Disclaimer: Oh, my God, this is this story's last ever disclaimer.
...Oh, what a waste.
It's the last chapter. The last ever chapter. Yes, I'm using font formatting to celebrate. Enjoy, please!
Chapter 23: Not Quite The End
"You'll stay for dinner?" Jackie asked persistently.
"I'm sorry, Jackie, I can't. This isn't even Martha's Universe, I can't make her stay here any longer." the Doctor sighed. "Look, as soon as I've dropped her back home, we'll come back. I think I can work out a way."
Jackie raised an eyebrow at him cynically. "What?" he asked indignantly. "I can! If I can work out how we got here in the first place, I can work out how to get back! Which I will do!"
"And then you'll come back for dinner?" Jackie ensured.
The Doctor shrugged. "Sure."
"Promise?"
The Doctor shrugged again. "Well..."
As a response, a wooden toy brick was thrown at him. "Ow!" he cried, pressing his temple where the toy had made contact. "Do you know how patronising it is for him that you gave him bricks to play with?" he asked her, and had a stuffed bear thrown at him.
"Don't you dare say 'Ow'."
- - - - - - -
Five hours later, the Time Lord returned to the mansion, exhausted, with Rose and a reluctant Martha by his side.
"Sorted." Rose said happily to her mother as they entered the place. "We can come back any time."
"Thanks to me." the Doctor grumbled. "Have you ot any idea how hard it is to - not only find out how we got here in the first place - but to replicate the motion sensory symplicate to determine whether it could happen again? And then find out how?"
"This is Martha." Rose introduced, ignoring the Doctor's expression of disbelief, and Martha shook Jackie's hand with a smile.
"Nice to meet you." she said politely.
"Hm, and you." was Jackie's reply. The Doctor would have hit her if he didn't fear for a slap.
"So you'll stay for dinner?" Jackie asked Rose, and the Doctor rolled his eyes dramatically.
"We need to take Martha home." he said. "But then, Jackie, we'll come straight back afterwards. I promise."
Jackie let out a hollow laugh. "With you flyin' that thing, it'll be a miracle if you get here before next week!"
"Mum, we'll take Martha home, then come straight back." Rose reassured her. "We've still gotta sort out what's happening with Jamie."
"All right, but you'd better." she warned the Doctor, and he held his hands up in mock surrender.
"What is happening with Jamie?" Pete asked, wandering down the hall and handing a cup of tea to Jackie. "He's been asleep for hours."
"That's just his mind re-awakening. Nothing to worry about." he reassured Jackie and Pete.
"But what happens when he wakes up?" Pete questioned Rose and the Doctor. "We've already decided we'd tell him, but..."
"Well, I guess that's up to you." Jackie told Rose and the Doctor, hiding her emotion as she sipped from her mug.
"Mum," Rose insisted. "You were more of a mother to Jamie than I ever was. It's just as much your decision as it is ours. I'm not gonna take him away from you."
"Of course not, darlin'!" Jackie cried. "Look, you know I love that boy like he's my own son, but he isn't. He's yours. As long as you come and visit -"
"I think," the Doctor interrupted. "That we should let Jamie decide what he wants. It's his future." He slid his hand into Rose's. "And, I guess, even if he doesn't want to come, we can still come and visit."
"Really?" Rose asked unsurely, though not wanting to think about what would happen if Jamie didn't want to come.
"Definitely." the Doctor assured her.
"So, I guess this is goodbye for now." Rose said with a smile. "I'll get my stuff later."
"You're definitely goin' then." Jackie checked, setting her cup down on a table. "I can't change your mind?"
Rose shook her head, grinning, and pulled her mother into a hug. "I'll miss you." Jackie told her.
The Doctor held his hand out to Pete, who shook it firmly. "You look after her, Doctor." he told the Time Lord, who nodded, grinning.
"Of course." he replied, and checked over his shoulder briefly to see Martha standing awkwardly behind him.
Rose and Jackie parted, and Rose made her way over to hug Pete, while Jackie moved over to the Doctor.
"You'd better not let anythin' bad happen to her." Jackie warned him, and the Doctor laughed.
"Wouldn't dream of it." he grinned still, and Jackie enveloped him in a hug, which for once, he didn't resist.
When Jackie released him, he backed away to Rose's side, sliding his hand once more into hers. Martha stood just behind them still, ignored amongst the goodbyes, and Rose and the Doctor backed up slightly so she was level with them.
"Good luck." Pete said finally, and the five people headed towards the door of the mansion, Jackie wiping a suddenly teary eye with her hand. Rose rushed up to give her another hug.
"Mum, we'll be back really soon." she assured her mother, then backed away to the Doctor again.
"We'll see you soon." Rose told her parents as the Doctor opened the door. "If Jamie wakes up, let him know where we are."
"'Course." Jackie told her and she made her way out of the house with the Doctor and Martha. "Love you!" she called after them as they walked down the path. Rose and the Doctor gave her a cheery wave as they bounded down the gravel and out of the front garden.
"Love you too!" Rose called back. "See you in a bit!"
- - - - - - -
"Right then!" the Doctor cried as he threw the blue doors open and ran inside the ship. "Oh, I've missed you." he told it, and it began to hum in a low drone, as if happy.
"So, Martha. How about one last trip?" he asked her, and Rose smiled, but Martha shook her head.
"I can't."
"Oh, come on!" Rose laughed, her excitement taking over now that she was home. "Just one! Why not?"
"Doctor, I just can't." she insisted.
"Really?" the Doctor tried. "Not even one? Not even a thank you? Please?"
"No." Martha said firmly, and he could tell she wouldn't be swayed.
"Fine." he said grumpily, setting the co-ordinates. "Home it is, then. London, England, Earth, our Universe. Here we come."
After a few seconds of crashing about inside the TARDIS, the ship landed outside a flat in London.
"Here we are, then." the Doctor smiled at Martha as the three of them exited the TARDIS. "I did it! Not a Zeppelin in sight!"
He looked down at Martha. "You're sure?"
"Definitely."
He sighed and nodded. "Alright. I'll be right back."
As the Doctor left the two of them, Martha shifted awkwardly on her feet.
"So..." Rose began with a grin.
"Look, I'm sorry if it's none of my business, but I got the impression that... Well, that Jamie was..."
"Our son." Rose finished for her, and Martha nodded slowly, not sure whether she should be more surprised.
"So, looks like this is where it ends, for me!" Martha tried to smile.
"Nah." Rose shook her head with a knowing smile. "This ain't the end."
"Maybe not for you." Martha countered.
"Well, y'know what?" Rose asked. "I don't think it is for you, either. 'Cause when you meet the Doctor... you can't ever just let go. Believe me, you've not finished yet."
Martha shrugged. "I know I've already said, but, well, I'm glad he found you again. He really does love you."
Rose smiled again. "Thanks."
The Doctor emerged from the TARDIS with a bulky blue bag and a frown playing on his otherwise cheery face.
"You packed." he said by way of explanation. "You had already packed."
"I... figured." Martha said, taking the bag of clothes from him. "When I worked out who Rose was. I decided then."
"You'll always have your room in the TARDIS. If you ever want another trip." the Doctor promised her, and she smiled thankfully, not bothering to protest.
"I'll see you around then." she told him, and turned away, but then immediately turned back and held something up for his to take. It was her mobile phone.
"You'd better take this." she told him. "And if that ever starts ringing, well you'd better come running, mister." she said, smiling at Rose. "'Cause this isn't the end."
"No way." Rose agreed as the Doctor took the phone and slid it in his pocket.
"Never." the Doctor nodded, and walked over to give Martha a hug before she left.
"Good luck." he told her as he pulled away and returned to Rose's side.
Rose waved to her as she walked away, and slid her arm around the Doctor's waist. They watched her walk into her flat, then turned to each other.
"So," he began with a grin larger than before. "You ready to go see our son?"
"End of one adventure; beginning of another." Rose replied mischeviously as they walked back into the TARDIS.
"Ah, but isn't life just one big adventure?" the Doctor teased her back, and she laughed ecstatically, so excited to be back.
"No, this isn't the end, not just yet." he said, more serious this time, as he regretfully pulled his hand away from Rose's and began to input the co-ordinates to return to 'Pete's World'.
"Not quite."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
One year later, a blue box landed with a rather loud crash on the corner of a pathway in London, where Zepplins filled the air and the surroundings were surprisingly quiet.
A tall man in a pinstripe suit and a long brown overcoat stepped from the box, followed shortly by a small boy with wild dark brown hair, wearing a similar brown suit to that of his father's. As he emerged from the box, he pulled out a blonde woman behind him, who closed the door gently as she took the boy's hand with a weak smile. She brushed down her jacket and glanced to the man, who was staring in front of them at the rows of graves.
The little boy reached up and wrapped his tiny hand around his father's, and the three figures walked into the service together. Across the feild, two other people stood, watching sadly as the vicar began his speech. They glanced up when the family arrived, and the four adults shared a glance that the boy could not understand.
"One year to this day," the vicar began, "The skies of London were filled with explosions, and a battle took place. A terrible battle, where many brave souls perished. Today, we remember those lives, and how they died to protect us all..."
Rose gazed around the graveyard, seeing many familiar faces and some strangers. Her eyes lingered on one woman, whose usually bright blonde hair was falling limply at her shoulders as tears dripped down her trembling cheeks.
The Doctor stared wordlessly at the huge stone monument, afraid to look away out of guilt. Already, ivy was creeping up the display and graves, though fresh flowers still sat on the grass in front of them.
Jamie gazed around at the strange pieces of stone, not exactly sure what was going on round him. A faint voice flickered in his mind, but he pushed it away without a thought.
As the service drew to an end, the family were approached by Jackie and Pete. A few brief greetings were exchanged, and the five of them walked out of the service together. As they exited, the Doctor turned, and caught sight of a young woman whose eyes shone with tears. Their eyes met, and both shared apologetic and thankful glances as they walked slowly from the remembrance display.
Jamie, once out of the feild, became excitable at seeing his grandparents, and laughter was shared all around in the absense of grief.
The Doctor, for once in his life, did not resist returning to his parents-in-law's mansion for dinner.
THE END
-party poppers, confetti and sequins are thrown around-
THANK YOU to all of you for reading! Especially all those who reviewed and made this story worth writing. I've loved writing it, and I only hope you enjoyed reading it too.
Special big thank-yous to Braceface Freak (for just being an uberly-fantastic best friend and critique), and all you who reviewed and stuck it out to the end.
And now, the end has come. Please leave a quick review as you hurry to exit this 'fic. Even if you've never reviewed before; even if you don't have an account.
And...
Is this the end? Should it be? Yes? No? Maybe so? Sequel? Prequel?? Or should I stop right here and let this 'fic die now?
BYE!
(P.S. Oh, and a BIG thank you to .com for their transcripts, which came in very useful.)