"You can't do that…we're in flight! That is…that is physically impossible! How did…?" the Doctor stammered, utterly bewildered on how she got into his ship.
"Tell me where I am. I demand you two tell me right now, where am I?" the bride demanded.
"Inside the TARDIS miss", Farah replied.
"The…what?" the ginger frowned.
"The TARDIS", the Time Lord said and turned back to the console, trying to figure out how she got on board.
"The…what?" the woman repeated.
"It's called the TARDIS", the ginger explained, calmly, sensing her growing anger.
"That's not even a proper word. You're just saying things!" the bride said, angrily as she was missing her own wedding.
"How did you get in here?" the Doctor questioned, casting a glance at her, hoping the irate woman might be able to shed some light on the mystery.
"Well obviously, when you kidnapped me", the bride snapped "And obviously I'm not the first you've taken", she accused, casting a pointed look at Farah.
"He didn't kidnap me. He's my friend", the ginger assured her.
"Did he force you to say that?" the woman pressed, now noticing the double doors.
"No. honestly he is my friend", the empath insisted. The bride then did something the young woman didn't expect. She grabbed hold of her wrist and start pulling her towards the doors wanting to get herself and the other woman away from the mad man.
"Hey!" Farah exclaimed trying to remove the woman's grip from around her wrist.
"No, wait a minute!" the Doctor said seeing the bride dragging the ginger towards the doors. The woman ignored him. When she reached the doors, she let go of red head's wrist and threw open the doors of the TARDIS. Both women stared out at the supernova, the bride in astonishment while the 23 year old had a smile on her face. "You're in space. Outer space. This is my… spaceship. It's called the TARDIS", the Time Lord explained, joining them.
"How am I breathing?" the astounded woman asked the pair.
"The TARDIS is protecting us", the Doctor replied.
"Who are you two?", the bride enquired.
"I'm the Doctor", the Time Lord introduced "and this is Farah Galen".
"You can call me Fay, if you like", the empath offered " What's your name?"
"Donna Noble", the woman answered.
"Human?" the Doctor asked, earning him a punch in the arm from his companion.
"Well, of course I am!" Donna snapped.
Farah suddenly shivered from the cold causing her to close the doors. The Doctor took hold of her hand and bounded up the ramp. "But I don't understand it and I understand everything!" the Time Lord exclaimed, letting go of her hand "But this… this can't happen!" he continued, waving his hands at Donna, who'd slowly joined them at the console.
"And yet somehow it has", the empath stated. Suddenly the Time Lord grabbed an ophthalmoscope and used it to look into bride's eyes.
"Impossible", the Doctor mumbled "Some sort of Subatomic connection? Something in the temporal field? Maybe something pulling you into alignment with the Chronon Shell. Maybe something…" he broke off when Farah snatched the ophthalmoscope out of his hands and tossed it behind her. "What did you do that for?" the Time Lord asked.
"You were overwhelming Donna", the ginger replied. She could feel the woman's anxiety and her utter confusion. The poor woman honestly had no idea how she ended up in the TARDIS. The Doctor opened his mouth to say something when Donna slapped him.
"What was that for?" the Doctor cried holding a hand to the cheek she'd slapped.
"Get me to the church!" Donna yelled having had enough with the Time Lord. She just wanted to get away from him and get married.
"Right! Fine! I don't want you here anyway", the Doctor said making Farah slap him upside the head "Ow! Why did you hit me?"
"You were being rude", the ginger replied "no need for it. The poor woman has been thrown into a situation on what is supposed to be the happiest day of her life. Show a little compassion!" the Time Lord was little taken aback when her eyes shifted from green to gold and back again. Though it happened so quickly he was wondering if he'd seen it or if it were his imagination. The 23 year old Farah turned to Donna "So where is this wedding then Donna?" she enquired, all her previous anger now gone.
"Saint Mary's, Hayden Road, Chiswick, London, Earth, and the Solar System", Donna answered, sassily and the empath smirked.
"I'm starting to like you Miss Noble", she remarked and glanced at the Doctor "you heard her. Let's get Donna back to her wedding. The Time Lord put the address into the console as Donna spotted something draped over a railing. She went over to it. It was a ladies shirt.
"Fay and I aren't the first women you've abducted are we?" the bride asked striding over with the garment in her hands.
"For the last time he didn't…" Farah trailed off when she saw what Donna was holding. She assumed it must've belonged to Rose, the friend the Doctor had lost. She hadn't noticed it when they came into the TARDIS earlier which meant he'd put it there while she was in the wardrobe.
"That's my friends", the Time Lord said quietly looking at the shirt in Donna's hands.
"Where is she then? Popped out for a spacewalk?" Donna asked, still with the same amount of sass.
"She's gone", the Doctor answered, not taking his eyes off of the shirt.
"Gone where?" Donna pressed.
"Just drop it Donna", Farah said sharply, taking the shirt from her. She could feel a shift in the Time Lords emotions and didn't want Donna to continue to pry. Rose was a sensitive subject for the Doctor. Even she didn't know the full story. And she didn't want to know until the Time Lord was ready to open up. He might never be ready which was fine with her. The Doctor's past was his own business.
The Doctor and Donna watched as the young woman gently placed the shirt on the chair. She felt a tear run down her cheek but she quickly brushed it away hoping that they didn't see. However, both the other two noticed. "Did you know her?" Donna asked her. She looked up at the bride and shook her head.
"No I didn't. I um…lost my nana recently too", the 23 year old told her quietly.
"I'm sorry", Donna said softly. She hadn't realised that her pressing the Doctor for answers was going to upset her.
"Thank you", the empath said, managing a small smile.
"Right! Chiswick!" the Doctor said trying to change the subject. He runs over to the doors and pulls them open.
"I said Saint Mary's. What sort of Martian are you? Where's this?" Donna asked not recognising her surroundings.
"Great piloting skills there Doctor", Farah commented, taking in the busy high street.
"Something's wrong with her", the Time Lord said, stroking the TARDIS exterior in concern.
"What is it?" the 23 year old questioned, worried for the ship.
"It's like she's recalibrating", the Doctor said going back inside. Farah put her hand on the TARDIS' side.
"What's wrong? Come on talk to me" she said. She didn't understand why the TARDIS was able to talk to her but she didn't mind if it helped the ship to explain what was happening to her. The empath closed her eyes and blocked out the Doctor talking and Donna going around the box. The TARDIS didn't say anything but the woman had a feeling that something was wrong. "Come on you sexy thing talk to me", she gently urged.
That got a very quiet laugh from the blue box. "You think I'm sexy?"
"Course I do. You're the sexiest blue box in the entire universe", Farah replied, causing Donna to give her a strange look.
"Digested something"
"What? Digested what?" the 23 year old pressed. This became too much for Donna. First the strange blue box then the man who was apparently an alien talking to her about zips in foreheads and now Farah was apparently having a conversation with said box.
"Donna!" the ginger heard the Doctor call. She opened her eyes to see the bride running away. The Time Lord and empath hurried after her.
"Come back into the TARDIS", the Doctor said after the pair caught up to the ginger.
"No way. That box it too weird", Donna stated.
"It's bigger on the inside, that's all", Farah said.
"Oh! That's all?" the bride said sarcastically and then checked her watch "Ten past three. I'm gonna miss it".
"You can phone them. Tell them where you are", the Time Lord suggested.
"How do I do that?" Donna asked.
"Haven't you got a mobile? the Doctor countered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Which it kind of was except he was forgetting one thing…
"Her dress doesn't have pockets", Farah deadpanned "and…mine is back on the TARDIS". She was beginning to regret leaving it behind.
"This man you're marrying, what's his name?" the Time Lord questioned.
"Lance", Donna replied, in a manner which sound very much like she was in love. Farah smiled, knowing how she felt. Her smile dropped a little remembering that you-know-who had completely ripped it to shreds. The 23 year old honestly wasn't too sure if she could ever let anyone get that close again. Friends, definitely. Lovers…not so much. At least not right now.
"Good luck Lance", the Doctor muttered earning him another smack from his companion. Just because her relationship fell off of a cliff but that didn't mean she wouldn't defend Donna's.
"Oi! No stupid Martian is gonna stop me from getting married. To hell with you!" the ginger shouted before running off.
"I'm…I'm not…not from Mars", the Doctor said feebly.
"Come on!" Farah said, grabbing his hand and pulling him along as they ran after Donna.
The trio stood at the curb, the Doctor and Donna trying to hail a cab and failing every time. Farah rolled her eyes "Oh for god's sake", she said stepping to the curb. She put her fingers in her mouth and whistled causing both Doctor and Donna to wince.
"Where did you learn to do that?" the Time Lord asked as the cab screeched to a halt next to them.
"New York. Mel and I went there for a few weeks", Farah explained before following Donna into the taxi.
"Saint Mary's in Chiswick, just off Hayden Road. It's an emergency, I'm getting married! Just… hurry up!" the ginger said, instructing the driver as he drove.
"You know it'll cost you, sweetheart? Double rates today", the cabbie said.
"Do either of you have any money?" Donna asked. Farah patted herself down and regretfully shook her head.
"Fraid not", the Time Lord admitted "you?"
"Pockets!" Donna exclaimed gesturing to her dress. The taxi stops and the trio piles out.
"Note to self: bring money and mobile with me when we go on these adventures", Farah said quietly to herself.
"I'll have him. I've got him number. I'll have him. Talk about the Christmas Spirit", Donna grumbled.
"Is it Christmas?" the Doctor asked, surprised.
"Well duh maybe not on Mars, but here it's Christmas Eve", the bride replied, before spotting a phone box and hurried toward it.
"How come you're getting married on Christmas Eve?" Farah enquired.
"Can't bare it. I hate Christmas. Honeymoon in Morocco. Sunshine, lovely", Donna explained. The Time Lord and empath exchanged looks. Getting married on a holiday you hate didn't seem like the best idea to either of them. A wedding was supposed to be a happy occasion after all.
Donna pulled the door open and stepped inside. "What's the operator?" she enquired, picking up the receiver "I've not done this in years. What do you dial? 100?"
The Doctor took the receiver, flashed his sonic over it and gave it back to her. "Just…just call direct", he instructed.
"What did you do?" the ginger demanded.
"Something…Martian. Now, phone. I'll get the money", Time Lord said sprinting towards the nearest cash machine.
Farah went to follow him but stopped when she noticed a poster in the window of the WHS Smith. Her eyes widened when she read it, it was for a book that was due to be out early 2008. "Oh my god. This is Christmas Eve 2007. This has just been for me", she said. What if I accidently run into myself? the ginger thought panicking. She could cause a….a paradox! Before she could go into full on panic mode, Donna shouted "Thanks for nothing Spaceman! I'll see you in court!" Thinking quickly, the 23 year old printed over to the taxi and flung herself in as just as it was pulling away. "What did you do that for?" Donna asked as the other ginger was catching her breath.
"I wanted to make sure that you got to the church safely that's all", the ginger replied relaxing in the seat. Only she and Donna had no idea that the taxi driver had no intention of going to the church.
"Oi you're going the wrong way!" Donna exclaimed crossly when the drive missed the turn. She leant across pulling the Santa hood off the driver revealing the robot underneath.
"Bloody hell", Farah swore, seeing what the driver was.
"Help us!" her fellow ginger cried, hitting the window trying to get the other cars attention. The empath on the other hand, yanked the handle on her door but it was locked.
"Wish I had a sonic screwdriver", the 23 year old muttered while Donna was still yelling for people to help.
"What are you doing?" the bride asked as the other ginger start kicking at the window.
"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm. Trying. To. Get. Us. Out", with each word Farah kicked the window. She was about to snatch Donna's heels and try them when the TARDIS zooming alongside with its doors wide open showing the Doctor piloting her with a piece of string.
"Open the door!" he yelled.
"What the hell do you want us to open the door for?" Donna questioned.
"Duh so we can escape", Farah stated bluntly "Door's locked!" she shouted to the Time Lord. He used his sonic on the door so that the women could push the window down.
"You two are going to have to jump", the Doctor called to them.
"I'm not bleedin' jumping I'm supposed to be getting married!" Donna said shrilly. The robot put his foot down. With some pretty nifty manoeuvring on the Time Lord's part he managed to catch up with the Taxi again. He sonics the robot disabling it.
"You two need to jump", the Doctor said again.
"I'm not jumping on the motorway", Donna insisted.
"Oh for crying out loud", Farah said before giving the woman a shove out of the Taxi. Thankfully the Time Lord caught her as she collided with him.
"Fay come on", he said holding his hand out to her. Farah prepared herself to jump but she froze.
"I-I can't", she stammered.
"You have to. I'll catch you", the Doctor assured her.
"You promise?" Farah called over the roar of the traffic.
"I promise", the Doctor vowed. The ginger took a breath before leaping out of the taxi. She like Donna knocked the Time Lord over. "Fay you can open your eyes now", he said as she clung onto him eyes closed. "You ok?" the Doctor asked when she eventually opened her eyes.
"Yeah", she replied getting up to allow the Time Lord to stand. The empath shut the TARDIS doors and the Time Lord pilots the ship up into the air.
"How are you holding up?" Farah asked sitting next to Donna on the roof where the Doctor had parked the TARDIS.
"Well I missed my wedding", the bride…well, former bride, said gloomily.
"Sorry about that. Couldn't you book another date?" the Doctor questioned.
"We could", the ginger said, still pretty upset.
"You've still got the honeymoon", the Time Lord added, optimistically, sitting down next to them.
"It's just a holiday now", Donna said still sad. To the surprise of the two women the Doctor pulled out what looked like a wedding ring from his pocket. "Do you have to rub it in?"
"Those creatures can trace you. This is a bio-damper should keep you hidden", the alien explained slipping the ring onto her finger "With this ring, I thee bio-damp".
"For better or worse", Donna joked.
Farah looked at the ring on Donna's finger and wondered how that small piece of metal was going to 'hide' her fellow ginger. "So the robot Santa's, what are they for?" she asked.
"Your basic robo-scavanger. The Father Christmas stuff is just a disguise. They're trying hard to blend in. I met them last Christmas", the Doctor explained.
"Why, what happened then?" Donna enquired.
"Great big spaceship? Hovering over London?" the Time Lord questioned.
"I remember that. All those people standing on the rooftops, my mother along with them. I don't think I've ever been so scared when I couldn't stop her from walking to the edge", Farah said starting to fiddle with the bracelet around her wrist. She knew it didn't go with the dress but the jewellery held so many memories that she couldn't bear to take it off.
"I spent Christmas Day just over there, the Powell Estate. With this family. My friend, she had this family. Well, they were…" the Doctor trailed off lost in thought. Farah put her hand over his and gave him a small smile when he looked at her. Donna watched the two of them and wondered if there was something between the pair.
The Time Lord got up and moved around to Donna's other side in order to scan her with his sonic. "It's weird, I mean you're not special, you're not powerful, you're not connected, you're not clever, you're not important", he said.
"This friend of yours, just before she left did she punch you in the face?" Donna asked, feeling insulted.
"I don't know if she did but if the Doctor says another thing to insult you I will be punching him", Farah said to Donna. She too was feeling rather offended by it even though the Time Lord wasn't directing at her. "Where do you work?"
"HC Clements. That's where I met Lance. I was temping", Donna replied. She began to explain how exactly met her fiancé.
"When was this?" the Doctor asked.
"Six months ago", the ginger answered.
"Bit quick to get married", the Time Lord commented.
"Not really if he's the right person for you", Farah pointed out.
"What about you two?" Donna questioned, glancing at the ginger and then at the Doctor.
"What about us?" the empath countered.
"Are you two together?" Donna asked.
Farah shook her head "we're just friends", she told her.
"Yeah…just friends", the Doctor agreed "Anyway you may have missed your wedding but you still have the reception", he added, swiftly changing the subject. He helped both women to their feet and they made their way to the reception on foot this time.
The reception hall falls silent when the trio entered the room. "You had the reception without me?" Donna asked, shocked that they would do that.
"Well it was all paid for, why not?" a blonde replied looking at Donna with obvious dislike. Farah assumed that she was Nerys, the woman she'd mentioned earlier in her 'rant'.
"Why not?" the ginger repeated "I'll tell you why not Nerys. You don't have a reception when one of the people it is for is missing. Doesn't matter if you've paid for it".
"Who the hell are you?" Nerys demanded, eyeing the empath with equal distain as she had for the ginger.
"I'm Farah, Barbie. Donna's friend", Farah said putting an arm around the bride, sensing the rather strong feelings the blonde had against Donna and after everything the runaway bride had been through, there was no way she was going to let some…bimbo upset her.
"Well what the hell happened to you Donna? How did you do it? I mean, what's the trick because I'd love to know", Sylvia asked. Then suddenly the whole room starts talking at Donna. Farah wanted to yell at them to get them to lay off of the poor bride. They had no idea what she'd just been through. She didn't even get the chance to because Donna started to cry. Lance pushed the empath out of the way so he could hug her, the Doctor stepping forward to catch her.
"Thanks", Farah murmured. She glanced at Donna, who winked at both her and the Time Lord through her fake crying. "Our Miss Noble is full of surprises", the empath remarked.
"That she is", the Time Lord agreed. The two of them moved over to the bar and proceeded to watch the reception as it started up with Donna and Lance having their first dance. "Would you care for a dance?" he asked when the music became more upbeat.
"I did get dressed up", Farah pointed out "might as well have some fun while we're here". They went to the dance floor, joining the other guests. While pair danced, the Doctor noticed another couple nearby. When the man dipped the blonde woman and then brought her back up reminded him of something similar that happened when Cassandra left Rose's body during their trip to New Earth. Without realising it, he'd stopped dancing with the empath. She looked over and realised that the couple must be bringing back memories for the Time Lord. She then noticed the cameraman in the corner who was recording everything. "Why don't we go talk to the camera guy? He might have caught what happened to Donna during the wedding", she suggested.
"Good idea", he agreed. The two of them wound their way through dancers, the Time Lord holding onto Farah's hand as they did so.
"Hi. I was curious about Donna's disappearing act. Did you catch it on tape?" the empath asked the cameraman.
"You bet I did", he replied. Moments later the trio was watching Donna's disappearance.
"What the…?" Farah gaped when the ginger vanished in a golden glow. She wondered it that was the same 'stuff' that helped her to defeat Tanya. Come to think of it, she still needed to tell the Doctor about it. Hopefully he'd have some answers.
"It can't be", the Doctor breathed, staring at the footage, eyes wide. He got the cameraman to play it again. "But that looks like Huon Particles!" he exclaimed.
"What's that?" both Farah and the cameraman asked in unison.
"That's impossible, that's ancient! Huon energy doesn't exist anymore, not for billions of years! So old that…" the Doctor looked at the gold ring on Donna's finger.
"She's not protected, is she?" Farah states, putting two and two together. The Doctor shook his head and rushed over to the window. The 23 year old approached Donna, taking her to one side.
"They've found you", she said in a hushed voice.
"But the Doctor said I was safe", Donna remined her.
"The biodamper doesn't work. We have to get everyone out now", the Doctor said when he joined them.
"Let's go out the back", Farah suggested which the Time Lord agreed. However, when he opened the back door they saw two robot Santa's standing there. The trio back away and head to the window where more robot Santa's were outside. The Doctor glanced at the Christmas trees when both robots raised the remotes in their hands.
"Christmas trees…" the Time Lord started.
"What about them?" Donna asked.
"They kill", he replied, with a serious look on his face. The three quickly try and get people away from the evil evergreens.
"Stay away from that tree!" Farah ordered to the remaining people who were too close to the tree.
"That woman is an idiot! What's a Christmas tree gonna do?" Sylvia asked. She got her answer when the baubles float off the tree and hover above everyone. The wedding guests were excited at first until the baubles started dive bombing them and exploding. One bauble landed near Farah's feet. Suddenly she was tackled to the side as it exploded, it was the Doctor. He quickly pulled her to one of the tables.
"Stay under here", he instructed before charging over to the DJ's stand. The ginger ducked under the table just as he said to. She heard him say something through a microphone before a high pitched screeching noise rang through the air. Farah clapped her hands over her ears to try and block out the noise. She crawled out from under the table when the noise stopped, noticing the robot Santa's in pieces. She and Donna walked up to the Doctor who was examining the Robo Santa's parts. "You ok?" he asked them both, though he was mostly looking at his companion.
"I'm ok", Farah answered.
"Me too. You're a doctor people have been hurt", Donna said. The Doctor just ignored her and carried on working.
"Who's been hurt Donna?" Farah asked her face full of concern.
"Uh…" Donna began.
"Auntie Rah Rah!" a familiar voice called. The ginger barely had a chance to turn around when a small mass ploughed into her.
"Millie?" the empath gaped down at her goddaughter "w-what are you doing here?"
"Unca Deno brought me", the girl pointed to the bronze haired man who was chatting with Nerys.
Farah's eyes narrowed at him. Now, while she had no problems with Mel's husband, she did take issue with his twin brother. That man was by no means a fit guardian for his niece for he was far too interested in by the next pretty face that turns his head. No wonder him and Ben were 'besties' she bitterly thought. "Did he now?" she remarked "Donna, would you mind keeping an eye on Millie for me?" the ginger nods "I need to have a…word with her uncle".
"Boy, your aunty isn't a happy bunny is she?" Donna commented to the brunette as they watched Farah have it out with 'Unca Deno'.
"Rah Rah doesn't like my unca very much", Millie replied "she says he has far too many lady friends, none of which are that special".
"Sounds familiar", the Doctor murmured, recalling Farah's former 'beau'. He continued to fiddle the robot head until his attention was caught by the ginger coming back, shaking her head. "Is everything alright?"
"Oh yes, sunshine and rainbows", the empath replied a little too brightly "hey um…would it be alright if it Millie stays with us? Her uh…Uncle…" she shot the man an angry look "is little busy look after her right now and I don't want to leave her alone until I can get hold of her parents".
"Sure", the Time Lord agreed. He could've easily said 'no' but he found he couldn't, not with the look on his companions face. Besides, the child would be fairly safe with them.
"Thanks you", Farah said, gratefully "Anyway what have you found out from that?" she asked gesturing to the robot head he had in his hands.
"Nothing yet", the Doctor replied.
"But there's a beeping coming from it", Millie pointed out. The Time Lord held the head up to his ear and sure enough he heard the beeping too. He grinned at her.
"You're as brilliant as your aunty", the Doctor proclaimed, causing the ginger to blush.
I'm not that brilliant", she mumbled as the Time Lord rushed out of the building, the three females following them out.
"Yes you are Rah Rah", Millie argued "anyone who says otherwise will deal with me!"
Farah smiled, hugging the brunette to her side "thanks kiddo", she said grateful for her goddaughter's assurances.
"There's someone behind this, directing the robo-force", the Doctor said, scanning the robot head in his head.
"If someone is pulling their strings so to speak, why are they targeting Donna?" Farah questioned.
"If we find the controller, we'll find that out. Oh!" the Doctor raised his sonic into the air and looked up. "It's up there. Something in the sky" That made them all look up. A moment later he let out a noise of complaint "I've lost the signal", he griped "Donna, we've got to get to your office. HC Clements. I think that's where it all started" the Time Lord turned to Lance who'd also followed them out "Lance, can you give me a lift?"
He darts off without waiting for an answer "we better follow him before he decides to drive himself to your workplace", Farah said to the couple.