Daniel leaned sideways to kiss Nora's cheek and excused himself from the table set up from the bride and groom. Almost everyone was out on the dance floor, doing some version of a dance that he would have loved to imitate - when both legs worked. But at the moment, he just wanted to escape the noise. Telling Nora that he just needed a quick trip to the loo, he eased through the narrow space, until he was free of the table and made his way to somewhat quieter hallway outside the party room. Even the the bass from the speakers seemed to vibrate off walls. He breathed a sigh of blissful relief when he reached the relative peace of the men's room. A shrivelled old man stood up, nodded a greeting, before moving to hold the door open for Daniel to enter without having to struggle with the heavy door.

"Thanks," Daniel muttered. He collapsed on the small sofa with a heavy sigh.

"Are you all right, sir? Should I get someone? Are you in party room one-twenty-three?"

"No, I'm fine. The music just gave me a bit of a headache. I sort of had an accident right before the holidays."

"Yes sir, I can see the scar. From the kilt, I guessing you are the groom, best get your rest while you can, eh?" the old man said with a smile.

"Right, suppose I should. Are you married, Mr -?"

"Sneed, I was - not now. I lost my wife during the troubles."

"I'm sorry."

"You adjust, and then ... You look a little pale, sir. Are you sure you're all right?"

"Yeah," he said, leaning his head against the back of the sofa and closed his eyes. "I'm just knackered."

"Well, I'll leave you to catch your breath." The old man resumed his seat by the door, watching as Daniel settled into the sofa.

Daniel ignored the sounds of people coming and going, letting himself drift. A hand gently shaking him snapped back. He blinked sleepily, briefly disoriented, then realised the antiseptic smell meant that he'd dozed off in the men's lounge. He flashed an embarrassed smile at Jake, who just stood there, waiting for the fog to clear. "You okay, boss, you've been gone twenty minutes? Nora got worried."

"Um, yeah - right." Daniel sat up. "The boys teased me yesterday, saying I fall asleep in the oddest moments. I just needed a break."

Jake handed him his crutches. "Why don't you splash your face, I think I can get you a way to bug out."

"Right, I will, but don't do that, everyone is having fun."

"The party keeps going whether your there or not. No one expects you to party all night, least of all Nora."

"Jake, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure, boss."

"Is Rose okay? She hasn't said much to me. I mean she looks like she's having fun and she was beautiful, but - is she okay?"

"She's - doing okay. The sadness has lessened, she's not so angry. Did she tell you that she's moving back to London, to go back to school?"

"No, she didn't. We haven't talked all that much since she came back. That's good. She should do that." Daniel reached for help to stand, placed his crutches under his arms and hobbled to the sink. The cold water felt good on his face, reviving him a bit. He used one of the neatly folded cloths in a basket on a counter to dry his face, then forced a smile. "Right then," he said, then turned on his crutches. "Allons-y."

"What?" Jake laughed.

Daniel pulled a face. "I have no idea why I said that."

"The Doctor said that, right before we made a jump from our Torchwood to theirs. Never expected to hear you say it."

"Me either. Come on." Daniel swung a step through his crutches.

Despite being a least somewhat re-energised by the brief respite, Daniel regretted walking back into the party room. His ears felt assaulted by blaring music, even as the sight of so many gyrating bodies out on the packed dance floor made him laugh. He scanned the crowd and laughed harder when the dancers parted, revealing Nora in the middle of the floor with Don, doing - "What are they doing?" he asked the nearest person to him.

"It's called the chicken noodle soup dance," a male voice answered.

"Right," Daniel drew it out, then looked at the man next to him. He flashed a wide grin, "I knew that, I was just checking to see if anyone else knew. You are -"

"I'm Doug Claren," the man answered

"Howie's friend. I'm glad you're here." Daniel shifted to shake the stranger's hand. "You made my friend laugh, thank you."

"He's right about you," Doug answered, shaking Daniel's hand in return.

"What did he say about me?"

"He said - you were a genuinely nice chap." The man smiled and walked off.

Daniel watched the man join Howie, then headed for a chair to watch the gyrations of the people on the dance floor. He almost fell off the chair as Robbie and Tony joined the adults. When the music stopped, he made the move to join Nora. "I can't gyrate, but if you stand there, I can sway seductively." The loud music gave way to a woman singing 'Over the Love'. Nora slid her arms around his waist and, as he balanced on one leg and crutches, they became lost to the beat. The world faded away, making the rhythmic clapping barely noticeable. When the song ended, they just stood there amidst applause, lost in each other. Then the sound of Don's voice broke the spell. "Can we bug out of here, now?"

"Folks, I think that was our couple's swan song," Don said from the mic.

Robbie ran to them. "Are we leaving?"

"Baby boy, remember what I told you, your mum and I are going to have a honeymoon of sorts. For the next three days you are staying with Addie, while she gets the house ready, unless you want to stay with Tony. We're going home Wednesday, no matter what. Wednesday night we'll be in our house and next week you go back to your own school."

"But I can't stay with you tonight?"

"No, love. But before we leave, you will have Dad's mobile and you can call us," Nora reassured him.

"Fine," he growled, before turning to race back to his gran.

"Maybe we should -""No." Nora smiled, leaned up and kissed her husband.

It required another thirty minutes of listening to goodbyes and good lucks, before the two were to extricate themselves from their friends and make their escape to the lift. The honeymoon suites of The Kings Hotel were on the tenth floor. The lift doors opened to a tastefully decorated hall. Every ten feet, a console table held a beautiful display of roses, filling the air with their faint scent. At least it was faint to Nora; to Daniel, it bordered on cloying. Their home for the next three days was on the right - ten fourteen. When the two stepped into the suite, they both gasped. "Daniel, my first flat wasn't this big."

"Well, think of it as - forget it, I'll be working until I'm ninety to pay Pete back for this." He swung through his crutches to a tastefully decorated lounge, with the sofa facing a fireplace. A floral display took up the middle of a console table. He was almost afraid to sit down on the expensive furniture. The two made their way to the bedroom. Their luggage had already been unpacked, with dressing gowns laid out for them. "When did they get away from the house to do this?"

"After you left, Marcus picked our stuff up and his girlfriend unpacked."

"That explains why there's sparkling grape juice, instead of champagne in the chiller," he said, pointing to the dresser. Daniel hobbled to the bed and collapsed, more than sat, on the edge. The smile on his face matched hers. Nora walked over and turned her back for his help unbuttoning the gown. His long fingers slowly eased each button from its loop, until the gown fell loose around her shoulders revealing nothing but a smooth back. He leaned closer, gently tracing his fingers along each side of her spine, feeling her tremble underneath his fingers. She leaned back, enjoying the sensation of first the touch, then the kisses on her shoulders. She shuddered when he swept her hair aside, placing gentle kisses across the back of her neck whilst undoing the clasp to her bra. "I think we said something about breaking records," he breathed against her ear.

"I'll just change," she giggled, retrieved her dressing gown then headed for the bathroom to shed her gown, get rid of the hair combs pinching her scalp, and wash up.

Once the bathroom door closed, Daniel kicked his shoe off and began shedding his own clothes. It dawned on him that he had no way to pull off his cast sock. He used his right big toe to shove it down to his ankle but that was as far as it would go. "So long, Prince Charlie," he muttered, tossing the jacket to the bedside chair. His tie and shirt and kilt quickly followed. He balanced on one leg and pulled the covers down to climb in, and sank down against the pillow. The mattress cocooned him; every muscle relaxed, leaving him suddenly exhausted. The sound of water running made the relaxed feeling even stronger. Before he realised what happened, his eyes drifted close.

"Records to be broken, eh?" Nora chuckled when she came back in nothing but her ivory dressing gown, to find her brand new husband sound asleep. She kissed his forehead then tucked him in.

.

Nora awoke to find a pair of gentle brown eyes studying her face. Even in the dark room, the gold flecked eyes shone with love. She reached up, stroked his face, then kissed him. "You - bailed on me," she complained with a smile. "I was all dressed up with no place to go."

"Where did you want to go?" He grinned.

"Oh, you are so -" She giggled as he pulled her over to his chest. Her elbows rested on each side of his chest, her hands stroked his ears.

Daniel, almost purring with pleasure, pushed a lock of hair off her face and then raised his head to kiss first one eyelid then the other. "I'm sorry, I was just - knackered. Spotty memory, words that just get up and leave and no energy - its frustrating. I know I should be grateful that I'm not a vegetable, but it is getting old. I want to go back to work - have something to do. I want to take care of you and my family."

"I know, but it's early days yet. Marcus told us it would be weeks still. We just have to work at it." She smiled when he kissed the tip of her nose. "Until then -" he kissed her cheek, "You can visit the school, see what -" he kissed her mouth, "You remember about the students -" he kissed her throat, "and the layout." She groaned with pleasure when his kisses dropped lower, forcing her to give up the effort to talk . He pushed her over to lie in his arms, bringing her the pleasure that only he had ever evoked in her.

.


Four hours later, Daniel slid into the back seat of the hire car for the drive to central London, and the first of two appointments. With any luck, the orthopaedist would check the x-rays, then cut the bloody cast off and give him a boot splint. It could happen - if a miracle occurred, and hell - if it existed - had frozen over. It could happen, he thought.

Nora navigated traffic as if she had lived in the city all of her life. Twenty minutes after leaving the hotel, she pulled into the car park of the office building, and found a parking spot just steps from the lift.

"Don't think I've ever been in a real doctor's office. Don't think he was either. Of course, he could have, and I just forgot."

"It's no different than seeing Marcus or Keith at Torchwood - there's just more people in a waiting room."

"Wonderful," he pouted. "I have to waste our afternoon waiting, before I can do fun stuff. Now I know how Robbie feels."

"C'mon, quit whinging or you won't get dessert," she quipped.

Walking into the office, Daniel groaned at the number of people waiting. "Make sure you tell desk lady we have a solicitor's appointment today. I expect to be seen on time."

"Right," Nora chuckled as she went to sign him in.

Daniel hobbled to an empty seat, next to a young man filling out a stack of papers and plopped down. He tried not to be obvious in the way he studied the man's leg, stuck out in front with a cast that matched Daniel's. He looked around the room and couldn't help thinking that as a species humans were an amazingly clumsy, fragile species. He couldn't imagine how they'd managed to survive against the universe. Most of the patients waiting were men, of various ages and of dubious skill at survival.

"So, mate," he finally asked the man next to him, "what did you do?"

"Snow boarding," he answered.

"In Hyden Park - on Nollaig, no less," his girlfriend snarled. "Right down a hill into a bloody car!"

Daniel pulled a face. "Ouch!" He grimaced.

"So," the young man asked, nodding toward Daniel's cast, "how about you?"

Daniel looked around the waiting area. There was no way that he would admit to falling down half a flight of stairs. His own pride in his innate superiority refused. "Abseiling," he answered. Sniffing hard, he continued."Rope broke; fell about thirty feet and landed on rocks."

"Oh, God," the girlfriend paled.

"Oh God, what?" Nora asked walking over.

"Is he your husband? You must have been right ticked when he jumped off a cliff with nothing but a rope holding him."

"Told them how I broke my leg abseiling," Daniel explained with a grin.

"Right, in a mo' they will take you back for an x-ray. The girl at the desk said she highly doubted you would get a leg splint this early on."

"I'm not tryna be funny mate," the young man said, "but they told me I wouldn't get one of those until at least nine weeks out."

"I heal fast - Scottish genes. We're a hardier lot," Daniel grumbled.

"Absolutely," Nora chuckled, "unless we're -"

"Abseiling," Daniel answered. "I had fun - right up until the rope gave way." Daniel considered embellishing the story, but the nurse called his name.

"Did he really -" the girl asked.

"In a matter of speaking, He did go - abseiling." She laughed as she followed, thinking of the story he told of the Doctor jumping out a window.

Daniel was miffed when the tech refused to show him the computer screen with his leg x-ray in view. He glared when she turned the screen to prevent him from seeing. He knew what his leg looked like. He also knew that in the next two weeks, he would have to return to the infirmary for the first set of screws to come out. He followed the tech to an exam room, determined to make Keith's new partner see the light of day. He half wondered what had happened to Harris. No one ever talked about how they had ret-conned him. There would come a day when he would have to find out.

Nora helped swing his leg up on the exam table and took a seat next to him and waited for the new doctor walk in. When he did, he wasn't at all what either expected. The he was a she. A tall brunette dressed in scrubs walked in, with a nurse pushing a cast cart. A manic grin crossed his face. This would be easy, he would just charm her. The look Nora flashed changed his mind.

"Hello, Mr Barrow, Mrs Barrow, I'm Susan Vincent. You can call me Susan."

"Will you change my cast?" Daniel asked with a cheeky grin.

"That is my intent."

"To a boot splint?"

"No."

He glared and then struck a more hopeful tone. "Short leg cast?"

"That depends," the doctor replied.

"On what exactly," Nora asked.

The doctor excused the nurse and pulled up a chair. "I had a long talk with Keith and Doctor Jones. I am fully aware of your - unique issues. Regardless of them, you are in the early days in your recovery. The callus around your bone is forming nicely and partial weight bearing will speed it along. I will allow that, only if I have your word of honour that you will not use it to start running around like a mad man. You will need physiotherapy on your knee to regain mobility and in two weeks, we will need to remove the screws in your bone. Do we understand each other?"

"I want to go back to work," Daniel stated, rather than asked. "I will go barmy sitting at home all the time. Speaking of that, we plan to go home Wednesday."

"You can go home. I can do the screw removal as an outpatient in the Port Royal Hospital where I still have visiting teacher privileges, but going back to work is not an option for at least six more weeks and then it will depend on how well you've cooperated with your therapy."

Nora laughed; she couldn't help it. When they both looked at her, she smiled. "You really do know him. Someone gave up the goods on his stubbornness."

"As I said, I talked to everyone. I also know when someone is in pain and faking it. It's the way eyebrows furrow. How is your headache, Mr Barrow."

"It's alright, really. Nora, I'm fine."

"And I intend that you continue your recovery safely. I will make arrangements for a community nurse and physiotherapist to see you at home in Scotland. Now, I can put you in a short-leg cast if you agree with my terms. Otherwise, I will leave this one, until we remove the screws."

This was not working out the way he intended at all. She hadn't even given him the chance to schmooze or dazzle her with his brilliance. "You do realise I have a family to support. Can I at least visit the school?"

"You can visit; you can even take walks around a shopping centre. You can not spend all day on your feet. Do I have our word that you will cooperate?"

Daniel, just say yes," Nora ordered. "He will have someone with him around the clock, Doctor."

"Alright, I'll get my assistant in here."

Minutes later the sound of the cast cutter set his teeth on edge, as he felt the vibration all the way through his bones. She pried the top half of the cast off, revealing nearly an inch of padding, stained brown with old drainage and blood. Daniel hissed through clenched teeth when nurse helped lift his leg from the bottom, while Susan tossed the cast in the trash. The sight of the newly healed incision, running up the side of his leg and on both sides of his ankle stunned him. He could still see hints of green and yellow bruising around his ankle. His knee felt stiff. If he had to run, he wouldn't get two feet. The reality of how serious his leg injury truly was infuriated him. Nora squeezed his hand, while the nurse used a solution to clean the incisions. It wasn't that the procedure hurt, it was just cold. She scrubbed the dried blood away, then held his leg as the doctor first dressed, then covered his leg with a soft stockinette, followed by a thick roll of padding. The vinyl casting material felt hot as she began wrapping it around his foot and leg, making sure to include a balance bar to support his foot, so that he could take half steps. When they were finished, his toes barely peeked from the end of his cast. He howled in protest when she bent his knee to establish its actual range.

"Sorry, but I had to have a base line. Do not set your foot on the ground until Dylan teaches you how to use your new elbow crutches and has gone through how much weight you can put on your leg. Be prepared to know it's going to hurt like bloody hell. Doctor Jones says that you have a special formula for pain relief. I want you to use it."

"Yeah, I will," he hissed in response.

Nora kissed his cheek. "I know you're disappointed, but it really will pass quickly, you'll see."

The need to over compensate for the weight of the cast was gone, leaving him feeling out of balance. He hobbled out of the office, past the other soon to be disappointed patients, without so much as a wave goodbye. He said little on the way back to the car. At least this time he could sit in the front seat if he wanted, but it meant bending his knee to ninety degrees, something he couldn't do. Nora held the back door open for him, ignoring that he was acting more like a sullen disappointed teenager than the level-headed man that she loved. Moments like this reminded her that this still,really was early days.

"So," he finally said once they were out of the car park, "where we going now?"

"Do you want to talk?"

"No. I want to go see the solicitor and then I want to go back to the hotel and ravage you."

Nora turned a corner, spotted a drive through restaurant and pulled into a lane. Daniel said nothing until after she'd ordered a couple of fizzies and chips. Finally, he heaved a deep, disappointed sigh. "I really do want to go back to work. Do you think Pete might round up some sort of research that needs clarification? Something I can do from my computer at home?"

She handed the drink and chips back to him. "I'm sure he could. As long as you promise not to try to chase aliens or forget the other stuff you have to do."

"Yeah," he said sipping the drink. "Humans, damn fragile lot," he muttered.

A hour later they found themselves sitting in the solicitor's office lounge. Daniel tapped his fingers against the arm of the leather chair, casting nervous glances at Nora. She carried a thick packet of papers filled with her divorce decree, the decree of Ian's termination of parental rights, and their brand new marriage certificate. It also contained a ream of character references for Daniel. Everyone at the wedding had taken the time to write a letter extolling his fitness to be a parent. It didn't hurt that Harriet Jones' recommendation sat at the top. The idea of becoming a legal dad made his heart race, the same way it did when he and Susan sneaked past guards and technicians to steal the TARDIS all those years ago. He fussed inwardly, reminding himself those weren't his experiences, just his memory.

"You can go in now," the secretary called from behind her desk.

Daniel swallowed and followed Nora into the office. He wasn't sure who expected the man behind the desk wasn't it. He bore a striking resemblance to Ian Chesterson, but he had to be a junior. "Mr Barrow, I'm David Chesterton. Harriet asked me to see to this personally. I understand you want to adopt your wife's son."

"Yes -yes I do."

He pointed to the envelope in Nora's lap. "Can I assume in that envelope you have a copy of the dissolution of parental rights of the child's father?"

"Yes," Nora answered. "Plus our marriage license, Daniel's latest medical reports and character references."

"Well, that explains the thickness," the man chuckled, reaching for the envelope. Silence filled the office as they watched him flip through the stack and then lay them aside. He pulled out a second stack and handed them over."Sign where the sticky notes are. The application will need to be reviewed, which is strictly a formality as long as the other paperwork is in order, and I will put this on for a court date in Glen Coe in thirty days."

"Will they notify Ian?" Nora asked, unable to hide the fear that family could bollox their plans.

"No, he no longer has any legal input into Robbie's life or the decisions concerning him. Legally, as parent, he does not exist. You can, however, expect a court appointed social worker to visit the house, that's also a formality. Thirty days from now, Robbie will be able to change his name to Barrow. You do understand, Mr Barrow, that makes you legally responsible for him until he reaches the age of majority?"

"Yes," Daniel answered huskily. "I understand." He squeezed Nora's hand then signed the papers. Ten minutes later, the two walked out of the office amazed at how quickly the whole thing went. Once outside, Daniel stopped and leaned against the wall, looking a bit dazed. His expression slowly gave way to a broad smile with the realisation that In less than twenty-four hours, he'd obtained everything that the Doctor and Donna lost. Their memory stood now like a burning beacon."We're a family, a real family," he muttered, straightening up on his crutches. "I swear, I will make them proud. All of them. I will make you proud."

Nora leaned up to kiss his cheek. "You already have. Have to say though, if this is some sort of bizarre dream, I hope, I never wake up."

His left eyebrow arched and the smile turned suggestive when their eyes met. "Can we go -"

Nora kissed him again, "Let's go start our honeymoon properly."