Doctor Who: Ruby Sunday

3.

''I met her, Mum.''

''You did? Sweetheart, that's wonderful! What's she like?'

Ruby tried to gauge her mother's reaction, looking for any signs of disappointment or regret, but if there were any, Carla didn't show them. Slightly taken aback by this - in a good way - she started to ramble. ''She's so nice and kind. We chatted over a coffee until she had to get to work. Did you know she's a nurse working on the paediatric ward? She has a partner, and they've just adopted a dog from a local shelter. They named it 'Bear,' because it looks a bit like a teddy bear. Isn't that the cutest thing?''

Carla smiled. ''It sounds like she's someone who has her heart in the right place.'' She took Ruby's hand. How did it make you feel, meeting her for the first time?''

Now, it was Ruby's turn to smile. She felt like she was glowing again, savouring the memory of meeting her birth mother for the first time. ''Oh Mum, I can't even begin to explain it. It felt so strange and so right at the same time. Like it was meant to happen.'' She took a deep breath, finding the next part a bit difficult to share. ''She apologised for leaving me at that church, so I'd made sure to tell her that there's nothing to apologise for. That everything worked out, and I'm grateful for what she did for me.'' She squeezed Carla's hand, receiving a soft smile in return. ''I told her about you, and how you're the reason I've had such an amazing childhood.'' More tears welled up behind her eyes, but she held them back. ''I've made sure she knows about you and everything you've done for me.''

Carla was clearly touched by this revelation and gave her an uncertain nod. ''I'm sure you did, and it's great that you got to meet her. I'm so glad you found her. It's what you've always wanted.'' Her voice was softer than before.

''Yes, yes, me too, but that doesn't mean that I'm thinking any less of you, now that I've met her.'' She needed to make sure that her mother knew, it was all she could think about. ''You've always been, and will always be my Mum. You're the most important person in my life. That's never going away, and there's no one who can take your place.''

Carla's eyes watered too, but she offered Ruby a brave smile. ''It's okay, I know. And the only thing I want as your mother is for you to be happy. It broke my heart Ruby, when you got the call from that TV programme saying they couldn't find her. I saw how much you needed answers, all of those years. I felt terrible for not being able to give them to you myself and how much it pained you to not know where you came from.''

The tears Ruby had been holding back finally spilled over, wetting her face.

'Don't worry about me, my darling.' Carla wiped away a tear that was about to fall from her daughter's chin.

''How did you know I...?''

''Mother's know,'' she simply replied. ''But I don't want you to hold back, because you're afraid of hurting my feelings. You're not.''

Ruby hugged her. ''Thanks Mum. Love you.''

''Love you too.''

She let out a sigh of relief, her body finally relaxing in her mother's safe arms.

Carla was the first to pull back. ''I would love to meet her too.'' It was quite a blunt request, she quickly seemed to realise. ''If that's what you and she want, of course,'' she added.

It was important to Ruby that both of her mothers met, but she needed to sort some things out for herself before she was ready for family introductions. The internal struggle she felt—not wanting to let her mother down but also needing more space—made her pause briefly before replying. "Absolutely. I want you to meet her too, and I'll make sure to invite her over for tea at some point. But for now, I think I need a bit more time alone with her, to get to know her better. Take it slow, you know? We only had a short while to talk in the cafe."

''Yes of course, I understand,'' Carla mumbled.

The guilt Ruby had felt before crept back. "Mum..."

"No, no, it's fine, really. I get it, I do. I've just always wanted to tell her about you, that's all."

''I know, and you will. I make sure you can tell her all about me. As much as you want. You can tell her about our extended family, share school anecdotes, show her pictures... Even the embarrassing ones.''

They both stared at each other and burst into laughter at the same time.

''Even the one of you dressed up as David Bowie?'' Carla asked, tongue in cheek.

''Even that one,'' Ruby agreed with a big grin.

''Oh come here, you silly girl.'' Carla pulled Ruby towards her. "I love you, and I'm so proud of you. I guess I don't say that enough, but I really mean it." She pulled back and sought her daughter's eyes. "The way you've grown into such a fantastic young woman. I'm in awe of you."

Ruby laughed at the compliment, not really sure how else to react—she was never great at handling praise.

"No, really, I mean it. I know the move down here was difficult for you. You missed your friends back home, and you hated London for how chaotic and overwhelming it is. But you pulled through, made new friends here, joined the band, got your life back on track." She tucked a stray strand of hair behind Ruby's ear. "You've been such a big help with Grandma, with all the kids. I don't know how I would've managed without you."

Now Carla was really taking it too far. "Stop it, Mum. You're the lioness of this family, holding everything together, this crazy, big family of ours. I only helped with the basics." She and her mum had never had these kinds of conversations before, and honestly, it made her a bit shy.

Carla shook her head. "I mean what I say. And all those adventures with the Doctor... I probably only know half of what you two have been up to—and let's keep it that way." She threw up her hands. "Otherwise, I'd worry too much about you, and I'd have to lock you in your room under constant supervision," she joked. "That thing at UNIT still has me reeling..." She seemed to replay the memories in her mind. "But anyway, the point is, I'm incredibly proud of you, and you deserve the world. I couldn't wish for a better daughter."

Ruby felt her cheeks begin to blush. "And I couldn't wish for a better mother." She fidgeted with her fingers. "I guess we're even now?"

Carla smiled. "Please go do whatever it is you have to do, and don't worry about me. You have my blessing."

And that was all Ruby needed to hear.

FIN