27 Reunions
It takes them another month to work all the kinks out of the Doctor's behaviour. It only took that long because he was a right prat for the first two weeks; with his stoutly refusing the potential need for any help, and completely against having any sort of conversation about what had happened. Nope, he was just fine, thank you very much. So how about that Time Vortex?
The turning point was another night shattered by nightmares, but this time Rose could't wake him from them. Having thrown himself from the bed, he was violently trying to crawl through the wall. It took both Rose and Jack to sedate him and move him to the Infirmary where they bandaged his hands. The TARDIS told them the Zero room would be a better choice as the lack of extra stimuli would help.
Waiting with the Doctor in the Zero room, Rose is worried about how to help him. She stands next to his hovering body and strokes his hands or his head, trying her best to cocoon him in her love and safety.
At some point she begins singing to him, mostly without words, just expressing how she feels through the music. Lost in her song, it takes her a moment to realise that she's slipped into the Doctor's sleeping mind. It is the singing of birds, a counterpoint to her own song, that causes her to open her eyes.
/This must be a dream,/Rose thinks as she looks around.
Finding herself near a path leading into a forest of redwood trees with silver leaves, Rose recognises where she is from the Gallifrey room on the TARDIS, though this is slightly different. Just as she's about to take the path leading to the glen and the Fountain, she hears several children screaming in play nearby. That is, until the pitch suddenly changes and the sounds of distress waft toward her. Turning away from the path, Rose sees four children huddled around two more that are on the ground fighting. The other four are yelling at them, some encouraging them and some shouting to stop.
This is different from her past experience with the Doctor's memories where she sees everything through his eyes. This time she's free to move around in the memory/dream, and observe it from the outside.
Distracted from her purpose by the ruckus, Rose heads toward the altercation. Reaching the argument, she can see it's between two boys of about 7 or 8. None of the participants acknowledges her arrival, so Rose assumes she's only observing.
The first boy, the one on the bottom, is small for his age and blond with expressive blue eyes. The larger boy, who is obviously winning, is dark haired and has sharp grey eyes. The rest of the group is made up of two more boys, and a couple of girls. They are all wearing loose tunics and trousers in various earth tones. Through all the shouting Rose can hear the dark-headed boy berating his opponent for cheating.
"You cheated, Theta, and I'm going to make you regret it!" growls the dark boy.
"It's tag, Koschei. How do you cheat? Get off me!" yells the blonde.
In a brilliantly sinuous move, the blonde, Theta, is suddenly standing a step away from Koschei who looks around bewildered, his hands and face full of red grass. Face purpling in rage, he's just about to launch himself at Theta again when an adult shows up and grabs the two boys by their tunics. Shaking them lightly, he is obviously annoyed, and all the other children have scattered to the sides finding various bits of earth and tree utterly fascinating.
"What is the meaning of this? You are all supposed to be at your studies. Initiation is only two weeks away and here you are behaving like animals. People do as they are told, animals play in the dirt. And you, Koschei…you are here only on my sufferance as a favour to the head of your house. Do not make me regret it." He looks around and pins the other children with a scalding look. All of them pipe up with a, "Yes, Borusa." Everyone, except that is for Theta, who stays resolutely silent.
Borusa gives Theta another little shake and is about to lay into him further, when there's a call from behind them. Everyone present turns to look back toward the woods. There, at the head of the path, is a tall stately figure in blue and grey robes. She raises a hand, and with a quiet sigh, Borusa leads the children toward her.
Following the group, Rose recognises the Doctor's mother as she gets closer. Reaching the Lady Professor, Borusa immediately starts apologising for the children's behaviour, but she stops him with a raised hand. Taking a step forward, she reaches for Theta. He steps forward awkwardly looking only at the ground, obviously embarrassed for being caught out. "Mother, I…I'm sorry…I..," he starts to explain himself, but his mother stops him with a touch on the shoulder.
/The little blonde boy will be the Doctor!/Rose thinks in surprise. She has seen all of his incarnations, but it hadn't occurred to her what he may have looked like as a child. It made her wonder if she and the Doctor would ever have children of their own. Rose had never really wanted them, but helping out with Tony, had softened those edges. Although raising the Doctor's children, she expected would drive her spare…though that could be part of the fun. With a smile, Rose decides to contemplate that topic more fully in the future and focuses again on the Lady Professor as she starts speaking.
"Look at me," his mother says. Looking up at her with an expression of studied apology, she smiles down at him. Taking his shoulder and squeezing it, she says, "You have so little time left before you leave for the Academy. Do not waste it in fighting. Koschei, come here." Koschei steps forward awkwardly as well, but with a sullen expression.
"Koschei," she continues kindly, "be calm, enjoy this time." Looking past Borusa and at the rest of the children she says, "Soon you will all be much to be busy and you will look back at these moments as lost. There has been enough studying for today. Go be children, and enjoy yourselves."
The other four children scream in delight and go running across the field toward a stream and a small stand of trees. The second sun is setting, but the larger primary will still be in the sky for several more hours. Plenty of time to create all kinds of mischief and fun.
Looking back down at Koschei seriously, the Lady Professor continues, "You two are the smartest and the best. Remember you are friends. Do not let your competitiveness ruin this time for you." Releasing Koschei from her gaze, she sends him off after the others with a nod. He glances at Theta once, nods formally to both adults, and then sprints off towards the other children.
Keeping her grip on Theta's shoulder, she looks to Borusa with an understanding smile. "Thank you, Borusa. Let them play. A few scrapes and bruises never hurt anyone for long."
"Yes, Madame," he says with a bow and turns walking back the way he came, pausing to look out toward the children once before he continues around more trees and out of sight.
Looking down at Theta, his mother smiles again. They gaze at each other intently for a few moments, seemingly speaking telepathically. He nods at her with a look of determination, and she pulls him into an embrace. Hugging him tightly to her for a moment, she releases him with a swat to his head, "Go play with your friends. I love you," she finishes. He was gone like a shot at the word 'play'. Sighing, the smile fading, she turns to look directly at Rose, the smile replaced by a look of profound sadness.
Rose is startled. No one had paid the slightest attention to her. She had assumed she was invisible as far as the participants of the memory or dream were concerned. Having the Lady Professor abruptly meet her eyes and with such an expression catches Rose completely off guard.
Giving Rose a small smile, she turns and strides off toward the woods and down the path to her Fountain. Rose takes a moment to look around, and then starts off after the Doctor's mother who seems to have vanished. Rose trots toward the trees, hoping to catch up.
Running only a few paces, she finds herself directly on the stone patio that has the improbable Fountain in it. This time, as the second sun is setting, shafts of light pour into the small glen, illuminating the Fountain which looks to be carved of diamonds and slicked with liquid silver in the slanting light. Rose would be transfixed by this sight alone if not for what she can see on the patio near the Fountain.
Sitting on one of the stone benches near the Fountain is the Doctor's mother, across her lap lays Rose's pinstriped Doctor curled tightly into a fetal position. Rose can see he's shivering, and she has the odd impression that he is not always exactly there, as if he's in two places at once. His Mother is lightly stroking his forehead and singing to him in Gallifreyan. Rose can barely hear it, but it sounds like a lullaby.
Taking a step forward, his Mother looks up at Rose. In the same soothing tone, she tells her, "You have come just in time. Your Bondmate is near breaking." Rose had been staring at the Doctor, but at the words her eyes snap to those of his mother. Taking the remaining steps, Rose drops to her knees beside them.
"I don't know what to do. I was hoping he would get better. I keep trying to get him to talk to me, but he refuses to work through this. He's resting in the Zero Room of his TARDIS, but I'm afraid," Rose says with frustrated tears forming. There must be something, she can do. Raising her hand, Rose lays it gently against the Doctor's face. At her touch both she and the Doctor gasp as a sensation like a bolt of electricity shoots through them; reminding Rose of their binding. The Doctor doesn't stir, but he does seem more solid. Rose is about to remove her hand when his mother stops her.
"No, Rose. Do not let go. You do not have to know what to do, child. Do what feels right," she says slowly getting up from her position and encouraging Rose to take her place.
When Rose is seated on the bench with the Doctor's head in her lap and her palm still against his cheek, he relaxes a little into her. She smiles down at him, trying again to push all the love she can through their Bond. Feeling along the link to the Doctor, she finds a barrier. She isn't sure what it is. It doesn't feel like his shields, but it's keeping her from reaching him fully. Without really thinking about what she's doing, she throws herself at the barrier, pushing with all her mental might. It seems to thin and grow brittle, and then abruptly it shatters.
On the other side of the barrier, Rose finds herself above a raging sea of coloured light—strands leading in every direction with bright pulses speeding along them to areas that are alive with activity. Rose is transfixed by the beauty and busyness of the scene beneath her. Trying to follow one pulse or another is impossible—they are much too fast. She maps the landscape beneath her, tracing its light and shadow, valleys and peaks with her eyes. Abruptly, she understands what she's seeing—the Doctor's actual brain activity.
Discovering this suddenly makes the entire scene make sense. Studying it more closely, Rose begins to notice a fine tracery of black or grey that looks to be obstructing some of the natural flow from one structure to the next along the neurons, or whatever they're called in a Time Lord brain. Most of the brightly lit pathways have found ways around the blockages, but one area in particular is so wrapped in these dampening strands that it's nearly cut off. The activity within the structure seems rapid, but very few impulses get in or out. The ones that do, have had to come from completely different routes, and are not as bright when they finally arrive.
Reaching toward one of the grey vines, Rose sees she's made up of golden energy within his brain. Having an idea from this realisation, Rose begins to sing gently of growth and renewal. She sees the vines as physical damage done to his mind by the traumas he's been through. The most recent are still grey and not as firmly attached, but there are a great many thick black cords that have been there for ages. Cutting through them like a scythe through wheat, Rose begins healing the Doctor's mind of the damage caused by his many encounters that were less than pleasant.
The incident with John Hart and the collapsed timeline must have been the final straw against what his mind could tolerate; and in a sense, it was in a state of constant near overload. Focusing her attention on the portion of his mind that is most tightly wrapped in the disagreeable tendrils, Rose begins cutting them away, absorbing the negative within herself where it is converted back into her own golden energy. She is at this for some time, when she finally pulls back a bit to see the streams of pulses racing around much more expediently across the entire mindscape. Looking to herself, Rose sees she's now not as bright, and feels extraordinarily tired.
Sensing a stirring through her Bond, Rose allows herself to be pulled back out of the Doctor's mind where she finds herself in the reversed position from the garden. She's now back in the Zero Room with her head cradled in the Doctor's lap. He's crooning to her and softly running his hands through her hair.
Seeing she's finally awoken, "Hello," he whispers.
"Hello," she replies in turn, raising a hand to his cheek and smiling.
"We really need to stop meeting this way, Rose Tyler. I'm starting to feel inadequate to your magnificence," he teases her lightly.
"Oh, I'm pretty impressive. I'm sure you'll find a way to make it up to me, though," she says with her tongue between her teeth.
"Woman, that tongue!" Bending forward, he captures her mouth in a searing kiss that she thinks is perfectly adequate, and she says so.
Earning herself another kiss, they enjoy the exploration of tongue, lips and breath, until an explosive yawn from Rose, ruins the moment to much giggling on both their parts.
"Rose Tyler, I should be offended," the Doctor teases.
"Oi! After all the work I just did, I think you'd be tired, too. How do you feel by the way?" she asks. She really wants to know how what she did in his brain is affecting him out here.
"Actually? I feel great. I don't know what you did, but my mind feels clearer than it has in…well in ages. Care to explain?" he asks.
"Absolutely, but I think I need to get out of here, eat, shower, and sleep first…in that order," she says, ending with another jaw cracking yawn.
"Well, I am positively fizzing, almost as energetic as right after a regeneration. No sleeping for me, but I can think of several other things that would be deeeee-lightful right now!" he states hopefully.
"Nope, but maybe you could creatively wake me up in say, three or four hours," Rose replies getting up off the floor, and kissing away his burgeoning pout.
Leaving the Zero Room hand in hand, they find Jack in the kitchen cooking dinner.
"Hey guys and dolls, the TARDIS suggested strongly that I needed to make food, so I hope you like stir-fry, cause that's what we have; time for a grocery run." Jack says this while flipping vegetables expertly in the large wok. The rice is already finished, and the smell is divine.
"How do you mean 'strongly', Jack?" Rose asks curiously, stifling another yawn. She's just seated herself, chin in palm when the Doctor joins her, sliding his arm around her shoulders and pulling her into his side. Kissing the top of her head fondly, he's the one who actually replies.
"Usually She'll drop something on you when you need to get a move on or do what She wants."
"Yeah, it was this spatula!" Holding the offending item up for them to see, both the Doctor and Rose blush bright red and start giggling.
"What?" Jack asks confused. Finishing the stir-fry, he turns to look at them leaning against the counter.
"Really, what is so funny, and why are you both blush…" Looking back to his hand holding the spatula, an incredulous look suddenly breaks across his face. "No! Really? This spatula? It's my favourite one," he whines. When he looks up again, they snort and splutter and start laughing again at the look on his face and his confusion. "Really, I can't believe you two. I knew the TARDIS smelled funny when I got back. What did you do, christen every room?"
The Doctor shakes his head while Rose nods, both attempting to look innocent and failing. Looking at each other again sends them into yet another fit of giggles, both clutching their sides and tears pouring down their faces. At this point, Jack can't help but join in. The whole situation is so ridiculous. They obviously needed it though. All parties involved feel much better for the release.
Darling sometimes finds Her companions thoroughly amusing, and this is one of those moments. Her Thief's connection to her is much stronger though he hasn't noticed it yet. The cleaning that her Wolf has done cleared away the sense of sluggishness she has felt in their communications for ages. Certainly being able to communicate with him more directly since their Bonding is helpful, but She is Bound to Her Thief as well.
It is that connection that has suffered so long under the weight of the unavoidable damage. Damage to the TARDIS Herself, more than one regeneration that didn't take place within Her, and several times when he was injured within Her. His Time Lord brain could heal much, but those misguided connections from his brain attempting its own repairs were a problem, and the damage transferred between regenerations. Very few Time Lords ever experienced as much as Her Thief had, so Rassilon had never thought to remedy that little bit of junk in his mucking about with their genetics. The symbiotic relationship between Time Lord and TARDIS meant that his damage affected Her to some degree as well, and not having a clear connection wore on both of them.
Connections renewed, and happiness and laughter filling Her spaces, Darling decides it is time to retrieve the Noble one. She'll be good for her companions, and will be extremely important soon.
"Right, so, is everything ready? Jack did you clean up in the Library? There were sex-help books all over when I was in there last, and that might be considered rude. Doctor! Did you clean up your tools? I tripped over another spanner this morning, and I might brain you with it the next time. Jack…" Rose continues in a nervous litany, listing off the tasks, not even taking time to listen to the answers. As she finally winds down, she looks up from her list to see both men seated on the jumpseat, arms crossed, and giving her 'the look'.
"Oh my God! I've turned into my mother," she states with exasperation, throwing herself into a cross legged heap leaning against the Console facing Jack and the Doctor.
"Weeeellll, I don't know that I would go that far, but you have been on a bit of a tirade since we decided we were picking up Donna today. Why are you so nervous? You like Donna. She's been in the TARDIS before. I haven't redecorated. It's all the same. What's wrong, Rose?" the Doctor asks, more amused than anything at her behaviour.
Since Rose's mucking about in his head, he's been much more pleasant and (gasp) less moody.
Inwardly, Rose grins to herself at the thought. Her pinstriped Doctor had nothing on her leather coat wearing Doctor when it came to moody, but since his rescue and then the episode on Relitarium V, moody was the nice way to say he'd been a complete arse.
"Yeah, Rosie, what's up? The place is spic-n-span, not a drop of dust anywhere, not that I've ever seen any that you didn't make yourself, but I did pick up the books, and they're for research by the way. I'm going to write my own, and it will be much better than any of those boring old tomes. The kitchen is tip-top, and I even made sure the wardrobe was colour-coordinated. The TARDIS helped with the last part, it was awesome!" Jack's enthusiasm is wonderful. Although the look the Doctor is giving him about coordinating his wardrobe does send Rose into a bout of hysterics.
"I know it's stupid," she says, recovering her breath. "It's just that we haven't had another girl in the TARDIS before, well at least since I've been around, and I want everything to be perfect. I guess I got a little out of hand, I'm sorry. You've both been wonderful," Rose finishes with a smile.
Picking herself up off the floor, Rose goes to the jumpseat and gives both her men hugs. Then she gives her husband a kiss that even makes Jack flush, so he tactfully gets up off the jumpseat and moves to the other side of the Console.
"I still can't believe you guys didn't invite me to the wedding! I know, I know, you said it wasn't that kind of wedding, but still…," he says with a pout. Never one to stay down long, Jack's expression shifts from pout to delight, "You know, I have this cool place we should go dancing sometime. Great music, gorgeous people, fantastic food, and more fun than one boy could ever explore on his own," he finishes wistfully.
"Oh, and what is this 'haven of delight' called?" asks Rose, finally releasing the Doctor with a look that promises their weekly sleeping night might start late, or early as the case may be.
"Avalon's,"Jack says dreamily, still gazing off into space.
"Avalon's?!" the Doctor gasps, incredulous. "You want to take Rose and Donna to the Square? Are you out of your mind, they might…well.. they…it's a sexual den of seedy miscreants!" the Doctor splutters.
Both Jack and Rose gaze at him a moment with his hands buried in his pockets and wearing a decidedly uncomfortable expression, and then mutually burst into laughter.
"Doc! Who knew you were such a prude, and after that scorching kiss you just had right there in front of me, without inviting me to join in, I might add. Not to mention whatever it is you two did in every room of this frankly enormous Time Ship. I am surprised!" Jack states, hands on hips.
"I am not a prude," the Doctor pouts. "I just don't see the point of a place like, well, like that."
"The point, Doctor, is to have fun and I'm sure there is more going on than just sex. Right, Jack? You said dancing and dinner, too. I am sure the sexual bits happen elsewhere," says Rose with confidence.
Blushing, the Doctor and Jack both look at each other, then back at Rose. Turning back to Jack, the Doctor says, "So, how about Andromeda's instead."
"Oh, totally. Andromeda's is a much better choice," Jack agrees. They start to make plans for said future adventure as Rose looks back and forth between them. Finally she can't stand it any longer and she simply has to ask the question that's burning a hole in her head.
"You mean they have sex in the same rooms as the eating and the dancing…at the same time?"she says, her voice going up a couple of octaves near the end of the question.
Deciding Jack is the one that needs to answer that one, the Doctor heads off to the kitchen to start some tea for the reunion. Watching her husband escape, Rose turns back to Jack, eyebrow of doom raised.
Sighing, Jack crosses his arms and launches into his answer, part of his mind plotting revenge for later, "Yes, Rose. It's in the 51st Century. They have sex wherever they please. Now, of course, it would be rude right next to people eating, but the other side of the room's perfectly acceptable. The diners usually critique the performances. That isn't to say that everyone in the 51st Century just drops in the street and has a go, but they are much freer with the love. It's nothing to be embarrassed about." With a shrug he uncrossed his arms and waits for Rose's reply.
"Wow. I guess I'm not quite that, ummm, sexually expressive. I want it to be more private, for me, but I appreciate what you're saying. I'm sorry, but I hope you won't be disappointed if I say I don't think I'd be comfortable there," Rose says quietly.
"Nah! Don't worry about it, Rosie. I was just reminiscing about the last time I visited the place. Nothing to apologise for. Let's go get that cuppa your man is fortifying himself with, and then go pick up this magnificent creature you've been regaling me about."
The Doctor was still so flustered by the earlier conversation, that landing took three tries to get right. The first was the correct location and day, but the wrong year…by a few million. Stepping out of the TARDIS into a forest and seeing a herd of some large shaggy creatures lumbering through the trees was enough to send them scurrying back in to see what went wrong.
The next try was also nearly perfect, but several hours too early, as the AM and PM were reversed. It was lovely, but quite chilly, and the snow this time was natural.
On the third attempt, they knew they had it right because they were barely fully materialised before they could hear Donna's excited braying outside the doors, and her insistent pummeling. Looking at each other, they all grinned their relief at getting it right finally and at the charming enthusiasm that was busily trying to pound her way through the door.
"Donna!" the Doctor tries to be heard over the pounding.
"DONNA!" he yells this time loud enough to pin a mammoth's ears back.
"Whaaaa?" they hear sheepishly come through the door.
Opening it finally, "I can't open the door while it's being assaulted," the Doctor says smiling as he comes out hand in hand with Rose.
Throwing herself into their arms, Donna immediately starts in on a tirade of all the things she's done in the last month, the things she's packed, the lists she's made…. "Oh, just so many things!"
"I've missed ya so much. I was a little worried that you might not come, but Gramps was positive, and I'm just so, so excited. I was just tellin' Gramps thaaaattttt…t..t," Donna stutters to a halt as Jack steps out of the TARDIS, megawatt smile already in place. He had heard her start right in on them, and could see her red hair from behind, and what a behind, as he stood in the doorway of the TARDIS.
/Now, that's a woman to hold on to!/Jack thinks appraisingly. As he steps out ready to charm, he's instantly smitten at her adorable trailing off upon seeing him. /Yup, still got it!/
"Jack Harkness, ma'am," he says taking her hand and bringing it near his lips, "at your service." Looking up into her blue eyes, he actually loses himself a moment. That is until she smacks him in the shoulder hard enough to make him sway.
"Oi! Were ya checkin' out my bum from the TARDIS? Whataya hangin' aroun' in there for? American, figures!"
Snatching her hand away, she doesn't turn away fully before giving him an appraising look as well, then she's off and verbally running. Rubbing his shoulder, Jack looks over at Rose and the Doctor, who are having trouble controlling their laughter. Walking toward the house to gather Donna's things, the group is joined by Wilf, who leads them inside for a spot of lunch before they run off.
Donna explains that this is her mother's bridge afternoon, so she won't be home for hours. Wilf has a pained expression on his face, but puts up a brave front.
"I'll keep the home front for ya, Donna. Your mother's goin' t' be a right terror, but I'll work on 'er."
"Oh Gramps, you're the best," Donna says giving him a hug.
They make polite conversation over sandwiches and tea. Then Donna takes them over to her luggage pile. At their looks she starts explaining all of her choices. Hats and shoes and clothes for warm days, cold days, and no days at all. Everything. Donna Noble will not be unprepared. As Jack and Donna start making trips back and forth to the TARDIS, Rose and the Doctor talk to Wilf.
"Has Donna explained what sort of traveling we'll be doing, Wilf?" Roses asks, unsure of how far to go with this kind, gentle man.
"Not really, an I haven't asked. I know it's some sort o' secret an its safe with me, it is. You jus' keep my Donna safe, and we'll call it even," he says with a bit of wetness in his eyes. He's going to miss his Donna, but he is so excited for her as well. She's going to have a grand time, and when she comes home, hopefully she can tell him all about her adventures.
"Oh! I almost forgot!" the Doctor exclaims. "I brought these new lenses for your telescope. This one here," and the Doctor is holding up a slightly pink one that glistens oddly, "will let you see the storms on Jupiter and the rings of Saturn like you could touch them. Don't share these around now, our secret," the Doctor says conspiratorially, tapping the side of his nose.
With a look of barely disguised glee, Wilf takes the precious package and stows the paper wrapped lenses in the pocket of his winter overcoat. He just can't wait to try them out tonight.
Turning, they see Jack and Donna are on their way back; all the luggage must be stowed in Donna's room aboard the TARDIS. Watching them out the window, all three see the first delicate flirtatious dance steps between Donna and Jack. He says something, she laughs, smacks him on the arm, they both laugh. It's simply adorable. Rose just knew they would get on well. The Doctor shakes his head at their behaviour, not really recognising it as flirting, yet. Wilf, on the other hand, sees possibilities in these two, and is overjoyed.
Upon entering the house, Wilf tells Donna all about the lenses, and soon they are chatting over another cup of tea. At nearly 4pm, it is already dark outside, and they hear a car door slam. Hearing Sylvia nattering away on her phone, the five people in the room freeze.
"Oh, hang on, Marge, I have to go back to my car, I completely forgot the milk I picked up at market, I know…."
At the slight reprieve, all five bodies scramble. Donna takes their cups to the sink, Rose gathers up anything left lying around, the Doctor locks the front door with his sonic, and Wilf hustles them all out the back door, making sure to grab his overcoat. Making it a ways from the house, they turn to face each other, knowing that this is goodbye.
Wilf shakes hands with Jack and the Doctor, then snaps a salute at them both. Jack automatically returns it; the Doctor just rolls his eyes. Next, Rose and Donna hug Wilf tightly. Donna hangs on an extra bit, trying to stuff as much love as she can into the moment.
"I'll be seein' ya, Gramps. Hope Mum goes easy on ya. I love you. I'll call or write or somethin', real soon, promise." Tearfully, Donna kisses her granddad on both cheeks before turning to catch up with the rest of her new family. Turning and waving, Wilf sees them all round the corner.
Trudging up the hill, he puts his hands in his pockets and feels the new lenses. Quickening his step, it doesn't take him but a few more moments to reach the top of the hill where the shed with his telescope is. Fiddling about with the new lenses, he finally gets the pink one mounted. It is only his old, cold hands that makes it an issue. The lens fits as if the telescope company had made it special for him.
Manoeuvring the telescope around till he can point it toward Jupiter, he leans forward to start aiming it properly. Focusing through the lens, he sees something flash by, too close to be anything celestial. Looking up from his telescope, he gapes seeing a blue box glide by. A blue police box! He hasn't seen one of those intact in years and certainly not in the sky!
Eyes wide and watching, wondering if maybe he's having a stroke, he sees the door open, and his own Donna stick her head out to start waving madly at him. Feeling his mouth fall open further, he raises his arm to wave back, just as that Doctor fellow and Rose poke their heads out too, waving like mad. Unable to contain himself now, Wilf starts jumping around excitedly. Yanking his hat off his head, he starts waving back at them, just as mad, hallooing loud enough to irritate neighbours and get the dogs to barking. He could not care less.
With one last bit of waving, Donna blows him a kiss and closes the door behind her. Wilf watches the blue box fade from sight, and he knows, oh he knows exactly what's happened. His Donna, is traveling with aliens. Aliens! He knew it! With another little dance, he finally settles down to get a glimpse of Jupiter. Chuckling to himself for nearly an hour, Wilf is finally brought out of his daze by the sound of Sylvia yelling up the hill at him. It doesn't matter how spare she drives him, nothing can dampen his spirits now. Donna is traveling with extraterrestrials!
"Where's Donna? She left a whole stack of dishes in the sink. You'd think without a job she could at least…" Sylvia starts haranguing Wilf in Donna's place.
"Travelin', our Donna's travelin', and is about to have the time of her life."
A/N: The final chapter and the story is complete...for now. :-) Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed. It really means the world to me. I hope to start on the new story after the New Year. I already have some ideas for chapters. I may also write a couple of filler one-shots that sit between chapters in CCTL.
Feel free to send me any all thoughts on the story. I am new to this whole writing thing and any review positive or otherwise can only make forthcoming stories better. Thank for your patience and all your kind words.
Many thank to Ash, the best beta in my world. Without her the commas would never be right, and my awkwardness would be more evident! :-)
Special thanks to: MirrorFlower and DarkWind, greeneyesCutie, xXDark-Rose-MariaXx, natwilliams96, ran0neechan, shtoops, Godric'sGrl01, artsoccer, Julibellule , Anaika Skywalker, and Kylaia78 for sticking with me, and reviewing so often. You make a girl's day brighter.