BSC/Heroes Fic: Stacey Loves the Invisible Man (11/14)
Title: Stacey Loves the Invisible Man (11/14)
Author: nutmeg610 & toxic_corn
Rating: R
Fandom: BSC/Heroes crossover
Disclaimer: Neither The Baby-sitter's Club books, nor Heroes belong to us. They belong to Scholastic Books, Ann M. Martin, and NBC.
Summary: Stacey McGill leads a pretty mundane life in NYC. She works as a temp after a failed attempt at a modeling career, but at least she lives with her best friend, Claudia Kishi. Still, that's not enough to make Stacey think there isn't something missing in her life. She's calmed down over the years, now not nearly as boy-crazy as she once was, but thinks perhaps it's time to find her own hero. She finds more than she expected when her path crosses that of the Invisible Man.
Author's Note: The next series in a long line of crackfic, my friends! Follows Your Boyfriend Snorts Cocaine, Mary Anne, Wanna Get It On, Dawn?, and Kristy and the Doctor.
Round Up Post
If you've never watched Heroes before, I suggest watching this clip from the episode Company Man before reading, as I mention it in the story and it's nice to have a visual beforehand. It's only 3 minutes long! :D
Hey, I say go for it. You guys have been together for what, two years? Three? I think you guys met right after Mary Anne got married. Anyways, Kev and I had only been together a little over a year when he asked me, and you know I was already planning on asking him. It's the 21st century. There's no rule that says the woman can't ask the man. ;)
~ snippet of an email from Dawn Schafer-Callis to Stacey McGill
"Claude?"
"Mmmmmm. Petal?" Claude mumbled, hugging her soft body to his chest in the afterglow.
"How long have we been together, as a couple you think?" she asked, cuddling in close to him.
With his eyes closed, he smiled. "Since the beginning of time."
"Mmm..." she paused to kiss his chest lovingly. "Sure seems that way. So I was thinking..."
"Hmmm?" He was feeling too sleepy and fantastic to guess what was coming as he stroked her hair.
"Well, we're together, and now you live here, and we love each other, so..." She stopped to take a deep breath and gather her nerve. Dawn had said just to do it like she was ripping off a bandage. "I was wondering if you'd want to marry me?"
Claude's eyes flew open and he stared blank-faced up at the ceiling.
Meanwhile, Stacey had been expecting a little bit more than that. Like maybe an answer. She was afraid to move or even breathe, so she lay frozen in place, waiting. When nearly a minute had passed and he hadn't yet answered, she finally added, "Umm, maybe?"
"No."
She was more than a little shocked to hear that word pass his lips, and was certain that she'd had nightmares like this. Pulling back to look at him, she had to make sure she'd heard him right. "N-No? You won't?"
Claude's blank expression turned into a scowl as his eyes met hers. "Why is this such a shock to you? No, I'm not going to marry you."
Her chest feeling tight and the inside of her nose starting to burn with the beginnings of tears, she stumbled over her words. "I-I thought--"
"Thought what?"
She quickly sniffled as her nose started to run. "We're living together and we're practically married so I wanted to make it official."
"Official means paperwork. Which means public record. Which means my cover's blown!"
Thinking that over, Stacey realized he was right. In considering that now was a great time to get married, she'd neglected to think of important things like marriage licenses and the sort. "Oh."
"Yeah, oh. So if you're through trying to make me feel guilty, I'd like to go to sleep." He pulled away from her and rolled onto his side, his back to her.
"Guilty?! I wasn't trying-- I just wanted to be your wife! What's so wrong with that?!"
"Because it's something I can't give you!!"
"Why are you yelling at me?"
Feeling pissed off and humiliated, he growled, "Because once again, I'm a fucking let down disappointment to you." Getting up, he started to angrily pull on his clothes.
"You're not-- where are you going?" Stacey cried, feeling that things were starting to fall apart. Why did he have to get so defensive about everything? She'd made a mistake, but he should at least be consoled by the fact that she wanted to be his wife.
"Somewhere else." he all but snarled at her, putting on a shirt. "I don't feel like putting up with this right now."
Stacey gasped in disbelief. "Put up with me?" Leaning over the edge of the bed, she fumbled around until she found his shoe, then flung it at his stomach. "Fine! Go ahead and disappear! It's what you're good at!"
"Oooooof!" he exhaled, bending over double and sending her an angry look. "Gladly! Don't expect me back either, princess!"
Her lip quivered, but she controlled it and yelled out, "F-Fine! If you're going to be a self-pitying ass to me, then you can just go ahead!"
"I will." he muttered in a low tone. He looked around the floor and picked up his other shoe, putting it on, then went to the closet and starting pulling out his clothes, mostly nicer things he'd bought so he could look presentable around her.
"Okay then!" she answered, throwing the covers over her head and trying her best to cry quietly under them.
He finished gathering as many of his clothes as he could and turned to look over at her, misinterpreting her actions. "Can't even bear to look at me. Figured as much. Goodbye, Stacey." Then he strode from the room.
Stacey kept her head over the covers, hand pressed against her mouth as she sobbed.
He marched out the front door, but then his angry dissipated and he slumped against it for a moment, hanging his head.
******************
The next day, the phone rang and Stacey practically pounced on it, hoping it was Claude. She had no idea where he'd spent the night, and despite their fight, she was worried about him. Even telling herself that he'd lived for years out on the streets hadn't eased her worry.
"Hello?" she asked breathlessly, begging to hear his voice on the other end.
"Stace, hi! What's up?" came Kristy's voice across the line.
Hanging her head and pressing her palm to her forehead, she fought the urge to cry. "Um, well my life is a depressing pile of dog crap. How are you?"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. What happened?"
"Um, Claude and I broke up, and uhh, I'm never going t-to see him again, and... and..." She couldn't hold it back and broke down crying, completely heartbroken.
"Ohhhh, Stacey. That's-- I'm so sorry." Kristy replied. On the TARDIS, with little baby Frey on her hip, she gave the Doctor a worried look, biting her lip, while he raised an eyebrow at her before continuing to tinker with the controls. "Can I do anything?" she asked, wanting to do something to stop Stacey's tears.
Sniffling, Stacey replied, "I dunno, I don't-- wait. Umm, I really could use a trip out of the city. I hate to just invite myself, but I-I'd love it if, if I could maybe go somewhere with you and the Doctor, to lift my spirits a little."
"Sure. I'll ask him. Hang on a sec, okay?" She covered the mouthpiece and Stacey could hear her having a quick conversation with the Doctor before she came back on. "He says sure. We'll be there in--" Before she'd finished speaking, Stacey heard the TARDIS whooshing sound from outside her apartment building.
Rushing to the window, Stacey saw it materialize across the street in an alleyway. Since she knew what the TARDIS sounded like from the last time Kristy had visited her, she could easily see it, while people walking by didn't even notice it.
"Wow, nanoseconds, nice." Stacey commented, giggling and then sniffling back the rest of her tears. "Let me get my insulin kit and a few clothes and I'll be right down. You guys have a fridge, right?"
"Sure do. We'll be waiting."
"Awesome! Thank you so much!" She hung up and quickly packed an overnight bag, pausing to leave a note for Claudia:
I went with Kristy and the Doctor. I just couldn't stay here w/ everything reminding me of him. I shouldn't be gone long. I'll call if there's any problems. Love ya! ~Stacey
Then she hurried out the door and across the street to the time machine/spaceship.
Kristy opened the door when Stacey knocked, holding Frey against her hip. "Hi!"
Frey, not yet talking, cooed a greeting to his Aunt Stacey as she entered.
"Hi! Ohhh, look at him! Oh, Kristy!" Stacey hugged her, but then her frazzled nerves caused her to tear up again. "I'm so--" she sniffled, "So happy for yoooooooouuuuu!" The last word came out as a sob as she hugged her friend again.
Kristy patted her gently on the back with one hand. "It'll be okay..." Frey, meanwhile, patted Stacey's hair with his tiny hand.
"I hope so." Stacey replied, pulling back and wiping her face. "I'd never been in love like that before. It's so hard to believe it's over."
With a sympathetic smile, though Kristy couldn't picture losing her own love, she asked, "Where did you want to go?"
"I'm not sure." she sighed. "I hadn't really thought about it."
"Well, let me show you the fridge so you can stick your insulin in, and then we can brainstorm." Kristy led her down several twisting hallways to the kitchen, while Stacey tried to distract herself by asking questions about Frey. When they returned to the console room, Kristy gently placed a hand on Stacey's back and looked at the Doctor. "Any suggestions on where we could take her, pretty?"
"Hmm, any preference?" he asked. "Past, future, another galaxy?"
Stacey placed her hands gently on the edge of the console, careful not to touch any of the buttons or gears. The faint glow coming from the center increased at her touch, and she recalled Kristy once telling her that the TARDIS was alive. "Umm, anywhere, as long as it doesn't remind me of him. So no England, o-or Paris." She gave a sad smile, stroking the TARDIS console.
Cocking her head to the side, Kristy murmured, "You guys went to Paris?"
"Oh, no. But sometimes we'd pretend..." A dreamy expression came to her face. "We'd dance in the kitchen, with soft music playing... and he'd say things in French..." She started to tear up again so she promptly snapped out of the memory. "So umm, not there."
"Okay." Kristy said quickly. "How about another galaxy? Seeing space would cheer you up." Bouncing Frey on her hip, she said, "You like space, too, don't you jellybean? Wanna show Aunt Stacey other worlds?"
Frey beamed and cooed, reaching a pudgy little hand out to Stacey as comfort.
With a sad smile, she reached out and took his hand in hers. "I'd like that."
"Okay." Kristy answered, turning towards the Doctor. "How about that funky place with those things that looked like fire hydrants?"
The Doctor adjusted the settings with a nod. "Alright, Drazpoliton, here we come! Hold on tight, ladies."
Kristy and Stacey both grabbed onto the console, Stacey glancing at Kristy to make sure she was doing it correctly, while Frey clutched tightly to his mummy, looking thrilled.
The TARDIS took off, shaking and bumping around like they were hitting time and space turbulence. After what felt like an eternity, what with all the shaking, they finally landed, and Stacey fought not to be pitched backwards.
The Doctor ran to the doors, grabbing his coat along the way. Turning back, he said, "Stacey McGill, I present to you...." he threw the doors open triumphantly, but as he looked around, his expression deflated. "Not Drazpoliton."
With a frown, Stacey asked, "What happened?"
"I thought you fixed it?" Kristy added.
Ruffling his hair as he looked out in disbelief, he replied, "I did, I swear I did." Running back up to one of the computer screens, he starting doing readings and other things that the girls couldn't see. "The TARDIS received the directions I put in, and read them correctly, but changed them on its own... but to where? And why?"
"Is it safe?" Kristy asked. "Can we go and check it out?" She nervously shifted Frey to her other hip while Stacey bit her lip worriedly.
"Let me just check..." He jogged outside, surveying the area, and then popped his head back in the door. "Pretty sure it's Earth, not sure when though. From the flora I'd say the South or Southwest United States, but I could be wrong. We're in a pretty sparsely populated area."
"Okay." Kristy looked down at Frey. "Adventure time!"
In response, Frey clapped his hands and gurgled.
Stacey, however, had a dubious look on her face. "So we're in the middle of Nowhere, America?"
"It could be exciting... maybe." Kristy replied.
Stacey didn't really think so, but she was a guest, so she smiled and shrugged. "Oh well, it's probably a place I've never been. That's exciting."
The Doctor led the way out, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "Now.... what's there to see?"
Following behind him, Stacey replied, "Umm, trees. Lots of trees. Bushes too. And..." She looked off into the distance. "A bridge over something, maybe water? Or another road."
"What's going on over there?" Kristy questioned, shading her eyes to get a better look.
"Don't know. Let's get a bit closer." the Doctor replied, and the four headed off towards the bridge. As they came closer, they could see a car stop in the middle and two men start to get out. The Doctor hurriedly ushered his companions to hide behind some bushes that were far enough away that they couldn't be spotted or heard. Almost at the same moment, the Doctor and Frey each pulled out a pair of binoculars from their pockets. As Stacey raised her eyebrows in astonishment, Kristy giggled and explained, "Their pockets are bigger on the inside."
"Of course; I should have known." Stacey mused with a shake of her head.
Suddenly, Frey, who was looking through his little pair, let out a whimper.
"What's the matter, jellybean?" Kristy asked.
Flailing his little arms, he urged her to take the binonculars. The Doctor, seeing what his son had seen, sucked in a breath.
Without binoculars of her own, Stacey couldn't see well enough. "What are those guys doing standing in the middle of a bridge in the middle of nowhere?"
"...Oh, Stacey." Kristy whispered, handing her the binoculars.
"What?" She took them and looked through, and when she finally got them up to one of the men's faces, her stomach flipped as she discovered it was Claude. But before she could even react to that out loud, a shot rang out across the bridge as the other man shot him. Everyone jumped and Stacey dropped the binoculars, her mouth open to scream, when the Doctor clamped his hand over her mouth.
Frey fussed, whimpering and crying, and Kristy held him protectively to her chest. "Shhhhh, baby. Shhhh." He continued to cry into her neck, but thankfully it wasn't all out wailing.
Stacey gripped onto the Doctor's hand tightly as Claude was shot again and again, before he went invisible as he fell over the edge of the bridge. Her eyes were wide and her whole body shook as the other man went back into his car and started the engine.
"Everybody stay down. Don't move." the Doctor instructed before the car drove past them.
Kristy was trembling and clutching the baby, hiding her face in the Doctor's shoulder and holding her breath, until the car completely disappeared.
By then, Stacey was gasping for breath. The Doctor removed his hand and the first thing to come out of her mouth was, "Ohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygod..."
"Is... he's not dead, right?" Kristy asked weakly.
Stacey swallowed hard, trying to gain her wits. "No, h-he can't be, right, Doctor? He has the bullet scars now, I mean, in the future..." She closed her eyes, trying to make sense. "I m-mean, in my time." She gave a shuddering breath, then whispered, "That was horrifying." before throwing her arms around the Doctor and crying.
He hugged her back, trying to calm her down. "Shhhh. I know. But he survives; he's strong."
"Oh, so this is the past." Kristy said, finally caught up to speed. "Thank God." She let out a shaky breath, then went back to comforting Frey.
Nodding against the Doctor's shoulder, Stacey murmured, "Y-Yes. He never talked about what happened. Just said that dangerous p-people did it to him."
"Yes." the Doctor added. "He wouldn't be hiding the way he does if they weren't looking for him to finish the job."
Stacey pulled back, looking at him with red eyes and a flushed face. "D-Did you see him start to fall over the bridge before he went completely invisible? H-How did he survive the fall? Or the gunshot wounds? I-I want to go find him and help him, but that would mess up the future, wouldn't it?"
He nodded seriously back, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
Not knowing what else to do, she bit her thumbnail and whispered, "He's so brave... and strong, and I love him so much." She let out a tiny sob and hung her head.
In a gentle tone, Kristy asked, "Do you want to go home?"
Wiping her eyes, she shrugged. "I dunno. I want to see him, but he left and he's never coming back."
"Do you have any idea where he might have gone?"
Stacey shook her head. "No. He just moves in wherever he wants."
Frey, who'd been listening intently, suddenly covered his eye and crowed to gain their attention.
Kristy looked at him and raised an eyebrow, before her eyes lit up with understanding. "Oh, Pirate Steve! Could he be at Steve's?"
She made a face. "I doubt it. He tolerates him, even kinda likes him, but too much time around Steve and he wants to smash his head in."
"Maybe you can try?" Kristy shrugged. "What else can you do?"
With a sigh, Stacey agreed. "Okay, let's try."
"Right then!" the Doctor said, helping both ladies to their feet. "Back to the present."
******************
The TARDIS appeared in the hallway outside Stacey's front door and she stepped out, turning back to say goodbye.
"It's okay," she assured them, "I knew Steve wouldn't have seen him."
"How do you find an invisible man, anyway?" Kristy replied with a shake of her head. "Maybe he'll come looking for you? I mean, if you're so in love, maybe he won't be able to stay away." She looked up at the Doctor, her voice soft as she added, "I know I wouldn't."
Stacey's chest ached just to see them look at each other the way they were, completely devoted and in love. "I hope so. But he's so stubborn..." She trailed off and sighed. "Anyways, thanks for the trip, even if it wasn't exactly the beach." She tried to crack a smile for them.
"You're welcome." said Kristy. "Maybe we can try it again sometime and have it, you know, actually work." She bumped the Doctor's hip with hers playfully.
"Don't blame me." he replied, nearly whining, before he slid his free hand along the TARDIS door lovingly. He had a hunch that the TARDIS, which was slightly psychic, had read Stacey's thoughts and taken her to see what Claude had been through in person. He wasn't going to make mention of it, however. There was no need to upset Stacey any more than she already was.
Kristy dropped her head onto his shoulder. "I know, pretty, I'm just teasing you." The she looked at Stacey. "Are you going to be okay? I mean, I wouldn't want to have seen what you saw if it was my boy." She involuntarily shuddered at the thought.
Stacey bit her lip before answered, "I dunno. I-I just don't know." She shook her head sadly. "I wish I could see him again. I wouldn't start arguing with him about stuff that's not really that important. He's alive and that's all I care about."
Kristy came forward and gave her a hug. "Good luck, Stace. We love you." Frey babbled his farewell to her from the Doctor's arm, waving his hands at her.
"Love you guys too! Bye, Doctor! Bye, Frey!" She gave the little guy a wave and his parents said, "Bye!" before going back inside. She stepped back as the TARDIS slowly disappeared, the breeze it created blowing her hair around her face.
With a deep breath, she turned and went through the door to find Claudia sitting cross-legged on the couch, reading a fashion magazine. "Hey, you're back!" Claudia exclaimed. "Thought I heard that funky box's noise." She got up and hugged her, and as she pulled back gave her a nervous look, saying, "Umm, Claude's grabbing some stuff he left in your room."
"He's here?!" Stacey practically screeched, racing past her and into her bedroom to find Claude digging through her laundry basket with his back to her, grumbling under his breath.
"Claude!" she shouted, staring at him as if she thought it was all a dream.
Her voice startled him, causing him to look up and then look away again. "I won't be much longer, don't worry." he mumbled, still searching for his clothes.
Rushing up behind him, she hugged herself to his bent back, sobbing against him.
"Stacey, what--"
"I-I'm sorry. I'm really, really sorry. I shouldn't have cared about being your wife. You're alive and that's all that m-matters to me."
Managing to get her to loosen her grip so he could stand and turn, he faced her, looking mystified. "Of course I'm alive, what's that got-- You're trembling like a leaf!" He reached out and rubbed his hands along her arms.
Tears sliding down her cheeks, she said, "I-I went with Kristy and the Doctor a-and we were gonna go to some planet but the TARDIS took us to the m-middle of nowhere... with a bridge, and two people, one had a gun..." she couldn't bring herself to finish, but from the look on his face, she knew that he understood her perfectly.
The color drained from his face as he gripped her shoulders tightly. "I wish you hadn't had to see that. Are you all right?"
She shook her head vehemently and buried it against his chest. "It was awful." she whispered.
"I know. I lived it." he replied, gently stroking her hair.
Her head shot up, eyes wide. "I know! I was only watching, and it felt like I'd been shot too." She ran her hand down his chest, unable to feel his scars through his shirt, but knowing the exact location of every one. "You're so strong to have survived all that."
He didn't respond, just looked at her intently as he continued to stroke her hair.
She hugged herself back to him, murmuring in disbelief, "I can't believe someone would do that to you. My Claude..." Then she snapped out of it and pulled back. "Er, I mean..." She looked away from him. "Sorry, I ruined that."
His voice sounding hoarse, he questioned, "Ruined what?"
"Us. You don't want to be mine anymore, and I don't blame you. You've been through enough without me harrassing you about marriage."
"No, Stacey." he replied gently, cupping the side of her face. "I still want to be yours. And... at this point in a relationship, it's normal to think about marriage. It's the next logical step. You weren't wrong to ask for that."
Shaking a little at his touch, she asked, "Really? You're still mine, and I'm yours?"
He nodded. "If you want me. Even if I can't offer you marriage or a family or..." He sighed, looking gloomy at what little he had to offer the woman he loved.
But Stacey jumped at the prospect of them being together again. "Yes! I want you! And marriage doesn't matter. Well, I mean official paperwork doesn't matter. I'm yours and you're mine, and that's all we need to be married in our hearts, right?"
He smiled. "Right."
With an ecstatic squeal, she threw her arms around his neck. "I love you!"
He slid his arms around her waist, quite unable to believe this was happening. "I love you too, petal."
She still had tears in her eyes, but was grinning like a loon. "Kiss me?"
Without waiting a moment more, he kissed her passionately, practically lifting her off the ground as his mouth glided across her own.
Stacey held on tight, kissing him back with her whole heart open to him.
He finally broke the kiss and knelt down in front of her, holding her hands in his. Her eyebrows rose in surprised, but then he spoke. "If we're already married in our hearts... maybe we should try it for real." He quickly added, "Not a conventional wedding with a license, of course."
"Oh, Claude, I'd love to." she whispered, as warmth spread throughout her body from her scalp to her toes.
"I've been... hanging onto this for awhile. It was going to be your birthday present next year but..." He dug into his pocket and pulled out a silver necklace with a tiny cross on the chain, lifting it up and placing it in her hand.
"It's beautiful." she whispered, pressing her other hand to her heart.
"I thought you'd like it." He gave her a proud grin but then it turned solemn. "Maybe I can put it on you at the ceremony. Unless you'd prefer a ring?"
"This is perfect. I love it."
"Good." He stared up at her and then looked away awkwardly, swallowing hard. "I can't believe that I almost lost you."
"Yeah, I know." she agreed quietly. "But, maybe the next time we fight, we won't throw shoes or storm out. We'll sort things out, yeah?"
Pressing his face into her tummy, he nodded, and she brushed her fingers through his hair.
"I should go." he said, caressing her hips.
"Hmm, why? Did you have plans?"
"I have to go to my new apartment and get my things back." Yet despite his words, he made no move to leave her.
"Oh right." she smiled. "Your things belong right there in my closet."
"Mmm hmmm." He nuzzled her belly with his nose, still rubbing her hips.
She slid her fingers down to the ends of his hair. "That feels nice."
"Does it?" he murmured, inching her shirt up with his nose so he could nuzzle her skin more.
"Oh yes, it does."
"It hasn't even been 24 hours since we last did this..." He pressed a kiss to her tummy and she sighed sweetly, saying, "Can't get enough of you."
"Gonna give me a complex." he replied cheerfully.
She giggled at that and he continued. "So... when do you want this 'not a wedding'-wedding to occur?" As he spoke, his hands slid around to cup her rear end and his kisses went up a little higher.
"Mmm, soon as we can schedule all the friends and family we want to come."
"So basically... your friends." he clarified, kissing her skin again.
"Well, I didn't want to word it like that, but yes."
He chuckled quietly. "It's alright, petal."
"I'll start calling and sending emails tomorrow, but tonight, it's just you and me." She tugged on his jacket and he shrugged out of it.
"What did you have in mind?" he asked, eyes glittering.
"I think we should get under the covers and explore new and exciting areas of our bodies." She ended the statement with a saucy little wink.
He gave her a lascivious grin. "There's this spot right above your hipbone I like..."
"Ooo, better come show me." Grabbing his hands, she tugged her soon-to-be husband up to his feet towards the bed, and he followed her eagerly.
Previous: Chapter 10 :: Next: Chapter 12
Author: nutmeg610 & toxic_corn
Rating: R
Fandom: BSC/Heroes crossover
Disclaimer: Neither The Baby-sitter's Club books, nor Heroes belong to us. They belong to Scholastic Books, Ann M. Martin, and NBC.
Summary: Stacey McGill leads a pretty mundane life in NYC. She works as a temp after a failed attempt at a modeling career, but at least she lives with her best friend, Claudia Kishi. Still, that's not enough to make Stacey think there isn't something missing in her life. She's calmed down over the years, now not nearly as boy-crazy as she once was, but thinks perhaps it's time to find her own hero. She finds more than she expected when her path crosses that of the Invisible Man.
Author's Note: The next series in a long line of crackfic, my friends! Follows Your Boyfriend Snorts Cocaine, Mary Anne, Wanna Get It On, Dawn?, and Kristy and the Doctor.
Round Up Post
If you've never watched Heroes before, I suggest watching this clip from the episode Company Man before reading, as I mention it in the story and it's nice to have a visual beforehand. It's only 3 minutes long! :D
Hey, I say go for it. You guys have been together for what, two years? Three? I think you guys met right after Mary Anne got married. Anyways, Kev and I had only been together a little over a year when he asked me, and you know I was already planning on asking him. It's the 21st century. There's no rule that says the woman can't ask the man. ;)
~ snippet of an email from Dawn Schafer-Callis to Stacey McGill
"Claude?"
"Mmmmmm. Petal?" Claude mumbled, hugging her soft body to his chest in the afterglow.
"How long have we been together, as a couple you think?" she asked, cuddling in close to him.
With his eyes closed, he smiled. "Since the beginning of time."
"Mmm..." she paused to kiss his chest lovingly. "Sure seems that way. So I was thinking..."
"Hmmm?" He was feeling too sleepy and fantastic to guess what was coming as he stroked her hair.
"Well, we're together, and now you live here, and we love each other, so..." She stopped to take a deep breath and gather her nerve. Dawn had said just to do it like she was ripping off a bandage. "I was wondering if you'd want to marry me?"
Claude's eyes flew open and he stared blank-faced up at the ceiling.
Meanwhile, Stacey had been expecting a little bit more than that. Like maybe an answer. She was afraid to move or even breathe, so she lay frozen in place, waiting. When nearly a minute had passed and he hadn't yet answered, she finally added, "Umm, maybe?"
"No."
She was more than a little shocked to hear that word pass his lips, and was certain that she'd had nightmares like this. Pulling back to look at him, she had to make sure she'd heard him right. "N-No? You won't?"
Claude's blank expression turned into a scowl as his eyes met hers. "Why is this such a shock to you? No, I'm not going to marry you."
Her chest feeling tight and the inside of her nose starting to burn with the beginnings of tears, she stumbled over her words. "I-I thought--"
"Thought what?"
She quickly sniffled as her nose started to run. "We're living together and we're practically married so I wanted to make it official."
"Official means paperwork. Which means public record. Which means my cover's blown!"
Thinking that over, Stacey realized he was right. In considering that now was a great time to get married, she'd neglected to think of important things like marriage licenses and the sort. "Oh."
"Yeah, oh. So if you're through trying to make me feel guilty, I'd like to go to sleep." He pulled away from her and rolled onto his side, his back to her.
"Guilty?! I wasn't trying-- I just wanted to be your wife! What's so wrong with that?!"
"Because it's something I can't give you!!"
"Why are you yelling at me?"
Feeling pissed off and humiliated, he growled, "Because once again, I'm a fucking let down disappointment to you." Getting up, he started to angrily pull on his clothes.
"You're not-- where are you going?" Stacey cried, feeling that things were starting to fall apart. Why did he have to get so defensive about everything? She'd made a mistake, but he should at least be consoled by the fact that she wanted to be his wife.
"Somewhere else." he all but snarled at her, putting on a shirt. "I don't feel like putting up with this right now."
Stacey gasped in disbelief. "Put up with me?" Leaning over the edge of the bed, she fumbled around until she found his shoe, then flung it at his stomach. "Fine! Go ahead and disappear! It's what you're good at!"
"Oooooof!" he exhaled, bending over double and sending her an angry look. "Gladly! Don't expect me back either, princess!"
Her lip quivered, but she controlled it and yelled out, "F-Fine! If you're going to be a self-pitying ass to me, then you can just go ahead!"
"I will." he muttered in a low tone. He looked around the floor and picked up his other shoe, putting it on, then went to the closet and starting pulling out his clothes, mostly nicer things he'd bought so he could look presentable around her.
"Okay then!" she answered, throwing the covers over her head and trying her best to cry quietly under them.
He finished gathering as many of his clothes as he could and turned to look over at her, misinterpreting her actions. "Can't even bear to look at me. Figured as much. Goodbye, Stacey." Then he strode from the room.
Stacey kept her head over the covers, hand pressed against her mouth as she sobbed.
He marched out the front door, but then his angry dissipated and he slumped against it for a moment, hanging his head.
******************
The next day, the phone rang and Stacey practically pounced on it, hoping it was Claude. She had no idea where he'd spent the night, and despite their fight, she was worried about him. Even telling herself that he'd lived for years out on the streets hadn't eased her worry.
"Hello?" she asked breathlessly, begging to hear his voice on the other end.
"Stace, hi! What's up?" came Kristy's voice across the line.
Hanging her head and pressing her palm to her forehead, she fought the urge to cry. "Um, well my life is a depressing pile of dog crap. How are you?"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. What happened?"
"Um, Claude and I broke up, and uhh, I'm never going t-to see him again, and... and..." She couldn't hold it back and broke down crying, completely heartbroken.
"Ohhhh, Stacey. That's-- I'm so sorry." Kristy replied. On the TARDIS, with little baby Frey on her hip, she gave the Doctor a worried look, biting her lip, while he raised an eyebrow at her before continuing to tinker with the controls. "Can I do anything?" she asked, wanting to do something to stop Stacey's tears.
Sniffling, Stacey replied, "I dunno, I don't-- wait. Umm, I really could use a trip out of the city. I hate to just invite myself, but I-I'd love it if, if I could maybe go somewhere with you and the Doctor, to lift my spirits a little."
"Sure. I'll ask him. Hang on a sec, okay?" She covered the mouthpiece and Stacey could hear her having a quick conversation with the Doctor before she came back on. "He says sure. We'll be there in--" Before she'd finished speaking, Stacey heard the TARDIS whooshing sound from outside her apartment building.
Rushing to the window, Stacey saw it materialize across the street in an alleyway. Since she knew what the TARDIS sounded like from the last time Kristy had visited her, she could easily see it, while people walking by didn't even notice it.
"Wow, nanoseconds, nice." Stacey commented, giggling and then sniffling back the rest of her tears. "Let me get my insulin kit and a few clothes and I'll be right down. You guys have a fridge, right?"
"Sure do. We'll be waiting."
"Awesome! Thank you so much!" She hung up and quickly packed an overnight bag, pausing to leave a note for Claudia:
I went with Kristy and the Doctor. I just couldn't stay here w/ everything reminding me of him. I shouldn't be gone long. I'll call if there's any problems. Love ya! ~Stacey
Then she hurried out the door and across the street to the time machine/spaceship.
Kristy opened the door when Stacey knocked, holding Frey against her hip. "Hi!"
Frey, not yet talking, cooed a greeting to his Aunt Stacey as she entered.
"Hi! Ohhh, look at him! Oh, Kristy!" Stacey hugged her, but then her frazzled nerves caused her to tear up again. "I'm so--" she sniffled, "So happy for yoooooooouuuuu!" The last word came out as a sob as she hugged her friend again.
Kristy patted her gently on the back with one hand. "It'll be okay..." Frey, meanwhile, patted Stacey's hair with his tiny hand.
"I hope so." Stacey replied, pulling back and wiping her face. "I'd never been in love like that before. It's so hard to believe it's over."
With a sympathetic smile, though Kristy couldn't picture losing her own love, she asked, "Where did you want to go?"
"I'm not sure." she sighed. "I hadn't really thought about it."
"Well, let me show you the fridge so you can stick your insulin in, and then we can brainstorm." Kristy led her down several twisting hallways to the kitchen, while Stacey tried to distract herself by asking questions about Frey. When they returned to the console room, Kristy gently placed a hand on Stacey's back and looked at the Doctor. "Any suggestions on where we could take her, pretty?"
"Hmm, any preference?" he asked. "Past, future, another galaxy?"
Stacey placed her hands gently on the edge of the console, careful not to touch any of the buttons or gears. The faint glow coming from the center increased at her touch, and she recalled Kristy once telling her that the TARDIS was alive. "Umm, anywhere, as long as it doesn't remind me of him. So no England, o-or Paris." She gave a sad smile, stroking the TARDIS console.
Cocking her head to the side, Kristy murmured, "You guys went to Paris?"
"Oh, no. But sometimes we'd pretend..." A dreamy expression came to her face. "We'd dance in the kitchen, with soft music playing... and he'd say things in French..." She started to tear up again so she promptly snapped out of the memory. "So umm, not there."
"Okay." Kristy said quickly. "How about another galaxy? Seeing space would cheer you up." Bouncing Frey on her hip, she said, "You like space, too, don't you jellybean? Wanna show Aunt Stacey other worlds?"
Frey beamed and cooed, reaching a pudgy little hand out to Stacey as comfort.
With a sad smile, she reached out and took his hand in hers. "I'd like that."
"Okay." Kristy answered, turning towards the Doctor. "How about that funky place with those things that looked like fire hydrants?"
The Doctor adjusted the settings with a nod. "Alright, Drazpoliton, here we come! Hold on tight, ladies."
Kristy and Stacey both grabbed onto the console, Stacey glancing at Kristy to make sure she was doing it correctly, while Frey clutched tightly to his mummy, looking thrilled.
The TARDIS took off, shaking and bumping around like they were hitting time and space turbulence. After what felt like an eternity, what with all the shaking, they finally landed, and Stacey fought not to be pitched backwards.
The Doctor ran to the doors, grabbing his coat along the way. Turning back, he said, "Stacey McGill, I present to you...." he threw the doors open triumphantly, but as he looked around, his expression deflated. "Not Drazpoliton."
With a frown, Stacey asked, "What happened?"
"I thought you fixed it?" Kristy added.
Ruffling his hair as he looked out in disbelief, he replied, "I did, I swear I did." Running back up to one of the computer screens, he starting doing readings and other things that the girls couldn't see. "The TARDIS received the directions I put in, and read them correctly, but changed them on its own... but to where? And why?"
"Is it safe?" Kristy asked. "Can we go and check it out?" She nervously shifted Frey to her other hip while Stacey bit her lip worriedly.
"Let me just check..." He jogged outside, surveying the area, and then popped his head back in the door. "Pretty sure it's Earth, not sure when though. From the flora I'd say the South or Southwest United States, but I could be wrong. We're in a pretty sparsely populated area."
"Okay." Kristy looked down at Frey. "Adventure time!"
In response, Frey clapped his hands and gurgled.
Stacey, however, had a dubious look on her face. "So we're in the middle of Nowhere, America?"
"It could be exciting... maybe." Kristy replied.
Stacey didn't really think so, but she was a guest, so she smiled and shrugged. "Oh well, it's probably a place I've never been. That's exciting."
The Doctor led the way out, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "Now.... what's there to see?"
Following behind him, Stacey replied, "Umm, trees. Lots of trees. Bushes too. And..." She looked off into the distance. "A bridge over something, maybe water? Or another road."
"What's going on over there?" Kristy questioned, shading her eyes to get a better look.
"Don't know. Let's get a bit closer." the Doctor replied, and the four headed off towards the bridge. As they came closer, they could see a car stop in the middle and two men start to get out. The Doctor hurriedly ushered his companions to hide behind some bushes that were far enough away that they couldn't be spotted or heard. Almost at the same moment, the Doctor and Frey each pulled out a pair of binoculars from their pockets. As Stacey raised her eyebrows in astonishment, Kristy giggled and explained, "Their pockets are bigger on the inside."
"Of course; I should have known." Stacey mused with a shake of her head.
Suddenly, Frey, who was looking through his little pair, let out a whimper.
"What's the matter, jellybean?" Kristy asked.
Flailing his little arms, he urged her to take the binonculars. The Doctor, seeing what his son had seen, sucked in a breath.
Without binoculars of her own, Stacey couldn't see well enough. "What are those guys doing standing in the middle of a bridge in the middle of nowhere?"
"...Oh, Stacey." Kristy whispered, handing her the binoculars.
"What?" She took them and looked through, and when she finally got them up to one of the men's faces, her stomach flipped as she discovered it was Claude. But before she could even react to that out loud, a shot rang out across the bridge as the other man shot him. Everyone jumped and Stacey dropped the binoculars, her mouth open to scream, when the Doctor clamped his hand over her mouth.
Frey fussed, whimpering and crying, and Kristy held him protectively to her chest. "Shhhhh, baby. Shhhh." He continued to cry into her neck, but thankfully it wasn't all out wailing.
Stacey gripped onto the Doctor's hand tightly as Claude was shot again and again, before he went invisible as he fell over the edge of the bridge. Her eyes were wide and her whole body shook as the other man went back into his car and started the engine.
"Everybody stay down. Don't move." the Doctor instructed before the car drove past them.
Kristy was trembling and clutching the baby, hiding her face in the Doctor's shoulder and holding her breath, until the car completely disappeared.
By then, Stacey was gasping for breath. The Doctor removed his hand and the first thing to come out of her mouth was, "Ohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygod..."
"Is... he's not dead, right?" Kristy asked weakly.
Stacey swallowed hard, trying to gain her wits. "No, h-he can't be, right, Doctor? He has the bullet scars now, I mean, in the future..." She closed her eyes, trying to make sense. "I m-mean, in my time." She gave a shuddering breath, then whispered, "That was horrifying." before throwing her arms around the Doctor and crying.
He hugged her back, trying to calm her down. "Shhhh. I know. But he survives; he's strong."
"Oh, so this is the past." Kristy said, finally caught up to speed. "Thank God." She let out a shaky breath, then went back to comforting Frey.
Nodding against the Doctor's shoulder, Stacey murmured, "Y-Yes. He never talked about what happened. Just said that dangerous p-people did it to him."
"Yes." the Doctor added. "He wouldn't be hiding the way he does if they weren't looking for him to finish the job."
Stacey pulled back, looking at him with red eyes and a flushed face. "D-Did you see him start to fall over the bridge before he went completely invisible? H-How did he survive the fall? Or the gunshot wounds? I-I want to go find him and help him, but that would mess up the future, wouldn't it?"
He nodded seriously back, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
Not knowing what else to do, she bit her thumbnail and whispered, "He's so brave... and strong, and I love him so much." She let out a tiny sob and hung her head.
In a gentle tone, Kristy asked, "Do you want to go home?"
Wiping her eyes, she shrugged. "I dunno. I want to see him, but he left and he's never coming back."
"Do you have any idea where he might have gone?"
Stacey shook her head. "No. He just moves in wherever he wants."
Frey, who'd been listening intently, suddenly covered his eye and crowed to gain their attention.
Kristy looked at him and raised an eyebrow, before her eyes lit up with understanding. "Oh, Pirate Steve! Could he be at Steve's?"
She made a face. "I doubt it. He tolerates him, even kinda likes him, but too much time around Steve and he wants to smash his head in."
"Maybe you can try?" Kristy shrugged. "What else can you do?"
With a sigh, Stacey agreed. "Okay, let's try."
"Right then!" the Doctor said, helping both ladies to their feet. "Back to the present."
******************
The TARDIS appeared in the hallway outside Stacey's front door and she stepped out, turning back to say goodbye.
"It's okay," she assured them, "I knew Steve wouldn't have seen him."
"How do you find an invisible man, anyway?" Kristy replied with a shake of her head. "Maybe he'll come looking for you? I mean, if you're so in love, maybe he won't be able to stay away." She looked up at the Doctor, her voice soft as she added, "I know I wouldn't."
Stacey's chest ached just to see them look at each other the way they were, completely devoted and in love. "I hope so. But he's so stubborn..." She trailed off and sighed. "Anyways, thanks for the trip, even if it wasn't exactly the beach." She tried to crack a smile for them.
"You're welcome." said Kristy. "Maybe we can try it again sometime and have it, you know, actually work." She bumped the Doctor's hip with hers playfully.
"Don't blame me." he replied, nearly whining, before he slid his free hand along the TARDIS door lovingly. He had a hunch that the TARDIS, which was slightly psychic, had read Stacey's thoughts and taken her to see what Claude had been through in person. He wasn't going to make mention of it, however. There was no need to upset Stacey any more than she already was.
Kristy dropped her head onto his shoulder. "I know, pretty, I'm just teasing you." The she looked at Stacey. "Are you going to be okay? I mean, I wouldn't want to have seen what you saw if it was my boy." She involuntarily shuddered at the thought.
Stacey bit her lip before answered, "I dunno. I-I just don't know." She shook her head sadly. "I wish I could see him again. I wouldn't start arguing with him about stuff that's not really that important. He's alive and that's all I care about."
Kristy came forward and gave her a hug. "Good luck, Stace. We love you." Frey babbled his farewell to her from the Doctor's arm, waving his hands at her.
"Love you guys too! Bye, Doctor! Bye, Frey!" She gave the little guy a wave and his parents said, "Bye!" before going back inside. She stepped back as the TARDIS slowly disappeared, the breeze it created blowing her hair around her face.
With a deep breath, she turned and went through the door to find Claudia sitting cross-legged on the couch, reading a fashion magazine. "Hey, you're back!" Claudia exclaimed. "Thought I heard that funky box's noise." She got up and hugged her, and as she pulled back gave her a nervous look, saying, "Umm, Claude's grabbing some stuff he left in your room."
"He's here?!" Stacey practically screeched, racing past her and into her bedroom to find Claude digging through her laundry basket with his back to her, grumbling under his breath.
"Claude!" she shouted, staring at him as if she thought it was all a dream.
Her voice startled him, causing him to look up and then look away again. "I won't be much longer, don't worry." he mumbled, still searching for his clothes.
Rushing up behind him, she hugged herself to his bent back, sobbing against him.
"Stacey, what--"
"I-I'm sorry. I'm really, really sorry. I shouldn't have cared about being your wife. You're alive and that's all that m-matters to me."
Managing to get her to loosen her grip so he could stand and turn, he faced her, looking mystified. "Of course I'm alive, what's that got-- You're trembling like a leaf!" He reached out and rubbed his hands along her arms.
Tears sliding down her cheeks, she said, "I-I went with Kristy and the Doctor a-and we were gonna go to some planet but the TARDIS took us to the m-middle of nowhere... with a bridge, and two people, one had a gun..." she couldn't bring herself to finish, but from the look on his face, she knew that he understood her perfectly.
The color drained from his face as he gripped her shoulders tightly. "I wish you hadn't had to see that. Are you all right?"
She shook her head vehemently and buried it against his chest. "It was awful." she whispered.
"I know. I lived it." he replied, gently stroking her hair.
Her head shot up, eyes wide. "I know! I was only watching, and it felt like I'd been shot too." She ran her hand down his chest, unable to feel his scars through his shirt, but knowing the exact location of every one. "You're so strong to have survived all that."
He didn't respond, just looked at her intently as he continued to stroke her hair.
She hugged herself back to him, murmuring in disbelief, "I can't believe someone would do that to you. My Claude..." Then she snapped out of it and pulled back. "Er, I mean..." She looked away from him. "Sorry, I ruined that."
His voice sounding hoarse, he questioned, "Ruined what?"
"Us. You don't want to be mine anymore, and I don't blame you. You've been through enough without me harrassing you about marriage."
"No, Stacey." he replied gently, cupping the side of her face. "I still want to be yours. And... at this point in a relationship, it's normal to think about marriage. It's the next logical step. You weren't wrong to ask for that."
Shaking a little at his touch, she asked, "Really? You're still mine, and I'm yours?"
He nodded. "If you want me. Even if I can't offer you marriage or a family or..." He sighed, looking gloomy at what little he had to offer the woman he loved.
But Stacey jumped at the prospect of them being together again. "Yes! I want you! And marriage doesn't matter. Well, I mean official paperwork doesn't matter. I'm yours and you're mine, and that's all we need to be married in our hearts, right?"
He smiled. "Right."
With an ecstatic squeal, she threw her arms around his neck. "I love you!"
He slid his arms around her waist, quite unable to believe this was happening. "I love you too, petal."
She still had tears in her eyes, but was grinning like a loon. "Kiss me?"
Without waiting a moment more, he kissed her passionately, practically lifting her off the ground as his mouth glided across her own.
Stacey held on tight, kissing him back with her whole heart open to him.
He finally broke the kiss and knelt down in front of her, holding her hands in his. Her eyebrows rose in surprised, but then he spoke. "If we're already married in our hearts... maybe we should try it for real." He quickly added, "Not a conventional wedding with a license, of course."
"Oh, Claude, I'd love to." she whispered, as warmth spread throughout her body from her scalp to her toes.
"I've been... hanging onto this for awhile. It was going to be your birthday present next year but..." He dug into his pocket and pulled out a silver necklace with a tiny cross on the chain, lifting it up and placing it in her hand.
"It's beautiful." she whispered, pressing her other hand to her heart.
"I thought you'd like it." He gave her a proud grin but then it turned solemn. "Maybe I can put it on you at the ceremony. Unless you'd prefer a ring?"
"This is perfect. I love it."
"Good." He stared up at her and then looked away awkwardly, swallowing hard. "I can't believe that I almost lost you."
"Yeah, I know." she agreed quietly. "But, maybe the next time we fight, we won't throw shoes or storm out. We'll sort things out, yeah?"
Pressing his face into her tummy, he nodded, and she brushed her fingers through his hair.
"I should go." he said, caressing her hips.
"Hmm, why? Did you have plans?"
"I have to go to my new apartment and get my things back." Yet despite his words, he made no move to leave her.
"Oh right." she smiled. "Your things belong right there in my closet."
"Mmm hmmm." He nuzzled her belly with his nose, still rubbing her hips.
She slid her fingers down to the ends of his hair. "That feels nice."
"Does it?" he murmured, inching her shirt up with his nose so he could nuzzle her skin more.
"Oh yes, it does."
"It hasn't even been 24 hours since we last did this..." He pressed a kiss to her tummy and she sighed sweetly, saying, "Can't get enough of you."
"Gonna give me a complex." he replied cheerfully.
She giggled at that and he continued. "So... when do you want this 'not a wedding'-wedding to occur?" As he spoke, his hands slid around to cup her rear end and his kisses went up a little higher.
"Mmm, soon as we can schedule all the friends and family we want to come."
"So basically... your friends." he clarified, kissing her skin again.
"Well, I didn't want to word it like that, but yes."
He chuckled quietly. "It's alright, petal."
"I'll start calling and sending emails tomorrow, but tonight, it's just you and me." She tugged on his jacket and he shrugged out of it.
"What did you have in mind?" he asked, eyes glittering.
"I think we should get under the covers and explore new and exciting areas of our bodies." She ended the statement with a saucy little wink.
He gave her a lascivious grin. "There's this spot right above your hipbone I like..."
"Ooo, better come show me." Grabbing his hands, she tugged her soon-to-be husband up to his feet towards the bed, and he followed her eagerly.
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