Glimpses of Time
Chapter Nineteen: The Paternoster Gang
By Lumendea
Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who or any spinoff material, and I gain no income from this story, just the satisfaction of playing with the characters.
AN: I'm not sure how much I'll use the Paternoster Gang in this series, but I adore them, and it occurred to me that Rose and Jenny would probably get along very well. They are hands down my favourite part of the Moffat years.
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The parlor of the Paternoster House managed that perfect balance between elegance and welcoming that Rose had no idea to achieve. It was just as well that the TARDIS oversaw the interior of the TARDIS because Rose wouldn't have known what to do. Artistic or not, her preference for furniture was usually rooted in functionality.
"I made us some tea," Jenny Flint said. She came striding into the room with a tea tray in hand and a smile on her face. "Does the little one need anything?"
Rose glanced over at the bassinet beside her that was floating in the air as Jenny set out the tea. Inside, her youngest was sleeping peacefully, tucked under a blanket. The little Time Tot was still and quiet.
"No, she ate before we arrived, and she's still at the point of sleeping a great deal." Rose laughed a little. "I remember how worried the Doctor was with Astra over how much she slept."
"Well, you did say that Time Lords were created at an older stage of development," Jenny pointed out. She handed Rose her tea and settled back in her chair. "How a baby Time Lord should function would be a mystery to him." Jenny looked amused by the idea.
"True," Rose agreed. "But I suspect we have a bit of quiet before she needs anything. I hope you don't mind that I brought her out."
"Not at all! It is always to see how they are growing up," Jenny said softly. She smiled into the bassinet and cooed at the little infant inside. "Wasn't that long ago to us that the Doctor called on us to help with that horrible business with Astra."
"Yes," Rose agreed. Even years later, the memory angered her. At the time, she'd been so drugged and weakened that she couldn't fight back as she wished to. Only the knowledge of the temporal loop she'd been on the other side of during her uni years had helped her manage. "But no matter how much time passes, I'll always be grateful."
Jenny looked at Rose, and her expression softened. "I'm sorry, Rose. I didn't mean to bring up bad memories."
"It's not your fault, Jenny," Rose assured her. "It all worked out. In a life like ours, there isn't more that you can ask."
"Well, little Aurora is absolutely beautiful," Jenny said. Her eyes sparkled with amusement. "Finally, another blonde. Only took six tries."
Rose laughed at the observation. "I know! His brunette genes just dominate! Athena is thrilled that her baby sister is going to be blonde like her. At least until regeneration starts shuffling things."
Jenny shook her head, but the smile didn't leave her face. They slipped into an easy silence, and Rose could hear the voices of Vastra and the Doctor in the next room. It wasn't an argument, not yet at least, but certainly a spirited conversation. She shared a look with Jenny, and they both giggled.
"Ah, the pair of us," Jenny said. "Two women from London, Earth marrying ancient creatures."
"He might argue on the ancient," Rose replied. "But you aren't wrong. Earth girls, reeling them in with our charms and learning how utterly ridiculous they are."
"True," Jenny agreed. She shook her head fondly. "Last month, Vastra asked me to pose. She was at the easel, so I assumed she was painting."
"And she wasn't?"
"No, she was plotting out sites where attacks occurred," Jenny chuckled. "When she showed me, and I expressed my annoyance, she told me that I 'lit up the room' as if I hadn't been trying to stay perfectly still." Jenny huffed, but Rose could see the pleasure in the other woman's eyes. "He ever do things like that?"
"Sometimes, it varies by incarnation," Rose admitted. "His ninth self would get stroppy if I didn't play the violin while he was tinkering but didn't like to admit to it. With his last self, there are so many times I was sure he was paying no attention, but then he'd remember in exact detail everything I said." Smiling, Rose picked up her tea and took a sip. "He and Vastra share their tendencies to fixate on things they find fascinating."
"Part of why they're friends," Jenny observed.
Rose nodded, and they shared another look. It was more than that, and they both knew it. But discussion about the Doctor and Vasta's shared status as the survivors of a dead civilization was rare. Vastra's people would wake someday, hopefully, more peacefully than the last time, but Vastra would likely not be a part of that movement. She was already over 100 years old and about halfway through her lifespan. Just as well, given her adoration of Jenny. With the help of Strax, Jenny had undergone minor alterations which would allow the pair to live roughly the same amount of time. But Rose wasn't sure if Vastra would still be living by the time the Silurians woke in mass.
And she and the Doctor had their children, their precious Time Tots. But they'd never seen Gallifrey and, while connected to that world, weren't a part of it. Their family unit had its own culture, its own traditions and didn't worry about the rules of Gallifrey. All of their adult children knew Time Lord history and could speak the language, but they weren't a continuation of that culture. It was gone and they were allowing something new to take its place.
"Oh, Alice was here last week," Jenny said. "Came to shop for clothing and stayed for a few days."
"She does love Victorian fashion."
"Provided she can modify it," Jenny finished. "But she did help Vastra with her last case. It was a bit of a nasty one."
"I've not heard that story yet," Rose replied. "Sounds like I'd best give my daughter a call this evening. Did she look well?"
"She did, and she even allowed Strax to exam her," Jenny chuckled. "I hate to say it, but I think Alice is Vastra's favourite."
"That wouldn't shock me. Alice has always admired Vastra. I'm fairly certain it's where she got her taste in clothing from." Rose paused and looked at Jenny. "I hope she isn't overstepping in visiting so often."
"No," Jenny gasped. "Certainly not. We're always delighted to have her. And you know, Vastra. If she grew irritated with Alice, she'd tell her."
"That is true, but it's your home as well, and you're more than a bit nicer than your wife."
Jenny chuckled once more. "You aren't wrong, but no. We like it when your children visit." She nodded towards Aurora, who was still sleeping. "Brings a little excitement. And reminds us of how much work children are and why Vastra hasn't adopted every orphan that crosses her path."
"Still not interested then?" Rose gave Jenny a tongue-touched smile.
"No," Jenny said firmly. "No, Vastra and I are quite content with borrowing your children from time to time. Especially when they are full-grown and don't need looking after."
A soft sound from Aurora made both Rose and Jenny look over to the bassinet. Rose stood up and leaned over the bassinette to check on her daughter. Then the doors of the room flew open, and the Doctor stalked in with Vastra on his heels. Neither of them looked very happy.
"I still think you are mistaken, Doctor," Vastra said firmly. "The evidence simply doesn't support-"
"Maybe not," the Doctor huffed. He waved dismissively at Vastra and swept over to the bassinet. "Try it your way. Call me when it goes wrong, and I'll help you fix it." He didn't wait to see how Vastra would respond and instead plucked his waking daughter from the bassinet. His green eyes brightened and the scowl melted from his features. "There's my little sunshine. Did you have a good nap?"
"I will call Alice if it goes wrong," Vastra replied drily. She sat on the arm of the chair Jenny was sitting in. "She is much more agreeable than you."
"Yes, she is," the Doctor agreed as he started rocking Aurora. "And don't think I don't know that you're trying to make her your apprentice. It won't work. She's devoted to the Braxiatel Collection, and nothing will lure her here permanently."
"Oh, Doctor, I still have many decades in me," Vastra hissed. "I have no need of an apprentice just yet." Her eyes moved to the bundle in his arms, and she smirked. "And you keep seeing fit to reproduce, so Alice is not my only option."
Rose sat back down and looked over to Jenny. They both sighed softly and shared a smile over just how ridiculous the ancient beings they'd fallen in love with were.