Donna turned off her bathroom light and sleepily made her way over to her turned down bed. Every muscle in her body ached, but at least, she was completely slime-free now. After their latest heart-pumping and grimy adventure, Donna was all too ready for sleep. In fact, she was already imagining her head sinking into the soft pillows on her bed and pulling the warm duvet up over herself. Unfortunately, she'd only got as far as the foot of the bed when she heard a familiar rhythmic ringing.

Abruptly, Donna stopped and glanced towards her dresser. Amongst the clutter on top of it, she spotted her mobile, vibrating and flashing wildly. Her brow furrowed as she stepped towards it. She wasn't quite sure who it could be or why they would be calling, but she was already starting to not care enough to answer it. Still, out of curiosity, she checked the caller ID anyway. Her shoulders drooped when she saw the identification of 'Mum' flash onto the screen.

A heavy sigh fell from Donna's lips. She didn't want to talk to her mum, or knowing full well what her mum was like, argue with her. She didn't want to add a headache to the rest of the aches raking over her body. For a few rings, Donna actually considered muting the mobile and just continuing her way over to her bed.

Then, she reconsidered. It had been more than a week since Donna last spoke to or saw either her mum or granddad, and perhaps, even a longer time had passed for them. That's why Donna took her mobile over to her bed.

Taking a seat on the edge of her bed, she reluctantly flipped it open and answered as friendly as possible, "Hello, Mum."

She waited for her mum's usual sharp toned reply. Much to Donna's surprise, it was her granddad's calm voice on the other end. "No, sweetheart, it's your granddad," he said jubilantly. "I thought it would be better if I called you instead of your mum."

"Gramps!" Donna said happily, already feeling far more relaxed. She lay back in her bed, just enjoying the soothing tone of her granddad's voice. It reminded her of when she was young and he use to read bedtime stories to her. "It's great to hear your voice. How are you?"

"Good, Sweetheart," he told her, before pausing with a deep sigh. "Well, as good as can be expected with your mum as she is."

"What!" abruptly stated Donna, feeling as if her heart had skipped a few beats as she registered what her granddad had just said. "What do you mean? Is something wrong? Is mum okay?"

There was uncomfortable pause. "Mostly, Sweetheart," Wilf said slowly. "She's... she's broken her right leg."

Donna's mouth fell wide open as she shot straight up in bed. "What!" she scoffed, feeling briefly astonished. "How'd she managed that?"

"Happened when she was running errands a week ago," he explained. "She slipped on some ice, twisting her right ankle pretty badly. She landed on the leg whilst holding a load of heavy shopping bags. The doctor said she ripped the tendons and fractured her shin bone."

Donna hissed sympathetically.

"He's immobilized it in a temporary cast, but still ordered her to stay off it as much as possible, so that it can heal properly," he continued, "and you know how you mum is with being cooped up inside for more than a day, unable to do whatever she wants."

Donna couldn't help but grin. "Yeah, I know," she said, recalling her own experience with her mum when she was sick. "Must be hell for you being stuck with her all day, Gramps."

"Oh, my little girl has never been a good patient, but I manage the best I can. Still...," he admitted, before pausing with a deep sigh. "It's worse since it's so close to Christmas, this year especially so. Your cousins have invited both of us up north for a big Mott family Christmas gathering, but now, that's out of the question." The disappointment was evident in his voice.

"Oh, I see," Donna said understandingly. She knew mum always looked forward to the Mott family gatherings with her sister's and brother's kids. It was about the only time her mum enjoyed big family gatherings. Donna suspected it was mostly due to her mum not being forced to play hostess, which the Noble side of the family often did.

"So, I thought to cheer her up we could have our own family Christmas here at home," Wilf suggested with a questioning tone.

"Oh," slowly said Donna, starting to understand why her granddad had called her. "That sounds nice."

"I thought so," he said merrily. "I've already gotten the decorations up … well, mostly up, and your mum's making up the final shopping list as we speak." He stopped briefly, coughing nervously.

Donna sighed, already sensing where this was leading.

"I was hoping you could come," he said questioningly. "I mean, I know you're probably busy travelling and meeting aliens, but I thought you might be able to make a stop here. Your mum and I would love to have you around. No one makes a better Christmas pudding than you do, you know, and this is the only time of the year your mum let's me off that horrible macrobiotic diet she's got me on, so I'd really love to taste your delicious pudding again."

Donna chuckled at the comment, recalling just how much both her granddad and dad had loved her Christmas pudding. "Gramps… I miss you too, and I really… really appreciate the offer," she replied, already subconsciously picturing Christmas back home.

In her mind, she could see the colourful, warmly lit decorations covering the interior of the semi-detached house. The short plastic, green Christmas tree would be twinkling in the far corner as an array of a few neatly wrapped and labelled gifts lined the base. Her granddad would be fast asleep in the plush chair in front of the silent but lit telly and dressed in the Christmas jumper she bought him the Christmas he was sick with the Spanish flu. There would be the crackling of the radio in the kitchen, playing seasonal music. Her mum, if she could manage it, would be busy cooking and baking in the kitchen, while singing along with the radio. There was no doubt in Donna's mind that she was very tempted to visit them for Christmas.

Still, she just didn't know if it was a good idea to do it now. She didn't have any idea where or when she and the Doctor were at the moment, and knowing the Doctor's habit of landing in the wrong place, Donna wondered if it was even possible to land them back in the right year let alone the proper day or place. Besides, even if they made it on the same day and in the right place, with the Doctor's luck there would end up being an invasion like the last time they had returned to modern day Earth. Also, Donna didn't know if the Doctor would even agree. She'd asked him once before about spending Christmas with her family, but he'd been more than reluctant to do that, just leaving her on the doorstep of the family's semi after making it snow.

"The thing is, Gramps, the Doctor and I... we're sort of...," she said, struggling to come up with a good excuse, "Well, I'd love to but... if I leave him now, even for a bit, I don't know if I'd find him again. Don't get me wrong. He wouldn't abandon me purposefully, but he's not the most patient man in the universe or the greatest navigator, and well, honestly, he's hopeless without me. I really don't want... I can't leave him on his own for too long." She chewed on her bottom lip, hoping he'd understand her motives and reasoning for being unable to except his offer.

"Oh, don't worry, Sweetheart! Bring the Doctor along with you," Wilf chimed in. "The more the merrier."

"Oh?" she said questioningly, more than surprised. "That's... that's nice of you, but I don't know, Gramps. I'd hate to be a bother."

"You won't be a bother to us sweetheart, far from it, and I'm sure your mum would agree too," he told her.

Rolling her eyes, Donna found that hard to believe, but she ignored it. "The Doctor…"

"Has he ever had a Christmas?" Wilf asked gingerly, interrupting her. "I doubt he's had a proper Christmas has he, especially with your brilliant Christmas pudding!"

Donna smiled warmly. "No, I doubt he's had one like that, Gramps."

"Then, he's missing out," he pointed out. "The poor Martian doesn't know what he is missing!"

"Yeah, probably," she agreed happily, once again picturing Christmas at home in her mind, but this time the Doctor was there too. She couldn't help the new smile it brought to her face.

The sound of movement on the other end of the line drew Donna's attention back to reality. In a very quiet voice, her granddad said, "It would mean a lot to me, Sweetheart, for you to be here. I really miss you. It's been so long. I know you're enjoying your travels and meeting aliens, and I'd never ask to you stop just for me, but I'd really love to see you, even if it is only for a few hours."

Donna felt her voice catch in her throat. The sincerity and loneliness in his voice said what his words could only hope to mirror. She felt any remaining hesitance melt away as he continued:

"Please come home for a bit, Sweetheart, at least for the holidays. Please?"

Her eyes slide shut. She never could say no to her granddad, particularly when she wanted the same thing too. She missed him very much and wanted to see him as well, especially at Christmas. Donna knew her answer instantly. "Okay, Gramps," she said. "Let me talk to the Doctor, and we'll be there as soon as possible."

"Wonderful!" her granddad stated joyfully, adding in a little whistle of glee. "I'll tell your mum. I'm sure she'll be tickled pink to have you and the Doctor over!"

With a deep sigh, Donna replied sarcastically, "No doubt."

oOo

The next morning when Donna entered the console room, she was still trying to figure out how to talk the Doctor into going to visit her granddad and mum for Christmas. She debated several approaches, including: begging him with some sob story, trying to pilot the TARDIS herself to Earth, and being forceful and ordering him to take her to Earth. Thus far, none of the approaches she'd conjured up in her head seemed doable, let alone sane. Fortunately, for her, the Doctor innocently gave her an opening.

"So, Donna," he said excitedly, gazing at her from the other side of the console and wearing a huge grin on his face. "Where do you want to go today?"

Donna smiled back at him, stepping up to the side of the console closest to her. Putting on her most thoughtful look, she pretended to be thinking about it. "Somewhere... different... than norm," she said slowly.

The Doctor's eyebrows leapt up his forehead. "Oh?" he asked, sounding intrigued.

"Yeah," she replied, glancing briefly down over the controls. "Some place less like the last place."

When she looked up, Donna saw the Doctor stepping around the console towards her. His head was cocked to one side with an amused grin curving his lips. "Oh, how so?"

"Oh, you know, different," she replied, raising a single eyebrow.

"Different different?" he inquired, stopping close enough for her to feel the warmth of his breath on her skin. She noticed a teasing glint in his big, brown eyes.

"Yeah, got a problem with that?" she asked shrewdly with a smirk on her lips.

The Doctor pulled back slightly, waving his hands before him. "No," he replied. "I'm just curious where you have in mind, Donna."

She took a step towards him, leaning close and giving him her most innocent and friendly smile. "I was thinking Christmas… with my mum and granddad."

"What!" the Doctor exclaimed, taking several quick steps back. "Excuse me?"

Donna scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "What? You suddenly have a problem with my suggestions, Spaceman?"

"Well, no," he said quickly, before pausing and stating seriously, "Actually, yes! You can go anywhere and any when in the universe, and you want to go have Christmas with your family! Where's the fun in that?"

"Excuse me?" she scoffed. "It's fun for me! Sounds more like you are having the issue. Do you have a problem with my family or something?"

The Doctor looked taken back by her sudden assertiveness. "No," he said hesitantly. She gave him a piercing stare, sensing he had more to say. He took in a breath before continuing on. "Not especially. Well, not specifically with your family."

"You did ask me where I wanted to go, Spaceman, didn't you?" Donna pressed, fixing him with a hard stare.

"Well, yes," he admitted, "but..."

Donna interrupted him, not wishing to hear his excuse. "So?" she said questioningly. "Why are you putting down my idea all of a sudden?"

"Well, I..." he stammered for a moment, averting his gaze away as if trying to come up with a reason. "I didn't even think you liked Christmas! You told me that the first time we met. That's why you chose Christmas for your wedding." His gaze snapped back to her.

Donna exhaled, glaring back at him, wishing he didn't have such a good memory. "Well, not normally, no, but it's been awhile since I've seen Gramps and Mum, and I thought you…" she tried to explain.

"Look if it's Christmas you want, I can take you to way better places than that Donna," he interrupted her, dashing back towards the console's monitor. With a flourish of arm movements, he started to list names and times to Donna. "Or even better, how about... sometime in Earth's past... or future? How about the first Christmas held on Mars? Or better yet…"

"That's all well and good, Doctor, but I said something different than the norm," seriously said Donna, stepping around the console towards him. She knew she was close to getting him to agree, if only she could give him a good reason and hold her nerve.

His gaze snapped up, narrowing on her. There was no malice in his look, only inquiry. "And how are you defining 'norm'?"

"Norm, meaning our adventures of late," she replied, gesturing to console room. "Having a normal Christmas with my family would be a break of the norm of all of this."

"So," he said suddenly and very coldly. His gaze darkened as he snapped completely upright, crossing his arms over his chest. "You want to stop travelling with me, is that what you're saying? Go back to boring life as some temp with a mortgage and carpets. Done with travelling just because one giant slime toad exploded in front of you, covering you in his entrails, is that it?"

Donna sighed, shutting her eyes for a brief moment. She had to remain calm. "No, Spaceman, that's not what I'm saying. This has nothing to do with our last adventure, giant, exploding slime toads aside," she told him, briefly pausing to get the gross image of slimy toad entails out of her head, which had haunted her dreams last night. She opened her eyes and liberally spread a warm smile over her face. "In fact, I want both of us to go, and so does Gramps."

The Doctor's left eyebrow snapped up his forehead in question.

"Gramps invited both of us to spend Christmas with him and my mum," said Donna, leaning against the console.

"Your mum invited us?" he asked incredulously, narrowing his gaze on her.

Donna shrugged. "More or less"

"I see," he said slowly, before rolling his eyes and sighing. There was a less than enthusiastic expression on his face. Donna feared she might be losing him because they both knew her mum would never openly invite him into the house, so quickly she reached out for his arm and spoke up again.

"One day with them, that's all I ask," Donna explained. "We don't even have to sleepover. We can arrive, have dinner, open presents, and be gone in about five hours, depending on your flying again."

Donna couldn't help but notice that both of the Doctor's eyebrows shot up his forehead and a twinkle of interest appeared in his brown eyes at the mention of presents. A soft chuckle fell from her lips as she watched his face. She swore she could see a billion little wheels and cogs whirling away behind his eyes.

"Five hours?" he asked suddenly, sounding less resistant and much more interested. "That's all?"

"Depends on your driving," Donna reminded him again.

The Doctor's gaze drifted down to the console. Several times his brow furrowed and smoothed, until finally he coughed. "Well, I suppose there's no reason... Well, nothing wrong in going to Earth," he said, pausing briefly to glance in her direction. "No harm in going there again. Well, at least if there's no slapping."

That brought a grin to Donna's lips. He smiled warmly back at her.

"Well, you know I can't promise nothing will happen," he added.

Donna's smile grew a bit more as she said softly, "I know you, Doctor, and I don't expect a miracle from you any time soon."

He smiled gingerly back, sticking his hands in his jacket pockets, and rocking back and forth on his heels. "As long as we're clear on that, and I reserve the right to leave if there's an emergency."

"Oh, absolutely!" she agreed.

"All right, Donna!" he exclaimed, stepping back around the console and reaching out to the controls. "We're off to Earth... Christmas with your family! Allons-y!"

To be continued...