Our Story

Chapter 16: An Announcement

The Doctor and the Archivist returned to Cardiff Bay, setting the Doctor's TARDIS down next to Libby. When they exited the blue box, they were both smiling and holding hands.

"Short way or long way?" he asked before they made it too far out of the ship.

"The long way isn't terribly long, and it's a nice evening."

"So we agree, we let Jack and Martha know, then we get back to our TARDISes for some sleep. Then tomorrow—tomorrow, you become my wife."

"You're sure you want to do it tomorrow? I don't want to rush you."

"Archie, I'm the one that asked you. How could you possibly be rushing me into something that I am so eager for?"

"I know. Still just having a hard time believing this is really happening between us, Doc."

"Are you okay with tomorrow?"

She nodded and they both smiled as he led her towards the storefront secret entrance of Torchwood.

**—**—**

"Hey Doc, welcome back. You two have a safe trip?" Jack said from where he and the rest of his team sat around a table eating a dinner of take-out Chinese together.

"Yup, just a quick trip to show the Archivist a few things that happened since her time in New York City." The Doctor then grinned when he saw Mickey Smith sitting by Martha. "Mickey! I was wondering when you'd show up!"

"Hey Boss! Martha and I were just about to head out, but I was hoping I'd get to see you around when she told me you'd showed up."

"Mickey, this is the Archivist, a fellow Time Lord. Archie and I grew up together at the Academy. We lost touch and I thought she was gone along with the rest of my people. Then, I met a remarkable woman in 2001 in New York City and quite fell for her. Come to find out, she was a chameleoned Time Lord and here she is, my Archie. And tomorrow, she'll be my wife."

Martha gasped at the same time Jack let out a hoot, followed by one from Mickey.

"Martha, Mickey, Jack—we'd like for you to join us for the ceremony, if you would do us the honor," the Doctor asked as he looked around the table at his friends.

Martha had already jumped from her seat and run over to the Doctor, pulling him into a hug. "Of course, Doctor. I'm so happy for you."

"If the Misses is there, so am I," Mickey said with a grin.

"You couldn't keep me away if you tried, Doc." Jack added.

**—**—**

A while later they were walking back towards their TARDISes when Archie brought up a detail she'd been thinking about. "So, tomorrow, before we do the ceremony—could we go talk to Lucille? We can decide exactly what point in time would be best, but I want her to know what's happened. And—I'd love for her to come for the ceremony if she's willing." Another thought occurred to her. "You know, I'll still want to go back and properly pack up my house there and sell it. I don't want Janice to be worrying about me. Nor do I want it to appear that Christine Madison disappeared under suspicious circumstances. We'll have to come up with some sort of cover story." Archie said as they walked towards their timeships.

The Doctor was so quiet she wasn't sure if he'd heard her. By the look on his face, he was definitely preoccupied by something.

"What's wrong, Doc? Did you hear me?"

"Hmm? Oh, nothing's wrong. I'm sorry, I heard you. We'll go talk to Lucille tomorrow, yes. I was just thinking..."

"About?"

He sighed, frowned, and with downcast eyes, made his admission. "I was just thinking about how much Donna would love to be there tomorrow."

The Archivist gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "I know you miss her, Doctor. Maybe one day we'll discover a way to help her have her memories back."

The Doctor smiled. "You're sweet to say that."

"I'm not just being sweet. With the two of us working together, we're unstoppable. We'll come up with something. Maybe one day she can travel along with us again."

"It's a nice dream, Arch. Thank you for a small dose of hope," he said as he lifted her hand and kissed it. "Now, my love, it's time for us both to get some rest. You've had a very big, very long day."

"So have you. You promise you're really going to rest, too?"

"Promise. And I've kept every promise to you since you were Christine. All those times you made me promise not to skip forward in time to visit you again. I followed the rules every single time.Well, except the one where I looked at your near future even though you didn't want to know. It's how I found out about your family. "

"And you came running back to me," she said, a fond smile at remembering how much it had helped her healing to have the Doctor there after the first year of deep grief she'd experienced.

"As fast and as soon as the TARDIS would let me. I'm so glad I did."

"Me too."

They'd made it to their ships and were standing in front of Libby. He leaned forward and gave her a slow, deep kiss for a moment before pulling back just a few inches, his hand lingering on her cheek as he whispered, "This time tomorrow, you'll be my wife, Telana. For now, I'll dream of everything our future holds. Good night."

"Good night..Theta."

As she stepped into her ship and closed the doors behind her, the Archivist leaned against them thoughtfully. She'd give anything to be able to make the Doctor's wish come true—to have Donna at their wedding. But it was a tall order, and one she wasn't sure she could fill. But, in the mean time, they'd promised each other rest, and that's what she was going to do.