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BOOK II: A Timey Whimey Wedding

CHAPTER 3: Vows of Forever

Nine was stunned. He left the bride's room with a ridiculous grin on his face! His Rose noticed.

"Something happened in there that you liked, eh?" She teased, tongue poking through her teeth.

"You... you could say that. I learned something fantastic! Absolutely fantastic! I'd thought it was impossible, and I have no idea how or why, but... it's fantastic!"

"Okay!" She laughed. "I get it. It's fantastic. Wanna clue me in?"

"Nope!" He grinned even wider as he pulled her into a chair in the back.

"Whoa!" A voice said. "I know who two are! And you do not sit in the back!"

The voice belonged to a young man with a flop of brown hair, green eyes, a pointy chin, and faint eyebrows. He was wearing a white bow tie with his old fashioned tux, complete with top hat and tails. He led them to the front row on the bride's side. "Welcome to paradox row!" He winked.

"Paradox row?" Rose asked.

"Must be where the other me is gonna sit as well," her Doctor answered.

"Nope. I'm sitting on the groom's side," Eleven replied, grinning cheekily.

"Oh no! You're not!" Nine groaned. "I turn into an infant! Is this a midlife crisis of some sort?"

"Midlife? Oh, I hope not!" Eleven replied. "I'm 1200 years old!"

"You're the Doctor?" Rose cried. "Well, you're... different. Regeneration, right?"

"Twice since I was him, actually. It happens. Whaddya think, Rose? Like it?"

"It's um... You're um..."

"Incredibly good looking and charming?"

"Well, apparently you're humble!" She laughed, sticking her tongue between her teeth in a grin.

"Rose Tyler, you wound me. I've been accused of many things in my very long life, but humility is not one of them!" He tipped his top hat to her and sat across from them.

Rose's head was swimming. She had learned so much in such a short while! The Doctor can change. She met one of his futures, and he was indeed very different from her Doctor, but yet, as her elder self said, he was somehow still the Doctor. Then there was the whole "I'm getting married" thing. She was about to witness her own wedding! Who could the mysterious groom be? It wasn't Mickey, she was told, and she was honestly relieved by that news. But if not him, who?

She glanced at her Doctor out of the corner of his eye, and her heart flooded with emotion. No, she could never marry Mickey. Truth was, she's never wanted any one since she'd met the Doctor. Her heart clenched. Her husband to be must be very special indeed to tear her away and steal her heart away from her Doctor. Because, right now, she realized, the Doctor is the only man she'd ever consider marrying. She loves him! Too bad he didn't love her in return. She hoped that her husband didn't know that he was second choice. Because he had to be second choice!

She was brought out of her reverie when someone handed her a program. She gasped. It was like looking into a mirror! Another future, perhaps?

Future Rose just nodded, and placed her finger over her lips before slipping into the chair next to the Doctor in the bow tie. Younger Rose's heart started beating quickly in her chest as she dared to look at the program she was given. What she saw made her almost pass out.

Welcome to the wedding and bonding ceremony of Rose Marion Tyler and the Doctor

The procession started. Jackie came down the aisle first with Mickey as her escort. She lit a candle and sat in the front row with the youngest versions of her daughter and son-in-law and their version of the best man. She'd noticed that they were there and was shocked at first, but eventually just shrugged. She was long past being surprised at anything those two did. She looked beautiful in her TARDIS blue dress.

Then the men came in the front. The Doctor had never been so nervous in all his lives! Jack practically had to hold him up! Mickey brought up the rear.

Martha then came down the aisle, followed by Donna, River, and Jenny. They all wore TARDIS blue floor length strapless dresses in a classic a-line style and carried pink roses. Mickey and Martha's eyes met and they both blushed. River and Jack locked eyes with each other as well.

Then everyone stood, and the groom turned around as the bride made her entrance on her (for lack of more accurate word) father's arm. Her past self gasped at this revelation and didn't know how much more she could take! Her future self (unnoticed by the bride) wept tears of joy. The past and future Doctors gaped at the beauty of the bride.

Then she reached her groom, and he turned to face her. Suddenly, it was as if there was no one else in the universe but each other as their eyes, both misty with emotion, locked.

They had chosen to forgo the traditional vows and instead speak from the heart - or hearts as the case may be. Rose was first. She clasped both of his hands in hers and tried not to cry but knew she probably would before she was done anyway."I, Rose Marion Tyler, do take you, my Doctor, to be my husband, bond-mate, best friend, and companion." She paused, struggling for the right words. "I've loved you practically since the word, 'Run!' I ran away with you that night and haven't looked back. Haven't wanted to, not really! Not when you can show me so much: and I don't just mean all of time and space, though it's a perk! You've shown me myself, who I really am, and who I could be. You've made me realize that I'm someone special and important. What can I possibly give you, but myself? So I vow right here and now in front of our loved ones, in front of our past, and in front of our future, to always love you. You'll never be alone, because there's me! It's not a bad life that we lead, you know. Better with two, though. And I promise this come a relaxing holiday or a lot of running, peaceful planet or hostile invasion, old familiar face or new regeneration, that we will forever be the Doctor in the TARDIS with Rose Tyler, the stuff of legends! Forever!"

Then it was the Doctor's turn to speak. "Rose Tyler, I mean, Rose Marion Tyler, I mean..." He stammered. "Oh, bollox you humans and your ceremonies!" Rose laughed at that and gave him a reassuring squeeze. He took a deep breath. "I, the Doctor, do take you, Rose Marion Tyler, as my husband - wait, no. Wife. And bond-mate, which by the way I'm beyond amazed that you actually want. I mean, it's not a normal human thing, this bonding. And... my gob's gone nuts again. Sorry. I seem to have quite a gob, this me. Anyway..." Rose was extremely patient and grinned at him, encouraging him to continue. She found his nerves adorable and very endearing. "Anyway, Rose. You... I don't deserve you. That much is clear. But here we are, and you're about to be stuck with me, this old man in young man's body, this old Time Lord who can face a fleet of Daleks without flinching, but can't look at your smile without becoming completely undone. You've said how many times that I've saved you - that I saved you the night we met, even. But you saved me, Rose. You took a broken man and put him back together again. You gave me a reason to live when I didn't want to anymore. You... changed me. Quite literally, too at one point!" They both laughed at that. "But I promise to love you with both my hearts and protect you with all my lives. No matter what comes. I'll be the Hope to your Joy, the Mutt to your Jeff, the Shiver to your Shake. The stuff of legends! Forever!"

After the rings were exchanged, a beautiful scarlet cloth embroidered ornately in gold was brought out. The minister asked, "is there anyone present who is from Gallifrey who can do the bonding?" Both Nine and Eleven jumped out of their seats, a silent agreement passing between them that they would share the leadership. Both of their eyes were as wet as the groom's.

Nine spoke first, as Eleven began joining the bride and groom's hands with the cloth. "Before we can proceed, consent of the parents must first be obtained. Jackie and Pete Tyler. Do you consent to have you daughter bonded to this man?"

"We do so consent and freely give!" Rose's parents proudly proclaimed.

Then Eleven spoke. "The sharing of the name is a sacred act, bonding a couple together through eternity. The name is never to be spoken aloud and never shared with another. The couple well now share their names."

Ten leaned over and whispered his real name into Rose's ear. She shivered as she felt their souls begin to entwine. She then leaned over and whispered "Bad Wolf" into his, both shivering as their souls became one.

"May this bond be unseverable" Nine began. "And may they forever be as one," Eleven finished. They returned to their seats.

The minister took over, then. "It is the tradition of the groom's people for the man to take the woman's name. Therefore, I have the pleasure of introducing you to Dr. and Mrs. Tyler! I now pronounce you husband and wife. Doctor, you may kiss your bride!"

Ten didn't hesitate. Eleven turned to his Rose and crashed into her as well. Nine turned to his Rose. They smiled shyly at each other. "Well? Shall we?" He asked. She blushed and nodded and he slowly drew her into their very first kiss.