I could," Donna said, but she smiled. "She means well, I know. How's he doing this morning?"

"Nervous as a cat," he said. "He'll be fine though. Ianto is with him."

"Keeping an eye on him?"

"Something like that." He leaned forward to rest his arms on his knees and looked down at his hands. "He loves you very much, you know."

"Ianto?" Donna said, knowing that's not who he meant.

"You know who I mean. When he was without you, the only thing that kept him going was trying to find a way to save you, to have you back with him."

"He doesn't like to talk about that time," she said. She didn't like to think about that time, either. She had felt so lost, so alone.

"I don't think he can bear to lose you again."

"I can't bear to lose him, either. Even when I didn't remember him, I missed him." She held out her hand to him, and he took it, giving it a squeeze. "Thank you, Jack. For everything. He appreciates it, even if he doesn't say."

He stood and leaned down to kiss her cheek. "Well, I'd better get back so we don't fall behind the schedule too much. I don't want your mother to come after me."

Donna laughed. "See you at the church."

***
The Doctor paced around the room, stopping every so often to pull at his tie. "I feel weird in these shoes," he said. They felt stiff, confining.

Jack sat in one of the chairs. "You're keeping them on. I promised Donna."

"Well, it'll be too late by the time she sees me."

"She won't forgive you, though."

"Yes, of course, you're right." He pulled at his bow tie. "How much longer?"

"Five minutes less than the last time you asked. Weddings never start on time. She'll be here, don't worry."

He wasn't worried about that. She would be here, he knew that. He just wanted to get this started. The waiting was driving him mad. "Where did Ianto run off to?"

"There's a problem with the restaurant. I'm sure he'll have it taken care of and will be back in a few minutes. He's very good at that sort of thing." Jack stood up and walked over to the Doctor. He reached up to adjust the bow tie. "Stop pulling at it. It's all crooked."

The Doctor met his eyes. "Thank you, Jack. You saved her, kept her safe until I could figure out a way to get her memories back. Without you, this wouldn't be possible."

Jack smiled. "Don't forget that. Now, do you have your speech for the reception?"

The Doctor patted his pockets. "Yes, it's here somewhere. Do you have yours?"

"I don't need notes."

"You won't tell anything...embarrassing, will you?" the Doctor asked, trying not to sound like he was pleading with him.

"No, no, don't worry. It'll be fine, really."

"And try not to flirt with everyone, will you?"

"I don't flirt with everyone," Jack protested.

***
Donna stepped out of the car carefully, trying not to catch her veil or the train on anything. Nerys held up the end of her dress, and Martha had her bouquet. She looked up at the church, trying not to remember the last time she did this, with Lance. This was different - so much better. Then, she hadn't been sure of his feelings for her. She knew the Doctor loved her, and that made all the difference. Still, she felt butterflies in her stomach. Her mother emerged from the church, waving her hands excitedly.

"There you are! We're all ready for you, come in, come in!" she called. Martha and Nerys helped her navigate the path to the church, then arranged her dress and veil in the back of the church. The flower girls and ring bearers were already there, fidgeting and pulling at their clothes. She tried to remember the order of things from the rehearsal the day before, but her mind was blank, buzzing with excitement. She could hear the people inside rustling and whispering as they waited, and then finally the she heard the music and the procession started. The flower girls and ring bearers went first, then Martha. Nerys turned to her before she started through the doors. "Ready?" she asked.

Donna nodded. "Oh, yes." She waited the required beats before emerging through the doors and starting down the aisle. Her steps faltered at first at the sight of all of the people inside, until she looked down the aisle to see the Doctor standing there, beaming at her, with Jack and Ianto at his side. She blinked away tears as she walked toward him, looking only at him, until she finally was at his side and they turned toward the vicar.

***
The Doctor stood nervously at the altar, trying not to fidget. He looked out at the congregation, and was happy to see familiar faces. He could see Gwen and Rhys, and Tom Milligan. He saw Sally Sparrow and Larry Nightingale smiling back at him, as well as Elton. The Brigadier sat to one side with Sarah Jane and another man he didn't recognize, as well as two teenagers, a boy and a girl. He thought the boy must be Luke, and smiled at Sarah Jane. He caught Sylvia giving him a wary look, and winked at Wilf, who was beaming from the front row. He jumped when the music started, and turned toward the door at the back, watching anxiously for his first glimpse of Donna. When she finally emerged, he could see her step falter a bit until she met his gaze, and his breath caught. She was stunning in the dress, her hair cascading in curls from under the veil over her bare shoulders. He thought she must be the most beautiful person he had ever seen. He grinned at her, impossibly happy, and saw only her as she walked toward him. Finally she was there next to him, holding his hand, and they turned to the vicar.

He was barely aware of the beginning of the ceremony as he stood there next to her, hardly daring to believe this was actually happening. She leaned closer to whisper to him as the vicar spoke to the congregation. "I'm so happy," she said.

"Me too," he said. He tried to focus on the vicar's words.

"Marriage is a sign of unity and loyalty, which all should uphold and honour. It enriches society and strengthens community. No one should enter into it lightly or selfishly but reverently and responsibly in the sight of almighty God. Donna and the Doctor are now to enter this way of life. They will each give their consent to the other and make solemn vows, and in token of this they will each give and receive a ring. We pray with them that the Holy Spirit will guide and strengthen them, that they may fulfill God's purposes for the whole of their life together." The vicar looked at the congregation. "First, I am required to ask anyone present who knows a reason why these persons may not lawfully marry, to declare it now."

The Doctor held his breath, and was relieved when no voice called out. The vicar continued, "The vows you are about to take are to be made in the presence of God, who is judge of all and knows all the secrets of our hearts; therefore if either of you knows a reason why you may not lawfully marry, you must declare it now."

He and Donna looked at each other, both shaking their heads. "No," the Doctor said, "no reason at all."

The vicar turned to the Doctor. "Doctor, will you take Donna to be your wife? Will you love her, comfort her, honour and protect her, and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?"

The Doctor faced Donna, holding both of her hands in his. He could feel her trembling slightly. "I will," he said.

The vicar turned to Donna. "Donna, will you take the Doctor to be your husband? Will you love him, comfort him, honour and protect him,
and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?"

The Doctor could see tears sparkling in her eyes, but her voice was strong as she said, "I will."

The vicar turned to the congregation again. " Will you, the families and friends of Donna and the Doctor, support and uphold them in their marriage
now and in the years to come?"

The congregation responded with a loud, "We will." He thought Wilf's voice was the loudest of them all.

They knelt together as the vicar said the prayer, then sat through the readings and the sermon. The Doctor tried to pay attention, but the next thing he was really aware of was standing before the vicar again, ready to exchange their vows. He was glad now they had decided to stay with the traditional vows, as he was sure he would be unable to remember anything they had written on their own. He stood, and turned to Donna to take her right hand in his, as the vicar said, "I now invite you to join hands and make your vows, in the presence of God and his people."

The Doctor repeated the words after the vicar. "I, Doctor John Smith, take thee, Donna Noble, to be my wife, to have and to hold
from this day forward; for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part. In the presence of everyone I make this vow." He faltered a little at the beginning, but was relieved his voice was steadier at the end.

Donna took his right hand in hers and repeated after the vicar. "I, Donna Noble, take thee, Doctor John Smith, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward; for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part. In the presence of everyone I make this vow." Her voice shook at the beginning, but he held her gaze and her voice strengthened by the end.

The vicar said a short prayer over the rings, then the Doctor took Donna's ring and slipped it onto her finger, holding it there as he said, "Donna, 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." He saw the Seal of Rassilon imprinted on the gold band glitter in the light. He squeezed her hand before letting it go, so she could repeat the same ritual with his ring. Her hands were warm on his.

The vicar said, "In the presence of God, and before this congregation, Donna and the Doctor 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." He joined Donna's right hand with the Doctor's, and said, "Those whom God has joined together let no one put asunder."

The Doctor and Donna smiled giddily at each other through the final prayers and blessings, oblivious to the rest of the ceremony. Finally, they were sent off, arm in arm down the aisle, to smile back at all of those who had assembled to witness their marriage. Donna leaned in to whisper in his ear, "We did it!"

"Oh, yes!" the Doctor agreed, pulling her closer as they emerged into the sunlight.