Chapter Five:

After a warm breakfast made by Hilda and a…fun conversation with Zelda on the practices of safe sex, Alex and Alexys were off to school. The morning was covered by a blanket of rolling nimbostratus clouds. Moisture clung to the air forcing Alex and Alexys into fashionable raincoats with many pockets that hid their many watches. The two considered walking the short distance to the school but a cherry red '68 Buick Skylark arrived at the front of the Spellman Mortuary with Nick Scratch wearing a Santa hat in the driver's seat and Luke Chalfant wearing reindeer ears in the back.

"When I look out my window. What do you think I see?"

Alex and Alexys looked to each other with a satisfied grin as they entered the vehicle with their new partners. In sequence they leaned in to kiss the men waiting for them before shutting the door behind. The kisses were returned and with it the short ride to school began.

"When I look in my window. So many different people to be."

"Last night was quite the experience," Nick smirked, glancing down to Alexys who had her head on his shoulder while he drove.

She swatted at the fluffy ball atop is head playfully, "Yeah? What kind of experience?"

He kissed the top of hers before looking back to the road, "One I hope to relive again and again."

"When I look over my shoulder. What do you think I see?"

"So…I was thinking about tonight," Luke sat with his back against the seat, shoulders square with Alex's hand in his lap.

"What about tonight?" Alex wondered.

"I was thinking about taking you out for a little surprise. What'd you think about that?" Luke had been looking out the window but turned his eyes on Alex in wait of response.

"Some other cat lookin' over, over his shoulder at me."

The vehicle pulled into the parking lot of the college as Alex grinned, "I'd love that."

"He is strange."

With the car parked facing the street the group exited together.

"Very, very, very strange."

Alex and Alexys stopped and looked at each other. They hardly made eye contact as they extended their right hand and kept their left hand at their chest, moving in sync with the double tap. Their new beaus walked around the car to join them. Nick wrapped his arm around Alexys' shoulder while Luke took Alex's hand into his with authority and pleasure as they guided them in toward the school.

The two had been so wrapped up in their fluffy conversations that when they crossed the threshold into the school's quad they nearly froze. The place was familiar—familiar, familiar—with the wide open space, terra cotta circles, and large beige buildings all decorated like a nondenominational holiday extravaganza. Alex and Alexys looked to each other with a shake of their head, "Where…are we?"

Luke looked to Alex and Alexys with confusion, "Greendale Community College. Where we always are?"

"Right…"

Alex and Alexys spent the rest of the walk through the quad exchanging whispers. It suddenly made sense why Nick and Luke were so festive for the first day of the month. Through snippets of conversation they gathered there was a contest of who could remain the most "Jolly" until winter break. Their eyes scanned every red nose they came across for anyone they knew to be familiar with the community college while also searching for the Doctor, Rose, and Clara. In the hands of students they searched for the strange gold watches they had found on the ground with the Doctor when they had first arrived to Greendale. No hand, no face, no voice, no random quirk went unnoticed by the two but it all came up empty.

"Did you hear, Alexys?"

She lifted her head to look at Nick, "I'm sorry?"

"There's going to be a Break Dawn Bonfire down by the lake tomorrow because of International Day of Disabled Persons. Want to go?"

It was then that they realized they were standing in front of a bulletin with flyers stuck to it all advertising the bonfire except for one lone flyer off to the side.

Alex furrowed his brows, "A Bonfire for International Day of Disabled Persons?"

Alexys plucked the odd flyer from the corner and folded it into her pocket as quickly as she could.

"The school is closing for the day. It's really because they found a gas leak and need to shut the school down for maintenance but," Luke shrugged and began to pull them through the door across the hall for a short cut, "you know the Dean."

As if on cue the bald headed bespectacled man in full Elsa garb walked into the room, "Dean-a-ling-a-ling…"

He paused in mid-step looking between the faces of the four and the empty table of the study room. His face transformed from surprised, to confused, and then to fear before turning back and running in the opposite direction. Alex and Alexys looked to each other, "That was weird."

"That was the Dean," Nick laughed. "I've got to split. My class is down that way but I'll see you after?"

Alexys grinned as she leaned up to press a kiss to his lips, "Can't wait."

"I'm heading with Nick. Are we still on for lunch?" Luke questioned, pulling off his ears and placing it on Alex's head before wrapping him in a sweet embrace.

Alex sank into it as he nodded, "Oh, you bet!"

Luke kissed him before departing, "I'll see you then."

Alex and Alexys waited for them to get out of ear shot before screaming in as quiet of a possible way as they could, "Oh my GOD!"

They froze as the signature mascot—the Human Being—walked past them with decorative garb for the chilly holidays.

"We have to find a quiet place to talk," Alexys whispered as she watched him go by, "What time does our first class start?"

From Alex's pocket he pulled out a folded piece of paper with a neatly printed schedule on it, "We have about ten minutes before we have English."

"Wait…how do we know we're in the same class?"

Alex showed her the piece of paper with astrix beside it to indicate it was shared between the both of them, "I've got it all right here."

"Ugh, memories of ST are coming back to me," she smiled fondly as they walked out of the hallway outside toward the building they were heading to, "So…did you and Luke do it last night?"

"Have sex, you mean?" Alex teased, "Yeah, we did. I'm assuming you and Nick did too?"

Alexys shook her head and scoffed, "Oh no! I'm a lady. And plus, do you see a ring on this f— where is my ring?"

"It's probably somewhere safe in the Tardis—"

"Oh, it's on my other hand."

"—but really? You're not going to have sex with him? After you've already done it? I mean, are you even still married to the Doctor at this point?" Alex pondered out loud.

"I don't kno— oh, hey! Look a butterfly!" she grinned, stepping back so that the butterfly could pass in front of them. She marveled at the white wings with black edges as it passed.

"Isn't she beautiful!"

Alex and Alexys jumped at the Northern British accent.

"Called a Cabbage White, native to these parts especially when growing broccoli, cabbage, and kale," the tall man smiled, "I'm Professor Smythe."

The man extended his hand and Alex took it immediately, recognizing him as the Ninth Doctor wearing a flashing holiday lights necklace, "Professor Smythe, it's a pleasure to meet you."

There was a brilliant kindness in his eyes as he extended the hand to Alexys as well, "Pleasure is all mine. I've been teaching here for ten years now and this is the first year that we've actually had some to visit. I pulled far more than an arm on that Dean to get them planting the right vegetables in the garden up road."

"Right, right," Alexys was already blushing as she continued to shake his hand. "And what do you teach?"

"Oh, I teach Astronomy!"

"Of course you do," Alex mumbled with wide eyes.

He elbowed Alexys softly when he realized she was still holding his hand. They both blushed as she let go, "Oh, sorry. Do you have any openings in your class?"

"Not at the moment but perhaps next semester. I'll see if I can get you on the short list. Your name?" he looked at her with an almost shy smile.

"Alexys…Alexys He—Smellpan. I mean Spellman!" she blushed then looked to Alex, "And this is my cousin, Alex."

"Oh…Spellman. You're the niece and nephew of the woman that makes those fantastic biscuits for the bake sale? What was her name? Hilda! Hilda Spellman, lovely woman," he smiled as he looked off in memory.

"And married!" Alexys shouted. Alex shook his head but she continued, "Oh, right not technically married but she was been living with a gentleman for over ten years so you know how that goes."

"Oh…I thought she had mentioned she was single?" he furrowed his brows.

"They're on and off but trust, they will always be back on!" she laughed in a frightening way, "Well, we must be going!"

"Of course. But before you go," he pulled his necklace off and placed it around Alexys, "Seems you forgot your holiday cheer. Don't want the Dean to catch sight of that. Anyway. Was a pleasure. Ta ta!"

The two waved as they continued their walk but once he was out of ear shot Alex whisper-shouted, "You are playing with fire! What are you doing?"

"I-I don't know but there was a butterfly," she cried as she touched the necklace.

"So?"

"He said the first time he saw me there was a butterfly. I think that was it?" she frowned.

"But…we're supposed to be from the wrong universe?" Alex looked down.

"I don't know…either way. We just found another owner of one of the silver fob watches. I just don't get it. Nine and Twelve were supposed to go with Eleven and River to the future…why are they here now?"

Alex glanced around then shook his head, "Maybe we shouldn't talk so openly about all this."

Alexys' eyes grew wide as she recalled what Alex was known to do when speaking in secret, "Code names? Code names? Code names?"

"Yes, but what do choose?"

"I've got it! The Highwaymen. Nine is Johnny Cash, Ten is Waylon Jennings, Eleven is Willie Nelson, and Twelve is Kris Kristofferson," Alexys spat out with a rush of excitement.

Alex paused as if to give her a moment to catch her breath, "Okay. Not where I thought you were going but I'm here for it. Rose should be Dolly Parton and Clara should be Wanda Jackson and River should be Loretta Lynn."

"Wow, Alex," she stopped herself from a rush of positive feedback and simply extended her hands for their shake. Alex grin and they completed it with the double tap.

"Okay, so we know that these…" Alex paused trying to think of another code word for the pocket watches.

"Lighters!"

"Sure, lighters, belong to Johnny and Kris. Do you think the other ones belong to Waylon and Willie?"

"I thought the lighters belonged to us," Alexys pulled her hair forward to play with it as she continued in deep thought.

"I thought so too but I don't know anymore. If it's really like that episode then we shouldn't know what ours is. Right? We should really take a look around and see what we find," Alex looked to her with uncertainty.

"Should I do that tonight while you're on your date?"

"I don't know. We can learn more at the Bonfire. We can get answers from some of the other students. Whatever weird questions we ask they'll just dismiss as being drunk or high," Alex shrugged.

"Genius, totally genius," she nodded.

They finished their conversation as they entered the room where their English class was to be had. Both paused with the invisible question of front or back but before they could decide the room filled up and they were left with two chairs in the front center. They shrugged and took their seats. Before they could settle in something on the teacher's desk in the shape of a red hat caught their attention. They looked to each other with confusion.

"It…can't be…" Alexys whispered.

"Is it a coincidence?" Alex wondered.

"God, I hope it is…"

"Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! I am the new substitute professor but have no fear, I, the world renowned Professor Schmidt, well not world renowned but world…traversed, anyway! I will be your guide in the mythical, magical, wonderful world of literature while Professor W is on the mend. First on the docket is William Shakespeare. Oh, no, no, no don't give me that look. There is a reason this Shakespeare is a genius and we will figure it all out together! And before you ask, yes…there will be a diorama."

Alex and Alexys looked to each other as they whispered, "Willie."

The Eleventh Doctor continued to speak but looked to the fez that was left on his desk. He picked it up and placed it on his head, "I have one very specific rule in this class I will not forgive. If you touch my fez you will get an immediate failing grade, is that understood?"

The class agreed.

He looked back to the chalkboard as if to write but suddenly grasped the fez and threw it at Alexys so quickly she only had time to deflect and send it flying in a different direction, "You didn't even try to save it! Oh, it's hit the floor and now it's a mess. What were you thinking?"

"I! You! It! Failing!" Alexys dropped her face into her hands realizing that she had no explanation and would not get the Doctor to stop complaining regardless of what she said. She looked to Alex who seemed thoroughly amused as she shook her head and mouthed the words, "The worst."

He went and grabbed it himself before returning to the front of the room, "Oh, I know you two."

They went rigid.

"I saw you this morning doing that tappy thing on the street today," he mocked their handshake, "What was that a— catch!"

He used the distraction to toss the fez toward Alex. Instead of using his hands he leaned up and tipped his head so that it would land straight on his crown. Alexys gasped in amazement.

"Yes! You see! Everyone! This gentleman, what was your name?"

"Alexander," he whispered.

"Alexander!" The Doctor boomed, "Alexander displayed an incredible skill you will need in order to pass the remainder of this class. Do you know what that is?"

The class was silence.

The Doctor took on a strikingly serious pose as he gazed off beyond their heads to the back of the room with a dramatic tone, "Adaptability."

Alex nearly gasped as he looked to Alexys, recalling the first few things he had said to him. The two watched him prance around looking at the items brought with the students and trying to compare it to Shakespeare. Both had exactly opposite faces so much so they appeared like the theater masks which he used as a jumping off point to divide Shakespeare's plays between comedy and tragedy.