Chapter 8: The Drums End but the Bells Begin

She laid on her side facing his still sleeping form, she brushed a few stray locks of hair that had fallen into his face; it was getting rather shaggy. The soft movement stirred him to wakefulness, his eyes opening to stare at her and smiled sleepily at her. She returned the smile with her own, never stopping the caressing movement of her fingers.

'Good morning, sleepy head.'

'Morning, what are you doing up already, it's...eight in the morning?'

'I'm going shopping with mum, Donna, Martha and Sarah Jane today. Martha will be here at nine to pick me up.'

'What in the world are you going shopping for at nine in the morning? Is anything even open at that hour?'

'We are going to look for my wedding dress, have an appointment at nine-thirty. Can't be late or we will have to reschedule. That would be another few weeks, and the dress may not make it in before the wedding.'

'We have a time machine, I could take you back in time if you miss your appointment.'

'We agreed...no time travelling until after the wedding...we miss that because you got the date wrong by one digit my mother, Donna, and Martha more than likely gang up together and hurt you, Sarah Jane will probably be the only one who doesn't go after you just simply cause she knows how you can be. And let's top it off with the fact that I'll end up alone and overworked for the rest of my life.'

'Surely they'd realize it was an accident...they wouldn't murder me.'

'Well, maybe not Martha and Donna, they'd probably just torture you for a while, but my mum...let's be realistic, she's been waiting for this moment since the day she found out she was having a girl. She'd murder you and dispose of the body to a place not one person in the world would look.' The horrified look on his face indicated that he had a good mental picture of what Jackie Tyler would do to him. 'So no time travelling until after. Besides it will be easier to give everyone that trip you promised them.'

Burying his head in the pillow he groaned...he desperately wanted to get in the TARDIS and fly away. He tried to reassure himself that he only had three months left to go. Feeling her fingers brushing the hairs at the nape of his neck, he tried to suppress the shudder that raced across his body and looked up at her and her mischievous grin that clearly screamed she knew exactly what she was doing to him.

'Do you want some breakfast? I'm about to go make a bowl of oatmeal, I can whip you up something too if you're hungry.'

'Food does sound quite tempting at the moment. Plus, I have this feeling I won't be seeing you for most of the day. I intend to get every minute with you that I can.'

He got up out of bed and followed her into the kitchen where she began to pull out two bowls and the oatmeal. Within five minutes the steaming bowls were placed on the table with a side of fruit. They sat and ate in a comfortable silence, and only minutes later her cell went off via text letting her know her ride was waiting for her at the building entrance. She got up and put her dishes in the sink; she leaned down a kissed him on the cheek then rushed out the door. He walked out onto their patio and looked down to the car that Rose was climbing into, Martha looked up from the convertible and waved at him, he waved back knowing this was going to be one long day.

...

At the dress shop, Rose quickly found herself rolling her brown eyes at her mother's fussing with the lady helping them with all the dresses she was interested in trying on. Donna and Martha were doing everything they could not to laugh at her frustration. She glared at their half smirks, a look her mother caught and promptly told her that her face would stick that way if she wasn't careful. Jackie walked off before her daughter could make a snarky remark in return; returning a few minutes later with a dress in hand. She handed it to the lady to help Rose try on next. After a while both women emerged from the dressing room and Rose came to stand on a platform that rested in front of a very large three-sided mirror. Jackie made an awe-ing noise while Donna, Martha, and Sarah Jane made faces at the dress; Rose turned to the mirror and groaned.

'Oh Rose, you look so beautiful.'

'Seriously, mum...'

'Oh you look so much like my sister when she got married.'

'Yea, that was the 90's, Mum, much like the style of this dress...'

'Oh you are such a prude, Rose.'

'No, I just don't like this dress in the slightest bit, you're gonna have him jump in the TARDIS and fly off and never to come back for me.' Donna nodded vigorously beside Jackie, who just rolled her eyes and huffed dejectedly

'I'm going to take look around and see if I can't find something suitable. Or at least a little more appealing.' Martha said as she got up from her chair.

'I don't know what is wrong with you girls, it is a stunning dress.'

'Well, Mum, we have some more modern ideas of "stunning" then you, and frankly I want to go with my style of stunning. It is my wedding after all.'

'Donna...' Martha's voice sounded from across the small shop. 'Donna, come here.'

Donna got up from her spot leaving Jackie and Sarah Jane alone while Rose went into the dressing room to get the fluffy 90's monstrosity off of herself. Weaving in and out of the headless mannequins dressed in the purest whites until she found her friend who was staring open mouthed at a dress in the furthest and oddly most enclosed corner. She gave Martha an excited nod, they got the dress down, they then proceeded to grab several more dresses. Jackie eyed the two women and the bundle of dresses in their arms; noticing the suspicious look they were getting from the mother of the bride they quickly hushed their conversation. Sarah Jane gave a small smile; Rose peeked her head out and Martha handed her one of the dresses trying not to seem like she already knew Rose wasn't going to like the dress. A couple minutes later the blonde girl stepped out with an eyebrow raised in a way that screamed "Really? This is what you call appealing?" This went on for the next several dresses until they were down to the last two and Rose was almost terrified to try on anything else. Martha and Donna were blushing furiously, Rose thinking or more so hoping from shame, but as each dress came out for show the two girls had o desperately keep themselves from laughing at their private joke. Sarah Jane kept quiet during the duration of the eclectic fashion show.

'Well, at least this one makes me look like I have some class...' She stepped out of the changing room. The dress she had on was stunning, but more on the old fashioned side.

The whole top layer was a thick layer of lace, pure white in color, it fell off the shoulders just slightly and had long sleeves also made of lace, these were however a more delicate lace. It hugged her figure nicely and fell to the floor with a very small train. The front collar swooped modestly with a wide oval shape.

'Oh Rose, you look stunning...' Jackie was almost speechless.

'I agree with, Jackie, you look very stunning.' Sarah Jane spoke in her motherly tone.

'It is lovely, but I still don't feel like this is the dress I'm meant to walk down the aisle in. I'm starting to feel like there isn't a dress that is simply going to be The One.'

'Don't you have another one in there that Martha picked out?' Donna didn't like where the conversation was headed so decided to intervene. 'And besides, if the dress isn't here there are other dress shops we can go to around London. So don't be talking about giving up just yet.'

'You're right, Donna, I'm just very tired of trying them on only to be disappointed. This was supposed to be simple.'

'Simple? Where have you been living? The finding of the perfect wedding dress is one of the hardest things you do, especially with expectations like yours...' Donna started until Sarah Jane placed a hand on her arm.

'What Donna is really trying to say is, you've travelled to so many different places and seen so many different styles that everything else just can't measure up. The styles you have seen in all the different cultures was bound to have some influence on how you dress and live your everyday life. I know because I've been in your place too, and I am certain that we are going to find you the perfect dress, even if it isn't today, we will find one. Heck, if it really comes down to it, I am sure we can get one personally designed for you.' Sarah Jane gave the young blonde a warm smile.

While Sarah Jane was talking to Rose, Martha nudged the ginger-haired girl in the ribs, only to be given a "what was I supposed to say" look back. Rose seeing the exchange "ahemed" them after the other woman had finished talking. An eyebrow arched letting them know that she knew they were up to something that concerned her. They became very still hoping she'd let their secretiveness slid at the moment, and after a few tense moments she did and they visibly relaxed. Rose sighed as she looked in the mirror silently deciding to put the dress she had on to the so far empty maybe list. Going back into the small cubical the assistant helped her take off the dress and slip on the last remaining one.

'What are the two of you up to? Trying to pretend that the rest of us can't see that you are clearly up to no good," Jackie said quietly so Rose wouldn't overhear.

'We are not up to anything, you just have an over imaginative mind in that department.' Donna said hotly.

'No, I don't, the three of you girls are the Queens of Trouble, all flying off with that Doctor when we lived in the parallel world...chasing monsters in both like a bunch of hooligans.'

'Does that make me a hooligan too, Jackie? I was also the Doctor's companion over there too.' Sarah Jane had a small smile on her lips, she was finding it amusing to tease Jackie.

'NO! No, that's not what I was saying...'

'Jackie, you do remember that Donna and I only have the memories of our other selves? We personally have never travelled in the Doctor's machine.'

'Same difference.'

Martha simply laughed at the older woman's logic, Jackie never liked being proven wrong even when it was so clear that she was.

'Hey, Rose, is everything ok in there? Does the dress fit properly?' Martha said finally taking notice that it was taking longer than usual to switch into another dress.

'No, I'm fine...it's just...perfect.'

She stepped out of the little room into the open, and everyone sucked in a breath.

'This is why you two were being so sly earlier. You planned to have this dress last.'

'Yea, but even we didn't expect it to be this beautiful on you. I mean officially my mind is blown,' Martha said.

The dress was a creamy ivory color, the bust was topped with a slightly darker shade of beaded lace then falling to silk and gauze materials and falling to the floor in two layers. The dress' train followed behind by two feet. The straps were about an inch wide and coming down in a wide oval shape that continued to the back of the dress. It also featured a keyhole back which continued a little lower than the bust level of the dress, but the beads continued to frame the design, as well as swirled down the back of the dress on the hem all the way to the floor. The dress hugged her curves tastefully and delicately. Rose looked over to her mother who was suddenly speechless and teary eyed at the sight her daughter made, it was then that Rose knew this was the dress she wanted. She looked to the sales lady and nodded an affirmative on the purchase since words were currently too hard to form. The lady smiled and then led her back into the dressing room to get out of the dress after she determined what alterations would be needed and marking them down on a slip of paper clipped onto her clipboard.

As Rose reappeared from the little room the other four stood from their chairs; they walked around the store looking at veils and other hair accessories, shoes, and gloves. Jackie gushed about gloves, however her daughter made the point that the gloves would have to be just hand gloves and therefore would be pointless since the bouquet she was getting would cover them up. She didn't want a long veil or one that would cover up the back of her dress, and the birdcage veils just didn't suit the dress, so she just decided to go with large ivory, feathery flower with a beaded center. They couldn't find any shoes that really caught her eye so they called it a morning and went to pay for the items they did find to their liking. Once they left the building they decided to go grab some lunch and do some normal shopping at the mall.

'I should probably think about getting some stuff custom made for the TARDIS, can't show up in the 15th century wearing 20th century clothing...'

'How do you know the clothing styles will be the same in this universe? It might be a good idea to go and find something there...could always say someone mugged you on your way into town and all you could find was what you have from this time. I mean it is a stretch, but it is probably a good way to get free clothing.' Donna said thoughtfully.

'That's practically stealing from people.'

'No, Donna is right, Rose, the currency changes through the centuries so there is a really good chance your money won't be any good, especially that credit card.' She said that last part as if the piece of plastic were the devil himself.

Rose took one of her chips and threw it at her mom with a mocking offended look about her, but couldn't keep her composer long enough and burst into laughter. The two other young ladies burst into laughter as well and Sarah Jane found herself with a large smile on her face, which left Jackie who's face was scrunched up in indignation.

...

Martha pulled up in front of Rose's building to drop her off. 'I can't wait to see his face once he sees you in that dress, it is going to be priceless!'

'That is a fact, hope someone takes a picture of it too." The mental picture making the two women laugh. Composing herself, she took her seat belt off and opened the door. 'Well, I will see you back at work then. Thanks for giving me a ride today.'

'No problem. See you at work."

Rose grabbed her things out of the back of the car before they parted ways; she went up to their floor, upon entering their home she found that she was all alone. Flipping out her phone she texted him that she was back at the house. Sitting down on the couch she flipped on the TV and scrolled through the channels until she found her favorite talk show, The Graham Norton Show.

A couple hours later her phone buzzed with an incoming phone call, she picked it up and saw The Doctor lit up on the screen.

'Hey, where are you?'

'Not sure exactly...'

'What do you mean? Are you alright?'

'Um...I'm fine, but we do have a problem.'