THE RUNAWAY BRIDE

Standing by the TARDIS doors, back to them, was a bride.

"How-?" Clara asked, then hiccuped from her tears. She wiped her face completely as the bride turned around and yelped with surprise. Clara jumped from the seat, standing by the Doctor as he said, "What?"

"Who are you two?" the bride asked.

"But-" the Doctor said, looking around.

"How-?" Clara asked.

"Where am I?" the bride asked.

"What!?" the Doctor exclaimed, more of a higher pitch in his voice.

"What the hell is this place?" the bride yelled.

"WHAT?!" the Doctor and Clara both exclaimed.

"You can't do that, I wasn't...we're in flight! That is—that is physically impossible! How did-!" the Doctor said, bewildered.

"Tell me where I am," Donna Noble, the bride, demanded. "I demand you tell me right now—where am I?"

"Inside the TARDIS," the Doctor said, staring at her.

"The what?" Donna asked.

"The TARDIS!" the Doctor repeated, turning to the console.

"The what?" Donna asked again.

"It's called the TARDIS," the Doctor said.

"That's not even a proper word," Donna said angrily. "You're just saying things."

"It is too!" Clara argued.

"And you!" Donna snapped at her.

"How did you get in here?" the Doctor asked, interrupting.

"Well, obviously, when you two kidnapped me," Donna said with rage. "Who was it? Who's paying you? Is it Nerys? Oh, my gosh, she's finally got me back. This has got Nerys written all over it."

"Who the hell is Nerys?" the Doctor asked with confusion.

"And what kind of name is that?" Clara asked.

"Your best friend," Donna said, answering the Doctor.

"Hold on, wait a minute—what're you dressed like that for?" the Doctor asked.

"Really, Doctor?" Clara asked him.

"What?" he said.

Clara just smacked her palm to her forehead.

"I'm going ten pin bowling," Donna yelled. "Why do you think, Dumbo? I was halfway up the aisle! I've been waiting all my life for this. I was just seconds away! And then you two—I dunno, you drugged me or something!"

"We haven't done anything!" the Doctor said.

"We're having the police on you two!" Donna said. "Me and my husband—as soon as hie is my husband—we're gonna sue the living backside off ya!"

"Doctor!" Clara warned, as Donna noticed the doors and rushed over to them.

"No, wait a minute!" the Doctor said in alarm, hurrying after her. "Wait a minute! Don't-!"

It was too late, though. Donna had already gotten the doors wide open and was looking at the super nova Clara and the Doctor had been circling. Donna's mouth dropped and the Doctor and Clara went and stood behind her.

"You're in space," the Doctor said. "Outer space. This is my...space ship. It's called the TARDIS."

"How am I breathing?" Donna asked.

"The TARDIS is protecting us," the Doctor said.

"Who are you two?" Donna asked.

"I'm the Doctor and this is Clara. You?"

"Donna."

"Human?" the Doctor asked her.

"Yeah," Donna said. "Is that optional?"

"Well, it is for me," the Doctor said.

"Seriously," Clara said.

"You're an alien," Donna said.

"Yeah," the Doctor said.

"Are you both aliens?" Donna asked.

"Not me," Clara said, shaking her head.

Donna paused for a moment, then said, "It's freezing with these doors open."

The Doctor slammed them shut and ran back to the console.

"But I don't understand it and I understand everything!" the Doctor said.

"Apparently not," Clara muttered.

"This—this can't happen!" the Doctor said. "There is no way a Human Being can lock itself onto the TARDIS and transport itself inside. It must be..."

Clara flopped onto the pilot's chair, drained, as the Doctor was suddenly full of energy. He grabbed his ophthalmoscope and used it to look into Donna's eyes, while muttering to himself.

"Impossible," the Doctor said. "Some sort of subatomic connection? Something in the temporal field? Maybe something pulling you into alignment with the Chronon shell. Maybe something macro mining your DNA within the interior matrix. Maybe a genetic-"

Donna interrupted him by slapping him right across the face. Clara flinched, then smiled.

"What was that for?" the Doctor asked indignantly.

"Get me to the church!" Donna yelled.

Clara was actually surprised that Donna hadn't slapped him sooner. She would have.

"Right!" the Doctor said, going back to the controls. "Fine! I don't want you here anyway! Where is this wedding?"

"Doctor!" Clara had exclaimed when he said he didn't want Donna there.

"Saint Mary's, Hayden Road, Chiswick, London, England, Earth, the Solar System," Donna said.

She then spotted Rose's blouse that had been hanging over the railing and snatched it u.

"I knew it," Donna said accusingly. "Acting all innocent."

Donna thrust the shirt at the Doctor and Clara.

"I'm not the first, am I? How many women have you abducted?" Donna asked, glancing pointedly at Clara. Clara's face fell. Tears even leaked from the corners of her eyes.

"That's my friend's," the Doctor said quietly.

"Where is she, then?" Donna asked. "Popped out for a space walk? Unless it's yours?"

"No, it's not mine," Clara said quietly. "It was my cousin's."

"She's gone," the Doctor said.

"Gone where?" Donna asked.

"We lost her," the Doctor said.

"Well, you can hurry up and lose me," Donna said furiously.

Clara looked at the floor without really seeing it. It was all a big blur, due to the tears.

"How do you mean, 'lost'?" Donna asked.

Clara was frightened for a moment as the Doctor looked darkly at Donna then strode towards her. He only snatched away Rose's blouse then made towards the door.

"Right! Chiswick," the Doctor said, opening the doors.

"I said 'Saint Mary's'," Donna said, looking around. "What sort of Martian are you? Where's this?"

The Doctor only stroked the TARDIS with concern.

"Something's wrong with her..." he said.

"What is it?" Clara asked, as Donna rolled her eyes.

"It's like she's...recalibrating!" the Doctor said, rushing back into the TARDIS and to the controls with Clara right behind him.

"She's digesting," the Doctor said.

"Digesting what?" Clara asked.

"What have you eaten?" he asked the TARDIS, one hand on the rotor. "What's wrong? Donna? You've really got to think. Is there anything that might've caused this?"

Clara glanced outside the doors and saw that Donna was in shock at the sight of the TARDIS. She only smiled and shook her head.

"Anything you might've done?" the Doctor continued on, oblivious. "Any sort of alien contacts? I can't let you go wandering off in case you're dangerous. I mean, have you...have you seen lights in the sky? Or...did you touch something? Something—something different? Something strange? Something made out of a sort of metal or...who're you getting married to? Are you sure he's human? He's not a bit overweight with a zip around his forehead, is he?"

"I highly doubt he's a Slitheen, Doctor," Clara snorted.

"Donna!" the Doctor said. Clara dashed after him to see that Donna had taken off. The two of them fell into step beside the bride.

"Donna," the Doctor said again.

"Leave me alone," Donna said. "I just want to get married."

"Come back to the TARDIS," the Doctor said.

"No way," Donna said. "That box is too...weird."

"It's beautiful," Clara argued.

"It's...bigger on the inside, that's all," the Doctor said.

"Oh! That's all?" Donna said sarcastically. She sighed and checked her watch. "Ten past three. I'm gonna miss it."

"You can phone them," the Doctor said. "Tell them where you are."

"How do I do that?" Donna asked.

"Haven't you got a mobile?" the Doctor asked.

Donna stopped walking and stared at him.

"I'm in my wedding dress," Donna said. "It doesn't have pockets. Who has pockets? Have you ever seen a bride with pockets? When I went to my fitting, do you think I said, 'Alison, the one thing I forgot to say is give me pockets'?!"

"I've seen wedding dresses with pockets," Clara said. "I think they're brilliant."

Donna only glared at her.

"...This man you're marrying—what's his name?" the Doctor asked, trying to change the subject.

"Lance," Donna said with a love-struck look in her eyes.

"Gotta like Lance," the Doctor said.

"Oi!" Donna shouted, changing her manner so fast, it was scary. "No stupid Martian is gonna stop me from getting married. To hell with you two!"

With that, she ran off again.

"I'm—I'm not...I'm not...I'm not from Mars," the Doctor said feebly.

"Oh, shut it," Clara said, running after Donna with the Doctor right behind her.

"Taxi!" Donna was shouting, running down a busy street. The Doctor and Clara joined her and the taxi Donna was trying to get ignored them.

"Why's his light on?" Donna asked.

"There's another one!" the Doctor said, pointing, running and trying to catch it.

"Taxi!" Donna shouted.

The taxi drove straight past them again.

"Oi!" Donna shouted.

"There's one!" the Doctor shouted.

"I've got it," Clara said, sticking her fingers in her mouth and whistling really loud, but the cab still didn't stop.

"Oi!" Donna said again.

"Do you have this effect on everyone? Why aren't they stopping?" the Doctor asked.

"They think I'm in fancy dress," Donna said, as another taxi went past, the driver honking his horn at them.

"Stay off the scotch, darlin'!" the driver shouted.

"They think I'm drunk," Donna said.

"Obviously," Clara said.

"You're fooling no one, mate!" two guys yelled out from a car as they drove past.

"They think I'm in drag!" Donna said.

Clara snorted.

"Hold on, hold on," the Doctor said, and h whistled like Clara had. This time, though, it actually attracted the attention of a taxi, which stopped in front of them.

"How come that worked for you?!" Clara exclaimed.

"Dunno," the Doctor said, winking at her.

"Saint Mary's in Chiswick, just off Hayden Road," Donna said to the driver after the three of them had climbed into the taxi. "It's an emergency, I'm getting married! Just...hurry up!"

"You know it'll cost you, sweetheart?" the driver said. "Double rates today."

"Oh, my gosh!" Donna said, turning to the Doctor and Clara. "Have you got any money?"

"Um...no," the Doctor said.

"Nope," Clara said.

"And you?" the Doctor asked.

"Pockets!" Donna gestured to her dress violently.

The taxi screeched to a halt and the three of them got out. The Doctor slammed the door shut.

"And that goes double for your mother!" Donna yelled at the cab driver as he drove off. "I'll have him. I've got his number. I'll have him. Talk about the Christmas Spirit.

"Is it Christmas?" the Doctor asked, looking around.

"Well, duh," Donna said.

"Seriously?" Clara asked.

"Maybe not on Mars, but here, it's Christmas Eve," Donna said. She then hit the Doctor. "Phone box!"

The three of them rushed towards it.

"We can reverse the charges!" Donna said.

"How come you're getting married on Christmas Eve?" the Doctor asked.

"It's romantic," Clara said.

"Can't bear it," Donna said, and Clara gave a small gasp of surprise. "I hate Christmas. Honeymoon in Morocco. Sunshine—lovely."

The Doctor held the door open for Donna and Clara leaned against the outside of the phone booth.

"What's the operator? I've not done this in years. What do you dial? 100?" Donna asked.

"Just—just call the direct," the Doctor said, after sonicing the phone with his sonic screwdriver.

"What did you do?" Donna demanded.

"Something—Martian," the Doctor said in a distracted way, looking around. "Now, phone. I'll get money!"

He ran to the nearest cash machine while Clara stayed outside the phone booth, kind of spacing out. Then next thing she knew, Donna was gone from the phone booth and in a taxi shouting, "Thanks for nothing, spaceman! I'll see you in Court!"

"Donna!" the Doctor shouted. Clara ran after the cab, but it was gone. She had seen that the taxi was being driven by a Santa. It was all too familiar.

Clara ran to the Doctor, who was staring at Santa's playing trumpets. It was exactly like Christmas last year. The three of them lowered their trumpets and held them like weapons. Clara ducked on instinct, but the Doctor soniced the cash machine, which made money fly out everywhere. He grabbed Clara's arm as there was a mad scrabble as people tried to catch the money. He pulled her in the direction of the TARDIS.

"I don't think this is gonna work!" Clara exclaimed after they had reached the TARDIS. The Doctor was running around the console, using his fists and his hammer to get the TARDIS going. Clara winced every time he hit the controls.

The Doctor followed the taxi's progress on the monitor. Sparks flew from the TARDIS controls and it tilted. Clara grabbed on for dear life.

"Behave!" the Doctor said, hitting it with his hammer.

"Don't hit her and she might!" Clara said.

Instead of materializing, the TARDIS flew right beside the taxi Donna was in, spinning through the air.

"Keep pressing that button right there!" the Doctor shouted to Clara. She pressed it down and steered the TARDIS as the Doctor ran to the doors and threw them open. The TARDIS was beside the taxi, going alone the motorway.

"Open the door!" the Doctor shouted.

Clara furrowed her eyebrows in concentration as she tried to keep the TARDIS lined up with the taxi. Suddenly, the taxi pulled away from the TARDIS, speeding up.

"Flip the switch!" the Doctor shouted at Clara.

"Um..." she said, looking at about ten different switches. She randomly pulled one, making the console explode in small places. The TARDIS banged the roof of a car before getting back in line with the taxi.

"Come on, girl," she said. "Keep it together."

Donna finally jumped into the TARDIS, landing on top of the Doctor on the floor. The doors slammed shut and Clara let go of the button, which caused the TARDIS to pull away from the taxi into the air. The Doctor came to her rescue and set the TARDIS down on a roof top. Donna and Clara immediately ran out, as there was smoke billowing out from the console. The Doctor was using an extinguisher, coughing, trying to get rid of the smoke.

"The funny thing is, for a spaceship, she doesn't really do that much flying," the Doctor said, joining Donna and Clara outside. "We'd better give her a couple of hours. You all right?"

"Doesn't matter," Donna said, shrugging.

"Yeah, it does," Clara said softly.

"Did we miss it?" the Doctor asked.

"Yeah," Donna said.

"Well, you can book another date..." the Doctor said.

"Course we can," Donna said.

"Still got the honeymoon..." the Doctor said.

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

"Yeah...yeah...sorry," the Doctor said.

"It's not either of your faults," Donna said.

"Oh! That's a change," the Doctor said.

"A nice change," Clara said.

"Wish we had a time machine," Donna said. "Then we could go back and get it right."

"...Yeah, yeah," the Doctor said. "But...even if I did, I couldn't go back on someone's personal timeline. Apparently."

Donna looked suspiciously between Clara and the Doctor before going to sit on the edge of the roof. The Doctor and Clara both sat next to her. The Doctor took off his jacket and draped it around Donna's shoulders.

"You're skinny," Donna said. "This wouldn't fit a rat."

"It fits me, and I'm not a rat," Clara said.

"Oh, and you'd better put this on," the Doctor said, taking what looked like a wedding ring out of his pocket. A jealous streak went through Clara.

"Oh, do you have to rub it in?" Donna asked.

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

He slipped it on her finger.

"With this right, I thee bio-damp."

"For better or for worse," Donna said.

Clara glared at the ground way down below them.

"So, come one then," Donna said. "Robot Santas—what are they for?"

"Ah, your basic robo-scavenger," the Doctor said.

"Or a pilot fish," Clara said.

The Doctor nodded and said, "The Father Christmas stuff is just a disguise. They're trying to blend in. Clara and I met them last Christmas."

"Why, what happened then?" Donna asked.

"...Great big spaceship?" the Doctor said. "Hovering over London? You didn't notice?"

"I had a bit of a hangover," Donna said dismissively.

Clara just rolled her eyes at the odd red-head.

"We spent Christmas Day just over there, the Powell Estate," the Doctor said, nodding in the direction of the now empty flat. "With her family. My friend, she had this family. Clara's family. Well, they were..."

Clara took his hand and squeezed it. The Doctor put his arm around her shoulder and kissed her head.

"Still...gone now," the Doctor said.

"Your friend, and cousin...who was she?" Donna asked.

"Question is, what do camouflaged robot mercenaries want with you? And how did you get inside the TARDIS? I don't know..." the Doctor said, changing the subject and pulling his sonic screwdriver out of his pocket. "What's your job?"

"I'm a secretary," Donna said.

"It's weird, I mean—you're not special, you're not powerful, you're not connected, you're not clever, you're not important..." the Doctor said, scanning Donna.

"This friend of yours—just before she left, did she punch you in the face?" Donna asked.

"No, but she should have, because he's being RUDE!" Clara said.

"Stop bleeping me!" Donna said, whacking the sonic screwdriver to the side.

"What kind of secretary?" the Doctor said.

"I'm at HC Clements. It's where I met Lance. I was temping," Donna said. "I mean, it was all a bit posh, really. I'd spent the last two years at a double glazing firm. Well, I thought—I'm never gonna fit in here. And then he made me coffee. I mean, that just doesn't happen. Nobody gets the secretaries a coffee. And Lance—he's the head of HR! He don't need to bother with me! But he was nice, he was funny. And it turns out, he thought everyone else was really snotty, too. So that's how it started, me and him—one cup of coffee. That was it."

"When was this?" the Doctor asked.

"Six months ago," Donna said.

"Bit quick, to get married..." the Doctor said.

"With real love, time doesn't matter," Clara said.

"Well...and he insisted," Donna said. "And he nagged...and he nagged me...And he just wore me down and then finally, I just gave in."

Clara rolled her eyes. She was sure that wasn't how it had gone.

"What does HC Clements do?" the Doctor asked.

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

"Keys..." the Doctor mused.

"Anyway, enough of my CV. Come on, it's time to face the consequences. Oh, this is gonna be so shaming. You can do the explaining, Martian-boy," Donna said.

"Yeah, I'm not from Mars," the Doctor said. Donna nodded, then took the Doctor's hand when he helped her up. He then reached down and helped Clara up.

"Oh, I had this great big reception all planned. Everyone's gonna be heartbroken," Donna said.

When they got to the reception, however, it looked like everyone was having a good time without the bride. Music was blaring out and everyone was dancing, drinking, eating, and laughing. Donna looked thunderstruck as she, the Doctor, and Clara walked in. A woman spotted Donna and froze, and the rest of the room followed her, all silent.

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

"Donna...what happened to ya?" a man asked, stepping forward. Clara bet it was Lance, the fiance.

"You had the reception without me?" Donna asked, her voice rising.

There was an awkward pause, which the Doctor broke.

"Hello! I'm the Doctor!" he said cheerfully.

"They had the reception without me," Donna said, turning to him and Clara.

"Yes, I gathered," the Doctor said.

"That is just mean," Clara said.

"Well, it was all paid for—why not?" one woman asked.

"Thank you, Nerys," Donna said.

"Well, what were we supposed to do?" a woman asked, approaching Donna. "I got your silly little message in the end-'I'm on Earth?' Very funny. What the hell happened? How did you do it? I mean, what's the trick because I'd love to know-"

The whole room started talking at the same time, and Donna burst into tears. Everyone stopped talking and Lance went up and hugged Donna and everyone applauded. Donna winked at the Doctor and Clara over Lance's shoulder and Clara gave a smirk.

Not long after that, the reception continued on, and Donna joined in with the dancing.

"Wanna dance?" Clara asked the Doctor, who was leaning up against the bar with her.

"Nah," the Doctor said. "I don't dance."

"I seem to recall that you do," Clara smirked.

"Yeah, well, new me," the Doctor smirked back at her and she frowned. "Let me see your mobile."

Clara pulled it out of her pocket and handed it to him. He put on his brainy specs and pulled out his sonic screwdriver. He searched for HC Clements and soniced to speed it up. Clara looked over his shoulder as the result 'Sole Prop. TORCHWOOD' was displayed on the screen. She clenched her fists at the mere mention of Torchwood, as the Doctor handed her her phone back.

Still glaring at the bar, Clara was suddenly pulled with the Doctor over to a cameraman, who was taping everything.

"Do you have a tape of the ceremony?" the Doctor asked him.

"Yeah," the cameraman said. "Strangest thing I've ever seen, mate. I'm tellin' ya. I taped the whole thing—they've all had a look. They said 'sell it to "You've Been Framed."' I said 'more like the News.' Here we are..."

He played the tape and the camera zoomed in on Donna's face as she disintegrated into golden particles with a scream.

"What was that?" Clara asked, shocked.

"Can't be!" the Doctor said. "Play it again?"

"Clever, mind!" the cameraman said. "Good trick, I'll giver her that. I was clapping."

"But that looks like...Huon Particles!" the Doctor said, after watching the video again.

"What's that?" the cameraman asked.

"That's impossible, that's...ancient! Huon energy doesn't exist anymore, not for billions of years! So old that...it can't be hidden by a bio-damper!"

Clara followed after him as he ran to the window, and sure enough, there were Santas slowly making their way to the house. The two of them rushed over to Donna.

"Donna! Donna, they've found you," the Doctor said.

"But you said I was safe," Donna said.

"He was wrong," Clara said.

"The bio-damper doesn't work. We've got to get everyone out," the Doctor said.

"Oh, my gosh—it's all my family..." Donna said, looking around.

"Out the back door!" the Doctor said.

The three of them ran out the back door, only to stop right away. There were three Santas blocking their exit.

"Maybe not," the Doctor said, as they ran back inside. The Doctor darted over to another window to see more Santas.

"We're trapped," Donna said.

The Santas outside were holding some kind of remote, which they rose in the air. Clara remembered last Christmas and whipped around to look at the Christmas tree in the middle of the room.

"Christmas trees..." the Doctor said, echoing her thoughts.

"What about them?" Donna asked.

"They kill," the Doctor said, and then ran into the crowd. "Get away from the tree!"

"Don't touch the tree!" Donna said.

"Hurry, get away!" Clara shouted, waving her hand away from the tree.

"Get away from the Christmas trees, everyone get away from them!"

"Out!" Donna shouted, getting a group of small girls away from the trees. "Lance, tell them!"

"Stay away from the tree!" the Doctor said. "Stay away from the tree!"

"Oh, for goodness sakes, the man's an idiot! Why? What's a Christmas tree gonna...oh!" Donna's mother said, trailing off as an ornament started to float away from the tree. Suddenly, the ornaments started flying around the room, causing small explosions. Clara dove behind one of the large speakers in the room, while the Doctor ran to the DJ table. The Santas were in the room, lined up on the opposite side.

"Oi! Santa! Word of advice: if you're attacking a man with a sonic screwdriver..." the Doctor, then spoke into the microphone. "...don't let him near the sound system."

Clara clapped her hands over her ears as he held his sonic screwdriver to the microphone and amplifiers and it made a horrible, high-pitched screeching noise. The Santas vibrated until they fell to pieces. The Doctor removed his screwdriver and ran to examine the Santas. Clara picked herself up off the floor to join him.

He picked up the controls, which the Santas were using.

"Look at that—remote control for the decoration," the Doctor said, showing Clara and Donna. "But there's a second remote control for the robots. They're not scavengers anymore. I think someone's taken possession."

"Never mind all that, you're a doctor—people have been hurt," Donna said.

"Nah, they wanted you alive, look, they're not active now," the Doctor said, throwing Donna an ornament.

"All I'm saying—you could help," Donna said.

"Gotta think of the bigger picture...there's still a signal!" the Doctor said, holding a Santa head to his ear. With that, him and Clara took off. He was scanning the head with his sonic screwdriver when Donna joined them.

"There's someone behind this, directing the robo-force," the Doctor said.

"But why is it me? What have I done?" Donna asked.

"If we find the controller, we'll find that out," the Doctor said, then raised his sonic screwdriver into the air. "Oh! It's up there. Something in the sky."

A second later, the Doctor said, "I've lost the signal—Donna, we've got to get to your office, HC Clements. I think that's where it all started. Lance—is it Lance? Can you give us a lift?"

The Doctor then darted off without waiting for an answer. They all managed to pile into Lance's small car, even with Donna's large dress. When they reached HC Clements, they went straight for Donna's office and to a computer.

"This might just be a locksmiths, but HC Clements was brought up twenty-three years ago by the Torchwood Institute," the Doctor said.

"Who are they?" Donna asked.

"Horrible people," Clara said darkly.

"They were behind the battle of Canary Wharf," the Doctor said. All he got from Donna was blank silence.

"...Cyberman invasion," the Doctor said, but Donna just looked at him inquiringly. "Skies over London full of Daleks?"

"Oh, I was in Spain," Donna said.

"They had Cybermen in Spain," the Doctor said.

"Scuba diving," Donna said.

"That big picture, Donna—you keep on missing it," the Doctor said, darting over to another computer. "Torchwood was destroyed, but HC Clements stayed in business. I think...someone else came in and took over the operation," he said, whacking the monitor.

"That won't help, dear," Clara said, smiling.

"But what do they want with me?" Donna asked.

The Doctor turned to her and gave her his full attention.

"Somehow you've been dosed with Huon energy. And that's a problem because Huon energy hasn't existed since the Dark times. The only place you'd find a Huon particle now is a remnant in the heart of the TARDIS. See? That's what happened. Say...that's the TARDIS," he said, showing Donna a mug, and then picked up a pencil. "And that's you. The particles inside you activated. The two sets of particles magnetized and WHAP! You were pulled inside the TARDIS."

"I'm a pencil inside a mug?" Donna asked weakly.

"Yes, you are," the Doctor said. "4H. Sums you up. Lance? What was HC Clements working on? Anything top secret? Special operations? Do not enter?"

"I don't know, I'm in charge of personnel. I wasn't project manager," Lance said defensively.

The Doctor took out his sonic screwdriver and soniced the screen, and it instantly went to the screen the Doctor was looking for.

"Why am I even explaining myself?" Lance said. "What the hell are we talking about."

"Oh, shut up," Clara muttered.

"They make keys, that's the point," the Doctor said. "And look at this...we're on the third floor."

"So, we go to another floor?" Clara said.

"Exactly," the Doctor said, going out to the lift. Clara, Donna, and Lance went out with him and waited to the lift to come down to their floor.

"Underneath reception, there's a basement, yes?" the Doctor asked. The lift finally made it and they all went inside. "Then how come when you look on the lift, there's a button marked 'lower basement?' There's a whole floor which doesn't exist on the official plans. So, what's down there, then?"

"Are you telling me this building's got a secret floor?" Lance asked.

"No, I'm showing you this building's got a secret floor," the Doctor said.

"It needs a key," Donna said.

"I don't," the Doctor said, sonicing the lock.

"He almost never does," Clara said.

"Right then, thanks you two, Clara and I can handle this—see you later," the Doctor said.

"No chance, Martian," Donna said. "You're the man who keeps saving my life, I ain't letting you out of my sight." She joined the Doctor and Clara in the lift.

"Going down," the Doctor said.

"Lance?" Donna said pointedly.

"Maybe I should go to the police," Lance said.

"Inside," Donna said and Lance got into the lift.

"To honor and obey?" the Doctor said.

"Tell me about it, mate," Lance said.

"Oi!" Donna said.

"Yeah, watch it, Doctor," Clara warned as the lift doors closed and the lift went down. The doors opened to the lower basement, and Clara stepped out of the lift after the Doctor to a dark, wet corridor, that was lit with an eerie green light.

"Yuck," Clara said, wrinkling her nose.

"Where are we?" Donna asked. "Well, what goes on down here?"

"Let's find out..." the Doctor said.

"Do you think Mr. Clements knows about this place?" Donna asked.

"The mysterious HC Clements?" the Doctor asked. "I think he's part of it. Oh, look—transport."

"Seriously?" Clara asked.

The four of them were going down the corridor on their own electronic scooters. Clara snorted, and Donna suddenly burst out laughing. The Doctor and Clara both joined in, but Lance didn't.

"Oh, goodness," Clara said, wiping her eyes as they stopped at a door marked, 'Torchwood—authorized personnel only.' They left their scooters and the Doctor turned the wheel on the door and opened it to reveal a ladder.

"Wait here," the Doctor told Donna, Lance, and Clara. "Just need to get my bearings. Don't...do anything."

He pointed straight to Clara and then started up the ladder.

"You'd better come back," Donna said.

"Or I'll kill ya," Clara said to him.

"Donna...have you thought about this?" Lance asked her. "Properly? I mean, this is serious! What the hell are we gonna do?"

"Oh, I thought July," Donna said, like she wasn't really listening.

A few minutes later, the Doctor came back down, jumping off the last bit of the ladder.

"Thames flood barrier!" he said. "Right on top of us. Torchwood snuck in and built this place underneath."

"What, there's like a secret base hidden underneath a major London landmark?" Donna asked.

"I know! Unheard of," the Doctor said.

The four of them entered a laboratory, full of test tubes and chemistry equipment.

"Whoa," Clara said, looking around.

"Oh, look at this!" the Doctor said. "Stunning! Particle extrusion!"

"What does it do?" Donna asked.

"Particle extrusion," the Doctor said. "Hold on..." he ran over and tapped one of the test tubes. "Brilliant. They've been manufacturing Huon particles. In case my people got rid of Huons, they unraveled the atomic structure."

"Your people?" Lance asked. "Who are they? What company do you represent?"

"Oh, I'm a freelancer," the Doctor said. "But this lot are rebuilding them. They've been using the river! Extruding them through a flat hydrogen base so they've got the end result—Huon particles in liquid form."

He picked up a test tube full of Huon particles.

"And that's what's inside me?" Donna asked.

The Doctor only twisted a knob at the top of the test tube, making the Huon particles glow, and Donna with it.

"Oh, my gosh!" Donna exclaimed.

"Because the particles are inert—they need something living to catalyze inside and that's you," the Doctor said. "Saturate the body and then...HA!"

Both Clara and Donna jumped at that. The Doctor was going crazy with enthusiasm.

"The wedding! Yes, you're getting married, that's it! Best day of your life, walking down the aisle—oh, your body's a battleground! There's a chemical war inside! Adrenaline, acetylcholine, WHAM go the endorphins, oh, you're cooking! Yeah, you're like a walking oven! A pressure cooker, a microwave, all churning away, the particles reach boiling point, SHAZAM!"

Donna reached forward and slapped him. Clara only smiled and shook her head. When would he learn?

"What did I do this time?" the Doctor asked indignantly.

"Are you enjoying this?" Donna asked.

"I think he is," Clara said, enjoying this. The Doctor relaxed, looking ashamed. Donna walked towards him.

"Right, just tell me—these particles, are they dangerous? Am I safe?"

"Yes!" the Doctor said unconvincingly.

"Doctor...if your lot got rid of the Huon particles...why did they do that?" Donna asked.

"Because they were deadly," the Doctor said gently.

"Oh, my gosh..." Donna said.

"That really helps, Doctor," Clara muttered.

"I'll sort it out, Donna," the Doctor said, giving Clara a look. "Whatever's been done to you, I'll reverse it. I'm not about to lose someone else."

Clara jumped at the sound of crashes and bangs from all around them.

"Oh, she is long since lost," a voice said. One of the walls opened to reveal a secret room with an enormous, round hole in the floor. "I have waited so long, hibernating at the edge of the universe...until the secret heart was uncovered and called out to waken!"

"Oh, great," Clara said, as the walls of the room were lined with robots wearing black hoods that were armed.

"Someone's been digging...oh, very Torchwood," the Doctor said. "Drilled by laser. How far down does it go?"

"Down and down, all the way to the center of the Earth!" the voice said.

"Really? Seriously? What for?" the Doctor asked.

"Dinosaurs," Donna said.

"What?" the Doctor and Clara both asked. Clara looked at Donna strangely.

"Dinosaurs?" Donna said again.

"What are you on about, dinosaurs?" the Doctor said.

"That film, Under the Earth, with dinosaurs. Trying to help!" Donna said.

"That's not helping," the Doctor said.

"Yeah, not really," Clara said.

"Such a sweet couple," the voice said.

"Only a madman talks to thin air and trust me, you don't want to make me mad. Where are you?" the Doctor asked.

"High in the sky, floating so high on Christmas Night," the voice said.

"I didn't come all the way to talk on the intercom! Come on, let's have a look at you!" the Doctor said.

"Who are you with such command?" the voice asked.

"I'm the Doctor."

"Prepare your best medicines, doctor-man, for you will be sick at heart," the voice said.

A very large spider-looking woman teleported into the room, snarling and growling.

"The Racnoss...but that's impossible, you're one of the Racnoss!" the Doctor exclaimed.

"Empress of the Racnoss," she said.

"Oh, I hate spiders," Clara said, squirming.

"If you're the Empress, where's the rest of the Racnoss? Or...are you the only one?" the Doctor asked.

"Such a sharp mind," the Empress said.

"That's it, the last of your kind," the Doctor said, then turned to Donna and Clara. "The Racnoss come from the Dark Times, billions of years ago, billions. They were carnivores, omnivores, they devoured whole planets."

"Racnoss are born starving, is that our fault?" the Empress asked.

"They eat people?" Donna asked.

"That is so Jurassic Park," Clara said.

"HC Clements,did he wear those—those, erm, black and white shoes?" the Doctor asked.

"He did! We used to laugh, we used to call him the fat cat in spats," Donna said.

"Eww!" Clara exclaimed, as the Doctor pointed to a web on the ceiling with the described pair of shoes still attached poking out.

"Oh, my gosh!" Donna exclaimed.

"Mm, my Christmas dinner," the Empress cackled.

"You shouldn't even exist!" the Doctor said. "Way back in history, the Fledgling Empress went to war against the Racnoss—they were wiped out."

"Except for me," the Empress said.

"But that's what I've got inside me, that Huon energy thing. Oi! Look at me, lady, I'm talking. Where do I fit in? How come I get all stacked up with these Huon particles?" Donna asked, distracting the Empress from the fact that Lance was sneaking up behind her with an axe. "Look at me, you! Look me in the eye and tell me."

"The bride is so feisty!" the Empress said.

"Yes, I am!" Donna said and Clara snorted in agreement. "And I don't know what you are, you big...thing. But a spider's just a spider and an axe is an axe! Now, do it!"

Lance swung the axe and the Empress spun around and hissed. Then, Lance stopped. He glanced at Donna and started to laugh and the Empress laughed with him.

"That was a good one," Lance said to the Empress. "Your face!"

"Lance is funny," the Empress said.

"What?" Donna asked, not getting it.

"I'm sorry," the Doctor said quietly.

"Sorry for what?" Donna asked. "Lance, don't be so stupid! Get her!"

"She's thick," Lance said.

"And you're the world's biggest prat," Clara snarled.

Donna only looked at Lance in confusion.

"Months I had to put up with her. Months. A woman who can't even point to Germany on a map," Lance said.

"I don't understand," Donna said, not comprehending.

"How did you meet him?" the Doctor asked.

"In the office," Donna said.

"He made you coffee," the Doctor said.

"What?" Donna asked.

"Every day, I made you coffee," Lance said slowly, as if addressing a stupid person.

"You had to be dosed with liquid particles over six months," the Doctor said.

"He was poisoning me?" Donna asked.

"With Huon particles," Clara said, nodding.

"It was all there in the job title—the Head of Human Resources," the Doctor said.

"This time, it's personal," Lance said, as he and the Racnoss laughed again.

"But...we were getting married," Donna said.

"Well, I couldn't risk you running off," Lance said. "I had to say yes. And then I was stuck with a woman who thinks the height of excitement is a new flavor Pringle. Oh, I had to sit there and listen to all that yap, yap, yap-'oh, Brad and Angelina—is Posh pregnant?' X-Factor, Atkins Diet, Feng Shui, split ends, text me, text me, text me, the never ending fountain of fat, stupid trivia."

Clara felt sorry for poor Donna as she saw her face as she took the verbal abuse.

"I deserve a medal," Lance said.

"You deserve a fat kick up the rear end," Clara said.

"Oh, is that what she's offered you?" the Doctor asked, referring to the medal. "The Empress of the Racnoss? What are you? Her consort?"

"It's better than a night with her," Lance said, meaning Donna.

"But I love you," Donna said.

"That's what made it easy," Lance said nastily. "It's like you said, Doctor—the big picture—what's that point of it all if the Human Race is nothing? That's what the Empress can give me. The chance to...go out there. To see it. The size of it all. I think you understand that, don't you, Doctor?"

"Who is this little physician?" the Empress asked.

"What she said—Martian," Lance said.

"Oh, I'm sort of...homeless," the Doctor said. "But the point is, what's down here? The Racnoss are extinct. What's gonna help you four thousand miles down? That's just the molten core of the Earth, isn't it?"

"I think he wants us to talk," Lance said.

"I think so, too," the Empress said.

"Oh, give them a prize," Clara said sarcastically.

"Well, tough!" Lance said, glaring at Clara. "All we need is Donna!"

"Well, tough!" Clara mimicked Lance. "You ain't getting her!"

"Kill this chattering little doctor-man and his woman friend!" the Empress said.

"Don't you hurt them!" Donna said, standing in front of the Doctor and Clara.

"No, no, it's all right," the Doctor said.

"It is?" Clara whispered.

"No, I won't let them!" Donna said, frightened.

"At arms!" the Empress said, and the robots pointed their guns at the Doctor and Clara.

"Ah, now," the Doctor said. "Except."

"Take aim!" the Empress said.

"Well, I just want to point out the obvious-" the Doctor said.

"They won't hit the bride," the Empress said. "They're such very good shots."

"Just—just—just—hold on, just a tick, just a tiny—just a little—tick," the Doctor said, putting Clara behind him. "If you think about it, the particles activated in Donna and drew her inside my spaceship. So, reverse it...the spaceship comes to her."

He twisted the tube of Huon particles again, which caused the particles in the tube and in Donna to glow.

"Fire!" the Empress shouted.

By the time the robots fired, it was too late. The TARDIS had already materialized around the Doctor, Clara, and Donna.

"Off we go!" the Doctor said, running to the console. He then dematerialized the TARDIS, getting them out of there. "Oh, you know what I said before about time machines? Well, I lied. And now we're gonna use it. We need to find out what the Empress of the Racnoss is digging up. If something's buried at the planet core, it must've been there since the beginning. That's just brilliant. Molto bene! I've always wanted to see this. Donna, Clara—we're going further back than we've ever been before."

Clara was standing with Donna, one arm around her shoulders and the other rubbing Donna's back as Donna was sobbing silently.

"Shh, it'll be okay," Clara whispered. "He was just a wanker. You deserve better. Shh."

"We've arrived...want to see?" the Doctor asked Donna.

"I s'pose," Donna said unenthusiastically.

"Oh, that scanner's a bit small," the Doctor said, spinning the monitor around. "Maybe your way's best. Come on."

He went to the door and waited for Donna and Clara. Donna stood up and she and Clara joined him.

"No human's ever seen this," the Doctor said. "You two'll be the first."

"All I want to see is my bed," Donna said.

"It's okay, sweetie," Clara said, soothingly rubbing her back again.

Donna Noble, Clara Tyler—welcome to the creation of the Earth," the Doctor said.

He opened the door and Clara's eyes widened and Donna's mouth fell open at the spectacular sight before them. The sun was there with beautiful colored dust and gas clouds with huge rocks floating around.

"We've gone back 4.6 billion years," the Doctor said. "There's no solar system, not yet. Only dust and rocks and gas. That's the Sun over there, brand new. Just beginning to burn."

"Where's the Earth?" Donna asked.

"All around us...in the dust," the Doctor said.

"It's beautiful," Clara said.

"Puts the wedding in perspective," Donna said. "Lance was right. We're just...tiny."

"No, but that's what you do," the Doctor said. The Human Race. Making sense out of chaos. Marking it out with weddings and Christmas and calendars. This whole process is beautiful, but only if it's being observed."

"So, I came out of all this?" Donna asked.

"Isn't that brilliant?" the Doctor asked.

A large piece of rock floated in front of the TARDIS and Donna said, "I think that's the Isle of Wight."

The three of them laughed.

"Eventually, gravity takes hold," the Doctor said. "Say, one big rock, heavier than the others, starts to pull other rocks towards it. All the dust and gas and elements get pulled in, everything, piling in until you get the..."

"Earth," Donna finished.

"But the question is...what was that first rock?" the Doctor asked.

"Look," Donna said, as a star-shaped rock emerged through the clouds.

"The Racnoss..." the Doctor whispered. He rushed back to the console, turning a wheel. "Hold on—the Racnoss are hiding from the war! What's it doing?"

All the particles, rocks, and dust were zooming towards the Racnoss.

"Exactly what you said," Donna said.

"Making the Earth," Clara said, stunned.

"Oh, they didn't just bury something at the center of the Earth...they became the centre of the Earth. The first rock," the Doctor said, running back to the door.

Clara went flying to the floor as a violent shaking went through the TARDIS.

"What was that?" Donna asked. Donna and the Doctor had stayed on their feet as Clara got back on her's.

"Trouble," the Doctor said, slamming the doors shut.

Clara clung to the railing as the TARDIS continued to shudder and shake.

"What the hell's it doing?" Donna yelled.

"Remember that little trick I pulled—particles pulling particles. It works in reverse—they're pulling us back!" the Doctor said.

"Wonderful!" Clara shouted.

The Doctor was trying to pilot the TARDIS, but it was beyond his control.

"Well, can't you stop it?" Donna asked. "Hasn't it got a handbrake? Can't you reverse or wrap or beam or something?"

"Backseat driver," the Doctor said. "Oh! Wait a minute!"

He pulled out the extrapolator from underneath the console.

"The extrapolator!" the Doctor exclaimed. "Can't stop us, but it should give us a good bump!"

The Doctor whacked the extrapolator and shouted, "Now!"

The TARDIS had disappeared and reappeared down the corridor from the chamber where the Racnoss was. The Doctor, Donna, and Clara all appeared out of the TARDIS.

"We're about 200 yards to the right. Come on!" the Doctor said, and they all ran. They arrived at the door with the ladder that led to the Thames.

"But what do we do?" Donna asked, breathless and scared.

"I don't know!" the Doctor said, listening to the door with his stethoscope. "I make it up as I go along! But trust me, I've got a history."

"It's true," Clara said. "He never really has a plan."

"But I still don't understand. I'm full of particles—but what for?" Donna asked.

"There's a Racnoss web at the center of the Earth, but my people unraveled their power source. The Huon particles ceased to exist but the Racnoss are stuck," the Doctor said.

Clara struggled as a robot grabbed her from behind,covering her mouth, dragging her away, the same with Donna.

The two of them were taken back to the room with the Racnoss and tied up in a web on the ceiling with Lance.

"I hate you," Donna said to Lance.

"Yeah, I think we've gone a bit beyond that now, sweetheart," Lance said.

"If I get down from here, I'm going to kick you right where it counts," Clara snarled at him.

"My golden couple," the Racnoss said. "Together at last—your awful wedded life. Tell me, do you want to be released?"

"Yes!" Lance, Donna, and Clara all said.

"You're supposed to say 'I do'," the Empress said.

"Ha. No chance," Lance said.

"Say it!" the Empress said.

"I do," Lance said, looking at Donna.

"I do," Donna said.

"I don't," the Empress said, cackling. "Activate the particles. Purge every last one!"

Donna and Lance both began to glow.

"And release!" the Empress said.

The particles went from Donna and Lance and fell into the hole into the ground.

"The secret heart unlocks. And they will waken from their sleep of Ages," the Empress said.

"Who will? What's down there?" Donna asked.

"How thick are you?" Lance asked.

"Shut up, you wanker," Clara snarled.

"My children, the long lost Racnoss. Now will be born to feast on flesh!" the Empress said.

"And we're the food," Clara said. "Of course.

There was a chirping of the spiders and patters of feet coming from the hole.

"The web-star shall come to me," the Empress said. "My babies will be hungry. They need sustenance. Perish the web."

"Use them! Not me! Use them!" Lance said.

"Oh, my funny little Lance! But you are quite impolite to your lady-friends. The Empress does not approve," the Empress said.

The web around Lance loosened and he tumbled down into the hole, screaming.

"Harvest the humans! Reduce them to meat," the Empress said. "My children are climbing towards me and none shall stop them! So you might as well unmask, my clever little doctor-man," she said, turning to a robot.

The Doctor removed his mask and cloak.

"Oh, well. Nice try. I've got you, Donna and Clara!" the Doctor said, aiming his sonic screwdriver up at them and the web loosened.

"I'm gonna fall!" Donna screeched.

"You're gonna swing!" the Doctor said. Both Donna and Clara had grabbed onto the same web and each other as they swung right over the hole and towards the Doctor.

"I've got ya!" the Doctor said, his arms outstretched.

Both Donna and Clara screamed as they went right underneath the Doctor and smashed into the wall. The Empress smirked.

"Ooh, that bloody hurt," Clara said, rubbing her forehead.

"...oh. Sorry," the Doctor said.

Donna was eagle-spread on the floor and Clara helped her up.

"You'd better be," Clara said.

"Thanks for nothing," Donna said.

"The doctor-man amuses me," the Empress said.

"Empress of the Racnoss—I give you one last chance," the Doctor said. "I can find you a planet. I can find you a place in the universe to coexist. Take that offer and end this now."

"These men are so funny," the Empress said.

"You have no idea," Clara said.

"What's your answer?" the Doctor asked.

"Oh—I'm afraid I have to decline," the Empress said, laughing.

"What happens next is your own doing," the Doctor said.

"I'll show you what happens next. At arms!" the Empress hissed. The robots raised their guns. "Take aim! And-"

"Relax," the Doctor said quietly. The robots went limp.

"What did you do?" Donna asked.

"Guess what I've got, Donna?" the Doctor said, pulling the remote from the reception out of his pocket. "Pockets."

"How did that fit in there?" Donna asked.

"They're bigger on the inside," the Doctor said.

"Just like the TARDIS!" Clara said enthusiastically.

"Robo-forms are not necessary," the Empress said. "My children may feast on Martian flesh."

"Oh, but I'm not from Mars," the Doctor said.

"Then where?" the Empress said.

"My home planet is far away and long-since gone," the Doctor said. "But its name lives on. Gallifrey."

"They murdered the Racnoss!" the Empress said, suddenly looking murderous.

"I warned you," the Doctor said. "You did this."

He pulled a handful of Christmas ornaments out of his pocket.

"No! No! Don't! No!" the Empress said, panicking.

The Doctor threw several of the ornaments into the air. Some surrounded the Empress and some smashed through the walls of the corridor, letting the water from the Thames flood into the room. Clara was ready to scramble up the stairs, but the water never reached her and Donna. Instead, the water flooded down the hole.

"My children!" the Empress wailed, grief-stricken.

Clara stood, watching the Racnoss die, feeling good. Torchwood had built this, and now they could pay, along with the Racnoss.

"No! My children! My children!" the Empress was now hysterical and was consumed by flame.

"Doctor! You can stop now!" Donna said and Clara jerked back to reality.

The Doctor still watched the Racnoss, then turned and said, "Come on! Time I got you two out!"

The three of them ran up the stairs, all of them soaking wet.

"But what about the Empress?" Donna asked as she, Clara, and the Doctor climbed the ladder.

"She's used up all her Huon energy—she's defenseless!" the Doctor said.

The three of them reached the top of the ladder and they climbed out into the night. In the sky, the Racnoss' ship was exploding. The Doctor, Donna, and Clara whooped and cheered in deligh.

"Just...there's one problem," Donna said.

"What's that?" the Doctor asked.

"We've drained the Thames," Donna said.

"Right into the Earth's core," Clara said with realization.

The three of them suddenly burst out laughing. Making their way back to the TARDIS, the Doctor materialized right outside of Donna's house. Clara stepped out of the TARDIS with the Doctor and Donna.

"There we go," the Doctor said. "Told you she'd be all right. She can survive anything."

"'Cos she's amazing," Clara said.

"More than I've done," Donna said.

The Doctor pulled out his sonic screwdriver and scanned Donna.

"Nope! All the Huon particles have gone," the Doctor said. "No damage, you're fine."

"Yeah, but apart from that...I missed my wedding, lost my job and became a widow on the same day. Sort of," Donna said.

"I couldn't save him," the Doctor said.

"He deserved it," Donna said. Clara looked at Donna, not believing her. Donna's face then softened.

"No, he didn't," Donna said, looking at the house. "I'd better get inside. They'll be worried."

"Best Christmas present they could have," the Doctor said. The three of them watched Donna's mother and grandfather hug through the window. "Oh, no, I forgot—you hate Christmas."

"Yes, I do," Donna said.

"Even if it snows?" the Doctor asked, reaching to the TARDIS to press a hidden switch and a ball of light shot out of the top and into the sky, where is exploded like a firework. Snow started falling softly and Donna laughed with delight.

"I can't believe you did that!" Donna said.

"It's beautiful," Clara said, catching snow on her tongue.

"Oh, basic atmospheric excitation," the Doctor said casually. He grinned at Donna and Clara and they smiled back.

"Merry Christmas," Donna said.

"Merry Christmas," Clara repeated.

"And you," the Doctor said. "So...what will you do with yourself now?"

"Not getting married for starters," Donna said. "And I'm not gonna temp anymore. I dunno...travel...see a bit more of planet Earth...walk in the dust. Just...go out there and do something."

"Well, you could always..." the Doctor said.

"What?" Donna asked.

"...come with me and Clara..." the Doctor said tentatively.

"No," Donna said, smiling.

"Okay," the Doctor said quickly.

"I can't..." Donna said.

"No, that's fine," the Doctor said.

"No, but really...everything we did today...do you two live your life like that?" Donna asked.

"Pretty much," Clara said, at the same time the Doctor said unconvincingly, "...Not all the time."

"I think you do," Donna said. "And I couldn't."

"But you've seen it out there. It's beautiful," the Doctor said.

"Very beautiful," Clara said.

"And it's terrible," Donna said. "That place was flooding and burning and they were dying and you both just stood there like...I don't know...strangers. And then you made it snow—I mean, you two scare me to death!"

"Nice to know," Clara muttered.

"Well, then," the Doctor said after a short silence.

"Tell you what I will do though—Christmas dinner. Oh, come on," Donna said.

"I don't do that sort of thing," the Doctor said.

"You did it last year, you said so," Donna said. "And you might as well because Mum always cooks enough for twenty."

"Oh, all right then," the Doctor said, after oo-ing and ahh-ing in his reluctance. "But you go first, better warn them. And...don't say I'm a Martian. I just have to park her properly, she might drift off to the Middle Ages. We'll see you in a minute."

He pulled Clara into the TARDIS with him, and started to dematerialize the TARDIS. After a moment, they heard Donna yelling out, "Doctor! Clara! Doctor!"

The Doctor rolled his eyes, stopped the engines, and popped his head out the door.

"Blimey, you can shout," he said, and Clara stuck her head out also.

"Am I ever gonna see you two again?" Donna asked.

"If we're lucky," the Doctor said.

"Just...promise me one thing; keep Clara with you," Donna said.

"Aye, aye, Captain," Clara said, saluting Donna.

"And be sure to stop him some times, because I think he needs it," Donna said.

"Yeah," the Doctor said quietly. "Thanks, Donna—good luck—and just...be magnificent."

"I think I will, yeah," Donna said, laughing.

The Doctor and Clara went back into the TARDIS and Donna called out again, "Doctor? Clara?"

"Oh, what is it now?" the Doctor asked with mock exasperation, opening the door.

"That friend of yours...your cousin, Clara...what was her name?" Donna asked.

"Her name was Rose," the Doctor said, and Clara swallowed back tears. The Doctor shut the door again and dematerialized the TARDIS into the unknown.