Author's Notes: I do not own Doctor Who. It's so unfair. Thank you for the reads and reviews, I appreciate them. Please let me know what you think and happy reading!
"Lydia!," Oswin whispered.
Lydia snapped out of the haze she was in.
"The ceremony's almost starting," said Oswin, taking her younger sister by the hand and looking up at the Earth and stars. "What are you staring at?"
"Nothing."
Oswin hurried Lydia to the anteroom just before the garden. The guests were gathered and the prefects were standing outside with the torches. Josh and Ella ran down the hall in front of the Doctor.
"We're here!," said Ella. "We did it!"
"I know," said Oswin. "Good job."
Jenny stomped in with Malyon wearing her brand new Time Lord frock.
"Jenny, wow," said Oswin. "You look... different."
"I hate this uniform of oppression," said Jenny.
"Maybe it would have looked better had you let the maid finish brushing your hair," said Malyon.
Jenny looked questioningly at the Doctor's hat. "Well, I suppose it's better than his."
"What's wrong with my hat?," asked the Doctor.
"Nothing," said Malyon. She turned to Oswin and Lydia. "Alright, girls, final inspection."
Oswin and Lydia obligingly spun around.
"Lovely," said Malyon.
There was a gong. They peered out the window as the Officiant shimmered into the platform. The formerly chatting Time Lords all stood in rapt attention. The servants stood off in their own corner to observe.
Malyon turned to the girls and Josh. "Alright, we have a tradition in this house-"
The Doctor groaned. "Oh, do we have to?"
"Doctor, if we don't teach the children how will they know to carry it on?" She looked back. "In the House of Lungbarrow, we uphold the old tradition that immediately before a wedding, we discuss whether we should give away our family member to this marriage."
The Doctor rolled his eyes.
"Now, it may interest you to know that at the Doctor's wedding to the Oracle, we all stood in this spot and my father said, 'Well, I didn't humiliate myself for nothing.' My mother said, 'We ought to give him away while someone's willing to take him. For the sake of the Pythia, let's get out there.'"
Oswin was the first to crack on the giggling. Then the other two older girls, then the twins.
"So, I take it our sentiments are the same this go," said Malyon.
"Yes, please," said Oswin, "before she runs screaming from here."
"Very well then," said Malyon. "Let's proceed."
"Good luck," Jenny muttered.
Oswin hugged the Doctor.
"Lydia," the Doctor said, motioning her over.
Lydia obediently came over.
"Something's on your mind, I can tell."
Lydia shook her head.
The Doctor grimaced at the lie and kissed her on the forehead and gave her a squeeze. "You look like your mother, you know."
"I don't think so."
"Well, I know so."
The gong sounded again and they headed out into the garden.
Donna spied the set-up from the hallway out into the garden. Her gong hadn't gone yet, but she couldn't help sneaking a look. The wedding was to take place in the garden. Tables had been set up and any number of Time Lords and Ladies with funny hats were in attendance. Donna noted that the Time Lord in the funniest hat was in fact the officiant though she noted that the Doctor was running a close second with his ex-President shoulder hat get-up. Malyon was nearby in her robes, whispering to the Doctor. Josh and Ella were holding either of his hands. Lydia and Jenny stood nearby, the latter looking very uncomfortable in the new red frock. Oswin smiled in Donna's direction and gave a thumbs-up as the Clerics lit torches around the Seal of the Time Lords on which the ceremony was to take place.
"Are you ready?," asked Wilf.
Donna smiled. "Yeah, I'm ready, Gramps." She looked out among the guests, scanning them. "That's Mister Frobisher. Did he come with you?"
"No," said Wilf.
"Nice of him to come," said Donna. "At least I know someone here."
"I wouldn't worry about it love," said Wilf. "Your gran and I didn't have a big wedding and we turned out alright, didn't we?"
Donna smiled. "Yeah."
The final gong sounded. The door opened and the guests cleared the path for Donna and her family to walk down.
The Officiant began speaking in Gallifreyan. Sylvia gave Geoffrey an annoyed look although she had been forewarned.
The Officiant seemed to give some sort of direction. The Doctor's family edged closer to the Nobles. Josh and Ella took either of Geoffrey's hands.
"You're being welcomed into the House of Lungbarrow," Oswin whispered.
Sylvia looked at Jenny. "Who's she?"
"I'm an extrapolated genetic anomaly," Jenny answered huffily.
"She's our sister," said Oswin. "She always sounds like that."
Sylvia rolled her eyes at the latest weirdness from her new in-laws. Jenny rolled her eyes at Sylvia. The ceremony was proceeding without them. Wilf tried to make it out as the Doctor wrapped a piece of cloth around his and Donna's hands.
"What are they saying?," asked Wilf.
"The words of the first Pythia and her husband," said Oswin. "Legend says he had been blinded and she gave him the power of one of her regenerations and so he spoke unto her, 'I was in the dark, but did not know it, for how can one know other the dark without the light and it is you, not I, who are the light. I beg of you to keep me in your most merciful light. Without you, I am the dark.'" The Nobles were staring at her. She shrugged. "Sounds better in Gallifreyan."
"Is it true, though?," asked Geoffrey.
"Most of our stories turn out to be," said Oswin. "Oh, you're coming up."
The Officiant looked up and at Malyon. She nodded and spoke some words in Gallifreyan that seemed to please her. The Officiant turned to Geoffrey and Sylvia.
"I consent and gladly give," said Geoffrey.
All eyes turned to Sylvia.
"I consent and gladly give," said Sylvia.
The Doctor turned back to Donna, bringing the cloth between their hands closer together and he seemed to be whispering in her ear. Her eyes closed, then his and they briefly seemed to be in a world all their own. Their eyes reopened, meeting each others' gaze in some kind of strange ecstasy and the Time Lords applauded.
Sylvia scoffed. "Call that a wedding, do you?"
Oswin shot Sylvia a look. "They were telepathically bonded. Sorry if there wasn't enough excitement for you."
"Is that it? What now?," asked Geoffrey.
"We start the party," said Oswin.
The Time Lord party began. Music played and Donna soon realized that none of the Time Lords had any rhythm at all, which she remembered about 'James' at Veena's wedding. The Doctor had ditched his robes for a tuxedo and if she wasn't married to him... well, she would have been embarrassed to be seen dancing with him. She took a break from the dance floor to have a chat with some of the grateful parents who had attended and introduce herself to some she didn't know. Wilf and Geoffrey mingled a bit, while Sylvia sat stiffly at her table and Malyon attempted small talk.
Donna turned to see Mister Frobisher. "Mister- John, you came."
"I couldn't very well miss it, could I?"
Donna smiled. "Did your boss happen to bring you?," she asked, hoping Romana wasn't around.
"No, I got a ride from another source entirely."
"It's good to see a friendly face," said Donna. "None of my friends quite made it."
"Donna..." the Doctor whined. He walked over. "Ah, Frobisher! Good to see you. How's... sorry, what do people talk about?"
"I doubt I'd know."
"Donna, won't you dance?"
"Is that what you call it?," Donna teased. "John, back me up on the sorry state of Time Lord dance."
"Oh, I bet you could show him a thing or two, Donna," said Frobisher.
"Brilliant idea," said the Doctor, pulling her away.
"Really, Doctor..."
"No! Sorry! Can't get rid of me now, even if you don't like my dancing! No divorce for Time Lords!," he said as he began yet another dance move that should have been wiped from living memory.
"You didn't mention that," Donna added.
"Didn't I?" The Doctor bounced around as Donna rolled her eyes. "Donna, come on," he whined as he pulled her closer.
Donna sighed and settled in the graceless embrace his dancing allowed. She looked over as Ella danced with Wilf. Josh danced with Oswin as they both seemed to pay tribute to Time Lord dance.
"Did you tell your family our news?," asked the Doctor.
"No," said Donna.
"We could tell them now," the Doctor said excitedly. "Them and the kids."
Donna was silent.
"What?," asked the Doctor.
"My mum's still not happy."
"Always the mothers..." He looked at her. "She gave her consent."
"She didn't mean it."
"She had to mean it."
"What do you mean she had to?"
"The Officiant never would have proceeded if she didn't."
Donna's jaw dropped. "You might have mentioned that!"
"Donna, I've been a dad and much longer than you've been a mum and when they grow up, it gets complicated. Maybe she wants to be happy for you, but can't."
"Why are you trying to defend her? She hates you."
The Doctor shrugged. "Lots of people hate me."
"Are you sure you won't stay the night?," Donna asked her parents as they walked back to Malyon's TARDIS after the party cleared.
"We can have a sleepover!," said Ella.
"We didn't bring any clothes," said Sylvia.
"We could find you some things," said Donna.
"I'd much rather sleep in my own bed."
"When will we see you again?," asked Josh.
"I can get you any time you like," said the Doctor.
Wilf and Geoffrey both looked at Sylvia.
"I have plans," said Sylvia.
"What plans?," asked Ella.
"Come here, love," said Geoffrey. Ella gave him a hug, then Wilf.
"Josh, Ella, would you leave us a moment?," asked Donna. "Say goodbye."
Josh and Ella finished their farewells and scampered off.
Donna turned to Sylvia. "Okay, what's the bloody problem?"
"What? Donna-" Sylvia started.
"Why are you being like this? We've done everything we can to include you-"
"I never liked these people," said Sylvia.
"What people?"
"The Time Lords. I always thought it was funny the way they came looking for you to be their secretary. What did they want? Now it comes out that Josh and Ella are part Time Lord and now he wants to marry you? Don't you find that suspicious?"
"It's weird," said Donna.
"There are rumors of people missing and the Time Lords are behind it-"
"Well, I'm not missing, am I?," asked Donna.
"It's only rumors, Sylvia," said Wilf.
"Stupid rumors!," Donna added. "I'm fine."
"We just all need time to adjust-" said Geoffrey.
"I'm pregnant," said Donna.
Everyone froze.
"So, uh, surprise?," the Doctor added.
"You're hopeless," said Donna. "We're having twins. Girls. So, whatever this adjustment time is you had better get through it because I want us to have Christmas together and by us, I mean everyone."
Malyon entered. "I'm so sorry. Did you not want to go yet?"
"I think it might be best if we did," said Geoffrey.
Wilfred and Geoffrey gave their congratulations then they along with Sylvia loaded up for Malyon to take them home.
"Are you alright?," the Doctor asked Donna after they were alone.
"Yeah," said Donna. "I just can't believe my mother sometimes acting as if you had some great conspiracy planned. As if you could."
"Well..."
"Oh, come one. You're a genius, I'll grant you that, but what? A conspiracy to make more ginger Time Babies?"
"Now that's a conspiracy I could get behind," said the Doctor. He drew her close and rubbed his hand along her belly.
"Not much of anything there yet," said Donna. "A little bump. I could see it when I was naked."
"I think I would like to see that then."
Donna smiled. "We should tell the kids."
"Two baby sisters. Josh is going to like that about as much as your mum."
"He will have to get used to it, just like she will." Donna kissed him and they walked arm in arm out of the room.