"So, your Majesty. You and the Doctor, eh?" Wilf smiled nervously at Scarlett, unsure how to act with her.
"Please, Wilf, call me Scarlett." She smiled sweetly at the man. "I'm no longer the Queen, and even if I was, I would insist that you, as a friend of the Doctor's, call me by name. And—yes—me and the Doctor." She smiled down at the Time Lord who was kneeling over a telescope that lay on the ground. His sonic was currently being held in his mouth as he fiddled with a part of the telescope with his fingers.
"Well, my dear young lady, if that is what you prefer." Wilf smiled genuinely now, feeling more relaxed.
The Doctor took his sonic out of his mouth and used it on the telescope one last time. "There! All fixed, Wilf! Should be good as new!"
"Aw, thanks Doctor! What would I do if I didn't have my telescope and the stars to come up to every night?"
The Doctor grinned. "Well—have to stay in the house with Sylvia?"
"As I always say, a lifesaver, you are!" Wilf grinned at the Time Lord and patted him on the back.
The Doctor picked up the telescope and carefully placed it back on it's tripod. He then adjusted the angle of the telescope to just the right spot and looked into it. "Now, Wilf, if this was a much more powerful telescope, you'd be able to see Teni from this spot. Unfortunately, even I can't make it that powerful."
The Doctor moved over and Wilf bent down to look into the telescope.
Scarlett moved to stand beside the Doctor. "Really, Doctor? Where?"
He moved behind her, stepping in close to her back, and leaned his head down next to hers, pointing up to the stars. "Right—there." He dropped his hand and placed them both into his pockets, staying close as he turned his head to watch her. Her eyes searched the sky where he had pointed. He whispered into her ear, "We'll go back and visit, I promise."
She nodded and smiled, whispering back, "I know. Just finding it hard to believe I'm finally here, with you, under different stars.
Wilf straightened up. "We should be getting back, the tea will be ready, and Sylvia will have our heads if it gets cold before we're back."
"Yes," the Doctor agreed. "Let's not push our luck when Sylvia is in such a good mood."
An hour later, after their pleasant tea time had ended in a heated discussion about sleeping arrangements, the three men were headed out the door and Jack was on the phone booking a hotel room.
Scarlett had insisted that sleeping on the sofa-bed was perfectly acceptable, explaining she had slept in much worse conditions than the couch of the Mott/Noble home, such as during military training exercises and other various adventures before and after becoming Queen. It took quite a bit of placating to get Sylvia to agree, but she insisted on pulling out her best bed linens and duvet to go on the sofa bed.
The next morning, Scarlett was up before the rest of the household. She had already pulled off the sheets and put the sofa back into its regular position. She had folded the linens back up nicely, wanting to keep the good opinion that Sylvia had of her. After wandering around the downstairs, looking at photos of Donna from her childhood, she sat back down on the couch and smiled as she thought of an idea. It was time to test a theory. Long-range telepathic communication. They weren't too far from each other, as Jack had said the hotel was just up the road, on 'High Street,' but up to this point, their communication had been within the Citadel on Teni.
She rested her head on the back of the sofa, closing her eyes and focusing on her link to the Doctor. She found the connection and nudged it gently before communicating, Good morning, Doctor.
Oh. She could feel his smile through their connection. Hello there. Sleep well?
Yes, you? she answered.
Didn't do much sleeping. Jacob and I don't need a whole lot of sleep, and after so many years, neither does Jack. We talked most of the night, watched TV, slept a few hours.
I'm the first one up here. She listened carefully for a moment. I think I hear someone else finally awake upstairs. See you soon?
He was quiet a moment. Jack says we'll be there in thirty minutes. See you then.
Scarlett got up from the sofa just as Wilf came down the stairs. "Good morning, Wilf."
"Oh, darlin', good morning to you!" Wilf smiled. "I was just going to put the kettle on for tea. When will the gents be back around?"
"Soon. Can I help?" Scarlett came around to stand in the kitchen with him.
"Of course, dear! What will you all be doing today?"
"We're meeting with UNIT to discuss helping with any repair or recovery efforts needed after the Dalek attack and because of the planet movement."
Donna came in at that moment. "Morning Gramps, good morning Scarlett." Donna gave her grandfather a kiss on the cheek, then she and Scarlett began discussing some of the childhood pictures Scarlett had seen on the mantlepiece. They moved to the kitchen table and sat while waiting for the kettle to boil.
Scarlett laughed as Donna and her grandfather recounted the story of her running away when her father had told her they weren't going on holiday.
"Oh yes, Donna's always been a bit strong willed. But of course, she is her mother's daughter." Sylvia smiled as she walked in the room, having overheard the story. "Good morning, sweetheart." She rubbed her daughter on the back as she passed by. "Good morning, dad. Good morning, Scarlett."
Just as the kettle was ready, there was a knock at the door. "I'll get the kettle." Wilf moved to the electric kettle that sat by the stove.
"I'll get the door." Sylvia headed back out of the room and down the hall to the front door.
"Here, let me help you." Scarlett got up quickly, going over to help pull down cups from the shelf for everyone.
From the hallway, they heard, "Good morning, Sylvia. Looking as beautiful as ever." Jack Harkness, of course, with his usual flirting, was heading down the hall now.
"Good morning Sylvia, we've brought you flowers—as a thank you—for your hospitality."
"Oh, thank you Jacob, how kind. Donna, look," Sylvia said as she came around the corner with a bunch of flowers. "Jacob has brought me flowers! Wasn't that kind?" Sylvia began fussing over the flowers before setting them down to open a cabinet and look for a vase.
"Yes, very kind." Donna grinned at Jacob, who blushed and rubbed at the back of his neck.
Sylvia was trying to reach up to the top shelf of the cabinet to reach a vase. The Doctor started to move forward to help, but Scarlett reached out her hand to stop his movement and nodded towards Jacob.
Jacob looked up at the same moment, and quickly moved over to help her. "Oh, let me help with that." He easily reached up and grabbed the vase, handing it down to her.
"Oh, such a gentleman!" She batted at his shoulder and smiled. He blushed again.
Why does he get all the good points with Sylvia? The Doctor frowned as he spoke telepathically to Scarlett.
Scarlett grinned as he watched Sylvia make small talk with Jacob while she placed the flowers in the vase. Because he's the one who might be a part of her family one day.
Oh. Yes. Good point, the Doctor acquiesced.
"Tea, everyone?" Wilf asked.
"None for me but thank you." Jack held up a large cup from a local coffee shop. "I brought coffee with me, I know I'm the only one of this crowd who prefers it."
A few minutes later they were all sipping at their drinks, while the Doctor explained to Wilf why they hadn't used the TARDIS to come to Chiswick. As he was finishing his explanation, Jack's phone rang. He looked at the screen and smiled, tapping the button to answer the call.
"Doctor Martha Jones. I assume you've been told that the gang is all here?" He paused while she talked. "Mmmhmm, we can be there—Okay, see you then—Bye." He ended the call and put the phone back in the pocket of his overcoat. "Well, if you're a TARDIS resident, it's time to be off. UNIT awaits."
As the five of them got up to leave, Sylvia huffed, "But you already have to go? What about breakfast?"
"Sorry, Mum. No time now. Planets to save, aliens to meet." Donna grinned at her mum, despite her continued frown. She leaned over and kissed her. "See you soon, Mum." She then hugged her grandfather. "See you, Gramps."
