"Do you need anything, love? I could stop by the shop, pick up some flowers."

"I think I'll just grab some things for Maria and Mr. Jackson, since their luggage got lost." Rani glanced at her dad. "Could you maybe grab something?"

"Sure, I'll be back," Haresh stretched and left the room.

"I'll bake something tomorrow. Always need food at a funeral."

"Mum, they already had the funeral," Rani snapped.

"None of you can cook. Trust me, they'll be grateful for the meals."

"If you insist," Rani grabbed a clean set of pajamas, toothbrush, and some blankets from her room, dumped them in a laundry basket, took the clothes her dad offered, and headed across the street.

"Rani," Clyde stepped out the front door of #13. "I'm going home for the night—thought you'd want to know."

"Just a sec, I'll be right over," she crossed the street and set the basket down on the driveway for a minute. "I thought you were staying overnight. "

"Mum was panicking. She won't be satisfied without seeing my face. And when I told her—she insists on details."

"Dad actually managed to keep my mum quiet. Well, quiet for her. She didn't even insist on bringing over flowers."

"Small miracle." Clyde grinned.

"Yeah…she's going to get it out of me eventually, though. If I'm not careful, I'll spill the beans. "

"Better not, or we'll spend the rest of our lives answering to her."

"You think don't know that?" Rani bit her lip. "Sorry…it's been a long day. Weird, isn't it? The other night, we were watching a meteor shower. A quiet, almost ordinary night. And then this morning…"

Clyde threw his arm around her shoulders. "Hey, we'll get through this."

"She looked like she was sleeping. They always say that in the movies, but she really did. I had to ask K9 to be sure. And I had to tell Sky what happened."

"If Luke hadn't been staying over with me—he should have been there. At least we weren't all the way back to Oxford when you called." Clyde's mobile buzzed. He looked down in disgust. "Mum's getting impatient. I'll be back tomorrow."

"I suppose I should go in," Rani shivered. "Don't think I'll sleep a wink tonight."

"Me neither."

No one was in the kitchen, so Rani set the basket at the foot of the stairs and headed to the attic. Maria and Alan were there too. "I brought some clothes for you guys. They're downstairs."

"Thanks, I really didn't want to run out to the shops," Alan said.

"They're probably closed anyway," Maria agreed.

"So, what were you talking about?"

Alan jumped in first. "You've met the Doctor before, haven't you?"

"At Sarah Jane's almost-wedding at and at his funeral. Well, his faked funeral. The Shansheeth nicked the TARDIS and staged a funeral to steal the keys."

"I remember hearing about that," Maria commented. "And that was this Doctor, right?"

"He had a different face at the wedding—skinny bloke in a suit and trainers, pokey hair. But the one at the funeral was the one you met today."

"I was actually more interested in the TARDIS," Alan clarified. "Coming back three days late doesn't exactly inspire my confidence in the Doctor's piloting skills. Can we even contact Luke?"

"He has his mobile."

"And what network gets reception on Mars? I know he couldn't pass up the chance to explore time and space, but he has things to worry about back here too. Like Sky—what's going to happen with her? Sarah Jane doesn't have any extended family, does she?"

"Not that I know," Rani admitted.

"Right, so what's going to happen to her? Maria and I were talking about it—she could end up in foster care if something isn't worked out."

"Dad, why are you being so hard on Luke? He was offered a chance to do what his mum did—a chance he could never get again. And even a superbrain like his wouldn't be thinking of all the details under the circumstances." Maria choked back a sob.

"I'm not dissing him. Luke's brilliant, I know that, but he's still a boy. I'm an adult; it's my job to think of things kids might forget. You lot run around fighting aliens and saving the world, but at the end of the day, someone has to make sure the milk is fresh and the power company paid. Speaking of which, how's the fridge looking?"

"The fridge?" Maria's voice waved. "You're thinking about the…" The last words dribbled into a series of inelegant blubbering.

Rani sniffled. "I think..."

"I think I'll get some tea," Alan offered, hastily leaving the attic.

The moon had already set, and the stars were beginning to fade. Rani and Maria had fallen asleep on the floor in Sky's room, and Alan was nodding over his cup of green tea . Only K9 and Mr. Smith remained in the attic.

"Scan for alien life shows no activity in the area." Mr. Smith announced.

"Confirmed." K9 agreed. He rolled backwards, then forwards. "I will check on Mistress Sky."

"I suspect she's asleep."

"Correct, but Master Luke ordered me to take care of her."

"Understood. We each have our purpose. Mine is to defend the Earth." The Xylock watched as K9 rolled towards the stairs. "K9?"

"Yes?"

"Sarah Jane-she—"

"Yes?" K9's ears twitched.

"It's not important." But his whirling fans sounded very much like a sigh.

Sky opened her eyes to a staring stuffed owl. Sunlight, blurred by the curtains, filled the bedroom. "I heard the TARDIS last night. It sounded so pretty. " Her pillow was damp—why was that? "Mum?"

K9 rolled into the room, carefully avoiding Rani's blankets and Maria's arm. "Yes, Mistress?"

"Where's Luke?" What was Maria doing here?

"Master Luke is in the TARDIS with Master Doctor."

It wasn't a dream. "He should have taken me," she sat up, pushing her fingers through her hair. "What did Mum say about that?"

"No reply."

"What do you mean? Where is she?" Rani's eyes fluttered open for a moment and closed again.

K9 lowered his head. "Not here, Mistress."

"Not here?"

"Sarah Jane Smith is now part of the planet Venus."

"She's visiting Venus with the Doctor and Luke?" Sky crossed her arms. "Why didn't she take me?"

"Because she is dead, Mistress."

"Stop calling me Mistress. My name is Sky!" The clock flickered for a moment.

"You are Mistress now. Luke is Master, and you are my new Mistress. Sarah Jane told me so."

"No, I'm not. That's Mum's job. Mum is the one in charge."

"She transferred my primary allegiance to Luke. Master Luke is unavailable and you are the next highest authority."

"No." The ceiling lights flickered. "You're wrong. Mum's in charge."

Maria rolled over, nearly bumping her head on the bedframe.

"My job is to take care of you, as instructed by Master Luke."

"Luke can keep his stupid dog!" The light bulb shattered. "I want Mum! I want my mum!"

"Ouch!" Rani jerked up. "That hurt!" She touched her cheek; the finger came away bloody.

"Sky?" Maria stretched. "What happened?"

"Mistress Sky insists that she is not in charge of me." K9 announced.

"It's too early to argue about tin dogs," Rani mumbled. "Need to wash my face and get a plaster."

"I'm not in charge. Just because Luke's gone doesn't make me the one in charge."

Maria shoved her blankets to the side. "Luke left K9 to look after you, didn't he?"

"Affirmative."

"He wants to make sure you're safe. Don't worry about it right now." Her stomach growled. "Hungry?"

"Not really."

"Well, I'll sweep up the glass first and then let's go see what we have in the fridge."