Another round of Tales from the TARDIS, this time with the tenth Doctor starting off at the end of "The Christmas Invasion."

For those of you who have read the ninth Doctor's Tales from the TARDIS, the same rules apply, but I'll repeat them any way. This is a spinoff story from my other Doctor Who fanfiction, The Sparrow and the Doctor. It is not necessary to read this to understand what is happening in the main story. Although, if you wish to read this without actually reading the main story, there is some basic information you need to know. Alison Sparrow was dragged from her universe to the Doctor's by the rift in Cardiff where she is now travelling the universe with the Time Lord himself and many other companions. In her own universe, Sparrow was a whovian like many of you readers, and brought with her the knowledge of the long running science fiction television show, Doctor Who. During the events of the Game Station in "The Parting of Ways," Sparrow absorbed a part of the Time Vortex where she is now being transformed into a Time Lord herself. Recent events are still unfolding in The Sparrow and the Doctor as I post chapter updates.

These will just be a series of one-shot stories with no real connection between each chapter. I will try to post them in order of events that actually do occur in the universe, for instance, this story is a further explanation on the end of the "Christmas Invasion" chapter after, to many reader's delight, Sparrow and the Doctor shared their first kiss.

Because writing outside the main story can be fun as well, I see this as a great way to add more, incorporate my own idea, thoughts, and situations these characters could possibly get in to.

So, the first chapter isn't much extra from what we've seen, but a nice little starter for the story.

Please note: I do NOT own Doctor Who or any if it's characters and stories.


Christmas Dinner

"We're on our way up now," the Doctor shouted up towards Jessica as he grabbed Sparrow's hand, lacing their fingers together. He pulled her along before her annoyance got the better of her and she shouted some obscenity at the smirking girl above. They passed through the garden's gate and up the stairs to the third level of the building where Jessica greeted them with a knowing smile. She didn't need to see what the two were doing to know what had just happened and couldn't be happier for her friend as she saw the two of them through the red door of the flat.

Sparrow and the Doctor were hit with a blast of aroma as they entered the living room; roasted turkey, peas, brussel sprouts, gravy, and stuffing. But as Sparrow gave one last sniff of the air, she also got the hint of burning food and looked over to the kitchen to see Andy overcooking the stuffing. She quickly let go of the Doctor's hand and ran in to fix the mess, slapping the spoon out of Andy's hands and using a dish rag to take the pan off the stove.

The Doctor watched in amusement as she scolded Andy for his poor cooking skill and eventually pushed him out of the kitchen as she took his place preparing dinner. Jackie was in the kitchen as well, slaving away as she cooked a special Christmas dinner for her daughter and Mickey while Sparrow worked beside her doing the same for Jessica and Andy. It appeared to be that the only time the two got along was when they were in the kitchen and quite frankly, the lack of bickering between Sparrow and Jackie was already making the Christmas better than most had started.

Andy had joined Mickey as they both worked on decorating a Christmas tree at the corner of the room, one that would hopefully not try to kill them this time. But as they continued dropping tinsel over the branches and hanging up decorative baubles and lights, nothing attacked the group as they enjoyed a nice night with family and friends.

Rose was helping Jessica set the table for the large group of seven, placing plates, silverware, dishes, glasses, and napkins. Finishing the task quickly, Rose looked through the collection of music Jessica and Sparrow had stored away in the closet and eventually settled on Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" mix CD. Jessica took to criticising Mickey and her brother as she swore the tree was crooked and they needed to straighten it. The boys saw nothing wrong with the angle however and proceeded to continue hanging decorations on the tree.

The Doctor was delighted as he watched the two families joining for Christmas. He didn't doubt they didn't do this every year seeing as Sparrow and Rose were near the best of friends but still enjoyed the sight of everyone basking in the Christmas spirit, so took to watching each person with their task. His favorites were watching Jessica haggle with Andy and Mickey over decorations, and observing Sparrow as she fluttered about the kitchen preparing dinner with Jackie, her heels much more audible against the tile floor as they clacked every time she moved as compared to the older woman's trainers. Now, she had pulled her hair back in a hair tie behind her shoulders and had donned an apron over her red dress while she worked, good thing too because Jackie had almost spilled gravy on her. She hummed while she cooked, not to the music Rose was playing just on the other side of the counter, but her own tune inside her head, "Song for Ten." It made a large grin grow on her face as she sung inside her head, and it only grew even larger as she looked up to the Doctor, watching her and the others with interest. He smiled back and could have sworn that as he did so, the girl let out a giggle, interesting him further.

Finally, dinner was ready as Jackie emerged from the kitchen with a large golden turkey, cheering as she called everyone to the table. "Alright, alright. Come one everyone, before it gets cold." She set the platter down in the center of the table and Sparrow followed behind her, a dish in each hand as she set those down as well.

Mickey jumped forward the begin carving the turkey. He picked up the knife Jessica had set at the center of the table next to a large serving fork and he dug right in, slicing into the bird. He set down the knife, trying to serve a piece on a plate, but Rose reached over and plucked the meat off the fork before it could be served. He playfully chided the girl and Rose couldn't help but let out a burst of laughter in response.

"Careful, you might lose a finger with this one carving the turkey," Andy taunted and Jessica gave him a slap on the arm.

"Hey! Be nice, it's Christmas."

"Doesn't mean he's any better."

Mickey offered Andy the knife and fork as a challenge. "Well come on, show us how it's done."

Andy took the set obligingly and began to cut another slice into the meat. Rose didn't see a difference as she plucked the cut piece from the fork just as she did with Mickey and popped it in her mouth. All she really cared about was that it tasted good, and that's what really mattered in the end.

"Rose, save some for the rest of us," Jackie pleaded with her daughter through laughter and the girl finally complied, allowing the next piece Andy cut to actually make it on the plate.

Sparrow brought out the last tray of food and was about to sit down herself when she spotted the Doctor inching towards the front door. "Oh, no you don't." She grabbed the sleeve of his arm and led the man to a chair at the top of the table. "You're going to enjoy this dinner with the rest of us. Now come on."

The Doctor had no choice but to comply as she forcefully removed his coat and draped it over the chair, pushing the man in the seat next. He gave a small scowl as Sparrow playfully ruffled his hair, but then smiled when she removed her apron and let her hair down, sitting in the chair next to his and Christmas dinner was served.

They ate and laughed and cheered, and when the Christmas crackers came out, the fun only increased. Each opened their crackers, placing the small tissue crown on their heads and groaning at the jokes inside. Jessica even managed to find a joke about Santa Claus, a doctor, and low "elf" esteem. They each wore their paper crowns too; Sparrow a blue one, Mickey an orange, Rose got her pink one, Jessica and the Doctor both had matching red ones, Andy switched with Jackie so she had pink to match her daughter, and donned a green crown himself.

Shortly after, Rose recognised Harriet Jones, the soon to be former Prime Minister, on the telly making a speech. "Look, it's Harriet Jones." She pointed to the screen and the others turned to see as well.

The Doctor stood and reached into his pocket to pull out a pair of tortoiseshell frame glasses, putting them on to watch the broadcast.

Sparrow wasn't paying any attention to the Prime Minister on the screen however as she noted the Doctor's new accessory, and rose from her seat to meet him. "Ooh, the brainy specs!" she cheered excitedly and plucked the glasses off the Doctor's nose, placing them on her own.

"Hey! I need those," the man objected, completely ignoring the television now, but she only shook her head.

"No you don't," she called in a near singsong voice.

"Oh, and how do you know that?"

"Because I have the same pair." Sparrow moved to grab her black frame glasses from the counter and handed them to the Doctor to examine as he placed them where his own glasses used to be. "There's no magnification. They just make you look clever." She smiled tauntingly with the Doctor's glasses on her nose and gave him a knowing smile.

Past the pair, something had caught Andy's eye out the window and he moved to look. "It's snowing!" he shouted with near excitement, and the others looked out the window as well with bewilderment. Upon seeing the truth for themselves, they each grabbed their jackets and headed outside to the garden.

"Come on you two!" Jessica shouted at the Doctor and Sparrow who were the last ones to leave, dawdling behind the rest.

As they stepped outside, snow-like flakes were in fact flurrying throughout the sky leaving a light, white powder over the ground. Above were bright streaks of light painting the sky as they zoomed by in every direction creating a magnificent display for the people below.

"Oh, it's beautiful. What are they, meteors?" Rose asked is awe as her head was tilted towards the sky, unable to tear her eyes away from the view.

Sparrow was about to answer but found her stomach twisting at the thought of the dead Sycorax she could have saved, trying not to let it ruin her Christmas night. The Doctor then moved to answer upon her silence. "It's the spaceship breaking up in the atmosphere. This isn't snow," He pointed to the falling flakes. "It's ash."

Jessica gagged a little realising she had tried to catch a few of the supposed snowflakes on her tongue. "Alright, maybe not."

"This is a brand new planet Earth. No denying the existence of aliens now. Everyone saw it. Everything's new," the Doctor noted, and Rose fidgeted uneasily next to the man.

"And what about you? What are you going to do next?"

The Doctor looked at the TARDIS across the lot, then back at the two girls next to him; Rose watching hopefully that she could continue traveling with him, but Sparrow smiling excitedly, already knowing what was to come.

"Well, back to the TARDIS. Same old life."

"And we're coming too of course!" Sparrow blurted out as a statement rather than a question or a request.

Rose was more reserved though as she actually did ask to be sure. "Can we though?"

The Doctor had no doubts that Sparrow was still willing to travel with the changed man, their moment before dinner proving enough. But he thought Rose was still a little unsure. "I just thought, because I changed."

Rose quickly picked up on what he was talking about and expressed her own worries. "Yeah, I thought, because you changed you might not want me anymore."

"Oh, I'd love for the both of you to come," the Doctor admitted and Rose smiled while Sparrow actually reddened, unsure why.

She quickly recovered though and took a deep breath towards the man. "That's just brilliant! You were always my favorite you know."

Now the Doctor blushed a little and was thankful a moment as Mickey cut in. "You're never going to stay, are you?" he asked, disappointed that Rose was leaving again.

"There's just so much out there. So much to see," she answered, not entirely sure of how to put it in words. "I've got to."

"Well, I reckon you're mad, the three of you. It's like you go looking for trouble," Jackie quipped. Her daughter may have enjoyed the vastness of the universe, but she saw nothing but trouble about it.

"Trouble's just the bits in-between," the Doctor urged as he slung an arm around Jackie's shoulder. "It's all waiting out there, Jackie, and it's brand new to me. All those planets and creatures and horizons. I haven't seen them yet! Not with these eyes."

He released the woman and walked back towards his two companions, now draping his right arm over Sparrow's shoulder, though this time the action was more delicate and caring than a friendly gesture. It almost made Andy frown. "And it is going to be fantastic."

Sparrow looked behind her at the man and smiled to mirror his own. "So, which way do we want to go first?"

The Doctor studied the dark sky for a moment as he thought. "Um, that way." Both the girl's followed his finger as he pointed to a distant star, but then he corrected himself. "No, hold on." His hand shifted slightly to the right. "That way."

"Hm?" Sparrow appraised the direction with an approving nod and the man looked down at her, lowering his hand and waiting for a response. "Sounds amazing."

The Doctor smiled and rested his head against Sparrow's as they looked out at the night sky, just thinking of the exciting adventures and stories to come.


Nothing too special, but a bit extra from what I didn't put in the end of the real chapter story.

Anyway, as I have said before, this type of story is great to incorporate my ideas and even situations that you guys would like to see the Doctor and Sparrow getting into. This will progress all throughout the tenth Doctor's regeneration so that includes all his other companions as well, not just Rose who is the only companion written into the main story at this point.

Let me know what you all think.

Love!