IDChapter22

Jon decided not to wake Arianna, she needed her rest, and she'd realise soon enough when she awoke that her mother might indeed be alive. Jon searched his mind for her presence, but felt nothing. Not to worry, he reminded himself, Jack obviously used a vortex manipulator, they could be anywhere, at any time. Ood Sigma said to meet them on Karn, so to Karn they would go. But it would take them a whole week to get there!

When Arianna did awaken, she came running out to the cabin excited, calling, "Daddy, Daddy, Mummy will be alright!" Jon met her halfway and swept her up in a hug of fierce joy. They stood there awhile, just laughing and hugging.

Jon spent the days traveling to Karn re-telling Arianna stories about his and Rose's life traveling together. He went deep into detail, taking the time to fully explain how he felt and why they did the things they did. He started out telling Arianna about her mother as he'd first met her. So young, so wide-eyed, and so innocent. Something about her had pulled at his poor old, stretched-out heartstrings, so much so that he'd gone back for her, even after she'd said no, something he'd never done before. He told Arianna about her mother taking in the Heart of the TARDIS, a piece of the Time Vortex itself, for him. She'd deliberately become possessed by the most powerful force in the universe just to save him from the Daleks, and that force had not been kind to her, it would have taken her life if he had let it. Instead, he removed it from her - well most of it, apparently, and gave one of his own lives for her. Bad Wolf left its mark on her, that was for certain. He told Arianna of Rose became more possessive of him. She also became more daring, even dangerously so. That was a big part of the reason he'd tried to leave her with Pete and her mother that first time, and why he was actually a bit relieved that she did wind up on Pete's world, although he loved her and missed her terribly. She was safe there, he felt, not just safe from the dangers that come with traveling with a Time Lord, but safe from herself. He told Arianna of how bitter he'd become after he lost her, and how, if Donna hadn't been there, he might have gone too far and perished along with the Racnoss. But in the end, Bad Wolf gave Rose the confidence and determination to come back for him yet again, saving him by helping Donna defeat the Time Beetle on her back. Then he got to what was always Arianna's favorite part, where he and Rose found each other, only for him to get shot by the Dalek. Her eyes went wide with wonder as he told her about regenerating and syphoning off the excess regenerative energy into his hand so that he wouldn't change, so that he'd stay the same for his Rose. Then on he went to their adventure, and his "birth", on the Dalek Crucible. Even though she knew the story by heart, she still gasped in fear and giggled at all the right places. He saddened as he told her how difficult it was to make the decision to leave Rose with his other self, then got almost manic as he recounted how it was that he copied his personality and memories into the fob watch, which he sent to them, and how thrilled he was as he and Jon merged.

"Now you're the same person!" Arianna exclaimed gleefully. "Mummy and I have you both!"

"Yep-p!"

"I wonder what the other you is like now."

"Your Mummy and I have always wondered about that ourselves. I expect someday, somehow, we'll meet him again. I know he'll want to meet you."

Eventually, Jon ran out of Rose stories, so he told Arianna about Martha and Donna. By the time they got to Karn, he was just finishing up with his adventure on the planet Midnight. He stopped talking, cleared his mind, and reached out. Arianna did the same. They both let out a whoop.

"Rose!"

"Mummy!"

A familiar voice came over the comm. "Doc, landing coordinates are coming your way. See you when you land!"

"Jack!"

"The one and only! Take care at 7,500 feet, we have some pretty intense wind shear down here. Harkness out."

"That," announced Jon to Arianna, "was the one and only Captain Jack Harkness. He rescued your Mummy, and you're going to meet him!"

Arianna's eyes shone as Jon guided Voyager to the coordinates Jack sent. After navigating the cross winds, he gently set the ship down in a lot on the outskirts of Karn City. As soon as he and Arianna were out of their seats, a flash appeared and Jack materialized in front of them.

Opening his arms, Jack ordered, "It's not safe for Rose on the surface, come here."

Jon scooped Arianna up and allowed Jack to pull them close. In a flash they disappeared from Voyager, and re-appeared in a cavern. Jack gave Jon a meaningful smile and gestured with his eyes to a point behind Jon's back. Jon turned and Jack stepped back to avoid being bowled over as Rose almost threw herself at her family. Amid the squeals and yelps of joy were muffled kisses and declarations of love all around. After the family settled down into quiet hugs broken only by sniffs and sighs, Jack cleared his throat.

"We... ah... have a room ready for you guys... Rose knows where it is, I'll just go take care of a few things..."

"Oh no you don't, you don't get away that easily!" Jon retorted, breaking free from his family and marching over to Jack. Much to Jack's surprise and delight, Jon grabbed him and planted a big, sloppy, wet kiss squarely on his mouth, and he wasn't shy about swapping body fluids, either. Jack threw his head back, laughing, as Jon then seized him around the waist, picking him up and swinging him round in a circle.

"Jack Harkness, have I told you lately just how much I love you?"

"Why no, Doc, as a matter of fact you haven't. Tell me more, I'm all ears."

"You two, get a room!" Rose laughed. "I'm starting to feel a little jealous and left out here!"

"Mummy, is Daddy married to Captain Jack too?" Arianna stage-whispered, brow furrowed in confusion. The adults burst into laughter. Jack stepped over and touseled her hair.

"Only in my dreams, sweetheart."

"No.. no..no.. Jack, don't say things like that, that's one facet of her education I haven't addressed yet, and don't plan to for some time..." Jon made cutting gestures with one hand. "Arianna, I was just letting Uncle Jack know how very grateful I am that he rescued your Mummy."

Rose volunteered, "Why don't we go back to our room and get settled, I'll fill you in on things, and Jack can do what he needs to do."

"And then when I'm finished we can all sit down and eat together and get caught up," added Jack.

"Sounds great," Jon said. "I can't wait to find out what you're doing here - not that I'm complaining, mind you!"