The large courtyard of King's College is filled with family and friends as they sit waiting for the procession of graduations. It starts with the president, vice president and following all the professors wearing black robes with hoods of various colors. Once all the staff and guests have been seated on stage energy shifts to excitement everyone watches graduates slowly walk as they fill the front empty seats row by row.
Alaya finds her wife smiling, waiting to catch her eyes.
Fiona is looking for her family. She spots Mother Jenny as two veiled women sit on each side. It pains her to not have access to her wife's eyes or see her smile.
As if Vastra and Alaya was reading her mind both lifted their veils to show their grins.
Fiona points to her pink and green hood followed by a wave with a golden stole.
Alaya nods and covers her head.
Mother Jenny leans into her daughter, "What is that?"
"Colors represent her focus medicine and public health. The golden stole is for highest marks."
Jenny and Vastra sit a little taller.
Alaya beams with pride.
Fiona smiles and waves to two others in the audience, it is Louisa and Flora. They nod in return.
The ceremony begins with the President saying a few words of encouragement of life's endeavours, followed by the keynote speaker Virginia Woolf and then on to the graduate representatives.
"At this time we would have our student's choice followed by the Valedictorian. This year the honor goes to the same person. It is a pleasure to introduce Dr. Fiona Saint-Clair."
To the amazement of family and parents the graduates all stand to cheer and applaud as Fiona makes her way to the stage. Fiona gathers herself and looks towards her friends and then to her small family.
Virginia Woolf face is white and mouth slightly gaping. She composes herself as she watches a young red-headed woman walks up the podium. She studies that face, could this be the woman?
"It is true I am Valedictorian and voted by my peers the daunting task of sharing my thoughts on our graduation day. I promise this will be short and to the point … " Fiona takes a deep breath, looking out to a large audience while attempting to find her wife.
Alaya pulls back her veil; Fiona smiles.
"I am lucky. My brain loves knowledge. I love learning, reading and the process of digesting a large influx of information. There is a sadness, as I exit King's College arch as a student, knowing my pursuit of learning will be my responsibility. I will have to pay attention to the world around me as it changes and challenges me understand each new aspect. Being a student of this fine institution has left me with an urge, an urge to explore and discover. King's College gave the thrust of curiosity I will carry me to my next professional objective."
Fiona looks to her wife and takes a deep breath.
"My mother, who was an exceptional woman, owned a tailor business on Savile Row. It was not her passion, but it provided me with a great education and opened doors that would be have been locked to a Scottish girl from the Isle of Mull."
Virginia Woolf sits up taller, this is the girl. She wonders if the typewriter did make a difference.
"Life will not be as your expected, the skills you acquired here at King's College will aid in your constant adjustment. You have learned to gather, analyse, decipher documentation to make an informed decision. I will be a physician and I proudly head off to medical school. I have been offered three other appointments including a tempting offer to return to Scotland. But I have changed. My world has changed. My life is here in London, it has been for a very long time. I shall serve God and Queen with my skills, for as long as I am able. Although, I shall not give up my love of pure Scottish whiskey."
Everyone laughs. Fiona stares at her notes and then looks to her peers.
"The world is changing. Men, learn to work side by side with women who might be as intelligent or even smarter than you. Women, you must learn to adapt and become more than what society expects. Our goals are the same. Are they not? To be educated, be an asset to those around us and to make a difference? Those are noble and hold true to that course for not just yourself, but lead the future generations by example."
Virginia Woolf feels for the first time as if she has given birth to someone. She imagines Fiona's journey from a secluded life on the Island of Mull, to Savile Row tailor shop, higher education, the challenging intellectual discourse and discovery life's options. She thinks of her own journey.
Fiona pauses in private reflection and closes her notes.
"I will leave you with five things to remember. One: Learn to be alone with your own thoughts. Even though you find love, have a family you still need to take time for yourself. Two: Get a hobby. Three: Don't live to work, work to live. Four: Prepare the next generation to be more than who we are today. Fifth and Final: Be Courageous. Your loved ones are watching this ceremony, they love who you have become. Under no circumstances shall you waste yourself into intellectual atrophy. Be curious about things around you and never stop learning. Good luck and God speed."
The roar of the graduates is loud and boisterous. Fiona and Alaya hear all the accolades graduates and guest alike as they take in Fiona's words as if there was a minister offering each a special blessing. A few mothers even mention how disappointed that their sons didn't court Fiona. Another questions who is Fiona's husband. Alaya smiled and turned to see her Mother Vastra smile through the veil, they are talking about our Fiona.
Once the graduation is complete Fiona looks around for her family. But each time she takes a step forward to be with her wife another graduate and their family come to offer congratulations with endless questions of her future. Fiona sounds like a broken record, "Thank you. I am heading to London Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine for Women." Fiona doesn't get uncomfortable when they ask of her marriage. These strangers ask of her husband, but Fiona responds with professionalism, "Yes, my spouse is here. Yes, my spouse is quite supportive. Yes, my spouse ..."
"Excuse me. Are you Mrs. Fiona Saint-Clair's family?" The three turn to see Virginia Woolf addressing them.
Vastra proudly addresses the question, "Yes, we are Fiona's mother-in-laws and this is Fiona's spouse."
"You are a woman? How did you bypass the laws?" Curiously Virginia asks.
"Nothing like a desperate minister and stack of sterling notes."
"I see. Congratulations. I do have a rather quirky questions to ask about Fiona. Do you mind?"
"Please. I do not guarantee an suitable answer or even a answer."
"How did Fiona pay for college?"
Alaya speaks up, "She was a secretary for publishers. She has a portable typewriter and has a keen knowledge of shorthand."
"That is a magical typewriter to offer the gift of access to higher learning."
"It is more than that, it brought her to me."
"Please share with me how that happened."
Alaya proceeds to tell her how Fiona's bicycle chain broke and dragged it to repair in front of their home. She quickly told the story of correspondence to their marriage. Alaya purposely left out any discussion of John, April, Weeping Angels and Bethlem Hospital. She wanted to keep her wife's personal struggles and success secret for it was not her right to disclose. No matter who was asking.
"What an amazing tale."
Vastra curiosity is peeked, "What do you ask? Are you withholding something?"
Virginia Woolf in soft tones, "I am not to disclose anything to Fiona."
"You may trust her family to that secret. It must be a burden to be the sole carrier of information. We shall do our best to hold your information closed."
"I have a friend, a travelling friend, who told me to send a typewriter to a specific address on Savile Row."
"Did your travelling friend mention as to the reason for the gift of typewriter?"
"Something about someone has messed with my friends' future. This typewriter should fix that. Do you know what that means?"
"I am sorry, we are at a loss. It just adds to the mystery of our Fiona's life." Vastra loves a mystery, but this is madness. She attempt to relieve Virginia Woolf of this mess, "It must be a gift to you to see the result of your efforts."
"Yes, indeed. It is a gift. I shall leave you now as I am inspired and it is imperative I follow the creative process as it leads me."
Vastra nods and Virginia Woolf departs through King's College arch back to her room to write.
Soon all that is standing in the way of getting to her family is her study group. Fiona answers their questions, but this time her response is different. "Wait one moment." Fiona walks to her family, "Please meet some of my peers. These are the women from my study group. Do you mind?"
Vastra, Jenny and Alaya all follow Fiona back to the quaint little group of women.
"Allow me to introduce my Mother-in-Law Madame Vastra, my Mother-in-law Jenny Flint and my wife, Mrs. Alaya Flint Saint-Clair."
The women immediately surround the three asking questions about being a detective, what's it like to work with Scotland Yard, how do you fight in dresses and so on. Poor Jenny didn't know what to do. She just allowed Vastra and Alaya answer the questions without hesitation. Vastra answers as many questions possible as all the women who hang on every syllable.
It is now Fiona's turn to watch the Flint family being bombarded with accolades. It started to create such an energy that many others around started to whispers.
It was a great relief to Fiona when she spotted Louisa and Flora. She walked over to them.
"We couldn't be prouder if you were our very own."
"Sometimes, I feel that you both are my mothers. I hope you don't mind. You see I am without a mother. I do love Alaya's mothers very much, but I miss having my private world with my mother. There is a position available for two, my heart is open. Just think about it."
Fiona kisses Louisa and Flora on their cheeks before she spins around to return to her wife. She trips on a blade of glass before she at her wife's side.
"I am sorry ladies, but I would like to have my family returned to me." All the conversation instantly halts with all eyes on a smiling Fiona. "I would like to celebrate my graduation. I am sure your family would like the same. Stay in touch. Good luck."
After the study group women have freed Fiona's family, she asks, "There is cake I assume."
Alaya shakes her head no, "We didn't think you wanted us to fuss."
"Do we truly have no plans?"
"We have plans." Alaya smiles.
Fiona turns back around, runs towards the departing Louisa and Flora and taps Flora's shoulder. "We have plans, are you not joining us?"
"We don't want to impose," humbly replies Flora.
"My dears, please assume your place is by my side. Please lift the burden off me to ask again." Fiona pushes herself in between, locks her right arm with Louisa and Flora. The three intertwined walk back Fiona's small family.
"Where are we off to celebrate?" Fiona asks with excited eyes.
Alaya offers her Fiona's arms, which she accepts. "It is a surprise."
It was a surprise. It was a small meeting room in Alan's Tea Shop on Oxford.
All the privacy needed to celebrate another landmark in Fiona and Alaya's life, unveiled.