SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW
Chapter Fifty Six Awinita jerked her head up the moment she heard the doors close. “Oh, I’m sorry,” Alan said, looking back at her. “Did we wake you?” “Yeah, but it’s alright, as long as it’s you guys and not a serial killer or something.” She tried to focus her bleary eyes as she stared at the beach. “Are we stopping here for the night?” she murmured. “No, Rose and I just wanted to be alone for a moment.” She nodded. “That’s cool.” She yawned. “Well, if you guys are gonna go on, I’m going back to sleep.” “You don’t wanna get out and look around?” Alan asked. “Nah, I’m too tired. There’s gonna be more beaches along route 9 so I’m not missing anything.” She yawned again. “Well, good night you two.” “Good night,” they said in unison. She lowered her head back down while Alan started up the car. He looked at Rose. “How about you? Fancy a little kip?” Rose nodded. “I think so, unless you’re too tired to drive.” “Nah, I’m fine. Get some rest.” “Well, when you get too tired, wake one of us or find a lay-by. I don’t think the police would bother us if we pulled off there,” she said. He nodded. Rose lifted the arm rest and went behind Alan as he backed up and pulled out. She got into her rucksack, found her pill bottle and took a Darvocet. Then she grabbed her sleeping bag and went back to the passenger seat. Alan frowned. “Don’t you think you’d be more comfortable if you stretched out there?” he said, hooking his thumb back at the seat. “I’m fine, I wanna be up here with you,” she said, unzipping her sleeping bag and throwing it over here. Alan gave her a loving look. “Good night then, Rose.” “Good night, Alan, I’ll see you in awhile,” she said, pulling the blanket up over her nose. She closed her eyes and relaxed while Alan continued to drive. In a short time she was fast asleep and dreaming. She found herself in the corridor of the TARDIS; only this time there was no darkness looming in the shadows, no evil that she could detect, just the sound of laughter wafting up from the console room. Smiling, she followed the sound and entered the room to find both the Doctor and Alan standing opposite each other at the console, laughing and joking with one another while they worked the controls. She noticed two people were sitting on the jump seat. She could tell the one on the right was Awinita but she couldn’t tell who the other person was until she turned her head slightly. Then she saw it was Donna. Behind Alan was a weird lump of rock. Its color matched the support columns and she intuitively guessed that it their TARDIS nestled snugly inside the Doctor’s ship. She heard both men laughing and smiling; she walked over and joined them. “Well, there’s little sleepyhead,” Alan said, grinning at her. “Thought you were gonna sleep all day and miss the fun.” “Yeah,” the Doctor said, “you don’t wanna oversleep on the day of your wedding anniversary, do ya?” “Wedding anniversary?” Rose muttered. She glanced down at her left hand and noticed a wedding ring there. She glanced at Alan and saw he was wearing an identical one. He gave her a kiss. “The Doctor has promised us an anniversary to remember,” he said to her. “You’ll just love Gongolia. It’s the sweets capital of the universe. The rivers are made of chocolate like ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ and the houses are built out of candy canes and gingerbread.” “Like Hansel and Gretel,” Rose said to the Doctor. “Kinda, yeah.” “Which means,” Donna said, “there’s gotta be a witch somewhere.” “Oh, don’t be silly, Donna. That’s a children’s book, this is real life!” the Doctor said to her. Donna looked at Awinita. “Says the man who’s taking us to a place that has chocolate rivers,” she said. Rose went and sat down beside Awinita. “How’d you get on board?” she asked her. Awinita gave her an odd look. “Um, same as you and Alan. The Doctor picked our TARDIS up when we crossed over into this universe. Why? Am I supposed to wait in our TARDIS while you guys have fun without me?” “No, absolutely not!” the Doctor said. “You are my little brother and sister-in-law’s companion and you are coming with us. Rose was just teasing you, right Rose?” “Yeah, right,” Rose said, brightly. “I was just havin’ ya on, Awinita. Of course I want you to come with us.” “I see the nap cheered her up,” the Doctor said to Alan. “Yup, nothing like a little kip before the trip to put some pep in your step,” Alan said. “So…when it comes time for you to celebrate your wedded bliss, can the rest of us watch?” the Doctor said. "No, you most certainly can not," Alan said. "Well, why not? After all, I'm exactly the same as you, so it doesn't matter who she shags." He snickered when Alan shot him a look. "Just kidding," he said. "I respect your marriage and I'm happy for you both." He smiled at Rose who had a shocked look on her face. "You seem surprised at that," he said. "No, I’m just...when did you two become mates?" she asked. Alan and the Doctor glanced at each other. "You...don't remember?" the Doctor said. "Well, I...guess not," Rose admitted. The Doctor came around the console and put his hands on her shoulders. "You saved me, remember?" he asked. "I did?" "Yes, remember? You and Alan saved me from becoming the Valeyard and in turn both of us managed to set aside our differences and save you from the real Valeyard and thanks to the void crosser he installed in my TARDIS, Donna and I are able to come and see you anytime we want.” He grinned and tousled her hair. “Apparently you haven’t woken up completely yet,” he said. “No, I guess I haven’t,” she said. He gave her shoulder a squeeze and went back to working the controls of the TARDIS. Rose settled back and smiled to herself as she watched both of the men she loved chatting amiably to each other while they worked the controls. Alan glanced over at Rose and noticed she was asleep and had a huge smile on her face. His heart leapt as he thought how beautiful it made her look. Apparently, she’s not dreaming of the Valeyard, he thought. Hopefully, it stays that way. He drove on through the night listening to humming of the engine and the soft snoring of his lover and his friend. As he drove he noticed raindrops beginning to fall on the windshield and soon there was a heavy downpour. Alan turned on the windshield wipers and leaned forward slightly trying to see through the rain. It rained harder and he sighed as he finally gave up and pulled off into a rest stop for the night. He found a parking spot, turned off the ignition and locked all the doors as he leaned back against the seat. Folding his arms over his chest, he closed his eyes and in a few moments, he was sound asleep. Alan was so excited. Today was the big day. He was finally going to marry the love of his life. It seemed so unreal to him to be standing at the altar waiting for Rose to come down the aisle and join him. He knew the Doctor would have never entertained the thought of being married to Rose since it smacked of domesticity but he didn’t care. Rose was his now and she deserved all the happiness the universe had to offer her. The organ began to play the wedding march and Alan straightened up. He gripped his top hat in his hand and watched in silent awe while the double doors opened and Pete and Rose walked down the long red carpet towards him. Alan smiled. Rose was wearing a gown almost identical to the one she had shown him in ‘Modern Bride.’ He couldn’t imagine anyone wearing it half as well as her. She was an absolute vision and he knew if he died right then and there, he would go to Heaven a very happy man. Pete led her up to him and Alan grinned at her. He saw her grinning back at him through the veil and he wanted nothing more than for the ceremony to be over so he could take his new wife home. He stood there in a daze, only half listening as the vicar read out his spiel. He was with it enough to be able to answer when it came time for him to do so, but the rest of the time he was lost in the moment, staring at Rose’s lovely veiled face. “Is there anyone here who has just cause why these two should not be joined together?” the vicar said. “If so, speak now or forever hold your peace.” Alan flinched when he heard the double doors bang open and heard a voice that chilled him to the bone. “I OBJECT!” Turning his head, he gasped when he saw a gold Dalek gliding down the aisle. It took no notice of the confused and surprised congregation as it made a beeline for him and Rose. Alan quickly stepped in front of his bride, shielding her with his body just in case the Dalek decided to shoot. “No, no, no, no, no, this can’t be happening,” Alan muttered as the Dalek stopped in front of him. “Not here, not now, not today while I’m getting married.” “YOU WILL STEP AWAY FROM THE FEMALE!” the Dalek yelled. “P’eh, fat chance, I’m not about to give you a clear shot at her,” Alan said, angrily. “You will deal with me and that’s it! Now, what do you want?” “I WANT YOU!” “Yeah, well, I’m kinda busy right now if you hadn’t noticed. Just go and wait outside till I’m married and then we can have it out.” “NO, YOU WILL NOT MARRY ROSE TYLER!” “Oh, really? Why not?” “BECAUSE YOU WILL MARRY ME!” Alan stared at him. “I’m…sorry? You what?” “YOU WILL MARRY ME OR THE FEMALE WILL BE EX-TER-MIN-ATED!” Alan blinked. “You wanna marry me?” he said. “THAT IS COR-RECT. I AM IN LOVE WITH YOU AND YOU WILL NOT MARRY THIS HUSSY!” The Dalek looked at the vicar who was now in complete shock. “YOU WILL MARRY US OR I WILL EX-TER-MIN-ATE YOU! OBEY!” it said to him. “No…wait a tic, I’m not about to marry a bloody Dalek!” Alan said. He gasped and everyone screamed when the Dalek shot at a nearby floral arrangement. “OBEY! YOU WILL MARRY ME OR EVERYONE WILL DIE!” the Dalek said turning its gun on him. Without further comment, the Dalek glided up beside Alan and looked at Rose. “GO AWAY CHAV BEFORE I BLAST YOU INTO NEXT WEEK!” it said. It looked at the vicar. “MARRY US NOW OR YOU WILL DIE!” The vicar cleared his throat. “Um, dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the joining of this man and this…thing in the bonds of holy matrimony.” Alan felt his heart sink. “No, you can’t do this to me,” he said to the Dalek. “You can’t ruin my marriage like this! Why do you lot always manage to screw up my life?” “SILENCE!” it said. Alan was speechless. “I now pronounce you man and…um…robot, you may kiss it, somehow,” the vicar muttered. “AT LAST, I HAVE TRIUMPHED OVER THE DOC-TOR’S CLONE, NOW HE IS MARRIED TO ME AND I WILL MAKE HIM MY SLAVE FOR ETERNITY! DALEKS REIGN SUPREME!” Alan gasped as the Dalek stuck its plunger on the lower half of his face and gave him a sucking kiss. He reeled back into Rose when it let go. “NOW, LET US GET INTO THE EARTH VEHICLE SO WE CAN HONEY-MOON IN TORQUAY!” it said, getting behind him and poking him in the back with its plunger. “How about if you just kill me now and put me out of my misery?” Alan muttered. “SILENCE! WE WILL HONEY-MOON IN TORQUAY! OBEY! OBEY! OBEEEEEEEEEEEY!” Alan gasped and his eyes snapped open. He looked around and breathed a sigh of relief when he noticed he was still in the minivan at the rest stop. “I think it’s time I stopped eating junk food before I go to sleep,” he muttered as he stared out the rain-soaked windshield.
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