Chapter 21:

POV: Jenny

Date: November 11, 2025

It was late in the evening when we landed back in my garden, where only a short time ago I had been about to celebrate bonding to Neeklet with my family. Could that really have only been earlier in the evening? Everything had happened in such a whirlwind—as it often did when my family was all together—that my original plans for this night seemed long ago.

Now, instead of bonding with my wife as I wanted to be, I was sitting with my sister and our parents. Somewhere within the house, Neeklet and Claire were making up the guestroom for my granddaughter. We would all need to sleep soon. We had work in the morning, after all.

Inwardly, I smiled at the domesticity of that thought.

Mum sat back in her patio chair. "You all must have questions."

"You died," Mara all but whispered. "Centuries ago. Jenny watched you die, and I—" she cut off with a sharp breath. "Does that mean the you that died was…"

"A future version of me, yes," Mum answered. "How far in the future, I couldn't tell you."

"So, what now?" I asked. "Are you back in our lives?"

Mara, Dad, and I watched her with bated breath. In my chest, my hearts gave a squeeze as Mum nodded. "For as long as you'll have me." She leaned forward to take first my hand, and then Mara's. "My girls, I am so sorry. I know how difficult it's been to lose me again and again, but that should be over now. At least for a long, long while. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."

Mara took in a shaky breath, and then looked to Dad. "And what about you? Are you two…?"

Dad glanced at Mum and leaned forward in his own seat to rest his elbows on his knees. "We'll see, Cricket. Your mum and I have a lot to talk about."

Mara nodded, and Mum moved closer. "Don't worry though, love, no matter what we decide I won't be going anywhere." She reached out to gently brush a hand over Mara's shoulder. "For now, I'd rather celebrate with you. You were able to get that horrible device off you—that's no small thing, if what I knew about it was true."

"And you lost Terry, again," I added softly. "That must have hurt."

My sister stared down at her hands for a moment before she shook her head and stood. "Let's talk more about all that in the morning. I don't know about you lot, but I haven't slept a full cycle in a while. I need to rest."

I was sure we all recognized her excuse for what it was—an ask for some space to process everything. I moved to answer but sat back. Mara so rarely asked for what she needed from us, and like her, I too could do with some sleep.

Dad stood, then, and pulled her into a hug. "I suppose you're right, and I'm sure we could all do with some rest. I'm so proud of you."

No sooner had my sister pulled away from Dad, then Mum came in for a hug of her own. "Sleep well, love."

She nodded, and turned to me as she pulled back. "Are you coming, too, Jenny?"

I nodded. "Yes." Before following her, I turned to look at our parents. "We'll talk more first thing tomorrow?"

They nodded, and Mum gave us a smile. "You girls sleep well."

I wrapped up a tearful Mara and moved us toward the TARDIS. "Will you be okay, little sister? That all was a bit of a whirlwind we went through."

She glanced at me as we entered the ship. "I know, but I'll be fine. I do need rest. We can talk more about it all in the morning."

I nodded and released her as we started down the hallway. "Call me if you need me."

She nodded. "I always do."

I entered my room and went to collapse onto one of the couches. I sank into the cushions and allowed my own exhaustion that I had been fighting back to come to the surface. The danger had passed, the problems had all been solved, and there was still so much more to do. Tomorrow, I knew we would all have to face the aftermath of what Ozul had done to Mara, of what Mara had lost in Terry yet again, and of course, of Mum's return. But here, tonight, there was only one thing I wanted to do before I slept.

I waited there, on that couch, until I heard the door open.

"My goodness, I step away for one moment and I miss everything." I looked up as Neeklet came in and walked over to sit beside me. "Is Mara okay?"

I scanned the bond and found Mara had muted herself. It wasn't a surprise, I knew my sister, and imagined she wanted a little privacy after the ordeal that had been the last few hours. "She'll be fine."

Neeklet reached out to run a hand along my arm. "And what about you? It has been a big day for you, as well."

I sat up to better take her hand. "I'm fine, I just…well, we'll see what tomorrow brings."

She nodded, and a shadow passed over her face. "Jenny, with your mother returning, I would understand if you would want to place a hold on our bonding."

I blinked as all the surprise I felt showed on my face. "What?"

She shifted. "It's just…the four of you have so much to talk through. I would understand if you needed the space to do so."

I stared at her for a long moment, my eyes taking in everything they could about her. How could I have ever held this person at arm's length for so long? Internally, I chastised myself for how much time I had wasted agonizing over what it would mean to be bonded to Neeklet. We didn't have forever. She wouldn't live as long as I would, and even so, I wouldn't go on for all time. Our time together was just a small blip in the fabric of forever, and I planned not to waste a single moment from here on out.

"My Neeklet," I said softly, and reached out to pull her hand up to my temple. "I appreciate your selflessness, but I'm ready if you are."

Her eyes widened. "Are you sure?"

I nodded. "Let's not waste a second more." I reached up to place my own fingers along her temple. "Are you ready?"

A slow, brilliant smile spread across her face. "What are we waiting for? Show me something awe inspiring, Jenny Tyler."

"As you wish, your Highness."


POV: Mara

Date: November 11, 2025

As soon as I entered my bedroom, I sank into the nearest chair. I hadn't been lying when I said it had been too long since I'd taken a full rest. Ever since we had defeated Ohila and the rest of the Sisterhood, I had been plagued by nightmares of my time stuck under their thumb. It had been days since I had experienced a full restful sleep.

I placed my head in my hands and closed my eyes. Perhaps, if I asked the TARDIS to play me some music, I wouldn't think of the horrible things I'd done under the Sisterhood tonight.

I smiled when I felt Neeklet's bright shining light join the web that was our family's network. "Good on you, Jenny," I said quietly.

I hadn't been lying when I'd told her it was about time she asked Neeklet to bond. Anyone and everyone who came around those two knew that they fit together. We all also liked Neeklet; she lit up any room she walked into. And above all else, everyone in this family knew that if one of us had a small chance at happiness, we should take it with open arms.

Joy filled me at the thought of many more years with my sister-in-law. She brought a perspective to our family that I felt was desperately needed. And she made Jenny happy. If anyone deserved to be happy, it was my big sister.

I didn't move from my spot until I half felt, and half heard Mum approach the door to my bedroom. "May I come in? I won't stay long."

I walked over to open the door and took a step back. My hearts jumped to my throat as she entered my room and closed the door behind her. "Did you need something?"

Mum shifted from foot to foot in front of me. "I was on my way to join your dad in the library, but I wanted to say something to you first…I'm sorry."

I blinked, and my eyebrows quirked with confusion. "What for?"

She sighed heavily, and I could see all her years come forward onto her face. "For not being there when you were growing up, for leaving you again when we saved Gallifrey, for failing to keep you hidden from the Time Lords in Pete's World…for all of it. But most of all, I'm sorry for this." She tapped my chest just above my hearts, where the device had been. "That I couldn't stop her."

I swallowed thickly and shook my head. "That's not your fault. Like you said, you couldn't have stopped her—no one could have."

"But I could have," Mum insisted, and stepped closer. "I saw her do it in my vision, and I could have stopped it, but I didn't because I needed to remain hidden until just the right moment. I couldn't interrupt the timeline, but Mara, I wanted to. So badly."

Tears formed in my eyes. "She made me do such terrible things, Mum."

"I know, love," she whispered, and pulled me into her arms.

I let out the sob that had been trapped in my chest. "How do you stand it?" I asked in a voice that was just as broken as I felt. "Living with it, I mean."

She let out a slow, deep breath. "I move forward. I try to save as many lives as I took. I keep my family close." She pulled away just enough to cup my cheeks. "It doesn't take the memories away, but it all helps."

I nodded, and squeezed my eyes shut as she wiped away my tears. "I've missed you."

Mum kissed my forehead. "I know, darling, but I'm here now and I'm not going anywhere." She pulled back to smile at me. "Now, let's get you to bed, ay?"

I sniffed and grabbed some bedclothes to change. Mum waited until I came back into the bedroom from my ensuite, and I allowed her to help me crawl into bed. She pulled the blankets up around me, and smoothed my hair back as she sat down beside me. I pulled in a deep breath. "You know, I used to dream that you would do this when I was small."

I felt the tug of her sadness come across the bond and settle into my chest. "I wish I had," she whispered, and traced the side of my face soothingly. "But I'm here to do it now."

I closed my eyes. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you when you died," I whispered.

"Oh love," she murmured back as she tucked some hair behind my ear. "You don't need to be sorry, but I forgive you all the same if it will help you to heal."

Tears leaked out of the corners of my eyes as her words reverberated within my chest. I curled in on myself more tightly as something deep within me uncoiled and came loose. I hadn't realized how long I'd needed to hear those words from her.

I let out a slow breath. "I'm so glad you came back for us," I said softly.

"Oh, my Cricket," Mum whispered as she stroked my hair. "I'll always come for you no matter what."

My breath caught in my throat as I considered her words. She always had come back. No matter what it was that had split us up—be it the Angels or Kovarian or entire dimensions. Somehow, someway, no matter how hard or how far she had to go, Mum always came back.

The thought healed my hearts just a little bit more.

"Yeah," I whispered, "I suppose you do." I allowed myself to sink down into the mattress as she continued to stroke my hair. "I love you, Mum."

I felt her joy at hearing those words as I began to drift off into sleep. I hoped we would have many more days ahead to do the healing we so clearly needed. I chuckled inwardly at the thought of how Doctor Lochlan would react to meeting her after all this time.

Above me, I heard her take in a slow breath.

"I love you, too, Mara."