Chapter 29
Never Meet Your Heroes/Shakespeare Code
By: Izzy
Lady wandered into the console room, where the Doctor was busy tinkering away under the console. She smiled as she walked over and sat on the jump seat. She swung her legs in the seat. "What is it?" he asked not taking his eyes off the task at hand.
"What do you mean what is it?" she asked innocently. "Can't I just sit here? Enjoying the company of my bond mate?"
"But I can feel it you want to say something but aren't," he said.
"I think we should go get Martha," she said. "She's brilliant!"
"Yes," he said as he got out from under the console. "She is brilliant but why do you want to have her aboard?"
"Well two reasons really," she started. "One because it would be nice to have another girl around here, and two because when the time comes we could have her help deliver the twins. She is training to be a doctor. Now she can learn from the best!" She got up and walked to him during her speech then finished it with a kiss on his cheek.
"OK," he said. "She did save our lives after all. But only one trip to repay her, I can deliver the twins myself." She rolled her eyes at him as he set the coordinates for the party Martha said she was going to. They arrive in no time since they hadn't gotten very far away. Lady was the first one out of the TARDIS. She walked down the alley as fast as her pregnant body would take her. She saw the end of the fight with Martha and her family.
"Doing it for the last twenty five years!" her mother exclaimed.
"Please," her father said.
"Clive, stop, now!" her mother shouted.
"Mum, don't. I-" her sister said as all of them ran after her father. Lady smiled at Martha and went back to lean against the TARDIS, beside the Doctor.
"I went to the moon today," Martha said.
"A bit more peaceful than down here," he said.
"You never even told me who you are," she said.
"The Doctor," he said. "And this is my lovely wife and bondmate, Lady."
"What sort of species?" she asked. "It's not every day I get to ask that."
"I'm a Time Lord," he said. "And so is she. But since she's a girl it's Time Lady."
"Right!" she laughed. "Not pompous at all, then."
"We just thought since you saved our lives, you might fancy a trip," he said.
"What, into space?" she said excitedly.
"Well," he said drawing it out a bit.
"But I can't. I've got exams," she said. "I've got things to do. I have to go into town first thing and pay the rent, I've got my family going mad."
"We can travel in time too," Lady said.
"Get out of here," Martha said.
"We can." he defended.
"Come on now, that's going too far," she said.
"I'll prove it," he said as he pulled Lady back into the TARDIS. "You look hungry."
"That's 'cause I am hungry," she said.
"How do some chips sound?" he asked with a smile.
"Delightful," she said with a smile. They landed back to the morning they went to the moon. She bought herself some fries with ranch. As they walked back toward the way Martha had walked to work that day, he got close to her as she dropped a ranch covered fry. It bounced off his tie before it hit the ground. He took off his tie so it didn't get on the rest of his suit.
"You got your ranch all over my tie!" he exclaimed as he shook the offended item in front of the other Lady's face.
"Well you shouldn't have had your tie so close to my food," she said.
"That is no kind of excuse!" he exclaimed.
"Quit your bitching, you have hundreds of ties," she said.
"But I love this one!" he exclaimed. She would admit that it was the only tie like it. But she was a once a house wife she knew a few things about laundry.
"We just had our first spat," she said in realization. He gave her a weird look as they entered the TARDIS.
"I guess we have," he said.
"Well that just means we have a healthy relationship," she said as she finished the fries. "And don't worry 'bout your tie I if I can get ketcup out of a white dress I can get that ranch off your tie." He smiled at her and nodded as he took the TARDIS back to Martha. Once out he showed Martha the ranch on the tie.
"Told you," he said as he threw the tie back into the TARDIS.
"No, but, that was this morning," she said. "Did you? Oh, my God. You can travel in time. But hold on. If you could see me this morning, why didn't you tell me not to go in to work?"
"Crossing into established events is strictly forbidden," Lady said.
"Except for cheap tricks," he said. "And buying chips." He gave her a cheeky smile.
"And that's your spaceship?" Martha asked as she walked past the Time couple.
"It's called the TARDIS," he said.
"Time and Relative Dimension in Space!" Lady exclaimed happily.
"Your spaceship's made of wood," Martha said. "There's not much room. We'd be a bit intimate."
"Take a look," he opened the door for her to go inside.
"No, no, no." she said as she went inside, then backed up. "But it's just a box. But it's huge." Lady watched as Martha circled the TARDIS. She pushed on the frame of the door. "How does it do that? It's wood." She finally went back inside and Lady followed her. "It's like a box with that room just rammed in." Both the Doctor and Lady mouthed the next statement. "It's bigger on the inside."
"Is it? I hadn't noticed," he said sarcastically. He shut the doors and ran to the console. "Right then, let's get going."
"But is there a crew, like a navigator and stuff?" Martha asked. "Where is everyone?"
"Just us," he said with a smile at Lady.
"All on your own?" Martha asked.
"Well, sometimes we have guests," he said nervously. "I mean some friends, traveling alongside. We had. There was recently, a friend of ours. Rose, her name was, Rose. She was like family. Anyway." Lady knew he missed Rose but they never talked about it. She was like his sister just as she was to Lady.
"Where is she now?" Martha asked.
"With her family. Happy. She's fine. She's." he said. "Just one trip to say thanks. You get one trip, then back home. I'd rather be it be just Lady and I." Lady walked over to Martha.
"Your wife's the one that kissed me," Martha said.
"Yeah," he said as he looked at Lady. "Why did you do that?"
"That was a genetic transfer," she argued.
"You look like you enjoyed it," he teased.
"So, anyone can enjoy a genetic transfer," she countered.
"Well, you have nothing to worry about anything Doctor," Martha said. "I don't swing that way."
"Good. Well, then," he said. "Close down the gravitic anomaliser, fire up the helmic regulator. And finally, the hand brake. Ready?"
"No," she said honestly.
"Off we go," he said with a grin. He flipped the switch and the TARDIS, and the TARDIS jerked.
"Blimey, it's a bit bumpy," she said.
"Welcome aboard, Miss Jones," he said.
"It's my pleasure, Mister and Missus Smith," she said as she looked at the console. "But how do you travel in time? What makes it go?" Lady giggled.
"Oh, let's take the fun and mystery out of everything." he said as he moved over to Lady and held her. "Martha, you don't want to know. It just does. Hold on tight." The TARDIS came to a abrupt stop, causing Martha to fall down.
"Blimey," she said. "Do you have to pass a test to fly this thing?"
"Yes, and he failed it," Lady said with a chuckle.
"Oi!" he said. "Just make the most of it. I promised you one trip, and one trip only." He moved to the doors, she followed him. "Outside this door, brave new world."
"Where are we?" Martha asked as she cautiously moved to the door.
"Take a look," he said as he opened the door and moved to the side so she could get through. "After you." She stepped outside and looked in awe. Lady and the Doctor stepped out behind her. There was laundry hanging from lines below overhanging eaves and scruffy children running about.
"Oh, you are kidding me," Martha said. "You are so kidding me. Oh, my God, we did it. We traveled in time. Where are we? No, sorry. I got to get used to this whole new language. When are we?"
"Mind out," he said as he pulled Martha back. A man dumps a bucket of waste out into the street.
"Gardez l'eau!" the man shouted.
"Somewhere before the invention of the toilet," the Doctor said. "Sorry about that."
"I've seen worse," she said. "I've worked the late night shift A+E." He moved around her and the mess. Lady stayed put for a bit mostly because she was trying not to throw up. The smell of the feces was making her very sick. "But are we safe? I mean, can we move around and stuff?"
"Of course we can." he said as he turned to Martha. "Why do you ask?"
"It's like in the films," she said. "You step on a butterfly, you change the future of the human race."
"Tell you what then, don't step on any butterflies," he said. "What have butterflies ever done to you?"
"What if, I don't know, what if I kill my grandfather?" she asked.
"Are you planning to?" he asked.
"No," she said.
"Well-" he was cut off by Lady throwing up loudly. "Are you alright?" He was at her side in a flash, rubbing her back as she threw up. Martha felt bad that she forgot that Lady was pregnant.
"Let's take her back to the TARDIS," Martha said softly. "I think the smell is making her ill."
"No," Lady choked out between waves of puke. "I, want, to, stay, here."
"But-" he started but was cut off as she shot him a glare. "Alright. But let's try and move you away, when you're able." She dry heaved a bit be for she nodded. He took that as a sign that she was ready to try and move again. He lifted her up so she didn't have to see the feces on the ground, while she covered her nose so she didn't have to smell it. He put her down when they were far enough away.
"Thank you," she said with her face looking down at the ground.
"Here," he said as he handed her a disposable toothbrush. "Contains Venusian spearmint. I know how much you love spearmint." She did, of all the mints she loved spearmint best.
"Damn, morning sickness," she said as she took the toothbrush from him.
"It's my fault," he said. "I should have looked before we landed."
"It's OK," she said. "I knew we were coming here."
"How could you know that?" Martha asked.
"It's complicated," Lady said. She started to brush her teeth with the toothbrush. Martha looked angry for Lady avoiding the question.
"Allons-y!" he shouted once Lady was done brushing her teeth.
"Is this London?" Martha asked as they started to walk again.
"Yeah, 1599 to be correct," Lady said with a smile.
"Oh, but hold on," Martha said. He and Lady turned back to look at their companion. "Am I all right? I'm not going to get carted off as a slave, am I?"
"Why would they do that?" he asked before Lady could answer.
"Not exactly white, in case you haven't noticed," Martha said and Lady giggled.
"We're not even human," he said gesturing to himself and Lady. "Just walk about like you own the place. Works for me." They turned back around and started to walk again. "Besides, you'd be surprised. Elizabethan England, not so different from your time. Look over there. They've got recycling." He pointed to a man shoveled horse feces into a bucket. Lady covered her nose as they passed by. "Water cooler moment." The he pointed to two men talking at a water barrel.
"And the world will be consumed by flame!" a priest shouted.
"Global warming," the Doctor said. "Oh, yes, and entertainment. Popular entertainment for the masses. If I'm right, we're just down the river by Southwark, right next to." He paused for dramatic effect. He grabbed Lady's hand and ran with Martha just behind them. They ran until they could see the Globe Theater, where they stopped. Martha gasped in disbelieve. "Oh, yes, the Globe Theater! Brand new. Just opened. Through, strictly speaking, it's not a globe, it's a tetra-decagon. Fourteen sides. Containing the man himself." Lady giggled at the both of them.
"Whoa, you don't mean. Is Shakespeare in there?" Martha asked excitedly.
"Oh, yes," he said happily. "Miss Jones, will you accompany us to the theater?"
"Mister and Missus Smith, I will," Martha said with a smile as she looped her arm around both the Doctor and Lady's arms.
"When you get home, you can tell everyone you've seen Shakespeare," he said.
"Then I could get sectioned," Martha said as Lady giggled. They walked into the Globe Theater just as the play started. Lady hadn't ever seen that play, 'Loves Labor Lost'. They watched as the men danced and sang.
"That's amazing!" Martha shouted about have way through. "Just amazing. It's worth putting up with the smell. And those are men dressed as women, yeah?"
"London never changes," the Doctor said.
"You mean, the Earth never changes," Lady laughed. They continued to watch the play in silence. The play ended and all three of the TARDIS crew started to clap.
"Where's Shakespeare?" Martha asked. "I want to see Shakespeare. Author! Author! Do people shout that? Do they shout Author?" One after another the crowd started to shout 'Author' along with her.
"Well, they do now," the Doctor and Lady said with a small chuckle. Shakespeare came onto the stage looking all smug and so sure of himself.
"He's a bit different from his portraits," Martha said.
"Well this is a bit early for him," Lady said
"Genius," the Doctor said with pride. "He's a genius. The genius. The most human human there's ever been. Now we're going to hear him speak. Always he chooses the best words. New, beautiful, brilliant words."
"Ah, shut your big fat mouths!" Shakespeare shouted. The crowd started to laugh loudly. Lady laughed softly at the Doctor's face.
"Oh, well," he said.
"You should never meet your heroes," Martha said with a small chuckle.
"Like I said it's a bit early for him," Lady said.
"You've got excellent taste," Shakespeare said. "I'll give you that. Oh, that's a wig." Everyone laughed. "I know what you're all saying. Loves Labor's Lost, that's a funny ending, isn't it? It just stops. Will the boys get the girls? Well, don't get your hose in a tangle, you'll find out soon. Yeah, yeah. All in good time. You don't rush a genius." He suddenly got rigid and blank. "When? Tomorrow night. The premiere of my brand new play. A sequel, no less, and I call it Loves Labor's Won." She frowned and looked around to see the Carrionite, Lilith, leaving VIP lounge of the theater. She wished with every fiber of her being that she wasn't pregnant so she could pummel the witch.
"I'm not an expert, but I've never heard of Loves Labor's Won," Martha said as everyone filed out of the theater. Lady was trying not be pushed so lagging behind, but she was in earshot.
"Exactly," the Doctor said. "The lost play. It doesn't exist, only in rumors. It's mentioned in lists of his plays but never ever turns up. And no one knows why."
"Have you got a mini-disc or something?" Martha asked as Lady finally caught up with them. "We can tape it. We can flog it. Sell it when we get home and make a mint."
"No," he said sternly.
"That would be bad," she said.
"Yeah," he and Lady said. He looked deep in thought and she wanted to say something but she already knew what was on his mind. Gallifrey. It was always on his mind, no matter what they did or how much time had passed he would always have that whole in his heart where Gallifrey once stood proudly.
"Well, how come it disappeared in the first place?" Martha asked.
"Well," he said drawing it out a bit, as if I was trying to sound unsure. But Lady knew him better than that, he wanted Martha around as much as Lady did. "I was just going to give you a quick little trip in the TARDIS, but I suppose we could stay a bit longer." They found the inn that Shakespeare was staying in. Lady smiled at the inn, remembering what happened in the show. This was one of her favorite episodes of the third season. They ran up the stairs of the inn.
"You haven't even finished it yet," could be heard as they got closer.
"I've just got the final scene to go. You'll get it by morning," Shakespeare said. The barmaid came out of Shakespeare's room and the Doctor took that as his chance to slip in.
"Hello!" he exclaimed as he entered the room. "Excuse me, not interrupting, am I? Mister Shakespeare, isn't it?"
"Oh, no," Shakespeare said with a heavy sigh. "No, no, no. Who let you in? No autographs. No, you can't have yourself sketched with me." He shook his head and waved his hand trying to dismiss the Doctor. "And please don't ask where I get my ideas from. Thanks for the interest. Now be a good boy and shove-" Martha peeked at Shakespeare from behind the Doctor. "Hey, nonny nonny. Sit right down here next to me." Shakespeare patted a sit next to him with a charming smile as the barmaid reentered the room and set down a mug of ale. "You two get sewing on them costumes. Off you go." He waved off the two men who he had been talking with before.
"Come on, lads" the barmaid said. "I think our William's found his new muse." Lady cursed in her head because she couldn't remember the name of the barmaid's name.
"Sweet lady," Shakespeare said as the men left and Martha took a set beside Shakespeare. "Such unusual clothes. So fitted." The Doctor sat down on the other side of Shakespeare leaving a space for Lady. When she approached the table Shakespeare's eyes lit up. "Oh, my. What do we have here? Such radiance."
"Why thank you kind, sir," she said with a small smile and a curtsy, since she couldn't bow with the size of her belly. The Doctor stood and moved the chair so she could sit down. After he made sure she was comfortable, well as comfortable as a pregnant woman in the 19th century could be. He sat back down.
"I'm Sir Doctor of TARDIS, my lovely wife the Lady of TARDIS and this is my companion, Miss Martha Jones," he said showing him the psychic paper.
"Interesting, that bit of paper," Shakespeare said. "It's blank."
"Oh, that's very clever," the Doctor said beaming. "That proves it. Absolute genius!" He was so excited that he was right about Shakespeare.
"No, it says so right there," Martha said. "Sir Doctor, Martha Jones. It says so."
"And I say it's blank," he said as Lady pulled Martha over to her.
"Sweetheart," Lady said softly in an attempt for Shakespeare not to hear. "It's Psychic paper and I'll explain everything later."
"Psychic?" he asked. She sighed. Well so much for that. "Never heard that before and words are my trade. Who are you exactly? More's the point, who is your delicious blackamoor lady? And your pregnant Goddess?"
"What did you say?" Martha asked sounding offended. Lady grabbed the Doctor's hand trying to keep him from attacking Shakespeare.
"Oops," he said. Isn't that a word we use nowadays? An Ethiop girl? A swarth? A Queen of Afric?"
"I can't believe I'm hearing this," Martha scoffed.
"It's political correctness gone mad," the Doctor said. "Er, Martha's from a far-off land. Freedonia." A man in fancy clothes appeared in the doorway.
"Excuse me!" he shouted at Shakespeare. "Hold hard a moment. This is abominable behavior. A new play with no warning? I demand to see a script, Mister Shakespeare. As Master of the Revels, every new script must be registered at my office and examined by me before it can be performed."
"Tomorrow morning, first thing, I'll send it round." Shakespeare said.
"I don't work to your schedule, you work to mine," the man said loudly. "The script, now!"
"I can't," Shakespeare said sadly.
"Then tomorrow's performance is canceled!" the man exclaimed then turned.
"It's all go around here, isn't it?" Martha asked.
"I'm returning to my office for a banning order," the man said as he turned back to look at Shakespeare in the face. "If it's the last thing I do, Love's Labor's Won will never be played!" The man turned back in a huff and stormed out the door.
"Well then, mystery solved," Martha said. "That's Love's Labor's Won over and done with. Thought it might be something more, you know, more mysterious." Lady wanted to run down to the man and warn him about the Carrionite, that was going to kill him but she couldn't move. Just as the Doctor and Martha were getting ready to leave. A scream is heard from the outside. The Doctor ran out the door followed by Martha then Shakespeare but Lady took her time getting up and moving down the stairs. Mostly because she knew there was nothing she could do now, but also because she was sore from the pregnancy.
"Help me!" Lady heard a woman say from the outside. Lady felt a twinge in her heart at the fact she couldn't save the man.
"It's that Lynley bloke," Martha said as Lady finally got down the stairs. That's right, his name was Lynley.
"What's wrong with him?" the Doctor asked more to himself than to anyone. "Leave it to me. I'm a doctor."
"So am I," Martha said. "Near enough." Lynley collapsed and the Doctor rushed to Lynley, with Martha right on his heels. "Got to get the heart going. Mister Lynley, come on. Can you hear me? You're going to be all right." Martha positioned Lynley's head so that way she could start CPR but stopped when water came poring out of his mouth. "What the hell is that?"
"I've never seen a death like it," the Doctor said. "His lungs are full of water. He drowned and then, I don't know, like a blow to the heart, an invisible blow." He looked back to Lady and was surprised that she was calm, but the longer he looked at her he could tell that she was upset underneath it all. He then shifts his gaze to the barmaid. "Good mistress, this poor fellow has died from a sudden imbalance of the humors. A natural if unfortunate demise. Call a constable and have him taken away."
"Yes, sir," the barmaid said.
"I'll do it, ma'am," the Carrionite, Lilith said. Lady visibly stiffened a Lilith walked by her. He noticed this and that made him feel uneasy. Lilith ran off.
"And why are you telling them that?" Martha asked.
"This lot still have got one foot in the Dark Ages," he said. "If I tell them the truth, they'll panic and think it was witchcraft."
"Okay, what was it then?" Martha asked.
"Witchcraft," Lady said sounding really cold. Martha looked over at Lady with a look of shock. She walked back up the stairs, while he examined the body.
"What's got into her?" Martha asked sounding more worried than offended but still slightly offended..
"She's pregnant," he said dismissively.
"I think not," Shakespeare said. "Something else is a miss with your fair Lady." The Doctor shrugged his shoulders. A few minutes later the constable came and took Lynley's body away. The Doctor walked back upstairs, his head running with trying to figure out what was wrong with his Lady. He knew it was more than just the pregnancy, but he just couldn't put his finger on what was the matter with her. He would have to talk to her when they were alone. He sat down next to her in Shakespeare's room, while Martha sat on the other side and Shakespeare sat back in his normal seat.
"I got you a room, Sir Doctor," the barmaid said as she brought Shakespeare an ale. "You and Lady are just across the landing. Miss Jones your room is next to it." She left again.
"Poor Lynley," he said. "So many strange events. Not least of all, this land of Freedonia where a woman can be a doctor?"
"Where a woman can do what she likes," Martha said.
"And you, Sir Doctor," he said. "How can a man so young have eyes so old?"
"I do a lot of reading," the Doctor replied with a smile. He glanced from Shakespeare back to Lady who was unusually quiet. Something was definitely wrong with her. He reached out with his bond to her and she withdrew a bit not enough to him but just enough that he couldn't find out what's wrong. He frowned.
"A trite reply," Shakespeare said. "Yeah, that's what I'd do. You also baffle me Lady."
"How so, good sir?" she asked.
"Your speech, I have never heard the like," he said. "Are you of Freedonia as well?"
"Not Freedonia," she said. "I am from Muncie. Tis much farther than Freedonia. Tis a place of many people, thus my accent is a blend of different accents." The Doctor's eyes widened as she explained her origins. She was talking in old English but with her regular accent, and she spoke it so fluently that anyone who didn't know her would have thought that she always spoke like that.
"And you?" Shakespeare asked as he looked to Martha. "You look at them like you're surprised they exists. They're as much of a puzzle to you as they are to me."
"I think we should say goodnight," Martha said as she got up and left the room.
"I must work," Shakespeare said. "I have a play to complete. But I'll get my answers tomorrow, Doctor, and I'll discover more about you why this constant performance of yours."
"All the world's a stage," the Doctor quoted.
"Hmm," Shakespeare said. "I might use that. Goodnight, Doctor."
"Nighty night, Shakespeare," the Doctor said.
"Fare thee well, good sir," Lady said as she got up with his help. They walked down the hall together and into their room. "You may want to take a toothbrush to Martha."
"Where did you learn to speak like that?" he asked.
"Like what?" she asked as she straightened the blankets on the bed and fluffed the pillow.
"You were using old English back there with Shakespeare," he said.
"My Mum," she said. "She believed that old English was the right English. She likes British English better than American English."
"English is still English," he said. "But I-" He stopped and rubbed the back of his head nervously.
"But you, what?" she asked looking into his eyes. It was a good sign that she was teasing him but she still seemed off. Not quite herself.
"I liked it," he started again. "The way you spoke, it sounded right."
"That's 'cause," she said. "I used to speak like that all the time. But as I got older my speech was effected by those around me."
"It happens," he said. "I'll give Martha that toothbrush." He turned back to the hall. He knocked on the door to the room Martha was staying in.
"Coming," she said. Seconds later she opened the door. "Hi."
"Hi," he said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out another toothbrush. "She thought you might need this."
"Thanks," she said. He turned to leave but she lightly grabbed his arm to stop him. It worked he turned back to her. "Is Lady all right?"
"Honestly, I don't know," he said. "I'll ask her though." She nodded and let go of his arm.
"So," she said. "Is it real? I mean, witches, black magic and all that, it's real?"
"Course it isn't!" he exclaimed.
"Well, how am I supposed to know?" she asked. "I've only just started believing in time travel. Give me a break."
"Night, Martha," he said as he walked back to his and Lady's room. When he got in there she was sitting on a bench by the window. She was singing a song. The Fray, How To Save a Life.
Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
Let him know that you know best
'Cause after all you do know best
Try to slip past his defense
Without granting innocence
Lay down a list of what is wrong
The things you've told him all along
Pray to God, he hears you
And I pray to God, he hears you
And where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
As he begins to raise his voice
You lower yours and grant him one last choice
Drive until you lose the road
Or break with the ones you've followed
He will do one of two things
He will admit to everything
Or he'll say he's just not the same
And you'll begin to wonder why you came
Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
How to save a life
How to save a life
Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
How to save a life
How to save a life
She was so involved in the song she didn't even notice him walk into the room shut the door and removed his shoes, coat, suit jacket, then tie. He sat on the bed listening to the song. He could feel the sadness she was feeling as she sang. "Oh, I didn't here you come back," she said as she turned around and saw him.
"I haven't been here long," he said. She removed the leather jacket and laid it with his clothes. "What's wrong?" She sat on the bed and sighed.
"It's complicated," she said.
"Don't do that," he said with a sigh. He got closer and put a hand on her stomach. "Tell me."
"I couldn't-" she said like she was going to say something else but she remained quiet.
"Couldn't what?" he urged.
"I couldn't save him," she said softly.
"That's not your fault," he said. He hugged her nuzzling into her neck.
"But I knew he was going to die," she said softly, almost a whisper. "I knew, I just froze." He pulled away and looked into her eyes.
"It's still not your fault," he said. "Even if you would have told me that he was going to die I don't think I could have saved him."
"Yeah, but-" she started but was cut off by the barmaid screaming. He was up and down the hall first. She slowly trailed after because she was still very sore.
"What?" Shakespeare said as he woke up. "What was that?" Martha came up behind Lady and went into the room. The barmaid was on the floor knocked out. Martha stood looking out the window in shock.
"She'll be fine," the Doctor said as he checked on the barmaid. Lady looked down a the barmaid in shock, something changed for good. She smiled at him.
"Doctor?" Martha asked.
"What did you see?" he asked as he looked up to see the shock on her face.
"A witch," she replied. He turned to see Lady get dizzy and nearly fall so he went to her side quickly.
"You need to sleep," he said to her sternly. "All this running around you're doing is not helping the twins."
"I know," she said weakly. "But you need me." She tried to push off him but go dizzy again and fell back into his arms.
"I need to know you and the twins are save," he said as he got closer and rubbed his hands up and down her arms in a comforting manner.
"Alright, but if you leave the Inn I want to go with you," she said as firmly as her weak body would let her.
"Of course, I'll wait until you wake up before I go anywhere," he promised her. He slowly walked her back to the room they were to share. Once he got her in to bed she fell asleep quickly. She awoke as the city began to sound busy and the barmaid came into the room. Her head was pounding in her ears.
"Yes?" Lady asked as she sat up as quickly as her hungry pregnant body would let her.
"Oh, the Doctor wanted me to check on you," she said timidly. She was still shook up for last night. Lucky for her that the witch didn't kill her. Something changed. Lady wanted to know what.
"Please tell - my husband - that I'll be - be down in a bit," she said slightly struggling with voicing her thoughts because of the pain. The barmaid left the room and Lady sighed as she laid back down. She was worried about the twins, last night she didn't feel right last night. And with this headache it was troubling. She's never had twins before so she really didn't know what to expect. And she was a Time Lady now so she really didn't know what to expect from this pregnancy. She slowly got out of bed and put her jacket back on. She was going to sick by the Doctor as much as she could today. She didn't want to pass out around Martha or Shakespeare. Honestly she didn't want to pass out at all but if she did she wanted to be by someone who knew about Time Lady's physiology, namely the Doctor. She walked down the stairs slowly, she was trying to save her energy for later. She knew she'd need it.
"Peter Streete spoke of witches," she heard Shakespeare say as she approached the door to his room.
"Who's Peter Streete?" Martha said as she entered the room.
"The - architect," Lady said. Everyone looked at her. The Doctor got up so fast he knocked over his chair he had been sitting in, and was at her side just as fast.
"Are you all right?" he asked.
"I'm - fine," she said still having trouble.
"Are you sure you should be moving around?" Martha asked. "Because you don't look good."
"I'm - fine," Lady said. "No – need - ta fret. Now - ya'll were - talkin' 'bout - Peter Streete." He helped her into a chair.
"You're not fine," he accused. "There are only a few times you sound like this. And no one is tickling you." Despite the fact he made a slight joke no one laughed that just looked at Lady with great concern. "Now tell me what hurts." The last statement was more forceful than the rest of what he had said.
"My – head – hurts," she said. Shakespeare and Martha took that as an opportunity to leave them alone.
"Describe the pain," the Doctor said.
"Pounding – like," Lady said as she tried to think. "Someone's – hitting me – with a – two by four."
"I need to get you back to the TARDIS," he said as he tried to pick her but she stopped him with what little strength she had.
"Can't-" she started but he cut her off.
"I don't care!" he exclaimed. "You and the twins are my top priorities!"
"People – danger," she said. He sighed knowing that she was going to be stubborn on this. He used his Sonic to scan her there. He knew she'd be this stubborn if they were out when something went wrong so he installed some more software on his Sonic just for this type of thing. The scans showed that the twin's were in distress and that she was dehydrated again. He sighed. He laid a hand on her stomach, then sent the twins calming waves letting the twins know that she'd be fine and that they were causing her more harm than good. "Whatever you did is helping."
"They sensed your distress last night," he said. "And you're dehydrated again. Hold on, I'll get you some water." He went to the kitchen, grabbed a glass of water. He walked back to her and handed her the glass. "Please drink." She took the glass and slowly drank it.
"Thanks," she said.
"My pleasure," he said with a smile. She took another sip.
"You're too good to me," she said.
"Doctor," Martha said as she entered the room again. "Shakespeare told me that Peter Streete sketched the plans for the Globe."
"The architect," he said. "Hold on. The architect! The architect! The Globe! Come on!" In his excitement he ran out leaving Lady behind. So, she drank the rest of the water and felt a bit better so she slowly followed them to the Globe Theater. As she got into the theater she could hear the Doctor talking. "Fourteen. Why does that ring a bell? Fourteen."
"There's fourteen lines in a sonnet," Martha offered.
"So there is," he said. "Good point. Words and shapes following the same design. Fourteen lines, fourteen sides, fourteen facets. Oh, my head. Tetradecagon. Think, think, think! Words, letters, numbers, lines!"
"This is just a theater," Shakespeare said.
"But a theater's magical in it's own right," Lady said. "You of all people should know." Everyone looked at her. "You stand on this stage and say or sing the right words with the right emphasis at just the right time. You can make men feel deep despair or overwhelming joy. It can change them. You can change the mind of so many just with words in this place."
"The way you speak it changed," Shakespeare said.
"I was trying to be nice and speak like you," she said. "But this is how I normally sound."
"It's like your police box," Martha said before Shakespeare could say anything else about the way Lady spoke. "Small wooden box with all that power inside."
"Oh," the Doctor said. "Oh, Martha Jones, I like you." He looked from Martha back to Shakespeare. "Tell you what, though. Peter Streete would know. Can I talk to him?"
"You won't get an answer," Shakespeare said. "A month after finishing this place, lost his mind."
"Why?" she asked. "What happened?"
"Started raving about witches, hearing voices, babbling," he said. "His mind was addled."
"Where is he now?" the Doctor asked.
"Bedlam," Shakespeare replied.
"What's Bedlam?" she asked.
"Bethlem Hospital," Lady answered before Shakespeare could. "An asylum."
"We're going to go there," the Doctor said. "Right now. Come on." He grabbed Lady's hand and walked out with her.
"Wait! I'm coming with you," Shakespeare shouted as Martha followed them. "I want to witness this at first hand."
"Are you sure you're up to an adventure?" the Doctor asked as they walked.
"I'm as sure as sugar," Lady said with a smile. "I'll just have to make sure I keep water on hand from now on." He back at her.
"So, tell me of Freedonia, where women can be doctors, writers, actors," Shakespeare asked Martha as he caught up with her.
"This country's ruled by a woman," she pointed out.
"Ah, she's royal," he said. "That's God's business. Though you are a royal beauty."
"Whoa, Nelly," she said. "I know for a fact you've got a wife in the country."
"But Martha, this is Town," he replied.
"Come on," the Doctor said as he turned to look at them. "We can all have a good flirt later."
"Is that a promise, Doctor?" Shakespeare flirted.
"Oh, fifty seven academics just punched the air," the Doctor said as Lady giggled behind him. "Now move!" They walked to the asylum in silence. Once inside the Doctor used his psychic paper to introduce himself to the guards at the entrance. They walked in and were greeted by another guard with a whip. "We're here to see Peter Streete." He nodded in understanding.
"Yes, but does my Lord Doctor wish some entertainment while he waits?" he asked. "I'd whip these madmen. They'll put on a good show for you. Mad dog in Bedlam."
"No, I don't!" the Doctor exclaimed.
"Well, wait here, my lords, while I make him decent for the ladies," the guard said as he walked down to Peter's cell.
"So this is what you call a hospital, yeah?" Martha asked. "Where the patients are whipped to entertain the gentry? And you put your friend in here?"
"Oh, it's all so different in Freedonia," Shakespeare asked.
"But you're clever," she continued. "Do you honestly think this place is any good?"
"I've been mad," he replied. "I've lost my mind. Fear of this place set me right again. It serves its purpose."
"Mad in what way?" she asked.
"You lost your son," the Doctor said. Lady looked down as the memories of her time in a psych-ware, threatened to make her cry and run away. They hadn't beaten here like this but they didn't treat her with any kind of respect either. They treated her like she was just another crazy person. Her doctor tried to get her transferred but it did work.
"My only boy," Shakespeare said pulling her out of her painful memories. "The Black Death took him. I wasn't even there." The Doctor must have felt her pain because he wrapped his arms around her and rubbed her back gently in soothing circles.
"I didn't know," Martha said. "I'm sorry."
"It made me question everything," Shakespeare said. "The futility of this fleeting existence. To be or not to be. Oh, that's quite good."
"You should write that down," the Doctor said.
"Maybe not," Shakespeare said. "A bit pretentious?" That is when Martha noticed the tears in Lady's eyes.
"Are you all right?" Martha asked. "You've been quiet."
"She's been in a place similar to this before," the Doctor replied for her.
"Why would a lady as beautiful as the sun be in a place like this?" Shakespeare asked.
"Same reason you were almost here," the Doctor said. "She lost her family, her former husband and her two year old daughter in a fire. It drove her mad, and her so called caregivers were least than respectful to her." Martha covered her mouth in shock and horror. "Her mother and sister are the only reason she isn't still there."
"This way, my lord!" the guard shouted from the hall in front of Peter's cell.
"Are you all right now?" the Doctor asked as he looked down at Lady. She nodded and they walked hand in hand to Peter's cell. Peter sat on his bed clad in rags with his back to them.
"They can be dangerous, my lord," the guard tried to warn the Doctor as Lady let go of him and crotched next to Peter as if he were a small child. "Don't know their own strength."
"I think it helps if you don't whip them," he said bitterly. "Now get out!" The guard was offended by the Doctor so he left and locked them in with Peter.
"Peter," she said softly as she moved and sat on the bed beside him. Her legs had started to ache. "Peter Streete?"
"He's the same as he was," Shakespeare said. "You'll get nothing out of him."
"Let her try," the Doctor said. "I have seen her do amazing things."
"Peter," she said keeping her voice calm. She laid a hand on him. He looked at her looking shocked. "Peter, my name is Lady." Peter slowly nodded in understanding but said nothing. "I'm going to help you." He nodded again and she put to fingers on his left side temple. She used her psychic power to help him calm. She even got the voices to stop. He looked at her in awe.
"They stopped," he said. "You made them stop." Shakespeare and Martha looked in awe.
"Told you," the Doctor said proudly.
"Yes I did," she said as she removed her fingers. "Now Peter I know it isn't something you want to relive but it's imperative that you tell us what happened a year ago."
"Witches spoke to me," Peter said. "In the night, they whispered. Got me to build the Globe to their design. Their design! The fourteen walls. It was always fourteen. When the work was done they snapped poor my wits."
"Where did you see the witches?" the Doctor asked. "Where in the city? Peter, tell me. You've got to tell me where were they?"
"All Hallows Street," Peter said.
"Too many words," the witch known as Doomfinger said.
"What the hell?" Martha asked as Lady stood up.
"I name thee Carrionite!" Lady shouted. Doomfinger screamed and vanished in a flash of light.
"You saved me," Peter said.
"I did," she said proudly.
"What did you do?" Martha asked.
"I named her," Lady said. "The power of a name. That's old magic."
"But there's no such thing as magic," Martha said.
"Well, it's just a different sort of science," the Doctor explained. "You lot, you chose mathematics. Given the right string of numbers, the right equation, you can split the atom. Carrionites use words instead."
"Use them for what?" Martha asked.
"The end of the world," the Doctor replied.
"Peter," Lady said. "The power of a name only works once. But I can give you words that will help you keep them at bay." Peter nodded. The Doctor gave her a puzzled look. "But when you say them you have to believe in them." Peter nodded again. "'In this place and in this hour. By the guardians of the secrets of the night. Take the keys to my heart. And close the doors of my mind'." He closed his eyes.
"In this place and in this hour." he said with believing with a his heart. "By the guardians of the secrets of the night. Take the keys to my heart. And close the doors of my mind." Suddenly he glowed a faint gold and then it disappeared.
"That will protect your mind from them," she said. "Farewell Peter." She got up just as the guard came back an unlocked the door for them. They all walked out of Bethlem.
"How'd you do that?" Martha asked.
"Well I'm not your average Time Lady," Lady replied with a smile. "That and I'm a writer as well."
"You write?" Shakespeare asked. "I would much like to see what you have written."
"Trust me," she said. "My work is no where near as good as yours."
"I don't believe that," he replied. "Show me."
"I don't have them written down anymore," she said. "Once this is all over I'll tell you one of my poems."
"Yes," he said. "What are these, Carrionites?"
"The Carrionites disappeared way back at the dawn of the universe," the Doctor explained. "Nobody was sure if they were real or legend."
"Well, I'm going for real," Shakespeare said.
"But what do they want?" Martha asked.
"A new empire on Earth," Lady said. "A world of bones, blood and witchcraft."
"But how?" Martha asked.
"I'm looking at the man with the words," the Doctor said as he turned a looked at Shakespeare.
"Me?" Shakespeare said. "But I've done nothing."
"Hold on, though," Martha said. "What were you doing last night, when that Carrionite was in the room?"
"Finishing the play," he said simply with a shrug.
"What happens on the last page?" the Doctor asked.
"The boys get the girls," Shakespeare said. "They have a bit of a dance. It's all as funny and thought provoking as usual. Except those last few lines. Funny thing is, I don't actually remember writing them."
"See they used you," Lady said. "They gave you the final words like a spell or a code."
"Love's Labors Won," the Doctor said. "It's a weapon. The right combination of words, spoken at the right place, with the shape of the Globe as an energy converter! The play's the thing! And yes, you can have that." He looked at a ridiculously inaccurate map, and points to one of the three marked streets. "All Hallows Street. There it is. Lady, Martha, we'll track them down. Will, you get to the Globe. Whatever you do, stop that play."
"I'll do it," Shakespeare said. "All these years I've been the cleverest man around. Next to you two, I know nothing."
"Oh, don't complain," Martha said.
"I'm not," he said. "It's marvelous. Good luck, Doctor."
"Good luck, Shakespeare," the Doctor said. "Once more unto the breach." He walked through a door with both girls in tow.
"I like that," Shakespeare said. "Wait a minute, that's one of mine."
"Oh, just shift!" the Doctor said as he poked his head back around the door. They arrived at All Hallows Street. "All Hallows Street, but which house?"
"The thing is, though am I missing something here?" Martha said. "The world didn't end in 1599. It just didn't. Look at me. I'm living proof."
"Oh, how to explain the mechanics of the infinite temporal flux?" he asked.
"It's like Back to the Future," Lady said.
"The film?" Martha asked.
"No, the novel," Lady said. "Here's your sign."
"Yes, the film," he said as he gave her a dirty look. "Marty McFly goes back and changes history."
"And he starts fading away," Martha said. "Oh my God, am I going to fade?"
"You and the entire future of the human race," he said. "It ends right now in 1599 if we don't stop it. But which house?" Just as he said that a door cracked open of it's own accord.
"I think you mean witch house," Lady said with a small laugh as they entered the house.
"I take it we're expected," he said as they encounter Lilith.
"Oh, I think Death has been waiting for you a very long time," she said.
"Right then, it's my turn," Martha said as she approached Lilith. "I know how to do this. I name thee Carrionite! What did I do wrong? Was it the finger?" Lady sighed.
"The power of a name works only once," Lilith said. "Observe. I gaze upon this bag of bones and now I name thee Martha Jones." Martha fell backwards into his arms.
"What have you done?" he asked.
"Don't worry Doctor," Lady said. "Martha's only sleeping."
"It's curious," Lilith said. "The name has less impact. She's somehow out of her time. And as for you, Sir Doctor." She pointed at him then lowered her finger. "Fascinating. There is no name. Why would a man hide his title in such despair? Oh, but look. There's still one word with the power that aches."
"The naming won't work on me," he said as he laid Martha down gently. Lilith pointed at Lady.
"As I look upon this sorry state, I name thee Rhiannon Riwitis," Lilith said. The Doctor turned to Lady but saw that she was unaffected. "Strange. You have no true name. But I see on that cuts like a knife in your heart even now, Jenny Hayden."
"Oh, big mistake," Lady said. "That's a name that I fight for."
"The Carrionites vanished," he asked. "Where did you go?"
"The Eternals found the right word to banish us into deep darkness," Lilith said.
"And how did you escape?" he asked.
"New words," she replied. "New and glittering, from a mind like no other."
"Shakespeare," he said.
"His son perished," she said. "The grief of a genius. Grief without measure. Madness enough to allow us entrance."
"How many of you?" he asked.
"Just the three," she said. "But the play tonight shall restore the rest. Then the human race will be purged as pestilence. And from this world we will lead the universe back into the old ways of blood and magic."
"Hmm," he said. "Busy schedule. But first you've got to get past me."
"Oh, that should be a pleasure, considering my enemy has such a handsome shape." she said as she got closer to him. He didn't move as she advanced, and Lady didn't move either. She didn't move because in her current state she couldn't help.
"Now, that's one form of magic that's definitely not going to work on me," he said.
"Oh, we'll see," Lilith said as she pulled out some of his hair.
"What did you do?" he asked. Lady bent down and tried to wake Martha.
"Souvenir," Lilith said with a small laugh.
"Well, give it back," he said as he reached for it but she flew out the window. "Well, that's just cheating."
"Behold, Doctor," she said as she pulled out a wooden doll. "Men to Carrionites are nothing but puppets." Martha woke up slowly.
"Now, you might call that magic," he said. "I'd call that a DNA replication module."
"What use is your science now?" Lilith asked as she stabbed a pen into the heart of the doll. The Doctor screamed as Lilith flew off. Martha raced to his side.
"Oh my God, Doctor," she said. "Don't worry, I've got you." She pulled him up into her lap. "Hold on, mister. Two hearts?"
"You're making a habit of this," he said. "Ah! I've only got one heart working. How do you people cope? I've got to get the other one started. Hit me! Hit me on the chest!" She hit him on the chest but the wrong side. "Dah! Other side." She hit him on the other side. "Now, on the back, on the back." She hit him on the back. "Left a bit." She moved left a bit and hit him again. "Dah, lovely. There we go. Badda booma! Well, what are you standing there for?" He started to dash off but looked at Lady and knew the look.
"I'm fine now, Love," he said softly as he took her into his arm.
"I know," she said. "Come one! To the Globe!" She took his hand and they dashed out as fast as she could go. As they arrive at the Globe there was a bright light that emitted from there.
"I told thee so!" the preacher said. "I told thee!"
"Stage door!" the Doctor shouted as they ran to the stage door. They found Shakespeare as he woke up. "Stop the play. I think that was it. Yeah, I said, stop the play!"
"I hit my head," Shakespeare said as he rubbed his head.
"Yeah, don't rub it, you'll go bald," the Doctor teased. There was a loud scream. "I think that's my cue!" The four of them ran to see a storm that raged over the building. The audience was panicked and trying to get away, but the witches slammed the doors shut to stop them. "Come on, Will! History needs you!"
"But what can I do?" Shakespeare asked.
"Reverse it!" the Doctor exclaimed.
"How am I supposed to do that?" Shakespeare asked.
"The shape of the Globe is to give words power, but you're the wordsmith, the one true genius," Lady said. "The one man clever enough to do it."
"But what words?" he asked. "I have none ready!"
"You're William Shakespeare!" the Doctor exclaimed.
"But these Carrionite phrases, the need such precision."
"Trust yourself," Lady said.
"When you're locked away in your room, the words just come, don't they, like magic," the Doctor said. "Words of the right sound, the right shape, the right rhythm. Words that last forever. That's what you do, Will. You choose perfect words. Do it. Improvise."
"Close up this din of hateful, dire decay, decomposition of your witches' plot," Shakespeare said. "You thieve my brains, consider me your toy. My doting Doctor tells me I am not! Foul Carrionite specters, cease your show! Between the points;"
"Seven six one three nine oh!" the Doctor shouted.
"Seven six one three nine oh!" Shakespeare said. "Banished like a tinker's cuss, I say to thee;"
"Expelliarmus!" Martha excliamed.
"Expelliarmus!" the Doctor and Lady exclaimed happily.
"Expelliarmus!" Shakespeare finished. The Carrionites screamed as they were sucked back into the darkness they came from.
"Good old JK!" the Doctor shouted. The pages to the play were sucked up with the Carrionites. "Love's Labors Won. There it goes" The sky cleared with a flash and bang. After a few moments, someone started clapping, then all the audience joins in.
"They think it was all special effects?" Martha asked.
"Your effect is special indeed," Shakespeare said.
"It's not your best line," she teased. The Doctor walked away and so did Lady. Shakespeare and Martha could take the credit for this. Lady walked back to the TARDIS and unlocked it.
"Hey," a familiar voice said from behind her. She turned to see another Lady standing before her.
"What are you doing here?" Lady asked.
"I came to tell you what you already know," the other Lady said.
"What?" Lady asked.
"Take it easy," the other Lady said. "Don't push yourself."
"But I can still do this," Lady said.
"Only go on one more adventure," the other Lady said.
"I said I can handle this!" Lady shouted.
"No," the other Lady said firmly. "Next is Gridlocked. Go with the carjackers willingly."
"They are to get Martha not me," Lady said.
"You being here changes things," the other Lady said. "You know that."
"I haven't changed much," Lady said sadly.
"You have changed what you could," the other Lady said. "And I'm serous about only one more adventure. Have the Doctor give the twins a check up on the TARDIS once you're in the Time Vortex again."
"Whatever," Lady said. The other Lady's face twisted with anger.
"If you weren't pregnant," she said. "I would kick your butt back to our original universe so Mum could talk some sense into that thick skull of yours!"
"What's going on?" the Doctor asked as he came up from behind them. She turned around and Lady couldn't see the other Lady's face but Lady knew it lit up.
"Doctor," the other Lady said softly.
"Lady?" he asked. "Why are there two of you?"
"I'm from the future," she said. "I came to give the younger me advise. But as usual she won't listen."
"What advise?" he asked.
"I can't tell you," she said. "Sorry but I remember this and she'll tell you later."
"Circular paradox?" he asked.
"Yup," she said gleefully while Lady huffed.
"I'll be inside if you need me," she said gruffly as she walked into the TARDIS.
"I don't feel another me walking around," he said. "And the TARDIS landed easily."
"I'm not with you right now," the other Lady said sadly. "We get split up."
"I could take you back if you'd like," he offered.
"No, that's alright I have more circular paradoxes to handle," she said. "I still haven't met up with big ears and leather."
"Right," he said. "How are you?"
"I'm holding it together," she said.
"I wish I could help you," he said.
"You are," she said. "'Cause for you I'm in the TARDIS kitchen getting a drink and getting ready to sleep in our bed."
"True," he said. "But that doesn't me I don't want to help this you."
"I know," she said. "Be there for her. She is having a rougher time then she's letting on. She is trying to push her body to keep up with you."
"She doesn't have to," he said. "I'd slow down for her. She should know that."
"And she doesn't want you to," she said. "She'd feel like a burden if you did." He sighed because he knew what she said was true. "Let her tell you when to stop."
"I will," he said.
"Goodnight, my Theta," she said.
"Goodnight, my Rhee," he said as she started to walk away. "Wait." She stopped and turned back to him. "What'd she mean you have no true name?"
"She meant that I have many names," she said. "They're all me but no true name. When I met you I gave you my birth name but in my original universe I was still known by my second husband's name. Plus honestly what is a name?" He gave her a puzzled look. "It's a title that someone calls you. I don't believe I have a true name because I have had so many that people have called me. Rhiannon Jane Riwitis, Rhiannon Jane Bales, Rhiannon Jane Hayden, Rhiannon Jane Smith, Fun Bags." He laughed at the memory of Tomas calling Lady that. "Rhee, Rhee-koi, RJ, Love, Lover, and finally Lady. See they're all my names so I have no true name. Everyone has a different name for me."
"I understand," he said. "There is a special place in your heart for each name."
"Yeah," she said with a smile. "But you'd better go in there with her before she comes out thinking I dragged you off and had my way with you. And I'll tell Martha you're here but not leaving, to meet you at the Globe in the morning." She laughed as she walked away. He shook his head and walked into the TARDIS. He walked into their room where Lady laid reading a book.
"Are you all right?" he asked as he sat on the bed with her.
"Figured you'd be off with her," she said.
"And why would you think that?" he asked.
"She's not pregnant," she said as she put the book down and looked him in the eyes.
"That's why I'm here," he said. "You need me."
"Did you at least offer her a ride back to her Doctor?" she asked.
"Yes," he said. "She said she had more to do. And are you jealous of yourself?"
"No!" she exclaimed. "I'm just- I don't know what I am right now."
"You're pregnant," he said. "It's normal to be emotional while you're pregnant."
"I know," she said. "It's more depressed than anything."
"Let me know if I can do anything to help," he said.
"Lay with me?" she asked hopefully .
"I can do that," he said as he stood back up and took off his coat and tie then his shoes. He laid on the bed beside her and pulled her to him so he could comfortably hold her. She fell asleep fairly quickly. He smiled down at her and played with her hair. He stayed awake, watching her sleep and listening to all the hearts beating in the room. Eight hearts beating in unison. He started to sing the lullaby his mother sang to him when he was young.
She woke up in the morning and smiled at him. "Morn," she said as she laid in his arms.
"Good morning," he said with a smile. "Let's go meet up with Shakespeare and Martha at the Globe."
"How do you know they'll be at the Globe?" she asked.
"You told me," he said with a cheeky smile. She moved off him and got dressed in her usual a Celtic dress and the leather jacket with flats. He put his tie, coat, and shoes back on. "Ready?"
"Yup," she said.
"Well then Allons-y!" he exclaimed as he grabbed her hand and they walked hand in hand back to the Globe. They entered through the back again. He found a ruffly thing that looked like what Shakespeare wore in future pictures of him, the Doctor put it on. "Would you look at that." He picked up a skull that looked like the helmets that the Sycorax used. They walked out onto the stage. "Good props store back there. I'm not sure about this though. Reminds me of a Sycorax."
"Sycorax," Shakespeare said. "Nice word. I'll have that off you as well."
"I should be on ten percent," the Doctor said. "How's your head?"
"Still aching," Shakespeare said.
"Here, I got you this," the Doctor said as he took it off himself and put it on Shakespeare. "Neck brace. Wear that for a few days till it's better."
"I think you might want to keep it," Lady said. "It truly suits you."
"Oh, I didn't get the chance to tell you but my dearest, Lady, is a performer too," the Doctor said.
"Tis' this true?" Shakespeare asked. "A writer and a performer?"
"Well I only sing for fun," she said shyly.
"You sing?" Martha asked in amazement. Lady nodded. "You should sing now."
"I agree," the Doctor said.
"Of course you would," Lady said.
"I haven't heard you sing in such a long time," he said almost whining.
"I know you heard me the night before last," she teased.
"I, too would like to hear you," Shakespeare said. "For as unusual your accent is, your voice is lovely."
"Why thank you Shakespeare," she said with a smile. "I will sing. Just what to sing?"
"You always sing something different," the Doctor said with a smile.
"Perhaps something from Muncie?" Shakespeare asked.
"Sure," Lady said. One song popped into her head, The Promised Land from Final Fantasy VII. She sung it in Latin. She begged the TARDIS not to translate. (Note: Because I love you guys you get the English version.)
Why do we cling together
Why do we give punishment to lesser hearts
The Stars did not forgive us
Did not forgive us
The Stars did not forgive us
Did not forgive us
The throbbing pulse flows through the earth
A tiny pulse A heart drawn to death
A gentle life returns to the Stars
Must souls be sacrificed
Why do we cling together
Why do we beg for forgiveness
In the Promised Land
The three of them were clapping once she was finished. "Lovely," Shakespeare said.
"Fantastic as always," the Doctor said.
"That was beautiful," Martha said. "I didn't understand a word of it but beautiful."
"It's in Latin," Lady said. "It's called the Promised Land. Oh, and I promised you something, Will."
"What?" Shakespeare asked. "Oh, right, yes. Your writing."
"It's called Fell Away," she said. Instead of looking at Shakespeare the person she was showing off to she looked at the man this poem was for. The Doctor "'I fell away. Away from my family, friends, and my home. I fell away from everything that meant anything to me. But you caught me. You gave me back what I had lost. You taught me how to live, how to truly live. I fell right into you arms. You didn't have to love me but you do. And now I could never be happy without you. So I pray that I will never fall away from you.'" She looked at everyone and they looked at her in awe. "See not good."
"That was beautiful," Shakespeare said. "From the heart. You could never be wrong if it's from the heart."
"That was for me?" the Doctor asked.
"Yeah," she said.
"Thank you," he said as he went to her and wrapped his arms around her. He leaned into her for a kiss.
"What about the play?" Martha asked. Lady and the Doctor broke the kiss.
"Gone," he said. "I looked all over. Every single copy of Love's Labors Won went up in the sky."
"My lost masterpiece," Shakespeare said sadly.
"You could write it up again," Martha sujested.
"Yeah, better not, Will," the Doctor said. "There's still power in those words. Maybe it should best stay forgotten."
"Oh, but I've got new ideas," Shakespeare said. "Perhaps it's time I wrote about fathers and sons, in memory of my boy, my precious Hamnet."
"Hamnet?" Martha asked.
"That's him." he replied.
"Hamnet?" she asked again.
"What's wrong with that?" he asked.
"Anyway, time we were off," the Doctor said as he pulled the globe with the Carrionites inside it.. "I've got a nice attic in the TARDIS where this lot can scream for all eternity, and I've got to take Martha back to Freedonia."
"You mean travel on through time and space," Shakespeare corrected.
"You what?" the Doctor said sounding like the cat got his tounge.
"You're both from another world like the Carrionites, and Martha is from the future." Shakespeare said. "It's not hard to work out."
"That's incredible," the Doctor said. "You are incredible."
"We're alike in many ways, Doctor," Shakespeare said then he turned to Martha. "Martha, let me say goodbye to you in a new verse. A sonnet for my Dark Lady. Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate." Two men came running in.
"Will!" one of them shouted.
"Will, you'll never believe it," the other said. "She's here! She's turned up!"
"We're the talk of the town," the first one said. "She heard about last night. She wants us to perform it again." Lady slipped away knowing she couldn't run so she made her way to the TARDIS before them.
"Who?" Martha asked.
"Her Majesty," he said. "She's here." Then there was a fanfare and an elder Queen Elizabeth the first walked in with two pikemen.
"Queen Elizabeth the First!" the Doctor exclaimed happily.
"Doctor?" she asked bitterly.
"What?" he asked.
"My sworn enemy!" she shouted.
"What?" he asked again.
"Off with his head!" she yelled.
"What?" he asked.
"Never mind what, just run!" Martha shouted. "See you, Will, and thanks." The Doctor and Martha ran out of the Globe.
"Stop that unscrupulous Doctor," the Queen commanded. Shakespeare laughed as the pikemen chase after the Doctor and Martha.
"Stop in the name of the Queen!" one of the pikemen shouted.
"What have you done to upset her?" Martha asked.
"How should I know?" the Doctor said as they ran. "Haven't even met her yet. That's time travel for you. Still, can't wait to find out." They got to the TARDIS where Lady was waiting with the door open and ready. "That's something to look forward to. Ooo!" They made it inside right as an arrow hit the door.
Notes: I am soo sorry about the late update. The laptop I use died. Almost literally, the power cord was sparking. Fun Fun. But I have a new power cord and I'm gonna try to get these more regularly. I make no promises though. Anyway, I hope everyone is doing amazing. Oh and to answer the review made by MoonestoneSilver15816, when I said older I didn't mean older as in she looks older. Just wiser. She is still only 36. Well I hope that helps if not pm me and I'll try to explain to the best of my abilities. Thanks to my readers and reviews. Love to all.