"DOCTOR!"
The Doctor looked up from his work underneath the console floor. "I told you before, Amy, you need to pull the zigzag lever and then push the top left, bottom right, and dead center buttons on the green button dial pad, IN THAT ORDER!"
"No, Doctor, something's shown up on the screen!"
"What?"
"It's some sort hill!"
"Just wait up there, Amy! I'll be up there in just a second!"
"I wasn't really planning on going anywhere."
The Doctor rushed up the stairs to the main console. He turned the screen towards his face. As he examined the scene, a wide grin opened from his mouth. "And you call yourself Scottish!" he yelled as he ran towards the TARDIS doors. He swung the doors open, and quickly turned back around, shouting, "I've fixed it!"
"Fixed what, Doctor?"
"You know how that screen just seems to show information? Well, it used to show the outside world around us, the greatest information possible, so we could know exactly our environment before stepping foot in it!"
"And we're in…?"
"Scotland, Amy! Scotland in the 18th century! Again, you call yourself Scottish!"
"I also call myself a 21st century sort of girl. I don't find it that shocking, really."
"Quick, grab Rory! We're going to explore a little bit!"
Amy rolled her eyes. "What could possibly be worth exploring in 18th century Scotland?"
"We're going to catch up with an old friend!"
"I was going to ask how you have an old friend in 18th century Scotland, but then I remembered how you still owe a Casanova a chicken."
The Doctor ran outside, breathing in the highland air. He took a quick glance around, searching for what he remembered to be Jamie's house. He didn't have to look long, though, for the TARDIS was far from unrecognizable.
Around the other side of the TARDIS, Jamie McCrimmon was examining the blue paneling of the box immediately in front of him. It seemed so familiar, so natural, and yet the part of his brain that he still trusted told him that it couldn't be real. It was the property of his dreams. He had one memory of something like it, but he assumed he had to have made it up. If he spoke of it as if it were true, he'd be labeled a loon, for certain.
He heard a voice coming from the other side, and stood absolutely still for fear of shattering his dream come true. "Doctor," said the voice –a female's, and Scottish, from the sound of it –"who exactly are we visiting?"
"A very old friend. I haven't seen him for a few centuries. Actually, I'm pretty sure the last time I saw him was, oh, five regenerations ago? But the last time he saw me… Oh, that was around nine regenerations ago. Jamie McCrimmon, come on out!"
"Did someone call my name?" Jamie walked around to the other side of the TARDIS. That's what it was called, yes. Things were starting to flood back into his mind: the Doctor, Daleks, adventures throughout time and space. The man who stood on the other side of the box was unrecognizable, but it did not surprise Jamie, for he could remember now meeting at least six different versions of the Doctor.
"Jamie!" The Doctor swept him up in a hug. As he let go, he introduced the others. "Jamie McCrimmon, I would like for you to meet my companions, Rory and Amelia Pond-"
"Williams. It's Williams," said Rory.
"No, it's not."
"No. It's not."
"Pleased to be making your acquaintances, ma'am, sir." Jamie bowed his head to show respect.
"Is that a kilt? Wow, Amy. And to think I thought you were the most Scottish person I'd ever met." Rory laughed until Amy slapped him on the arm.
"Would everyone just stop making that joke already?"
"Well, Doctor," Jamie continued, "You look a wee bit different since last I saw you."
"Yes, yes, I suppose I do. The last time I saw you, I was still wearing that pink coat, I suppose; although, the last time you saw me was much earlier. I was still all grumpy and old, wasn't I? Going around looking like a mortician, trying to be serious all the time. Time streams are strange things, aren't they?"
"You mean there was a time when dressed more ridiculously than this? I'm shocked," said Rory. Amy giggled to herself.
"How many times have you changed since the last time you saw me? I've met about six different versions of you by now."
"Oh, about five… Yes, I had that delightful question mark sweater vest-" this revelation made Amy's giggles turn into wheezes "-and then there was the time I woke up after my regeneration and completely forgot who I was. Now, that was interesting! Then there was the Time War, and I barely escaped that one. Thought I might not actually regenerate. I became very bitter, almost swore off humans entirely. Oh, and THEN I absorbed the heart of the time vortex. Not a very pleasant experience, I'm afraid. But, I made it out safely. That next regeneration, I think you ought to know, I visited Scotland just once, by accident, ran into the Queen! I used your name actually, but then I got banished, so, in case you were planning on jumping forward a couple of centuries, don't."
"You've certainly been through a lot, then, eh?" Jamie smiled.
"Certainly. And what about you? I suppose no regenerations on your part, seeing as you're… well… human."
"No, my life has been fairly calm, since I finished fighting the redcoats. Truth be told, Doctor, for quite some time I've been unable to remember the TARDIS, or you, for that matter."
The Doctor's face slowly morphed into an expression of sad realization. "Oh, how could I have been so stupid? I completely forgot that they wiped your memory. I'm so terribly sorry about that. I suppose that seeing the TARDIS triggered your memory back?"
"Yes. But I've been leading a happy life, still, even without the TARDIS."
"Still a piper?"
"Still a piper. And I'm married now."
An enormous smile spread across the Doctor's face. "Are you, now? Who's the lucky lady and when do we get to meet her?"
Jamie furrowed his brow, obviously somewhat confused. "Well, Doctor, I'm still trying to figure everything out, so many memories, so quickly. But I think- I think- you've already met her."
"Well, then." The Doctor was unsure about what to expect. "Shall I meet her again, then?"
"Certainly."
The Doctor, Amy, and Rory followed Jamie through the village, walking through town square, wandering past the market, strolling down cobblestone streets. Amy fought to shrug off disapproving glances from the villagers. When she had gotten dressed that morning, she had hardly thought that her jeans would be such a topic of disdain.
Finally, they came to a cottage. A woman was facing the house, watering what appeared to be a vegetable garden. She turned around as she heard them approaching. As they came closer, they could all see the smile growing across her face. "Doctor!" she exclaimed, smoothing over the folds of her long dress before walking over gracefully to greet him.
"How does he know everybody in 18th century Scotland?" Amy muttered to Rory.
"Amy, Rory, meet Victoria Waterfield!" The Doctor seemed absolutely ecstatic.
"McCrimmon, now," Victoria corrected him.
"And a congratulations to the happy couple!" The Doctor turned to Amy and Rory now. "You know, I rarely wish for my companions to engage in… intimate relationships-"
"We're aware," Rory interrupted.
"-but, I always told myself that, if these two were to find each other once again, I would be a happy man. And so they did! However did you do it?"
"Well, you ought to know, Doctor," said Victoria. "You did it."
"Did I?"
"Oh, I suppose you haven't yet. Time streams are strange things, aren't they?"
"That's funny, I said the same thing earlier."
"I know. You've told me. Or, rather, you will tell me."
"Oh, so I will. But, how did you avoid triggering his memory?"
"Well, I've constructed an alternate life, so to speak. I was a lost traveler, you see, and I decided I liked the town so much that I should stay. It was very difficult, you know, keeping the memories from the TARDIS all to myself. Fortunately, it hasn't been too long, fortunately. I've been here about a year, and I've been married to Jamie now for the better part of four months. If you hadn't shown up by now, though, I may have just told him myself, and not waited for you like you told me to. I was getting awfully impatient."
"Well, then," the Doctor sighed happily, "I suppose we've got another adventure to go on later. But, first, I would very much like to catch up with the two of you."
"Indeed! I'll serve you some tea. Jamie, darling, come along inside. You, too, Doctor."
"Splendid! Come along, Ponds."
