Gallifrey Falls No More
One might have thought that upon saving Gallifrey and the Time Lords, that the Doctors and Hatters would have immediately dashed off to have some sort of mad, wild celebration between themselves, perhaps even amongst some of their old friends...but that is not what happened. Instead, they settled on something closer to having a low-key tea party in the middle of the National Gallery of London, standing within a slightly more private area of the Gallery where the Gallifrey Falls painting had been placed on display, three TARDISes sitting parked behind them. Personally, the Eleventh Hatter couldn't think of a better way to celebrate their victory then this.
The brunet Time Lady sat on the low bench with a tea cup covered in little roses held in her hands, smiling gently as she watched Astra laugh and giggle as she dashed around the room, while the Tenth and Eleventh Doctor lightly chassed after her, purposely not quite managing to keep up with the toddler...Astra suddenly squealed in delight as she found herself being swopped up in the arms of the Tenth Hatter, who had snuck up on the Time Tot when she had been busy looking back over her shoulder. The Tenth Hatter grinned and twirled on the spot with the toddler in her arms.
"Got you!" she tickled Astra's sides as she did so, causing the little girl to almost snort in hysterical giggles, "Try and escape this!"
"Jen-Jen, help!" Astra squealed as kicked up her legs and squirmed in the Tenth Hatter's arms, "Help!"
Jen smiled at the sight, "I'm coming, Astra!" she called in the most brave, bold tone she could manage, marching forward to try and 'Help' her...
"Why didn't she ask me for help?" the Eleventh Doctor pouted as he came to stand next to the bench, though he watched Jen and the Tenth Hatter bravely, mockingly struggle against one another to 'Free' Astra, who's giggles and little excited squeals likely echoed throughout the entire gallery by now. He looked to the Eleventh Hatter, frowning, "I'm the dad, she's supposed to call for me to help rescue her".
The Eleventh Hatter grinned up at him from over the top of her tea cup, "Yeah, but Jen's the one who can back flip down a hallway without blinking, sweetheart," she reminded him with an amused look, "I guess, in Astra's eyes, that makes her one pretty cool big sister".
He suddenly looked rather thoughtful, his eyes lighting up, "Maybe I could..."
"You are not back flipping down the hallway, Doctor. I forbid it".
"What? Why? I could do it..."
"Without breaking something, like your neck? I sincerely doubt that".
"From what I've seen of my future self..." the Tenth Doctor cut in suddenly, moving to step up beside his future self with a small, knowing smirk, "That's a very, very wise move, Hatter".
"Oi!" the Eleventh Doctor turned on him, fixing him with a rather disgruntled glare, "You're me, you're supposed to be on my side here!"
He merely gave him a cheeky grin and shrugged, lifting a tea cup covered in little irises up to his lips, "Nah," he shook his head, glancing over to the Eleventh Hatter and sending her an almost, dare she say it, flirty looking wink, "I'd rather be on the Hatter's side".
"I knew there was a reason I liked you," the Eleventh Hatter grinned broadly, and pointed at him, ignoring how the Eleventh Doctor positively gaped at his past self with a rather shocked expression, as if he simply couldn't believe what he was seeing right now.
He grinned smugly, "I noticed".
"Hey, watch it," the Eleventh Doctor gave him a sharp look, then, seemingly recovering from his shock. He narrowed his eyes warningly on the other man, "That's my Hatter; you flirt with your own".
"I don't mind, Doctor," the Eleventh Hatter said cheerfully, just to poke a little bit more.
"Hatter!"
"You're being very quiet," Clara's voice drew the Hatter's attention over to her left side, where Clara and the War Doctor were taking up the rest of the bench. They had been seemingly content to simply drink their tea and enjoy watching the actives of the others around them, but as the Time Lady eyed the War Doctor more closely, she realised that he did look curiously thoughtful, eyeing the Gallifrey Falls painting before them with a faint frown. Clara gave him a curious look, "You okay?"
The War Doctor sighed, almost warily, "I don't suppose we'll know if we actually succeeded," he remarked, glancing back to her, "But at worst, we failed doing the right thing, as opposed to succeeding in doing the wrong".
Clara stared at him in silence for a moment, her eyebrows lifted very slightly, "Life and soul, you are," she sighed, shaking her head very slightly...he blinked very slightly, making her smile and quickly take a sip from her tea cup.
"What is it actually called?" the Tenth Doctor asked with his glasses suddenly on, having apparently also been listening and now turned towards the painting, eyeing it with a frown.
"Well, there's some debate," the Eleventh Doctor told him, also regarding the painting with him...he was wearing his own glasses, now, and the Eleventh Hatter barely held back giggling at their little 'Twinning' moment. It was rather adorable. He eyed the picture thoughtfully, "Either 'No More' or 'Gallifrey Falls'".
"Well," the Tenth Hatter came to join them, her cheeks slightly flushed from mock fighting with Jen and Astra, her waistcoat slightly askew...she absently straightened it as she came to stand next to her Doctor, who immediately wrapped his arm around her waist. She gave the painting a slight grimace, "Both of those names are rather grim, aren't they?"
"Yes, quite," the War Doctor agreed with a sigh, "Not very encouraging".
The Eleventh Hatter cast him a sideways glance, her eyebrows lifting, "Mr Sunshine, indeed," she said with an amused lift to her lips, exchanging a look with Clara behind his back, just before Astra suddenly came dashing around the bench and positively threw herself into her lap, making her hastily have to lift up her tea cup, sighing in relief at the fact that it was mostly empty now as Astra, without any concern or hesitation, immediately settled herself comfortably on her lap. Ah, the ignorance of youth, "Astra..." she shook her head, giving the Time Tot a mildly scolding look, "Careful, please. Hot cups of tea, young lady".
"How did it get here?" the Tenth Doctor questioned as he continued to peer up at the painting, taking it all in.
"No idea," the Eleventh Doctor replied, frowning very slightly as he reached up to slip his glasses off, not taking his eyes off the painting.
"Now, isn't that just shocking?" the Tenth Hatter lifted an eyebrow, though she looked almost amused, resigned, most assuredly, but somehow amused by it, "I suppose the Universe has to keep a few little mysterious to herself, can't have us becoming to all knowing," she laughed very slightly as she looked to her future self, winking playfully at her, "I know for a fact the Doctor's ego couldn't handle that".
"I imagine not, my dear," the War Doctor smiled gently at her, his eyes warm as he regarded her...the Tenth and Eleventh Doctor exchanged a very slightly disgruntled look. He rose to his own feet, then, not even pausing as he absently slipped his teacup into his pocket, missing the rather odd look Clara shot him as he did so, "Well, gentlemen..." he looked to his future selves, giving them a friendly smile, "It has been an honour and a privilege".
"Likewise," the Tenth Doctor with a small incline of his head, flashing him a small smile.
"Doctor," the Eleventh Doctor added pointedly, nodding to him in return with a grin.
He smiled at them brightly, his eyes shining with something close to pride. At long, long last, he had earned back his true name in his own eyes, once again, and he could finally accept himself as the Doctor again. Gallifrey was safe, her people still out there somewhere right now, and the Hatter...his Hatter, was alive and well, waiting for a future version of himself to find her. All was right and well in his Universe. He turned, then, to look back to Jen and Astra, Jen having come to stand behind the Eleventh Hatter. His gaze seemed to linger on them.
"Astra, Jen..." he smiled softly at them, reaching out to place a hand on Jen's, "I very, very much look forward to meeting you both properly, but for now, all I can say is that you most assuredly take after your mother. And I can give no higher compliment then that, my dears".
"It was nice meeting you," Jen told him, smiling warmly at him, "And...I was wrong," her smile grew rather sheepish, her pale cheeks flushing a light pink blush of embarrassment, but she still held his eyes, "You are every bit my dad".
"My dear girl..." he shook his head very slightly, a look of almost wonder and quiet delight spreading across his aged features as he looked into her face.
"Old Daddy is sad?" Astra asked curiously, her little face screwed up with a puzzled, worried frown as she eyed him.
He laughed, while the rest of the room joined him, the Eleventh Hatter smiling widely and exchanging a fond look with her Doctor, who place a hand on her shoulder as they watched the exchange. The War Doctor gave the Time Tot a gentle, reassuring smile and shook his head again.
"Not at all, Astra," he said with a lightness to his voice. He suddenly looked physically decades younger, you could truly see just the sheer weight of grief and pain lifting from his shoulders, "In fact, quite the opposite. I haven't felt this...happy in many, many centuries..." he looked back to his past selves and the Hatters, his expression growing a touch sad as he looked at them, but even that couldn't take away the full weight of his happiness. He seemed to consider them briefly, his lips lifting up in a small smile, "I won't remember this, will I?"
"No," the Eleventh Hatter sighed wistfully, her own lips lifting up into a sad little smile, her eyes gentle and soft as she gazed at him, "No, you will not," she shrugged, almost helplessly, because that was how she felt...she was helpless to be able to prevent them from losing their memories, and the War Doctor, out of all of their past selves, deserved to remember this most of all, but there was no way she could allow him to do that. It was the price of time travel, "I am sorry, truly, but the time lines are out of sync, and the price of forgetting will ensure that this all comes to pass to begin with..."
The War Doctor frowned very faintly, his gaze dropping to the floor, "So I won't remember that I tried to save Gallifrey, rather than let it burn," he sighed sadly, his eyes lifting up to linger on the Hatters, his frown growing deeper, his voice heavy, "Nor will I remember that you're out there, Hatter, that you survived".
The Tenth Hatter glanced at her Doctor, her features briefly constricting with a look caught between being nauseated and pained, "No," her eyes closed for a moment, her voice barely a whisper, "You won't".
He was silent for a long moment, visibly swallowing, "I'll...have to live with that," he eventually said, even though it seemed to pain him to have to.
"Oh, Doctor..." the blonde Time Lady hastily stepped towards the man and threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly as he immediately brought his arms up to embrace her back. She hugged him tightly for a long moment, before finally pulling back to peer into his face, her own expression riddled with guilt and sorrow, "I am so incredibly sorry, I can't even begin to imagine..."
"My dear, Hatter," the War Doctor cut her off with a gentle, soft smile, "Please, no tears for me, I couldn't bare it. I may forget today, but we will be reunited again, and that is more than enough," he reached up to lightly pat her cheek, making the Tenth Hatter smile sadly at him, reluctantly dropping her arms from around him and stepping back to stand beside her own Doctor, who wrapped his arm around her waist. He turned to the Eleventh Hatter, then, giving her a bright smile, "And you".
"Me?" the Eleventh Hatter lifted an eyebrow. She gently lifted Astra off her lap and stood, placing the Time Tot back onto the bench, before turning to approach the physically older man, stopping just a step away from him. She gave him a very slightly teasing smirk.
He shook his head lightly at her, "Even after all these centuries, you still continue to find new ways to surprise me," he told her, laughing very slightly, "I owe you much, Hatter, endlessly and eternally, I think my debt to you will never be fulfilled..." he held up his hand quickly when she opened her mouth to protest, giving her a suddenly stern, if very slightly amused smile, "Now, let me finish. Thanks to you, I am, once again, the Doctor, and Gallifrey and our people are safe. You saved me from doing something truly horrific, and for that saying 'Thank you' is far less then you deserve".
"Don't be absurd, Doctor," she said firmly, though she was smiling, her cheeks tinged pink, "You would have made the right choice without me, because we both know your hearts were never truly set on it. I just...helped, a little bit," she shrugged lightly, almost dismissively, before her smile grew into an almost teasing smirk, "And as for thanking me, or this nonsense about having a debt? Honestly, Doctor, that's just called marriage or friendship," she playfully rolled her eyes at him, laughing very slightly, "There's no debt between us and even if there was, the many centuries of affection, good humour, and the family we have, or rather we will have, would most assuredly have paid for it well before now, but if you wish to thank me in the one and only way I will accept it...then you had best hug me. Now".
The War Doctor laughed, making her grin widely at him as he brought his arms up to hug her tightly, the Time Lady positively squeezing him back in return. He smelt like leather and dust, but there was still that scent that was pure Doctor to him, a scent that never, ever changed, no matter what body he might be in. She briefly closed her eyes as she let him hold her, acutely aware of the fact that he would have another century ahead of him before he would find her again, another century full of pain and misery, isolation and pain, and so many other terrible, horrible emotions, but while she might not be able to change that, in this moment he was happy and she took heart in that. He eventually pulled back from her and she gave him a soft smile, not stepping back quite yet. She brought her hands up to cup his face, before pressing a tender kiss to his forehead, and finally pulling back, dropping her hands from him.
"Goodbye, Doctor," she said quietly, stepping backwards, until she was beside her own Doctor. She gave the War Doctor a sad little smile, "Sleep well, my sweetheart".
His eyebrows lifted very slightly at her words, likely puzzling over the meaning behind it, but it was quite plain to see that the meaning behind them escaped him. He turned away from them and paused to give Clara a small smile, inclining her head towards her.
"Goodbye, Miss Oswald," he said politely to her.
Clara hastily rose from the bench she had been sitting on, sitting her tea cup back on it as she straightened, "Goodbye, Doctor," she said with a smile in return, "Best of luck".
The War Doctor glanced thoughtfully over to where the three TARDISes where parked, lifting his eyebrows up, "Which one is mine?" he looked playfully back to his future selves.
The Tenth and Eleventh Doctor hesitated; exchanging a slightly bemused look as they slowly looked back over towards the TARDISe, almost awkwardly eyeing the rather shabby, scratched up and even slightly burnt TARDIS that had been parked nearest to them. It wasn't exactly hard to tell...the blue box truly did look like it had been through war and back again. The War Doctor laughed at their faces, even Astra giggled. He gave the Eleventh Hatter a wink as he walked passed them and over to his rightful TARDIS, swiftly unlocking the door and opening it was a squeak, disappearing into the time machine. They watched as a moment later, a gentle breeze filled the air and a loud wheezing noise followed as the time machine began to dematerialise. Soon enough, the TARDIS was gone and the wind and wheezing faded into nothing. The Eleventh Hatter's eyes lingered on the spot.
"He's going to regenerate, isn't he?" Clara broke the silence, watching the Time Lady with a small frown.
"Yes," she sighed, closing her eyes, pained. All by himself, alone and without her there to take care of him, to hold his hand..., "Yes, he will".
"It turned out alright," the Tenth Doctor said reassuringly, making her open her eyes to find him giving her a gentle, comforting look. He smiled, "Better then alright, actually..." he glanced at the Tenth Hatter and his entire face lit up, positively shinning with love.
The Tenth Hatter rolled her eyes, though she was smiling back at him, "You're such a romantic," she muttered.
He grinned widely, though it slipped very slightly as he reached up to slip his glasses off, glancing knowingly back over to the Eleventh Doctor and Hatter, "We won't remember either," he remarked with a sigh, but his tone grew firmer as he eyed them, "So you might as well tell us".
The Eleventh Doctor glanced at his Hatter, "Tell you what?" he asked, giving him a small frown.
"The truth of where exactly you are going next," the Tenth Hatter replied instantly, eyes narrowed suspiciously, "The place you two evidently have little desire in discussing openly".
The Eleventh Hatter grimaced, her lips instantly pressing into a hard line, because it was completely true...none of them wished to discuss this, most especially not in front of Jen and Astra, even in front of Clara. She looked briefly over towards the girls; Jen and Clara were watching them, both of them seeming to understand, but neither of them looked happy. At least Astra seemed blissfully ignorant; she took some happiness from that. She turned her gaze back to their past selves and took a deep, steadying breathe.
"It was Trenzalore," she said at long last, her voice soft, barely above a whisper.
"And that is...?" the Tenth Hatter lifted her eyebrows, eyeing them both with a frown.
"It's where we...end up," the Eleventh Doctor said slowly, his eyes darting briefly over to Astra. He didn't want to say it, not in front of her, it was bad enough that they couldn't protect Jen from the full truth of it, but they could try and keep Astra oblivious. He licked his lips and turned back to face the Tenth Doctor and Hatter, turning his body very slightly, almost as if trying to block out Astra, Jen, and Clara from the entire conversation, "Our final resting place..." he grimaced, a flicker of pain crossing his features, "It happens during battle, apparently, amongst millions others".
"Battle?" the Tenth Hatter's eyes widened, paling slightly as she looked sharply to her own Doctor. She slowly reached up to tug at her bowtie, toying with it nervously, "That's...not how I would have chosen for it to all...end".
"Exactly," the Tenth Doctor agreed instantly, turning to frown deeply at their future selves, shaking his head, "That's not how it's supposed to be".
"That's how the story ends. Nothing we can do about it. Trenzalore is where you're going".
"But what about Astra?" the Tenth Hatter questioned sharply, giving them both an almost searching, half-pleading look, "What about Jenny? You...you have a family now, people to live and fight for, who need you to be there. You can't just...let it all end now".
"We've fought this for centuries," the Eleventh Hatter told her firmly, sighing heavily. Her expression filled with sorrow and regret, "We fought it even before we understood what we were fighting against, and we haven't exactly given up, we've just..." she hesitated, glancing sideways at her Doctor, her shoulders sinking as he meet her eyes with a sad look. She briefly closed her eyes, shaking her head, "There comes a time when even we can't fight any more, when the Universe and fate must come to pass. That time is on us right now, there's no more running".
"But the girls..."
"Will be okay," the Eleventh Doctor cut in quickly, smiling a tiny, sad little smile. He blinked and for a moment his eyes looked glossy with tears, but then it was gone, "It's not how we would have wanted it," he looked back to his Hatter, gazing at her, "Far, far from it, but we've planned for it. They will have each other, and all of our friends. They won't be alone".
"It's still not right," the Tenth Doctor shook his head, his jaw briefly locked tightly.
"No," he nodded, looking away from him, pained, "It isn't".
He inhaled deeply, something determined and fierce crossing his features, "Never say never," he said firmly, giving the Eleventh Doctor and Hatter something close to a glare, practically daring them to disagree with him...neither of them had the heart to, even though they both knew it was too late for all of that. Trenzalore was almost upon them. He suddenly smiled, then, though it looked very slightly forced, "Anyway, good to know my future...our future..." he looked pointedly to his Hatter, his smile growing softer, "...is in safe hands".
He reached out and took the Eleventh Doctor's hand, shaking it firmly as the Eleventh Doctor gave him a small grin, even though his eyes still remained wary and heavy. They exchanged a smile, before he turned to the Eleventh Hatter, releasing his future selves hand to take hers. He gave her a charming wink and brought her hand up to his lips, tenderly kissing her knuckles...the Eleventh Doctor rolled his eyes at him, while the Tenth Hatter looked amused.
"Hatter," he flashed her a brilliant smile, lowering her hand.
"Charming as always, Doctor," the Eleventh Hatter laughed, letting go of his hand.
"Always," he smirked, almost looking smug as he glanced back to the Eleventh Doctor, as if to check his reaction...the Eleventh Doctor crossed his arms across his chest and gave him a mock warning glare. He then turned to Clara, "Keep a tight hold on it, Clara," he pointed at her.
"Hmm?" Clara looked briefly thrown at being addressed, though she quickly recovered, hastily putting aside her tea cup and moving to stand again, "On it," she mocked saluted him, grinning at him.
"I'm sure you are," the Tenth Hatter shot the young brunet a wink, "And I very much look forward to meeting you, Clara, in the future. And as for you..." she turned back to fix the Eleventh Doctor with a look, smiling gently at him. She reached out to grasp his hand, "Farewell, for now, Doctor. It's been a delight, as always...I am quite the lucky girl," she gave her future self a knowing, cheeky wink.
"Yes, we are," the Eleventh Hatter smiled widely; looking proudly at her Doctor...she pressed a kiss to his cheek, making him grin widely.
"Goodbye...me," the blonde smiled brightly at her.
"Goodbye, younger me".
"Goodbye, Hatter," the Eleventh Doctor said softly, taking a small step forward to press a kiss in return to her cheek in farewell, before stepping back to stand by his Time Lady once more.
The Tenth Hatter gave them both one last brilliant smile, before moving to join her Doctor, who had paused before Jen and Astra.
"This is the last time I'll ever see these versions of you, isn't it?" Jen frowned slightly as she eyed them.
"Yes," the Tenth Doctor nodded, any hint of a smile utterly gone from his features as he regarded her and Astra closely, almost seeming to be trying to memorise them, "I think so".
"But we're not gone," the Tenth Hatter said quickly, smiling, even though her eyes looked suspiciously glossy all of a sudden. She reached out and took Astra's little hand, before taking Jen's hand in the other, giving them both a sweet smile, "We're still here...just with different faces. It's not really goodbye".
"Kind of feels like it is," Jen sighed.
"Oh, Jen..." she shook her head, and leaned forward to press a kiss to the top of her head, before moving to do the same to Astra. She leant back and blinked rapidly, trying to stop tears from falling.
"It'll be alright," the Tenth Doctor told them, kissing Jen's forehead, and then Astra's, giving them both a tender, gentle look as he leant back from them, "You're our girls, how could you be anything but?"
"I'll miss you, Mummy and Daddy," Astra piped up, giving them both a bright smile, though she kicked her legs slightly, "I'll never forget you".
The Tenth Hatter laughed, "You truly are so very precious, Astra," she sniffed very slightly, "I so very, very much look forward to being your mummy, darling".
"And your daddy, Astra..." the Tenth Doctor added, giving her a broad smile, "My littlest star".
"Goodbye, Mum, Dad," Jen gave them a small smile, lifting her head higher, "For now, anyway".
"For now," the Tenth Doctor winked at her, and reached out to take the Tenth Hatter's hand. They turned and began to walk over towards their TARDIS, slipping his hand inside his pocket for his key as he did so, "Trenzalore," he almost seemed to test out the word on his tongue, frowning thoughtfully as he looked back over to the Eleventh Doctor and Hatter, giving them a look, "We need a new destination, because..." he grimaced, pushing the door open, "I don't want to go".
He gave them one final sad look, utterly missing the way that the Eleventh Doctor winced and the Hatter sighed, a flicker of pain crossing her face. He slipped inside the time machine and the Tenth Hatter followed him, shutting the door behind her. A moment later the time machine began to dematerialise away, sending a wind through the room that ruffled their hair and clothing, along with the familiar, lovely groaning noise. Slowly, even that began to fade as the slightly muted blue box disappeared.
"He always says that," the remaining Doctor muttered, though he looked rather sad.
"Why to go shattering my hearts all over again," the Hatter grumbled with a sideways, pointed glare at him, frowning, "The first time was bad enough".
His lips lifted a tiny bit, "Sorry, dear," he reached out and took her hand, squeezing it as her glare melted away, replaced by an affectionate eye roll. He sighed slightly, then, and lightly turned them so that they were facing the painting of Gallifrey once more, his eyes roaming over the canvas with a searching look.
"Need a moment alone with your painting, Doctor?" Clara teased lightly, watching him with a knowing look.
He smiled wider this time and glanced over his shoulder to her, "How did you know?"
"Those big sad eyes," she smirked slightly, giving him a pointed, amused look.
"Ah".
"Plus..." she shrugged, stepping closer to them to lightly nudge the Hatter's arm, making the Time Lady lift an amused eyebrow at her, "I knew it couldn't be the Hatter's. She's a rubbish painter..."
"Guilty," the Hatter held up a hand and nodded, not in the least bit offended.
She grinned and twirled on her heel to practically skip away from them, Jen with Astra now in her arms turning to follow her over towards the TARDIS, the last one left in the room, evidently deciding to let their parents have this little moment alone. Clara paused and spun back on her heel, just before she reached the box, however.
"Oh, by the way..." she called back over to them, causing the Time Lords to turn back around to her...Jen had already reached the TARDIS doors and was unlocking it with her key from around her neck, while Astra eyed the gold chain with magpie eyes, "There was an old man and woman looking for you two. I think he said he was the curator, she said something about being the director?"
The Doctor gave her a thumbs up in understanding, while the Hatter's eyebrows rose in surprise. Now what could they have down to earn the attention of the curator and director of the museum? She almost felt as if she was being called into Borusa's office...still, she nodded to Clara and wiggled her fingers at Astra, who was peering over Jen's shoulder to them as she was carried inside the time machine, Clara following behind them and shutting the door behind her. Alone at long last, they turned their attention back to the painting, moving to sit together on the empty bench before it to better admire it.
"You truly did a wonderful job, Doctor," the Hatter said softly, her eyes tracing over the image that had been captured so perfectly in paint, so real and lifelike. It may have been a terrible sight to behold, but she could still admire the work that the Doctor had done, his ability to paint had always been something she had greatly admired, given how lacking she was in such talents.
"I painted it during the early days," the Doctor sighed heavily, peering at the painting with heavy, sad eyes, "It was...an attempt to release as much emotion that I could, in the only form I felt safe enough to".
"Did it help?"
"Not really, but it kept me busy for a little bit, which I suppose was a form of therapy".
She smiled sadly and tilted her head, until it came to rest against his shoulder, "My humble artist," she teased gently, just in a mere attempt to relieve some of the heaviness that had fallen over the air. It wasn't really a time to be sorrowful, not when they now knew the truth.
He grinned, she could practically feel it, and angled his head sideways to rest against hers...it caused her hat to slip sideways on her head, but for once she kept her complaints about it silent, "Maybe that's what we could do, Hatter," he said with a brightness that didn't match with his previous air, "We could start up a gallery together, I could be the curator!" she smiled, turning her head to press her face into his neck, listening to his voice rumble through his throat, "I'd be great at curating..." he suddenly held up his hands, splaying them through the air as he said, proudly, "I'd be the Great Curator! We could retire and I'd do that, while you could manage the joint. You're great with paperwork; dear...we could retire and run this place, even! Me the curator and you...you could be the director!"
She laughed with his silly, childlike glee at the idea, pressing a small kiss to his neck as he babbled on excitedly, getting utterly swept up by the fantasy of it all...
"You know," a deep, cheerful and oh, so very familiar voice spoke from behind them, "I really think you might".
That voice...they instantly froze, because that voice...they both knew that voice so very well, even though it had been centuries since either of them had last heard it, since it had last been spoken from the Doctor's very own lips, but it was the sort of voice that was just instantly recognisable, the sort of deep, warm voice that had sense of bright, wild energy coursing through it.
"As far as plans go..." a second feminine voice came, then, lightened by gentle amusement, but it was a voice they both still recognised, too, even though it was perhaps less memorable then the man's, to them both they knew it well, "I think it sounds truly great. I'd highly recommend it".
"That's not...possible..." the Hatter breathed in wonder, slowly lifting her head from the Doctor's shoulder, her mouth suddenly dry.
"Since when was anything in this Universe truly impossible?"
The Hatter swallowed, hard, and turned her head to look over towards where the voices had come from. A man and woman stood there, watching them with knowing little smiles on their lined features. The man was tall, though now stooped very slightly from age, his face lined with deep wrinkles and his brilliant, wide blue eyes hooded very slightly with skin, his hair, which was clearly once wild with curls, was now a snowy white and more fluffy then curly. He was dressed in dark moron trousers and a white linen shirt, while a brown blazer rested over it, a walking cane held in one hand, while the other was held by the woman beside him. She looked as elderly as him, grey hair twisted up into a small bun at the base of her neck, while a pair of black rimmed glasses rested on the bridge of her long nose, bright brown eyes glowing with amusement held behind them, and skin lined with lines, mostly around her lips and eyes from smiling, it would seem. She was wearing a pleated, dark grey skirt that fell just passed her knees and a pair of black, lace-up Oxfords, while a white blouse with a black trimmed collar was tucked into the skirt. A small, black pillbox style hat sat on her head and a Gallifreyan signet necklace fell down her front from around her neck.
"I never forget a face," the Doctor said slowly, eyeing the pair with a knowing look as he and the Hatter stood from the bench, stepping closer to them.
"I know you don't," the 'Curator' nodded, smiling at them with the face of a much older Fourth Doctor, "And in the years to come, you might find yourself revisiting a few..." he gave them a pointed, knowing little look, "But just a few of the old favourites, eh?"
The Doctor grinned at him and winked, while the Hatter simply looked between the pair in wonder and delight, unable to quite believe what she was seeing before her. It was just...amazing, honestly, it was, she was truly delighted to see the Fourth Doctor, he had always been something of a dear favourite of hers...if she had to have a favourite, while her own past self, the Second Hatter, smiling cheerfully from beside the elderly Forth Doctor, had always been such a refreshing delight. She was the Hatter who had truly shaped how she wanted to be, the one to get out of Gallifrey and to just run free throughout the Universe for the first time, full of so much life and freedom and childish sprite. Blimey, she missed being her.
"So..." the 'Director' lifted her grey, still rather thick and full eyebrows at them, turning pointedly to gaze at the painting, causing the others to do the same thing, "I do believe you were rather curious about this very special painting, yes?" she eyed the painting with a thoughtful, if very slight smirk, "Truly remarkable and mysterious, by far the most curious of all the pieces held within this gallery...I am rather curious about what you make of the title?" she glanced sideways to the Doctor and Hatter, then.
"Exactly which title are you referring to?" the Hatter asked her with a slight narrowing of her eyes, regarding the elderly woman closely, "We were under the impression that it held two names, 'No More' and 'Gallifrey Falls'".
"Oh, my dear, Hatter..." the old man smiled gently, shaking his head, "Surely you, of all people, have figured that out? No?" he shrugged dismissively before she even had a chance to open her mouth, frowning very slightly at him in confusion...the 'Director' didn't bother to hid her amusement, "It matters little, I suppose, after all, everyone else gets it wrong, too..."
"It isn't simply two different titles," the 'Director' cut in, grinning widely at the Doctor and Hatter, brown eyes glinting almost playfully behind her glasses, which she pushed back up her nose as they began to slip, "Rather, it is one title, just one name, meshed together...'Gallifrey Falls No More'".
The Doctor blinked slowly in realisation, his lips parting slightly in wonder, while the Hatter's eyes widened and she gasped, her hand, not held by the Doctor, flying up to press against her lips. Oh, oh...wow, this was...quite possible, really, really massive.
"Now," the 'Curator' watched them with a mock air of thoughtfulness to him, "What would you think that means, eh?"
"That Gallifrey didn't fall," the Doctor breathed in wonder and shock, a smile slowly spreading across his face, his eyes lighting up in pure delight...he looked to the Hatter, almost dazzlingly her with an excited grin, "It worked, Hatter! It's still out there!"
The Hatter could barely breathe, she just...she didn't know what to do, a part of her wanted to dance around the room, another part of her wanted to grab him and kiss him utterly senseless in her joy, instead she settled on grabbing the Doctor's shoulders and bouncing up and down on the spot, throwing her head back and laughing as he joined her, the two of them practically dancing and bouncing on the spot.
"I'm only a humble curator," the 'Curator' said suddenly, though he was smiling widely as he watched them celebrate, which they both stopped abruptly, looking back to him, "I'm sure I wouldn't know..." he shook his head dismissively and turned to walk away from them, almost seeming ready to leave, the 'Director' moving to follow him out...
"Oi!" the Hatter levelled them both with a sharp look, "Don't just walk away after dropping that news, Mr and Mrs Dramatic and Mysterious...Where is Gallifrey?"
"Now, that is the question, isn't it?" the 'Director' turned back around to face them with far too much agility for a woman seemingly of physically eighty. She lifted her eyebrows knowingly, grinning brightly at them, "Where is Gallifrey...? Gone? Lost?" she winked at them, suddenly glancing back to the 'Curator,' "Oh, but we shouldn't hold either of you up, you have so much to do, so many adventures and laughs and tears ahead of you, and we are merely holding you up..." she moved to turn away from them again.
"We have a lot to do?" the Doctor asked them eagerly, his eyes lighting up, hanging on to every word they were saying...the 'Curator' and the 'Director' exchanged a grin, nodding in unison to him. He looked quickly to his own Hatter, who was practically humming with excitement, now, "Is that what we're supposed to do now?" he looked between them, "Go looking for Gallifrey?"
"Oh, it's entirely up to you both," the 'Curator' told them with a broad smile, blue eyes twinkling, "Your choice, eh? I can only tell you what I would do if I were you..." he broke off with a laugh, shaking his head at himself, "If I were you," he gestured between himself and the Doctor, who laughed slightly too, "Oh, perhaps I was you, of course. Or perhaps you are me," he and the Doctor laughed together, nodding, when he held out his hand towards him, smiling widely, "Congratulations".
"Thank you very much," the Doctor grinned at him, accepting his hand and shaking it firmly.
"My dear, Hatter..." he turned to offer his hand to the Hatter, then, giving her an almost tender smile as she immediately accepted it, expecting him to shake it...but instead he brought it up to his lips, kissing it softly, almost feather light, before lowering it again without taking his eyes off hers.
"Thank you," she said with a smile, glancing across to the 'Director,' watching on with a practically glowing smile lighting up her face, "Both of you...thank you".
"Don't thank us yet," the 'Director' warned her, though she was still smiling, "This may all be utterly meaningless, you don't know for sure. No one does..."
"Who knows, eh?" the 'Curator' agreed, briefly pressing his fingers to his lips, lowering his head slightly as he looked between the Doctor and the Hatter with a pointed look, "Who..." he lifted his index finger up and pointedly tapped the side of his nose, giving them a look, "...knows?"
He dropped his gaze from them and turned away from them, the 'Director' sparing them one final smile and teasing wink, before allowing herself to be guided away, both disappearing from the room. The Doctor and the Hatter looked at each other with excited grins, before throwing their arms around each other, hugging one another tightly. Oh, neither of them truly believed it would be so easy, even if Gallifrey was to come back it would be far, far from ideal, truth be told, but they were very, very good at making plans and that was just what they would have to do.
They would be ready, whatever happened. Together.
...
"Clara sometimes asks the Hatter and I if we dream. 'Of course we dream,' we tell her. Everybody dreams. 'But what do you dream about,' she'll ask. 'What does everyone dream about?' the Hatter will ask her. 'It's the same thing that we all dream about, what we all long for,' she'll say with a laugh. We dream about where we're going. She always laughs at that. 'But you're not going anywhere, you're just wondering about'. That's not true. Not anymore. We have a new destination. Our journey is the same as yours, the same as anyone's. It's taken us both so many years, so many lifetimes, but at last we know where we're going. Where we've always been going. Home, the long way 'round".
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is officially the end of the Fiftieth Anniversary special. I so, so enjoyed writing this episode, I truly did miss writing for the Tenth Doctor and I have so dearly loved exploring the different relationships between all of these characters, it was such a fun ride for me as a writer to have to consider how different stages of the Doctor and the Hatter's lives would interact with characters like Jen or Astra, and just simply with each other, too. It was a lot of fun, but I'm happy to get back to the main story, which we're so close to being finished with and onto the Twelfth Doctor...I cried re-watching Eleven's regeneration scene, of course. The next great adventure awaits!
Let me know what you thought, thank you so much for your support and time. I look forward to seeing you again during the re-commencement of the main story in the very near future, so thank you all and I very dearly hoped you enjoyed this story as much as I did writing it.
Guest Reviews:
Izzy (1): I like Dan, he seems like a fun companion and I really hope he sticks around for the next Doctor. I'd love to know more about his past with his ex, I wonder if it's leading us to believe that he was a very different person back then and then changed. Either way, I really enjoy him.
Izzy (2): I also rather liked Karvanista's race, I enjoyed the play on the whole 'Man's best friend' thing they did there, I just kind of wish we had seen them before or gotten hints of them, but that's what happens when you have different writers for a show that's been going nearly sixty years. I hope we get to see more of Karvanista in the future.
Guest 14: Interesting points. I agree with you disliking Clara for seemingly being very much a catalyst for who the Doctor would become; I personally dislike that, myself. It made Clara seem a little above what she was supposed to be, which is a companion to the Doctor and a friend, but having her basically being shown as giving a child Doctor a talk about bravery and courage, which as the audience we're supposed to believe left a massive, lasting impact on the Doctor, just felt a little much to me. I like Clara, but she did kind of feel like her entire relationship with the Doctor was just inflated and made to be seen as something greater and more.
Yes, ratings have changed, but critics haven't, if anything they've only become greater and more accessible by people, and the very few critical videos that I have watched about the 13th Doctor have not painted her era in a very positive light. Of course, I'm probably going to get utterly attacked and accused of being a terrible person for making that remark, like last time, but let's leave it at that.
Guest (1): I love the idea of the Hatter meeting Swarm, because he would one hundred percent view her as being basically a child in his eyes, someone of utterly no importance to him, and the Hatter...I mean, people don't treat her like that. She's always walked into a room and had people's attention, even when she hasn't tried to get it, and she's never really had to try all that hard to be respected, especially by alien species. For her to basically just be dismissed would come as a real shock to her, then very swiftly indignation would likely follow, which only cause her to get more mouthy with Swarm. The poor Doctor, so many headaches just trying to keep the Hatter from getting disintegrated by annoying Swarm to much.
Guest (2): I actually really, really liked the Wheeping Angle's episode, it made me so excited to see the next episode and it actually gave Yaz and Dan something to do, and Yaz used her police skills! That made me so, so happy, like I actually felt like the companions were used for their purpose this episode and not just to be there to bounce off the Doctor or for comic relief. The episode wasn't without flaws, but I really liked it and it was probably my favourite of all the Flux season.
Guest (3): I think the Doctor would tell the Hatter about Division when she learns about it, I think she would even be hopeful that maybe the Hatter knew something about it. If she does, that remains to be seen...but the Doctor would be open with her about it, for sure.
Guest (4): I almost feel like it would be the Swarm who would find the Hatter instead of the Doctor if it had happened during season 13, or perhaps it would just have been a complete accident, but I also don't really it happening in season 13. I feel like there was too much else going on during that season for the Hatter to really come into play in it.
Guest 8: Allow me to try and explain better: Doctor Who has always been very, very political, of course it has, and as you pointed out, many episodes in the past have featured a political leaning and bringing to the forefront sensitive topics...but it is the way that it has been done that I was referring to. In the past, these things have been shown in a manner that doesn't make one for guilty or bad, it is done in a way that maintains the storyline without suffocating you with the true meaning of the story, but rather uses the plot to highlight what it is talking about, without shoving it in your face constantly and reminding you what it is about. It has been subtle and clever, using aliens and characters traits to show a political meaning, not just outright said the message and then continued to remind the audience throughout the entire episode, and then ending with a lecture, almost. That isn't clever, nor subtle, and it's not even very good writing. I personally don't watch a show to read between the lines of what it is telling me, I watch a show because I enjoy it and like the characters, if I wish to constantly have to think of a political subject then I would watch my countries Parliament question time and listen to the politicians bicker.
Guest 3: It does have a certain Classic Era flair to it, given that it is one long running episode set into episodes, which I'm okay with. I do kind of still feel like it was very packed, though, I feel like story lines could have been used better, but that's just me. The issue for me about the Sontaran's wasn't that they weren't written well, I liked them, it was the fact that their plot contained such a big plot hole that it made it hard for me to watch that episode without going 'Seriously? You're not even going to try and explain how that works?' Said plot hole was never addressed again or explained.
Izzy (3): I never heard that rumour about Bel and Vinder, but I can see how it came about. I was very suspicious of Bel for the longest time about just who she was, what her role actually was...I'm still not entirely sure what her role was, to be honest, but maybe I just need to watch the final again.
Izzy (4): Be careful what you wish for. That is a very dark idea, I'm happy they didn't show something like that, but what we got was just heartbreaking, so maybe a dash of both would have been better. Without the Doctor killing someone, though, because I've always found that just so disturbing to watch.
Izzy (5): My heart really did break hearing Tacteun say that to the Doctor, I just wanted to reach through the screen and slap her, then hug the Doctor. How devastating for her to hear something like that thrown at her face, because that was exactly how Tecteun treated her. I suppose the Doctor must have always hoped that perhaps she was loved and that it had been the Master just twisting the story, but nope. Just a horrible, abusive, terrible mother-figure.
Sam Fraser (1): I think I may have responded to this on my Tumblr.
Sam Fraser (2): I hate to think of the show as being broken, I don't believe it is, honestly. I still have hope for the show, I think that even with all that has happened Doctor Who can be better. It does rather make the whole tension around the Doctor regenerating ever again rather pointless, in the past we've had the fear of it not working, of it being refused, of it simply not being possible...we know now that the Doctor will always have the ability to regenerate, there's not much more to it than that.
Sam Fraser (3): No matter who takes on the role next, no matter their skin colour, gender, age, of whatever, it will have criticism thrown at them. Sadly, the casting of the Doctor has always been quite challenging, I've read that Matt Smith was really quite apprehensive and worried about taking on the role, due to the fact that he had people comparing him to David before his first episode even came out. This next Doctor is likely going to face it worse, and I pity them. Maybe that's why it's taking so long for any reveal to be had, I mean, who is even considered to be in the running? I don't even know now.
Sam Fraser (4): I personally find it so refreshing that we know so much about the Doctor, but yet next to nothing about his/her childhood/early years. How many other characters out there are like that? It adds a layer of mystery to the character that I personally prefer.
Sam Fraser (5): I tried looking for the video you suggested, but couldn't find it. Sorry.
Izzy (6): I'm so happy to see Kate again, so happy. I'm a bit disappointed they didn't use UNIT more with her, but it's nice to see her again. Huh, Brax as Mister Creepy-Snake guy, interesting theory. Hadn't considered that, I guess Brax is kind of depicted as being very into wearing suits and all that, isn't he? It's been a while since I did any reading on him, I really ought to. Now, there's a possible idea of a one-shot in there...
Guest (5): Bit of a mess, yeah. Could have been worse, could have been a lot better. It felt rather disjointed to me in the characters interactions, and I don't really see the point of having Swarm and his sister made out to be practically like gods, only to destroy them and kill them off like they did. I'd rather they get away, or be shown being locked up or sent into another Universe, I wanted to see the Doctor punish them, you know? Just a little bit, but...nope. Death seemed way to nice.
Sam Fraser (6): I mean, I didn't want to the pocket watch to be lost or destroyed, but I also didn't want it opened, either, so I guess...to me the Doctor hiding it away as the best alternative. I guess, but I know what you mean. It didn't exactly make me all that happy, but I do hope they end up doing something with it and not just forget about it or use it as some sort of threat, or whatever. That would get boring real fast.
Izzy (7): I didn't notice that whole asking for consent thing, but I like the idea of it. Imagine how she must feel about wiping Donna's memories from her now, knowing about her own memories being taken from her. I do rather like the whole idea of the Doctor asking for consent in the first place, honestly. I feel like to a Time Lord, entering someone's mind has got to be so intimate and such a sensitive topic, doing it without asking must be a bit like sexual assault for us humans, you know what I mean? I wish they had explored that more previously.