Chapter 10

Fifteen years later:

The Doctor had got used to the idea of his daughter marrying Jack – he had got used to the idea slowly as the years had rolled by and that six year old girl had grown up exactly as the time line had already showed him – she was a successful musician – and she had turned out well, strong like Clara, and with her two hearts and the ability to regenerate - and the more he thought about it, the more it made sense that she fitted well with Jack Harkness, the man who could not die.

When he had learned of their love for each other, he had not been angry. He had smiled and wished them the best, adding quietly to Jack that if he ever broke his daughter's heart, he did not want to know what the wrath of a Time Lord was capable of...

And so on a summer day at a church in a location hidden from the press, the Doctor sat with Clara and watched their daughter exchange vows and become Mrs Jet Harkness. As they had said their vows, the Doctor had reached for Clara's hand and looked into her eyes and seen so much love there it reminded him of every beautiful moment they had ever shared, from the first moment he had taken her in his arms and then to his bed and they had made love for the first time.

Yes, Clara had been worth waiting for...

And she was still beautiful and he knew he would never tire of needing her, of reaching for her, of loving her in every way a man could love a woman, and as he watched Jet and Jack exchanging vows, he realised something he guessed he should have noticed a while back:

Jet looked at Jack the way Clara looked at him, he saw real love in her eyes, and love in Jack's eyes too. It was then he realised he had definitely been wrong to imagine this was a love that would not last...

After the service, when they were outside the church, after the bride and groom had kissed under a shower of confetti, Jet pulled away from a kiss with Jack and caught her breath as her eyes filled with emotion and she started to smile.

"My Dad's here..." she said, and then as the Tenth Doctor walked over to join them, he smiled at his daughter.

"You're going to be seeing a lot more of me," he promised her, "I've just come from your past – when you were a baby and my health was okay. I made a lot of trips to the future, so you'll never have to really say goodbye to me again, I'm all over your time line, Jet."

She laughed and hugged him tightly, and then as she let go, he gave Jack a pat on the shoulder.

"I don't need to tell you to look after her, I know you will."

Jack smiled.

"It's good to know you have faith in me."

The Doctor gave him a knowing look.

"Faith has nothing to do with it. I went ahead and checked the time line, that's how I know it's going to last!"

And then he smiled again and so did Jack.

"It's good to see you again," Clara said as she looked at the Tenth Doctor and memories came flooding back.

"You'll see me again next year at the music awards," he replied, "When Jet has her big night. I wouldn't have missed that for anything."

The Twelfth Doctor shot him a look of surprise.

"You know about that too?"

He laughed.

"So you've been checking up on her future as well?"

The Doctor's pale eyes narrowed slightly.

"Not another word, let her have some surprises in life!"

But Jet had already heard the conversation and she stepped away from Jack and joined them both, looking to both versions of the Doctor with interest.

"What music awards?"

The Twelfth Doctor said nothing.

"Wait and see," Clara added.

Then the Tenth Doctor smiled proudly at his daughter.

"Oh, it's just the Grammys...you're nominated more than once."

"Oh shut up!" His other self exclaimed, "Let her have the surprise when it comes!"

And Jet looked to the Tenth Doctor excitedly.

"How many do I get?"

He thought about it.

"No, I'd better shut up. Wait and see."

Then he kissed her cheek, and Jack leaned forward and also kissed his cheek as he said goodbye.

"I have to go now," the Tenth Doctor said, "But I'll stay longer at the music awards... see you all soon."

And then he turned and walked away up the churchyard path to where the Tardis was landed beneath the shade of a yew tree.

Then the photographer asked for the guests to assemble for pictures, and as they stood together, Jet turned her head, and saw the Tenth Doctor was standing in the open doorway of his Tardis with a smile on his face.

"How many grammys do I get?" she mouthed.

His eyes sparkled as his smile got wider and he held up three fingers.

"Three!" he said excitedly, and she laughed as her eyes sparkled with joy.

Then as the Tenth Doctor continued to watch, he saw something else that gladdened his heart:

The Twelfth Doctor was standing next to Clara, when he tapped Jack on the shoulder and Jack looked around at him.

"I'm sorry I ever doubted you," he said, "I know you'll make her happy. Welcome to the family, it's an honour to call you son."

And Jack looked surprised, and then he smiled warmly as he and the Doctor shook hands.

And that was all the Tenth Doctor needed to see, he watched as they prepared to pose for the pictures, and then he went back into his Tardis and moments later it took off, making another flight into his daughter's future, and as he travelled on, he decided when he met up with the Doctor again at the music awards, he owed him a big hug and a thank you for suggesting he make these journeys:

Now he would always be a part of Jet's life, he would miss nothing, and knowing that made him thankful for time travel, because now he could do this, death and regeneration were no obstacles at all; he would still be around...

End.

Author note:

Thanks for all the favourites and follows and yes I know this was a very emotional story, I hope all readers enjoyed the rollercoaster - there will be more from me soon - but I do I have another of my own novels to write.

More fics will be added on my next novel writing break when the fan fiction takes over :-)

But do expect more chapters to be added soon to my M rated fic Apologise - as and when I get ideas for chapters. Thanks for reading, reviewing and enjoying my fics - much love - Betty :-)