The August calendar has two circles around the seventh and twenty-fourth and an added mark on the fourth.
Vastra holds her wife close to her body as they sit in the kitchen, "We will be fine. We are prepared."
Alaya nods her head in agreement, "I believe we did the best we could. We must be diligent and keep to our assignments. How you feeling Mother Jenny?"
"I have face criminals in the dark alleys, taken down men twice my size, fought Cybermen, slashed down headless Monks ... I have been in battle. This is more difficult. My world is different. I have you and Fiona."
Vastra nods, "It will be difficult watching the world change. We will be tempted to share our knowledge with people we care about and feel responsible for their welfare."
"I am tempted to have an employee meeting to help them survive." Alaya confess to her mothers, "I don't. I think about my Fiona and the Titanic. How she wanted to stop the ship from leaving port. This is much bigger than any passenger ship."
"It is not just about knowing. We must be anonymous, unnamed to the point of being invisible ... even from our own government. I fear the consequences of our disclosure."
"That is mine also." Fiona talks as she enters the kitchen. She comes over and gives her wife an affectionate kiss. "Greeting Mothers, are there any last minute tasks I may assist in completing?" She sits down next to wife.
Alaya pulls her Fiona close, "We were just going over our list. Many tasks will be ongoing."
"It is quite warm in the kitchen. Are my favorite Silurians cold?"
"I was making the dried meat," Answers Mother Jenny.
"How does it taste?" Fiona directs her question to Mother Vastra.
"Leather."
Fiona laughs, "I don't know how to react. Do you like the taste of leather?"
Vastra smiles, "I would watch your tongue, I know where the whiskey is hidden."
Fiona instantly becomes sober and looks straight into Mother Vastra's eyes, "Alaya?"
"Yes?" Alaya also looking at her Mother Vastra.
"Did you hide the tea?" Fiona is staring at Mother Vastra.
"Yes I did." Alaya smiles.
Mother Vastra's eyes widen, "Oh I will find my tea."
Fiona widens her own eyes, "Alaya, dear, did you hide them in the medically sealed container as per my request?"
Alaya nods yes.
Mother Vastra smiles, "The game is afoot?"
"Where's my Whiskey?"
"A safe place. Where is my tea?"
"A much safer place."
Mother Vastra sits back and looks to her wife, "We were warned by April. I didn't take her seriously. I surmise Fiona is a bad influence on our daughter."
"I agree. Our daughter would never hide our tea from us. Our only agreeable drink in 'Our London'."
Fiona flops back in her seat, "Are we being a bit dramatic? Alaya are you as entertained as I?"
Alaya laughs spite the serious look she received from her mothers. "I believe that the game is quite fun. Who shall find their bounty first ... the Scottish Ginger with the will of a thousand Highlanders or the Silurian woman from the dawn of time? What shall be the reward?"
Mother Jenny has decided to follow her daughters in the fun, "Oh yes. There has to be something at stake. What will please them both or shall we think more towards the loser?"
Alaya ponders a moment and perks up, "The loser will have loo duty."
Mother Jenny applauds the idea.
"How exciting!" Alaya looks to her Mother Vastra and her wife Fiona, "Whoever finds their bounty the other will have loo duty for one month. Now shake on the agreement."
Fiona stands up and offers Mother Vastra, her hand.
Mother Vastra stands and withholds her hand, "There must be rules. One, the hidden location must be located in our residence. Two, If the bounty isn't found, it shall remain hidden even after the other's bounty has been retrieved. Agreed?" She offers her hand to Fiona.
Fiona quickly shakes Mother Vastra's hand, "Agreed. Good luck, you'll need it."
Alaya smiles to her Mother Jenny, "This is going to be interesting. Side wager on our wives?"
Mother Vastra, "You are betting on your wife locating her precious Scottish Whiskey against my tracking ability to find potent tea?"
"Dinner for a month?" Mother Jenny quickly offers her hand to her daughter.
"Of course." Alaya quickly shakes her mother's hand in agreement.
"What an interesting turn of events." Mother Vastra smiles at her small family.
"My dear, I am hungry. Do you have our sandwich?" Fiona asks her wife.
"Yes, do you want to try to get some sleep?"
"I am sorry, but I can't. Not tonight. Can we get comfortable in the drawing-room? I want to be with our family tonight."
Alaya nods in agreement, "I am glad. I didn't want to isolate us. I request that you try to get a little sleep. We shall be quiet."
That night as the clock strikes eleven the London street become crowded with pedestrians. Alaya slowly wakes her wife, "It has begun."
Fiona sits up, gathers herself, opens a window to the streets, "Please good Sir, what is the disturbance?"
"A crier is at Piccadilly Circus."
The small family gets on their coats and head downstairs. Fiona makes sure her wife coat is secure as Alaya touches her device to transform herself human, "Remember dear, stay close. I need to feel your coolness." She smiles watching Mother Vastra transforms from a proud Silurian into an ordinary human. Fiona looks to her Mother Vastra and wife Alaya, "Your eyes are still the same. Beautiful eyes."
They exit their home and walk with the crowd to Piccadilly Circus.
A man with a loud voice reads to the crowd the details Britain's decision to enter the war German and its consequent declaration against Germany, popular enthusiasm for the government's stance, led by Prime Minister Herbert Asquith, was overwhelming.
The crier repeats his announcement five more times.
The crowd grows with each reiterate, no one is returning home. Some hope for a change while others stir up their emotions.
Vastra holds her wife close as she hears negative words against the Germans. She looks to her daughter holding tight to her wife, Alaya looks to her mother and offers a warm smile.
Fiona pulls her wife close and whispers in her human ear. Alaya catches her Mother Vastra's eye and motion to go home.
Once inside, the sanctuary of their home Fiona breaks the silence. "I am sorry. I must go to bed. Alaya you may accompany your mothers and discuss the current matter."
"Yes, I would like to spend more time with my mothers. Thank you. I shall not be long." She kisses her wife on lips and watches her wife go up the stairs into their bedroom before she joins her mothers in the drawing-room.