Let's Go Shopping!

"Whoa," she said. "You're..." 

"Yup," said the other Betty. "Parallel versions of you." 

"Versions?" 

The redhead smiled. "Yeah. Long story." 

"I'll just bet!" 

The other Betty -- the one that still looked like her -- sat a cup down in front of her. "Here, drink this. Calm your nerves." 

 She stared down into the cup. Peppermint tea. Her favorite. "Well, I suppose you'd know." 

"Yup," said the redhead. "Takes some getting used to, but it's actually kind of cool. Like talking to yourself, only people don't look at you funny." 

"Yes they do," said the other one. "Sometimes." All three of them gave identical laughs. 

"I'm generally called Ragan," said the redhead. "to avoid confusion. This is Betty. I don't know what we're going to call you..." 

"Hey, I'll answer to 'hey, you.'" They laughed again. 

"Well, OK, 'Hey, you,'" said the one who'd been introduced as Betty. "We were just going off to do some shopping for the Doc and Inquirer's wedding. Want to come along and help us pick something out?" 

Betty -- or "Hey, you," or whatever she ought to be calling herself now -- glanced over at the couple in question, who were holding hands and smiling. Which was also a seriously weird sight, considering that this was the Doctor, for crying out loud, but she figured she was doing a pretty good job of not gawking. "Um, I'm afraid I don't know them very well... I'd have no idea what to get." 

 "Hey, us, too," said Ragan. "I mean, the Doctor already has everything." 

"Well, I could use a new fluid link for the TARDIS," said the Doctor mildly. 

"You shameless romantic, you," said Inquirer, and slapped him affectionately on the arm. He smiled indulgently back at her. Betty tried harder not to gawk. 

"Come on," said the other Betty, gently pulling "Hey, you" to her feet. "Let's go look around and maybe something will leap out at us." 

1. "We'll meet you back here in an hour," Ragan called over her shoulder, as they headed for the nearest store.