Where everyone is happy.

That's it. We're at the end. I just want to thank everyone who reviewed and left kudos - every single one made me smile, thank you for your support. I also need to, again, thank my two wonderful beta readers, without I would probably never have dared to upload this story.
Now, Happy Holidays everyone, and I hope you'll enjoy this last chapter :)

Usually, when the mail slot was rattling, no one cared all too much about it. They could pick up the letters later, after all. But it was Sunday afternoon and everyone knew: There was no post on Sundays. So whatever had just arrived, it couldn't be a letter.

Only, it was. Gingerly, Luke picked it up - and froze. All colour had drained from his face as he stared at the name, the cursive impossibly familiar and impossible to be on a letter.

'Luke Smith' it said, in his mother's writing. He'd have recognised it anywhere, anytime. It had to be a trap, a fraud - but Luke couldn't help it, if there was even the slightest chance that this letter was from his mother, he didn't care. He opened it carefully, afraid to accidentally break the content, but when he pulled out the paper - nice and elegant, the style his mum had always used - it was perfectly unharmed.

It had been a long time since he had been so afraid of something, yet he couldn't stop himself as he unfolded the paper.

'Dear Luke,' it said in the beginning. His mum's writing, yesterday's date next to it. Impossible, but…

'Dear Luke,

I couldn't help myself. I had to write to you. I miss you. And I know that you got on with your life, that you are happy with Sanjay and the kids - you made me a grandmother! - but I hope that somewhere, you miss me too, just a little bit.

Goodness, I'm terribly selfish, am I? Hoping you miss me, when I should be happy you moved on and have a wonderful life. Do you even know how proud I am? You, Luke Smith, are simply wonderful.

I know what you're thinking right now - I raised you, after all. You're thinking: "This can't be right, mum's been dead for a decade - and the dead don't send letters." And the dead don't. The thing is, Luke, I'm not dead. I know you're going to be angry now, how could you not? But, you see, I had to die. Because...I can't, not really. Not for a long time, at least. It's the time travel, it messed up my DNA and now I'm not aging like a normal human anymore. I've been wearing a perception filter to at least make it look like I aged. Who knows what the people would have been thinking otherwise - not that it always worked, mind you, I think some people could see through it, at least partially. The point, Luke, is that I had to leave, and staying on earth, it would have hurt too much. I've already said I'm selfish, haven't I? So I left and made it look like I died.

You remember the Doctor, don't you? Her planet was destroyed - again, it's a long story - but this time, some people survived and together with a few other people, I helped them rebuild their society on New Gallifrey. It's been a decade now, we're sort of linear, and there's going to be a big anniversary celebration next week. I asked Romana and she said she would be delighted to finally meet you, if you would like to attend. Not just you, of course, Sanjay and George and Jane as well - I would love to meet my grandkids.

Of course, I understand if you are unwilling to attend or if it is too short notice, but if you would like to come, someone will be by to pick you up next Sunday at 9.30am. I'd love to see you. I miss you.

Love and kisses to you all,

Mum

Sarah Jane Smith'

It almost physically hurt that she had crossed out the 'mum', doubting herself so much when it came to her capability as a mother, that Luke couldn't help burst into tears. There was no doubt in his mind that this letter was indeed from his mum and there was no way in the universe that he was not going to go see her next week.

Crying over a piece of paper was how Sanjay and the children found him when they returned half an hour later and if was, indeed, quickly established that they would all go to New Gallifrey the following Sunday.

The week couldn't pass fast enough and it was an almost impossible task to keep Jane and George from telling anyone about their pending off-earth-trip. Then, on Sunday morning, the doorbell rang and Jane rushed forth, pulling it open.

'Hiya,' the woman outside grinned and held out her hand for Jane to shake. 'Am I right to assume you're Jane Smith, young lady?' Jane nodded ferociously and behind her, Luke smiled. He wasn't quite as good at it as his mum, but he was fairly certain he knew who the woman was. She winked at him, then turned her attention back to his daughter. 'Lovely meeting you, Janey. I'm the Doctor.'

And with that, everyone was ushered into the TARDIS, parked - neatly - just at the end of their driveway. George, Jane and Sanjay all marvelled at the bigger on the inside phone box and Luke admired the new design, but the Doctor could sense that his heart and mind were elsewhere. And couldn't she understand him?

She had thought for so long that not only her wife but all her people were dead, only to then learn that they weren't, that they were still out there, alive and happy. The feeling of absolute elation was unforgettable - and she hadn't even loved most of them. When she got her family - what was left of it - back, there was nothing that compared to it. So if there was anyone who could understand how Luke felt right now, it was the Doctor.

The TARDIS landed surprisingly gentle and the Doctor strode towards the door.

'Come on, gang,' she grinned and pushed open the doors. Bright light came flooding in and the chatter of people outside was impossible to ignore. Jane and George, hand in hand, rushed past the Doctor, eager to see the new world waiting for them, Sanjay hot on their heels, trying to reign them in somehow, but Luke suddenly felt frozen.

The Doctor, unusually perceptive, gave him a quick glance before peaking outside and waving at someone. Seconds later, she slipped outside, leaving Luke alone. He turned his back to the door, still trying to force himself to follow his husband and children outside, get it over with. But he was scared of what he would see, suddenly afraid that it had been a hoax and -

Footsteps behind him made him whirl back around, and once more, he froze. Right there, right in front of him, stood his mum. Alive, breathing - smiling at him through tears, but oh so alive. He didn't know how but suddenly he was in her arms again, holding on to her like he had been back when she had just gotten him back from the Slitheen, and they were sinking down on the floor, clinging to each other as if they never wanted to let go again.

'Oh Luke,' Sarah Jane whispered, brushing down his hair, cradling him close, 'I am so sorry I left you, I'm so sorry I didn't tell you I had to go but I couldn't, so I thought it'd be easier if you all thought I'd died, so you could move on and not hope I'd return some day, because, because I know how hard that is and I couldn't come back, but Luke, oh, I've missed you so much and -'

'It's alright, mum,' he interrupted, still feeling like a child instead of a grown man in his mother's arms. Right then, he couldn't have cared less. He had his mum back, after a decade of missing her, and the how's and why's - they could all wait. All that mattered that his mum wasn't dead but alive and that she was right there, holding him. 'We can talk about that later.'

'Alright,' she said with a teary smile and pulled back a little as to properly look at him. 'Oh, you're all grown up now. You don't need your old mum anymore, you've got a family of your own now -'

'I'll always need you, mum.' She swallowed and hung her head but he just arranged himself on the steps next to her so he could rest his head on her shoulders. It was an awkward position, now that he was so much taller than her, but it didn't really matter. 'And I am a bit mad at you, but...I know you, mum. You wouldn't have just, you know, disappeared without good reason. So we talk about that later, yeah, and just be happy now? Because -' he stopped again and looked up at her '- I'm so, so happy to have you back.'

'I'm happy to have you back too, Luke. I've missed you.'

'I missed you more.' Perhaps she should have given him some retort, but she couldn't think of anything and instead just rested her head on his. Sarah Jane had missed her son ever since she had left earth, but until she had seen him again, she hadn't realised just how much. It felt like time stood still while they just sat there, soaking in each other's presence.

Eventually, it was Luke who pulled back, mostly because his neck was getting stiff from the strange angle, and he finally took a moment to look his mother up and down.

'You're not wearing a perception filter now, are you?' He wanted to know and she shook her head.

'It's not necessary here. Not aging is perfectly normal.' She shrugged and Luke gave a slow nod.

'I guess I see why you thought staying on earth would be complicated.' And really, he did. It stung, yes, that she hadn't told him about her plans, but even there he could see her reasoning. Ten years ago, he might not have, but now that he was a parent himself, he understood where she had come from. Years ago, she had told him how she had spent years and years, waiting for the Doctor to return and how that had almost ruined her. So how could he blame her for wanting to keep that pain from him, make sure he didn't have to go through the same torture of waiting for her to come back one day?

Because he also understood now, seeing her again, that she couldn't have stayed on earth much longer without raising suspicion. Even a perception filter could only do so much and the Sarah Jane now before him, she didn't look a day older than the Sarah Jane who had, years ago, been sitting in her garden with Maria and christened him Luke. When she had 'died', she had looked older than that - not old, but her auburn hair had been white and there had been decidedly more wrinkles marking her face.

'Yes, well,' Sarah Jane said with a sad smile, 'I don't suppose they would have stopped pestering me about my surgeons if I'd stayed.'

Despite himself, Luke had to grin. 'Yeah, they might have ended up thinking you were an alien.'

'Oh, cheek!' She laughed and let Luke pull her to her feet. Arms around each other, they finally made their way outside.

'I don't think I've ever seen Sarah this happy,' Romana mused as she watched the reunion from afar. Next to her, River nodded slowly.

'It's been a long time, yes,' she agreed. And really, it was heartwarming to see the reunion, Sarah Jane twirling around her little namesake granddaughter and dropping kisses on her grandson's head, only to then pull both her son and son-in-law into hugs, all the while beaming and laughing, lighter than she had ever since she left earth.

'Well,' the Doctor grinned, gently nudging her wife as she joined them, 'I'd say we've done a great job here, haven't we?'

'We all have.' Romana nodded, then sighed. 'I suppose it's time for the speech. Can I leave you to make sure Sarah's good to come on stage later?'

'Of course, you know us, she'll be right where she's supposed to be - what?'

'I was talking to your wife, Doctor.'

'What, why - oi! You two are really rude, you know that?' The Doctor's glare went back and forth between River and Romana, who both had to bite back a laugh.

'Well, Doctor, we all know that if I asked you to be on time, you end up three hundred years off, five galaxies over.' Romana grinned and winked at River. 'The wife, on the other hand, usually makes it on time.'

'I'll make sure she's there,' River interrupted, turning the conversation back to the original matter. She gave Romana a nod. 'You should go, unless you want to be the one who's too late.'

'Oh, Gallifrey forbid that happens, I'm off - see you later, and be on time!' With that, Romana disappeared towards the other side of the square where the stage was situated.

Now alone, the Doctor smiled and threw an arm around River. 'We really did well, didn't we? Look at all we've done here!'

'None of this would have been possible on Gallifrey,' River agreed softly. 'There was so much value in tradition, so much stigma over what could and couldn't be done - millenia of it and look, it took barely a decade to get people on the right path.'

'I suppose we had the right people for it,' the Doctor couldn't help but point out, 'the kind of people who actually wanted change and trusted Romana enough to come with her.'

'I can't argue with that.'

'And the war probably had something to do with it too.' At that, River shuddered slightly. It was almost ironic, she thought, how losing Gallifrey to the Master's destruction was a safe topic to talk about but the war, finished long before that, was still a matter no one dared to touch. Then again, the majority of the refugees had actually been on Gallifrey for the latter, while they had been hiding in their TARDISes in orbit for the first.

'Attention, please, everyone,' sounded the sudden announcement over the square. Everyone who had come to the Capital for the festivities from out of town went to find their seat in the long lines of comfortable chairs placed across the square. In the elegant houses around, windows were opened and people made themselves comfortable on their balconies so they could watch and listen. The film crews bustled here and there, trying to find the very best angle and make last minute adjustments.

'You're family, so you've got seats right in the front,' Sarah was just explaining to Luke and Sanjay as she led them towards River and the Doctor. 'This part is going to be a bit stiff - that's Gallifreyans for you, even after everything - but you're invited to come along afterwards and join the private party the Doctor planned.' She threw her a piercing glance. 'I really hope there won't be any bouncing castles.'

'But Saaarah -'

'Why don't you want bouncing castles, grandma? Bouncing castles are cool!' George protested and Jane nodded ferociously.

'For you perhaps - but not so much for grown-ups.'

'Please find your seats, the program will begin in two minutes.'

Realising they had to hurry, they all made their way to the front. 'There you are, I thought I'd have to send a search party for you,' Susan hissed in greeting before giving Luke and Sanjay a tight smile. 'Sorry about that. It's good to finally meet you. Susan, granddaughter of those two.' She nodded at River and the Doctor, then pointed at the empty seats that actually bore their names.

'People of Gallifrey. Honoured guests from offworld.' Romana's voice was clear and calm as she stepped onto the podium on stage. Her skirt suit was hidden under the old-fashioned, traditional gallifreyan dress robes that she still hadn't been able to fully abolish. Silence fell over the square as everyone hushed to listen. She smiled. 'My dear people. This past decade has been so very challenging for us all. We all know, for us, ten years is barely more than a blink, yet for many of our friends, it is a much longer time. Yet look -' she elegantly waved her hand at the buildings around them '- look what we have been able to do in such a short time.

'It still feels like yesterday that our beloved planet was destroyed. And yet we managed to prevail and move on. We found a new home, made it our home. But in doing so, we've changed.

'Change, as we all know, is a part of life. For us as Gallifreyans, that is even more true than it is for other species. But the change we all went through, it was not regeneration. It was a change we all went through together, as a society. Perhaps we were not affected so much as individuals, but as a society, we did change. For the better, as I have been told repeatedly,' she added with a small smile towards the front row of the audience. 'We are not the same people who left Gallifrey, preparing for the worst. But if we had been on our own, we would have never made it this far.

'Therefore, we are celebrating today - ten years since we started settling down on New Gallifrey, ten years since we decided to make this our home, ten years in which we had some true friends by our side, assisting us every step of the way. Hereby, I will officially thank them.'

One by one, she called an assortment of people onto the stage, handing them small medals and giving out honorary titles. There was the ambassador of Braxos, a planet just one solar system across that had quickly been established as one of the big trading partners, then the emissary of Peritularie, one of the moons of planet sharing their solar system, the consul of Trividrelle in the neighbouring galaxy that had turned out very helpful as yet another trading partner, and so on and so on.

Finally, after what felt like hours - George had fallen asleep draped across his farthers' laps - Romana paused.

'There are three more people I need to thank. Three people who have done more than anyone for us. First, I would like to thank the Professor, who you all know as River Song, or perhaps Patience.' Sighing deeply, River made her way to stand next to Romana, who handed her a medal herself, along with another small package. 'It's a surprise,' she whispered before turning back to the people.

'I am honoured to call the Professor a dear friend now, someone I would trust with my life. But what I have never told anyone before is how I met her. Because you see, she gave me a message. A warning. Without Professor Song, not one of us would be here today.' Romana paused, let her gaze sweep over the crowd. 'She was the one who warned me about the Master's plan of our destruction. She trusted me with this big secret so I could prepare you, and you believed. For her protection of the people of Gallifrey, I shall reward her with our highest honour.'

The people cheered and Romana smiled as she turned to River and pressed a kiss onto her forehead. It was no more than a symbol these days, the important part would take place later on, when they were off camera. For now, River just smiled at the crowd, gave a small bow and made her way back to her seat. Romana waited until the cheers had fallen silent again before she continued.

'The next person I want to thank too has become a dear friend over the last years. Many of you have read of her in books as the first ambassador of earth, the person to seek out if you ever stranded there in her time. When I first met her, I did not know that she would one day become such an important staple for my own people. Sarah Jane Smith, please come join me.' She held out her hand and Sarah Jane quickly made her way up, standing in the same spot River had been standing in moments ago. She smiled and gave a small wave.

'Ms Smith has been fundamental for so many important decisions made over the years. Without her aid, we would have never found this planet, would perhaps still be adrift in the vortex, looking for a new place to settle. And that was only the first time of many that she helped us, and she has done so since in whatever way she can. Therefore,' she turned to hand Sarah her medal and a package similar to River's, 'she will from now on be Lady Sarah Jane, a honorary Gallifreyan of the highest order for as long as she lives or choses too.'

The implications of that were clear, needn't be said aloud. And most of it had been dealt with already anyway, the TARDIS neatly parked in her hallway and the document that she was capable of flying on her own. 'Your DNA is already scrambled,' River had reasoned when the Doctor had been hesitant, 'it won't hurt you if we change it just a little more to give you some telepathic ability.' Persuading the Doctor had proven to be more complicated than the actual process, Sarah thought, and she had to admit she was quite happy about it. Telepathic ability meant being able to fly a TARDIS on her own, which meant being able to visit Luke whenever she wanted.

'Lady Sarah, our dear friend!' Romana announced once more and Sarah Jane gave another wave before rushing back to her seat and out of the spotlight. Only one person left. Romana swallowed.

'The last person I want to thank,' she began, 'has been a dear friend of mine ever since my first regeneration. She has been called a renegade and has been treated with the utmost disrespect by previous high councils and Presidents of Gallifrey, despite doing whatever it takes to protect Gallifrey.

'You all know the Doctor. Every child knows the Doctor, and many of you still scorn her for her reputation of old. But know that without the Doctor, none of you would exist. She was the first Time Lord. Our ancestors saw fit to experiment on her and use her to create our species. I have apologised to the Doctor in private many times and I want you to know what she told me: "Romana", she said, "I don't blame you. Those who did that to me - they're long gone. Dead. You lot didn't do a thing. Your ancestors did, and then send me to the future so I'd never find out. I did, but I still don't blame you."

'The first time she told me that, I dared not believe her. But now I do. Because I have realised: In ten short years, our society has changed more than it has in several hundred on Gallifrey. We used to shut ourselves off and refused to partake in the universe. The Doctor has never conformed to that, went travelling instead. Please, Doctor, come up here?' Rolling her eyes, she did. 'I myself used to travel with the Doctor, sightseeing and on occasion saving the universe. But it took me a very long time to realise that travel does not do any good if you take nothing from it.

'Doctor, you showed me that the universe is a wonderful place and that there is just as much good as there is bad. It took some time, but I think the most important thing I ever learned from you is kindness. To forgive wrongs and give another chance, to move on and be open minded to every creature you meet. You also told me you wanted no awards, no medals, nothing. So I give you the one thing you cannot decline: Thank you, Doctor, for everything you ever did for the universe.'

Cheers erupted, not only on the square but all over the planet where people were watching the life-broadcast of the festivities. Louder and longer than ever did the people cheer and the Doctor felt it very unfortunate that she was in a body that blushed easily. Eventually, when the cheers wouldn't stop, however, she turned to Romana and whispered something in her ear. When Romana nodded, she stepped forwards and instantly, the crowd went silent.

'Hello everyone,' she said, slowly, clearing her throat. 'Blimey, I didn't actually plan on saying anything today. But I guess needs must, right? Well, just wing it, then.

'Right. Today's about celebrating good things, isn't it? But you shouldn't forget that just because you're happy and fine and celebrating now, there's still bad stuff in the universe. The Master's still out there, though he's probably got no idea you're here, so you should be safe on that front. Then there's the Daleks, Cyberman, Weeping Angels - none of them are gone. They're still out there, roaming the universe.

'When I first ran from Gallifrey, I had no idea what I'd find out there. But then I was running and I kept running and running, on and on. Never knew what I was running towards, though. Just what I was running from.

'I hated Gallifrey. I really did. Too many rules, too many regulations, too little excitement, too little love. I was frustrated with the people and the politics, so I turned my back and ran. I tried not to look back, but that was hard. I picked up travelling companions and finally I found people who understood, like-minded people who wanted to travel like me and quickly became dear, dear friends. They showed me that a society didn't have to be like the one on Gallifrey, that there were other, better ways of doing things.

'I always thought that Gallifrey would never change. But I was wrong. You did change. You were forced to start over again but instead of doing things the old way, slip into familiar patterns, you found new ways of doing things. You chose wisdom and love over power and corruption, you established a new system and have built a society on a planet that a few years ago was nothing but barren wasteland.

'You know, I never thought I'd ever, ever say this, but...Gallifrey, I am very proud of you.'

The speech, no matter whether improvised or not, would appear word for word in many a history book for centuries.

And for once, what the Doctor had told the people of Gallifrey, would not be forgotten or waved off as nonsense. For once, they remembered and tried to continue 'making the Doctor proud', as the saying would later become.

The Doctor herself? She just laughed at that, shook her head and jumped back into her TARDIS to save the universe again. Sometimes, she would take River with her, sometimes Jenny or Susan or Sarah Jane, or Benjamin and her grandchildren. Sometimes, she would go off alone and find a new friend along the way, to eventually bring home and meet 'the family'. She knew, now, what she had been running towards for all those years.

It was what they had all finally found, even if they hadn't even known they were looking for it.

River. Romana. Susan. Sarah Jane. The Doctor.

It had taken a long, long time but they had finally found it.

Friends.

Family.

Home.