Chapter 12

Nita approached her house. A van was parked outside on the street. Nita picked up a bottle of furniture polish. Susan popped up from the other side of the car, holding cleaning equipment.

"Hey boofhead! Get away from…"

"Watch it, Susan."

Susan's tone instantly changed. "Nita! I-I didn't mean to scare ya! I didn't recognize you in those clothes!"

"What the hell are you doin'?"

"Uh…just about to go in and clean your grandparents' house!" She indicated Nita's clothes. "You goin' colonial, huh?" She gave Nita a quick thumbs-up.

The front door opened and Grandad walked out, in a suit and tie. "Come on, you fellas, we'll be late for brunch." He glanced at his watch.

The rest of the family came out.

"Come on, Marjorie, they won't hold your reservations all day!" cried Grandma.

"John, have you seen my glasses?" asked Marjorie.

"They're in your suede jacket, honey," answered John. He was the first to notice Nita. "Nita. We thought you went time-travelling."

"You wore that time-travelling?" asked Grandma. "Where did you go, colonial times?"

"Thank goodness you guys are all back to normal," said Nita.

"Hey Nita, who're you supposed to be, that girl from The Man From Snowy River?" asked Grandad.

"Right. I just wanted to check on you. I gotta get back to the Doctor." She waved and turned away.

"I really like that hat, Nita."

"Thanks, Susan."

Meanwhile, the Doctor was deep in thought while waiting for Nita to return. He had kissed her! She had told him that she loved him! What would the Time Lords think? He found that he didn't' really care. He smiled as he realised that he was truly in love for the first time in his long life. Oh, he had been very fond of Sarah Jane, but this was different.

"So, you and Nita, huh?" Ace intruded on his thoughts.

"Uh…yes," the Doctor replied, sheepishly.

"Frankly, it came as a bit of a shock."

"Yes…well…I'm surprised myself. I never expected that to happen."

"So, what are you going to do about it?"

"I don't know. I'm terrified and excited at the same time."

"Have you spoken to her about it?"

"Well, I tried, but I stuffed up. But I think she knows."

"You need to talk to her properly about it. Let her know where she stands."

"I'll try. I just hope she comes back and I haven't messed things up too much."

Nita returned to the TARDIS. As she entered, she saw the Doctor at the console. Ace was nowhere to be seen.

"Doctor!"

"Nita!"

"You waited!"

"Well, of course! There's no TARDIS without you!" He walked up to Nita and hugged her. "I need you in my life, Nita."

"Oh, Doctor!"

"Marry me, Nita?"

"What?"

"A Time-Lord doesn't date. Courtship is a prelude to marriage. And I want to spend the rest of your life with you, if you'll have me."

"Oh." Nita silently asked herself if this was what she wanted when she imagined a relationship with the Doctor, and came to a realization. "Yes, Doctor, I will!"

Nita kissed him and the Doctor felt a great weight lift from his shoulders.

Ace appeared in the console room then. "All right, love birds, that'll do thanks. How was your family, Nita?"

"Everyone is back to normal! Mum's alive and married to Dad and Susan is my grandparents' housekeeper!"

"That's great! Now let's get going!" said the Doctor.

"So, Professor…where are we going now? Back to the future?"

"No. I think we spent enough time on earth lately! Time for a different planet!"

The Doctor input some co-ordinates into the TARDIS console and pulled the dematerialization lever. The Time Rotor started pumping and the Wooshing sound began as the TARDIS dematerialized.

The End