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off the nightstand. She shot up, rolling over in her bed and grasping for it. She opened it and pressed it against her ear, eyes still shut as she barely could form a coherent word.

"Hello?" She asked groggily. She could practically feel the knots in her hair as she rubbed a hand down her face, eyes struggling to open and adjust to the light outdoors.

"Val! Good morning! Assuming I called you at the right time and it is morning." The Doctor's voice greeted, his smile practically visible through the phone. She yawned and scratched the back of her head and laid her head back down on the pillow, snuggling the blanket back up to her neck.

"You would be correct. You called me at eight in the morning."

"Oh, don't sound like that now. Come on, get on up. Martha and I will be there for you shortly, and oh boy do we have to tell you what happened. Have I ever warned you about the weeping-"

"You and Martha are supposed to be at my parents home for dinner tonight." She interrupted. A dip was felt in her bed as her parents cat, a fluffy one named Cleo, leaped onto her bed and made her way towards her. She settled down on her chest with a purr as Valarie stroked her back.

"Dinner? With you parents?" He asked.

"Well, my family, actually. My mum, dad, older brother and his wife, and my older sister and her wife. That's not even half of my family." She laughed, thankful she was able to convince her mother that her younger brothers had no place at this dinner nor did her grandparents, nieces, and nephews. "My mum wanted to take me out on town today, and wanted you and Martha to show up around six." The line fell silent. She worried for a second he would reject the proposition, or be annoyed at it. She chewed on her lip as she could hear faint whispering to Martha.

"We will be there." He replied with happiness in his voice. She smiled to herself and rolled back over, shrugging Cleo off of her chest and beginning to slip out of her bed.

"Alright. Do not be late."

"Are you seriously telling me, the guy with a time machine, to not be late?" She giggled, giving him a good-bye and hanging up. She laid the phone back down and looked at her feet. She wore a pair of purple socks. Slipping out of the bed, she scooped some clothes into her arms. She shuffled out in the hall and was shoved into a wall by her passing brothers. Chris and Peter wrestled with one another, one trying to a stick a saliva covered finger in the others ear. Matthew waited behind them as they took up the hall. He looked to his older sister.

"Morning." He sighed. For being younger, Matthew was tall and stocky. He was rather mature and a 'no-nonsense' type of person. Valarie smiled at him and ruffled his hair, a gesture she had done since he could toddle.

"Morning." She greeted. Upon hearing her voice Chris and Peter stopped fighting for a second, allowing Matthew to slip by as they both yelled out 'hey' to her. She gave a smile before disappearing into the bathroom. She locked the door and stripped out of her clothes and underwear. She turned the water on and gazed at her body in the mirror while she waited for the water to heat up. A bruise covered her left knee and the back of her right elbow, a band aid covering a scrape. Both bruises were large and ugly in color, but she knew they had looked a lot worse before. She had sustained them during her time in nineteen-thirteen. She winced as she poked it. She dropped her arm and climbed into the steaming hot shower, allowing the relief it brought to occupy her mind for a little bit.

--

The clock on the book shelf the television sat on read six o'five.

He is late, she silently thought to herself. How is a time traveler late?

Valarie stood in the downstairs bathroom, making minor adjustments to her appearance. Her mother, in an effort to try and help her 'make a move' insisted on the particular outfit she wore. She had seen it in a shop window only earlier that day when they had went out together. It was a simple, ribbed, white turtle neck tucked into a plaid red, green and black tweed skirt. She smoothed it and smiled.

She stepped back into the living room, buzzing with her siblings and their spouses chatter. Mabel and William bickered over the name choice he had told them over his next child. His wife was seated on the couch opposite to his chair, heavily pregnant.

"Axel? Really?" Mabel scrunched her face up in almost disgust. As Valarie passed her elder brother he grabbed her wrist, and called her to his defense.

"Come on, tell Mabel Axel is not a bad name."

"It's not. If you are trying to get your kid bullied, that is."

"Valarie!" He gasped. She giggled at his shock as a knock sounded at the door and resonated. She turned to the door and grabbed the knob.

"Quiet!" She yelled out to them as the volume of the room was entirely too loud. Unbeknownst to her, those on the opposing side of the door heard her yell. She looked back and opened the door with a refreshing smile. As expected, the Doctor and Martha stood on the other side.

"Hello!" They greeted, Martha wrapping her arms around Valarie's neck tightly.

"Oh, is that them?" Her mothers voice called from behind her. Quickly her mother was upfront and personal with them, her hands clasped in front of her as she soaked the people her daughter had seemingly vanished with in.

"Oh, you must be the Doctor, and you Martha." She smiled sweetly. She motioned for them to come inside quickly. "Come in! Come in! Dinner just got done." She ushered the two in, pushing them ahead of her and Valarie as she shut the door behind them. She took her daughters arm and pulled her close. She leaned into her side.

"Now, you said he was handsome but not that hand-"

"Oh mum, stop!" Valarie fussed. She swatted her away as her mother scurried to the kitchen laughing, waving at the two as she did. Valarie's siblings and siblings-in law rose to their feet to greet the new strangers in their home.

"Now, what did your mum say you called me?" The Doctor leaned back with a arrogant smile. Valarie looked at him with a smile and eyes that could have burned through him. He cracked a laugh before shaking William's extended hand.

"So you two are the ones that Val has just fallen off the of the map with?"

"Oh, I wouldn't say fallen off the map. Just sight-seeing." Martha laughed. A voice from the kitchen called them to come sit. The table just barely fit everyone as they took seats. Valarie's father appeared at the head. He held the pan of pasta in his hands and set it down along with the sides already at the table. They all began to serve themselves, helping each other as they went along.

"So," her mother began, "Doctor, Martha, what places have you been too?"

"Oh, we have been to, uh..." Martha looked to the Doctor in panic. Valarie held her fork over the hot food, looking between them in panic. The Doctor looked at her to his right and Martha to his left before leaning towards his mother.

"New York!"

Well, it wasn't exactly a lie.

"New York?" Her father asked with a mouthful. He swallowed it. "You didn't mention you had to been to New York." He told his daughter as he tried to recall their last phone call.

"It was just a two or so day trip." She replied, knowing that the lie would work but would look suspicious. Her father shrugged, accepting the explanation and continuing to eat.

"So, why don't you two tells us more about yourselves?" Valarie looked to them with wide eyes, trying her best to express 'don't be weird' to them. The Doctor stuttered over himself and Martha picked up the conversation.

"Well, I'm Martha Jones. I'm currently a med-student and I met Valarie through him." She explained.

"Jones? Are you by chance related to Clive?" Her father asked.

"Yes, that's my dad actually." Martha smiled.

"Clive was a good man, knew him from university. Shame about his divorce though." Her father sighed, only to be smacked by Valarie's mother.

"Edward!" She hushed him at the inappropriate comment. She then pushed a smile back on her face and leaned forward. "What about you, Doctor?"

"Oh, I am not from around here." He replied shrugging as he picked at his food. He took a big fork full and shoved it in his mouth.

"Doctor? Why do people call you that? Don't you got a name?" William asked. Valarie noticed their mothers death glare directed at William.

"Oh, it's just kinda a nickname. Name's John Smith." He smiled. The table fell silent. Mabel, who had been simply watching the night unfold decided to interject.

"Mum, do you still have that album?" Mabel asked. Her mother looked at her. "You know which one I'm talking about." Her mother had a devious smile as she excused herself. She came back swiftly with a photo album filled to the brim.

"Mum, no. Mum!" Valarie whined already knowing what was next. Her mother came to their side of the table, placing the album in the Doctor's hands as Martha flipped the cover open.

"No!" Valarie laughed as she cried to take the book full of childhood photos. The table erupted in chatter and laughter as the Doctor and Martha observed the baby pictures of Valarie, pointing at one. In the image she could not have been any older then three, her hair knotted and practically standing up as she sat in between her older siblings. The two had paint on their hands as the rest of it was smothered on Valarie's face, clothes and even in her hair.The table was full of buzz, laughter, and joy.

Valarie was home, with everyone she loved and everyone who loved her.