Author's Notes - Thanks to TheOnyxRose for reviewing. I hope the rest of you like the direction the story's taken; it sure would be a relief to know, one way or the other. I'm not sure that I explained something well enough in this chapter, so I just wanted to explain how time and Gallifrey work in my mind. (I have a hazy recollection that it was addressed in one of the episodes 30-40 years ago, but it's been a long time, and it's just easier to make it up as I go along.) Time Lords can travel in time anywhere in the universe, except for Gallifrey, where Rassilon put some safeguards in place so they couldn't. He was paranoid enough that he wanted to ensure no Time Lord could go back and change what he had done. So, to keep everything in sync, if a Time Lord spends 24 hours away from Gallifrey, no matter if he's on the Game Station in the year 200,100 or watching a Shakespearan play in Elizabethan England, when he returns to Gallifrey, 24 hours will have passed. However, that safeguard only works for this universe, not another. (Well, Rassilon may have been conniving and paranoid in these stories, but he wasn't all knowing.) so, now that it's as clear as mud, on to the latest chapter.
"Why is Jack still sleeping?"
Handing the Doctor a cup of tea, Melissa sat on the jump seat in the console room, her legs tucked underneath her. There were dark circles under her eyes, but she wasn't nauseated, merely bored.
"It hasn't been that long," he answered, hating how easily the lie left his lips.
"Oh. What are we going to do when he wakes up?"
She was looking at him with such simple trust that he had to briefly look away. He hadn't come up with any plan that would fool the High Council into thinking she had been pregnant before the Bad Wolf had appeared. Mostly, he had spent the last fifteen hours worrying about the fact that she had said 'them' in reference to the pregnancy. Gallifreyans didn't carry multiples; it was just too difficult for the mother. Why couldn't the Bad Wolf have left well enough alone?
"We'll go back to Cardiff. Maybe Donna will have some insight I don't."
"If they find out, will they take the babies?"
Well, that was an improvement. Sixteen hours age, she was calling them a bunch of foreign cells. Although, he tried to caution himself that foreign cells was an accurate description. She had not chosen this, and neither he nor Jack had consented. They assumed that the Bad Wolf had combined Emma's DNA with his and Jack's to create two embryos, but in truth, none of them could be sure at this point.
He answered with as much optimism as he could muster. "We won't let them find out."
His answer hadn't been all that reassuring, and he could feel her anxiety from across the console. Before he could say anything else, she abruptly changed topics. "Is it dinner time?"
"No," he answered automatically before giving her a warm smile. "But pregnant Time Lords carrying twins get to eat whenever they like. Why don't you wake up Jack and I'll set the coordinates. You can pick the restaurant."
Practically running, she left eagerly, leaving the Doctor unsure as to whether she was that pleased to be able to wake Jack or simply anticipating a hot meal. In truth, she was looking forward to both. Lying down behind her husband, she gently shook him awake.
Unaccustomed to sleeping for such a long period, Jack woke up surprisingly groggy. It took him a few moments to remember why he was sleeping in the Doctor's bed. When it all came rushing back, he turned around and kissed his wife senseless.
She surprised them both with her urgent response, pushing him on his back while she quickly shed her clothes. He was more than willing, and set a pace that rapidly sent them both over the edge. Satisfied, she lay contentedly on his chest until her growling stomach reminded her of the other thing she was looking forward to.
"Can we get dressed now? I'm ravenous."
Grinning, he stroked her hair. "Ravenous is an apt description."
Still on top of him, she playfully slapped his arm. "I'm just happy to see you." Then, she became serious. "I know it's selfish, but I'm glad she brought you back. I just wish she could have stopped there."
"I know, Sweetheart."
Unwillingly, she followed him into the Doctor's shower, where they managed to clean themselves without engaging in any other activities. By the time they appeared in the console room, the TARDIS had already materialized on the Plass. Stepping out first, the Doctor noticed that they had attracted quite the crowd.
All of Torchwood was standing in a solemn double line, along with Rhys, Donna, Brax, Drocina, Sarah Jane, Wilf and the Brigadier. Immediately, the Doctor understood that his ship had timed it so that they had arrived in Cardiff before the High Council had had a chance to make contact with anyone on Earth—clever girl. But, this also meant that everyone standing in front of him thought Jack was dead. He managed a manic smile and a cheerful, "Oh, you are going to be surprised," before the Captain and Melissa walked arm in arm out of the ship.
Stunned, the individual reactions ranged from a disbelieving, "Oh my God," from Martha, to a "you have got to be kidding me," from Donna, to Gwen's emotion-filled utterance of Jack's name. The man in question only had eyes for Ianto, who approached him unsteadily, raising his arm as if to touch him and then self-consciously letting it fall to his side.
"Donna told me you were really dead this time."
The words were phrased as an accusation, but his voice made it a mournful confession. Impulsively, Jack stepped forward to embrace him in a tight hug.
"I was. Rose brought me back again."
"Well, it looks like she finally did it properly, Agent. Since you're no longer a fixed point in time, might I hazard to guess that my brother and his bond mate will be leaving you here when they depart?"
Almost every pair of eyes swung to Braxiatel as he dropped two rather spectacular bombshells, so only the Doctor and Jack noticed the effect it had on Melissa. Horrified, she blanched before clamping her hand over her mouth and rushing into the TARDIS. Jack would have chased after her, but the Doctor put his hand on his shoulder.
Quietly, he said, "I'll go. We'll catch up to you later." Louder, he directed his attention to Donna. "You mind giving me a hand with some TARDIS maintenance? I think pushing through the time lock might have put the vortex loop control out of sync. The ride here was bumpier than usual."
She stared at him with her mouth open for just a second before snapping it shut. If the vortex loop control had really been out of sync, they never would have made it to Cardiff, and he knew it. "Sure thing, Doctor."
Following him inside, she watched him latch the deadbolt on the inner door. Even with a key, no one would be accessing the TARDIS now unless the Doctor wanted them to.
"You gonna tell me what's going on, Spaceman?"
Relieved to be able to confide his own fears to a friend he trusted completely, he leaned despairingly against one of the coral struts of his ship. "Emma's pregnant with twins, and before you go blaming me, let me assure you that I had nothing to do with it. The Bad Wolf decided to bring life in a rather reckless manner. And, if the Council figures out the timing of the pregnancy, they'll probably harvest the fetuses for testing no matter that it will most likely kill her in the process."
Becoming increasingly bitter, he added, "And, as if that weren't enough, her temporal lobe is too damaged to see that Jack is no longer a fact, but of course, my brother took care of that little problem for us."
At his brusque explanation, Donna approached and lightly touched her hands to his face. Gaining permission, she perused his recent memories, her anger at Rassilon and the Bad Wolf spiking as she saw exactly what had happened to her friends over the past few days. Giving the Doctor a compassionate hug, she marched out of the console room and down the hall. Racing to catch up, he followed her into Melissa's room. His bond mate was hunched over the toilet, vomiting the tea that she had drunk a few hours ago. Noticing Donna, she immediately started to cry.
"Out, Doctor. Wait for us in the kitchen, and there better be tea and biscuits ready when we get there."
It was comforting to have Donna bossing him around, and the Time Lord gratefully left Melissa with his best mate. No doubt she would appreciate some solace from a woman; there were certain things that he and Jack did not fully comprehend, no matter how closely their minds were linked. And, if they were very, very lucky, Donna may just see a solution to some of the problems they were facing. He was the first to admit that she saw the world in ways he couldn't.
Handing Melissa a towel so she could wipe her face, Donna carefully helped her to stand. Trembling, the Time Lord managed to wash up and rinse out her mouth before lying on the bed in an exhausted heap.
"He told you?"
"Yeah. How you feeling?"
"Like I was raped all over again."
She winced, but she wasn't at all surprised. "I can't even imagine," she said sympathetically. "He told me there were two. You know, it'd be a lot safer to terminate."
"Not going to happen," she mumbled, refusing to look at Donna. "It's not the babies' fault."
Patting her back, Donna took a deep breath, hoping that she would be forgiven for playing devil's advocate. "They're hardly babies yet, Melissa. No one would blame you for putting your own health first. You didn't ask for this, and there's still time to do something about it."
"No." Her reply was firm, but she didn't give another reason, and gathering her courage, Donna pressed on.
"Well, if you really want to be pregnant, why not—"
"I do not want to be pregnant! How can you even think such a thing? I lost Susan and Matthew and it still hurts! I watched Joy grow weaker and weaker and didn't do a thing to stop it! I watched my eldest die twice! My children are dead, and I don't want to hurt like that again!"
Finally getting to the crux of the matter, Donna gently asked, "Then why are you going through with it?"
Bursting into tears, Melissa sobbed into her pillow as Donna patted her back. "It's okay, sweetheart, just say it. Sometimes it helps to talk."
"NO!"
Donna knew better than to press further. She hadn't known Melissa that long, but with the Doctor's memories, she knew that tone very well. She wasn't going to open up anytime soon. With a sigh, she patted her back.
"I'm sorry you had to find out about Jack from the Doctor's brother."
That brought on a fresh wave of tears. "Oh, god, Donna, what am I going to do? He's not a fact anymore, and he's going to get into some dangerous situation and forget and step in front of a bullet and die. He'll die and won't come back and the bond'll break again, only it'll hurt worse this time, and I just can't go through that, not when it's going to hurt the Doctor as much as it hurts me. He's the only reason I stayed sane last time."
"Hey, don't go getting worked up about something that hasn't happened yet. A mortal Jack is better than no Jack, isn't he?"
Sitting up, Melissa nodded reluctantly. She was glad to have him back.
Seeing her friend gain some equilibrium, Donna smiled. "C'mon Spacegirl, the tea's getting cold, and we have to convince your stubborn bond mate that he has to take you to the last place he probably wants to go."
Bemused, she let Donna lead her to the kitchen where the Doctor was pacing anxiously around the small table.
"We were going to tell you, Em. Just not quite like that. I'm sorry."
"I believe you. You know, Brax also announced to Torchwood that we're bonded. So much for keeping things simple. They're all going to assume-"
"The truth," the Doctor remarked blithely, surprised at how unaffected he felt. You, me and Jack, together. Thought we sorted that hours ago?"
Rolling her eyes, Donna poured them all a cup of tea. "Seems to me, you have a lot to get sorted, Doctor. I think the most pressing issue right now is to decide how quickly you're going to Pete's World."
"WHAT?"
"Oi, you are thick, Spaceman! Think! The High Council has to believe she was pregnant before you went to Gallifrey. You can't just hop in the TARDIS, spend two months on Barcelona and show up tomorrow with Melissa's stomach sticking out like she's got a football in it. You could fool Torchwood with that, but not the High Council. You know as well as I that no matter where or when you travel in this universe, the same amount of relative time passes on Gallifrey. At some point, they're going to demand that you two return to answer some questions, and you'll get caught."
Melissa stayed silent, not quite understanding Donna's point. The Doctor, however, looked like he had put something sour in his mouth. "Can't we pick a different universe, Donna?"
"Just because you don't fancy facing an abandoned companion is no reason to pick an entirely different universe. We know Pete's World is relatively safe. You don't want to end up in some twisted parallel where the Brigadier's wearing an eye patch again, do you?"
"No," he answered resignedly, wishing that Donna didn't have all his memories. "And for the record, I did not abandon Rose. I left her with me."
Condescendingly patting his hand, Donna said, "You keep telling yourself that, Sunshine."
Finished with her tea, Melissa looked at them both quizzically. "I don't understand. Why are we going to cross the Void?"
Patiently, the Doctor tried to explain it to her in a way that her time-damaged brain could understand. "We are going to hide on Pete's World. The Council can't reach us there, and unless they breach the TARDIS databanks, they shouldn't suspect that we made the trip. When we get back, everyone will think that you were pregnant before you went to Gallifrey."
"Okay."
She agreed because she trusted him rather than for the fact that she actually understood his explanation. She did recognize the need to hide the Bad Wolf's actions from the Council, but she didn't really comprehend how going to Pete's World would accomplish this. Giving herself a headache, she pressed her palm tightly against her forehead, frustrated that she couldn't comprehend something that was so basic to the two people sitting next to her.
Seeing her distress, the Doctor stood up. "Why don't we go rescue Jack from my brother and eat some lunch? Any particular restaurant you want to try?"
"Someplace with chips," she answered emphatically. Rose said the chips on Pete's World were rubbish."
"Chips it is, then."
By the time the Doctor, Melissa and Donna arrived at the Hub, Jack had told everyone his version of what had transpired on Gallifrey. Since he had been a corpse for much of that time, however, there were more questions waiting for the Doctor and Melissa. They answered as truthfully as possible, being sure to tell everyone that they'd each been given a new set of regenerations.
When Melissa mentioned being questioned by the High Council, Brax became very keen to hear a detailed report, but his brother downplayed that aspect of their stay. Gallifreyan politics would be incomprehensible to the humans in the group, and Brax had most likely received his own report about their testimony. He was still in charge of the Celestial Intervention Agency, and the Doctor didn't believe for a minute that he hadn't been informed of their every move.
Eventually, they ended up at the Hard Rock Café. After four decades of living in the United States, Melissa had very particular views on chips. She would have suggested hunting down a McDonald's, but with a party of thirteen, the fast food chain wasn't the best choice. At least at the Hard Rock, she could order iced tea, even if the Doctor did raise an eyebrow as she squeezed a lemon wedge into her glass.
As she ate her lunch with gusto, Melissa listened to the conversations going on around her. Gwen was going to have a baby; she and Rhys were talking about it quietly, assuming no one would be able to overhear. Martha and Mickey were inseparable, and the medic looked happier than Melissa had ever seen her. Ianto was talking to Drocina about Myfawny, debating the various brands of chocolate the pteranadon responded to best. Jack was telling some impossible story to Donna and Wilf, who were laughing so hard they had tears in their eyes. The Brigadier was quietly asking the Doctor for his opinion about UNIT's latest threat assessment while Sarah Jane listened intently. And Brax was staring at her as if she had brought a skunk to the table.
"What?"
Her tone held a hint of a challenge to it, and everyone fell silent as her bond brother tapped his fingers annoyingly on his plate. "Just wondering why you haven't regenerated yet. Not that I think your form isn't lovely, but the High Lord President informed me of your disabilities."
Briefly locking eyes with Captain, the Doctor became cheerfully animated as he addressed his brother. "There's a good reason for that, actually." His voice carried so that the entire table could hear. "Emma's pregnant."
"Ooh, who's the lucky man?" Martha immediately asked.
"It's the Doc's," Jack immediately answered with a wry grin. "Forget those lessons Drocina's been giving you? Time Lords have triple stranded DNA, Martha. When it comes to procreation, it'd be easier for me to mate with an ape."
Rhys guffawed, and Melissa squelched an impulse to publically congratulate him and Gwen on her pregnancy. Brax looked dumbfounded while Drocina studied her critically and then acidly addressed the Doctor. "Why would you inflict such a thing on her in her diminished capacity?"
Haughtily, the Doctor stared at the young Time Lord physician, his voice dripping with disdain. "I wouldn't. Emma was pregnant before we left for Gallifrey."
Everyone except Jack was caught off guard by his assertion. The thought that she had been willing to sacrifice her unborn child to restore Gallifrey momentarily stunned those at the table. Then, just as quickly, they were all talking at once, congratulating her and the Doctor.
As best wishes went all around, Melissa quietly took Jack and the Doctor's hands. Instantly, they were standing underneath the intact pavilion. "We're going to Pete's World, Jack." Then, looking at the Doctor for confirmation, she added uncertainly, "Donna says it will fool the Council so they won't know about the Bad Wolf."
Nodding, the Doctor explained the plan. "No matter how long we stay away from Gallifrey in this universe, the same amount of relative time passes there. It was set up that way so Time Lords couldn't do what we did and go back in the planet's past to change something. If we cross the Void, however—"
Instantly grasping the possibilities, Jack enthusiastically interjected. "We can spend as much time there as we want! Brilliant!"
"As soon as Melissa finishes her chips, we'll be off. Just need to know how many of this lot's going to tag along."
"Donna," Melissa replied immediately. "She'll want to see him."
"Martha," Jack suggested. "We need an alibi. We can take her to Barcelona, go to Pete's World and come back before she knows we're gone. She can honestly say that we were with her the entire time."
"I suppose Mr. Mickey goes as well, then," the Doctor countered. "Wouldn't want to separate young love, would we?"
"With Gwen pregnant, that leaves Torchwood very short-staffed."
Jack grinned in elation. "I wondered. How'd you find out?"
"My temporal lobe might be impaired, but my hearing isn't. That's all she and Rhys have been whispering about."
"That complicates things, Doc. How long are we going to be gone?"
"From their perspective, only a few days. Ours, a month to six weeks."
Jack could live with that answer. They'd been gone almost a week already, and a few days either way wasn't going to make much difference. "Okay then, I'll ask the Brigadier to provide temporary staff, unless you think Sarah Jane would agree to stay?"
"No, Sarah gets nervous around guns, but you can ask."
Agreeing in principle to the plan, they focused on the outside world. "So," the Doctor began, aiming for casual yet enticing, "Melissa, Jack and I are going to celebrate on Barcelona-the planet, not the city. Anyone up for a little vacation? I promise you won't be gone more than a few days."
The Brigadier and Sarah Jane snorted when he promised a quick return, and each gave a hasty, "no thanks." Brax disparaged the Doctor's taste for planets with dogs with no noses, and quickly informed his brother that he had more important things to do. Drocina looked like she was going to say yes, but Jack swiftly asked her to fill in as Torchwood's medic while Martha was gone.
Suspiciously, Martha remarked, "I don't remember saying I'd go."
"But you didn't say you wouldn't." Donna intervened, ardently giving Martha several reasons why she should make the trip. "Come on, Martha. I'm going. The shopping is fantastic, and the Doctor promises no shooting."
Smoothly, the Doctor interjected. "You can even take Mr. Mickey along."
"Oi!" Mickey didn't like being dragged into something without being asked, but he saw the pointed look on his boss' face, and immediately changed his tune. "That sounds good. Hadn't had a proper holiday in a while. Think I'm due for one."
"Good, it's settled, then. Well, no time like the present. We'd better be off. See you in a few days."
"What about us, Jack?" Gwen's question cut through even the Doctor's manic prattle, and the pleased smile slipped off the Captain's face.
"I'll be back in a few days. I promise. In the meantime, the Brigadier will assign Captain Magambo and a few UNIT soldiers here for temporary duty. I'm sure it will be fine."
The Brigadier didn't even know that UNIT had a Capt. Magambo, but he readily agreed, sensing that there was more going on than met the eye. Sarah Jane offered the services of Mr. Smith, but didn't volunteer to stay in Cardiff. Ianto stared stonily at Jack, thinking that some things never change. And Brax watched them all very carefully, wondering what his brother was up to.
Dropping a handful of hundred pound notes on the table, the Doctor quickly marshaled everyone who was going to Barcelona outside. Jack lingered a few extra minutes, trying to make up for his abandonment of the team yet again, but Gwen was icily ignoring him and Ianto pointedly told him to have a nice time. Disgruntled, Jack walked into the TARDIS to find the Doctor entering the coordinates for Barcelona.
When the ship rematerialized outside of a sprawling resort on the outskirts of Barcelona's capital city, Martha was a tad bit put out. "I thought you were going to give us a chance to pack!"
"Take all you want, Martha Jones! The TARDIS has provided suitcases for each of us outside of the console room, but feel free to peruse the wardrobe if you're worried that she didn't choose everything you might need."
"The TARDIS packed for us? "I hope she's better at coordinating outfits than you are at piloting."
As Martha joked with the Doctor, a deep bass vibration echoed throughout the ship. He and Melissa shared a brief, knowing look. Sending a silent plea to his ship to behave, the Doctor sincerely hoped Martha's suitcase hadn't been incinerated.
"I think you'll find that the TARDIS is more than capable, Martha Jones."
After a brief discussion, the Doctor booked three rooms: one suite for himself, Jack and Melissa, another for Martha and Mickey, and a separate, single room for Donna. The two suites were conveniently located on opposite ends of the lush, grass covered resort, and he casually suggested that everyone take some time to settle in before meeting for dinner in two hours at the restaurant by the pool.
As soon as Martha and Mickey were out of sight, the Doctor, Melissa, Jack and Donna raced back to the time ship. With a surprising amount of trepidation, the Doctor set the coordinates for the TARDIS nursery in Brazil. There, he used the residual energy of the growing TARDISes, along with the dimensional stabilizers of the two resting Battle TARDISes to direct enough power through the Void to open a stable hole between the two realities. Flicking the switch he shouted, "Allons-y!"
Sitting at his desk staring at his blank computer, the Doctor wondered if he'd ever get his happily ever after. In theory, it should have been easy. He was literally made for Rose. Same memories, same man, except for the one heart. They could grow old together, have children and live the domestic life he'd always dreamed of having with her.
Except, she wasn't the same Rose, and it was completely his fault. In her quest to find him, she'd become a soldier. She'd fought too many battles, made too many sacrifices and seen too many people die not to be affected by her journey. Her eyes were full of a sorrow that couldn't be chased away by platitudes. And, he'd seen it too often in the mirror to think that it was simply going to go away. Time doesn't heal all wounds.
Suddenly, he could feel her standing behind him. Turning to face her, he smiled and pulled her onto his lap. "Five hours of uninterrupted sleep. You had a good night." He didn't mention the last four hours she had stayed in bed, tossing and turning and dwelling on old nightmares.
There was a hint of her old spirit when she cheekily replied. "Yeah? Might sleep that long every night if you're going to be that energetic. You managed to wear me out."
Kissing her ardently, he finally suggested, "How about I show you my moves right now? Nothing wrong with a morning nap."
She tensed, and the happiness on her face disappeared like it had never been. "Going to be late for work if we do. Don't want anybody thinking something's wrong."
"You saved all of creation, Rose. I think you're entitled to a lie in if you want it."
He hated this Torchwood, with its ruthless efficiency and its insistence on adherence to a surprisingly long list of rules. He'd left after three weeks, telling Pete that he'd be willing to consult from time to time if it was necessary. Rose's father had been more than understanding, but Rose had not. After three days, the Doctor had asked for his job back.
He hated fieldwork, especially when Rose put herself in the line of fire, which was more often than not. Now that he could have a life with her, the thought of losing her had become almost unbearable. Oh, he missed the travelling as much as she did, but he would have been happy to walk away from the terrifying bits of trouble in between. He just wasn't sure she could.
She smiled again, but she hadn't gotten all that good at faking it, and he knew it wasn't real. "Think we'll save that for a proper holiday. Besides, I'm not tired."
Matching her lighthearted tone, even if it was faked, he said, "You, Rose Tyler, have forgotten how fun it is to skip school."
"Can't skip school. Might have missed the Krillitanes if we had." Kissing him briefly, she left in pursuit of a cup of coffee.
The screen was still blank on the Doctor's monitor, but he was using the computer at his cubicle in Torchwood rather than the one at their flat. He really didn't know how to write up the latest alien encounter in his weekly report. The Gnessic had been more than accommodating in their effort to initiate trade relations, but he had a strong hunch that their cooperation was merely a feint. In the prime universe, the Gnessic Conglomeration were conniving, thieving scavengers who didn't usually bother with asking nicely. Reminding himself about the pitfalls of gingerbread houses, he gazed out the window before starting to type. He would give the bare facts, without commentary. If Pete or anyone else wanted his opinion, they could ask for it.
He was sending the report to Central Control when a familiar feeling washed over him. For a second, he thought he had finally gone insane, but then he was rushing out the office, calling over his shoulder that he needed some air and would return in a minute. Not knowing what to make of his sudden change in behavior, Rose dropped the report she was reading to follow him.
The TARDIS landed with a groan and a wheeze outside of Canary Wharf, and the Doctor glanced apprehensively at Donna. Suddenly, he wasn't sure that travelling to Pete's World had been such a good idea. In fact, E-Space might have been preferable. At least in that universe he wouldn't have to look himself in the eyes and see the recriminations he knew he would find there.
Donna just looked at him like she always did when he was doing something particularly dim, and silently pointed her chin at Melissa. She was curled up on the jump seat next to Jack, once again looking drawn and forlorn. Reminded of the reason they were here, the Doctor moved to stand protectively next to her.
"Ready?"
"I suppose."
It wasn't the most encouraging of responses, but he smiled anyway. "You don't have to see them, you know. We can find a nice, deserted tropical island and have a real holiday."
"I shouldn't hold her accountable, should I? She doesn't even remember being the Bad Wolf."
"'Can if you want," Donna affirmed, taking her place on the other side of the Doctor. "After what's happened, you're entitled."
Melissa gave her outspoken friend a weary smile. "That's what I love about you, Donna-you don't hide your opinions. To clarify, I'm not going to hold Rose accountable. In fact, I'd rather she not be told about the Bad Wolf at all. Can't we just pretend this is a normal pregnancy?"
"Pretend being the operative word," the Doctor said darkly. He was still trying to come to terms with the fact that she was pregnant with twins. He didn't want to alarm the Captain, but there was every possibility that neither of the embryos would develop to term. The strain might simply be too much for her body to bear.
Even Donna didn't have a comeback to his dour pronouncement, and they all stared at the door of the TARDIS for several long seconds, trying to decide the best course of action. When there was an insistent pounding on the door, they realized with a start that the decision had been taken away from them. Striding to the entrance, Donna pushed open the door to walk confidently outside.
"Donna?" The Doctor stared in shock at his friend. Of all the people he had expected to see, she had not been one of them.
Grinning from ear to ear, Donna enthusiastically embraced the part human Time Lord. "Look at you! You're still a skinny streak of nothing. What is Rose feeding you?"
Running to catch up, Rose spied the TARDIS, and thought for a moment that she might faint. Donna and the Doctor were hugging, and . . . was that Jack poking his head out the door? What was going on?
Noticing her distress, her Doctor let go of Donna to wrap his arm around her waist. "Easy there. I know it must be a shock."
But not as much of a shock as it was for him. He had known the original Doctor was dying, just as he had known that Donna's mind would begin to fail. He simply hadn't been brave enough to tell Rose. Now, he was very glad he hadn't mentioned anything at all. If Donna was alive, then there was a good chance his counterpart might be as well.
As Jack walked out of the TARDIS to stare at the zeppelins overhead, he grinned delightedly at the blue-suited Doctor and Rose. "You're not going to just stand there all day, are you? Don't you want to come in?"
The metacrisis Doctor didn't need to be asked twice. Enthusiastically, he bounded into the TARDIS, stopping in his tracks as he saw not only his Time Lord twin, but—oh, now that was impossible.
"Doctor." He greeted himself warily, suddenly unsure of everything.
"Doctor." The Doctor gravely acknowledged his counterpart, snapping his jaw tightly closed before breaking out into a massive grin. "Thought you might like to see that things worked out better than we anticipated."
Not taking his eyes off Melissa for a second, the other Doctor beamed. "Beyond our wildest imaginings, I'd say."
Walking inside, talking animatedly to Jack and Donna, Rose ignored the two Doctors as she noticed who else was in the console room. "Melissa!"
Excited to see her friend alive and well after the horrible events in the alternate reality, she rushed over to give her a hug. But she stopped abruptly when she noticed that Melissa was teary-eyed. Quietly, she sat down on the jump seat next to her.
"You alright?"
"Not really," Melissa answered in a small voice, not even pretending to be perfect.
Not bothering to ask what was wrong, Rose hugged her warmly, whispering in her ear. "We'll talk, yeah?"
Her lip trembling too much to speak, the Time Lord returned the hug all the harder. It was good seeing Rose, no matter what the Bad Wolf had done. When she began to sniffle, however, Donna was instantly at her side, desperately trying to think of a diversion.
Looking at the two Doctors, who were now regarding each other appraisingly, she shouted. "Oi! You two! You going to stand there all day, or are we going to find a better parking space? Canary Wharf gives me the creeps, no matter what universe it's in."
That was enough of a distraction for the Doctors to work together to pilot the ship. With Donna and Jack's help, the TARDIS easily dematerialized and then rematerialized in the gardens of the Tyler mansion. Spilling out, everyone began to talk at once, the reality of being in Pete's World finally sinking in for the TARDIS crew. They were soon joined by Tony Tyler, who was confused to see two Doctors when he was used to seeing one. After the Doctor he knew introduced his counterpart as his twin, the boy was more than satisfied, and ran circles around the group as they ambled towards the house.
"Oh my God, it's really you! I knew I heard the TARDIS!"
Running, Jackie threw her arms around the brown-suited Doctor, giving him a big hug and kiss. As everyone laughed at them both, she invited her guests inside. Chattering a mile a minute, she warmly hugged Donna before kissing Jack, having recognized them from the Dalek Crucible. When she noticed Melissa, however, she simply smiled warmly.
"So, you the newest companion, then? How long you been travelling with the Doctor?"
Most of the group glanced uncomfortably around, suddenly unwilling to answer, but Rose swiftly spoke up. "Melissa's the woman in the States I told you about, Mum. She's married to Jack."
The blue-suited Doctor opened his mouth to correct her assumption, and suddenly, the air was fraught with tension. Both Jack and the Doctor instinctively grabbed Melissa's hands. Before the other Doctor could say anything, Jack appointed himself spokesman for the trio. "Actually, she's married to both of us."
Even his most charming smile could not erase the look of hurt and confusion on Rose's face. "Doctor?"
Her own Doctor put his arm around her shoulder. "It's a long story, Rose, and I think we should wait to tell it until everyone's rested."
For a moment, Rose thought of protesting, having assumed that she and her Doctor would be leaving shortly for their proper universe. However, taking one look at Melissa, she changed her mind. Her friend didn't look up to answering any questions at the moment. Determinedly, she focused on Melissa's needs rather than her own. Swallowing her questions, she nodded.
Showing a surprising amount of sensitivity, Jackie also kept her comments to herself as she silently led them all into the mansion.
"Doctor?" Jackie meant to ask the newly arrived Doctor if he would like to show his wife to a guest room where she could rest, but she was frustrated when the two outwardly identical men turned their attention to her in tandem.
"That's enough of that," she said decisively. "I refuse to call you both Doctor and have two of you answering at the same time. There's enough trouble with one of you, usually."
Donna immediately pointed to the original. "You can call him Spaceman. He answers to that."
Shooting Donna a dark look, he overrode her suggestion. "You can call me John Smith, if you like, Jackie. I've used that name in the past, and since I'm not the proper Doctor in this universe, I don't mind temporarily adopting it again."
Stunned, Jackie Tyler stared searchingly at the Time Lord. He was certainly being more accommodating than she was used to. "Nah. Guess it's not a problem, there being two of you. Long as there's not twice as many monsters, I think I can handle it."
Unexpectedly, he gave Rose's mother another hug. "Jackie Tyler! You would not believe how much I've missed you!"
She looked at him as if he were completely bonkers before smiling. "Get on, you! How about a cup of tea for everyone?" Then, trying to be thoughtful, she asked, "Or would your wife like to rest?" Deciding that she might as well get it out in the open, she continued with a devilish look, "Got a bedroom big enough for the three of you, if you want it."
Thankful for her usual bluntness, the Doctor responded warmly. "Tea sounds brilliant! And, Em gets a little claustrophobic in the TARDIS if she's there too long, so your offer of a bedroom for the three of us would be appreciated. Got another room for Donna in this ostentatious house of yours?"
Jackie rolled her eyes at Rose, who was still somewhat in shock. "Well, he's still rude, that's for sure." Then, she led them all into a spacious den. "I didn't pick this house, you lug, so don't go blaming me for it being all big and flashy."
Before the Doctor could comment, Jack quietly interrupted. "I think Melissa and I will postpone tea for a while, if someone could show us to our bedroom?"
Knowing that Jackie no doubt meant the room where he and Rose had stayed until they had found a flat, the human Doctor immediately volunteered, leading them upstairs. Jackie excused herself to speak to the cook in the kitchen about supper, and Donna followed. Once she and the Doctor were alone, Rose demanded an explanation.
"When did you marry her? Is that the real reason you left me behind?"
"What? No, I mean, how could you think . . . ?" Abruptly, he stopped trying to defend himself. "I did not leave you behind, Rose. I gave you a chance to have the life we could never have. I thought that's what you wanted."
"I wanted you," she protested, and he sharply cut her off.
"You have me! Except for the one heart, that man upstairs is me, Rose. All my memories, all my pain, all my emotions—he is me!" Suspiciously, he added, "Unless you were in love with the adventure, the travelling. Are you Rose?"
"No! I'm in love with you. It's always been you. Even when you were mooning over Madame de Pompadour, it was always you."
Her denial was swift and vehement, and his reaction was just as strong. "Then why are you acting this way? The Doctor upstairs was literally made for you. Why do you see him as something else?"
Caught up in the emotions of the moment, Rose failed to question his assertion that the part human Doctor had been made for her. She did, however, manage to express her feelings for the metacrisis very clearly. "I don't! I love him just as much as I love you, and he's not afraid to say it out loud! We were fine until you showed up! Why did you have to come here and make everything difficult?"
Instantly, the Time Lord deflated, hating to see the anguish on her face. Softening his expression, he opened up his arms, and she ran to him. Wrapping her in a comforting hug, he realized with a guilty start that he'd only considered Melissa's welfare when planning the trip to Pete's World. Not once had he even considered that it might be detrimental for Rose to see him again.
"I'm so sorry, Rose. I never intended to hurt you. I only thought of Melissa's welfare and not yours. I should have thought it through. We should have gone to a different universe."
Even as she begrudgingly accepted his apology, she couldn't help but be curious. "What d'ya mean, Melissa's welfare? What's wrong with her, anyway? And why would you come here instead of where she's from? Hang on a minute, how'd you get here in the first place? You said the walls were closing for good this time."
Looking down at her mascara stained face, his hearts swelled with pride and affection. She was just so Rose. No matter what life threw at her, she was concerned about others, and she always knew what questions to ask.
Hoping his return wouldn't drive a wedge between her and her own Doctor, he smiled warmly. He wouldn't breach his bond mates' privacy, but he could tell Rose how brave they'd been. "The walls will never be closed again, Rose, and that's all due to Melissa and Jack. Let me tell you a story . . . ."
Sipping their tea at a cozy table in the kitchen, Jackie and Donna couldn't help but overhear the raised voices in the den.
"Sorry," Donna immediately started, only to be interrupted by Jackie.
"Don't go apologizing for the Doctor. It's not like it's your fault or anything. I reckon those two have some unfinished business and they might as well get it out in the open. I've never loved that man more than when he sent her back here with the other him. She's got a chance at a normal life now, and she knows that. Just, seeing him here with another woman as his wife when he kept saying he couldn't have that kind of life, well, I imagine my Rose is more than a little hurt right now."
"It's not like that, though," Donna quickly refuted. "He didn't replace Rose. He wouldn't. Melissa was his wife long before Rose was even born." Seeing Jackie's look of disbelief, she added in a rush, "She's a Time Lord. She'd been turned into a human and lost her memories. The Doctor didn't even know who she was until after we defeated the Daleks."
Jackie looked dumbfounded, but it didn't take her long to find her voice. "That's more ridiculous than the stuff they show on Corrie!"
"It's true though."
"Oh, I don't doubt you. Impossible things seem to happen to that man, and it's nice to finally hear of a good one. No wonder he's changed. How does that Captain Jack fit in, then?"
Jack, who had been standing at the door of the kitchen blatantly eavesdropping, walked in and picked up a chocolate biscuit. Popping it into his mouth with a grin, he readily answered Jackie's question. "I've loved Melissa since the day we found her and that hasn't changed because she turned out to be a Time Lord. Lucky for me, she feels the same way."
"So she's a bigamist, then? Like those Mormons in Utah, yeah? Only in reverse."
That made the Captain chuckle. "For the twenty-first century, I guess that's not a bad description. By the twenty-seventh, our relationship won't even raise an eyebrow." He decided that it wasn't his place to explain the exact nature of their relationship. He had a feeling that Donna knew more than she was saying, but he knew he could trust the woman with the Doctor's memories to understand and keep it to herself.
They stayed in the kitchen for a long while, drinking tea and chatting about friends and acquaintances. Jackie was pleased that Mickey had found someone, and wanted to know all about Torchwood Cardiff. As Jack described his team and the work they did, she smiled outwardly, but inwardly, she worried. She hoped they would all understand what would be required of them during their visit, but she had a sinking feeling this Doctor wasn't going to be as accommodating as the other one had been. Hoping that Pete would be late for dinner, she asked Donna how her mother and grandfather were doing.
