They stood in the sunlight of the garden planet, Donna in a long, flowing dress, and the Doctor in his brown suit, only half-listening as the officiant read the words of the wedding ceremony. Donna clasped the Doctor's hand and looked up at him as he beamed happily down at her, and she heard the TARDIS humming happily in the back of her mind. She could see the blue box from the corner of her eye, off to one side of the clearing. The archway they stood under was draped with flowers, but Donna was truly aware only of the Doctor standing before her, holding her hand.

On cue, the Doctor shifted his grip, sliding his hand up to grasp her forearm, and she mimicked the action, turning her wrist so the pattern the TARDIS had left there pressed against the matching mark on his. She felt energy flow between them, just a slight surge, as the officiant gently tied the ceremonial rope around their joined arms, signifying the bond they had created.

As they recited the vows they had prepared, Donna felt the link between them mature and grow.

"When I first met you, when you dropped – quite literally-- into my life, I didn't dare hope that you would come to be the person to be my partner, to make a family again." He looked down at their linked arms, and Donna blinked away tears. "I don't deserve you, and I promise to do everything in my power to keep you safe and happy, for as long we both live."

She squeezed his arm more tightly and drew a breath to try to steady herself. "You've made me happier than I ever hoped to be, and I promise to spend the rest of my life being your partner and wife, and sharing all the happiness and sorrows that are ahead of us." She finished in a whisper and he stepped closer to her. She felt his strength flowing to her through the bond.

When he slipped the simple gold band onto her finger, she smiled at the memory of the other ring he had placed there to protect her, so long ago. And when he drew her closer for the ritual kiss, she thought she had never been happier.

Later, when he carried her through the doors of the TARDIS, laughing and unable to stop kissing each other, the TARDIS hummed with happiness. The Doctor set her down gently next to the console, but drew her closer for another kiss. When they broke apart, breathless, he asked, "Well, Ms Noble, now that we're well and truly married, what do you say we get started on the 'family' part of the TARDIS' plan for us?"

"Well..." she began playfully, imitating his usual tone. "It's possible that we've already started on that." .

"What do you mean—" his eyes grew wide, and she grinned at him, happy tears threatening in her eyes. "What? You're?—"

"Yes. I mean, I think so, I can't be sure yet. I wanted to wait until after the wedding to say anything."

He slipped one hand to cover her stomach, and she placed her hand over his.

"I love you," he said, finally, his voice shaky.

"I love you more," she replied, and pulled him down for a kiss.

"Impossible," he said, bending to lift her into his arms again. She let out a whoop of surprised laughter as he carried her back to their room. The TARDIS lights dimmed as he carried her through the doorway, and she thought the hum of the ship was very self-satisfied indeed.

Fin