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It was a nice day. Her uncle had snuck her out and into the TARDIS, saying that they’d be just a few seconds—for everyone else anyway—and her mother would be none the wiser. Rose at least hoped so. She didn’t want to be grounded again.
“Here we are!” he cheered, throwing open the doors as the TARDIS ground to a stop, almost toppling over.
“Come on old man,” she laughed. “Don’t go falling over.”
“Oi!” he shouted, indignant, before he got distracted. He squinted at a figure in the distance, then took off running, leaving Rose behind. She scoffed. For someone who was billions of years old, he acted a lot like an overexcited puppy. She watched as he quite literally launched himself at the figure, tackling them to the ground, her eyes lighting up with concern as she ran over to them.
He was cradling someone who appeared to be an older, blonder, Harold Saxon? They certainly looked like him. At least from the photos she’d seen of him in the history books. “Get this buffoon off of me,” they spat, attempting to free themselves from the Doctor’s grip.
“I missed you,” the Doctor whined, refusing to let go.
“I didn’t miss you,” they hissed. The Doctor’s eyes widened, suddenly shiny.
“Hey!” she snapped, getting their attention. “Don’t make my uncle cry.”
“Uncle?” they snarled, facing the Doctor again. “What the hell have you been up to?”
“It’s been so long,” he said, his voice almost a whisper, kissing the top of their head.
“Don’t kiss me you sentimental freak,” they said angrily.
“Sorry to interrupt a sentimental moment, but who is this?” Rose asked.
“My husband. Spouse. Whatever,” he said, punctuating the words with kisses to their head, glee evident in his voice.
“I am not your husband!” they growled. “That was millennia ago!”
“But you still married me,” the Doctor sing-songed. Rose stifled a laugh. It was quite amusing after all. Her uncle smiled at her.
“We were different back then!” they protested, but their protests were becoming weaker under the overwhelming love practically radiating off the Doctor.
“I mean, my wife married me in one body but she loved me through all of them,” he mused.
They stopped protesting. “Fine,” they groaned.
The Doctor’s face lit up in pure delight, and Rose watched as the person in their lap turned their head away from the pure joy radiating off the Doctor’s face. It was cute, she supposed. Although she wasn’t quite sure why someone as sweet as her uncle would marry someone like that.
“Rose!” he said, rising to his feet, tugging the person up alongside him. “This is my—” he paused, “—husband, currently, the Master!” The Master made a face at the mention of her name. Rose made a face at the mention of their name. What kind of name was the Master, anyway? She assumed—they? he based off the use of the word husband?—were of the same species as the Doctor, based on the name.
“Yeah, yeah,” they scowled, briefly extending a hand. “I’d say it’s a pleasure to meet you, but I’d be lying.”
“Hey!” the Doctor pouted. “That’s my favorite niece!”
“Your favorite?” they sneered.
“My favorite,” he retorted. The Master rolled their eyes and snorted. “Be nice,” the Doctor reprimanded, swatting at them before they moved out of the way. They were an odd couple.
“You make a cute couple,” she said instead, which was also true.
“Thank you!” the Doctor said, smiling, his eyes crinkling. She’d literally never seen them so happy before. “Let’s get going then!” he called, bounding off towards the TARDIS, dragging his husband along with him.
“Mum, I’m home!” she called, keys jingling in the door.
“Oh good. Have you seen your uncle anywhere? I think that idiot’s poncing about in his spaceship because I haven’t seen him since yesterday,” her mother rambled. “Do see if that imbecile is joining us for dinner because if he misses out one more time, saying he’s going to go try the delicacies on Mars or something, I’m going to smack him!”
“Got it,” she laughed, slinging her stuff onto the counter as she walked past. “Uncle?” she called, hoping he was in the garden and she didn’t have to go through the trouble of going into the TARDIS. She didn’t have a key or anything but the TARDIS liked her and would let her in regardless. Nobody responded. She sighed and opened the TARDIS door. The first thing she noticed was a chair next to the console. That was new. The Doctor didn’t really do chairs. The second thing she noticed was the Master in the chair, Doctor in his lap. “Uncle?” she called, startling the Doctor into prying his lips away from his husband’s.
The Doctor looked momentarily surprised and just a hint guilty before the Master abruptly stood up, all but throwing the Doctor out of his lap. The Time Lord yelped as he fell, hitting his head on the TARDIS console. “How did you get in here?” he snarled as the Doctor stumbled back onto his feet, rubbing his head.
“Warn me next time, will you?” the Doctor mumbled, clearly unhappy.
“How’d you get in?” the Master snapped again before turning to his husband. “Those are the safest doors in the universe, how’d she get in!?”
“I can’t help it if the TARDIS likes her and lets her in with no key!” he protested. They started heatedly having an argument under their breaths, quiet enough that Rose couldn’t hear anything besides “that,” “she would never,” and “bedroom.” She took the time to notice that the Doctor’s tie was undone and the top couple buttons of their shirt were popped open.
“Anyway,” she piped up, interrupting whatever they were arguing about. “Mum wants to know if you’re coming to dinner.”
“Am I allowed to bring my husband?” he said, obviously excited at making his husband meet the family.
“You’re part of the family, so he is too,” she said. “I’m sure mum would be delighted. She won’t say it, but she’s sad you haven’t been out of the TARDIS in a couple of days.”
The Doctor grinned. “I’ll always come to family dinner.”
“Can someone tell me why you appear to be married to prime minister Harold Saxon, despite him being dead!?” Donna said carefully. Well, as carefully as her mother could say anything.
“Death is overrated,” the Master said, poking at his food like it was going to poison him.
“Well he was Harry Saxon technically,” he said as he cut up his food. “Long story. This is excellent food by the way.”
“He’s what?” the whole family, including Rose, sputtered in unison.
“What?” he said, looking up as he took a bite.
“He’s Harry Saxon? Prime minister? Killed by his wife first day in office?” Donna hissed, side-eyeing the Master, who had begun to eat like nothing was wrong.
“I said dying was overrated,” he muttered.
“Hush, you,” the Doctor said, swatting at him affectionately.
“Well!?” the family practically yelled at him.
“Well,” the Doctor began. “It’s a long story, but…”
“Uncle?” Rose called into the TARDIS.
“Shhhh,” a voice hissed. It was the Master, the Doctor fast asleep on his chest. “Don’t wake him up.”
“Oh,” Rose said, quietly approaching the two.
“Shoo,” the Master said, making a dismissive gesture. “They hardly ever sleep, and I’ll be damned if you wake him up.”
“Well then,” she grinned, backing up. “Goodnight,” she whispered as she ducked out of the TARDIS, catching the faintest glimmer of the Master tenderly gazing down at the Doctor out of the corner of her eye. She smiled. Good for them.