"Well-" said a stunned human Doctor.
"Yeah," eloquently affirmed the Tweed Doctor.
"That was…"
"Yup…"
"And she was-"
"Uh- huh"
"She was beautiful."
"Che Bella," said the human Doctor.
"So how comes you're so scared of 'er, if you've already met 'er?"
"Yeah, Boss, she seemed to trust you well enough."
"Apparently."
The Doctor was by the console, turning levers and pushing buttons still, before they were all jolted as the TARDIS seemed to shudder, before it steadied.
"What was that?" asked Sarah Jane.
The Doctor looked up at them, guiltily.
"I remember this day very well. Perfectly, in fact. As I do few others. Well, days."
"You only remember a few days?"
"No- he means he remembers these days very well. We were back with River for several days before we came out here."
"But- what does that mean? Why several days?"
The Doctor looked apprehensive, before busying himself with several wires that probably didn't need fixing right under the console.
"River. She had a very hard labor. And pregnancy, truth be told. Anyway, I didn't know who she was- what they were. So I made her rest afterward until she insisted on getting up and about. But, since I figured everyone here has better things to do than stay cooped up in here for a few more days, I set the TARDIS on a very special setting- right now, time is moving at two different speeds for them and for us. For us back there, a few days will pass, while for us in here, it will merely be a matter of hours."
He looked at Donna quickly before he pushed up a lever with gusto, sending them into the vortex once more.
"Now, Ms. Noble, if you wouldn't mind putting your hand right here."
She raised an eyebrow but walked over to where he indicated. She felt a warm glow that travelled through her hand, up her spine, and into her head. The Doctor smiled softly as he held her head in his hands, staring into her eyes.
"Thought you were married, Space Boy!" she teased to break the tension, slightly jarred by the intensity of his gaze.
"Just… checking," he murmured, sharing a quick, sad look with the human man so recently created.
"So, we're going to be here for a several hours still, yeah?" asked Rose, looking up to meet the Doctor's gaze.
"Oh, only a few more," consoled the Time Lord with a small smile.
He saw Rose, Sarah Jane, and Donna all exchange a look- one that had him casually inching closer to his other self, Jack, and Mickey. Strength in numbers and all that.
"Good," declared Donna with a nod as she crossed her arms. "You'll have time to answer the big question I think everyone here is wondering then."
He turned his head away from her slightly, bracing himself, catching Jack's strong stance behind him from the corner of his eye. Great man, that Jack Harkness.
"And what would that be?" Ooh, a squeak. Been a bit since that's happened. Mickey put a hand on his shoulder, lending his support. Not such a big idiot after all.
"What's with the bow tie?" finished Rose, shaking her head before looking at Sarah Jane for support, before the women started chuckling loudly.
Behind him, he could feel the utter strength of the men in the room as they gathered supportively, one force against the fierce taunting of equally fierce women. Then together all three of them fell on the floor, laughing hysterically.
He was going to leave them all on the Lost Moon of Poosh. Then lose it all over again.
A/N- apologies for how long it's taken to post this ridiculously short chapter. Please let me know how I'm doing with these interactions, as it is quite a challenge maintaining so many voices in one story.
