I was so excited about posting this, that I couldn't wait! So you get a bonus chapter today! And it's a long one, too! :)

All I want for Christmas is Doctor Who. Own Doctor Who. I'd own Doctor Who. Gee, if I could only own Doctor Who, then I could bring back Rose Tyler! ;) (Who's with me?)

CHAPTER 36

Team Meta Crisis had a long walk ahead of them. The shepherds weren't watching their sheep just outside town, but it was a great distance away. They were very surprised to be approached by people who had obviously come from town.

"Yer not from around 'ere, are ya?" one of the shepherds accused them.

"No, we're transplants," the Doctor replied. "You know, the census and all."

"Figured. Townsfolk don't usually comma 'ere. And if they do, they don't pay us no mind."

"We're not much for socializin'" another shepherd piqued up.

"Why not?" Rose asked, kindly.

"I can guess at least one reason..." Donna muttered under her breath as she tried to discreetly hold her nose. These weren't the best smelling people she had ever met, by a long shot.

"Rude!" Shaun hissed to her.

Rose ignored them. "Seriously. Why doesn't anyone ever talk to you?"

"We're not normal people. We don't like people. People hurt you. Give me a sheep any day. Sheep are loyal. A bit dumb, but loyal."

"Yup. They don't talk back atcha and no gossipin' neither. They don't think they're better 'n you cos you live with animals neither."

"Oh, don't look at us that way, miss. We don't mind it a bit. Really we don't! Isn't that right Bartie?"

"Darn straight, Max!"

Soon a friendship was forged as the group settled in and looked towards the stars. They learned that Bartie (short for Bartholomew) and Max (short for Matthias) were bothers and inherited their way of life from their father. They accepted their lack of social status for what it was. Shepherds were always regarded as the lowest of the low, and they didn't foresee that ever changing. It was best to just accept it.

Suddenly, the group of six were startled by a very bright light in the sky. A being in a white robe descended from the sky and stood among them. Everyone was terrified, especially the TARDIS crew. What kind of alien was this? He looked human, but glowed. Rose, however, felt her toes curl with excitement! The Tylers weren't regular church attendees but never missed Christmas Eve so she knew what was going to happen. She found herself mouthing the words along with the being.

"Do not be afraid! I bring you tidings of a great joy! For unto you, in the City of David, a child is born, who is Christ the Lord. Let this be a sign unto you. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."

Suddenly the sky was filled with thousands of these strange beings, and they were singing. Such music had never been heard before! "Glory to God in the highest! And on Earth, peace and goodwill to all people!"

"Doctor?" Donna asked, fearfully. "What are they?"

His face broke out into the widest grin that Rose had ever seen him wear. "Why, angels! Of course!" And with that, he was off at a run following those shepherds into town, dragging Rose by the hand with his two companions following closely behind.

They arrived at the stable, breathless (Tentoo was cursing his human lungs) and were surprised to discover that they weren't the first team there. Team Ten had already arrived.

"Of course, they were in the last stable we looked in. Isn't that always the way?" Ten grinned very widely. Then his face got serious. "Wanna see?"

The two teams and the shepherds gathered around in a small stable. There, in one of the stalls was a couple, and sure enough, a baby lying in the manger. The stable was dark, dirty, and cold. This certainly wasn't the sanitized Nativity set that Rose had played with as a child. But as messy as it was, they knew that they were standing on holy ground. Slowly, they dropped to their knees.

Team Eleven was the next to arrive, huffing and puffing from their sprint from the center of town. When they saw the child in the manger, they too were compelled to get on their knees. Even Rory the skeptic was forced to believe. Here was his proof!

The sound of the TARDIS materializing just outside got everyone's attention as Team Twelve burst through the doors. Danny took one glance at the baby and dropped to his knees faster than anyone and began to weep. He was so overcome with emotion. Here was his Lord and Savior in the flesh! Clara just knelt next to him and began awkwardly running his back. She was truly humbled. Twelve and his Rose knelt next to them. Everyone was silent.

"He's beautiful!" One of the Roses finally said through misty eyes. "What is his name?"

Mary, who must've been exhausted by her labor and overwhelmed by the crowd, held her head high, and with a soft smile, she answered. "His name is Jesus."

Joseph also answered. "It means Emmanuel. God with us."

Danny's rich baritone voice then filled the air.

"O holy night, the stars are brightly shining. It is the night of our dear Savior's birth!"

The Roses joined in with beautiful harmonies.

"Long lay the world, in sin and error pining 'til he appeared and the soul felt is worth"

Clara, Mickey, and Shaun then added their voices to the mix.

"A thrill of hope, the way soul rejoices! For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn."

Finally, Martha, Donna, and the Ponds joined in.

"Fall on your knees! Oh hear the angels' voices! Oh night divine, oh night when Christ is born! Oh night divine! Oh night! Oh night divine!"

The Doctors remained silent as tears ran down their faces. This was real. All of it! If this God could make himself human to save humanity from their mistakes, could he possibly be able to include an old time lord in multiple forms in his plan? They dared to look up and look at the baby. He might be less than an hour old, but he was awake and slowly met the eyes of each regeneration of the Doctor. "I'm here for you, too," he seemed to be saying. "You don't have to carry your burden any longer. The universe is mine to bear. I love you!"

As they all bid farewell to the holy family and boarded the TARDIS, they were suddenly struck with a realization. Where was Team Nine?

Nine and his team were currently making a slow journey from the eastern part of the continent on the strangest (and slowest!) form of transportation that the Doctor had ever encountered. They were traveling by camel!

Indeed, they had made friends with some very wise magi. Not only had they been watching the stars for signs of the coming Messiah, but they knew exactly who their visitors were and that they were from the future and that the Doctor was from another world. They also seemed to sense that River had had a hard life and that Jack was immortal. The Doctor was amazed at the magis' knowledge about time and space. In fact, at first he surmised that they were under some kind of alien influence or were perhaps even aliens themselves, but that was soon proven to be a false accusation.

They went first to King Herod who said that he wanted to know where the child was so that he could come and worship him as well. The Doctor saw straight through that plan! Eventually, they had made their way to a small house that Mary and Joseph were staying in until Jesus was old enough for the trip back to Nazareth. There, the Magi presented the child with their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Jack brought out a drum and winked at River and Rose before saying "Little Jesus, I am a poor boy too. I have no gifts to bring that's fit to give a king. Shall I play for you on my drum?"

Rose slapped her face with a full on face palm. "Jack is the little drummer boy. Well, that song is ruined!"

"Rum-puh-pa-pum" River sighed in resigned agreement.

Mary looked at the Doctor expectantly. "Oh, right! Gifts! Uh, baby Jesus, I give you air from my lungs!"

Jesus laughed. Mary raised an eyebrow. Rose just gave herself another face palm.

Team Nine used their vortex manipulators to return to the TARDIS and everyone shared their Christmas stories. All were refreshed with a newfound joy, hope... and faith. They knew that they would never again be the same.

Twelve stood in front of the tree and raised his glass. "Merry Christmas everyone!"

"MERRY CHRISTMAS!"