Chapter 5: Great Gramps Saves the Day

Disclaimer: See chapter one.

*~*~*~*~*~*

The TARDIS was parked in a shadowy alleyway about a few houses down from Donna's house.

The Doctor was staring out through the small crack in the doors, watching as Donna got in a car with her friends.

It was a Friday night, her usual Girls' Night Out day and the night her friends tried to hook her up with some guy at whatever pub they ended up at.

He looked at Minerva once the car had passed by the alleyway. "Jack and I will go and speak with Sylvia. Stay here."

She crossed her fingers behind her back and nodded as she leaned against the Console.

Jack gave her a quick grin before following the Doctor out the doors.

The TARDIS gave a disapproving hum as Minerva pulled the royal purple hoodie she'd flung over the railing on.

Minerva faced the Console. "I know I'm supposed to stay here, but I've been sneaking around Gram's house since I was able to crawl. I know how to get around without being seen. And I have to speak with Great Gramps. He's the one who actually convinces Gram to let Daddy change Mum."

A perception filter appeared on a small hook by the doors.

Minerva smiled. "Thanks girl." She put the chain over her head and exited.

Wilfred Mott was up on the hill behind the house he shared with his daughter and granddaughter with his telescope, looking up at the stars. He was hoping he'd see a blue police box.

"I've always thought the night sky of Earth was the most beautiful sky in the entire multiverse." a female voice stated from behind Wilf.

He turned in his seat.

His mouth fell open at what he saw.

Minerva smiled and walked over to stand next to where he sat. "May I?" She gestured towards the telescope.

Wilf closed his mouth and nodded.

Minerva bent down and looked through the eyepiece. "Ah, the nebula around Romana Centari. Beautiful place to visit this time of year. The Tepishari have a lovely festival celebrating what would be their spring."

Wilf sat back in his chair. "And just who are you?"

She turned to face him, tucking the sunglasses into her hoodie pouch. "My name is Minerva Alexandria Noble. And I am the oldest of your great grandchildren."

"You look just like Donna. But she hasn't had any kids yet, which means you're from the future." Wilf looked at her and noticed the way her blue eyes shined with knowledge beyond anything a human could know and power. He threw his head back and laughed. "Oh I knew the Doctor would figure something out. They're a beautiful couple."

Minerva chuckled as she sat down by his legs. "They are the most beautiful couple I've ever seen. And it's impossible not to see how in love they are with each other. He's down at the house now with Uncle Jack, trying to explain what he wants to do to Gram." She rested her head on his knee. "He's gonna need your help to convince her, especially since it's going to change her."

Wilf gently ran a hand through Minerva's hair like he used to do when Donna was younger. "Changer her how?"

"Daddy was right when he said that she'd burn up if she remembers. The human mind is too small to hold all the knowledge of a Time Lord, let alone be able to handle the ability to see Time Strands and the consequences of actions. The only way to actually save her from that fate is to turn her into a Time Lord. We may look like humans, but we're different. Our brains are basically like the TARDIS, bigger on the inside than the outside. It's how we hold everything we know and our higher senses without burning up or going insane. With my help, Daddy's built a machine that'll do that. Gram is not going to like the idea of Mum changing species."

"She'd get over it eventually, especially when Donna gets pregnant with you. How many kids does Donna have?" Wilf looked down at her.

Minerva smiled and pulled out the picture in her pocket. She handed it to him. "There's eleven of us now. Mum's pregnant again, three months along with numbers twelve and thirteen. I'm pretty sure there's not going to be anymore after that. Mum's almost forever complaining about everyone leaving things laying about and says she's already got twelve kids and can't believe she let Daddy talk her into more. The TARDIS is full of noise most days."

Wilf chuckled as he handed the picture back. "I bet it is considering who your parents are. Want some tea?"

"I'd love some." She took the filled lid of the thermos he handed to her and stared at the liquid. "I miss you, you know. Not as much as Mum, but I do miss you."

"I've not met all of your brothers and sisters have I? Not in your time."

She shook her head. "Just me and Wilfred, my twin. Mum was pregnant with Sophia when it happened. Mum feels really bad that you don't know them, but she's always telling us stories about you."

Wilf looked back up at the stars. "As long as she and all of you are happy, I will be, no matter what."

*~*~*~*

Down in the house, Jack and the Doctor were having a hard time convincing Sylvia.

"You want to turn my daughter into an alien?! I don't think so, sunshine!" Sylvia shouted.

"Now we know where Donna gets it from." Jack whispered to the Doctor out of the corner of his mouth.

The Doctor ignored his comment in favor of trying to plead his case. "Mrs. Noble, please, just listen. It's the only way to make sure she won't die in case something sparks a memory. I'm sure it's hard having to watch what you say around her, and I don't think you'd want it to happen while she's out. Strangers won't know to watch what they say around her, which means any sort of sets of words or a tone could bring up a memory. This is to keep her safe."

Sylvia sprang to her feet. "I will not allow you to turn my daughter into something she shouldn't be. She's human. And she's going to stay human." She stormed out of the room, passing Wilf in the doorway.

"What's this about turning Donna into something?" he asked as he entered the room.

Jack quickly explained it since the Doctor seemed to be off in his own little depressed world.

Wilf nodded. "You two go back to the TARDIS. I'll talk to Sylvia, bring her around. It's just a bit much for her right now that she doesn't see that it's the best thing for Donna."

"Thanks Wilf. I'll get him back. We're parked in the dark alleyway down the street." Jack walked the Doctor towards the door.

Minerva shot Wilf a smile through the window before taking off at a run towards the TARDIS.

Sylvia was in the kitchen, filling a battered kettle with water.

"It has to be done sweetheart. It's the best thing for Donna." Wilf told her as he stood in the doorway.

Sylvia angrily shut off the water and slammed the kettle on the burner. "He wants to turn her into what he is. She's human. She isn't supposed to be an alien."

Wilf entered the room and wrapped his arms around her.

Sylvia turned in his arms. "I want her to be happy Dad, but I don't want to lose her."

Wilf pressed a kiss on the top of her head. "You won't lose Donna. That's one thing you never have to worry about sweetheart. And this is the best thing for Donna. Having to watch what you say, having to hold back telling her how proud of her you are and how wonderful you think she is, it's been hard on you."

She pulled away and wiped at her eyes. "I know that. But is turning Donna into whatever he is really a good thing?"

Wilf got out teacups. "You have to admit that she was the happiest with him, travelling and saving people. And you've seen the way they look at each other. He loves her in the way Geoff loved you and Donna adores him like no other."

Sylvia got out the tea. "They do make a lovely couple, and she was happier than I can remember her ever being when she was travelling with him."

Wilf chuckled. "And you'll get more grandkids than you'll know what to do with from them."

Sylvia turned around to face him. "What did you say?"

Wilf grinned. "You keep harping on Donna about grandchildren. Well this idea of turning Donna into an alien was one of your granddaughters'. I won't say which one."

"They already have children?! Why didn't they tell me? I've probably missed so much." Sylvia complained.

"No, they don't have any kids yet. She's from the future. Came back to help the Doctor out since he's too emotionally involved to think straight when it comes to our Donna."

The kettle whistled shrilly and Sylvia pulled it off the burner.

"She came up to the hill to speak with me, showed me a picture of her family. She's a pretty thing. Looks just like her mum." Wilf told her as he sat down at the table. "At least give him a chance. He makes Donna happy."

Sylvia poured tea into their cups once it was steeped, thinking over everything the Doctor and Jack had told her.

Wilf waited, knowing that she had to work through everything.

Sylvia looked up from her study of her cup. "But what if it doesn't work?"

Wilf patted her hand. "It will sweetheart. And the Doctor'll do all he can to make sure Donna'll be all right."

Sylvia sighed. "I know. I guess we'll have to find him to let him know he can do it. But he'll have to promise me he'll take good care of her. I'll not have my only child go through what he has planned only to be dropped."

"I'll take care of it sweetheart. And you're not the only one he has to promise something to. He's gotta promise me a couple things, and many more to Donna herself." Wilf sat with Sylvia until their tea was finished and she'd gone upstairs. He pulled on his coat and exited the house.

The TARDIS was parked right where Jack had said it would be.

He knocked on the door and waited for it to open.

A minute later the Doctor opened it.

"Can I come in? It's a bit chilly out and I don't want Donna to see me standing here in case she comes back early." Wilf stated.

"Sure. Come on in." The Doctor stepped to the side and let Wilf into the TARDIS.

Wilf stared around in awe. "This is amazing. I can see why Donna loved it here."

Minerva peeked around the Console. "The TARDIS likes to make beings feel welcome. Unless they're dangerous of course." She went back to typing things on the keyboard.

There was a bad feeling in her gut and she knew that something was not going to go as planned. Plus she was a bit worried since she hadn't heard anything else out of Jenny since their battle in the Hub. She knew her half-sister well enough to know she had something planned.

Jack entered the Console room, holding a tea tray. He quickly sat it down on the Jump Seat and saluted Wilf. "Captain Mott, sir."

Wilf gave him a return salute. "Captain Harkness." He turned back to the Doctor. "I've come with some news."

"Is Donna all right?" the Doctor questioned.

"As far as I know, Donna's fine. She's out with some friends. I talked Sylvia into letting you save Donna. But she wants you to promise her that Donna will be taken care of, not dropped off when you tire of her." Wilf crossed his arms. "And I want a couple promises myself."

"Tell Sylvia…Better yet, I'll tell her myself. And what do you want me to promise?"

"I want my granddaughter taken care of. I want to know exactly how you feel about her, from you. And I want to know what your intentions with her are." Wilf replied.

The Doctor took a deep breath and nodded. "Fair enough." He looked Wilf in the eyes. "You have my most solemn oath that Donna will be taken care of for as long as I live and beyond that. And that is one promise I refuse to break because I love your granddaughter Wilf, and I'd love nothing more than to marry her and start a family."

Wilf beamed at him. "That's enough for me. Welcome to the family, Doctor." He hugged him.

The Doctor smiled and hugged him back. "Thanks Wilf."

Wilf pulled away to look at him. "I think you can call me Granddad or Gramps now, like Donna does."

"I think that might be a bit premature." Minerva stated from in front of the monitor. "Because if what I'm reading is correct, and the TARDIS is very rarely wrong, Donna has just been kidnapped by my half-sister. And if I know her as well as I'd like to think I do, she's going to try and get rid of Donna."

*~*~*~*~*~*

A/N: As you can see, I am not dead and I think I finally got over my writer's block. And look, my laptop is all better. Still on slight hiatus though, finals are in a little over a week. I'll try to update as much as I can. Ta. Oh, and the Tepishari belong to my good friend Sybil Winchester. We share things. Thanks Cal. You're the greatest.