Thanks to NicoleR85, SaberbladePrime for following/faving my story.
NicoleR85: thanks. I'm glad you like the rewrite. Here's another update!
Amb3rAnn3: (chapter 10) I'm glad you liked it!
"Here we are! My house", Alyssa said stopping by the path.
"You ok Jenny?" the Doctor asked seeing how nervous Jenny was.
"Not really", Jenny replied "What if Sarah doesn't like me?"
"Honey, you've got nothing to worry about. My mother is going to love you!" Alyssa assured her "come on!" without waiting for a reply, she started up the path.
"She'll love me even though I'm not…human?" Jenny asked.
"Sarah won't care if you're not human. She was ok with it when I told her I wasn't human", the Doctor said "also it didn't hurt when I told her how much I loved Ali". Jenny felt rather assured by the fact that Sarah had accepted that the Doctor wasn't human. "Just be yourself Jenny", the Doctor added "and I uh wouldn't mention that fact that Ali got shot when we tell her about how you were 'born'. I don't want Sarah to think I'm not keeping my word in trying to keep Ali safe".
"I won't dad", Jenny promised. They walked up path to where Alyssa was waiting for them by the front door.
"You ready Jenny?" Alyssa asked.
"Yep", Jenny confirmed. Alyssa unlocked the front door with her key and opened it.
"Mum! I'm home!" she called.
Sarah walked out into the hall and smiled, seeing her daughter "hello sweetheart", she greeted. Alyssa ran forward and hugged her tightly.
"Are you ok? I meant to call and warn about the toxic gas but I didn't and I'm so, so sorry. Please fo-" Alyssa was cut off from her rambling by her mother putting a finger on her lips.
"It's ok Ali. I understand why you didn't call, you were probably busy helping the Doctor save the world", Sarah said.
"Yes she was", the Doctor confirmed.
"And in answer to your question, yes I'm fine. I barricaded myself in your room, blocked up as much of the cracks as possible and waited it out", Sarah explained. Alyssa was pleased to hear that her mother hadn't been harmed by the gas. Sarah looked over her daughter's shoulder at the blonde woman standing next to the Doctor. "Who's this?" she asked stepping away from Alyssa.
"This is Jenny. Our daughter", the Doctor replied.
"Hi", Jenny said politely as Sarah stared at her, mouth slightly open.
"Uh why don't we sit down?" Alyssa suggested picking up on her mother's mixed emotions. One of them being shock.
"Yeah, good idea sweetie", Sarah said. Alyssa took her mother's arm and led her into the living room. She sat her mother down on the sofa while Jenny and the Doctor took the armchairs. "So…you're a mother now", Sarah stated still trying to get her mind around the that her daughter, her 24 year old daughter had a grown up child of her own. How was it even possible?
"Kind of", Alyssa said "I think its best if we explain". And so she proceeded to tell her mother about the unexpected trip to Messaline. The Doctor and Jenny also contributed to the story. Staying true to her promise, Jenny didn't mention Alyssa being shot. Neither did the Doctor nor the red head in question.
"Let me get this straight. Jenny was created by this machine thing you mentioned and the Doctor's DNA", Sarah said once the trio had finished the story.
"That's right", Alyssa said.
"So that makes her biologically the Doctor's. But how are you her mother?" Sarah asked. She wasn't asking it in a rude way, she just wanted to understand.
"Well I just assumed she was because of her relationship to my dad", Jenny replied "he and Donna seemed to agree…."
"And when she explained the reason why she called me mum, it seemed to make sense", Alyssa added "plus I was honoured that she would consider me her mother. So I now have a grown up daughter". Alyssa placed a hand over Sarah's "I also kinda told her that you were her grandmother. But it's your choice mum"
Sarah looked at her daughter then over at Jenny. The young woman shyly smiled at her and she made her choice. Sarah stood up "Jenny could you stand up please?" she asked.
"Uh sure", Jenny said and got to her feet. The Doctor and Alyssa watched as Sarah walked over to the blonde Time Lady and gave her a hug.
"Welcome to the family Jenny Palmer!" Sarah said. Jenny beamed at the fact that Sarah had not only acknowledged her as family but she also gave her a last name too!
The Doctor and Alyssa exchanged happy looks at that declaration. "I think we need to do something to celebrate Jenny's adoption into our family", Alyssa said.
"Good idea", Sarah agreed.
"How about a family dinner?" the Doctor suggested. All three women agreed with that suggestion wholeheartedly.
After a quick trip to the store, Alyssa headed into the kitchen to start preparing the dinner. She'd not long gotten into it when Jenny stuck her head in the door "need any help mum?" she asked.
"I'm ok thanks Jenny", Alyssa replied "but you can keep me company if you like", she quickly added seeing Jenny's disappointed look. The Time Lady instantly brightened and properly entered the kitchen. As Alyssa cooked she and Jenny had a steady stream of conversation which ranged quite a few topics. Some the red head was embarrassed by as it seemed her mother had decided to show Jenny the family photo albums in particular the ones that showed Alyssa as a child.
"You know, I saw a lot of photos of you with a blonde girl", Jenny said "Ellie, I believe that's what Sarah called her". Alyssa involuntarily tensed up at the name. She didn't mean to, it was just that the mention of her best friend reminded her that she wasn't there anymore. That loss was still pretty fresh for Alyssa even though it had been about a year or so since Ellie had been killed.
"Ellie Johnson. She was my best friend", Alyssa said.
"Was? You mean you guys aren't friends any more or…?" Jenny trailed off seeing the sad look on her mother's face "oh mum. I'm sorry", she said apologetically.
"It's ok Jenny", Alyssa said. She took a breath "I met Ellie when I was 11 years old. It was my first day a secondary school. I was so nervous but when Ellie sat down next to me in class and we introduced ourselves…we just clicked. By the end of the day it was almost like we'd been friends for years rather than a day" Jenny listened as Alyssa continued to tell her stories about her best friend while she cooked the dinner. Unknown to either of them, the Doctor was standing in the doorway watching them talk with a smile on his face. He was glad to see that they were bonding.
"What about your bracelet? Is there a story behind that?" Jenny asked wanting to know more about her mother's life.
"There's quite a few stories behind my bracelet. It's my most prized possession. I call it my bracelet of special memories", Alyssa said moving the pans off the heat and covering them with sauce pan lids to keep the stuff inside warm while she explained her bracelet to Jenny. She took it off and laid it onto the counter displaying all the charms.
"My parents gave this to me with this ice skate charm when I completed all four levels of Skate Tots. I was about 5", she said pointing to an ice skate. She then touched the half Purple Heart charm with the word 'best' on it. "This half heart I got from Ellie. She had the other half. For prom we gave each other shoe charms" she gestured to the blue high heeled shoe "When I graduated my mum gave me this silver brush" Alyssa touched the silver paint brush "Gran gave me this granddaughter charm for my 16th birthday. My 18st I received this birthstone charm from my mum", she explained showing Jenny the other three charms.
"Wow that's a lot of memories", Jenny remarked.
"Yep", Alyssa agreed putting it back on "now, would you like to give me a hand dishing up?" she asked.
"Absolutely!" Jenny replied. Alyssa took off the lids from the pans while Jenny got out the plates. Between the two of them, they dished up four portions of spaghetti Bolognese.
"You'll stop by again soon, right?" Sarah asked as she hugged her daughter.
"Of course I will mum, I promise", Alyssa said.
Sarah moved on to the Doctor and hugged him too "you take care of yourself and my daughter", she said.
"I will", the Doctor promised.
Sarah then hugged Jenny "I'm glad to have met you Sarah", Jenny said.
"Me too", Sarah agreed. She moved back slightly to look at Jenny "You're family Jenny so you are more than welcome to stay here anytime for as long as you want".
Jenny smiled and hugged Sarah again "thanks grandma!" she said happily.
"You're quite welcome honey", Sarah said. The red head stood at the doorway and waved to the trio as they walked down the path.