DoctorDonna

Chapter 7: Invitations

-*-*-

The Doctor shook his head with a smirk. The picture was finally complete. "You always were her favorite, Donna. She was determined to keep you alive. The TARDIS has been a part of many of my regenerations, always goes better when she is. The Heart of the TARDIS holds immense energy and healing power for a Time Lord." The Doctor took her hands in his as he continued to explain. "She gave of her heart to ensure that you lived, Donna. Because of my mistake, taking your memories, we had to take the long way around to get there. But she saved you. The TARDIS. Drawn to you that first day because of the Huon particles held within her heart, and now it seems, tied to you forever. The TARDIS changed our song. I would have died that day in Naismith Castle, had you not come and saved me. I was going to step into that chamber and save Wilf, so he could go back home to you. But you brought Shaun with you and he sacrificed himself. I would have died or regenerated that day. I would have never had you in my life again, Donna Noble. She saved us both that day when the metacrisis happened. She saw it all and she changed our song."

Tears. Tears were falling down the faces of all the Time Lords and the Time Ladies in the room. As the four of them moved to sit down in the large circle and raised their hands into the air with the Ood to join in their new song, far away on a snowy hill the TARDIS thrummed with delight as the song filled each and every corner, nook, and cranny of her being. And her Heart, which contained so many things: the space-time element, Huon particles, vortex energy, and in its sentient state –love. Now it filled with even more love for her Lords and Ladies of Time.

-*-*-

It was hours later when the group of travelers stepped back out of the warehouse.

"Ood Sigma, I can't thank you enough for calling us back. If it hadn't been for you, I don't know if we'd have ever found Jenny again. I wouldn't have even known to look for her. I owe you a great debt."

"There is no debt, Doctor. The DoctorDonna saved the Ood." Ood Sigma bowed towards the Doctor.

"Now, one more matter of business to attend to." The Doctor turned towards Jenny. "Jenny, will you join us on the TARDIS? I'm sure the Ood wouldn't mind keeping your ship here while you travel with dear old dad." He smiled hopefully at his daughter.

"Will I!? Of course, I will!" She jumped into a hug with her father.

They said their goodbyes to Sigma Ood and began their walk back to the TARDIS, the song of the Ood and the new song of the DoctorDonna still gently flowing through their minds. A while later, as they approached the TARDIS, the Doctor was watching Jenny for her reaction.

"Um, where's the ship?" Jenny looked around in confusion.

Donna grinned. "You see that blue box sitting on top of the hill?"

"Yes." Jenny still had a look of confusion on her face.

"That's the TARDIS," James added to the conversation.

Jenny couldn't hide her shock. "That is a spaceship? That is the TARDIS?"

Donna chuckled as they arrived at the entrance to the ship. "Poor Old Girl, always getting underestimated because of her appearance. Another reason she and I get along so well."

"You are beautiful," the Doctor blurted out as he looked at Donna, then blushed as he realized what he had verbalized. "And so is she." He patted the side of the ship before pulling out his key and unlocking the door.

He opened the door and ushered them in. James and Donna allowed Jenny in first and stepped in after her, the Doctor followed and closed the door behind them. "Jenny, welcome to the TARDIS! Time and—" he stopped his prepared speech in mid-sentence as he turned around to see the control room. "She's redecorated!" As he looked around he realized it wasn't that the room really looked terribly different, it had just expanded a bit. Still the same walls, same coral struts, but there was a great deal more room around the console, and more seating!