"Nervous?" Theta smiled. 

 

"Little" 

 

"It's gonna be fine. Love you" she stroke her knee 

 

"Love you too.” 

 

She drove into one of the finest neighborhoods in Sheffield and Yaz felt a hole opening inside her stomach. She hoped they were just passing through. They didn't talk much about their parents, so she had no idea where they lived. 

 

"Your parents live in Dore?”

 

"Yes" 

 

She just thought she checked before she started freaking out. But now it was definitely time to start freaking out when Theta pulled off the road into a driveway of a massive two-floor house on a corner. 

 

"This is your parents house?" 

 

"Yap" she smiled. 

 

"Oh shit" 

 

"Whaaa?" 

 

"You didn't tell me they're rich. Why didn't you tell me?" 

 

"Yaz it's ok." 

 

"No, it's not, I come from Park Hill you come from fucking Beverly Hills" she huffed glueing her face to the window completely panicking. 

 

Theta burst out laughing "Yaz." 

 

"Ha?" She replied still looking at the house "this is at least 3 bedrooms." 

 

"5....Yaz" 

 

"OMG....Thetaaaa." 

 

"Yaz...We are not parked up in front of Buckingham Palace." 

 

"We are for me...They will think I'm just some lesbian who ruined their perfectly straight daughter chasing her for money." 

 

"Yaaaz....OMG" Theta couldn't stop laughing. Yaz turned and she saw a genuine panic in her eyes, her ears getting bright red, and she looked as if she was about to cry. 

 

"Breathe....It's just my mum and dad. They are perfectly normal people my dad has a TARDIS console and a collection of all the Doctor Who stuff that ever existed on this planet and my mum loves gardening and dogs. She has 6 and 3 cats and bunnies in the garden. My dad farts when getting up from the table because as surgeon he believes it's healthy and my mum very often has socks that don't match because she believes it's lucky....They have a big house because my grandparents bought it then my granny refused to clean it saying  she's not his made, so they all moved in together...My grandpa would leave his dentures lying around and we would find them everywhere. Yes, my dad is a doctor, my mum is a lawyer, and my grandad was a actually a baker. We're just a normal fucked up family with a little bit more money. Feeling better? 

 

"Yes" she couldn't help but laugh at her explanation "Did you learn that speech.” 

 

"No, I'm a lawyer, I talk a lot. Ready?" She smiled dropping a kiss to her lips. 

 

Yaz inhaled deeply "Yes." 

 

She dragged her feet to the main door, preparing to be torn to pieces by her parents. She was ready, but to turn around and go home. Theta reached out for a hand, which she wasn't sure was the best idea in the world in this scenario, but it seemed comforting. Lola sniffed around and peed right next to the bush near the door. 

 

"Hiya"a tall slim woman with the same blonde hair as Theta, but short, opened the door. Yaz was momentarily struck by their uncanny resemblance. It was like seeing her girlfriend, but 20 years into the future. 

 

"Hiiii" Theta shined hugging her from the door. 

 

"Mum, this is my Yaz, Yaz my mum Ashley.” 

 

"Hello Yaz, very nice to meet you" she reached out her hand. 

 

"Nice to meet you too Ashley" Yaz smiled and wondered if the cramp on her face could be seen. 

 

"Come in, Yaz are you ok with dogs?" 

 

"Absolutely" 

 

"Oh, good because they're going nuts" she opened the door to a room and a pack of dogs of all sizes flooded the hallway. Then a cat appeared out of nowhere, circling their legs. 

 

"Waaaw, hello" she bent down cuddling them. "Lola is right at home." 

 

"Oh, she loves the attention" Ashley said and led them to the kitchen. "Food is almost done, Yaz would you like to drink something? Juice, some wine, tea?" 

 

"Juice is fine thank you." 

 

"Where's dad?" Theta asked pouring herself and mum some wine. 

 

"He's on his way. Went to his mate to pick up something for that car they are trying to assemble." 

 

"My dad bought this old-timer in a horrible state but it’s the same as the car he first had. So, he and his mate are trying to make it work like Wallace and Gromit refusing to take it to a proper shop. It's become another hobby" she laughed. 

 

"My dad did the same with a bike he used to have as a kid." 

 

"That's nice" Ashley smiled and passed her a juice "So, Theta tells me you're a police officer?" 

 

"I am" she smiled nervously. 

 

"Well, then just don't look at the antiques in the dining room, we're not sure where they came from" she laughed. 

 

"OMG" Yaz burst out laughing. 

 

"Yeah, grandad did some seriously dodgy stuff when he was younger. Fuck knows where he got those from" Theta laughed. 

 

"I'll ignore them" Yaz laughed. 

 

"Do you like your job Yaz?" 

 

"Love it, I just hope I get to do more in the future.” 

 

"I’m sure you will. Theta says you're working really hard it will pay off, you're still young. She mentioned your father owns a corner shop? My dad had a bakery, did she tell you?  The best of times honest" 

 

"My brothers and I used help dad out after school I loved it." 

 

"Aaa...Me too, I used to go and help in the back, I miss those days.... Aaa your dad...Come Tete let's get the food out then after lunch you can show Yaz your old room." 

 

Theta rolled her eyes smiling. 

 

"Can I help?" Yaz said. 

 

"That's nice of you. You can grab the salad dear." 

 

"Come let me show you" Theta took a tray of Yorkshire pudding and a bowl of peas leading her across the hallway to the dining room. 

 

"See, you're still alive" she giggled kissing her cheek. 

 

"Sorry about freaking out." 

 

"Sorry for not preparing you. I didn't think." 

 

"Tete?" 

 

"Mum and dad call me that sometimes it stayed since I was little.... Oh, hi dad!" 

 

"Aaaa the girlfriend!" He chirped from the door leaving his coat and the scarf on the hanger and came straight to Yaz with a smile "I started to think she's making it all up" 

 

"Daaad!" 

 

"Nope, I'm very real. Yaz, nice to meet you. Sorry, the salad" she said clumsily trying to shake his hand. 

 

"Bob...like Bob the builder" 

 

"He always says that" Theta rolled her eyes laughing "Come babe, let me show you the dining room. Dad, get yourself sorted food's done." 

 

A pack of dogs followed them as they carried all the food. The dining room was bigger than Yaz's parent's apartment with a large table for 12 people and a big fireplace. It was decorated semi-modern with a mix of contemporary furniture and typical classic pieces, but very nice and bright. She saw a garden with a swimming pool. Then something made her laugh, it was a blue police telephone box right by the pool. 

 

"Oh, that's his TARDIS, told you" Theta giggled "He left it to me in his will. It all lights up and it has a console inside. He plays there like a kid." 

 

.... 

 

"Are you two planning to go for a holiday this summer?" Ashley asked "Cause I can talk to Jenny see about that place they went to in Spain last year. Apparently, it's fantastic." 

 

"We will for sure mum, but we haven't talked about it yet, it's only March." 

 

"But you know if you book your flights now it will be a lot cheaper." 

 

"She's just trying to guess if this a short term or a long term relationship" Bob leaned over whispering in Yaz's ear and she giggled "So watch now when Theta avoids the answer." 

 

"I'm sure it is mum, is she happy with that home for her mum?" 

 

"See told you.” 

 

Yaz laughed into her plate. 

 

"What are you two laughing at?" Theta raised her eyebrow. 

 

"Nothing, just saying to Yaz I'm gonna show her my collection." 

 

"I'd love to see it." 

 

... 

 

"OMG" Yaz's eyes opened wide when she saw the guy had literally the whole study filled with shelfs floor to ceiling with memorabilia including costumes out on a display in a glass wardrobe. 

 

"Theta wasn't joking when she said you've got everything. This is amazing you can open up a museum. She told me that's where her name comes from. I did watch a little bit but I'm not so familiar with it." 

 

"Theta is very special name, that's the Doctor." 

 

"You're the doctor" she giggled "So that makes her the Doctor's daughter." 

 

"Aaaaaaa....clever." he chuckled "I chose the name because it could be for a boy or a girl." 

 

"It's a beautiful name, so unusual." 

 

"She used to be into it as a kid, now not so much she catches up with everything for Christmas. I still miss that" he said putting some figurine back on the shelf. 

 

"Hey, you two" Theta peaked through the door. 

 

"She's ok, I just borrowed her." 

 

"This is amazing" she smiled "And the house is stunning." 

 

"Come let me show you my room" she reached her hand out. 

 

....

 

"Waaaw" Yaz giggled "Now that explains a lot." 

 

It was a big room and very girly. White wallpaper with tiny dusky pink roses sprinkled everywhere. White four-poster bed and matching bedding. A Victorian-looking fireplace on the opposite wall and a table to match the bed under a bay window draped with dusky pink silk curtains. The carpet was at least 5 cm thick, and her foot fell into it like clouds. Her attention was drawn to the photos on the dresser. It was Theta as a child with what she assumed were her grandparents. 

 

"You look so cute." 

 

"I look like a dork" she laughed glueing herself on Yaz's back "I'm so glad you came. Feeling better?" 

 

"Yes, they are really nice. I was expecting to be pulled apart." 

 

"They would never do that. See, they are very normal. My mum is still a bit confused about us, but she told me you're very pretty." She hummed into her neck "So, wanna go to Spain?" She giggled. 

 

.... 

 

Tuesday morning was cold, with a north wind and rain. Neither of them wanted to get up and rolled on the bed avoiding the inevitable. They would sleep at each other's places most nights now. This night it was Yaz's again. Lola has strangely gotten used to being neither here nor there. Feeling right at home in Yaz's apartment. The lack of a bedroom door sometimes being the only problem. 

 

Yaz rolled over the bed and saw the rain on the windows. She frowned in disgust and draped her arm over Theta dragging her across the bed closer making her giggle. 

 

"I knoooow It's gross." She yawned "Can't wait for spring" she wiggled her bum tucking it into Yaz then reached for the arm draped around her shoving it underneath her top. 

 

"I can't wait Saturday" Yaz hummed into her neck sliding her hand up and down her length. She was soft and warm and smelled of Gardenia body cream and she could stay like this till she died. "We still have an hour.

 

"Mmmm...an hour of cuddle sounds nice." She turned just enough to be able to kiss her and sighed as Yaz's hand continued lower down her body. 

 

..... 

 

Yaz turned lazy and laced Thetas fingers on her chest then in the next moment opened her eyes in a complete horror "Babe...get up babe!" 

 

"What? Why? " Theta mumbled into her hair. 

 

"Get up babe we fell asleep" she sat up shaking Theta. 

 

"WHAT!" 

 

"It's fucking Tuesday not Saturday and it's 8 fucking 30" she said throwing the duvet off her. 

 

"Fuck...shit...how did that happen?" She grabbed her phone. 

 

"You how that happened...Jesus my boss is gonna kill me." 

 

Theta saw about 5 missing phone calls and realized she missed a meeting "Fuck" she raised out of bed. 

 

Yaz panicked brushing her teeth and trying to pull her trousers on at the same time trying to multitask texting her colleague.

 

"I've got no boss, but I just missed teams meeting...shit. I'll drive you to work." 

 

"I'll take a cab." 

 

"Noo, I'll drive you...actually, no you take my car I'll take a cab...I'll have to call my client from the car." 

 

"What if I prang it?" 

 

"You'll pay me in kind" she giggled and threw her the keys. 

 

..... 

 

"You're late” her colleague said as soon as she entered the station. 

 

"I knoooow" Yaz squirmed. 

 

"He's really pissed off." 

 

"I guessed that." 

 

"Where the hell have you been?" 

 

"You don't wanna know" she zoomed pass her and straight to her boss’s office. Took a deep breath and pushed the door open. 

 

"Well, look at her...had your beauty sleep?" 

 

"I'm so so sorry, I was..." 

 

"Don't, cause what ever you say right now you’re just gonna dig yourself in even deeper." 

 

"Well, I have to say something.” 

 

"No, you don't .... Just go get changed and don't do this again." 

 

"I promise.... Thaaaaank youuuu" 

 

"Go disappear"  

 

..... 

 

It was raining outside. She and her partner were called over yet another domestic dispute. She got out of the car and as they approached the house, they already heard voices shouting from inside. 

 

"Fucking cunt, look what you did" the man yelled inside "You're fucking nuts.... I’m done with this shit!" 

 

"Well, fuck off then.... Fucking tosser " the woman shouted, and then something smashed against the door and suddenly a man opened it. 

 

"Oh, here we go, you lot" the man sighed. 

 

"Who you're talking to?" She yelled from the kitchen. 

 

"The fucking coppers! She's a fucking psycho please, lock her up." 

 

After a grueling 45 minutes they were finally leaving. The rain got even stronger by this point soaking into their uniforms. 

 

"Fuck, I'm completely sneaked" Jack, her partner said running to the car. 

 

"Aaaaa fuck" Yaz lifted her foot out of the puddle and all the icy water spilled out of her shoes. Her leg fell through the water up to her ankle. "Why can't I have my boots on? ... For fuck’s sake" she shook her foot. 

 

They finally sat in the car, and she took her shoes off literally pouring the water out of the window. 

 

"What the fuck happened Khan?" he laughed. 

 

"I stepped into a fucking water." 

 

"Oh noo...Look, I'll drive you home. You're gonna get ill if you go to station like this, we're done anyway. I'll submit the report." 

 

"Thanks, I really appreciate that mate" 

 

"So, yours or girlfriends?" 

 

"Mine please" 

 

"How's things?" 

 

"Great, met her parents. They're so cool." she said taking all her equipment off and dumping it in the back seat. 

 

"Uuu be careful Khan, you meet the parents next she wants a ring and before you know it you have 3 kids." 

 

"Well, some of us have different goals than the others mate" she raised her eyebrow. 

 

"Ouch" 

 

She got out of the car and saw Theta was already home. Completely wet anyway didn't bother running anymore. Her wet shoes made a sound as she walked, and she was frozen to the bone. 

 

"Hiya" Theta chirped from the kitchen and Lola came running up to her. 

 

"Hey babe" she answered exhausted. 

 

"She peed on her nappy. I didn't take it out so.... OMG!!" she stopped in her tracks seeing the poor state of her, standing like a wet mouse in the hallway "Baaaaby...what the hell?" She left the bowl on the shoe cabinet and rushed over to her "You're completely wet." 

 

"I just had a really bad day."

 

"No shit. I'll run a hot bath for you." she said, taking off her jacket. 

 

"I could do with that " she said on the verge of tears. 

 

.... 

 

"I was dreaming about this the whole day." Yaz hummed, closing her eyes, and leaned on Thetas chest. The steaming hot bath finally warmed her up. 

 

"I made dinner, possibly" she giggled running fingers down her arm. 

 

"That sounds divine." She exhaled "How was your day?" 

 

"I lied saying my Wi-Fi dropped and I had to get the service in" 

 

"Shame on you" she giggled. 

 

"He was happy after I told him I'll knock one hour from my invoice " she giggled. 

 

Yaz chuckled then leaned her head on hers as Theta closed her arms around her and kissed her temple. 

 

"Can we just watch something?" 

 

"Yes of course baby. And early night. You need to rest." 

 

"I'm a bit burned out. These working weekends killed me to be honest." 

 

"I'm very proud of you, not everyone can do what you do. Come on love, the water is getting colder. Go sort yourself out. Il´l quickly get dressed and put the food out.” 

 

.... 

 

Theta served a nice hot meal. She even heated up some nice pumpkin soup for Yaz. She felt bad that Yaz had to work so hard and couldn't help but feel that she was underappreciated for her work. 

 

"Heeey," Yaz came up behind her trailing her hands down her arms and kissed her cheek "What would I do without you?" 

 

Theta melted at those words. She couldn't remember anyone ever telling her that. She put her plate down and turned around, throwing her arms over her shoulders. 

 

"Thank you" 

 

"For what baby?" She smiled, planting a small kiss to her lips gliding her hands down her sides. 

 

"For appreciating me." 

 

"OMG baby" she closed her arms around her waist gently. 

 

"It's just nice for a change to be treated as more than just you know..." she said sadly as she tucked Yaz's curls behind her ears. 

 

"You really knew how to pick them didn't you? Wasn't there anyone normal?" 

 

"One, but he was only here for work and then he had to leave back to Australia. See, they're all nice in the beginning" she said sitting down at the table "All charming and then the mask falls very fast. In fact, looking back I couldn't see it. But it was always there. Small stuff that you go over when it nips you right in the heart but you're into someone and you just think it can't be perfect. We're just people. Then small stuff becomes big stuff and then it all goes badly wrong." 

 

"It can be like that no matter who you date. I had some really schizo girlfriends I was cheated on twice. I was lied to. People can be right shits. I'm just happy I have you." 

 

"And I'm happy to have you baby" she laced their fingers on the table. "Eat your soup darling, it's getting cold.” 

 

"It's really nice, thanks for that." 

 

"God it's still raining." She said looking towards the window as the rain bashed against it "What about Lola?" 

 

"Leave it for now, she happy with a nappy and she's not holding it in." 

 

"That's true" 

 

....

 

 

They opened the sofa bed after dinner and snuggled. Yaz was exhausted curled up around Theta like a small child and fell asleep with her head on her chest. Theta watched the show till the end running fingers lazily down her back as Yaz was long gone, deep in her sleep only occasionally snuggling closer. She realized that as much as she needed Yaz to feel safe, Yaz needed her in the same way. It was a very different dynamic and she loved every moment of it.

 

….