It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

The Yule Ball

The TARDIS fickle and unpredictable sentient machine that she is periodically holds a Yule Ball one cannot really judge exactly how often this happens. Once or twice a year or so when the Doctor is alone and perhaps once every year or two when he isn't or whenever she felt the need for some Christmas cheer, usually when The Doctor was being a miserable old sod. It was always a smallish affair. Twelve, perhaps twenty people, all taken from a Christmas Eve during or after their association with The Doctor. She always put great effort into the guest lists.

On this particular occasion, while Jayne and Jamie were travelling with The Doctor, the first on her list was Doctor Erin Spencer. The TARDIS liked Erin, she was a bit like her uncle and always made Jayne happy.

Next on the list had been Benton and Yates. She had picked them up in the mid-seventies. It was bending the laws of time, having them and Erin approximately the same age, but laws of time were for non-transcendental beings like Time Lords and Humans.

Teasing The Doctor with archaeologists was always fun so he brought the rest of the current set, Doctors River Song and Bernice Summerfield.

She'd thought about Ace McShane and Sarah-Jane Smith but, for different reasons she'd put them on the top of the list for the next one.

Then Kate and her Osgood.

Tegan and Nyssa rounded off the group because privately Tegan was her favourite.

The TARDIS thought of leaving it at twelve but then she saw the abomination. Captain Jack Harkness. In truth, The TARDIS liked him. Being in his presence made her a little... queasy would be the human vernacular. Immortality did that to her. And Jack was sad so she could invite him to the party and feel queasy for a few hours and he'd cheer up. She supposed, even numbers and all she should include The Master. Yes, The Doctor's favourite one, the one from his earth exile. Also, she assumed, having not been able to see it at Yates and Benton's wedding, that watching The Doctor juggle his three spouses would be amusing. She gathered it had been.

The TARDIS waited until The Doctor and Jamie were... occupied before collecting the guests.

"What are you up to?" Jayne said aloud from the armchair in the library as she set her book down.

The holographic interface flickered to life, taking the form, as it always did when they were alone, of her grandfather.

"Throwing a ball. Would you like to help?"

"A ball?"

"A Yule Ball."

"Is it Christmas?"

"I'm a time machine. It can be Christmas anytime I want. But yes, by your reckoning it should be about Christmas Eve."

"Alright then, where are we?"

"Picking up our first guest. Go get her will you?"

When Jayne stepped out the doors to find Erin's house she was thrilled. She let herself in.

"Do you want to come to a ball with me?" Jayne asked.

Erin, who had not noticed Jayne's presence until she spoke, beamed and spun around from where she was on one knee looking at her bottom bookshelf for something to read for the evening.

"Hey you."

"You miss me?" Jayne said kissing her in greeting.

*******

In The TARDIS, by Jayne's reckoning an hour or so later, everyone was assembled. They had all taken advantage of the seemingly inexhaustible TARDIS wardrobe. Erin, having had first choice had unintentionally chosen the dress almost everyone had intended to. It was a crimson silk number with a black and white marbled trim. It matched Jayne's black tuxedo and red paisley waistcoat perfectly. It fit Erin almost as if it had been made for her. Jayne approved.

Jamie and The Doctor had only just emerged and were a little perplexed to find so many people. The Doctor quickly caught up and explained to Jamie.

The Master's TARDIS had made its own way and everyone was mildly surprised when he appeared, along with the holographic interface of his TARDIS, taking the form of the earth-exile Doctor.

The ball was a resounding success. Jack had commandeered Jamie for the evening The Doctor, having been well occupied by his other two spouses, seemed not to mind. River and The Master still didn't like each other.

When The TARDIS had stopped off to pick Nyssa up immediately after Tegan they had both almost cried with joy and Tegan almost bowled the small woman over in her haste to hug her. They didn't leave each other's side all night.