Author's Notes: I do not own Doctor Who. Thank you so much for the reads and reviews. I meant to get this out sooner, but there was a slightly distracting announcement over the weekend. You might have heard about it. Thanks again. Please let me know what you think and happy reading!
Donna felt slightly like a misbehaving teenager.
Her family was out of the house and she had a boy, well, a man, well, a Time Lord in her bed. She had found him outside after dropping off Josh and Ella and they hadn't left the bed since coming up here. Her family was off at work as usual and they had proceeded like this every day since Donna walked out of the office while they tried to get their head around things.
"Explain this betrothal thing to me again," said Donna.
"Well, by your standards, it's sort of an engagement with privileges."
"Privileges?," Donna asked, raising an eyebrow.
"As we are."
"Really?," asked Donna.
"Why are you surprised?"
"Well, you're so stodgy, you Time Lords!," said Donna. "I just assumed it was hands off until the wedding."
"It's an ancient custom," said the Doctor. "There's no divorce for Time Lords. We could live thousands of years married to the same person. Well, mostly, the same person. It's a long time to be married to someone you don't... get on with."
Donna smiled. "I agree."
"Well, luckily we...get on."
"Oh, I should say," Donna teased. The Doctor smiled back at her. "Should we get on some more?"
Malyon entered the sitting room, carrying her robes over her arm.
"Ah, you're back. All's well with Donna, I presume?"
"Should I come with you?," asked the Doctor.
"No, business with the High Council about you is better done without you there," said Malyon. "There's nothing to it really. The Oracle's wishes are sacrosanct, all I must do is announce the betrothal and introduce Joshua and Ella as members of the House of Lungbarrow."
"Are you sure the council will so easily agree to this?"
"They have no choice. Then I shall return for this dinner."
The Doctor groaned.
"What? I'm looking forward to it," said Malyon.
"That's because you haven't met Sylvia."
"She's your children's grandmother, you had better find a way of dealing with her."
"Tell her that."
Malyon sat through the usual business of the High Council's meeting: what to do about this, business with the Shadow Proclamation and the usual assortment of Earth dealings. Finally, it was to what she had been waiting for.
"Ah, yes," said the Chancellor, "now for the rest of our business. Are there any petitioners?"
Malyon stood.
"The council calls upon my Lady Malyon."
"Thank you, council. I am speaking today as Arbiter for the House of Lungbarrow. My family wishes to announce the betrothal of the Doctor to Donna Noble."
There were murmurs among a few in the round.
"We would expect the marriage to be performed within the month hopefully and at this time we would also beg the council's recognition of two children to the House of Lungbarrow, the birth given names of Joshua and Ella."
"Are they hers?," asked another of the council.
"Yes, and it would appear they belong to my brother, at least a future incarnation."
"This is highly unusual," said the chancellor.
"So, you've met my brother?"
The Chancellor nodded in resigned understanding. "If no one brokers any objections, I shall put this in for ratification."
"Thank you, my Lord Chancellor."
"I have some questions."
Malyon looked up.
It was Romana. Of course it was.
"Why is the Doctor not here to speak for himself?"
"I'm sorry, custom usually dictates that the head of the family should speak to the council on these occasions," said Malyon.
"These are special circumstances, though," said Romana. "You're asking for Time Lords to be mated with another species."
Romana looked to the Chancellor and the others. "The council knows my reasoning."
"Yes," agreed the Chancellor, "Romana, there shall be no further discussion of this matter."
"Chancellor, I must-"
"Romana, enough."
Malyon was gathering up her things and preparing to leave when Romana approached her. Of course, the Chancellor had shut her down so quickly it would have left a bad taste in her mouth.
"What is he thinking?," asked Romana.
"Do you really need to know?"
"Why did the council just agree to that?"
"Oh, do take your personal feelings out of this."
"This has nothing to do with my personal feelings!"
"So, this has nothing to do with the fact that you wish it was you?"
Romana narrowed her eyes. "I have no such wish."
"Very well, then, Romana, but the council has spoken. Now, you must pardon me, I'm off."
Donna was in the kitchen putting the finishing touches on dinner as Sylvia looked on suspiciously.
"Josh, have you finished setting the table?," asked Donna.
"Why doesn't Ella have to help?"
"She helped me cook," said Donna.
"They're here! They're here!," Ella shouted, running in from the front room.
Donna caught a quick reflection of herself in the toaster. Sylvia shot her a look.
"What are you primping for?"
Donna ignored her and walked to the corridor. The Doctor was introducing Malyon.
"Malyon, this is Geoffrey Noble, Donna's father and Wilfred Mott, her grandfather."
"It's lovely to meet you both," said Malyon. "And this must be Sylvia!"
Donna looked. She had followed her. "Mum, this is the Doctor's sister, Malyon."
Sylvia raised an eyebrow. "Why has he brought his sister?"
"Okay, everyone, let's eat," said Donna.
It was a pleasant enough dinner with Malyon charming Wilf and Geoffrey. Sylvia was, of course, immune to such charms.
"What's going on?," Sylvia asked.
"Mum."
"You're obviously trying to get at something. What?"
Donna looked at the Doctor.
"Donna, love, is there something you'd like to tell us?," asked Geoffrey.
Wilf shrugged helplessly at Donna.
"Right," said the Doctor, "well you see most people assume that time is a straight line-"
"Oh, not the wibbly wobbly speech again," said Malyon.
"The Doctor and I are getting married," said Donna.
"Well, we sort of are married..." said the Doctor.
"Well, I didn't get a wedding or a reception," said Donna.
"You got children."
"Is this some sort of a joke?," asked Sylvia. "Donna, you can't go around marrying aliens. Be serious."
"Mum, please stop before you say something stupid," said Donna.
"I don't understand," said Oswin. "What do you mean she got children?"
The Doctor sighed. "One day, one of my future selves is going to meet Donna and call himself James McCrimmon."
"James McCrimmon is our dad," Josh said confused.
"Yes, Josh," said the Doctor.
"So, you're James McCrimmon?," asked Geoffrey.
"They're our siblings?," asked Oswin.
Ella looked across the table at the Doctor. "You mean you're our dad?"
"Yes, I am," said the Doctor. "What do you think of that?"
Ella got up from the table quietly and hurried over to the Doctor, throwing her arms around him. The Doctor smiled and returned the gesture, pulling her into his lap.
"Josh?," he asked.
"I guess it's okay," said Josh.
"Okay then," said the Doctor. He glanced at Donna and she shrugged. She had tried to warn him Josh's reaction would probably be not to react at first.
"What is it you're planning?," asked Geoffrey.
"To get married," said the Doctor.
"Married?," asked Sylvia.
"Yes, Mum, married," said Donna.
"I need a brandy," said Sylvia, getting up.
"Are we going to live with you?," asked Ella.
"Of course you are," said the Doctor. "I want all my children together."
Donna followed Sylvia with her eyes as she went to the kitchen.
"Mummy?," asked Ella.
"Of course," said Donna. "We'll sort out school and things like that, then we'll be moving."
Ella looked at Wilf and Geoffrey. "What about you?"
"You're welcome to come," said the Doctor, totally surprising Donna.
"We'll have to talk about it," Geoffrey said diplomatically.
"This is cause for celebration," said Wilf. "I think we might have some leftover cider."
"Let me just get my souffle from the TARDIS," said Oswin.
Oswin hopped up and the men went off in search of drink.
As the celebration continued in the house, Donna noticed two people were missing. One was Sylvia, she had fled to her room which she supposed was just as well for now. Second, was Lydia. Donna made a quick sweep of the house and spotted her in the back garden. Donna got two cups of tea and went out next to her.
"Okay, miss, you're quiet," said Donna.
Lydia looked up. Donna sat next to her on the back step and handed her a cup of tea.
"All alone in the cold," said Donna. "Afraid I'm going to turn into your evil stepmother and you're going to spend your whole day sweeping up cinders and making clothes for your mice friends?"
Lydia frowned. "What's sweeping?"
Donna rolled her eyes and sighed. "How am I ever going to make you my personal slave if you don't know what sweeping is? At least Oswin can make souffles. Well, mostly. They taste good, anyway."
Lydia remained silent.
"I know you miss your mum," said Donna. "She was a great lady. I'm not trying to replace her. Who could?"
"I know."
"Then what is it, sweetheart?," asked Donna.
Lydia shrugged. Donna pulled her closer.
"Why do humans have to be so close?," Lydia asked with some annoyance.
"I don't know," said Donna, "but I'm going to be looking after you so you had better get used to it. Even if you don't tell me what's wrong now, I'll be here until you do."
Donna came back in to find the Doctor kissing Ella good night.
"Josh went up on his own," the Doctor explained. "Apparently, good night kisses are for babies."
"I don't mind," said Ella.
Donna smiled. "You just love being wrapped around her finger, don't you?"
"I have no idea what you're referring to, Donna," said the Doctor.
"Carry me up," said Ella.
"Oi, you can walk yourself up," said Donna.
Ella sighed as the Doctor put her on the floor with a final kiss.
"Now," said the Doctor, "shall I meet you again tomorrow?"
"Oh, I think so," said Donna. "Before you go, I have a request."
The Doctor smiled. "Anything."
"I want to meet Jenny."
The smile vanished and the whining began. "Donna..."
"She's your child, isn't she? Why is she always exiled?"
"Because she's a genetic anomaly and she's difficult to control."
"All the more reason then," said Donna. "I want to meet her, so do whatever you have to do."
The Doctor looked at her. There was basically no stopping her, was there?
"Alright," he said, giving her a kiss. "I'll see you in the morning."
The Doctor left, following out the Time Ladies after they said good night to Wilf and Geoffrey.
Donna turned to her father and grandfather.
"So, what do you think?"
"I'm very pleased for you and the children," said Geoffrey. "Really."
"Couldn't be happier for you, love," said Wilf. "Your mother will come round. She's just hard minded."
Donna snorted. "Yeah, that's one way of putting it."