stay calm. it will be okay. you have my word. Episode Three: Never Gonna Give You Up
This is episode three! To start reading from the beginning, check out Pilot : The Season Two Ending We Deserved
Story Summary
Turn off “The Reality War” at 40:15 and start here instead. This is the story of what happened after—the story where the Doctor, Bel, and their extraordinary daughter Poppy get to live the life they deserve.
It’s about finding family across time and space. It’s the Doctor and Bel co-parenting like the besties they are, Poppy growing up splitting her time between 21st-century London and the far-future of the Preservation Alliance, and a Sanctuary Moon fanclub that spans across the universe. It’s Rogue getting the ending he deserves, Jenny finding her fathers, Murderbot reluctantly acquiring more humans, and a universe where love, in all its forms, is the most powerful weapon we have.
This is a fusion-fix-it full of gratuitous wish fulfillment, because sometimes the best way to heal is to rewrite the story. 💕💕
Episode Summary:
Rose and the Doctor are in the middle of attending a chaotic (and potentially involuntary) wedding in Florin when the Doctor gets an important phone call.
Notes:
Thanks so much to everyone who has left comments and kudos, and special thanks to Fire_Phoenix2305 and tinysugacube for letting me blow up their DMs on a daily basis as I come up with ideas for this fic, as well as to Marvin for his seal of approval!
Episode Three: Never Gonna Give You Up
“Mawage. Mawage is what bwings us togethah today. Mawwiage, that bwessed awwangement, that dweam wifin a dream!”
The Doctor’s eyes narrowed at the couple that was at the altar. He didn’t like the look of how the two of them were interacting. They certainly didn’t look like a royal couple in love. But he had promised to take Rose on a trip to the past that wouldn’t endanger them, and Florin was so isolated and so white that the two of them, posing as African nobles, were easily able to make their way into court, and just in time for the wedding too.
“She doesn’t look happy,” Rose whispered in his ear.
“I know. Did you get a chance to talk with her before the ceremony?”
“No, though I would’ve liked to.”
“Stand your ground, men! Stand your ground!”
The Doctor had noted that the place was remarkably well-armed for a wedding, and he eyed the doors where a few more men had just left.
“…so tweasure your wuv…”
“Skip to the end!” the prince hissed.
The Doctor’s attention, which had drifted towards the sounds of fighting, snapped back to the wedding ceremony. As a time lord his hearing was a bit more sensitive than others, and as such in addition to hearing the screams from outside, he also heard the prince’s assertion of having killed the princess’s love and her confidence at his failure. Furthermore, he definitely did not like the look of the prince forcibly shoving a ring onto her finger.
Before the Priest had gotten a chance to say “man and wife” the Doctor had already climbed up onto the pew and let out a sharp whistle.
“TIME!”
Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at the Doctor.
“Now see here—” before the Doctor got the chance to fully begin his speech, his pocket began to buzz.
Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry, never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you
The Doctor fumbled for a moment before managing to extract his phone from his pocket. Frowning, he looked at the screen before flipping it open. “Sorry, just a moment, I’ve got to take this. Hello, this is Dr. Smith, how may I help you?”
Screams still sounded from outside and the sounds of fighting drew closer. Rose had moved away from the Doctor and sidled up to Buttercup, gently taking her hand and leading her away from the prince even as the rest of the wedding party stared in confusion at the Doctor.
“Thank you, I appreciate you explaining the situation. Just one question—did she start the fight or did she finish it?” the Doctor paused for a moment to listen to the response before his face broke out into a grin. “That’s my girl,” he laughed. Listening for another moment he sobered up. “Of course, headmaster. I would never condone violence. I’ll be there to pick her up shortly.” Snapping the phone closed, he hopped off the bench and made for the door, which Rose and Buttercup were already squeezing through. “So long, thanks for all the fish!” he called out.
“Wait, where did she go, where is the princess?” Humperdink shouted. The Doctor had already slammed the door shut and sonicked it closed.
“Finally works on wood, I am good. Rosie, we’ve gotta head home, Poppy’s headteacher just called again. Bel is stuck at work and Poppy got into a fight.”
“Again, that’s the third time this week.” Rose shook her head.
“I’m sorry, who are you people?” Buttercup asked in confusion.
“We’re just passing through— oh hello handsome,” the Doctor drawled as they came across a man limping his way down the hallway, using his sword as a cane.
“Westley, my darling Westley, you’re alive!” Buttercup enthused.
“Right, we’re all very alive, but there’s a murderous prince after us and I’m late for a parent-teacher conference, so let’s get a shift on.”
—
Poppy had mixed feelings about school. She liked her friends, and she liked some of her teachers. But the fact of the matter is that she was often bored by the material. Maths was so easy she could do it in her sleep, and her history teachers were wrong on so many levels, but writing “I was there” wasn’t a proper source citation. Saying “I’ve been traveling through time and space with my parents since I was a toddler” would be satisfying, but not only would few believe her, being half alien was supposed to be a secret. She had also been getting into more fights recently, but those were not her fault. She couldn’t stand bullies, and some of the other kids at her school were just nasty.
She was working her way through some incredibly dull maths problems at the kitchen table when the back door opened.
“Guess who’s home!”
Poppy scrambled out of her seat and ran to the back door, throwing herself into her father’s arms as he walked inside.
“Papa!! You’re back!”
“Of course I am. I’ve got plans, Poppy my darling.” The Doctor swung her in a circle before placing her down gently, both of them walking back to the kitchen. “It’s not every day that my daughter turns twelve now is it?”
“How do we even know I’m actually twelve.” Poppy asked, hands on her hips. “Years aren’t the same on every planet, and I’ve been hopping around through time and space since before I could walk. And furthermore—”
“Poppy, you know I love your inquisitive mind, but do you really want to talk yourself out of getting the amazing birthday trip I have planned for you?” The doctor asked, his hands on his hips. Poppy’s mouth snapped shut.
“Well I wouldn’t go that far. What is it that you had planned then, is mum coming?”
“Am I coming where?” Bel’s voice came as she walked into the kitchen. “Oh, hello Doctor. I thought I heard you come in.” Bel and the Doctor shared a firm hug as she sat with them at the table.
Poppy knew her parents were weird—she had grown up in a Time Machine after all. One of the biggest differences she noted between her parents was that they weren’t really a couple in the way that other people’s parents were. Supposedly they were married, and they were clearly good friends, but she had never seen them really together the way that married couples were like in the media, or like other couples she knew.
“Papa said he has plans for my birthday!” Poppy explained cheerfully.
“Oh does he now,” Bel said with a raised eyebrow. “Will we need to clear our schedules?”
“It’s a time machine mum.” Poppy rolled her eyes. “We can still be back in time for my party.”
“Well, when you put it like that.” Bel’s eyes twinkled. “But still, we don’t want to be gone too long. Even if time won’t pass here, being gone for longer means the material for your end of term exams won’t be as fresh in your mind.”
“Amma, you know better than to think I’ll have an issue taking my exams.” Poppy shook her head. “I’ve got a fancy time lord brain like Papa. I can do year nine math in my sleep.”
Bel pursed her lips. Poppy wasn’t wrong exactly. She wasn’t being challenged at a 21st century school.
“Alright. Where are we going then?”
“I thought to go visit some friends of mine in the 62nd century. They live on a planet called Preservation. I think you’ll like it.”
“Preservation? What are they preserving?” Poppy asked curiously as she packed up her school supplies.
“I’m not quite sure why they chose the name. But the community was founded by a good friend of mine, Captain Consuela Makeba. We worked together to rescue a number of people who had been stranded on a failed colony world, and we found for them a new home. Well I say we. I was just the mechanic, helping to fix up the ship, watching over everyone when they were in suspension boxes. Captain Makeba was amazing. They made this speech about not leaving a single living thing behind as we found a new world.”
“Couldn’t you just take everyone in your TARDIS?” Poppy asked curiously.
“Sometimes, Poppy, it’s better to take the long way ‘round. But we found a world, and worked with others nearby to create the Preservation Alliance. No one there ever has to go without food or shelter or good healthcare. It’s genuinely one of the most peaceful places in that era of human history.
“Wow, Captain Makeba sounds amazing. Can we go now?” Poppy asked with wide eyes.
“Oh, I wish we could. I know Makeba would love you. But I was a different person when I knew them. They wouldn’t recognize me now.” The Doctor said sadly.
“Oh,” Poppy said sadly. “That’s too bad.”
“Oh but I think you’ll like meeting my other friends. They live a few centuries after Makeba, but they’re just as fun to be around. And if we time it right, some of their kids will be just around your age.” The Doctor smiled.
“Do you think they’ll like me?” Poppy asked in a small voice.
“Pops, if they’re anything like their parents they’ll love you.”