A/N We start to get some timey-wimey answers as a look back from the Doctor's POV is shown. He still has a few more things left to explain, which he will do so with Rose in the chapter that follows.

On a personal note, starting this coming week my college schedule is going to take over my life for the duration of the next year, and while I feel extremely blessed for the opportunity I've been given and excited for the future, it's also going to slow my writing a bit. But I promise that this story WILL continue to be updated and will be completed. I already have each remaining chapter roughly drafted, so it's just a matter of adding a bit more detail and tweaking a chapter at a time. My plan is to make every effort to update once a week on the weekends, but if I'm able to update sooner then I certainly will.

I really hate to go a week between chapters, and it's going to take quite a bit more effort for me to make these updates happen, but if you'll keep reading then I'll keep writing! And as a teaser, I think you're going to like how it all ends. ;) Love you guys! My Who friends are the BEST!

Chapter 20

Before either one had a chance to blink, Rose had been ushered away by attending maids into a small side room, leaving the Doctor standing alone in the center of the marriage chamber. He rubbed uneasily at the back of his neck while staring blankly in the direction she had gone. Though he was unarguably a being with superior intellect, it didn't take a genius to know Rose was now being prepared for her wedding night. If earlier the Doctor had been feeling out of his depth with all this, he was now very close to drowning.

They needed to talk. Obviously.

Yet despite getting himself smack in the middle of a situation the likes of which he would have normally run from as fast as his nimble legs would carry him, the thought that it had come so close to being another man who would have been in this chamber as Rose was prepared for her wedding night reminded him of one of the reasons he had been willing to go this far, and why he would do it again if he had to.

As Rose was being attended to in the side chamber, the Doctor shucked the heavy royal tunic he had worn and draped the crimson fabric across the back of a sumptuous chaise lounge in the sitting area, hoping that feeling a little less confined by the weighted garb would make it easier to breathe. It didn't. His hearts were galloping in his chest as he considered just what Rose's reaction to all this might now be. When they were finally able to speak, he still questioned whether she would come to hate him for it. Or as a possibly even more frightening thought, would she feel something just the opposite? He slowly scrubbed both hands down his face. As much as they needed to talk, he didn't feel ready for this just yet. He realized, though, that he probably never would be.

He walked over toward the chamber's center window and stared out into the night, but his focus was not on the darkened landscape beyond. His thoughts were on this entire situation, and how he would explain to Rose just how it had come to this. His mind trailed back to the events of the night before as he gazed blankly into the dark.

-:-:-:-

"Doctor, no matter what happens, this doesn't have to be the...the end for us. Never. Even if I... You would still come back here, yeah? And we could still see each other," Rose had said, a note of desperation in her voice. "Even afterwards, you could...still come back," she'd finished softly.

The Doctor slowly turned around to face her then, his eyes already holding the answer. The same answer he had given to Sarah Jane once when she said he simply could have come back, but no one ever seemed to understand. He could never come back. He never did. It was too painful. What he was feeling in this moment of facing loss just proved it. "That's not who I am, Rose. That's not what I do."

Rose looked as if she had been physically struck by his words. "Of course not. You never look back, do you? You always run and never stop." Her voice rose higher even as it shook. "You run away, just like you're running now! Because you won't–"

The last of her words met with the silence of an empty room as the Doctor stormed from the chamber. Without looking back.

Living up to Rose's assessment of him, the Doctor ran. Or at least he tried to. He tried to turn his back on all this and lock it away somewhere deep enough that he couldn't feel it; where it wouldn't hurt. But was there anywhere that deep? There was only so much he could bury before there was no room left at all.

But if Rose had made up her mind in this, if she had really made the decision to stay here and leave her life with him behind, then what could he do but walk away? It wasn't the first time a companion had made the decision to leave him. And the Doctor had told himself that if Rose ever chose to leave him one day, he would gather every ounce of strength within him to simply let her go and move on.

The problem with that plan was facing the reality of putting it in action. But it wasn't just the pain of letting her go and walking away that was eating him from the inside out. His mind kept screaming at him that this just wasn't right. Not by a long shot. Rose wouldn't just do this. She wouldn't just change her mind about something like this so suddenly. He knew her too well for that. Or at least he thought he did. But questions without answers were muddling his thoughts and it was difficult to even think this through rationally.

That's what he had to do, though. He had to stop and breathe and give this rational thought, because somewhere in the midst of all this was an answer.

There had to be something he could do in this situation.

The Doctor paced the halls of the corridor like a restless animal, his mind going into overdrive. And then a possible answer came to him. If this union between Rose and the King was being sought in the first place because it was believed a new royal line which would be accepted by both races could be created from such a union, wouldn't the whole thing be pointless if that wasn't even possible?

The Doctor quickly pulled out the sonic screwdriver as he continued down one of the castle's corridors. Just a ways up ahead was an entryway to a large open room. He moved closer and passed by the steam-filled chamber where servants were milling about, tending to what appeared to be laundry duties. The servants were of both races. He surreptitiously ran a scan with the sonic as he passed by. The Doctor stood off to the side in the corridor and analyzed the results after scanning a Krendorian male, referencing the findings with human genetics.

His shoulders sagged in defeat as he assessed the results. It appeared humans and Krendorians would very possibly be genetically compatible. He usually marveled at the ability of humans to adapt and thrive and reproduce throughout the universe. Now he wanted to curse that fact.

The Doctor wasn't giving up so easily, though. He remained unnoticed in the shadows as he ran some additional scans and continued to analyze, and that's when another revelation began to become clear. Humans and Krendorians appeared to be compatible, but Jezrians and Krendorians did not. Yet what he found was that the dissimilarities between the two races were very minute in terms of genetic compatibility. It was highly possible that with some slight genetic alterations and reintroduction of recombinant DNA, reproduction between the two races would be a definite possibility. This was not a far off stretch at all. This was attainable.

He had never even thought to see if this was possible before. And frankly, it hadn't been his issue. It was now.

They wouldn't need Rose. In fact, this solution would be more fitting than any other ever could be – a solution which Rose herself had first suggested early on in their stay here when learning of the discord between the two races, before being told of the incompatibility between the two. His brilliant Rose had already given him the answer to this.

The Doctor felt the first spark of hope, and that spark was all that was needed to light the fire. There wasn't much time, and he needed to get to the TARDIS to work this out further.

With purpose in his stride, the Doctor continued on his way at a brisk pace when something slowed his steps. Something else was niggling at him, something else that wasn't quite right. It was an uneasy feeling deep in his gut that he had hardly even noticed during all this because his stomach was already coiled in knots. This was something just a little more, though. Something was just a little off, but barely noticeable amid the steely grip of unease that had clutched him even the day before, ever since first learning of Zerin's proposal to Rose. This feeling within was different, though, and just enough for him to notice.

The Doctor stopped and focused all of his concentration inward. His senses were picking up on his body's reaction as his system mounted a response to something foreign in just a high enough degree that he became aware as dendritic cells in his hepatic system were busy capturing foreign antigens and in turn activating T cells at a rapid rate.

The toxin he was still unaware of ingesting might have lingered surreptitiously in his system for forty-eight hours before causing a harmful effect, but his body was already dealing with the foreign substance, and in this case neutralizing it.

The Doctor again took the sonic screwdriver in hand and this time performed a quick scan of himself to pinpoint the reason for the reaction he sensed in his system. He slowly lowered the sonic after reading the unmistakable results.

Someone had tried to poison him.

The missing pieces were quickly beginning to fall into place. They were using him to get to Rose. He didn't know what exactly she might have been told regarding this, but this so clearly explained the look in her eyes when she told him she had been 'persuaded.'

He was not immune to any and all poison, but in this case his physiology was mounting a successful response of overcoming and neutralizing it. If Rose had been told of the poison, she would have no way of knowing this, however. The fire within him blazed hotter. She was doing this for him. Realizing what Rose was willing to do for him nearly overwhelmed him and made the Doctor question, and not for the first time, just what he had done to deserve her devotion. This also drove his frantic pace to continue carrying out what needed to be done to solve all of this and bring an end to their fixation on Rose.

"Never trick a Time Lord," he murmured darkly. "And never trap a Wolf."

The Doctor broke into a sprint as he ran through the corridors and descended series of spiraling stairs like a madman as he headed for the outside of the castle with the TARDIS as his goal.

He then came to a dead stop as he neared a door leading outside. Just ahead was Zerin, himself heading out. The Doctor slowed his steps and hung back to see if he remained alone, then followed out the door behind him a moment later.

The King stood in the solitude of the outer courtyard, gazing blankly out into the night. The Doctor silently approached him from behind.

"So you've persuaded Rose to marry you."

Zerin quickly turned in the direction of the voice to see the Doctor standing behind him, hands in his pockets. He looked non-threatening. Zerin knew enough of a man poised for battle not to be fooled. "She has agreed, yes," he answered guardedly.

"And why is that?" the Doctor asked, his stance rigid as steel.

Zerin paused, carefully weighing his words. "Because she has come to see that this is what is best for everyone."

The Doctor moved a step closer. "Really? And do you believe that?"

"I believe that for Zobulan this is–"

"No," the Doctor cut in sharply, "I don't want to hear about Zobulan. I want to hear about Rose. Do you believe this is what is best for her?" He took two more steps nearer, closing in on the other man, his tone now as intense as his searing eyes. "Do you love her? Do you cherish her above all else in the universe? Does the sun rise in her eyes and all of Time stand still when those eyes look into yours? And would you trust those very eyes to be your own if you could no longer see?" His voice cracked but he swallowed forcefully and fought on. "Do you know that no matter how long you live, your dying thought will inevitably be of her? And if she were standing before you dying, burning from within just to save you, would you be willing to do the same and lay down your own life for hers?" The Doctor paused, fire and ice flashing in his eyes. "Because if your answer is no to any one of those things, then you do not deserve to even consider this marriage. Zobulan can fight its own battles. This is not her war."

Zerin didn't really have an adequate answer for any of that. He didn't look the Doctor in the eyes as he spoke. "I will always treat her well. Of that you have my word."

The Doctor laughed icily. "That is not even close to being good enough. Now let's try this again. I want you to tell me exactly why Rose has suddenly agreed to this, because for some reason she is not able to give me an adequate reason, and I think you know why. And trust me, I am not a man you want to lie to. I can either by your greatest ally or your worst nightmare. Your choice."

Zerin looked at him steadily, still believing this had to be carried out for the sake of everyone, the Doctor now included. "Doctor, this is what is best for everyone, including you. I'm asking that you trust me."

"Considering you won't answer my question, we have no basis for trust," the Doctor shot back. "Now, I'm going to ask you just one more time why Rose has suddenly been persuaded to marry you. Because I think you know exactly why, but I'm giving you the chance to come forward with it so that I can know just what sort of a man you are." Zerin tensed but remained silent. The Doctor weighed his options and took a different approach, knowing he had to be the one to gain the trust of the King. "Zerin, I have been around for a very, very long time. I have known Kings and Rulers and devils and ordinary people who most would pass by without realizing their potential. In my time I have come to learn a great deal about all people. I can see their very nature in their eyes. You're a good man at heart. I can see it. You want what is best for your people. But this is not the way to get it."

Zerin could no longer keep this up. He had already been a hair's breadth from storming back to Eilam and doing exactly what Rose had suggested be done to him. He could not risk certain war breaking out over this, but neither could he justify jeopardizing the life of an innocent man. He closed his eyes and drew a breath. "Eilam, Elder and Advisor to the kingdom, threatened that harm would come to you if Rose did not agree to this wedding. I have learned he even went so far as to..." Zerin stopped, thinking of the best way to word such a grave revelation.

"He poisoned me," the Doctor stated evenly.

Zerin stared back at him, wondering how it was possible that he knew; wondering just what else there was about this man he didn't know. He answered after a beat. "Yes. But he intends to provide the antidote before it takes effect so long as Rose goes through with the wedding tomorrow."

"Well, no need for his generous offer," the Doctor replied sardonically. "Eilam overlooked just who he was dealing with, and his potion of persuasion was of no effect on me."

Zerin felt immediate relief, but his concerns were not erased. "This wedding must still take place, however," he said emphatically. "Word is rapidly spreading throughout the ruling city, and to turn back from this now in the midst of such expectation would cause a certain revolt and ultimately war. You do not know the tenuous nature of the current stability. I have lived its demise in the past. I know."

The Doctor had feared this could be the case if the wedding did not proceed, and if he had to he would deal with that, too. His mind was already ticking off options, of which he kept coming back to just one. But first things first. He needed to gain Zerin's trust and convince him there was another solution than a marriage to Rose. "What if I told you I had a true solution to the discord between the two races of Zobulan and their fight over which side will rule? A solution where both races would one day be represented on the throne. A solution that involves not Rose, but the woman who I think you really do love. Shadarra."

Zerin's eyes focused sharply. "I don't know what you are suggesting or what you are planning, but Shadarra is not involved in any of this."

"No, she isn't" the Doctor calmly agreed. "But she could be in a very monumental way. I believe I have a solution to this that you never could have imagined possible, and one that would allow you to be united with her."

Zerin shook his head in obvious skepticism. "What solution could there possibly be which would allow such a thing?"

"As I said, I could be your greatest ally. And you have no idea the capabilities I possess." The Doctor then extended the same offer he had to countless others for centuries, followed by the same warning. "Zerin, let me help you. Either that or I will stop you." Their eyes locked, and the Doctor continued. "Be the King that you were meant to be. I'm not just asking you to trust me; I'm asking you to trust yourself. Because you know that what is being done here is not right."

Zerin was already fighting a battle within his own heart. He had wanted what was best for Zobulan above all else, his quest in life to be the kind of King his grandfather was not. One of the things his grandfather had not done was listen to Eilam's council. But what was being done with Rose and what had been done to the Doctor went against his own moral fiber. If there was even a chance of there being a better way in all this, then he could not pass that by.

"What are you suggesting?" he finally asked.

"Not here," the Doctor said quickly. "I'm going to go to my ship and begin making necessary preparations. Find Shadarra and bring her with you to meet me there. Alright?"

After a long, tense pause, the King consented.

-:-:-:-

Once reaching the TARDIS, the Doctor had worked at a feverish pace to make this possible solution a reality. The ship was nearly ready for regular travel again, and though not all of the expansive rooms had returned to their previous state, some of the more integral ones had been restored, such as the infirmary, which gave him access to what would be needed for this.

However, in order to successfully carry this out, the Doctor knew he would also need the traveling capabilities of the TARDIS, if only in a limited capacity. Though the ship was steadily gaining strength, limited traveling capacity was all she had at the present moment. Would this be enough? Sensing his anxious state, the ship brushed his mind reassuringly. He had been here for the TARDIS without fail when she needed him most, and now she would do the same for him. Together they could do this. The Doctor felt assured he could pull this off. He must. Failure was not an option here.

When Zerin and Shadarra arrived secretly in the night and were ushered in, all that was needed was a sample of their DNA, and the gene-targeted recombinant DNA inoculation the Doctor was formulating would be complete. It was not a solution which would be successful across the board for any and all species, but in this case for two that were already on the cusp of genetic compatibility, this would work.

This astonishing news, along with simply seeing the inside of the TARDIS for the first time, was almost too much to take in for the two now learning such things. Yet neither Zerin nor Shadarra were in any way opposed to this idea if it truly was attainable.

After the Doctor detailed what was capable of being achieved in terms of genetic compatibility, Zerin stood along with Shadarra in the infirmary, trying to somehow absorb it all. "I...I never imagined that something like this could...ever be possible."

"Nor I," Shadarra replied, near breathless with emotion. "Not ever. It is almost incomprehensible."

Zerin's rising hope began to falter, however, still seeing problems standing in the way, as there always seemed to be when it came to his love for this woman. "But even if it is possible for Shadarra and I to have a union that could result in a joining of the Jezrian and Krendorian bloodlines, I know for a fact that there are those who would never simply take your word and believe it was possible unless it truly happened. Eilam, for one. Postponing the appointed marriage with Rose on these terms of a mere possibility would never be accepted. And as I warned, word of the impending marriage has already gone out throughout the realm. The people are anticipating this coming day as none other. To draw back now would cause massive unrest. And unrest on such a scale is a highly dangerous thing with the already tenuous peace."

The Doctor's assurance about this, however, didn't falter. "All the two of you need is time. Time to...," he cleared his throat, "to make this possibility a reality. And I am the one person who can give you that."

"What do you mean?" Shadarra questioned.

"Is there somewhere the two of you can reside for a period of time where you would be out of the way? Secluded from others?" the Doctor asked before explaining further.

Zerin gave it thought. "There is my estate in the Northern region which is in a secluded location. It was my father's. I rarely have the opportunity to lodge there. The rest of the time it remains unoccupied."

The Doctor's face lit up. "Then that's where I'll take you," he stated, as if it made all of this simple.

Neither Zerin nor Shadarra were following how this served as a solution. "But how would us being in isolation solve the issue of time?" the King queried. "I cannot simply disappear for any length of time without the realm being thrown into unrest and chaos – especially in light of what is expected tomorrow."

"It's simple, actually," the Doctor began to explain. "Well, simple for me, anyway. First off, you and Shadarra can be married as soon as possible. Now, is there anyone you know who can perform this? Someone who you can trust?"

"Y-yes," Zerin answered, trying to calm his racing heart at the thought that this could actually happen for him and the woman he loved. He once never would have believed it, but neither would he have believed half the things he had seen just since stepping in this ship which was bigger on the inside. "Ezrim, the overseer of the Northern realm when I am not in the region is someone I have known most of my life – someone who I trust with my life. That is why I placed him in such a position. I know he is one who could be trusted with this."

It was settled that the King's trusted overseer could privately marry Zerin and Shadarra. The Doctor then explained, quite extraordinarily, how he could solve the seemingly impossible issue of time. The TARDIS had recovered enough strength to travel some distances. Therefore he could take the two of them to the Northern region where they could begin their life together in solitude. The TARDIS should then be able to manage travel a few months into the future to see if nature had taken its course and to know for certain whether the possibility of a new Jezrian-Krendorian lineage was capable of becoming a reality.

If not, the Doctor would have to come up with a plan B in all this, but he would cross that bridge if and when it came to it. But if all of this was successful, after the TARDIS had recuperated from the first trip the Doctor could then journey even further ahead if the two actually had been capable of having a child together, pick them up, and bring them back to the present time.

Eilam, the Ruling Council, and the people of Zobulan could then be presented with the reality of this union, no room left for doubts. The Doctor also had to explain, however, that the TARDIS was still in recuperation and he could not travel far enough ahead in time to pick them up and bring them back again until approximately a day had passed since this first traveling they were about to do. The TARDIS would have to regain strength between trips. The total necessary traveling involved could be done over the course of two days, though.

For the Doctor it was all reasonably simple. For certain others it was decidedly mind-blowing.

After explaining all this, which sounded like an outrageous fantasy at best, Zerin and Shadarra both stood gaping at this possible madman before them. "I...I am aware of the vast capabilities you possess and the means to travel great distances to other worlds," Zerin began slowly, "But what sort of man is capable of causing...time itself to do his bidding?"

"A Time Lord," the Doctor answered solemnly. "That's who I am."

It was the Doctor's assurance that somehow gave Zerin belief, even if it sounded insane. He also began to believe in himself. Zerin reached a final decision. "I trust you, Doctor. And I also trust myself in this decision to do so. I had second-guessed my own judgment due to my lack of experience as King, and I allowed Eilam to have his way because I feared going against the Elder's 'wisdom' and having my reign fall to ruin as my grandfather's had. Not again. I am taking charge of my rule and going forward with what I believe is right." He paused then. "There is still one very crucial question left to ask in all this, however."

Zerin turned to Shadarra, his eyes softening as he took both her hands in his and drew in a slightly unsteady breath. He had been nervous once before when asking a woman this, but at the time he had been burdened by what he felt was his duty to destiny. He was now seeing a very different destiny, and what this meant to him on a personal scale nearly overwhelmed him with emotion. Their eyes locked as he began speaking the words he once never dared. "My beloved Shadarra. I did not have the courage to be the man I should have been for you – to be honest within my own heart and honest with you. I never told you of my deepest feelings. Even if you knew, that was not enough. I should have said these things. And then it was the Doctor who described to me what love should be like, what I should feel for Rose if I was ever going to consider a marriage to her."

The Doctor swallowed hard and turned away, trying to keep any of his own feelings in this subdued as Zerin continued opening himself and speaking words to a woman in a way the Doctor never could, despite being the one who had helped give this other man the courage.

"And what he described of love is exactly what I feel for you. I love you with all that I am. And if you will have me and if you will allow it, I will spend the rest of my life making up for the time we lost. I want you as my wife, forever at my side. And even if we are not able to create a joint lineage between us, this changes nothing for me. You are enough for me, even if our union could not bring eternal peace to this realm. You will bring eternal peace to my heart, and that is more than I could ever dare to hope for. Whatever does or does not come from this point forward, we will face it together." He drew another breath, feeling there were not enough adequate words to say all that needed to be said, but he kept trying. "If you would consent to by my wife, I will love you and cherish you all of my days. And if only you would consider this, then I...I–"

Shadarra pulled one hand free from his and brought her fingers to cover his lips. "I do believe," she began with a watery yet joyous smile, "that you are talking entirely too much. All you ever had to do was ask." She moved her hand to the back of his head and lifted up on her toes as she brought her lips to his in a passionate and overdue kiss.

The Doctor was moving to slip out of the room and give them a moment of privacy when Shadarra spoke up, still in Zerin's loving embrace as she turned in his arms and he settled his hands on her shoulders. "But what about Rose, Doctor?"

"Yes," Zerin agreed, this one last issue which had sparked it all still not resolved. "You said that after allowing us this start at a new life, you could then return us to the ruling city after just a matter of days had passed here. But the wedding planned for Rose is set for tomorrow."

This was the one thing the Doctor didn't have an easy solution for. At least not one that would sustain peace on Zobulan until Zerin and Shadarra could be returned.

He knew what had to be done. The Doctor tried to sound neutral and unfazed as he spoke the part of the plan that rattled him more than anything else in this yet had. "The wedding can still go forward tomorrow as scheduled so that Eilam doesn't try anything further in threatening Rose, and so that an uprising among the people doesn't ensue in the meantime." The Doctor swallowed thickly. "But I'll stand in and take your place."

Zerin began to question this doubtfully. He had been asked to believe many things on this night, but how could the Doctor possibly take his place? "I don't understand. If I am not the one there, then..."

"They'll think it's you," the Doctor assured him.

"But...how is that even possible?" Shadarra queried. "Or is that a question which does not even need to be asked of a man who can travel through space and time?"

The Doctor smiled wryly. "Exactly. Due to the knowledge and technology I have, I'm capable of utilizing a device that will allow me to take the appearance of the King. Or at least that's the appearance people will perceive me as having once perception has been altered. Well, for all but one," he amended, thinking of a way to allow Rose to know it was him when the time came. "Eilam and the people will be temporarily satisfied and stability maintained, and Rose will not be bound to a marriage that would cause her to remain here. After the ceremony when I'm able to speak with her alone, I can explain all this to her."

The Doctor made it sound as if this was the easy, non-consequential part of the plan. The fact of the matter was, this was the part that scared him to death.

-:-:-:-

A short while later, the Doctor had stood at the open doors of the TARDIS overlooking the King's private Northern estate nestled serenely in the lush golden mountainside of the secluded region. Zerin stood with Shadarra, preparing to begin their new life. Shadarra had secretly slipped back into the castle before departing to retrieve some necessary belongings and had quietly gone to Nahlia and asked her to accompany them, knowing she could be trusted and would be of great help to them during this time. She also, as it happened, was an experienced midwife, should the need arise. The Doctor bid the three farewell, making a promise only a Time Lord could make. He was going to give them one year before returning them to the ruling city, but he knew for him he would be returning them in just a matter of days. He now had the final part of this plan to carry out.

It occurred to him that he could simply sweep onto the scene in the TARDIS and whisk Rose away from the wedding before it took place. But he could not return Zerin and Shadarra until the TARDIS had time between travels to recuperate. It was going to take all of the ship's current strength to travel her maximum right now of a few months ahead to let him know how Zerin and Shadarra were progressing in their new life. Just a bit more time would be needed after that for the TARDIS to be able to travel the full year ahead and then back, and in the meantime an uprising could break out among the people if he stole Rose away from the impending wedding. He and Rose stepped in to help individuals and civilizations whenever they could, not cause wars. Yet he would find a way to give Rose a choice in this during the wedding – a choice to run from all this if that's what she wanted. But he was pretty certain he knew Rose well enough to know that she would choose to go through with this under the weighted circumstances.

If so, he told himself the ceremony he would soon attend with Rose was of no lasting consequence. They would play their parts, and once it was over in a matter of days, resume their usual lives after having played an important role in assisting to bring harmony to two races once divided. For this do-gooding duo, this was simply business as usual.

So why, with each approaching second and each beat of his hearts, did this feel like anything but...?

-:-:-:-

Back in the present moment within the marriage chamber of the castle, the Doctor continued reflecting on these things which had brought him to where he was now. In a tense state of anxiety, all he could do at the moment was wonder just how things would stand between him and Rose from here now that they had just come through a wedding ceremony together. Something told him (because he was a genius, after all) that this sort of changed a few things. He swallowed down hard and rubbed his eyes with his hands. As plans go, this definitely made the list of one of his most dangerous.

Meanwhile, within the changing room, the maids who had been attending Rose soon finished their duties and left the new bride one by one with a bow. Rose heard the large wooden doors to the bedchamber open, and then close heavily behind them as everyone left the room. Everyone but two.

Rose stood frozen. Now what? She drew a resolved breath. Uncertainty and awkwardness of this unplanned wedding and wedding night aside, there was so much that needed to be said – so many questions she now had for the Doctor and finally had the chance to begin asking now that they were alone.

Rose glanced down at her rather accentuated cleavage as she smoothed her hands down the corset-style torso of the silk and lace gown, then peered around for a dressing gown to slip on. Coming up empty, she blew out a puff of air and turned. Hoping the blush she knew had to be there wasn't too obvious as she walked out adorned in the elegant yet undeniably provocative nightgown intended for a wedding night, Rose stepped back out into the bedchamber.

At first glance she didn't see the Doctor anywhere, and she thought that maybe he had fled from all this after all. But then she spotted him over on the far side of the room in the sitting lounge, gazing out the window and appearing deep in thought.

It was time to finally get some answers, she decided. About a lot of things. Answers to questions that had stood unasked and unanswered between them long before this day had come.