Gang, it's so dark in here I couldn't find the keyboard to close the challenge. (Ok. It's a stretch, but we ARE sorry we're late on this one.) Time to drag all your entries kicking and screaming out of the dark - and into the limelight, where they all deserve to shine. And if you wonder just where that light's coming from, well... stay tuned for the next challenge, coming shortly. For now, the Darkness challenge is officially over. The entries can be found using the "challenge: darkness" tag - or just click here.

After so much darkness, it's time to lighten things up - and I think it's fair to say that there's no better definition of "beaming" than when Jack or the Doctor (or, be still my heart, both at once, and you KNOW what scene I mean!) break into full-on, wide open, totally joyous grins. And it couldn't be a better time - we're coming up on the shortest day of the year, and it's time for holiday lights and New Year's fireworks and all sorts of merriment.

So we're challenging you - tell us how those megawatt smiles came to happen!

The "Wide Open Grin" Challenge!

Maybe Jack sets out on a mission to make the Doctor laugh. Maybe Jack's own grin is just infectious all on it's own. Maybe it's something in the champagne they served at the Bilaxian harvest festival that went straight to their heads. Maybe it's wistful, and a little sad, but still appreciative of what's good in the world. Maybe the fact they can smile at all is its own sort of miracle.

It's so delightful when they show those pearly whites - you tell us what made 'em grin. Here's a few ideas to get them started!

• Jack's got lots of smiles - but only one of them's real - can the Doctor see through the others? Does Jack think so?
  
• Or: Smiles are so compelling - just what do they make Jack and the Doctor want to do?
  
• Or: Just what made the Mona Lisa smile like that? That scenery looks like something out of the Doctor's travels - were they behind the scenes pulling faces?
  
• Or: Just what did Jack and the Doctor do to celebrate with the Bilaxians?
  

So make 'em laugh, make 'em smile - just so we all get to share the joy. Posting guidelines can be found here. Interpret the prompt as you like, take any of our suggestions or not - anything's good so long as Jack or the Doctor - or both of them - spend some time in the dark. What are you waiting for?

As a gentle reminder, please don't crosspost stories for this challenge to other comms until the challenge closes. As for me, I'll be over here catching up on my comments for last month's submissions and waiting to see what comes along next. (And don't forget - leave a comment in THIS post and tell us what you think the next challenge should be!)