It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Silver Wedding Bells (Part II)

December the twenty-first 2013 was the day. It seemed odd to be getting married after so many years. Aside from a passing comment from The Doctor they had never really considered the possibility, not until comparatively recently.

They had intended to keep with tradition and not see each other before the ceremony. They really had. But they'd barely slept apart for forty years. John hadn't even made it to midnight in the spare room before climbing into bed beside Mike.

Everything was set. They'd settled on a Christmas wedding because... well, it was one of the easier times for The Doctor to find. Apparently.

They had forgone the Best Man thing. It didn't feel right to not use Richard and The Brigadier. The only other real contender was The Doctor and they weren't entirely certain he would make it. Besides there was no fourth option. They had joked briefly about asking The Master and then, not so jokingly, considered it but he was only slightly more likely to find them in time than The Doctor himself.

As planned, they got ready together. They had briefly toyed with the idea of being married in uniform, it almost seemed fitting, but they ultimately decided against it. They had decided against buying new rings and had decided instead to use the same ones they had been wearing for almost forty years. It didn't seem right somehow to replace them.

They arrived at the church early. It was mid-sized. Old, nice and fairly modest. The first to arrive was, happily and fittingly The TARDIS. It carried The Doctor, who they only recognised by process of elimination, dress sense and general demeanour. He was followed by a young woman who bore an uncanny and striking resemblance to Richard Eastick, They hadn't seen her since she was a teenager but they were both fairly sure it was Jayne Eastick, Richard's granddaughter. She was followed out by her partner and John's niece Dr Erin Spencer, Archaeologist. She was somewhat delicate of feature but not character. Following her were The Brigadier, Richard and Sarah-Jane Smith. This was quite a surprising development as they had all been dead for over two years by that point. The other surprising face was Jamie McCrimmon, the kilted young Jacobite was not significantly older than when he was, in an act of immense cruelty on the part of The Time Lords, returned to his own time with all memory of The Doctor erased. The TARDIS herself was, quite fittingly, situated to one side of the entrance to the church. The group approached where John and Mike were standing just outside the doors of the church.

"We aren't late are we?" The Doctor said in what was a rather grand Glaswegian accent.

"No, you're right on time." Had been Mike's reply.

"Um Doc," John said indicating Richard, The Brigadier and Sarah-Jane, "Isn't this violating the laws of time or something?"

"Why yes, very astute Sergeant Benton, it does. My dear Doctor, What will our esteemed High Council say?" It was a familiar voice, one that Benton and Yates had not heard in decades. The Master.

The Brigadier, Richard, Mike and John were all instantly on alert. A reflex reaction to The Master after so many years. The Doctor however smiled fondly as The Master came to join them.

"Of all your faces Kosh, I think this is my favourite. I am, however happily free of the scrutiny of The High Council."

"Oh yes, The Time War."

"So that is what you saw."

"Yes Theta."

The others present dropped their guard seeing The Doctor's faith in The Master's benign intentions. He was, after all, usually correct when it came to his faith in The Master. And all present knew why.

The other guests began to arrive. Kate Stewart and her two sons Gordon and Alexander.

"Dad?" Kate had said when she saw The Brigadier.

"Hey Tiger." He'd replied before getting an armful of his grown daughter.

Jo Jones and he grandson. Most of UNIT's old guard. John's sister, who seemed mildly surprised at her Daughters presence. Quite a number of ex-companions of The Doctor. Mike's one nephew with whom they had any contact, Raymond and his partner Alexander Forsyth. The rest of the Little Hodcombe Archaeological team, Professor River Song and Doctor Bernice Summerfield.

The ceremony was perfect. There had been no trouble made by any of the guests, least of all The Master who seemed genuinely pleased for them.