Sometimes, Donna thought, Terra was a great big dunce. The Doctor always was a dunce. Often though, Terra was really clever and special.
So when Terra said her birthday was coming up Donna got excited. Terra was the one that convinced the Doctor to let her stay. Terra was the one always exposing things properly, instead of the Doctor who just never shut up.
And if Terra's clone brother thing was off doing whatever, then it was up to Donna to make sure Terra had a great birthday.
This meant that Donna needed to find out what Terra liked. Donna could rattle off a few things, nothing good enough for a full party. Donna waited until Terra left for her room, to get some well earned rest.
"Do birthdays even matter to Time Lords?" Donna asked.
The Doctor paused, glancing over at her.
"Like, you're time travelers. How do you even keep track?" Donna asked.
"I don't know how she does it." The Doctor replied. "She just...knows when it is."
"Well alright. How old is she, even?" Donna asked. "In Time Lordy years?"
"I...don't know." The Doctor admitted. "It's." He paused, considering. "183...no...184...no 183...182?"
"So you've got nothing." Donna huffed. "Fine. She looks 18. I can work with that. I remember the kind of parties I liked back then."
"She might not like that." The Doctor replied.
He didn't want to imagine the things Donna wanted to do at that age. Terra's other birthday parties were loud. The Doctor remembered the time at the club, with Rose and Jack, and meeting Carl. The second had been with people at the Haven. Terra's birthday that time was a lot louder. Would she want a loud party now, or something tame?
Donna shook her head. "Oh get off. She's young, she should have a bit of fun."
"She shuts down in crowds." The Doctor pointed out to Donna. "Or if people throw drinks."
"Okay. So that's only-"
"She shouldn't drink either." The Doctor suggested. "She gets worse. And if she's in a room for too long."
Donna threw her hands in the air. "Then I've got nothing."
The Doctor made a face. "Me either." The last two birthdays were with the Master, or in the Year. The Doctor knew about one, the Master making a big deal of what he did to Terra in those 18 months. During the Year, the Doctor could only assume Terra anc Martha spent the day surviving the bombings of Japan and that state in America.
All the other birthday parties the Doctor remembered took place either in a nightclub, or in a loud theatre for hours at a time with-
Wait.
"I know just the place." The Doctor reached across the console, turning a crank. He started typing on the computer. "You go get ready, I'll get the TARDIS ready."
"When are we going?" Donna asked.
"1969." The Doctor answered. "We're going to meet some of Terra's friends."
==MGCB==
The TARDIS arrived in a whoosh-whoosh.
Donna walked out first. "This place? It's just a street."
Terra followed her out. She stared at the street, her jaw slowly dropping.
The Doctor joined them. He closed the TARDIS. He grinned at Terra. The Time Lady stared at the building. Her gobsmacked expression never failed to make the Doctor grin. "You recognize it, then?"
"You-" Terra swallowed. "You brought us back?"
"Yes." The Doctor answered, walking towards the large townhouse.
Terra stared at the building.
"What is that place?" Donna asked.
"My house." Terra answered. She excitedly ran off.
Donna paused. She ran up to the Doctor, tugging his arm. "Hold it. Terra's got a house?"
"Well. Yes. Not exactly. It's complicated."
"She can afford a house?" Donna asked.
The Doctor laughed.
Terra ran up to the steps of the Haven. The building was in the same spot as before. The steps were still covered in child sized handprints. She saw a few new ones, pressed against the edge like the children dangled themselves on the sides.
She grabbed the doorknob. It buzzed her thumb. It'd been two years since she felt that buzz. Terra missed it. She never expected that a tingling in her thumb would be so important.
The door pushed open.
Terra stepped onto familiar linoleum. Memories from her last stay came by, and memories from her college years. Terra walked in to see blue and brown walls, the same couches, the same receptionist desk, the same view of the Haven behind the lobby.
A deep breath in. Terra smelled cleaning fluid. Lemon fresh. That's the power of pine-sol, baby.
Terra walked in. Her pink boots made rubber noises against the linoleum. The Doctor and Donna walked in behind her.
"Hiya there, welcome back to the Haven!" GARTH greeted.
"Who was that talking?" Donna asked, looking around the lobby. "I don't see anyone."
"GARTH is a robot ghost." Terra replied. She pointed up at the ceiling. "He lives in the ceiling."
"Right yeah." Donna nodded, before turning to the Doctor. "Doctor?"
"He's a semi-sentient AI developed by Terra, in the future. He's the receptionist." The Doctor explained.
"You've just the sweetest to me, Doc!" GARTH chuckled. Terra did too. "And you little miss, don't think you can skirt by! Look at you. Gimme a twirl!"
Terra spun in place.
GARTH made a loud squealing cheer. "Beautiful! You're like a DCOM Popstar!"
"Thanks!" Terra cheered. She straightened her bow tie, beaming.
Donna raised an eyebrow at the ceiling. "Is it always like that?"
"So close! But I am actually a 'he'." GARTH corrected. "That's okay, fine, happens all the time. Wait...I know that voice."
"You do? But I've never been here." Donna replied.
"You would be in the future." Terra explained. "GARTH would remember you. Time works funny in the Haven."
"It's not locked in one set timeline." The Doctor explained, trying to be more clear. "It's more like a bunch of timelines working at once, in one building. It shouldn't work. Somehow in the future, Terra figured it out." He smiled at Terra, full of nothing but pride.
"Meeting out of order." Donna nodded. "Like Terra and her brother?"
"Exactly right, Donna!" Terra praised.
"Donna Noble! I missed you! Welcome, welcome! OH! Is this your first time here?! Oh no oh no I have nothing ready!"
"Anything you have is fine, GARTH." Terra assured him. "You still have a spa, yeah? We could do a spa."
"No, no." Donna shook her head. "It's your birthday not- wait what kind of spa?"
"I don't know." Terra answered. "GARTH?"
"She's got a point there, Terra. It's your birthday. We gotta go big or go home! And we'll, you're already home, so you gotta go big!" GARTH reasoned.
"See? Garth gets it." The Doctor patted Terra on the back.
"But Donna wants a spa." Terra argued, confused. "Shouldn't she get a spa?"
"No." The Doctor shook his head. "It's your birthday. Today we do what you want."
Terra bit her lip.
"Rocket- I mean, Freddie and what did you call him, Tuck? They could be here. Or Carl." The Doctor suggested. Terra's eyes went wide. "Maybe Jack's wandered-"
"NO!" Terra yelled. The Doctor and Donna stared at her. Terra blushed, fiddling with her hands. "I- I don't- I don't want to see Carl. I don't-" She shook her head, wrapping her arms around her chest. "No-"
The Doctor came forward. He rested a hand on her back. "Alright, alright. It's alright. You don't-"
"I've got just the thing." GARTH spoke up. He spoke softer, and less excited. The Doctor hadn't heard GARTH speak that way before. Usually, GARTH was always upbeat and cheery, like Terra. "Terra. There's a room you could see that both of you would enjoy."
Terra shook her head. "The spa. She wants-"
"We have a special spa that has things you like." GARTH explained. "Donna will like it too. It's from the future, so it's special. That sounds good, right Donna?"
Donna looked up to the ceiling, then over at Terra. "Yeah. Sounds perfect."
"There, see? Donna wants to visit." GARTH explained. "So let's visit. After, we can see what you want to do for your birthday. Does that work?"
Terra bit harder on her lip.
"I'd like to see it." The Doctor admitted. "Just to try."
Terra's shoulders sagged. She straightened them back up, looking up. "We can try it. Yeah. Let's do it."
"Great! I'll tell you how to get there."
==MGCB==
GARTH gave very good instructions. Terra got to keep the small keycard for access to it.
"Why's your house so big?" Donna asked. "Is it like the TARDIS?"
"Yeah." Terra giggled, fiddling with the keycard. "I- I'd need all the space for everybody else."
"Everybody else?" Donna asked. "Not just your brother?"
Terra shook her head. "The Haven's full of people. We just aren't seeing them yet."
"You've let a bunch of strangers in your house?" Donna asked.
"They're not strangers! They're people in trouble!" Terra argued. "GARTH wouldn't let them in otherwise!"
"But how do you know?" Donna asked.
"Cause GARTH wouldn't let them in otherwise!" Terra repeated. "He wouldn't!"
"Okay!" The Doctor spoke up, over any fight that could break out. "Here we are. Just like GARTH said." Terra and Donna stopped arguing.
They'd taken an elevator up to this floor. A short hallway walk later showed a large pair of wooden double doors.
"Terra, if you wouldn't mind." The Doctor waved an arm to the door.
Terra swiped the card. The doors swung open.
When the Doctor turned inside, he grinned. Terra gasped. "No way."
"REBEL! PENELOPE!" Terra shrieked. She ran into the large room. Two animals ran to meet her.
The spa looked like any spa lobby. The waiting room was only occupied by two beings- a golden furred puppy, and a large pig.
"My babies!" Terra hugged the two animals to her side. Rebel excitedly started licking Terra's face. Penelope tried to join, only able to reach Terra's shoulder. Terra gigged. "Did you miss me?! Oh I missed you! Yes I did, yes I did!"
Rebel barked. Penelope snorted.
Donna yelped, hiding behind a laughing Doctor.
"Yeah it's me!" Terra pet Penelope on the head. "I had my hair done. Did you miss me? Where have you been? How was rooming with my friend?" The pig snorted again. "I lived with her for decades, I know it's a pain."
Donna glanced around the Doctor. "Doctor. Why is there a pig in the spa?"
"Probably here for a mud bath." The Doctor teased.
"Oi." Donna snapped. The Doctor laughed. Penelope kissed Terra's cheek. The Time Lords cooed. Donna gagged. "Why?! Why is it here?"
The Doctor lowered his voice. "Penelope is a close friend to Terra. Terra saved her life." He nodded his head to the Time Lady. Terra brushed Penelope on the head, returning the kiss on Penelope's cheek. "And the dog belonged to Terra. We left him here on our last visit. It wasn't meant to be forever but...things got out of hand."
Donna watched Terra with the animals. Terra never laughed this much, a real laugh with a real laugh. She looked like a proper kid, playing with her pets. Donna's heart broke when she realized that.
It always hurt Donna to remember that Terra was still a little kid in a lot of ways. For all the running and world saving they did, rarely did they have the chance to wind down and...well...play.
It reminded her, too. That not even a simple trip to Terra's house would end kindly. When were they going to find something dangerous? Terra believed that GARTH could keep anything bad out. How much could you trust a voice in the ceiling? That GARTH thing didn't even have hands. Or maybe the bad was already here, hiding inside Terra's home.
As Terra laughed, getting her face licked by two pets, Donna promised to give a good slapping to anything that ruined her birthday.
Rebel barked.
"Okay, okay! Then get off me." Terra waved her hands. The dog and pig backed off Terra. She jumped to her feet, rewarding both animals with scratches behind the ears. "Rebel, Penelope, this is Donna Noble. She's awesome. Penelope, you remember the Doctor. Donna, this is Penelope the Pig, and Rebel my son."
"Oh you're one of those dog people?" Donna asked.
Terra tilted her head. "I'm not a dog person, I'm a Time Lady. You know that."
The Doctor grinned. Donna got flustered. "No I meant- that you're- well you're-" Donna saw the Doctor's grin. "Oh get off it."
The Doctor poorly dropped the grin. "So, Terra, still up for the spa?"
Terra tilted her smile. Her pets moved to look up at her. "I...I mean-"
"Cause I think they allow pets." The Doctor walked up to her side. He pointed up the hallway, pointing to many doors and even a plaque with directions. "Look at this. Massages, jacuzzis, and pet play rooms." He squinted. "Does that say bouncy castle?"
"It does?!" Terra gasped. She cleared her throat. She tried to sound more mature and calm as she spoke again. "I would very much like to do the bouncy castle." Rebel whined, pressing his face to his mother's side. "With my dog and my pig."
The Doctor did better to hide his grin. He was still shit at it, but he tried. "Of course. Donna?"
Donna huffed. The idea of a bouncy castle in a spa was mad. Then again, if any spa had it, it would be one in Terra's house. "Alright. Let's give it a try."
Terra politely nodded. "Okie dokie. Let's-"
Penelope dashed away. Rebel barked, giving chase after her. Terra gasped.
"No fair!" Terra started running. "I told y'all to wait for me!"
Donna walked over to the Doctor. The Doctor patted her back. "Don't forget- you can't wear socks or shoes."
"I'll show you where that shoe is going!"
==MGCB==
Hours later, Donna had to say, the spa was nice. Terra and her pets were perfectly content in the bouncy castle for ages. The Doctor too. But Donna got exhausted really fast. It took little convincing for Donna to split away to try the rest of the spa's amenities.
Not only did Terra have a lot of rooms, she had a lot of staff. Donna got a massage from a large alien man with tentacles for arms. The suction cups made a very effective deep tissue massage, apparently. Donna got a mud bath, made of alien mud that turned out purple. Penelope joined her. Donna tried and failed to strike up conversation with a pig.
Clocks weren't a very effective way of telling time. Not to Donna, anyway, since they started time traveling. As her stomach started to growl, a very exhausted Doctor and a still jittery dog and Terra came up to Donna.
Terra's home had a buffet table. Donna would no longer be surprised by anything she saw here.
The people they saw all greeted Terra warmly and politely. Donna liked seeing the blush on Terra's cheeks. In the food line, Donna saw a lot of wild choices. She managed to find a few things she liked before they sat down at a nearby table.
Terra was still in the line. People kept coming up to talk to her, ask questions about the Haven or give Terra thanks for letting them stay.
Donna shook her head, grinning. "I still can't believe it."
"Oh believe it." The Doctor held up his plate. Any dish that included bananas found their way onto his plate. Banana pudding, banana bread, grilled bananas, even little banana candies! "They don't have any bananas. Is it really that hard?"
Donna gave him a deadpan look. "Stop being stupid. I meant Terra! This whole place, I never thought Terra would make a hotel."
The Doctor hummed. He took a bite of the banana bread. "Me either. My first time here, I couldn't believe any of it. I thought it was a trap."
"So it is a trap?" Donna guessed.
"No." The Doctor shook his head. "We stayed here for six months. No trap ever happened."
"Six months? What happened to the TARDIS?" Donna asked.
The Doctor swallowed the bread. "Well that's...that's...what happened is-"
"You lost it, didn't you?" Donna snorted. "Just like in Pompeii."
"Oi, she got stolen, not lost." The Doctor argued. "Very different things."
"For six months?" Donna teased.
The Doctor paused. "Point is. As I'm...looking for the TARDIS, Terra runs off with Rebel. Martha and I went after her-"
"So Martha's been here too?" Donna asked. She wanted to ask about Rose, but didn't want the Doctor to lose his place in the story.
"Oh yeah. Martha loved it." The Doctor went back to his earlier tale. "We chased Terra for ages. She stopped at a house, a random house in the street. She nearly got in the door before I caught up to her. Said she heard a song in her head that led her to the door."
Donna gawked. "A song in her head?"
"A song only she knew about." The Doctor nodded. "Terra said she trusted it immediately. Then she got us inside. Terra kept going on about everything she knew. The floors, the walls, even the AI bot. Terra said it's everything she wanted in a house. I was worried it was a trap. What better way than making a perfect home to stay in? But Terra." He glanced her way.
Donna saw Terra moved on from the buffet. She stood at the drink area now. People still stood around her. Terra looked to be in a very deep discussion with a boy (said boy dressed in a headache inducing costume of reds and blue, a long blue plastic stick on his back) about something that made Terra's wide smile come back.
"She was happy." Donna reasoned. "You couldn't take it away."
The Doctor nodded. "I thought something was wrong later. She got quiet out of nowhere, locked herself in another room. I tried to talk to her, Martha said Terra just needed time to herself. I couldn't settle. I needed to know."
"What did you do?" Donna asked.
The Doctor fiddled with the banana bread. "I sat by her door. Didn't knock, or say anything. Just sat for...I don't even know how long. I just listened. Thought someone would- well that someone would get to her when she was alone. But...she was quiet."
The Doctor remembered it so well. The rush of emotions in his head, still settling from the chameleon arch. John Smith's human thoughts and feelings were mixing with his own. He needed to know Terra was okay, that she was safe. She had to deal with Caroline and a whole new personality.
He learned one thing as he sat at her door.
Both versions of Terra cried quietly.
Quiet, like she never wanted anyone to hear. The Doctor only knew from Rebel's whines. Rebel was always in tune with Terra's feelings. When she cried, Rebel reacted in kind.
This place...something about it made her cry.
The Doctor frothed with rage. He stormed off for Martha. He told her that this place must be bad news. Then Martha showed him Sally Sparrow's transcript. It confirmed that they stayed at the Haven for the entire stay in 1969. That made it worse.
And then Martha said-
"It's not the building. It's just hormones. This happened with my sister when we were kids. She would get all moody and upset, lock herself in her room for hours. Tish yelled my ear off for trying to open the door." Martha held the Doctor's shoulder. "She's a teenager, Doctor. Time Lord or not, that's a teenage fit if I've ever seen it. You just gotta wait it out."
Martha.
For Terra, it always connected back to Martha.
I love him to bits!
If Rose ever said something like that, the Doctor would probably lock himself in a room and cry too.
"That's not good." Donna commented.
"She ended up alright." The Doctor admitted. "Right as rain but. I still didn't like the Haven. It sounded too good. I kept digging."
"What did you find?" Donna asked.
Then Rebel barked.
Now Donna had been told the dog was telepathic. It didn't prepare her for the group of people that gasped.
"It's your birthday?!" A random Haven person shouted.
Terra squeaked. She held her plate closer. "...what happens when I answer that question?"
The crowd let out an excited. More people stood up, grouping together to talk excitedly and an even larger crowd went over Terra. She started, moving back closer to the drink station. Donna understood what the Doctor meant about Terra in crowds.
Donna's eyes widened. She stood up, marching over to them. "Oi!"
The crowd froze.
"Back off her!" Donna scolded.
The crowd parted for her, letting Donna pass until she reached Terra's side. Rebel was looped around Terra, staring at the people. Penelope kept bumping into Terra, trying to herd her away.
"She's been trying to eat. Look at all of you, not giving her any space! Get moving!" Donna ordered.
The crowd dispersed. Donna turned to Terra.
Rebel yipped. He licked Terra's hand.
"I didn't need the help." Terra replied. She picked her food tray up. "But thank you, Donna."
"Come on then." Donna picked up Terra's drink. A large cup full of something pink. "Doctor's got us some good seats."
Terra followed. Her pets were quick on her booted heels.
==MGCB==
Despite Donna's best intentions, the crowd came back around later. Terra walked around with Rebel and Penelope. She let people wish her a happy birthday.
Terra fretted with every person coming up to her. Rebel and Penelope danced around her, keeping a wide berth between Terra and anybody. Terra kept apologizing to people. The Doctor tried to find them a quiet place to hide.
As they ducked into a corridor, Penelope screamed.
"Penelope?" Terra knelt by the pig's side. "Penny, darling, what's wrong?"
The pig kept screaming.
The other three stopped.
"Terra, is she alright?" The Doctor asked.
Terra shook her head. Penelope screamed again. "I-I don't know."
"What could've happened?" The Doctor looked around the hallway. "I don't see anything that could've done it."
"She might be scared of strangers." Terra suggested. "Haven residents or not, they're strangers."
"So we need to find a room." The Doctor started searching the hallway. "Does your card-"
"GARTH made it for the spa. I don't know if it works for all of them." Terra replied.
Penelope screamed again. The pig pushed herself out of Terra's arms, running off.
"Penelope!" Terra stood up, chasing the pig. "Wait up!" Rebel barked. He ran after his mum.
"Terra!" The Doctor gave chase. Donna followed after rolling her eyes.
The Doctor and Donna tried to keep up. Penelope was fast when scared, and Terra even faster in her worry. The adults never really stood a chance at keeping up.
They even split up, hoping to cover more ground. In the end they were only more confused and lost.
Donna spotted Rebel's tail. The dog ran into a room, just a little down the next hallway. Donna went up to the door only for it to slam in her face. She knocked on it.
"Terra?" Donna called out. "Terra are you in there?"
Penelope screamed again. Rebel barked. Terra said nothing.
Donna knew it. She knew it! Something was up with this place! It got Terra alone, and now she was in danger. They needed to save Terra. She would have a good birthday, dammit, without having to worry about dying!
"Terra!" Donna reached for the knob. The thing locked in place, unwilling to twist. "Terra, can you open the door?"
A small sound. Gentle, like she hadn't meant to make it.
The door opened. Donna pushed it back. Rebel stood behind it, backing away from the door.
Donna walked in the room. The room was lit up by a rotating colored disco ball. The walls were strung up in star shaped yellow Christmas lights. A speaker sat on a large stage, next to a microphone and a screen. Another bigger screen was set up on the back most wall, colored spotlights shining before it. On the screen currently were just the words 'karaoke time!'
A karaoke room. Wow, Terra would have one of those.
The Time Lady hunched herself near the stage. She hugged her pig. The pig whimpering and snorting, trying to be curled around Terra.
Donna glanced at the puppy. "Thanks!" She walked away. She said thank you to a telepathic dog. She'd done weirder things.
She slowly approached Terra. Once she was close enough, Donna sat herself down beside her. Terra kept close to Penelope. The pig moved her face on Terra's neck, hiding under her ginger hair.
"Hey. Is she alright?" Donna asked.
Terra hummed a no.
"Did we find out what's wrong?" Donna asked.
Terra hummed a no again.
"Any ideas then?" Donna asked.
Terra was quiet.
Donna opened her mouth for another question. Rebel cut her off with a loud bark, growling at the shut door. "That could be the Doctor-" Donna started to stand.
Terra grabbed Donna's wrist. Donna froze.
"What? What is it?" Donna asked. "Could you just start explaining things to me?"
"The Haven does have a threat inside." Terra replied. Donna tensed. "It's why Penelope screamed. She knows them."
"Is that what's at the door?" Donna asked. Terra nodded. "Okay. Okay. The Doctor is still out there. He can stop it. I know he can."
"No!" Terra snapped. Donna reeled back. "No. She's- she's not bad. She- the Doctor can't- I can't-"
A loud thud hit the door. Donna and Terra jumped back. Donna screamed. Terra made an aborted whine. Rebel barked at the door.
"Hey!" A young voice shouted. "Hey, I know you're in there! Rebel's barking all over the damn place. I think the door's jammed."
Terra untangled herself from Penelope.
Donna grabbed at her arm. "Terra, what are you thinking? Stay down!"
Terra shook her head. She walked towards the door.
"Terra!" Donna hissed, trying to keep her voice low. She didn't want that person- a woman, it sounded like a woman- to hear her, to know she was there. Penelope pushed herself to Donna's side, curling at her side. "Terra! A little help?"
They pounded on the door again. "Hey! Hey, I'm still talking here!" Terra reached the door. "Why isn't it fucking-"
Terra knocked four times on the door. Donna saw no point to it, or reason. Maybe Terra was trying to ask the crazy lady a knock-knock joke.
The lady was silent.
Terra knocked four times again.
"Stop. You can stop." The lady's voice was calmer. She'd stopped yelling. "I get it. I just heard- well I heard it was your birthday. I wanted to say hi."
Terra sat down at the door. She pressed her back against it. Donna could see Terra's face. The yellow lights reflected her tear covered cheeks.
"Why'd you run?" The lady asked.
"Penelope got scared." Terra answered.
The lady laughed. Penelope squeaked, panicking at Donna's side. All Donna could do was make panicked shushing noises.
"Still scared of me! Was I that bad a roommate?"
"Always." Terra replied, giving a teary laugh. "You definitely ate bacon in front of her."
"No! It was just sausage."
"Carl!" Terra whined, but she still laughed. "That's worse!"
The lady laughed again.
Carl. Donna realized. Terra's friend. Her best friend, from how the Doctor described her. Freddie talked about Carl too, just a little. But Terra always looked fond.
"Can I come in?" Carl asked. "It's weird talking to you through a door."
"No." Terra replied. "Penelope is still scared of you."
"What, I'm not invited to the birthday party cause a pig can't take a joke?"
"Yes." Terra answered immediately. "Also cause I'm ginger now. I know what you'd do."
"Ginger- wait have you done the year? With the Master?"
Terra shifted against the door. "...yeah."
"Are you saying that I would make fun of you for having mental breakdowns?"
"The ginger jokes are right there. You won't resist it." Terra reminded her friend.
"I'm about to break this door just to kick your ass." Rebel barked. "Rebel would help me!"
Donna tried standing up. Penelope bit her shirt. "Oi! Watch it!"
"Penelope, we don't bite people!" Terra scolded.
The pig let go of Donna's shirt. Donna joined Terra's side, leaning against the door.
"Is that Donna?" Carl asked. "It sounded like Donna."
"Oh you've met me too?" Donna asked.
"Yeah." Carl replied.
"Can y'all not talk to each other, actually?" Terra asked. "It's just not the time for it."
"How about you let us plan a birthday party?" Carl countered. "You're already in the karaoke room. It'd be great."
"Terra said you were a threat. Not her friend." Donna pointed out. "Why?"
Carl chuckled. "Bring a knife to a party one time-"
"Okay, no, bullshit. You brought a switchblade to school." Terra argued.
"It wasn't that bad!" Carl dismissed.
"You were nine!"
"It was a violent school."
"No it wasn't!" Terra argued.
"You wouldn't understand. I had a hard knock life-"
"Dear Author." Terra groaned. She buried her face in her hands. "This is why I don't want you around."
"Ooh, scary. Next you're gonna tell me Mom never loved me."
"Exactly right! Your mom didn't! She always hated you!"
"You too!"
Terra punched the door. "Untrue! You were an accident!"
"I was a wonderful surprise and you fucking know it!" Carl laughed. Loudly. The kind of laugh that makes you clutch your stomach.
Donna watched the exchange. While Terra and the Doctor argued a lot, they rarely argued like this. Terra just...she just looked so different here. A whole new person sat beside Donna now.
Terra sighed. She ran her hand down her face, ruffling her own hair. She caught Donna's gaze. The two fingers locked eyes, staring at each other for a long moment.
"You can let her in." Donna assured her. "I wouldn't want to keep you from your friend."
Terra bit her lip.
"It's really fine." Donna assured.
"No, no. I get it." Carl replied. "Birthdays are weird for us. Missed her last birthday. She's probably got a grudge about it. I'll catch you on the next one, yeah?"
Terra sat silent.
"Yellow. I got you on 185, right?"
"Y-yeah." Terra sniffled. "Yeah you got me on 185."
"Cool. We also gotta meet for 34."
"O-okay." Terra wiped at her cheek. "Yeah. ~Happy birthday, Purple~."
"~Happy birthday, Yellow.~ Take care."
Donna heard the young woman stand up. Her shoes made no sound on the Haven's carpeted floors. But still, Donna could hear the woman leave.
"Are you alright?" Donna asked. Terra sniffled. "Come on, let's have a hug."
Terra sniffled, shaking her head. Rebel came to her side. Penelope too.
"I think they want a hug." Donna replied. Penelope bumped Donna's leg. "Yeah, come on in." The pig climbed on Donna's lap, making the woman grunt. "Oh-alright. Watch where that foot is going!"
Terra curled around her dog. Rebel licked her cheek.
"Birthdays are meant to be fun." Terra whispered.
Donna paused. She turned to give Terra her full attention.
"I turned 30, and I still liked having birthdays. Grownups looked so bored at 30, but I liked having fun. Feeling special. Even for a day." Terra brushed Rebel's fur with her fingers. Rebel rested his head in her lap. "Then I turned 40, alone. 50. 60. Humans wouldn't understand me using the wrong number. I've turned '15' a dozen times."
Donna could picture it. Terra, the brunette version, hunched over a cake. Two numbered candles celebrating a birthday, a number most humans would consider old enough for retirement. Then, she saw that same cake with the number '15'. Over and over again, humans singing Terra the same song.
"Then-" Terra sniffled. "Then I- there was someone that knew. I'd just turned a hundred and they-" Terra sniffled, hiccuping on a breath. "Birthdays weren't good after that. She made every birthday bad. The number was always right. She always- people got hurt. For me. As a gift."
"Oh, Terra." Donna sighed. "I'm so-"
"Then I met Carl." Terra pushed on, speaking over Donna. "She'd turned 7. Nobody cared. I bought her a cupcake, and we blew out the candle together. Nobody got hurt. That one, or the next one. Carl made sure of it. Birthdays were fun again."
Donna brushed on Penelope's head. The pig snorted.
"Last year I-" Terra swallowed. "Both of my last birthdays, people got hurt. I wasn't- I wasn't...all there. You know? And I- I wanted it to be good. But I messed it up."
"Whatever happened, I doubt you messed it up." Donna assured her.
Terra shook her head. "I thought- I thought she was there. Last year. I think...I mean I knew. I knew I made her up." Terra held Rebel tighter. "She was never there." Terra tried to hide a sob. Rebel licked her cheek. "I didn't even want her there. It was- I thought she was there. And- and I think I wanted her there." She reached up, brushing tears off her cheek. "She slapped me. She had to have been there. How does she not remember being there, unless I made her up?"
Donna reached. She wrapped her arm around Terra's back. The Time Lady rested her head on Donna's shoulder.
"I'm sorry." Terra hiccuped.
"No, no. It's not your fault."
"You tried to give me a good birthday- I ruined it-"
"You didn't."
"Yes I did-"
"Your birthday's not over yet." Donna reminded her. "So I think we've got time." She patted Penelope on the head. "And these two aren't going anywhere."
Penelope snorted.
Rebel licked Terra again. She wiped her cheek again, either rubbing off tears or Rebel's spit.
Terra's phone burst into song. She reached in her pocket, pulling it out. Donna could see the screen.
Purple: Also the Doctor is all over the place? Fucking get rid of this man? Like why is he still here?
Terra chuckled, low and wet and half-sobbing. "Yeah we kinda left the Doctor out there."
"He'll be fine." Donna dismissed the concern. Terra lifted her head to give Donna a look. "Yeah we should help him."
"Yeah."
==MGCB==
They found the Doctor in the lobby. Yelling at the ceiling.
"You tell me where she is! Right now!" The Doctor yelled. "Where have you taken her?!"
"Wow, Doctor, you need a chill pill." GARTH told him. "I told you, we're not that kind of hotel!"
"Yeah. Murder hotels aren't my scene anymore." Terra answered.
The Doctor whirled around to her. "Terra!" He ran up to her, pulling her in for a hug.
Terra yelped.
==MGCB==
They ended up in the karaoke room again. Between their search for the Doctor and returning, people had set it up for a birthday party. Now rainbow balloons filled the space, along with cheap top hats and a three tier cake.
GARTH made sure it was covered in sprinkles- in and out. Also that the candles were accurate.
(Terra found a small wrapped box in the cake. She kept it's contents to herself)
Penelope and Rebel got up on stage to sing, plasting out loud pig snorts and barks to the tune of 'I Love Rock 'n' Roll'.
Terra sat on one of the couches. She hummed along with her pets. The Doctor handed her a plastic cup. She took it, giving him a raised eyebrow. "You were very rude to GARTH."
The Doctor awkwardly ruffled his hair. "A bit."
"Did you apologize?"
"Yes." The Doctor answered. He held up the drink. "He said you would like this."
Terra picked up the drink. "What is it?"
"No idea. It's not a banana daiquiri." The Doctor told her. Terra shrugged, sipping at it. "Any good?"
Terra licked her lips. "Yeah. Tastes like sugar cookies." Terra sipped the drink again. "And bubble gum."
The Doctor nodded. "You like bubblegum now?"
Terra turned the drink in her hands. "Who doesn't like bubblegum?" She gave the Doctor a side eye. "Do you hate bubblegum?"
"What? No. I-"
"Really? Cause you hate GARTH. And people who hate GARTH are weird enough to hate bubblegum." Terra replied.
"I don't hate GARTH." The Doctor explained. Terra snorted. "I just...don't know if I trust him."
"That's worse." Terra drank from the cup. "You have to know that's worse."
The Doctor shook his head. "It's not-"
"Just-" Terra sat up. She put her drink down on the small table. Terra turned to the Doctor. "Just tell me what you don't like. The Haven's for everyone, not just me. If you don't like it, then I need to make sure you enjoy your stay."
"This place never rubbed me the right way." The Doctor admitted.
"I can upgrade the spa-"
"No, no." The Doctor shook his head. "Maybe you're right."
"Maybe?"
"Definitely right." The Doctor winked. Terra snickered. "I suppose the Haven's not so bad."
Terra picked her drink back up. She gulped the rest of it down. "Apologize to GARTH for real, and you'll get a banana daiquiri."
The Doctor grinned. "Yeah...should've guessed you'd see the truth."
"I always do." Terra giggled. "Now: it's time for me to show the kids how it's done. Penelope, Rebel, it's time for the birthday Lady to show you how it's done! Cue up Just Can't Wait To Be King!"
==MGCB==
The TARDIS whooshed. She carried her passengers in the time stream, letting them settle back in their rooms.
Most of them, anyway.
Terra went straight to bed. The Time Lady held tight to a box, all the way under the covers. The TARDIS was delighted to see a wolf's head pen in the gift. Carl never failed to give a good present.
Donna also went straight to bed. She paused only to shower off every last trace of pig or dog.
The Doctor lingered at her console. The TARDIS welcomed his presence. She could get over his absence all day, if only for Terra's sake. He stood inside her now. That meant all was well.
Except for the tightness in his face. Like a child that swallowed a bitter lemon, unwilling to show it.
"She loves it." The Doctor spoke softly. "More than I've ever seen her love anything. It's amazing, every last bit. The moving walls, multiple timelines, even GARTH. An AI that can control the house, while still being verbal." He grinned sadly up at the TARDIS console.
She hummed. The TARDIS was an inspiration for anyone, obviously. Who hasn't been inspired at first sight? The TARDIS is- will be- had been in several paintings.
"I couldn't have come up with it." The Doctor stated. "I won't. All of that, there's nothing of me there."
The TARDIS said nothing. Which was good, and normal. She couldn't speak yet. There was a time and place for that. That time hasn't arrived. She very much looked forward to it.
"She made that whole thing by herself. Without me." He let out a long breath. "She's going to leave. Someday. Isn't she?"
The TARDIS hummed. The sound always made him feel better in the future. Past? Something like that.
Terra would come back. Terra promised, and she'd always honored those promises before. The TARDIS watched Terra come back, again and again, making everything better. No way would Terra leave forever without telling the TARDIS.
As for telling the Doctor...Terra got better at doing that.
Or will get better.
Had gotten better?
Damn tenses.
==MGCB==
AN: I know a lot of you expected the Library. But not even I am so heartless that I'd kill River Song on Terra's birthday. That's too much. That's like- all the fucking angst. Nope. Terra gets a birthday cuddling Rebel and Penelope.
Now I'm going to ruin her life
(This was two days late- meant to post it on her actual birthday: September 17. Maybe next year!)
Thanks to Clamas837 for favoriting
Thanks to LogicSticks for following