The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith: A Nightmare
Sarah Jane pulled back from the hug with her fiancé and took Peter's hand, leading him to a row of chairs to the left, and sitting down with him, "And now for the things I never told you," she sighed, trying to work up the nerve to tell him of her secret life, she'd spent so long not telling anyone who hadn't stumbled upon it themselves first the truth that to just...speak of it...was incredibly hard, "I've fought him before, the Trickster. I fight creatures like him. That is my life. He's used my past, my parents, against me," she closed her eyes a moment, thinking of the time the Trickster had sent her back in time, given her the chance to find out what happened to her parents, save them from dying, only for her to realize it was only so that, if she DID save them, she wouldn't have the life she had then, she wouldn't be fighting aliens like the Trickster, and he'd have won, "And now he's using you."
Peter shook his head in disbelief, "He saved me. He's my angel. He brought us together."
She nodded, knowing he would need more than that to realize what was happening, "I'll show you what he is," she stood up and walked to the aisle, "Trickster! Trickster!"
"Ah…" a voice echoed lightly behind her, she spun around to see the Trickster floating there in his white robe and hood, "Sarah Jane Smith."
"Why have you done this?" she demanded, walking towards him, appearing braver than she felt, knowing her son was likely in danger somewhere and the Trickster had control over what was happening to the boy, "What do you want?"
"I want you to be happy."
That was not the response she was expecting.
~8~
The Doctor made his way to Angel, seeing her growing alarmed, and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. He saw it in her mind, Sarah Jane was likely confronting the Trickster at that very moment and Angel, bless her hearts, was worried for the human, as worried as she always was for all his companions when they faced an enemy alone. He started to sway a moment, wanting to comfort her, softly humming in her ear, not a Christmas carol, no, just...random notes that made no sense, had no lyric to it or anything, just...humming. He smiled as he felt her arms wrap around his waist, holding him as close.
He debated, for a moment, asking her if she might reconsider her views on marriage and marry him, given that they were in a chapel room, Sarah Jane was getting married, and there was a vicar somewhere around, they could do it right as soon as it was all over...but he shook his head, he was starting to agree that Mate was FAR more unique and treasured a word than 'wife' and that was Angel in a nutshell, unique and treasured. And every time he thought on that, on how she was his Mate, whenever he introduced her as it, it just...made him feel so warm and tingly and happy. So, SO happy.
To have a Mate, now, after the War, after losing so much...it was a miracle, Angel was his miracle, his miraculous Mate...
And then his eyes widened as a realization struck him about just that. Wedding...Mating...both were...
"Hang on though, this is mad…" Rani began, confused, cutting into the Doctor's thoughts, "The Trickster…he's this all powerful immortal who wants to cause chaos throughout the stars…and he wants Sarah Jane to get married?" she looked over at the Doctor who turned to face her, blinking quickly as though coming out of deep thoughts, winding his arm around Angel's waist as they both looked at her, "What does he get out of that?"
The Doctor hummed, thinking on that, he really wasn't sure. He glanced at Angel, "Angel?" he asked as she looked up at him, "Any feelings?"
She looked down, closing her eyes, an adorable pout of concentration appearing on her face that made him chuckle quietly at it, she really was just too cute.
~8~
Sarah Jane eyed the Trickster critically, "You want us to get married. And then what?"
"You'll forget all that's happened here as though it had never been and then here is the life you will lead…" he waved his hand and Sarah Jane saw in her mind, the future, marrying Peter and clearing out the attic to turn it into an office. She blinked, shocked, "I will bring you happiness."
"What's the price? There's going to be a catch. With you there always is!"
"Sarah Jane," Peter stood up and walked to stand beside the Trickster, "All you have to say is 'I Do.'"
"And if you don't," the Trickster added, "You'll remain here forever."
Sarah Jane stared at him, determined, "Then so be it."
"So will Peter, and so will your son and your friends. You'll condemn them to remain here? This place is nowhere. And it's forever."
She looked at the Trickster a moment longer before he disappeared and she turned to Peter, "Now do you see him? Now do you see what he is?!"
"It doesn't matter," Peter shook his head, "You can save them. Luke and the others," he held up the wedding ring, "Just say…"
~8~
"I Do?" Angel frowned, blinking as she opened her eyes.
"What?" the Doctor asked her.
"She's here…" Angel breathed, looking around and walking towards the altar, "Sarah, she's here..."
The Doctor pulled out his sonic and followed her, "If I can narrow the loop ratio…" he muttered, twisting the top of it when Angel spun around with a gasp.
"Doctor!" a strong, echoing voice spoke from the direction Angel was now facing.
The Doctor looked back, quickly tugging Angel behind him as he spotted the Trickster, now dressed in black, floating by the fireplace, "Oh, you look better in black or is white the new black?" the Doctor commented as he walked towards the Trickster, Angel staying back to stand between Clyde and Rani, her arms around their shoulders to make sure they stayed back and were protected from the Trickster, though her attention was focused largely on the Doctor as he drew nearer to his dreaded enemy.
"At last Doctor," the Trickster rasped, "I could feel this moment reverberating back through the ages, meeting the Pantheon of Discord, the last of the Time Lords…" he smirked, bowing mockingly as the Doctor remained standing.
"I've known the legends of the Pantheon since I was a little boy. Angel and I have fought your shadows and your changelings. She's rather cross that one of them tried to attack her sister, mind you. I never thought we'd actually meet."
"And I knew legends of the Doctor, the man of ice and fire, walked among gods, once held the key to time in his hands," he smirked, turning to look back at Angel, "And of your beloved. She is a legend of her own now. The woman of earth and air, an angel among mortals, the shining light that burns in the heart of time. Now look at you, surrounded by children, you and your precious Mate."
"They're our friends," Angel defended, pushing the children behind her as she took a few steps up, not about to let the creature hurt them.
The Doctor glared at the Trickster, "You're looking a bit lonely for a pantheon."
"I embody multitudes," the Trickster remarked.
"Oh…"
"But for you, the man who will lose everyone, to talk to me of loneliness…when the Gate is waiting for you…"
"What do you mean?"
The Trickster chuckled menacingly, "Sarah Jane Smith is my prize. You knew Doctor. Didn't realize how wonderful she is…"
"What do you want with her?"
"What I've always wanted for many of those I visit, they're agreement," he tilted his head as though to eye the Doctor without eyes, "Would you give it, I wonder?"
"Give what?" he shook his head.
"Your agreement, should I offer you a single moment to change."
The Doctor shook his head, "I will not change anything I have done," he stated firmly, "I may not be proud of many of those things, but I would not change them."
"You would not save your people?"
He swallowed hard, "No."
The Trickster started to smirk, "Perhaps the chance to fulfill a promise."
He frowned, "What promise?" he had broken so many in the past.
"A promise you made your lovely Mate."
Angel stiffened, knowing exactly what promise that was, but the Doctor just eyed the Trickster, "I have NEVER broken a promise to Angel, nor will I ever."
The Trickster laughed, actually sounding pleased and amused that the man had no idea, "Is that so? Did you not promise to be there with her when she died?"
"I WAS there with her."
"Were you?" the Trickster's attention moved past the Doctor's shoulder to Angel, "Was he?"
The Doctor stiffened, not hearing Angel speak, and turned to her, "Angel?" he breathed, seeing tears in her eyes as she bit her lip, clearly not wanting to say, "I was there. I made it in time. You regenerated in front of me!"
She nodded, taking a breath, knowing she couldn't lie to him. It had been a stretch to begin with not to tell him the whole truth, "I..." she closed her eyes, "Just after Donna ran out...I died in the TARDIS," she murmured as his mouth dropped open, his eyes widening in horror. She looked at him, so regretful, "It's what triggered the regeneration."
He shook his head, his hearts breaking, "You...but I promised," he let out a breath, completely stunned.
"And you DID keep it," she told him, "You were there for me as my time in that body ended and began this one, THAT was when I truly died Doctor."
He just blinked, trying to keep the tears back. He'd promised her, he'd sworn to her that he'd be there...and he'd failed. He'd failed her. She was the ONE person he'd promised himself that he'd never lie to, that he'd keep promise to, that he'd be there for and never leave...and he'd failed!
'You didn't fail,' Angel called in his mind, holding his gaze as he looked back at her, 'Theta, you WERE there.'
'Just not in time,' he murmured.
'Which is just as well,' she added, making him frown, confused, she hadn't wanted to die alone, she'd said it, but now...he didn't understand, 'You were the one person I didn't want to see me die like that.'
'What?'
'Humans, they understand death, they see it happen, they know it's final,' she explained, trying to convey what she'd felt, she had truly wanted him with her, but, at the same time, she hadn't, at the same time, she was almost relieved and happy he wasn't, 'But you, Theta, we're Time Lords, we know regeneration should set in, that we should live on. I couldn't bear the thought of you seeing me die if I didn't come back. I would rather have had you there with me as I 'died,' knowing regeneration would set in and I'd be ok, than to have you literally see the life leave me,' she offered him a smile, 'You were there exactly when I wanted you, when I NEEDED you, to be.'
He blinked and shook his head, 'How do you do that?' he asked her.
She frowned a moment, 'Do what?'
'Make me feel better when I feel terrible.'
She beamed, 'Because I'm your angel, like you're my thief. It's my job to make you smile, like it's yours to steal my breath away.'
He laughed, his hearts lightening at her words, hearing her thoughts on it. If she didn't blame him, he shouldn't either. And he WAS technically there as she died, as her time in her last body ended completely and she began her new life in this one. He was there to be the last thing she saw, and the first thing she'd see. Which was just...perfect.
"No," he answered the Trickster.
The Trickster sighed, disappointed he'd come so close to tempting the Time Lord if not for that blasted Time Lady. Ah, well, he still had Miss Smith to use to his advantage, "Goodbye Doctor…" he smirked as he faded into a mist of black and disappeared
"Agreement…" the Doctor frowned in thought, that word striking him.
"Doctor…" Angel breathed, her eyes widening as SHE seemed to work it out before him. He looked back at her, "I Do."
"I Do!" he cried, getting it, "Yes! That's it!"
"That's what?" Clyde asked.
"She promises to love and honor her husband," the Doctor walked over to them, explaining quickly, "Wedding ring goes on, then she's agreed to it and she's totally under the Trickster's power. Marital bliss but she forgets all about this."
"She begins a new chapter in her life," Angel added.
"Forgetting about her old life," Rani realized, "Protecting the Earth!"
"And the planet's wide open so that aliens can just barge in!" Clyde exclaimed.
"Without Sarah, without you lot saving the world from your attic in Earling," the Doctor looked at them, "It'd be chaos and destruction. Food and drink to the Trickster."
"That's if she's gonna say yes."
"But she will won't she? Because we're here."
Suddenly there was a wheezing noise and they turned to see a blue mist appearing by the side of the room.
"The TARDIS!" Angel ran over, "Oh I knew you could do it old girl!"
"Beautiful!" the Doctor cheered as the outline became more solid, "Yes!"
"It's homing in on us! The emergency program to protect the pilots!"
"Of course! That's materialization!"
"What's happening?" Luke ran in.
Angel pulled him back as the TARDIS started to fully form, Artron Energy crackling around it, "Be careful," Angel warned them, ushering them back, "That's pure Artron Energy."
"TARDIS power," the Doctor added, "Equal enough to Trickster's power! That's how we can fight!" the TARDIS solidified, the energy around its edges as the Doctor ran to the doors, getting them unlocked. Angel shoved one open and held it for the Doctor to get in. The wind picked up as the TARDIS tried to disappear now that her pilots were safe.
"Doctor!" Rani shouted, "Angel!"
The Doctor held out a hand as Angel ran to the console, trying to stop the TARDIS, "Come on all of you get in!" he reached out. The kids linked hands and helped push Clyde towards him, "Come on now!" he grabbed Clyde's hand and pulled but it was too much.
The TARDIS bucked, sending Angel to the floor and knocking the Doctor back. Clyde fell forward as the door slammed shut, running smack into the Artron Energy covered side, nearly electrocuting himself before falling backwards onto the ground as the box disappeared.
"Clyde!" Luke shouted.
Rani held out a hand, helping him up and they looked over to see the TARDIS blink out of existence, "Just us then…"
"You alright?"
"Yeah," Clyde nodded, "I think. They'll come back for us won't they?"
"What if they can't?" Rani wondered.
"They will," Luke nodded firmly, "I'll wait here for them, you check with K9."
Rani nodded and she and Clyde ran out of the room and into the parlor where K9 was waiting. Rani ran over to the dog, "The Doctor said the power of the TARDIS could fight the Trickster. Something energy."
"Artron Energy," K9 replied, "Residue of TARDIS engines. Known to be highly inimical to certain time sensitive life forms…"
"There is no TARDIS!"
Just then Clyde's hand started to sparkle with Artron Energy, "Whoa!" he gaped, holding his hand up.
"What's that?"
"Artron Energy Mistress Rani," K9 answered.
"I got a shot of it," Clyde breathed.
"Then we can fight him!"
"No!" Clyde shook his head, turning to face Rani, "I can fight him."
~8~
"We'll forget all this madness," Peter paced slowly before Sarah Jane, pleading with her now, "You saw we'll be married, we'll be together. Luke and the others, we can all go home."
"Oh…" she shook her head, "It would be so easy. But that's how he works. That's his deadliest weapon. Temptation. I'm not making that mistake again."
"Well you'd never know."
"Peter…he wants me to stop defending Earth!"
~8~
Clyde looked down at his hand, "I can get close to the Trickster with this…"
"Clyde you can't," Rani shook her head, "You don't know what you're doing!"
"When has that ever stopped us? It's what Sarah Jane would do. It's what the Doctor taught her. I've got no choice…" he turned to the main doors.
"Please!" Rani ran around him to stand before the doors, blocking the way, "Don't do this!"
He shoved past her and opened the doors to the white beyond, "Trickster!" he called.
And the Trickster, dressed in black, appeared, "Clyde Langer," he looked at the boy, "Why do you call me?"
"I wish to serve you. I wish to join the Pantheon."
"Clyde no!" Rani shouted as he walked into the white and the doors slammed shut behind him, trapping Rani in the manor, leaving him alone with the Trickster.
"You…are of no importance," the Trickster stated.
"I know something. A secret. Something that can help you."
"You know nothing. You have been lying, you chittering insect. Be gone!"
Clyde reached out and grabbed the Trickster's arm as he moved to wave him away, "Gotcha!" he held fast to the Trickster's hand as the creature screamed out in pain, the Artron Energy encasing them both.
~8~
"Please," Peter held up the wedding ring.
Sarah Jane looked down at it...when a wheezing noise filled the room. She looked over with a gasp to see the TARDIS appear in crackling blue-white energy. One of the doors opened and the Doctor looked out, "Sarah!"
"Oh, Doctor!" she breathed, spotting Angel at the controls, trying to keep the TARDIS in place, as she ran over to him.
"Got to be quick. TARDIS can't stabilize. Clyde's keeping the Trickster busy at the moment. Oh those three are just brilliant!"
"What can I do?" Sarah Jane shook her head, trying not to let her tears fall, "If I say no, we're trapped here forever. If I say yes, I condemn the world to the Trickster. Either way I lose, there's no way out."
"I'm so sorry Sarah," Angel said, opening the other door to look out, having locked the TARDIS down for the moment, "But it all depends on you. This...this won't be easy," she added, tears in her eyes as well, "It'll be hard, so hard, the hardest thing you'll ever do in your life."
"What is it?" she looked at Angel, "Tell me what I've got to do."
"You've fought the Trickster before," the Doctor continued solemnly, "You know how he operates…how he can be defeated…" his glanced at Peter.
"No…" Sarah Jane turned to Peter, working it out, before looking back at them, "No…please…" she looked at Angel, "Can't you save him?"
Angel swallowed hard as she shook her head, "I'm sorry Sarah. He died long before I got here. It's too late," she looked over at Peter, "I know you're a good man Peter, the best, just perfect for Sarah."
"We're so sorry," the Doctor added.
There was a sound of a scream and they looked back to see energy swirling in the back of the room, Clyde appearing, grabbing the Trickster, both crying out in pain as the Artron Energy affected them both.
"Clyde!" Sarah Jane gaped in horror.
The TARDIS started to wheeze, "She can't hold it much longer!" Angel ran back to the controls, the doors slamming shut as the wind picked up again.
"Doctor!" Sarah Jane called, "Angel!" but the TARDIS couldn't stay locked and disappeared. She whirled around to see Clyde collapse to the ground and ran to his side, "Clyde no!" she put a hand on him as she knelt beside him before looking back over her shoulder at Peter, "Peter…I do love you, but the Doctor and Angel are right, there is another way out."
The Trickster held out a hand, crackling with the energy as he laid on the steps of the altar, now garbed in black, "Do not listen to her lies!"
Sarah Jane stood, "Your accident. He can only talk to people who are about to die. He comes to them in that final moment. He gives them back their life."
"What do you mean?" Peter looked at her with wide yes.
"Clyde and Rani said your house was empty. Why did you never let me see your house? You died in that accident Peter! But he needed you so he kept you half alive. And if we got married the bargain would be complete. He would bring you back to life."
"Your love brought me back to life. How can that be wrong to save a life?"
"Look at this," she turned around and moved to kneel behind Clyde, holding the boy in her arms, "This is what he'll do to millions of people. Unless…" she closed her eyes, steeling herself, "Unless you break your deal with him."
"But I'll lose you…" he knelt before her, taking her face in his hands, "I'll die. I don't want you to be alone."
Sarah Jane's heart broke, hearing the same words Angel had said to the Doctor as she was dying, "I love you, but I can't love you. You said you'd do anything to save me. If you love me, you know what you have to do."
"No!" the Trickster shouted.
Peter stood and turned to the alien, "You got one thing exactly right. Sarah Jane and I, we were made for each other. We're the perfect match. And I know what she would do," he held up the wedding ring to give back.
"I chose you because you didn't have the strength!"
"You really don't know my Sarah Jane do you? She gave me the strength. And I…withdraw my agreement!" he threw the ring back at the Trickster, making him explode in energy. A bright light filled the room and when it faded…Peter was still there. He looked up, shocked, before walking to the aisle and looking down at Sarah Jane, "Sarah…here I go. I wish I'd always known you."
"I love you Peter."
"And I love you. Sarah Jane Dalton," Sarah Jane reached out for him as he did her, the man disappearing in a white light. She let her hand drop, her heart breaking completely as she leaned over Clyde, crying.
The doors to the chapel room burst open and the Doctor, Angel, and the children ran in with K9.
"Mum!" Luke called, startling her. She looked up as Luke ran to her side, kneeling by Clyde's head while Ran knelt on Sarah Jane's other side, by Clyde's feet. The Doctor crouched down between Luke and Sarah while Angel was between her and Rani.
"Doctor!" she cried as he hugged her tightly, "Oh Doctor!" Angel reached out and hugged her as well, "Angel…"
"My Sarah Jane," the Doctor held her, "You did it, the traps broken, time's moving forwards again…" the room began to tremble and the Doctor and Angel put their arms around Rani and Luke to protect them all, "We're going home!"
"Hold on!" Luke called.
"We're all going home!" Angel whispered.
A bright white light started to fill the room again as the energy waves hit...
~8~
"Any person to show just cause or impediment, why they may not be joined together, let them speak now or forever hold their peace," the vicar continued.
The guests looked on in shock as Peter was missing from his spot by the altar, "Where's he gone?" Rani's mother looked around, swearing the man had been there a moment ago, "Sarah's bloke, where's he gone?"
"He was just there…" her father agreed.
Luke looked at Rani, "Where's the Doctor and Angel gone?"
"That all really happened," Rani remarked, "Didn't it?"
Clyde looked at his hand, "Yeah."
"Affirmative," K9 rolled out from under the table.
Luke looked over at his mother, standing tense, alone, before the altar. He slowly got up and walked to her side, "Mum."
She nodded and turned around, tears in her eyes, "I'm sorry everybody. I'm afraid the wedding is cancelled," she dropped her bouquet and walked back down the aisle, alone.
~8~
Sarah Jane sat in her attic, lightly petting K9 as he stayed before her. She looked up at the faux chimney, "Mr. Smith," she stood up, "I need you."
The chimney opened with smoke pouring out, though without its usual fanfare, "Welcome back, Sarah Jane."
She nodded as the door to the attic opened. She turned to see Luke, Rani, and Clyde walk in. She tried to smile at them, but just couldn't seem to manage it.
"Mum," Luke walked down the steps and to her side, "Are you alright?"
"I'm going to be fine," she looked at them, "I've got you, haven't I?"
"I can't believe the Doctor ran off like that."
"I can't believe Angel let him," Rani added, "From what you said of her Sarah Jane, she's a very nice person, why would she do that?"
"Sudden disappearing acts," Sarah Jane sighed, "That's him all over, and Angel can't always see everything," but they could tell she was hurt that they weren't there.
"Sarah Jane…" Mr. Smith called, "Escalation of Temporal Flux."
"Temporal Flux escalating," K9 agreed.
And a wheezing noise filled the room.
They turned around to see the TARDIS materialize on a small platform behind them, "Doctor!" Sarah Jane breathed.
"I'm hurt Rani," Angel opened the right door and looked out, "As though I would ever let the Doctor leave Sarah like that," she walked out and over to the woman, hugging her tightly as she laughed.
"Honestly," the Doctor shook his head, opening the left door, "What do you both take me for? I just wanted to go the quick way…oh," he looked around, "I like it in here."
"Don't get any ideas," Angel pointed at him as she turned to put an arm around Sarah Jane's shoulders, "The TARDIS just got used to the desktop and if you go and change it on her, she's going to be very cross," he laughed a bit at her, smiling as she comforted his former companion.
"Can we have a look?" Rani smiled as she tried to see around the Doctor and into the TARDIS.
"What in the TARDIS?" the Doctor's smile fell, they nodded, "My TARDIS?" he demanded, firm.
"Our TARDIS," Angel corrected before reaching out and squeezing Luke's shoulder, "Go on."
The Doctor laughed, "Yeah!" he stepped back and the children excitedly ran up the steps and into the box, Angel walking up with Sarah Jane after them. They all watched with a smile as the kids ran around, looking at the space in amazement.
"Oh…wow!" Clyde's eyes widened, "It really is, isn't it? It's bigger on the inside?"
"It's beautiful!" Rani beamed.
"Transcendental dimensions," Luke guessed.
The light of the rotor started to brighten and the kids looked at the Time Lords, afraid they'd done something wrong. Angel smiled warmly at them as the TARDIS hummed, "I think she's saying hello."
They grinned and ran to the console, looking around at the buttons and knobs, "Oh what does this do?" Clyde pointed to a switch.
"Hey, don't touch," Sarah Jane warned. She laughed a little bit and looked at the Doctor and Angel, putting a hand on the girl's hand as it rested on her shoulder, "You two came all that way, for me."
"You are so important Sarah Jane," Angel squeezed her.
"And not just to us," the Doctor added with a smile, "Trickster wanted to end your story but it goes on. The things you've done Sarah," he shook his head at her, pride shining through his eyes, "They're pretty impressive."
"But," Angel cut in, "The things you're gonna do…" she couldn't even speak as she too looked at Sarah Jane and the children, proud.
"The future…" Luke murmured. His mother had told them about Angel's gifts and if she was smiling that widely just thinking about their future…he couldn't wait to see why, "How 'bout we could go for a ride?"
"Or back to the dinosaurs yeah?" Clyde grinned.
"Another planet?" Rani asked, hopeful.
"No way!" Sarah Jane called, "For one thing, you are grounded by the Judoon, and your parents would never forgive me. Go on…" the three children sighed but headed out of the TARDIS, giving the three adults some privacy to say goodbye. Sarah Jane watched them go before turning back to the Doctor and Angel, "Is this the last time I'm ever going to see you?"
The Doctor looked at Angel, who smiled, "Oh I don't think so," she nodded before letting go of the woman and walking to stand beside the Doctor by the console, "Besides, you can't get rid of this one quite that easily."
"Oi!" he mock whined but there was a laughter in his eyes.
"Nor would I ever want to," she reassured him, linking her arm through his, making him beam and kiss her forehead.
Sarah Jane smiled at them, "Bye Doctor, bye Angel…until the next time."
"Don't forget us Sarah Jane," the Doctor whispered as he leaned forward and hugged her.
Sarah Jane held him tightly a moment before pulling back, "No one's ever going to forget you."
Angel hugged her as well before the woman turned and walked out of the TARDIS, shutting the doors behind her. Sarah Jane turned around, staring at the blue box as it disappeared, her arms around Luke and Rani.
"You were right," Clyde looked at her, "They are amazing."
"And so are we," Sarah Jane smiled before the children pulled her into a tight hug.
~8~
Angel was standing at the console, just absently working as she thought about the events that had just happened, having just finished telling the TARDIS about that adventure. So distracted was she that she didn't even sense the Doctor sneak up behind her until he'd wrapped his arms around her from behind, "Happy 800th Birthday," he whispered in her ear, moving his one arm up to show her a brownie with a small TARDIS blue candle in it, lit.
She laughed at the sensation of her tickled ear before taking the brownie, closing her eyes a moment and blowing on it, wishing the best for all of her human family, before she set the brownie, on its napkin, on the console, turning around in his arms, "How did you know?"
"You're my Mate," he said simply, "It's my job to know important, life changing events like the day you were born."
She shook her head at him, "It really wasn't all that life changing."
"Maybe not to you," he murmured, stroking her cheek, "But to me, it certainly was," she blushed and couldn't help but look down again but he gently lifted her head to look at him, "I have a surprise for you."
She smiled, "You didn't have to get me a gift or anything Theta."
"I didn't technically get you anything," he admitted, all his hard work to repair the TARDIS on his own down the drain after the box tried to get to them through the Trickster's block and fried half of what he'd been working on, "But…I seemed to have realized during the Wedding-That-Almost-Was that…we never finished the Mating process," he'd realized it, both the wedding and the Mating were...unfinished, interrupted, incomplete.
Angel's eyes widened as she realized she'd completely forgotten about that as well. With everything that had happened during the last year with her dying and then all their adventures…it had just, slipped her mind.
"So…" he stepped back, sliding his hands down her bare arms to take her hands, "I was thinking, to make your birthday extra special…" she smiled, seeing him blushing, getting a bit shy at talking about it, "That maybe…we should…if you wanted…maybe…"
"Finish it?" she supplied, seeing him struggling to get the words out without embarrassing himself. And he called HER the adorable one?
"Yeah," he nodded, unable to look at her his cheeks were so red.
She grinned, "I think..." she leaned in, kissing him suddenly, pushing herself onto her toes to do it, surprising him in the best way. His arms wound around her waist as she pulled away, resting her forehead to his, her arms draped over his neck, "I can't imagine a better gift," she admitted, her fingers lightly playing with the hair on the nape of his neck.
He let out a soft groan, closing his eyes at the sensation, "Then you may want to stop that," he whispered.
"Why?" she smirked.
"You're the psychic," he murmured, his breath catching as he felt her step closer to him, "You must know what that does to me."
"Oh yes," she giggled and his eyes snapped open to see her biting her lip playfully, "I am VERY aware," she gave him a peck, "Why do you think I play with your hair so much?"
"You little minx," he laughed, before leaning in to kiss her, suprising HER this time, before he pulled away suddenly, grabbing her hand and half running towards the gantries, Angel's giggles echoing through the halls, till they reached their bedroom, the door shutting them away as her laughter was stifled by the Doctor's eager lips...
~8~
Angel awoke with a gasp, her hearts racing, to find herself beside the Doctor on their bed, the man thankfully still asleep despite her own rude awakening. It was to be expected though, the Mating was...intense...the most incredible thing she'd ever experienced, never before, not even with the mental and emotional bond, had she EVER felt so connected to another person. It had taken her breath away more than once, heightened every single sense in the best way, and the Doctor, he'd been so gentle, so considerate, and...she would have blushed to think...quite possibly a bit psychic as well as he knew just what to do before she even realized it. It was quite the moment, such a long time coming, so important, so meaningful, and indescribable, so...powerful...that Time Lords typically DID wear themselves out. And the Doctor was truly a ball of energy, for HIM to be spent completely, well, he wouldn't be waking up any time soon.
But that wasn't where her mind had gone, no, instead she panted, shivering despite the lingering heat in the room. She clutched the thin sheet on the bed closer to her chest, more for comfort and a sense of security than to cover her bare self, putting her other hand to her head, trying to hold onto the dream as it slipped away from her. She frowned, she couldn't remember it anymore, though the feeling that it left behind remained, she doubted THAT would ever fade.
She didn't know what was coming, if the dream was a vision of the future or just a terrible nightmare…but she just knew…
It would break her hearts.
A/N: You're thinking she dreamed about the Doctor's regeneration aren't you? Tsk, tsk. You should know me by now. It's never that simple. It'll be much, MUCH worse than that }:D Hmm...I'm wondering if there is possibly an even more evil/mad/laughing emoticon out there :)
But as for this chapter, the Doctor finally knows about Angel's death :( Poor him, but yay Angel for making him feel better! She's so sweet :) And awww it was Angel's birthday! She's the big 8-0-0! Oh I'm so torn though, because after Mating...just imagine the fluff! But! ...Waters of Mars... :(
Some notes on reviews...
Just want to start by saying, thanks for the birthday wishes! I love you all so much ^-^
Oh the fluff will reign supreme for the most part :) It'll be a bit hard with WOM next, but there will be adorable moments. Let's just say, imagine the Doctor if he could focus on only one thing...and that thing was Angel ;)
The Anakin/OC might surprise you, the way I have it in mind :) Idk why, but for some reason I blame Padme for Anakin going dark side. I really don't know why and it's probably not justified. I can say the OC will be a Jedi in training too, so it adds an understanding/empathy of what Anakin's going through that I think Padme didn't have. After Angel I'm hoping to post Merlin (if I don't get to it by the end of summer/2013 lol), Once Upon a Time, and Big Bang Theory. My Criminal Minds fic is taking a while because I have to write out the transcripts myself before I start writing a chapter and that's over 100 episodes from where I'm starting it :) However(!) I can say that, once I get caught up, I'll be using my spare time (if I have any) to work on the stories that are based on movies and not shows, like Star Trek/Lord of the Rings/Star Wars. Just to get some new things out :)
Lol, I loved the video, thanks! I'll definitely put it on my tumblr this weekend :)
OMG, that's awesome! Happy Belated Birthday to Kuroshitsujilover01! I hope your birthday was great! :)
Nothing wrong with being a romantic :) I'm 25 and never had a boyfriend either...unless you count when you're in the 3rd grade and you SAY your boyfriend and girlfriend, but then the week after it's all 'cooties!' again lol :) I'm starting to think I'm projecting the type of relationship I'd love to have on my characters lol, especially Angel because she's so easy to please (like me), in which case, bring on the fluff! :)
I thought of Castiel too :) I can't help but think of him (or Angel) whenever I hear the word angel :) Which is probably good as I would NOT want to think of the Weeping Angels :)
Awesome, I'll check it out :)
Thanks! I'm actually really excited for the 50th for Evy, because we all know Rose, and for 10 to find out his future self not only finds a Time Lady, but his Link, AND has a son!? Oh boy, I think he might actually faint :) I'm sort of hoping River's in the 50th just so I can see how Rose would react to someone who's that close to the Doctor to see if how I picture her reacting would be believable :) Oh Proffy will be epic(!)...IF Rose and 10 are from before School Reunion, I'm hoping so. I'd love to see 10's reaction to realizing she's alive and that he eventually Bonds to her :) And Angel, I could see him being more like 'See! I TOLD you you were brilliant!' sort of thing, but idk how he'll react to the Vortex not knowing what his future self would know about her having Donna's humanity to help her out :) I can't wait till November! ^-^