So sorry for the delay. I had heaps of trouble writing this chapter. I would have put more in, but then it would have taken even longer.
2 hours later
The wives are finally starting to get settled into their new homes.
(A smiling Doctor walks down a corridor, followed by a puffed out Miranda. He stops at a door.)
The Doctor: "Okay Miranda, this is your room. I save it for special guests. Its previous inhabitant was a young man named Adam…"
(He opens the door to a small, dinghy room.)
Miranda: "Surely you've got better accommodation than this?"
The Doctor: "What do you mean? This is a 5 star room! Look at that king size … oh, I see."
Miranda: "What?"
The Doctor: "The TARDIS is giving you the illusion that the room is bad. This reflects your mood and general idea about staying here. Once you lighten up a bit, you'll see the room for what it truly is."
Miranda: "What do you mean the TARDIS is giving me an illusion? Can't you control your own ship?"
The Doctor: "Well, technically I borrowed her a while back, and I never really paid attention in TARDIS flying class … besides, the TARDIS is an organic being. She's alive, and she works in mysterious ways. Do you know – when my wife Rose looked into the time vortex, the TARDIS made it so that she ages at half the rate of normal humans? (A/N Just a little favour I decided to grant Rose.) Pretty amazing, huh?"
(Miranda looks at him, dumbstruck.)
The Doctor: "Right, I'll leave you to get unpacked, shall I? Oh, and one more thing. I'd suggest going to the toilet beforeyou go to bed, because you might end up getting up to go in the middle of the night and walking into a dresser, another bedroom, a repetitive cycle of your bedroom … stuff like that. The TARDIS likes to be cheeky sometimes, especially at night."
(He gives her a thumbs-up sign and shuts the door. Inside, Miranda just stands where she is, not knowing what to do.)
(Outside, the Doctor is greeted by Romana and David.)
Romana: "Do you think she believed that crap about the TARDIS giving her an illusion Dad?"
The Doctor: "Well, she believes she's in a ship that can travel through time and space containing an alien, 2 half aliens and a human with altered DNA. What's one more thing to believe?"
David: "But you always taught us lying was wrong."
The Doctor: "Yes David, but only if it's about confessing your feelings to someone or telling them whether that outfit really doesn't suit that incarnation. In other cases, e.g. escaping afternoon tea with your mother-in-law, bluffing to aliens and pissing off boring old housewives, it's the only way to survive."
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In the Smith household, Rose having even more trouble. It's dinnertime, and the family's mealtime conversation is nothing compared to what she's used to.
John: "So Jennifer, Michael, have you finished your homework?"
(The kids nod.)
Michael: "Hey Dad, my friend Jeremy invited me to go over to his house tomorrow after school. Can I? Please?"
John: "Hmm, I don't know. Do I know this Jeremy?"
Michael: "I think you met his parents at the school fete last year."
John: "No, I'm still not sure…"
Rose: "Well I think it's a great idea. It's important for kids to socialise, make friends, experience new environments…"
John: "See that's exactly the opposite of what Miranda would say. She'd encourage you to stay at home."
Rose (annoyed): "Well how about inviting Jeremy over here? That way you can keep an eye on him."
John: "Well no, I'll be at work all day."
Rose: "Then let me do it. I'll have nothing else to do all day."
(John looks doubtful, but eventually sighs.)
John: "Oh very well. But I hope you'll appreciate that this is very unlike me. You've only been here a couple of hours, and already you're pushing my boundaries. I hope you don't have much else planned."
Rose (to herself): "You have no idea…"
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And so the wives are spending their first night away from home. Let's see how they're coping so far.
(Night-vision shot of Miranda, sitting up in bed looking terrified.)
Miranda: "I hate it here. Not only is the dark lighting and the constant background hum of the ship extremely annoying, but the Doctor is absolutely insane. I just feel so sorry for his kids for being subjected to this kind of lifestyle. Right now all I want is to be back home with my family."
(Rose is sitting on the bed with the light on.)
Rose: "I can't sleep. I miss the gentle hum of the TARDIS, and the warmth of the Doctor's body against mine. Sure, whenever I'm kidnapped by aliens I may spend a night away from him, but at least then I have the faith that he'll rescue me. And right now, no one can rescue me from here, that is, the dullest place in time and space."
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I have no idea when the next update will be (sorry!). Your reviews are much appreciated.