Right off the bat, thank you to JodietheWriter for finding exactly what I think the Apocalypse looks like! Debating on or off if the cardigan has sleeves or not, but basically, that's what the Apocalypse wears. :) Thank you!

Also, thank you to _marvelous for yet again stunning me to death (almost, lol, I'm still typing) with your incredible covers! I figure all of you know why there are the cogs of clocks in there, or else, you need to rewatch this season. :P

And finally, the usual *** means that there's a paragraph break. Italicized paragraphs in the +++ are flashbacks to times with Rose. Throughout the book, these will be here, whether they're from memories with Rose and Jack, or (occasionally) even from Gallifrey! This is the flashback hell for the Apocalypse, and some chapters will have more of these than others. This one packs a punch, so that's why I'm telling you now.

And now I'm going to shut up so you can read! :D Here's "The Runaway Bride!"

***

"You can't do that!" the Apocalypse shook her head furiously, trying to think of an explanation. Oh, her head was still so fuzzy after losing Rose - a jolt of pain went through both of her hearts just thinking about her - and she was so confused. "I wasn't - " She double checked the readings. Yup. "We're in flight! That is . . . " She shook her head, throwing her hands up in exasperation and proceeding to put her hands on her hips. "That is physically impossible! How did - "

"Tell me where I am," the ginger demanded. "I demand you tell me right now, where am I?"

"Inside the TARDIS," the Apocalypse sighed.

"The what?"

"The TARDIS."

"The what?"

"The TARDIS!"

"The what?"

The Apocalypse blew out a breath. "She's called the TARDIS," she finally said through gritted teeth. Losing her temper was not going to help her now.

"That's not even a proper word!" the ginger huffed. "You're just saying things!"

"How did you get in here?"

"Well, obviously when you kidnapped me! Who was it? Who's paying you?" The Apocalypse opened her mouth when the ginger's eyes widened. "Is it Nerys? Oh, my God, she's finally got me back! This has got Nerys written all over it!"

"I don't think so," the Apocalypse huffed. "I don't even know a Nerys!"

"Well, she's obviously your best friend! This has got Nerys written all over it!"

The Apocalypse tilted her head. "Were you getting married?" she asked, looking at the wedding dress.

"No, I was going ten pin bowling," the ginger drawled. "What do you think, dumbo?" The Apocalypse squeaked indignantly. "I was halfway up the aisle! I've been waiting my entire life for this. I was just seconds away, and then you . . . I don't know, you drugged me, or something!"

"I haven't done anything!"

"I'm having the police on you! Me and my husband - as soon as he is my husband - we're going to sue the living backside off you!"

The Apocalypse blew out a breath and turned back to the console, rubbing the back of her neck. She was already getting a headache. Losing Rose - stab - was enough. Hearing the woman say she was getting married reminded her yet again of the loss of the Doctor. The TARDIS hummed under her hand, and the Apocalypse smiled softly, patting the rotor, when she saw the bride make for the doors. "No, wait a minute!" she shouted, running after her. "Wait a minute! Don't - !"

The woman threw the doors open, and the Apocalypse sighed as she watched the remnants of the supernova pass by. "You're in space," she said gently, walking up to her, leaning against the doorframe. "Outer space. This is my spaceship. She's called the TARDIS."

"How am I breathing?" the ginger breathed, looking around in shock.

"The TARDIS is protecting us," she answered, patting the TARDIS wall.

"Who are you?"

The Apocalypse was ready to say Caly Tyler when she swallowed it down, hard. "I'm the Apocalypse," she answered. "I know, it's weird, but it's my name. What about you?"

The ginger considered her before answering, "Donna."

"Human?" She had to check.

"Yeah. Is that optional?"

"Well, it is for me."

"You're an alien."

"Yeah."

Donna didn't say anything for a few seconds before she looked back out at the supernova. She appeared in a humongous room with only a skinny blonde American, her hair in fishtail braids, sapphire eyes that looked a bit red, in a maroon turtleneck, white skinny jeans, brown cowboy boots, a white waterfall cardigan, and a white scarf hanging loose around her neck in the place. She didn't exactly know what to say.

Well, she did at least know how to break the silence. "It's freezing with these doors open," she finally said.

The Apocalypse held out a hand and closed the doors telepathically, making Donna gasp in shock. "I don't understand that, and I understand almost everything," the Apocalypse declared, walking backwards, ignoring Donna staring at her like she was an alien - well, she was, wasn't she? "This . . . " She rubbed a hand over her face. "This can't be happening! There is no way a human being can lock itself onto the TARDIS and transport itself inside. Is there . . . " She walked around Donna, eyeing her over critically. "Impossible," she said flatly. "Some sort of subatomic connection? Something in the temporal field? Maybe something pulling you into alignment with the Chronon shell? Maybe something macro mining your DNA within the interior matrix? Maybe a genetic - " She managed to react just in time and narrowly dodged Donna's slap heading for her face. "What was that for?!"

"Get me to the church!" Donna yelled.

The Apocalypse threw up her hands in anger. "Fine!" she shouted, spinning on her heel and storming up to the console. "I don't want you here anyway! Where is this wedding of yours at?"

"Saint Mary's," Donna began, getting louder and angrier with every word. "Hayden Road, Chiswick, London, England, Earth, the Solar System!" The Apocalypse rolled her eyes, working at the console, when she heard Donna say triumphantly, "I knew it!" The Apocalypse turned, wondering what it was now, when she froze, seeing Donna walk up to her with a blouse in her hand. "Acting all innocent! I'm not the first, am I? How many other women have you abducted?"

+++

She was looking around every cubicle when the lift doors opened, and Rose stepped out. "There you are!" she cheered, going over, and trying not to stop when she saw Rose's blouse was unbuttoned a little bit more than she knew the girl would do.

+++

It was the same one. The Apocalypse swallowed. "That's my little sister's," she said hoarsely.

"Where is she, then?" Donna taunted. "Popped out for a space walk?"

"She's gone."

"Gone where?"

"I lost her, all right?" the Apocalypse snapped, flipping a lever before hanging onto the console and taking a few deep breaths, trying to rein in her temper.

Donna paused, seeing the woman really did look distraught, and she understood the red in her eyes. Whatever had happened, it was recent. Very recent. She swallowed. "How do you mean, lost?" she asked timidly.

She didn't expect the Apocalypse to hop up and start moving around the console again. "Right! Chiswick!"

***

When the TARDIS landed, Donna stepped out, took one look, and shouted, "I said Saint Mary's! What sort of Martian are you? Where's this?"

The Apocalypse popped her head out before frowning. "Something's wrong with her," she guessed, patting the outside of the TARDIS. "The TARDIS, it's like she's recalibrating." She ran back inside. "She's digesting," she continued. "What is it? What have you eaten? What's wrong?" She talked loud enough to be heard out the door as he messed with the console. "Donna, you've really got to think. Is there anything that might have caused this?"

Donna, meanwhile, was looking at the TARDIS in shock. But . . . but it was . . . She started walking around it, eyes widening more and more.

The Apocalypse was completely ignorant of the action. "Anything you might've done?" she continued. "Any sort of alien contacts? I can't let you go wandering off. What if you're dangerous? I mean, have you . . . have you seen lights in the sky, or did you touch something like something . . . something different, something strange? Or something made out of a . . . box of metal, or . . . " She straightened. "Who're you getting married to?" she wondered. "Are you sure he's human? He's not a bit overweight with a zip around his forehead, is he?" She turned around, as if just realizing Donna wasn't there. "Donna!" she shouted, running out of the box. Donna was walking quickly away, and the Apocalypse quickly caught up to her. "Donna," she said, more gently.

"Leave me alone," Donna shook her head. "I just want to get married!"

"Come back to the TARDIS," the Apocalypse told her.

"No way," Donna shook her head. "That box is too weird."

The Apocalypse tried to grin innocently. "It's bigger on the inside, that's all."

Apparently, it wasn't innocent enough. "Oh? That's all?" she taunted before huffing and looking at the watch she had on her wrist. "Ten past three. I'm going to miss it."

"You can phone them," the Apocalypse suggested. "Tell them where you are."

"How do I do that?"

"Haven't you got a mobile?"

Donna stared at her. "I'm in my wedding dress! It doesn't have pockets! Who has pockets? Have you ever seen a bride with pockets?" The Apocalypse barely refrained from rolling her eyes. Were all gingers this sassy? "When I went to my fitting at Chez Alison, the one thing I forgot to say is 'give me pockets!'"

"This man you're marrying, what's his name?"

"Lance."

The Apocalypse looked to the heavens. "Good luck, Lance."

"Oi!" The Apocalypse yelped when Donna punched her in the arm. "No stupid Martian is going to stop me from getting married! To hell with you!"

The Apocalypse blinked as Donna ran off. "I'm not, I'm not, I'm not . . . " she sputtered. "I'm not from Mars!"

***

"TAXI!"

The Apocalypse dodged a taxi fly by, then ran up to Donna. "Why's his light on?" the ginger wondered.

"There's another one!" the Apocalypse told her, pointing.

"Taxi!" Donna waved her hand, but the taxi, light on, drove right past. "Oi!"

"There's one!"

And it drove right past, too. "Oi!" Donna complained.

"Do you have this effect on everyone?" the Apocalypse had to ask. "Why aren't they stopping?"

Donna looked down at herself. "They think I'm in fancy dress," she realized.

"Stay off the sauce, darling!" a driver called as he drove by.

"They think I'm drunk!"

"You're fooling no one, mate!" a car passenger shouted.

"They think I'm in drag!" Donna groaned.

"Hold on," the Apocalypse frowned before putting her fingers in her mouth and whistling hard.

Donna winced and clapped her hands over her ears, but a taxicab did a U-turn to pull up.

"Saint Mary's in Chiswick, just off Hayden Road," Donna told the driver as they got in. "It's an emergency. I'm getting married. Just hurry up!"

"You know it'll cost you, sweetheart?" the driver said. "Double rates today."

Donna's eyes widened. "Oh, my God." She turned to the Apocalypse. "Have you got any money?"

"No. And I'm guessing you don't, either?"

Donna glared, gesturing to her dress. "Pockets!"

***

"And that goes double for your mother!" Donna was yelling as the taxi dropped them right back where they began, the Apocalypse frowning and looking around. "I'll have him," Donna grumbled, folding her arms and walking off, the Apocalypse quick to run after her. "I've got his number. I'll have him! Talk about the Christmas spirit!"

The Apocalypse blinked, surprised. "Is it Christmas?" she asked, looking around.

"Well, duh," Donna huffed. "Maybe not on Mars, but here, it's Christmas Eve." She grinned, seeing something. "Phone box! We can reverse the charges!"

"How come you're getting married on Christmas Eve?" the Apocalypse asked, running after her.

"Can't bear it," Donna answered. "Hate Christmas."

"So you think if you get married, you'll like it more?" The Apocalypse shook her head. "That's not why you get married."

"You're one to talk."

"I was married, thank you very much!" the Apocalypse huffed, folding her arms.

"And what happened to him?" Donna asked, a bit fed up at the moment.

"He was killed," the Apocalypse answered bluntly, her eyes narrowing to slits. "So do you want me to help you get your chance to get married or no?"

Donna stared at the woman in front of her, wide-eyed. She swallowed, getting the feeling she would regret it if they argued more. "Yeah," she finally said. The Apocalypse pulled out her sonic screwdriver and buzzed the phone.

Donna stared at the Apocalypse in shock. "What did you do?" she asked.

"Something Martian," the Apocalypse rolled her eyes. "Make the call, and I'll get the money."

Donna held up the phone and rolled her eyes at the dialing tone. "Oh, answer the phone!" she complained when she hit voicemail. "Mum, get off the phone and listen! I'm in - " She looked around. "Oh, my God, I don't know where I am! It's a street, and there's WH Smith, but it's definitely Earth." She hung up, then went to a woman on the street. "Excuse me," she said, doing her best to sound needy. "I'm begging you. I'm getting married. I really am, and I'm late, and I just need to borrow a tenner, and I'll pay you back, I promise, and it's Christmas!" She got the money, thankfully, then turned to the street. "Taxi!" she called, and one pulled up. "Saint Mary's, Chiswick." She turned to see the Apocalypse turn to her, opening her mouth. "Thanks for nothing, Spacegirl!" Donna smirked, waving the money. "I'll see you in court!"

The Apocalypse sighed, when she noticed the driver was a Santa. She looked around to see more Santas playing brass instruments. "Donna!" she shouted. The taxi drove off, and to confuse the other Santas, she sonicked the ATM to let money loose everywhere on the street. In the confusion, she ran off to the TARDIS.

***

"I promise you, mate, I'll give you the rest when we get there," Donna told the driver. "Oh, I look a mess!" She took her veil off, smoothing her hair down. "Hurry up!" She frowned when they drove past her stop. "Hold on a minute, I said Chiswick! You've missed the turning." The driver didn't say anything. "Excuse me, we should've turned off back there. We're going the wrong way!" Still no answer. "What the hell are you doing? I'm late for the wedding. My own wedding! do you get that? Turn around! Turn this cab around right now!" Still no answer. "Are you deaf, or what?" She tugged the Santa's hood, and her jaw dropped when the driver was revealed to be a robot. "Oh, my God," she breathed before beginning to bang on the window. "Help me!" she shouted. "Help me!"

***

The Apocalypse ducked when something started sparking. "Behave!" she ordered before testing her telekinesis on one certain lever. She ran to the TARDIS doors and opened them to see Donna's taxi driving on the highway. "Open the door!" she shouted.

"Do what?" Donna called back.

"Open the door!"

"I can't! It's locked!" The Apocalypse buzzed it with the sonic screwdriver, and Donna slid the window down. "Santa's a robot!"

"Donna, open the door!"

"What for?"

"I'm not blinking flip jumping! I'm supposed to be getting married!"

The car accelerated, and the Apocalypse rolled her eyes. She flipped the lever telekinetically, and more sparks flew from the console, but she caught up. "Listen to me," she pleaded. "You've got to jump!"

"I'm not jumping on a motorway!" Donna protested.

"Whatever that thing is, it needs you. And whatever it needs you for, it's not good! Now come on!"

"I'm in my wedding dress!"

"Yes, and you look lovely! Come on!"

Donna opened the door, but pulled back slightly. "I can't do it!"

"Trust me," the Apocalypse insisted.

"Is that what you said to her?" Donna asked, needing to know. "Your little sister? Did she trust you?"

"Sisters before misters, every time," the Apocalypse answered. "Always. And she's not dead, Donna. She is so alive! Now, jump!"

Donna launched herself out of the car, and the two of them fell back into the TARDIS, and the doors slammed shut before zooming away.

***

Donna stood outside, staring at the city as the Apocalypse emptied a fire extinguisher inside the TARDIS, not even coughing in the waves of smoke coming out. "Funny thing is, for a spaceship, she doesn't really do that much flying," she said, coming to her side. "We'd better give her a couple of hours." She paused, looking at Donna. "You all right?"

"Doesn't matter," Donna shrugged halfheartedly.

"Did we miss it?"

"Yeah."

"You can try and book another date?"

Donna sniffed. "'Course we can."

"And you've still got the honeymoon."

"It's just a holiday now."

The Apocalypse sighed. "I'm sorry."

Donna paused, looking at her. "Your husband . . . what was he like?"

The Apocalypse smiled. "We were childhood friends. He was best friends with my older brother. I like to think he saved my life."

Donna smiled, then went back to her apology. "It's not your fault."

"Oh?" the Apocalypse joked. "That's a change."

Donna smiled. "Wish you had a time machine. Then we could go back and get it right."

The Apocalypse cleared her throat. "Yeah, yeah. But even if I did, I couldn't go back on someone's personal timeline. Apparently."

+++

"I also wanted to explain why I stopped you from trying to save your dad," the Apocalypse added, turning to face her. "Rose, there are points in time where nothing can be changed. If they are, then that forms a paradox. Every small little detail in the future can change. If you had saved your father, a man would have been alive that should have died. And that is not a good thing."

Rose stared at her in surprise. "I didn't know," she managed to say.

"I know," the Apocalypse told her. "But now you do. So don't try and reverse fixed points in time anymore, all right?"

Rose laughed. "All right."

+++

The Apocalypse shook herself out of the memory and sat next to Donna, taking off her cardigan and putting it on the bride's bare shoulders. Donna looked down at the cardigan and made a joke. "God, you're skinny. This wouldn't fit a rat."

"But you'd better put this on."

Donna stared at the ring offered to her. "Oh, do you have to rub it in?"

"Those creatures can trace you," the Apocalypse explained. "This is a bio-damper. Should keep you hidden." She smirked, putting it on. "With this ring, I thee bio-damp."

"For better or for worse," Donna joked, and they chuckled a bit before sobering. "So, come on, then. Robot Santas. What are they for?"

"Ah, your basic robo scavenger," the Apocalypse shrugged. "The Father Christmas stuff is just a disguise. They're trying to blend in. I met them last Christmas."

"Why? What happened then?"

The Apocalypse grinned. "Great big spaceship hovering over London." She blinked. "Hang on, you didn't notice?"

"I had a bit of a hangover."

The Apocalypse smiled fondly. "I spent Christmas Day just over there," she pointed. "The Powell Estate, with my sister's family. We weren't really sisters, we just . . . were." She sighed, folding her arms. "She had her family. Still . . . gone now."

Donna bit her lip, staring at the woman. She was so hurt . . . she hadn't even said her little sister's name. "Your sister. Who was she?"

She rolled her eyes when the Apocalypse changed the topic immediately. "Question is, what do camouflaged robot mercenaries want with you? And how did you get inside the TARDIS? I don't know. What's your job?"

"I'm a secretary," Donna answered.

"Secretary? Really? Nothing special?"

Donna frowned. "Your sister, before she left, did she punch you in the face?"

The Apocalypse ignored the quip. "What kind of secretary?"

"I'm at HC Clements," she answered. "It's where I met Lance. I was temping. I mean, it was all a bit posh, really. I'd spent the last two years at a double glazing firm. Well, I thought, 'I'm never going to fit in here.' And then he made me a coffee! I mean, that just doesn't happen. Nobody gets the secretaries a coffee. And Lance, he's the head of HR! He doesn't need to bother with me! But he was nice, he was funny, and it turns out, he thought everyone else was really snotty, too. So, that's how it started, me and him. One cup of coffee. That was it." Donna eyed her. "What about you?"

"Started at the Academy back home," the Apocalypse answered. "I'd met the Doctor before, when my brother brought him over, but we never talked much. But the moment I was in the Academy, the dynamic duo became the Three Musketeers, I guess you'd say. How long ago was this for you?"

"Six months."

"That's a bit quick to get married."

Donna shrugged. "Well, he insisted, and he nagged, and he nagged me, and he just wore me down. And then finally, I just gave in."

The Apocalypse nodded slowly. "What does HC Clements do?"

"Oh, security systems. You know, entry codes, ID cards, that sort of thing. If you ask me, it's a posh name for locksmiths."

"Keys," the Apocalypse mused, curious.

"Anyway, enough of my CV," Donna stood up. "Come on. It's time to face the consequences. Oh, this is going to be so shaming! You can do the explaining, Martian girl."

"Yeah, I'm not from Mars."

"Oh, I had this great big reception all planned. Everyone's going to be heartbroken!"

***

"Heartbroken, yeah?" the Apocalypse couldn't help but ask, holding in laughter when they made it to the reception to see everyone dancing around.

Donna just stared, and suddenly, everyone stared at her. "You had the reception without me?" she asked in disbelief.

"Donna, what happened to you?" a black man, most likely Lance, asked as he walked away from the blonde he'd been dancing with.

"You had the reception without me?" Donna yelled angrily.

The Apocalypse tried her hardest not to grin, but she was sure she did as she leaned around Donna. "Hello!" she waved. "I'm the Apocalypse."

"They had the reception without me!" Donna complained.

The Apocalypse rolled her eyes. "Yes. I gathered."

"Well, it was all paid for," the blonde woman huffed. "Why not?"

"Thank you, Nerys," Donna grumbled, making the Apocalypse eye the blonde in a bit of distaste, getting an equally distasteful one back. So this was the infamous Nerys, eh?

"Well, what were we supposed to do?" Donna's mother snapped. "I got your silly little message in the end. I'm on Earth? Very funny. What the hell happened? How did you do it? I mean, what's the trick? Because I'd love to know!"

"Where were you the whole time?" Lance put in.

The Apocalypse watched everyone surround Donna, overwhelming the ginger, and she was about to interfere when Donna burst into tears. Everyone cooed, and Lance hugged her. Everyone cheered, except for Nerys, earning her another scowl from the Apocalypse, but the scowl quickly turned into a grin when she saw Donna wink at her through her "tears."

***

Later, the Apocalypse watched as Lance and Donna danced on the floor. She observed quietly before walking over to a man nearby. "Can I see your phone?" she asked quickly.

He handed it over to her, and she entered in HC Clements. What popped up made her growl, startling the man. HC Clements. Sole proprietor - Torchwood. "Thank you," she ground out, giving the phone back before she returned to her place in the shadows. She smiled softly as she watched Donna, the smile fading a bit as she watched Lance dip Donna back.

+++

Rose burst out laughing and joined the Apocalypse in the dancing, and Jack nodded in time, watching the two women go at it. At the end, the Apocalypse grabbed Rose's arm, spun her around, making the younger woman squeal, and the Apocalypse dipped Rose over her arm, and Rose burst out laughing in glee.

+++

She set her jaw when Lance pulled Donna back up.

+++

"You can't, Cassandra!" the Apocalypse said frantically. "You - !" The energy whooshed from Rose to Chip, and the Apocalypse quickly caught Rose as she fell. "Oh! You all right? Whoa! OK?" she asked as she steadied her.

"Yeah," Rose replied, straightening and smiling. "Hello!"

"Hello!" the Apocalypse replied with a laugh and hugging her. "Welcome back!"

+++

She looked around for something to distract her, and her eyes lit up when she saw the man with a video camera in the back. She quickly moved over. "Did you get when Donna disappeared?" she asked.

"Oh, I taped the whole thing," he nodded. "They've all had a look. They said sell it to You've Been Framed. I said, more like the news. Here we are."

The Apocalypse frowned, watching Donna's leave. "Can't be," she mumbled. "Play it again?"

He nodded. "Clever, mind. Good trick, I'll give her that. I was clapping."

"But that looks like Huon Particles!"

"What's that, then?" the cameraman asked.

"That's impossible," the Apocalypse answered bluntly. "That's ancient. Huon energy doesn't exist anymore, not for billions of years. So old that . . . " She blinked. "It can't be hidden by a biodamper!" she finished in a shout, running to the window and looking outside. She muttered a Gallifreyan curse, seeing robot Santas approaching, before she ran to Donna. "Donna!" she shouted, making the ginger turn, startled. "Donna, they've found you."

"But you said I was safe!" Donna protested.

"The biodamper doesn't work. We've got to get everyone out."

Donna's eyes widened. "My God, it's all my family!"

"Out the back door!" They ran in that direction, but skidded to a stop when Santas approached. "Maybe not," she conceded.

"We're trapped," Donna breathed.

The Apocalypse was about to say something when she froze, seeing the remote control in a Santa's hand. "Christmas trees," she breathed.

"What about them?" Donna asked as they looked around at the multiple Christmas trees everywhere.

"They kill." The Apocalypse ran forward. "Get away from the tree!" she ordered.

"Don't touch the trees!" Donna called, trusting the woman. She'd been right so far.

"Get away from the Christmas trees!" the Apocalypse ordered, pointing at everyone near one. "Everyone get away from them! Everyone, stay away from the trees! Stay away from the trees!"

"Oh, for God's sake, the girl's an idiot!" Sylvia Noble, Donna's mother, huffed. "Why? What harm's a Christmas tree going to - " She paused. "Oh."

The Apocalypse frowned, suspicious, as ornaments lifted off of the trees, swirling. Then they catapulted around the room, exploding when they hit something. The Apocalypse lost track of Donna in the mass of chaos, before running over to the DJ station. "Oi! Santa!" she shouted to the Santa with the remote control. "Word of advice! If you're attacking a woman with a sonic screwdriver, don't let her near the sound system!" She pointed her sonic, and the sound system let loose a harmonic that crumbled the robots. She smirked, pleased with herself, before going over to investigate. "Look at that," she murmured, looking it over. "Remote control for the decorations, but there's a second remote control for the robots! They're not scavengers anymore. I think someone's taken possession."

"Did you say your husband was a doctor?" Donna asked as she came over. "Can you help them?"

"He wasn't that kind of a doctor, no," the Apocalypse shook her head. "But these guys wanted you alive. Look." She threw an ornament to her. "They're not active now."

"All I'm saying is you could help," Donna huffed.

"Got to think of the bigger picture." The Apocalypse brightened, catching a signal. "There's still a signal!"

Donna watched her run out, before her mother came up to her. "Donna, who is she?" she asked. "Who is that woman?"

Donna just ran after her. "There's someone behind this, directing the roboforms," the Apocalypse muttered.

"But why is it me?" Donna asked. "What have I done?"

"If we find the controller, we'll find that out," the Apocalypse answered. "Ooo . . . " She pointed the remote up. "It's up there. Something in the sky . . . " She ignored the wail of sirens as she pouted. "I've lost the signal." She turned to Donna. "Donna, we've got to get to your office. HC Clements. I think that's where it all started." Donna nodded, and they were about to leave when Lance caught up. "Lance!" she cheered. "Is it Lance?" He didn't even get the chance to answer. "Lance, can you give me a lift?"

***

"To you lot, this might just be a locksmiths, but HC Clements was brought up twenty three years ago by the Torchwood Institute," the Apocalypse said as they entered the building.

"Who are they?" Donna asked.

"They were behind the Battle of Canary Wharf . . . " The Apocalypse's voice faded out, remembering placing Jackie and Rose's names on the list of the dead, before she realized Donna was looking at her blankly. "Cybermen invasion?" she asked. "Skies over London full of Daleks?"

"Oh, I was in Spain."

" . . . they had Cybermen in Spain."

"Scuba diving."

The Apocalypse sighed. "That big picture, Donna. You keep on missing it! Torchwood was destroyed, but HC Clements stayed in business. I think someone else came in and took over the operation."

"But what do they want with me?"

"Somehow, you've been dosed with Huon energy. And that's a problem, because Huon energy hasn't existed since the Dark Times. The only place you'd find a Huon particle now is a remnant in the heart of the TARDIS. See? That's what happened. Say, that's the TARDIS." She held up a coffee mug from a desk. "And that's you." She levitated a pencil into the air, ignoring Lance's startled gasp. "The particles inside you activated. The two sets of particles magnetized and . . . whap!" She vibrated the two objects, then dropped the pencil into the mug. "You were pulled inside the TARDIS."

Donna got one thing out of that. "I'm a pencil inside a mug?"

"Yes, you are," the Apocalypse confirmed. "4H. Sums you up. Lance? What was HC Clements working on? Anything top secret? Special operations? Do not enter?"

"I don't know," Lance shrugged. "I'm in charge of personnel. I wasn't project manager." He blinked. "Why am I even explaining myself?" he asked, angrily and defensively. "What the hell are we talking about?"

The Apocalypse rolled her eyes and sonicked a computer on, and pulled up a blueprint of the building. "They make keys, that's the point," she answered. "And look at this. We're on the third floor." She bounded towards the lift. "Underneath reception, there's a basement, yes?" She punched the button for the lift and entered, folding her arms as she peered at the floor options. "Then how come when you look on the lift, there's a button marked Lower Basement?" she quizzed. "There's a whole floor which doesn't exist on the official plans. So what's down there, then?"

"Are you telling me this building's got a secret floor?" Lance asked.

The Apocalypse rolled her eyes again. "No," she answered. "I'm showing you this building's got a secret floor." She sonicked the button for the lower basement and grinned. "Right, then! Thanks, you two. I can handle this. See you later."

"No chance, Martian," Donna shook her head, stepping inside. "You're the woman who keeps saving my life. I ain't letting you out of my sight."

The Apocalypse smirked. "Going down."

Donna raised an eyebrow. "Lance?"

Lance looked around nervously. "Maybe I should go to the police - "

"Inside," Donna ordered.

The Apocalypse smirked as Lance got inside. "To honor and obey?" she joked.

"Oi!" Lance snapped, but the Apocalypse just gave Donna a fist bump when it was offered.

***

The first thing the Apocalypse noted when they stepped out of the lift was that everything was green. "Where are we?" Donna asked. "Well, what goes on down here?"

"Let's find out," the Apocalypse answered, squinting and looking around.

"Do you think Mr. Clements knows about this place?"

"The mysterious HC Clements? I think he's part of it." Something caught her eye, and she grinned. "Oh, look. Transport!"

***

The trio found themselves rolling down the corridor on the two-wheel electric ride policemen used in malls. Donna and the Apocalypse took one look at each other and burst out laughing, Donna more so than the Apocalypse, while Lance just tried not to look too weirded out. The Apocalypse pulled off to the side the moment she saw a sign that read, "Torchwood: Authorized Personnel Only." She hopped off and turned the wheel on the door, opening it to reveal a ladder going up to a hatch. "Wait here," she told Donna, starting to climb. "Just need to get my bearings. Don't do anything."

"You'd better come back," Donna warned.

The Apocalypse smirked. "Couldn't get rid of you if I tried." She kept climbing up, and opened the next hatch, sealed like in a submarine. She poked her head out to look around, and she blinked, seeing she was in the middle of the Thames. She closed the hatch, then dropped down to the floor. She landed in a crouch, seeing the two jump, startled to see her. "Thames flood barrier right on top of us," she announced. "Torchwood snuck in and built this place underneath."

"What?" Donna asked. "There's, like, a secret base hidden underneath a major London landmark?"

"Oh, I know," the Apocalypse drawled, thinking of Canary Wharf. "Unheard of."

+++

"Hold on a minute," Jackie said, looking out a window. "We're in Canary Wharf! Must be! This building, it's Canary Wharf!"

"Well, that is the public name for it," Yvonne nodded. "But to those in the know, it's Torchwood."

+++

The Apocalypse shook her head, then walked through the doors at the end of the hall. Her eyes widened as she stepped inside, seeing a laboratory with huge bubbling tubes. "Ooo, look at this!" she gasped, running over to one of the tubes. "Stunning!"

"What does it do?" Donna asked.

"Particle extrusion," she answered. "Hold on . . . " She took the tube down and eyed it over before she grinned. "Brilliant!" she cheered. "They've been manufacturing Huon particles. 'Course, my people got rid of Huons. They unravel the atomic structure."

"Your people?" Lance asked dubiously. "Who are they? What company do you represent?"

"I'm a freelancer," the Apocalypse said mildly, making Donna snigger. Freelancer indeed. "But this lot are rebuilding them. They've been using the river," she inferred. "Extruding them through a flat hydrogen base so they've got the end result." She held up the tube. "Da da da da! Huon particles in liquid form!"

"And that's what's inside me?" Donna asked. The Apocalypse twisted a knob at the top of the tube, and the liquid inside began to glow gold, and Donna glowed as well. "Oh, my God!" she gasped.

"Genius!" the Apocalypse nodded. "Because the particles are inert, they need something living to catalyze inside, and that's you. Saturate the body, and then . . . ha!" shouted loudly, making Donna and Lance jump, but she just grinned like an idiot. "The wedding!" she realized. "Yes! You're getting married! That's it! Best day of your life, walking down the aisle. I should know, been there before," she added as an afterthought. "Oh, your body's a battleground! There's a chemical war inside! Adrenaline, acetylcholine. Wham go the endorphins!" She grinned. "Oh, you're cooking! You're like a walking oven! A pressure cooker, a microwave, all churning away. The particles reach boiling point - shazam!" This time, she did get caught in Donna's slap, and she yelped, rubbing her cheek. OK . . . she was never going to do that again. "OK, maybe I shouldn't go off like that again."

"You better not, Spacegirl," Donna warned. "Just tell me. These particles . . . are they dangerous? Am I safe?"

The Apocalypse grimaced. "Do you want me to pretend to be happy and tell you a lie?" she asked. She sighed when Donna held up her hand. "Yeah, they're dangerous. My people got rid of them because they were deadly."

Donna's eyes widened. "Oh, my God," she breathed.

"I'll sort it out, Donna," the Apocalypse promised, putting her hands on her shoulders, and Donna was taken aback by the genuine concern in the younger woman's eyes. "Whatever's been done to you, I'll reverse it. I am not about to lose someone else."

"Oh, she is long since lost!" They spun around at a raspy woman's voice to see part of the wall slide up, and the Apocalypse tilted her head, seeing the huge hole in the middle of the earth. "I have waited so long, hibernating at the edge of the universe until the secret heart was uncovered and called out to waken!"

The Apocalypse ignored the black robed robots with guns aiming at them, and she barely noticed Lance run off as she walked forward to examine the hole. "Someone's been digging," she observed, crouching down. "Oh, very Torchwood. Drilled by laser." She looked up. "How far down does it go?"

"Down and down, all the way to the center of the Earth," the voice answered.

"Really?" the Apocalypse asked dubiously. "Seriously? What for?"

"Dinosaurs," Donna suggested.

The Apocalypse blinked. "What?"

"Dinosaurs?"

"What are you on about, dinosaurs?"

"That film, Under the Earth, with dinosaurs. Trying to help."

"That's not helping," the Apocalypse muttered.

"Such a sweet couple," the mysterious voice cooed.

"Only a madwoman talks to thin air, and trust me, you don't want to make me mad since Torchwood is involved here," the Apocalypse said darkly, standing up. "Where are you?"

"High in the sky. Floating so high on Christmas night."

"I didn't come all this way to talk on the intercom. Come on, let's have a look at you!"

"Who are you with such command?"

"I'm the Apocalypse."

"Prepare for the earth to split, apocalypse girl, because you will fall like it!"

The Apocalypse raised an eyebrow when a huge red spider-like alien materialized. "Racnoss?" she asked in surprise. "But that's impossible! You're one of the Racnoss?"

"Empress of the Racnoss," the alien corrected.

"If you're the Empress, where's the rest of the Racnoss?" She paused. "Or . . . are you the only one?"

"Such a sharp mind."

"That's it. The last of your kind." She turned to Donna to explain. "The Racnoss come from the Dark Times, billions of years ago. Billions. They were carnivores, omnivores. They devours whole planets."

"Racnoss are born starving!" the Empress defended. "Is that our fault?"

"They eat people?" Donna gasped.

The Apocalypse looked up and cringed. "HC Clements . . . did he wear those, those, er . . . black and white shoes?"

"He did," Donna laughed. "We used to laugh. We use to call him the fat cat in . . . spats . . . " She trailed off before gagging when the Apocalypse pointed out a pair of legs handing from the webs across the ceiling, with black and white shoes on their feet. "Oh, my God!"

"Mmm," the Empress grinned. "My Christmas dinner!"

"You shouldn't even exist!" the Apocalypse shook her head. "Way back in history, the fledgling Empires went to war against the Racnoss. They were wiped out!"

"Except for me."

"But that's what I've got inside me, that Huon energy thing," Donna said, her eyes flickering away, and the Apocalypse spotted Lance on the balcony, creeping up behind the Empress with an axe. "Oi!" Donna barked when the Empress began to look away. "Look at me, lady! I'm talking! Where do I fit in? How come I get all stacked up with these Huon particles? Look at me, you! Look me in the eye, and tell me!"

"The bride is so feisty!"

"Yes, I am," Donna nodded. "And I don't know what you are, you big thing, but a spider's just a spider, and an axe is an axe. Now, do it!"

Lance began to swing, but the Empress turned and hissed at him. Lance stopped mid-swing - then began to laugh. The Apocalypse growled as the Empress joined in. "That was a good one," Lance told her, pointing at the Empress. "Your face!"

"Lance is funny," the Racnoss giggled.

"What?" Donna asked, confused.

"Bloody bastard," the Apocalypse muttered.

"Bastard?" Donna echoed, shaking her head. "Lance, don't be so stupid! Get her!"

"God, she's thick," Lance said in disgust. "Months, I've had to put up with her. Months! A woman who can't even point to Germany on a map!"

"I don't understand," Donna said softly.

"How did you meet him?" the Apocalypse asked.

"In the office," Donna answered.

She nodded. "He made you coffee."

"What?"

"Every day, I made you coffee," Lance elaborated.

"You had to be dosed with liquid particles over six months," the Apocalypse explained more.

"He was poisoning me?" Donna squeaked.

"It was all there in the job," the Apocalypse glared. "Head of Human Resources."

"This time, it's personnel," Lance nodded.

"But we were getting married!" Donna whispered, sounding heartbroken, and the Apocalypse put an arm around her.

"Well, I couldn't risk you running off," Lance huffed. "I had to say yes. And then I was stuck with a woman who thinks the height of excitement is a new flavor Pringle. Oh, I had to sit there and listen to all that yap yap yap. Oh, Bad and Angelina! Is Posh pregnant? X Factor, Atkins Diet, Feng Shui, split ends, text me, text me, text me. Dear God, this never ending fountain of fat, stupid trivia! I deserve a medal."

"One of coal," the Apocalypse grumbled. "Or the gold one from the pits of hell, and believe me, I've met the Devil. He'd give you one. Is that what she's offered you?" she asked louder, seeing Lance couldn't hear her. "The Empress of the Racnoss? What are you, her consort?"

"It's better than a night with her," Lance retorted, nodding at Donna.

"But I love you!" Donna insisted.

"That's what made it easy," Lance smirked smugly. "It's like you said, Apocalypse. 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, Apocalypse?"

"Who is this little destroyer?" the Empress wondered.

"She said Martian."

"Oh, I'm sort of homeless," the Apocalypse said casually. "But the point is, what's down here?" She looked down the hole. "The Racnoss are extinct. What's going to help you four thousand miles down? That's just the molten core of the Earth, isn't it?"

"I think she wants us to talk," Lance told the Empress.

She nodded. "I think so, too."

"Well, tough!" Lance shouted. "All we need is Donna."

"Kill this chattering little destroyer woman," the Empress ordered.

"Don't you hurt her!" Donna shouted, blocking the Apocalypse as the robots took aim.

"No, no, Donna, it's all right," the Apocalypse soothed, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"No! I won't let them!"

"At arms!" the Empress ordered.

"Ah, now," the Apocalypse began, holding up a finger. "Except - "

"Take aim!"

"Well, I just wanted to point out the obvious - "

"They won't hit the bride," the Empress rolled her eyes. "They're such very good shots."

"And I'm very good at defending myself," the Apocalypse warned. "But hold on for a tiny little tick. If you think about it, the particles activated in Donna and drew her inside my spaceship. So reverse it . . . " She held up the Huon tube she still held. "And the spaceship comes to her!"

"Fire!" the Empress shouted.

The extrapolator shielding guarded the TARDIS as it materialized around the two of them. "Off we go!" the Apocalypse said as she threw a lever. She paused, seeing Donna slump on the captain's chair. She smiled softly and walked over, sitting on the edge of the console and took Donna's hand. "He didn't love you," she began.

"I know that, Martian girl," Donna muttered.

"But think of it this way." Donna sniffed, looking up, taken aback by the amused look in the woman's eye. "You can slap him to hell when you get back."

Donna let out a little laugh at the statement. "That I will."

The Apocalypse winked and walked around the console, working at it. "By the way, what I said about time machines? Well, I lied." Donna blinked, this was a time machine?! "And now we're going to use it! We need to find out what the Empress of the Racnoss is digging up. If something's buried at the planet's core, it must've been there since the beginning. That's just brilliant! Molto bene! I've always wanted to see this." She grinned, turning to a confused Donna. "Donna, we're going further back than I've ever been before." She couldn't get rid of the grin when the time rotor stopped. "Wanna see?"

Donna hesitated, then shrugged. "I suppose."

"Hmm . . . nah, the scanner's a bit small." The Apocalypse batted it away, smirking and heading for the doors. "Your way's better. Come on! No human's ever seen this. You'll be the first." She opened the door with a smile. "Donna Noble, welcome to the creation of the Earth." Donna's jaw dropped as she took in the floating bits of rock and pieces around a dusty sun. "We've gone back four point six billion years," the Apocalypse explained. "There's no solar system. Not yet. Only dust and rocks and gas. That's the Sun, over there. Brand new. Just beginning to burn."

"Where's the Earth?" Donna asked.

"All around us, in the dust."

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

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

Donna eyed the dust around them. "So I came out of all this?"

"Isn't that brilliant?"

Donna pointed out a huge rock drifting by. "I think that's the Isle of Wight," she joked.

The Apocalypse nudged her, and Donna nudged her back, making her grin. "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.

"But the question is, what was that first rock?"

Donna looked around, then blinked when she saw a seven pointed star shaped ship float out of the dust cloud. "Look," she pointed.

"The Racnoss," the Apocalypse breathed. "Hold on. The Racnoss are hiding from the war! What's it doing?"

"Exactly what you said," Donna answered, watching dust and rock gather around the spaceship.

"Oh, they didn't just bury something at the center of the Earth!" the Apocalypse realized. "They became the center of the Earth! The first rock!"

There was an explosion on the console, and Donna looked back wildly. "What was that?" she asked.

"Trouble," was all the Apocalypse answered with as she ran over.

Donna was nearly thrown into a coral structure when the TARDIS threw them around. "What the hell's it doing?" she shouted.

"Remember that little t rick of mine, particles pulling particles?" the Apocalypse asked. "Well, it works in reverse. They're pulling us back!"

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

"Backseat driver . . . " She blinked. "Extrapolator!" she shouted, ducking underneath the console, and she came out with a fancy-looking device. "It can't stop us, but it should give us a good bump." She attached the extrapolator in, paused, waiting for the TARDIS to materialize, before she cried, "Now!" and sent them off again. She grinned, checking where they were. "We're about . . . two hundred yards to the right." She winked at Donna. "Come on!"

"But what do we do?" Donna asked as they emerged in the corridor.

"I don't know," the Apocalypse admitted with a small smile. "I make it up as I go along."

+++

The Apocalypse shrugged. "I'll think of something."

Mickey stared at her. "You're just making this up as you go along?!"

"Yep!" the Apocalypse said cheerfully, popping the p. "But I do it brilliantly!"

+++

She shook her head fiercely. Now was not the time to think of Mickey Smith of all people. "But trust me, I've got a history."

"But I don't understand," Donna said as the Apocalypse pulled out a stethoscope and began using it on the Torchwood door. "I'm full of particles, but what for?"

"There's a Racnoss web at the center of the Earth, but my people unraveled their power source," the Apocalypse explained. "The Huon particles ceased to exist, but the Racnoss were stuck. They've just taken 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 . . . " She paused. "And you have never been so quiet." She turned around, blinking when she saw Donna was gone. "Oh, bad move," she muttered, swinging the door open from behind, and without looking behind her, telekinetically slammed the robot waiting into the wall.

***

"I hate you," Donna declared from where she was strapped into the web with Lance.

"Yeah, I think we've gone a bit beyond that now, sweetheart," Lance grumbled.

"My golden couple, together at last," the Empress cooed. "Your awful wedded life. Tell me, do you want to be released?"

"Yes!" both shouted.

The Empress tutted. "You're supposed to say 'I do.'"

"Huh!" Lance snorted. "No chance!"

"Say it!"

Lance groaned. "I do."

Donna glared. "I do."

"I don't!" the Empress cackled. "Activate the particles! Purge every last one!" Donna looked down at herself as she began to glow with the particles, Lance doing the same. "And release!" The particles zoomed down the hole to the center of the Earth. "The secret heart unlocks, and they will waken from their Sleep of Ages."

"Who will?" Donna asked. "What's down there?"

"How thick are you?" Lance groaned.

"My children, the long lost Racnoss, now reborn to feast on flesh!" the Empress grinned as the sound of many things crawling came from the hole. "The web star will come to me! My babies will be hungry. They need sustenance. Perish the web!"

"Use her, not me!" Lance shouted. "Use her!"

The Empress sighed. "Oh, my funny little Lance! But you are quite impolite to your lady friend. The Empress does not approve."

Donna screamed when the web let Lance go, and he fell into the hole, screaming. "Lance!" she cried.

"Harvest the humans!" the Empress ordered. "Reduce them to meat! My children are climbing towards me, and none shall stop them." She paused, then turned to a black-robed robot walking up the stairs. "So you might as well unmask, my clever little destroying woman."

"Oh, well," the Apocalypse said brightly, flinging the mask and hood off, leaving the robe on. "Nice try! I've got you, Donna!"

Donna squeaked as the web began to give way. "I'm going to fall!"

"You're going to swing," the Apocalypse corrected. "Don't worry!" Donna screamed as she swung on the web past the Empress, heading towards the staircase. She nearly crashed to the ground, but she suddenly slowed, before she landed softly. "You all right?" the Apocalypse asked, poking her head over the rail to look down.

"Thanks!" Donna nodded.

"The destroying woman amuses me," the Empress noted.

The Apocalypse looked up at her, narrowing her eyes. "Empress of the Racnoss, I give you one last chance," she said formally. "I can find you a planet. I can find you and your children a place in the universe to coexist. Take that offer and end this now."

"These women are so funny," the Empress giggled.

"What's your answer?"

"Oh, I'm afraid I have to decline."

The Apocalypse's gaze darkened. "What happens next is your own doing," she warned.

"I'll show you what happens next. At arms!" Donna jumped when the robots activated. "Take aim!" Donna gasped as the guns turned towards the Apocalypse. "And - !"

"Relax," the Apocalypse ordered, and the robots slumped.

"What did you do?" Donna asked in surprise.

"Guess what I've got, Donna?" the Apocalypse grinned, waving the robot control. "Pockets!"

"How did you fit that in there?" Donna asked in shock.

"They're bigger on the inside," the Apocalypse answered cheekily with a wink.

"Roboforms are not necessary," the Empress sniffed. "My children may feast on Martian flesh."

"Oh, but I'm not from Mars," the Apocalypse chuckled darkly.

"Then where?"

"My home planet is far away and long since gone. But its name lives on." Donna gasped softly when the Apocalypse's eyes glowed gold. "Gallifrey."

The Empress reared up with an angry hiss. "They murdered the Racnoss with the Experiments!" she howled.

"I warned you," the Apocalypse reminded her, holding up one hand, and a few ornaments levitated around her. "You did this."

"No!" the Empress shrieked as the Apocalypse flung the ornaments into the air. "No! Don't! NO!" The Apocalypse ignored her and sent the ornaments whizzing about, some down the corridor, some around the Empress. A bunch of explosions went off, and water flooded in from the Thames, going down the hole, and alien screams wailed into the air. "No!" the Empress wailed. "No! My children! No! My children! My children!"

Donna watched in horror as explosions went off, some of them impossible without a helping hand. She looked up, and her eyes widened when she saw the Apocalypse observing, completely void of expression, her eyes glowing so gold, she nearly couldn't see the rest of her eyes, but she could tell tears from water. The woman wasn't going to stop any time soon, she realized. "Apocalypse!" she called. "You can stop now!"

And surprisingly, the Apocalypse jerked out of it. The gold disappeared, and she looked down at her. "Come on," she said. "Time I got you out."

"But what about the Empress?" Donna asked as they ran up the stairs and headed for the ladder.

"She's used up all her Huon energy," the Apocalypse answered, opening up the top hatch. "She's defenseless!"

They heard a huge explosion, then the Apocalypse emerged. She sat on the edge with Donna leaning on her arms, and the ginger giggled. "Just one problem."

The Apocalypse frowned. "What is that?"

Donna burst out laughing. "We've drained the Thames!"

Startled, the Apocalypse looked around, then burst out laughing when she saw the river was indeed gone. The two women spent a good while just laughing, glad they were alive.

***

Some time later that evening, Donna stepped out of the TARDIS across from her home as the Apocalypse leaned in the doorway of the TARDIS. "There we go," she beamed. "Told you she'd be all right. She can survive anything!"

"More than I've done," Donna shrugged.

"No, all the Huon particles have gone," the Apocalypse told her, scanning her with the sonic screwdriver. "No damage. You're fine."

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

"Join the club," the Apocalypse told her with a sad smile. "I couldn't save either of them."

"Lance deserved it," Donna said, sure the Doctor, whoever he was, hadn't. The woman was incredible, much better than she was. The Apocalypse looked at her pointedly, then Donna sighed dejectedly. "No, he didn't," she admitted. "I'd better get inside. They'll be worried."

"Best Christmas present they could have," the Apocalypse smiled before blinking. "Oh, no. I forgot you hate Christmas."

"Yes, I do," Donna nodded.

"Even if it snows?" The Apocalypse pointed to the TARDIS lamp, and it turned yellow before it shot a bolt of energy into the sky.

Donna laughed in delight when it began to snow, twirling around. "I can't believe you did that!"

"Basic atmospheric excitation," the Apocalypse shrugged.

Donna smirked at her. "Merry Christmas," she said wholeheartedly.

"And you," the Apocalypse grinned. "So, what will you do with yourself now?"

"Not get married, for starters," Donna half joked, enjoying the Apocalypse's laugh. "And I'm not going to temp anymore. I don't know. Travel? See a bit more of Planet Earth. Walk in the dust. Just go out there and do something."

The Apocalypse tilted her head side to side. "Well, you could always . . . " She hesitated.

"What?" Donna asked gently.

"Come with me," she offered.

Donna hesitated, then said, "no."

The Apocalypse closed off instantly. "OK," she said simply.

Donna knew a lie when she heard it. "I can't," she tried to explain.

"No, that's fine," the Apocalypse said quickly.

"No, but really, everything we did today . . . do you live your life like that?"

"Not all the time."

Donna smirked. "I think you do. And I couldn't."

"But you've seen it out there," the Apocalypse coaxed. "It's beautiful!"

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

The Apocalypse sighed. "Right."

Donna looked over her shoulder. "Tell you what, though. Christmas dinner." The Apocalypse got a horrified look on her face, and Donna huffed. The woman was incredible, but she was also just so impossible. "Oh, come on!"

"I don't do that sort of thing," the Apocalypse shook her head.

"You did it last year," Donna pointed out. "You said so." The Apocalypse gave her a look, and Donna understood. "And that's why you can't do it this year."

"I'm just not ready," the Apocalypse admitted.

Donna tilted her head. "Am I ever going to see you again?"

+++

Rose sobbed, rubbing more at her face. "Am I ever going to see you again?" she asked hoarsely.

"You can't."

+++

The Apocalypse swallowed. "If I'm lucky," she answered.

"Just promise me one thing," Donna said. "Find someone."

The Apocalypse's gaze hardened. "I don't need anyone."

"Yes, you do," Donna didn't budge under her gaze. "Because sometimes, I think you need someone to stop you."

The Apocalypse chewed on her lip. "Yeah," she finally said. "Thanks then, Donna. Good luck." She smiled. "And just be magnificent."

"I think I will, yeah," Donna nodded. She called her back when the Apocalypse began to leave. "Apocalypse?"

"Yeah?" she asked.

Donna bit her lip. She didn't know if this was a good idea, but if she could just get her to say it . . . "Your little sister," she began, seeing her stiffen. "What was her name?"

The Apocalypse was quiet for a long time, and Donna was afraid she wasn't going to answer. Little did she know she'd been taken back to a long time ago.

+++

The door closed, and Rose turned to go when the door opened yet again. The woman poked her head out. "I'm the Apocalypse, by the way," she introduced herself. "What's your name?"

"Rose," Rose replied, caught off guard.

"Nice to meet you, Rose," the Apocalypse told her before grinning wildly and waving the bomb. "Run for your life!"

+++

"Rose," she answered hoarsely. "Her name was Rose."

Donna smiled encouragingly at her, but the Apocalypse just closed the door behind her a bit harder than usual, and the TARDIS began to dematerialize. Donna sighed and turned to go into the house, when the TARDIS shot up into the sky. She smiled and headed inside to meet her parents' wrath, and silently, she prayed the Apocalypse took her advise.

Because as scary as she was, the Apocalypse was ten times as scary.

***

The Apocalypse sat in the captain's chair for a little bit, a monitor in front of her as she shifted through photographs from her times with Peri, then Rose, then Rose and Jack. Three wonderful siblings, all of them so incredible . . . and all of them so incredibly gone. She sighed, putting her head in her hand and pinching the bridge of her nose.

After each loss, she changed so much. From her sixth to her seventh, she became a horrible rotten mess, determined to be a soldier. Mel had tried to help her through it, but it had been Ace she'd needed in the long run. And Ace had been wonderful, she really had been, but she wasn't the same.

Rose and Jack . . . they'd been perfect. And then the Game Station brought Jack down, and Canary Wharf trapped Rose in a different universe.

She narrowed her eyes as she pushed the monitor violently to the side, standing up and heading down the corridors of the TARDIS. Rose and Donna had both wanted her to keep going on.

Fine. She would. But under no circumstances was she letting herself get involved again.

The TARDIS hummed sadly to Herself, sensing where the Apocalypse's thoughts had gone, felt her build up her walls all over again . . . and two women flashed onto the screen, one of them the Apocalypse's Ninth self . . . and the other a blonde woman that hadn't been put in the archive with her past regenerations . . .

***

Well, there's your first hint for the War Apocalypse at the end. She's blonde. :P LOL, try and go off of that and get it right, I owe you uploading this book straight all the way through.

So . . . I wasn't kidding when I said Caly would be bad, was I? She's going to have a bit of a BAMF attitude this entire book, so Martha's going to have her hands full. ;) I hope I make Martha as likeable as I made her in "The Bad Wolf Chronicles."

And finally, the Alchemist is going to start up again! LOL, the one show I have yet to butcher apart from knocking one person out and inserting another. :P Keep an eye out for her return!