"She is complete. It begins."
— Droid, The Girl in the Fireplace
Penelope turned around at the sound of Reinette's voice, closer than the audio link that the Doctor had created. She was stunned when Reinette herself stood in the ship.
"Hello again Miss Adaams." The ginger woman smiles, knowing how strange this must be for her.
"Call me Penelope, we've danced together, I don't think there's any reason for the formality."
"Penelope, then, they will arrive in 5 years. Miss Tyler tells me not to worry, but I can't help it. I know what awaits me on the slow path. I'm not sure how I can do it alone." Penelope looks back at the doorway where she knew the Doctor was working before walking forward and taking her hands.
"I'll talk to the Doctor. Just don't wander about here." The older woman nods, watching as the person she deemed her childhood sweetheart walked to the man that held her heart. She didn't know - when she was so young - why Penelope preferred the Doctor, but she saw the love in his head. She knew she shouldn't compete, but it doesn't hurt to try.
Penelope tapped on the Doctor's shoulder, causing him to jump up, concerned.
"Are you okay? We're all good? No, no clockwork people?" She laughs, which calms him down. He's been strangely jumpy recently, but she never sees him sleep so she puts it down to that.
"We're all okay. But there is something I need to ask you." That same heavy feeling returned, the one from when she asked to go home. She wasn't looking at him so she didn't see the panic flit across his face.
"Reinette doesn't want to be alone. I can stay with her." He starts shaking his head and walking into the other room. She follows after him. "It's just five years, Doctor. I'll be okay for five years." He stopped in front of Reinette, trying hard to not look pissed.
"She does not belong in your world, Reinette. She doesn't belong with you." Reinette didn't even blink.
"And she belongs with you, Doctor?" It was like the thought that she wouldn't be with him hadn't even crossed his mind. He turned to her, expecting her full support. He wasn't expecting the guilty look on her face and the drop in his chest.
"Penelope?" She heard the pain in his voice and could hardly look at him.
"I'm sorry Doctor, but I know that I wouldn't want to be alone. You wouldn't want me alone."
"But you're leaving me?" Her heart broke and it took a lot to shake away those tears behind her eyes.
"It's not forever, not even for a day. For you it is five minutes, you're without me for five minutes. And if you miss me you can look through a mirror, I'll know you're on the other side." He let out a distressed laugh, pacing away from the women.
"Penelope it is five years. Five years off your life. You're not made for Reinette's slow path in 1800's France!" She smiled at him softly, walking over and taking his hands into hers. He didn't have any choice but to look at her.
"I want you to take something for me." She takes off her ring and places it in his hand, curling his fingers over it. "This is my most treasured item. I would like you to hold onto it for my 26-year-old self."
"But what if-"
"I'll be okay, and I want my ring back Doctor. Someone very, very important gave it to me." Reinette had gone back into the room, Penelope slowly leading the Doctor to the same place.
"It's not going to be long for me, I already know where you are. But I'm not sure I can do it without you." She smiled, heart strings being tugged violently, she knew she would cry the second he couldn't see her.
"You said I didn't belong on her slow path, right? Doctor, I've been on the slow path for two decades, what's five years more." He tried not to show the heartbreak on his face.
"Penelope-"
"You'll see me in 5 minutes, I'll make sure to dress up for you. Now go on, you've got a wife to save a couple windows down."