(no subject)
Location: London
For: Anyone who happens to be there?
--
*goes and reports in at UNIT* *picks up her paycheck, runs a few errands, etc.* *finally goes to visit her family*
Francine: Martha! Oh, it's so good to see you. I was wondering when you'd stop by - your new job must be keeping you busy.
Martha: Yeah, well, you know how it is. There's always loads of training to get through, adjusting to new hours, that sort of thing. *shakes her head* It's mad, really. How's everybody doing here?
Francine: Leo dropped by with the baby - wanted to know where you were, of course, but I told him you'd moved out again. *frowns* I do wish you'd stay here, Martha.
Martha: *sighs* I know, Mum. We've talked about this before. I've got to get out on my own, live my own life. I can't stay with you and Dad forever.
Francine: I think he'd be so much better if you were here, though. You've always been sort of a calming influence on him. Tish has been trying, but...it's just not the same.
Tish: *wanders into the kitchen, still in her pajamas* What about me? *glances at Martha* Well, well, look what the cat dragged in.
Francine: And Tish here still hasn't found a job yet.
Tish: Oi! I've been looking, haven't I? I interviewed with that couple who needed a nanny just last week. *looks down* 'Course, then I had a spell in the middle of the interview...
Martha: *frowns, leaning forward and resting her elbows on the kitchen island* Have they gotten that bad, Tish?
Tish: *shifty look* No. Just sometimes, that's all. You know how it is. People overreact.
Martha: *dryly* You mean they don't want girls who black out and start crying in the middle of an interview to take care of their kids?
Tish: *probably looks like she's about to cry* Look, Martha, we can't all be you, all right? Some of us just can't go on and keep pretending that everything's fine. You didn't see what we did.
Martha: *quietly* Yeah, and you didn't see what I did. 'm sorry, Tish. *sad look* For everything.
Francine: *suddenly notices the ring on Martha's finger* *picks her hand up to look at it* Oh, and what's this, then? Is there something you aren't telling us?
Tish: *raises an eyebrow* You've got a bloke? I thought you were being all Miss Independent and playing hard to get, and suddenly you come in with some ring on your finger? Oh, that is just not on.
Francine: *grins* So, tell me about this man - it is a man, isn't it?
Martha: *laughs* 'Course it is, Mum. *suddenly thinks of Donna, feeling a slight twinge of guilt* He's big, and tall, and strong - a doctor.
Francine: *suspicious look* A doctor?
Martha: C'mon, who would use those words to describe the Doctor? *grins* You know how scrawny he is - and you know how I feel about him. Anyway, there's no need to worry. His name's Tom - he's fantastic. I'll bring him 'round sometime. *dreamy sigh* He's just so sensitive and wonderful - great with his hands, too.
Tish: *snickers* And with other things, I expect.
Martha: *indignant look* Like I'd tell you if he was! You'll probably try to steal him out from under me as it is - just like how you steal all my clothes.
Tish: *sticks her tongue out at Martha* Just the good ones - men as well as clothes.
Martha: *rolls her eyes* Anyway, I'm gonna stay here the next couple of days, yeah? Check up on you guys, get some quality family time in, that sort of thing. *reassuring smile at Francine* I promise, I won't leave you alone like that again.
*goes out and sits on the stoop of her parents' house, suddenly overwhelmed by guilt* *starts crying quietly*
For: Anyone who happens to be there?
--
*goes and reports in at UNIT* *picks up her paycheck, runs a few errands, etc.* *finally goes to visit her family*
Francine: Martha! Oh, it's so good to see you. I was wondering when you'd stop by - your new job must be keeping you busy.
Martha: Yeah, well, you know how it is. There's always loads of training to get through, adjusting to new hours, that sort of thing. *shakes her head* It's mad, really. How's everybody doing here?
Francine: Leo dropped by with the baby - wanted to know where you were, of course, but I told him you'd moved out again. *frowns* I do wish you'd stay here, Martha.
Martha: *sighs* I know, Mum. We've talked about this before. I've got to get out on my own, live my own life. I can't stay with you and Dad forever.
Francine: I think he'd be so much better if you were here, though. You've always been sort of a calming influence on him. Tish has been trying, but...it's just not the same.
Tish: *wanders into the kitchen, still in her pajamas* What about me? *glances at Martha* Well, well, look what the cat dragged in.
Francine: And Tish here still hasn't found a job yet.
Tish: Oi! I've been looking, haven't I? I interviewed with that couple who needed a nanny just last week. *looks down* 'Course, then I had a spell in the middle of the interview...
Martha: *frowns, leaning forward and resting her elbows on the kitchen island* Have they gotten that bad, Tish?
Tish: *shifty look* No. Just sometimes, that's all. You know how it is. People overreact.
Martha: *dryly* You mean they don't want girls who black out and start crying in the middle of an interview to take care of their kids?
Tish: *probably looks like she's about to cry* Look, Martha, we can't all be you, all right? Some of us just can't go on and keep pretending that everything's fine. You didn't see what we did.
Martha: *quietly* Yeah, and you didn't see what I did. 'm sorry, Tish. *sad look* For everything.
Francine: *suddenly notices the ring on Martha's finger* *picks her hand up to look at it* Oh, and what's this, then? Is there something you aren't telling us?
Tish: *raises an eyebrow* You've got a bloke? I thought you were being all Miss Independent and playing hard to get, and suddenly you come in with some ring on your finger? Oh, that is just not on.
Francine: *grins* So, tell me about this man - it is a man, isn't it?
Martha: *laughs* 'Course it is, Mum. *suddenly thinks of Donna, feeling a slight twinge of guilt* He's big, and tall, and strong - a doctor.
Francine: *suspicious look* A doctor?
Martha: C'mon, who would use those words to describe the Doctor? *grins* You know how scrawny he is - and you know how I feel about him. Anyway, there's no need to worry. His name's Tom - he's fantastic. I'll bring him 'round sometime. *dreamy sigh* He's just so sensitive and wonderful - great with his hands, too.
Tish: *snickers* And with other things, I expect.
Martha: *indignant look* Like I'd tell you if he was! You'll probably try to steal him out from under me as it is - just like how you steal all my clothes.
Tish: *sticks her tongue out at Martha* Just the good ones - men as well as clothes.
Martha: *rolls her eyes* Anyway, I'm gonna stay here the next couple of days, yeah? Check up on you guys, get some quality family time in, that sort of thing. *reassuring smile at Francine* I promise, I won't leave you alone like that again.
*goes out and sits on the stoop of her parents' house, suddenly overwhelmed by guilt* *starts crying quietly*