The Christmas Reunion

Chapter Two: Long Since We Met

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: Thank you for all the great responses to the first chapter. I've debated brining Susan back into the story for a long time before deciding that slipping through the Time Lock once was a good way to have her appear without having her become a reoccurring character. Given things that the Doctor has said, I do think that Susan was lost to the Time War so she is part of it and thus behind the Time Lock.

….

The Doctor kept a tight grip on Rose's hand as they entered Susan's home, holding onto her as if she was a life raft. Maybe right now she was. But Rose felt uneasy herself and wished she could present confidence to the Doctor. Since they left Karn, nothing unusual had happened, and Rose had almost been able to forget that she was the Gold Guardian.

Almost, but never able to forget. Her hair had lightened a few shades, taking on a warmer gold-tone, and Rose was certain that there were more gold specks in her eyes than before. At least she'd met herself when she was older and knew that the physical manifestation of her title wouldn't go beyond that, thankfully. But today… had this happened only because she'd wanted to meet Susan? Rose hoped not; her abilities automatically shifting the universe to grant her wishes sounded terrifying and dangerous. But she also didn't want there to be something wrong that needed sorting out.

Susan's entryway was small with a hat stand that was almost covered up by coats and scarves. The better light gave Rose the opportunity to study Susan more carefully. Her hair was still brown, with only a few hints of grey, and was curly on the top of her head than in the photographs of her that Rose had seen. It was styled a bit longer in the back, but she was immediately recognizable.

Photographs covered Susan's walls, adding the intense homey feeling. It was a sharp contrast to Rose's maternal grandmother's attempts at being elegant that had always made her home uncomfortable. Knitted blankets were thrown over the arms of the living room sofa and armchairs. A small Christmas tree stood in one corner, lit up with small lights that made the variety of ornaments glitter. All of the ornaments were different and distinct, and Rose was sure that there was a story to all of them.

Slowly, the Doctor released Rose's hand and moved closer to Susan. Rose could see he was trying to act casual about it, but there was desperation in the way he leaned close to his grandchild. Susan looked over at him and smiled gently. He stepped over towards the nearest wall of photos and chuckled at one of them. Susan laughed as well and touched his arm, pointing at one of the photographs. Rose glanced over and smiled as she noted the Doctor's last incarnation was in the photo.

Susan smiled at Rose, and Rose knew that she was being studied as well. The urge to blush and step back had never been stronger. Rose knew that the Doctor was older than her. That was a basic and inescapable fact. Their power dynamic was more equal now, though it probably favoured Rose a bit due to her status as a Guardian of Time and Space, but the age gap was never going to go away completely. Though, Rose might be older in terms of experience if she were to add all of her different counterparts lives together. Still, meeting his granddaughter was a strange thing to the part of Rose that was still a girl from London.

"Thank you for having us," Rose said politely. "I'm afraid we're not good at calling ahead."

Susan laughed. "No, I think I'd go into shock if he ever did." She gave her Grandfather a small smile. "I like the leather coat, Grandfather. Probably holds up better than some of your other choices over the years."

The Doctor shrugged and smiled. He seemed to still be in a daze, and Susan was picking up on it. Rose forced a laugh and drew Susan's attention back to her.

"One of my favourite things about time travel is using the wardrobe room to blend in, but he never changes. The leather coat gets comments sometimes."

"You like this coat," the Doctor huffed, coming back to himself a bit.

"Yes," Rose agreed. "I adore it. Doesn't mean the U-boat captain comments aren't amusing." She gave the Doctor a tongue touched smile and watched with satisfaction as he relaxed.

"Have you travelled with Grandfather long?" Susan asked.

"A few years, I believe," Rose replied. "I'd need to double-check my journals to figure out the exact time."

"We've known each other for years," the Doctor added. "She's more than a little jeopardy friendly. I met her multiple times on Earth before she travelled with me."

"Really?" Susan's eyes widened. "You must have some interesting stories."

"More than a few," Rose admitted. "Including a couple that involve the Chestertons. They got married," Rose explained.

"I thought they might have given how you described them," Susan said. "That makes me very happy to hear. Any chance they named a daughter after me?"

"They have a son," Rose replied. "Only child, or they might have. He's a nice man and married another companion of your Grandfather's."

"Are you two really going to gossip about the Chatterfields?" the Doctor huffed.

"Maybe," Rose replied. She turned back to Susan. "They have two grandchildren, adopted by their son and his wife, Sarah Jane. Luke and Skye."

"I'm so glad that they've lived a good life," Susan said. Fondness shone in her eyes. "They were very good people, weren't they, grandfather?" She gave the Doctor a pointed look.

"Yes," he agreed. "They are."

Susan smiled and looked at the photos along her wall. Rose noted that there weren't any that included the Chestertons, but with the way she'd left the TARDIS, Rose supposed that she wouldn't have had them with her. And the Doctor wasn't good at looking back, so him getting a photo for Susan wouldn't have crossed his mind. Pulling out her phone, Rose heard the Doctor sigh as she went through her gallery. It only took her a moment to locate a photo of Ian, Barbara, Sarah Jane, Johnny, Luke, and Skye all posed together from last Christmas. She turned the phone and showed it to Susan, who smiled and studied it before looking at her Grandfather.

"I'm glad to see that you've learned to value old friends."

"She doesn't give me much choice," the Doctor said, nodding towards Rose. "She's met too many of them and comes from the era of mobile phones. The TARDIS keeps Rose connected with them."

Susan was clearly holding back a laugh at her Grandfather's expense and looked at Rose once again, measuring her. Rose didn't take offence at it. This whole situation was strange. Susan's apparent age was much older than Rose's or even her mother's. Her Grandfather showing up with a romantic partner had to be a shock t her, and while Rose could probably explain things a bit by telling Susan about her multiple lifetimes that made her mentally older and her role as the Gold Guardian, none of that seemed like a good idea.

"Anyway, it is Christmas. I was planning on making myself a nice meal to celebrate, and doing so with company is even better. How are you in the kitchen in this body?" Susan asked. Then she grimaced and looked towards Rose. "Do you know-"

"I know about regeneration," Rose answered. "And he's not half bad. Though when I met him, he was eating those nutrient bars."

"They got the job done!"

"Debatable if the way you attacked that first loaf of banana bread is anything to go by."

The Doctor grinned and then shrugged easily. Susan was watching them, and her eyes softened, leaving Rose feeling that she'd just passed a test. She hated that thought for a moment before deciding it was only fair. The Doctor dealt with her mother and the Companions Club, who occupied a strange middle ground in being protective of both of them while tending to worry more about Rose since she was human. So, the Doctor was overdue having someone worrying about him being in a relationship for his sake.

"It's fine now," the Doctor assured Susan. "For a while, I was just too busy to worry about such things. There were places to go and planets to save." He cleared his throat. "What about you, Susan? Everything been okay?" the Doctor asked awkwardly.

Susan raised her gaze to him and frowned slightly. "Since last I saw you? Grandfather, those weren't exactly good circumstances." A chill took hold in the air, and Susan sighed. "I forgive you for what happened. Alex made a choice…" Susan trailed off and swallowed. "And I will make a choice regarding the communication cubes being sent to me."

"Susan-"

"Grandfather," Susan interrupted. "I can understand you not wishing me to return to Gallifrey. I have some concerns myself on that issue." She exhaled and shook her head. "But I am an adult. I am capable of weighing the factors myself and making that decision."

"On Gallifrey, you'd still be young," the Doctor grumbled.

"Yes, but I did not live my life on Gallifrey. I am not a Time Lord. I will not regenerate when this body fails." Susan smiled rather than seeming distressed. "And that does not bother me at all. What bothers me is the very real risk to the universe that is clearly brewing." Susan studied him for a moment. "But you know all of that." She hesitated. "Grandfather, am I correct in thinking that you're from my personal future?"

The Doctor didn't answer, but that seemed to give Susan the information she needed. Nodding, she looked down at her hands and then shook her head. "I don't know what possessed you to visit in that case, but we would do well to speak of other things." She smiled at them both, but her eyes quickly shifted over to Rose. "Such as your partner." Susan all but purred the word, a new gleam appearing in her eyes. "You appear to be human, Rose."

"Born and raised on Earth," Rose confirmed. "A few decades after you were living there, in fact. I met Ian and Barbara because they are professors at the university I attended."

Susan nodded, taking in that information before a sense of awkwardness set in. Rose wasn't sure if she was supposed to keep talking about herself to fill Susan in or hang back and let the Doctor take the lead. The second felt more natural, but the Doctor seemed unsure how to interact with Susan. This was the first time she'd met him in this body, and the shadow of their last encounter was hanging over them. Rose wished she had more context for what had happened to Alex and the communications from Gallifrey but wasn't going to ask.

They made more small talk for a bit with the Doctor asking for more information about Susan's other children. He listened politely and nodded in all the right places. It was clear that while he cared, he didn't have much of a connection to them. Rose hated that even as she understood it. Susan was limited to a shorter lifespan compared to her Grandfather, and her remaining children were all human with the same short lifespans. Still, Susan seemed to appreciate the effort.

"We best move this into the kitchen," Susan said. "So I can start something for dinner."

"That isn't necessary," the Doctor said. "We weren't expecting… just thought I'd visit. Didn't realize it was Christmas."

"Oh, Grandfather, it isn't any trouble. I rather like the idea of having Christmas dinner with you and Rose." There was something in her eyes that said she was very aware that she might not see him again. "I never know when you'll turn up after all. I've learned to enjoy it when you visit, no matter the circumstances."

The Doctor nodded slowly, but Rose could see the guilt in his eyes. These two were a right pair, both of them very aware of the looming Time War and tiptoeing around it. Nonetheless, Susan smiled and headed into the kitchen with them both on her heels. It was a well laid out kitchen, and while most of the appliances were similar to what Rose was used to, there were a few unfamiliar items. Susan went to what could only be a refrigerator and started pulling out items while Rose inspected the less familiar appliances.

"I have a roast that I think will be perfect," Susan said pleasantly. She glanced their way. "And to make up for dropping in, I'll put you both to work."

Rose agreed with a chuckle, and they both quickly took on the tasks Susan gave them. It lightened the atmosphere with the Doctor telling Susan about their return to the Rings of Akhter. She was shocked to learn that the sun was host to a vampiric being but happy with the resolution. Of course, that brought up questions about how Rose had so many memories, which led to Rose telling an edited story about the incident at Lake Silencio.

But then Rose shivered as a cold sensation washed over her. It was sharp, brutal and sudden, making the plate in her hand clatter to the floor. Shards crashed across the floor, and Rose grabbed the counter to stay upright.

"Rose!" The Doctor grabbed her arm and brought a hand up to brush her hair from her face. "What's wrong?"

"I'm not sure," Rose answered. She shuddered and pushed the feeling. "I felt… Doctor, I think there's a tear in time nearby. That felt just like that."

"What?" Susan asked. "How could you possibly-"

"Long story," the Doctor said. "Complicated." Keeping one hand on Rose, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the sonic screwdriver. "But if Rose thinks that's happening, then it probably is." Rose gave him a soft, grateful smile. "You alright? Do we need to call Jack?"

"I'm alright," Rose said. "It's… well, it isn't fading now." She frowned and closed her eyes. "I'm not sure. I've felt things like this before, but this one is clearer. It's very close."

"Well, some things have changed," the Doctor pointed out. The sonic screwdriver beeped, and the Doctor frowned. "We had better check it out. The sonic is picking up a temporal tear nearby."

"Your visits are never boring," Susan said. She shook her head and slid the roast into the oven before wiping off her hands. "Come on."

"Susan-" the Doctor started.

"I'm coming with you," Susan said firmly. "I know the area if it is close by." She turned on her heel and headed for the front door with Rose and the Doctor following behind.

Susan grabbed a long dark coat from the hatstand and a knit cap, pulling them both on as they all moved into the corridor. The Doctor moved ahead, keeping hold of Rose's hand and studied the sonic screwdriver as they moved. Rose was still not sure how he understood the results of the scans, but whatever it was picking up worried the Doctor. Rose looked back at Susan and found the woman keeping pace with them. Susan caught her gaze and smiled before they slipped into the stairwell and headed for the foyer.

….

The Doctor was holding back a curse at the universe at its timing. Given the new circumstances in his life, that might be considered insulting Rose. He could feel the temporal tear now that he was paying attention to it. He heard Susan gasp behind them and knew that she was feeling it now too. It was strong enough that Susan had picked up on it too. That was worrying. Suspicions were forming in his mind, and none of them were good. He exited the stairs and hurried to the front door, aware of the people standing out on the street despite the holiday.

Humans on the street were huddling in small groups and pointing up into the sky. Fear and worry filled their faces, and many of them quickly hurried off, carrying their children or dragging their companions behind them. The Doctor could read the generation terror of a civilization that only a couple of generations ago had been devastated by the Dalek, a people that feared the unusual. He titled his head back and looked into the sky, his whole body tensing as his fears were confirmed. There was a tear in space and time over the street, seemingly just beyond the height of a nearby rooftop. Around it, the night sky was hazy as the tear distorted everything around it, the air and the light.

"Doctor," Rose breathed. "I'm guessing this wasn't caused by Gallifrey reaching out to Susan."

"Definitely not," Susan said. "They've been sending message cubes. That's all."

"That's a rip in time and space." The Doctor frowned and looked over at Rose. "Seems it might not have been as unexpected that we were here as we thought."

He tried to sound calm; though he might have managed it, he wasn't sure. Rose nodded slowly, and the Doctor thought that he saw her eyes flash gold. But he wasn't sure; with the Christmas lights hanging around the street, it was difficult to be certain.

The tear in time and space shifted and glowed, light fragmenting into all of the colours of the rainbow around it. If he hadn't known how dangerous it was, the Doctor might have found it beautiful. Susan joined them at his other side and stared up at the tear.

"That's a hole in time and space," Susan breathed. "Grandfather… is this from the Time War?"

"Don't know," the Doctor replied. "There were things like that during the war, but…" he trailed off. "Might be an aftereffect."

"Aftereffect," Susan repeated. "Then you are from the other side of it."

"Yes." He didn't bother lying to her about that. "I can't tell you what happens, Susan."

"I know that, but it's enough to know that there is an after," Susan answered. She gave him a soft smile. "Alex is gone, but I still have my other children and their children. It is enough to know that there is still going to be a universe for them to live their lives in."

The Doctor swallowed, starring at his granddaughter and trying to think of what to say. Alex's death was on him. Susan didn't seem to blame him, at least not anymore, but the poor boy had been following him. Trying to help him. Trying to live up to being his great-grandson in a way that is completely unnecessary.

But he couldn't' think about that right now. He didn't want to think about it now or ever. Running as usual. Rose squeezed his hand, and he clung to her, grateful for her steady presence beside him. Grateful to know that if he ran, she'd be running with him.

"We've seen these before," the Doctor said. "A couple of times. There's a chance of neverweres escaping from it. We need to figure out how to seal it up as soon as we can."

"I wish we knew for certain what is causing it," Rose said. She shook her head and frowned up at the rip. "This is…" she trailed off and tilted her head as she studied the anomaly. "I feel like I should know."

"It could be a lot of things," the Doctor said. "And being caused by the Time War makes sense. Parts of the Web of Time have snapped. Holes in the tapestry they wove appearing is natural." It wasn't, though, not really, and the Doctor was far too aware of the potential danger it posed. "Come on, let's go to the TARDIS so I can get a better reading on that. Provided it stays small; I might even have time to build something to take care of it."

"The TARDIS," Susan said fondly. "It will be nice to see her."