SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW
Chapter Sixty Three After eating, the three of them walked over to the theater that housed the Cirque Du Soliel show. They got seats near the stage and settled down to wait. Once the show started, Alan wrapped his arm around Rose and pulled her close to him. Rose kept her eyes on the show while she snuggled into his chest. He rubbed her arm and laid his cheek on the top of her head while she listened to the show with one ear and his heartbeat with the other. Eventually Alan lost interest in the show and gazed at Rose, watching quietly while she stared at the performers in silent awe. After a few minutes, Rose finally felt his eyes on her and looked up with an inquiring look on her face. Alan smiled and kissed her lips. “Sorry, nothing can compare with watching you,” he whispered to her. Rose smiled and snuggled closer to him while Alan put his face on her head and closed his eyes, listening to the show while he breathed in the scent of the woman he loved. After taking in the electric light parade, the moment came for the closing fireworks. The three of them stood with hordes of people along Main Street and stared up at the sky at the light show overhead. Awinita glanced over at her friends and smiled when she saw Alan had her arms around Rose while she stood with him and watched. She was so glad Rose said yes to Alan. They made such a cute couple and she thought about how blessed she was to have met them. “Oh!” Awinita said as they entered their suite. “I am bushed. Going all over that park really wears you out.” “Yeah, but it was worth it,” Rose said, closing the door. “You do get your money’s worth which is good since you have to pay out the nose to get in here.” She looked around at the wooden interior. The room was supposed to resemble a hunting lodge in Africa. She whistled at the tribal décor. “To look at this place, you’d never know you were in Disneyworld,” she said. “Not one Mickey Mouse in sight.” She walked over to the sliding glass door leading to the balcony. She opened it and stepped outside into the cool night air. Off in the distance she could just make out the animals in the safari enclosure. She felt a hand on her back and smiled as she leaned her head back and caught Alan’s lips. He came closer and wrapped his arms around her protectively. “Isn’t this a beautiful view?” Rose asked. “Yes, it is. Although…is that a giraffe I see out there? A giraffe I can beat up on when we go on the tour?” Rose giggled. “You’re just bound and determined to get back at that giraffe for not eating from your hand, aren’t ya?” “Well, I might as well give those poor beasts something to do since they’re stuck in those damned enclosures for the rest of their lives.” He sighed. “Even Disney has gotten in on the act. I realize they say that they are doing it to teach people about protecting and conserving nature, but I’m not sure Walt would agree to this, not after the message in Bambi about what human interference does to an ecosystem. Still…at least they aren’t making the poor animals parade around dressed up like Disney characters for people’s amusement.” He smiled and kissed Rose’s scalp. “Do you feel like a shower?” he asked. “More than anything.” He nuzzled her hair. “Together?” he whispered. “You better believe it.” He smiled and gave her a few more gentle kisses on her scalp. “We better go back inside then before Awinita beats us to it,” he said. He took Rose’s hand and kissed the back of it before leading her back inside. After everyone had finished with their showers, the three friends climbed into bed. Rose and Alan were in the bed closest to the door and Awinita was across from them. Awinita yawned. “I can’t wait to wake up tomorrow and see the next park,” she said. “Which one are we going to?” “According to the schedule, EPCOT will stay open late tomorrow so let’s go to that one,” Rose said, turning on her side to face her. She smiled when Alan turned with her and draped his arm across his body while he propped his head up with his other one so he could see Awinita. “Did you guys enjoy your shower?” she asked them. Alan grinned. “Very much so.” “You must have. I could hear you moaning and groaning all the way out here.” She giggled when both their faces reddened. “No worries, I just turned on the TV and watched Animal Planet. The grunts and groans fit in nicely with the animal sounds,” she said winking. “You even roared along with the lion, Alan, I’m impressed.” “Well, I guess in future we’ll know to tone it down. We had the same reaction with Rose’s mum in Norway.” “Mum!” Alan looked at her. “I better call mum and tell her we got engaged,” Rose said. Alan groaned when she slid out of the bed. “Aw, I was enjoying the feel of your body against me,” he moaned. Rose got her mobile out of her knapsack and dialed her mother’s number as she sat back down. Alan reached around and put his hand in her lap while she sat on the edge of the bed. “Mum? Hey! It’s me, just calling to check in…and I have good news.” There was a pause. “Well…Alan and I are engaged.” There was another pause. Alan looked at Awinita. “Is she still on the line? I didn’t hear a bloodcurdling scream of terror after she said that.” Awinita laughed. “Maybe she dropped dead of shock,” she offered. “I wouldn’t doubt it.” He smiled at Rose when she shot him a look. “Um…well, he proposed to me in the middle of the Fantasyland section of Disneyworld. Got down on one knee and everything! It was so romantic.” Alan smiled lazily while she stroked his face. “He did…no, it’s not a diamond….no, it’s not cubic zirconia either.” “Oh bugger, now she’s trying to find out if I’m a cheap bastard,” Alan said to Awinita. Rose ignored him. “Well…it’s this….um, have you seen the Disney cartoon Lilo and Stitch with Tony? Yeah…the one about the alien…well, you know how Stitch is supposed to be a bad alien and Lilo teaches him to be good? I started calling Alan that as a pet name since it fits what the Doctor said about him and he got me this little ring with a little Stitch head on it.” There was a pause and Rose let out an angry sigh. “No, mum…I don’t want him to get me a proper ring!” “Told you!” Alan said to Awinita. “I don’t want a diamond, mum. I love this ring. It’s unique and it’s personalized. Anyone can have a diamond. Alan gave me something that’s just for me.” “Too right I did,” Alan muttered. There was another long pause and then Rose let out a ragged sigh. “Alright, but be civil to him, will ya? I’ve had a wonderful day and I was calling to give you the good news, I don’t want it to end with you and Alan getting in an argument.” “Argument?” Awinita muttered. Alan rolled his eyes. Rose handed the mobile to him. Alan hesitated a moment and then put it to his ears. “Yes, Jackie?” he said, keeping his tone civil. “First off, despite what my daughter thinks, I want to wish you two congratulations,” Jackie said. “Thank you.” “Secondly, I’m sure you already know this, but my daughter is more precious to me than life itself.” “She is to me, as well.” “Then I trust you will look after her and take care of her?” “Always have, always will.” “Then you both have my blessing. Now, you gonna get married right this moment or are the rest of us invited?” “No, Jackie, we’ll get married when we get back to London. I would be a complete fool to marry Rose without you present. I only have one life right now so the last thing I want is a death wish.” There was a pause. “What d’ya mean “right now?” she said. “I may have a found a way to restore myself and become a full Time Lord again, but that won’t happen until our TARDIS is ready.” “Then what will you do once that happens?” Jackie asked. Alan’s eyes widened. “Um, I’ll be a Time Lord, I suppose.” “I mean, will that affect your marriage in any way?” “No, I’ll still wanna be married to her. Why? Do you think as soon as I become a Time Lord, I’ll get all brainy and asexual or something?” he said as Rose and Awinita snickered. “Because that never stopped the Doctor, let me assure you.” “Are you gonna have children?” “I don’t know. Rose and I will discuss that somewhere down the line, but for the moment, we’re just happy enough being engaged to each other.” “And you’re still gonna go through with this daft plan of traveling the universe in this TARDIS of yours?” “Um…yeah…I was planning on it. And trust me; I’m not the only one who wants to do it.” “But what if you have children?” Alan sighed. “I told you, Jackie, I don’t know if we will yet and if we do, we’ll make sure they are old enough to travel with us. We’re not gonna be on some planet running for our lives and suddenly stop for a nappy change. Will you calm down and just be glad that your daughter has found some happiness in her life for the first time in a long time and quit planning all these “what if” scenarios that may or may not come true? I promise you whatever we decide to do we will do together and be responsible about it.” “What about that other girl? The one that was traveling with you? Did she go home?” Alan glanced at Awinita. “No, she’s here with us. She decided to continue on with us.” “So, she’s sponging off of you.” “No, Jackie, she isn’t. Both Rose and I want her here with us. In fact, we both had to beg her to keep going. And yes, when we travel in the TARDIS, she might travel with us too. She’s not a crook or a leech or a con artist. She’s our friend.” Rose shot an apologetic look at Awinita. “Don’t worry about it, Rose. I understand why your mother feels that way,” she said. Rose tapped Alan on the shoulder. “Let me,” she said, holding her hand out. “Rose wants to talk to you again,” Alan said. He gave her a grateful look when she took the mobile from his hand. “Mum, for the last time, Awinita is not sponging off of us. She’s a very dear friend and both of us love being around her. She’s not a financial burden on me and I would love it if she came back to London with us. I don’t have that many close friends as it is.” She smiled at her. “Besides I need a maid of honor,” she said. Awinita’s eyes widened. “Oh God, I would be honored,” she said to Rose. “Great, now I gotta find a best man and we’ll be set,” Alan muttered. “But she is in no way stealing from us or conning us or anything like that. And when she comes back to London, I’d love for you to meet her so you can see her for yourself.” There was a pause and Rose glanced at Awinita. “Mum wants to talk to ya,” she said. “Is that okay?” “Um, I don’t know. Is she gonna yell at me or something?” “You’re not gonna yell at her, are ya?” Rose said to Jackie. There was a pause and then Rose shook her head. “She just wants to talk to ya for a minute.” “Okay, I’ll talk to her.” She sat up on the side of the bed and took the mobile from Rose. “Hello,” she said hesitantly. “I just wanted to say hello since you’re traveling with my daughter and future son-in-law,” Jackie said. “I don’t mind you doing that as long as your intentions are good.” “I’m not mooching off them, I promise. Believe me, I’ve told them both that they didn’t have to take me along with them but they insisted I go with them.” “Then I want you to be careful and take care of yourself and help look after them the same way they’re looking after you.” She smiled. “I will, you don’t have to worry about that,” she said, glancing at her friends. “Good. Despite what Alan might have told ya, I’m not some wicked witch. I just care for my daughter and want her safe.” “I’m glad you do. Not every mother feels that way about their kids.” “Well, I trust my daughter’s judgment and if she trusts you, I do too. But if you do come back to London with them, please come over and have supper with us so I can meet you in person.” “I would be honored, Mrs. Tyler.” “Good, now let me say goodnight to Rose. You have a good time and take care.” “You too. Bye, Mrs. Tyler.” “Jackie, call me Jackie. And goodbye and have fun at Disneyworld.” Awinita handed the phone back to Rose. “I take it the phone conversation with Mumzilla went well?” Alan said. “Yeah, she just wanted to talk to me for a moment and say hello and make sure I’m not some insane murdering thief, I guess. She wants me to come and eat with her after we get back to London.” “And are you the one that’s on the menu?” Awinita laughed. “I don’t know, I didn’t ask her that. Now, I’m wondering,” she said as he laughed. “Ah, don’t worry, I took on the Dalek Empire to save the cosmos, I’ll take on Jackie Tyler and save you from becoming a badly cooked roast.” “I appreciate that,” she said, nodding. Rose hung up the mobile and put it back in her rucksack. “Tony was still asleep. Otherwise, you would have been talkin’ to him as well,” she said as she walked back to Alan. She lay back down. With a relieved sigh, Alan put his arm back around her. “So, I guess in the morning, we’ll head out to the safari tour and then on to EPCOT” Rose asked them. “Sounds good to me,” Awinita said. “Me too. Let me at that giraffe. I’ll teach that long legged freak a lesson!” Rose rolled her eyes and smiled when Alan planted a firm kiss on her cheek. She turned her head, kissed him back and then shut off the bedside light for the night.
Back Home Doctor Who Main Page Next