Title: Not Just A Fairytale Romance
Chapter: One
Pairing: Sarah Jane/(older)Maria
Rating: General
Chapter Summary: is she really who she says she is?
Chapter One
"Hello boys, need a hand?" Maria smirked at them.
"Maria!" exclaimed Luke in wonderment.
"But you're older. Hang on, you're from the future, right?" asked Clyde excitedly.
"Yes Clyde, which means I've got a lot of explaining to do, but not right now eh?" Maria looked behind the boys to the woman standing in front of the car with the concerned expression on her face.
"Sarah Jane." Maria said reverently with a smile and ran up to her to give her a hug.
"Stay away!" Sarah Jane held her hands up in a defensive pose
"You may look like a grown up version of Maria Jackson, but until I can be sure you're telling the truth I'm keeping you at arms length." Maria looked a little hurt but conceded with a small nod. She took a few steps back, away from her old friend.
"Ok, I understand. Mr Smith?" Maria questioned.
"Agreed. If you are Maria then you'll know where to go. I trust you'll be coming on that thing?" Sarah Jane motioned to the Harley.
"Never a one for motorbikes were you Sarah? What do you want me to do with him?" Maria looked to the bound and gagged alien she had so kindly rounded up for them.
"He stole a teleportation device, a broken one mind you. Find it and then let him go, he's essentially harmless. Luke? Clyde? Get in the car, we're leaving." The boys sported twin looks of disappointment.
"You don't happen to have a spare helmet do you?" Clyde asked Maria cheekily as he passed her on his way back to Sarah Jane.
"Not a chance Clyde. In the car, NOW!" Sarah Jane threw the older Maria a frosty look over her shoulder before getting in the car and driving away. Maria sighed and walked back towards the Alien.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Sarah Jane had been driving in an awkward silence for ten minutes before Clyde started talking.
"I can't believe it Luke, that's really Maria – from the future! I wonder what it's like? And what about the wheels? Man, that chick can ride. She's kinda cute too, don't you think, for someone that doesn't look much younger than my mum that is. Oh that's freaking me out now."
"Quiet Clyde! We don't know that she really is our Maria. This could all be some sort of elaborate trick. I know you're excited but we still have to be cautious." Sarah Jane seemed on edge, worried even. Clyde and Luke exchanged concerned looks but kept quiet nonetheless. They pulled up to Sarah Jane's driveway on Bannerman road a short while later, not surprised to find Maria already there and waiting.
"I would have let myself in using the spare key, but I thought given the circumstances you might not have appreciated it." Maria handed over the transportation device she had managed to procure from the alien. Sarah Jane unlocked her front door and ushered the boys in before turning back to Maria.
"I'm sorry if all this seems a little harsh, but first and foremost you have to understand I need to protect myself and the boys."
"It's alright, I do understand."
"Why are you here? What do you want?" Sarah Jane eyed her visitor with a suspicious gaze.
"I'm here to prevent you from making a huge mistake, one that has dangerous consequences – especially for you personally. I came back in time because I hoped that you would trust me, even if it takes some convincing."
"Well let's start by getting Mr Smith to check you over, and then we'll take it from there." Sarah Jane ushered Maria through the door. She followed Maria closely as she walked up the stairs to the attic. The younger woman reached the door and waited until she was given permission to enter.
"Luke? Clyde? Go downstairs and make yourselves scarce. I don't want to be disturbed."
"Oh, but Sarah Jane! I wanted to find out what it's like in the future." Clyde was led out of the attic by Luke, and Sarah Jane gave her son a grateful look as she shut the door behind them. She turned back to Maria and called out loud.
"Mr Smith, I need you." The supercomputer emerged from its hiding place inside the wall with its usual fanfare.
"Good afternoon Sarah Jane, I see you have a visitor." He said in his synthetic voice.
"Yes Mr Smith, I need you to verify that she is in fact Maria Jackson albeit from several years into the future. Until then, I'm not convinced that I can trust her."
"A wise decision Sarah Jane, I will scan her now. Scanning in progress." The image on Mr Smith's screen turned to show a green outline of Maria's body and a green line running from head to toe in a scanning motion.
"Wait!" Maria called out.
"Mr Smith, do whatever scans you need to do that's fine, but if you find anything...medical, can you please not say anything just yet?" she cryptically asked the computer. Sarah Jane looked furious.
"How on earth do you expect me to believe you when you've just asked Mr Smith to lie to me?"
"I'm not asking him to lie. I'm sure you understand Mr Smith?"
"I have concluded my scans and I have the medical information to which Maria is referring. It's nothing that manipulates or impedes the verification process. The woman standing before you is indeed Maria Jackson, aged 37. She appears to be surrounded by the standard background radiation associated with time travel, suggesting that she has in fact travelled back in time."
"Thank you Mr Smith." Sarah Jane turned back to look Maria in the eye.
"Now do you believe me?" Maria asked confidently.
"No, not just yet," the older woman replied.