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John was grinning like a big, massive idiot Saturday morning, a little less than a month before him and Rose’s anniversary, as he watched her sleep soundly beside him in his bed.
Because last night, he decided he was going to ask Rose to marry him.
Just thinking about it made his stomach twist and knot and clench in excitement; made him want to cry his eyes out from sheer joy. He loved her very much, so very much, and this choice finally coming upon him was world-changing. He loved her so much he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. Yes, that was a decision he personally made early on in their relationship, and he made his intentions clear on numerous occasions, but the fact he had finally… finally decided to make it official, he was just so overwhelmed.
The moment he decided was a very private and intimate one. They had gotten into bed after going out to watch a production of Hamlet in the city, with Rose deciding ‘sod it’ and making an X-Men t-shirt John had worn the other day as her jimjams, and as they held each other in the dark, right before she fell asleep, she mumbled a quiet, “Love you.”
He whispered it back, pressed a gentle kiss to her temple, tucked his chin on top of her head, and knew that he couldn’t bear being just boyfriend and girlfriend anymore. He wanted her to wake up every morning and go to sleep every night with him; to share breakfast, lunch and dinner together; to drive to school together; to pay bills together; to spend Christmases together, like he had imagined last year.
He wanted every day to be just like today, with Rose.
He smirked to himself as he recalled how a few months ago, he freaked himself out for even considering marrying Rose, concerned that he was jumping the gun on their relationship, but he knew now that it was the right timing. Just as their relationship had always been, it was always about things feeling right.
He was pulled out of his reverie when Rose gave a small inhale and fluttered her eyes open, waking to the sight of John beaming down at her with a toothless smile and hazy eyes. Her favourite thing to wake up to, she thought with a smile.
“Morning,” he murmured, pecking her lips.
“Morning,” she exhaled back brightly. Well, as brightly as she could be after just waking up.
He briefly wondered to himself what would happen if he asked her right now. He imagined dropping a kiss on her head before bringing his lips to her ear and murmuring, “Will you marry me?” He could do that - this moment seemed incredibly perfect. And for a moment, so overwhelmed with love, he considered it. He brushed a few hairs behind her ear, caressed her cheek and jaw. He brought his lips to her ear, gave a happy sigh and closed his eyes…
And whispered, “I love you.” As tender and beautiful as it would be just to ask her now, in this personal and tender setting, his precious girl deserved the best. She deserved something right out of a fairytale, something that showed her how much he loved her and wanted her forever. He wanted to knock her socks off and make her feel so overwhelmed with love, cherishment and adoration from him.
“I love you too,” she mumbled back, planting a kiss on his neck and snuggling deeper into his embrace. “Sleep-in?” she suggested sleepily, already making the decision for them as her eyes fluttered shut. He nodded, mimicking the position he had taken on last night as he let his drowsiness take over again.
John would plan the most wonderful engagement he could for Rose, and nothing would get in his way.
---
Later that morning, Rose had gone home after their extra sleeping, a quick spot of breakfast and a particularly salacious shower with John. For some reason that she couldn’t explain, Rose was practically magnetised to John. Something within her made her not want to leave him, to spend a whole day with him, but she had commitments to fulfil and dragged herself out of his house.
They may or may not have spent five minutes at his front door just holding hands and grinning like idiots.
After seeing Rose off and clearing away the kitchen, John sat down at the counter and grabbed his phone from his pocket, smiling uncontrollably as he swiped his thumb over the front of it. He inhaled nervously as he dialled Donna’s number, hand slightly shaking as he brought his phone to his ear. He was terrified yet eager to hear her reaction to his intentions, unsure what would transpire from his ginger best friend. After a few trills, she picked up his call.
‘ Good morning, spaceman. To what do I owe the pleasure? ’ she greeted, sounding a little tired.
He smirked at her sassiness. “What are you doing right now?” he inquired, wanting to make sure the big news she was going to hear wouldn’t result in any damages or injuries.
‘ Having tea on the lounge, alone, like I always do on a Saturday morning, ’ she snarked. He chuckled, feeling the ball of nervousness intensify.
“I’d put down the tea if I were you.”
‘ What the hell have you done now? ’ she sighed, accompanied by the gentle thump of the ceramic base meeting her wooden coffee table. He took in a breath and closed his eyes.
“I’m going to ask Rose to marry me,” he grinned, pulling the phone away from his ear quick enough to avoid having his eardrum being blown out by Donna’s screech of excitement.
‘ OH MY GOD! ’ she screamed, which was accompanied by hysterical laughter. ‘ Oh my God, it’s finally happening! What do you need? What can I do for you? ’ she interrogated, firing off questions and ready for any and all jobs that were available for her.
“ Well ,” he drawled, “I was thinking it’s only fair that my best friend helps me pick out the ring,” he replied.
More screams. He was quite worried that Donna would have a visit from the police in a few minutes.
‘ Oh, John, you’re making me bloody cry into my tea! ’ she gasped, overwhelmed.
“Sorry,” he sheepishly replied with a chuckle.
‘ How long have you been hiding this decision from me, then? ’ she asked with a sniffle. ‘ Weeks? Months? ’ John snuck a glance at the clock on his wall and made a face of calculation as he tugged at his earlobe.
“Uh, about thirteen hours,” he answered, and a brief silence fell between them.
A small sob came from her lips. ‘ Oh, John! ’
“What?” he exclaimed in falsetto, confused at what he had done wrong. This was wonderful news and he had told her almost immediately!
‘ I’m just… I’m so happy for you and that you’ve given me the privilege of being involved in this. Do you remember our phone call after your first date with Rose? I said that you both deserve to be happy and that I was so glad that you found each other… ’ she rambled, sniffling. He relaxed at her little trip down memory lane, understanding that she was just getting a bit emotional about the whole ordeal. He understood it.
“And then demanded to be Maid of Honour or Best Woman,” he reminded her teasingly with a smirk.
‘ Yes, and I better be at least under bloody consideration! ’ He laughed. ‘ Anyways, I’m just so happy, John. So happy that this has happened and you’re finally at rest for once. ’
He smiled like an idiot, feeling lucky and solaced. “I am too,” he murmured.
They quickly organised the shopping trip for the day before saying goodbye and hanging up. John transferred a reasonable amount of money from his savings onto his card, not even feeling any sort of negative emotion from the dent in his account. It was small enough to not be bad yet big enough to make a difference, but John didn’t care. He wanted to buy Rose the best ring possible and he was willing to pay any price necessary.
Donna had said over the phone that she had discussed rings and jewellery with Rose before, and could do some brainstorming and prompting if needed. John felt confident he could choose something he knew she would love but appreciated the extra validation and guidance.
He took some time to consider what the ring would be, flicking through his mind’s encyclopedia on Rose’s preferences, tastes, overall sense of style. He considered comments she had made about jewellery and clothes before, what she thought of celebrity engagement rings if they ever came up. He gathered a better idea of what to look for, but he still felt like he was missing something.
After a while, he made his way to his study, unlocking the cabinet located in the corner. He retrieved his mother’s jewellery box, gently opening the wooden lid and peering inside. Her engagement ring sat inside on a velvet cushion, sparkling in the slim bit of sunlight that crept through a window. It was a classic diamond ring, modest in size and gold banded. He picked it up delicately between his thumb and index finger, inspecting it closely. He never wanted to give his mother’s engagement ring away - it never felt right. Not with River, not with Rose, but right now he felt like it could give him guidance and wisdom. He pressed it into his palm as he balled a fist with his hand and closed his eyes, taking a moment to think.
A few moments later, with a tiny smile on his lips and satisfied, he returned the ring to its home.
“Thanks, mum,” he murmured, closing the box and locking the cabinet up once again, setting off.
---
John picked up Donna two hours after their call, the excitement and anticipation practically buzzing off of her as she gave him a death-squeeze hug and bounced into his car.
She chatted the entire drive into the city, a never-ending rattle about ring options, Rose’s size (he knew that one, proudly), the colours, the gems. She couldn’t stop talking - her entire brain in overtime. Donna loved weddings and could talk about any aspect of them. Dresses, suits, catering, locations, colour schemes. She was practically an uncertified wedding planner. John took great comfort in the fact that he and Rose’s wedding would be in good hands with Donna.
That is if she says yes, he thought to himself paranoidly.
“Stop it,” Donna said firmly as they pulled over to park. He glanced at her with bewilderment in his eyes as she looked back at him with her you-know-I’m-right face. Donna could read John like a book and had been able to for a very long time. She could see the doubt in his face and body, and she was going to shut down that line of thinking before it could fester.
“Stop what?” he asked, pulling the handbrake and turning off the vehicle.
“She’s going to say yes, dumbo. Don’t think otherwise!” she demanded with a pointed finger. He blushed at how obvious his thoughts were and nodded sheepishly. Donna was right - why wouldn’t Rose say yes? And if she did, he knew that she would have an excellent reason for doing so. He just had to trust that things would go as hoped and move on if they didn’t.
Gathering the courage, John stepped out of the car and Donna followed. They walked for a few minutes before he led them into a secluded little laneway where cafes and small businesses hid, reminding Donna of the Medusa Cascade. They ended up walking down a staircase underground, bringing them to an arcade that must’ve been built in the early nineteen-hundreds. Passing by sweet shops and clothing stores, at the very end was a jewellery shop.
John took in a deep breath as they entered, peering around carefully and with eager eyes, anticipating anything to leap out at him. This was the shop where he had acquired the diamond earrings from Christmas, and that was an item he had gone into the store with the intention of finding. He was unfamiliar with the overall catalogue and didn’t want to risk missing the perfect ring. Donna shadowed him and watched in curiosity, never had seen John in such a careful, tense, calculating state before in her life.
And she had witnessed him be a marker for the GSCEs before.
“Hello!” The pair looked over to see an older man come out from around the counter, looking very relaxed and enthusiastic. John hadn’t seen him nor had he been served by him last time. His smile was warm, and his overall presence was joyful. “My name is Lobus, and welcome to Sibylline Jewellers. What can I do for you, today?”
“Hi, there! I’m Doctor John Smith. I’m looking for an engagement ring,” John grinned, rocking on the balls of his feet. Lobus beamed at the reason and clasped his hands together.
“Ah! And is this the lovely bride to be?” he asked. Both John and Donna pulled faces and glanced at each other, shaking their heads. John gave an amused laugh.
“Oh, no, no, no. This is my best mate, Donna Noble. She’s here to help out with the process,” he explained. Lobus nodded.
“Ah, of course! I must say, I would’ve pinned you two for siblings if I had to guess a second time.”
John and Donna looked at each other quizzically. “Really?” they said in disbelief.
“Yes! Well, did you have a particular idea in mind?” Lobus prompted with a raised brow.
“Not really,” John admitted in a low, embarrassed voice, scratching the back of his head. “Just… going to go with the flow, I suppose.”
“Excellent technique! Would you like any suggestions or guides?” he offered.
“Nah, I think I’m sorted with Donna, my eyes, and my heart,” he giggled lightly, making Lobus beam in joy.
“Modern love! If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.” John and Donna thanked the attendant before beginning the search.
John investigated every single ring available to him, hands behind his back as he circled around the glass displays. He’d pause every so often, and both Donna and Lobus would hold their breaths in anticipation, but deflated with the shake of his head as he muttered something like, “No” or “Absolutely not”.
Some rings he’d loiter at for a very long time, hesitant but intrigued. He’d beckon Donna over for her opinion, and she’d immediately reject it. He hummed in agreement, mumbling “Thought so”, and continued his surveying.
John found himself at the very last display cabinet, feeling hopeless and lacking motivation. If he hadn’t found the ring on the other side of the room, would he find it now? He was terrified he would leave the shop empty-handed.
But then, in the very last section, in the very last row, the very last ring, he found it.
John’s breath hitched when he saw the ring, freezing, and Donna smirked to herself, knowing he’d found it.
“Mister Lobus, can I have a look at this one, please?” he called out, and Donna approached as Lobus came to retrieve the ring. By the time Donna was there, the ring was before John, and she could see the tears in his eyes.
It was a silver-banded, sapphire ring. The gem was cut into a circular shape, and tiny, intricate diamonds surrounded the edge, followed by six bigger ones on each side forming a triangular shape. In his mind, John could see himself bestowing this ring to Rose, imagine it on her finger, and imagine it staying there for many years as they grew old together.
“It’s perfect,” Donna whispered encouragingly. She could see what he saw as well and knew from the many discussions that she had with Rose that John had made the right choice.
John gave a small sniffle and wiped away the tears in his eyes. “Yeah, it is. How much?”
Lobus gave the price tag, which absolutely floored Donna but didn’t phase John the slightest. He continued to stand there and smile like he was the luckiest man in the world.
Because he was.
“And could I get something engraved?” he asked. Lobus handed him a card, and John filled it out quickly and without hesitation before promptly handing it back to Lobus. After acquiring Rose’s ring size and other necessary details, John put down a deposit and was told it would be ready in two weeks time.
“Brilliant. Thank you, Mister Lobus,” John said, shaking the man’s hand.
“You’re welcome, Doctor Smith.”
John and Donna left the store beaming happily and giggling giddily, talking in hushed voices about how excited they were. Donna insisted they sit down at a cafe to discuss ideas and his plans for the big moment, which he agreed to with a bit of influence from his love-dazed state.
He guided them to one he’d spotted in the arcade last time he was there, acquiring a secluded, private table in the back. The cafe was nineteen-twenties themed, filled with relevant and appropriate decor and designed to look something straight out of a film set. They chuckled at the themed menu, noting items such as ‘Agatha Chrispies’ and ‘The Green Gatsby’, making Donna geek out at the literary references and taking a few pictures to feature in class. They noted the interesting, unique motif of wasps and unicorns as well, found on the silverware, plates, napkins.
They ordered a cocktail each and some lemonade before ordering their own meals.
“So, what are you getting engraved?” she hummed in interest, sipping from her straw.
“You’ll find out,” he smirked with a wink, joining her in drinking.
“Okay, what about the deed itself? Any ideas?” she begged, desperate to hear something about the engagement. This was a moment she had been anticipating since the day Rose joined the school and she could hardly contain herself.
“Far too many and far too little, currently, but I want it to be perfect. Something meaningful, sentimental. I don’t just wanna pop the question in a restaurant, you know?” he rambled, tugging his earlobe.
“Of course,” she agreed. Donna, many months ago, had asked Rose what her least favourite type of proposal was. It was the restaurant proposal. Donna was proud of John.
“But, I nearly did it this morning,” he smiled bashfully. She gaped at him, making a face of awe and admiration. “I decided last night when I watched her fall asleep, and then watching her wake up again… I just thought, ‘why not?’. And I was on the verge of doing it - I was cuddling her and just going to whisper it in her ear, but I know that she deserves something brilliant,” he explained in a trance-like state, recalling the moment again.
“However you do it, it’s going to be wonderful, John,” she assured him with a comforting, gentle smile.
“I can’t help but doubt, though. Will she say yes?” he murmured in worry, tugging his earlobe.
“Why don’t you ask her yourself?” she advised, nodding behind him. Confusion came over his face, and then his stomach dropped as he realised the implications of her response. Slowly, he turned, waiting to find Rose standing behind him, and relaxed when there was no one. The clear deflation in his body made Donna crack up, and she chortled. He turned around with an angry pout on his face.
“That was not funny - don’t do that to me again!” he whisper-shouted. “I nearly had a bloody heart attack.”
“Your face!” she exclaimed with a laugh, clutching her belly. “Oh, man, that was hilarious. Woo!” she exhaled, fanning her face as she composed herself. “Okay, jokes aside, she is one-hundred percent going to say yes. I cannot think of a single reason why she wouldn’t, so you literally have nothing to worry about. Just ask her,” she said, softly squeezing his hand. He did it back and smiled.
“Thanks, Donna.”
“You’re welcome, Spaceman. Now, where the hell is our food?” she demanded, making him chuckle.
His proposal would go smoothly, he thought to himself.
---
Rose, fortunately, did not suspect a thing when John said he and Donna had gone out on Saturday. With the added fib of going to a movie alongside their actual lunch, she was sold and mentioned she was glad that they hung out.
After shopping for her ring, John couldn’t stop staring at her fingers when he could discreetly and imagining it on her hand.
Sunday morning, he had coffee with Jack at his flat and broke the news. Jack, containing his excitement more than Donna did, couldn’t stop grinning afterwards and gave his friend a big hug, congratulating him after exclaiming, “About damned time!” Like Donna, Jack offered any assistance for the engagement and wedding itself.
Afterwards, in the afternoon, John informed Sarah Jane. She expressed her pride and elation as well and unpacked the special milestone in a number of ways. Sarah Jane noted that this could be seen as a symbol of rebirth for their relationship, highlighting that they have healed from the issues that transpired with River, which John agreed with. She asked how he was feeling about a second marriage, and he admitted he didn’t really think about the ‘accumulation’. He’d buried the hatchet with his previous marriage and no longer cared about it. Proposing to Rose, he felt, was like getting married for the first time all over again. Rose outweighed River in many ways and her relationship with him was far more powerful and stronger. He had only thought about his previous marriage once so far during the process - the ring he’d given River. Sure, there would likely be more thoughts about her as the process continued, but for now, he didn’t care.
Two weeks passed, and on Sunday, John returned to the jewellers, picking up the ring and inspecting it with content and approval. The engraving was perfect to his image, making him full of joy and satisfaction. Lobus wished him luck and the happiest of marriages with Rose.
Today, as secretly requested by John, Donna distracted Rose with a ‘girl’s day out’. Lunch, shopping, so on and so forth. He needed security that Rose wouldn’t be going anywhere.
Because he was going to tell Jackie and show her the ring.
Now, it could be agreed that the two of them started off on the wrong foot. He grimaced and shuddered every time he replayed back their first meeting. But, all these months later, they had formed a wonderful and pleasant relationship. They had progressed to a point that Jackie insisted he came to her for anything, with or without Rose, always there for him. It warmed his heart and blessed him with the maternal presence he had lost for the last nearly fifteen years. Sure, it had come in small doses through Sarah Jane, some older co-workers and whatnot, but he had never felt in full force like he had with Jackie. River’s mother, Amy, was a bit distant from him and kept a firm line drawn between them, which he accepted and didn’t care about. Jackie had unlocked a repressed need within and breathed fresh air into his life.
He took a shaky breath as he ascended the estate’s staircase, the ring in his coat pocket weighing like the world. The journey down the walkway felt like an eternity, as if Jackie’s door getting further and further away, but all of a sudden he was in front of it and knocking. The door swung open, showing Rose’s mother on the other side, who looked a bit baffled at the sight of John on her doorstep.
“Hello, Jackie!” he greeted happily, putting on a relaxed, confident appearance.
“John! This is a surprise. Cup of tea?” she offered, stepping aside and letting him in. He sauntered in, trying to quell how much he was trembling and how sick he felt in the stomach.
“Yeah, sorry to come unannounced. And that would be lovely,” he hummed in response.
“Go sit down,” she instructed with the wave of her hand, and he nodded obediently, plopping himself on the couch, nervously drumming his fingers on his knee. She joined him a few moments later with a tray containing a mug for each of them and some biscuits she knew he loved. He grinned at the sight of the treats and thanked her appreciatively, tucking in as soon as it was politely possible. Jackie observed him over the rim of her mug, and after giving him some time to fill his belly, she broke the tension.
“What do you need?” she asked as he bit into another biscuit, making him pause and glance up at her. “You’re here for a reason. Rose hasn’t called me in a state of distress, so you haven’t done anything wrong. So I’m guessing you want something from me,” she deduced proudly, making John smirk as he swallowed.
“Clever woman, you are. I can see where Rose gets her intelligence from,” he complimented, finishing off the glutenous treat.
“Well, it’s also a bit of her dad,” she humbly responded with a longing smile. “Now, what is it?” John brushed his hands on his trousers before reaching a hand into his pocket. He flicked open the box before pulling it out, planting it on the bamboo-glass table between them, ring facing Jackie.
She gasped and quickly set down her mug, covering her mouth with her hands.
“Oh my God!” she shrieked, making John beam in satisfaction. Her eyes flicked between his face and the jewellery. “Is it–? Are you–?”
“I’m going to ask Rose to marry me,” he confirmed. She let out a scream of elation, jumping up and bringing John with her, pulling him into a bone-crushing hug. He laughed at her excitement, relieved and glad to see she was on board.
She pulled back after a moment, tears in her eyes as she gently patted his shoulders and stroked his face.
“Oh, John, I’m thrilled,” she sighed, picking up a tissue and dabbing at her eyes. “Rose has never been better with you, and I know that you’ll make her the happiest woman in the world. Thank you for telling me this.”
“ Well ,” he drawled, “I know that you’d slap me if I didn’t,” he teased, earning a light hit on his arm. “Jokes aside, I wanted you to know. You deserve to, and I wanna make sure things are perfect for her.”
“Good man. What do you have planned?”
“I’m going to do it near our anniversary in about two weeks time,” he answered, sitting down again as she joined him. “I’m going to do something special for us. I’ll let Rose explain it, because I know she’ll want to, so I’m keeping things under wraps for now.”
“Looking forward to it,” she grinned.
“Now, can I ask you a favour?”
“Anything.”
---
The two weeks leading up to the big day were both wonderful and dreadful for John.
Every day it got harder to not just ask the question, especially the mornings they woke up together. Over breakfast, sitting at red lights, in the staffroom, silent cuddles on the couch, during strolls around town, after making love. He wanted to take this step so badly, but he had organised the ultimate proposal for them and he would be patient for it.
But, amongst all the fighting his impulse, he found solace in the two weeks. Every day, he saw her becoming more beautiful, more brilliant, more amazing. He found himself savouring every minute with her - every touch, laugh, conversation, kiss, text, phone call, car ride, date night. It reminded him how lucky he was to have her, and made him more eager for the life they would be sharing soon. After however long it would take for them to get married, they would be doing life together every single day, no longer separated by simple things that kept accumulating.
He felt like a child on Christmas Eve the night before his selected day, a few after their actual anniversary. For the actual date itself, he’d bestowed her with flowers, chips and a new jewellery set (sneakily matching her ring), and she had given him a pair of Converse she’d caught him browsing at a few times and a first-edition copy of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy , one of his favourite sci-fi novels. He said he’d organised a surprise celebration for them the weekend following and would pick her up, do all that jazz. He fell asleep grinning, his heart pounding rapidly, and unable to wait for sleep.
John frowned when he woke up and found it was raining outside. He promptly called a restaurant he knew that Rose had been dying to visit for ages in the city and thankfully secured a reservation, but inside he prayed and hoped that he wouldn’t have to cancel his plans.
But the rain kept pouring all day, and it had become torrential for a few hours. Even if the weather would get back to normal in time for what he had scheduled, John knew that the spot was compromised now. It would be all wet, gross, cold and muddy. That wouldn’t do well for the proposal.
When the early afternoon came around, he sighed and accepted his defeat, calling Rose to tell her that they would be going out to a surprise restaurant. With the details confirmed, he got dressed into a nice suit, admittedly acting like a bit of a toddler as he stomped around his house irritatedly.
He blew off some steam on the way over to Rose’s with some angsty heavy metal, screaming the lyrics out.
He managed to enjoy himself, though. It was their anniversary - how couldn’t he? She unknowingly distracted him without barely lifting a finger, like she always did. She was his black hole. The dinner was wonderful, exotic and exquisite. They laughed and had engaging, never-ending conversations that brightened their days. Afterwards, Rose launched on him her own surprise - two tickets to watch a screening of a new sci-fi flick John was eager for.
Even though the evening was great, John was still extremely annoyed that their anniversary had to be reduced to a simple dinner out and going to the movies rather than a personal adventure and a beautiful proposal. However, his clever Rose completely remedied his bitter mood with the enthralling lingerie set she had been wearing all night.
He returned the gesture accordingly.
As they fell asleep in her bed, tangled in her sheets and tightly cuddling each other, he thought to himself that there would be only a few more times they would be in this bed if she chose to move in with him.
He would do it next week, he assured himself.
---
Things were going smoothly the week after their anniversary celebration. At least initially.
He confessed to Rose that the dinner was a last-minute change because of the weather the morning after, and said he wanted to do what he had actually planned. She eagerly agreed to do it the following weekend.
With all the things he needed packed in the boot of his car, he picked up Rose, and they set off for John’s location.
They weren’t anticipating to find themselves in bumper-to-bumper traffic without warning, and a quick listen to the radio confirmed John’s worst fears: There had been a catastrophic car accident (thankfully, no one was hurt) and the roads to where John had chosen had been closed off.
And there was only one way there.
At the next opportunity, a pouty John turned around and silently sulked as they drove back into town, deciding to have an impromptu date night at his place.
Why was the world so against him marrying Rose Tyler, he wondered as he fell asleep with his face buried in her hair. If they wanted to stop him so badly, they’d have to send her to a bloody parallel universe.
---
John quickly and sharply wrote notes on the board Monday morning, his brow furrowed in irritation. It was two weeks after their anniversary, and he still hadn’t proposed to Rose, the ring burning a hole in his locked desk drawer in his home office.
“Doctor, can we do an experiment?” a student asked in a whine. He gave a quiet sigh that only he could hear and shook his head, keeping his eyes on the board.
“No, we have one planned for tomorrow,” he replied.
“Can’t we just do it today?” he persisted, and John felt some of his anger flare up. Why do kids have to be so bloody stubborn sometimes? Why couldn’t they just accept that things don’t always go their way?
“No,” he countered, pushing the marker a bit harder now and making the red pigmentation a bit brighter.
“Doctor-” Patience worn thin and snapped, John quickly spun around and faced his students, the Oncoming Storm on his face and silencing his insistent student. The class stared back at him in silent horror and shock.
“I said ‘no’. We will stick to the schedule, and I expect you all to accept that. No more complaining, understand?” John firmly stated, eyebrow raised and mouth pulled into a thin line.
“Yes, Doctor Smith,” the student responded half-heartedly, deciding not to push it. John gave a quiet sigh and rubbed the back of his neck as the guilt crept in. He hated every time he got like this - every time . He wasn’t a mean teacher.
“Look, I get it - notes and discussion isn’t everyone’s thing. Experiments are fun and you are right to want them. But it’s my responsibility as your teacher to fulfil the curriculum, and it’s important that you respect the fact that I have organised these lessons to try and educate you as much as I can. I’m sorry for raising my voice, getting angry, but it’s not okay for you to demand things in my classroom. Understand?” he softly explained, searching for forgiveness and mutuality amongst his students. They looked at him apologetically.
“Sorry, Doctor,” the student replied.
“Thank you.” John turned around and finished his notes on the board. Still feeling a bit guilty at how he reacted, he sneakily retrieved his bag of lollies and gave each student one as they left.
Recess had rolled around, and he made his way to the staff room with slouching shoulders. He tucked into his sandwich, slowly biting and chewing as he waited for Rose to arrive. He could do with a dose of her precious smile and brilliant presence.
Jack joined him at the table with a smirk on his face.
“So,” he said, “a bit snarly today, are we? I’ve heard whispers of ‘the Oncoming Storm’ in the halls just then,” he grinned teasingly.
“Shut up,” John grumbled in response, eyes lowered.
“Feisty! Is a special delayed event the reason for your moodiness?” Jack hummed quietly, keeping the conversation between them.
“What do you think?”
“Don’t worry, Doc. You’ll get a chance soon enough. Here comes your girl now - put on a smile and get back to being the happy teacher everyone knows and loves, eh?” Jack was right, John thought to himself. It wouldn’t do any good for him to be all rude and upset in his classes.
“Thanks, Jack,” John smiled gently.
“You’re welcome.”
Rose greeted John with a kiss on the cheek and remedied his irritation.
This weekend, it had to happen.
---
Saturday evening came quicker than expected, and John was determined to propose today.
He checked the weather, traffic, everything important for his car to function. He triple-checked all the stuff he had to bring with him, texted Rose a little bit beforehand to make sure she hadn’t gotten unwell or anything.
He picked up Rose exactly on time, and she got into his car, kissing him deeply.
“Hello,” he murmured in a low voice after she pulled away, a grin on his lips.
“Hello,” she smirked back, with a touch of tongue. “Shall we go and finally get your mysterious date accomplished?” she hummed, buckling up.
“Oh, yes,” he agreed, pulling back out onto the road and beginning the journey.
John couldn’t stop smiling as he drove along the near-empty highway, Rose’s hand entwined in his free one. He snuck a glance at her, Aerosmith’s ‘I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing’ gently playing in the background.
It was finally going to happen, he thought giddily. No interruptions or catastrophes getting in the way of his plans.
“Cannot believe I’m considering this idea for a second time, but you’re not a serial killer, are you?” Rose joked as John entered a dirt road, driving through a forest.
He laughed. “Promise,” he assured her, bringing up her hand and kissing her knuckles.
After a few minutes of driving, they came out into a clearing. The car went up a hill before John stopped and parked, turning to Rose. She looked at him in curiosity.
“Shut your eyes for a moment,” he instructed, planting a kiss on her cheek. She chuckled and did so obediently, listening eagerly as the car door opened on John’s side. She leant back against her seat and furrowed her brow as she listened to him open and move things around in his car. After a few moments, her door was opened.
“Keep them closed,” he asked, taking her hand in his and guiding her out of the car. She giggled, pressing her body against his as he walked her out onto the grass, moving a few metres forward.
“What in the world have you planned?” she questioned, poking his side blindly.
“Just a moment,” he drawled, stopping. A few moments of shuffling, and Rose could smell something? “Open.”
She did, and gasped at the sight before her.
John had set up a telescope on the hill, pointed towards the sky. On the ground was a picnic blanket, covered in a few pillows and blankets. A freezer bag was in the middle, with some food inside. Beside it was an air fryer, and she could see that there were chips cooking within. She beamed and looked up at John, who eagerly watched her reaction.
“This is what I originally had intended for our anniversary - a remake of our first date. Chips in the park, because let’s be honest, that really was our first date,” he grinned, making her giggle.
“Oh, this is amazing!” she exclaimed, pulling him into a hug and kiss. She lifted her feet off of the ground, and John gave her a little away before settling her down. “Thank you,” she sighed against his lips, pressing her hands against his chest.
“You’re welcome, love. Now, let’s eat, eh?” he suggested with wiggling fingers. She nodded eagerly and they sat down together, tucking in.
The bag was filled with their favourites and a few of hers - biscuits; a bottle of wine; a selection of fruits, meats, and cheeses; chocolate. And to make it a true remake of their first date, he also brought the drinks they had bought. It was a feast for the two of them.
After eating a majority of it, including all of the chips, John brought Rose’s attention to the telescope. She felt excitement brew up within as they approached it.
“I thought we could have a bit of an astronomy lesson,” he explained, adjusting the tool slightly to start navigating the stars.
“I had no idea you had one of these,” she said, furrowing her brow, but unsurprised. John pretty much had anything and everything science-y.
“It was in the attic,” he explained, looking through it and searching for something among the stars. A few moments later, he paused and brought back his eye.
“Come here,” he encouraged, wrapping his arm around her waist as she snuggled up against him. “Put your eye against the eyepiece,” he instructed. She nodded and did so, exhaling in awe at the image before her.
It was Mars.
“It’s gorgeous!” she complimented, amazed by all the colours and details she could see. Sure, she had seen images of the planet before and knew what it was like, but to see it in person and in real-time was something else entirely.
“My favourite planet. Asides from Earth, of course,” he quipped in her ear.
He showed her the rest of the planets in their solar system, giving brief lessons and information about them, asking any questions she had.
Once finished, she asked what she would see next, and he said it was a surprise with a wink as he adjusted. He brought her back again, and she could hardly believe what was before her.
Like oil on water, the sky was full of rainbows and glistening stars, swirled amongst the black abyss as if it had been done with a paintbrush. The centre had a bright light emitting from it.
“The Orion Nebula,” he identified, “located in the Milky Way. One of the brightest, and one of the most breath-taking.”
“Absolutely,” she agreed in a breath.
He showed her the Crab Nebula as well, and Rosette for her namesake. She was amazed by them each and entranced by the colours, formations. They were the most awesome things she had ever witnessed before in her life.
“Like explosions frozen in time,” she mumbled, making him grin like an idiot. So clever, his Rose.
“Exactly,” he confirmed.
He showed her a few select star clusters, which she was amazed by. She was fascinated by their groupings and their light, the patterns and shapes they made.
He saved the best item for last, however.
She looked through the eyepiece, witnessing a tiny, blue-and-Opal, flame-like ball against a black background. It was beautiful, so unique. But she didn’t know what she was looking at.
“There’s my star that you got me from Christmas,” he murmured in her ear, making her beam with wonder. “My favourite thing in the sky.”
“It looks stunning,” she cooed.
“Yep. I look at it once a month,” he confessed, pressing his lips underneath her ear. She pulled back and hugged him, kissing his neck chastely.
“Thank you for showing me all those things.”
“My pleasure. Care to do some stargazing?”
“I’d love to,” she grinned.
They laid down on the picnic blanket after John packed up the telescope and returned it and the remaining food back into his car. They draped one of the blankets over them and cuddled, gazing up at the wonderful sky.
John had brought them a little bit outside of London, allowing the stars to be seen and uncompromised by the light pollution. They were bright and exquisite.
“Never seen the stars like this before,” she admitted, resting her head on his shoulder.
“Glad that we did this then,” he whispered, pressing a kiss to her head.
He pointed out constellations to her, helping her draw out the shapes they made and entertained her with their mythological stories and connotations. He went on a tangent, or six, about astronomy and stars, rattling on about facts and misconceptions.
After a while, when a comfortable silence fell between them and Rose was getting a little drowsy, John knew it was time.
“Close your eyes, love,” John murmured into her ear, pressing a kiss underneath it. She giggled and did so without question. “Do you remember what I said to you at the planetarium, all those months ago?” he asked gently as he quietly snuck his free hand into the inside pocket of his coat, wrapping his trembling fingers around the velvet box.
“Yeah,” she whispered, shifting a little in anticipation. He silently flicked the box open and held it before her face, a smile twitching upon his own. His hand surprisingly kept steady despite the shakiness.
“Two trillion galaxies, seven-hundred quintillion planets, seven trillion-billion stars, and yet you are the most beautiful thing in the universe,” he quoted himself. “And then later that night, we told each other we love each other for the first time,” he recalled.
“We did,” she smirked.
“But, do you remember what I told you to do right before all of that?” he hummed.
She furrowed her brow. “You told me to close my eyes.”
“And what did I show you?”
She gave a short laugh. “One of the most mesmerising things I’ve witnessed before.”
“Quite right. Now open.” She opened them, and instead of seeing the stars again, she saw a sparkling, gorgeous ring before her and let out a small gasp.
“John…” she whispered, turning her head to him.
“Rose Tyler, will you marry me?” he asked, eyes wide with hope and love. She beamed.
“Yes!” she squealed, wrapping her arms around his neck and bringing him into a passionate kiss. He giggled against her lips for a moment before kissing her back.
He pulled away after a moment, and they sat up together. Hands still trembling, he pulled the ring from its snug spot.
“Have a look,” he encouraged with a grin, handing it to her. She delicately took it, inspecting the inside of the band and rubbing her thumb over the engraving. Her heart bloomed at what had been engraved.
“‘Allons-y, my Rose’,” she read aloud, tears coming to her eyes. It was perfect. The ring, the proposal. John had swept her off her feet and made her feel like she had never felt before.
“May I do the honours?” She nodded and returned the ring to him, holding out her own shaking hand towards him. He took her hand, soothingly rubbing it as he slid the ring onto her finger, and his grin deepened.
“It’s gorgeous,” she sighed happily, inspecting it on her finger, unable to stop smiling. She brought him into a much calmer, relaxed kiss, but still put in all of the love and passion. He hummed in satisfaction, wrapping his arms around her waist.
He was engaged to Rose Tyler, he thought gleefully. They were going to get married.
He pulled back after a few minutes, resting his forehead against hers with a big grin on his face.
“I’m the luckiest man in the world,” he murmured.
“And I’m the luckiest woman. Should we head back to yours for some celebrating?”
“Allons-y,” he confirmed, standing up and bringing her up with him. They packed up the last few things before bundling back into the car and setting off back to their town, after John quickly sent a text message.
They pulled into the driveway, and John was pleased to hear his house being as quiet as a mouse, even as he and Rose approached the front door and unlocked it.
They stepped into the foyer, flicking on the light and heading into the living room.
“Surprise!” a chorus of people shouted. Rose gasped at the sight of friends and family inside, all looking excited and eager.
“John! Did you—?”
“Yep,” he confirmed with a cheeky smile.
“Come on, Doc. They all wanna know why they’re here!” Jack asked with a beer in hand. “Donna, Jackie and I have been getting hounded for hours.” The couple glanced at each other with bright smiles on their faces.
“We’re engaged!” John announced, with Rose proudly showing her left hand. Screams, shouts and cheers of joy erupted in the room, as did claps. Someone started blasting whatever song had obviously been playing before they arrived, and things went into full swing.
John and Rose were quickly swarmed by a good portion of people, receiving hugs and congratulations. Fortunately, when Donna and Jack came around to speak to them they were handed a drink each.
“Told you she’d say yes, dunce!” Donna teased, bringing John into a hug.
“You knew?” Rose questioned as she was hugged.
“So did I!” Jack declared. “And your mom as well.”
“I cannot believe it - I was oblivious for… two weeks. You were gonna propose on our anniversary, weren’t you?” she realised, pressing her hand over her mouth in surprise.
John frowned in disappointment. “Bloody torrential rain and stupid traffic,” he muttered in her ear as he hugged her from behind, resting his chin on her head.
“It was perfect, sweetheart. Don’t worry about it,” she soothed, taking his hand into hers and pressing a kiss on the top of his palm. He grinned and kissed her hair before pulling her into the centre of the room where everyone danced.
After a good ten songs, mingling, talking, recounts of the proposal to everyone that asked, some drinking and eating of nibbles, Jackie shouted the room down and got everyone’s attention, demanding for some speeches to be done. John and Rose were settled on the couch whilst everyone gathered around them. Jack and Donna joined them, forcing Rose onto John’s lap and making a few people hoot and holler. John merely grinned, wrapping his arms around Rose’s waist and quickly pressing a kiss on the side of her neck as their fingers entwined against her stomach. He felt his thumb brush against her ring and beamed further.
“Be quiet, you lot! Now, who’s gonna start?” Jackie requested. Martha put her hand up and everyone whooped for her as she got in front of everyone.
“Right, let’s make this nice and quick, then. I befriended Rose on her first day…” Martha recounted how she encouraged Rose to seek out John, respectfully leaving out Joan, and how she could tell that something was bound to happen between them sooner or later. “I’m very glad to see you two engaged over a year later now, and for what the future holds.”
“Thank you, Martha,” Rose smiled, blowing her a kiss.
Improvised speeches came along, and almost everyone that spoke declared that they had tried to tell John or Rose to bite the bullet. From Shareen to Dee Dee, it was plainly obvious that they had feelings for each other. John and Rose took that fact in with stride, acknowledging that they played things by how they wanted to play them.
Jackie gave a humorous yet emotional speech, making the couple teary-eyed by the end of it. John fought very hard not to cry when she said, “Pete would’ve loved you, John, and done anything to make sure you two were happy.”
Jack followed, making the whole room rowdy with his jokes and sexual innuendos.
“Come on, guys,” Jack drawled, “even the kids knew that something was up between you two before you were even dating!”
“Bloody Hutchinson,” John sighed, making Rose giggle.
Then it was time for Donna to speak.
“Right, saving the best for last, yeah?” Donna bragged jokingly. “Let’s get this started before I start crying. I said to John immediately after he met Rose for the first time, and I quote: ‘Ready for the second wife, are we? That looked like love at first sight with Miss Tyler,’” Donna proudly proclaimed, sparking laughter amongst everyone whilst John grinned sheepishly and blushed deeply. “I am not kidding, the man was like a lovesick puppy over her! And, ironically, he insisted that it was a mere crush that would be gone in a matter of weeks. Let’s try over fifty-two,” she quipped. The crowd absolutely lost their minds at that one, and even John was laughing. “I think the fact that you two almost instantly started texting non-stop was a big indicator that that wasn’t gonna happen. And blimey, Jack and I tried to show you two! We played our matchmaker duties as often as we could: We started a week in!”
“No!” John gasped, shocked by the revelation.
“They did, sweetheart. Donna confessed,” Rose chuckled.
“Anyways, spaceman finally got himself together to do it a month later, and it’s only been amazing from there, even with a few bumps in the road. John and Rose fell in love instantly, and they quite simply just radiate… fate. Their relationship is destined, you know? The world has thrown some truly horrible things at them, both as individuals and as a couple, but they’ve conquered them each time. Now that they’re getting married, they’re gonna be unstoppable!”
“Here, here!” someone called out, creating a bit of laughter.
“John and Rose, you two deserve nothing but happiness, and I’m glad you’ve found it. To John and Rose!” Donna said, raising her glass of wine.
“To John and Rose!” the room echoed, followed by clinks of glass and metal as everyone sipped from their drinks.
“Okay, dumbo. Say a few words, then!” Donna encouraged. He gave a joking groan and reluctantly allowed Rose to get off of his lap as he stood up. He was applauded and hyped up as he humbly went to the front, smiling bashfully.
“Well, I must say I’ve learnt tonight that Rose and I are a bit thick, because everyone and their mothers knew that we liked each other before I could muster the courage to ask her out,” he joked, spurring a loud soundscape of laughter in the room. “Okay, icebreaker done. Uh, it wouldn’t be too far-off to say that I fell for Rose very quickly. I’ll even accept ‘first day of school’ as an answer,” he quipped, creating more laughter. “But I don’t know how, but I just knew that there was something special about her. We locked eyes a few seconds after she came into the staff room for the first time, and I was a goner. I accepted my fate I think immediately, but was very much in denial. But now, standing here, I’m glad that I let myself accept the truth. Because I’m going to be marrying the love of my life,” he grinned, feeling his heart warm at the sight of Rose sitting there with her gorgeous smile, tears in her eyes. “I love you very much, and I can’t wait to spend the rest of our life together.” He was clapped and hollered at as he returned back to the couch, cuddling Rose.
“I love you too,” she whispered, kissing him. She pulled back and looked at everyone.
“Right, I can’t do a speech or else I’ll be a blubbering mess who can’t say anything except, ‘I love you’, so let’s get back to partying!” she called out. The room laughed and the music turned back on.
John and Rose grinned at each other and returned to the dance floor.
A little while later, everyone had gone home. Donna and Jack insisted on hanging around afterwards to clean up, and John quietly instructed them to distract Rose and not let her do a single thing.
Upstairs, he prepared his bedroom to be perfect for Rose - he drenched his room in a pink hue with a covering over his main light bulb, tossed rose petals onto the floor, placed some candles around on surfaces but didn’t light them yet, produced the stack of DVDs of her favourite movies he had gathered over the week and placed them beside his TV, grabbed the hamper full of her favourite snacks hidden in his closet and put it beside the bed. He was done and dusted, proud of his arrangements and choices.
He slunk back downstairs to find Donna and Jack having cleaned up most of the mess that had occurred during the party, and smiled in satisfaction at the sight of Rose curled up on the couch and watching them. She perked up at the sight of him in the doorway, beaming and making grabby hands.
“Where have you been?” she pouted, alerting their friends to his presence.
“Alright, guys, it looks like my fiancée is demanding my attention. You can head home,” he said, gesturing them towards the front door. He whispered a thank you and promised them compensation for their help before closing the door and returning to the living room. She grinned at him from the couch and he grinned back, approaching her before hovering over her on the couch, kissing her deeply.
“Mm, my fiancé,” she purred, running her fingers through his hair.
“My fiancée,” he chuckled back, pecking her lips once again. “Now, how about you go pick something from the cellar - anything you want - and meet me upstairs?”
“Sounds like a plan,” she agreed happily, stealing one more kiss before he rolled off of her. They departed from each other at the staircase, and John made record time running to the main bathroom in the hall. He quickly began running the bath, adding all of the extra elements to create a soothing, bubbly paradise. In the meantime, he lit and placed candles around the space and dimmed the lights for ambience. He then dashed back to his bedroom and retrieved the baby pink, paper shopping bag that had also been hidden in his closet for two weeks. He dug his hand inside and pulled out the box containing the silk pyjama set he had bought and brought it to the bathroom, leaving it on the counter as he turned off the water. It looked perfect and he grinned in delight.
He stuck his head out into the hall and could hear the cellar door shutting. Just as he had hoped.
Rose climbed up the staircase, a bottle of champagne in hand and two flutes.
“John?” she called out, brow raised. The bathroom door before her swung open, revealing John standing there stark naked, leaning against the frame with a raised brow and smirk.
“Bubble bath?” he suggested. She grinned.
“Yes, please!”
The bath was intimate, consisting of them washing each other, sharing a few kisses and cuddles, and just enjoying the water. Rose thanked him, humming happily.
They dried off and got changed, and Rose was beaming at the secret gift, insisting he had spoiled her too much. He denied it and insisted she wore them.
They climbed into bed, and after a viewing of The Wedding Singer , Rose’s new jimjams and John’s boxer briefs were subjected to the floor. They made love, and it was slow, wonderful, sweet, overwhelming and passionate. They held hands, cuddled and caressed each other as they did, feeling their love bloom and explode in their intimacy.
Afterwards, with Rose against his chest, her hand and engagement ring planted on his left pectoral, his hand gently stroking her head whilst his other arm wrapped around her waist. He planted a gentle kiss on her temple, she on his now purple collarbone.
“I can’t wait to be your husband,” he murmured happily into her hair, humming in satisfaction at the thought.
“And I can’t wait to be your wife,” she followed up, making them both giggle, his chest vibrating.
The countdown until Rose Tyler would become Rose Smith began.