Finding out that aliens were real was shocking. Learning that Martha had travelled to other planets was bewildering. Being told there was a rift in time and space running through Cardiff was unexpected. Walking in on his fiancé shagging another man was devastating. Stealing an immortal man's beautiful Welsh lover was inevitable.
They had called it a reunion. Apparently, the alien called the Doctor travelled through time and space with human companions. Since it was a major part of her life, Martha Jones decided she needed her fiancé, Tom Milligan to know about her past with the Timelord. After sitting him down and explaining the true nature of the universe, Martha stared at the man waiting for some sort of response. She, of course, neglected to tell him about the year that never was and how the two had actually met. She also did not tell him that he had died during that year trying to protect her. She had made a pact with her family and Jack Harkness that they would not tell anyone about those events.
After a long couple of minutes, Tom finally spoke, "Is that why you left UNIT? Because they asked you to destroy the world?"
Martha had recently resigned her rather prestigious position at UNIT in favor of doing what she called freelance work with her friend Mickey. Tom did not quite understand at the time but supposed that as long as she was happy he would support her.
"I just couldn't go on knowing that they would willingly do that. Do I sound crazy?" Martha asked while reaching out to clasp Tom's hand.
Still in an almost disbelieving voice, Tom mumbled, "I suppose one never knows how to respond unless put in that situation. Why again are we going to Cardiff?"
"There is a man there who used to travel with the Doctor and he wants to meet you. Mickey also travelled with the Doctor, so he'll be going as well. If we're going to spend the rest of our lives together, I think it's only proper that you know about my past."
"This man in Cardiff, I suppose he guards the rift in time and space that the Doctor's ship uses for fuel."
Martha smiled, "Yes, that's exactly what he does."
"So, you, Mickey, and the man from Cardiff all traveled together in the Doctor's ship, which is a blue police box. Love, don't think that I'm nitpicking here but how did you all fit inside?"
Martha laughed, "Actually we all travelled with him at different times and the ship is bigger on the inside, much bigger."
"Ah, well, that explains it," Tom replied still in obvious shock.
"It'll make more sense once we go to Cardiff."
"One can only hope."
"Are you absolutely sure you don't want to go?" Jack asked as he gussied up before heading out.
Ianto kept his gazed locked on the monitor, "Someone has to watch the base and Gwen is out with Rhys. Besides, you don't need me to have a good time."
Jack approached Ianto from behind and kissed his cheek, "Nonsense, you are the light of my life, but if you insist on being a stick in the mud, I'll go and party enough for both of us."
"I'm sure you'll manage. Keep your mobile on just in case of an emergency."
Jack grabbed his coat as he asked, "Anything else, Darling?"
Finally, Ianto turned and spoke, "Do say hello to Martha for me and give her my congratulations."
"Will do," Jack replied as he flew out the door.
Once he was alone, Ianto sighed deeply and sat back in his chair.
"Jack!" Martha shouted as she waved from across the restaurant.
Striding confidently over to the secluded table in the corner, Jack put on his warm grin and enveloped Martha's slight frame in a friendly hug. Once he pulled away, the handsome man shook Mickey's hand enthusiastically while calling him Mickey Mouse, which earned an exaggerated eye roll. Finally when he turned his gaze to Tom, his grin turned to more of a leer as he reached his hand out, "Captain Jack Harkness. You must be the man that has stolen dear Martha's heart. At this point, I can't say I blame her."
Martha smacked his arm and exclaimed, "Hands off! Remind me never to leave you two alone. Oh, Tom, it's not you, it's just that Jack has quite an effect on people."
Tom nodded uncomfortably and returned to his seat. Soon they were joined by a lovely middle aged woman named Sarah Jane who had travelled with the Doctor for years. Tom began to wonder how many companions the Doctor had but their guest list stopped at just that four. The dinner was filled with lively conversation most of which Tom could not even understand. In the presence of people that had been around the universe and faced countless adventures, he suddenly felt very small and insignificant.
The only time he did chime in was for clarification after they began speaking about the Doctor's appearance. Sarah Jane had started it by saying, "I don't know how you did it, Martha; this current incarnation is so incredibly handsome."
Martha took another long sip of her wine, "What did he look like when you travelled with him?"
"He had a mop of unruly curly hair and this long scarf that would sometimes drag on the ground," Sarah mused.
Jack chimed in, "When I knew him, he had a shaven head and wore a black leather jacket. What I always remember were his adorable ears that stuck out."
"What do you mean by incarnations?" Tom asked in confusion.
Martha patted his arm and explained, "I forgot to tell you; when the Doctor dies, he changes into another body. He once told me he's over 900 years old."
Jack sighed, "I should be so lucky to be that young again."
Mickey cocked his head, "I thought you were only 150?"
That was when Jack's eyes turned dark as he answered, "Make that 2150, give or take. I lost count."
Martha's face fell, "Jack, what happened?"
Jack squeezed her hand, "I'll tell you later." After a moment of awkward silence, Jack smiled, regaining his previous enthusiasm, "What I will tell you about now, is the most delicious pair of twins I met last week. They were brother and sister, blonds from Sweden. The girl had the biggest set of-"
"Jack! I don't want to hear anymore," Sarah Jane interrupted.
"I do, keep going," Mickey added.
After that, the rest of the meal went by with more lively chatter. As they were standing to leave, Martha turned to Jack, "By the way, where's Ianto?"
"He's back at the base. I asked him to come but he said he had too much work," Jack answered while rolling his eyes.
"That reminds me: I still haven't seen your base," Mickey added.
Jack smiled brightly, "Then how about I give you all the grand tour?"
