Nic pulled up in the car park, and glanced in the rear-view mirror, checking makeup. She nearly jumped out of her skin when there was a loud rapping on the window.

"You look gorgeous!"

She laughed and opened the door, jokingly pushing it against his legs before he finally moved out of the way. "Hey you," she greeted.

"Hey yourself," Scott replied, his arm snaking around her waist to pull her in for a kiss.

"Miss me?"

"You were gone?"

"Cheeky."

"Wouldn't have you any other way," he said, moving to her side but keeping his arm around her waist. "So how's things with your mum and dad?"

"Yeah, they're getting there. At least they're talking now."

"I'm glad," he said, giving her a small squeeze, "you were really worried about them."

"I wasn't..."

"Nic, I know you. You were doing a good job of trying to hide it but I could see you were worried."

"I'm an adult..."

"Doesn't matter if you're three or twenty three, your parents splitting up is a big deal."

Nic didn't say anything, just leant into his body as they walked into the pub.

"So what else is new?" he asked, tactfully changing the subject.

"Dad knows about you."

Scott stopped dead in his tracks. "He what?"

"I had to tell Luke, and then Luke made a point of saying something in front of Mum and Dad and then one thing led to another."

Half-scared, Scott threw a glance over his shoulder in case Peter had followed them and was preparing to kill the man who was dating his daughter. "What'd he say?"

"He wants to murder you," Nicole said deadpan. "And he said to tell you that 'cause he's a lawyer he'll be able to get away with it. Drink?"

She couldn't help but smile at the look on his face, and when he caught her expression he rolled his eyes.

"Good thing I love you," he sighed.

Nicole froze for just a moment. She'd known for some time that they were falling in love, but she'd not expected the declaration to be in their favourite pub after meeting for dinner.

"I..." Scott began as he realised what he'd done. "Well that was tactful, Scott. Way to break it to the girl."

"I have news," Nicole said, moving in closer to him. "Well, two bits."

"You're not pregnant?" he asked.

"Yeah, that's why Dad wants to kill you. Said he's not ready to be a grandfather just yet."

"I'm leaving the country," Scott muttered.

"Oh shut up," she laughed, kissing him gently. "News item number one. I've kinda known that you love me for a while."

"And there was me thinking I was being subtle about it. What's item number two?"

"Take a guess."

"You are pregnant."

"No."

"You're dumping me."

"No."

"You're going to help me leave the country?"

"If you keep this up, then yes."

"Only after you buy me a drink."

"And why would I do that?" she asked.

"Because you love me too. I'll have a pint thanks." He grinned at her and went off to find their table, knowing that if he turned around she'd be glaring at him.

He waited until they'd finished eating before he broached the subject. "So... when's the big meet-the-parents dinner?"

"Dunno," Nicole admitted.

"How about this Sunday?"

"Next few days are... going to be tricky."

"Everything OK?"

"Yeah, it's fine," she lied. "Just Mum wants some family time. Everything's been a bit nuts in our house the last few months."

"Do they know you were..."

"With you?" she asked before shaking her head. "Dad really would want to kill you then."

"You never told me why you ran," he said gently, finally feeling like he could ask her. She'd turned up on his doorstep all those months ago in floods of tears and asking if she could stay the night. The night turned into a couple of them which then turned into weeks.

"It's complicated."

"Nic, if you tell me to drop it then I will. But I want to know and I know you want to tell me."

"Do I now?"

"Yeah, you do. Nic, you had some shocking nightmares. Woke the whole house screaming."

"Scott..."

"When I first met you, I was blown away by how smart and together you were. You had your own business, Nic! You were brilliant and successful... And that is a million miles away from the girl who turned up on my door that night. The girl who broke down and cried and woke screaming every night until I made her sleep in my bed. That was the night you stopped, and that was the night I knew that I wanted to make sure you never had those dreams again.

"Nic... You didn't want to go home, but then one day..."

"Things changed."

"Like what?"

"I... It's weird, and you're not going to believe me."

"Try me."

"I met this woman."

"You're switching teams on me?" Scott quipped.

"You wish. But I was out, dealing with these... people that Mum had asked to look for me. This woman comes up to me, asks if I want my future telling. I said no at first but there was something about her and so I said yes. It was like she understood what I was going through. She told me I'd be the salvation."

"Of the world?" Scott quipped.

"I have no idea. She said that I was meant to be here for a reason, and that I would be the salvation. I asked her what she meant, and she told me that answers would be found on the hill in my dreams.

"That night, I dreamt I was driving out of town, I knew the road... So I went there the next day, and Mum was there. I don't know if that was fate or anything, but seeing her there... she looked so broken and lost. And that's not Mum. I'd done that to her and I hated myself for it. She'd hurt me, I was struggling with my own stuff, but I still loved her."

"So what had she done?" Scott asked.

"I know you're going to hate me for this, but..."

"You don't want to say."

"Not yet. There's stuff going on at home and this is all tied up in that. When it's over, yeah, I'll tell you, I promise. But I just need to get through this first."

"OK," he said. "But I will hold you to that promise."

"Won't mind if you do," she smiled.

"So... want to split a piece of their chocolate fudge cake with me?"

"Only if we get cream."

"You know I prefer ice cream."

"And I like cream," she replied as she got out of her seat to go and order.

When the cake was brought over, there was a scoop of ice cream on one side, slowly melting into the cream.

Clyde kicked at the offending pebble on the pavement, cringing as it pinged off the tyre of a nearby motorbike. "You know, I'd almost forgotten what being bored felt like."

"You'd rather the world be coming to an end?" Rani asked.

"I'd rather something was happening. It's weird. Like it's all too quiet? That's never good in horror movies."

"Last time I checked we weren't living in some horror movie. Nightmare on Bannerman Road doesn't quite have the same ring to it."

"You know what else doesn't ring right?" Clyde asked. "Luke being this quiet."

"What?" Luke asked.

"Is something up?" Rani enquired.

"Just family stuff."

Clyde's face changed to one of sympathy. "Your folks OK?"

"Yeah, they're doing good. Mum's fussing though. She keeps going on about having some family time."

"Mum got all clingy when Dad left."

"Dad's not leaving," Luke said defensively.

"I just meant..."

"There's stuff going on you don't know about," he blurted out before he could stop himself.

"Like what?" Rani asked. "You can tell us anything, you know that."

"I know," Luke said.

"So?"

"So... it's private. Family stuff."

"Your mum and Nic still weird?" Clyde asked. "I mean, weird with each other, not weird weird like alien weird because your mum and sister are not alien weird, or even weird in general."

"Don't worry, I won't tell them what you said," Luke laughed.

"But seriously, is everything OK?" Rani asked as they reached the park bench. She sat up on the back while the boys sat on the seat. "Sarah Jane's been really..." She tried to come with the right word and in the end just shrugged. "Y'know."

"Yeah, I know. Things have been tense at home. But they're getting sorted out."

"You sure?" Clyde asked, tapping his mate's leg. "If you need someone to talk to about stuff..."

"We're here is what he's trying to say," Rani interrupted.

"Thanks," Luke smiled, desperate to change the topic of conversation. "Hey, you done much revision?" he asked Clyde.

"Pfft," Rani dismissed. "This is Clyde we're talking about. Mr 'I'll do it later'?"

"Hey!" Clyde protested. "I'll have you know I've done loads of work."

"Yeah? What's the name for plant respiration?"

"...Breathing?" he ventured.

Rani rolled her eyes. "Lots of work."

"I haven't got to that bit yet."

As Rani continued to quiz Clyde on various aspects of biology, Luke said nothing, not even correcting his friend when he got answers wrong. Which was quite often. Eventually Clyde checked his watch and realised he had to go, leaving Rani and Luke to walk back to Bannerman Road.

"At least you don't have to worry about revising."

"What?"

"Earth to Luke! I was saying you don't have to worry about revising. Wish I had your memory."

"Wish I had your social skills."

"You're doing OK."

"It's just... I don't know what to say at home. It's weird. Mum and Dad say they're OK but I'm not so sure. I think it all depends on how well the next few days go. Nic's loved up with some guy but she's scared about bringing him home because of how they might react. Not that she's saying she's scared but I know she is. She has something good in her life and she doesn't want to bring him into this. Whatever this is.

"Mum and Dad... they've always been so secure. No matter what else happened they were OK. Few... hitches, but nothing like this."

"What happened?" Rani asked gently.

"I can't tell you."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean..."

"No, it's not that. I want to tell you, I do. I really could use someone else outside of the family to talk to but this is big. I just..." He sighed and shoved his hands into his jeans pockets. "Next week, yeah? Whatever this is... next week."

"How can everything be sorted by next week?"

"Part of the stuff between Mum and Dad is down to something that might happen in the next few days."

"Is this...?" Rani began.

"No," Luke said quickly, realising where her mind was going. "This is just about us."

"You're really worrying me now." Rani put her hand on his arm to get him to stop. "This isn't like you and it's certainly not like Sarah Jane. When she keeps things from us... it's not good."

"This is not like that. I... it's about us, as a family. This is something that we have to deal with. And we will, OK? We're doing the best we can do and we just need to wait and see what happens."

"Just... promise me there's nothing bad going on."

"As far as we know, there's nothing bad going on," he smiled.

"As far as you know?"

"Rani, please. You have to trust me."

"I do trust you, but..."

"But what?"

"I just feel like I'm missing out on something. Something big."

Luke felt his hands curl into fists and his vision flashed. "My family is not something big, Rani. This is private and it is something you will not stick your nose into. We are not a story to be investigated, understand?"

"Luke..."

"I will tell you everything, but I can't. Not yet. I promised my parents and I will keep that promise. All you need to do is wait one week but if you can't do that then you're not the friend that I thought you were."

"Luke!" she called after him as he stormed off home, his blood rushing in his ears.

He was more angry with himself if he was honest; he hated lying to his best friends but his mum had been right – they couldn't risk it. They'd all sat down and agreed on a course of action for the next few days. Life as normal, but on Reset Day (R-Day as it had been quipped) they were staying in. None of them really wanted to let Peter out of their sight, and Luke's anger gave way to concern as he remembered the look that had been on her face when they were talking about it.

When the Daleks had returned, she'd been scared. When Nic had gone missing, she'd been terrified. But this? The idea of time resetting, of losing her husband and her daughter? That was something else. Something worse. He couldn't imagine life without them, but he knew, deep down, that if he did lose them he'd make it through. Struggle through. He'd survive and keep going, but his mother's heart was tied up in this family. She lived for her husband and her children and losing them would be like losing her heart.

Would he be enough for her? He was all she had in the other timeline, but now she knew more, loved more, wanted more. He was scared that if they lost the others that things between them would be broken.

Sarah Jane saved him. Took him in, rescued him. Loved him and made him human. He wanted to save her in the same way, make it all OK. He wanted to make sure that in a week's time, a fortnight's time, a year's time they would still be together, a family. He couldn't imagine not having a dad. He was certain that in the other timeline they did just fine, but there were things he'd talked to his dad about these last few years that he couldn't imagine talking to his mum about. Not to mention all the things his sister had helped with because he didn't want to talk to the embarrassing parents.

Maybe they did just fine as mother and son, but he was certain that they did better as a family.

Luke Smith.

Sounded like he was someone else.

He walked up the driveway just as Nicole pulled up in her car. He waited until she got out and they walked up to the front door together.

"What'd you tell Scott?" he asked.

"That I'd tell him everything next week. What you'd tell Clyde and Rani?"

"Same."

"Hope I'm around to tell him."

"You will be," Luke said. "There's nothing to suggest that you and Dad are just going to... snap out of existence. And if you did then you know Mum's going to tear the Universe apart to get you back."

"What about you?"

"Be one step behind her."

Nicole glanced over at her little brother and smiled. "Bet the other you loved being an only child."

"I don't know about that," he said, shrugging slightly, "but I kinda like having a big sister."

"You realise that normally little brothers hate their big sisters."

"And aren't big sisters supposed to hate their little brothers?" he asked.

"Who said I don't?" she quipped, opening the front door and walking in.

"Oi!" Luke protested as he followed her, hitting her playfully on her arm.

"Are you two getting into the fighting stage now?" Sarah asked as she walked into the hallway, folding her arms and looking at them. "Toddlers do that."

"He is three," Nicole quipped, moving quickly out of Luke's reach before the second swipe came her way.

"What's going on?" Peter asked as he joined them.

"Our children are behaving like little kids."

"OK then." He moved to stand behind his wife, his arms around her waist, and rested his chin on her shoulder.

"You two OK?" Sarah asked the kids continued their playful fight; taking swings and ducking them.

"We're good," Nicole laughed as she grabbed Luke's arm and pulled him in for an impromptu hug. "How are you two?"

"Not bad," Sarah said.

"I'm taking a few days off work," Peter said. "Just... staying at home."

"Mum told you to, didn't she?" Luke said.

"Of course," he said, earning himself a playful slap from his wife. "Anything for an easy life."

"Careful, Dad. She may end up hoping that..." Nicole stopped dead in her sentence, realising that she couldn't make a joke of their fears. "I spoke to Scott, he wants to do the 'meet the parent' thing."

"He's keen," Sarah pointed out.

"Are you pregnant?" Peter asked, but Sarah could tell that he wasn't concerned or angry.

"Yes, granddad, I'm knocked up," Nic droned. "Why is everyone so keen to make me into a mum?"

"Because you're one of the best things that's happened to me and your mum."

"And I think I'll wait a while before jumping on that bandwagon."

"Good for you," Sarah said. "Go put the kettle on."

As soon as Nicole had gone into the kitchen, Luke glanced at his parents. "What was all that about? If she was pregnant you'd hit the roof."

"Yeah, and now it's the last thing she wants!" Peter laughed.

"You two are sneaky," he muttered, going to join his sister.

"I like to think we're more... cautious," Peter whispered into Sarah's neck.

"Whatever we are, we're good," she replied.

"We're great." He kissed her neck but neither of them moved.