A/N: Doctor Who 50th Special is next Saturday and I am hyped! So, to all my fellow Whovians, I've worked on Part 3 in honour of the upcoming celebrations, and Part 4 should be out sometime next week!

Mia's POV

Smoke undulated from the TARDIS, causing the Doctor to sputter whilst he extinguished the threat.

Mia cast a fleeting glance at him before sidling toward Donna, who released a mournful sigh. "Did we miss it?" Mia, with a barely audible voice, asked.

Instead of replying, Donna turned and walked near to the edge of the high-rise upon which the TARDIS had landed. Her doleful gaze scanned the skyline first, then levelled to the bustle of the city sprawled hundreds of metres beneath. Mia felt a pang of sorrow for Donna. Though she might be agonising over her missed wedding, eventually, brighter days would come.

I'm sorry that this has to happen, she wanted to say. But it's all for the better, it really is!

"The funny thing is, for spaceship, she doesn't do much flying," the Doctor declared. "We'd better give her a couple of hours." Upon noticing Donna's blank countenance, he queried, "You alright?"

Donna shrugged listlessly. "Doesn't matter."

"We've missed it," Mia murmured. Her quiet voice was almost lost in the zephyr.

"Yeah," Donna breathed, combining her answer with a heavy sigh.

"Well, you can book another date…" The Doctor suggested.

"'Course we can."

"Still got the honeymoon."

"It's just a holiday now," Donna countered.

"Yeah… yeah… sorry."

Mia felt horrible for the both of them. Donna's wedding had meant so much to her, although she better that she had missed it. Had they wed, Donna would have most likely been overwhelmed to see her husband turn on her and wish her death. And the Doctor was only trying to reassure Donna, but he was failing miserably. At least for the moment, anyway.

But in the end, everything will be alright.

"It's not your fault," Mia explained. "Neither of you are to blame."

Donna sighed wistfully. "I suppose so, but I wish we had a time machine. Then we could go back and get it right."

Mia winked at the Doctor.

"…Yeah, yeah. But… even if I did, I couldn't go back in someone's personal timeline, apparently."

After looking quizzically at the Doctor and Mia, Donna walked forward and settled on the edge of the roof, still watching the city buzz beneath with glazed eyes.

"She's frightened and lonely." Cold, bony fingers clutched the pin-striped fabric of the Doctor's sleeve. Her hazel eyes, aglow with pity, met his with searing intensity. "Help her before she loses everything."

With a grim countenance, the Doctor held her gaze. His brows knit together and he swallowed before nodding. Producing a bio-damper from jacket pocket, the Doctor took a few steps toward Donna. "You'd better put this on," he ordered.

That's the way.

"Oh, do you have to rub it in?" Donna spat crossly after catching a glimpse of the ring-like object between the Doctor's fingertips.

"Those creatures can trace you. This is a bio-damper. Should keep you hidden."

Mia watched the Doctor as he stooped, allowing Donna to delicately pluck the bio-damper away, before settling down beside her. Releasing a soft sigh, Mia pattered across the concrete and hastily took a seat on the opposite side of Donna.

"Why doesn't she have to wear one?" An accusing note was evident in Donna's voice.

Mia shook her head. "I didn't arrive the same manner you did, because if I had, then I… well…"

I hope I didn't arrive through Huon energy. But I can't be certain of anything anymore. Time's in flux, that's what the Doctor said. But how exactly does that apply here?

"None of this makes any sense!" Donna shrieked, clenching her fists. "Robot Santas, being inside a Martian spaceship, meeting a woman that doesn't know how she exists and missing my wedding! What is all of this for, anyway?"

You'll live for now, though you may suffer heartache. I don't know about me, though.

"The robots are your basic robo-scavenger," the Doctor explained. "The Father Christmas stuff is just a disguise. They're trying to blend in. I met them last Christmas. And…"

"What happened then?" Donna questioned, interrupting. The Doctor's answers were only causing her more puzzlement.

"There was a great big spaceship hovering over London," Mia clarified deliberately. However, Donna stared blankly at Mia, confirming that the ginger was absolutely unaware. "Syrocrax ship?" When those words did not cause Donna to recall anything, (Mia hadn't expected them too) Mia pretended to be stunned. "You didn't notice?"

"I…" Donna began.

This time, the Doctor interrupted her. "Question is, what do camouflaged robot mercenaries want with you? And how did you get inside the TARDIS, both of you? And Mia, if you don't mind my asking, how do you know about the Syrocrax?" Before Mia could reply, the Doctor inquired of Donna, "What's your job?"

I was going to answer!

Donna rolled her eyes. "I'm a secretary," she replied nonchalantly, as though the answer held no significance.

"You?" He turned to Mia.

"Nope. Never had a job in my life. I just turned 19. I was about to leave for college."

"What kind of secretary?"

"I'm at HC Clements," Donna furthered, beginning to delve into the tale. "It's where I met Lance. I was temping. I mean, it was all a bit posh, really. I'd spent the last two years at a double-glazing firm. Well, I thought – I'm never going to fit in here. And then, he made me a coffee." Donna stared whimsically into the distance. "I mean, that just doesn't happen! Nobody get the secretaries a coffee. But Lance – he's the head of HR! He didn't need to bother with me! But he was nice, he was funny…"

So, so traitorous, too.

"And it turns out he thought everyone else was really snotty too!" Donna exclaimed. "So that's how it started, me and him. One cup of coffee – that was it."

"When was this?" The Doctor queried, seeming intent on the details of the story.

"Six months ago," Donna answered. "He insisted… And he nagged me… and he nagged me… until he just wore me down and then finally, I just gave in."

"Are you sure you made the right decision?" Mia asked. "I mean…"

You should have thought this through, Donna.

"What does HC Clements do?" The Doctor hadn't finished his interrogation.

"Oh, security systems, you know… entry codes, ID cards – that sort of thing. If you ask me, it's a posh name for locksmiths."

"Keys…" The Doctor mused.

The key to freeing the Racnoss!

"Anyway, enough of my CV," Donna finished. "Come on, it's time to face the consequences. Oh, this is going to be so shaming. You can do the explaining, Martian-boy." She inhaled, a sad expression still lingering in her eyes. "I had this big reception planned. Everyone's going to be heartbroken."

Oh, I think you'll find quite the opposite.

The room was darkened, the wooden floor stippled with various patterns of colours. Guests chattered merrily, danced to the beat of the blaring tune and devoured refreshments, all the while laughing as though the wedding had proceeded like planned. Donna's disappearing had been suppressed and the festivities had gone on although Donna and Lance hadn't married.

And it's a good thing they didn't! Mia thought as, in her mind's eye, she envisioned Lance plummeting to his fate a million miles below. To have married mere hours before, then learn your husband was plotting to murder you and watch him die, would be traumatic.

But Donna was not pleased, though both she and the Doctor were unaware. The ginger stood lividly at the edge of the dancing crowd, arms folded across her chest, until she had been noticed. One by one, the invitees halted and gawked at Donna, still attired in her wedding gown.

"You had the reception without me?" Donna growled.

Of course they did! What does it look like?

"Donna… what happened to you?" Lance inquired, breaking away from Nerys and taking a few steps toward his would-be bride.

"You had the reception without me?" Donna repeated, her voice more wrathful than before.

No one could reply, for they were still reeling in shock. And the Doctor was introducing himself.

"Hello, I'm the Doctor." He beamed, looking at the speechless mass.

"And I'm Mia Williams," Mia blurted. "We…"

However, Mia was drowned out by an infuriated Donna. "They had the reception without me!"

"Yes, I gathered," the Doctor said.

"It was rather obvious," Mia added.

Quite obvious, if you were me, and you knew how this adventure would all end up.

"Well, it was all paid for – why not?" Nerys protested.

"Thank you, Nerys." Donna scowled at the skinny blonde girl.

"That's Nerys?" The Doctor hissed in Mia's ear.

Mia nodded. "I should think so."

"Well, what were we supposed to do?" Sylvia, Donna's mother, approached her stormily. "I got your silly message in the end – 'I'm on Earth'? Very funny. But what the hell happened? How did you do it? I mean, what's the trick because I'd like to know…"

"We…" Mia attempted once more to explain, but her words were engulfed by a hurricane of incomprehensible voices. Everyone in the room shuffled toward Donna – and the Doctor and Mia behind her – demanding all at once. The chaotic tumult of raucous bellows and strident whines caused Donna to burst into tears.

Bawling, the vanishing bride buried herself in a hug with Lance. Within a matter of moments, the heated chorus of voices had dissolved into applause. Over her shoulder, Donna winked at Mia and the Doctor.

Mia smirked as discreetly as she could manage.

Not long afterward, the merriment had resumed. Mia took note that the mood seemed to have lightened considerably whilst she and the Doctor leaned against the bar, watching the mirth from afar.

Her lingering gaze caught hold of the cameraman taping the reception. Nudging the Doctor with her elbow, she pointed at the man fiddling with the camcorder. "He's bound to have footage of Donna's disappearance."

The Doctor did not heed her words. Mia couldn't help but feel her heart rend as he stared at the exuberant guests through melancholy brown eyes. It as if he didn't belong at all at this joyous reunion. Though he still was hurdling the loss of Rose, a sense of urgency surged through Mia's veins.

Please! Listen to me! Yes, I know you're lonely – and I hate to see anyone lonely – but we have to help Donna! The quicker we finish here, the faster I can return to save your life!

"Come on," the Doctor said at last.

They entered the writhing crowd, sidestepping to avoid pattering feet and ducking to prevent being buffeted by flailing arms. In the midst of the throng, it was difficult to make out where the cameraman was, but Mia's hand was seized by the Doctor, and she narrowly dodged a table laden with refreshments and then almost collided with the cameraman in the dim light.

"Do you have a tape of Donna's disappearance by any chance?" The Doctor inquired.

"Yep," the cameraman drawled. "They said, 'Sell it to You've Been Framed.' I said, 'more like the news.' Here we are…"

With the click of a button, the recording began to play. It displayed a close-up of Donna shrieking as she disintegrated into golden slivers.

"Can't be!" The Doctor declared in awe. "Play it again…"

Yes, Doctor. It is Huon particles.

"Very clever! Good trick, I'll give her that. I was clapping."

The Doctor donned his glasses and leaned close to the tiny screen as the recording rewound and then replayed. "But that looks like… Huon particles!" He whispered incredulously.

"It's got to be," Mia declared, hoping she could hurry along the deduction. "There's nothing else it could possibly be!"

"What's that? What're you talking about?" The cameraman demanded.

"That's impossible… that's ancient!" The Doctor yanked off his glasses and stepped away from the camera. He looked from Mia to the cameraman and back again. "Huon energy doesn't exist anymore, not for billions of years! So old that…" his voice trailed away as his eyes rested on Donna. "…it can't be hidden by a bio-damper!"

Without any delay, he sprinted away from Mia and the cameraman.

He's going to check outside.

Since Mia had foreknowledge of the events, she rushed to Donna. There was absolutely no time to waste. "Donna!" Mia shouted. "Donna, they've found you!"

Donna detached from Lance. "But he said I was safe!" She protested, glaring at Mia. "Oi! Where is that stupid Martian anyways?" A sidelong glance proved to be futile, as the Doctor was not inside the room, therefore he was not visible amid the horde.

"It's Huon particles!" Mia said, desperation cracking her voice. "You've been dosed with Huon particles. They're so ancient that they can't be hidden by a bio-damper! You have to get everyone out. Now!"

"And I'm supposed to believe you?" Donna retorted.

Mia bit her lip until she could taste the bitter tang of blood. "You trust the Doctor, don't you?"

Donna rolled her eyes. "'Course I do. He saved my life."

"He – he trusts me," Mia ventured. "Trusts me with his life. Not…"

"DONNA!" The Doctor shouted, leaping over a chair. "Donna, they've found you!"

Donna looked sadly at Mia. "I'm sorry."

It's not your fault. I never should have been here.

"Out the back door!" The Doctor commanded.

"No, no. We're trapped." Mia insisted. "There's no way out."

"There's windows. We can get out through there." Donna gestured to the rows of drapes concealing the window. Without stalling, the trio bolted to the window, where the Doctor yanked back the drapes, revealing two robots – their weapons lowered ominously.

One raised a remote control. Images of Christmas trees and fire wreaked upon this oak-panelled building exploded in Mia's mind. She glanced over her shoulder at the tree, adorned with an assortment of shimmering ornaments and glittering garlands woven between prickly forest-green branches. Children clustered at the base of the tree, batting at the brazen baubles which dangled precariously. For Mia, delight had morphed into terror as she envisioned the barbed monster slicing innocent people.

So many people, dead. All because of…

"Christmas trees…" Mia breathed.

"What about them?" Donna demanded, shifting to see what Mia and the Doctor were staring at.

"They kill!" The Doctor blurted.

"We've got to get them away before anyone is hurt!" Mia commanded. "Donna…"

She was cut off by the panic that the uproar was causing.

"Out! Lance, tell them!" Donna shrieked.

"Stay away from the trees!" The Doctor ordered.

"Please, calm down and listen to them!" Mia pleaded.

Just listen and no one has to be hurt!

"Oh…" Sylvia Noble began.

"Listen!" Mia screeched.

"Why?" Sylvia retorted. "What's a Christmas tree gonna… oh!" She broke off as some of the dazzling ornaments cleaved from the tree and profusely spread themselves about the room.

The guests oohed over the spectacle. The ornaments had ceased their movements, suspended in mid-air above the guests' heads. Then, as quickly as they had awoken, the baubles re-activated and hurled themselves to the ground, making the ground tremor with explosions. Alarm caused guests to scream, wail, and flee the miniature bombs.

Ground convulsing, Mia's legs buckled beneath her and she was pitched to the floor, receiving a decent blow to her skull. A metre away, an ornament detonated and flames seared her skin. Head throbbing and vision swimming, the world blinked in and out of a hazy existence, colours swirling together like watercolours. Mia's mind was of a lone thought: I must help them! Regaining her footing, she stumbled toward the Doctor.

Another explosion slammed Mia to her hands and knees. Rattled and winded from the impact, she barely heard the Doctor calling above the din. However, when an ear-splitting whine racked the room, Mia shielded her ears from the terrible sound. It continued to intensify, and many unleashed involuntary screams of agony.

Pain in all but her ears subsided for the moment. Gritting her teeth, Mia raised her eyes in enough time to see the robots shatter, diminishing to motionless brazen pieces. Then the metallic whine caused by the sonic screwdriver ceased and Mia's head lolled, breathing erratic and shaky.

Another wheezing gasp and she was whole enough to clamber to her feet and head stiffly toward the Doctor, who was examining the robots eagerly.

He needs my help. They always need me.

"What have we got?" Mia asked with feigned interest.

"Don't know." He answered, revolving the silver remote control box in his palms. "Look at that! Remote control for the decorations – but there's a second remote control for the robots. They're not scavenger anymore." The Doctor announced grimly, dropping the controller. "Someone's taken possession."

Mia frowned. "If so, who or what?"

"Never mind all that," Donna exclaimed exasperatedly. "You're a doctor – people have been hurt."

"Nah, they wanted you alive." The Doctor tossed one of the baubles to Donna. "See, they're not active now."

"All I'm saying is, you could help," Donna insisted.

But the Doctor was fiddling with brightly coloured wires. With a swift tug, the head disconnected from the body and he pressed it to his ear. Whatever impact Donna's words had were lost as the Doctor leapt to his feet and sprinted away, shouting, "Got to think of the bigger picture… there's still a signal!"

Mia instantly turned to follow him, but she halted when Sylvia cried after her daughter. "Donna… who is he? Who is that man? And who is she – that girl who's his friend?"

I don't know.

Mia turned slightly on her heel, to see Donna look anticipatorily at her, as though she expected the girl to answer for her. But what could she say without saying too much? One day, Donna Noble would lose all of her memories and might burn alive lest she remember.

"I am Mia Williams and my friend is the Doctor. Don't worry, Sylvia. We'll have this entire mess sorted out."