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Chapter 16 - Chapter 16 - Family Meeting

Arles stood at the kitchen island sipping a cup of tea. No one there would have guessed he had been suffering from a terrible hangover earlier from the amount of noise coming from their guests. Rose sat next to Genie at the bar, laughing hysterically about something with her. Legate leaned on the cabinet, across from them, smiling and sipping a cup of tea. The Doctor stood next to Lewis and another Legate at the end of the island.

As soon as Samuel stepped in, the room all greeted him. Lewis sat down his coffee and met him. "And this young man and I have a bet to settle."

Rose smiled, "What was the bet?"

Legate the Third, who had the sleeves of his jumper pulled up to revel his tattoo, smiled proudly, "Lewis found out that Sam is a hell of a lot stronger than he looks."

Lewis handed Sam the cash he owed him. "Yes, I did. And I'll admit, I believe I'm going to be sore as hell after trying to keep up with him."

Arles laughed. "He can out do me in everything."

Sam pointed at his brother. "You seem to be harboring some annoyance."

"No, I seem to be rooming with annoyance."

Sam nodded his head. "I think you need a cheese smack."

Arles grinned, "Better idea. A cheese salute!"

Sam looked back at Legate and smiled. "Yes! Indeed!"

Genie laughed and covered her face. "Oh my God."

Legate the Third shook his head in disapproval. "Really? Must we do this?"

Sam pulled out a slice of cheese from the fridge. "There are two here, so I will join you my brother."

Arles sat down his tea and stood in front of Sam. Genie laughed under her breath and the room watched as Sam broke the thin slice of cheese in half, and then slapped a half to his and Arles' foreheads. They turned to Legate the Third and recited together with their fists over their hearts. "Oh, mighty King Legate."

Legate rolled his eyes and groaned. "Every time."

They continued. "We are but your humble servants."

Sam continued, "See our offerings of your most beloved snack of Terra."

Arles finished, "Forgive us for not bringing chocolate."

They both bowed and the cheese fell off of their heads.

Genie wiped her tears and continued to laugh with the rest of the room.

Legate chuckled. "Cheese is better with chocolate, you nutters. Do we have to do this every morning?"

Legate the Second laughed with them. "Good to see I have this to look forward to."

Lewis laughed. "Ah, Legate is loved."

Legate the Third sipped his tea, "Means I'm part of the family."

Arles pointed at him. "That is does! King Legate-"

"That doesn't even sound right." Legate the Third insisted.

Sam added, "No pressure, your majesty."

Legate groaned.

Rose giggled at him. "You are such a good sport, Legate."

"I've found if I just let them get it out of their system, first thing, they leave me alone the rest of the day."

Sam crossed his arms and looked back at his brother. "We're losing our touch."

"Yes. We've been too distracted." Arles agreed and made Sam a cup of tea.

The Doctor crossed his arms and looked back at Rose. "They are mad. Clearly Tylers."

"And that makes me so proud." She giggled.

Arles handed Sam his cuppa. "There you are, love."

"Thanks dear." Sam replied.

Legate rolled his eyes. "You lot."

Lewis pointed into the sitting room. "We have a lot to go over. Let's go someplace more comfortable."

They all moved into the sitting room. Genie sat on the sofa next to Rose and the Doctor. Legate the Third sat on the arm of the other sofa that Samuel and Arles sat on with Lewis. Legate the Second brought a stool from the kitchen and sat next to himself.

The Doctor picked up a file from the table that sat between them. "Well, first things first. I've spoken with Tony. Tony Tyler. He's fine, and has left Venniz-Beal."

Legate the Third nodded, "Yes. He and Poltious only just missed who they had gone there to see."

The Doctor continued. "They are tracking his movements and ….well, we'll get into that a bit later."

Genie asked. "Can we ring him? While he's out?"

"Sure." The Doctor told them. "In fact, I would encourage it. Might make him abandon this entire foolish idea and return home."

Sam exchanged a look with Arles. Genie noticed. Knowing that they had argued last night, she had wanted to speak to Sam before their Dad had arrived. She would just have to wait until later and hope Sam didn't get annoyed too much and storm out of the meeting.

"What's in the file?" Genie asked.

The Doctor sighed. "This, is answers, to a lot of questions I believe all of us have. I asked both Legates to be here because this concerns them, too."

He opened the file and put on his glasses. "First of all, each one of you has a letter from your Mum." He handed them all a sealed envelope with their names written on it in Rose's handwriting. "That's to be read later."

"How much later?" Arles asked.

"After the meeting. I have a letter here from myself that I'm supposed to read to all of you lot. It says the following:

Hello children. It is only me again. By now, I'm certain that you have all gotten settled in to your new surroundings. Some odd things have happened that you all need to be made aware of. Remember, all of this is subject to change. To a point.

It is both mine and the other version of myself's option that the TARDIS has been damaged rather severely. Without knowing it, certain systems leaked and bent time. The result of this has now created some….interesting situations.

First of all, you have all now separated from your other selfs. What does that mean? Well, you are no longer one person, but two. Genie falling and skinning her knee as a child, will have no affect on the adult Genie in any way. We've already seen this with Legate the Second getting injured in the bar fight with Lartius, but the other Legate has no memory of it happening. This confirms our theory.

Second, a much older version of all of you, are now here. And present in our lives. That also confirms this theory."

"Dad. Stop." Genie asked. "Does that mean that we don't make it home?"

He nodded at her over his glasses. "I'm getting there, Sweetheart."

He continued, "A much older version of all of you, are now here. And present in our lives. It is our estimation that the TARDIS taking so long to repair herself, and the before mentioned things, is what has caused this. After speaking to Genie here, we estimate you will remain there, in that time, for the next 8 years, 11 months and 3 days."

Genie covered her mouth and stood up. "I'm so sorry. Please, excuse me." She walked into the kitchen, clearly upset.

Arles and Sam looked at one another quickly joined her.

"Just a second, Dad." Arles insisted as he ran after her.

The Doctor took off his glasses and watched with Lewis and Rose as Sam embraced his sister and held her tightly. Arles joined them, and hugged her from behind. They quietly spoke words of encouragement to one another that only they and the Doctor could hear.

Legate the Third joined them, and stood next to the trio.

Rose said quietly. "They are so close."

"Yeah." The Doctor agreed.

Arles and Sam let go of Genie. Sam kissed her forehead and said something that made her laugh.

Lewis rubbed his lip, watching the scene. "I wonder what they are saying."

The Doctor looked back at his friend. "Imagine the kindest words, you have ever heard." He looked back at them. "They are going to be alright."

Rose put her hand on his thigh and covered her mouth. "They love one another so much."

Arles wiped Genie's tears from her eyes and kissed her cheek. He pointed at Legate and pat his back.

Legate grinned warmly at her and embraced her tightly.

The Doctor looked back at the other Legate, that still sat with them. "How are you with this?"

Legate the Second held up his hands. "Very little good will come from getting upset about things you can't change. At least they are all together."

"That's just what you said in there-" The Doctor told him.

"That's not me. That's Legate the Third. I'm my own man."

The Doctor nodded. "That's right. Sorry."

Legate shook his head and looked disappointed.

Rose noticed. "What's wrong?"

He rose his eyebrows and looked surprised. "Nothing. I'm sorry. I'm tired. Logan and I trained together this morning."

"Is that code for drinking?" Rose teased.

He looked back up at her and smiled. "We had a few last night. Yeah. But, not too much."

She smiled, "The Doctor had to do that, odd thing to Legate when we got here. He said he fell in a bottle last night."

Legate the Second smiled, "I bet he did. Lucky bastard."

Lewis pointed at him. "You need to sleep."

Legate the Second rubbed his face. "I need some coffee. Anyone else?"

The Doctor nodded. "If you're getting up. Yeah."

Legate walked into the kitchen and made him and the Doctor a cup of coffee. By the time he was back, the others had come back into the sitting room and had braced themselves for what could be said next. Genie now sat between Arles and Samuel, holding their hands in her own. Legate the Third, sat across from them on the sofa beside of Rose. He rest his elbows on his knees, not taking his eyes off of Genie.

The Doctor put back on his glasses and continued to read the letter.

"Genie, don't worry about your school. In fact, it is so completely successful that I'm sure you would be very proud. It's in the best hands you could imagine. Your own. Now, I just have to keep my hands off of it."

Genie grinned in spite of herself.

"It is still my recommendation that you should avoid your younger versions, although touching one another doesn't seem to be any problem in the event that's needed."

"That's all I have for now, but I promise to be in touch. Your mother has also written each one of you a letter, and has asked me to have each one of you read it in private. You are welcome to write her, or me, at any time. The younger version of me will know how to get it to us."

He took off his glasses and closed the file.

Genie took a deep breath, picked up her envelope from Rose, and looked sadly at the handwriting.

"I suppose, we should decide how to explain who you all are." Rose suggested.

Sam rose his eyebrows. "You mean the press. Right?"

"Well, it's bound to come up. We should have a common story at least."

Arles shook his head. "Can't we just….keep it completely quiet. Be, no one?"

The Doctor chewed on his glasses. "That's interesting."

Lewis agreed. "Arles is right. They don't have to announce anything. They are simply the officials of the school. That's how you know them. And that should keep them far enough apart that it won't cause much problem."

The Doctor nodded. "That could work. But, their names."

Arles grinned. "I'm Les. He's Sam, and she's Sara. That's sorted."

Genie hadn't looked up from her envelope. Legate the Third still hadn't taken his eyes of concern off of her. "Genie?"

She looked up and nodded. "I'm alright, Legate."

Rose looked over and saw the Doctor chewing on his glasses. She grabbed them from him. "Stop that."

"What?" he asked.

Rose held her hand out to them, as if to tell him to finish.

He sighed. "And your Mum believes it would be a good idea for all of us to go to Caihiri."

"What? When?" Sam asked.

"Tonight." She told them.

"I'm sorry, I'm busy tonight." Sam told them immediately.

"Me, too." Arles told them.

Genie looked back at Sam. "What are you doing?"

"Not going to Caihiri!" Sam told her.

Legate the Third ran his hand through his hair. "I'm sorry, but I need to remain here with Genie."

Lewis groaned, "Yes. Lartius is coming to meet with Ashena. He wants to see the school and have a meeting with the pair of them."

"Why?" Rose asked.

Legate shook his head and looked as if he couldn't imagine why Lartius would want to see her. "I believe it's to talk about the school. Possible Quauthin recruitment from here. He spoke to me about it last night."

Lewis nodded. "Yes. He mentioned that to me, too. Which works out great. With both Legates here, I can go with John to Caihiri. I know the Guard will be in four, very capable hands."

The Doctor rubbed his lip. "Well, I can't go against the King's ruling on that. His schedule is much more busy than my own."

Arles rubbed his hands together, "Exactly, why are we going?"

Rose explained, "Your Dad and I talked about it last night and realized that we don't know a lot about any of you lot. I believe it would be a good idea for everyone to go to Caihiri, relax, and get to know one another."

Sam looked back at Arles and groaned.

The Doctor looked back at Lewis and narrowed his eyes in annoyance. "We can leave this afternoon-"

Arles shook his head. "I'm sorry. We're busy."

"Get un-busy." The Doctor insisted.

Rose held her hand out to stop him. "Alright. Compromise. Can you guys leave tomorrow morning?"

Sam crossed his arms. "How long will we be there? I need to check on Lance's arm anyway."

Rose looked back at the Doctor. "Ummm…"

The Doctor looked back at her. "How long?"

Rose made her decision. "Two days. That will get me back here in time for that lecture."

The Doctor agreed. "Your mother has made the decision."

Sam looked back at Arles and rolled his eyes.

Lewis clapped his hands together. "Alright! That's sorted. Good meeting, team! Any questions?"

Sam shook his head, "No, Papa. Everything is very clear." He stood up and walked into the kitchen.

Genie sat back and shook her head. She said quietly under her breath. "Sam."

Sam made himself a cup of tea.

Rose pat the Doctor's leg. "Give me a minute with him."

The others in the sitting room went back to their conversations.

Rose walked into the kitchen. "Sam?"

He looked back up at her. "Yes, Mum. I'm sorry, I should make you a cup of tea."

She smiled. "Thank you, Sam. That would be nice."

He quickly made her a cup and sat it on the island bar in front of where she sat. He took his own and stood across from her, leaning against the cabinet. He crossed his legs and sipped his own cup. "That's still how you take it, isn't it? Let me know if it's not right."

She sipped her tea and nodded. "It's perfect, Sam. Thank you."

He nodded and sipped his own.

"You look like Tony standing there like that." She smiled.

He smiled. "I don't think I've seen him sit down too many times when he eats."

She laughed. "I have. Once. We were at a dinner at the White House."

He smiled, "I have seen him sit down and eat there. Yes."

She sipped her tea.

"I remember, once when I was very young. He was trying to keep me from running out a room. He was sitting in a chair and threw his arm out to catch me."

"What were you running from?"

He shook his head. "I don't remember. Anyway, he threw his arm out to grab me and I flipped the chair over with him in it. Busted the back of his head open. Blood went everywhere."

"Oh my God!" Rose exclaimed.

"I've always felt bad about it, but he told me later that he was sure that he felt worse. The look on my face, knowing I had hurt him….he said it was something he would never forget."

"You two sound close."

He sipped his tea and nodded. "Yeah."

The Doctor walked into the kitchen. He put his hand on her back. "I'm sorry, Rose. We need to go. We'll be late."

She turned and looked at him. "Have a great time. Please be careful."

He grinned at her. "I'm going to show that Stark how to drive."

She laughed. "Really, be careful."

"What are you doing? You should come with us." Lewis told her as he walked into the room and handed Samuel his tea mug for him to set in the sink.

She shook her head. "No. I need to go see Howie and Caroline with Dad. But, I need to go home and change first."

The Doctor nodded in approval. "Alright. Well, tell Pete I mean it. Stop bloody ringing me to come to work."

"Phhh…..that's all you." She laughed.

He grinned. "Fine." He leaned in and kissed her lips quickly.

He looked up at Sam. "And Sam."

"What time are we leaving then?" Sam asked.

The Doctor sighed and put his hands in his pockets. "What would be best for you?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Ask Arles. I can work with whatever."

The Doctor nodded. "Okay."

Sam sipped his tea, "Okay."

The Doctor stood and looked at him for a bit, then turned to walk out of the flat with Lewis and Legate the Second.

Rose sat at the island, looking at amazement at her son. "You can work with whatever?"

Samuel sat down his tea. "This is how this works. I tell him an answer, and he'll correct it and tell me I'm wrong. Just like the thing with Genie. He'll find a way to prove that wrong."

Rose held her head in her hands and groaned. "Damn it. Genie. He was supposed to tell you lot about that."

Sam shook his head. "Tell us what?"

Rose turned around. "Arles and Genie. Can you please come in here?"

Legate the Third came with them. He pointed at himself as he caught Rose's eye.

She nodded, "You should hear this, too."

He shrugged his shoulders and leaned against the cabinet next to Sam. He looked back and asked him quietly, "You alright?"

Sam shook his head. "I'm always alright."

Rose was shocked to hear those words. Samuel had never looked, or sounded more like his father, the entire short time she had known him.

He picked back up his tea and noticed his mother looking at him. "What?"

She smiled and shook her head. "Nothing."

Arles stood on the other side of Sam and pat his shoulder encouragingly.

Genie sat down at the island next to her Mum. "What is it?"

"Umm….Genie." She turned to face her and took her hand in her own. "Your Dad was supposed to tell you about this during our meeting this morning."

"Tell me what?"

"Sam, ran some tests on you."

She smiled, "Yes. And I'm not going to get sick. I'm so relived!"

Rose smiled, "Me, too. But, that's not what I was talking about. He said that you, now, as a child are half human and half Rixalarian."

She giggled, "I know that, Mum. I've always known that. Well, since I was about nine years old."

Rose continued. "But, somewhere between you, as a child….and now you, as an adult….it changed."

Genie was confused, "What? What do you mean?"

"The tests that Sam and your father did, both show that you, now, are 98% Rixalarian."

"What? 98% Rixalarian?" Genie asked and looked back at Sam.

Sam nodded. "Yes. I didn't tell you, Genie, because I wanted to be completely sure. And I knew Dad would be….Dad about it."

Legate held out his hand. "Wait. Just wait. Genie isn't human?"

Rose smiled. "No. She's Rixalarian."

Legate looked back at Sam. "Pinch me."

Arles rose his eyebrow at him. "Believe me. It's not a dream, man. It's been a hell of a morning already for that."

Legate held up his finger. "Just…..excuse me for a minute."

He quickly walked out of the flat and shut the door. No one understood what he said, but the yells of excitement and joy made them all laugh.

Sam laughed, "And will you tell him 'yes', now?"

"I already did." Genie giggled.

Sam and Arles looked at one another and erupted in celebration. "YES!" They both danced together in the silliest way that Genie had ever seen.

She laughed, "You are both such morons."

Sam turned and stopped abruptly when he saw Rose's face. "Oh. Shit! Mum is still here. Umm… excuse my language, ma'am."

Rose looked completely confused with a smile on her face, "It's alright."

Arles stopped dancing, too. Put his hands in his pockets and tried to look as if nothing had happened. He shrugged his shoulders and cleared his throat. "Ummm…. how about that? Genie is Rixalarian. Life expectancy on that is what, Sammy?"

"A long ass time." Sam said, as a matter of fact. He looked back at Rose and held up his hand. "Forgive me, Mum. I didn't get a lot of sleep-"

Rose smiled at Sam's reaction to his swearing in front of her. "Right, guys. What is going on?"

Legate walked back into the flat. His hair stood on end and he looked happier than they had ever seen him in his life. He walked with a spring in his step and rubbed his hands together.

Sam held his hand out to him. "Hang on a minute."

Legate stopped in his tracks. "What?"

Rose sat back and crossed her arms. "What's going on with you being so excited about Genie saying 'yes'?" Then Rose realized what it might be. "OH MY GOD! YOU AND LEGATE!?"

Legate put his hands in his pockets. "Who told? I'm breaking an arm."

Sam and Arles pointed at one another. "He did."

Rose covered her mouth in shock and looked back at Genie. "Am I right?"

Genie took Rose's hands. "Yes. But, he would be in so much trouble if it was found out."

Legate leaned on the island and smiled. "Well, not anymore. Lartius has ruled that you and I, are protected from that."

Genie looked at him in surprise. "So, we can tell everyone?"

"Announce it to anyone you like. I'll be fine." He smiled at her.

Genie got out of the chair and threw her arms around Legate. He kissed her cheek and held her tightly.

Rose wiped happy tears from her eyes. "I love this! And that it's Legate!"

Legate and Genie looked back at her and smiled.

Sam looked back at Arles and pretended to cry. "It's just…so damn…."

Arles pretended to weep dramatically, too. "Special. And sweet."

Sam waved his hand in front of his face, "I have the vapors."

"As do I. I may never stop crying." Arles teased.

Genie shook her head at them. "Shut up."

Rose walked over to Genie and Legate and hugged them both. Then she realized, "Oh my gosh. Your Dad doesn't know!"

"Papa doesn't either." Arles insisted.

Rose smiled. "Oh, this is so good."

Arles narrowed his eyes at Rose. "What's on your mind there, Mum?"

She turned and looked at them. "He thinks it's you and Genie. And I'm still not completely forgiven him for forcing me into that damn pod against my wishes."

Sam grinned at her. "What are you saying?"

Rose crossed her arms. "I'm not telling him about this. Not at all. In fact, I'm going to fuel the fire that it's something much worse."

Sam laughed, "I love it! Yes!"

Arles wrapped his arm around Sam's shoulder. "Didn't I tell you we would be alright here? Mum is here! And she's exactly the way she is at home."

Sam sat down his tea and embraced Rose. Instead of feeling that rush of instant happiness, she was overcome with his feelings of relief, love and sadness. It surprised her. She didn't know what to do but to hold her son tightly in her arms. "Everything is going to be alright, Samuel."

Sam held her tighter and hid his face in her shoulder to keep anyone from seeing the tears come from his eyes.

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