Rose was still waiting, he knew it, but he was struggling for words. He could say no, he could easily do that, but that wasn't what he wanted to do. This was Rose, and this was it. It was time to show her what he felt towards her.

They didn't propose like humans did here, but that wasn't going to stop him. He searched his pockets while she watched him, looking for something he had put in there a long time ago. It wasn't a wedding ring, but it was a ring, and it had been bought for her. That was before he chickened out, and stored it in his pocket.

Instead of answers Abe he palmed the little stone, and slid off his chair. He took Rose's left hand into his, and told his hearts to calm. They didn't listen, probably didn't care, but he pushed on.

"Rose Tyler, will you marry me?" he said.

It wasn't elegant, but he didn't seem to have knack for that in this body. But he was good at being straightforward, and that was something, he supposed.

She could still say no. She might still say no, but he had done it. He had asked, and he felt good about it.

"Yes," she said, her voice melting over him, leaving him feeling warm from head to toe.

There was clapping from the family, understanding the implication, even if not the tradition. They finished breakfast, and Abera ushered Rose off to help her get ready.

The Doctor didn't change, but Rose would somehow think that was fitting. He never changed, and he knew it drove her batty.

But she also liked it about him, and that was why he was doing it. He waited at the bottom of the stairs, thinking about this day.

He had never imagined when he had slipped his hand into hers and said 'run' that this day was coming. He could have looked at time lines, but they were always changing, and he felt like that was peeking ahead.

If he had known this was coming, he might not have known he was going to be ready for it, and tried to stop it. She took the first step down the stairs, and he felt like his hearts stopped completely.

She was wearing a light blue dress, the typical wedding dress for the planet, and it went down to her knees.

It suited her skin tone, and he felt tears prick in his eyes. His Rose, soon to be his wife, and there she was.

On her feet were slippers, the same shade of blue, and it the combination made her seem so young and fragile. But he knew better, he had held an adult in his arms, and he knew that she was the perfect combination of both.

She was innocent enough to make him want to shield her, but adult enough for him to know she wasn't going to break if he couldn't. She would keep him trying, trying to impress her, trying to be someone worthy, and she would be able to count on him.

She had been his everything for so long now, and he was going to spend however long they had together showing her that fact.

Then she was at the bottom stair, and he rushed to her, pulling her up against him, and just holding her. Her feet weren't on the ground, and he was probably squeezing too tight, but he couldn't help it. He was afraid if he let go, if he opened his tightly closed eyes, she would slip away.

If he woke up and this had all been a dream, he thought it might kill him. But then her breath touched his neck, and her gentle words brought him back.

This was real. This wasn't some cruel dream he was about to wake up from, and he had his Rose forever.

They walked hand and hand, led by the family.

There were two other couples before them, completing the simple but lovely, ceremony.

They were young couples, all handsome and beautiful, and he worried for a moment that he was stealing an opportunity from Rose. Did she want that somewhere deep inside her, that handsome man that was her age?

Did she want someone who wasn't broken, and who wouldn't yell at her when he was scared of something he was feeling?

But he looked at her, and she was smiling at him. He felt for a moment that he was the center of the universe, and that he was everything she would ever want.

He couldn't say if that was true, if someday she wouldn't wake up and see he was just and old broken fool, but right now he was able to believe he was something more.

He had done so much wrong, more than most humans could even consider in their short lives. But looking at Rose he thought he must have done something right.

She was a gift, and however underserved, he was going to accept. He couldn't imagine the universe without her by his side, and they stepped up to repeat the words from the leader.

They were simple words, a simple promise, but they meant everything. They were words he added to, if only in his mind. He might never say them to her, it would be too hard, but he would show her.

Every day for the rest of their lives, he would make her see.

She was the only thing that made his life worth living.

Then they were done, and there was clapping, and they were involved with a large feast.

Soon there was dancing, and he had his woman in his arms. He wanted to take her back to their room, and very soon back to the TARDIS, but for right now this was what he wanted most. Her head on his chest, breathing in her scent.

He knew that life might not be easy. They would have to either avoid moonlight, once they left the planet, or go somewhere where they could change safely. And it was going to hurt, every time it happened, but that was such a small price to pay.

They would forever be connected to something bigger than themselves, forever connected to the pack.

They would visit he knew, but there was no staying.

Rose Tyler and the Doctor belonged to the universe. They were born explorers, and together in the TARDIS was where they should be.

He kissed her head, swayed her to the music, and closed his eyes. For the first time in his life, he could dream awake, because his dream was alive, and in his arms.

Forever.