Jenny saved everyone from having to go thirsty by reminding Strax that if people wanted milk, there was a small jug of it in the larder. Having politely partaken of the very precisely made tea, the Doctor and River left, Jenny waving them off rather bemused by the entire visit. As the grating sound and the wind died down, she glanced sideways at Vastra.

"Wasn't feelin' particularly chatty today, was 'e." she remarked, technically as a statement, but with enough opening for it to be heard as an enquiry, if someone was inclined to answer it.

Vastra merely hmphed and stalked out the kitchen. Jenny stood listening for a moment, hearing Vastra stomping loudly up the stairs and into one of the spare book rooms. There was, however, only the slightest hint of a slammed door. She shrugged. It wasn't the worse way that a Christmas Day had gone for them after all. She'd find out what was wrong with Madame later. In the meantime, Strax needed to be taught how to do the washing up. Without breaking anything or filling the entire kitchen with bubbles.

Vastra paced the room impatiently, her mind aglow with one thought. Marriage. Not that she wished it to make the little ape stay, the Doctor had always been quite clear on that. Not as a formal ceremony that legitimised sexual intercourse, as the apes seemed to think it was. But as a union. A declaration to the world that she, Vastra, loved this ape so much she would bind herself to her. She stopped dead in the middle of the room, all her previous insecurities about what her sisters would think returning to her. Yes, Jenny had been able to win the respect of the Silurians during Demon's Run.

"Will you tell her what that means? For Silurians?"

The Doctor had been speaking of something else, but the words resonated with this situation too. They had already, after all, been able to feel some empathetic link, twice now. Both times a surprise to Vastra. Would a full bond be possible with Jenny? Would marriage help that? Could they perform the full Silurian ceremony? She threw herself into a chair, brooding on all her questions as she stared at all the books on the shelves. The titles began to jump out at her. There were quite a few on romance. She lifted one off the shelf, flicking through it, hoping it would fall open on a page that would deliver some insight or wisdom to her. The heroine was protesting quite sternly in this one that they couldn't be together until they were married. Jenny had been concerned, she remembered, about sex. About what that made her. It seemed a long time in the past now. They'd moved past that. Hadn't they? Suddenly she was plagued with doubt. Perhaps Jenny was still dealing with it, inside. Her own personal battle, as much as Vastra dealt with hers.

She discarded the book on the spare bed and selected another. How would she even go about bringing it up again anyway. Last time she'd mentioned it, Jenny had almost choked. She read on, flicking further through the book. There were flowers, chocolates, romantic strolls, a protestation that it was too soon for the two lovers to be married. Human courtship. But she and Jenny been courting for a while now. Surely enough time had passed, that such pitiful courtship attempts were unnecessary. Besides, Jenny wasn't that type of human. Was she? Well she'd certainly appreciated the dance at least. Far more impressive than flowers.

"Will you tell her what that means? For Silurians?"

"Dammit Doctor!" Vastra threw the book from her. It hit the wall with a loud thump. She stood, clutching at her headcrests and keening softly. There was still so much about Silurians she hadn't told Jenny. How could Jenny possibly appreciate what she was doing if she didn't tell her?

She heard hurried footsteps on the stairs, hastily tried to compose herself before the inevitable knock on the door.

"Ma'am? You alright?"

Vastra flung the door open. "Yes! Yes. I was just reading and the ridiculous behaviour of the apes in the books was so frustrating that…"

"That you threw the book across the room." Jenny raised a sceptical eyebrow.

"Yes." Vastra jutted out her chin, defiantly sticking by her story.

Jenny sighed. But the Jenny now wasn't the Jenny of the early days of their relationship. She merely walked into the room, closing the door behind her, before standing in front of it with her arms folded. "What did River say that got you this wound up, hm?" When Vastra didn't reply, Jenny reached out a hand to her. "Thought we'd gotten past the goin' off in a sulk stage." She said softly.

Jenny was relieved when she saw Vastra slump, the tension leaving the Silurian's posture. Vastra took Jenny's hand in her own, raising it to her lips and kissing the knuckles.

"What stage are we at now then?" Vastra asked.

Jenny looked for any sign of teasing in Vastra's eyes but couldn't find it. She decided to be equally as serious in her reply. "I think we're at the stage where you apologise for stormin' off and then, if you ain't gonna tell me what's botherin' you, at least come back downstairs for the rest of Christmas."

Vastra took Jenny's face in her hands and kissed her. "I'm sorry my love." She whispered, moving one hand into Jenny's hair and another around her shoulders, hugging the young woman tightly to her. She was gratified when Jenny held her back, equally as tightly. She could almost feel Jenny's heartbeat, could certainly feel her warmth. It was so soothing to her now. Jenny squeezed her suddenly, quite hard, for an ape. She leant back to see the mischief in Jenny's eyes and raised her eyeridges questioningly.

"I was just thinkin', we don't have to go back downstairs for the rest of Christmas."

That brought the sparkle back to Vastra's eyes, hastily dispelling the last small knot of unease in Vastra's stomach. What did it matter when, regardless of any ceremony, Jenny was there in front of her, making suggestions like that.

And yet, the thought would not leave Vastra be. Despite the wonderful times of that Christmas, and Boxing day as well, she found herself waking up, looking over at the gently snoring ape curled up beside her and thinking. It'd surprised her, long ago, when she'd found herself thinking about 'my little ape'. Now she did not look at Jenny without thinking, in some way, 'mine'. She cursed under her breath. Last year, when she'd brought it up, Jenny had said that people like her could not get married. She researched it, found there was technically no illegality as such. And, her eyes lit up at the thought, both the Prime Minister and the Queen owed them a great deal. A favour even. Perhaps, a blind eye could be turned. Just for one day. For one time. Well those were all particulars to be sorted out later. First of all, Jenny would have to say yes.

Getting Jenny to say yes turned out to be a problem because Vastra found it difficult to acutally ask her in the first place. And the traditional human courtship gestures did not help. When Vastra brought home a bouquet, artfully arranged by a local florist who seemed well versed on the meaning of every single flower on earth? Jenny simply thought it was an arrangement for the conservatory, marvelling at how there were such flowers even in the depths of winter.

Vastra found a famed chocolatier and paid a small amount for an exquisite selection box. Jenny was grateful and enjoyed it, but happily assumed it was some kind of anniversary present. "We've been together" she emphasised the word "for a whole year now. Amazin' ain't it."

Vastra agreed. It was. And yet, still the words stuck in her throat.

The next clear day, she suggested a walk. They'd been cooped up indoors by bad weather and the lack of cases, and there was only so much training two people could do even if they were enthusiastic about it. Jenny leapt at the chance. But they could not walk together, Jenny maintaining a safe distance behind Vastra as she strode through the streets in her veil. Although it did remind Vastra of the first walk they'd taken together. A barefoot urchin hopping after her over the slush covered pavements, eliciting stares. The walk was a disappointment, although Vastra got so cold it took a good hour curled up around Jenny by the fire to warm her back through.

They were still curled up in such a fashion two hours later, Vastra almost dozing whilst Jenny read a book and idly stroked the Silurian's headcrests. Out of nowhere Jenny snapped the book closed. "What's the matter Vastra? Hm?" She tugged on a headcrest. Vastra hissed at her half-heartedly. "You've been wound up ever since the Doctor and River visited."

"I have not." Vastra said stubbornly.

Jenny laughed, a little sarcastically. "I know you that well by now, my darlin', to know when you're trying not to let on."

Vastra felt herself go a shade darker at 'my darlin'. It was rare for Jenny to use terms of endearment and she'd certainly never called Vastra 'darlin' before.

"Well it's all entirely ludicrous!" she burst out suddenly, extricating herself from Jenny's lap as she did so.

Jenny stared at her, watching her pace back and forth. "What is?" she asked.

"Apes! And their ridiculous rituals."

"That doesn't really narrow it down, when it comes to your opinions." Jenny frowned, shifting herself to sit upright and placing her book on the table next to the sofa.

"I'm going to make tea." Vastra declared and swept out the room.

Jenny's frown deepened, now entirely confused. "I thought you liked tea!" she called after Vastra. She got up and followed the Silurian when there was no further explanation. She watched mystified as Vastra flustered her way through setting the kettle to boil. The china rattled as Vastra laid out a tray, her hands shaking.

"Vastra!" Jenny covered them with her own, preventing the Silurian from making tea with cold water. Vastra stopped when she saw the worried expression on Jenny's face and sighed.

"I'm not doing this very well, am I?"

"What, makin' tea?" Jenny teased.

Vastra glowered at her for a brief second but the concern was still there, and that had to be stopped. She did not wish for Jenny to be concerned about her, or her behaviour. She had to find a way to explain. Perhaps, she should just ask. That would be the simplest explanation. She knelt down on the cold kitchen flagstones, her hands clasping around Jenny's. That was apparently the wrong move because that merely increased the distress on Jenny's face. The young woman knelt down too.

"What's wrong?" Jenny looked almost frightened now.

"You're not meant to kneel down too!" Vastra scolded, unintentionally abrupt.

Jenny stood back up, affronted and tried to pull her hand away. Vastra was about to say something when she saw the expression change. She would remember it for always, the exact moment it clicked, and Jenny realised. The sudden sharp inhalation of breath, the slight stagger backwards, the fall only prevented by Vastra's tight grasp on her hands. The gaze filled with sudden wonder and also mild apprehension, Vastra guessed and Jenny later told her, in case she was wrong in her conclusion.

Vastra took a deep breath, then released it, trying to calm herself. She was a Silurian warrior after all, this should not be daunting compared to say, facing down one of the fierce beasts that had roamed the land in her time. And yet. She swallowed, squeezed Jenny's hand, asking silently for forgiveness for the scold.

"I am aware that we are already in a partnership, and that we share most things and I know you expressed hesitation but…I wish to marry you. In the way of humans. For you to be my wife and I yours. Will you do that? Marry me? Will you marry me? Please? So that I am yours and you are mine and not even death could truly change that."

There was a too long silence and she let Jenny's hands go. The little ape groped for a chair and sat down in it heavily. Vastra remained kneeling, looking at her in terror.

"The 'ole thing you mean?" Jenny managed to get out eventually. "The church an' the gown an'…"

"Yes! Whatever you like."

"An' we'd be married. All official. An'…" Jenny trailed off again, staring into the distance. Vastra stood up suddenly, the lack of a 'yes' unnerving her.

"It is of little matter if you do not wish to, of course. It is only a stupid ape ritual after all." She blurted out, brushing her dress off.

"Oi!" Jenny blinked.

"Human then!" Vastra flung her arms up in despair and turned to walk away.

"OI! It might only be a stupid ape ritual but it's still custom'ry to wait for the reply!"

Vastra was almost too afraid to turn back round. Had she spoiled everything? But Jenny was walking towards her and the smile on her face allowed hope to break fear's grip on Vastra's heart. She felt it leap in her chest, suddenly freed, beating twice as fast as normal.

"Yes." Jenny said quietly.

"Yes?"

"Yes." Jenny said more earnestly.

"Yes!" Vastra lifted her up by her waist and spun her round in mid-air.

"Yes!" Jenny grinned, staggering once more as Vastra set her back down. "Although I thought you said it was jus' a stupid ape ritual."

"Well of course it was until you said yes." Vastra shrugged, without a hint of shame. Jenny would've sighed in mock-exasperation but Vastra was kissing her and it really didn't seem that important now.

Later on, and afterwards, lying in bed, Jenny had a thought and made a face.

"Do I 'ave to wear a gown though?"

"Not if you don't wish to." Vastra nuzzled at her sleepily, thinking once again that Jenny chose the most random moments for her thoughts.

"What about you?"

"I have no objections to a gown."

Jenny fell silent for a moment. "So, I'd get to stand at the altar, watchin' you walk down the aisle."

"Or you could walk down it."

"Who'd give me away?"

"Jess? She is family, is she not? It would fit the custom."

"We could get River t'be the maid an' everythin'."

"I highly doubt River is a maid." Vastra said acerbically

"Well I don' exactly know a lot of 'em either." Jenny snorted. "Sides, dresses is best for walkin' down aisles. Can't swish in a suit."

"Then I shall walk down it."

"Who'd give you away?"

"Heaven knows."

"The Doctor?"

"That's decided then." Vastra yawned, rolling out her tongue slightly, not particularly interested. Jenny had said yes after all, further details were irrelevant for the time being. Jenny fiddled with the bed sheet. "Out with it, my dear."

"Do Silurians 'ave surnames?"

"No." Vastra mumbled into Jenny's shoulder.

"So you'd take mine." Jenny grinned broadly as she nudged Vastra with her shoulder. "You'd be Vastra Flint."

"If you like." Vastra murmured, smiling a little herself at the idea. Jenny would be hers, and she, by taking Jenny's surname would be Jenny's. "Vastra Flint. Hm. I like it." She gave Jenny one last kiss, before snuggling up to Jenny's side and falling asleep.