Chapter One
Doc finished adjusting the festive Halloween stocking cap on his head and took a look at himself in the bathroom mirror. It was his first Halloween with his new family and he was going to go with them while they went down to Earth to go trick or treating and go to a haunted house and Halloween party. In truth, he hadn't planned on going but Namid had asked him to come and he loved her so much he was more than happy to go and watch her have fun for the night. What surprised him was the variety of holidays that New Gallifrey had to offer. The Doctor explained to him that when they were planning what they wanted to do with their new home, they decided to include their favorite holidays from all over the universe. So not only did New Gallifrey have the traditional Gallifreyan holidays like Founder's Day, there was also Christmas, Halloween, Valentine's Day and lots of others besides that. So much so that every month there were numerous celebrations going on, even though most people pick and chose which holidays they wanted to celebrate. In addition to the ones that the Doctor and his family chose, over the centuries other holidays had been added, both from other planets and ones that were created by others who came up with ideas of their own. The Doctor explained to Doc that they had taken part in the Gallifreyan Halloween celebration before but wanted to go to Earth this year.
"It's a nice Halloween celebration here," the Doctor told him. "But here the holidays, even the Earth ones, have a little Time Lord spin put on them. For example, the haunted houses usually have the Dalek execution room or the Sontaran bloody battle field, things of that nature. I want to give that a miss this year and just go through a haunted house where I don't have to watch a Time Lord chained to a wall while a fake Dalek zaps him."
Doc had gone with him and Alan and their children to Earth to pick out Halloween costumes since nothing in the costume shop on New Gallifrey interested them. To his astonishment, Alan dragged out some old cow costume that he wore back when he and Rose first met.
"Yup, I wore old Bessie to a fancy dress party in Chicago and won first place," Alan said to him. "I believe I'll wear it again."
Doc thought the costume odd, especially the big plastic udders on the front of it but from the time he had spent with his odd brother, it seemed to fit his personality to a T. The Doctor, on the other hand, found a book on different costumes and makeup and decided to be Mister Mephistopheles from the Cats musical. Adam, who was not going with them since he, Marion, Theta and Frankie were going with friends to a fancy dress party in Orion City, helped the Doctor made the costume and helped him practice the makeup until he looked exactly like one of the performers in the Broadway musical. Rain found a long black dress along with white, black and red make up and vampire fangs. The Doctor took one look at her when she tried on her costume and put on the makeup and claimed she looked like Morticia from the Addams Family. Rose declined Alan's plea to be a farm girl again which upset him. He quickly cheered up though when she picked out a French maid costume instead. Then he went back to being unhappy when she borrowed some of Rain's white and black makeup and made herself look like an undead maid.
"Ugh, now you look hideous," Alan whined when he first saw it. "How can I fancy you when you look like a cadaver?"
As for the children, Chaska picked out a Spider-Man costume while Christopher dressed up as Captain Jack Sparrow which meant that the other Captain Jack had to endure some jokes at his expense for a few days. Sokanon chose Tinkerbell while Namid chose Snow White.
Once he was ready, Doc got in his car and drove two streets over to the Doctor's house. He got out, approached the front door and slowed when he noticed that there was a large plastic three dimensional skull hanging on the front of their wooden door. When he got closer he noticed a little red button was mounted on a tiny strip of black plastic underneath the chin. He hadn't seen it before so he figured they had gotten the decoration within the past couple of days. He stared at it for a moment and then pressed the button. Instantly the skull sprang to life. It's bottom jaw moved up and down while it spoke and its red eyes blinked on and off.
"AHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAA!" it said in a deep sinister voice. "WELCOME, FOOLISH MORTAL, TO THIS HOUSE OF HORRORS! ENTER, IF YOU DARE, BWAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAA!"
"Who's out there?" Rain said on the other side of the door. "Is this a visitor or another kid just pressing the button?"
"It's me, Rain, Doc."
She opened the door and embraced him.
"Hi, Doc. Sorry for asking your identity. My husband fell in love with this thing and insisted we get it for the door. Now every kid in the neighborhood has to press it at least ten times a day and I'm about ready to clobber him over the head with it. How are you?"
"I'm fine, Rain, thanks."
She stepped back and an amused grin spread over her face.
"That's your costume?" she said, pointing to his hat.
Doc's hat was made out of felt. It was orange with a wide black brim that had embroidered skulls around it. On the back of the stocking cap was a plastic skull that was hanging off the end like a tassel. Doc grinned and pressed a hidden button in the front of the brim. High-pitched thunder crashed and Doc turned around and showed her that the plastic skull's eyes were glowing red. Rain raised her eyebrow when she heard a high-pitched scream after the sounds of thunder.
"Do not…let my husband know that it makes noise…or Alan for that matter. Both will beat you up just to take it from you," she said. "But come inside, Sweetheart, and have some tea. My husband is being a slowpoke and I was upstairs getting the children into their costumes, so just relax and wait for us."
Doc nodded and Rain stepped aside to let him in.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The Doctor stood in his upstairs lavatory shaving his face in preparation of applying his makeup. His brother Adam was going to come by to help him apply it before heading out with Marion to meet up with Theta and the others. He finished applying his shaving cream and wet the tip of his razor under the running water flowing down into the basin. He began to shave while he stared at his reflection. He smiled when he sensed someone staring at him and looked down at his ten year old daughter, Namid. Namid had only had her sight for three months so everything was still a wonder to her and it thrilled the Doctor that she was now able to see and explore the world around her.
"Whatcha doin'?" she asked him.
"Shavin' my face," the Doctor drawled as he turned his gaze back to the mirror.
He continued shaving while Namid watched quietly. He glanced down and noticed she was still wearing her street clothes.
"Shouldn't you be in with your mum getting into your costume?" he said as he ran his razor under the water.
"Mum's helping Soki put glitter in her hair and putting makeup on and stuff. I wanna see what you're doin'," she said.
He smiled.
"Just shavin' my face," he drawled.
"Am I gonna do that one day?" Namid asked, pointing.
"Nope, not this. You might shave your legs but not your face. This is something men do," he replied, running the razor up under his chin.
"Namid, where are you? Come here so I can help you get your costume on!"
"Oops, you're in trouble now," the Doctor teased.
"Hurry, Honey, Dada's downstairs. Get dressed so you can show him your pretty costume!"
"Yeah, go and show that homewrecker your Snow White cozzy!" the Doctor said as Namid giggled.
He raised his eyebrow when Namid held her arms out and puckered her lips.
"Um, Rainbow, I have shaving cream all over my face," he said.
He put his fingers to his lips and pressed them against her nose.
"Now go and do as your mother says, Rainbow," he said to her.
Namid ran out of the room while the Doctor resumed shaving his face.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
While Doc was waiting, Adam knocked at the door. When Rain opened it and gave him and Marion hugs, Adam came into the living room and paused when he noticed Doc's hat.
"Wow, that's different," he said, playing with the skull while Marion went to help Rain. "That's your costume, eh?"
"I didn't feel like getting completely dressed up. I got this for Namid's benefit."
Adam put a hand on Doc's shoulder.
"Doc, I love ya but ya gotta lighten up a bit more."
"I'm sorry, I just never fancied Halloween that much. I am trying, really," he said.
Adam squeezed his shoulder.
"Well, I s'pose the hat's a start. Now if you'll excuse me, I gotta go put greasepaint on the jellicle cat."
He hurried upstairs while Doc sighed and shook his head.
"Sorry, Adam, some of us can't be as goofy as Alan," he muttered to himself.
He smiled when he noticed Namid hurrying down the stairs dressed as Snow White. Her long hair had been pulled back in a bun and Rain had applied some light mascara, eye shadow and lipstick to her face.
"Well, well, there's a vision if ever I saw one," he said to her as she ran towards him.
"Hi, Dada."
She stopped short when she saw the hat. Doc chuckled when she neared close to him and touched the soft felt. Doc pressed the button and delighted in her giggle as she held the skull in her hand.
"This is silly, I like it," she said.
"I was hoping you might. I thought it might amuse you," he said. "Now you, you look beautiful. I can't wait to see your brother and sister's costumes."
"Bubber is Spider-Man and Sis is Tinkerbell."
"And your father's a big bloomin' cat."
Namid giggled as she sat down beside him and smoothed out her yellow skirt.
"Yeah, they put the makeup on him the other day and he looks silly but not as silly as Alan. He's a cow."
"I know, I had a dekko at his costume. More power to him, I wouldn't be caught dead in it," he said.
"I like it. I think it's funny."
Namid frowned.
"Dada, how come you didn't get dressed up?" she said sadly.
Doc's hearts ached at the disappointed look on her face and in her tone of voice. He put his hand on the side of her face.
"Love, I'm sorry. It's just that Halloween's never been one of my favorite holidays so I never really wore costumes and went to fancy dress parties or haunted houses."
He smiled when Namid snuggled up against him and he laid his hand on her back while she listened quietly to him.
"I never really celebrated Earth holidays so this is new to me," he added. "I'm mainly here for you since you want me to go."
"But you can have fun too, Dada. You can be silly."
"I'm trying, Baby, I swear I am. It's just that I've been through so much especially in this life and it's gonna take time for me to loosen up as Adam says and be that silly. I used to be the bad guy, you know."
"But you're not anymore," Namid insisted.
"I know but I'm still trying to come to terms with that. I really am trying though so could you please be patient with me while I learn to loosen up and have fun again?"
Namid wrapped her arms around him and kissed his cheek.
"We're gonna have fun tonight, Dada," she whispered in his ear. "And if you don't, I'm gonna kick you in your patootie."
Doc chuckled and held her close while he sent love into her mind and silently thanked the universe for bringing his little miracle into his life.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
After Sokanon and Chaska came down with Rain and Marion, Doc admired their costumes and accepted a cup of tea from Rain. Rain and Marion sat down on the sofa near him and chatted awhile while they waited for Adam to finish with the Doctor.
"So what are you gonna be?" Rain asked Marion.
"I'm gonna be a princess but my cozzie's a bit bulky so I'm going to put it on after we leave here. Adam's gonna be my prince and he's waiting till he finished applying the makeup before he puts on his costume."
"Be sure to take photos of them," Rain said.
"Don't worry, Adam will take a million photos tonight. You lot do the same," Marion said.
They looked over when Adam came in the room, giggling hysterically.
"May I present the magical, mystical Mister Mephistopheles!" he said.
The Doctor came into the room and everyone laughed. He was dressed head to toe in a black bodysuit with a tail. His face was white with black around the eyes and black lines representing whiskers and he was weaing a fake fur wig that was teased out with fake cat ears on top.
"Hi, all! Welcome to the Jellicle Ball!" he said.
"Oh Lord," Rain said, putting her head in her hands while Marion laughed. "And I thought nothing could top Alan's cow costume."
"Come on, Morticia, pull your finger out and get your costume on, we haven't got all night."
"We're going in the TARDIS, Doofus Goofus," Rain replied.
"I know, I just like saying that, sounds like I'm in a big hurry when I'm not."
Rain rolled her eyes and she and Marion got up and hurried upstairs while the Doctor walked over to Doc. He played with the skull on his hat for a moment before he spoke.
"You need to give me that when you're done," he said. "Because I know Alan will be wanting it the moment he lays eyes on it."
"It's yours," Doc said, shrugging. "I got it for Namid mainly."
"Well," the Doctor said, sitting on the sofa beside Sokanon and Chaska. "She and Spider-Man and Tinkerbell can't have it. It's mine. I claim it so hard cheese everyone, I get the silly skull hat."
He smiled warmly at his brother.
"How are you doing?" he asked him.
"I'm fine. Forgive the lack of costume; Halloween was never my favorite holiday."
"Nor mine until Dot came along and I had to go with Maddie to take her trick or treating. Then Amelia and Opal and Tara came along and then Angel and Elizabeth and on and on up until these three and Chris came into our lives, now I don't mind it that much. I enjoy watching the children have fun."
"Exactly why I agreed to come," Doc said, rubbing Namid's back while she lay snuggled against him.
"Don't worry, Brother. It takes time. It took time for me to really let go and be happy again but you'll get there."
Doc nodded and smiled. The Doctor's eyes flicked towards the front door when he heard the door skull speaking.
"And I'm betting that's either Alan or another snotty kid who thinks it's cute to press the button and run like hell. Excuse me!" he said, getting up and going to answer it.