Chapter Twenty Three

15 March 1759

The remains of the winter snow dotted the grass while the first few buds appeared on the rose bushes and the soft birdsong drifted over the wind. The soft wheezing sound filled the air when the TARDIS materialized and the Doctor, Nyssa and Tegan walked outside. Turning around, the Doctor locked the doors then placed the key in his pocket and arched the hat back on his head.

"Right, this way," the Doctor said as they walked toward the path and Tegan held the soft cloth doll in her arms. They headed down the path when they heard the sounds of horses coming closer and the Doctor smiled, seeing the cart coming closer. The cart stopped while Jesse looked down at them and smiled, arching his hat back on his head.

"Hello, Doctor, Master James sent me tae bring you an' the ladies tae the house," he said as the Doctor nodded and helped Nyssa and Tegan onto the cart, A few minutes later the cart arrived at the house as the Doctor and Jesses helped Tegan and Nyssa off the cart and Jesse led them to the stairs. Nodding, the Doctor, Nyssa and Tegan went up the stairs when the Doctor knocked on the door and smiled when the door opened.

"Hello, Jamie," the Doctor said as Jamie grinned and opened the door enough to allow them inside. Closing the door, Jamie led them to the stairs when he noticed that Adric wasn't with them and he gave the Doctor a questioning look. "He's still in the medical bay."

"Really, I thought he would have healed by now," Jamie said while they walked up the stairs and the Doctor sighed, taking his hat off.

"Well, I just want to make sure there were no ill effects from the disc," he said and Jamie nodded.

"No offense, but how old are you?" Tegan asked and Jamie softly laughed, looked back at her.

"I turned thirty this year," he said and Tegan smiled.

"You don't look it," she said and Jamie felt a soft blush moving across his cheeks. "So, how did she tell you that she was pregnant this time?"

(Seven months ago….)

The bedroom door opened as Jamie walked inside and held the candleholder in his hand. The fire crackled in the fireplace as he walked to the bed then placed the candleholder on the night table. Erica was sitting against the headboard with the duvet around her waist as Jamie crawled under the duvet and snuggled next to her.

"Are they asleep?" she asked as he looked up at her and yawned, nodding his head.

"Aye an' it took four stories before they finally drifted off," he said as she played with his hair and he sighed, moving a little closer.

"Will you do me a favor?" she asked as he looked up, arching an eyebrow at her.

"Och, I would love tae, but I am exhausted," he said and she laughed, lightly swatting the top of his head.

"I need you to bring the cradle from the nursery in here," she said while he placed his head in his hand then thought for a few minutes and smiled.

"Are ye with child again, Sassenach?" he asked and she nodded her head. Jamie rolled onto his back as she snuggled against him and he wrapped his arms around her. "How far along are ye?"

"I'm two months along," she said as he kissed the top of her head and she tapped her fingers on his chest in time to the beating of his heart. "Are you happy?"

"Aye," he said then lifted up the candleholder and blew out the candle. Placing the candleholder on the night table, Jamie stroked her hair as Erica closed her eyes then drifted off to sleep and Jamie smiled, softly humming a Scottish lullaby.

"Why does she keep asking you if you're happy?" Tegan asked.

"She says that I look like I'm going tae cry. I was going tae cry, but nae because I was upset aboot her getting pregnant. It's because I get overwhelmed by how lucky I am tae have her in my life. I should have died in seventeen forty-six, yet here it is thirteen years later an' I'm married to a wonderful woman an' have three healthy an' happy bairn!" Jamie said then looked at the Doctor. "An' I owe all of that tae ye, Doctor."

"Jamie," the Doctor said as Jamie shook his head and smiled.

"No, it's true, I wouldnae have any of this if it wasnae for ye. Now, if all of ye will come this way."

Walking down the hallway, they came to the bedroom door when the sounds of children's voices came down the hallway and Jamie turned, seeing Young Jamie and Alexander running toward them.

"Doctor!" Young Jamie shouted then stopped and looked up at Jamie, who was glaring down at them.

"Sorry," Young Jamie said while Alexander nodded and Jamie smiled, ruffling their hair.

"Aren't you glad to see us?" Tegan asked as the boys ran to her and Nyssa and the Doctor took the soft cloth doll from Tegan as so she could hug them.

"Are you here to see the new baby?" Young Jamie asked.

"Yes," the Doctor nodded when the boys took Tegan and Nyssa's hands and Jamie opened the door. Quietly they walked into the room when they saw Erica sitting under the duvet and was holding something in a white blanket. She looked tired but beautiful as Jamie walked to the bed and sat down next to her, peeking into the white blanket then smiled.

"Hello," Erica said softly while the Doctor walked closer then sat down on the bed.

"Hello," he said while Tegan and Nyssa walked closer and stood next to the Doctor. Tegan handed Erica the soft cloth doll and she thanked her, placing the soft cloth doll on the bed next to her.

"How did ye ken that the new bairn was a girl?" Jamie asked and the Doctor smiled, taking a peek inside the blanket. The baby had a round face and long lashes and a full head of light brown hair.

"The TARDIS told me," the Doctor said softly, rubbing the tip of the baby's nose with his finger.

"Do you want to hold her?" Erica asked as the Doctor's eyes went wide and he nodded. Erica carefully placed the baby into the Doctor's arms as he looked at the small face and felt his hearts melting.

"She is so sweet," he whispered then noticed that Alexander didn't look happy and he arched an eyebrow at him. "What's wrong?"

"I'm not the baby anymore,' Alexander said while leaning against the bed when Jamie picked him up, placing him on his lap.

"Well, yes, you aren't the baby of the family anymore, she is," the Doctor said, nodding his head toward the baby then smiled. "But you are still the baby boy."

"I am?" Alexander asked with wide eyes.

"Yes, you are," the Doctor said and Alexander smiled.

"What is her name?" Nyssa asked, looking at the baby.

"Her name is Victoria Samantha, after my mother and a friend of Jamie's," Erica said as the Doctor smiled at Jamie and Jamie shrugged his shoulders. The Doctor gently rocked the baby while he looked at Jamie and his little family and smiled. The next morning Jamie and the boys watched the TARDIS as the TARDIS vanished then he placed his hands on the boys' shoulders, leading them back to the house.

"Well, that was fun," Tegan said while the Doctor looked at the screen and she peeked over his shoulder. "Oh no, don't tell me we're going back?"

"Ok, I won't," the Doctor said then pulled the main lever and she smiled at him.

22 September 1765

"Daddy, look at me!" six year old Victoria called out while Jamie walked toward the fence and leaned against the railing. She was riding on Duster, her chestnut brown horse, and Jamie smiled, pushing his hat up. Young Jamie and Alexander were riding their horses as well and Jamie smiled at Victoria then blinking, hearing a soft wheezing and grinding sound.

"What?" he asked as he turned around and saw the Doctor, Tegan and Nyssa walked out from behind the bushes. The Doctor smiled as they walked closer and Jamie leaned on the railing, smiling back at him. "Hello."

"Hello," the Doctor said when Jamie hugged Tegan and Nyssa and the Doctor looked over at Victoria, who had a confused look on her face. "Is that Victoria?"

"Aye," Jamie said while Victoria came closer and held the reins in her hands.

"Daddy, who are they?" she asked.

"These are good friends of mine," he said then looked over at Young Jamie and Alexander. "Go get your brothers."

She nodded then rode off as Tegan noticed that Erica wasn't there and she looked at Jamie, tilting her head to one side.

"Where is Erica?" she asked.

"She's at the house," Jamie said as nine year old Alexander and eleven year old Young Jamie rode their horses to the fence and Victoria followed close behind them. The Doctor was amazed how much the boys looked like Jamie and smiled, taking his hat off.

"Hello, Doctor," Young Jamie said as he got off his horse and hopped over the top of the fence, walking to Jamie.

"Hello, Jamie," he said and Young Jamie hugged Tegan and Nyssa. Alexander stayed on the horse as he looked at them and Jamie sighed, rolling his eyes.

"Dinnae ye remember the Doctor, Alex?" he asked as Alexander tilted his head to one side then smiled, got off the horse and hopped over the top of the fence.

"Hello," he said as they shook hands and the Doctor smiled.

"Aren't you going to say hello to us?" Tegan asked and Alexander walked to her and hugged her then Nyssa.

"Should I go tell Mother that they're here?" Young Jamie asked.

"No, let's go surprise her," Jamie said as he helped Victoria off her horse and they headed toward the house. Erica was surprised to see the Doctor, Nyssa and Tegan as she hugged them and the Doctor smiled. On the way back to the house, Jamie explained who the Doctor was to Victoria and she sat on the couch, looking at the Doctor while he stood in front of the fireplace.

"So, what brings you here?" Erica asked while the Doctor looked up at the portrait of Jamie, Erica and the children then turned and looked at her.

"Oh, I was just wondering if you all would like to come on a little trip," he said and Jamie's eyes went wide.

"Ye mean in the TARDIS?" he asked and the Doctor nodded.

"If we say yes, do you promise to return us to this year?" Erica teased and Jamie covered his mouth, trying not to laugh.

"Yes, I will return you to this year," the Doctor said as he sighed then smiled and shook his head.

"What is a TARDIS?" Victoria asked.

"Well, do ye remember those stories I told ye aboot the man in the magical blue box?" Jamie asked and she nodded her head. "Well, that's the TARDIS."

"But that was just a story. It can't be real," she said and Jamie looked at the Doctor, giving him a wink.

"Amazing!" Victoria said as they walked inside the control room and Jamie held Erica against him, wrapping her arms around her. The boys looked at the console while Victoria walked outside then back in a few times and the Doctor smiled, leaning on the console.

"This is really a time machine?" Alexander asked, looking at the rotor moving up and down.

"Yep," the Doctor said, popping the "p" then blinked.

"Hmm, never did that before," he thought then shrugged and looked at the screens. Tegan had locked the doors as the Doctor moved around the console, pushing buttons, flipping switches and checking the screens. Nodding, the Doctor pointed to the main lever as Young Jamie pulled the main lever down and the TARDIS' engines hummed around them.

"Are we moving?" Alexander asked, looking around.

"Yes, we are," Nyssa said. The children looked around the control room while the Doctor watched them and Jamie smiled at him while holding onto Erica.

"How is Adric doing?" Erica asked.

"He's still asleep," the Doctor said and Erica blinked, trying to figure out why Adric would still be unconscious after all these years.

"Ye have tae understand, leannan, that even though years have passed since we've seen the Doctor, Tegan an' Nyssa, it might be only a few minutes for them," Jamie said and they Doctor nodded his head.

"Oh," Erica said and Jamie cuddled with her then let go when he felt a light thump coming from under his feet. "We landed."

"Yes," the Doctor said as they headed for the doors and the Doctor opened the doors. Spreading out before them was a beach with blue tinted sand, clear purple water and a sky with a blue sun and light purple clouds. The Doctor walked outside when he turned and looked at them. "It's alright."

Taking Erica's hand, Jamie walked outside as he looked up at the sky then realized where he was and smiled. The Doctor had taken him and Victoria there a long time ago and he looked out at the water, seeing the small islands off in the distance.

"Och, the last time we were here was when we were with Victoria," he said and the Doctor nodded.

"And that was the first time you ever wore swim trunks," the Doctor teased and Jamie softly laughed.

"Aye, but I ducked under a towel the first chance I was able tae," Jamie said and the Doctor nodded.

"Daddy, is it safe to come out?" Victoria asked when Jamie looked at the children and nodded. The children walked out as they looked around and their mouths fell open.

"Longantach!" Alexander said. Longantach meant "amazing" in Gaelic and Jamie smiled, putting his arm around his shoulder.

"Can we go for a paddle?" Young Jamie asked, nodding toward the water.

"Yes, but you need to go change clothes first," the Doctor said then told them about bathing suits, where the bathing suits were and they nodded, going back inside the TARDIS. After everyone changed clothes, the Doctor watched them playing in the water or sitting on towels and Jamie stood next to him, wearing a blue tee shirt and dark blue bathing trunks.

"Thank you," Jamie said and the Doctor gave him a blank look.

"For what?" he asked.

"For giving me all this," he said, nodding his head toward Erica and the children.

"You're welcome," the Doctor said when Victoria came closed and gently pulled on Jamie's hand.

"Come and play, Daddy," she said as he nodded then she took the Doctor's hand and looked at him with a big smile on her face. "You, too, Doctor."

Nodding, the Doctor smiled as they headed for the others and the light purple clouds drifted slowly across the sky.

The End…