What's To Come Is Still Unsure (3/16?)
Title: What's to Come is still Unsure(3/16?)
Author: lorelaisquared
Rating: PG-13
Characters: TenII, Rose, Jackie, Pete, Tony
Word Count: 3283
Beta: The incredible cookie2697
Summary: Part One in an epic love story spanning time and space: When the Doctor abandons Rose in Pete's world with his counterpart, they must learn to live without him. Slowly they build a life together that is filled with love, adventure, danger, and more surprises than either had ever thought possible.
Authors Note: This story wouldn't exist without the help I received from many people. My heartfelt thanks go out to cookie2697 for her invaluable brainstorming, nitpicking, enthusiasm and support throughout the entire process of writing and editing this massive epic. I'd also like to thank tardismate, gioiamia, rumpelsnorcack, meremoon and earlgreytea68 for the suggestions, support and enthusiasm that they offered along the way. *massive hugs to you all*
The title of this story comes from a line of a song in Shakespeares "Twelfth Night" commonly called "O Mistress Mine".
Chapter 1, Chapter 2,
Chapter 3
The weeks and months that followed were incredibly busy for Rose and the Doctor. The Dimension Cannon had been altered slightly and they spent many hours at work puzzling over what exactly had been done to it and by whom. The alterations were highly sophisticated, and whoever had made them, had access to technology that would not be available on earth for years. As a result, the Doctor remained certain that the Ood were not working alone. He was convinced that someone, or something, off planet was pulling the strings. What he couldn't figure out was who it could be and that worried him more than anything else. In over 900 years of traveling in time and space, it was rare for him to come across technology that wasn't familiar to him. Whoever was controlling the Ood was powerful, and fearsome. He'd questioned the Ood they'd captured multiple times but the most he'd managed to get out of it was a snippet of a haunting tune.
At home, life was just as busy. Tony had started grade school and with that came a frenzy of panic as Jackie rallied the whole family into sending him off on his first day. Rose was continually finding herself playing mediator to her mother and the Doctor as they butted heads at nearly every turn. In the end, Jackie had won and the Doctor had posed for a photo commemorating Tony's big day.
Evenings were Rose's favourite part of the day, by far. She and the Doctor were perfectly comfortable together now and they spent hours talking about everything they could think of. The Doctor told her about traveling with Martha, and about Donna's stubborn efforts to keep him in check. Rose told him about trying to get the dimension cannon working, and the worlds she visited while trying to find him in the proper universe. They often ended their nightly conversations by making love and drifting to sleep wrapped in each other's arms.
As the months drifted past, they settled into a routine of visiting the TARDIS together on a regular basis. It continued to thrive, and much to the Doctor's delight, it had even begun to take on a suspiciously phone-box like shape. It was still at least a year from maturity, the Doctor had insisted, but still far ahead of his initial estimate.
It was after they returned from one of their daily TARDIS visits that Jackie managed to corner them in the hallway.
"I think it's time we had a wedding," she announced.
The Doctor looked at her, bemused. "Oh, well, congratulations."
Jackie scowled at him. "Not for me, you ninny."
"Right. You're already married." He frowned. "Wait, if it's not for you, who are you having a wedding for? Tony is a little young isn't he?"
Jackie scoffed. "Of course he is. I'm talking about you and Rose."
"What?" The Doctor's eyes widened. He looked at Rose.
Rose squeezed his arm and stepped forward. "Mum, we've been over this. We don't want a wedding."
"But you've been together for almost four years now. Don't you think it's time you made it official?" Jackie implored.
The Doctor sighed. "I don't need a ritual to tell me that I love Rose."
"Exactly." Rose nodded. "We're happy as we are. We know it's forever, and that's enough."
Jackie grunted in frustration. "But that's not a marriage, sweetheart." Jackie reached out and touched her daughter's cheek, her voice softening. "Oh, Rose, what happened to your dreams? The ones you had as a little girl of white dresses and pretty flowers?"
"Those are a child's dream, Mum, I grew up."
Jackie stared at her daughter for a moment. "So you did," she said sadly, "So you did."
For several weeks after that, Jackie sulked, and shot pleading looks at them whenever she could. The Doctor was incredibly relieved when Jackie seemed to give up and forget about a wedding.
The Doctor was shocked, therefore, when he came home one Saturday in May to find the house in chaos. People he didn't know were running around carrying flowers and trays of food. The banister was decorated with bits of greenery interwoven with white twinkly lights and pale pink roses.
Pete rushed toward him. "Oh good, there you are. Jackie's been in a right state looking for you. Come on, we have to get you ready."
"Ready? Ready for what?" the Doctor cried as Pete dragged him down the corridor.
******
Half an hour later, he found himself standing in the foyer staring at Rose as she descended the stairs. She was wearing a beautiful knee-length white dress that flared out at the bottom. The top was perfectly fitted, draping over her chest into a deep, rounded vee. Most of her hair hung in loose curls that framed her face while the rest had been swept up into a beautiful arrangement of white and pink rosebuds. She glided toward him, shrugging apologetically and mouthing the word, "Mum". He stared at her, transfixed, no longer caring that Jackie had somehow managed to orchestrate this elaborate ceremony for them without either prior knowledge or permission.
He had to give Jackie credit. She'd certainly put a lot of thought into it. Instead of only hiring a priest to do a traditional ceremony, she'd also hired a spiritual leader who performed an ancient Irish hand-fasting ceremony. The Doctor watched in fascination as their hands were bound with rope made of green vines and Gaelic words were whispered aloud.
The minister began to recite the vows for him to repeat, and as the Doctor listened and gazed at the vision of beauty that was Rose, the words being said suddenly seemed so inadequate. He gazed into her eyes, and a million memories and moments flooded his consciousness: the moment they'd first met and the way her warm hand had felt so right in his cold palm; her determination as she stood up to him to (rightly) defend a bloody Dalek; the cold fear that had over taken him when he realized she'd absorbed the time vortex; his elation when she'd finally accepted his newly regenerated self; his despair as she'd been sucked toward the void.
Unable to bear the insufficient vows any longer, the Doctor cleared his throat loudly. The minister stopped abruptly, frowning as though displeased by the unorthodox interruption. Oblivious to everyone but Rose, the Doctor took a step closer to her, interlacing his finger with hers.
"Rose Tyler," he began, his voice thick with emotion. "I have loved you from the first moment I laid eyes on you and told you to 'run'. From that moment on you have saved me in more ways than I ever imagined possible. You gave me the strength and courage to persevere despite my own loneliness and pain; you taught me to be compassionate again, to really see and understand people. You showed me that the impossible was possible, that I could have an amazing person by my side everyday to hold my hand when I most needed it and to reign me in when I lost myself a little. You taught me that life was worth living again, that it was worth fighting for, that youwere worth fighting for.” He paused, watching as tears formed in her eyes.
“You reminded me that the universe is beautiful and yet through all of that I found nothing more beautiful than you, nothing more precious than the person I have standing before me right now. I admire your courage and your unfailing determination to return to me when circumstances beyond our control separated us." His voice cracked and he had to swallow slowly before he could continue.
"Since being here with you, as this version of myself, I have fallen in love with you all over again and I don't ever want to let that go. I adore you, Rose Tyler, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
"Oh, Doctor," Rose whispered, squeezing his hand through their interlaced grasp. Without a word she stood on her tiptoes, her hands braced against his chest to steady her as she pressed her lips to his. The Doctor reacted instantly to her soft kiss, opening his mouth for her as he enveloped her in his arms and kissed her deeply. Somewhere in the back of his mind he was vaguely aware of the minister pronouncing them man and wife while applause erupted around them.
Following the ceremony, Jackie herded them both into the backyard for an elaborate reception, complete with dancing. After some rather vocal reluctance, the Doctor relented and allowed Rose to pull him onto the dance floor. The band was playing a gentle love song as the Doctor gathered Rose into his arms and held her close. He inhaled deeply, savouring the heady scent of the flowers in her hair mingled with the sweet, honey-like aroma that always emanated from her.
"So, I guess we're married now," Rose said, a soft smile lurking at the edges of her mouth.
"Yes, I guess we are." There was the tiniest hint of amusement in his voice.
"I know you didn't want all this." She gestured to the decorations and people that surrounded them. "You don't mind, do you?" She stopped dancing, and stepped back studying his face carefully.
"No, Rose, I don't mind." He cupped her cheek, smoothing the worry line on her forehead with his thumb. "I didn't need all this to know that you love me or that we're going to spend the rest of our lives together, but it was kind of nice. And it made your mother happy, which I much prefer to when she's yelling at me, or slapping me."
Rose laughed. "She only slapped you that one time."
"Hey, once was enough!"
Rolling her eyes, Rose stepped back into his arms and they began to dance again. "You're such a big baby," she teased.
"I'm not, Jackie is scary, that's all I'm saying." He was sulking, and Rose couldn't help but find it adorable.
She stood on her tip toes so she could speak into his ear. "We've humoured Mum long enough, why don't we go visit the TARDIS after this song. That ought to cheer you up."
She could feel the grin with her jaw as it spread across his face. "Brilliant plan." He turned his head so their lips were touching. "I can tell her all about how I have a wife."
Rose's heart swelled as the word hung in the air. She was his wife now. She hadn't really thought about it before but she was human enough to be delighted by the idea now that it was a reality. Her eyes sparkled as she pressed her lips to his in a quick but tender kiss. "And I can brag about my husband."
"And we can tell her how in love her parents are." The song ended and the Doctor hooked his elbow through hers, leading her off the dance floor. "At least with the TARDIS we don't have to worry about sibling rivalry." He smirked, casting Rose a mischievous glance. "Yet."
Her mouth widened in a circle of surprise as she realized what he meant. As she thought about it, her eyes began to sparkle and the corners of her lips pulled upwards into a grin. He had come a long way from the big-eared, toothy-grinned loner who refused to mingle in domestics, and she loved him as much now as she had then.
*****
Rose circled the TARDIS, her eyes wide with disbelief as she ran her hand along the blue wood. The glass incubator had vanished, revealing the familiar wooden blue phone box.
The Doctor pulled out his stethoscope and was pressing it to the door, checking to make sure the TARDIS really was as complete as it appeared to be. His brow was furrowed in concentration as Rose neared him, then his face broke into a delighted grin. "She's ready Rose."
"Do you think it was us? I mean this..." she gestured to her dress and the flowers in her hair.
He thought about it for a moment, tugging on his ear as he stared at the TARDIS questioningly. "You know, I think it might have been. When I did my readings yesterday I estimated that she'd be done within a year. I think the wedding may have accelerated the process."
"So in a way, Mum's responsible for this," Rose teased.
The Doctor gaped at her for a moment, then burst out laughing, "Yes, I suppose she is." He brushed his hand over the door then, and the contact caused the door to swing open. He reached for Rose's hand, "Ready to see what she looks like on the inside?"
She took his hand. "I thought you'd never ask."
They spent the next half hour exploring the new TARDIS. It was almost identical to the one Rose had grown so familiar with, though there were a few notable differences.
The console looked newer, and much less cobbled together, though there was a mallet leaning against it from the floor. The jump seat was long enough for both of them to sit comfortably and even for Rose to lie down on. She was already envisioning naps while she listened to the Doctor tinker.
The Doctor had squealed with delight when he'd discovered that the library had expanded. Now it was filled with not only the books he'd had in the TARDIS in his original universe, but also with a large collection of books from his new universe that he had never read., He'd tried to start reading them immediately, but Rose had pulled him away, eager to explore the rest of their ship.
Next to their bedroom was another surprise. It was a small room, with pale coloured walls and a black ceiling that cycled through a precise replica of the night sky for every known planet in the galaxy. Along the back wall was a beautifully carved cradle that stood on a stand next to an elegant rocking chair.
"Oh," Rose gasped, "It's a nursery!" She looked at the Doctor in wonder.
The Doctor stared at her, speechless. After a long beat he seemed to find his voice again. "So it seems." He strode to the cradle and ran his hand over the woody, organic surface. "But why?"
"I think she's trying to tell us something." Rose placed her hand over his and slowly he turned to her with a teasing glint in his eye.
"And what would that be?" His voice was low, suggestive, and it made Rose's pulse speed up.
She moved closer until her lips were almost brushing against his. "That with our love, anything is possible." She kissed him then, tenderly at first, then fiercely, passionately.
He reciprocated, drinking her in as he tangled his hands in her hair. Rose wrapped her arms around him, pressing him against her until she could feel the full length of his body melting into hers. The force of her movements propelled them both backwards until his knees met the edge of the rocking chair. The kiss ended abruptly as the Doctor landed in the seat with a thunk, rocking forward and back until he stilled the motion with his feet. They stared at each other a moment before bursting into hysterics.
As their laughter died down, the Doctor grew serious, his gaze thick with desire. "Come here." He tugged her hand gently until she was firmly seated in his lap. His mouth covered hers and she sighed, her hands tugging eagerly at his clothing, desperate to feel the warm flesh hidden beneath. In her haste, her hand brushed against the bulge of his trousers and it was his undoing. Without breaking contact with her lips, he gathered her into his arms and carried her into their brand new bedroom. He laid her on the bed, breaking the kiss only long enough to shed what was left of his clothing and hers. Then he joined her on the bed and proceeded to make long, passionate love to his incredibly beautiful and amazing wife.
Eventually they resurfaced, drunk from the pleasure of being together. They finally returned to the console room, and the Doctor circled the console, his fingers dancing over the many switches and dials eagerly, his whole body vibrating with energy. "Oh, she's so ready, Rose. She's humming away, awaiting our first adventure."
Rose's eyes were bright as she beamed at him. "You know, we did just get married, perhaps her inaugural journey should be our honeymoon?"
Their eyes locked, intense heat and passion crackling between them. Feeling oddly winded, the Doctor grinned back at her. "That's a brilliant idea. Our honeymoon can be a tour through time and space, I can't think of anything that would be more fitting for either of us. There are so many places I want to show you, Rose. We'll start with Cimera, and then move on to Venice - the planet, not the city... Oh! And Gabriola. I must take you there."
Rose stilled him with a gentled touch on his arm. "Doctor, you do remember that this is a different universe, right? Those places might not exist here."
"Only one way to find out for sure." The Doctor pulled a lever and began to prepare the TARDIS for her premier take off.
"Wait!" Rose, cried. "We need to go to the Mansion first. Mum will worry if we just vanish, and I want to say goodbye to her and Pete and Tony. Plus I need to get my clothes and stuff."
The Doctor nodded and reset the panel with the new location and date.
Seconds later, they appeared in the Tyler's living room. The guests had all departed, and Jackie and Pete were nestled, exhausted on the chesterfield. Tony was kneeling on the floor nearby, surrounded by tiny, colourful lego bricks, and a long, elaborate train track. He looked up at the sound of the TARDIS his open mouth competing with his wide eyes for most shock as Rose and the Doctor emerged from within. Jackie had nearly jumped out of her skin and only Pete's arms had prevented her from slipping to the floor.
"Where did that come from?" Jackie exclaimed when she recovered, gesturing to the TARDIS.
"I grew it," The Doctor explained. "From the small chunk the other Doctor gave me. It only finished today."
"Does it work? Is it reliable?" Jackie asked.
"As reliable as your driving allows," Rose whispered to the Doctor, who scowled, before turning to Jackie. "Of course it works, Mum, how else would we have gotten here in it?"
"Yeah," Jackie agreed distractedly, eying the TARDIS sceptically.
"We actually just came to pack before we go, we'll come say goodbye as soon as we're ready." Before Jackie could respond, Rose and the Doctor were half-way down the hall.
"Go where?" Jackie called after them but neither answered.
They returned to the living room a short while later, bags in tow. The Doctor took the bags into the TARDIS while Rose hugged her brother and told him she'd be back soon, and that she'd bring him something special from a distant planet. She hugged Pete next, thanking him for everything he'd done for them. Finally, she hugged her mother tightly. "You take care, you hear? We'll be back soon."
"But you can't go," Jackie called after Rose, who was disappearing into the TARDIS, "Pete paid for your honeymoon in Aruba already."
Rose popped her head out of the TARDIS door, a huge grin plastered on her face, "You guys take the trip, Mum. We're off to see the stars!"
Then, with a final wave, she closed the door behind her, and the TARDIS came to life, fading in and out until it vanished completely, transporting its occupants to unknown places, far, far, away.
Next Chapter
Author: lorelaisquared
Rating: PG-13
Characters: TenII, Rose, Jackie, Pete, Tony
Word Count: 3283
Beta: The incredible cookie2697
Summary: Part One in an epic love story spanning time and space: When the Doctor abandons Rose in Pete's world with his counterpart, they must learn to live without him. Slowly they build a life together that is filled with love, adventure, danger, and more surprises than either had ever thought possible.
Authors Note: This story wouldn't exist without the help I received from many people. My heartfelt thanks go out to cookie2697 for her invaluable brainstorming, nitpicking, enthusiasm and support throughout the entire process of writing and editing this massive epic. I'd also like to thank tardismate, gioiamia, rumpelsnorcack, meremoon and earlgreytea68 for the suggestions, support and enthusiasm that they offered along the way. *massive hugs to you all*
The title of this story comes from a line of a song in Shakespeares "Twelfth Night" commonly called "O Mistress Mine".
Chapter 1, Chapter 2,
Chapter 3
The weeks and months that followed were incredibly busy for Rose and the Doctor. The Dimension Cannon had been altered slightly and they spent many hours at work puzzling over what exactly had been done to it and by whom. The alterations were highly sophisticated, and whoever had made them, had access to technology that would not be available on earth for years. As a result, the Doctor remained certain that the Ood were not working alone. He was convinced that someone, or something, off planet was pulling the strings. What he couldn't figure out was who it could be and that worried him more than anything else. In over 900 years of traveling in time and space, it was rare for him to come across technology that wasn't familiar to him. Whoever was controlling the Ood was powerful, and fearsome. He'd questioned the Ood they'd captured multiple times but the most he'd managed to get out of it was a snippet of a haunting tune.
At home, life was just as busy. Tony had started grade school and with that came a frenzy of panic as Jackie rallied the whole family into sending him off on his first day. Rose was continually finding herself playing mediator to her mother and the Doctor as they butted heads at nearly every turn. In the end, Jackie had won and the Doctor had posed for a photo commemorating Tony's big day.
Evenings were Rose's favourite part of the day, by far. She and the Doctor were perfectly comfortable together now and they spent hours talking about everything they could think of. The Doctor told her about traveling with Martha, and about Donna's stubborn efforts to keep him in check. Rose told him about trying to get the dimension cannon working, and the worlds she visited while trying to find him in the proper universe. They often ended their nightly conversations by making love and drifting to sleep wrapped in each other's arms.
As the months drifted past, they settled into a routine of visiting the TARDIS together on a regular basis. It continued to thrive, and much to the Doctor's delight, it had even begun to take on a suspiciously phone-box like shape. It was still at least a year from maturity, the Doctor had insisted, but still far ahead of his initial estimate.
It was after they returned from one of their daily TARDIS visits that Jackie managed to corner them in the hallway.
"I think it's time we had a wedding," she announced.
The Doctor looked at her, bemused. "Oh, well, congratulations."
Jackie scowled at him. "Not for me, you ninny."
"Right. You're already married." He frowned. "Wait, if it's not for you, who are you having a wedding for? Tony is a little young isn't he?"
Jackie scoffed. "Of course he is. I'm talking about you and Rose."
"What?" The Doctor's eyes widened. He looked at Rose.
Rose squeezed his arm and stepped forward. "Mum, we've been over this. We don't want a wedding."
"But you've been together for almost four years now. Don't you think it's time you made it official?" Jackie implored.
The Doctor sighed. "I don't need a ritual to tell me that I love Rose."
"Exactly." Rose nodded. "We're happy as we are. We know it's forever, and that's enough."
Jackie grunted in frustration. "But that's not a marriage, sweetheart." Jackie reached out and touched her daughter's cheek, her voice softening. "Oh, Rose, what happened to your dreams? The ones you had as a little girl of white dresses and pretty flowers?"
"Those are a child's dream, Mum, I grew up."
Jackie stared at her daughter for a moment. "So you did," she said sadly, "So you did."
For several weeks after that, Jackie sulked, and shot pleading looks at them whenever she could. The Doctor was incredibly relieved when Jackie seemed to give up and forget about a wedding.
The Doctor was shocked, therefore, when he came home one Saturday in May to find the house in chaos. People he didn't know were running around carrying flowers and trays of food. The banister was decorated with bits of greenery interwoven with white twinkly lights and pale pink roses.
Pete rushed toward him. "Oh good, there you are. Jackie's been in a right state looking for you. Come on, we have to get you ready."
"Ready? Ready for what?" the Doctor cried as Pete dragged him down the corridor.
******
Half an hour later, he found himself standing in the foyer staring at Rose as she descended the stairs. She was wearing a beautiful knee-length white dress that flared out at the bottom. The top was perfectly fitted, draping over her chest into a deep, rounded vee. Most of her hair hung in loose curls that framed her face while the rest had been swept up into a beautiful arrangement of white and pink rosebuds. She glided toward him, shrugging apologetically and mouthing the word, "Mum". He stared at her, transfixed, no longer caring that Jackie had somehow managed to orchestrate this elaborate ceremony for them without either prior knowledge or permission.
He had to give Jackie credit. She'd certainly put a lot of thought into it. Instead of only hiring a priest to do a traditional ceremony, she'd also hired a spiritual leader who performed an ancient Irish hand-fasting ceremony. The Doctor watched in fascination as their hands were bound with rope made of green vines and Gaelic words were whispered aloud.
The minister began to recite the vows for him to repeat, and as the Doctor listened and gazed at the vision of beauty that was Rose, the words being said suddenly seemed so inadequate. He gazed into her eyes, and a million memories and moments flooded his consciousness: the moment they'd first met and the way her warm hand had felt so right in his cold palm; her determination as she stood up to him to (rightly) defend a bloody Dalek; the cold fear that had over taken him when he realized she'd absorbed the time vortex; his elation when she'd finally accepted his newly regenerated self; his despair as she'd been sucked toward the void.
Unable to bear the insufficient vows any longer, the Doctor cleared his throat loudly. The minister stopped abruptly, frowning as though displeased by the unorthodox interruption. Oblivious to everyone but Rose, the Doctor took a step closer to her, interlacing his finger with hers.
"Rose Tyler," he began, his voice thick with emotion. "I have loved you from the first moment I laid eyes on you and told you to 'run'. From that moment on you have saved me in more ways than I ever imagined possible. You gave me the strength and courage to persevere despite my own loneliness and pain; you taught me to be compassionate again, to really see and understand people. You showed me that the impossible was possible, that I could have an amazing person by my side everyday to hold my hand when I most needed it and to reign me in when I lost myself a little. You taught me that life was worth living again, that it was worth fighting for, that youwere worth fighting for.” He paused, watching as tears formed in her eyes.
“You reminded me that the universe is beautiful and yet through all of that I found nothing more beautiful than you, nothing more precious than the person I have standing before me right now. I admire your courage and your unfailing determination to return to me when circumstances beyond our control separated us." His voice cracked and he had to swallow slowly before he could continue.
"Since being here with you, as this version of myself, I have fallen in love with you all over again and I don't ever want to let that go. I adore you, Rose Tyler, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
"Oh, Doctor," Rose whispered, squeezing his hand through their interlaced grasp. Without a word she stood on her tiptoes, her hands braced against his chest to steady her as she pressed her lips to his. The Doctor reacted instantly to her soft kiss, opening his mouth for her as he enveloped her in his arms and kissed her deeply. Somewhere in the back of his mind he was vaguely aware of the minister pronouncing them man and wife while applause erupted around them.
Following the ceremony, Jackie herded them both into the backyard for an elaborate reception, complete with dancing. After some rather vocal reluctance, the Doctor relented and allowed Rose to pull him onto the dance floor. The band was playing a gentle love song as the Doctor gathered Rose into his arms and held her close. He inhaled deeply, savouring the heady scent of the flowers in her hair mingled with the sweet, honey-like aroma that always emanated from her.
"So, I guess we're married now," Rose said, a soft smile lurking at the edges of her mouth.
"Yes, I guess we are." There was the tiniest hint of amusement in his voice.
"I know you didn't want all this." She gestured to the decorations and people that surrounded them. "You don't mind, do you?" She stopped dancing, and stepped back studying his face carefully.
"No, Rose, I don't mind." He cupped her cheek, smoothing the worry line on her forehead with his thumb. "I didn't need all this to know that you love me or that we're going to spend the rest of our lives together, but it was kind of nice. And it made your mother happy, which I much prefer to when she's yelling at me, or slapping me."
Rose laughed. "She only slapped you that one time."
"Hey, once was enough!"
Rolling her eyes, Rose stepped back into his arms and they began to dance again. "You're such a big baby," she teased.
"I'm not, Jackie is scary, that's all I'm saying." He was sulking, and Rose couldn't help but find it adorable.
She stood on her tip toes so she could speak into his ear. "We've humoured Mum long enough, why don't we go visit the TARDIS after this song. That ought to cheer you up."
She could feel the grin with her jaw as it spread across his face. "Brilliant plan." He turned his head so their lips were touching. "I can tell her all about how I have a wife."
Rose's heart swelled as the word hung in the air. She was his wife now. She hadn't really thought about it before but she was human enough to be delighted by the idea now that it was a reality. Her eyes sparkled as she pressed her lips to his in a quick but tender kiss. "And I can brag about my husband."
"And we can tell her how in love her parents are." The song ended and the Doctor hooked his elbow through hers, leading her off the dance floor. "At least with the TARDIS we don't have to worry about sibling rivalry." He smirked, casting Rose a mischievous glance. "Yet."
Her mouth widened in a circle of surprise as she realized what he meant. As she thought about it, her eyes began to sparkle and the corners of her lips pulled upwards into a grin. He had come a long way from the big-eared, toothy-grinned loner who refused to mingle in domestics, and she loved him as much now as she had then.
*****
Rose circled the TARDIS, her eyes wide with disbelief as she ran her hand along the blue wood. The glass incubator had vanished, revealing the familiar wooden blue phone box.
The Doctor pulled out his stethoscope and was pressing it to the door, checking to make sure the TARDIS really was as complete as it appeared to be. His brow was furrowed in concentration as Rose neared him, then his face broke into a delighted grin. "She's ready Rose."
"Do you think it was us? I mean this..." she gestured to her dress and the flowers in her hair.
He thought about it for a moment, tugging on his ear as he stared at the TARDIS questioningly. "You know, I think it might have been. When I did my readings yesterday I estimated that she'd be done within a year. I think the wedding may have accelerated the process."
"So in a way, Mum's responsible for this," Rose teased.
The Doctor gaped at her for a moment, then burst out laughing, "Yes, I suppose she is." He brushed his hand over the door then, and the contact caused the door to swing open. He reached for Rose's hand, "Ready to see what she looks like on the inside?"
She took his hand. "I thought you'd never ask."
They spent the next half hour exploring the new TARDIS. It was almost identical to the one Rose had grown so familiar with, though there were a few notable differences.
The console looked newer, and much less cobbled together, though there was a mallet leaning against it from the floor. The jump seat was long enough for both of them to sit comfortably and even for Rose to lie down on. She was already envisioning naps while she listened to the Doctor tinker.
The Doctor had squealed with delight when he'd discovered that the library had expanded. Now it was filled with not only the books he'd had in the TARDIS in his original universe, but also with a large collection of books from his new universe that he had never read., He'd tried to start reading them immediately, but Rose had pulled him away, eager to explore the rest of their ship.
Next to their bedroom was another surprise. It was a small room, with pale coloured walls and a black ceiling that cycled through a precise replica of the night sky for every known planet in the galaxy. Along the back wall was a beautifully carved cradle that stood on a stand next to an elegant rocking chair.
"Oh," Rose gasped, "It's a nursery!" She looked at the Doctor in wonder.
The Doctor stared at her, speechless. After a long beat he seemed to find his voice again. "So it seems." He strode to the cradle and ran his hand over the woody, organic surface. "But why?"
"I think she's trying to tell us something." Rose placed her hand over his and slowly he turned to her with a teasing glint in his eye.
"And what would that be?" His voice was low, suggestive, and it made Rose's pulse speed up.
She moved closer until her lips were almost brushing against his. "That with our love, anything is possible." She kissed him then, tenderly at first, then fiercely, passionately.
He reciprocated, drinking her in as he tangled his hands in her hair. Rose wrapped her arms around him, pressing him against her until she could feel the full length of his body melting into hers. The force of her movements propelled them both backwards until his knees met the edge of the rocking chair. The kiss ended abruptly as the Doctor landed in the seat with a thunk, rocking forward and back until he stilled the motion with his feet. They stared at each other a moment before bursting into hysterics.
As their laughter died down, the Doctor grew serious, his gaze thick with desire. "Come here." He tugged her hand gently until she was firmly seated in his lap. His mouth covered hers and she sighed, her hands tugging eagerly at his clothing, desperate to feel the warm flesh hidden beneath. In her haste, her hand brushed against the bulge of his trousers and it was his undoing. Without breaking contact with her lips, he gathered her into his arms and carried her into their brand new bedroom. He laid her on the bed, breaking the kiss only long enough to shed what was left of his clothing and hers. Then he joined her on the bed and proceeded to make long, passionate love to his incredibly beautiful and amazing wife.
Eventually they resurfaced, drunk from the pleasure of being together. They finally returned to the console room, and the Doctor circled the console, his fingers dancing over the many switches and dials eagerly, his whole body vibrating with energy. "Oh, she's so ready, Rose. She's humming away, awaiting our first adventure."
Rose's eyes were bright as she beamed at him. "You know, we did just get married, perhaps her inaugural journey should be our honeymoon?"
Their eyes locked, intense heat and passion crackling between them. Feeling oddly winded, the Doctor grinned back at her. "That's a brilliant idea. Our honeymoon can be a tour through time and space, I can't think of anything that would be more fitting for either of us. There are so many places I want to show you, Rose. We'll start with Cimera, and then move on to Venice - the planet, not the city... Oh! And Gabriola. I must take you there."
Rose stilled him with a gentled touch on his arm. "Doctor, you do remember that this is a different universe, right? Those places might not exist here."
"Only one way to find out for sure." The Doctor pulled a lever and began to prepare the TARDIS for her premier take off.
"Wait!" Rose, cried. "We need to go to the Mansion first. Mum will worry if we just vanish, and I want to say goodbye to her and Pete and Tony. Plus I need to get my clothes and stuff."
The Doctor nodded and reset the panel with the new location and date.
Seconds later, they appeared in the Tyler's living room. The guests had all departed, and Jackie and Pete were nestled, exhausted on the chesterfield. Tony was kneeling on the floor nearby, surrounded by tiny, colourful lego bricks, and a long, elaborate train track. He looked up at the sound of the TARDIS his open mouth competing with his wide eyes for most shock as Rose and the Doctor emerged from within. Jackie had nearly jumped out of her skin and only Pete's arms had prevented her from slipping to the floor.
"Where did that come from?" Jackie exclaimed when she recovered, gesturing to the TARDIS.
"I grew it," The Doctor explained. "From the small chunk the other Doctor gave me. It only finished today."
"Does it work? Is it reliable?" Jackie asked.
"As reliable as your driving allows," Rose whispered to the Doctor, who scowled, before turning to Jackie. "Of course it works, Mum, how else would we have gotten here in it?"
"Yeah," Jackie agreed distractedly, eying the TARDIS sceptically.
"We actually just came to pack before we go, we'll come say goodbye as soon as we're ready." Before Jackie could respond, Rose and the Doctor were half-way down the hall.
"Go where?" Jackie called after them but neither answered.
They returned to the living room a short while later, bags in tow. The Doctor took the bags into the TARDIS while Rose hugged her brother and told him she'd be back soon, and that she'd bring him something special from a distant planet. She hugged Pete next, thanking him for everything he'd done for them. Finally, she hugged her mother tightly. "You take care, you hear? We'll be back soon."
"But you can't go," Jackie called after Rose, who was disappearing into the TARDIS, "Pete paid for your honeymoon in Aruba already."
Rose popped her head out of the TARDIS door, a huge grin plastered on her face, "You guys take the trip, Mum. We're off to see the stars!"
Then, with a final wave, she closed the door behind her, and the TARDIS came to life, fading in and out until it vanished completely, transporting its occupants to unknown places, far, far, away.
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