Author's Note: Now up to 263 reviews! Keep them coming!
Scarlett's outfit for this episode is on my polyvore :)
And here's the first part of one of my favorite episodes of season 4, next to Silence in the Libary and Forest of the Dead (which I'm so excited to write for :D)! Enjoy the chapter! :D
Scarlett's POV…
I avoided the Doctor like the plague. It was easier than you think. There was a lot of rooms in the TARDIS that I could stay in to stay away from him. I mostly stayed in my room though. I couldn't avoid him forever. I knew that.
But I was scared (something that I never was) to be near him. I didn't understand these feelings I had for the Time Lord, so I was going to avoid them as long as I could. Besides, it would never go anywhere, not that I wanted it to, but he was still in love with that Rose girl. Not only that, I wasn't his type. I was too sarcastic and too loud for someone like him. So even if I did have feelings for him, it wouldn't matter anyway and if I had feelings for him, I wasn't supposed to. Feelings weren't what I had in mind when I started traveling with the Doctor. I just wanted to see the universe. That was all. Nothing more, nothing less. And it was going to stay that way.
That's what I promised myself as I avoided the Doctor in my room for the…actually I didn't remember how many times I've avoided him. Before I had time to try and count, there was a knock at my door.
"Come in." I said to whoever was at the door as I flipped to the next page of the fashion magazine the TARDIS so kindly gave to me. Then I added, "But if you're the Doctor, I'm taking a shower so I can't come to the door right now, but if you leave a message at the beep, I'll get back to you as possible. Beep."
Donna came into my room, rolling her eyes. "Was that really necessary, Scar?" she asked and I didn't have to look to know my sister had her hands on her hips.
"Uh-huh." I nodded my head, keeping my eyes on my magazine. "Letting the Doctor in would defeat the purpose of avoiding him." I had told Donna about the kiss and she personally thought it was stupid that I was avoiding him. She told me that he probably didn't think much of the kiss. That might be true…but still…it was going to be awkward to be around him. At least for me it would be and I didn't want to deal with that. At all.
When I didn't hear my sister respond, I looked up at her and saw what she wearing. It was a dress from the 1920s. She looked amazing in it and don't get me started on her hair. It was like she had popped out of a 20s movie
"What are you dressed up for?" I questioned.
This question got a beam out of my sister. "The Doctor's taking us to a real life 1920s party! How Wizard is that?"
"Oh…well have fun…" I turned back to my magazine. Then seconds later, it was ripped from my hands and my head snapped up instantly. "Hey!" I protested to Donna, trying to get it back but my sister held it away from me, a stern look on her face.
"Oi, I said he was talking us, you're going too." she said, and I opened my mouth to protest, however, she cut me off, "I know you're avoiding Spaceman, but you don't have to. He doesn't even know the real reason why you're avoiding him…he just thinks you're angry at him for something…"
I felt taken back by this. "He does?"
"Yes, so stop being stubborn and get out of this room. It's not healthy, you know?"
I said nothing for a moment before sighing heavily. "Fine…I'll come…"
"That's my girl." Donna smiled as she gave me a sisterly kiss on the forehead. Then she ruffled my hair, making me smack her hand away with a playful scowl on my face and causing her to laugh loudly. "Now, come on." She grabbed my hand, pulling me off the bed as she smiled again, this time it was bright. "Let's get you all spiffed up."
I laughed, giving my sister an amused look. "Spiffed up?"
"Yeah, I'll have you know that I know all the 20s slang." Donna said seriously with a nod of her head. Then she bursted out laughing and I couldn't help but laugh with her as I let her drag me out of the room.
We went through the TARDIS until we found our way to the TARDIS wardrobe. I loved going there. All the clothes there were amazing and had all kinds of period dresses from the different time periods. It even had clothes that hadn't even came out yet. It was pretty amazing. Donna led me over to the 20s section of the wardrobe and I started picking out dresses, showing my sister each of them to get her opinion. In the end, I settled on a slim fitting bright red Flapper dress. For accessories, I got a red headband with a bright red feather sticking out of it and a long pearl necklace. And my shoes were sliver high heels.
Before putting all my stuff on, Donna did my hair, curling my long tresses and making my curls fall to my shoulders before pinning my bangs out of my eyes. Not only did she do my hair, she did my makeup. Finally I was all done, my dress was on the headband was on my hair, and my shoes were on my feet.
"You look gorgeous, Scar!" Donna gushed, putting her hands on my shoulders as we stared into the mirror that was in the wardrobe.
I smiled at her in the mirror. "Thanks."
"You're going to knock the D…" Then my sister stopped and quickly said, "dose boy's socks off!"
It sounded like she was about to say, 'The Doctor,' but I ignored it. He wasn't going to care what I looked like. At the sound my sister's voice, I shook my head as we left the wardrobe and went to the console room. Donna was the first one to leave the TARDIS. I stayed inside for a minute before taking a deep breath and leaving the TARDIS. As soon as I was outside, the Doctor looked at me, his jaw dropping as he stared at me with wide eyes. I shifted uncomfortably at his stare. I wasn't uncomfortable with the way he was staring at me, but at the fluttering feeling in my stomach at the way he was looking at me. Like he couldn't believe I existed. I noticed Donna smirking and I forced myself not to roll my eyes.
"Sky-Guy?" I snapped my fingers in front of his face and he seemed to snap out of it, his mouth closing. "You all right there?"
The Doctor nodded his head quickly as his face flushed. "Yes…yes…course I am…" Then he shook his head again and his blush was gone before he smiled brightly at us as he held out his arms for us to take. "Ready to crash a party?"
I smirked at this, the fluttery feeling gone from my stomach, as I looped my arm through the one nearest to me. "Always."
Donna laughed at my response as she closed the doors to the TARDIS, then she linked her arm through the Doctor's free one, before we went to join the party.
We strolled into the lawn, arm-in-arm. I looked around the place. There was already a bunch of people there. I knew none of them, of course. Tables were set up on the lawn and music was playing from the record player. Classic music, definitely fit the 20s vibe.
"Good afternoon!" The Doctor greeted brightly as a footman came up to us.
"Drinks, sir? Madams?" he asked.
The one thing I loved about parties were the free drinks. "Ooh, yes please!" I said enthusiastically. "I'll have a glass of red wine please!"
The footman nodded, then he turned to the Doctor and Donna.
"Sidecar, please," Donna told him.
"And a lime and soda, thank you."
The footman nodded and went to go get our drinks as another voice spoke up, speaking in an announcing tone.
"May I introduce Lady Clemency Eddison."
A petite woman arrived, strolling down the lawn, looking fashionably dressed. She had curly blonde hair and looked to be around fifty years old. She looked good for that age.
The Doctor released our arms and approached Lady Eddison. Donna and I followed him, arm in arm as he greeted her like an old friend, beaming at her.
"Lady Eddison!" he exclaimed, holding out a hand.
She shook it, looking at him confused. "Excuse me, but who exactly might you be…and what are you doing here?"
"I'm the Doctor." He smiled at her, letting go of her hand.
"I'm Miss Scarlett Noble, Madame." I greeted her politely as I curtsied to her like I've seen woman do in movies of this time period. This got a small smile out Lady Eddison. Then I nodded to my sister. "And this is my sister, Donna Noble…"
"They're of the Chiswick Nobles." The Doctor added.
"Good afternoon, my lady," Donna said brightly and in a rather posh tone that she pulled off rather well. She curtsied to her as well. As she straightened up, she said, still in that posh and bright tone, "Topping day, what? Spiffing! Top hole!"
I giggled as the Doctor whispered to my sister, "No, no, no, no, no. Don't do that. Don't."
This earned him a nudge in the side from me, giving him a look. "Oi, be nice."
"Sorry." He muttered an apology to Donna before he held up the psychic paper, showing it to Lady Eddison. "We were thrilled to receive your invitation, my lady. We met at the ambassador's reception."
Of course because of the psychic paper, Lady Eddison believed him. "Doctor, how could I forget you?" she said as she started walking with us following her. "But one must be sure with the Unicorn on the loose."
"A unicorn? Brilliant. Where?"
I rolled my eyes. "Doctor, I'm sure that she doesn't mean an actual unicorn. Isn't that right Lady Eddison?"
"Quite right." She nodded. "I'm talking about THE Unicorn. As in the jewel thief. And nobody knows who he is."
I shot a proud smirk in the Doctor's direction, happy I was right and he wasn't. He pouted at me.
"He's just struck again." Lady Eddison went on in whisper, telling us the latest gossip as we stood next to a table that fruit on it, "Snatched Lady Babbington's pearls from right under her nose."
The footman came up with our drinks and I grinned, taking mine from his tray as the Doctor and Donna did the same.
"Funny place to wear pearls." Donna said to the Doctor and me softly.
"Definitely." I nodded in agreement as I took a drink of my red wine, which tasted amazing.
"May I announce the Col Hugh Curbishley, the Hon Roger Curbishley."
A rather cute young man pushed a wheelchair in which sat an older gentlemen in the direction of Lady Eddison, who smiled at them.
"My husband and my son." She told Donna, the Doctor, and I as they stopped by us.
"Forgive me for not rising," Hugh said with a smile as he got his own drink. "Never been the same since the flu epidemic back '18."
Roger caught the sight of Donna. "My word! You are a super lady!"
Of course, my sister loved the compliment as she grinned at him. "Oh! I like that cut of your jib. Chin-chin."
I let out a laugh, catching the attention of Roger. I couldn't help but give him a flirty smile, which he returned.
"Well hello there, Lady in Red." He greeted, still smiling flirtingly as he grabbed my hand and kissed the back of it, meeting my eyes. Of course, I giggled. I didn't notice the frown on the Doctor's face as he watched us but Donna did and she smirked.
"It's Scarlett actually, but that nickname is just fine." I practically purred as Roger straightened up but he didn't release my hand.
Just then, the Doctor coughed rather loudly, causing Roger to drop my hand and turn to him. "I'm the Doctor." He shook Roger's hand with the fakest smile I had ever seen him have.
"How do you do?"
"Very well thanks," The Doctor responded stiffly. I looked at him oddly. What was his problem?
"Looks like someone's jealous." Donna sang quietly in my ear and I looked at her taken back. The Doctor jealous? I shook my head at that, deciding to ignore my sister's statement. There was no way. No way at all.
The footman arrived again with Roger's drink this time. "Your usual, sir."
"Ah, thank you Davenport," Roger said, taking the drink and staring at Davenport. "Just how I like it." The way he was looking at him made me realize something…he was gay, wasn't he?
"Of course he is…" I grumbled, finishing off my wine in one gulp and sitting it on Davenport's tray.
"How come she's an Eddison but her husband and son are Curbishleys?" Donna asked the Doctor.
"The Eddison title descends through her," he explained. "One day Roger will be a lord."
If he wasn't gay, I would have found that attractive.
"Miss Robina Redmond." The Butler announced again as a young lady headed over to us, dressed in a rather fashionable outfit.
"She's an absolute hit of the social season," Lady Eddison whispered excitedly. "A must." Redmond made it over to us and she greeted her first, "Miss Redmond." She held her hand and Redmond shook it, smiling at her.
"Spiffing to meet you at last, my lady."
"Rev Arnold Golightly."
He came up to us and Lady Eddison smiled at him. "Ah, Reverend! How are you?" she asked. "I heard about the church last Thursday night, those ruffians breaking in."
"You apprehended them, I hear."
The Reverend nodded in response to Hugh. "As the Christians fathers taught me, we must forgive them for their trespasses. Quite literally." He chuckled.
"Some of these boys deserve a decent thrashing," Roger said.
"Couldn't agree more, sir." Davenport gave him a secret look and he cleared his throat loudly.
Donna watched them. "Typical. All the decent men are on the other bus."
"Or Time Lords." The Doctor added.
I glanced at him. "Seriously, there were gay Time Lords?"
"A few…" The Doctor said nonchalantly.
I gave a hum in response as the Reverend spoke, looking at Lady Eddison.
"Now my lady, what about this special guest you promised us?" he asked.
"Here she is." Lady Eddison started clapping her hands, beaming. "A lady who needs no introduction."
Everyone joined in on the clapping as a woman walked across the lawn. I titled my head, staring at her. Why does she look so familiar?
Whoever she was, she definitely didn't look like that she was enjoying the attention that she was being given all that much. "Oh, no. Please don't." She said and the applause ceased. Turning to Lady Eddison, she smiled politely at her. "Thank you Lady Eddison. Honestly, there's no need." She shook Donna's hand. "Agatha Christie."
"What about her?" My sister asked, leaning in a bit.
"That's me."
Donna gasped. "No! You're kidding!"
"Oh, that's why you look so familiar!" I exclaimed, making Agatha jump in response.
"Agatha Christie!" The Doctor shook her hand wildly with a elated grin on his face. "I was just talking about you the other day, I said, 'I bet she's brilliant.'" Agatha looked amused by his excitement as he let go of her hand. "I'm the Doctor, this is Donna, and this Scarlett."
"I can't believe I'm meeting you!" I couldn't help but gush. She was actually one of my favorite classic authors. I just loved a good mystery. "This is just brilliant! Absolutely fantastic!" I was getting rather loud, getting odd stares from the people around us, but I didn't care. I was meeting my favorite author and I wasn't going to let them ruin it.
"Well, thank you." Agatha laughed and I beamed at her.
Seeing that I was done gushing over her, the Doctor spoke up again. "I just love your work! What a mind! You fool me every time. Well…almost every time. Well…once or twice. Well…once. But it was a good once." He rambled excitedly.
Agatha looked between me and the Doctor. I held back a groan at the look on her face, knowing what she was thinking.
"You make an unusual couple."
I finally let out the groan I held in. "Ugh! Why does everyone think we're a couple? We're not one, okay!" I huffed loudly, rolling my eyes skyward. I mean seriously, I was already confused by my not feelings for him and I didn't need every person we meet thinking we're a couple. I barely noticed that the Doctor didn't deny it.
Agatha didn't react to my denial. "Of course not – no wedding ring." She said, nodding towards my bare left ring finger.
I blushed, embarrassed by my rant. "Right, yeah, sorry."
"It's quite alright." Agatha waved me off. Then she told me seriously, "And I'd stay that way if I were you. The thrill is in the chase, never in the capture."
I cracked a smile at that.
"Mrs. Christie, I'm so glad you could come." Lady Eddison said, getting the author's attention. "I'm one of your greatest followers. I've read all six of your books. Uh, is, uh, Mr. Christie not joining us?"
Agatha's eyes flashed with something but it was gone quickly as if it was never there in the first place. "Is he needed? Can't a woman make her own way in the world?" she questioned.
"Don't give my wife ideas." Hugh joked, earning a smile from Lady Eddison.
"Mrs. Christie, I have a question." Roger said. "Why a Belgian detective?"
"Excuse me, Colonel." The Doctor took the newspaper from Hugh's lap and I watched him move away from the crowd, wondering what he was doing.
"Belgians make such lovely bum."
Everyone laughed at this, Donna's being the loudest.
"Where on Earth's Professor Peach? He'd love to meeting Mrs. Christie." Roger commented.
"Said he was going to the library."
Since I was still looking at the Doctor, I saw him gesture to me and Donna. I nudged my sister in the side, causing her to look at me, then nodded towards the Doctor. With that, we went over to him.
"The date on this newspaper," The Doctor stated, showing us the paper.
I looked at it, then back at the Doctor. "What about the date?" I couldn't think of anything special that happened during that date. Then again, I was never good at History.
"It's the day that Agatha Christie disappeared."
Donna's eyes widened. "You're kidding?"
The Doctor shook his head. "Nope, not kidding at all."
"Well, how did she disappear?" I asked.
At my question, he started to explain, "She just discovered her husband was having an affair."
"You'd never think to look at her, smiling away." Donna pointed out as she watched Agatha.
"Well, she's British and moneyed," The Doctor said. "That's what they do – they carry on."
"Mm…lucky for them." I couldn't help but remark as I crossed my arms.
The Doctor didn't comment on my remark as he went on, "Except for this one time. No one knows exactly what happened – she just vanished. Her car will be found tomorrow by the side of a lake. Ten days later she turns up at a hotel in Harrogate. Said she lost her memory. She never spoke about the disappearance till the day she died. But whatever it was…"
"It's about to happen." Donna finished, her eyes widening again.
"Right here, right now."
Though it was horrible that she disappeared, it was actually being exciting we were in the middle of it. Now I was glad I did come to the party.
Just then, Miss Chandrakala came running out of the house, waving her arms and screaming loudly. "The professor! The library! Murder! Murder!"
Sharing wide eyed looks, the Doctor, Donna, and I ran towards the house. I couldn't help the excitement flashed through me as we ran.
Now I was really glad I came to the party! Even if someone did just get murdered…
TBC...
In...
The Unicorn and the Wasp, Part 2
Who's ready to solve a murder mystery with the Doctor, Donna, Scarlett, and Agatha Christie?! ;)
