Author's Notes: I do not own Doctor Who. Thank you for the reads and reviews. Please let me know what you think and happy reading! Oh, and thanks Elinea, I wrote Clara instead of Oswin and didn't mean to! I was watching Hide while I worked on this chapter. Also, if anyone was wondering, I don't hate Romana, it's just there needed to be a conflict with someone and well, she was there. Anyway, really, happy reading!

"Do you think they have enough suncream?"

Donna looked down her big sunglasses from under an even bigger floppy hat. The Doctor had taken the whole family to the beach as a treat before the wedding. Things has been a bit hectic in the House of Lungbarrow with the wedding preparations, Donna's new found niche as Supernanny of Gallifrey and the Doctor... being himself. Jenny and Malyon had been left behind. The former because of some sort of probation, the latter for the wedding preparations. The Doctor's idea of a day at the beach seemed to be running after Josh and Ella.

"They have enough suncream," said Donna.

"This system has a very harsh sun and they are very pale."

"Yeah, have you looked in the mirror lately?"

From her spot nearby reading a book, Lydia snickered. Esther laid next to her, listening.

"Oi!," he said to Donna. He looked at Lydia. "And might I add, oi? They're half human and half ginger. Time Lorda have built-in defenses against sunlight."

"Yeah," said Donna, "your planet had two suns and yet not one of you has a tan. I mean, that's just odd."

"Got anything you want to add?," asked the Doctor.

"Yeah, what's with the shoulder hats?"

Lydia laughed. The Doctor looked. "You're meant to be reading not..."

"Laughing at her father?," Donna finished.

"I can do both," said Lydia.

"Sweetheart, why aren't you swimming?," asked Donna. "It's a beautiful day at the beach. I hate to have you never go into the water once."

Lydia looked over in terror at the Doctor.

"What?," asked Donna.

"She's afraid of the water. Most Time Lord children are," said the Doctor.

"You have a pool," said Donna.

"Well, it takes some getting used to. Lydia's just not there yet," said the Doctor. "Actually, I'm surprised Josh and Ella take to it so well."

"They love the beach," said Donna.

Just then, Ella shrieked. They looked out onto the water as she jumped into Oswin's arms.

"What's wrong?," Donna shouted.

"There's a shark!," Josh yelled back. "Mum! Take my picture!"

"There are no sharks on this planet, Josh!," the Doctor shouted. He paused. "Oh, wait a minute, what year is it?"

"Lydia," said Donna.

"Yes, I've got it," said Lydia, getting up and starting to collect their things and Esther's lead.

"Everyone back in the box!," Donna shouted.

The Doctor apologized profusely as the family came into the library out of the TARDIS.

"We could have caught it," said Josh.

"Joshua Noble, you are not going shark hunting," said Donna.

"I don't see why we had to leave," said Josh. "I wasn't done yet."

"Yes, well, I think we were done once it grew legs," the Doctor said half hopping, half limping out of the TARDIS with his bandaged leg.

"We're lucky it only took a bite of your father. It must have gotten all bone and sinew, sent it straight back into the water," said Donna.

Oswin laughed.

"Are you going to see the doctor?," asked Ella.

"I am the Doctor," the Doctor answered. "Still, might need a second opinion... Malyon!"

"What?!," she shouted back from some far corner of the house. It carried voices across the whole house sometimes, some sort of Time Lord thing.

"I got bit by a skarkigator!"

"A what?!"

"Also, we discovered the sharkigator!"

The Doctor shuffled out of the library.

"Tell you what," said Donna, "pool party. Much safer. Run along and get Jenny. Lydia, Oswin, you can organize some snacks."

"And what are you doing?," asked Josh.

"Oi!," said Donna. "I'm the mum. I'm always working. Off you go."

The children hurried off into the hallway, where Donna saw Mister Frobisher.

"Mister Frobisher," said Donna.

Frobisher looked up from his Blackberry. "Ah. Miss Noble. Hello."

"Call me Donna."

"Well, call me John."

"Well, John, what are you doing here?"

"I was helping Lady Malyon with some of the final wedding details, including transport."

"You are coming, aren't you?"

"Well, I'll be there in one form or another." He glanced at her curiously.

Donna looked down at her swimsuit and sarong. "Yeah, we were at the beach. On some planet I don't remember the name of. I don't recommend it." She pointed at the Blackberry. "Are you getting reception on that thing? Here?"

"I might have had some help."

"How did you get here, anyway?" Donna then saw Romana. "Oh, yay."

"Might I have a word, Donna?"

"Not a chance you want to have some girl chat? Talk about shoes and the like?"

Romana looked down at Donna's feet. "I see nothing interesting about your footwear. Shall we adjourn to the solarium?"

Romana began walking.

"There's a solarium?," Donna asked following her.

"Keep walking and it's on your left," Frobisher said absentmindedly.

Donna walked into the solarium. As she came to terms with the fact that she had a solarium, Romana started in on her.

"I have been approached by some who are concerned about your growing sphere of influence."

"What sphere of influence?," asked Donna.

"Your work with the children. You are undoing billions of years of traditions," said Romana. "Time Lord society rests on adherence to certain principles."

"Are those the same principles that got you into the war with the Daleks?"

"You know not of what you speak," Romana snapped. "The only reason you are here is because of the population crisis. You're a breeder here to supplement our population. An inadequate one at that with no special skills or intelligence. In fact, your only unique attribute seems to be some double recessive hair."

"You shut your mouth!"

Donna turned to see Oswin had entered.

"You may leave, child," said Romana. "Don't speak to your elders in this manner."

"Oi, don't you talk to her like that!," said Donna. She turned to Oswin. "But seriously, sweetheart, I've got this."

"You're just a mad old cow," said Oswin. "Your complete incompetence got us into the Time War and now you're mad because nobody wants to listen to you! Shocking! I can't think why! It's all just me, me, me, me!"

"Oswin, seriously, I don't need you to fight my battles for me," said Donna. She turned back to Romana. "But, yeah, what she just said."

"She is a child," said Romana. "A mere shadow of what a Time Lady ought to be, bereft of the greatness found in the Oracle's line."

"Oi, lady, don't go knocking her just because you're jealous of her!"

"Jealous?!," Romana exclaimed.

"She's clever and pretty and she's young which you hate because it reminds you that some things in life have passed you by and there's not much you can do about it so you have to bring her down."

"I never..." Romana fumed.

"Get out of my house!," said Donna.

This seemed to truly throw Romana off. "What?"

"I am sick of talking to you and I want you out of my house. You need to go before I throw you out and break the stick in your arse."

"What stick?," Oswin whispered.

"We'll go over that later," Donna whispered back.

Oswin nodded.

"I doubt you could remove me by force," said Romana.

"Yeah, but I bet Jenny can," said Donna.

Romana huffed and sauntered off. Donna turned to Oswin. "Are you alright?"

Oswin smiled. "Of course I am."

"Your mum loved you very much," said Donna. "And so does your dad and so do I."

"Do you think someone else was really upset?"

Donna shrugged. "Maybe. She might have been the only one. Who can tell with that one? Don't you worry about it, though. Actually, I've got an idea and I need your help."

"My help?"

"Yeah," said Donna. "Anyway, I thought things might be easier for some of the parents if we could do something with their kids a few days a week."

"You mean like a school?"

"Well, Malyon is trying to get some clearances for me. They have to appoint a Minister for Education or something. Until then, I was thinking you could do it."

"Me?"

"Yeah, why not? You're great with children and you've been helping Josh and Ella."

Oswin shook her head. "I'm not a proper teacher. I'm nowhere near old enough."

"Well, your dad's going to find us some lecturers-"

"He hasn't volunteered himself?," Oswin asked skeptically.

"Yeah, trying to avoid that, God help us," said Donna. "Anyway, they'll do some of it. You could get like primary school stuff and the fun stuff."

"The fun stuff? What fun stuff?"

"Well, you would have to decide, miss," said Donna. "Now, what do you think?"

"I think it's a good idea," said Oswin.

"Good. We'll get started right after the wedding."

"Have you learned your lines yet?," asked Oswin.

"I'm working on it."

"Because you know, you have to get them right-"

"Excuse me, madame, I'll do the nagging here," said Donna.