It was still cold and raining the next morning when they wheeled Donna in on a stretcher to King's Cross Hospital. They set her up in her room as Jack, Ianto, Mickey and Martha buzzed around.

The Doctor for his part set at her bedside, fervently hoping this would work.

"Okay," said Jack, "remember our story is that she got here last night in the aftermath of the Planets mess."

"Just nobody say planets," added Martha.

"We're not even going to speak to her," added Ianto.

"Just stick with the story," said Jack. "Martha, clothes, bag."

"On it," said Martha taking the things they'd gotten from the TARDIS. She put the clothes and bag in the bureau. "Wait, would she still have her bag?"

"What?," asked Jack.

Marta seemed to be weighing the options. "I'm just saying, absolute chaos, why didn't somebody take her bag?"

"So, no bag?," asked Ianto.

"Wait, if somebody took her bag, how did the Doctor, I mean, John ever find her?," asked Mickey. "It would have her driving license."

"Bag stays," Jack said.

"Bag stays," said Martha, putting it back in the bureau. "Doctor, how long until that anesthetic wears off?"

"Twenty minutes, six seconds," said the Doctor.

"You remember the story?," asked Jack.

"Yes, I remember the story," the Doctor said tersely.

"Could you tell it back to me?"

The Doctor turned and gave a glare.

"It's just it's the same story we've all been learning," Martha said softly. "It only works if all the details are right."

"We were out to breakfast," said the Doctor. "The sky went dark, planets appeared in the sky, we had to run from the Daleks-"

"Pepper pots," Ianto interjected. "That's what everyone's calling them. No one's big on details."

"We had to run from the pepper pots, we got separated, though I don't know why I would let myself get separated from my pregnant wife," he added bitterly. "I looked for her. I checked every hospital until we came here, a witness said she hit her head at a tube station."

"Okay," said Jack.

"You might have agreed to meet back at the house," said Ianto.

"What?," asked the Doctor.

Ianto cleared his throat. "If there was a crowd and it was chaotic, like it might be if armies of pepper pots invaded, you might have agreed to meet back at the house if you got separated. Just a thought."

They all looked to the Doctor for his approval.

"Fine," said the Doctor.

"You need to change," said Jack.

The Doctor went back to the spare room Torchwood had and looked at the clothes Ianto had given him. Jeans, a Rolling Stones t-shirt that was actually his, a hoodie. He got to keep the shoes. That was something. The rest of it just felt so wrong.

He joined them in Torchwood's room. Ianto, Jack and Mickey were waiting.

"We just sent Martha in," said Jack, motioning at the monitors of the room. "Donna's just waking up."

Martha was talking. "We were wondering when you might wake up. I'm Doctor Jones. How are you feeling, Mrs. Smith?"

Donna spoke and the Doctor was relieved to hear it. "I think you must have the wrong chart. I'm not Mrs. Smith."

"Donna Smith? Born February 3, 1970?"

"Yeah, that's me, but my last name's not Smith."

"I very much doubt that. Your husband's been relentless about your care. He just popped out for a cup of tea, he'll be back directly."

"My what?", Donna screeched.

The Doctor cringed. That was not an auspicious start.

"Your husband. Mrs. Smith, don't you remember your husband?," asked Martha, pitch perfect at playing this like a surprise.

Donna shook her head.

"You had an accident and hit your head. We were afraid there might have been some memory loss. Tell me, what day is it?"

Donna struggled. "I don't know. Friday?"

"Okay, what year is it?"

"Two thousand and six."

The Doctor was at least consoled that the mind wipe had done it's job.

"What year is it?", Donna asked in alarm.

"Now, Mrs. Smith, please don't stress yourself. I'm sure your memory will come back eventually, but don't force it by any means."

"Just tell me what year it is!"

Martha took a moment. "It's two thousand and eight."

"That can't be right," said Donna as she shook her head.

"Shall I get you the newspaper?"

"Yeah, thanks."

"The newspaper!," Jack shouted. "Has she lost her mind?!"

Ianto fumbled for the nearby paper. "Daleks, planets, Daleks, dead PM, ah, yes, sport." He separated it from the rest of the paper.

"She's getting up," said Mickey.

The Doctor stared. Donna was walking towards the window.

"She's looking out the window!," Mickey said like it was a crisis.

"She was going to look out the window eventually," said Ianto.

"Just wait," said Jack.

Martha entered. Ianto handed her the Sport section.

"Why would you offer her the paper?!," Jack shouted.

The Doctor watched as Donna's hand grazed her belly. His breath hitched and then she ran towards the toilet.

"That does not look good," said Mickey.

"Hurry back, Martha," said Jack.

Martha rushed off and they watched as she hurried back in the room.

"Mrs. Smith?" Martha entered and quickened her pace towards the bathroom. "Mrs. Smith, are you alright?"

They could hear Donna shout. "I have my head in a toilet and I'm in hospital! Do I seem alright?"

Martha helped Donna back.

"Almost time for your entrance," said Jack.

"Here," said Ianto handing him a cup of tea.

"What's this for?," asked the Doctor.

"Martha said you went for a tea. You have to show up with tea."

"Go, go, go," said Jack shoving him out of the door as if he were parachuting.

The Doctor took a breath. John Smith. He could do this. He had been John Smith before although that was in 1913. He decided it would be fine so long as he respected Donna's right to vote. He tried to search through all the tips he had been given, but found he couldn't remember them or they didn't make sense.

He was John Smith. He loved Donna Noble.

Smith. Her surname was Smith now.

He opened the door.

"Yep, nice cuppa. Not bad. You're awake!"

The Doctor turned to look at Donna. He was not what she was expecting. Wait, no. She looked angry. Why was she angry? Why would Donna be angry?

"Something wrong, sweetheart?"

"Don't sweetheart me!", she snapped. "You can't just burst into people's rooms like that! Get out!"

The Doctor's face dropped. He had been hoping for a slightly better reaction.

Martha interceded. "Mrs. Smith, this is Mr. Smith."

She looked at him, investigating him more thoroughly following their formal introduction. She turned back to Martha. "Are you serious?"

This wasn't going great. Martha started giving doctor babble and the Doctor joined her. He could babble with the best of them. Donna kept looking at him.

"I'm going to leave you two. Is that alright, Mrs. Smith?"

Donna regarded him again. The Doctor silently prayed for her to say yes.

"Yeah, it's fine I guess."

Martha promised to return and the Doctor turned back towards Donna.

"Do you need anything?," he asked.

"What?"

"I don't know. You've been unconscious. Do you want some tea or something? Banana?"

"Why would I want a banana?"

"I don't know. It's just a thing. It's some-thing."

"Sorry. What's your name?"

"John."

"John, right." Donna paused. "Wait. Your name is John Smith?"

"Yeah."

"Your name is actually John Smith? People actually get named John Smith?"

Yeah, as far as fake names went, it wasn't brilliant, was it?

"Do you have any questions or anything?", he asked.

"Oh, loads."

At that moment, the Doctor noticed the telly. It was going to be a news report about the planets.

"Oh, no, look at that picture quality."

"What?," asked Donna.

"I'll just sort that." The Doctor leapt up on the bureau and reached for the sonic, then realizing it was in his jacket and he couldn't use it in front of Donna anyway.

"What are you doing?," asked Donna.

"The cable is definitely going out," said the Doctor.

"Well, isn't there someone in maintenance?"

The Doctor began unscrewing things and crossing wires. "Oh, no. I'm very handy. I do this sort of thing all the time." He continued rearranging them, he was trying to fix the channel to BBC Children's. He caught a reflection in the window and realized something.

Donna was looking at his bum.

She had said that, that on the day they met she had stolen a look at his bum. He couldn't help but grin.

He hopped down from the bureau. "There. Good as new. Ought to give you no more problems."

"So, those loads of questions... were you going to ask any?"

He watched as she searched for a question. "Uh, are you a West Ham supporter?"

West Ham! Count on Donna to ask about West Ham! Unfortunately, he had been informed that he was not a football fan as he didn't have a clue about it. Too bad, really. He could have impressed Donna with all his West Ham knowledge, like their mascot was... Blimey. Mickey had a point. "Oh, football! You mean football! Not much for football, I'm afraid. Cricket's always been my game."

She looked disappointed. "Well, at least you're not a Tottenham supporter."

"Passed inspection so far. Go on, give me the next one." Come on, Donna, give me something you'll like, he begged silently.

Just then Wilf entered. Donna threw her arms around him.

"Um, is Sylvia coming?," he asked.

"I think I lost her in reception. You might want to go find her."

"Right. I'll be right back, sweetheart."

The Doctor went in the hallway, following Sylvia's voice all the way back to the Torchwood room.

"Sylvia-" said Jack.

"Mrs. Noble, thank you!"

The Doctor entered. "What's the problem?"

Sylvia turned. "You. You're the problem. I still can't believe you're foolish enough to put my daughter's life at risk."

"She's my wife," the Doctor said tersely, tiring of having this conversation again. "And my daughter is at stake as well and Donna asked me- no, begged me- to do this because she doesn't want to lose her daughter, either. Do you know what that would do to a Time Lord child? Losing her mother in infancy? She would carry those scars her whole life and do you think Donna would be alright? Because I don't think she would! So, are you gonna help or not? I'd just like to know which."

"If this goes badly, I'll blame you."

"Oh, Sylvia, I am so far ahead of you."

"Oh, look who I found!", said the Doctor.

Donna and Wilf looked up to see Sylvia. She was stiff and scowling. The Doctor caught sight of Donna rolling her eyes. This was nothing new.

"I just think you should know up front that I hate your husband.

Donna nodded, it didn't seem to be a deal breaker which the Doctor found fortunate to say the least. "Hello, Mum. Where's Dad?"

Wilf. Sylvia and the Doctor looked at each other.

"What?", asked Donna. "Is he at a football match or something?"

The Doctor realized he had mucked that bit up. Her dad. Everything from the last two years had to go and this was the one thing they were actually going to tell her. "I'm sorry, Donna. I should have told you earlier, but I forgot."

"Your father died, Donna.", said Sylvia.

Donna was in shock. "What? How? When?"

"He had a heart attack last year," Sylvia said tearfully.

"Oh, my God." Donna didn't look to be taking it well. She was distraught, her form sinking lower and lower.

"Donna..."

He put his hand on her shoulder, holding it. She turned to look at him as if she was surprised he was there. Oh, what he would give to have her want him there. She was staring at him like a deer in headlight.

He hugged her. If that wasn't doing the job for her, it was certainly what he needed.

They made it through the rest of the visit, just. Sylvia was trying to throw a wrench in the proceedings to say the least, even offering to have Donna come stay at home since she couldn't remember "John." Wilf managed to stay ahead of it, vouching for him. Donna had a look that the Doctor knew meant she thought it was typical. They eventually left and the Doctor found himself watching Donna eat. She eyed him suspiciously.

"Aren't you going to eat anything?", she asked.

"I'm fine."

She looked at him again, clearly searching for the next topic of conversation with the husband she just met.

"Don't you want to get headed home?"

He furrowed his brow. "Do you want me to leave?"

"Well, what, have you been sleeping here? How long? Since I've been in hospital?" She sounded as if it was impossible.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Why?" The Doctor wanted to scream. This was the old Donna, who, while decidedly brilliant, didn't know she was brilliant and was suspicious when anyone else alluded to it. The Doctor chose his next words carefully. "I've wanted to be near you. I'm too used to you now, I love you. Of course I want to be near you."

She was staring at him, trying to figure him out. She didn't believe him.

The Doctor leaned forward. "I know you don't remember meeting me before today, but if you should know one thing about me it's that I love you."

"How do you get them to let you stay overnight in the ward?," she asked changing the subject.

"I have connections."

"What do you do?"

"I'm a freelance consultant. I go around to different firms and consult." Ianto had said that would be best since no one seemed to have a clue what consultants actually did.

"Consult on what?"

"Security issues, mainly. Sometimes environmental matters. Whatever, really. We travel a lot, though. That's our... thing."

"We travel?," she asked. Her eyes lit up.

"Yes."

"I haven't really traveled. I just booked a package holiday to Spain, but I guess I went already. Or didn't."

"Wibbly wobbly..."

"What?"

Right. No wibbly wobbly. No timey wimey. "Never mind. You went, though, but you've been to lots of places since. To the end of the world and back."

"I don't remember, though."

The Doctor shrugged. "Don't worry about it. We can do it all again. You should get some sleep."

The Doctor waited until Donna fell asleep and sighed in relief. He needed her back.

The Doctor awoke to find he was being crushed.

He had gone to bed next to Donna. He now found Zara was squeezed between them. Chloe was on his chest with her arms around his shoulders. Geoffrey had managed to crawl on top of Donna and was snuggling against her chest. Esther was laying on his legs, snoring away.

He realized Donna was awake. He reached over Zara and tapped her arm. She looked over and smiled.

"When did Geoffrey start crawling out of the cot?," he asked.

"Tonight, I suppose. He's growing up."

"I hate when they do that."

"Oh, stop it."

"I do."

"We can get more where they came from," teased Donna.

"You mean it?"

"Of course I mean it! Obviously not tonight, though," she said motioning at the crowd.

"The TARDIS needs to lock the door."

"Please. You know she can't refuse them." Donna reached over Zara and took his hand.

"What's wrong?," he asked.

"I was just wondering... what might have happened if you didn't get the idea to have Zara. Where I'd be now. Where you'd be."

"Not here," the Doctor concluded.

"No," Donna agreed.

"Or where we might be if you hadn't gotten the idea on that beach-"

"Oi! They could wake up!" She smiled. "Or if you hadn't said 'I didn't mean the detox.'"

"What if you hadn't kissed me?"

"What if I hadn't-"

"Turned left?," he finished.

Donna nodded. The Doctor kissed her hand since it was all he could get to. "You did, though and look how it worked out."

"Yeah," Donna agreed. She surveyed the three tiny heads with them. "It's worked out pretty well."

They then watched as Zara still sleeping managed to link her arms around her parents' arms.

"We're trapped," said Donna.

"Yes," agreed the Doctor, "it's not bad."

Author's Notes: I do not own Doctor Who, which you might have noticed. Anyway, thanks for the reads. I hope you enjoyed it, I sort of did. If somehow you have gotten to the end of this story without having read Regarding Mrs Smith, the good news for you is you can go read Regarding Mrs Smith now. As for everyone else, I should have something else very soon on a much more lighthearted note. If you did enjoy it, I would love to hear from you, even if it's been like a year. Thanks again!