Okay. Let's play a game. I spy with my little eye all the usernames of the people who have reviewed. :D Well...sort of. At least part of your username is here in the next two chapters if you have reviewed this story. It's my thank you to you all. Even "Guest" is referenced. Let the game begin!
By the time Junior is eighteen he already knows more about me than anyone else in this universe. He's the only one that knows how I have foreknowledge. I wouldn't have told him excel this future self knew. I think he did on purpose. To make sure I would tell him. Sometimes on adventure I catch him winking at nothing.
"What are you doing?"
"Saying hello to your couch potato self." I learn to ignore his antics after that. If he wants to say hi to air, that's his business. But it does make me think about Eleven more. When he regenerated, he looked at the camera. In fact, he looked at the camera plenty of times. I remember feeling like he was looking right at me. Whoa. That's...he was looking at me. Maybe. It's an interesting thought but it doesn't have too much of an impact otherwise.
One day the Rose says she needs a break from running and I'm inclined to agree even if the boys complain about it. So we agree to one day of relaxing. So the Doctor takes us somewhere and Rose packs is a lunch.
"Welcome to Asgard!"
I look at the alien world in wonder. "It looks like Thor's home town." I smile at Junior's ever present knowledge of comic books. I roll my eyes at him and he looks offended. "My fandom is better than yours." Now I'm offended.
"Come on. Let's pick a spot to eat. I'm starving." We all go down the hill to find ourselves a nice patch of grass under a tree.
As Rose sits on the blanket she notices something and digs under the blanket until she finds the offending object. "Doctor? What is this? It's huge!"
"Oh!" The Doctor excitedly takes it from her to examine it with his specs on. "It's a Pegasus feather! Oh, I haven't seen one in ages."
This begins a lesson in Pegasus biology and mythology. I tune him out and turn my attention to my book. Rose flops down next to me. It amazes me how youthful she still is even after raising a kid to adulthood. At least by human standards. "You're always there reading."
"I like reading." Her laugh is infectious. The Doctor looks over at her with that loving look and even though it makes me a little sick I'm still glad about it. At least they're happy.
"What are you reading today then?"
"Harry Potter. Someone stuck the whole series into one book. It's brilliant. I can go through the whole series without even putting the book down."
Junior looks at me confused. "Weren't you reading the Hunger Games series yesterday?"
"Yeah I finished it."
"But you're already halfway through that."
I just shrug and smile. "Time lady tribute of Hogwarts." They all laugh at my joke even though I didn't even think it was funny.
We've settled into an easy conversation when a peculiar sensation grabs our attention. The ripple in the time lines near us alerts us to the fact that a time traveler with a vortex manipulator has arrived. I turn expecting to see Jack, but instead see the long legs and curly hair of Professor River Song.
I jump up excitedly. I haven't seen her since that day in The Library so long ago. The Doctor eyes her suspiciously and Rose looks curious. "River!"
"Hello Sweetie." We embrace.
I give my true hello as a whisper in her ear. "Hello Melody Jemma Pond." I pull away and she smiles at me gratefully. I'm the only one who always knows her. No matter what. As far as knowing her middle name, I only found that out about three months before. We were at the university she would be at one day and I had hacked into the true records of River Song to make sure no one would discover her true name.
"What are you doing here?" The story of The Library is no secret in this family but the hostility in Junior's voice surprises me.
It also surprises his mother. "Rude and not ginger," she reminds him. That phrase has become a common admonishment, a standard reminder to be polite and play nice with the locals and their customs.
"Sorry." River looks a little hurt but she hides it well. She looks at me with a silent question. I convey to her as best I can that they don't really know her yet. She shakes it off but I can still tell just how sad that knowledge makes her.
"So, are you here for the party tonight?"
We look at her curiously. "What party?"
"Princess Rinnala's coming out party. It's her first public event here in Asgard." He smiles cheekily. "I hear it's going to be a masquerade."
That last part gets Rose's attention as I'm sure River knew. "Oh! That sounds like fun. We should go."
The Doctor, not being able to deny her anything of course agrees. "Why not?" Not that he seems particularly excited by the prospect.
Rose's enthusiasm is infectious as we head to the TARDIS wardrobe to pick our outfits. The boys request that the TARDIS send choices to their rooms so that they can stay out of our way. That gives Rose, River, and I free reign. River's laughter calls our attention.
"Oh, I haven't seen this for ages." I look to see her holding a long formal black dress. "It's a bit different though. The sheer sleeves are gone."
"Or not there yet," I point out.
"Very true."
"Isn't that the dress you wore at the weeping angel crash landing party?"
"I knew you were good." The black dress definitely suits her. Especially when she pairs it with her bright red heels and lipstick. Her hair just needs some tossel and hairspray and all she needs a mask.
It takes me a bit longer to find my dress but when I see it I know. I put it on to see how it looks. The deep purple satiny fabric shimmers in the light. The skirt from behind appears to be full and heavy but is actually quite light. But when i turn you realize that it's a high low cut to just above my knee. The top is sleeveless and has a lacy pattern from the top to my hips. I slip on the fingerless gloves that go all the way to middle of my upper arm. The heels I pick out are black and are a series of straps all the way up to just below the bottom of the dress and goes with the matching choker.
"You look dangerous." I smile at River as she pays me the compliment.
"I am dangerous darling." Rose and River's laughter makes us all feel giddy. It's kind of nice to just have a girls "shopping" day. We find masks for River and I. River's is black with silver sparkles making her look like the night sky has been painted onto her face. "You look like a mad girl with a mask." She just winks at me.
Mine looks like it's made of metal forged into the same pattern as the lace on my dress. It moulds itself to my face in a way that makes it feel as though I'm not wearing one at all. Rose piles my dark hair on top of my head with free curls cascading down my neck and framing my face in an attractive way.
This leaves us with the job of finding Rose the perfect outfit, and hers is definitely the most striking of us all. The sleeveless, TARDIS blue dress has a form fitting bodice before flowing out into a beautiful and full ball gown. The delicate swirl gold trim perfectly brings out the gold in her skin tone. The shoes are simple since you can barely see them. The mask appears to be simple and wolf like at first glance but a closer look reveals delicate etchings detailing the wolf like features. In a word, she looks breathless.
"Oh Rose. No ones going to be able to keep their eyes off you." She grins at us with her tongue peeking out and River starts vibrating with excitement.
"Oh wait till the Doctor sees you. He's going to be speechless." I never heard a more true statement. When we walk into the control room the Doctor's jaw hits the floor. Even Junior is shocked. Then his eyes turn to River and his ears turn pink. Well that's just adorable.
So with his wife on his arm and the psychic paper in hand the Doctor leads the way to the party. Junior is left to escort both River and myself. "Well isn't this my lucky day. I have two dates instead of one."
"Don't get too excited Raggedy." He rolls his eyes. He's not too happy with his nickname at this age. But that just makes me want to call him that even more.
He fiddles with the bow tie on his tux. His dad and him match. Simple tuxedo and a plain black mask. They look sharp, but not outstanding. He keeps tugging at it till I slap him. "Stop it."
"I feel dorky. Who wears a bow tie?" I smile secretly to River and she winks at me.
"Bow ties are cool," we say in unison. He seems to ignore it but I know that it's going to make a lasting impression. Especially since he stops messing with it after that.
So we head to the party, and then things get interesting. But why wouldn't they? The Doctor is wearing a tux. And nothing ever goes right when he's wearing it. Let alone two Doctor's wearing one. Well, Doctor in training at least. Point is: Doctor plus tux equals trouble.