Author's Note:

How do I end such a novel? What started as a 10 chapter fluffy story about the Metacrisis and Rose adjusting to normal family life turned into a full-blown epic drama with enough material to be turned into a 2-3 season TV show. There are 55 chapters, 208,942 words (that's longer than Moby Dick, ya'll), 86 reviews, 35 favorites, 32 followers, over 11,000 views, and it took five years to write (I started in November 16th, 2014, finished for the first time in the summer of 2016, and then came back in fall of 2018-fall of 2019!). Thank you to all my loyal readers, from those who've stuck with me from the beginning to those who just found it and read the whole thing in one night. I sincerely hope you've enjoyed it as much as I have. Your support was the only thing that kept me going! Otherwise, I probably would have quit while writing the Sherlock chapters. I don't want to stop writing, but I don't want to be forced into killing off characters of old age, either. All good things have to come to an end sometime.

In this chapter, except for the first paragraph, Donna is 37, Alonso and Narnia are 34, and Gwen is 30. The year (approximately since I lose easily in this story) is around 2048. Rose and the Doctor are in their sixties but don't look much different. Pete and Jackie have died at this point.

Please enjoy the last chapter of this great saga. Alons-y!

Clara knew her time had come at last. When she had dropped in on Gwen's wedding, she had to work physically hard to break through the walls of the time stream. It was exhausting, and re-entering was even harder. She just wanted to go to sleep. She looked on down the rest of the time stream, trying to see what was ahead for the Doctor. Most of it was blurry, but she focused on looking for weddings. Ellie's was coming up quickly. She had gotten to see her at Gwen's wedding, just after Ellie's 16th birthday. She had proudly introduced her to her boyfriend, and Clara could tell how much they already loved each other. They had met on one of Ellie and Sarah Jane's travels in the future. Rezh was from Tiaanamat, part of the Akhaten ring system, humanoid except for the raised markings on his face. Because he had been involved in their Akhaten adventure and seen the inside of the TARDIS, he had been told the full story from the outset. He was definitely a keeper.

Clara slowed her descent when she could see the wedding preparations coming together, waiting for just the right moment.

"Clara," the Doctor called, his voice echoing around her. "It's time."

With all her strength, Clara pushed against the walls of the time stream, screaming in her efforts to break through. For one, terrifying moment, she thought she was too late. She feared she had lost the power to break through. Then, the Doctor held her in his arms as she gasped for breath.

"It's alright, it's alright, Clara," he said soothingly, stroking her hair. "You're going to make it."

Slowly, she sat back and looked around. They were in the Tylers' mansion, although it had been redone in Rose's personal tastes. The Doctor had aged slightly but he still looked good. He handed her a glass of water, which she drank gratefully.

"This is my last time," she said quietly. "I don't think I can even re-enter."

"You are impossible," the Doctor said fondly, shaking his head. "You've lasted years longer than the Great Intelligence ever did. Well done, Clara."

He helped her to her feet as Sarah Jane entered the room.

"Clara!" she cried, rushing to greet her. Clara embraced her friend emotionally. "I'm so glad you're here. Ellie will be so pleased. We haven't seen you in a while and she was afraid something had happened."

"I'm here," Clara said quietly, afraid to use too much energy lest she fade away too soon. "But this is the last time."

"Listen, come with me," Sarah Jane said. "I have a dress for you. Ellie's still getting ready at our house but she should be here soon."

Sarah Jane gave her a beautiful blue beaded dress, perfect for the mother of the bride. The two friends chatted while getting ready, Sarah Jane telling Clara all about her life with Sammy and their daughter Skye. She showed her dozens of pictures on her phone of their little family of four and told lots of stories about Ellie growing up. Soon, the TARDIS materialized in the room, and Ellie herself stepped out.

"Righto, Ellie," the Doctor said. "Narnia will come and get you when it's time. I have some last minute preparations to attend to!"

Ellie nodded as the TARDIS disappeared, but all her attention was focused on her mother. She was 20 now, her wild hair was tied up in a twist, with tiny curls dropping down delicately. Her slim white dress draped gracefully around her. Clara stood in awe for a moment, then covered her mouth as she burst into tears. Ellie ran to her side and hugged her tightly, also blinking back tears.

"You're not supposed to cry yet," she whimpered.

"I know, I'm sorry," Clara sobbed.

"You came," she whispered.

"I wouldn't miss this for the world," Clara cried. "I just hate I had to miss the rest of you growing up. I'm so sorry, darling."

"It's alright," Ellie said, leaning back and wiping away her mother's tears with her hands. "You did what you had to do. And I love you for that."

Clara felt her heart skip a beat. It was the first time Ellie had ever said those words to her. "I love you, too," she said. She tucked a stray curl behind Ellie's ear. "Look at you. You're so beautiful."

"I get it from you."

"Nah, you look like your dad," Clara said. "I'm sorry you never got to meet him."

"I did," Ellie said, smiling. "The Doctor took me to the Library. He's was put in a hibernation state to wait for you, but the Doctor had CAL wake him up for me so he could see me. I've visited twice now."

Clara smiled, but her heart ached. She missed Danny more than anything. In some ways, it felt like only moments. In others, it had been years.

"Don't forget your plan A," Sarah Jane reminded Ellie.

"Oh, right!" Ellie exclaimed. "When we were planning the wedding, I had to decide how I was going to walk down the aisle. I love dad, Sammy, but for this...I want both my mums."

Clara blinked in surprise. "You...you want me to walk you down the aisle?"

"Of course," Ellie said. "You on my right and Sarah Jane on my left. If you want to, of course."

"Oh, I'd love to!" Clara cried happily. "Where is it going to be?"

"Here, in the garden. It's small, just my friends and family and his parents. We can't bring all his friends here, so we'll have a second ceremony on Akhaten later."

"Are you going to live on Akhaten?" Clara asked, surprised.

"Well, we're going to travel in the TARDIS for awhile. The Doctor is going to loan it to us, so long as he can use it to show the other kids sometimes."

"Other kids?"

"Oh, there's several now," Sarah Jane said. "Donna Tyler-Lake has three: Destiny, Rosemary, and their son Robin. Narnia and Tenor have Astrid, and twins Patience and Caspian..."

"Oh, of course, Narnia named her son Caspian," Clara said, sighing dramatically.

"They're my flower girl and ring bearer," Ellie said, grinning. "They're three now."

"That's amazing," she said with a smile. "I can't wait to meet all of them. What about Alonso?"

"Just the one boy right now," Sarah Jane said. "His name is Jacob."

"And Gwen? I know she and Anna were planning on adopting."

"They're in the process right now, but so far no placements. We're hoping soon though."

"Sounds like you have quite the guest list," Clara said, eyes shining happily.

"Now that you're here we do," Ellie said.

"Is everyone ready?" Narnia said, sticking her head in. "Clara!" she exclaimed happily, lighting up.

Clara ran over and hugged her excitedly. "You look fantastic! How are you?"

"I'm great," she said, grinning widely. "Although I don't know how you managed me and Alonso when we were little. We have twins now, did you hear?"

"Oh, yes," Clara laughed. "Such a joy, aren't they?"

Narnia smiled sweetly and nodded.

"Come on, we don't want to keep everyone waiting," Sarah Jane prompted.

When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Clara and Ellie stopped short, staring in shock. Danny stood before them, dressed in a perfect tuxedo and fighting back tears.

"Danny..." Clara breathed. She rushed forward before Ellie could even react, but her hands went right through him. "No! Doctor, help, I'm fading!" she screamed, panicking.

"It's alright," Rose said from seemingly nowhere. She helped Clara to feet. "You're not fading yet. The Doctor rigged a hologram so Danny could watch."

"Hello, Clara," Danny said softly. "Hi, Ellie. I can't walk you down the aisle, but I think we can manage somewhat of a father/daughter dance."

Ellie was also trying not to break down. Sarah Jane patted her shoulders comfortingly.

"Are you alright?" Rose asked gently.

Ellie nodded. "Thank you," she managed.

"Well," the Doctor said, sauntering up. "We couldn't let one of our favorite families be apart on today of all days. You should really thank Narnia, it was her idea and most of her engineering. Now do cheer up, it is a wedding!"

Clara laughed in spite of herself, and linked arms with Ellie. "Let's do this," she said.

Ellie took a deep breath and tried to settle her shaking nerves. "Together," she agreed, taking Sarah Jane's arm and smiling at her father.

Clara relaxed into the chairs at the reception, watching the dancing from a more comfortable position. Although she didn't have the energy to join in, she liked watching them anyway. It was nice to see all her children grown up and doing well. She had purposefully spent more time at this wedding than she had at the others, making sure to talk to all of the Tyler children and their families, and her old TARDIS friends. But after talking with everyone, she was exhausted. Danny had noticed her energy levels dropping and brought over the Doctor and Rose. Clara smiled at them contently.

"It's time, isn't it?" the Doctor asked quietly as Rose sat next to her.

"Yes, but don't mention it to anyone else. I don't want it to be a big deal."

The Doctor nodded and once again scanned her with Rose's screwdriver. "The memories you've made will be uploaded to your original database I made on here. If all goes well, you'll fall asleep, and then wake up with Danny in the Library."

Clara nodded, looking at Danny happily. Her gaze returned to the dancers in the garden.

"They'll be ok," she said. "The Intelligence is gone. There's no more dangers. Adventures, yes. But not like before."

"Thank you for saving us," the Doctor said solemnly, sitting on the other side of her.

"Not just for saving us," Rose said. "For everything you did for us. We couldn't have gotten here without you, Clara. And we will miss you."

"I'll miss you, too," Clara said, a single tear slipping from her eye. "But it's ok. I'm ready. I didn't think I would be all those years ago when you came to our house," she added, looking at the Doctor. "When you told us we would die I wanted to fight it with everything in me. But I think it was better this way."

Danny smiled at her. "You got to be with our girl as she grew up."

Clara nodded, watching Ellie dance with Rezh. Her eyes were brimming with tears, but they were joyful. "And now she's grown and everyone's safe." She turned back to look at Danny. "I can come back to you now."

"You better," he teased.

Calmly, Clara took the Doctor and Rose's hands. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and leaned back. It felt like re-entering the Doctor's time stream, but this time her body dissolved into nothingness.

Clara sat upright with a start, groaning as a splitting headache overcame her entire body. Her lungs burned and she gasped for air. Lights flashed before her eyes and she quickly lay back down to avoid passing out. A gentle hand passed over her forehead soothingly. Slowly, sound came back to her.

"Hey, Clara," a soft voice whispered.

Wincing, Clara cautiously opened her eyes and looked over to see Danny sitting beside her bed. She started to sit up but he stopped her, instead hugging her where she was. Hot tears spilled from Clara's eyes as she tried to speak. It was laborious to get the words to form.

"Danny," she cried.

"I'm here, you're safe," he promised, holding her tight.

"I thought I would never see you again," she whispered.

"I know," Danny said. "But we made it."

Clara pushed him back a little so she could see him. Her hand gently caressed his cheek as she stared into his beautiful eyes.

"I missed you," she said, smiling.

"I missed you, too," Danny said, wiping away her tears. "How do you feel?"

"Normal. Human," she laughed slightly.

"Good. Can you stand?"

"Maybe."

Slowly, Danny helped her out of bed, and she wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his chest.

"You smell just like you used to," she marveled.

"I'm not going to disappear, Clara," he said lightly. "Now, if you're ready, there's a little girl out there who needs a mother."

"Charlotte," Clara nodded, remembering.

"She's a sweetheart. I think you'll like her. Ready?"

Clara looked toward the doors of the little room. There was a whole new world out there to explore, new friends to make, and new adventures to create. And this time, Danny would be with her for all of them, including raising another lonely little girl who needed a family. For the first time in what seemed like ages, Clara felt her heart beat fast in excitement. She looked up at Danny and smiled.

"Alons-y!"