Life was best in the TARDIS when Rose was happy. There was something a tad disconcerting about that. It used to be that life was best in the TARDIS, period. Used to be, give him the TARDIS, time and space to roam through, a few spare parts to tinker with, and life was at its pinnacle. Its zenith. Its best.

That was no longer the case. If Rose Tyler wasn't happy, he could be at the most exciting point in space and time, he could have all the spare parts in the world, and his life would be miserable.

And this was why he was going to Cousin Mo's wedding.

It had started out simply enough. They were visiting a planet known for its beautiful beaches. His master plan was to pretend not to notice Rose prancing around in a bikini. They were quite comfortably set up on a beach blanket. She was impressed he had ditched the jacket and tie. He had also rolled up his trouser legs and shirt sleeves.

Specs on, he had a book in hand. If anyone was paying attention, they would have noticed it had been on the same page for the past 20 minutes, the reason being the blonde water nymph emerging from the sea.

She sat next him, making sure to sprinkle him as she settled in. "Oi! Is that really necessary?"

"You were entirely too dry. You really should go out there. The water is lovely." She picked a bottle out from the bag they had brought with them. "Do you mind? I can't reach to put the sun crème on my own back."

Well, he certainly wasn't one to miss an opportunity like that. With slow, deliberate strokes, he rubbed the lotion in. He smirked to himself as she moaned in appreciation when his fingers dug a bit deeper. He timidly tried to work around where the top was held together. All the blood left his head for another part of his anatomy when she undid said top and turned to look at him. With a wink she said, "So you don't miss spot."

When he could think again, he continued his ministrations. Somehow they both ended up on their stomachs, with Rose reading aloud from his book as he stroked her bare back. He now knew that this was life at its pinnacle. Its zenith. Its best.

She finished the chapter and set the book down. He set his glasses next the book. He thought she was asleep and was about to join her (casually leaving his hand on her back, which was in no way a possessive gesture) when she decided to make the day take a down turn. "I should call Mum."

He groaned and rolled away from her, using his arm to cover his eyes, leaving her to it. He half-way listened to the conversation. As usual, it consisted of a series of 'Yes Mum's', 'I know Mum's', 'He does not's', and the like.

He started pondering that Jackie Tyler could talk for England and if the judges didn't award her with a medal, she'd slap them. The things he put up with for Rose. She really should appreciate him more. After all, he was a Time Lord, the last of them. As such he should be treated with respect.

He kept his soliloquy going in head, just getting to the part where she should feed him grapes on a daily basis when he noticed she wasn't talking at all. He shifted his arm and looked at her with one eye. He hid his disappointment at the fact that she had sat up and fixed her top. Then he looked at her face.

Oh no. She had that look. The "I want you to do something and I know exactly what to do to get you to do it" look. Well, it wasn't going to work this time. He was going to stand firm. He was not going to give in.

"Doctor? You remember my cousin Mo, right? Well, Mum said she's getting married and that the wedding is next week, by her time line anyway. I told her there was no way I-- well, we--could make it as we didn't know where we would be. She then casually mentioned that she brought me into this world and could take me out of it. And that if you didn't get me there, that she would do the same to you, alien or not. So, I guess what I'm trying to say is, I have a wedding to go to and you're taking me."

"No." He was quite proud of himself. Simple answer that she would have to accept.

"But…"

"No, Rose. As you said, we're much too busy. Besides, why celebrate something that would mostly likely end in disaster. Do you know what the divorce rate is currently?" By now he was sitting up as well. He looked at her, certain that the matter was settled.

She blinked once. She placed a hand on his arm and looked directly in his eyes. "Please."

She hadn't whined or batted her eyelashes. However, what she did was enough. He was so ashamed of himself. "Oh alright. Let's pack up." It was worth it for the smile she gave him and the kiss on the cheek that followed.

Once they arrived back at the TARDIS, she ran off for a quick shower while he set the coordinates. He waited until she returned to actually put them into flight.

"What kind of a name is Mo, anyway?" he grumbled, as he flipped dials about.

Rose watched him. He looked sulky. And she didn't trust him. "'Least she's got a name. You're sure we'll land in plenty of time for Mo's wedding?"

He looked affronted. "Rose, have I ever—" He cut himself off at her glare, and scratched the back of his head. "Plenty of time, yes."

"Because I've got to have time to change into the dress Mum's got for me, yeah?"

"We've got an entire wardrobe full of dresses for you, right here. I don't know what's so special about this particular dress."

"Mo picked it out 'specially for me to wear. And if we don't get home in time for me to wear that particular dress…" Rose paused for maximum impact. "You'll have to listen to my mum."

The Doctor sighed heavily. "Landing," he proclaimed, as if he would rather be doing almost anything else. Really, the sacrifices he made for Rose Tyler.

Rose braced herself automatically, but it was an almost gentle landing. She leapt up and threw open the door.

And Jackie Tyler's strident tone carried inside to him. "Ooh, right on time! Perfect!"

'Perfect,' thought the Doctor, frowning at the TARDIS. Now she bloody decided to listen and take him exactly when he told her to go.

The Doctor strode out of the TARDIS, squinting in the extremely bright sunshine. Jackie was hugging Rose and mithering on about how she should go back to the flat to change. "I've got to run to Mo's, help her get ready. But your cousin Alfred's left you his car." She thrust keys into Rose's hand and enveloped her in another bear hug. "Mind you're not late." She turned to him and blinked, drawing herself up short, her whirlwind of activity momentarily halted.

The Doctor looked over his shoulder. The TARDIS interior? Is that what had stopped her in her tracks? But she'd seen it before. Why should that bother her? He looked back at her in bewilderment. "What?" he asked, self-consciously. "What is it?"

"Aren't you coming along to the wedding?" she said, sounding surprised.

"Coming along to the wedding? Of course I'm coming along to the wedding!" He may have been sulking about it, but the thought had never crossed his mind that he wouldn't go with Rose to the wedding. Rose, by herself, undoubtedly looking illegally beautiful in whatever this dress was, surrounded by single-minded, predatory human males—No, no, no. The thought was not to be contemplated. He was going with Rose to this wedding.

Jackie wrinkled her nose. "Well, you can't wear that."

The Doctor was horrified. "Can't wear what?"

"That dirty, old suit."

"I love this suit! And it's not dirty!"

"It's a formal wedding," she informed him, with more primness than he would have imagined Jackie Tyler could muster. She turned to Rose. "If you're bringing him, get him into a tuxedo."

"Yes, ma'am," Rose promised, playfully.

"I've got to go." Jackie scurried off, throwing back, "Don't be late!"

Rose looked over at him, her eyes bright with amusement. And she was smiling. That smile where that little tip of tongue poked out between her teeth, teasing him. "I'm s'posed to get you into a tux. How should we manage that, do you think?"

Oh, he had a few ideas. Most of which ended up with him out of the tux and her out of the dress and both of them missing the wedding. However, the wrath of Jackie was enough to keep such thoughts tucked away for future reference.

He huffed in exasperation. "You go get into that dress your 'Cousin Mo' has demanded you wear. I'll be ready when you get back." Rose looked at him, disappointment in her eyes. "Oh, fine, get your dress and get ready in the TARDIS. Chop chop, don't want your mother coming after me after for making you late after I went through all that trouble to get you here on time!"

Rose began to walk away. "We both know it was the TARDIS that got me here on time, not you." She laughed when he looked affronted. As he beat a hasty retreat into the TARDIS, he heard Rose's voice throw one last barb. "A tuxedo from earth! Not that horrid contraption from dinner last week!"

He pushed the door to a bit harder than necessary before turning to head up the ramp and further into the TARDIS. It wasn't his fault he'd not been attired correctly for their dinner on Wiflolfiw; the last time he'd been there, the restaurant had been a tiki bar. And it certainly wasn't his fault that the maître d' had provided the most outlandish version of 'formal attire' he'd ever seen in his life. He was fairly sure he'd found and deleted all of the pictures she'd managed to take with her camera phone, but he'd have to check to be doubly sure.

A half-hour later, he was just getting out of the bath when the door to his room banged open. Shrieking, he leapt a foot in the air as he hastily wrapped a towel around him. "Rose!"

She had stopped halfway into his room, eyes wide and jaw slack. She squeaked "Sorry. Thought you…thought you…" She was turning scarlet and suddenly became fascinated by the ceiling. "Well it's not my fault you left the door to the bath open!" She turned around to face away from him, and continued. "Thought you'd be ready by now. Been a half hour, and besides I needed help doin' up my dress."

He had been reaching for his ratty old flannel robe when her last words caught his attention. The back of her dress was, indeed, unzipped. Creamy flesh extended in a deep vee from the nape of her neck, down past her shoulder blades to her waist, ending in a sharp point just above the swell of her bum. He didn't think such a simple thing had ever seemed so erotic. He shook his head. "Jackie. Jackie. Jackie." He whispered the name of the object of desire's mother to himself as he snatched the robe off the hook. Dropping the towel as he wrapped himself in the robe, he continued on into his room. Rose was still facing away from him, and appeared to be openly examining his room.

"Rose." She started as he reached out to do up her dress, one hand on her shoulder, the other reaching down to grab the pull of the zip and lead it on the long journey up her back. He savoured the feel of her warmth through the lace of the dress; the red of it setting her fair skin and blonde hair off stunningly. Finished zipping her up, he asked the question that had been playing on his mind. "How'd you manage to get ready before me?!"

Rose turned to him, slightly breathless and cheeks pink. "I'd showered earlier, remember? While you—well, the TARDIS—was getting us here on time? And look at you!" She grabbed one of his hands, still tingling from zipping her dress up. "You've got prune hands! What were you doing for so long in the bath?"

He paused; he really didn't want to answer that question. "I was sandy. Sticky stuff, sand. Gets everywhere." Perhaps that wasn't the best way to answer the question—it could lead to places he wanted to go, but didn't have time to. "Right, had to get squeaky clean. Formal wedding, penguin suit, couldn't have dirt hiding in my ears, could I? Had to take special care!"

Rose rolled her eyes. "Well, you'd best get dressed in a pinch because we're going to be late otherwise." She looked at him appraisingly before suddenly raising her hand and stroking the back of it along his jaw. "You shaved."

Was it just him whose breath had hitched with her statement? Rose seemed to catch herself, and backed away a step. "Get dressed, you. I'll just go do my makeup, yeah, and then be back."

The scent of her perfume lingered as she left the room. Focus, the Doctor told himself firmly. All that is, was, and ever could be in his head at all times, and it was the scent of Rose's perfume that managed to short-circuit his brain. He donned the tuxedo and attempted—three times—to tie the bowtie correctly, before he diagnosed the problem. He could tie a bowtie. Of course he could. He could do everything. He didn't want to tie the bowtie. Nope--much, much better to ask Rose to tie the bowtie for him.

"Good plan," he told his reflection, approving, and headed out of his room, down the hall to Rose's room. Her door was standing open, although she didn't appear to be in the room. He knocked anyway, calling her name.

"Uh-huh," she called back, from the direction of the en suite. .

The Doctor walked across her room to the open bathroom door and poked his head in. She was applying mascara, the taunting tip of tongue once again peeking out of the corner of her mouth as she concentrated. He decided not to focus on her mouth, dropped his eyes instead.

How short was that skirt? What sort of dress was this? He wondered, letting his eyes run very slowly up the length of her bare legs. Completely inappropriate for a wedding, he thought. Completely inappropriate, period. He ought to lock Rose in this room and refuse to let her out looking like this.

His eyes halted, irritated, as they hit the point on her thigh where the skirt fell and began obstructing his view. That settled it, he thought. He just wouldn't let Rose out looking like this. He'd lock them both in this room. If he had to, he had to. He glanced over his shoulder, calculating the distance to her bed.

"Did you want something?"

He looked back at her, startled at the interruption. Well, he thought. Now that you mention it… "Um," he said.

She capped the mascara and tossed it negligently on the counter. "Need me to do your bowtie for you?" She smiled at him, closed the distance between them, and reached for his bowtie. Her eyes focused on it, on whatever acrobatics her fingers were performing to turn the silly piece of cloth into a proper bowtie. And this left him free to stare at her unabashedly, to just absolutely wallow in the scent of her, to let the gentle sounds of her inhales and exhales stroke at him. "There," she said, far too soon, taking a step away to survey her handiwork. Then she met his eyes, grinning. "Not bad. You'll do."

"Will I?" he asked, more anxiously than he had intended. He knew he did that sometimes, when she teased him, because there was a part of him that wanted to know that she wasn't entirely teasing, that she meant it. No, there was a part of him that needed to know she meant it.

And he thought she understood. Because she said, firmly, looking straight into his eyes, "Yes. Let's go."

"Go?" he echoed, in alarm, as she gave him a gentle shove to clear the doorway for her.

"Yeah." She walked past him, picking up a small clutch purse and dropping some lip gloss and her mobile into it.

"I'm not ready yet," he protested.

"You look ready."

"I have to do my hair," he whined.

She laughed, which, if he was going to be honest, hurt his feelings a little bit. "We don't have time," she said, leaning over to snag a pair of red strappy heels off the floor.

"You got to primp and preen and—" he complained.

"You should not take longer than me to get ready." She walked back over to him, shoes swinging in her hand, still looking amused. "It's not very manly."

"Oi! That's not—"

She reached out with the hand not holding her shoes and ruffled at his hair, combing it this way and that. His jaw dropped in astonishment. He forgot entirely how to breathe. "There you go," she said. "All set. Your hair is done. You look…" Her eyes left his hair, met his, and she trailed off. He wished his senses weren't reeling, because he wasn't quite sure that it wasn't his imagination that she had also stopped breathing.

The Doctor clutched at something to say. Something brilliant, something witty. Something that would make it worthwhile for them to risk the wrath of Jackie and just stay in.

He definitely was not imagining the fact that her gaze had just dropped to his mouth. Forget saying something. Just kiss her.

"You look fine. Let's go," she said, breathlessly, stepping away from him.

He took a deep breath, tried to think of something mundane to say, as he followed her out of her room. "What are those?" He nodded toward the sandals in her hand.

"They're going to be my shoes."

"Going to be? And what are they at the present moment?"

"Well, I can't wear them while I'm driving, can I?"

"Why do we have to drive there? Why can't we just take the TARDIS?"

"We're going to arrive there in a car. Like a normal co—Like normal people."

The Doctor made a face to indicate what he thought of normality. Then he drew himself up short. "Wait a second—Did you say you were driving?"

Stopping suddenly, Rose turned to face him. "Of course I am! It's my cousin's car. And can you even find your way around my neighbourhood without using the TARDIS?" Just as suddenly, she turned and continued her brisk walk towards the outside world and Cousin Alfred's car. The Doctor, who had stopped when Rose had, had to lightly jog to catch up.

"But…you can't drive!" he whined as he walked out the door of the TARDIS. He ran full tilt into the soft curves of Rose; it seemed she had stopped right outside the door to look for something. Suddenly coming to a decision about whatever it was that had stopped her, she set off to their right, the Doctor trailing after like a puppy. "Rose, I always drive! I'm the man, it's my…." Rose's glare cut him off mid-sentence. "What I meant to say was, it would be my pleasure to ride with you! Yes! I'd love to! Love to see you drive, because I've never had that pleasure!" He was frantically trying to dig himself out of the hole he had just created, and Rose's look indicated she knew it. "Yes, have to let you drive more often. Oh! I have just the place! Hogyutdti'sgow! Lovely cars. Well, not really cars. Kind of…well, tricycles. But on air. And with horses. But they're not horses, more like a rabbit crossed with a horse…"

Rose let him ramble on as she searched the street for Alfred's car. It would have been nice for Jackie to tell her where Alfred had actually left the thing. After craning her neck back and forth, she finally spied the vehicle lurking halfway down the block. Really, the car shouldn't have been that hard to miss, the hideous green bringing to mind the colour of toxic waste dumps or Slitheens. "Well, here we are."

The Doctor shied like a frightened animal as Rose gestured to the monstrosity in front of him. "This? We're meant to take this to a wedding? We're dressed far too nicely for this."

"Doctor. You took me for a ride on a blue Vespa. I don't think a green Fiesta is going to cramp your style."

"But the colour! It's making my eyes bleed!"

"Oh, do shut it and get in. We're running late." Rose opened the car door and plonked down into the driver's seat. As the Doctor gingerly opened the door and daintily lowered himself down into the car, Rose familiarised herself with the vehicle, feet pumping the pedals and left hand running the gears through their range before deciding she was ready to set out.

As soon as they took off, he pointed out there was a better way to do it. She shot him a look and he said no more. That did not stop him from flinching or sucking air between his teeth anytime she did anything. Before he could stop himself he was fiddling. He adjusted the thermostat, he changed the radio, and he discovered what every button on the console on the primitive machine calling itself a car did. Rose just shook her head and batted him away when appropriate. Then when he ran out of buttons, he started fiddling with Rose.

Their relationship had become much more than Time Lord/companion soon after he had regenerated. They had yet to define what it was they had. And maybe because of that, they had yet to move on to anything besides kissing and touches that wouldn't quite be called groping. It worked out well as this body seem to crave contact. He got to indulge this new found quirk with her and she didn't seem to mind the least little bit. Except now. He traced lines up and down her arm; she flicked him away with her elbow. He ran a finger down her neck; she calmly removed it. He placed a hand on her knee and started to move it upward; without looking, she said, "Don't even think about it." He huffed and crossed his arms. He could see her watching him out of the corner of her eye. "You're cute when you pout."

"Yes, well, wedding eh? Let's hope it goes better than the last one we went to." He meant it as a joke and she knew it but the hurt that crossed her face made him want to kick himself. "I'm sorry. That was heartless. I didn't mean…"

"I know. I'll just be sure to turn down any offer to hold a baby, yeah?" She smiled at him timidly.

"Well, it wouldn't cause the end of the world. Might soil the dress though. I forgot to tell you, you look lovely."

"Thanks." She pulled them into a half-full car park. "We're here. Just need to get these shoes on and I'll be ready."

"Hold that thought." He jumped out of his side and rushed over to hers. "Spin 'round please and give me one of those." He pointed to a sandal. He took it from her and carefully slid it on her foot and securing the buckle, adjusting each little strap as he went. He then repeated the process on the other foot.

"Blimey, I feel a bit like Cinderella. Hope the TARDIS doesn't turn into a pumpkin at midnight. Though if you ever fixed that chameleon circuit, it might."

"Don't mock my ship."

"I'm not. I'm mocking its driver!"

"Rose Tyler, your cheek will get you into trouble one day."

"And you'll be there to get me out of it."

"Yes, I will. Now, shall we?"

She got out of the car and had to bend over to get her purse. He saw a group of lads watching her and like any normal male he pulled her to him and gave her a quick kiss when she stood back up. He then let his arm stay about her waist, letting a hand drift a bit lower (which once again was not a possessive gesture). He gave the boys a triumphant smile and they went into the church.

Jackie saw them and waved them over. "You've only just made it! Mo's beautiful." Jackie sniffed wistfully before turning her gaze to the Doctor. "You! I'll trouble you to keep quiet and behave during this. None of your mile-a-minute babbling or any such!" The Doctor affected an air of wounded innocence. Giving him a look that showed she wasn't fooled Jacked moved off, gesturing for Rose and the Doctor to follow.

Reaching what Jackie indicated were their seats, the Doctor gently guided Rose before him, keeping his hand on the small of her back longer than was strictly necessary. Rose smiled up at him as she scooted down the pew to make room for him, before turning her attention to the programme they had received upon entering the church. No sooner had they sat down than the processional music began.

As everyone stood up to watch Cousin Mo begin her walk down the aisle, the Doctor leaned over and began to whisper in Rose's ear. "You know, Earth is the only planet where the bride wears white. Of course, not all Earth cultures use white, either, but generally speaking. On krip'ka'for, the bride actually wears an elaborate pattern of leaves from the grumt' bush..." The Doctor trailed off as he caught Jackie glaring at him. Rose smiled and grabbed his hand as she leaned in to him.

The Doctor managed to remain quiet for a full five minutes before once again leaning over to whisper to Rose. "You humans certainly do like your pomp and ceremony, though, don't you? It's not just the church thing today, though. No, you have the hen nights and the stag parties—been to more than a few of those back in the UNIT days, but best not talk about that—and then the bridal registry and shower. And of course the big church 'do, and the licence and the blood tests, and then off to the honeymoon! Isn't it enough just to say the vows and be done with it?" He looked down at Rose, still leaning against him.

She blinked, momentarily caught in the depths of the Doctor's rich brown eyes before catching what he had said. "Typical bloke," she muttered before pausing briefly again. She continued. "It's for the families and friends as much as for the couple, you know. Surely that's not just an Earth—human—thing?" Rose 's body was pressed closely against the Doctor so she could keep her voice as soft as possible, her hand playing with his as she looked up at him.

Her look was so open and trusting, with evening light filtered through stained glass combining with the candlelight to soften Rose's features and make her glow. The Doctor felt his hearts skip a beat, and had to swallow before he could reply. "Well I mean, there's always a ceremony. Lots of pomp, even. But not quite like this; not this huge...thing, like you lot do!" The Doctor gestured wildly with his empty hand, once again drawing a quelling glance from Jackie. "Most places, the exchange of vows is quite enough. The couple makes promises in front of the local official of choice, that's that. Of course, there's the odd mating ritual or dance—on Tud/ispw, they actually yodel—but otherwise it's surprisingly consistent. You humans, though-" Jackie, deciding glares weren't enough, poked the Doctor, cutting him off. He sulkily ended his lecture and leaned back as Rose bit her lip to keep from laughing.

Through the rest of the ceremony, the Doctor showed Herculean effort in keeping quiet, although Rose noted he avidly watched not just the couple at the front, but the congregants. He seemed fascinated by the ritual of the ceremony, and Rose was certain he'd have no end of questions once they were out from under her mother's watchful gaze. Upon learning that Cousin Mo's real name was Morannon, however, the Doctor felt compelled to mutter "No wonder she goes by Mo! Did her parents hate her that much?" Rose gently punched his shoulder, and he went back to paying rapt attention to the ceremony.

By the end of the ceremony, the Doctor was fairly bouncing with energy. Having to sit relatively still and quiet for as long as he had had made him restless and he was brimming with questions. As the newly married couple walked up the aisle and out the doors, he turned to Rose. "First Earth wedding I've been to, really—well, the first one that wasn't interrupted." He paused awkwardly, the memories of that day in the church with Rose once again washing over him. Rose tentatively smiled.

"No Reapers. I think we can consider it a success."

"I think so." He smiled back at her, before once again lightly placing his hand at the small of her back as they left the pew and headed towards the front of the church.

Upon reaching the doors, they queued to offer their congratulations to Mo and her new husband, Andy. Rose got a hug from Mo, as well as a compliment on the dress, before the bride turned expectantly to the Doctor. Rose looked panicked as the Doctor smoothly extended his hand. "I'm the Doctor. Lovely wedding, so glad we made it in time. Fascinating ceremony, first I've been to. Well, sort of. Love what you did with the flowers! Best wishes and all that!" His rapid-fire delivery briefly stunned the happy couple, providing him an opportunity to guide Rose away and down the stairs of the church...only to once again be waved over by Jackie.

He momentarily considered not going over to her, but Rose was already marching in her direction, so he followed in her wake reluctantly.

When they got close enough, Jackie leaned over and swatted him across the arm.

"Oi!" he exclaimed, wounded, rubbing at his arm. "That was uncalled for."

"I told you no mile-a-minute babbling. But did you listen? No." She turned to Rose. "Can I have a ride with you? Give Mo and Andy a bit of alone time."

"Sure," said Rose, negligently, heading toward the car. The Doctor followed behind, not so that he could admire the view of Rose's bottom, of course. "You'll just need to tell me where to go. I don't have directions."

This gave the Doctor pause. "Directions?" he echoed. "What d'you mean? Aren't we going home?"

She didn't know if he meant the TARDIS or the flat. But she did know that he was including her in his definition of "home." "Home" was someplace she was. She turned and beamed at him.

He blinked at her. "What? Well, aren't we?"

"Don't be daft," Jackie told him, as Rose, still beaming, opened the car door. "We have to go to the reception now."

"Reception? Reception?" he sputtered. "You mean there's more? Why are human weddings so long? Wait!" he cried, bounding over to where Jackie was opening the passenger door.

She looked at him in annoyed bewilderment. "What?"

"That's my seat."

She rolled her eyes at him. "Be a gentleman for once."

The Doctor contemplated his options. Sitting in the back did not appeal to him. For one thing—the most important thing—he would not be able to touch Rose. Well, that much. But if he didn't take the back seat, he had a feeling Jackie would hit him in some way. Sighing in defeat, he clambered into the back seat, which was tiny. But interesting.

"The perspective's totally different back here," he remarked, happily.

"Good," said Rose. "I'm glad." She glanced at him in the rear view mirror, hoping that would be enough to keep him content during the car ride.

Jackie began giving directions as they pulled away from the church. She and Rose began chatting amiably about the wedding, the dresses, the hairstyles. The Doctor listened, not at all interested.

"You know what I just remembered?" he blurted out, interrupting Jackie's monologue on the bouquets.

"What's that?" asked Rose, patiently.

"It's the third wedding we've been to together."

She met his eyes briefly in the rear view mirror. "The third?"

"You two make a habit of going to weddings together?" Jackie sniffed.

"No," answered the Doctor. "But we went to yours."

"You went to my wedding?" Jackie demanded of Rose.

"That's right. We did." She glanced at her mother. "I wanted to see it."

"Why didn't you say anything to me?"

"Mum. What was I going to say? 'You're going to have a daughter. She's me. And twenty years from now I'm going to meet an alien with a time machine.'"

"It travels through space and time," the Doctor corrected her. "And you were a beautiful bride," he said to Jackie matter-of-factly, in that way he had of delivering compliments, like they were nothing but the honest truth. They never failed to make Rose melt, those simple, powerful compliments he gave. She wondered if they would have the same impact on her mother. "It was the first time I really saw the resemblance between you and Rose," he continued, thoughtfully.

There was a moment of silence. "I don't know if that's a compliment or not," remarked Jackie.

"Compliment?" he scoffed. "It's the truth." And, because he couldn't resist, he reached out and tucked Rose's hair behind her ear, letting his hand linger, his finger tracing the shell of her ear, caressing the hoop of her earring.

He couldn't help but notice the blush carrying up her face to the ear but she made no attempt to move him away. Jackie, on the other hand, grabbed his wrist. "I don't know or want to know what you two are up to in that box of yours but I'll thank you to keep your hands to yourself in my presence!"

The chorus of "Sorry Jackie"/"Sorry Mum" filled the car. After a few turns, they arrived at the hall. Jackie was out of the car before they pulled to a complete stop. While the Doctor was climbing out of the back, Rose paused to once again replace her shoes.

"Now stop right there. You know full well that's my job!" He scrambled very inelegantly over and out and around to her. With the same care he showed before, he returned her sandals to her feet.

"Girl could get used to that." She cupped his cheek in her hand. He kissed her palm and offered her his hand. As he stood, he also lifted her to her feet. With her hand still on his cheek, she pulled him down so that their foreheads touched. "Thank you for doing this today."

He ran his free hand along her arm. "You're welcome." They stayed like that for a moment longer when he pulled and gave her his cheekiest grin. "But you owe me."

"Oh really? And how will I pay you back?" He started walking backwards, pulling the arms of the joined hands taut.

"I'll think of something." He yanked slightly so she started to follow him. "It will be something good though."

She ran a bit to catch up to him as he turned to walk straight. "Don't know if I like the sound of that."

He looked down at her and kissed her hair. "You will." He held the door for her and guided her in.