Chapter Text
It had started like a normal day, really. The Doctor took her to Paris,1996, to a lavish restaurant east of the Eiffel Tower. She was surprised when the TARDIS picked out a rather risque yet elegant black gown for her to wear - usually they went as they were when he announced these spur of the moment dates. That was when she knew something was up. Her suspicions were confirmed when they were on their dessert.
“Would you like to marry?”
Rose blinked at the Doctor, her fork halfway to her mouth. “Sorry, what?”
He looked a bit out of his element - which he most decidedly was - and shrugged. “Marry. Get married. I’m sure your mother would be over the moon.”
She furrowed her brow. “On Earth? I don’t want that if it’s because of my mum.”
“Actually, I was thinking New Earth. On the apple grass.” His eyes clouded over from the memory, a small smile on his face. “Can you imagine? Exchanging vows, every breath an onslaught of pome ! But not pears. Never pears.” He cringed at the thought. “ Anyway , no, not for your mother. For you. For us. Could be fun, never done it before!”
“You were married on Gallifrey.”
He waved it off. “Doesn’t count. Political marriages are not happy marriages, Rose. I should know, I stole a TARDIS to get away. Well, not just the marriage. Time Lords in general. Stuffy lot, I told you.”
Rose smiled at his babbling and cut in. “Doctor, really, I don’t need it-”
“And your dress, Rose! I could take you here in 1920. Designed by Mademoiselle Chanel herself.”
She laughed. “You know I don’t really care about fashion names, Doctor.”
His face went blank and he looked down at his dessert. “Right, sorry. Just an idea.”
Rose stomach churned at the change in his expression, guilt settling in her gut. “Oh, Doctor.” She reached to put her hands on top of his. “It’s a lovely idea. I would love a wedding. It’s just...I don’t want you to think that I need it, yeah? That’ll I’ll eventually leave you or something. I love our life. You don’t have to ‘play human’ for me. When I told you forever, I meant it.”
He raised his eyes to gaze into hers. “But what if I want to? It would be nice, don’t you think?”
“You hate domestics.”
“Not with you.”
“Oh, Doctor.” She moved around the table and plopped herself down into his lap without a care about the other patrons. “I would love to marry you.”
He grinned and squeezed her around the waist. “I’m glad.”
“But not on New Earth.” She kissed the tip of his nose. “As nice as it sounds, I don’t want to explain the TARDIS to the rest of my family.”
The Doctor’s look of joy quickly turned to one of fear. “...Rest? Oh, Rose, really. We could just pick up your mum and-”
“I’m not going to have an Earth wedding and not invite my family, Doctor. Mum would have both of our heads!”
He blinked at her and swallowed visibly. “I’m beginning to regret my decision.”
oOo
The Doctor winced when Jackie screamed.
“ Married ! Oh, Rose. This is just fantastic . Never thought he’d get ‘round to it, knowing how he is-”
“Oi!”
Jackie glared in his direction. “Oh, don’t act like I’m wrong. You always complain about our ways of doing things, dontcha?”
The Doctor grumbled and dropped unceremoniously down on the couch.
Rose rolled her eyes, but couldn’t keep the smile off her face. “ Anyway , we’re planning to have it on Earth. That way we can invite family.”
“He’s letting you invite family? Blimey, you sure he’s not ill?”
“I am not ill , Jacqueline.” The Doctor glared up at her.
“Mum,” Rose sat down next to the Doctor and rubbed his back, “cut him a break, yeah? He didn’t even put up much of a fight when I asked to have it on Earth.”
Jackie looked between the two skeptically and then broke out into a grin. “Oh sweetheart, I’m so happy for you. I’ve got some saved up, I do. We’ll make it beautiful .”
At this, the Doctor stood. “Now, Jackie, we don’t need your money.”
Jackie gave him a pointed look. “You can’t go robbing cash points every time you come ‘round.”
“I won’t. I have money.”
Rose smiled to humor him. “Doctor, really, it’s all right.”
He stared at her, eyes wide. “No, really, I have an account.”
She blinked. “But how can you have an account with no money?”
“ Rose .” He sighed, exasperated. “I have money. In fact, it’s been accruing since the ‘60s.”
“But...how?”
He shrugged. “Was stuck here for a bit, got a job at UNIT. Point is, we have money, Rose. Spend as much as you want.”
oOo
“When he said he had money, I didn’t think he had money .” Jackie stared at the bank statement in her hand in shock.
Rose was doing much of the same from her spot next to her mother. “You’re tellin’ me.”
“Oh, Rose, your wedding is going to be fabulous .”
“Of course it will, because you’re planning it.”
Both Rose and Jackie turned toward the flat’s front door. The Doctor was leaning against the frame while looking at Jackie.
Rose walked over to him. “What d’ya mean, mum’s planning it?”
His expression made his thoughts clear. “Rose, I agreed to have the wedding on Earth. I didn’t agree to plan it .”
“You’re the one that asked me to marry you! What did you think we’d do?”
He pointed a finger at her. “I wanted to have it on New Earth, and only with your mother. I don’t think this is an unreasonable request.”
“Oh Rose, leave him be. I’d love to plan it.”
Rose looked at her, brow furrowed in concern. “Mum, you can’t plan the whole thing yourself. I’ll stay here and help.”
“Rooooose.”
She glared at him. “I’m not leaving her with all the work.”
“Rose Marion Tyler, come sit down.”
Rose looked toward her mother in surprise, missing the Doctor’s triumphant smile.
Jackie motioned for him to leave. “I want to talk to my daughter.”
Once he was gone, Rose sat down with a sigh. “Mum, you’ll be run ragged.”
Jackie smiled at her and rubbed her arm soothingly. “I’ll be fine, sweetheart. More than fine. Besides, not much else to do with no man in my life.” When Rose went to speak, she held up a hand. “And don’t go feelin’ bad for that, I’m good on my own for now. When your father and I married, we didn’t have the money for some big extravagant wedding. I want to do this, Rose. Plus, you keep him here too long and Downing Street will be blown to bits.” She paused for a moment. “Again.”
Rose giggled. “Oh, I have no doubt. Are you sure?”
She pulled her daughter in for a hug. “More than.” When they pulled back, a large grin broke out on Jackie’s face. “You just wait and see. Wedding fit for a queen, it’ll be.”
Rose smiled back. “How 'bout one fit for a dame?”