Doctor Who fic: Time Bound, Part II: Mending (4/5)
Banner made by 'D', my amazingly talented RL artist friend.
Characters: 10.5 ("Ten")/Rose, with Eleven, River, and other guest appearances
Genre: Drama, romance
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: Up to Wedding of River Song
Warnings: None
Length: 18,000 words (5 chapters)
Chapter 4 Summary: With a mix of Gallifreyan and Terran traditions both formal and casual, Rose and Ten's wedding goes ahead, but not without a few surprises for the bride and groom.
Disclaimer: This story takes place within the Doctor Who universe. This story is a way of re-interpreting concepts and ideas already present in Doctor Who. All Doctor Who characters within belong to the BBC. All other characters are fictitious. This story is for fun and for sharing, but not for profit.
Time Bound, Part II: Mending
Chapter 4: Consent and Gladly Give
Rose stood just inside the doors of the Tardis, waiting. River was as good as her word. They had found a simple, cream-coloured, tea-length cotton dress with just a hint of lace for the waist-band. Slim straps went over the shoulders. River fussed around her, teasing a gently curled wisp in front of her ear and adjusting the grips holding a circlet of daisies in place on her hair.
Rose laughed. 'One bit of wind and it'll be messy.'
'Doesn't matter,' said River firmly. 'The first glimpse he has of you will be perfect. And he won't care if your hair is messy after.'
'He won't. Not the Doctor!' said a voice behind her. 'Bless him. He won't mind one tiny bit.'
Rose smiled at the speaker's words. 'No. And when he sees that you're here--that's gonna mean so much to him.'
Eleven cleared his throat and Rose saw him looking past her at the speaker. 'Yeah. You're the surprise.' He stood at the door, holding a rolled-up bundle of cloth in his hand.
'There are surprises all around today, there are,' the speaker responded. 'But it feels good.'
'All right!' said Eleven and he clapped his hands together. 'Ready?'
Rose took a deep breath and suddenly felt as if butterflies were fluttering in her stomach. 'Yeah,' she managed.
'Right!' Eleven rubbed his hands together and leaned towards her as if for a hug. Instead, he stepped back with a jerk and twirled around on the spot to face the doors. 'Big moment. Yes. No mussing her hair. Right. Here we go!' He pulled open the doors and exited.
Rose waited for a moment and stepped out into the garden. Behind them, River followed. They left the doors wide open.
In front of them stood the pergola. And in front of that stood Ten and Eleven. Martha and Mickey were off to the side. Ten wore his blue suit. He gazed at her and his eyes shone.
'My Rose,' he whispered.
Rose only saw him. She walked forward, halfway down the stone path on which the Tardis had neatly landed. 'My Doctor,' she responded.
'Blue suit okay?' he asked her. He scratched the back of his neck. 'It's what I wore when we started our new life together.'
'It's perfect,' said she firmly. 'My Doctor in blue.'
A big grin spread over his face, and with that, she felt the butterflies disappear.
The last person came out of the Tardis and to Rose's side.
Ten started. 'Wilf!'
Wilf held out his arm and Rose linked hers with his.
'Pleasure to be here,' Wilf said, beaming all over. 'My word but it does my heart good to see you again. Or is it the first time? You and your lovely bride. And the other Doctor. Although which of you two Doctors is which still muddles my brain. Where one of you starts and the other stops... it's past me!'
'We both know you, and you know both of us,' said Ten softly. 'When Donna was travelling with us? We were the same.'
'Right you are.' Wilf nodded rapidly. 'But you're letting me steal the show here. I'm going to walk this lovely girl over to you. Though, if I understand aright, you're somehow my grandson in some peculiar fashion. Or great-grandson. Or something. Though how you are... it all beats me. But, by all rights, I should be giving you away to Rose.'
'It beats anyone sane,' said Mickey. 'But just go with it.' He walked up to Rose and handed her a small bunch of blue and pink flowers. 'I reckon the garden won't miss these.'
'Thanks, Mickey.' She smiled at him and he returned to his spot by the pergola. 'Let's do this.'
'Not quite yet,' said Eleven. 'There's one more guest.'
And right on cue, a head popped around the edge of the door of the Tardis. 'Can't start the party without me!'
Captain Jack Harkness stepped out of the Tardis with a flourish and a swirl of his great coat.
'Jack!' Rose laughed in sheer delight. 'How... when? I know we picked up Wilf, but--'
'I've been on board since you were sleeping. There's plenty of the Tardis to get lost in and explore while waiting.'
Rose ran up to him and hugged him hard. He returned the hug but then held her out at arm's length. 'None of that, Rose. Any more and I'll be tempted. Not that that's ever stopped me in the past, but the Doctor'll have my hide if I don't behave. Both of them.'
And so Wilf and Rose walked up the rest of the path and Jack and River followed behind. And when they reached the front of the pergola, Wilf put Rose's hand in Ten's and stepped back.
'Hi,' whispered Rose.
'Hi,' Ten whispered back. He squeezed her hand gently.
Rose watched as Eleven unrolled the piece of cloth in his hands and hung it around his neck. It was rather like a priest's stole, but it was made of a dark blue material. On it were embroidered Gallifreyan symbols in silver and gold, along with stars and galaxies picked out in oranges, reds, lighter blues and indigo.
Eleven spoke. 'On Gallifrey, weddings can take a long time. But the most important part is very short. Shorter than what is expected on Earth. So, without further ado... Who will stand in for the parents of Ten?'
'I will,' said Wilf promptly. 'He's family to me--the family Donna ought to know she has. But if you'll accept me as your granddad?'
Ten nodded rapidly. He beamed. 'I'd be honoured.'
'And the parents for Rose?'
'I'll do it,' said Mickey. 'If you don't mind, Rosie. After all, I knew your mum.... and Pete. And... well, former boyfriend and all that. Handing you over to the next bloke.'
'Sure,' said Rose. 'Why not?' She grinned at him.
Eleven cleared his throat. 'Wilf, please say, "I consent and gladly give the Doctor, Ten, to Rose."'
Wilf nodded rapidly. 'With pleasure. I consent and gladly give the Doctor, Ten, that is, to Rose.'
Eleven turned to Mickey. 'And, Mickey, you too. "I consent and gladly give Rose to the Doctor, Ten."'
'Yeah,' said Mickey. 'I consent and gladly give Rose to the Doctor.'
'"Ten",' nudged Eleven.
'Oh. Right. Sorry, mate. Ten.' Mickey shuffled slightly and stuffed his hands in his pockets.
'Right. Jolly good.' Eleven turned back to Rose and Ten. 'On Gallifrey, the couple would normally have a series of speeches about different aspects of commitment. Thankfully, they're traditional but not required. Rose, is there anything you'd like to say to Ten?'
Rose shook her head to clear it and she heard chuckles from the others. 'Um,' she managed at last. She shifted on her feet. 'I don't have any speech. Sorry.'
Ten grinned and shrugged. 'Neither do I. Just say something like how you'll have to train me to be an acceptable human and husband.'
She laughed then. 'I love you. All the adventuring, the running, your gob, everything. Even your secrets. I'll take it all to be with you, you wacky alien.' She shrugged then. 'Don't have anything fancy to say. I just feel it.'
But Ten's smile was warm. 'You don't need to,' he whispered.
Eleven smiled and nodded. Then he said, 'And Ten?'
Ten shifted on his feet. 'Don't have a speech either. Don't need speeches. Not with my gob. But... I suppose none of you want me rambling. But... Rose, I will say this. After the Ti... er... some time ago, I thought I could never love again. And I don't mean romantically. I mean any kind of love for any being, for any idea, for any kind of existence. But you brought love back into my life. Love! You helped me love again--to love you, romantically, to love humans as the wonderful bumbling beings they are, to love the universe in its infinite mystery and beauty. You brought all this back for me--just you. You being you. Innocent, adventurous, warm-hearted, caring. Wanting to help anyone who needed it. And you helped me. And I needed it.
'I might never let go of the instinct to hide some things I've done or seen. Most likely, you'll need to push me. I'm sorry. Habits of a century die hard. But please know this--I will never hide what I feel in my heart. That is all yours and always will be. I'm yours, Rose Tyler. All yours.'
Rose nodded and blinked back tears. She couldn't say anything, but she pulled her hand out from between his and held his between both of her own. The flowers Mickey had given her fell and scattered between and over their feet like a colourful mantle.
'And I'm all yours,' she whispered.
Martha cleared her throat. 'Sorry,' she said. 'Getting a bit choked up here.'
'So am I,' said Mickey. 'Too much lovey stuff.'
The others laughed.
'Yeah,' said Rose. She clung to Ten's hand and gazed up into his eyes. He smiled softly, and his eyes twinkled back at her. She clung a little tighter, and his fingers gently caressed hers.
'And so,' Eleven continued hastily, 'we'd better get on to the vows. With a little Terran twist. Ten, you are marrying Rose today in our tradition. Do you also consent to marry this human in her tradition, in a ceremony which legally binds you to her in the United Kingdom, of the planet Earth, in one month's time, or thereabouts?'
'I do,' said Ten softly.
'And, Rose, do you accept this Gallifreyan as your betrothed, to wed him legally in a tradition of your culture in one month's time?'
'I do,' she answered. She squeezed Ten's hand again. He squeezed back.
'The rings, please,' said Eleven.
'The rings?' asked Ten.
Rose looked around her with alarm. 'I forgot ab--'
Jack stepped forward. 'Here they are.' He fished them out of his jacket pocket and laid them in Eleven's outstretched hand.
'What... how?' Rose stared at him.
Eleven shrugged. 'The Tardis has both of your scans on file. Sizing was easy. The gold... I had something on board I could melt down.'
Ten picked up the smaller of the two plain bands. 'Gallifreyan,' he murmured.
Rose picked up the larger and she saw tiny, familiar but indecipherable circular writing engraved along the inside of the circle. Inscribed next to it in English were the words, Rose and the Doctor - 10. She looked up. 'The Gallifreyan letters say the same thing, yeah?'
'Mostly,' Ten told her. 'And a little more, which I will explain later.' His gaze met Eleven's. 'Thanks,' he murmured.
Eleven nodded just once. 'Doctor, known as Ten, do you take Rose Marion Tyler as your wife?'
'Absolutely!' said Ten. 'Wholeheartedly. Yep!' He bounced on his toes.
Rose smirked. She raised her left hand and held it in front of Ten.
'Ah! Right!' he said and very carefully glided the ring onto her third finger.
Warm from Ten's hands, the ring fit perfectly on her finger. The gentle clasp of its presence felt comforting.
Eleven turned to her. 'And, Rose Marion Tyler, do you take the Doctor, known as Ten, as your husband?'
'I do,' she said. 'Even if he's a goof.'
'Oi!' cried Ten, but he was grinning as Rose slid his ring onto his finger.
'You're both goofs,' said Mickey from behind them. He chuckled.
'Amen to that,' added River.
'Is this meant to be part of human ceremonies,' asked Eleven with a slightly aggrieved air. 'Insulting the couple?'
'It is now,' said River. 'And you're a goof too.' She tweaked his bow-tie.
'And...' said Eleven loudly, 'if you're all quite finished, then we need to do the most important part of the ceremony.'
Eleven turned to Wilf who dug into his pocket and pulled out a piece of cloth. Eleven took the cloth and drew it out to full length between his hands, and Rose could see that it was actually a silk scarf with an intricate design.
'That's Donna's,' said Wilf. 'Even though she can't be here, that's hers. She would've wanted to be here, she would. But she bought that when she went to Egypt. Her first adventure after she met you, Doctor. She loves that scarf. She doesn't know why, bless her, but I know.'
Rose looked at Ten. He swallowed and nodded rapidly. She suspected that his eyes were a little moister than usual.
'Hold out your hands,' instructed Eleven.
Rose squeezed Ten's hand and they obediently held their clasped hands up in front of Eleven. He smiled briefly and then murmured, 'Apart.'
They obeyed, and he then gave each of them an end of Donna's scarf. 'By each taking one end and winding it around your hand, you declare that you wish to bind yourselves to your partner forever. You will meet each other as equals and honour and cherish the other as yourself.'
Rose and Ten did as Eleven bid them, and they carefully and slowly wound the scarf around their own hand. Rose noticed that Ten held the scarf close to the middle and then wound his end around with his free hand so that the scarf did not become twisted. She did the same and soon their hands were wrapped and touching in the middle. Gently, Eleven laid his own hand on theirs for a brief moment and then removed it.
'Each of you has bound yourself to the other,' he said. 'This is your declaration to each other and to all present, from this point forth in your timestreams for all Time. It is done.'
Rose and Ten faced each other.
'And now I can tell you my name,' said Ten very softly. He leaned forward and whispered in Rose's ear.
Amidst the gentle tickle of his warm breath on her ear, Rose heard the syllables of his name. There were not many, but the sounds, both musical and harsh, flowed so that she knew she would not be able to reproduce them herself. But amidst those sounds came the feeling of infinite mystery and purpose, ancient wisdom and curiosity leavened by a sharp edge of danger that made her own breath hitch. Nevertheless, at the heart of it all, there was love of all things alive and the desire to seek and heal.
And then she realized it. The name was not only a collection of sounds but also a collection of feelings: it was a blend that could only carry the full meaning in its whole. Sound only would represent the name, but it would not carry the heart of it. She shivered at the power behind it and she realized why he could not say it aloud. Burying that thought, she nodded.
They pulled apart. Rose reached up with her free hand and touched his cheek. 'That's beautiful,' she breathed. 'But I don't think I can remember each letter.'
He chuckled. 'That's all right. It's not for saying aloud. But when we bond, you will know it and you can whisper it to me. And... that will be nice. Very nice. Awfully nice.'
Eleven reached forward and unwound the scarf from around their hands. He folded it reverently and placed it in Wilf's hands. 'Thank you,' he murmured.
Wilf nodded, his own eyes rather damp, and he pocketed it.
Eleven raised his voice just a little. 'And now, by traditional Gallifreyan law, I now pronounce them wife and husband.'
He turned them around and the other five burst into applause. Ten put his arm around Rose and she leaned against him. It felt to her as if her smile was stretching from ear to ear. A feeling of joy bubbled up inside her and she felt giddy. She giggled.
'Aren't you supposed to kiss?' demanded Jack with a slightly aggrieved tone. 'I thought Earth humans always kissed.'
'Now, now,' chided River. 'Not all Earth customs are the same. Cultures vary from place to place.'
'It depends on them,' said Martha. 'Traditionally, in an English church, no. But nowadays, it's changed. It's up to them. Many do. Maybe most. What about it, Ten? What did they do on Gallifrey? Should Eleven say, 'You may kiss the bride?''
'Never on Gallifrey,' said Ten. 'But here? It's up to Rose.'
'Rose?' asked Martha.
'Yeah,' said Rose. 'Tell him.'
'Ten,' said Eleven. 'You may kiss your bride.'
Ten gazed at Rose for a moment, and she held her breath. Then, very slowly, he leaned in, carefully tilted his head slightly as if measuring the exact safe distance to the millimetre to avoid bumping noses, and then touched his lips to hers. They were soft and warm, gentle and hesitant. But Rose felt a shiver of delight run through her and she shot up a hand, cradling the back of his head, and pressed him to her.
'Mm!' hummed Ten.
'M-mm!' answered Rose. Vaguely, she realized that everyone around them was clapping, but it didn't seem important. Warmth, touching and Ten dominated, and she closed her eyes. She wrapped her free arm around his waist, and in response, she felt him wind his arms around her. 'Mmm,' she murmured again. She wriggled slightly against him in delight.
The seemingly-distant sound of clapping had changed to laughter.
'Break it up, you two!' That was Mickey's voice.
'Not yet.' The immediate response was Jack's.
'Don't rush them,' added River.
But the moment was over. Rose and Ten parted, and she could see his eyes were shining, just as she imagined her own must be.
'Wow,' breathed Ten. 'I kissed you. I. Kissed. You. Well, I've kissed you before, but on your hand and your forehead. That was nice. Awfully nice. And you've kissed me. On my lips. Also nice. Brilliant, in fact. But now I've kissed you on your mouth. Very nice mouth. I mean, I've always thought so, but now I've kissed you. Me. You.'
'About time,' said Rose. 'And don't ever stop.'
'Remember that, Ten,' said River. 'You two are married now. Your solemn duty is to make sure that girl is thoroughly kissed from now on.'
'Molto bene,' said Ten happily.
'Congratulations,' said Wilf. 'Oh my, but it does my heart good to see this. You two belong together. Bless you both.'
'It's not finished yet,' admonished Eleven, though his voice was filled with fondness. 'Now!' He clapped his hands and rubbed them together. 'It's time for the Bonding. Everyone into the Tardis. Except for Rose and Ten. You two walk up to Wayland's Smithy. We'll meet you up there.'
To be continued
On to Chapter 5: Bonding
Time Bound, Part II: Mending
Chapter 3, Chapter 2, Chapter 1
Time Bound, Part I: Fracturing
Chapter 7, Chapter 6, Chapter 5, Chapter 4, Chapter 3, Chapter 2, Chapter 1