The delay in updating this is made up for by the fact that this chapter is nearly 10,000 words long (woah oops haha)!
Thanks to all who have reviewed! :D
This chapter has a heck of a lot of fluff, horses and a cowboy, and most importantly: how the Doctor (and Aliya) met Vastra and Jenny! Because the show never actually showed it, so I really wanted to explore how that went down. Enjoy!
"I'm not sure about this."
"Yeah, you are."
"Yes, I am. Sure that this is not a good idea." The complaining blonde put her hands on her denim clad hips as she frowned at the man wearing tweed, a bow tie and a Stetson.
The Doctor's hands began to flap about as he said, "Aliya, it's an animal."
"It's a very large and potentially dangerous animal," she said, pulling on her plaid flannel shirt nervously.
"It's just a horse!" He gestured to the bay gelding a few metres away. "He's called Tim, he's very nice!"
Her different coloured eyes narrowed at him through the hot midday sun. "What?"
"I speak horse," He said simply.
"You're so full of bullshit," Aliya irritably said.
"You believe baby but not horse?"
"Horses are animals, it's different. But I don't know what to think. You're ridiculous and not very truthful; how could I?"
Luckily, before the two friends could get into a proper argument, the third member of the party emerged from the nearby stable.
Jason Wilson was everything that a Texas horse ranch owner in the 1960's should be. With sun bleached dark blonde hair, a nimble but muscular frame and a large and easy grin, Aliya had liked him instantly. Apparently the Doctor and the Ponds had helped him out with a minor alien problem years before, and now the Doctor was welcome to visit any time.
The ranch was miles from the nearest town, which had only a thousand inhabitants. Jason - or Jase, as he preferred to be called - lived there alone and was more than happy with just horses for company. But he seemed thrilled to have the Doctor and Aliya there. Aliya supposed ever the most independent people needed human interaction sometimes. Or in this case, not so human interaction.
"Found you a hat," He told Aliya cheerily as he handed her a hat similar to his and the Doctor's. With a pleased laugh, she put it on her head.
"How does it look?" She asked. The Doctor opened his mouth to answer only to be beaten to the punch by Jase.
"It looks like you should be riding a horse into the sunset," He said smoothly, making her eyes dance and the Doctor huff under his breath.
"I'm not so sure about the horse part," Aliya told Jase, "The Doctor thinks the horse likes me, but I've never-"
"Tim here'll like you just fine," Jase assured her. "But you've got to relax. He'll get nervous if you're nervous. Me and the Doctor will be right here."
She exhaled loudly. "Okay. How do I get up?"
"Put your foot in the stirrup," He instructed, and she did, "Now, I'm gonna give you a boost up, and you need to swing your leg over his back."
She nodded and he lifted her by the waist with strong, solid hands, and she got her leg over. "I'm up!" She exclaimed happily, with a certain degree of surprise. She grinned down at the Doctor, who grinned back and gave her an enthusiastic thumbs up despite having been frowning the moment before for a reason she couldn't fathom.
"Told you it would be fine. Tim says that you could still relax a bit more, though, because he's not going to throw you off."
Aliya blushed a little and lifted the hand that wasn't quietly gripping the saddle horn for dear life, so that she could run it over the beautiful bay neck in front of her. "I'll do my best."
"I don't know where he comes up with this stuff," Jase said to Aliya, who chuckled.
"He thinks he can speak horse," She said, "But he's a teller of tall tales."
"I am not!" The Doctor protested. "As my friend, you're supposed to believe me!"
"No, as your best friend, I call you out on your bullshit."
Jase burst to hearty laughter as he approached his own dapple grey mare. He mounted her while the Doctor climbed only slightly awkwardly onto his chestnut gelding.
"Hang on, what so I do now?" Aliya asked, confidence having evaporated. "Doctor, what do I do?"
"Get the reins and hold them at the saddle horn," The Doctor told her calmly, "You learnt to swim, you can do this too."
"I can barely tread water, that is not comforting!" She practically snapped. Jase laughed again.
"Calm down there, missy," He said, bring his horse alongside hers. "Just do like he said and you'll be just fine."
After a few more second's hesitation she tapped her heels against the horse's belly. It began to walk and she made a tiny noise of surprise in her throat before relaxing and realising that she wasn't falling off in a hurry.
"Oh," She breathed, half with relief, half with embarrassment.
Jase brought his horse ahead so that he could open it so that they could continue out into the open rocky land. Within a half a minute they were free from the fence that enclosed the ranch.
Aliya looked between the two men she rode in between. "Thank you. Both of you. This isn't as bad as I thought. And thanks for the lift up, Jase."
"My pleasure," The American answered with a charming grin, which she returned.
"I bet it was," the Doctor muttered under his breath.
"What was that?"
"Nothing."
Aliya lifted her eyebrow before moving her eyes back to Jase. She smirked. "He probably just doesn't like someone else teaching me things. He likes to be all knowledgable."
"Oh shut up!" The Doctor huffed.
"You two have an interesting friendship," Jase remarked, "Not together, but you travel together. How does it work?"
"...we're friends. How else?" The man in the bowtie said simply.
"He's annoying and a know it all, that's a pretty strong deterrent," Aliya added.
"Hey!"
Jase chuckled. "Unattached pretty women are difficult to come by around here."
At that, Aliya just lifted an eyebrow, with a tiny smile on her face. "Oh?" He just winked and nodded, getting a proper grin from her.
"Yes, yes, she's very pretty, we get it, but who cares if she can't even trot on a horse?" The Doctor interrupted irritably. "She should really be trying that."
"Very pretty? Well that might just be taking it a mite too far," Jase joked, and Aliya pretended to be offended.
"Good to know where I stand," She said, laughing. "But no, I'll take pretty. It's nice without the pressure of very pretty."
The Doctor made face that suggested he agreed. "She has a point. You should see her with maple syrup or engine grease all over her face. Not so very pretty."
Aliya made a childish face at him, so he made a childish face back. Jase laughed.
"Okay, I think it's time for Aliya here to trot," He said. "Just give Tim there another little kick and he'll speed up. It's gonna be bouncy, so be ready for that."
She did as he instructed and let out a tiny yelp when the horse began to bounce and move at a faster pace. The men laughed at her.
"I told you to be ready."
"As a general bit of knowledge, I never am," Aliya said mildly as she clutched the saddle horn until her knuckles turned white.
"You could always ride with me instead, might make it easier," Jase suggested, and she perked up for a moment.
At least before the Doctor said very quickly, "I think she's quite capable of riding by herself. Give her some credit, Jase. She's not a damsel, she's a woman who is perfectly capable of riding her own horse."
"I'm torn between wanting to affirm my lack of ability for horse riding and wanting to thank you for believing that in me despite it," Aliya muttered with a shake of her head.
"You're indecisive," He said.
"Only when it comes to arguing with you."
"Good point, actually."
They rode for at least an hour, and managed to get Aliya comfortable enough to even try cantering before she decided that moving on such a large creature at that speed was quite enough. Eventually she did end up riding with Jase and sitting in front of him in the saddle while holding the reins of her bay as they trotted back. By that point the Doctor had become almost overly chatty and described in detail how he and Jase had met, and went on to tell Jase of how Amy and Rory were doing and their children, to which Jase listened with great interest.
Finally, they were back at the ranch. Just as he had helped her get on, Jase assisted Aliya in dismounting the mare.
"Thanks," She said brightly, turning her head to see the Doctor having managed to get to the ground without injury. "This was a really good idea."
He straightened his bowtie. "Yes, well, horse riding is an important skill. As my companion, there are some basic things you need to be able to do. I think we've covered them all now."
"Good to know that I meet your requirements," She said sarcastically, rolling her eyes as she looked back to Jase and smiled. "Thanks for having us, it was fun when I wasn't terrified."
"Thanks for coming," He replied, smiling back, "Feel free to come back any time."
"If I ever need any more horse riding lessons, we'll be sure to look you up," She assured him. He grabbed her hand and kissed the back of it fleetingly. She went slightly pink but smiled at him. He lifted an eyebrow questioningly. She withdrew her hand. "Sorry. I don't kiss humans." Jack popped into her mind and she quickly added, "As a general rule."
Confusion then disbelief crossed his face. "Really? You're like him?"
"Sorry." She shrugged apologetically. "He and I are pretty much platonically engaged."
"Platonically engaged?" Both males spoke in unison with the same amount of bewilderment.
She waved a hand dismissively. "More or less committed to spending the rest of our lives together as friends."
"Not platonically married?" The Doctor asked, sounding intrigued.
"With the problems we have? Unlikely," She pointed out. He seemed to consider it, while Jase just shook his head.
"Perhaps it's best if you two get on your way before you confuse the hell out of me," the American said.
"Perhaps," Aliya laughed. "Do you want your hat back?"
"Keep it."
She grinned at him as she tipped it to him. "Thank you."
"Thanks for having us," The Doctor said as he also tipped his hat to Jase appreciatively, "It's been fun."
With a wave and a smile, they went into the TARDIS and soon left America behind as they began to orbit the Earth. It took less than a minute for them to dissolve into an argument.
"You were being almost rude back there, you know," Aliya accused the Doctor, who was instantly offended.
"Me? You were the one flirting like a teenager! Just because a pretty man offers to help you with your horse-"
"Sorry, how ridiculous of me to assume that at the age of 1018 I would be old enough to decide who I want to flirt with and to what degree I flirt with them."
He wagged a finger at her, opening and shutting his mouth several times before just huffing. Finally, he said, "It makes you look ridiculous."
"It's a bit of friendly fun, stop being so protective," She said as she sat on the jump seat. "As I said, platonically engaged, I'm not going anywhere."
"Yes, about that…" He was immediately cheerful as he came around the console to grab her by the hands. "How would a platonic engagement even work? Or a marriage?"
"The vows would no doubt be interesting."
"In sickness and in health? That one would still be there."
"In safety and impending death?" Aliya said wryly.
"Naturally." He grinned at her, enjoying their new game. "In arguments and apologies?"
"Of course. In running and more running?"
He smiled, crossing his arms and leaning against the console opposite where she was sitting. "For as long as we both shall live?"
"I do." Aliya said, holding his gaze and smiling back.
"I do."
After a moment of just holding each other's gaze, the Doctor jumped slightly and frowned. "Did we just get platonically married?"
Aliya rolled her eyes. "That would be ridiculous." He looked relieved for a moment. "We'd need someone to conduct the ceremony." He started to laugh and shake his head fondly.
"And what would happen then? We'd be pronounced best friends for the rest of our lives, provided our future regenerations don't hate each other?"
"Something like that, yes."
"And then someone could say, 'you may now high five the best friend' and we could high five."
"And then go on a week of extra exciting adventures." At her words, his eyes lit up.
"Or we could high five and go on a week of extra exciting adventures now."
"But it's not the same," She pretended to whine as she got up from the seat to join him at the console.
The Doctor just grinned. "Well, you know what they say. It's just a bit of paper."
"True."
"Besides, we've already sort of platonically eloped because of when I stole you away from Torchwood."
"Also a valid point."
The two Time Lords stepped out of the police box and onto the Victorian London street full of smartly dressed people bustling about.
"I really like this dress," Aliya said happily as she smoothed the skirts of her high-necked Victorian gown that gave her the appearance of a highborn lady - which in a way she was.
"It's a nice colour on you," The Doctor complimented. He of course had made no alterations to his own outfit.
"Thanks." She beamed at him, only to frown a moment later. "Why do you never change?"
"I don't need to."
"That's stupid."
"I know. Come on!"
With a huff, she began to follow him down the street. When she caught up to him, she was checking her hair was still in place under her hat.
"I dislike wearing my hair up, it's barely long enough to stay." She yawned and hid it behind her hand quickly. Luckily, her words had distracted him.
"Well, you have to, it's just the rules."
As they progressed down the street, Aliya avidly people-watched. Part of it was the difference in the way they acted compared to 21st century Cardiff and London, and part of it was just the clothing. It was beautiful and delightful to the eye, almost like some of the clothes on Gallifrey.
"I wish people dressed like this all the time," She said wistfully, "But I suppose it's not practical. And I'd miss denim jeans after a while."
"I'd like to see you go a week without them," The Doctor said cheekily, but it came out a little different than he intended and they both stared at each other for a second before pointedly looking away and turning pink. "Er...not like that."
"I know."
"I know you know."
"Look, a sweet shop!" Aliya exclaimed, most of it with actual excitement and not false interest to change the subject. She immediately went inside, giving the Doctor no choice but to follow her. The small shop was filled to the brim with jars filled with all kinds of sweets. Her eyes widened and she grinned impishly. She turned to the Doctor who had come to stand beside her. "Can we get some? Do you have money?"
"Not much, but enough to get a few," The Doctor answered with a smile, "Can we get lemon ones? I love lemon ones."
"Sure, I wouldn't know what to pick anyway."
So they watched like greedy children as the man at the counter took the jar of lemon sweets from the shelf and scooped some into a paper bag. The Doctor paid and soon enough they were back on the street popping the yellow goodies into their mouths eagerly and ignoring any looks they got from passersby who thought their behaviour a little odd.
"Do you ever wonder what people from home would think if they knew some of the things we got to up to?" Aliya asked as they continued down the street.
With his mouth full of sweet, the Doctor managed to get out, "Up to? Buying sweets in Victorian London?"
"And horse riding in Texas. The TARDIS getting wet in a water pistol fight. All the silly things we do."
"Why?" He glanced at her with interest. "Worried your father would disapprove?" The scepticism in his voice was plain.
She rolled her eyes at the bad joke. "Obviously not. I just think about it sometimes. It makes me laugh."
His eyes twinkled as he regarded her. "Laugh?"
She shrugged. "I don't know. Having Star Wars movie marathons. Working for a human. Kissing said human. I like to imagine their faces if they knew. And then I want to laugh."
The Doctor did laugh at that. "I never thought of it like that." Then his expression turned thoughtful. "You kissed Jack?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" She teased, and laughed at his sour expression. "My romantic escapades are none of your business."
"They are a little," He argued, "I'm responsible for you."
"You most certainly are not."
"You're a Time Lady, so I am."
"No. I'm a Time Lady, so I am responsible for myself. Let's not have this argument again. I understand you being protective but I don't want it getting out of hand."
For a few moments, he was silent. Then he quietly said, "Okay." It wasn't a reply that sounded like he was just brushing her off. It sounded like, for the first time despite the ridiculous amount of times that they had had this argument, he was actually agreeing to back off.
She stared at him for a moment. "Thank you," She said genuinely. She couldn't quite keep the surprise out of her tone. There was another brief pause between them.
"When did you marathon Star Wars?" He suddenly asked.
"While I was at Sarah Jane's, with Clyde and Rani and Sky," She replied with a smile.
He frowned. "Sky?"
She hesitated before realising that he wouldn't know who Sky Smith was. "Sarah Jane adopted another alien manufactured child."
"Really?" He asked excitedly. "A girl?"
"Yes. She apparently was engineered as a bomb for some sort of war in a different corner of the universe. But she's fine now, apparently, though still retains some control over electrical currents." Aliya smiled at the thought of the girl. "She's amazing. I don't even really have words."
"So you like her?"
"She was pretty much my best friend while I was in London," Aliya admitted.
"We should pop in there so I can meet her sometime."
"I'm not going to say no to that."
During their conversation, they had managed to wander into a less hospitable area of central London. A nearby building was under construction, with scaffolding and several sweaty workers holding various tools in their hands. The two Time Lords were about to walk past without another thought when a piercing shriek came from inside the building. It was immediately accompanied by yells and exclamations that could only be of surprise and incomprehension.
That was when two men ran out, looking as if they'd seen a ghost, before bolting down the street as fast as they could.
The Doctor looked at Aliya, and they wordlessly hurried through the building's layer of construction paper and found themselves in a mostly empty room. It was dank and cold and held only one remarkable feature; a hole in the floor leading to tunnels below.
"Oh, right," The Doctor remarked as he crouched next to it, "1884, construction of the Circle route of the London Underground."
"Not exactly a cause for terrified screaming and fleeing, though."
"No." He smiled brightly up at her. "Shall we go and have a look?"
"You'll need to help me down," Aliya said with a sigh, "This dress is ridiculous. If I'd known we'd be doing this, I wouldn't have bothered."
"No, you'd have been arrested on the street," He said mildly. After five minutes of ladder and dress drama, eventually the two of them were in the partially complete tunnel passage. Only ten metres down in the direction that faint noise was coming from, they found a human body on the floor of the tunnel. A greenness spread across the neck of it in horrid veins.
"Is that…?" Aliya asked vaguely, tilting her head as she gazed at it.
"Yes."
They continued to walk and sure enough just a little way down found another tunnel worker, this time very much alive, and wrestling with a humanoid lizard.
"Silurian," Aliya called. The creature froze and leapt to her feet, though kept on her toes, visibly coiled like a spring and ready to pounce should they make any wrong moves. "Did the construction wake you up?"
"I don't see how it concerns you," The Silurian hissed in reply, "My advice would be to leave this place before I decide that you look tastier than this ape here."
"Oh, me and Aliya wouldn't taste very good at all," The Doctor said quickly, "But aren't you curious about how we know about your species?"
"No," She snarled, "It matters little how you know of my kind. When you know anger and loss as I do, then you can be curious about whatever you wish. Now leave!"
"Who says I haven't? Who says that my race isn't mostly gone too, and that it wasn't entirely my own fault?"
The Silurian paused and eyed him with reluctant interest. "Who says that you aren't just lying?"
He took a step closer and kept eye contact with her the entire time. "Look me in the eye and tell me that you think I'm lying." She did just that. After a few seconds, something shifted in her intelligent eyes that made it clear that she had found truth in him. "Good. And let me tell you, as someone who knows exactly how you are feeling...anger is always the shortest distance to a mistake. What's your name?"
The reptile shook her head for a moment, and finally straightened up. "Vastra," She said quietly. "Who are you, to have such old eyes and alien knowledge?"
"Old and alien just about sums us up," The Doctor said with a wry smile. "I'm the Doctor, and this is Aliya. We can help you, if you'll let us."
"We're Time Lords," Aliya added.
"Really?" Vastra asked with bemusement and slightly widened eyes. "Fascinating. Our kind always knew that you were not a myth, but still, to have proof. How remarkable."
"We'd be happy to discuss it with you back on my ship over tea and biscuits," The Doctor said cheerily.
"How...domestic of you." Her voice made it unclear whether it was intended to be an insult or not. "But I accept."
So they exited the tunnel and the Doctor left to retrieve the TARDIS - Vastra could hardly walk through the streets unnoticed. She and Aliya stood somewhat awkwardly as they waited for him to return.
"Is it true that your ships are bigger on the inside?"'
"Yes, it's true."
"Two hearts?"
"True."
"Complete cellular regeneration upon death?"
"True?"
"Your only pastimes were sitting on your planet observing and being pompous instead of ever getting involved?"
Aliya chuckled under her breath. "True."
"Against engagement in sexual activities."
At that, the blonde had to control the urge to blush - at a thousand years old, it was quite juvenile of her to still feel the need to do so. Eventually she managed to say quietly, "False. Ish."
"Care to elaborate?" Vastra asked mildly, and Aliya did go a little red that time, and shook her head instead of replying. The Silurian smirked. "Well, that answers my final question."
Thankfully, that was when the TARDIS began to materialise in front of them, much to Vastra's amazement, which increased tenfold when she and Aliya actually went inside.
"Incredible," She breathed, "There can be a world of difference between knowledge and experience, can there not?"
"Tea?" The Doctor asked her pleasantly. He gestured up the stairs.
"Thank you."
The three of them followed the corridor to a small sitting room where the Doctor had laid out a large teapot and three florally decorated teacups alongside a plate of jammy dodgers. The women sat while he poured the tea.
"So you've encountered my kind before, I take it?" Vastra asked as she sipped at her tea. "Both of you recognised me."
"Actually, I recognised the effect of the venom from a toxicology class in my adolescence," Aliya replied a little sheepishly. "I've never had the pleasure of meeting homoreptilia in person before."
"I've met two different branches of your species, Vastra, one of them the same as you, I think. They have a civilisation under a village in Wales."
"Wales?"
"Oh...er...sort of west from here."
"Oh, yes. Did you encounter Eldane?"
The Doctor beamed. "Yes, I did! Lovely fellow, saved a lot of lives. Wouldn't be standing here without him."
"He was my father's greatest friend. What about Restac?"
His face fell. "She was sort of...the one trying to kill us all. Especially after Alaya was accidentally killed by humans."
"Hang on, what?" Aliya asked sharply, confused over hearing her name.
"It was the name of a Silurian there, Aliya. Different civilisations, probably different spelling, but it sounds the same," The Doctor said, waving his hand to indicate that it mattered very little.
"If I told you that in our youth, Restac was my friend, would you hold it against me?" Vastra asked suddenly.
"I spotted five bodies back in the tunnel, it's obvious you share a similar thought pattern, so it's not surprising. The difference is that you listened to reason. She didn't."
"What was her fate?"
"She died. Or rather, will die, considering that it's 1884 right now and it all happened in 2020." He sighed. "I'm sorry."
"I don't doubt that she brought about her own destruction," Vastra said, her voice slightly unfathomable, "She could never leave well enough alone. I killed five tunnel diggers because they killed three of my sisters first. She had never been tolerant of anyone different to our kind."
"You didn't mention your sisters before," Aliya said, surprised and more than a little dismayed.
Vastra sniffed. "It wasn't relative to the present."
"Of course it is," Aliya said, saddened, "Losing your sisters makes what happened back there a lot more understandable than just panic."
"Perhaps." Vastra frowned. "So are the two of you friendly with humans?"
"Very friendly, with some of them," The Doctor answered.
"Then why help me if I was killing them? Even if they were not your friends?"
"You're alone in a world that's changed a lot since you walked in it," He said sympathetically, "We're possibly the only people who can ease that transition."
"But why?"
"Well, it will probably save human lives," Aliya pointed out. "But even if you were a complete pacifist, we'd still be helping."
"Sometimes kindness doesn't need an explanation," The Doctor added, "You could stay here with us for a while, and we'll tell you about what Earth is like now. We can take you to any period you like."
"The attire in this period looks to be practical for conceal my species." Vastra eyed Aliya's dress. "And you would allow me to live freely without your supervision?"
"We're not in charge of you."
"I know that. But I wasn't sure if you did."
"With your knowledge and abilities, you would be able to do anything you liked," The Doctor told her, "I can get you enough money to be comfortable."
"What of my bloodlust? I am a controlled creature but given enough time even I would surpass my limits."
"Criminals. Mass murderers, rapists," Aliya said suddenly, "You'd be able to hunt the scum of humanity around you and be doing the world a service.
Vastra lifted an eyebrow, looking open to and pleased by the idea. The Doctor, however, was troubled by his friend's suggestion.
"I'm not sure that-"
"Only the worst of the worst," Aliya added quickly, looking at him "The ones who truly deserve it and who are in danger of hurting more people if they stay alive. The rest can face whatever their usual justice is."
"An excellent idea," Vastra said, looking brighter, "It can be my small way of helping improve humanity. No doubt they need it." The Doctor finally nodded. It was plain that he still wasn't completely with them, but it was obvious that he was outnumbered and unlikely to sway anyone. "But first I would much prefer to hear about Time Lords."
"What do you want to know, Vastra?"
"I am infinitely curious. Why don't you start from the beginning?" Vastra suggested with a smirk. The Doctor made an amusing noise of surprise in his throat.
"The beginning? That could take a while."
"Unless I'm outstanding my welcome, I have nothing but time."
"No, it's fine," The Doctor said, "I love new people. Though I think we'll teach you about the human stuff first before ours."
"So I earn the rather coveted knowledge of Time Lords as my reward for good behavior," Vastra said, sounding amused. "Very well."
"And I'll be able to sit in on the human stuff because my knowledge there is still a bit limited." Aliya tapped her hands on her leg excitedly. "But first, Vastra, why don't we get you used to these sorts of clothes if this time period is where you want to stay?"
"An excellent idea."
Aliya got up and cheerily offered her arm to the lizard woman, and they strolled off down the corridor. "You know, you're taking this all remarkably well."
"I've never found it productive to dwell on the past. My sisters may be dead but I am very much alive." The beautiful Silurian took a deep, controlled breath. "Mourning can wait. Better that I instead leave myself open to the opportunities that have already been presented to me, as I would be stupid to reject them."
"...everyone needs time to mourn," Aliya said quietly. "I can speak from experience when I say that bottling it up isn't healthy."
"I will mourn in time. But right now there are things to learn."
"...alright. Clothes it is, then."
They came into the TARDIS wardrobe, filled with stairs and more sections than any one person would likely ever see. Racks of clothes for all genders, time periods, planets and fashions surrounded them.
"Luckily, I got this out of the Victorian section this morning," Aliya said, gesturing to her dress, "So I know where it is right now."
"Right now?" Vastra asked, confused.
"The sections like to move around," The blonde explained as she lead the way through the maze of racks, "Luckily, she keeps my old favourites in my own section there." She pointed to several racks filled with denim and leather jackets, denim jeans, colourful t-shirts, woolen hats, colourful converse, white tank tops, and sundresses. "But if I want something different? I've just got to hope I get lucky."
"So this ship is even more miraculous than I first thought."
Aliya smiled, pleased by what came across like a compliment to her people and culture as well her friend's ship which he was all but married to. "She's alive, in her own way. Not in the same way that humanoids and beings similar to us are, but she's sentient and intelligent. And she's the last of her kind."
"Your people were truly remarkable then, to create something like this."
"Silurians are quite advanced and noteworthy as well."
"But not more impressive." The way she said it, it was clear that Vastra could sense that Aliya would agree. The Time Lady ducked her head slightly, embarrassed.
"No," She admitted. "For all their faults, Time Lords were impressive and utterly brilliant."
Vastra regarded her curiously. "Do I detect a hint of a grudge amongst the pride?"
Aliya just let out a tiny sigh and smiled at the other woman with a touch of sadness. "My people were magnificent, but...not easy to love."
"But they were still your people."
"Of course," She said quickly, "And they'll always be in my hearts in that way. But as for the rest...I have my reasons. The Doctor has some of the same ones, but a lot of others as well. The society structure and the authority figures caused our lives to take courses that we didn't wish for."
Vastra's scaled hand reached out to lightly touch her arm in a comforting sort of way. "I'm sorry that your relationship with your people had to be so complicated. Both of you."
Despite the heaviness that weighed in her hearts, Aliya just smiled tightly and forced herself to shrug in a blase way. "Well, they're dead now, so that makes it simpler." It was a blatant lie. The Time Lords being dead made the complicated emotions turn into utter turmoil. But she could hardly explain to Vastra what she did not understand herself, and the woman was still essentially a stranger - albeit a friendly, sympathetic, cooperative and seemingly trustworthy one.
The Silurian's blue eyes eyed her in a way that made her think that she didn't believe her, but neither of them said anything. They just continued to walk until they reached the Victorian section.
"See anything you like?"
"I quite like this one," Vastra said, reaching out to touch a navy blue dress and a hat that matched it. "A simple but pleasant design. Likely not quite as comfortable as what I am used to, but it can't be helped."
Aliya touched her own dress thoughtfully. "Actually, it's not too bad." She spied another article of clothing. "Oh, and there's a dark veil too. If you attach it to the hat, then you could probably go out at night and no one would see anything."
"There's a nice hooded cloak that could serve a similar purpose rather well." Vastra held out the cloak. "And you're sure the Doctor doesn't mind me taking these? I would probably need to keep them, at least temporarily. I am right in thinking that he is the one in charge?"
"Only when it comes to the ship, because it's his," Aliya said pointedly, grinning, "The rest of the time he only tries to tell me what to do. I don't tend to stand for it."
Vastra chuckled. "I have already sensed his ego. Having a companion such as yourself no doubt is...beneficial for him."
That made Aliya outright laugh. "See, Vastra, I knew that I liked you." She glanced around. "Will you need help getting changed? Or finding your way out?"
"I believe that I can manage on both accounts. Will you be with the Doctor in the same sitting room?"
"Yes. Hopefully the clothes fit."
Aliya quickly made her way back to the sitting room, where the Doctor was lounging in a different chair from the one he had been in before, sipping at a tea cup that she recognised to be her own.
"It's polite to ask before taking someone's tea, you know," She said accusingly, "And was changing chairs really necessary?"
"For your information, I've been busy!" He told her defensively. "I've gotten her money and a house. After that, I thought I deserved to sit where I like, and drink tea that no one else was bothering with."
"I was coming back, you know," Aliya said, sounding more tired that she would have liked. "But how could you have already gotten her a house? We barely left!"
He just smirked infuriatingly at her. She rolled her eyes and sat down on the carpet next to his chair to lean her head on the armrest. Her fingers came up to remove her hat and the pins in her hair that were digging into her scalp. The hat and pins clattered to the floor beside her as her hair fell free and a tiny sigh of relief escaped her.
"Are you sure you've been sleeping alright?" The Doctor asked her, concerned. His hand absently stroked the top of her hair where it sat on his chair's arm. "You seem exhausted." By human standards, she didn't seem to be, but it was more subtle in Time Lords.
"My pills are working fine, I'm just overdue. By about two weeks."
"Ah. You really shouldn't be doing that."
"I know, you big worrier, but I'm a big girl and I can manage my own bedtime."
"Clearly, you can't."
"Shut up."
"Not a chance. After this is all sorted out, you're going to sleep, alright?"
She slowly tilted her head up to look at him properly. "Fine. But you're not my babysitter. If anything, I'm yours."
"Oi. I am not about to let you get all cheeky again, I won't stand for being ridiculed in my own home."
"You love me really." Too tired to properly realise what she'd said, she just shut her eyes, as if to go to sleep right then and there. As a result, she didn't see the Doctor frown to himself, almost shake his head, and not answer, only to start stroking her hair again.
A minute or so later, he asked her, "How's Vastra, do you think?" She actually hadn't fallen asleep, having merely been enjoying the feel of his fingertips against her hair, and with her eyes still shut, she considered the question.
"I think she wants to be alone before she mourns her sisters, understandably. She's bottling it up. I can tell. I think the sooner all this can be sorted and she can be left to do what she needs to, the better. But she's a good person. We don't need to worry about that."
A cough from the doorway had them both turning their heads. Vastra stood there dressed completely in Victoria garb, the picture of sophistication. "How do you think it looks?" She asked the two of them. She wore the hat with the veil pulled back, and velvet black gloves on her hands.
The Doctor just whistled appreciatively and nodded. Aliya meanwhile grinned.
"Goodbye Vastra of the homoreptilia and hello Madame Vastra of London!" She said. "Madame is the right word, isn't it?"
"Yes, but more like Madame Vastra of Paternoster Road," He said as he got up from the chair. At Vastra's inquiring eyebrow, he added in explanation, "I've got you a house. Nice big house."
"I don't need a big house," Vastra said, confused.
"It's a status thing," He said offhandedly. "You should probably get someone to help you out with it. A butler, or a maid. A confidante."
"What human wouldn't run screaming at the sight of me?"
"The right kind," Aliya said wryly.
"Exactly, it can be like a job interview, only a lot shorter," the Doctor agreed. "But bed for you, Aliya, right now. I'll take you myself. Have some tea, Vastra, I'll be right back."
"I'm not a child, I can take myself to bed, Doctor," Aliya muttered, but didn't complain anymore as he pulled her through the corridors by her hand. They came to her bedroom door and went inside. "If you think I'm sleeping in this, you're mad. Get out so I can get changed. Go and teach Vastra about humans."
He nodded, but also pointed his finger at her. "Go to bed."
"Yes, sir," She said sarcastically. Her hands shooed him out of the room. Once he was gone, she went about the lengthy task of removing her Victorian attire, putting on her pajamas, and getting into bed. As usual, it only took one sleeping pill before she was out like a light.
The Doctor had been teaching Vastra for six hours with a half an hour tea break in the middle, and another mere minutes before. Just as they lapsed into the seventh hour, a sleepy-eyed Aliya wandered into the sitting room in her baggy shirt and pajama bottoms. She just made straight for the tea and sat on the floor by the coffee table to pour herself a cup of the mildly warm tea and sipped at it while eyeing the chalkboard the Doctor was using to illustrate things for Vastra.
"Lessons going well?" She asked mildly when he stopped for breath. He and his student smiled.
"I'd like to think so."
"I'm certainly impressed with humanity's progress. They are certainly no longer the same calibre of apes they once were."
"Debatable," Aliya muttered into her tea cup, making Vastra laugh and the Doctor make a face at her.
"Getting back to the current topic…" He said pointedly. "Tudor/Stewart England. Religion tore it to absolute bits. For over a century they fought over - get this - different forms of the same religion and which one was the right one. They had different interpretations and issues with authority which led to persecution, death, and at one point, war."
"Really?" Aliya interrupted. "They had the same religion but fought over interpretation?"
"Yes. Now, my old friend Lizzie the First was very clever. Her sister had just killed a whole bunch of Protestants and gotten France angry at her, so Lizzie was handed a right mess. But she fixed things with France and found a solution to the Church problem. She made it sound Protestant but look Catholic - and as long as it looked like the country was doing the same thing on the outside, she didn't mind too much what people got up to in secret."
"Reasonable of her," Vastra said fairly, "So she managed to find a middle ground that kept most people happy."
"Exactly."
"Hang on, I've got a vague idea of what Catholics are, but what the hell is Protestant?"
"We finished the basics of the Protestant Reformation ten minutes ago, Aliya, go Google it."
"Google your face," Aliya muttered, "And stop using verbs I don't understand."
Despite her interruptions, the lessons continued and she eventually stopped asking questions and just listened. It was all quite interesting really, and explained quite well just how humans had ended up the way they were. And because Vastra was planning on staying in Victorian London, there was no reason to go into the 20th century at all.
The Doctor and Vastra had apparently covered the etiquette of the time already, so there wasn't much more to teach.
"I think you're ready. I think she's got it!" He said the second sentence with a deliberately posh accent, and got blank looks from both women. He sighed. "My Fair Lady? No? Alright. Remind me later, Aliya, you'd enjoy it."
"Alright," She said blankly, "But does that mean we're up to teaching her about Time Lords now?"
"Could we possibly eat first?" Vastra asked politely.
"Of course!"
So they enjoyed a roast dinner prepared almost entirely by the TARDIS. Aliya's lack of interest in the meat was balanced by Vastra's lack of interest in the vegetables, and the Doctor merely helped himself to a bit of everything.
An hour or so later, they were back in the sitting room with a clear blackboard and new pieces of chalk as well as different slides for the projector.
"Should we start with Rassilon? It's all a bit complicated before that," Aliya suggested to the Doctor, as she was as much the teacher of this topic as he was.
"Good plan." He turned to face Vastra - who was poised in her arm chair and ready to be informed. "So, after a bit of experimental evolution, Time Lords eventually settled onto the humanoid shape, as it is the most durable and most efficient in terms of survival. Exposure to the raw Time Vortex, the Untempered Schism, gave them the remarkable ability of longevity and regeneration which you have no doubt heard of in your myths, Vastra. In terms of appearance, regeneration was certainly random at first, and they all resembled humans. But over time, it was discovered that the change was actually possibly to control, but almost always only by women. For some reason, they had a much higher chance of getting their desired outcome. Even so, the ability to control regeneration was considered something very notable, because most people still couldn't do it."
"I've never managed it myself, but my cousin had it mastered to a practically unheard of level," Aliya said somewhat wistfully. Then she brightened and took the chance to continue the lecture. "But regeneration gave the Time Lords the ability to live much longer, and much more varied, lives. They began to build their great city, and their giant Citadel. There were three founding fathers of Time Lord society - Rassilon is the most notable, but there was also Omega and the Other."
"Rassilon and Omega, for the record, were both horrible people in person. I can speak from experience." When Vastra lifted an eyebrow at him, he just said, "Resurrection and anti-matter universes, it's all very complicated."
"Rassilon's name was printed all over modern Time Lord society," Aliya continued, "The Sash of Rassilon, the Rod of Rassilon, the Key of Rassilon, the Game of Rassilon-"
"That one was particularly nasty," The Doctor recalled, "But with a good result."
The blonde next to him looked surprised for a moment before going slightly pink and quickly talking again to detract from it. "Well, you get the idea. Everything was named after Rassilon, to the point of it being quite ridiculous, actually."
"As I say. Self-important to the extreme and not nice in the slightest."
And so the lesson continued, through Houses and the Academy and Looms and much more.
Some considerable amount of time later, the trio had taken to the streets of Victorian London once again. It was evening and as expected, Vastra's veil served its purpose perfectly.
"Wait until you see the house," The Doctor was saying enthusiastically, "You'll love it, it's brilliant. Perfect for a classy lady like you."
"If you say so," Vastra said, sounding not entirely sure, "And how exactly am I supposed to find a trustworthy confidant to work for me?"
"Like I said before, your appearance can be the job interview," Aliya reminded her.
"I can hardly just reveal myself to every potential candidate to see who doesn't run screaming."
The blonde made a face. "Good point."
They rounded a street corner, only to find themselves on a street that looked mostly identical. The Doctor however, clearly didn't find this to be the case, as he grinned and pointed at the nearby sign excitedly.
"Paternoster Row! See? We're practically there."
But just then, a scream rang through the air and they automatically tried to locate its source. After ten seconds of uncertainty...it found them. A figure came barrelling out of the shadows of the opposite street and ran almost headlong into them. It was a young woman. She was panting, and looking at them like she wanted to say something, but couldn't.
"What happened?" Aliya asked her quickly, "Are you alright?"
The girl glanced at the Doctor and automatically recoiled, her dark eyes showing so much fear that Aliya's maternal side possessed her to wrap an arm around the girl and hold her protectively.
"I'm not going to hurt you," The Doctor said to the girl, "I promise."
"Sorry," The girl mumbled, "You don' even look like 'em. You're not Chinese." She winced and clutched at her stomach, which was visible through her ragged clothing. "Ow."
"You're bleeding," The Doctor noted with concern, "How bad are you hurt?"
Aliya touched her own torso and felt blood left there too. "Oh lord. Badly, she's gotten a fair bit on me just from a few second's contact."
"'m fine. 'm fine," The girl protested, just before she passed out in Aliya's arms. The Doctor quickly scanned her with the sonic and went pale.
"I'm going to go get the TARDIS. You two get her to the house. She'll die if we don't help, but I need equipment." He grabbed something small out of his pocket. "Vastra, here's the key. Aliya, here's the address." He rammed his forehead against hers, making her stumble and nearly drop the girl. Then he ran back the way they came.
Vastra grabbed the girl's other arm and put it around her shoulder. "He didn't give you the address."
"Yes, he did," Aliya groaned, wincing, "He directly transferred it. Hence the headbutt. But man, it hurts. Let's go, it's this way." They began walking in her indicated direction and a few minutes later, they came to the house that was pictured in her mind. "This one."
They got to the front door and Vastra unlocked it with the key while murmuring how primitive the lock system was. It didn't take them long to find a window seat in one of the rooms suitable for lying the injured girl on. Aliya quickly located the most prominent wounds - that looked like they had made by a small slashing blade - and pressed down on them to try and staunch the bleeding.
"Why are we helping her?" Vastra asked suddenly, after over ten seconds of Aliya kneeling by the girl's side worriedly, hands still pressing down. "We don't even know her."
"A stranger in need is still in need," the Time Lady replied, "Being with the Doctor, you realise that every single life is precious. And look at her. She probably doesn't even have a home. Look at her clothes."
"Unless someone else ripped them." The Silurian eyed the clothes in question. The faded brown clothing was worn, but the large rips in it didn't quite match. "When she saw the Doctor, she screamed, and said that he didn't look like 'them'. That 'they' were Chinese."
Aliya's face went ashen. "You think someone hurt her. Not just with a knife."
"Or tried to, before she got away." Vastra lifted her veil over the back of her hat so that her face was uncovered. "Oh, that's better." She sat in a nearby chair, one made of a shiny, dark wood that was intricately carved and richly upholstered. "I understand now. How could I expect you to not help her when the two of you helped me? The two of us are no different."
"Well, that might be a bit of a stretch." The blonde smiled wryly. "But the point is that your differences don't matter."
"Can't you do something to help her?"
Aliya shook her head, wishing that she could answer in the affirmative. "I'm not a doctor, normal or otherwise. Nothing like this was ever my strength. Stopping the bleeding is all I know how to do."
They lapsed into another silence. It wasn't awkward but it wasn't entirely comfortable either. A few minutes later, the Doctor arrived with stitches and bandages as well as a number of things that Aliya didn't recognise.
"Good job," He said to Aliya when he saw where her hands were, "But now you need to give me space to work."
She got up and moved away only to eye her blood covered hands. "I might try to find a bathroom. I'll be back." She found a room with a large copper tub that had to be a sort of bath, and something resembling a toilet. But there was no actual supply of water. It wasn't until she went into the kitchen and found a water pump that she actually got her hands clean. She tried to dab at her dress with a cloth but the fabric was dark enough that she couldn't be sure that the blood had come out.
When she wandered back into the sitting room, she sat at the small table Vastra was already seated at. "Sorry, Vastra, I think I might have gotten blood on some of your door handles."
"Hardly the most pressing concern right now. But I think he's almost done now. It's hard to be sure." Vastra was just staring, almost blankly, at the Doctor working. "He's quite remarkable, isn't he?"
"As he's able to hear us, I can only say that he is a bit remarkable. His ego doesn't need anymore stroking."
"He doesn't seem like he can hear us. He hasn't said a word since he started."
"I can," the Doctor said suddenly, not looking away from his work and not saying another word. The lizard women nearly jumped with surprise.
"She's quite pretty," Aliya said as she looked at the girl's face, at the features she had been unable to see in the dark and too busy to concentrate on in the house.
"You all look the same, even if you and the Doctor smell different."
"We don't all look the same at all," said the Time Lady. "Just like Silurians, we all look different. Us and humans. You just have to look a bit closer. Notice how wide their nose is and how their eyes shine. How big their smile is and how big their chin is."
"I suppose so," Vastra said, her eyes noticing how Aliya's were resting on the Doctor.
Ten minutes later, the Doctor got up and joined them at the table. The girl's torso was heavily bandaged, but only a small amount of blood had leaked through so far. It was a well done job.
"She's breathing," Vastra noted. "Will she live?"
"She's going to be fine," He replied, smiling. "She's strong."
"How can you tell?" Aliya asked, looking at him and smiling.
"I just can."
A groan that came from none of them took the trio by surprise. The girl was stirring. Her dark hair had come partially undone and rustled against the fabric covering the window seat cushion.
"Wheream I?" She asked, her harsh lower class accent giving her words more weight somehow.
"In a house, safe from whoever hurt you," Aliya answered. The expression she got in return made it clear that the reply didn't quite settle everything up.
"What's your name?" The Doctor asked.
"Jenny."
"Are you alright?" Vastra's question was surprising, but had positive implications for her future in London in Aliya's opinion. Jenny, however, who had not noticed Vastra until that point, went still when she looked at the lizard woman. Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped rather ungraciously, but she didn't scream, or even look alarmed - merely incredibly surprised. And within a few seconds, she composed herself and just nodded.
"Yes. Ma'am. 'oo's house is this?"
"Mine," Vastra replied, but not until after she had looked to the Doctor for confirmation.
"'oo fixed me up?"
"I did," The man in the bowtie said.
"He saved your life," Aliya added, "Who were you running from? Who did that to you?"
"The Tongs." When she received blank looks, the girl elaborated. "Chinese gang. Nev'r liked me, did they? Guess they wan'ed to teach me a lesson and get themselfs skirt the same time. If you'll forgive my sayin'."
"You're safe now, promise," The Doctor said with his signature comforting smile.
Jenny's eyes flicked to Aliya. "You were nice when I go' scared and...took a funny turn." She and Aliya shared a smile. Then the girl's dark eyes fixed on Vastra. "'cuse me for asking, Ma'am, but why does your face look like that?"
"Does it frighten you?" Vastra asked calmly.
"No, Ma'am, but it's unusual, innit? Different from the usual 'round 'ere."
"Indeed," the Silurian agreed, looking almost amused. "Would you believe me if I said I were not human at all, but another species?"
Jenny blinked, and held her gaze for several moments. Then her eyes slowly examined Vastra's face, taking in the scales and bright blue eyes. "Possibly, Ma'am. 'Spose you don' look much like the rest of us."
"Do you have a job, Jenny?" The Doctor asked suddenly. Jenny frowned at him.
"I sell matchsticks. No' much else to do. Family go' too big, an' I go' too old. So it was the streets for me, wasn'it?"
He just smiled secretively. "Would you like a job?" She just eyed him suspiciously.
"Wha' kinda job? I ain't doin' nothin' improper, mate, I don' care if you are a fancy man or what."
Aliya laughed, even though she knew she probably shouldn't. She just couldn't help but enjoy it a little bit when the Doctor's usual charm didn't quite work on people. It was a nice change. "Nothing like that."
"I'm not sure if I follow," Vastra said, frowning at them both, only to be smirked at smugly.
"She didn't scream," the Doctor said simply, "Or look like she wanted to run even if she could."
"Like we said," Aliya continued, smiling, "Job interview, only shorter. Aren't you in need of a maid?"
Understanding flooded Vastra's features and she looked at Jenny in a whole new light. "I see. Well...Jenny, would you like to be my maid?"
"What? Really?" Jenny asked, shocked but alight with excitement. "Me? A lady's maid?"
"I'm not a lady, I am merely Madame Vastra."
"You're lady enough, Ma'am. If you're not pullin' my leg, then yeah, course I would!"
The Doctor grinned and got up from his chair. Aliya followed suit. "Well, this has all worked out quite nicely. Vastra, you'll need to look after her for a few days, but after that she'll be fine. We'll pop back at some point to see how you're doing."
"Alright," Vastra said, suddenly uncertain. She got up from her chair and crossed to where they had been about to enter the TARDIS. "Aliya, a moment?" The blonde indicated for the Doctor to go on inside before turning to Vastra expectantly.
"Yes?"
"If she is to be in my service, then...I should attempt to distinguish her, shouldn't I?"
Aliya grinned. "Yes, probably."
Vastra's eyes flicked back to Jenny momentarily before flicking back. "Her eyes are bright, in a way. She has that dark spot on her cheek. Her nose is round. Is that what you meant? Am I on the right track?" She was so genuine that Aliya had to laugh and nod, her hand finding the lizard woman's shoulder.
"Yes, that's the idea," She said, still chuckling. "Good luck, Vastra."
Then she also entered the TARDIS, leaving Vastra to sit back down at the table and wait for the inevitable dematerialisation.
"Jenny, I imagine you will enjoy this next part."
When the girl's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets ten seconds later, the Silurian grinned despite herself, and was surprised to see Jenny grin back.
Wow, I'd forgotten how much I love Vastra and Jenny! Writing their meeting and their meeting with the Doctor was really fun. And of course having Aliya in the mix is fun too.
Next up is a small adventure arc which will feature Torchwood and have a very crucial mark in the Doctor and Aliya's repairing relationship.
Love you all,
-MayFairy :)