THE MERMAID BRIDE

Chapter One

The Doctor smiled to himself when he heard distant laughter drifting in from the back door. It had been a day since River had come on board and his three companions were happy and having fun. John, his clone, had finally asked River to be his wife and River accepted. After Jack contacted him and told him the news, the Doctor decided to take River somewhere to celebrate with everyone on board the TARDIS while Jack did the same with John. The Doctor allowed the day of rest to allow River to ease back into TARDIS life before they went to their destination. He had asked River what she wanted and River told him a beach somewhere so he was running possible destinations through his mind while flipping through a magazine on quantum physics.

"Well, look who won't join the party."

The Doctor looked up as River came down the steps to the main platform. She was wearing a pale blue dress that was off the shoulder and down to her ankles. Brown leather sandals completed the look and the Doctor admired her outfit for a moment while River walked up to him.

"I'm letting you get reacquainted with everyone. I'm fine," the Doctor said. "I like a bit of alone time to get my thoughts in order."

"Yes, but sometimes I think you spend too much time alone," River said, leaning against the rim of the console.

"River, you don't have to live with your mother and Rose 24/7. Those two join forces and drive me around the bend. They menaced me with lipstick the other day."

"Lipstick? In what way did they menace you with lipstick, sweetie?" River said, amused.

"They…tried to write berk on my forehead with it," the Doctor said sheepishly.

River snickered at that.

"You are a berk. But a cute berk," she said, pinching his cheek. "But I didn't come out here just to rabbit on; I wanted to ask you something."

"Yes?"

"Now before you say anything, this isn't Rose's idea, it's mine…and John's…but mainly mine. So don't get angry at Rose, she doesn't know about what I'm going to say."

"Okay," the Doctor said, confused. "Is this something bad?"

"Depends on how you take my suggestion."

"Okay, go ahead," the Doctor said, wondering what all this was about.

"Rose told me you did the Gallifreyan bonding ceremony with her."

The Doctor nodded.

"I know I'm not Gallifreyan but the TARDIS showed me many things about your world when she taught me how to fly her and I know what that is. It's a declaration of love for her and a pledge to be hers forever, is it not?"

"Basically," the Doctor said.

"I wanted Rose to be one of my bridesmaids but I talked it over with John and we think there should be a double wedding. Me and John and you and Rose."

The Doctor raised his eyebrow.

"Why would I need to marry Rose when I already performed the bonding ceremony with her?" he said.

"Because we thought you should make it official," River said.

"And it's not official?" the Doctor said.

"Well…yes, it is. But we want to have a grand wedding and we'd like you to be a part of it."

"And you haven't spoken to Rose about this?" the Doctor said.

"Not yet. I thought I would ask you first since the Gallifreyan male must always ask for the female's hand in marriage. If you're following Gallifreyan tradition and all…John did."

The Doctor scratched his chin thoughtfully.

"Normally, I would say no but things aren't like they used to be. I would have said no before I found out that the Bad Wolf retarded her aging process indefinitely."

River nodded.

"So you can't use the Curse of the Time Lords thing any longer. Not with her," she said.

The Doctor got up from his chair and tossed the magazine on the console.

"But I don't see the need for a wedding. We're married in all but name now. I made her my lives mate. So, going through an Earth wedding seems redundant to me," he said to her.

"And it probably is. But Rose is human and I'm betting she'd love a beautiful wedding and wear a beautiful white dress for you as she walks down the aisle. Wouldn't you like to see her like that?"

The Doctor smiled and nodded.

"So what if it's redundant? Think of it as…renewing your vows or something like that. John and I would like you there to share in our joy and we can share in yours."

"This wedding you have in mind. Is it a Gallifreyan wedding, an Earth wedding or a mixture of both?" he asked her.

"We'd like it to be mainly Gallifreyan," River said.

"Ugh, that'd mean dragging out my robes," the Doctor said, making a face.

"Well, we can have a mixture then. Have the ceremony be Gallifreyan but with Earth clothes. That way you won't have to drag out your robes," River teased.

"And you want me to propose to Rose?"

"I just thought since you're doing everything traditionally that you would be the one to propose marriage to her. Otherwise, I would have asked Rose about this beforehand."

"And where is the marriage being held? I don't think the C of E would be appropriate for a Gallifreyan marriage ceremony. The vicar might get confused."

"We can find a nice spot if you don't want Earth and bring everyone there in the TARDIS. We can sort all this out later, I just wanted to know if you wanna do it."

The Doctor thought it over for a moment and then chuckled.

"River, you're very persuasive when you want to be," he said.

"I have to be, look at who I fell in love with," River said with a wink. "So you will?"

"Yes, but let me speak to Rose. You can speak to your parents."

River let out a little squeal, ran over and hugged him.

"Thank you, sweetie. This makes the holiday we're on that much more joyful. I'll tell mum and dad. Good luck with Rose."

The Doctor nodded and watched while River hurried up the steps and out of the room.

"Wedding. God, now we have to invite Jackie to it," he murmured, making a face. "I can just imagine her reaction. What? We're going to Mars for this wedding?," he said, imitating her voice.

He grinned at the image of Jackie flipping out over going to a Mars wedding and grinned even more at the thought of Ice Warriors chasing her around Mars. He sighed as he let the fantasy fade in his mind. Sticking his hands in his pockets, he went up the steps so he could go find Rose.

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