Prologue
The Doctor was working on the TARDIS on Earth. It was parked in Nita's parents' back yard, undergoing a major overhaul and refit. The Doctor was confident that the TARDIS… and crew… would soon be ready to return to the stars.
In her parents' lounge room, Nita was looking over plans for her and the Doctor's engagement party. Her mother walked in. "We have organized the food, the music and the entertainment."
"You're just too damned efficient, Mum…"
"Thank-you, dear."
"At this rate, I won't have to do anything, and you and I might even be forced to get in a shopping trip before I leave Earth…"
Marjorie didn't crack a smile… Nita gave it up…
"Let's get on with it Mum…" she handed her a list. "Here's the final schedule for the party and who is coming. By the way, I'm looking forward to meeting Leigh's husband."
"Pardon?"
"Leigh got married last week…"
Marjorie looked over the guest list, found their names… it was a surprise and a pleasant one.
"You didn't know?"
"No, dear. I didn't even know that she was engaged."
Nita looked at her, frowned. "Sorry, I thought I told you. Well, her husband's name is Keven and they're coming to the party. It will be good to see Leigh, I don't get to Earth all that often. At least in the right time zone."
Marjorie frowned.
"I know I should try to visit more often."
"That would be nice."
Marjorie turned and left the room.
The Doctor was in his quarters on the TARDIS. He was putting a few belongings into a small rucksack. The bandages had been removed from his face and he looked fully recovered from his Cyberman experience. Nita was with him.
"France. Labarre, my brother's home village…"
"Really…"
"First time in almost twenty years…"
"Interesting."
The Doctor recognized a therapeutic reaction when he heard it… "Nita…"
"I just find it interesting… that the Doctor… the man who couldn't be pried out of his console room for a vacation for three years…"
"It's Earth… my second home… do I need another reason?"
"I don't know. What do you think?"
"Nita, your help has been invaluable during my recovery. I'm better… the injuries have healed…"
"Those you can see in a mirror."
"The nightmares have ended," he insisted. "All I need is a little time to myself."
"I agree. In fact, I'm delighted you're going. But perhaps the choice of where you're going could stand some scrutiny."
"If you wish to believe my going to my brother's home is a direct result of being held captive by the Cybermen, be my guest…"
"Is that what you believe?"
"I hate it when you do that."
"Doctor, you do need time. You can't achieve complete recovery so quickly. Don't expect so much of yourself. It is perfectly normal, after what you've been through, to spend a great deal of time trying to find… yourself again."
"And what better place to find oneself that on the streets of one's family's village," the Doctor finished softly.
Nita nodded and smiled. "Interesting. When are you going?"
"Tomorrow morning."
The engagement party was in full swing. All of Nita's old school friends were there, including Leigh and her new husband, Keven, as well as Frances, Jane and Anne. Nita introduced Ace and the Doctor to her friends.
"I can't believe you invited Mal!" cried Leigh, after the Doctor was whisked away to meet some relatives. "That was so mean!"
"Why? We're still friends, why wouldn't I invite him?"
"Because he's still crazy about you, even though you dumped him to go travelling with the Doctor!" replied Fran.
"Ah, yeah," Nita realized they were right. She really shouldn't have been surprised that her ex-boyfriend didn't accept her invitation to her engagement party.
"I don't mean to be rude," said Anne, "but don't you think the Doctor is a bit old for you?"
"Oh, you have no idea," replied Nita, to everyone's puzzlement. She had not told her friends that the Doctor was a seven-hundred-year-old alien. They just thought she was marrying a middle-aged doctor for his money. He must be rich to be able to travel so much, right? They didn't know she'd been travelling through space and time!
Just then the music to the chicken dance started, and Nita turned to see her little cousins lining up to do the chicken dance. She turned to see the Doctor in conversation with her uncle Graham. Nita made her way over to the drinks table and poured herself a Coke.
After a night of fun and frivolity, the party ended and the Doctor, Ace and Nita went back to Nita's parents place afterwards. The plan was for the Doctor to drop Ace off in Perivale the next morning, and then to go on to France to visit his brother.
The next morning, after breakfast, Nita saw them off at he door of the TARDIS. "Have a good trip."
The Doctor paused on the threshold of the TARDIS and gave Nita a long hug. "See you soon."
He went inside.