Lost Our Minds |5| The Ascension

Chapter Two: Home In Time For Christmas

McKenzie held her breath as she pressed the doorbell, letting it ring for a few seconds before releasing it. She could see lights on throughout the building, contrasting the dark she now stood in, the breeze making her shiver. Behind her, the TARDIS was parked in her usual spot, the Doctor still inside sorting something out. Likely, he just didn't want to interrupt an important moment.

Suddenly, she heard a familiar voice from inside the building, getting closer and closer. "If that is more carol singers, I should warn you, I have upgraded the super-soaker and you do not want to be wet on a night like—" The man in question opened the door, his eyes widening. "This," he finished, lowering his upgraded water pistol. "Kenzie."

She smiled hesitantly. "Clint. Uh, not actually sure how long..." she admitted.

"Two years," he told her, raising his eyebrows. He squirted water at her face.

She winced. "Yeah, that's fair. Sorry. He was driving."

"So... You're not dead, then?" he asked.

"Happy Christmas?" she tried. There was a long pause. "You know what, this was a bad idea. I'll just... leave you guys to it." She turned away, then turned back quickly. "I just wanted you to know that I don't blame you. It's totally understandable, and it's my fault. I... I'm sorry, Clint. Anyway... bye."

"Wait!" he exclaimed, making her turn back as he marched into the snow. "Damn, I'm really not dressed for this." He turned his attention back to McKenzie, who was looking reluctant to drag this out any longer. "Blame me for what?"

She frowned slightly. "Hating me." She shrugged. "I mean, I let you all think I was dead for two years without a word to let you know I was okay. I'd be mad too."

Clint's eyes widened. "Hating you? Are you insane?"

She shook her head, smiling darkly. "Yeah, it's probably not strong enough."

"Kenzie, we don't hate you! I swear, it's the truth," Clint assured her, holding his hand out towards her, trying to coax her to let her walls down.

McKenzie frowned. "I...I don't understand."

"Look, just come inside," he pleaded. "Come on, let's get you out of the cold. I promise, nobody in that building hates you."

There was a smash from the doorway as a glass shattered on the ground, Wanda Maximoff's drink spilling into the snow. "Мама? Это ты? Ты вернулся! You came home!" She ran towards the older woman and hugged her tight, tears brimming over. McKenzie lifted her arms to hug her back, stunned.

"I told you so," Clint smiled, seeing the look of disbelief on his best friend's face.

Wanda pulled away. "Come inside, please. Just for a little while at least. We're about to have Christmas dinner."

McKenzie hesitated. "Well, I wouldn't want to intrude or anything."

"We have places set for you and the Doc," Clint mentioned.

The daughter of the vortex blinked. "But you didn't know we were coming."

"So?" Wanda asked. "We always set for you two."

"But—But why?" McKenzie wondered, frowning.

Wanda met her gaze. "Because we hoped one day you'd come back to us for Christmas. And here you are. Please, come inside."

The Doctor stepped out of the TARDIS behind them, smiling. "What, you thought I was kidding?" he asked.

McKenzie turned to look at him, her eyes wide. "I—I never expected..."

"I know," he assured her, putting his arm around her shoulders and nodding towards the facility. "Let's go and have dinner, eh?"

She bit her lip, eyes widening slightly as she saw another familiar figure in the doorway. "You lot go ahead," she mumbled, staring at the woman. "I'll be right there."

The Doctor kissed her cheek before ushering the others indoors, picking Clint up bridal style as Wanda laughed. Natasha watched them go, eyebrow raised, before turning back to the outdoors. "Well, I'm not hugging first."

McKenzie blinked. "Me neither." They both looked away, studiously not looking at each other. It lasted all of two minutes before their eyes met once more, and they embraced each other tightly. "I'm so sorry," McKenzie wept, crying tears of happiness.

Natasha pulled back, smiling. "We knew. All this time, we all knew you were alive. River told us."

"She's good," McKenzie agreed. "So... no one's mad?"

"No," Natasha assured her. "Truth be told, the second you walk in there you're going to be tackled by whoever gets there quickest, probably Piet." She blinked. "Oh, yeah, and um, just so you're prepared, um, him and Zoë have..." She made a face. "No, actually, I'm just gonna let you see for yourself. Okay?"

McKenzie stared. "Oh, yeah. Totally. Not freaking out at all."

And in her astonishment, she allowed herself to be walked into the warm indoors, where she was met with such joy and kindness and overwhelming happiness that she couldn't help but cry. But these were happy tears, for she was home and surrounded by a family she thought she had lost forever. A family who loved her. Her time away from them had taught her that, actually, she could live without them—but, more importantly, that she didn't ever want to.

And when Daisy Rogers crawled into her lap and asked if she'd got everything she wanted for Christmas, she looked around at her family and found only one answer she could truthfully give.

"Yes."

***

"So what do you think, then?" the Doctor asked later, joining his wife at the evening buffet.

She sighed happily. "You were right. As usual." She turned to him. "Next time something like this happens, just punch me right in the face till I remember this."

He rolled his eyes. "Hmm." He put an arm around her, pulling him into his side, still not quite believing she was there.

"Oh, and by the way, you're terrible at driving," she told him casually, popping a handful of crisps in her mouth.

He blinked. "Hey! It's not my fault, remember? She always takes us where we need to go, right?"

She smiled fondly. "Whatever you say. It's nearly 2020, you know."

"Really?" He frowned. "I didn't know I was that far out."

"Shut up," she said, pushing at his chest jokily. "I'd be thirty-two by now, if I hadn't met you."

"And now you're 225," he realised. "Woah. As doctors go, I think we can safely say I do wonders for life expectancy."

"Oi, 226, mister," she corrected. "It's past midnight."

He grinned, kissing her temple. "In that case, happy birthday, sweetheart."
~~~