DISCLAIMERS/NOTES

1. This is a fan fiction based on characters owned by the BBC. I DO NOT OWN THEM. This is just for fun.

2. This is a femslash story. If you don't like that sort of thing, you won't like this.

PART 13

Yaz had no idea why she agreed to this. It was all Graham's fault.

Her family wanted to see her. Well, her parents, specifically. Sonya visited Ryan and Graham's house a couple of times since Yaz retreated there: she was not particularly upset with her sister over the current situation. Infact, Sonya was a constant support, and definitely sympathised.

But her Mum and Dad? Yaz wanted nothing to do with them at the moment - maybe ever again. And as painful as that thought admittedly was, her parents had no one but themselves to blame.

Once more Yaz's rage flared up at the thought of them actually convincing the Doctor to end things between the new couple. How dare they?! They had no right to interfere in her love life! Could they not see how happy, content and complete she was with the wonderful woman?! Did they want her to be lonely and miserable?

Of course, had the policewoman been thinking rationally, she would realise they had every right to be concerned for their daughter's welfare and safety. But Yaz could not see that right now: all she could focus on was the blinding anger she felt for her parents. Not hate - never hate - but she could not get over the sense of betrayal. That they actually talked the woman Yaz loved to leave her, out of some misguided effort to keep her "safe". To heck with her safety, Yaz thought: all that mattered was being with the woman she cherished above all others, the one person she could never be without. And the last three months, if nothing else, proved that beyond any doubt.

Could her Mum and Dad truly not see how broken their "little girl" was? Did they actually think she would just "get over" the Doctor? Since the breakup, they occasionally questioned Yaz's sanity for what she had been doing for the past two years - to her face - but they were truly the insane ones if they thought Yaz could ever be happy again.

Obviously staying with Ryan and Graham was a spur-of-the-moment decision: when Yaz first stormed out of her flat, she frankly had no idea where she was going. If it was not for Sonya having a quick word she might have ended up back on an empty roadside, waiting for… who knew. Luckily, Ryan and Graham's place was far enough away to provide some distance, yet still close enough to somewhat-placate her parents. Not that she gave a shit what they thought anymore.

In her less bleak moments - a rarity now, of course - Yaz would thank the other members of the Fam for their patience and understanding. She often felt guilty, as Ryan and Graham were gutted themselves at the end of Team TARDIS. Yet neither man ever gave a hint of resentment for her frankly-selfish focus on her own pain. It was just… Yaz could not help it. She loved the Doctor with every fibre of her being, and convinced herself they would be together forever.

What made the situation hurt even more, of course, was the revelation that the Time Lady thought the same thing… as she actually intended to propose to the young woman. Yaz was flabbergasted when Sonya admitted that; any annoyance she might have had at the Doctor telling her family her true identity without first consulting Yaz was insignificant compared to the reason why. Yaz almost questioned her sister's words: surely she was lucky enough just to love and be loved by the Gallifreyan. To learn she actually wanted to make them official? Just when Yaz thought she could not worship the woman anymore…

Which made right now simply incredulous: why did she agree to this? How could she possibly contemplate talking to her parents again, after what they cost her? But Graham, as always, was the voice of reason. He insisted Yaz give her Mum and Dad a proper chance to explain themselves. So here she was, being walked to the Park Hill estate by Ryan and Graham, who probably accompanied her to make sure she would not bolt. They were meeting out in the open as it was "neutral" ground.

Yaz saw her family approaching them, and again her guts churned. The resentment she felt towards her parents was almost visible. Whatever they had to say, Yaz would never forgive them.

By the time the two trios reached eachother, Yaz was grinding her teeth. She felt Ryan put a hand on her shoulder for support. Her parents, to their credit, looked relieved, though a part of Yaz half-expected them to simply grab her and drag her back to the house. If they did, she would kick and scream the entire way…

"Yaz," sighed Najia. "We've missed you so much."

The policewoman remained silent.

Hakim reached out to his eldest daughter, but seemed to think better of it at the cold glare he got. "How are you feeling, sweetheart?"

"How do you think I feel?" Yaz spat.

"Yaz, please," Najia pleaded. "We know you're angry - we understand… "

"Do you?" She almost sneered at them. "Do you understand how it feels to be betrayed by your family? To have them force you away from the person you love?"

"Yaz, you must understand," said Hakim, "we only did it because we love you, and we want you to be safe. But now… "

"Save it," Yaz interrupted. "I don't wanna hear this again."

"Yaz, love," said Graham from beside her. "C'mon. Just let 'em talk."

"Please, Yaz," Sonya piped in. "Y'know I'm on your side, but we can't go on like this."

At her sister's words, Yaz softened her stance slightly.

"Like your father said," Najia continued, "we were just scared. We didn't want you to get hurt… or worse. But we do understand. And we certainly never thought you'd be in this state. We thought it was just a… crush or something."

"Well, now you know better," Yaz said. "Shame you couldn't have figured that out before you ruined my life."

Hakim tilted his head. "Now Yaz… "

"No!" she suddenly yelped. "I'm not a little girl anymore! I'm a grown woman, and I was in love! She was the best person in my whole life, and you took her away from me!"

"Yaz, calm down," warned Ryan.

Najia's patience was starting to wane. "For God's sake, Yaz, how were we to know?! You never told us anything about her! And then to find out all in one go? Our heads were spinning! But everything we did, we thought it was for your own good. But now I'm scared that we're gonna lose our daughter in a completely different way, and all I want is for you to be happy again and… " Unable to go on, she let out a small sob and leaned into her husband's arms.

Despite her anger, seeing her mother break down made Yaz weep herself. But it did not change the situation. "There's only one way I could ever be happy, and she's… "

Yaz's words faded when a sound filled the air. A familiar grinding noise which, starting as a whisper on the light breeze, grew louder as the seconds passed…

Everyone turned to a particular spot on the courtyard, Yaz's eyes wide…

TO BE CONTINUED