57

"Hello Susanna" Martha said as she watched the woman turn from the front porch garden, rising to greet the surprise visitors.

"Doctor Jones?" Susanna gaped, looking at the handsome woman who looked like she might cleave someone's skull while baking a cake, her dreadlocks pulled back with a red ribbon.

"Just Martha. That Jones part confuses people who don't know it. Ianto is Jones. I am just Martha. We are all … a family now. The Harkness-Jones family I guess." Martha shrugged "That man over there with your boy .., that's Mickey, one of my husbands. Andy is back home with our youngest."

"One of… you have two?" Susanna blinked with surprise, and then saw that this woman would need more than one with her huge aura that could swallow small planets.

"We were the first Pollys, but there is another threesome now. Two women and their poor husband who looks smaller every time I see him" Martha sniffed, then watched the woman she was wary of smile, her face open and honest as she looked over at Mickey and Thorny.

"I know there is a lot I need to learn, to know as time goes on and I do not want to step on toes or ask questions … I do appreciate a familiar face though. Seeing The Captain was a lovely surprise, he and his man are definitely the reason you all survived so far." Susanna answered "Their children … so sweet. But the oldest one …. Hope. A little frightening."

"You ain't seen nothing yet. Her teeth are almost as large as Ianto's when in a temper" Martha smiled back, deciding to like her after all.

"We had a vote. To see if you would be welcome inside the Dome. It's where Holdfast is. The Dome covers it, protects it and while inside the Dome, we are Z free" Martha explained "It was unanimous. We all agreed, you are of good stock and we would like to invite you into the pack."

"Into … Holdfast? Really? I mean … it's more, right? This house is amazing but … more. Right?" Susanna tried to hide her excitement but knew this was a major step.

"More. Yes. More than you can imagine … I mean … imagine the TARDIS. You know her, right? Imagine waking inside her, into a room and each room you explore is new, different and you know it will never end. You could open doors for eternity and she would still surprise you. Imagine that level of … more. Holdfast is more. Ianto and Jack have created more than we will ever want, need or deserve." Martha smiled "As a fellow TARDIS traveller, I welcome you to our paradise."

"Well … if this place has a Wardrobe Room I will be right pleased, these clothes are about to rot off me" Susanna joked, then watched as the husband who had been approaching started to laugh, bending over as he pointed at her like she was hilarious.

"Ignore him. He didn't think much of the Wardrobe Room, the Doctor's Tat room wss more his style. Those two were terrible tinkering with thing at the dinner table" Martha rolled her eyes "mind you, he has travelled more and seen an Alternate Universe."

"A what?"

"Pete's World. A world where the Cybermen took over instead of being defeated like they were here" Mickey explained "The TARDIS punched through into the other dimension. That world was like this but … a bit different. Rose and me … well. That was where I knew deep down that she didn't love me like she loved him. I stayed there for my Gran. She had died in this world, there she was alive and alone. I stayed until she finally died and came back. But there are other worlds, other dimensions. I know it. I saw it. For all the madness in this one … I knew as soon as I saw Martha that there was a reason I was jumped to here. Rose and I were never meant to be. This was all leading to this. To here. My queen."

Martha preened happily as she accepted a kiss, then slapped his arse "And now, my faithful man, start loading that transporter love."

"Thorny!" Mickey called out "Come on man. Help me pack your stuff, time to come home with us to the village."

"YES!" the boy punched the air, running with excitement for the house as the man walked behind him, the rifle slung over the man's shoulder swinging.

"Right. Remember how to drive?" Martha asked, "Jack is bringing the ship to scoop up the horses and stuff here, I want you to come via the road so you can memorise the landmarks. If you are going to become part of the Security Team you need to know the roads we patrol. Each person we bring here is either brought in or moved on politely. This could be one of your jobs, as welcoming committee. Unfortunately, as you can see, I am not a 'meet and greet' kinda gal."

"Seriously?" Susanna asked with wide eyes "and you are so warm and fluffy."

Martha roared with mirth as the ship appeared above them, slowing descending as Jack came to help with the move as agreed.

Yeah.

Martha could see why the Doctor would have liked her.