"Well that could have gone a little better," Minerva shuddered a breath the moment she and the Doctor stepped out of the study room. They had just bid goodbye to the Seonel family after a long discussion of the proposals from both planets. They would be having lunch with Mayar (since Minerva refused to have any such event without the Doctor whom was uninvited).
For the Monsoon, there really had been no progress.
It seemed like the Seonel family was keen on making sure their planet had the best advantages in the proposals - soon to be a contract. Minerva was all for helping them and their needs but she wanted her planet to benefit as well. All the proposals she'd created weeks ago had been turned down without so much of a minute's thought.
"Minerva, I don't think this family is really what your planet needs," the Doctor had to confess to the woman as they walked a little off to the side from the room. As he promised Nerio, he kept a good eye on Seonel's whilst continuously giving Minerva ideas on what other planets she could do business with. This precise meeting between the two royal families was the first one the Doctor attended to, and he was glad because that family was trying to take advantage of his wife and he would not stand for it.
"I just don't know how to make them accept my proposals," Minerva turned to him, very much concerned. If things continued to go like they had today her planet would never uprise in the business markets, "I mean, we are literally two weeks away from the coronation and I can't get them to agree to at least five of my ideas. What am I supposed to do?"
"Look," the Doctor rubbed his hands down Minerva's arm, hoping to ease her from the chaotic meeting, "have you taken a look at the other planets I've suggested to you? Perhaps they are willing to do what this family is not."
"I've looked into them," Minerva nodded, "and I did like a couple. Maybe you're right...Altair is outright refusing anything that could help my people."
At that moment, a door opened up which made the two look back and see Mayar glaring at them, "He is trying to ruin this," he accused the Doctor after politely closing the door after him. The Seonel family was still inside and he didn't want them to listen to the garbage being spoken outside.
"What?" the Doctor had a good laugh at that one, "You think I'm trying to ruin this for your people?"
"Yes, I do," Mayar marched up to the Time Lord.
"I'm sorry, do you have ears?" the Doctor tapped his own for show, "Because I'm sure even you could see that the Monsoon will not benefit from any of those proposals that family has!"
"It can be a start," Mayar argued, though he knew the man was right. He didn't understand why Altair had refused the proposals but frankly time was running out and the Moontsays needed help.
"Grandfather, you can't agree to that silly contract," Minerva crossed her arms, "I have many ideas that can help both planets and Altair isn't even willing to listen to them. I just don't feel right about this contract coming to life."
"You cannot listen to this man," Mayar waved hands at the Doctor, "He knows nothing-"
"Oh I've learned enough in that one meeting," the Doctor pointed to the room, "among other things."
He knew he was arguing like he never had before with Mayar but he couldn't help resent the man for what he was trying to do to his own granddaughter. Mayar was busying preparing a hidden marriage for Minerva to a man he didn't even know! If at least Mayar had chosen a good man deserving of Minerva then the Doctor would be slightly less inclined to shout at Mayar. He had warned Mayar to stop the arrangements but it seemed like he wasn't considering it. The Doctor had made a promise to himself that if Mayar hadn't come clean to Minerva by the time her coronation happened, the Doctor would tell Minerva himself.
"You attended a meeting that was none of your business and so your opinion does not count," Mayar snapped, "You are not of this family and so-"
"He is family!" Minerva stepped in between him and the Doctor, utterly indignant to hear that comment.
"He isn't my family-"
"Well he's my family!" Minerva shouted for the first time at her grandfather, something she felt nowhere near good about, "He's my husband and he's the only one who has ever understood me from the bloody start!"
Mayar was stunned with the reaction of her granddaughter, "Kaeya," he breathed, "You've never spoken to me like that."
"Well I've had it!" Minerva exclaimed, nearly close to tears now, "I have been married for years and you still can't accept it!"
"It's not a valid marriage-"
Minerva frantically stomped her foot, disregarding it as a childish move, "Yes it is! For the love of God just accept it already! The Doctor is my husband and sooner or later he will become King because he is my family! I love him, don't you understand? I am not a child you can order around anymore. I am a grown woman capable of making my own decisions!"
This type of reaction was one of the reactions the Doctor was hoping to avoid. He hated seeing her so hurt and knowing it was partly his fault, "Minerva, it's okay," he tried pulling her back but she shook him off.
"No, it is not okay!" she screamed at him too, "I am so tired of this! I am tired of having to hide my own husband from my people!"
Mayar was becoming angry hearing such nonsense, his shouts became inevitable as well, "Your people hate him, Kaeya. Do you not understand!? How can you bring in a man so terribly hated to the throne?"
Minerva swallowed down her last scream to utter the answer that would finish her argument, "Because I love him," she stepped closer to Mayar, "and because for the first time since I can remember I am happy with him. But I guess you just care about what everyone else thinks, not your granddaughter's happiness," she turned around and walked away.
However, the Doctor tried reaching for her arm in order to stop her, not wanting her to be alone nor leave things like that, "Minerva, just wait-"
"Leave me alone," she weakly ordered and pushed his hand off her arm. With tears in her eyes she gave him a look that said 'don't follow me' and then promptly left.
The Doctor deeply sighed and turned to Mayar, "You really have a way with your only granddaughter."
"This is not my fault, this is yours," Maya accused him with a pointed finger.
"I'm not the one constantly making her feel like that," the Doctor shook his head, "Why can't you just let her be happy? She's happy with me and you know it."
"I don't," Mayar turned away, ready to return to the Seonel family.
"Yes you do," the Doctor stopped him with words, "because I know you remember the way she used to look and cry every so often because of your family's rules. When I used to visit her in the past she would tell me everything her family did. The way they used to tell her what to do so people wouldn't talk about her. The way she needed to dress, act, the things she could talk about was all controlled by your family! And she used to sob about it with me because she knew that only I would understand her. You remember that, don't you?" for some reason the Doctor lowered his voice to that menacing dark one he usually reserved for enemies.
Then again, Mayar hurt his wife. It was only just.
"I don't know," Mayar repeated his statement and started walking for the study room.
"Of course you do," the Doctor called, a hint of a smirk starting on his lips, "because you used to ask about her sudden change in attitude. The way she used to disappear in her worst states and return in a suddenly bright, cheerful mood was something you always asked her about. That was because of me. I made her feel better. I made her happy. You can't deny that."
Mayar stopped and turned around, "You disrespected my granddaughter," he shot the detail that most angered him about the Doctor, if only he knew how wrong he was.
"Never," the Doctor remained at ease with that accusation, already in the know of what Mayar thought he and Minerva used to do in the past, "And I can take that insult but you cannot ever think your granddaughter would do something like that. You raised her to be a respected woman - one who would respect others. Do you really think she would disrespect a marriage like that? Would she ever do that to my late wife?"
"Of course not," Mayar gritted his teeth, "but you have ways Doctor, ways to wrap her around your finger. You could have said some nice little words and Kaeya could have forgotten everything for a moment. She could have forgotten you were a married man during that time."
"And here is where I stop you," the Doctor came towards Mayar, his hands behind his back to show how easy it was to clarify everything, "Just because you deny my love for Minerva does not mean you are right. I love your granddaughter with all my hearts, I've loved her for centuries - since we were practically teenagers. I would have done anything for her back then if I could do it. I only wanted her to be happy. Don't you ever insult my love for her, because you will lose. I have never disrespected her, never played games with her. When I married I kept my distance. I came to visit her, sometimes even brought some of my companions to meet her. We were friends the moment I married, nothing more. You can say whatever you want but I make your granddaughter happy...can't say the same for you, though. You make sure she is completely the opposite."
Mayar opened his mouth to retort back but the Doctor finished saying what he needed to say and had turned away, walking in the same direction Minerva had gone to. The Doctor didn't care what Mayar had to say about him, he only sincerely wished Mayar would go to Minerva himself and have a talk with her.
~ 0 ~
Minerva angrily threw her gown she'd worn earlier to the floor, uncaring if it was maltreated. She wore her dressing robe at the moment but she wanted anything Monsoon related off her right now. She was so frustrated and angry with everything she felt like screaming. She was tired of being repeatedly turned down by the Seonel family, she was tired of her grandfather always reproaching her for wanting to bring in her husband into her matters, she was tired of having to hide said husband from her people because of their dislike for him.
She was tired...and she wanted it all to stop.
But right now, feeling so low and incapable, she plopped down on her bed and began to sob. How could she be Queen if she couldn't even handle these problems?
Not too later the Doctor had gotten her location and entered their bedroom - which to that day still had not been used. He was heartbroken to hear the soft sobs of his wife, and it only got worse when he saw her.
"Minerva…" he sighed and started coming for her.
Minerva jumped up from her spot and met him with an urgent hug, "Theta!" she burst into fresh new tears.
"It's okay, it's okay," the Doctor rubbed her back comfortingly, "There's no need to cry, my love. It'll be alright, you'll see."
"No, no it won't be," Minerva refused to believe it. She also refused to pull away from their hug, keeping her chin on his shoulder. She just wanted to be held by her Martian, comforted and protected, "My proposals are constantly turned down, my people hate my husband, my husband hates my grandfather, my grandfather hates my husband and I'm pretty sure he hates me too now."
"Hey," the Doctor scowled at that last one, "Your grandfather doesn't hate you. He loves you," he gently pulled away only slightly so as to face her, "Believe it or not, he just thinks he's doing what's best for you because he loves you. And as for me…I don't...hate him...I just...have issues with his conduct."
"You hate him," Minerva's lip quivered, the struggle not cry becoming an all time high, "You don't think I've noticed how you're arguing now? You never used to and if you're starting to now it means that you're beginning to hate him."
"No, I don't hate him," the Doctor repeated for her, genuinely meaning it. He couldn't hate Mayar because he was Minerva's family. He could understand, on some level, why Mayar did the things he did.
"I thought I could do this, but now I don't think...I don't think I can," Minerva shut her eyes as another sob started making its way up her throat.
"You can do this. You have been working for this since I met you, Kaeya Louvier, and I will not let anyone make you think otherwise," the Doctor declared and proceeded to pepper-kiss Minerva's face in-between his next words, "You are a magnificent leader," he paused his kisses momentarily to get a stern look, "You stand up for what you believe in," and a couple more kisses on the other side of her face, "You always know what's best for others," he moved his kisses to her forehead, "and you never give up," he finished with a long kiss on her lips, "Ever," he whispered upon the finish of their kiss.
Minerva sniffled, though smiling just a bit, "But-"
"Nope," the Doctor placed a finger on her lips, "The Minerva I know would outright refuse to let someone hurt her people. Kaeya, don't let anyone take what's rightfully yours. This is your crown, your throne, and your people."
"But you and my grandfather…"
"We are a minor problem, one you shouldn't worry over too much."
Minerva couldn't agree there. She raised to rest her hands on his face, "He is my last living, biological relative and you are my husband. I can't have you hating each other. You're the two most important men in my life. What I would give to make you get along."
"Listen, why don't we take this step by step. How's about we take a look at that proposal list we saw in the meeting and pick out the ones that would benefit both Nix Terra and the Monsoon. We make one hell of a contract the Seonel's won't refuse."
"That...that sounds really good," Minerva slowly nodded.
"Okay, and then, when you're Queen, we can come back to this Mayar thing."
Minerva sighed, agreeing to that one however she had another idea set in mind, "Alright then, let's head into the kingdom. We need to go see Katyia again and see how she's doing," and before the Doctor could say anything about using the TARDIS, Minerva offered the alternative, "We can take a carriage in."
"Now I don't think that's a very good idea, Minerva," the Doctor shook his head, already calculating how many problems it would bring her, "Your people aren't quite ready to accept that you're truly married to me."
"And I say this as politely as possible: I no longer give a damn," Minerva declared rather firmly, "We have been to this planet countless times and not once have we ever gone into the kingdom together. I refuse to let that continue on. It's about time I set things into place."
"But Minerva," the Doctor wasn't so sure pushing people like that would help anyone.
"Nope. I've already decided it," the ginger smirked, "If I am princess then they have to do as I say. Nerio says I can get what ever I want, so I'll get this too. I'm tired of letting everyone on this planet dictate who I have to be."
"There is no changing your mind is there?" the Doctor asked, even though he knew very well what the answer would be.
"Not one bit," Minerva shook her head.
"Then I guess we should go," the Doctor noticed her gown on the floor, "Will you be wearing that or…?"
Minerva glanced back at the gown with disinterest, "No. In fact I want it burned. I don't like what it saw today."
The Doctor playfully rolled his eyes, "Then what shall my princess be wearing then?"
Minerva's lips twitched into a smirk, "Don't know, you choose," she reached for his hands and brought it to the robe's ropes, motioning him to do as he pleased with them, "I'm all yours," she roguishly whispered afterwards, feeling suddenly even more better.
~ 0 ~
The pair took a little more than planned to leave the palace and head into the kingdom. It didn't help the carriage ride was going a little slower than planned either.
Minerva was busy patting down her hair when they hit a small bump on the road, "Ah!"
The Doctor laughed beside her, "Calm down, it was only a rock," he reached and took her hands off her hair, "You look gorgeous."
Minerva turned to him with a suspicious look, "And you're not just saying because you happened to pick out the clothes?"
"Hey, you can wear a barrel around yourself and I would still think you're bloody gorgeous."
"Yeah, you'd like that, wouldn't you?"
The Doctor couldn't retain his smirk at the question, "Well…" he lowered an arm around her waist, bringing her closer to him, "...it wouldn't be bad," he began nuzzling his nose on the side of face.
Minerva shivered feeling the Doctor's breath hitting her neck, "I hate you," she managed to say. She slowly turned her head up, "This is why we're late."
"It's your fault…"
"What!?"
"You're a lot flirtier now - I can't help myself," the Doctor pressed a kiss to her neck.
Minerva then fully turned to him to avoid further distraction from him, "Don't blame me entirely. You used to be flirty too, remember? I learned from you."
The Doctor didn't like hearing that but nonetheless grinned, "We have some unfinished tension, I see."
Minerva raised an eyebrow, "Yeah? Well, we're almost at Dathan's so none of that will be happening in here."
"And afterwards when we're back in the TARDIS?"
"That's...another story," Minerva flashed a smile and turned ahead, making the Doctor laugh, "Shut up," she elbowed him in the ribs. She was feeling far better than she used to, her mind clearer than had been a while ago.
The Doctor grunted but kept his arm around her, "I love you, Clever Girl," he kissed her temple.
"You better," came the mock warn followed by Minerva resting her head on his arm.
A couple minutes later, the carriage finally stopped in front of Dathan's bakery. Already accustomed to the princess's strange behavior, the rider remained at his seat. Minerva opened the door of the carriage herself, internally laughing at the big deal it apparently was for the princess herself to open a door. She got down and waited for the Doctor come out next.
"Are you sure it was a good idea to stop by the front of the shop?" the Doctor asked as he shut the carriage door, doing his best to ignore the strange looks he received from the other Moontsays on the street.
Minerva had her hands in front of her, clapped together - as taught by Mayar - and nodded for the carriage to take its leave, "We'll be back in an hour," she told the rider.
"Yes, princess," the rider listened and started the carriage.
"And as for you," Minerva eyed her husband with a sly grin, reaching to take his hand, "I've had enough of this hiding around. I am the princess, I go through the front door - with my husband."
The Doctor took her hand, smiling brightly, "I like this you," he commented.
"Truthfully...I like it too," and it did make Minerva feel all that much better to walk side by side with her husband. She entered the bakery shop and looked around, purposely flashing polite smiles to her subjects while gripping the Doctor's hand. She wanted them to see for themselves who was her husband and finally lay truth to the rumors of her marriage.
Dathan came from the door of the kitchen, looking surprised to find the couple at the front door, "Princess!" he hurried to go greet them, "What are you doing?"
"We came to see Katyia," Minerva said as if it were obvious, "Through the front doors...because it's my right."
"Well, yes," Dathan agreed to it fast, "Shall we go, then?" he motioned for the pair to go first.
"Of course," Minerva gave a polite nod to the customers before heading for the door leading up to Dathan's home.
Halfway up, Dathan caught up to the pair, "I must say Princess, it's a bit surprising to see you through the front doors. I would have guessed-"
"We would've taken the backdoor as we usually do," Minerva finished for him, "Not anymore, Dathan. I've decided it's time to give my husband his proper place. You would agree to that, no?"
Dathan glanced at the Doctor with a soft smile, "Of course. He's done nothing but help my daughter. I really don't understand how we could have gotten such bad thoughts about your people."
"Well," while smug the Doctor couldn't let the truth be covered up, "not all Time Lords were good. I, happen to be a bit of both-"
"Shut up," came the scold of his wife, followed by a pointed look, "You're good. If not, I wouldn't be married to you."
"To be honest sometimes I wonder how I got you…"
Minerva rolled her eyes, "Because you're an idiot and, as it turns out, I like idiots."
"Princess," the Doctor mocked a gasp and stopped at the top of the staircase, "such foul language you're using. Have you learned nothing?"
Minerva smirked and shook her head, "Idiot," she muttered and continued on her way.
The Doctor chuckled but didn't follow just yet, "That I am," he agreed with a nod then looked over to Dathan, "You need that type of princess to lead you all, I'm telling you."
"She's very…" Dathan seemed to be trying to come up with a specific word, but looked slightly afraid as if he'd get it wrong, "...unusual."
"But she's the right type of person to lead you all, don't you think?"
"Yes, I think so," Dathan nodded, "Her ways are far more different than what we were used to with her parents but...I think I'd like my children to live in a open minded society."
"And believe me, that is exactly what Minerva wants," the Doctor sighed and looked at the baker in front of him, "Can I ask you a question?"
"Anything," Dathan nodded.
"And you will answer with honesty?"
"Of course."
The Doctor looked around the entry hall of the house just to make sure no one was around that could overhear them, "What do people say...say about my wife?" he knew Dathan hadn't quite understood the question and so elaborated more on it, "The people that come into your bakery, anyone you know...what do they talk about when the topic of the princess comes up?"
"Uh…" Dathan thought about it for the moment, "...well…"
"Be honest," the Doctor reminded Dathan of the promise.
"Well, it's mixed responses, honestly," Dathan also took a look around their immediate areas for any eavesdropper, "Some find her too radical in her behavior nowadays. They say it's disrespectful how she married one of their mortal enemies - you."
"I really could care less what they say about me. It's Minerva that worries me," the Doctor confessed, "Because I know she really cares about this planet. It nearly cost us our marriage because she thought she was doing the kingdom a favor. I think it's very unfair the way those people are thinking about her."
"Well, it's not all bad," Dathan tried to ease the sudden tension, "Some people think it's about time the Monsoon changed. After living in Nix Terra for so long and being used to more open customs...they want that to continue and they know it'll only happen if princess Kaeya takes over."
At that, the Doctor had to smile, "Those are the people I like - regardless of their views on me."
"They're a bit mixed as well," Dathan shrugged, "but nothing you can't fix, I'm sure. Just like the princess proved to us that she married a good man she will do it to the rest of the kingdom."
Before the Doctor could respond, Minerva called from the end of the hallway, "Doctor? Are you coming or…?"
"Yes, yes," the Doctor nodded and hurried up to the woman.
"What were you talking about?" Minerva raised an eyebrow, glancing back to see Dathan coming towards them in calmness.
"Nothing," the Doctor smiled and pecked her lips, "Except that I have a gorgeous wife."
"Nice try," Minerva rolled her eyes, "But since Katyia is waiting I'm not going to push for the truth. C'mon," she motioned with a finger to be followed.
"Wherever you want," the Doctor grinned in what Minerva would call an 'idiot grin' and followed after her.
Eventually, they crossed the living room where Dathan's wife, Britta, was placing a plate of bread for Seiya. The young boy played on the rug with a couple toy cars but immediately stopped when he caught sight of the couple.
"Princess! Doctor!" Seiya jumped off the floor and dashed to encase the couple in a big hug.
"Seiya," his mother scolded.
Minerva laughed as she hugged back Seiya, along with the Doctor, "It's alright, Britta. I like the hugs. Seiya gives good hugs."
"Are you here for Katyia?" Seiya looked up at them, completely disregarding his mother's scold. He knew the princess didn't mind hugs and the Doctor far less. She'd been right, the Doctor did like kids a lot.
"Yes, is she awake?" Minerva asked him.
"Mhm, she's reading the book you brought her. What was it called? Dorian something," Seiya stepped back and thought about the odd book his sister received the last time Minerva and the Doctor stopped by.
"I'll go see her," the Doctor told the family and received approving nods. He gave Minerva a kiss on the head and went for Katyia's room.
"Seiya," Minerva knelt down in front of the boy, "Can you do me a big favor?"
"Anything, princess," Seiya nodded.
"Can you go get one of those blue pastries for me? My favorite ones?"
"Of course! I'll be right back!" Seiya exclaimed and ran off for the bakery downstairs.
Minerva rose to her feet and became serious once she was sure the boy was gone, "How is Katyia?" the parents looked at each other with solemn stares, pretty much answering without the actual words. Minerva sighed, "I'm sorry, I'm really, really sorry," Minerva sighed and came towards the two, "But I'm not giving up, okay? The Doctor will continue to help and I'll do my best to give advice too."
"We're not as sad," confessed Britta sheepishly, severely confusing Minerva for a second, "Katyia has always been a bit quiet. With her illness slowly taking over she never really had much of a reason to smile, nor be cheery. But ever since you and the Doctor started visiting her she's...ecstatic."
"Really?" Minerva felt a bit of butterflies in her stomach to hear she was partly the reason someone was smiling despite living a troubling life.
"She's learning more than she's ever learned in Nix Terra," Dathan added to his wife's comments, "She has motivation, regardless of how she's feeling. I've never seen her like that. I hope it never ends."
"Well, I'm glad to hear we've at least raised her spirits, that's very good," Minerva smiled, "The emotions are a big part of regeneration especially for us Moontsays. If she's feeling happy, motivated, then it can definitely help with her regeneration."
That seemed to spark some new hope in the parents. Minerva was glad to hear that at least some type of progress was being made. It had been several months of helping Katyia and for a moment she was afraid nothing was working.
Upon entering Katyia's bedroom, they found the girl was indeed in a very cheery mood. She was busy rambling on to the Doctor about the book she held, the precise one Minerva gifted her.
"The ending is so tragic but the book itself was amazing!" Katyia leaned back on the bed headboard and exhaled, a bright smile etched onto her face, "The character is so...human. I mean, is that what humans are like?"
"Well they're not all vain like Dorian Gray was," Minerva took the answer as she joined the Doctor's side, the man sitting on a chair beside Katyia's bed, "But they are all pretty amazing."
Katyia beamed at the answer, "Do you think you can bring me another book about them? Something different?"
"TARDIS has a whole a collection of books, I'm sure we can find you something," the Doctor shared and made Katyia smile even more.
"But first we have to work," Minerva reminded, "So, Katyia, how are you?"
"I dunno," Katyia shrugged and looked around, feeling weird when she made the realization she hadn't thought about her condition for the entire day, "Okay, I guess?"
"How are those attempts of regeneration coming?" the Doctor asked next.
Katyia looked at her hands and shook her head, "Not good. Sometimes I feel the energy but it doesn't come out...sometimes I just don't feel anything at all."
"It's a process, Katyia, don't feel like this is a competition," Minerva advised, "Look at me with my powers. It took me centuries to get them the first time around."
Katyia nodded, having heard the story already, "But...for you it wasn't a bad thing. You were the princess, no matter what no one here would make fun of you."
"True," Minerva conceded on that point, "but no one here will make fun of you either. On the contrary, when you regenerate you'll be a legend. You'll be the first Moontsay to activate their regeneration cycle within the kingdom."
"You're so sure I'm going to be able to do this…" Katyia sighed.
"Because you are," the Doctor said instantaneously, as if the opposite had never even crossed his mind, "because when Minerva is coronated, you and your family have to be there, remember?"
Katyia began smiling, "Am I really going to be invited?"
"Of course," Minerva nodded, "the entire kingdom will be. And I would really want you to be there."
"I want to, believe me, but...I'm no idiot. I know I'm not getting better."
"But that can still change. There are still a couple of weeks before I'm coronated, and it's just enough time to get you all better."
"I'll keep trying, I promise, but…" Katyia mischievously smiled, "...you have to bring me more books."
Minerva and the Doctor shared an amused look, "Sounds fair, don't you think, Martian?" Minerva asked.
The Doctor nodded, "Absolutely. I'll bring you an entire bookshelf if it means you'll keep trying," he said to Katyia.
"Then it's a deal," Katyia declared with a gigglish chuckle.
~ 0 ~
When the couple returned to the palace and learned the Seonel family was still around with Mayar, the two preferred to seclude themselves in the gardens. They found Amy sitting at one of the tables, having a nice lemonade. She'd been left in the palace to test out a new lounge spot Zohar had finished overseeing the construction of. By the bright smile Amy wore, it appeared the place had been a success.
"Well, isn't someone all smiley today," Minerva greeted the ginger with a chuckle. The Doctor pulled out a chair for her to sit in before taking his own beside her.
"I love, love, love, love the rooms here!" Amy declared with a laugh of her own, "Can I come back here more often, please? I love it here!"
"You're welcome to anytime," Minerva assured but looked around to see if anyone was nearby.
The Doctor and Amy caught the search and thankfully Amy informed, "The royal jerks are inside the palace," Minerva quickly looked back at her, sheepish for her actions, "Although the jerk thing would exclude your grandfather and that one sister, Veren?"
"Let's...not talk about my grandfather," Minerva sighed and leaned back on her chair.
Amy raised an eyebrow, sensing something had happened and she had missed it, "Okay, what's going on? I thought this meeting was supposed to be good or something."
"Well, Minerva went into the meeting with great proposals," the Doctor agreed, "but Altair had different ideas on some of them."
"Which ones?"
"All of them."
"Oh," Amy glanced at Minerva again, "Why did they disagree? I mean, I know I don't know much about royalty and things but...what you told me about sounded really good."
"And they are," Minerva stood by her proposals, "They benefit both planets and the people. I feel like Altair only wants his people to take majority in benefits."
"So call him out on it," Amy scowled, "Or better yet, cancel the contract thing."
"It's not that simple, Amy. My grandfather is really set on this family for some reason," Minerva explained, missing the look on the Doctor's face. Of course Mayar was set with the Seonel's, he was trying to marry off Minerva!
"So," thankfully Amy was able to voice the Doctor's opinion without even realizing it, "last time I heard you're the princess," she told Minerva, "You're the one who is going to become Queen. You call the shots around here."
"But I don't want to argue more with my grandfather," Minerva propped an elbow on the table and rested her cheek on her palm, "We already had a massive argument today and I would really like to avoid more."
"Well, if you keep letting him tell you what to do it's never going to stop," Amy picked up her glass and took a sip, "You're the bloody princess, act like it."
"Amy," Minerva blinked, surprised.
"I'm sorry, but I really hate how you're getting upset by people who don't matter. This is like the Marisol thing all over again."
"But my grandfather does matter, Amy," Minerva sighed, "He's my last blood-relative, my family. He and I only have each other. I want it to be like old times just...without the ordering and stuff."
"Maybe spending quality time with him can help," the Doctor suggested, actually believing that could hopefully help Mayar realize the big mistakes he was committing.
"Please," Minerva scoffed, "after what I told him this morning I doubt he wants to be in the same room with me."
The Doctor reached to take her hand on the table and perk up the fallen princess, "Who wouldn't want to be in the same room as you? Where's the sign-up list?"
Amy playfully rolled her eyes, lightly snorting, "That was really lame."
"Nothing I haven't heard before," the Doctor shrugged and pecked Minerva's lips, making her smile, "So, Clever Girl, would you like to have some dinner?"
Truthfully, Minerva did feel weary and hungry after such a day. She rubbed her stomach and nodded, "Yes, please. I'm starving."
"I can go make the request," Amy volunteered and stood up from her chair, "Apparently being friends with the Princess means a whole lot around here."
"Having fun, aren't you?" the Doctor raised an eyebrow.
"Yes!"
"Go on."
Amy squealed and hurried towards the palace. However, after moving only a couple feet, she, Minerva and the Doctor saw Veren hastily rushing out of the castle. The blonde seemed to be in tears as she ran towards the gardens, not even realizing the trio wee there. It wasn't until Amy caught her and the two nearly crashed into each other that Veren saw she wasn't alone.
"Veren, what's going on?" Minerva rose up, concerned with the franticness the blonde seemed to carry.
"My father," Veren sniffled and tried to quickly fix her appearance, "he found out about something he shouldn't have and...it did not turn out good."
Minerva had a good idea of the secret Altair must have found out about. She came towards the princess and slowly brought her to the table, "Are you okay, though? Are you hurt?"
"Mentally and emotionally, yes," Veren blinked rapidly to sustain the tears.
"Well, you should really try to calm down," Minerva advised, "It's better to think with a cold mind than right now."
"Why don't we take a walk through the maze?" the Doctor suggested and stood up, motioning to the garden maze behind them.
"Yeah," Minerva agreed with the idea, "We can take a nice, long walk and you can explain to us what happened."
Veren slowly nodded, coming around the idea, "O-okay," she sniffled. She allowed herself to be taken by trio of travelers to the nice garden she honestly did like.
~ 0 ~
Later on would find the group going down the maze, Veren calmer than before as she finished explaining what happened in the palace with her family, "And so Orianna found out and decided to take it upon herself and tell my father that I have a relationship with a...regular man."
"Permission to express my severe hatred for your sister?" Amy raised a hand, managing to get a small chuckle from Veren.
"Veren I am so sorry for this," Minerva shook her head, "Orianna had no right to tell Altair about something personal, something only you could do."
"On some level I guess it's my fault too," Veren admitted, "Chay and I were talking over the phone and I didn't hide myself well. Orianna heard enough to put the pieces together," she began sniffling, "and now my father's going to banish him to the poor outskirts of the city."
"Veren, if there's anything we can do, please tell us," the Doctor honestly said to the princess.
"There's nothing to do," Veren let loose tears that ran down her cheeks, "My father was very clear. There can never be anything between me and Chay. Our love is forbidden."
"I can't say I didn't see this one coming from the start," Minerva confessed and garnered confused looks from Veren.
"What do you mean?"
Sheepishly, Minerva glanced at the Doctor, "I should just tell her, huh?"
"Probably," the Doctor nodded.
"Tell me what?" Veren frowned.
Minerva looked back at the blonde with a soft smile, "When I first met you, when you arrived late and gave that excuse to your father about having duties...I knew you were lying."
"Really?"
"Mhm, the face you had - the expressions, they all reminded me of myself when I was younger. The way you acted was kind of the same way I acted when I used to come back home after having secret meetings with the Doctor."
Veren blinked, "Really?" she looked at the Doctor beside Minerva, "You used to see each other in secrecy?"
"All the time," the Doctor nodded.
"I never told my family about it, though, which was why they would catch me off guard and have me blushing with so many questions."
"It's a miracle they never found out," the Doctor mumbled and promptly received an elbow at the ribs.
"Shut up," Minerva scolded him, "You had it no easier than me, Martian. Didn't you once get caught coming out of the TARDIS?"
"One time," the Doctor waved it off, "...or twice…"
"You're an idiot," Minerva declared but received a kiss on the cheek nonetheless.
Veren smiled at the two, "But look at you, it all worked out fine for you two. You're married, about to inherit an entire planet. What I would give to marry Chay. I don't care about my place at the throne, nor about my 'comfy life' as my father said, I would give all that up if it meant I could marry Chay and spend my life with him."
"Then do it," Amy said as if it were obvious. She really didn't understand why these royals always put so much focus on what their parents said. If she wanted to marry someone then she would marry that someone, no matter what anyone said.
"It's not simple, Amy, I'm a...princess," Veren sighed and stopped suddenly, randomly picking out flowers from a bush, "My father says there are rules. The royals only marry royals, never anyone below."
"And what does Chay do?" the Doctor curiously asked.
"He's a guard in the palace," Veren smiled to herself, "the head of the guards, actually. His job is decent, he is a decent man, but his flaw is he's not a prince."
"And that matters to you?" Minerva inquired.
"Absolutely not," Veren turned to the trio, almost indignant the question had been asked, "Do you know how I met Chay?" at the thought, Veren began smiling, a distant look taking over her face.
"No, but you can certainly tell us," Minerva motioned for them to continue walking, seeing the story as a potential distraction from the current situation.
"Well, I was picking up flowers," Veren looked down at her hands to find a couple of flowers she'd picked without even realizing, "in my garden - cos I have a garden back at home - and I thought I heard something so I started calling for the guards. Chay came to see what was going on and then I told him and he started searching…" she began chuckling, "...and he found a little critter."
"And that was what you thought you heard," assumed Amy, receiving a nod of confirmation.
"Chay brought the critter back to me and told me everything was okay and…" the smile on Veren's face widened, "...he would protect me."
"Aw," Minerva cooed then glanced at the Doctor, "How come we didn't have a cute meeting like that?"
"Because you snogged me the first moment you saw me," the Doctor smirked as Minerva went red as a tomato.
"Have I mentioned I hate you?"
"Have I mentioned I love you?"
Veren shook her head at the two, incredibly amused, "You two are so odd."
"We may be different but believe us, we do understand you," Minerva told her, "Chay sounds very sweet."
"He is," Veren assured, "He's kept true to his word. I always feel protected and safe with him."
"So are you really going to let that man go?" the Doctor asked.
"I don't want to," Veren sighed, "but what kind of future awaits for us? My father is going to banish Chay the moment we return to Nix Terra and he'll have me under constant supervision. I won't be able to see him anymore."
"Love always finds away," Minerva leaned on the Doctor's arm, smiling when she felt him put an arm around her, "Believe us."
Veren wanted to believe that, but things looked so dark for her that simply believing wouldn't do it.
~ 0 ~
After the Seonel family finally left the palace, Minerva and the Doctor were making their plans to leave. Amy was ready in the TARDIS waiting for the two aliens to come in. The blue box was settled in Minerva's bedroom of the palace, however it was short one princess.
When Amy grew impatient she poked her head out of the box, "Doctor? Where's Minerva? I thought we were leaving."
The Doctor was taking a look around Minerva's small art collection when Amy called, "She went to say goodbye to Mayar. Wait a little longer."
"How do you know they're not arguing again?" Amy countered, almost positive that was the reason for Minerva's tardiness.
It seemed the suspicion had entered the Doctor's mind as well since he began striding for the doors, "Hang on Amy, I'll go see what happened."
Minerva had told him she wanted to bid goodbye to Mayar before leaving. No matter how bad things were, she considered it rude to leave without announcing. However that had been quite some time ago. Could Amy be right? Were the two royals arguing once again?
~ 0 ~
Mayar was busy in his study room plucking out a book from his shelf when he heard a knock on the door, "Come in," he called and the door opened.
"Grandfather," Minerva sheepishly called, nor daring to move away from the doorway. She didn't know how irritated and angry Mayar was her and so she'd rather not find out.
Mayar turned around, more than surprised to find her around, "Kaeya? You're still here? I would've thought you'd have left the moment the Seonel's did."
"You know I always come say goodbye," Minerva said quietly.
"Correct," Mayar agreed and headed for his desk, secretly unsure of what to say next. She didn't seem as angry as she was before but he didn't want to push her either.
"I'll be back again with new proposals…" Minerva was the one to break the silence, "Hopefully ones that will be accepted."
"Hopefully," Mayar looked at her a moment before sitting down.
For the next couple of minutes no one said anything nor moved. Mayar pretended to read some pages out of his book while Minerva fiddled with her fingers. It wasn't until Mayar looked up and saw his granddaughter playing with her fingers that the silence ended.
"Amazing, even after 2 body changes, you still have a knack for playing with your hands."
Minerva dimly smiled and came forwards, "I always do this," she raised her hands, "That probably won't ever change."
"For a moment you looked like the old you…"
The smile Minerva wore turned sad at those words, "It's still me, grandfather."
"You've changed too much," Mayar stood up again, slowly coming around the desk, "To say you've stopped using your own name. And for what? For some human one?"
"I love that name," Minerva assured, "And I still go by Kaeya sometimes. It's just…'Minerva' has a lot of meaning to me. With that name I crossed through everything I call beautiful in my life. I traveled the earth with it, I met fantastic friends with it, I met the Doctor with it and traveled the universe with it. With that name I fell in love all over again...and I married the love of my life. 'Minerva' has sentimental value to me that I wouldn't exchange for the world."
"And what about Kaeya, then? Does your family mean nothing to you? Your home? Your people?" Mayar shook his head, looking just as disappointed as he portrayed in his tone, "Your father came up with that name for you, for you...and you shed it off like that?"
"I didn't shed it off," Minerva corrected, "and to answer your questions, this planet means the world to me. My name is important to me, so it still gets used."
"It's not the same, Kaeya," Mayar sighed, "Time was you were a proper princess who went by her birth name-"
"Who was unhappy," Minerva sadly finished for him, "Is that the type of Queen you want me to be?"
"How could you have been unhappy? You were surrounded by your family?" Mayar frowned, offended by Minerva's statement, "We gave you love and that you cannot deny."
"I won't deny that," Minerva agreed, "I know my parents loved me very much, as well as everyone. But no one could ever understand me, grandfather. If I dared to make a remark about the Time Lords that was good I would never hear the end of it. If I said something out of place in general it was like I had been punished."
"You used to be such an easy, proper little girl, what happened?"
"I grew up," Minerva whispered, "and I discovered that there was more to life than anyone had ever told me. I found adventure, I found friends, and I found love. That easy, proper girl you're talking simply grew up. I'm not gone, I'm right here," she gestured to herself, "I got tired of people telling me what I had to do. I haven't done anything bad, I just married someone I chose."
"But you married the wrong man," Mayar didn't know how else to make Minerva see it, "You married a man who is responsible for genocide. Kaeya, he ended his own people. How can you live with him?"
Minerva stood straight, the honesty in her tone surprising Mayar, "Because I know he didn't want to do it. He did it because he thought I was dead. With me gone, his family gone, how do you think a person reacts? If there is nothing else left to lose, then that person is capable of anything. I just know if he had a second opportunity and knew the truth then things would be different."
"You say that like you're so sure," Mayar blinked.
"Because I am," Minerva triumphantly smiled, "I know my Martian and I know what would happen."
"He is not a good man," Mayar snapped, "How can you defend him with those statements? Has this 'love' of yours blinded you to who he really is?"
"No, I know exactly who he is. I knew what he's done and why he's done it. I know that, in a sense, he is a not a good man to some people," Minerva stepped towards her grandfather, "But ask the countless civilizations he's saved and tell me what they think of him."
"Kaeya," Mayar whispered, reaching to put his hands on her face, "Your parents would not have wanted this for you."
"I'm happy, so that would make them happy."
"No, because this is not the princess they raised. And who you married, is not the person they would have wanted for you."
"No, I don't believe that," Minerva turned and walked away, "My parents loved each other. They know what my marriage is like."
"...they don't," Mayar said sadly, "Would you like to hear a story?"
Minerva glanced back, narrowing her eyes with suspicion, "What kind?"
"The kind where I reveal something about your parents that you didn't know about."
Now curious, Minerva turned around, arms crossed and expectant look on her face, "What do you mean?"
"Your parents did love each other, correct," Mayar nodded, conscious that what he would say next would cause Minerva great struggle to accept, "and they lived a very good life together. However, they did not marry out of love," Minerva raised her eyebrows, "They married to bring peace to our people."
Minerva faltered and stumbled back, "Wh-what? That's...that's not true."
Mayar remained absolutely calm, merely taking a step forwards, "Oh, it's very true."
"No it's not!" Minerva angrily snapped, "That's not true! Grandfather, why are you telling me this?"
"Because, like you said, you grew up," Mayar reminded, "and grown ups know fairy tales do not exist. Your parents married at a time when our people were divided into two groups."
Minerva's eyes were tearing up the more Mayar continued to say, "That's not true!"
"Your mother was part of the royal family in the other group and my son was part of our family in our group. Your mother's parents made an agreement with myself and your grandmother. To bring peace and to unify our people under one rule, our children would marry. And that is what they did."
"That's...that's awful," Minerva covered her mouth in utter horror, the tears streaming down her face like a water-well, "What kind of parents were you!? All of you!?"
"We were parents wanting peace," Mayar declared, "Peace for our people and peace for our children. Do you know how dangerous things became? My own son couldn't leave our home because he was in danger of being killed by some radical lunatic? I did what I had to do, and your father did what he had to do."
"But at what price?" Minerva gritted her teeth, "You gambled your son's future and happiness for peace?"
"But he fell in love," Mayar defended himself but was careful not shout. This time, he knew Minerva was right in reacting the way she was. All her life she'd always viewed her parents as the proper example of love and stability. He'd just crumbled that view down.
"You gambled and you happened to win," Minerva clarified harshly, "But that rarely happens. Is that what you'd like to see me doing? Marry someone I don't want to in hopes of maybe one day falling in love? Don't you see, grandfather? I've already did the work for you. I found someone who I love and loves me back. And he can bring so many progressions to our planet."
"But he's not the right man for you," Mayar declared.
"And I can assume that is what my mother thought when she was informed she'd be marrying someone she didn't know?" Minerva raised an eyebrow, "You've proven yourself wrong. Now that I know this, I know my parents would never have forced me to marry someone I didn't want. They proved it themselves when they desisted with the suitors for me. They understood. They married because their parents forced them to. I'm just sorry they didn't have the courage to say 'no' to you all."
"Kaeya," Mayar angrily scolded, "If they would have disagreed you would not be here today."
"Well I would prefer it than knowing my parents were married because they were told to. Do you realize? I was born out of a contract," Minerva sniffled.
"No," the anger in Mayar faded at the topic of his granddaughter's birth, "you were born out of love. Your parents loved each other very much, and with the news of your coming, they only grew closer. They were happy, and that is all I want for you, Kaeya."
Minerva roughly swallowed, no longer capable of continuing to snap. She felt her images of her parents crumble down at the thought of their forced marriage. For her, they were the perfect couple. They embodied what she wished she could have when she would grow up. But apparently the royal customs ruined their happiness as well.
"My parents had a shot at true love, and they let their royal responsibilities take it away from them," Minerva shakily said. She felt even worse in thinking how she nearly let the story repeat itself. Her responsibilities nearly cost her her marriage. Nerio was right, responsibilities were shackles, and they'd taken down her parents in the past.
"Kaeya," Mayar turned for his desk and went to a drawer, opening it and pulling out a picture frame, "You can say what you want, but your parents were truly happy. They unified our kingdom and they made it thrive together. And," he looked up with a soft smile, "in time, they gave your grandmother and I, a wonderful granddaughter. Their baby girl was the most important thing to them. Their love for you was under no contract," he came towards Minerva, his heart breaking to see her trembling with tears continuously running down her face, "You were everything to them, and that is no lie," he held the frame for Minerva to see.
Slowly, Minerva took the frame into her hands, stifling a sob mixed with a laugh, "I remember this."
The picture was of her parents, her mother in her second incarnation, and they were seemingly playing with Minerva, a young child of the physical appearance of five years old. Her parents were sat on a couch with the young Minerva holding up a doll, a wide grin on her face.
Mayar walked her towards the couch against the wall, across the room door. He smiled as Minerva got more and more lost in the picture, knowing how much it meant to see her pictures of her parents. There were rarely any left and the ones that did exist he owned most.
"You used to love that doll," Mayar remembered after a moment of studying the picture with her, the two now sat on the couch.
"That didn't change even when I regenerated," Minerva admitted, recalling her human doll 'Lucy', "I think I called this one Aya," she tapped the doll of the picture.
"You used to carry her everywhere you went," Mayar chuckled, "You simply would not stop crying until someone handed over the doll."
Minerva glanced at him with a sheepish smile, "Aya was my friend. I couldn't leave her behind."
"Do you remember who gave you that doll?"
Minerva got to thinking and shook her head when nothing came to mind, "No, I don't think so."
"Your mother gave you that doll when you were around three years old," Mayar informed, "It was a birthday gift."
"I don't remember," Minerva sniffled again.
"Of course not," Mayar agreed, pushing a strand of her long hair back, "you were too young."
Minerva stared at the picture a moment before glancing at Mayar, "Can I...can I keep this?" she gestured to the frame, "I don't really have a lot of them. The little I kept in my sanctuary I moved it to the TARDIS but that's...it's not enough. Can I please-"
"It's yours," Mayar wrapped her hands around the frame, "All yours."
Minerva smiled, "Thank you," she kissed his cheek, "I'm going to put this in my art room. I'll even try painting it."
"You paint?" Mayar raised an eyebrow.
Minerva looked at him oddly, "You haven't seen my room here? Zohar added that little art section in the room."
"Forgive me but I've only been there once after it was finished and the furniture wasn't all there yet."
"Oh, well, yeah, I'm trying to paint. I actually painted a portrait of mom and dad. I don't think it came out that bad," Minerva gripped the frame in her hands.
"Well you have the time...perhaps you could show it to me?" Mayar slowly asked, a bit shy which made Minerva chuckle.
"Okay! Yeah! I can definitely show it to you. And you know, maybe I can make more of you like them so we can hang them here," Minerva beamed as a new idea entered her mind, "Can you tell me about them? When they were younger?"
"Your parents?" Mayar asked and Minerva nodded, "Of course, but, what for?"
"I want to paint a recreation of an important moment in their lives. Not about me, nothing to do with me," she clarified, "I want it to be something about them, when they were in love. Maybe like an important dance? A ceremony? I don't know, something. Can you tell me?"
"Right now?" Mayar chuckled at her excitement, "Well, alright, I suppose. There were plenty of moments that your father told me about."
The excitement only grew and Minerva shifted to him completely, setting down the frame on her lap, "Okay, then start. I want to know everything you remember."
"Okay," Mayar agreed and shifted to her as well, trying to remember what she needed, "Well, I remember your father going insane trying to come up with a perfect gift for your mother's birthday. It was her first birthday after they married and by that time, they were...beginning to develop feelings for each other."
"What did dad do?" Minerva curiously asked, trying to picture her father going as crazy as she did when she tried coming up with gifts for the Doctor.
"Your mother was very fond of flowers," Mayar smiled, "and he had the most exotic flowers picked out for her. He was going to do something with them, I believe it was a picture on the gardens…"
Around that time the Doctor was closing in on the study room, figuring that to be the last place where Mayar would go to and therefore Minerva follow. He just hoped there were no arguments going on. His Clever Girl wouldn't be able to take more wedges between her and her grandfather. So when he neared the open study door and heard laughter from Mayar...he became intrigued and confused. Silently, he peered into the room and found Mayar and Minerva sitting on the couch, both conversing about a story. He was able to catch something about Minerva's mother, letting him know it was a story of her parents. He began smiling when Minerva laughed, clearly she was having a nice moment with her grandfather. It seemed Mayar was also having a good time as he laughed every now and then along with her. It was something the Doctor had never seen before and he did not want to be responsible for ending such moment.
With hearts swelling for his wife's happiness, the Doctor cautiously backed away from the door and hurried away before anyone saw him. He would have to tell Amy they would be a while more. Minerva was finally enjoying her grandfather's company.
No one would ruin it for her.
Author's Note:
Hello! So...we're nearing the end now. Next chapter's the Pandorica *dramatic music* so that should be interesting lol. And as for this chapter, what do you think?
DID YOU SEE WHO THE NEW COMPANION IS? I ALREADY LOVE PEARL! SHE'S SO CUTE I WANT TO HUG HER! I'm just so excited to see her! This is my first companion as a Whovian because when I joined the fandom it was right when Peter took over as 12. So yay! Bill is my special little muffin now *insert heart emoji here*
For the review:
I loved Craig too! He was so awkward and cute! 11 just came in and messed his life momentarily before fixing it lmao. Yeeeeah I felt bad for the Doctor when the negative turned up *sigh* it was just not meant to be. Minerva will realize why she felt odd after the results before the story is over, promise! Now it's THREE chapters left ;). Ooooh the astronaut story is one of my faves - it's so random and confusing and dramatic and...I'll just stop there ;). Um, I can do a 12 one shot but I'd have to leave that until after my semester is over because everything is piling up unfortunately. But I will start thinking about drafts! :)
Soo...thanks to those who have read the chapter, hoped you liked it, and feel free to leave a comment :) Until next time!