*pokes head in* . . . are people still reading this? I certainly hope so!

Lol, that hiatus was really long, even though it technically wasn't a hiatus. :P That was finishing up two other books, "Experiencing the Impossible" and "Torchwood," which are now onto "Receiving Another Chance" and "Saxon" respectively.

Speaking of "Receiving Another Chance" . . . fellow members of the Order, let's refrain from adding a thousand comments the next time I update that, K? I love you all, I sincerely do, but my phone can only take so many spams a day. Show the thread some love, too. <3

In other news, I think I'm about to start the first OTP one-shot challenge! For those of you who weren't aware, I have been contemplating starting one-shot competitions for certain pairings (where the Order motto came from), and I think I'll start with a pairing that technically got together just recently, though it really was so long ago: Jack and/or SHIELD get Christobelle together. ;) Start thinking up ideas: happy or sad, adventurous or not, as long as you want, because honestly, I bloody love those two together.

Oh, and the Order I keep mentioning is the Order of the Dark Side of Fanfiction. Is it wordy? Yes. Do I regret forming it? Not at all. Are we all bloody insane? Oh, you betcha. }:)

*coughs* Anyway, enough outta me! Rory isn't the only one joining the TARDIS crew for this adventure, Amy gets replaced (not in the relationship area), and Rose defends her sister. :)

Enjoy "The Vampires of Venice!"

***

"Hey!" Rory called into his phone, plugging one ear so he could talk, the noise of his stag party nearly overwhelming. "It's me. Hello. How are you? The reason for this call is because I haven't told you for seven hours that I love you, which is a scandal, and even if we weren't getting married tomorrow, I'd ask you to marry me anyway. Yes, I would, because you are smashing - " He paused when he heard a familiar song came on, and he turned to see a giant pink cake be wheeled in. "Oh," he blanched. "Oh. Oh, blimey. I've, I've, er, got to go. I'll see you tomorrow!"

He hung up just in time for his friends to push him forward. "Out! Out! Out!" they all chanted.

Someone popped out of the cake, all right - it just wasn't a stripper. Rory blinked in surprise when the Apocalypse turned around to find him. "Rory!" she cheered, climbing out of the cake and sitting on the edge of it. "That's a relief. I thought I'd burst out of the wrong cake again. That reminds me, there's a girl standing outside in a bikini. Could someone let her in and give her a jumper? Lucy? Lovely girl. Diabetic. Now, then, Rory, we need to talk about your fiancée." Rory blinked, wondering what she was going to say, when the Apocalypse jerked her head towards the exit. "Outside, if you please."

"What?" he frowned.

She sighed and walked over to him, putting an arm around his shoulders. "You see, you won't exactly understand until you see where we're going, so if you please, we'll get out of here and I'll get you back as soon as I can. Which, with my luck, could be in another few weeks. Come on, Rory. Let's go."

***

Amy was talking quietly with Rose and Jenny when the door opened, and a protesting Rory was dragged inside by the Apocalypse. "But where are we going?" Rory demanded, only to stop dead inside the TARDIS. "What?"

"Rory!" Amy grinned, running over to give him a hug.

"Why are you covered in frosting?" Rose frowned.

"Nah, doesn't matter," the Apocalypse waved it off. "One more stop to make before we go."

"One more?" Amy frowned, turning to her. "Where else are we going?"

The Apocalypse shrugged. "Well, while you two go off having fun . . . " She smirked, flipping a lever. "We'll just have a good old family reunion."

"Uncle Jack!" Jenny cheered as Rose's eyes brightened.

"Quick stop in Cardiff, and off we go," the Apocalypse confirmed with a grin. "Any bets that Ianto's going to tag along, too?"

Rose just giggled.

***

Tosh was working on one of the case files on another Weevil emergence when her computer went off. She took a quick look, then grinned. "Artron energy spike!" she announced.

"Where?" Jack jumped out of his seat.

"Right out in the Plass," Tosh checked. "Guessing she's come to ask if you want a ride."

"New Calypsie," Jack thought. "I think I'll take it." He looked around. "Anyone else?"

"We'll stay, cover the place," Owen nodded at Tosh. "You go on. She's your sister."

"I'll stay, too," Gwen added.

Jack nodded. "Guess it's you and me, Ianto," he said cheerily, clapping the man on the shoulder.

Ianto smirked. "Good enough for me," he grabbed his coat, following Jack outside.

***

"Oh, the life out there, it dazzles," the Apocalypse grinned as she worked underneath the TARDIS console, Rose occasionally helping her. Amy and Rory were leaning on the railing on the staircase opposite them. "I mean, it blinds you to the things that are important. I've seen it devour relationships and plans." She started backwards when something sparked, and it hid the noise of the TARDIS door opening. She cleared her throat, seeing Rose snicker and Rory raise an eyebrow. "It's meant to do that."

"I highly doubt that," a familiar voice drawled, making Amy and Rory look up, startled. It just made the Apocalypse grin. "What happened this time, Rosie?"

"Uncle Jack!" Jenny whooped, running to hug him.

"That's my girl!" Jack laughed, hugging her tightly as Ianto closed the door behind him.

"Ianto," Rose smiled, giving him a hug. "We figured you'd come as well."

"Introductions," the Apocalypse clapped her hands. "My big brother, Captain Jack Harkness, and fellow Torchwood worker, probably something more, Ianto Jones. Jack, Ianto, meet Amy Pond and her fiancé, Rory Williams."

"Hello," Jack smiled charmingly.

"Stop it," Rose said automatically.

Jack groaned as Ianto chuckled and waved at them. "I was only saying hello!"

"And for you, that's flirting," the Apocalypse went back to welding. "Anyway, what was I saying?"

"Life devouring relationships and plans," Jenny answered.

Jack blinked. "Say what now?"

"That was it!" the Apocalypse grinned, going back to what she had been saying. "Because for one person to have seen all that, to taste the glory and then go back, it will tear you apart. So, we're sending you somewhere together."

"Whoa," Amy grinned. "Like a date?"

"Anywhere you want," the Apocalypse nodded. "Any time you want. One condition: it has to be amazing. The Moulin Rouge in 1890, the first Olympic Games. Think of it as a wedding present, because it's either this, or tokens."

"I'd go with this," Jack mouthed to the duo, Rory smirking at him.

"Sorry, I didn't check, how're you taking it in?" the Apocalypse looked at Rory. "Yeah, it's a tiny box, huge rom inside. What's that about? Let me explain."

"It's another dimension," Rory told her.

"It's basically another dimension," the Apocalypse sprang out of her seat, then blinked at him. "What?"

Jack and Rose laughed at her dumbfounded expression. Rory just smiled at her. "After what happened with Prisoner Zero, I've been reading up on all the latest scientific theories. FTL travel, parallel universes."

"Those aren't fun," Rose cringed.

"I like the bit when someone says it's bigger on the inside," the Apocalypse pouted. I always look forward to that."

"It's bigger on the inside," Ianto took pity on her.

"Thank you!" she grinned.

"So, this date," Amy interrupted. "I'm kind of done with running down corridors. What do you think, Rory?"

"No running down corridors," he agreed.

"But that's the best bit!" Jack teased.

"Yeah, not for a date," Rose shook her head.

"How about somewhere . . . romantic?" the Apocalypse winked first at Amy and Rory, then at Jack and Ianto. All four of them gave her some kind of blush or glare, but she just ran back up to the console. "Here we go!"

"Has she always been this peppy?" Jack couldn't help but ask Amy as they followed her up.

"Yes," Amy said bluntly.

Jack chuckled. "Atta girl."

***

The Apocalypse poked her head outside the TARDIS and grinned. "Venice!" she cheered, skipping outside and spinning in a circle, Rose gasping in delight when she saw where they were. "Venezia! La Serenissima!" Jack laughed and spun the Apocalypse around again, happy his sister was looking so much brighter after what had happened with the Master and the Doctor. "Impossible city, preposterous city. Founded by refugees running from Attila the Hun. It was just a collection of little wooden huts in the middle of the marsh, but became one of the most powerful cities in the world. Constantly being invaded, constantly flooding, constantly just beautiful. Ah, you got to love Venice. So many people did. Byron, Napoleon, Casanova - "

"Oh, please tell me we avoided him," Jack's eyes widened.

"Ooo . . . " She checked her watch. "1580," she told him. "That's all right. Casanova doesn't get born for a hundred and forty five years."

"Good," Jack sighed. "I don't want to run into him."

"Yeah, don't you owe him a chicken?"

Everyone stared at Jack at that. "You owe Casanova a chicken?" Rory raised an eyebrow.

"And when was this?" Ianto folded his arms.

"Hey, no one hits on my little sister," Jack held up his hands in surrender. "I basically told him to stay back. He would if I gave him a chicken."

"And we got out of there as fast as we could," the Apocalypse nodded as they walked on. "When was that?"

"Some time before you met Donna again," Jack answered. "Not exactly sure."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa," an inspector stopped them in the middle of the street. "Papers, if you please. Proof of residency, current bill of medical inspection."

The Apocalypse raised an eyebrow at Jack, and both held up their psychic papers. "There you go, fellow," she told the inspector. ""All to your satisfaction, I think you'll find."

His eyes widened, and he sank into a bow. "I am so sorry, Your Majesty, Your Holiness. I didn't realize."

The Apocalypse blinked, checking her psychic paper. Jack just made a blessing motion. "No worries," Jack shook his head as the Apocalypse snickered. Apparently, she was now Queen of Belgium and Jack was her high priest. Well, wasn't that an interesting turn of events? "You were just doing your job."

"And your job is what, exactly?" the Apocalypse raised an eyebrow.

"Checking for aliens," the inspector answered, making Amy look at Rose and Jenny in alarm. "Visitors from foreign lands what might bring the plague with them."

Ianto blinked, then frowned at the Apocalypse. "You brought us to the plague?"

"Don't worry, sir," the inspector shook his head. "No, we're under quarantine here. No one comes in, no one goes out, and all because of the grace and wisdom of our patron, Signora Rosanna Calvierri."

Rose frowned. "I thought the plague died out years ago."

"Not out there, my lady," the inspector denied. "No, Signora Calvierri has seen it with her own eyes. Streets are piled high with bodies, she said."

"Fantastic," Jack deadpanned.

"Did she, now?" the Apocalypse curled her lip, absently flicking the psychic paper.

"He called me 'my lady,'" Rose frowned.

"Oh, er . . . " The Apocalypse checked. "Well, as my sister, you're second in line to the throne, next to Princess Jenny." The dark-haired girl grinned at that. "Amy ended up being head lady in waiting . . . sorry."

"That's not so bad," Amy shrugged.

"Ianto's captain of the guard," Jack raised an eyebrow as he read his off. "And Rory's second in command."

"Really?" both men asked.

The Apocalypse shrugged. "No one else I'd trust after Jack."

Rory blinked, touched as they walked on. "Is she this kind to everyone?" he asked Ianto.

"To those she trusts, yes," Ianto nodded. "It's if you make an enemy out of her that you really need to be careful. You remember the whole children fiasco about a year back, the battalion of soldiers who fought the government and saved every child they tried to take?" When Rory nodded, Ianto looked towards the Apocalypse. "Who do you think led them?"

Rory blanched, watching her go on with Jack. "Oh."

"Yeah, 'oh.'"

***

They were walking down one of the canals when the iron gates of a large house opened, and Jenny paused. "Mum!" she called. "I think I found Signora Calvierri!"

They all turned back, watching girls with white dresses and heavy veils on and carrying white parasols walk out two by tow. "The Calvierri girls," a girl whispered as they gathered by the canal.

A black man suddenly ran up to the procession, looking under veil after veil, one of the leaders of the procession hissing at him. One of the girls suddenly knocked him down, hissed at him, and they all turned and left. Amy frowned. "What was that about?"

"I don't know," Rose shook her head. "Caly?"

Jenny looked behind her, only to blink. "Mum, Uncle Jack, and Ianto are gone."

They all turned to look, and Amy sighed. "I hate it when she does that."

***

The trio walked up to the black man that was in the alleyway, and the Apocalypse raised an eyebrow. "Who are those girls?" she asked.

"I thought everyone knew about the Calvierri school," the man frowned.

"Our first day here," Jack said dryly.

"Parents do all sorts of things to get their children into good schools," the Apocalypse continued. "They move house, they change religion. So why are you trying to get her out?"

He hesitated, then answered. "Something happens in there. Something magical, something evil. My own daughter didn't recognize me. And the girl who pushed me away, her face, like an animal!"

The Apocalypse raised an eyebrow and turned to the men. "Opinions?"

"I think we need to speak to this Signora Calvierri," Jack answered.

The Apocalypse smirked. "Great minds think alike."

***

"So what have you been doing?" Rory asked as the quartet walked down one of the streets.

"Well, running, and fighting," Amy thought. "I've been scared. More scared than I thought was possible."

"Yeah, that happens," Rose nodded. "Believe me, I've been with her since I was nineteen, and I've been scared so much, I didn't know it was possible."

"How old are you now?"

"Twenty-six."

"Did you miss me?" Rory asked.

Amy nodded. "Yeah. Especially after the last one."

Rory nodded, then looked around. "We are in Venice, and it is 1580."

"I know!" Amy squealed, then held out her phone. "Picture?" Rory took it, and Amy pulled Rose and Jenny in with her. "Come on!"

Just when Rory was about to take the picture, they heard a piercing scream from down the street. "What was that?" he turned.

Rose jumped off the staircase and ran to where she had heard the scream come from, her eyes widening when she saw a pale man raise his head from a young girl, two holes in her neck, blood dripping from his sharp teeth. He hissed at Rose, raised his cloak, then ran off. "Jenny!" she called as she bent down to check the girl.

Jenny barreled around the corner, saw the girl, saw the man, then wrung out her neck and took off. Rory skidded to a stop by Rose, bending down to check her. "Is she all right?"

"I think she'll be OK," Rose nodded, looking up. "Who was that?"

***

Jenny chased the man through the streets, only to stop and pause at an alley that opened straight into the canal. She ran over and jumped onto the edge, looking down and around, only to realize she had lost sight of him.

***

"You have my daughter!" Guido accused, marching up to the iron gates of the Calvierri House. "Isabella!"

"No, you're not coming in," the guard shook his head, going to stop him. "Just stop there. Look, we've told you - "

"You have my daughter! Isabella! I demand you let me see my daughter!"

"Go away!"

"Isabella, it's me! It's your father!"

As Guido thoroughly distracted the guard, the Apocalypse, Jack, and Ianto headed right for the gates. Before they made it, the Apocalypse snapped open a portal, and they walked through and out on the other side of the gate, never once breaking stride.

***

Jack whistled in appreciation when they entered a stone cellar with a large, vaulted roof. "Hello, Venice."

The Apocalypse tilted her head, looking at her reflection in the mirror and frowned, running a hand through her very curly hair. "I don't know . . . do you like the curls?"

"Very much," Jack promised her, turning to look.

"It's a good look on you," Ianto nodded.

"Well," she smirked, twirling one lock around her finger.

"Who are you?" a chorus of voices behind them asked.

Jack and Ianto spun, drawing and aiming their guns at the girls in white robes that had somehow come up behind them without them noticing. The Apocalypse turned as well, blinked, then checked the mirror again. No, they weren't in there, just like she had thought. "How are you doing that?" she asked, looking back and forth again. "I am loving it! You're like Houdini!"

"Yeah, except they're five scary girls," Ianto rolled his eyes.

"Yes, he was shorter, too. Well, he will be shorter."

"You're rambling, Calypsie," Jack warned.

"I'll ask you again, signora, signors," the girls said together. "Who are you?"

"Why don't you check this out?" the Apocalypse raised an eyebrow, holding up what she thought was her psychic paper . . . only to blink and take another look, realizing that was her library card from her first regeneration. "Ah. Wrong paper."

Ianto, who hadn't seen many of her regenerations, took a look and blinked. "You were pretty back then. I like the ginger."

"Thank you," she smiled at him, kissing his cheek. Jack really had chosen a great guy.

"Pale, creepy girls who don't like sunlight and can't be seen," Jack started backing the three of them up to the staircase. "Are you thinking what I think I'm thinking?"

"Oh, I think so," the Apocalypse grinned, taking their arms and backing them up as well. "But the city. Why shut down the city? Unless - "

"Leave now, signora, signors," the vampires hissed.. "Or we shall call for the Steward, if you are lucky."

"Well," Ianto began, only to blanch when they grew needle-like teeth. "Oh."

"Tell me the whole plan," the Apocalypse narrowed her eyes.

"Has that ever worked?" Jack scowled at her.

"One day it will," she shook her head. "Listen, we would love to stay here. This whole thing, we're thrilled. Oh, this is Christmas."

Abruptly, she scampered up the stairs, Jack and Ianto scrambling after her.

***

"Jenny!" the Apocalypse grinned, running up to her daughter by the canal.

"Mum!" she ran up as well.

"We just met some vampires!"

"We just saw a vampire!"

"And creepy girls and everything!"

"Vampires!"

The rest of their groups caught up to them. "We think we just saw a vampire," Rory panted.

"We were just in their house," Ianto nodded as he and Jack holstered their guns.

"And we ned to get back in there somehow," the Apocalypse nodded.

"What?" Rory blinked.

"How do we do that?" Amy asked.

"Back in there?" Rose looked towards the Calvierri House.

"Well, good thing, Rosie," Jack slung an arm around her. "Because we just happen to have this friend that can help us."

***

"As you saw, there's no clear way in," Guido said as he showed them a map of Venice. "The House of Calvierri is like a fortress. But there's a tunnel underneath it with a ladder and shaft that leads up into the house. I tried to get in once myself, but I hit a trapdoor."

"You need someone on the inside," Amy nodded.

"No," the Apocalypse said crisply.

She frowned. "You don't even know what I was going to say!"

"That we pretend you're an applicant for the school to get you inside, and tonight, you come down and open the trapdoor to let us in."

"Oh," Amy blushed. "So you do know what I was going to say."

"Are you insane?" Rory demanded.

"We don't have another option!"

"She said no," Jack shook his head. "And frankly, I agree."

"There is another option," Guido gestured to the barrels behind Rory. "I work at the Arsenale. We build the warships for the navy."

Jack walked over and sniffed, then nodded. "Gunpowder," he recognized, and Rory leapt away from the barrels. "You know, most people just take stationary from where they work."

"I'll be there three, four hours tops," Amy insisted.

The Apocalypse thought, then closed her eyes. "No," she shook her head. "I'll be there three, four hours tops."

"Caly?" Rose blanched.

"But they've seen us!" Ianto protested.

"I know they have," the Apocalypse snapped. "But who else here is a parent that would do anything to save their child?"

Jack raised his hand instantly, but the others just shook their heads. "She'll get it done," he told them.

"So Jack takes me in, say I'm his sister," the Apocalypse nodded.

Jack rubbed her back comfortingly. "Then Ianto and I can get in and get you and Isabella out."

"We'll be in the getaway," Jenny nodded.

"This whole thing is mental," Rory groaned. "They're vampires, for God's sake!"

"We hope," the Apocalypse mumbled.

"So if they're not vampires?" Amy asked.

"What's so bad they don't mind us thinking they're vampires?" Rose wondered.

***

"Our mother and father died during the plague," Jack told Rosanna as he and the Apocalypse stood before her. "I'm a gondola driver, so money's a bit tight. Having my sister go to your school for special people would be brilliant."

A young man by her tilted his head, examining them. "Have we met?"

Jack smirked. "Perhaps I have one of those faces."

"I wasn't talking to you," he looked at the Apocalypse curiously.

"We are related, after all."

"Carlo, explain yourself," Rosanna told the Steward. "Why have you brought me this imbecile?"

"Signora, they have references from His Majesty the King of Sweden," the Steward answered.

"What?" she straightened up. "Let me see." Jack handed his psychic paper over, and she raised an eyebrow as she read. "Well, now I see what got my Steward so excited." She looked at her son as he circled the Apocalypse. "What say you, Francesco? Do you like her?"

"Oh, I do, Mother," Francesco smirked. "I do."

"Then we would be delighted to accept her," Rosanna said brightly. "Say goodbye to your sister."

The Apocalypse and Jack managed to nod to each other before they were pulled their separate directions.

***

The Apocalypse observed the pale girls watching her as Carlo led her up a spiral staircase into a room with several beds. "There are clothes on the bed," he told her. "Get changed and wait here."

"Quite the private education," the Apocalypse remarked as the girls left with him, save one with dark skin, who sat on one of the beds. She took a gamble and sat across from her. "Hello," she smiled. "I'm Caly. What's your name?"

"Isabella," she answered.

"Hello, Isabella," the Apocalypse smiled encouragingly at her. "I'm here to get you out of here." Isabella blinked at her, but the Apocalypse held a finger to her lips. "But first, I need to know what's going on. What is this place? What are they doing?"

Isabella swallowed. "They, er . . . they come at night. They gather around my bed and they take me to a room with this green light and a chair with straps, as if for a surgeon."

"And what happens in there?"

"I wake up here, and the sunlight burns my skin like candle wax."

***

"Will she be OK?" Amy asked in concern as Guido poled the gondola along.

"I hope so," Rose nodded.

Jack looked down to see her gripping the side of the gondola with white knuckles. "Take it easy, there, Rosie."

"Oh." She released it and took a deep breath. "All right."

"We're here," Guido said.

"Get her back," Rory told Jack as they pulled up to a dock.

Jack and Ianto climbed out, running for the tunnel, the four others crouching down to avoid being seen.

***

The Apocalypse poked her head into the courtyard, lightly going down the stairs to find the trapdoor. She smiled when she found it, unlatching the bolts. She stood up to head back, only to freeze when she saw Carlo standing right behind her.

***

Jenny frowned, narrowing her eyes. "Something's happened."

"How can you tell?" Rory looked at her.

"She's my mum."

***

"Here she is," Carlo shoved the Apocalypse in front of Rosanna, who was in the same cellar the Apocalypse had investigated earlier.

The Apocalypse tilted her head. "I suppose the 'tell me the entire plan' isn't going to work on you either."

Rosanna smiled coldly at her. "Psychic paper. Did you really think that would work on me?"

***

Jack pushed open the trapdoor, then climbed out to help Ianto up. "I can't see a thing up here."

"Didn't you bring a torch?" he asked, looking around.

"Oh," he looked through his coat and pulled it out. "Gotcha."

***

"Where are you from?" Rosanna sneered at the Apocalypse. "Did you fall through the Chasm?"

"Mother, this is pointless," Francesco sighed. "Let's just start the process and - "

"Hold your tongue, Francesco," Rosanna ordered. "I need to know what this girl is doing in a world of savages with psychic paper. Who are you with? You see, I scarcely believe your idiot aunt sent you. What are you doing in my school?"

The Apocalypse watched the same chair Isabella described be rolled in. "OK, I'll tell you," she turned, then abruptly switched accents. "I'm from Cardiff."

Rosanna looked ready to explode. "Put her in the chair." The Apocalypse glared at her as she was forced in, the girls putting up bags of blood, Francesco grabbing her head and holding her down. "Oh, make sport of me, will you? Tease me as if I were your dog? Well, this dog has a bite, girl."

The Apocalypse barely flinched when Rosanna bit into her neck. Francesco just grinned. "Mother, where you drink from her, may we share? I'm so thirsty."

"Of course, darling," she smiled at him.

***

"Hold on," Ianto walked over to one of the chests nearby, opening it and clapping a hand over his mouth when he saw what was inside. "Jack!"

He ran over to take a look, and he blanched. "Oh, no."

"What happened to them?"

Jack crouched down and took out a portable scanner, using it on one of the corpses. "They've had all the moisture taken out of them," he read the results.

"Getting the feeling that means more than just blood."

"Yeah, I mean all the water in their entire bodies."

"Why did they die? Why aren't they like the girls in the school?"

Jack looked ready to punch something. "Maybe not everyone survives the process."

Ianto swallowed, looking slightly sick. "We've got to find Calsie, now."

"Who are you?" six girls suddenly appeared.

The two of them took off, Jack making a text one handed.

***

Rose checked her phone when it beeped, and she blanched. "Oh, no."

"What is it?" Amy asked worriedly.

Rose swallowed. "They've found bodies. All the moisture out of their bodies. And there was no sign of Caly when they made it out of the trapdoor."

"Oh, my God," Jenny clapped a hand over her mouth.

"Is this what she does?" Rory demanded. "Is this why she's so dangerous? She takes risks to make others take them, tries to impress them so they want to impress her, or is it that she does it so they don't want to let her down?"

That earned him two very dirty glares. "That's my mum you're insulting now!" Jenny scowled.

"If there's one thing about Caly everyone agrees on, it's that she cares about the people she takes on," Rose added. "You saw how she handled Amy and volunteered to go instead. She knows people end up taking risks for her, and she doesn't always like it. Because people can get killed on these adventures, and she would never wish that on anyone. She would much rather take the fall instead than have others' blood on her hands. She doesn't need to be impressed by anyone. If she accepts you and takes you with her, that says you've impressed her. You don't need to do anything else. So whatever bias or stereotype you're trying to fit her with, get it out of your head right now, because Caly is the most selfless woman that will ever walk this planet, regardless of others' opinions. Make your own, Rory, and don't make assumptions based on how we've acted. Look at who she is for youself, how she is, then tell me what you think of her."

Amy ducked her head, trying not to let Rory see her blush. That had been exactly what she had been ready to do, try to impress the Apocalypse. And now it didn't look like it would have ended well for her.

***

"This is how it works," Rosanna said as Francesco bent towards the Apocalypse. "First, we drink you until you're dry. Then we fill you with our blood. It rages through you like a fire, changing you until one morning, you awake and your humanity is a dream now faded."

"Or you die," Francesco added. "That can happen."

"And if I survive?" the Apocalypse raised an eyebrow.

"Then there are ten thousand husbands waiting for you in the water."

The Apocalypse smirked. "I would have thought an alien like you would know, Signora . . . Time Lords are United, even in death." Rosanna blanched, and the Apocalypse kicked outwards, knocking Francesco away from her. Her fists clenched, and the bindings came undone. The Apocalypse lashed out with one hand, tossing Rosanna into the wall, suddenly having the appearance of a lobster or shrimp with vampire teeth. "Ooo," she blinked.

"Calypsie?" Jack's voice shouted.

"Apocalypse!" came Ianto's.

The Apocalypse grinned and held out a hand to Isabella. "Geronimo!" The girl took her hand, and the two of them ran out of the cellar. She make a flicking motion with one hand, sending the vampires surrounding Jack and Ianto flying. "Let's go, boys!"

***

"The door!" Jenny suddenly called, and all of them looked up.

The door burst open, and the Apocalypse ran out in a long white dress, blood on her neck. A young black girl shied away from the sun, but Jack took off his overcoat and threw it over her. "Come on," he led her to the gondola.

"Isabella," Guido breathed in relief, hugging his daughter.

"They're after us," Ianto warned.

"Go," the Apocalypse waved them on.

"What about you?" Rose's eyes widened.

The Apocalypse shook her head, helping Ianto into the gondola. "Rosanna and I were having a lovely chat. I think it's time I found out why she's here."

***

The Apocalypse was lounging on Rosanna's throne, flipping her sonic screwdriver end over end. "Long way from Saturnyne, aren't you, Sister of the Water?" she asked, raising an eyebrow as Rosanna entered.

"I have tasted the blood of humans since girls came to me," Rosanna stopped in front of her. "Yours is alien. Are you a refugee, like me?"

"How about we make a deal?" the Apocalypse tilted her head. "An answer for an answer. You're using a perception filter. It doesn't change your features, but manipulates the brainwaves of the person looking at you. But seeing one of you for the first time in, say, a mirror, the brain doesn't know what to fill the gap with, so leaves it blank, hence no reflection."

"Your question?"

"Why can we see your big teeth?"

"Self preservation overrides the image," she answered. "The subconscious perceives the threat and tries to alert the conscious brain. You claimed to be a United. Are you from Gallifrey?"

"Yes."

"You should be in a museum," she raised an eyebrow. "Or a mausoleum."

"Why are you here?"

"We ran from the Silence. Why are you here?"

"Date night for my brother, wedding present for a few friends," the Apocalypse smirked. "The Silence?"

"There were cracks," Rosanna answered. "Some were tiny. Some were as big as the sky. Through some we saw worlds and people, and through others we saw Silence, and the end of all things. We fled to an ocean like ours, and the crack snapped shut behind us. Saturnyne was lost."

"So Earth is to become Saturnyne Mark II?"

"And you can help me. We can build a new society here, as others have. What do you say? I need an answer, Apocalypse."

"You know my answer," the Apocalypse narrowed, her eyes flashing gold as she backed up. "It's no."

Rosanna narrowed her eyes. "I will bend the heavens to save my race while you philosophize."

"No," the Apocalypse shook her head. "This ends today. I will tear down the House of Calvierri stone by stone. And from now on, Isabella is under my protection. You won't be seeing her again."

Rosanna frowned. "Isabella?"

Her eyes flared brighter gold. "And there's another reason why. You didn't know her name."

***

"They bit you?" Rose gawked as Guido handed the Apocalypse a damp rag.

"Trust me, worse has been done to me," the Apocalypse waved it off as she put the rag on her neck. "OK, I need to think." She plopped down at the table, the others doing the same. "Come on, brain, think, think, think, think."

"If they're fish people, it explains why they hate the sun," Amy shrugged.

"Stop talking, brain thinking," the Apocalypse put a hand over her mouth. "Hush."

"It's the school thing I don't understand," Rory added.

"Stop talking, brain thinking," the other hand went over Rory's mouth. "Hush."

"I say we take the fight to them," Guido narrowed his eyes.

The Apocalypse raised an eyebrow. "Jenny?"

"Stop talking, brain thinking," she recited, putting her hand over Guido's mouth. "Hush."

"Her planet dies, so they flee through a crack in space and time and end up here," the Apocalypse nodded. "Then she closes off the city and one by one, starts changing the people into creatures like her to start a new gene pool. Got it. But then what? They come from the sea. They can't survive forever on land, so what's she going to do?"

"She would have to do something to the environment to make the city habitable," Ianto answered.

"Mum?" Jenny held up her other hand.

Jack snickered, but the Apocalypse shook her head, narrowing her eyes. "She said I shall bend the heavens to save my race . . . bend the heavens . . . bend the heavens!" her head shot up, eyes wide. "She's going to sink Venice!"

"She's going to sink Venice?" Rose's jaw dropped.

"And repopulate it with the girls she's transformed."

"You can't repopulate somewhere with just women," Rory shook his head. "You need blokes."

"She's got blokes," the Apocalypse snorted. "In the canal. She said there are ten thousand husbands waiting in the water."

Jack's eyebrows shot up. "I certainly hope that was when you turned down the offer."

"Oh, I turned down any offers the moment I agreed to Unite to the Doctor," the Apocalypse waved it off like it was no big deal. "Only the male offspring survived the journey here. She's got ten thousand children swimming around the canals waiting for Mum to make them some compatible girlfriends."

"Urgh," Jack shuddered. "I've been around a bit, but really, that's . . . eugh."

There was thumping and creaking from upstairs, and the Apocalypse winced. "Please tell me you've got people upstairs, Guido."

"There aren't," he shook his head.

"I hoped you wouldn't say that," she sighed, standing up. "Jack, get everyone out now. I'll deal with them."

"How?" Jack frowned, even as Guido went to get Isabella.

The Apocalypse raised an eyebrow. "No one tries to give me to another man when there's only one I've ever loved."

Jack smirked. "Always faithful."

"You better believe it."

Rory felt an elbow nudge him, and he turned to see Rose raise an eyebrow. "You see?" she asked as she led him out. "She doesn't lead anyone on."

He nodded, the two of them holding open the doors as the others ran out.

***

The Apocalypse smirked at the vampires as they entered. "Love from Gallifrey, sisters," she ignited a fireball and lobbed it at the gunpowder barrels.

***

One of the Apocalypse's portals flashed open, and the woman herself stepped through just as Guido's house went up in flames. "Sorry about that," she rubbed her hands together. "But I've got to go stop Venice from sinking."

Thunder cracked overhead, and Rose looked up, shielding her eyes. "I'd say that's already started, Caly."

They looked up to see a violent thunderstorm whirling about. "Rosanna's initiating the final phase," the Apocalypse narrowed her eyes.

"We need to stop her," Amy looked for the way back. "Come on!"

"No, no, no, you all are getting back to the TARDIS," the Apocalypse shook her head.

"You can't stop her on your own!"

"Who says I can't?" the Apocalypse looked at her, narrowing her eyes, her pupils glowing gold. "I can make it an order, Amy. Go."

Amy glared at her, then stormed off. Rory watched her go, then looked at the Apocalypse. "Thank you," he said sincerely.

"You're welcome," she smiled back at him. "But seriously, all of you, go."

The rest of them left out without a single remark, and the Apocalypse ran back towards the Calvierri House.

***

When she entered the throne room, she went right to the back of the throne to see the controls for the device. "You're too late," Rosanna smirked at her. "Such determination just to save one city. Hard to believe it's the same woman that let an entire race turn to cinders and ash. Now you can watch as my people take their new kingdom."

The Apocalypse raised an eyebrow. "I killed your girls, Rosanna."

The woman blanched. "You're lying!"

"Cinders and ash," the Apocalypse held out a fireball before letting it extinguish. "Help me. There are two hundred thousand people in this city."

"So save them," the woman narrowed her eyes.

***

As the six went down an alley, Francesco suddenly emerged in front of them, hissing and revealing his needle teeth. Jenny just narrowed her eyes and stormed forward. "You tried to convert my mum!" she accused before kicking Francesco in the groin.

He stumbled back, and Jack smirked. "How do you figure he does with sun, Rosie?"

"He'd burn badly," Rose agreed.

"Phones, all," Jack ordered, taking out his and angling it, Ianto and Amy following.

Jenny dodged a hit by Francesco, then tilted her head tauntingly as the five others started angling their phones together. "That the best you got?"

Francesco hissed, turning towards her, but instantly screamed when five phones directed sunlight together right onto him. He exploded, covering Jenny in soot, and she grimaced. "Ew."

"Calypsie's daughter, definitely," Jack grinned, kissing the top of her head. "Anyone up for helping her?"

"Righty-ho," Rory nodded, and the six of them ran for the Calvierri House.

***

The Apocalypse rolled her eyes when they all entered. "Figures."

"Nice try, Caly," Rose smirked. "We're not leaving you."

"Fantastic. No, that's not my word. Right, so - "

The house shook, knocking everyone to the ground. "What was that?" Rory winced.

"Nothing," the Apocalypse shook her head. "Bit of an earthquake."

"An earthquake?" Amy blanched.

"When you manipulate the elements, it can trigger earthquakes," Ianto guessed.

"Oh, don't worry about the earthquakes," the Apocalypse waved a hand.

Jenny frowned. "So what should we worry about?"

"The tidal waves caused by the earthquake," the Apocalypse answered promptly, making Jack groan. "Right, Rosanna's throne is the control hub, but she's locked the program, so tear out every single wire and circuit in the throne. Go crazy. Hit it with a stick, anything. We need to shut it down and reroute control to the secondary hub, which I'm guessing will also be the generator."

The Apocalypse ran off to find it, and the six others hurriedly tore apart the throne. With all of them working together, it took a mere few minutes for the throne to be stripped bare. With that finished, they all ran back outside to see what was going on.

"There she is!" Ianto pointed.

Rose shielded her eyes, seeing the Apocalypse climbing to the top of the bell tower. "I see her!"

"Come on," Jack pushed through the crowd to get to the front.

They made it to the front in time to see the Apocalypse work her way through the bells. "Come on," Amy crossed her fingers.

"You can do it, Mum!" Jenny shouted.

The Apocalypse bent down towards one of the bigger bells. A moment later, the rain stopped and the clouds vanished. As the people of Venice celebrated, Rory whooped. "You did it!"

The Apocalypse waved down at them, a big grin on her face.

***

The Apocalypse flicked off a lazy salute as the Inspector they had met earlier gave her a deep bow. "Now, then, back to Cardiff to drop off Jack and Ianto, then next stop, Leadworth Registry Office. Would they let me give you away?" she asked Amy.

"It's fine," Rory sighed. "Drop me back where you found me. I'll just say you've - "

"Stay," Amy interrupted. "With us. Please. Just for a bit. I want you to stay."

The Apocalypse raised an eyebrow, then looked over at Rose. "He's not Ricky," Jack threw in his pitch.

Rose snorted. "From you, that's not much praise."

"Go on, Mum," Jenny smiled.

"Oh, all right," the Apocalypse smiled. "Fine with me."

"Yeah?" Rory smiled back. "Yes, I would like that."

"Nice one," Amy beamed. "I will pop the kettle on. Hey, look at this," she grinned at them. "Got our spaceship, got our boys. Our work here is done."

Rory frowned as Amy entered the TARDIS. "Er, we are not her boys."

"You are," Jack snickered, clapping him on the back.

"Yeah, I am," Rory admitted, heading inside.

Rose giggled, following him, along with Jenny. The Apocalypse was about to go inside when Ianto frowned. "Apocalypse?"

"What?" she turned around, only to pause when she heard . . . nothing. "I'm listening."

"To what?" Jack frowned, looking around.

"Exactly," the Apocalypse swallowed. "There were cracks," she quoted Rosanna. "Through some we saw Silence, and the end of all things."

All three of them exchanged wary looks, then Jack spoke up. "I'm ready to go."

"Yeah, good idea," the Apocalypse abruptly turned.

"Very good," Ianto agreed.

Rory frowned when they all piled in quickly. "What's got you all in a knot?"

"Nothing," all three answered at once.

No one was brave enough to call them out on that lie with those faces.

***

Thought of this episode and thought it had Jack and Ianto written all over it. :)

And now I go from writing in Jack and Ianto to writing in Jack, Ianto, and Owen, because next up is "The Unicorn and the Wasp" for Alice! :D