[TORCHWOOD UNDERGROUND BASE]

Where first was nothing more than emptiness, suddenly appeared a giant creature. It was red, with tentacles as hands and eight legs, looking similar to a big crab mixed with a spider, snarling and growling. Melody's mouth fell open a little when, in her mind, as always from nowhere, appeared the name of the creature.

The Doctor seemed to be surprised too «The Racnoss...» he muttered, wide eyes. «...but that's impossible, you're one of the Racnoss!»

«Empress of the Racnoss.» it corrected.

Elsewhere in the base, Lance climbed up the ladder and through another corridor, unnoticed.

«If you're the Empress, where's the rest of the Racnoss?» the Doctor asked.

«Or...» Melody gulped, stepping slightly further. «Are you the only one?» she asked, saddened slightly.

«Such a sharp mind.» The Empress hissed, sarcastically, and Melody could've bet she would've clapped if she would've had hands.

«That's it, the last of your kind.» the Doctor by Melody's side said. He then bent slightly to be closer to Donna and explained «The Racnoss come from the Dark Times, billions of years ago, billions. They were carnivores, omnivores, they devoured whole planets.»

Melody's eyes were suck on a point, on the ceiling. The Empress suddenly growled «Racnoss are born starving, is that our fault?»

«They eat people?» Donna asked.

The Doctor was about to replay here when «H C Clements, did he wear those... those erm, black and white shoes?» Melody interrupted, her eyes still fixed on the ceiling.

«He did! We used to laugh, we used to call him the fat cat in spats.»

Melody nodded then pointed to a web on the ceiling, the Doctor and Donna following her gaze. A pair of black and white shoes were still attached to the unfortunate H C Clements, slightly poking out.

«Oh, my God!» Donna muttered.

«Mm, my Christmas dinner.» the Empress cackled. Melody suddenly clenched her fists and her jaw tightly, her brows frowned in anger. The pity she felt before when she found out the Empress was the last of her kind, vanishing like it never existed, replaced by a dead glare.

The Doctor wasn't happy either, but still surprised «You shouldn't even exist! Way back in history, the Fledgling Empires went to war against the Racnoss, they were wiped out.»

Behind the Empress Lance appeared on a balcony above her, unbeknownst. Donna spotted him and Lance motioned for her to stay silent.

«Except for me.» the Empress replayed to the Doctor.

«But that's what I've got inside me, that Huon energy thing.» Donna tried to distract her. She suddenly went to turn around «Oi! Look at me, lady, I'm talking.» Donna captured her attention again «Where do I fit in? How comes I get all stacked up with these Huon particles?»

Meanwhile Lance descended the stairs, axe at the ready.

«Look at me, you! Look me in the eye and tell me.» Donna said.

«The bride is so feisty!»

«Yes, I am! And I don't know what you are, you big...» the Doctor and Melody looked Donna as she was saying that, arms folded on their chests, watching her curious to know what she would've said next. «...thing.» she ended up to say. Melody and The Doctor looked back at the Racnoss, appreciation drawn across their faces.

«But a spider's just a spider and an axe is an axe! Now, do it!» Donna shouted to Lance.

Lance swung the axe, the Empress swung around and hissed at the last moment. He suddenly stopped. He glanced round at Donna. Then exploded then into a laugh, the Empress joining.

«That was a good one. Your face!» he laughed.

«Lance is funny.» she replayed.

«What??» Donna looked lost and confused, something that Melody and the Doctor weren't at all.

«I'm sorry.» the Doctor told her quietly.

«Sorry for what? Lance, don't be so stupid! Get her!» Donna shouted to her man.

He just stared at her pityingly. «God, she's thick.»

Donna looked right back at him, so confused.

«Months I had to put up with her. Months. A woman who can't even point to Germany on a map.» Lance said. The last comment causing Melody to clench her fists and jaw tighter. No one had the right to hurt Donna Nobel especially in front of her.

«I don't understand.» Donna muttered.

«How did you meet him?» the Doctor asked looking down at the bride.

«In the office.»

«He made you coffee.»

«What??»

«Every day, I made you coffee.» Lance said, as though addressing an idiot.

«You had to be dosed with liquid particles over six months.» the Doctor explained.

«He was poisoning me?» Donna asked, incredulously and hurt.

«It was all there in the job title, the Head of Human Resources.» Melody explained.

«This time, it's personnel.» Lance and the Racnoss laughed.

Tears began building in Donnas eyes «But... we were getting married.»

«Well, I couldn't risk you running off. I had to say yes. And then I was stuck with a woman who thinks the height of excitement is a new flavour Pringle. Oh, I had to sit there and listen to all that yap yap yap..."oh, Brad and Angelina... is Posh pregnant?" X Factor, Atkins Diet, Feng Shui, split ends, text me, text me, text me, dear God, the never ending fountain of fat, stupid trivia.» he said. Donna listened to this torrent of abuse with an expression of increasing hurt and confusion. Melody's fists clenched even more, her nails drawing in the skin of her palms.

«I deserve a medal.» Lance finished, his face looking as though he was exhausted.

Melody scowled «Or a paunch in the face.»

«Oh, is that what she's offered you? The Empress of the Racnoss? What are you? Her consort?» The Doctor said, a high pitch of anger in his voice echoing in the hole room.

«It's better than a night with her.» Lance replayed.

Donnas eyes blurry of tears, her legs shaking and she could barely stay up, though she picked up her last forces and muttered plaintive «But I love you.»

«That's what made it easy.» he replayed, nastily. «It's like you said, Doctor, the big picture, what's the point of it all if the Human Race is nothing? That's what the Empress can give me. The chance to... go out there. To see it. The size of it all. I think you understand that, don't you, Doctor?»

«Who is this little physician?» the Racnoss inquired.

«What she said, Martian.»

«And the girl?»

«Girlfriend, perhaps.»

Melody scowled, stepping in «Sorry to disappoint but I'm not. You got two of two wrong. He's... sort of...» Melody said looking at the Doctor trying to find the right word.

He did «...homeless. But the point is, what's down here? The Racnoss are extinct. What's gonna help you four thousand miles down? That's just the molten core of the Earth, isn't it?» the Doctor asked, Melody's slightly sheepish gaze fixed back on the Empress and Lance. She didn't mean to hurt the Doctor, and he didn't seem to be. At least not for that.

«I think he wants us to talk.» Lance replayed.

«I think so too.» the Empress agreed.

«Well, tough! All we need is Donna!»

«Kill this chattering little doctor-man! Not the stubborn girl, though. Somehow she has the particles inside her. We shan't waste them!» The Empress exclaimed. Melody grimaced sarcastically and even wanted to bow as if she was flattered, but was stopped by Donna, who stood in front of the couple, protectively.

«Don't you hurt them!» she defended.

«No, no, it's all right.» the Doctor reassured.

«No, I won't let them!» Donna protested, glancing at the duo, frightened.

«At arms!» the Empress shouted. The robots pointed their guns at the Doctor and Melody. Melody's arms fell by her sides.

«Ah, now. Except.» the Doctor tried to stop her.

«Take aim!» she ignored.

«Well, I just want to point out the obvious...»

«They won't hit the bride and the girl. They're such very good shots.»

«Just... just... just... hold on, just a tick, just a tiny... just a little... tick. If you think about it, the particles activated in Mel and Donna and drew them inside my spaceship. So, reverse it... the spaceship comes to them.» He said.

He once again tweaked the tube of Huon particles causing both the particles in the tube and inside Donna and Melody to glow.

«Fire!» The Racnoss shouted. The robots fired their, but too late. The TARDIS already materialised around the trio so they were safe inside.

Melody sighed in satisfaction, then looking at her fuzzy-haired-alien friend giving him a small smile. He answered pressing his lips together «Off we go!» he said and darted to the console. Melody watched him concerned and slightly hurt. She knew he was acting so strange because of Doomsday, it had to be. But what exactly happened?

«My key! My key!» meanwhile the Empress cried, incensed.

The TARDIS dematerialized, impervious to the bullets hitting it.

[TARDIS]

«Oh, you know what I said before about time machines? Well, I lied. And now we're gonna use it.» the Doctor said working on the console. The TARDIS spun through the vortex.

«We need to find out what the Empress of the Racnoss is digging up. If something's buried at the planet core, it must've been there since the beginning. That's just brilliant. Molto bene! I've always wanted to see this.» he said, causing Melody to chuckle slightly at the famous pick up like. She was leaning on the console, watching the nothing, her thoughts racing so fast she couldn't even understand their argument.

«Donna, we're going further back than I've ever been before.» the Doctor continued. It's only then that he noticed Donna's shoulders were shuddering with the silent tears pouring down her cheeks.

The second later the TARDIS, having arrived at its destination, clicked quietly as it cooled down. The Doctor peered around the console at the miserable Donna, sitting in one of the chairs.

«We've arrived... want to see?» he asked.

Donna shrugged one shoulder «I s'pose.» she said, unenthusiastically.

The Doctors eyes flickered at Melody and hers did at his, like if there was a magnetic field that drowned the two together. Melody gave him a smile through pressed lips. He returned it looking down. Then he swung the monitor round, as Melody pushed up from the place she was leaning on.

«Oh, that scanner's a bit small. Maybe your way's best.» he said, then following Melody to the doors and turning around to wait for Donna. «Come on.» he encouraged.

Donna stood resignedly then joined the duo.

«No human's ever seen this. We'll be the first.» Melody grinned.

«All I want to see is my bed.» Donna complained.

They ignored her last statement as the Doctor and Melody turned back to the doors. «Melody Smith and Donna Noble, welcome to the creation of the Earth.» the Doctor said. He then opened the doors onto a spectacular sight. Donna's mouth fell open, Melody's grin becoming an awed expression.

The sun shined through beautiful coloured dust and gas clouds, enormous rocks floating around.

«We've gone back 4.6 billion years. There's no solar system, not yet. Only dust and rocks and gas.» the Doctor pointed forward «That's the Sun over there, brand new. Just beginning to burn.»

«Where's the Earth?» Donna asked.

Melody smirked watching in awe the rocks floating outside the TARDIS «All around us... in the dust.» she then replayed.

«Puts the wedding in perspective. Lance was right. We're just... tiny.»

«No, but that's what you do. The human race. Making sense out of chaos. Marking it out with weddings and Christmas and calendars. This whole process is beautiful, but only if it's being observed.» The Doctor said.

«So, I came out of all this?» Donna asked looking at the Doctor.

«Isn't that brilliant?» he replayed, causing Melody to chuckle. Just then a massive chunk of rock floated lazily past the TARDIS.

«I think that's the Isle of Wight.» Donna joked. The trio laughed.

As the laughs faded, replaced again by the awed expressions, the Doctor spoke «Eventually, gravity takes hold. Say, one big rock, heavier than the others, starts to pull other rocks towards it. All the dust and gas and elements get pulled in, everything, piling in until you get the...»

«Earth.» Donna finished for him.

«But the question is... what was that first rock?» he said.

Suddenly a star shaped rock emerged through the clouds.

«Look.» Donna told the duo. They followed her gaze.

The Doctors eyes widened as did Melody's «The Racnoss...» he whispered, Melody gulping.

The Doctor suddenly darted off back to the console, causing Melody to jump up a little because she didn't expect him running off that fast. He stunned a wheel frantically. «Hold on, the Racnoss are hiding from the war! What's it doing? The rocks, the particles of dust and gas, they're all zooming towards the Racnoss as though drawn by a magnetic force.» he told them.

«Exactly what you said.» Donna agreed. Melody let out a silent chuckle, turning to look at her. When she looked back at the console she was surprised to see the Doctor standing next to her again. She blinked rapidly, her eyes open wide as she watched the Time Lord. How did he get there so quickly? Did he have the super speed or something?

«Oh, they didn't just bury something at the centre of the Earth... they became the centre of the Earth. The first rock.» He said looking out of the door, not noticing Melody's still stunned expression.

The TARDIS suddenly shuddered violently. The trio was nearly knocked off of their feet.

«What was that?» Donna asked, frightened, as she glanced at the Doctor and at Melody.

«Trouble.» he responded, causing a grin to curl on Melodys lips. She was staring to like that word, which only mean she was passing too much time with the Doctors. He slammed the doors shut. They then ran to the console.

Suddenly the TARDIS shuddered and tipped again, The Doctor, Melody and Donna struggling to keep their balance.

«What the hell's it doing??» Donna yelled over the noise.

«Remember that little trick I pulled, particles pulling particles. It works in reverse!» he shouted back.

«They're pulling us back!» Melody yelled wrapping her arms around a railing, holding for dear life.

Meanwhile the Doctor desperately tried to pilot the TARDIS. But it was beyond his control as they whirled through the vortex.

«Well, can't you stop it? Hasn't it got a handbrake? Can't you reverse or warp or beam or something?»

«Backseat driver.»

Melodys face suddenly lit up. She had an idea «Oh! Wait a minute!» she exclaimed. She reached for the space underneath the console then pulled out the extrapolator.

She looked back at the Doctor, still holding on the railing. «The extrapolator! Can't stop us, but it should give us a good bump!» she told him.

His eyes flickered from her to the extrapolator in her hand and then back at her. «Brilliant!» he muttered her, looking impressed.

«I know. Now hold on!»

Donna didn't make herself repeat it as she took a grip on the first thing she found under her hand, which were the railings. The Doctor held on them too.

The TARDIS materialized back in the chamber.

«Now!» Melody shouted. With that she whacked the extrapolator.

[TORCHWOOD UNDERGROUND BASE]

The TARDIS disappeared and reappeared down the corridor. The Doctor, Melody and Donna popped their head out, then emerging completely.

«We're about 200 yards to the right. Come on!» the Doctor said, starting running.

Donna followed straight away, running as fast as she could. Melody though didn't put much force into it. In her past, whenever they ran, the Doctor would grab her hand and rub it gently with his thumb. Or give it a reassuring squeeze. But this one didn't. For the hole day the Doctor never took her hand and she felt the energy and the enthusiasm leaving her slowly.

She felt empty without his hand holding hers. But she went on, because she never wanted to let him down. She cared for him. She didn't know how much yet, but she did.

So they ran.

They then arrived at the doorway leading up to the Thames Flood Barrier.

Donna stopped at his side, out of breath and scared «But what do we do?» she questioned

The Doctor seemingly listened behind the door with a stethoscope «I don't know! I make it up as I go along! But trust me, I've got a history.» he then told her. Melody contained a chuckle, because she still didn't completely catch her breath.

«But I still don't understand. I'm full of particles, but what for?» Donna asked.

«There's a Racnoss web at the centre of the Earth, but my people unravelled their power source. The Huon particles ceased to exist but the Racnoss are stuck.» he explained as he was scanning a door.

Suddenly two robot grabbed Melody and Donna from behind.

«Doctor!» Melody tried to scream, as she kicked the air trying to get free, but the shout never came out because the robot was holding a hand on her mouth. The same thing happened to Donna. That's how they dragged the two girls away.

The Doctor, obvious to what happened and thinking Melody was still by his side, continued scanning the door as he explained «They've just been in hibernation for billions of years. Frozen. Dead. Kaput! So you're the new key. Brand new particles, living particles! They need you to open it and you have never been so quiet.» he said and turned around, only to see Donna was gone.

He groaned «Oooh... Looks like we'll have to save her, Mel...» he said, turning to the spot where he thought Melody stood. But she wasn't there. He frowned «Melody?» he turned around, looking up and down the empty corridor.

Realizing they took her too, his frown became straighter, now becoming an angry expression. He clenched his fists and jaw tight. Then he turned to the door and soniced it. «She better be fine.» he muttered under his breath, angrily, thinking about what he would to the Empress if she dared lying even a single tentacle on Melody.

The door finally clicked, meaning it was open. So he flew it open only to be confronted with an armed robot.

~~~~

Donna was tied up in the web on the ceiling, Lance by her side.

«I hate you.» she muttered.

«Yeah, I think we've gone a bit beyond that now, sweetheart.» Lance said in a 'duh' tone.

Someone groaned in annoyance «Please don't start that again.» Melody then said. She was tied to the ceiling too, but in the opposite direction of Donna and Lance, lying in between them.

«Oh, don't be so rude to them, doctor-mans-girl. After all, they are my golden couple. Together at last, your awful wedded life. Tell me; do you want to be released?» the Empress asked.

«Yes!» The trio shouted.

The Empress smirked mischievously «You're supposed to say "I do".»

«Ha. No chance.» Lance rolled his eyes.

«Say it!» The Empress shouted.

«Just do it!» Melody shouted too, massively irritated by the man.

So he looked at Donna «I do.»

«I do.»

«I don't.» the Empress cackled. «Activate the particles. Purge every last one!»

Lance and Donna began to glow again. Melody didn't, somehow, but the Empress didn't seem to notice. Maybe that's because of the web that was almost completely hiding her.

«And release!» with that the particles extracted themselves from Donna and Lance and zoomed down the hole in the ground.

«The secret heart unlocks. And they will waken from their sleep of Ages.»

«Who will? What's down there?» Donna asked.

«How thick are you??» Lance asked.

«You call her that again, and I promise you'll be lying with them.» Melody growled at him.

«Yeah, yeah, whatever.» Lance said, rolling his eyes.

Melody was about to snap something really offensive which, if they would've been in a movie or a tv-show, would've certainly cover with a long bip sound, but the Empress interrupted her. «My children, the long lost Racnoss. Now will be born to feast on flesh!» she exclaimed.

In fact, the trio then heard the chirping of the spiders and the patters of their feet coming up the hole.

«The web-star shall come to me.» the Empress said.

[SPACE]

A star looking spaceship drifted towards the Earth.

[TORCHWOOD UNDERGROUND BASE]

«My babies will be hungry. They need sustenance. Perish the web.» the Empress commanded.

«Use them! Not me! Use them!»
Lance shouted, panicking and agitating in his spot.

«Oh, my funny little Lance! But you are quite impolite to your lady-friends. The Empress does not approve.» with that the web around Lance loosened and he tumbled down the hole.

«Laaaaaance!» Donna shouted, but it was too late...

[LONDON STREET]

The star descended over the Thames. The confused Londoners pointed up at it in wonder and awe.

«It's Christmas!» A little girl exclaimed cheerfully.

[TORCHWOOD UNDERGROUND BASE]

«Harvest the humans!»

Hearing the Empress shouting that caused Melody to start agitating in her spot too. «No! Leave them! You have what you needed, you have your children, leave them alone!» she shouted.

But the Empress ignored her «Reduce them to meat.» she commanded.

[LONDON STREET]

Bolts of lightning shot out of the points of the stars, killing all they touched. The crowds below began running for cover, screaming. The little girl screamed, screwing her eyes shut as a bolt cut through the floor towards her.

He dad succeeded picking her up out of the way just in time.

[TORCHWOOD UNDERGROUND BASE]

One of the robots ascended the stairs running up the side of the chamber, Melody meanwhile shouting «No! Stop that! Stop, they're not a treat to you! This isn't your world! We could help you find a planet! A whole new place to start leaving again from the beginning! You could have your own planet and live there with you children, growing everyday! Just leave the humans alone!» to the Racnoss, but she didn't even listen.

«My children are climbing towards me and none shall stop them!» she exclaimed. She suddenly hissed and turned to the robot «So you might as well unmask, my clever little doctor-man.»

Melody followed the Empress's gaze only to see the robot removing the mask and the cloak. The fuzzy hair emerged and her face lit up.

«Oh well. Nice try.» the Doctor said. He then turned to the girls «I've got you two!»

He aimed his sonic up at the two girls and the web loosened. All the web around Melody loosened and she was about to fall when Donna caught her hand. «I've got you!» 

The Doctors eyes widened in fear. Melody took a grip on the same 'liana' Donna was handing, slightly lower. She really hoped it would've held the two of them and they wouldn't had fell. 

Donna thought it differently «We're gonna fall!» she  screeched.

«You're gonna swing!» the Doctor corrected. He outstretched his arms out for them. «I've got ya!»

Donna screamed and they swung. Only they ended right underneath the Doctor and smashed into the wall with a dull bang.

The Empress smirked.

The Doctor watched the two «...oh. Sorry.»

Donna was sprawled on the floor and Melody, who was before on top of her, rolled beside.

«Ouch.» the girl groaned.

«Thanks for nothing.» Donna told to the Doctor.

«The doctor-man amuses me.» the Empress said.

He looked up at her «Empress of the Racnoss,I give you one last chance. As Melody said, I can find you a planet. I can find you a place in the universe to coexist. Take that offer and end this now.»

«These men are so funny.» she responded.

«What's your answer?»

«Oh, I'm afraid I have to decline.» She laughed.

«What happens next is your own doing.» the Doctor threatened.

«I'll show you what happens next.» she hissed then shouted «At arms!»

The robots rose their guns.

«Take aim!»

They took aim.

«And...»

«Relax.» the Doctor said quietly. The robots suddenly fell go limp.

Melody's gaze returned to the Doctor, her mouth open slightly in delight.

«What did you do?» Donna asked.

«Guess what I've got, Donna?» He produced the remote control from one of his pockets. «Pockets.»

Melody laughed, throwing her head backwards, obvious to the Doctor watching her with a smirk.

«How did that fit in there?» Donna asked, interrupting him from staring at her.

«They're bigger on the inside.» he replayed, smirking, then returning his gaze at Melody and encountering hers. She was grinning at him widely, with cheer and appreciation drown across her face.

The Empress though had to interrupt this happy moment «Robo-forms are not necessary. My children may feast on Martian flesh.»

«Oh, but I'm not from Mars.» he replayed.

«Then where?»

«My home planet is far away and long-since gone. But its name lives on. Gallifrey.»

The Empress was suddenly full of anger «They murdered the Racnoss!»

«I warned you. You did this.» he said then produced a handful of baubles. Melody's grin fell into a serous expression.

«No! No! Don't! No!» the Empress followed.

The Doctor threw several handfuls of the baubles into the air. Some surrounded the Empress and some smashed into the walls of the corridor, destroying them.

The water from the Thames then rushed though in torrents. Another bauble exploded causing a fire at the Empress' feet. She wailed as water flooded into the chamber and down the hole.

«My children!» the Empress shouted, grief-stricken.

That caused Melody to look up at the Doctor. She expected him to stop, but what he did was just standing and watching in silence, surrounded by fire and water, while the river swirled down the hole like it was a plughole.

Melody understood he was not going to stop. So she sprinted, past Donna -who didn't seem to notice her, because she was watching the Empress- and towards the stairs, trying not to slide on the floor because it was all wet.

The water continued to rise, getting stronger and destroying everything she had on her way «No! My children! My children!» the Empress shouted hysterically, in torturous pain as she was consumed by flames.

Donna looked up at the Doctor «Doctor! You can stop now!» she shouted to him.

But the Doctor wasn't stopping. He watched the Racnoss writhe and wail in agony with dark eyes, full of some secret pain. Just then Melody reached the final stairs. She stood there for a second watching him while trying to catch her breath, leaning on the railings.

She then pushed herself away and slowly walked beside him. «Doctor.» she called, quietly and gently. But he didn't seem to notice her, as he was concentrated on the picture below. Melody knew he was in pain too. He was angry, very angry, for the loss of his friend. But he wasn't killing a whole race. She wouldn't let him. Because he already did once, and she knew that he would't ever forgive himself if that happened again.

So she gently placed a hand in his cheek. She then guided his head on the side, till his eyes locked on hers.

They were old and sad, screaming for help.

They didn't need words to speak, they understood each other like that. Melody took the controller out of his hands, and he let her, their eyes never leaving each other.

Melody then threw it away and instead took his hand. She squeezed it and smiled supportively.

A single tear seemed to want to fall from his eye, but it never did, because he tried to look strong. Even though he was broken inside. Shattered in million pieces.

«Come on.» she told him quietly «Time I got you out.»

He smirked a little as Melody pulled him with her to the stairs, by his hand.

They reached the floor where Donna was standing then run up the stairs, soaking wet.

«Transport me!» the Empress shouted.

[RACNOSS SHIP]

She teleported herself back to her web in the sky.

«Oh, they will suffer! So suffer! This planet shall be scorched!» she exclaimed.

[TORCHWOOD UNDERGROUND BASE DONNA]

The trio were claiming up the ladder, The Doctor in the lead, Donna behind him and Melody behind her.

«But what about the Empress?» Donna suddenly asked.

«She's used up all her Huon energy, she's defenseless!» he replayed.

[LONDON STREET]

Huge army tanks rumbled down the streets of London and aimed their cannons up at the star.

«Orders from Mr Saxon, fire at will!» the general shouted.

«Fire!»

Cannon balls shot at the star from all directions. It quickly began falling into pieces until finally it bursted into flame and disintegrated completely, the Empress and all.

Just then The Doctor, Melody and Donna reached the top of the ladder. They clambered out into the night, whooping and cheering in delight when they realized the Racnoss had been destroyed.

«Just... there's one problem.» Donna said, trying to catch her breath.

Melody and the Doctor looked at her. «What's that?» they asked in sync.

«We've drained the Thames.»

As the duo looked down they saw that the Thames was completely emptied of water. The trio collapsed into laughter once more.

[CHISWICK STREET]

The TARDIS materialized across the road from Donna's house. The Doctor, Melody and Donna then stepped out. The air was cool, which was compressible since it was Christmas. But the two seemed too occupied to think of feeling cold. Donna, in fact, was still in her wedding dress which was none sleeved.

«There we go. Told you she'd be all right. She can survive anything.» the Doctor said.

«More than I've done.» Donna said.

He scanned her «Nope! All the Huon particles have gone. No damage, you're fine.»

Melody grinned cheerfully.

«Yeah, but apart from that... I missed my wedding, lost my job and became a widow on the same day. Sort of.» Donna said.

Melody'a grin dropped slowly, into a saddened expression. «We couldn't save him.» she told Donna.

«He deserved it.» the woman responded, unfeelingly.

The Doctor and Melody rose his eyebrows, in disbelief. Donna's face softened. «No, he didn't.» she agreed.

She looked round at the house then back at the couple «I'd better get inside. They'll be worried.»

«Best Christmas present they could have.» The Doctor said, watching Sylvia and Geoff embrace each other through the window.

«Oh, no, I forgot, you hate Christmas.» he remembered.

«Yes, I do.»

Melody smirked «Even if it snows?» she asked.

The Doctor smirked too. He then tweaked a hidden switch on the TARDIS causing a ball of light shot out of the top and explode like a firework in the sky into softly falling snow.

Donna laughed with delight, looking around, Melody joining as she watched her.

«I can't believe you did that!»

«Oh, basic atmospheric excitation.» he said, casually, his eyes flickering from her to Melody. She was grinning. That caused him to grin too. As the two look back at Donna she was smiling.

«Merry Christmas.» she said.

The Doctor smiled «And you. So... what will you do with yourself now?»

«Not getting married for starters. And I'm not gonna temp anymore. I dunno... travel... see a bit more of planet Earth... walk in the dust. Just... go out there and do something.»

«Well, you could always...»

«What?»

Melody and the Doctor exchanged looks. She then sighed in exasperation because she knew she had to do it again. For the third time now. «Come with him.» she told Donna.

Donna smiled «No.» she then side.

«Okay.» the Doctor quickly responded, Melody meanwhile frowning in utter confusion. What? Okay? How could've it been okay?

«I can't...» Donna continued.

«No, that's fine.» the Doctor repeated with false indifference. Melody's expression now turned into sadness. She knew he needed someone. Even because she wasn't staying. She couldn't. She needed to go back.

«No, but really... everything we did today... do you live your life like that?» Donna asked, overwhelmed.

«...Not all the time.» he replayed, unconvincingly.

Melody looked up in the sky «Well...» she said, as he always did, wearing a teasing expression as she studied the sky.

«I think you do.» Donna said. Melody's gaze returned on her, the playfulness disappearing. «And I couldn't.»

«But you've seen it out there. It's beautiful.» Melody said.

«And it's terrible. That place was flooding and burning and they were dying and he were stood there like... I don't know... a stranger. And then he made it snow. I mean, you scare me to death!» Donna said.

Melody seemed profoundly hurt, as did the Doctor. Also because they knew Donna was right. After a short silence he spoke «Well then.»

«Tell you what I will do though, Christmas dinner. Oh, come on.»

Melody grinned looking at the Time Lord on her right. She was just in mood of a dinner. But her grin dropped when she saw his face. She already knew his answer.

«I don't do that sort of thing.» he, in fact, said.

«You did it last year, you said so. And you might as well because Mum always cooks enough for twenty.»

The Doctor oo-ed and ahh-ed in his reluctance, until Melody nudged his side with her elbow, in a 'make your mind already' way. «Oh, all right then. But you go first, better warn them. And... don't say I'm a Martian.» he said, then indicated the TARDIS «We'll just have to park her properly, she might drift off to the Middle Ages. I'll see you in a minute.» He said, then entered in the TARDIS, leaving the door open for Melody. She followed, sadly but trying not to show it. She knew what he was about to do. Run away.

As she shut the doors of the TARDIS it began to dematerialize and that's when Donna realized she was never going to see the couple again.

«Doctor! Melody!» Donna shouted running back to the TARDIS.

The engines stopped and the Doctor popped his head outside the door.

«Blimey, you can shout.» he said.

«Am I ever gonna see you again?» Donna said, sadly.

«If I'm lucky.»

«Just... promise me one thing, find someone.»

They rested in silence for a bit, in which the Doctor opened his mouth to speak «Melody doesn't count.» Donna interrupted him. She understood long ago that Melody wasn't his regular companion. She could feel that the girl had some other stuff going on in her life, stuff even worse and complicated the Doctor had.

He shut his mouth, his jaw clenched.

«I don't need anyone.» he replayed, rather coldly. Donna didn't seem to take notice though.

«Yes, you do. Because sometimes, I think you need someone to stop you. Like Mel did.»

He slowly nodded «Yeah...» he agreed quietly.

There was a short pause, in which the Doctor had his gaze fixed on the floor.

«Thanks then, Donna, good luck, and just... be magnificent.» he grinned a little.

«I think I will, yeah.» Donna smiled and laughed.

The Doctor smiled back. Then retreated back into the TARDIS. But as he was just about to close the door «Doctor?» Donna called.

«Oh, what is it now??» He said, opening the door with mock exasperation.

Donna hesitated for a little, thinking if she should've asked. Finally she made her choice. «That friend of yours... what was her name?»

The Doctor felt a lump in his throat as Donna asked that, memories returning back to him. The second she fell in the vortex and how it seemed to go in slow motion, making it even more painful... When her fingers lost the grip on that railing and she slipped off... The last time they made eye contact...

That pain he felt... It all returned flying back to him, in the second Donna asked. He still couldn't believe she wasn't there anymore. She was waiting for her to jump out of a cake and say that it was all just a big joke. But he knew it wasn't... And deep down he was loosing hope in ever seeing her again...

It probably would't ever happen... 

He looked back up at Donna, gulping the lump of tears in his throat. «Her name was Crystal.» he then said, his voice cracking in pain.

With that he closed the door for the last time, and instead of its usual dematerialisation, the TARDIS shot up into the night sky. Donna watched it with a sad smile then walked back home...