Vastra managed to fix and even upgrade the Vortex Manipulator in accordance to the instructions provided by Professor Song. A package arrived at 13 Paternoster Row which included the appropriate attire: red Gallifreyan style dresses. Vastra's outfit even include scarlet gloves and veil. A note was attached that simple said "Stay safe," signed by the Doctor. Jenny beamed at her father's endeavor, believing it to be a sign that he accepted this was her quest.
Vastra stared at the mirror, uncertain how she felt about the color red against her shimmering green scales. "I like it," Jenny stated, "It is very complimentary. I think red is your color!"
Vastra nose twiched. "It clashes," she protested, as she pulled the veil over her face. She admired the dress on Jenny, "It looks gorgeous on you though!" she exclaimed. The pale skinned woman blushed a color that nearly matched the dress.
Jenny placed the repaired wrist strap on her left arm.
"Are you ready?" the green lady asked.
"As I'll ever be," responded Jenny. She pushed a button on the device and offered Vastra her right hand. Vastra quickly grabbed hold and the pair seemingly disappeared.
It was hard to tell what was happening as they travelled through the Vortex of Time. Moments later they were standing on a grassy hill. It was night time. "Well," Vastra started, "that wasn't entirely unpleasant".
Jenny nodded.
"Are we in the right place?" the lizard woman asked.
Jenny quietly confirmed that they were.
"Where is this Untempered Schizm?" Vastra questioned anxiously
"Shush," Jenny told her softly, desiring peace as she began to climb the hill. The Silurian silently followed, under the impression that is what her young wife wanted.
As they neared the top of the hill they could see an ancient circular structure. Jenny whispered to Vastra, "Don't look directly at it. I believe no non-Gallifreyan has. I don't know what it could do to you." Vastra bowed her head to acknowledge that she understood.
"In fact, stay here," the brown haired woman demanded.
Jenny took a few more steps toward the structure and gazed inside. She saw a void, that somehow appeared to be moving. Blackness that also held some speckles of color and light. She was captivated. She felt as though her body was joined with the flow. She felt small, yet not unimportant. This was the womb of creation. She did not fear it. She wanted to join with it. Return to the womb. A tentacle of blue light reached out from the Untempered Schism. It nearly beckoned for her. So bright it was, that Vastra could not ignore it in her peripheral vision. Vastra thought that must be unusual, and feared that Jenny could be in danger.
Vastra disobeyed Jenny's order to stay and walked to her lovers side, careful to keep her eyes on the woman and avoid looking at the Schizm. "Jenny," she whispered. The woman did not responded. She remained in awe of the blue light. Jenny stretched her arm toward it. "Don't!" the Silurian begged. It was too late Jenny and the strange blue light touched.
Jenny smiled like she was playing. The string of light grew until it surrounded Jenny. It must have been a pleasant sensation. The petite woman laughed, then turned her head to where the Silurian was standing. Vastra could see Jenny's surprised facial expression. Had she forgotten that the other woman was there? Then Jenny's face, shrouded in the blue light became disappointed, sad even.
"Jenny," Vastra addressed her wife with concern, "tell me what is happening".
Jenny shook her head, "Here," she said, taking of the wrist strap, "You'll need this far more than I."
Vastra did not like the way Jenny was looking at her, as though she was on the brink of tears, as though this could be good bye. "What are you doing?" Vastra asked, her voice wavering with dread. She refused to take the device. Jenny took the Silurian's arm somewhat forcefully and put it the device on for her.
Then the smaller woman, glowing in blue light, lifted the red veil and kissed Vastra on each cheek, and then the lips. Telepathically she reached out to Vastra. When their minds met she told her clairvoyantly, "Don't stop me. Don't follow me". She tried to pull back, but Vastra held on to her even more tightly and deepened the kiss. The couple closed their eyes and allowed themselves to really feel each other; to be in this single moment, together.
The lizard woman was scared. The kissed ended. When they parted Jenny peered into Vastra's cerulean eyes, the brows furrowed with worry. "It is not safe for you here." Jenny told her, "Go home, I'll find you there".
Vastra was confused. Were they not going home together? Jenny gave the lizard woman one final peck before completely letting go.
Before Vastra could prevent her, Jenny was running toward the Untempered Schizm. "Jenny!" the lizard woman called out. The small woman didn't turn. Didn't pause. She jumped through the circular structure and into the Untempered Schizm. "No!" screamed Vastra as she watched the body of her wife disappear into the Vortex of Time. "Jenny!" she called out desperately one last time. She could feel her own breathing quicken, her heart pounding rapidly. She didn't bother to try to control it. Soon she was hyperventilating. She gasped in despair as she fell to the ground by the Schizm, determined not to look at it any longer, lest she loose her mind. Perhaps she already had. "Jenny is gone," she mumbled to herself entirely distraught, and uncertain what to do next. She waited, for hours it seemed. Jenny had not returned. At the break of day, the Silurian was still alert yet shell shocked. She had lost Jenny. Again.
~.~.~.~.~
A/N: I almost cried when writing this. Gotta go cuddle with the wife now...
PS. Thanks for the reviews. They do help motivate me. Keep "feeding the bard!" ;)