Chapter Seven:

"Ahhhhh!" Alexys screamed for the hundredth time during the story of Alex and Luke, "And then what happened after you saw Ro—Dolly?"

Since it was a Wednesday, Alex and Alexys went into Greendale later than Luke and Nick which gave them plenty of time to dish on the events of the evening.

"Nothing! She packed up our food then we left! She had no memory of me. Not even a flicker of recognition. And everyone else seemed to think she's been working there for at least a year," Alex pulled his glasses off so he could rub his hands over his face, "What is going on? Also how DARE you break our promise?"

"Now, now. I kept the promise and was not reckless at a—"

"No! You were totally reckless and might I repeat," he leaned in with that expression he used when he was coming from a place of been-there-done-that, "Playing with fire!"

"I know!" she cried out, collapsing backward onto her bed.

"What did you tell Nick?" Alex grew serious.

"I told him everything!"

"Everything?!"

"Not everything, everything!" she scoffed, offended that Alex would think she could diverge such serious details, "But I told him about flirting with Professor Smythe and losing track of time and how I didn't know what came over me!"

"What did he say?"

"He said the Blue Moon'll do that to you and that he appreciates my honesty even though he is hurt by my actions. He wants to spend quality time together at the Bonfire to help mend what has been fissured," she sat up again with a sigh, "I've never been in this position before. I really like Nick. I mean…he's a total babe but Professor Smythe?"

"Why do you keep calling him that?" Alex was curious. Before the evening she had referred to him as the Doctor or by codename but suddenly she exclusively referred to him as the Professor.

"Alex…it's not him. It's not the Doctor…I…I can just tell. He doesn't act like him, he's shy and nervous and kind of nerdy? I don't know! And he drank a lot in a short amount of time and it was…adorable. He was flustered! He was definitely not the Doctor," she took a pause before continuing, "Whatever scared Waylon must have been really bad."

"Yeah, I was thinking about that," Alex looked down at the pocket knife in his hand, "I was also thinking that…I want this to be real."

"What do you mean?" she furrowed her brows.

"I just…this is Luke from a TV show. And the Doctor from a TV show, I don't know," tears welled up in his eyes, "I want it to be real so bad."

"Oh, Alex," she leaned forward and hugged him, "It feels real, it sounds real, it smells real, it tastes real, it looks real. I…I want it to be real too. And I think it is."

"Well…if it's real you have to make a real decision. In the past I've been known to juggle a few people around but this is different. My loyalty is to you buuuut I know you. I know keeping them on the line will only hurt you in the long run," Alex sighed, looking at Alexys with a genuine desire to assist her, "Is it Nick or Professor Smythe?"

Alexys groaned as she flopped backward onto the bed. She was quiet as she considered what her heart told her and how her body responded to that. With Professor Smythe it was so easy, it was so sweet, it was so hot but part of that was because of her history with the Doctor. Her hand moved to her wedding ring that had moved to her right hand. They had gotten married at the Sapphire Falls and they had promised it was until his next regeneration. She had placed that clause specifically because she knew of what would occur with Rose and River and she wanted that to happen for him, for them! With Nick…with Nick it felt so right. They just fit into pieces and even when he looked at her with such sadness and heartbreak…

Even when she tried to rationalize it for herself she couldn't. She had known the Doctor longer in "real time" but had known Nick longer in "Greendale time." She had memories of knowing him for years although she had been implanted only recently. But there were still Nick's dark brown eyes that welled with ache as he listened to her words. The pain he felt was so genuine and his arms around her were so real and the words he spoke came from a real place. There was a spark in his eyes that promised there was a future with Nick that there could never be with the Doctor. That fact plus all the feelings of right and belonging and safety and acceptance she felt with Nick answered the question itself.

"I think if it comes down to it…I pick Nick," Alexys sat up to look at Alex. She could almost imagine a grey box with the words "You Picked Nick" as if it were one of their Choices games.

Alex placed a hand on her shoulder, "You don't have to decide now. Especially since we don't know what is real and what isn't."

"And especially when there is so much going on!" She huffed.

"Right! We have to figure out what's up with the Highway Men and also…where's Hicks?" he voiced the biggest concern in his heart, "I don't know what I'd do if she got hurt in the middle of all of this I mean…she's alone."

"Oh, Alex!" tears began to form for Alexys as well. She hugged him tighter, "Even though I don't like Willie, the code name not the actual musician you know I love him, I trust what he says. How many times did he and Amy and Rory sneak away in the middle of a party only to return as if nothing happened? Just a change of clothes? The same thing will happen. PLUS, the Tardis is sentient. I truly believe she is giving Hicks all the TLC she can handle. Hicks probably has no clue what's going on and the Tardis is making those hologram thingies of you and the Doctor playing catch with her or something."

"Do you think?" Alex looked to her with hope in his eyes.

Alexys nodded with absolute certainty, "I know. Oh…and what do you think the deal with Father Blackwood is? Wasn't that so weird?"

"Yeah…do you think he's magical or alien or something? Why were you drawn to him?"

"Honestly," she blushed, "I think it was just pure animal magnetism. I never thought he was all that hot in the show but in person? I…"

Alex shook his head.

"I AM INCREDIBLY SUSCETIBLE TO PERSUASION. YOU KNOW THIS ABOUT ME!"

"Not judging, not judging!"

They laughed together, finding some peace in the moment they shared.

"We need a plan," Alex became serious again.

"What do you have in mind?"

"Well…Dorian mentioned a service tonight and the church isn't far away from the Bonfire. One of us should leave the Bonfire to check it out," Alex offered.

"I'll g…" Alexys remembered the conversation they had just had, "You go."

"Yeah, I'll go," they sealed their agreement with a double tap, "What should our game plan for today be? I think you should stay away from Professor Smythe."

"Agreed," Alexys frowned, "Ugh…but he's so cute!"

Alex looked to her with the expression he had whenever she mentioned anything about him being attractive, "I gotta tell you…I don't see it but I'm happy for you."

"Thank you for your support," she nodded once, "Now…if you don't mind. I think I smell bacon. Let's get breakfast!"

It was just as Alexys had expected.

In the kitchen Hilda hummed beautiful tunes as she placed the finished dishes down for Alexys and Alex. Zelda sat with newspaper in hand and a coffee while Salem sat perched on the corner of the table beside her. Alexys nearly tripped, wondering how she could have forgotten the cat entirely. She opened her arms for the black feline to jump and he landed perfectly against her chest. She began to coo and pet him as he purred against her.

Alex took the seat and sat patiently, drinking a specially made smoothie that waited beside his breakfast, "Thank you so much, Auntie. Everything looks and smells delicious. Also this smoothie? It's the best I've ever had! Do I taste hints of ginger?"

Hilda danced her way to the table to place a gentle kiss to the top of his head, "That's my brilliant, Alexander. I added a smidge to help with that tummy of yours. By the way…was that Luke and Nicholas I heard leaving early this morning…again?"

Both Alex and Alexys looked up to her with wide eyes and blushing faces. Alex took another sip of the smoothie then looked down to his eggs, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"I already gave them the speech yesterday, Hilda. They are well aware the splendors of safe sexual intercourse," Zelda move the newspaper slightly so she could comfortably smoke her cigarette. "I am very fond of Nicholas and Lucas. I was afraid these two would turn into Great Aunt Theodosia and Great Uncle Philip."

Memories of the two distant relatives came to Alex and Alexys. They were brother and sister that had lived on the land many generations ago. The two never married but did end up setting the house on fire and died in the flames. What was left of their remains slept buried in the family plot in the backyard.

Alexys used one hand to hold Salem while the other reached for a piece of bacon, "Well, I'm not having sexual intercourse."

"You're having sexual something," Alex mumbled under his breath.

Alexys shot him a warning look before looking to the Aunties, "Besides. Was that Professor Smith I heard leaving very, very late last night?"

Zelda dropped the newspaper briskly to give her own warning look.

"Just kidding, Auntie," she squeaked out before taking a sip of orange juice.

"How did you two meet anyway?" Alex questioned out of pure curiosity but also in the hopes that it would give them some clues.

Zelda gave a small laugh at the memory, "The bank of all places. It happens to be his first time in the United States and he was having an awful time understanding the poor bank teller. I intervened to assist the both of them with some translations and he invited me for tea. The rest, as they say, is history."

Alex and Alexys shared glances toward each other, "What's he like?"

"He's…rather silly. The most mundane things confuse him. Never been married, no children to speak of, dedicated to his craft. He is an avid lover of music and very skilled with his hands."

"Hey-O!" Alexys shouted while Alex teased, "I bet he is!"

"Not in that manner, you children," she swatted at them with her newspaper, "He is the one that fixed the leak in the sink. He also is a fantastic chef. He's overall an incredible gentleman though…a bit dull to converse with on anything he doesn't find passion for."

"Interesting."

"What about you Aunt Hilda, what are you up to these days? Anyone you're on the lookout for?" Alexys teased, recalling Dr. Cerberus and their eventual love affair.

"Well…I have chatted once or twice with my own gentleman. He's been in Greendale for quite some time but we've only just began talking now that I'm in charge of the bake sale. He's a professor," she blushed.

Alex and Alexys immediately locked eyes. Alex mouthed the words 'don't' but it was too late, "Oh, Professor Smythe? He and his husband are so cute together."

"Husband?" her face fell slightly. "I reckon he said he was single after his divorce."

"They're on and off but trust, they will always be back on," Alexys did her best to put on an angel face despite Alex whispering that she was evil. "What about Dr. Cerberus? I saw him giving you the eye last time we were in?"

"The evil eye!" she grabbed some salt and threw it behind her shoulder, hitting one of the pots on the stove and making a small burst of flame.

"No, no! The sexy eye. Like he thinks you're hot!" Alexys corrected.

"Oh…I don't know about that," Hilda blushed.

"I mean it, right Alex!"

"Don't bring me into this one," he mumbled, expertly eating the whites of the eggs and leaving the yolk intact.

"Well, I do have to go into the bookstore today," she mumbled to herself, suddenly lost in thought, "Look at the time! Eat up you two! You must be on your way!"

Alexys guided Salem to the ground so that she could dig into her breakfast properly while Alex began smashing the yolks. They talked with their Aunts happily, domestically, peacefully about life in Greendale and the events they would be having for Yule. There was promise of inviting Nick and Luke and Hilda even promised to help Alexys bake something for the school staff. It was a lovely morning held by lovely people.

By the time school came around it was a far different affair. Nick was still sensitive over the flirting with the Professor while Alex and Luke were happily (and adorably) intertwined. Once again Alex had a printed out copy of the schedule with Alexys' written in tiny scrawl in the margins. Their day was mostly filled with classes that neither could pay attention to with the possibility of the end of the universe on the horizon. Every free second they had they spent discussing what was to come of the Bonfire.

It wasn't until they had a free block that they decided to canvas the Community College. Together they walked through the hallways and into the study rooms searching for clues or suspicious people. Along their path they met interesting characters that they had to force themselves to not shout at.

All in all it seemed to be a walk down memory lane. They saw the setting of their favorite scenes and reenacted their favorite moments. There were lots of their handshake and lots of laughs that they enjoyed. For a moment it was as if they were visiting the set of a show, not at the center of it. That was until a blaring guitar riff blasted through the hallway from a music room down the hall.

"What is that?" Alex asked with his face scrunched up in disapproval.

"Ten bucks says it's Kris Kristofferson," there was excitement bubbling inside of Alexys she could not contain.

Again there was the disapproving noise from Alex that he did not bother to hide, "Egh, let's get out of here."

"Oh…but I kinda want to check it out. I mean…" she looked down the direction the sound came from and did her own air guitar to it, "…music"

"You can definitely go but I want to keep looking this way," he pointed off toward the right, "Meet you back here with updates?"

She nodded happily then gave him a hug, "Alright, see you soon!"

Alexys nearly skipped to the sound of the high pitched squealing of the guitar solo. When she turned into the classroom she was happy to see she was right. The Twelfth Doctor stood at the center of an empty music room with an electric guitar and an amp as his only companions. She paused, listening to the music he created while her arrival was still masked. Though she knew he wasn't exactly the same man as before she was still eager to learn from him.

When he finally finished she stepped into the room, "Are you taking requests?"

He jumped in surprise, nearly tripping over the amp that was solid behind him, "Oh! Didn't, I didn't see you there. What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in class?"

"I've got about an hour free. I heard you playing and thought I'd join you. That sounded really cool! Did you make that yourself?" she moved to sit in one of the empty desks positioned in a half circle around him.

"Uhh…no," he looked to the guitar then up to her, "A Black Sabbath original. What…where's your cousin?"

"Oh, he's doing his own thing," Alexys smiled again, "So…are you taking requests?"

It didn't take Alex long to find anything more interesting than listening to the Twelfth Doctor playing his guitar. As he walked out into the open, chilly air he caught sight of the Eleventh Doctor in a suspiciously hurried pace wearing a floppy elf hat. His hand fingered the silver watch in his pocket as he took off to follow the erratic steps. He made sure not to follow too close or lag behind too far but the near sprint/walk the Doctor was in seemed as if he were being chased.

The Eleventh Doctor rounded a corner and as Alex moved to follow he slammed into another body in front of him.

"Oh God!" the man screamed as flyers flew in all directions.

"I am so sorry!" Alex shouted, helping the individual who he had collided with. He scrambled as quickly as he could to grab the flyers from the air and then from the floor. Even while helping he shuffled forward to catch sight of the Doctor around the corner but he was gone.

Disappointment consumed him but he turned the energy toward helping none other than the Dean in an Anna costume who shouted, "She is going to kill me!"

"I am so sorry!" Alex repeated, taking the stack of flyers he had and handing it to the Dean.

He grabbed them and continued snatching more from the ground, "She does not like creases! These have creases!"

"Wh—"

For the first time in all the chaos Alex looked at the flyer in his hand.

"peace comes at a cost

But not for you

Church of Stillhet

Tonight During the Bonfire at the Old Church"

"Church of Stillhet?" Alex questioned out loud.

The Dean snatched the flyer from Alex's fingers then froze. It seemed to Alex the Dean had not seen who he had bumped into until that very moment and the discovery it was Alex brought a whole new layer of fear into him, "Uh…it's a new Church opening up here in Greendale and you know what they say about equal opportunity!"

"Interesting. Do you know the people in charge of this? You said a woman?" Alex questioned with genuine interest.

"Oh, it's boring, boring stuff," he waved dismissively, "I know you and the Spellmans prefer your…traditions. I'll be on my—"

"Is Father Blackwood the head of Church Stillhet?"

The Dean turned into a statue the way deer do when confronted with danger.

"I only ask because I'm looking to branch out. I heard there was a service tonight and I'd really like to attend," Alex tried to think of anything that would make the Dean speak again, "What should I wear?"

"Black," the word popped out of the Dean's mouth as if he were jumped started, "They are very austere, wear all black, not a lot of humor but they certainly know how to wear the hell out of a suit and tie."

"They? So it's more than just Father Blackwood?"

His eyes jumped in all directions as he backed away, "I…I better get going."

"Why are you helping them?" Alex shot the question out before the Dean ran off.

He spoke his words with careful steps away but Alex continued to follow closer, "I may or may not have been spotted with a group of Dalmatians walking into a bar at Atlantic City," he paused, "There's a joke in there."

"Yeah, the joke is you."

It was Alex's turn to freeze as his eyes went up, and up, and up to Jeff Winger that had stepped behind them, "Jeff!"

Annie's voice scolding Jeff was what made Alex jump to life. Britta was soon to follow as she took one of the flyers, "I think it's nice of you to help promote a new religion at this time. I, myself, am an atheist but I find no harm in expanding one's mind to new thoughts and ideologies."

"Please, it's another Greendale Scam," Jeff huffed, grabbed Britta's flyer and crumbling it into a ball, "Or haven't you noticed we've had a bake sale every day for the past three months."

"That has nothing—," the Dean's voice was a squeak in the presence of Jeff but at the sound of his own voice he quickly stood straighter and made his voice more baritone, "That has nothing to do with the Church of Stillhet, Jeffrey. I encourage all three of you to attend with open minds."

"I want to go," Alex interjected.

"Won't be necessary, Mr. Spellman, but appreciate the support!"

"Wai—!"

It was too late. The Dean was gone.

"What was that all about?" Jeff asked, looking to Alex and then the others.

Alex wondered if the Church was against him or against the Spellmans in general, "I have no idea."

"Wait," Britta looked to Alex with fury in her eyes, "You're the head of the student board for the LGBT Community. Do you think they're discriminating against you because of it?"

"That would be just so terrible!" Annie exclaimed in horror.

"Guys…wait. It's the Dean," Jeff motioned to where he had scampered down the hall. The silence of everyone made him roll his eyes, "The Dean that has not stopped trying to sleep with me since I crossed the Greendale threshold. The Dean who's reply to speculation of him being gay was that it was an 'over simplification.' How could he discriminate against the LGBT community if he's part of it?"

"It's fine," Alex began to suspect it had to do more with him being 'Spellman' and wanted to find Alexys quickly to figure out what that could mean, "I'm just going to go find my cousin."

"Nonsense! You do not have to face this great injustice alone," Britta placed her hands on Alex's shoulder, "We will find a way to make the Dean pay for his prejudice!"

Though Alex was a fan of Britta, he shied away and continued to step down the hall he had seen the Doctor flee through, "It's really okay. I'm fine."

"Well, we're walking in that direction too. Do you want to join us to the Cafeteria?" Annie offered with those massive blue eyes.

Alex considered running back to Alexys but those big blue eyes distracted him and all he could do was melt into a yes, "Sure, I think my Aunt Hilda is in charge of the bake sale anyway. I should go say hi."

"Perfect!" Britta shouted, once again placing her arm around Alex's shoulders, "We were just discussing our friends' obsession with Inspector Spacetime. Have you heard of it?"

Complete seriousness took over the man as he looked at the three members of the Study Group, "I have been waiting for this question my whole life."

Alex spent the rest of the period hanging out with the three from the group, introducing them to Hilda, and discussing more details of the new Church. He found out useful information about the school including the unexpected absence of Professor W, the Blackwoods, and the death of the Glee club which forced the school to find a new Professor of Music. The mention of the music reminded Alex that he had to find Alexys to tell her about what he had learned before the Bonfire.

"Thunderstruck! Thunderstruck! Thunderstruck! Thunderstruck!"

Alex watched as The Twelfth Doctor and Alexys jammed in the center of the music room. Their eyes were shut behind thick sun glasses as they danced wildly. He casually pulled out his own cell phone and began recording until the end of the song.

"That was great, Professor Smith!" Alexys hooted.

"You really think Zelda will like us playing this during Yule?" the Doctor played a few notes from the opening riff.

"She is going to lo— Alex!" Alexys shouted, quickly hiding the microphone behind the back.

"Yeah…there's no pretending this didn't happen."

"Don't show Zelda! We haven't perfected it yet!" The Doctor shouted.

Alex laughed, "Oh, trust me. I don't think it can get any better than this."

Alexys shook her head and said her goodbye to Professor Smith before joining Alex in the hall, "What'd you find?"

"You're not going to believe this…" he looked down pensively.

"What?"

"I hung out with Jeff, Annie, and Britta!" the joy radiated off of each word.

"I'll kill you."

"What?"

"Nothing," she grinned, "I am so happy for you! Totally not jealous! What were they like? What happened? Did you all like make out or something?"

"What? No!" Alex grinned, enjoying the jealousy that took over Alexys, "But I did get some information."

"Like what?"

"Well the biggest thing is that Professor W—"

"That Willie Nelson is substituting for?" Alexys asked.

Alex nodded a confirmation, "—mysteriously vanished around the time we came to town. Another thing is the Blackwoods are originally from Greendale. The head of the family passed away a few weeks ago and now their son has returned after years of travelling. He's…apparently always been weird and into spooky stuff."

"That is interesting…" Alexys trailed her eyes down the hallway as if in thought then looked to Alex, "I'm sorry but I can't stop thinking about how you hung out with Jeff, Annie, and Britta? What!"

Alex laughed and shared more details about the event. Before they knew it they lost track of time and had to scramble to their English class with the Eleventh Doctor. His back was to them, writing on the chalkboard, as they snuck into two open seats at the back of the room.

"Late!"

The two held their breath.

He continued to write on the board as he shouted, "Mr. Spellman! Ms. Spellman! I knew it would be quite a challenge having the both of you in one class but I had much higher hopes for you."

"I—"

"No need for explanation!" he whirled around to face them, his eyes meeting Alex's, "Oh…come on, Alexander. Her I expect but you? You're better than this."

"Hey!" she shouted.

"I'm sorry," he squeaked.

She looked to Alex with fury in her face, "He is the worst!"