Chapter One Hundred and Fifty
The Doctor frowned when he opened a flat rectangular package and then looked at it. It looked like a blue blanket. He read the name on the package.
"Snugee?" he said.
"Yeah, I've heard about those. They're blankets you can wear. They have sleeves in them so you can read or do other things and still be warm," Rain said.
He looked at Amber.
"Where did you find this. That's a brilliant idea!" he said to her.
Amber shrugged.
"Dad and me went back down to visit a friend of mine and we went shopping afterwards at Wal-Mart and I saw that and figured you might like it," she said.
The Doctor opened the package, took it out and put it on. He wrapped it around him after putting his arms through the sleeves and stood there for a moment wrapped in the blue blanket. Then he walked over to Amber, kissed her forehead and walked back.
"This is brilliant," he said while everyone laughed. "I'm nice and toasty warm now. So…what's next?"
He beckoned to Rain and when she came to him, he positioned her in front of him, stepped up behind her and encircled his arms around her.
"Mmmm, this is nice," Rain said as everyone laughed.
The Doctor looked down when Hope lifted up the end of the blanket and stood just inside it.
"Oi, get out, you," the Doctor said, lightly slapping the bulge she made while she giggled.
While he was doing that, Rain grabbed another gift and opened it. She laughed when she saw a purple Snugee.
"No! How dare you get her one!" the Doctor said to Amber. "I wanted to be the one in control of the Snugee."
"Don't you mean, the Snugee Lord?" Rain said.
"Yes! Exactly, the Snugee Lord," the Doctor said while they laughed.
Rain picked up the next present and opened it. It was a tiny blue box and when she opened it, she pulled out a new green Duncan Butterfly yo-yo. The Doctor's eyes lit up with delight and he took it from her while Hope peeked out from the Snugee and looked up with interest on her face. The Doctor turned his nose up at her and tried to put it in his pocket and feigned confusion when he couldn't find the pocket through the blanket. He shrugged and gave it to his daughter. She played with it while Rain picked up the next present. Opening it up, she noticed it was a horse plushie. On the side of it was pinned a note that said, PONY! Everyone laughed when Rain shook her head and the Doctor chuckled. She looked down at Hope who was looking at the horse and handed it to her.
"Hey, how come our kid is getting all our gifts now?" the Doctor said.
"Because I need my hands free to open these gifts, dear," Rain said.
"Well, good luck getting the gifts back from Hope when you're through opening everything," the Doctor replied.
After a half hour, the gifts were all unwrapped. Everything from glassware to blankets to cards with gift cards in them and jewelry for Rain. Finally, they reached the last gift from Alan.
"Let me guess, it's another pony plushie or something pertaining to ponies," the Doctor said as he held Rain from behind and stared over her shoulder.
"No, why would you think that?" Alan said as he stood nearby.
"Because we know you all too well, Bro," Raid said, glancing at him before she tore open the package.
It was a large brown box. The Doctor held it in front of her while she opened the top. She saw a white t-shirt.
"Um…thanks," Rain said, taking it out.
She noticed another larger t-shirt under it and she unfolded the one in her hand while the Doctor held the box. The moment she saw the front, she and the Doctor stared at it in silence. There was a huge head shot of Alan's head and he had a maniacal look on his face while the words BELOVED BROTHER were underneath it in bloody red letters. Rain raised her eyebrow and turned it around to show everyone. Alan snickered when everyone laughed.
"And Brother's t-shirt is the same way. I thought you might like to proudly wear me on your chest and let the world know that I'm your favorite brother," Alan said.
"Well, we could use it as a dart board, dear," Rain said to the Doctor.
"Or use it as a rag to clean the kitchen."
Everyone laughed when Alan flipped them up. Rain was about to put the shirt back in the box when Alan cleared his throat.
"There's more. I did think to put something else in there besides the gag gifts," he said to them.
Rain took out the other shirt and noticed a photo album at the bottom. It was black leather with HAPPY MEMORIES on the front in gold lettering. The Doctor set the box down on the end of the table and Rain put the shirts back in when she pulled the album out. She opened it and noticed Alan had written something on the inside cover.
It was so long ago but I felt the need to include a photo album containing photos of our first road trip together as a reminder of our beginnings and how far we've come since then. I love you both and I hope this reminds you how blessed both of you are. May we have many more road trips to come.
Love always,
Alan and Rose.
Both Rain and the Doctor embraced him and Rose and thanked them.
"You're muchly welcome. Now…wear the shirts, I command you!" Alan said while everyone laughed.
The Doctor snatched his up and hurried up the stairs. Everyone howled with laughter when he came down a few minutes later wearing his.
"There, I'm brave enough to do it!" the Doctor said, pointing to Alan's face.
"Gee, you make it sound like it's a chore to wear that shirt," Alan said, feigning anger.
The Doctor chuckled and embraced him. He sent love into his brother's mind before everyone turned away from the gift table and went back to eating and chatting.
"Phew," Rain said after the last guest left and it was just her, the Doctor and Hope. "These parties take a lot out of me. I'm glad we don't do this every day. I think we'd regenerate way before our time."
She turned and stared at the t-shirt the Doctor was wearing.
"Yeah, that's the perfect expression for him," she said, pointing to Alan's maniacal look. "I think I'll burn mine rather than wear it."
"Nah, we'll wear it one day for a laugh. You and me with our t-shirts on as we go down the street," the Doctor said. "But for now, why don't all of us have a kip, recharge our batteries."
"I'm for that but…"
Rain pointed to Hope who was standing nearby, holding the horse in her hands.
"I don't wanna go to sleep," she whined.
"Okay, stay down here then!" the Doctor said, running to the stairs. "Last one up the stairs is an ugly dalek!"
Rain took Hope's hand and they ran up the stairs after them. The Doctor looked over his shoulder as he hit the top step.
"Ooops, you're both ugly daleks, I s'pose. Ah well, follow me!" he yelled as he ran towards his bedroom.
They followed him inside and Rain stopped short when she saw the bed.
"Happy birthday," the Doctor said to her as he gestured to the gifts. "And thank you, my darling, for not telling your mum about these."
"You knew and you didn't tell me?" Rain said to Hope.
"No, Daddy said not to tell."
Rain kissed her cheek and walked towards the bed. Hope followed her, curious about what the gifts were. She picked up the jewery box, opened it and gasped when she saw a silver bracelet with purple gems embedded around it. She pulled it out and showed it to Hope who ooed at it.
"It's Bronzinium. The rarest gem on Vernus Minor," the Doctor said to her. "It costs a fortune but I have a friend there that owns a jewelry shop and he gave that to me for you."
"Thank you," Rain said, kissing his cheek.
She opened the second gift and pulled out a black fur stole.
"The fur of the Banthock, another rare animal from Zanthus Eleven. I have another friend that got me that for you," the Doctor said as she wrapped the stole around her and ran her hand down it. "Course you're worth more than the rarest gems or furs or all the money in the universe but I like a bit of bling and fur on my woman."
Rain giggled and kissed his cheek. The Doctor nodded and smiled and held out his hand.
"Gift?" he said.
"Come on, love, time for your bath," Rain said, taking Hope's hand.
Hope looked back and giggled at the annoyed look on the Doctor's face. Rain paused at the door and winked.
"I have a couple of gifts in mind for you but we have to go off planet to get them, so be patient and you'll get your birthday gifts too. Okay?"
"Oh…I s'pose," the Doctor said, pouting.
Rain and Hope came back and gave him kisses. The Doctor accepted them with a smile and hugged them back. He put the bracelet on Rain's right wrist, gave her another kiss and took both her and Hope's hands before all of them walked out of the bedroom.