You know the things that I am afraid of, I'm not afraid to tell
And if we ever leave a legacy, it's that we loved each other well
Cause I've seen the shadows of so many people trying on the treasures of youth
But a road that fancy and fast ends ends in a fatal crash
And I'm glad we got off, to tell you the truth


Now we're talking about a difficult thing  and your eyes are getting wet
I took us for better and I took us for worse, don't you ever forget it
Now the steel bars between me and a promise suddenly bend with ease
The closer I'm bound in love to you the closer I am to free.


Cause we're okay, we're fine, baby I'm here to stop your crying
Chase all the ghosts from your head, I'm stronger than the monster beneath your bed
Smarter than the tricks played on your heart, we'll look at them together then we'll take them apart
Adding up the total of a love that's true
Multiply life by the power of two.
	--The Indigo Girls



CHAPTER 11:  LEGACY


	"What time is it?"
	"It's ten minutes later than the last time you asked me."
	"Well pardon me for wanting everything to be perfect!" Tegan exclaimed, picking up her car
 keys.  She pinched the bridge of her nose as if she had the beginnings of a headache.  "You know, I 
always heard about what people went through planning wedding receptions but now I really believe it."
	Sarah Jane looked down at her from atop a ladder as she hung a bundle of silver balloons from 
one of the many chandeliers.  "Will you calm down, please?  We've got plenty of time.  Theo said 
she'd keep them occupied until seven."  She came down the ladder and went to blow up more balloons.  
"Where are you going?"
	"To the hardware store.  We need an extension cord and some duct tape...damn, the band's 
supposed to be here any time..."  She looked around.  "Where is everybody, anyway?"
	Sarah smiled.  "Everyone's been delegated.  I'm the only one still here.  Susan's gone round 
to the bakery for the cake, Ben and Polly went for more chairs and the Brigadier went round to 
the airport to collect Jo."
	A familiar wheezing thump was heard and another column materialized in the large ballroom.  
An opening appeared in its side and an aristocratic woman with shoulder length blond hair stepped 
out, smiling.  Tegan and Sarah glanced at each other...this must be the legendary Romana.  Tegan 
stepped forward.
	"Romana?" she said, holding out her hand.
	Romana's smile broadened and she shook it.  "You must be Tegan!  I'm pleased to meet you, 
Theo told me all about you...and Sarah Jane!  My goodness, I feel like I know you.  The Doctor 
spoke of you often."
	Sarah grinned and flushed, shaking the Time Lady's hand.  "He did?  Really?  Well, it's nice 
to meet you too.  I rather thought you'd be in Gallifreyan finery."
	Romana laughed, looking down at her leggings and silk tunic.  "Any excuse to get *out* of 
Gallifreyan finery is a welcome occasion."  She looked around the partially decorated room, an 
odd look passing across her face.  "I can scarcely believe this is happening...I imagine I'm not the 
only one who never seriously considered that our Doctor might do this someday."
	Sarah went back to the ladder, bearing another bunch of balloons.  "You'll understand when
 you meet Ace," she commented.  "She's really something."
	"I have met her, actually, and you're right.  I suppose if I had to pick someone who could 
knock sense into the thickest-skulled Time Lord in Gallifreyan history I'd pick her.  Quite a 
different sort of companion she was than any other, present company included."  She gave a 
little shrug, and turned towards Tegan.  "Theo said you'd need my help for this little surprise.  
Anything I can do?"
	"Is there ever!  We want to get as many of the Doctor and Ace's friends here as possible, 
but of course many of them are not on Earth."
	"So you'd like me to go round and collect them?"
	"Would you?  It'd be ever so helpful."
	"It'd be my pleasure.  Just tell me who you want me to fetch and where and when they are."


	Ace was fidgety.  She was sitting in Theo's office waiting, had been waiting for over an hour.
  Theo had spirited the Doctor away to Banner's lab under the pretense of having him thoroughly 
examined, but it was taking so long!  She was starting to get nervous.  The door opened and Angel 
came in, a phony-looking smile pasted on his face.
	"All right, Angel, what's going on here?" Ace demanded, rising.
	"Nothing, nothing at all.  Just a few more minutes, and then...um..."
	"Then what?"  She stared at him, hands on her hips.
	"And then we can all talk," he finished lamely.
	Ace flopped down on the couch.  "Angel, we've been over everything five times!  I still 
don't get why we have to do this *now.*  The Doctor and I were having a lovely time on Megros 
when suddenly zoom! we're here.  You could have rung first, you know!"
	Angel wrung his hands.  "Well, it's just that...we needed to do...um, just a minute," he
 blurted out, running out of the room.  Ace rolled her eyes and sat back.
	As Angel scurried down the hall, he ran into Theo who was on her way towards the office. 
 "What do we do what do we do?  She's *already* suspicious, and it's only two o'clock!"
	"Calm down!  Geez, you're such a ninny," she hissed.  "Listen, I'll placate Ace, you go and
 talk to the Doctor while Banner pretends she's examining him.  Ask him about...oh, I dunno, make
 something up!"  She pushed him down the hallway and pulled at her hair as she headed for her
 office.  She and Angel could safeguard an entire universe, but were reduced to nervous wrecks 
when asked to babysit the guests of honor.  Damn surprise parties.


	"How many strings did you have to pull to get Courtney Pine to play this gig?" asked Sarah.
	"Oh, it wasn't that hard.  When I explained the situation, and what big fans the Doctor and 
Ace are, he thought it was a hoot and said he'd be glad to do it."
	"Where do want these?" called Liz from across the room, balancing a stack of plates.  Tegan
 glanced up from where she and Sarah were duct-taping wires to the floor.
	"There's a table over by the windows, just put them there for now."
	Liz nodded.  "There are more in the car..." she managed, staggering under the weight.  Ben 
jumped up, gladly abandoning his assigned task of wrapping silverware in napkins. 
	"I'll help!" he said, running out of the room as if chased by demons.
	Polly laughed.  "Poor guy.  Surrounded by bossy women."  She sighed.  "I wish we could 
invite Jamie," she said sadly.
	Victoria sat down next to her and assumed Ben's abandoned task.  "Me too...but he doesn't
 remember traveling with the Doctor.  At least he remembers *meeting* you...it's as if he 
never met me at all."
	They all looked up anxiously as the sound of a TARDIS landing echoed through the room...but
 when the same extra column appeared, they all relaxed.  It was just Romana.  The door opened 
and four strangers exited...an energetic-looking woman in her late 30's with short dark hair
and a broad grin followed by a brown haired man who looked a good deal less at ease.  Following 
them was an African woman and a tall blond fellow.  Romana followed them out.  "Everyone, I'd 
like you to meet Professor Bernice Summerfield and her husband Jason Kane.  She and I once 
hunted vampires together!" Romana said, elbowing Benny.  "And this is Roz Forrester and Chris 
Cwej, both also friends of the Doctor and Ace.  Benny, Roz, Chris, this is Tegan Jovanka, who 
organized all this."  Benny darted forward and shook Tegan's hand enthusiastically.
	"Great to meet you, Tegan.  Heard a lot about you!  Listen, thanks for doing this and 
remembering to invite me.  I wouldn't have missed this for anything!"  The introductions continued,
 but none of them noticed another figure emerge from the TARDIS until Benny moved off to talk 
with Sarah Jane and the group broke up a little.  Tegan's brow creased...who was this?  The 
newcomer looked around expectantly and then his eyes fell on Tegan.  One corner of his mouth 
twitched and eventually became a cautious smile.  Tegan's eyes bulged.  It couldn't be.
	"Turlough?" she breathed.  His smile widened.
	"Hello, Tegan."  She walked up to him, her mouth agape.  He certainly had changed...gone
was the gangly, uncertain youth with the shifty eyes and the glib tongue.  He seemed taller, and
 he was strongly built and carried himself with confidence.  He wore a mustache and a slender
 hoop earring, his red hair falling to below his earlobes, sporting distinguished-looking wings of 
grey over his temples.  He was wearing a sharply tailored navy blue uniform with decorations.
	"My God, Turlough, I scarcely recognized you!"
	"It's been a long time, Tegan."
	"Indeed it has!  The Doctor told me you got back to your home planet...um..."
	"Yes, Trion.  I'm now a special advisor to the Trionian government's military council."  
He extended a hand, which Tegan shook, still amazed at his transformation.
	"Well, that's wonderful, it's really..."  They both looked down at their joined hands and 
then back up at each other, and then suddenly realized that here they were, old compatriots, 
and they were behaving like cocktail party acquaintances.  Their polite smiles widened into 
brash grins and Tegan dropped Turlough's hand and hugged him, clapping him on the back, and 
they both started talking at once.  This was beginning to feel like a party already.


	The Doctor paced up and down in Theo's office, trying to look casual.  Ace sat cross-legged
 on the couch, her hands behind her head.  She'd given up demanding what was going on.
	"Shall we have some tea?" the Doctor suggested.
	"If I have any more tea I'm going to float away."  The doors opened for the umpteenth time 
and Angel and Theo came in.  Neither the Doctor or Ace took much notice.
	"Can we leave soon, please?" Ace said without much hope.  Theo glanced at her watch.
	"Not yet."
	"What's the reason this time?"
	She glanced at Angel.  "Well, um...the TARDIS has to be given a good once-over."
	The Doctor glared at her.  "You'd better not injure my ship," he said menacingly.
	Theo put her hands on her hips.  "I doubt that I could do any more damage than you have, 
Doctor."  He pursed his lips but said nothing.  "So...why don't you and Ace join me for dinner?"
	"Guardians don't need to eat," Ace commented.
	"Well, I do.  Come on then," Theo said.  The Doctor rolled his eyes, but they followed Theo 
out of the office.


	By five o'clock most of the companions were present.  There was precious little left for 
them to do since the caterers and the band had arrived, so they were all clustered around a
table chatting and sharing experiences.  They heard about Turlough's exploits on Trion and 
throughout the galaxy, Ben and Polly's sailboat refinishing business, Jo's divorce and her 
globetrotting lifestyle, and Liz's latest publications.  Tegan regaled them with lurid tales of 
her espionage days and was often shushed by the Brigadier when she began to talk about UNIT, 
while Sarah Jane illustrated the trials and tribulations of living with a mechanical dog, who 
sent his regrets.  Somehow, none of them talked about their journeys with their common 
friend...it didn't seem necessary.  Basically they'd all shared the same experience, so there 
was no need to talk about it.
	Tegan glanced at her watch.  "Well, some people that none of us know might start showing
 up soon.  I placed ads in as many papers as I could think of asking anyone who knew the Doctor
 in the police box to come.  I'm more than a little curious about who's going to turn up...and 
here's Romana now with more companions," she said as the same extra column appeared in the
 corner.  The side opened and the group stood and moved to greet the newcomers.  First out was
 a petite woman with elfin features in Roman garb talking animatedly with a tall pleasant-faced
 man with dark hair, followed by a small woman in her mid 30's wearing gray and green fatigues. 
 Her body and bearing suggested wiry strength, and she had striking silver hair which was cut 
very short all over her skull.  Her face had changed...it was thinner and wiser and had clearly
 seen hardship, but Tegan would have known those sloe eyes anywhere.  
	Romana stepped forward.  "Last lot!  Everyone, this is Vicky and Steven, companions of 
the first Doctor, and..."
	"Nyssa," Tegan said, staring at the Trakenite woman.  Nyssa came forward hesitantly.  She 
seemed unsure of herself and nervous, which Tegan understood immediately.  If she'd been on 
Terminus for all this time, she wouldn't be used to this hubbub, not to mention that her childhood 
had been sheltered as well.  Ever the bold one, Tegan strode unabashedly forward and embraced 
her old friend.  Nyssa stiffened, but after a moment relaxed and returned the hug, and when they
 drew back to have a good look at each other her old sweet smile was on her face and she let 
Tegan lead her forward to meet everyone.
	After that, cheerful chaos began taking over as the hour of seven drew nearer.  New people
 arrived and told stories of their acquaintance with the Doctor.  There was a middle-aged man 
named Robin who looked rather melancholy, a cheerful clergyman from Cheldon Bonniface, an 
army captain with the unlikely name of Chunky and his wife Rachel, and a rather Santa-esque 
bespectacled Cambridge don who could have defined absent-minded professor, just to name a 
few.  Then there were also a number of younger people from Perivale that Theo had dug up, 
although Tegan had no clue how she'd explain that Ace had apparently aged 18 years since 1987.  
Presents accumulated on the table by the door, and people began milling about and sipping champagne 
while the band hooked up their amps and tuned their instruments.  Tegan and Sarah Jane stood 
back and admired their handiwork.
	"Isn't this something?" Sarah said.  "Very few of us actually know each other, but it's like
 a big family reunion."
	"All that's missing is the patriarch," Tegan said, smiling.  Romana came up to them, her 
bright eyes sparkling.
	"When's the big moment?" she asked, rubbing her hands together in anticipation.
	"Theo said she'd let them leave at seven o'clock and then divert the TARDIS here...but she's
 going to contact me right beforehand so we can all quiet down."
	Romana pulled out the list that Tegan had given her.  "I found everyone on the list except 
for Peri.  No sign of her."
	Tegan's brow furrowed.  "That's odd.  She's married to King Yrcanos."
	"I know, that's what some people that I spoke to said...but then some other people told me 
that she was dead, killed in some kind of brain transplant experiment.  No one could decide 
which it was, and no one could tell me where to find King Yrcanos, except one strange individual 
who told me that he was now a professional wrestler, whatever that means."
	Tegan shrugged.  "Well, all we can do is get everyone we can."  She looked at Romana.  
"You're sure we can't get Leela?  The Doctor would love to see her."
	"I know, but she lived and died on Gallifrey, and I'm forbidden to travel back in time on that 
world to collect her.  An unfortunate circumstance.  The only way around it would be to pick her
 up during her travels with the Doctor, and that would be rather hard to explain."
	Tegan suddenly cocked her head and her eyes went unfocused.  After a moment she snapped 
back to attention and jumped up on the band's podium, grabbing a microphone...there were better 
than a hundred people in the room by now and the noise from their conversations, the clatter of 
the caterers, and the preparations of the band formed a deafening racket.  "Everyone, can I have 
your attention please?"  The assembled partygoers stopped and turned towards her, excited looks
 on their faces.  "I've just been informed that the Doctor and Ace are about to arrive.  The TARDIS
 should materialize over there," she said, pointing to the far corner, "so if we could all quiet down 
and get ready, it'll be any moment."  After a rumble of excited whisperings, everyone quieted 
down and started clumping together, facing the corner.  


	The Doctor set the controls for Megros and Ace sank into the armchair in the corner of the 
console room with a sigh.  "Finally!  I thought they'd never let us leave!"
	"Don't get too comfortable, we'll be there in just a few seconds."  He started to say something 
else but was cut short as the time rotor stopped.  "Ah, we're there!"  Ace stood up and swung her
 jacket over her shoulders, slipping her arm through his.  The doors opened and they stepped outside.
	"SURPRISE!!!!!!"
	What looked like about 500 flashbulbs popped, capturing their reactions.  The Doctor 
instinctively flattened himself against the closed TARDIS doors, his mind having had only enough 
time to process the fact that this was *not* Megros and that something very loud and sudden had 
happened, throwing one arm across Ace and realizing that she'd done the exact same thing.  His 
wide eyes then saw Tegan right in front of him, grinning, and then he saw Sarah Jane...and Romana
...and the Brigadier...and they were all laughing and smiling.  He looked at Ace, who looked back at
 him with an identical expression of disbelief, and they stepped away from the TARDIS a bit to look 
around the room.  It was a large ballroom with tall windows, chandeliers and parquet floors, 
festooned with balloons and streamers.  There was a long table of food, and a small stage with a 
band...was that Courtney Pine?!?... and round tables arranged around a dance floor.  It looked like 
a party.  By now the crowd had quieted a little and were looking at him expectantly, waiting for
 him to say something.  Little by little, he realized what was going on here.  He glanced over at 
Ace, whose mouth was hanging open in amazement, one hand to her heart.  He looked out over the
 people, who were, he observed with delight, all old friends and companions.  "Looks like a 
wonderful party," he said, smiling impishly.  "What's the occasion?"
	That broke the paralysis.  The group erupted in cheers and surged around them.  To accurately 
describe the ensuing scene in words is beyond the abilities of this storyteller, so suffice it to say 
that it was a huge frenzy of hugs and kisses, handshakes, congratulations and happy reunions.  The
 Doctor and Ace were virtually borne on a tidal wave of enthusiastic people to the largest round 
table at the front of the room where they were deposited in chairs.  Tegan stood next to them and 
waved her arms for quiet.
	"Doctor, Ace," she said when the room had calmed down, "welcome to your surprise 
wedding reception."  This prompted another round of cheers and applause.  Ace met the Doctor's
 eyes, and there she could see how much this meant to him, as it did to her.  Tegan waved her 
arms around again.  "We've gathered as many of your friends and companions here as we could, 
and since you were stingy enough to deprive us the honor of attending the ceremony," she teased, 
eliciting a few good-natured boo's, "we decided we couldn't let it go by without a really ripping 
party."  More cheers, and then someone (Ace always suspected Benny but could never prove it)
 started chanting Speech!  Speech! which was quickly picked up by the entire crowd.  They 
exchanged dubious looks.
	"Go ahead."
	"Um, ladies first?"
	"Age before beauty."
	"That's okay, you go on."
	"No no really, I insist."  They finally ended up using the tried and true rock-scissors-paper 
technique to determine who'd go first, much to the amusement of the onlookers.  Ace lost, and 
stood up sheepishly to catcalls and applause.
	She grinned and looked around.  "First of all, I think you're all crazy," she said.  Everyone 
laughed.  "Second of all, I think you're all wonderful."  Her eyes misted over a little as she 
looked at their faces...some familiar, some unfamiliar, but all smiling and happy.  "I never in a 
million years thought that anyone would do something like *this* for *me*...or, more to the 
point, that anything would ever happen to me that was so worth celebrating," she said, laying a
 hand on the Doctor's shoulder.  He looked almost ready to lose it completely.  "I know that when
 most of you heard the news, you were probably well surprised."  People were nodding.  "No one 
was more surprised than me, I can tell you.  It all happened so fast...I mean really, it only took 
a month.  Well...eighteen years and a month."  Laughter.  "But seriously.  Those of you that don't
 know me, and I hope that by the end of the night that's none of you, might not know that I've spent 
almost my entire life alone...if not physically, then at least in my head.  In some ways, the recent,
 um, upheaval hasn't changed things a lot from when I was a regular companion.  I still travel in 
the TARDIS, I still get mixed up in big maniacal plots, that sort of thing.  What *has* changed is
 that no matter where I am or how I feel, I'm no longer alone, and it feels really good."  A chorus 
of "awww's" met this statement, and Ace sat down amidst applause, squeezing his hand.  Soon 
enough the old Speech! chant had started up again, but the Doctor seemed reluctant...so Ace gave 
him a good pinch.  He jumped up, prompting more cheers.  Wow, this crowd would cheer Attila the 
Hun and ask him to encore on the piano, Ace thought.
	He cast a long look over all the faces.  He could scarcely believe all the old friends Tegan had 
rounded up.  There was Harry Sullivan, and Victoria...and good heavens, was that Nyssa?...then 
his eyes met Susan's.  She smiled softly and gave a little wave.  He sighed and smiled back, blinking 
rapidly.  "Well, this is a switch," he commented, clearing his throat.  "Usually Ace is the one who 
gets emotional...now here she's as calm and eloquent as she can be while I'm about reduced to a 
big pile of Gallifreyan goo."  A titter went through the crowd, but mostly they were listening 
closely.  "For one of the few times I can remember, I don't know what to say, I'm speechless. 
 I'm touched beyond my ability to express myself.  I'm so thrilled to see so many old friends, 
and I can't wait to talk and catch up with every one of you...I'll say this, Tegan, you've saved us
 a lot of trips, because we were planning to visit everyone and share the news!"  Tegan smiled. 
 He looked at the tablecloth for a moment and then continued.  "I've had a long life with many ups 
and downs, but all I have to do is look out at your faces to see how fortunate I've truly been, which 
is something I sometimes forget.  I've..."  He looked down at Ace and took her hand.  "...*we've* 
taken a step that I never thought I had it in me to take, and it seems as though the Fates continue 
to smile upon me."  He paused.  "No one has yet asked me why, and I suppose most would consider
 it a rude question, so let me answer it in advance.  In the past when people asked me 'why?' it was 
usually a much more complicated issue.  I seldom had a ready answer or one that was easily stated. 
 Why weren't we able to save those people?  Why did that planet have to be destroyed?  Why can't
 we interfere when it's the right thing to do?  Why won't you go back and save..."  He trailed off, 
his eyes meeting Nyssa's.  You could have heard a pin drop in the ballroom.  "Usually there are no 
simple answers.  Over our long history, Ace has probably asked me 'why' more than anyone else 
in this room, and she has made me think about the answer more often and more thoroughly than I 
would have thought possible.  A German philosopher named Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said that 
simplicity is not easy, in fact it's the greatest of all intellectual and emotional achievements.  If 
that's so, and I believe that it is, then she has helped me achieve it...for if you were to ask me 
why I married her, the answer is very simple:  because I love her," he said, pulling her to her 
feet to stand beside him.  The crowd was silent except for a few people who were sniffling, and
 he seemed to want to say more but couldn't quite manage it.  He looked at Ace helplessly for a 
moment and then gave up and kissed her.  Everyone clapped and cheered as they embraced, and 
quite a number of them were blowing noses and wiping eyes.
	After that the party settled into a more usual pattern.  People sat at the tables and stood in
 small groups while the jazz ensemble played softly in the background.  The Doctor and Ace 
circulated, sometimes together but mostly apart, and of course the buffet was attacked with 
gusto.
	The Doctor finally managed to catch Susan alone.  They just stood silently for a moment 
and finally he spoke.  "I'm not quite sure what to say, Susan," he said.
	"It's all right, Grandfather, you don't need to say anything."  She glanced over at Ace, who
 was talking with Liz Shaw and the Brigadier.  "She's really special, isn't she?"
	He nodded.  "Among other things."
	She reached out and grasped his arm, speaking sincerely.  "I'm so happy for you, really.  
I always hated to think of you out there alone, even if you had companions, while I had David here
 on Earth."
	He looked at her.  It seemed like there was so much more to say, it was hard to know where
 to start.
	"So," she said, her eyes twinkling, "can I call her Grandmother?"
	"Not if you want her to ever speak to you again," he said.  They looked around, biting their
 lips, and then finally burst into laughter, clinging to each other to keep from falling over.


	After about two hours of mingling, Sarah Jane made them sit down and relax for a moment, 
saying that people could bloody well come to them.  Also with seats at their large table were Tegan, 
Sarah Jane, Jo, the Brigadier, Nyssa, Turlough, Romana and Susan, but only there at the moment
 were Nyssa and Turlough.  They were deep in conversation. 
	The Doctor looked around.  "Where are Theo and Angel and the others?" he wondered.  Ace 
shrugged.  	"Dunno.  I sure thought they'd be here after what they put us through waiting for
 the surprise."  She speared a shrimp.  "Okay, point some people out to me," she said.
	He leaned towards her and looked around.  "Well, that over there is Benton, I can infer from
 his sportcoat that he's still a used car salesman, next to him is Mike Yates and that guy with him
 is his boyfriend Trevor, and let's see...that's Victoria and Harry Sullivan with the Brigadier..."  
He trailed off.  "You know, the Brigadier's going to meet us in 1999.  I'll have to make sure he 
doesn't let any of this slip.  I don't think at that point in time we were ready to hear that he'd 
attended our wedding reception in 1992."  Ace snickered at the thought.  He nudged her.  "Say, 
there's Theo over at the door."  Theo saw them looking and beckoned them over.  They exchanged
 a look and got up.
	She smiled at them shamefacedly.  "I'm sorry I was late, but I had one thing to collect before
 I came to the party," she said.
	"What's that?" Ace said.  Theo looked behind her and drew someone forward.  Ace shrank 
back slightly, blanching.
	"Mum," she breathed.  Her lower lip trembling, Audrey McShane stared at her daughter, who
 from her perspective had been missing for six years.
	"Dory!" she exclaimed and rushed forward to embrace her.  Ace stiffened, her arms clamped
 firmly to her sides, but her mother held her tightly until she finally raised her arms and gingerly
 patted the older woman's back.  The Doctor glared unnoticed at Theo.  Mother and daughter talked 
in low tones, and then Ace led the teary-eyed Audrey to a deserted table in the corner and they
 fell into deep conversation.  The Doctor stepped forward and confronted Theo.
	"That was really below the belt, Theo.  I can't *believe* you'd spring this on her right now," 
he snapped.
	Theo arched an eyebrow.  "Would there be any good time, Doctor?  You knew she'd have to 
face this eventually, and it seemed appropriate.  Don't you think her mother'd want to know about
 her daughter's marriage?  And don't you think that Ace, deep down, would also want her mother
 to know?"
	The Doctor sighed.  "Perhaps.  I just don't want to see her hurt, especially today."
	"Give her a chance.  She's a long way from 16, and this is long overdue."
	He nodded reluctantly and moved away towards the rest of the party, scarcely noticing that
 Theo had vanished back into the limbo from whence she'd come...almost as if she'd never been
there at all.


	The Doctor was enjoying catching up with his friends immensely, but he kept glancing over 
to where Ace and her mother were talking.  He could only imagine what they were saying...for a 
time they seemed to be arguing, then Audrey kept shaking her head and gesticulating.  After a few 
minutes Ace glanced over and met his eyes.  Her mother had her head in her hands.  Ace made a 
small key-turning motion with her fingers and the Doctor fished the TARDIS key out of his pocket
 and tossed it to her.  She caught it neatly and smiled briefly.  She took her mother's arm and led 
her to the police box.  They disappeared inside for quite awhile.  He munched idly on a scone, 
staring at the closed TARDIS doors, before he realized that Jo was talking to him.  He turned to 
her and endeavored to give her his full attention.  He was managing pretty well until he caught 
sight of the TARDIS doors opening out of his peripheral vision.  Ace and Audrey emerged...they 
both seemed more relaxed.  Ace said something with a smile, and then he was relieved to see 
them embrace, if reservedly.  He grinned at Jo, who had followed his eyes and seemed to 
understand.  She excused herself, touching his arm, as Ace led her mother over to him.
	He faced Audrey, and now that he got a good look at her he could see her shadow in Ace's 
face.  He smiled at her as compassionately as he could, given that he knew how much pain she'd 
caused Ace, inadvertently or not.  Audrey seemed nervous, and Ace had her arm on her mother's 
elbow.
	"Mum...I'd like you to meet my husband," she said calmly.  Audrey raised her eyes to meet
 the Doctor's and managed a smile.  "This is the Doctor.  Doctor, this is my mother, Audrey 
McShane."  He took one of her hands in both of his.
	"It's good to finally meet you, Audrey," he said as soothingly as he could.  Audrey's face 
worked for a moment and then to his surprise she suddenly threw her arms around his neck and 
hugged him.  Before he could react she drew back just as suddenly and looked at him from beneath
 her lowered eyelids.
	"I have to thank you for everything you've done for Dory," she said.  "I know that I wasn't 
the best mother in the world...and well, she's turned out to be a very strong woman and I suspect
 that you had something to do with that."
	He shook his head.  "I can't take credit for her character, Audrey.  Maybe I just helped her 
learn how strong she was."  
	Ace slipped her arm around him.  "No, Mum, you weren't the greatest mother in the world,
 but it wasn't entirely your fault.  I..."  She hesitated.  "I'd like you to stay and meet some of our
 friends, if you can...we can talk some more later."  Audrey smiled, and nodded, seeming relieved
 of some heavy burden.  Susan, who'd been observing this from a discreet distance, moved in and 
soon had Audrey engaged in conversation.  Ace turned towards the Doctor and let out a huge, shaky
 sigh, leaning her forehead against his chest.  "Oh boy, that was rough," she said.  
	He hugged her tightly.  "It can't have been easy."
	She smiled up at him.  "But I really do feel better now, and...I'm even glad she's here."
	"Good."  The jazz ensemble swung into a song they both remembered from the Rainbow Room. 
 "May I have this dance?" he said, offering her his arm.
	"Enchanted," she said airily, and he swung her onto the parquet dance floor.  Conversations 
paused and a hush fell over the ballroom as everyone turned to watch the Doctor and Ace dancing
 alone, swaying slowly to the wails of Cortney Pine's saxophone.


	From a table near the back, Tegan, Victoria, Sarah Jane, Romana and Jo watched as well.
	Jo leaned forward.  "This is truly an amazing experience," she commented.
	"Yes," Tegan agreed.  She paused.  "But do you know who I wish were here?"  They all turned 
to look at her questioningly.  "My Doctor," she said softly, her eyes on the Time Lord who both 
was and wasn't her old friend.
	"Me too," said Sarah Jane.  The others nodded, agreeing.
	Victoria sighed.  "I think Ace is great," she said, "but I'm more than a little jealous of her. 
 Her Doctor is right here, but ours are gone forever."
	Romana shook her head.  "No, not forever.  They're here."
	Sarah nodded.  "Yes, they live on in him."
	"No.  They live...but in us."
	They fell silent and watched them dancing, feeling happy and sad at the same time.


	The party continued until well into the morning.  At about three a.m. , when it was decided 
on a whim to open up the presents prompting a riotous package feeding frenzy, there were almost
 as many people there as there had been at seven, even though the band and caterers had long 
since packed their things and gone home.  No one seemed to want to leave.
	Nevertheless, by five o'clock most of the more casual acquaintances had left after 
protracted goodbyes, and the people remaining were almost solely companions and close friends. 
 Too tired for anything else, the thirty-odd people ended up sprawled haphazardly in a loose 
group over chairs and sofas from the lobby and even on the floor, and the conversation flowed 
like water.  They remembered their adventures, they told stories of their subsequent lives, and
 they mourned absent friends.  
	As dawn rolled around, the operators of the ballroom began appearing to clear away the 
tables and party debris, forcing the reluctant group onto its feet.  Ace could barely stand she 
was so tired, and the others were also dragging themselves around.  Tegan reassured them that 
they need not help clean up, that the ballroom operators would take care of it, much to everyone's
 relief.  They did help carry the presents into the ship...mostly odd and significant items, for 
what did you get for a Time Lord with a TARDIS full of stuff?
	This seemed the right catalyst, and the goodbyes started as people began hunting up their
 purses and their car keys.  Many hugs and thanks and promise-to-visits later, the Doctor finally 
produced the TARDIS key and opened the door.  He and Ace looked back, waved, and then disappeared
 into the ship, which dematerialized with a wheezy thump.
	The remaining tired people looked around at each other, not sure what to do next.  Romana
 clapped her hands and called all-aboard her TARDIS for the off-worlders, and there followed 
another spate of goodbyes, after which the group was much thinned.  People trickled away one 
by one until as the sun rose only Tegan and Sarah Jane were left to walk out onto the terrace 
and let it shine upon their faces.
	"D'you think we'll be seeing them again?" Sarah asked.
	Tegan smiled vaguely.  "Oh yes," she said.  "Count on it."


	Ace staggered to their quarters, kicking off her shoes.  Even the Doctor seemed tired, and 
that was truly unusual.  She belly-flopped onto the bed fully clothed and thought she might never
 move again.
	"Before you lose consciousness I have something I want to give you," he said.  
	"What?" she said, her voice muffled by the quilt.  She felt him lie down next to her.
	"Open your eyes and have a look," he said.  She raised her head and forced her eyes open 
despite the bricks weighing the eyelids down.  He was holding out his hand to her, and between 
his fingers was a ring.  Her breath caught and for a moment she forgot about being bone-tired.  
It was beautiful.  A silver filigreed band, intricate but simple, and inlaid with the tiniest gleaming 
stones she'd ever seen that made it seem to sparkle from within.  He smiled at her reaction.  "It
was, believe it or not, my mother's.  I found it in a box of her things that had been languishing in 
the TARDIS for centuries.  I'd never opened it because I thought it would make me think of her, but
 a few months ago for no real reason I decided to go looking for it, and it was full of wonderful 
things.  Letters, pictures, remembrances...and this ring, in its little box, which had inside its 
cover her initials and my father's.  I don't know if it was her wedding ring or not, but I want you
 to have it."  He picked up her left hand and slid it onto her ring finger.
	"It's beautiful," she managed.  She looked at it for a moment in silence.  "Can we find a 
matching one for you?"
	He smiled.  "I think that could be arranged."  She smiled back and settled into his arms,
resting her head on his shoulder, where it seemed to fit best.
	"I love you," she whispered, fading fast.
	"I love you too," he whispered back.  Within a few moments they were both asleep in the dim
 room, the bedside lamp casting a pool of light over them and holding back the surrounding darkness.



THE END