This story was inspired by a fan-made song called “The Companions Christmas” which describes some of the classic series companions getting together to enjoy a Christmas party together, talk over old times and raise a toast to the man who had changed all of their lives one way or another. I decided that it was time The Doctor threw a party and brought as many of his old friends together as possible. I restricted the party mainly to those still living on Earth in the time period, regardless of age. That meant Jamie and Zoe didn’t make it. Nor Vicki in ancient Rome. Nor did Mel, somewhere out in the universe with Sabalom Glitz or Peri, because her whereabouts are unknown. I left Ben out of the equation because the actor who played him died a few years ago. And yes, I know I HAVE include Harry Sullivan, even though Ian Marter who played his character is also dead. I was aware that Ian Marter was dead when I wrote Harry in as married to Sarah Jane. The difference, was that I remembered Harry in the episodes I watched in the 1970s, and it was easy to reinvent his character as a memorial. But I have no memories of the episodes with Ben’s character and when I researched Michael Craze I came, and came across a memorial webpage about him, it seemed as if he should be allowed to rest in peace. Romana and Leela are lost. Romana is in E-Space, and Leela, presumably, died on Gallifrey. Turlough is on his home planet. Stephen Taylor on the planet he elected to stay on. Everyone else was alive and well and within reach apart from Nyssa, who I wrote in as hitching a ride with Jack and Hellina and Lenoir, the Frenchman whose character was originally written as a love interest for Ace. The suggestion of a possible relationship with Nyssa tied up two loose ends in the narrative.

Gallifrey’s supernova as the Christmas Star? Why not. It might not be astronomically possible. I’m not sure a star rising in the East from a constellation that appears in the south sky really does work. But it SOUNDS good. Suspend disbelief and let The Doctor have that little comfort.

The gifts he brings to his friends, gold and silver, the last remnants of Gallifrey offered as presents for those who knew it existed but never got a chance to visit the mysterious home planet of the Time Lords. The Doctor has never explained how he affords to travel the universe continuously. But bags of gold dust have been seen in the TARDIS more than once. Notably in The Enemy Within when The Master buys Chang Lee’s loyalty with The Doctor’s gold. That his family owned mines is a perfectly reasonable assumption to make.

And what could they give him in return? What do you give the man who has everything and has nothing? A home. Of course.

The Companions Christmas

Sarah Jane sets the table
While Dodo pours out the wine
Ben and Polly are trimming the tree
As Ian and Barbara arrive
This isn't just another Christmas Eve
Or another round of Yuletide cheer
Tonight the Companions will gather
To remember the ones who aren't here

Liz has come down from Cambridge
Harry's flown in from France
Jo and Cliff were in the Amazon Reaches
But they knew they couldn't miss this chance
Tegan's made it here from Brisbane town
Victoria from her Shropshire estate
Yates and Benton were early
You know the Brig would never let them be late

So here's to good friends and Companions
Those whom he chose to take with him
While fighting evil and saving the world
And facing down terror and fear
Here's to all brave Companions
And here's to the ones who aren't here

They settle down at the table
Noting the empty chairs
They've been set up in silent memorial
Remembering those not there
One by one the Companions they say
A prayer for those scattered through time
Their names are whispered in honour
Those lost and those who did not survive

The rest remember the good times
The jaunts through time and space
They remember the adventures so grand
They remember the thrill of the chase
The sight of Daleks climbing up the stairs
Or a Cyberman from just round the bend
The fiendish schemes that were thwarted
By a Doctor with some help from his friends

So here's to good friends and Companions
Here's to the privileged few
Those who know that there are worlds out there
With seas that sleep and rivers that dream
Here's to all brave Companions
Who've seen the things that nobody's seen

As the evening is ending
A final wish made with care
For You-Know-Who, wherever he is
And the ones who are with him out there
But then the clock starts chiming thirteen
A strange echo's heard down the hall
Accompanied by a box-like shape
Whose lines are familiar to all

D'ye think he'd have missed this for anything?
He noted it down years ago
The face is different but the man is the same
The one who made it safe to be scared
They drink a toast together
In memory of the times they all shared

So here's to good friends and Companions
Here's to adventures to come
Somewhere there's danger and somewhere injustice
Somewhere else the tea's getting cold
Here's to all brave Companions
To the ones whose tales are yet to be told

http://www.khaosworks.org/filk/companions.html

http://www.khaosworks.org/mp3/companions.mp3

http://members.aol.com/benjacksn/cockney/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Marter