a/n: This is the last chapter! Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed!

Disclaimer: Nope, don't own or profit by Doctor Who of The Wedding Planner

Rose was immersed in her work while filled with a certain melancholy. She smiled at friends and co-workers, wore her best professional face with her clients but still, those closest to her knew she was unhappy. The Redfern wedding was quickly approaching. She had finalized a few more details with Joan and her parents but hadn't seen the Doctor since the party at the astronomy building. He seemed to be avoiding anything wedding related and people noticed.

Joan seemed quite agitated and her parents were snorting disdainfully at their future son-in-law. Especially, when he had announced he would not be participating in a wedding rehearsal. She could see a resigned look in Joan's eyes as she informed her parents that she was complying with John's wishes as it made perfect sense and how the two of them had discussed how important it was for the wedding party to be rested the night before the wedding than to attend yet another event. Joan was quite calm and almost matter of fact about the situation and reminded her parents that it was a good thing that John was finally taking an interest in wedding plans. Her parents did not agree. It was all Rose could do to diffuse the tension but she maintained her composure and kept her professional demeanor even if a part of her inside was crumbling. She knew in her heart the Doctor did not want to marry Joan but there was nothing she could do. So, she buried her feelings and did her job.

Days before the wedding, in a spur of the moment decision while out with Mickey and her mother, she agreed to marry Mickey. It had been a bad day at work for her and she decided just to say yes to end all the pressure. They were both happy even if she wasn't. She knew she should be thrilled and instead, all she felt was relieved that she wouldn't have to deal with the pressure, dating or her feelings for the Doctor. At least, she thought she wouldn't be bothered by his marriage any more. Unfortunately, it didn't quite work out that way. It still hurt.

The day before the Redfern wedding, Rose sat down with Sarah Jane. They discussed the final details and Sarah Jane seemed pleased. "You've done an excellent job, Rose. Just like I knew you would."

"Thanks, Sarah Jane," Rose said quietly.

"You know, I'm a pretty good judge of character and quite used to observing people. I knew from the start you'd be a diligent worker and that you'd care about the people and the job," Sarah Jane said, smiling at her. "I'd like to think I had small part of your success with this event but I know that this was mainly all you."

"I don't know what to say," Rose responded, touched by Sarah Jane's compliment.

"You don't have to say anything. You don't even have to tell me why you've been so quiet and subdued or why Donna's been hovering over you lately. I've been in this business a long time. I know a troubled heart when I see one. You're marrying Mickey aren't you?"

Rose looked at her startled. "I…yes. I think I am. How'd you know that?"

"I used to be reporter and a good one before I started all this. I told you, I'm good at observing people. Somehow, I think you're marrying Mickey has little to do with him and more to do with someone else. You wouldn't be the first woman to run from a broken heart into the arms of another just to make yourself forget."

Rose swallowed hard and looked down. "Yeah, there was someone but…I found out that he wasn't who I thought. He had someone else in his life, a commitment that he couldn't break no matter how he felt about me or me about him. I was angry of course, but…I couldn't help how I felt about him. In the end it didn't matter if we did have feelins for one another. A commitment is a commitment. I mean, it wasn't meant to be. Mickey's always been there, been kind to me and is stable. He won't hurt me and isn't that what every woman wants? The perfect stable bloke."

"It doesn't matter what every woman wants. It matters what you want. Promise me something, Rose. Promise me you won't marry him because it's convenient. Marry him because you can't live without him, because he makes your life better, surprises you and fills you with peace and happiness. Don't be afraid there won't be someone out there that can do that for you."

Rose looked at her, tears threatening to spill. "Thank you, Sarah Jane. You're right. I…I've just been so unsure lately and I need to marry for the right reasons."

Sarah Jane smiled at her and stood up and hugged Rose. "That's my brilliant girl. Now then, I think after all the work you put in for this Redfern affair, you've earned some time off. Take it and think about things for a bit, yes?" Rose nodded and left her office, her mind spinning with what decision she should make about Mickey and what she wanted.

dwdwdwdwdwdwdw

On the morning of the day of his marriage to Joan, the Doctor was with Jack at Jack's luxurious flat. He paced, he nervously took apart and reassembled Jack's toaster, microwave and Jack's new MacBook.

Jack mixed a few cocktails and stood there watching his friend go barmy. Finally, Jack couldn't take it anymore. "Tell me you're not going through with this."

The Doctor paused and tugged at his hair before facing Jack. "Of course I'm going through with it," he snapped. "I have to. I'm honor bound to do it."

"Honor bound?" Jack asked with disbelief. "Doc, this is the twenty first century not the nineteenth. You can do what you want. There's nothing honorable about marrying a woman you don't love and will be miserable with. Do you really think Joan would be happy knowing you married her out of some antiquated moral high ground?"

"Oh, it's so easy for you isn't it!" the Doctor groused. "You're Mr. Playboy, different shag each night, partying with the rich and beautiful footloose and fancy free. What would you know of honor?"

"Hey!" Jack said pushing off the wall he was leaning against. "I may have a good time, enjoy a good party and spreading the love but saying I'm not honorable is pushing it. Just because I'm not letting someone steam roll me into some marriage or moping around all doom and gloom because I don't have the bollux to be honest with Joan and go after the woman I really love, doesn't mean I don't have honor. It means I'm honest. Anyone I'm out with knows the score. Can you say the same of you and Joan? How long has it been since you two sat down and had an honest heart to heart?"

The Doctor looked away angry and toed his trainers into the plush carpet. Finally, he sighed rolled his head and looked back at Jack. "You're right and I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that to you."

Jack nodded. "Look, I care about you and Joan. You both deserve to be happy. This wedding isn't the way. Just promise me you'll talk to her before you do anything stupid."

"Yeah, I'll talk to her," the Doctor said miserably. He walked to a window and stared out over the city wondering what Rose was doing. He hadn't seen her since that night beneath the stars. It hadn't been easy either. He was so tempted to go over and talk to her. Memories of the look on her face that night as they danced beneath the stars and the longing and connection they shared danced in his mind almost tantalizing him with what he could have. Then, seeing the heartbreak after he went to Joan only confirmed how she felt about him. He was torn between his feelings for Rose and hurting Joan. Maybe Jack was right. He should have been honest with Joan. In trying to protect and keep from hurting her, he was really doing her more harm just as he was doing the same to Rose. He couldn't go on like this. It was time to stop running.

dwdwdwdwdwdwdw

The day of the Redfern wedding, Rose was on site with Donna seeing to everything. She had everything planned to the last detail. Right before the guests arrived, she pulled Donna aside. "This is it, Donna."

"I know! Everything is beautiful, Rose. This is our finest I work. Top of the line everything!" Donna gushed while pounding out texts on her mobile.

"Yeah," Rose said as she looked at Donna. "And that's why you're gonna finish it."

Donna looked up shocked. "Say what?" she asked.

"I'm goin' Donna. I can't be here for this and I promised Mickey I'd meet him to file for a marriage license. Mum's gonna be there too."

"But you can't do this, Rose. You don't love Mickey. Don't make the biggest mistake of your life!"

Rose looked at Donna and smiled. "I'm not, Donna. I'm gonna tell them I can't and then I'm gonna take some time off to think."

Donna smiled and hugged her. "Good girl!" Donna pulled back and looked at Rose. "Don't give up on love, Rose. One day, you're gonna find a bloke who deserves you and until then, you've got friends and A Smith Affair. You and me, we're gonna turn this town upside down with fabulous weddins! Besides, I need you when Lee finally gets off his arse and asks me. I'm not takin' anything less than a posh Rose Tyler affair."

Rose felt tears in her eyes as she looked at Donna. She hugged her one more time thanking her for everything and then slipped out leaving Donna to oversee the last minute details. She knew Donna could do it and could handle anything that came up. She left feeling at peace with Donna in charge. Now all she had to do was talk to her mum and Mickey. Oddly, now that she'd made up her mind, she felt good about telling them she wasn't ready to marry anyone. The only lingering sadness in her mind was what she thought she might have had with the Doctor. That door would be firmly shut after today and she would just have to move on with her life and be a little more careful with heart next time.

When she arrived at the local registrar's office, she saw her mother and Mickey waiting for her. Neither of them was dressed as formally as she expected and she slowed as she approached them.

Mickey stepped forward and took her hand. "Rose, we need to talk." He led her away from Jackie who stood there with a sad expression on her face. "Rose, you know I love you, always have. Probably always will but, this here, you and me doin' this now. It's not right. I know it's not right and so do you."

Rose nodded and looked at Mickey sadly. "Oh Micks, I'm so sorry. I do love you really. It's just…everything's mucked up right now. I'm a bit confused and I care for you but not the way you deserve. You deserve the best, someone who can be with you and be a partner. That's just not me. I'm rubbish with you."

"No you're not," he said emphatically. "You're Rose, my best mate, the girl who stuck by me no matter what. Even when you went off to work for that ritzy party planner, you still went with me to the pub and hung out with my mates. You could've up and left us all behind but you didn't. Point is, you and me we're mates. We're just not in love. People who marry, they should be in love not just marry 'cos there's nothin' better."

Rose looked down at the floor horrified about what she had almost done to him and that she made him feel like second best. He wasn't. "Micks, I can't say I'm sorry enough. You've always been there for me and I haven't. I never meant to hurt you."

He smiled at her. "I know you didn't. You couldn't if you want to. Honestly, I'm just as much at fault if not more so. I pushed you 'cos I was scared of losing you and well…" He looked over at Jackie and then back at Rose. "A bit scared of your mum. She's got a wicked slap you know."

Rose looked at him and burst out laughing. She threw her arms around Mickey and they hugged. "Still mates then?" Rose asked. He nodded his head and smiled at her. "Good. You know, if anyone serious comes round, she's gotta get by me," she teased. Mickey looked bashfully off to the side. "Oh, I see, there is someone isn't there," she said, bumping shoulders with him playfully.

"Maybe, depends on how things go," he told her with a twinkle in his eyes.

"Good. When it gets serious, bring her by mum's for dinner and we'll suss her out and make sure she's good enough for our Micks."

After a few more jokes and promises to keep in touch, Mickey bounded away to cancel their marriage filing. Rose walked slowly up to her mum. "Are you mad at me?" she asked.

Jackie looked sympathetically at Rose. "Oh Rose, course not. I mean I do want to see you married but I want you to be happy. You've been a misery for days now so I knew something was wrong. Was it because of Mickey and not bein' ready or is it that job? You know if that weddin' stuff is too much you can come home. Mrs. Paulson says Henriks is hiring."

Rose heaved a sigh and looked up at her mother. "Mum, I'm not quittin' my job. I love it and the money's good. It's helpin' to support both of us. I just need a break. With everything with Mickey and trying to keep things on track with this Redfern weddin, I just need a break. Sarah Jane's already givin' me some time off and I'm gonna take it."

"Are you sure, Sweetheart? I just want you happy, not workin' yourself to death. You know you can always come home." Jackie knew her daughter better than anyone and something was bothering her. She had thought at first it was wedding nerves or Mickey. But then, she grew suspicious of how hard Rose was working and how much of herself she poured into her job and particularly this wedding. She hoped it wasn't due to that John Smith person. She'd really like to let him have it after what he did to her Rose.

Of course, Jackie worried about Rose and this job. Watching Rose succeed made her so proud but also afraid. She didn't want Rose to lose herself so much in her job that she let the rest of her life slip by. She wanted Rose to find someone. It wasn't easy finding a bloke who loved you or much less one that respected you and wanted to care for you. This was why she had been so adamant about Mickey. Now though, after seeing how grown up Rose had become, she could see that Rose and Mickey had grown apart.

"I know, Mum and I love you for that. I promise I'll take care of myself." The two women hugged and Rose promised to have dinner with her soon. She told her mother she needed some time alone to think and left to go for a walk.

dwdwdwdwdwdwdw

The Doctor arrived at the wedding ceremony with Jack and they were back in the groom's room. Donna knocked on the door and Jack answered it and grinned. "You!" Donna said in shock. "You're that Jack Harkness that danced with Rose."

The Doctor, having heard this marched over. "What do you mean danced with Rose?" he demanded.

Jack looked over at him. "Oh, I ran into Rose and her lovely assistant here when they were out having a girls night. Gorgeous girl and great dancer," he said with a twinkle in his eyes. The Doctor's face darkened and without a thought and slugged Jack across the jaw.

Jack's head snapped back and he fell against the door slamming it shut. He looked up at the Doctor stunned and rubbed his jaw. "Wow Doc, didn't think you had it in you."

"Don't call me Doc! And hands off Rose Tyler. She's not for the likes of you!" he said, breathing heavy, eyes filled with thunder.

"All right, that's enough! Both of you! This is a wedding not a pub brawl," Donna announced in a no nonsense voice. She stared at both the men and it occurred to her at that moment that maybe she'd misjudged this John Smith. Maybe…but only a little. He still lied.

"You're right about that," Jack said, nodding his head. "Except, it's not really a wedding either. Is it, Doctor?"

The Doctor seemed to deflate and he looked at Donna who was looking a little pale. "Donna, I need to talk to Joan. Now."

Donna was about to hit the floor. Rose had left her in charge and the Groom was brawling with his best man and now wanted a chat with the bride before the wedding. This was not boding well. The last thing she needed was for everything to fall apart on their biggest wedding of the year. "But you can't," she said, trying to take charge and get things back on track. "It's not done and it's bad luck. I'm sorry but no." Donna stood before him, crossed her arms and gave him the Donna Noble look of "no arguments, Mister."

The Doctor looked over at Jack. "Jack, go get Joan now." Jack saluted and ducked out before Donna could stop him. "There's no rules against the best man seeing the bride is there?" the Doctor said, smirking and rocking back on his heels.

Jack quickly made his way toward Joan, rubbing his jaw as he walked. That was it, there was no way he was letting the Doctor marry Joan. He smiled as he reached the bride's dressing area. Several of the bridesmaids stared at him. He winked and went straight for Joan who was standing before a window staring out. Jack could tell she was nervous and there was something else in her eyes. He smiled broadly at her. This was going to be easier than he thought. Joan was a smart woman and he was betting she was as unready to marry as John was. "Joan, we need to talk," Jack announced and looked at Joan's startled mother and the rest of her wedding party. "In private," he finished. Joan looked only too relieved.

dwdwdwdwdwdwdw

Meanwhile, back with the groom, Donna whipped out her phone and began punching text messages madly. The Doctor sighed. "It's Donna, right?" Donna looked up at him as if he was daft.

"Right," he said nodding. "Look Donna, this wedding isn't gonna happen. Things have changed."

"Changed!" Donna said loudly. "An hour before Joan is supposed to walk down the aisle and things have changed! Is this about you gettin' cold feet because if it is, it's not uncommon. Happens all the time and…"

"It's not cold feet, Donna," he said interrupting her. "I'm not in love with Joan."

Donna stared at him as if he had grown a second head. "What! You waited until now to decide this?"

"Well you see, that's the thing," he said rubbing his neck nervously. "This whole thing just sort of happened and it snow balled a bit. One night I'm having dinner with her family and friends and before I know it I'm engaged. It sort of got away from me," he said with a confused look on his face.

"Sort of got away from you! How the hell does that happen?" Donna said, now shouting. She knew she was being unprofessional but after everything Rose had been through with him, she felt she had the right to shout.

"Well, they put me on the spot and…inferred things. What was I supposed to do!" the Doctor shouted back at Donna defensively.

"You were supposed to say no, we're not engaged, dumbo! Oh my gawd this is a catastrophe! A complete disaster!"

"You're telling me!" the Doctor agreed pacing back and forth.

Donna walked over and picked up a carafe of brandy and poured snifter which she downed in one gulp. "What am I going to do!" she said to the room in general

"What are you going to do!" the Doctor repeated shouting. "What am I going to do? I'm the one on the hook here."

Donna glared at him. "You don't get to feel sorry for yourself. You got yourself into this mess and you broke Rose's heart. Anything that happens is on your own head!"

The Doctor stopped pacing and looked at Donna. "I…I broke her heart?" he said softly. "Then she does…what I mean is she feels…" he said, unable to finish his sentence.

Donna rolled her eyes. "Oh my gawd! Will you just say it already? I don't know what she sees in some nutter space man like you."

"Fine, I love her. I've barely spent any time with her but I love her. Now, can you kindly go fetch her so I can tell her myself!" he shouted back at Donna.

Before Donna could respond there was a knock at the door. "Hold that thought," she ordered and went to see who it was. A frazzled looking assistant handed her a note and stood there looking pale. Donna sighed and opened it, her eyes widening. She then walked over and thrust it at the Doctor. "This is for you."

He opened the piece of paper to find Joan's flowery handwriting. "My dearest John, by the time you receive this, I will be gone. I'm so sorry for being such a coward but I think we both know that neither of us is ready for this wedding. I've been feeling this for quite some time but have been so swept up in the preparations that I never paused to discuss any of it with you. I hope that one day you will forgive me for leaving like this but it felt the best way. I understand from Jack that you share my sentiment and will be greatly relieved to be free of this obligation. Please know I hold you in the highest regard and have spoken with my parents and directed them to hold no ill will toward you. Thank you my dearest for your understanding and compassion and I wish you only the best. Love, Joan"

He looked up, his mouth hanging open. "She's jilted me," he said in shock.

Donna nodded her head in agreement. "Yep!"

The Doctor scrubbed his hands over his face. "Well that was…convenient."

Donna rolled her eyes. "You would say that. Meanwhile we have a couple hundred people out there waiting for you to get married."

"Ah, yes. Well, isn't that your department and speaking of your department…where's Rose?"

Donna sighed and looked up at the ceiling. "Well, she's not here and she's got bloody bad timing. She so owes me for this one."

"What do you mean she's not here?" he shouted in agitation as he paced and tugged at his hair.

"Well, she's either gettin' married to Mickey or she's run off somewhere to get her head straight."

"What! What do you mean she's marrying Rickey the idiot?"

"Oi! You watch it skinny boy! Who's the idiot that got himself engaged by accident?" Donna reminded him.

The Doctor winced. "Look, go get Jack and tell me where this alleged marriage is supposed to be taking place," he ordered as visions of being too late to stop her filled his mind. He had to stop her. He had to tell her how he felt.

Donna's assistant came forward and whispered something into her ear. "Well isn't that wizard!" Donna exclaimed and turned to the Doctor. "Well, star boy, it appears the best man ran off with your bride to go party it up on what was to be your honeymoon."

Again, the Doctor's mouth opened and closed but no sound was coming out. "Jack and Joan?" He stared at Donna as if she was going to tell him it was a joke except it was no joke. Finally he snorted. Should have figured. He looked up and then back at Donna. "Look, just tell me where I can find Rose."

Donna smiled. "You're gonna go get her, aren't you? You better be romantic about it," she warned before telling him where to go. He ran out of the room, through the crowd, past Joan's grumbling parents and straight to Jack's shiny red Porsche and sped away. Donna straightened her spine, took a deep breath, put a smile on her face and walked out to face the crowd and make her announcement. The bride may have skipped out with the best man but she was going to make the best of this. By the time Donna was done, the guests were in the reception tent, music was playing, Joan's father was singing his heart out while his wife had her head in her hands and alcohol was flowing liberally.

dwdwdwdwdwdwdw

The Doctor raced to stop Rose from marrying Mickey. It was a miracle he was not pulled over and cited for excessive speed and reckless driving. He screeched the car to a stop and parked illegally and ran up to the building, running into Mickey on the way. Mickey took one look at him in the rumpled tux, panicked look on his face and hair askew and laughed. "What the 'ell happened to you?"

The Doctor ignored him. "Rose can't marry you!" he shouted and looked around. "Where is she?"

Mickey immediately became defensive and annoyed. "Oh yeah, says who? Rose and me can get married if we want to!"

The Doctor paused and stared at Mickey. "You said canget married. That means you're not. I'm not too late!" he shouted and jumped up and down pumping his fist in the air. "Where is she? I need to speak to her. It's an emergency."

"Oh yeah, what kind of an emergency? I mean, shouldn't you be gettin' married yourself to your fiancé?"

"What? Oh no! She jilted me! Isn't that brilliant! Now I can be with Rose!"

Mickey just stared at him. "You got jilted at the altar and you're happy 'bout it?"

The Doctor nodded grinning broadly. "Oh yes! She ran off with my best man! Now please tell me where I can find Rose."

Mickey shook his head. "Man, you are a complete nutter. I don't know what she sees in you. All right mate, just tell me this…Do you love her?"

"I don't see how that's any of your business," the Doctor answered, annoyed that Mickey was not telling him where Rose was.

"Way I see it, it is my business. I may not be marryin' her but I care and I'm not sendin' you off to break her heart so you answer me."

The Doctor stared at Mickey's hard eyes. "Yes, I love her," he said with conviction.

Mickey nodded. "All right, but if you break her heart, you'll be hearin' from me. She's takin' some time off from work to think. She walked off in that direction over there," Mickey told him, pointing to where Rose had gone. "She likes the park near her flat. Likes to go there to think sometimes. You might find her there."

"Brilliant. Thank you…Mickey."

Mickey just gave him another hard look. "Just make her happy."

The Doctor nodded and took off running, leaving Jack's Porsche behind to be towed off. He soon made his way to the park, breathing heavy and looking disheveled. He began combing the park and praying that she would be there. After what felt like hours of searching, he found her not far from where he had been star gazing the night they first met. She was sitting on a stone bench looking out across a pond eating blue jelly babies.

He walked up and sat down next to her. She looked at him, a blue jelly baby half way to her mouth and stared at him. He smiled at her as if it was the most normal thing ever. Finally she spoke. "Um, shouldn't you be gettin' married?"

He shrugged. "I suppose that was the plan but I don't do well with plans. Sort of like weddings. I'm a bit rubbish at them, especially my own as it turns out."

"But Joan…" Rose said, still stunned that he was here with her. She had been sitting her thinking about everything including him and how quickly she had fallen for him. It wasn't like her. She had just felt that immediate connection. She was wondering about the wedding and how Donna was doing and truth be told, morning his loss. Having him walk up in a wrinkled tuxedo and just plop down casually as you please was like some sort of cosmic gift. These things just didn't happen to her.

"Wellll, turns out Joan was just about as keen to marry me as I was to marry her. Matter of fact, she jilted me and ran off with my best man who I understand you went dancing with."

Rose looked at him confused as she processed this. "Joan ran off?" she finally said.

"Yep!" he said poppin his p. With my best friend, Jack. You remember him, charming, playboy, and womanizer. Wanted to check you out apparently.

Rose's eyes widened. "You mean Jack Harkness? Jack Harkness was your best man and he ran off with Joan?" Rose asked and began to grin. She shouldn't be happy. It was wrong. This was a terrible thing and Sarah Jane would not be happy. She may even sack Rose. Suddenly, Rose didn't care. The Doctor was not married or engaged and was sitting here next to her. She turned back to him and offered him a blue jelly baby.

He took one and popped it in his mouth. "So you're not married to Mickey and you're sitting here eating blue jelly babies."

"No, I couldn't marry Mickey and I hear that blue jelly babies are the best because their blue and lots of good things are blue."

He grinned at her. "Very wise that. I mean not marrying Mickey and about the blue jelly babies."

"Yeah," she said softly and stared into his eyes. "Doctor, I…"

"I love you," he interrupted. "I know it's fast and I may have been a bit of prat but if you give me a chance, I could prove that I'm not really a prat. I can even be less rude. Maybe even polite if you'll just give me a second chance, Rose Tyler.

Rose looked at him and nodded. "I love you too, Doctor. Even if you are a rude nutter."

He grinned. "Molto bene," he whispered and pulled her into his arms for the snog of his life. And, they made out a lot!