The day of Tosh and Owen's wedding came quietly, without the grand fanfare many might expect. It was simple, intimate—just the way they wanted it. The pair of them not really having any family to involve, they'd just wanted something small, surrounded by the people who mattered most to them.
The ceremony itself was held in a small, quiet room. No grand venue, no sweeping view. Just a gathering of close friends, the Torchwood family, and a few others who had become part of their strange little circle. Gwen sat beside her daughter, trying to keep her entertained while also wiping away tears during the vows. Jack stood beside Ianto, a quiet, proud smile on his face.
They gathered inside a cosy, nearby pub afterwards. The sort of place with mismatched furniture and a bartender who already knew Jack's order before he'd even walked through the door. All squished around a long table, drinks in hand, food ordered to share. There was no formal seating arrangement, no big wedding cake—just a group of weirdly mismatched people, celebrating.
Hally sat at the long wooden table near Alina and Gwen, the two of them softly talking while keeping an eye on the little ones. Lily and Anwen in between them, perched on booster seats, Anwen doing most of the chatting—full of energy and half-formed sentences—while Lily mostly babbled back, her small hands gesturing wildly, completely caught up in Anwen's excitement.
With a clink of glass, Owen stood up, catching everyone's attention. He'd been enjoying himself, but the flicker of nerves crossing his face as he cleared his throat was obvious. "Alright, alright. Pipe down, you lot," he began, immediately drawing some chuckles. "It's time for me to do something I never thought I'd have to—make a speech. And about feelings, no less."
More laughter rippled around the table, Jack throwing Owen a knowing grin.
"First off," Owen continued, glancing around at the familiar faces. "I want to thank all of you for being here today. Every single person in this room means a lot to Tosh and me. Some of you I even tolerate. Some of you," he paused, glancing at Hart, "I really don't. But I digress."
Owen softened as he turned to look at Tosh, who was sitting beside him, her hand resting on his arm. "Tosh... you deserve a medal, honestly. For putting up with me, for starters. Because, let's face it, I was a right twat. Still am, on occasion."
There was a general hum of agreement from the spectators, but there was something genuine in Owen's eyes that made it clear how much he meant it.
"I can't believe I'm saying this," Owen continued, rubbing the back of his neck, "but I also have to thank Captain Jack Harkness. Because, without him, I wouldn't have joined Torchwood, and I wouldn't have met Tosh… So I suppose I have to thank you…" There was a pause, Owen cleared his throat. "…for a lot of things." The sincerity in his voice caught even Jack off guard. Jack gave him a small nod, tipping his glass in acknowledgement.
"But don't get used to the compliments, Jack," Owen added quickly, the smirk returning to his face.
Owen's gaze then landed on Hally, trying to keep Lily from knocking over her juice cup while still listening. He flashed her a grin. "And I'd like to thank Hally. For, you know, being alive. Kind of a big deal, that. Both of us, actually."
Hally raised an eyebrow, smirking back at him.
"Although," Owen continued with a dramatic sigh, "you being here did mean we had to invite Hart. So, I guess we're even."
Hart shot him a wide grin, raising his glass.
Hally shook her head, smiling despite herself.
Owen raised his glass, his tone turning serious again as he looked around at his friends, his family. "But in all honesty... thank you. Each of you has been there through the darkest of times, and today, we get to share something good. Something real. I don't get sappy often, so you better appreciate this while it lasts."
He winked at Tosh, who was laughing softly beside him, her hand tightening around his arm.
"Here's to all of you," Owen said, raising his glass a little higher, his voice tinged with rare but genuine warmth. "For being the best kind of people. Even if most of you are complete idiots."
Hally fumbled with the key to her front door, her other hand wrapped around Lily's. Her daughter rubbed at her face, grumbling with exhaustion after the long day. They hadn't stayed too late, although it was still slightly past Lily's usual bedtime. Jack and Ianto had joined them in the car on the way home, Ianto slightly… worse for wear. Jack was putting him to bed.
The lock clicked open and she guided Lily inside. "Come on, bedtime," Hally whispered, helping her up the stairs and into her bedroom. Lily let out a soft, tired whine as Hally got her into her pyjamas, wiping her face and with some resistance got her daughter to brush her teeth. Finally, tucked into bed, she gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek. "Night, night. I love you."
"Love you, Mummy…" Lily mumbled, curling up with a huff.
Hally's face split into a slow smile, watching her, for just a moment. The quiet of the house settled over her like a blanket, a pleasant sort of calm as she watched Lily's breathing even out as she fell asleep. She closed the door quietly, about to move into her own bedroom when she paused, straining her ears.
A familiar hum whirred from outside.
Stepping lightly, so to not make too much noise she moved into the office, her brow furrowing as she glanced out the window. There it was, the TARDIS, sitting right in the middle of the road.
Hmm.
He hadn't called ahead.
They'd been sticking to a schedule, Sundays. Always predictable, always safe.
And yet, here he was…
She moved quickly and quietly down the stairs, her hand gripping the bannister as her flicker of unease grew into something sharper. She opened the front door, the night air cool against her slightly flushed skin. The TARDIS stood there, silent and unmoving.
Her hand hesitated on the door before knocking.
No answer.
"Doctor?" She called softly.
Nothing.
She eased the door open and stepped inside.
The control room was dimly lit, the usual glow of the console subdued, like the TARDIS herself was holding her breath.
There he was.
Standing at the console, his back to her, hands gripping the edges tightly.
In the silence, Hally could feel it—something was very, very wrong.
"Dad?" Her voice was soft, but it echoed in the stillness.
The Doctor didn't turn around. His voice came out broken, barely a whisper. "Hal…I…"
Without thinking, she crossed the room in a few quick steps. She didn't ask what was wrong, she didn't need to. Instead, she just wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly. His body tensed for a moment, resisting, and then after a short moment, he collapsed into her.
He sank to his knees, and she went with him, holding him as he shook, as he started to sob.
He cried into her, the sobs wracking his body, broken and raw. Hally's own tears blurred her vision as she held him, her chin resting against his hair, her arms firm around his trembling shoulders. She just held him and let him break.
It took him twenty minutes to tell her what had happened.
Amy and Rory.
They were gone.
She didn't speak. There were no words to make this better, nothing she could say. Her own chest tightened, water tracking down her face.
The Doctor was broken.
He had come to her.
She couldn't fix him, so she just held onto him. Shielding him.
Slowly, he put himself back together and once he could, he pulled back from her.
His face was pale, eyes red-rimmed and glassy. He looked up at her, and she could see it, the deep, aching pain behind his eyes.
"It's ok," she whispered, wiping at her own tears. "Dad, they're ok. They lived a happy life."
"I should have saved them…" His voice cracked.
"You did. You saved them, so many times." Hally's voice was gentle, steady, as she looked him in the eyes, imploring. "You gave them a happy life. They were safe, and they were together. You gave them that."
He nodded weakly, but the anguish across his face didn't fade. He swallowed hard, rubbing at his eyes. Clearing his throat, he forced himself back to his feet, brushing off his jacket as though he'd meant to end up on the floor.
"Right. Yes."
She let out a soft exhale. "Dad…" There was something gently reprimanding in her tone that brought his gaze back to hers. "You don't need to pretend to be ok." She offered him a sad smile. "Let yourself grieve for once..." She wiped the tears away from her own face. "You can be sad. You can miss them. Take the time to grieve. You don't have to just immediately jump into something else... Stop running for just a second and feel it."
The Doctor rubbed his eyes, his fingers trembling slightly as he tried to compose himself. "I'm sorry."
Hally shook her head, her eyes soft with understanding. "Don't be sorry. It's ok."
"No, it's not just that…" he began, his voice faltering, strained. "I'd promised I'd be here." He said it like a confession.
"You can still be here, Dad." Hally's voice was quiet, steady. She reached out and placed her hand on his arm, a grounding touch. "Take the time you need to heal. You don't have to rush through this. We'll still be here when you get back."
He nodded slowly, as if trying to absorb her words, but they weren't quite sticking. His shoulders slumped forward, and he hugged her tightly, clinging to her. His breath hitched. "Ok… ok… I just… I don't know where to go."
Hally felt her chest clench. She hugged him back, just as tightly. "It's ok… you can stay here. Whatever you need."
He pulled back slightly, his face filled with a pained look of hesitation. "No. I would… love to…" His words faltered, broken by emotion. "But I… I think I need to be alone."
She nodded, her voice soft. "Ok, Dad. It's ok. Take some time. Take a break."
He swallowed hard, his throat bobbing. "I won't be… long."
A small, sad smile tugged at her lips as she looked at him. "Take as long as you need. You've got a time machine. You can still make it back in time for Christmas." She tried to inject a bit of lightness into the moment, letting out a weak laugh that was more for his sake than hers.
The Doctor managed a faint smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. He hugged her again, tighter this time, like he was afraid to let go.
Her voice was soft, muffled in his shoulder. "Just… tell me you're ok. Wherever you are. Wherever you end up."
She felt him nod, he held on for just a moment longer before pulling away, placing a gentle kiss against her forehead.
"Be safe," he whispered, his voice filled with a quiet plea.
"You be safe," she replied, a hint of a warning underneath the words.
He stepped to the door, and she followed him, stepping out of the TARDIS. As her feet touched the cool ground outside, it hit her that it had been over two and a half years since she'd been inside the blue box. She glanced back at it, a strange sense of detachment settling inside her. A sort of sad acknowledgement that it wasn't her home anymore.
The Doctor stood in the doorway, his eyes meeting hers. He wiped his eyes and tried to give her a reassuring smile, but it was fragile, so incredibly breakable. With quiet goodbyes, the door closed with a soft click, and a few seconds later, the TARDIS dematerialised, vanishing into the night.
Hally stood there, the cold air biting at her skin, as her mind caught up with the intense emotional weight of it.
She heard the soft creak of a front door behind her, and Jack's voice broke through the silence. "Everything ok?"
Hally blinked, wiping at her tear-streaked face as she turned to face him. Jack was watching her, concern etched into his features. He noticed her tears and in a few strides, he was at her side.
She cleared her throat, trying to steady her voice. "I'm ok. It's ok," she murmured, though her voice wavered. She let out a shaky breath. "He was just… Amy and Rory, he… they're gone."
Jack's brows furrowed in confusion. "Gone…?"
Hally nodded, her voice tightening as she tried to hold back more tears. "They got stuck… in 1938. He couldn't save them." She wiped at her eyes again, the wetness blurring her vision. "They… they were ok… but obviously, they're… they're dead now."
The words felt heavy in her mouth, sending ripples through the silence. She cleared her throat again, but it did nothing to ease the tightness in her chest.
Jack's expression softened, the blue of his eyes full of understanding. He didn't say anything, just stepped forward and pulled her into a gentle hug. He held her for a few moments, letting her rest her head against his chest, the soft rise and fall of his breath calming her as she tried to get her own breathing under control.
It was a full month before Hally saw him again, though when she did, it was clear that much more time had passed for him. His eyes were older. She didn't ask him about it. She didn't need to know. All that mattered was that he was here now, standing in her doorway. He seemed alright—still sad, but alright.
They spent the day taking Lily swimming, her bright laughter echoing through the pool, while The Doctor beamed and splashed alongside her. Afterwards, they had dinner together at Hally's place. She cooked, glancing over her shoulder occasionally to smile fondly at The Doctor lying on the living room floor with Lily, helping her trace Gallifreyan symbols on a sketch pad.
He looked different. Older, yes, but in a way that reminded her of the man who had shown up when Lily was born. The slightly different clothing, the darker coat, and his hair, a little shorter than it had been. She wondered briefly if he had met Clara yet. He hadn't mentioned anyone, so she assumed not.
They planned a family Christmas. Well, just the three of them, it seemed too small to call it a 'family' Christmas, but it was. It was significant, nonetheless.
Besides, it gave her the perfect excuse to shove Jack into spending Christmas with Ianto and his family. Lily adored it all—the tree, the decorations, The Doctor's infectious energy. He threw himself into everything with the enthusiasm of a giant child, pulling out presents and orchestrating Christmas dinner with boundless excitement. And while Hally could see that under it all, he was still hurting, he never let it show around Lily.
They exchanged gifts, enjoyed all three courses of a Christmas dinner, went on an afternoon walk, and watched Christmas TV. It was surreal. Three aliens playing at human Christmas. But Lily had loved it and that was more than enough.
Later that night, after she had finally managed to get a very excited Lily to bed, she found herself sitting outside with The Doctor. She'd offered him mulled wine and the pair of them had accidently sat out in her garden and drunk three bottles.
They were perhaps, both, a tiny bit tipsy.
Tiny.
Tiny bit.
"Today was fun," The Doctor hummed happily.
Hally snorted, leaning back in her chair. "It was fun. It was also really weird."
"Really weird," he echoed, chuckling to himself.
She laughed, the sound soft in the night air. "Like playing dress-up. Human living 101: Christmas."
The Doctor tilted his head back, gazing up at the stars. "I like Christmas."
"Mmm." Hally's mind drifted. The previous Christmases they'd spent together had all been rather more chaotic. In fact, the last Christmas she'd seen him had been at Naismith Mansion. The Master had been there…
A strange quiet settled between them, and Hally knew his mind had wandered to the same place hers had.
Absent friends.
She reached over and squeezed his hand. "Do you want to talk about it?" she offered gently.
He hummed, not quite a yes, but not a no either. "Maybe. But I don't know what I'd say. They're gone."
"I know. But just because they're gone doesn't mean we don't remember them. We can still talk about them." She gave him a soft smile, hoping to ease some of the heaviness she could feel coming off him.
The Doctor's eyes clouded as he stared off into the distance. "If… if I think about them… I remember all of them…"
She rolled her lip between her teeth, a pang of nostalgia and something a little sharper pulling at her chest. "I know. But maybe that's ok," she said softly, her hand still resting on his.
"It doesn't feel ok. It feels heavy and endless."
She sighed, long and deep. "Sometimes. But I think we're just old," she said with a small, teasing smile. He snorted at that, the sound low and rough. "It doesn't have to be so heavy all the time. It can be happy. Remembering can be happy."
"Is that what you do? With Koschei?"
Hally shifted uncomfortably. "Well… Koschei isn't dead." She shot him a look. "So, not really. I mean, I try, but I also just live in endless hope that he'll walk through the front door. Which he never does. So, you know… some might say that's more tragic."
"It's not tragic. He might."
She snorted bitterly. "No, because if he was going to, he already would have done it by now. Time travel, remember?" She gave him a wry look.
The Doctor frowned, deep in thought. "Well… no, not necessarily. If it's you who rescues him, then he wouldn't be able to come back in time and just waltz in through your front door, would he? Because then, you'd never go and rescue him in the first place. Paradoxes."
Hally shot him an exasperated look. "Right… and how exactly am I going to 'rescue' him from a planet we can't find, inside a time lock we can't break, while I'm stuck here on Earth?"
The Doctor shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm not saying that's what's happening. I'm just saying, there will be a reason he hasn't walked through that front door."
A dark look crossed her face, her voice dropping. "Yuhuh. I mean, there could be a pretty simple reason…"
The Doctor's head snapped up, his face creasing in sudden realisation. "No. Don't you dare start thinking that, young lady. I forbid it. I forbid you."
Hally rolled her eyes. "Whatever."
The Doctor, undeterred, pressed on. "No. I know that man—"
"I'd argue that you don't—"
"—and as much as I disagree with everything he ever does, vehemently, it's painfully obvious that he is undoubtedly and irreversibly obsessed with you."
She shot him a look, half-exasperated, half-amused, a silent plea to shut up.
"I mean…" The Doctor gestured dramatically. "That man loving anything apart from himself is baffling. And I'm definitely not sure how I feel about the fact that the only person in the universe he's decided not to hate is you."
Hally's lips twitched in the smallest of smirks. "I'm going to assume that's because I'm your daughter, rather than you insinuating I'm that unlikable."
"Yes. Yes. The first one. Obviously. I mean, come on… you and him? Really? The Master? It just screams—"
"Daddy issues?" A new voice cut in, smooth as ever.
Both of them turned sharply toward the patio doors where River stood, arms crossed, an amused smile playing on her lips.
"River!" The Doctor practically bounced to his feet, a little too enthusiastically. Then he paused, frowning. "Wait… no… that's not what I was going to say."
Hally was laughing now, her shoulders shaking. "She is almost certainly right, though."
"No, no, no... no…" The Doctor stumbled over his words, quite literally stumbling a little as he caught his balance.
River's brow furrowed as she watched him sway. "Are you drunk?"
"I am most certainly not," The Doctor declared with as much dignity as a slightly tipsy Time Lord could muster.
River raised an eyebrow, turning her attention to Hally. "Did you get your father drunk?"
Hally snorted, leaning back in her chair. "He's a grown man, River. I didn't force him to drink it."
River's gaze flickered between the two of them. "Hold on. Are you both drunk?"
Hally shook her head, her expression mock-serious. "No!"
"Definitely not," The Doctor added, a little too quickly.
River just stared at them, unimpressed. "Mmhmm," she hummed, crossing her arms tighter. The corner of her mouth quirked upward as she clearly suppressed a laugh.
The Doctor giggled, yes… giggled, shaking his head. "Everything is a bit floaty, isn't it?"
River sent Hally a playful glare as the younger Time Lady whined, "How is this my fault?"
Without warning, The Doctor pulled River into a tight hug, grinning. "Where have you been?"
"Around," River replied, giving him her usual knowing smile.
"Have you been avoiding me?" he asked, feigning innocence.
"We've been avoiding each other, sweetie," River countered smoothly.
The Doctor paused, taken aback. "We have? Oh..." Then, as if on instinct, he pressed a quick kiss against her lips. "Merry Christmas, River."
She smiled, warmth shining in her eyes. "Merry Christmas, Doctor."
Hally made a dramatic gagging noise. "Gross."
River raised an eyebrow at Hally's comment, an amused smirk playing on her lips. "Gross? Sweetie, this is nothing. You should've seen what he did for our anniversary."
Hally's face scrunched up in horror, her arms crossing instinctively as if to ward off the thought. "Stop. Right now. I'm going to be sick."
The Doctor threw his hands up, eyes wide. "River, no! Don't—"
River's smirk grew wider as she leaned in just a little. "Oh, nothing so sordid as a moor in Scotland in 1901 in a storm, but you know…"
The Doctor blinked, utterly baffled. "Wait—what?"
Hally's eyes snapped to River, her expression a mix of horror and betrayal. "River!" she hissed. "I told you that in confidence!"
The Doctor's face twisted in confusion, glancing rapidly between them. "Is she talking about you?"
Hally's face flushed a deeper shade of red as she tried to backtrack. "No! No, of course not."
River, still grinning like the Cheshire Cat, shrugged nonchalantly. "Oh, I don't know, darling. It was quite the story. Wind howling, rain pouring down… very dramatic."
The Doctor's eyes widened as the realization hit, his voice turning incredulous. "Hally!"
Hally threw up her hands, looking utterly mortified. "Oh my God, River, stop! I am never telling you anything again!"
River chuckled, clearly having too much fun with it all. "Oh, sweetie, don't be so dramatic. You're just lucky I didn't bring up the—"
"Don't you dare finish that sentence!" Hally warned, pointing a threatening finger at her.
The Doctor rubbed his temples. "How am I ever meant to look at him ever again?!"
River revelled in their endless awkwardness. "You do know how pregnancy works right?"
Hally had covered her eyes, as if that would somehow help. "Please stop talking." She whined.
River was chuckling. "Aren't you going to offer me a drink, Hal? Unless the pair of you finished everything off?"
Hally huffed, moving past the two of them. "I've got whiskey."
"Whiskey will do."
The next time he came round they remained sober, and neither of them mentioned the unmistakable twinge of a hangover they'd both definitely experienced on boxing day morning.
They'd planned a walk up Primrose Hill.
The Doctor had offered to take them in the TARDIS but Hally had politely declined, saying she'd rather take the car.
"I'm not saying I don't trust your driving but…"
The Doctor chuckled, giving her a small, knowing smile. "The TARDIS would behave if Lily was on board."
Hally had chewed the inside of her lip. "I know… I know she would, it's just… it sort of terrifies me." She exhaled a laugh, tinged with embarrassment. "Her, travelling in the TARDIS…"
The Doctor's smile softened, his eyes glinting. "Yes… I can… relate to that feeling."
Three years after she'd first put it on, UNIT officially sanctioned the removal of the biodampener. The weight of it, which had felt so heavy and defining, was finally lifted. The patch, however, still remained—a safety net. It had taken hours of therapy, the countless test runs. But officially, she no longer had to wear it.
She could use her power again, cautiously, under watchful eyes, and within limits. Everything was monitored, of course, but it was progress. A freedom of sorts. They had left her with the biodampener, her own safety net that she could use whenever she felt it was necessary. The responsibility was hers now—her choice, her decision to make.
Her role at UNIT continued to shift too. More and more fieldwork, working closely with Kate. They often partnered on projects, a collaboration that had become both professional and, in its own way, personal. Kate was still the boss, of course, the one in charge. But Hally's influence had grown, her voice carrying a definite weight in decision-making. She was perhaps as close to being Kate's second as anyone could be.
Perhaps.
She was sort of nervous about having The Doctor at Lily's third birthday. She wasn't sure why. All the team had obviously met him. More than once. But it'd be the first time when all of her 'people' would be together. The Doctor included. And River. It was… a slightly overwhelming concept.
Nice.
Good for Lily.
She was certainly happy about it.
But still.
She also felt slightly bad that it was Lily's third birthday without many other friends her age. Of course, there was always Anwen and the pair of them loved each other, practically like cousins, and Lily did have friends at the crèche at UNIT. But you know… Lily wasn't a human. Hally's life wasn't normal… but she didn't want Lily to miss out on making friends.
Anyway, for Lily's third birthday, she'd hired a bouncy castle. Gwen had recommended it and Jack had then insisted. Ianto had explained Jack loved bouncy castles.
A few of them were setting up before the party—Jack, Ianto, The Doctor, River (a surprise, as she usually loved making a dramatic late entrance), and Gwen, Rhys, and Anwen. The latter three were outside, while the rest busied themselves with food in the kitchen. Hally and Lily were blowing up balloons—or rather, Hally was, while Lily adorably tried her best. The Doctor, predictably, was juggling balloons, managing to be vaguely useless yet entirely entertained by his own antics.
"Oh, I love birthday parties," he exclaimed, grinning, revelling in a fond memory. "James II once said I plan the best birthday parties!"
Hally couldn't help the eye roll that followed. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Jack watching her, shooting her a look that was part empathy, part subtle reminder to behave.
"And then there was the party for Winston…" The Doctor chuckled to himself, lost in yet another recollection.
Hally ran her tongue across her teeth, fighting the urge to snap. "Huh. I must have missed your professional birthday party-throwing years," she clipped, her voice sharp despite her best efforts.
Jack hummed, the sound low and knowing, like a warning not to push it.
The Doctor picked up on her tone, tracing his eyes over her profile, he shifted uncomfortably. "Well… no one had birthday parties on Gallifrey…"
River and Jack exchanged a look.
"No, but they had birthdays," Hally shot back, the words slipping out as she turned to give Lily a smile, tying off the tiny balloon her daughter had finally managed to inflate.
"We… we've celebrated your birthday," The Doctor offered, almost as if trying to convince himself.
"Yuhuh." Hally's tone was dismissive as she handed another balloon to Lily.
"I… I sent you that book…" he trailed off, thinking hard, his hands absently catching one of the balloons he'd been juggling.
"You sent me a textbook that was four years out of date, on my three-hundredth birthday," she reminded him, not bothering to mask her sarcasm.
The Doctor frowned, clearly not liking where this was going. "No… no, we can't count that. That was before."
"Alright, after then. After Gallifrey. Name a birthday present you've given me." Her tone was light, injected with fake friendliness, not wanting Lily to pick up on the tension in their conversation.
"Umm… well… lots of things," The Doctor stammered, "just maybe not on your birthday."
"TARDIS keys don't count."
He huffed, clearly frustrated. "Birthdays… we lose track."
"The Master didn't."
"Yes, alright," he snapped, visibly annoyed now. "When is my birthday then?"
She shrugged, not interested in playing this particular game.
"Exactly," he muttered, vindicated, though it didn't quite land the way he hoped.
Lily, grinning and blissfully unaware of the simmering undercurrent, clapped her hands. "Mummy's birthday!"
Hally laughed softly, tickling her daughter as a distraction. "Nooo, it's your birthday," she mock-gasped, pulling Lily onto her lap. "Three years old today. So old!"
Lily giggled, her eyes bright with joy.
The Doctor's face lit up with a sudden burst of enthusiasm. "What about a birthday party? Shall we hold a big party for your mummy?"
Before Hally could even open her mouth to shut the idea down, Lily's face was already aglow with excitement. "Yes!"
Hally shot The Doctor a glare.
"Mummy's birthday!" Lily grinned up at her with delight.
Hally let out a soft, exasperated exhale. "Today is your birthday, Lily."
Lily's brow furrowed thoughtfully for a moment, before her face lit up again with a mischievous grin. "Hmmm. Tomorrow!" she declared, as if that solved everything.
The Doctor, entirely undeterred, clapped his hands with infectious enthusiasm. "Tomorrow!"
"But it's not my birthday," Hally replied, the exasperation creeping back into her voice.
"It might be," he countered, grinning with that familiar spark of mischief. "Plus, we should celebrate. You just turned 400, didn't you?"
"Six years ago…" she muttered.
"Well, close enough! You should celebrate the big ones. It's not every day your daughter turns 400."
Hally's eyebrows shot up. "No… it's also not every day that she turns 100, or 200, or 300. And it's also not every day she gets married, or has a baby, or—"
"Yes, yes, yes," The Doctor waved her protests away.
She had to physically grit her teeth together.
Jack stepped in with perfect timing. "You know, Hal, I think I can hear Gwen asking for you…"
"Yep. Yep. Same. I can totally hear that." She quickly rose, placing Lily on her feet before turning toward the door, heading out into the garden before she accidentally murdered her father.
Alina was trying to fully relax. She swore she would, but having Hally and her father in a group setting was just too fascinating not to take mental notes. She could see the tension between them—Hally was evidently annoyed, while The Doctor seemed blissfully unaware. Others, however, were not so oblivious. Jack kept shooting Hally concerned glances, and River was offering her those all-too-familiar 'empathetic' smiles.
Fascinating.
Alina wished she could turn off her brain for the afternoon, she did, but being able to watch Hally and her father actually exist together was such a rarity. Most of what she had learned about their current relationship came from Hally's accounts of his visits. The interactions seemed to go well enough, but Hally's mood regarding her father fluctuated endlessly.
Alina nearly rolled her eyes when River slid into the seat next to her, but she managed to keep her expression neutral.
"It'll never work," River declared, a knowing glint in her eye.
"You don't know what I'm thinking," Alina quipped back, a light smile on her face to avoid drawing attention from anyone who might glance their way.
"I do. He'll never sit down with you," River replied with a smirk.
Alina hummed thoughtfully. "He might if you ask him to."
River snorted. "Alright, he'd say yes, but he'll never actually do it."
"He might if he knows it'll be good for his daughter," Alina countered, a hint of hope creeping into her voice.
"Trust me, he still won't. Getting that man to sit still and talk about something seriously is an impossible task," River replied, shaking her head.
Alina pouted slightly, a frown creasing her forehead. "She's annoyed at him."
"When isn't she?" River quipped.
"Today specifically. He's getting on her nerves," Alina insisted.
"He's being ignorant," River observed with a roll of her eyes.
Alina hummed again, her gaze returning to Hally and The Doctor. "When isn't he?" She clipped back.
The sounds of laughter and chatter filled the air as cake was served to the guests. Hally and Lily lay sprawled out on the bouncy castle, completely absorbed in their own little world. Gwen had been right; it was fun. It was just the two of them on the giant inflatable, their heads resting next to each other as they starfished against the bright, red surface.
"Mummy," Lily's small voice broke through the moment. "Where is Daddy?"
The question momentarily took her breath away. She cleared her throat, a familiar ache creeping into her heart. They had talked about it before, but explaining it to a three-year-old was never easy.
"Daddy is… Daddy is on Gallifrey," she replied gently. "Remember when Mummy was telling you about Gallifrey?"
"Mummy's home," Lily chirped, a hint of understanding in her voice.
Hally hummed softly, feeling a bittersweet smile tug at her lips. "Yes, that's right."
"We can go?" Lily's eyes sparkled with hope.
Hally shifted onto her stomach to look directly at her daughter, the warmth of the sun highlighting Lily's wide, open eyes, filled with determination. "We can't go right now. Daddy is a bit stuck, but he'll come find us."
Lily's brow furrowed as she mirrored Hally's position, propping her chin on her hands. "Why?"
"Why is Daddy stuck?" Hally hesitated, searching for the right words. "Well… there was a bad man… and Daddy had to protect you and Mummy from the bad man…"
"Why?"
"Uhh… because… there was a big fight on Gallifrey… and it made some people do some bad things."
"But why?" Lily pressed, her innocent curiosity unrelenting.
Hally let out a soft breath. "Because… umm… sometimes people just do bad things."
Lily frowned, her mind racing with questions. "So, how will Daddy come?"
"Umm… well… maybe he'll escape? Or maybe we'll find him and get him?"
"Now?"
Hally bit her lip, glancing away for a moment as she gathered her thoughts. "We can't go now… because we have to stay safe. Daddy would want us to be safe."
Lily considered this for a few moments, her expression thoughtful. "Ok. But… soon."
Hally didn't quite know what to say in response. Instead, she leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to her daughter's forehead. "Yeah… soon," she whispered.
Jack had warned her about the 'terrible twos', what no one had warned her about was her daughter's newfound endless curiosity and her favourite new word 'why'.
She didn't mind. Of course, she didn't. She loved her. She loved watching her grow up and learn new things, but there were some things about their life that were harder to explain than others.
"Mummy has to go to work."
"Why?"
"Grandad is coming on Sunday."
"Why?"
"Because Grandad travels in Space and Time…"
"Why?"
"You can't have ice cream for breakfast."
"Why?"
Hally was pulled from sleep by the soft creak of her bedroom door opening. Blinking against the darkness, her eyes adjusted to the low light, seeing the small silhouette of her daughter standing hesitantly in the doorway.
"Hey, sweetheart. What's wrong?" Hally's voice emerged in a gentle hum, laced with the remnants of sleep.
Lily paused for a moment, her tiny frame shuddering slightly, and Hally could hear the tell-tale noise of sniffling. "I had a nightmare…" came the quiet reply.
"Hey…" Hally filled her voice with empathy, shifting to pull the duvet aside. "Come here." Lily wasted no time, climbing onto the bed and nestling against Hally's chest. The familiar warmth of her daughter was comforting, and Hally instinctively wrapped her arms around her, rubbing a soothing hand down Lily's back.
Hally was certainly not the type to do her best parenting the middle of the night. She knew she was supposed to take Lily back to her bed, but the cosiness of the bed and the snuggles were too precious to disrupt. She pressed a kiss to Lily's forehead, whispering, "Mummy's got you." Her eyes fluttered closed, a semi-conscious nostalgia creeping in as she briefly missed the simplicity of the crib days. At least with a crib, she didn't have to worry about Lily wandering off and falling down the stairs. Jack had put up stair gates, but still, the thought lingered in the back of her mind.
As if summoned by her thoughts, Jack's shadow fell across her doorway. He'd been staying in the office while Ianto was visiting Wales for the weekend. Hally offered him a soft groan, a sound that clearly conveyed her message: 'Yes, I know I'm not doing what I'm supposed to be doing, but please just leave me alone.'
"Everything ok?" he whispered, his voice barely above a hush.
"Mmhmm." Hally's reply was sleepily content. "Nightmare cuddles."
Jack chuckled softly. "Shall we put Lily back to bed?"
"No." Lily's voice was muffled, petulant.
Hally smiled, her eyes still closed. "You heard, Harkness. Lily says no."
"Lily is three… she doesn't make the rules…" Jack pointed out gently, but there was a hint of amusement in his tone.
"I'm afraid she definitely does," Hally replied, feeling a warmth spreading through her chest as she snuggled her daughter closer.
"Jack cuddle too." Lily whined, her words muffled by Hally's embrace.
Hally pressed another kiss to Lily's forehead. "Jack wants to sleep in his own bed," she explained gently.
Lily shook her head vigorously, whining into Hally's chest.
"Go to sleep, sweetheart. I've got you," Hally reassured, hoping to soothe her daughter back to a state of calm.
But Lily's sniffling persisted, and her fidgeting only increased the tension in the air. Hally let out a soft sigh. "Jack, just get in so we can all sleep."
Jack hesitated, clearly trying to resist the heart-wrenching sound of Lily's sniffling. But soon enough, he relented, slipping into the bed on the other side of Lily. Hally wrapped her arms around her daughter, while Jack gently stroked Lily's hair, the three of them forming a protective cocoon around her.
"There we go," Hally murmured, her voice soothing and sleepy. "We've got you…"
Three somehow swiftly turned into four, and with that came a whole horde of other things. Jack had been bringing her school brochures for months, each one neatly folded and slid across her desk with a cheerful smile and an encouraging nudge. Hally had been actively avoiding them, deflecting his well-meaning persistence with a light-hearted laugh or a quick change of subject. It wasn't until Alina had started bringing some out during their sessions that Hally reluctantly acknowledged the reality of it: school.
Sending Lily to school was a discussion that loomed large in Hally's mind, fraught with implications and what-ifs. The topic had even been serious enough to warrant a UNIT team meeting—one that Hally had actually been invited to. Sitting in the UNIT boardroom, surrounded by the familiar faces of Kate, Jack, Armitage, and Alina. They had come to an agreement: having Lily attend school was the best option. It would fully integrate her into society, allowing her to socialise properly and learn alongside her peers.
Hally wasn't overly concerned about the initial years; she knew Lily would likely develop faster than the others in her class. The difference would probably be manageable and explainable until Lily turned around nine or ten. Armitage had assured her that he would continue to oversee Lily's security, regardless of where they chose to send her. He would survey the school, check everything out first, and continue to tail her throughout. This had certainly helped ease her immediate worry about sending her somewhere outside of their current bubble.
There was also the possibility that Lily might start showing signs of other abilities, but Hally hadn't seen any indication of that yet. She had decided, for now, to deal with any surprises as they arose.
Jack and Hally spent hours poring over school prospectuses, checking catchment areas and discussing Alina's recommendations, which had helped them narrow down their shortlist.
They had already visited three schools together, none of which had felt quite right to Hally. They were due to visit the fourth that day, booked for a full tour that included meeting the teachers and inspecting the facilities. Perhaps it seemed a bit excessive for a primary school, but given… well everything, it felt entirely necessary.
Hally was pulling her hair up into a ponytail when her phone buzzed on the bedside table. She picked it up, squinting at the screen as she saw Kate's name flash before her.
"Hey…" she answered.
"Hi Hally. I know you've booked the morning off… but we've got an emergency. A Sontaran escape pod has crash-landed in Leicester Square." Kate clipped, always highly efficient and getting straight to the point.
Hally's hearts sank a little, resolve pooling in her stomach. "Huh… Yeah, that's… not great. Ok…" She let out a soft sigh. "I'm on my way."
She rushed downstairs, finding Jack in the kitchen, grabbing a quick bite. "Jack," she said, a mixture of apology and mild irritation behind her words. "We've got Sontaran's in Leicester Square." She pulled a face at him.
He hummed and nodded slowly, pulling his phone from his pocket. "Well, I'm sure they'll reschedule."
A frown pulled at her face and she pouted. "No…"
He looked back up at her, an eyebrow raised.
"You should still go. I can deal with the Sontarans and you can do the tour. You know if I'll like it or not. I trust you." She gave him a knowing smile.
Jack nodded, though concern flickered across his face. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah. Just get a good sense of it for me and report back." She managed a smile, hoping to reassure him.
By the time she arrived at Leicester Square, chaos was well and truly reigning. UNIT had managed to cordon off part of the area, but civilians were running around, screams filling the air as the Sontarans did their usual.
Once the area had been fully evacuated, Kate stepped in to begin to attempt negotiations. Hally hung back, Hart just to her left as they watched. Her arms crossed over her chest, she knew Kate's negotiation attempts weren't going to work and she couldn't pretend like she wasn't itching to jump in.
"On behalf of the Unified Intelligence Task Force," Kate called out, her voice projecting authority, "we have the area surrounded. If you do not return to your ship and leave this planet, or turn yourselves over, we will be forced to bring you in by force."
"Puny humans and their primitive weaponry," one of the six Sontarans retorted, their tone dripping with contempt.
Hally felt an eager energy surge through her, a rush of adrenaline igniting her senses. She and Hart were practically bouncing in place, the thrill of action calling to them. Kate shot Hally a sideways glance, her expression clearly asking if she should be concerned about how eager Hally was.
"No…" Hally mouthed, suppressing a grin. "She just doesn't get out of the house much these days," Hart chimed in, a smirk dancing on his lips.
Kate's eyes scanned their military effort, assessing the futility of their weapons against the Sontarans. She knew bullets wouldn't work against them, and with a resigned sigh, she waved them on. "Fine. Just be careful."
With that, Hally and Hart wasted no time springing into action. The air crackled with excitement as they charged forward. Hally channelled her power, feeling the energy crackle at her fingertips as she focused on the nearest Sontaran, sending the creature flying off its feet.
"Go for the vent on the back of their necks!" Hally barked towards Hart, as he darted alongside her.
Another Sontaran stumbled, surprise etched on its grotesque face as it hit the ground with a heavy thud. A surge of exhilaration washed over Hally. She couldn't help but laugh as she took down another, knocking it sideways into a nearby lamppost, the sound of metal clanging against metal echoing through the square.
Hart took out one of them as she knocked the final one down with a wave of crackling energy. A victorious smirk spread across his face as he watched, surveying the floor, now littered with the fallen fighters. "I love it when she goes all wicked witch of the west!"
That evening, Hally returned home to Jack and Ianto in her kitchen. She stepped inside, kicking off her shoes and letting out a sigh that blended relief with fatigue.
"How was your day?" Jack asked, his voice warm and inviting as he leaned against the kitchen counter.
"Good," Hally replied, a hint of pride creeping into her tone. "Sent some Sontarans packing."
Jack's eyebrows shot up. "Really? Impressive." He shot her a grin.
"How was yours? How was the school?" She pressed lightly.
"You know, it was good. Like, actually good," Jack said, a smile breaking across his face. "UNIT and Torchwood have already checked it out. The teachers have all been there for years, high security… Armitage is happy, which never happens. I've made a load of notes, you can read through." He brought up his phone, unlocked it and handed it to her.
She nodded, humming with interest, scanning through his thoughts.
"The Headmistress is a bit weird. Scottish. Sometimes. Kind of hot." He hummed.
Her face split into a faux grimace, snorting. "Oh, please don't."
He chuckled low in his chest.
A playful smile tugged at her lips for a moment or two before her lip moved to roll between her teeth. "Okay. Well… is that a decision?" She looked up towards both of them, a hint of uncertainty in her voice.
"If you're happy, we're all happy," Jack replied, his voice sincere, his eyes locking onto hers with an assuredness that put her at ease.
She trusted them all, the team, if they were happy, then it would be ok.
"Yeah," she finally said, her voice steady and filled with conviction. "I'm happy."