He knocked on the door, swaying back and forth on the balls of his feet. He glanced back behind him at the Ponds and his wife and then looked back at the blue door.
The door swung open to reveal Martha, "Come in, took you long enough." She answered as the group of four filed into the already occupied living room. "I made dinner," Martha informed them as she led them to the table.
They all sat down with Jack, Mickey, and Martha. "You coming? Rose, John?" Amy asked as Rose stood up from the couch but John grabbed her wrist.
"What?" She asked turning around to look at him.
"This was the picture! Mickey quickly, do you have a camera?" The man nodded and walked into the hallway disappearing for a minute and then reappearing with a camera.
He handed the camera to John and then went back and sat down at the table behind where they were sitting. John turned the camera around, "smile Rose," he said as he pressed the button. She didn't smile but kissed him on the cheek, something he knew was going to happen but it made his smile even more. "Thank you," he said squeezing her hand as the stood up and walked over to the table.
"Alright let's get this started." Martha said reaching for the roast and placing a piece on her plate. Everyone else followed suit, digging into the meal Martha and Mickey had put hours into making.
She sat and watched everyone eat, putting food on her own plate. It reminded her of the dinner they had at their wedding reception, of the family that had surrounded her then, compared to the one surrounding her now.
"Alright, alright, I suppose it's time for the father of the bride to give a toast." Pete said standing up looking out at the guests and then down at Rose. "I've known many people in my life. Some of them incredible, but none of them compare really, to this girl sitting next to me, wearing white."
He looked down at Rose who was smiling brightly at him. "She's the most amazing person that I've ever met, well maybe after her mum." He looked down at Jackie and then back at the crowd. "I used to think that she was too good for anyone. That is until I met John. You see John is the best man I've ever known. Better than me. So if I had to have anyone marry my daughter, I'm glad it's him. They deserve each other, and they've earned this happiness, and I wish them the best of luck. Cheers!"
He sat back down and looked over at Rose who was still smiling brightly. She mouthed a thank you at him before Jackie stood up.
"Hello," She said looking out at the large group, "You know these two kids here, I love them so much. I love my daughter more than anything. She's shown me so much and she's taught me more than anyone else."
She leaned down and kissed Rose on the head and then stood back up. "And this man, I remember the first time I met him, he was different back then and I'm not sure that I ever thought that we'd all end up here. I'm glad we did though.
"He's a fantastic man, someone that is good enough for my daughter. He's my son now, but I've loved him like one for so much longer." She lifted up her glass, "To the brilliant couple."
"Rose, aren't you going to eat?" John asked shaking her from her day dream.
"Uh, yeah sorry," she took a small spoonful of potatoes and placed it in her mouth. She looked down the table, at all of the faces around her.
They were her family now and hopefully they would stick around for her, because she needed them, even if they didn't need her.
She looked around the table studying everyone as she slowly ate her meal. Martha and Mickey sat opposite each other as heads of the table. Martha was talking to Amy about a recipe for custard while Mickey laughed at one of Jacks many jokes. River sat next to the Doctor, who was talking to her about how he really needed to buy some more ties, because fifty didn't feel like enough.
It was strange; everything they were talking about was so normal, and so human. If anyone walked in the door right now and listened to what they were saying they wouldn't think that they were a group of impossible time travelers.
Rose looked over at John, who was still watching her cautiously, making sure that she was okay. She smiled at him and he smiled back. That was something she loved about John, he always made sure that she was alright, that she was okay.
She would miss this, the feeling of family that had been lacking from her life. She felt like she belonged and that the people around her truly cared about her well being.
"Rose will you hand me the bread?" The Doctor, who was sitting next to her, asked.
"Yeah," she handed him the rolls and wondered if this was the last time she would see him, if he would ever come back to see her, if she was worth it to him.
"Thank you."
"Anytime."