It was 16 minutes past 5 –

“Yo! Are you gonna start every Doctors’ anniversary story like that?”

…

It was 16 minutes past 5, Alnilam time, on Monday the 23^rd of November, 2009.

“Good grief. That opening’s gonna get old soon.”

Hey, who’s telling this story? You or me?

One evil grin later…

“Me!”

“Lisa, who are you talking to?”

“No one important, Luke. Is everything ready?”

“More or less. Just waiting on the food.”

“Awesome. Thanks.”

If you haven’t guessed, dear reader…all two of you, today’s the Doctors’ 46^th anniversary. Since I did the big party last year, this one’s just gonna be me with my blog crew and whoever else decides to show. Duff did an awesome replica of the TARDIS and I got Alton to cook a roast beef dinner for everyone.

I didn’t have a lot to do with this one, so I hung out on the couch with Luke and Hooks, waiting for either someone to show up or Alton to tell us dinner was ready, whichever came first.

Turns out it was a knock at the door followed by a familiar beep-beep of a horn.

“That’s Dee!” said Hooks excitedly as he jumped off the couch and cantered over to the door.

“Doc wouldn’t let her come alone, would he?” Tommy asked me. In a lower voice, he added, “Would Woodhorn go so low to attack a child, even if she is human?”

I shook my head. “She’s not alone.” I could sense ClockworkDoc outside as well. “And judging by the honking, I’d gather that she drove him here and even Woodhorn wouldn’t be stupid enough to attack a car. Janis Thorn, maybe.” I shrugged and went to open the door.

Sure enough I could see the ground torn up from my house to the forest. I held in a groan. It would grow back. Standing on my porch in all her adorableness was Dee who giggled as Hooks clambered all over her. I couldn’t be mad at her anyway. Beside her was a cloud floating a good six feet off the ground. Oh, yeah. Doc had mentioned he’d been turned invisible by an LOLed camera in the Nexus.

“Hi, guys!” I said, hugging Dee and the air. “Come to pig out?”

“Well,” said Doc’s disembodied voice, “I was accepting your invitation to come over to celebrate the Doctors’ anniversary and Dee wanted to see Hooks, so I brought her along.”

“Sorry I ran over all the pretty grass, though,” said Dee. “Daddy said there’s dangerous animals in the forest and we shouldn’t stay in there too long so I got him here real fast.”

“It’s okay,” I assured her, patting her head. “It’ll grow back. Come on in, guys. And, like I just said to Tommy, I don’t think Woodhorn would be stupid enough to attack a car.”

I stepped back to allow them access and shut the door behind them.

“Wow!” Dee exclaimed. “It’s so big!”

“Just like the Inkwell,” I said. “Hooks, why don’t you take her on a tour of the house before dinner?”

My little critter nodded eagerly and pointed Dee down the Hall O’Rooms. He, like me, figured once she hit the game room or library she wouldn’t want to leave so he’d start at the bottom and work his way up.

“Well, Doc,” I said, “make yourself at home. I see what you mean about the invisibility.”

“Yes,” he said, the cloud he was controlling floating over to the couch.

“A camera did that to you?” asked Adam.

“An LOLed camera, correct. Certain objects in the Nexus have been altered in a way that they may cause something to happen to the individual trying to utilize it. That’s how Steve and Gary were transformed into puppies.”

I had to laugh. It was such a funny image fueled by the fact that I’d seen them that way on Halloween. So funny.

“So you got turned invisible,” said Jesse.

“Right. The effects will eventually wear off, however it’s a slight nuisance now. Hence the cloud. I have it situated where my head is so at least one can know where to look.”

I shrugged. “I can hear you breathing.” I could also hear the gears in his body, but since he didn’t like that being mentioned, I kept my mouth shut.

“Food’s almost ready,” said Alton from the kitchen.

“Thanks, luv,” I said, catching sight of the adorable duo heading upstairs. There was the sound of a door opening followed by Dee’s squeal.

“So many books!” I heard the ­thump-thump-thump of little feet on carpet overhead and she called downstairs, “Daddy! Have you seen this?! So many books!”

“She discovered your library, I assume,” said Doc, his cloud floating to the stairs.

I chuckled. “Evidently. Not the biggest in the universe, but it comes close.”

The six-year-old (or was she seven now? She did just have a birthday…) barreled down the stairs straight into the invisible ClockworkDoc, Hooks just barely hanging on.

“Oof – slow – down – Dee,” he stuttered.

She was kind of distracted. “Daddy!” she squealed, “didja see?” She started tugging the air, probably pulling on his hand or coat. “All those books!”

Doc was laughing. “Yes, Dee. I’ve seen the library. I know, it’s very impressive.”

“Dinner’s ready!” called Alton.

“About time,” I said, earning myself a withering look from my chef friend. “Just kidding, luv.” I told him with a grin.

The guys and I (minus the Doctors, Jack and Jamie, of course) set the table and we all sat down.

I raised my can of Code Red Mountain Dew and said, “Forty-six years and some change ago, I met someone who’d become a huge part of my life and part of the lives of so many other people. He took us on a fantastic journey – ” The Ninth Doctor smiled. “ – from the end of the Universe – ” Ten grinned big. “ – and back. He saved my life and the lives of countless others.” I looked at the five present Doctors (did I mention I’d invited Eleven? He was sitting at my right). “Doctor, I’ve told you this many times before, but I love you very much. Here’s to 46 years in the phonebox…” I trained my eyes on Eleven. “And here’s to the future!”

Everyone raised their assorted beverages, Doc’s, of course, was floating in midair. “To the future!” they chorused.

“Now let’s eat!”

The End

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