The Doctor was out of her seat in a heartbeat, as she pulled Clara into a big affectionate hug. "Clara Oswald! I just don't believe it! It's really you!"
"It certainly is," confirmed Clara happily. "I take it you remember me now?"
"Oh yes," said the Doctor, as she reluctantly broke the embrace. "I got my memories back just before I last regenerated. Bit of a long story."
Jenny smiled as she watched the joyous reunion. She had heard about Clara, who had been companion to the Doctor's previous two incarnations. The 'Impossible Girl', as she was sometimes referred to, had been through much with the Doctor, such as being with him on the day he saved Gallifrey, and overtime she had became as reckless and obsessed with adventure as he tended to be. This had ultimately cost her dearly, as she had tragically gotten herself killed by a Quantum Shade known as the Raven, and the only reason she was here now was because she had been extracted from her own fixed point of death in her timeline by the Doctor using an extraction chamber on Gallifrey. Following this, the Doctor had his memory of Clara erased, while the Impossible Girl went off travelling in her own TARDIS with an immortal girl who used to be a viking called Ashildr, who had taken to calling herself 'Me'.
The Doctor turned her attention to Clara's companion. "Hello, Me. Been keeping well?"
Me gave a courteous nod. "Time has been treating me quite nicely, thank you," she said, her voice a mix of mischief and sophistication. "Do I take it you're no longer angry with me?"
"Nah, we're good!" grinned the Doctor. "Well, this is certainly an unexpected twist! What are you doing here?"
"Same as you, I guess, having a nice night out," replied Clara. "We were sitting at one of the nearby tables when you got here, though it took us a while to realise who you were!"
The Doctor chuckled. "Ah, yeah, I've had a few changes since we last met."
"Understatement of the millennium," said Clara with a wink.
The Doctor gestured for them to join them at the table. "Clara, Me, this is my daughter Jenny. Jenny, these are two very important people from my last life, Clara Oswald, the Impossible Girl, and Ashildr, but she prefers to be known as 'Me'."
"Hi," Jenny said with a friendly smile.
Clara's eyes boggled in surprise. "Your daughter?!" she exclaimed at the Doctor.
The Doctor smirked at the surprised look on Clara's face. "Yes, the one I found and thought I had lost on Messaline. I believe I did tell you about her once, remember?"
Clara took a seat, her eyes shimmering with excitement. "Oh my goodness! I mean, it's so wonderful to meet you, Jenny!" she said almost giddily. "Sorry if I'm seeming flabbergasted. It's just that when I heard about you, I gathered you were supposed to be dead."
"So I heard were you!" chuckled Jenny.
Me took a step forward and offered her own hand to Jenny. "It's very nice to meet you, Jenny. I've heard so much about you," she said in a gentle, melodic voice.
Jenny took her hand, feeling the warmth and the steady pulse of life that seemed to radiate from her. Me's eyes sparkled with kindness, and she gave Jenny a knowing smile, as if she understood all the complexities of being a Time Lady's daughter.
"Likewise," said Jenny with a friendly smile. "Mum told me a bit about you two, while she was first telling me about some of the stuff she had been up to since we last saw each other."
Clara's eyes sparkled with mischief as she looked at the Doctor. "I can imagine what kind of stories she's been telling you," she said.
The Doctor's cheeks flushed a little. "Well, I might have embellished a few details here and there," she admitted with a wink.
Clara's gaze took in the Doctor's new female form. "Well, I must admit, I wasn't expecting to meet you like this," she said with a grin, looking over the Doctor's rather attractive appearance.
The Doctor raised an eyebrow. "What, you think I don't suit the look?" she replied playfully.
Clara's cheeks flushed a little. "No, quite the opposite. You look incredible. I just wasn't expecting to find you so... beautiful. I've known you as a man for so long, it's going to take a bit of getting used to. But I like it, really, it suits you!"
Me nodded in agreement. "Indeed, you are quite the picture, Doctor," she said, her voice filled with genuine admiration. "This form suits you well, as does being a mother."
The Doctor grinned. "Thanks, you two. It's still quite new to me, but I've grown rather fond of it all. Though speaking of appearances, what's with the Time Lord ceremonial get-up, Clara?"
"Now that's quite a tale," said Clara, as the waiter brought over some cocktails for them. "I take it you fully remember what happened after we escaped from Gallifrey?"
"Yes, not my best day that was," said the Doctor a little shamefacedly. "I broke all my rules that day, risked everything, just to get you back."
Clara squeezed the Doctor's hand reassuringly. "Hey, after the way you had been put through hell by Rassilon, you can't be blamed for going a bit off the rails the way you did. And I made some pretty bad choices too, remember? Perhaps if I had been less reckless and arrogant myself, maybe things would have been different."
"Maybe..." said the Doctor, though she did not looked convinced. "Anyway, so what did happen to you after you dropped me off on Earth?"
"We went travelling in our own TARDIS," replied Me. "Intending to go back to Gallifrey the long way round. Since Clara's death was a fixed point in time, we knew that one day she would have to be returned to face the Raven. But there was no real rush to get back. Since Clara was now effectively immortal, like I am, we had a bit of 'wiggle room'. That's how you put it, wasn't it?"
"It certainly was," said Clara, as she sipped her cocktail. "So for the next few centuries, we went on our own travels, all through time and space, having crazy adventures of our own."
"And got hitched along the way?" said Jenny teasingly.
The Doctor blinked. "Say what?"
Jenny laughed and pointed at the silver rings that Clara and Me wore on the fourth finger of their respective left hands. "Honestly, Mum, you can be a bit slow on the uptake at times. These two are married!"
The Doctor looked at Clara and Me in surprise. "Really? Clara Oswald, you got married? To Ashildr? When did that happen?"
Clara and Me exchanged a knowing smile. "Let's just say we had a bit of time on our hands," Clara said coyly.
The Doctor gave a merry laugh. "In all my regenerations, I never thought I'd see the day!"
Clara chuckled, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Well, you know, when you're stuck with someone for centuries, you tend to get to know them pretty well. And Me, she's been... she's been everything I never knew I needed," she said, looking into Me's eyes with an affection that was palpable.
"I never really expected to fall in love again either," admitted Me to the Doctor. "As you may recall, I had even vowed never to get close to someone again, since I'd end up outliving them. But to our mutual surprise, Clara and I became closer than either of us expected, and I decided, for once, to take a risk, to live in the moment. And so, we did. It was a beautiful wedding ceremony, on a rather gorgeous planet. It was so... transcendental."
"Ah, that sounds so romantic," said Jenny, as she smiled at the love between Clara and Me, which was so palpable it was almost tangible.
"It most certainly was," said Clara. "But we knew that I would have to return to Gallifrey eventually, so that I could be returned to the moment of my death. So, after a few more centuries, we reluctantly went back."
"But you're here right now, and very much alive," the Doctor pointed out.
Me nodded. "Yes, we kinda got the temporal co-ordinates wrong and landed on Gallifrey a couple of thousand years after you and Clara left the Time Lords standing around like idiots in the Matrix. You know, Time Lord society has changed a lot since you had left it, Doctor. They've more or less gone back to their policy of non-intervention in the affairs, but they are much less obsessed with power than they used to be. Now they're more dedicated to art and culture, and they have even started to allow time travel for non-military purposes again."
"I'm glad to hear that," said the Doctor. "But it still doesn't explain why Clara hasn't been returned to the moment of her death. It is a fixed point in time after all."
Clara looked slightly nervous as Me spoke up. "Well, there's been a bit of a...complication. You see, while Me and I spent all that time travelling, the Time Lords had been busy. They'd been working on a new kind of time technology, something that could potentially rewrite history itself, even fixed points."
The Doctor was appalled. "That's an utterly stupid and dangerous thing to do! After all the horrors inflicted upon the universe by the Time War, the Time Lords still messed around with the fabric of reality? Who came up with such an irresponsible idea?"
"The Time War General, Kenossium," replied Me. "She felt somewhat guilty for her part in your imprisonment in the Confession Dial for all that time, as well as for what happened to Clara. She wanted to find some way to make amends. Anyway, to cut a long and pretty unpleasant story short, the device worked apparently, meaning that Clara does not have to face the Raven now, though it apparently cost the General's own life. Clara and I did not learn about this until we arrived on Gallifrey, millennia after the event had occurred."
The Doctor's expression grew solemn. "So you're here because of that device?" she asked, her voice low.
"Yep," Clara nodded, a glint of regret in her eyes at the knowledge that someone had given their life so that she could live forever. "I'm still immortal, still stuck between one heartbeat and the next. It's kinda tough, but at least it doesn't mean that Me will be left all alone now, and the Time Lords of that time zone we arrived at are, if you don't mind me saying so, much more pleasant company than the previous lot. They offered us a chance to live on Gallifrey, and we both figured, why not?"
"Clara subsequently studied at the Time Lord academy and passed with flying colours," said Me a little boastfully. "She's now one of the very few human Time Ladies in Gallifrey's history."
The Doctor looked at Clara with a newfound sense of pride. "So you're now an official Time Lady, huh?"
Clara blushed. "I know, it's crazy, right? Not to mention ironic, since I had called the Time Lords 'monsters' after all they had put you through. But I have to admit, it's pretty amazing to be part of the culture that created you, even if it's not quite the same as when you knew it. And I now teach at the Time Lord academies, like how I used to teach at Coal Hill School."
"I guess that explains your stylish robes," commented Jenny.
Clara grinned. "I've just gotten used to wearing this thing regularly now. They're still quite keen on ceremony and tradition on Gallifrey, even though they've been more progressive than they used to. But it's not all bad. I've learned so much about the fabric of the universe that even you haven't taught me, Doctor. That's how Me and I knew about Maruthea. We like to come here every now and then for a good time."
"Oh, so you know about Maruthea's history?" said the Doctor. "The last great relocation during the Time War?"
Clara nodded. "Yes, I studied it extensively at the academy. It's a fascinating place, a real nexus of space and time. And the parties here are so legendary! It's a terrific place to hang about."
Jenny laughed. "So you two are like the cool time travellers who come here to party?"
"Well, we do like to let our hair down every millennium or so," Me said, her eyes twinkling mischievously.
Jenny laughed. "It's definitely a change from our usual heart-stopping, world-saving escapades, isn't it, Mum?" she said.
The Doctor nodded, a wistful smile playing on her lips. "Indeed it is, Jenny. It's been a while since I've had a proper night out, especially one that doesn't end with me outsmarting a Dalek or two. And it's also nice to enjoy a Christmas without things exploding every five minutes!"
Clara gave another chuckle, then her expression grew slightly more serious. "And how have you been, really?" she asked, looking into the Doctor's eyes.
The Doctor took a deep breath, letting the warmth of the moment wash over her. "You know, Clara, since my latest regeneration, I've been... happy. Properly happy for the first time in so, so many centuries. It's strange to say it out loud, but it's true. This new life, as a mother, it's just...it's something I never thought I'd experience."
Clara's smile grew even wider. "That's fantastic to hear. You've always been so lonely, Doctor," she said gently. "But you're not anymore, are you?"
The Doctor's eyes misted over just a little. "No, Clara, I'm not. Having Jenny in my life has...it's changed everything."
"We're still getting used to the whole thing," admitted Jenny. "But so far it is turning out to be the best adventure we've ever had!"
"We're glad to hear it," said Me. "I hope you didn't mind us walking in on your mother/daughter time like this?"
Jenny grinned. "Well, it's definitely a surprise. But it's also pretty cool to meet some of Mum's old friends. Plus, you guys are hardly a dull addition to our night out!"
"And besides," added the Doctor, "it is Christmas. A time for reunions and surprises, no?" She took a sip of her drink, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "So, tell me everything. What have you been up to since Gallifrey? Any...interesting adventures?"
Clara leaned in, her eyes alight with excitement. "Oh, you wouldn't believe the places we've been, the people we've met. It's been incredible. But we've had our share of trouble, too. There was this one time with the Krotons, and another with a couple of Weeping Angels on a planet full of erupting volcanoes. There was also a clash with some Daleks on Epsilon-Gamma, and don't even get us started on the time we got stuck in a time loop with a sentient sun that kept trying to sing us to death..."
And so the foursome spent the next few hours engaged in lively banter, sharing tales of their respective adventures, as they enjoyed each other's company. The Doctor told Clara and Me how she had come to be reunited with Jenny, and she also spoke of her newfound joy in parenthood, the challenges and the wonders it brought. Jenny, in turn, revealed the excitement and sometimes overwhelming nature of her life, trying to balance her Time Lord heritage with her desire for adventure. And Clara and Me regaled them with more tales of their escapades, the laughter echoing through the cosmic-themed restaurant as they recounted battles with old enemies and the discovery of new wonders.
The ambiance of the Infinite Banquet grew increasingly festive as another group of performers took to the stage, their voices weaving together in a symphony of Christmas carols that resonated throughout the cosmic restaurant. The music was an intergalactic tapestry, a blend of familiar tunes and melodies from distant worlds, creating an atmosphere that was at once comforting and thrilling. The feelings of joy and peace grew stronger with each note, and the audience of diverse species clapped and sang along in their unique ways, their laughter melding into the harmony.
Jenny leaned back in her chair, her eyes taking in the sight of the glittering lights and decorations that adorned the restaurant. She felt a warmth in her chest that was unlike anything she had felt before, a warmth that seemed to fill every atom of her being.
"You know," she said quietly, turning to the Doctor, "I've attended a couple of festive events on some of the planets I had visited on my own, but tonight feels like my first proper experience of what Christmas is all about."
A soft smile played on the Doctor's lips. "Christmas is special," she said. "It's about coming together, sharing joy, and hoping for a better tomorrow." She took a moment to savour the festive spirit before continuing, her eyes glazed over with fond memories: "Remind me to tell you someday about the first one. Now that was a truly special night."
The conversation flowed as freely as the drinks, the Doctor and her companions lost in the joy of reconnecting. But as the evening grew later, the time eventually came for Clara and Me to take their leave.
"We have to be going," said Clara, rising from her seat and adjusting her robes. "We've got a bit of a schedule to keep, you know how it is with the whole being a Time Lord tutor thing."
"Yes, I certainly do," the Doctor said softly, as she and Clara exchanged warm hugs, the kind that held centuries of friendship and shared experiences within them.. "But it's been wonderful seeing you both again, Clara. It's been far too long."
"It certainly has," said Clara. "I have missed you. We've been through some incredible experiences together, from battling Ice Warriors on a submarine to dealing with an alien Mummy on the Orient Express. As I said before, those were amongst the best years of my life."
"They were mine too," smiled the Doctor, before she suddenly recalled: "Do you remember that tune I played on the guitar in your cafe, just after I had my memories wiped? That was definitely about you."
Clara's eyes grew misty at the memory. "Oh, I do. It was beautiful. Just like the person who had composed it."
Clara leaned over and gave the Doctor an affectionate peck on the cheek, then stepped aside to allow Me to embrace the Doctor, the two sharing a warm, knowing smile. "Merry Christmas, Me," the Doctor said softly. "Thank you for taking care of Clara and giving her the life she deserves."
"Merry Christmas to you too, Doctor," Me replied, her eyes sparkling with affection, as she took Clara's hand. "I'm sorry we can't stay any longer, but our TARDIS is parked in the docking bay, and since it's still stuck in the shape of an American Diner, it might attract an unwanted queue of customers if we leave it there too long. Plus, we have a little... appointment with a couple of Silurians who've lost their way in the 22nd century."
The Doctor chuckled. "Ah, the old timey-wimey wibbly-wobbly lifestyle. It never changes, does it?"
Me grinned again, then turned to Jenny. "Well, so long, Jenny. It's been great meeting you. I'm so glad that your Mum had found you again."
"Thank you, Me. I hope we'll see each other again soon," Jenny said, her voice filled with genuine warmth.
"Oh and don't forget, you clever girl," Clara winked at the Doctor. "Run, remember, and be a Doctor."
As Clara and Me turned to leave, the Doctor watched them weave their way through the crowded restaurant. She felt a tug at both her hearts, a bittersweet reminder of all she had lost and gained over her long lifetimes.
"Mum, are you okay?" Jenny's voice brought her back to the present.
The Doctor took a deep breath and nodded, waving off her daughter's concern. "I'm fine, Jenny. Just a bit... overwhelmed with nostalgia, that's all." She watched as Clara and Me disappeared into the bustling crowd, their forms swallowed by the kaleidoscope of colours and alien species that filled the space station.
"It's strange," she murmured. "I've ended up saying goodbye to Clara so many times, and every time felt tough. But this time, it's different. I feel like I've got some positive closure, as if everything worked out happily in the end."
Jenny nodded. She could see the sadness in her mother's eyes, but also something else—a look of peaceful acceptance. "They do seem happy," she offered. "Clara and Me."
The Doctor turned back to her daughter with a smile. "They do, don't they?" she said, wiping away a rogue tear. "And that's all I could ever wish for them. For all of us, really."
Jenny nodded, understanding the unspoken depth behind her mother's words. "You know, Mum, the night is still young," she reminded her, guiding her back to their table.
The Doctor's smile grew a little brighter at that. "You're right," she said, her eyes sparkling again with excitement. "OnMaruthea, a single night is like two days on Earth. Plenty of time for more celebration!"
And so they continued to enjoy themselves, and as the Christmas symphony of the stars performed on stage wove its way through the fabric of the place, the Doctor and Jenny sat in quiet companionship, enjoying the simple pleasure of a mother-daughter dinner out, knowing that no matter where their travels took them, they would always find their way back to moments like this.
As the evening continued to go by, the anticipation in the air grew palpable. The Doctor glanced up at the large holographic screens that surrounded the restaurant, which were now displaying a countdown to the grand finale of the night—the legendary Maruthean fireworks display. The numbers ticked down from fifty, to thirty, to twenty, the excitement in the room building to a crescendo.
On stage, Nick Zendar announced the next act with a flourish. "Ladies, gentlemen, and esteemed beings of all species," he boomed into the microphone, his voice carrying over the murmur of the audience, "get ready for a spectacle that will illuminate the very fabric of time itself! The Maruthean Christmas fireworks!"
The Doctor's eyes widened with childlike excitement. "Oh, I've heard about these," she whispered to Jenny. "They're supposed to be the most magnificent in the multiverse."
As the countdown hit zero, the entire room grew silent. A sudden hush fell over the crowd, as if the very air was holding its breath in anticipation. Then, with a thunderous crack that seemed to resonate through the very soul of the space station, the first burst of light filled the sky outside. The Doctor and Jenny's jaws dropped as they stared out of the vast windows that lined the restaurant's walls, watching the display unfold before them.
The fireworks were like nothing they had ever seen. Words were not enough to describe the full spectacle of the event. They did not just explode in the sky; they danced and weaved, painting intricate patterns that spelled out messages in the ancient language of the stars themselves. They were a symphony of light and sound, a celebration of life that transcended the barriers of space and time.
The Doctor and Jenny watched in awe, their eyes glued to the ever-changing tapestry of light. Each burst of colour, some of which they could not name, seemed to have a story to tell, each twirl and fizzle a part of the grand narrative that was the fabric of existence itself. The vibrant explosions of colour were not just pretty lights; they were a declaration of joy and peace that resonated through every corner of the cosmos.
The Doctor leaned back in her chair, her hands steepled in front of her face, a rare expression of pure contentment playing on her features. The fireworks reminded her of the endless potential of the universe, the beauty that could be found in the chaos and destruction of creation.
"You know, Jenny," she said, after the waiter had brought over another bottle of champagne for them, "I've had so many memorable Christmases over my last few lives. Chasing ghosts with Charles Dickens; sword fighting with the Sycorax; fending off evil snowmen; riding Santa's sleigh... But this Christmas, right here, is probably one of the best of all for me."
Jenny's eyes sparkled with happiness. "I'll drink to that," she said, raising her glass in a toast. "Merry Christmas, Mum."
"Merry Christmas, Jenny," the Doctor replied, her voice full of emotion. They clinked their glasses together, the sound ringing out like a bell in the festive din of the Infinite Banquet, the sweetness and effervescence of the champagne, along with the bright colours of the festive fireworks, echoing the joy in their hearts.
Coming Soon: Incursion Of The Zerons
I hope everyone enjoyed this festive chapter. I'll be taking a break from this story for now, to concentrate on Christmas and New Year, as well as some other FanFiction projects I have in mind. But I fully intend to write more adventures for the 13th Doctor and Jenny at some point in the new year. Until then, in the words of the First Doctor:
A Happy Christmas to all of you at home!