Previously...

He looked at the wide grin on Rose's face. Listened to the meaningful silence inside his mind coming from the TARDIS...

Suddenly, he knew just what his darling has been trying to tell him.

Belong

10.

"Rose." The Doctor knew this was their only chance to postpone the inevitable, if only she-

"Go on," she encouraged him instead. "If there are things I have absolutely no idea about, this is it. Please?"

The Time Lord cleared his throat, surprised to see delight in the girl's eyes, rather than any trace of discomfort.

"My love. Are you sure the TARDIS hasn't made you breathe in some, well, substance altering your perception of things greatly? Or have you somehow mastered… Some kind of deception?" The Doctor was startled. He has been incredibly happy to see Rose so excited for what was to come, but this seemed strange to him. Not a trace of a doubt, not a drop of anxiety…

Rose, are you sure everything's all right?

She rolled her eyes at him teasingly. I am having my Doctor completely to myself, at last. Martha is busy with Mickey, and no-one, no-one is going to take this long-due proper time together from us! Rose's sincere excitement has made the Doctor grin back at her. Every single moment of seeing his bride-to-be happy was worth letting go of his uncertainties.

"Yes!"

Rose sent him a meaningful look. She was expecting of the old girl to drop him a hint, but the vessel has remained quiet.

Why, TARDIS? She asked the old girl.

The Doctor was curious. "Why what, love? What is it our friend has done this time?"

Rose shook her head. "You shouldn't talk to her in such a tone," she beamed at him. "In fact-"

The Doctor sent her a curious look. "What's wrong with the way I speak? I haven't been rude, or-" He was doubtful.

Nope, you haven't said anything, not exactly, the girl gulped. "The old girl has promised me something. She was supposed to be the one telling you, but-" Rose bit her lip.

My love. It's clear she wants you to tell me! We all know how moody the ship can get. It's of no surprise to me she has changed her mind, the Doctor assured her with a small smile.

Rose inhaled, wishing to both finally tell him and to make sure the Time Lord has actually noticed the changes himself.

She was looking at him challengingly, but her patience has run thin way too soon. You must know, the old girl and I, we share a- a connection and she has helped me in finally becoming-

The Time Lord blinked, then beamed at her, understanding what the girl has been trying to tell him and why she hasn't. You needn't have kept this news from me, you know that, Rose! I'd have avoided a lot of

She shook her head, smiling at him dubiously. "Well, I thought, with you being a Time Lord to begin with, I was certain you were going to-"

The Doctor blushed, ashamed, knowing each moment wasted meant less time together with his love. "Rose. Tell me, are you ready to form a bond with me right here and now and be united with me telepathically and-"

"Yes," she spoke certainly. "From this moment onwards, I am yours and you are mine. Our forever is now one," she breathed, allowing the Doctor to complete the handfasting and the entire ceremony with heartfelt confessions and oaths in Gallifreyan, a language she was not supposed to understand, even as a newly-discovered Time Lady… But she believed she understood every word. The Gallifreyan was looking at her amorously, especially now that-

It seemed to the Doctor Rose has been uncannily familiar with the words supposed to be uttered in such ceremonies. Of course, it could have been the old girl's doing.

However, this didn't matter. Not any more. The newly-bonded couple have only had eyes for each other, and it was only a matter of time until their electrified bodies gave in to passion.

Meanwhile, Mickey Smith and Martha Jones were finding more and more common interests as time went by. Or so it seemed, their hands and tongues loosened greatly by the amount of alcohol they have consumed.

"I think we should stop drinking," Martha giggled, only remotely recalling something about Rose and the Doctor making her feel angry and sad. The details were impossible to recall. "This is wrong," she managed.

"You can stop, if you want," Mickey eyed her teasingly. "All I can think of is not looking at your dress, actually," he admitted. "Trust me, this alone requires a lot of courage, Miss Jones," he chuckled with a hiccup, still managing to keep his treacherous eyes away.

Vulgar, she thought, but has only begun laughing louder. Mickey seemed to be a nice bloke, or at least someone nice to spend time with without feeling uncomfortable. They knew the alcohol consumed might cause them trouble the following day, but thinking was all they have done about it. The wide double bed was still there, waiting patiently for someone.

Rose and the Doctor weren't wasting time, either, some part of their minds reminding the couple this was it. The start of their forever was just there, inside this room, inside this new world suddenly filled with sensations Rose has never got the chance to experience before.

"Rose," the Doctor breathed at his bond-mate huskily. "My love."

She inhaled, afraid to breathe too loudly and to somehow disperse the strangely sensual atmosphere inside the room. "My Doctor," her lips muttered soundlessly.

No words were necessary for them. Some words Rose has heard coming from the Doctor have been uttered in his very soft and melodious Gallifreyan language, language in which every other word sounded like a love confession. Maybe, once they were out of this hotel, Rose was going to ask him what he was saying… Or perhaps not, she exhaled, feeling the Doctor's lips on her neck. If there was anything more divine than that, she knew that was about to come… any moment now.