The Aleena Chronicles

by Tinker16

The universe is a big place, and Aleena has been trying to figure out where she fits into it. Since birth, the only thing she knew for certain was that she was different. Now her inner desire for belonging will lead her across worlds until she finds the truth of her origins. (Sequel to the Wanderer in Time Series)

1. Ch 1: The Beginning

Hello, everyone!

Welcome to the new story to all new readers and old readers. This is an instalment that connects to the Wanderer of Time series. This story is a sequel of sorts, though is also a story completely of its own. So, for you new readers, you don't necessarily need to read the three parts of the Wanderer series to understand what is taking place here. However, it is recommended, just in case. Better be safe than sorry to make certain all information is completely conveyed correctly. If not, then let me know and I'll make certain to correct it. :)

Special note: Any time there is harsh content, I will be placing a Warning at the beginning of the chapter. Though there will be very little of this as this story will be less harsh than previous ones.

So, please, enjoy the new story!

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The Aleena Chronicles

Chapter 1: The Beginning

She has always been able to see them. The stars. The wonderful and brilliant stars. They are all around, constantly twinkling and floating by. Never once stopping completely in their motion. Never once dulling in their light. They would travel throughout the universe, giving hope and joy. Bringing life in many ways. The stars would pass by, giving light to the darkness within people's lives. Whispering in encouragement, lighting up hope, breathing out words of wisdom. Unfortunately, people would never hear these stars. Never once see them, even for the briefest of moments. The stars were invisible to the world, to the universe. However, people could feel the stars. Without even realizing, really. One, without even knowing it, was led by the stars through their lives, following the path set for them and onto a brighter future.

But she could see them, these stars. She could touch them, feel them, hear them. She saw the infinite and vast lights, of all different colours, floating by throughout the sky. Throughout the universe. Whether it be day or night, spring or winter, past, present, or future, the stars were there. They were always there.

Not only were there stars, but there was also the thin-like strings attached to everyone. Thin webbing of their timelines, all intertwined and weaving throughout not only their own lives but the lives of all others. Not only for one simple world, one simple planet, either. The timelines were interconnected throughout the entire universe. Of all time and space, the bright lights of these strings were floating, connecting, fixing, mending through the sky. Tying everyone to each other to where no one was ever alone. No one was ever truly apart from each other.

They were all connected, even in the simplest of ways. She had seen once how a simple stranger knocking over a coffee upon a dinner table made it so a waitress had to stay behind to clean up the mess. This causing the waitress to bump into another man who helped her get a start upon becoming a brilliant writer later in life. Another moment in time, she had seen a baker taking the time to give an orphan boy a piece of bread, allowing the boy to feel welcome and warmth from receiving such a small gesture of kindness. This, in turn, led the boy to grow up into a helper of others, a healer of sorts for other parentless children. Then, there was her favourite moment of watching a leaf whip around upon the wind, falling into a man's face. This caused him to almost be hit by a car but was saved by his future wife. A chance in a lifetime in meeting each other, all because of a simple leaf. She really enjoyed this moment in time the best. Especially when seeing a star had been the one to knock the leaf into the man's face in the first place. That star must have really wanted the two strangers to get together.

Yes, she could see these stars, and these webs connecting everyone. To her, it was always a beautiful and breathtaking sight. But with the beauty, there was also darkness. Nothing was ever completely good. There were the bad entangled strings which pulled people in the wrong direction in life. Horrid lives that may affect and ruin others. She has seen this happen just as much as she has seen the good. But not all was bad. Most truly was good and wonderful. And the good never did let the bad make the life completely dark.

But, one may be asking now: how is it that she, simple Aleena, was able to see such unseen sights? How was she able to see the grander picture of the universe? How did she gain such a sight in the first place? Was it a gift? A curse? In fact, who was Aleena herself? What sort of importance could she possibly hold to have such a sight upon time and space? What or who could she possibly be?

Well . . . if there was ever a story to tell, perhaps the best place to start was at the beginning.

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On an ordinary day of July, of the year 1969, Dr Dwight Tate tiredly stepped out of his pickup truck and onto the dirt driveway of his home. He rubbed at his eyes under his glasses, trying to get the aching feeling to leave his weary sight. The man glanced up to the night sky briefly, seeing the far and distance stars above twinkling down upon the Earth. The Moon shone brightly along with the stars, beaming down its white light to the lives below.

Dwight hummed in thought while staring at the Moon. He still could not believe, that only in a few short days, man would finally land upon that mysterious fixture in the night sky. In many ways, this amazed him in the thought of simple humans finally reaching such a goal. In others, it made him wonder what future humanity might hold now that they have reached something that had once seemed so unreachable. Would there be anything more to space to which humans may explore in the many years to come? Dwight could only hope in some aspects. But then again, he could also be wary of such thoughts of human beings spreading far beyond the reaches of Earth in some distant future.

Shaking his head, he sighed in exhaustion as he pulled out his old and worn messenger bag from his truck. He made sure to tuck in his lab coat more securely into the bag as he shut the vehicle's door behind him. The cool, dry night air of Rachel, Nevada settled around him as he marched across the cracked earth below his feet, ready to be within his house and settle in for the night. It had been a long and tiring day at work. Especially after working for so long on a dwarf star alloy cell he had been helping on back at base. A long and tedious project to which the commanders have been making him and the other scientists of the labs put together. It all seemed silly and useless to Dwight's opinion. All that work for building a cell, just for some simple imprisoned man? A man who had been there for months, tied up in a chair with a straight jacket on, surrounded by dozens of guards and held within the most secure base in the United States. Why bother building an extra cell when the man was clearly going nowhere?

Then again, running into Canton a few times, Dwight was surprised to see that even the once ex-FBI agent seemed wary of the man being held captive by the base. Even Dwight himself felt the same uncertainty to be around the strange man with dark, floppy hair, bow tie, and green eyes which seemed to pierce right into one's mind when looked upon. This . . . 'Doctor' was a rather strange being. Dwight shook his head slightly, knowing he need not think of this now.

The man was now officially withheld in the dwarf star cell. There was nothing more the man could do. There was no escape. However, Dwight did feel it was unnecessary to even hold the man captive in the first place. What did the man even deserve to be placed within such a prison? Dwight always believed to earn such a punishment one must have been awful or cruel to begin with. And this Doctor did not seem to be such a man. However, there have been a few times Dwight did catch onto a great rage within this captive man. Especially whenever Canton had brought in pictures of people this Doctor seemed to care about. The one picture which Dwight noticed seemed to agitate the Doctor the most was the blurred picture of a woman with raven hair. It was possible this woman in the blurry picture must mean something dear to the Doctor. Whoever this woman may be, Dwight wondered what would the Doctor do if Canton did manage to get his hands on this raven-haired woman and give her the same fate as the agent had done to the others he had been after for three months.

Dwight continued his ponderings as he stepped up to the door of his home. He had almost opened said door when a piercing scream rang out in the night air. Dwight froze in fright, stiffening up greatly as he remained on the spot. What was that? A wounded animal of sorts? It continued to cry out, sounding frightened, terrified. A scared and desperate cry, shaky with little hiccups and coughs here and there. Dwight blinked rapidly as his mind suddenly dawned on what he was hearing. It was a baby's cry. A baby was screaming out into the night air. But where were the calls coming from? It sounded close, but that was not possible. There were no neighbours nearby with any children. In fact, there were no close neighbours to speak of. His home was far from the rest of the small town of Rachel.

Dwight turned quickly on the spot, eyes searching quickly through the night on where the cries could possibly be coming from. They sounded almost as though they might be coming around the corner of the house. What could a baby possibly be doing here, outside, in the middle of the night? Hurriedly, he dug through his messenger bag, knowing he must have an emergency flashlight within somewhere. Yanking out said light, he clicked it on and shuffled away from the door toward the source of the sound.

Moving ever so slowly on his feet, Dwight came around the corner of the house, peeking around for the source of the crying. He spotted the poor thing on the hard, dirty ground. A baby—a newborn by the looks of it—lay there on the cold earth. The babe shook as it cried, seeming to be shivering from the cool night air. The child was covered in blood and fluids, with its umbilical cord still attached. The tissue cord itself was ripped at the end, almost as if it had been violently torn from the mother. And, from the looks of things, Dwight wondered briefly if the baby had been.

The man stood there for a moment, flabbergasted by the sight. Shaking himself out of his stupor, he hurriedly crouched down and yanked off the vest he had been wearing. Carefully, he wrapped the clothing material around the babe, picking up the child from the ground in his cradled arms.

"Hey, there," he whispered gently. "Hey, it's all right now. I've got you." He shushed the babe, hoping to calm it down. The baby coughed, giving another hiccup as its cries slowed down. Eventually, the crying stopped completely. Brown eyes suddenly blinked at him, making Dwight chuckle at the curious expression the baby held. Apparently, the child was just bewildered as he was to suddenly be outside in the night.

"Why, hello there," Dwight said kindly to the baby. The babe merely blinked, continuing to give him this inquisitive and perplexed stare.

The man hummed, looking up and around the area. He lifted up his flashlight from the ground where he had dropped it in his haste to pick up the child. There was no one else in sight. Not that he expected there to be. The house was rather secluded from others. But . . . why was a newborn suddenly appearing upon his doorstep? Where was the mother? She could not be far, could she? It was impossible for the baby to be in such a state and not to have been very recently delivered from the mother. The child was still covered in wet fluids, even bleeding slightly from the umbilical cord. It was impossible for the child to even be here without the mother at least present. But yet, here was the babe with no mother to speak of.

Dwight stared back down at the child, seeing how the baby continued to stare at him with the brown eyes of curiosity. Well, he would be getting nowhere with answers if he were to continue to simply sit here and do nothing. This was a newborn child in need of medical attention. He may be a doctor. But he was a doctor of science, not medicine. He needed to take the child to someone who knew what to do, and he knew just the perfect man. So, he stood up with the baby in arms, turning quickly to the truck. The front light of the home suddenly turned on, with the door opening for him to see his wife, Lia, poke her head out.

"Dear, what is it? Did I hear a coyote?" asked the woman. He noticed how her blonde hair with grey streaks was still wet. Apparently, she had just come from the shower.

"No, no. It's, um . . . well, it's . . .," Dwight tried to answer. He ran a free hand through his own grey hair, trying to think of what to say or how to explain. How did one tell another of a sudden and abrupt appearance of a newborn? The babe in his arms suddenly gave a cough, making his wife blink in confusion.

"Dwight, what do you have there?" Lia asked, stepping out of the house. She walked over towards him. He saw her wrap her robe more tightly around herself as she stepped up next to him. He held the baby slightly more in the moonlight for her to see. Lia merely blinked once more, appearing to be just as dumbfounded as he felt. "What? A baby? Where did you get a baby?" She looked up to him, frowning in disproval. "This isn't some kind of joke or something, is it?"

"No, no," Dwight explained. He glanced back down to the babe in his arms. "I found the baby around the side of the house. Just . . . sitting there out in the open."

"What?" Lia scoffed in disbelief. "Now, who would leave a child by our house?"

Dwight hummed in thought, gazing back over to the spot where he had found the child. It was in a place to where his headlights earlier would have lit up. And he remembered very clearly of there being no baby in that certain area beforehand. So, only logically speaking, the babe must have been placed there when he had been walking to the house. But . . . he would have heard someone walking up and placing the child down. Especially if the babe had been crying. No, this was different. It was almost as if . . .

"I'm not sure. I think," he paused, knowing what his wife would think of him if he said this, but decided to voice his thoughts anyway, "I think the baby just appeared out of nowhere." Lia huffed, crossing her arms in scepticism and doubt.

"Oh, don't be silly. Babies do not just appear out of thin air," his wife scolded him for even saying such a silly notion.

Dwight merely nodded, not wishing to argue with her. He knew how Lia thought of things. Everything had to be normal, simple. Nothing ever to be out of the ordinary. She never dared to believe in such things as the 'strange' or the 'unusual,' such as sudden appearing babies or extraterrestrial beings. Which Dwight always thought as ironic given where they lived and what his job required of him.

But Dwight knew otherwise. Even though it seemed rather illogical, here was the proof of the matter. The baby was here where it should not be. And the evidence around the child showed just as much. The fluids on the baby had been still warm, as though just delivered. There was no possible way for that to have occurred without some means of the child suddenly being brought outside the house. It seemed impossible, yes. But Dwight has always believed in the impossible.

"Well, either way here's a baby," he said with a shrug. Lia peeked at it again, frowning to the infant.

"Why is it still covered in blood?" she pondered. She raised up a finger, gently stroking the baby's cheek. The child blinked at the woman with its bright brown eyes of curiosity. The baby sneezed lightly, beginning to shiver again from the cold air around them. Lia's eyes gave the child a look of sympathy. "Oh, the poor thing. What kind of mother just leaves her child behind like this? That woman should be ashamed of herself."

"Now, honey, we don't know the full story," Dwight said sternly. "How do we know the child wasn't taken away from the mother? Someone could have kidnapped the baby, and then dumped it here in a panic."

"Yes, I suppose," Lia muttered, but still believing that there must be more of a fault on the mother's part.

Dwight tightened his grip on the child as it began to cough and shiver more. "Listen, Lia, I need to take the baby over to Shepherd's. He needs to give the baby a look over."

"All right." Lia backed up, frowning in puzzlement. "Just get back as soon as you get the baby looked at. Then we'll think on what to do with it."

Dwight frowned, not really liking on the idea of them simply calling the child an 'it' or them not really thinking on what to do with the babe. But he knew he would have to discuss this more properly with Lia after he got back. "Right. I'll be right back. Make sure to get some blankets together, some pillows, and maybe even an old shirt of mine for the babe once I get back." He opened the door to his truck, placing the baby gently inside as he hopped in himself, slamming the door behind him. He made sure to hold the baby close in one arm as he started the vehicle and was ready to go.

Lia waved him off as he pulled out of the driveway, heading towards town. Well . . . if one could truly count Rachel as a town. Dwight kept a firm hold of the child as he steered the truck down the way. Every so often, he would glance down at the baby, seeing how the child continued to stare up at him in interest. Only every so often did the child look away, staring brightly out the window to the sky, or once at the one street light of Rachel. Dwight could not help but chuckle and find this baby strangely interesting in the way the child seemed to be so keen in observing the world. Especially since it was odd in a newborn holding such awareness of the world.

Finally, he pulled up into the gravel driveway of Dr Gus Shepherd. It was a small house, sitting on the opposite side the town, almost as secluded as Dwight and Lia's own house. Shepherd was an old friend of Dwight's extending all the way back when they had joined up together within the Air Force. They worked together through the military, staying in touch even when Dwight had discharged and went to a university to study physics, engineering, and materialistic science. Shepherd had even helped Dwight earn a top notch job within the military, somehow leading them to work at Area 51. Sometimes Dwight could hardly believe that they worked on that base. It just seemed too surreal to get his head wrapped around working in such a top secret place. But, in their career and lives together, he knew he could trust Shepherd with anything. Especially with a situation such as this.

Dwight held the baby close as it began to shiver once more from the night air as he stepped outside his truck. He tucked in his vest around the child, praying that it did not catch a cold after this night. Hurriedly walking to the house door, Dwight knocked loudly, hoping that Shepherd was still awake. Standing there impatiently as he knocked repeatedly, he finally squinted his eyes at the porch light pierced the dark night.

"What?!" Shepherd yelled angrily as he flung the door open. "It's in the middle of the night and I'd like some peace after a long day at work!" Shepherd fumed for a moment longer before blinking in surprise when seeing who actually stood on his doorstep. "Dwight? What in the blazes are you doing here?"

Dwight shifted uncomfortably on his feet in front of the large, short man, not really liking to be so rude at such a late hour. But this was an emergency after all, and the closest hospital was at least an hour away. The child might be in serve danger, and driving for that long was out of the option.

"Sorry, Gus, but I need a favor," Dwight told the man quickly. Shepherd raised a brow of disbelief, giving Dwight a hard stare.

"A favor? At this late? You must be joking, Dwight," Shepherd grounded out in annoyance. The baby within Dwight's arms coughed, making Shepherd shift his gaze towards the child. He blinked in astonishment, not quite sure what to think about a baby being in Dwight's care. Especially when seeing the child still covered in blood and fluids, which were somewhat dry by now.

"Um . . . it's sort of an emergency," Dwight responded, adjusting the baby in his arms somewhat.

"Yes, I can see that. Well, come in, come in. You can explain to me where the baby came from later," Shepherd replied, waving Dwight to come inside. Stepping inside the house, Dwight walked over into the kitchen with Shepherd. The medical doctor flipped on the light, giving them a chance to see the baby more clearly as Dwight set the child onto the kitchen tabletop.

The babe was small, but not so little to cause much worry. Dwight saw how the child had a mop of brown hair on its head. Then he observed how the baby continued to stare at the two men with the same curious brown eyes, watching the newcomer Shepherd in perplexity as the medical doctor gather up a bowl of warm water, a wash rag, and his medical kit. Dwight smiled, waving a finger lightly at the baby as it almost seemed to smile at him.

"So, boy or girl?" Shepherd asked casually as he set his supplies on the table. Dwight blinked, feeling suddenly embarrassed.

"I didn't really think to check," he admitted. "I felt like that might be a bit . . . invasive." He scratched lightly at his temple out of embarrassment, not meeting the side gaze of Shepherd's. The medical doctor shook his head in exasperation and pulled back the vest from around the child.

"Congratulations, it's a girl," Shepard muttered as he pulled out a pair of scissors. He snipped the excess umbilical cord away from the body and pinched the rest with a clip so the baby would not bleed out. He made sure to gently wash off the blood and fluids with the rag from the water bowl. Then, he wiped the umbilical cord area with alcohol, wanting to be certain to keep infection away. All the while he did this, he found it odd on how quiet the child was and how the babe stared at him. It seemed to examine him in the same way he did to it. It was a very strange feeling in being observed so closely by a baby, but he shrugged it off and finished by wrapping a large towel around the babe.

"There, all cleaned up. Everything seems to be in order outwardly," Shepherd finally said to Dwight after he had finished cleaning the child. He began to pull out a few other tools from his medical bag. "Can I ask why exactly you have a baby with you?"

"You see . . . I'm not quite sure," Dwight said, adjusting his glasses as he wondered on how exactly he should explain such an occurrence. "She just sort of . . . appeared out of nowhere. One minute, no baby. Then the next, baby." He waved his hand lightly towards the child. "I found her crying next to the house, just . . . lying there, screaming in fright. I have no idea where she came from, who placed her there, and why she was set next to the house."

"Well, she didn't just appear out of nowhere," Shepherd grumbled. Dwight hummed lightly, thinking how his friend always did seem strict and regulated. Shepherd was more open-minded in the impossible than Lia was. But the man was still curt and to the point about certain things in life.

"There's no other option I can think of at the moment," he said to Shepherd.

"The mother must have abandoned it when you weren't there or looking," Shepherd dismissed.

Dwight shook his head. "But when the baby was still warm and covered with fluids? That must have been one hell of a quick delivery. Then, the parents would have had to drive at full speed over to my house, place her right outside my home, and leave within a few seconds before I walked over to the screaming child. How can you possibly logically explain that?"

Shepherd scoffed lightly. "You're just over thinking it too much."

"And you're not thinking enough."

Shepherd huffed, placing in the earpieces of his stethoscope. "Look, do you want me to give the baby a checkup or not?"

Dwight held up his hands slightly in surrender, dropping the subject on the appearance of the baby all together. If no one wanted to place the obvious questions as he did, then fine. Let them believe the mother of the child was completely at fault. But he still held firm in thinking something else was at play here.

"Look, Dwight, I know how you think. You have your head in the clouds and always want to believe in the extraordinary," Shepherd began to say as he pressed the end piece of the stethoscope on the child's chest. "But I can say one thing for sure; there is absolutely nothing unusual about this," there was falter in Shepard's words as his hand with the end piece froze over the baby's chest, "child." Dwight stared at Shepherd in confusion when the man had trailed off in his sentence, gazing in awe at the baby.

"What is it?" he questioned, finding it strange how Shepherd's eyes went wide with shock. Dwight watched as the medical doctor moved the stethoscope around the baby's chest, seeming to be triple checking something. As if he could not believe what he was hearing.

"Dwight . . . listen and tell me that I'm just hearing things," Shepherd said slowly, removing the stethoscope from himself and handing it over to Dwight.

Raising his brows in bewilderment, Dwight slowly placed on the stethoscope. Leaning forward, he gently pressed the end to the child's chest, listening intently to what could have caused Shepherd's alarmed reaction. He blinked in surprise, realizing what exactly had shocked his friend so much. He himself was in great disbelief as to what he was hearing. He had to move the stethoscope around to make sure he was hearing correctly as well. But there was no mistaking it. He saw the baby blink at him curiously as he listened in the two hearts beating away inside her chest. Two hearts creating a four beating pattern. He slowly moved away from the baby, staring at it in astonishment.

"Amazing," breathed Dwight. "Two hearts. She has two hearts."

"Oh, my god," Shepherd whispered, staring at the baby in awe.

Dwight shook his head lightly. "This is . . . incredible."

"This needs to be reported," Shepherd said briskly, turning around to quickly get to the phone.

Dwight stared at him in alarm. "What?" He hurriedly went up the medical doctor, yanking the phone out of the man's hands and slamming it down as Shepherd began to dial the number. "You can't be serious."

"Dwight, you and I both know what this means. It's the same as that . . . Doctor I had to check over when he arrived to base." Shepherd glanced at the babe when it hiccupped, seeming wary suddenly. "It's like him. It's some sort of . . . government experiment or something. Just like Colonel Jefferson said."

"Don't be ridiculous. It's . . . just a coincidence." Dwight kept a firm hold on the phone as Shepherd tried to grab it once more. "She can't be like him. And even, by some small chance, she was some kind of 'experiment' or another kind of creature, then it doesn't mean we should automatically jump the gun and report it to Colonel Jefferson. And not only that but who says that the Doctor isn't human in the first place? Isn't he supposed to be a special agent from Britain or something?" Dwight knew he was trying to fool himself. There was too much mystery and impossibilities around this Doctor that logically screamed extraterrestrial. He somewhat wanted to truly believe that there were other-worldly beings from beyond Earth. But at the current moment, he also wanted to convince Shepherd not to turn the little baby girl into the military. God knows what horrid things would happen to the child if they ever got their hands on her.

"You know our orders. Base has been on high alert ever since that Doctor arrived and everyone has been on edge for something else was to pop up. If we ever encounter something like this, then we have to report it," Shepherd spoke strictly.

Dwight threw at hand in the direction of the child. "How do we even know she's not just a normal baby, but was just born with a birth defect?"

Shepherd gritted his teeth in frustration. "A hole in the heart is a birth defect. A damn missing limb is a birth defect. This . . . this is not something a human would be born with."

"How do we know that? Humans can be born with a second head. I know damn sure there were cases of seconds hearts as well. Why can't she be one of those cases?"

"Don't be foolish. For God sake's, it's not human! You said it yourself. It just appeared out of nowhere. How do we know it wasn't teleported down to cause us all harm? We're not that far from base. It might be here to help the Doctor in some way."

"She just appeared out of nowhere. And as you pointed out earlier, I was just being a moron in thinking of such an occurrence." Dwight rubbed at the bridge of his nose in aggravation. "And for Pete's sakes, Gus, she's just a baby. She's not some monster out to destroy anyone." They both looked over at the child as she began to hiccup slightly, waving her tiny fists in the air and kicking her small feet out slightly. Dwight noticed how her eyes seemed to travel around, staring curiously at nothing in particular from what he could see. But the way the child gazed around, eyes moving along as if following the movement of something within the air, it made him wonder what exactly the baby was looking at.

"All right, all right, I'll admit it, I might be overreacting somewhat," Shepherd finally replied, giving a sigh of exhaustion. He shook his head firmly. "But you have to admit it's highly unusual and too big of a coincidence for this not to be tied into something bigger than us. I mean, sure, the baby and that Doctor don't exactly look like the . . . other creatures they've picked up from Roswell. But it doesn't mean they're human, either." Shepherd grabbed the phone once more.

Dwight slammed it back down once again. "And it also doesn't mean that we have to report the child to Colonel Jefferson." They stared harshly at each other for a moment. Their own moral codes coming into conflict with their friendship. Dwight kept his strict gaze evenly on Shepherd. "You and I both know what will happen to this child once they take her. It's the same reason why they had you examine that Doctor fellow. They planned on dissecting him just like they did to the others from Roswell."

Shepherd frowned in disproval but seemed to be contemplating and seeing the insight to what Dwight was saying. "Well, now . . . those creatures were dead when they found them, so that's different. I don't think they would go and do such a thing to one that's living."

"Don't be gullible, Gus. Of course they would. They knew exactly what they wanted to do to that man on base. The only reason they didn't was because of orders from above. But it will be different with her. Children are easy to slip through the cracks. They can easily get away with it if they wanted to."

The medical doctor rolled his eyes. "I very much doubt they would dissect a child."

Dwight hardened his stare. "And I very much doubt they wouldn't. I don't exactly trust most who work with us. Just as I know you don't, either." They stood in silence for a while, both having their own internal agreement that it would be best in the end for the child to keep this secret. However, Shepherd still had his conflictions.

"Well, what do you suppose we're supposed to do with it—," Shepherd began to say.

"Her," Dwight said gruffly, interrupting the medical doctor. Shepherd grunted, looking annoyed to be told off.

"Sorry. Her. What are we supposed to do with her? Keep her locked up in our houses or something?" Shepherd questioned, sounded irritated in the very thought of keeping such a strange child with them. He lowered his voice slightly as he continued to speak. "Listen here, Dwight, we both know we need to do something about this. If you don't want to give her up to base, fine. But there's got to be something we can do."

"I'll handle it," Dwight said firmly. He turned and walked over to the child. Smiling down kindly, he gently picked up the baby girl, holding her close. He saw how she stared up at him in interest, but at the same time, seeming to give the smallest of smiles at him as well. "I'll take care of her."

Shepherd scoffed under his breath, shaking his head and giving the man next to him an expression of disbelief. "You are going to take care of her? Really?"

Dwight faltered, about to answer Shepherd in a determined reply, but closed his mouth slowly when thinking upon those words. Could he take care of a child? Well, really, it would be both him and Lia taking care of the girl. They never had children before, so could they do it? Gazing at the child in his arms, his eyes softened as he saw the little girl staring at him. She held such an innocent gaze, seeming just as uncertain with the situation as he felt. Perhaps she was even frightened by the strange and vast world around. He remembered feeling that way himself so long ago. How could he possibly let this child grow up as alone and scared as he had?

"Yeah. I will," Dwight said, determination heard in his tone as he was set on keeping the child. Shepherd stared at the man for a moment longer before scoffing and shaking his head.

"Lia is not going to be happy," said the medical doctor. He gathered up his tools from the table, beginning to place them away to be cleaned. Glancing at Dwight as the man began to head towards the door, Shepherd turned and stared strictly at his friend. "Dwight, before anything else, I want to get this clear. If at any time that child becomes a threat—."

"She won't," Dwight said curtly, growing agitated on how determined Shepherd seemed to be in seeing the baby as some kind of monster out to get them.

"And how do we know that, huh?" Shepherd marched up to Dwight, glancing at the child and felt wary in how the baby continued to stare at him in an observing way. It was not natural for a newborn to have that sort of gaze. "All I'm saying is, sometime when she gets older, she might just show her true colors. She might be all innocent now, but how do we know that will last?"

"She's not some kind of monster, Gus. She's just a child." Dwight walked briskly outside, making certain to tuck the towel around the baby so that she would be warm enough from the night air.

"That may be . . . but things might change as she gets older." Shepherd stood a ways from the truck as Dwight got into the vehicle. "Dwight, if things do happen to change, get worse, then I can't just sit by and let just you handle it. I'll have to call it in."

"You won't have to." Dwight gave the man an even stare before letting out a puff of air. "Thanks for helping, Gus. I appreciate it."

"Yeah, yeah. Don't mention it." Shepherd turned to walk back into his house, before glancing briefly back at Dwight. "No really, don't mention it. I don't want to get involved in whatever you're putting yourself through with that child."

Dwight rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Goodnight, Gus." He slammed the truck door, glancing briefly at Shepherd as the medical doctor waved and walked back into his house.

As Dwight started up his vehicle, he could not help but feel that perhaps Shepherd's warning might just come true one day. But really, Dwight knew there was nothing he could do about it now. All he had to do was hope and pray that he could handle it when the time came.

XxXxXxXx

"You want us to do what?"

The clock in the corner of the small living seemed to tick loudly as Dwight's nerves slowly grew. He held an anxious expression as Lia had her arms crossed tightly and stared at him strictly. Currently, he sat down in his comfortable chair with the baby setting in a small wooden crib in front of him. The child had fallen asleep the moment he had placed her within the bed, rocking her gently in comfort. Lia found him there rocking the baby, eyeing him pointedly as if questioning why he still had the child with him. Then after a few minutes of Lia asking Dwight about what he was going to do with the child, it led to him suggesting . . .

"We are not keeping the baby," Lia continued to speak sternly.

"What other options do we have?" Dwight countered. He glanced down when he saw the baby stir, rocking the crib to soothe the babe back into slumber.

"How about we take her to the police in instead," Lia retorted curtly. "They can take her to an orphanage where her parents can pick her up later." Dwight gave a sigh, shaking his head.

"Lia, you and I both know that taking the baby there will automatically set her up to having a grim life," he argued. "You know how messed up the system is."

Lia rolled her eyes, giving her own shake of disagreement. "You turned out just fine."

Dwight's eyes hardened, growing irritated by Lia lack of understanding to just how awful life within the system can be. "Yes, but I got lucky. I actually was adopted in the end. Most kids never pull through and move onto a better future. Most just get stuck in the system forever, or end up in juvenile detention. Sometimes worse than even that."

Lia sighed, staring down at the baby in the crib. "Yes, I know. I just . . . I don't see what other options we have."

"We take care of her, of course."

Raising her brows in a sceptical expression, Lia could only stare at him in disbelief. "Are you serious?"

"Why would I not be serious about a situation like this?" Dwight cleared his throat as he saw the agitated tapping foot of Lia, knowing that this was a sign of her growing in anger. He needed to get his idea out first before she became too angry to be levelled-headed enough in their conversation. "Look . . . she has nowhere else to go, we have plenty of room and are able to provide for her, and I absolutely refuse to take her to the police or social services."

Letting out a scoff, Lia shook her head in disbelief. She remained silent for a minute, seeming to contemplate on what exactly Dwight was suggesting. "We are over fifty years old, Dwight. Far too old to take care of a child. We've never even had children of our own. How do you expect us to be able to raise her correctly?"

"Age won't matter on raising a child," Dwight countered. He rocked the crib, smiling down at the sleeping child. "Besides, don't you think that maybe this is life giving us a chance? We can finally have a child of our own like we always wished for."

Lia huffed, tapping her foot in annoyance for a few more seconds. Then, as the baby let out a small sneeze and cuddled up into the blanket Dwight had placed around her earlier, the older woman's eyes softened. Sitting down on her knees, Lia gently rubbed a finger along the child's cheek. Breathing out in a puff, Lia glanced at Dwight sceptically once more before looking back at the baby.

"I have always wondered what a baby would look like in some of the clothes we have," Lia admitted. "And all those other toys and baby stuff does need to be put to good use instead of just collecting dust." Dwight smiled, happy to see his wife beginning to think over the possibilities of their life with this little girl.

"I think she would really appreciate that in the end," he commented, rubbing a soothing hand over the child's head.

"But what if I'm not meant to be a mother, Dwight?" Lia looked up to her husband with uncertain eyes. "What if I was never able to conceive for a reason?"

"Well . . . maybe it was for this? Maybe we needed to be here for her."

Lia hummed in thought, remaining quiet for a few moments as the husband and wife continued to stare at their new quest. The woman petted the child's face for a minute longer before looking up in thought to her husband. "What should we call her?"

"Hmm . . . I'm not sure," Dwight responded, gazing up to the ceiling as if looking for an answer there. "I haven't thought of that yet."

Lia glanced back down at the babe, giving a light smile. "Aleena."

Dwight blinked in surprise. "What? 'Aleena'?"

"Yes. It's an old name in my family. It means 'bearer of the light,'" Lia explained to her husband.

Dwight frowned in thought. "I thought that was your Aunt's name and it meant 'alone.' Don't you hate your Aunt? I remembered you calling her a stuck up—" His wife's response was to merely shush him. Gazing back down at the baby girl, Dwight nodded and smiled. "Aleena. I think that name suits her just fine. Welcome to the family, Aleena."

Lia petted the child's cheek once more before standing up slowly, trying to bend out her knees carefully as she always did have trouble with her legs. She looked pointedly at her husband once more, right back to business. "We're going to have to get paperwork together to be able to make us her legal guardians. Then, we have to get milk and diapers and proper bedding. Oh, Lord, what will everyone think in town once they find out? How will we tell them? What will we tell them?"

"We'll tell them the truth. We found her abandoned by our house. Simple enough," Dwight said calmly. "And don't worry, I'll take care of everything tomorrow myself."

"Are you going to take her to the hospital for a proper check-up?" Lia questioned. Dwight straightened up so suddenly with a firm expression that Lia actually felt surprised by his sudden change in demeanour.

"No. I've already taken care of that with Gus," he said firmly. "She's all fine and in perfect health. No reason for her to go anywhere else." Lia rolled her eyes.

"Look, Dwight, I know you trust Gus more than the doctors from the city, but you have to get her checked out by the professionals," she said in a scolding manner.

"I'm not taking her," Dwight said in a final tone. Lia threw her hands up in the air in frustration, knowing when he got like this there was no more getting around the subject. She could push him around to agree with her on many things, but on a few touchy subjects he would never budge.

"Fine, fine," she grumbled, walking swiftly towards the hall that led to their bedroom. "But don't think you can have just Gus look over her. Eventually, we'll have to take her to the doctor's." Lia went into the far room, getting the area ready to place the baby crib beside their bed for the night.

Dwight remained in the small living room, rocking little baby Aleena in her bed. He stared at her carefully, slowly realizing what harm would come to the child if anyone ever found about her. It would be disastrous to say the least. Some people might see her as just born special of sorts, of course. There was always those many out there who wished to ignore the truly extraordinary or unique in the world and simply continue on with their meaningless lives. But others . . . would not be so fooled. Others might know exactly what the child was, and would gladly take her away in an instant. Never to be seen or heard from again as they would conduct horrid experiments, tests, or even brainwash her for their own desires. Her life, taken away from her forever.

No, Dwight would not let this happen. He would protect her; make certain that she would never see this harm befall onto her life. She would grow up peacefully, in the most normal childhood he could provide for her. For she was his daughter now. Though not by blood, she was a part of the family, and as Dwight always did for his family, he would keep them from harm. And no matter who or what she was, where she came from, or what she would grow up to be, he promised there and then to little Aleena that he would always keep her safe.

XxXxXxXx

And so, that concludes chapter one. I hope you all enjoyed it! :D Please let me know if you did or what thoughts you would like to give the story in a review. It helps me know if you all are enjoying the story. Plus, this story is going to be a bit different. Trying some new things here and there. I want you guys to be able to add things you wish to see and so forth in the story. :) I hope that sounds like a good idea. If not, just let me know what you guys think!

Can't wait to get into the story and see where it takes us. :)

Sorry it took me a bit to update in the first place. Took a bit of a break from writing. As promised, here are the replies for the reviews from the last story. :)

Reviewers:

normandy1701: As I knew you did. ;) I know I'm just as sad about Wanda. Honestly, I don't what will happen. Mostly I think this will just be a new journey with a new character. I hope that you'll like it. And Aleena too, of course. :) Haven't watch any of the new season just yet, so I need to catch up. Hope to see you again in the future!

Momochan77: I honestly don't know what to feel about it, either. You are right, it was a happy ending for her. No more suffering or struggles for our dear Wanda anymore. Though it isn't very happy for us I suppose. ;-; But there is some hope to see what is to come with Aleena and her adventures. I hope that this story will give you the same happiness and joy as the last series did. :)

silverhawk88: Ah, more of Aleena came from Wanda. ;) Aleena is indeed Wanda and the Doctor's daughter after all. I'm very glad you liked the last series. I just hope that this story will be much better than the last. If not, then at least a good enough read. :) Hope to see from you again soon! Take care!

All The Stories Are True: I can't believe it, either. It's both sad and happy at the same time seeing how the story wrapped up. No, thank you for sticking around for so long. Thank you for giving the story support and helping me to become a better writer for you and all other readers out there. Just thank you so much. :) I really hope to see you again through the new story and that you have a Happy New Year.

Wicken25: What indeed. I suppose we'll have to wait and see.

mjahappy: Hope that means you're excited for the new story. ;)

Guest(a): I'm afraid so. :(

SakuraRcoa: haha I'm sorry. But don't worry, things will be cleared in this story. That I promise. :)

swimmjacket: I'm very sorry. :( I hope that maybe you can grow to love Aleena as you had with Wanda. There's still much left to come. I cannot wait to see what you think of it all. :D Yes, indeed, you were right haha ;) Well, there's still a lot left to be said, so I won't go into any spoilers. But I will say there was will quite a few surprises to come. I really hope that you like it! Take care!

bored411: I'm sorry. I know I cried, too. ;-; Though with one Wanderer gone, a new one arrives. I hope that you'll like her. :)

shadowcaster01: And I thank you so very much for sticking with the story for so long. I'm so glad that it remained a good read for you. Here's to hoping this one will be just a good, eh? ;) Ah, so many questions and so many answers to find. You'll be happy to know that everything will be coming together with this instalment. I hope that you'll enjoy it! See you in the future with the next part. :)

Paigetcute: Very glad you liked it. Even if the ending was a bit all over the place with the emotions and such. Hope you enjoy the new story!

sam: haha Yes, indeed.

LovableAmethyst129: As often happens in Doctor Who I think haha ;)

Whovianeverlark17: Trust me, I'm crying there with you. ;-; But don't think of it as a sad ending. For our Wanda, it was truly happy. She found her peace in the very end. And there's plenty more adventures awaiting for us ahead. I hope that you will like them. :)

John736: I'm very much glad that you liked it. :) Really hope that this story will be just as likable. Happy New Year! See you in the future, I hope.

Guest(b): I know the ending may have seem a bit sad. Though it was saddening to us does not mean it was sad for our dear Wanda. She was truly happy in the end. Hope you'll like new story. :)

KatieWinchester02: I'm very sorry. I know I'm crying as well. ;-;

ramble-on-melody: haha Glad you're excited. Can't wait to see what you think of the new story. :)

ChickenPotPie: Though one story ends, a new one begins. Something I like to think when it comes to Wanda's end. Oh, the Old Boe Face. Interesting what he said to her. Though was it something really meant for her especially, or was it meant to be taken another way? Perhaps she did know what was to come with Aleena in the end? Hmm, so many questions. Guess we'll have to wait to find out. ;)

OHShik: Aww, why thank you. I'm very glad you enjoyed it so much. :) There's still a lot unknown to come. Even for me. Who knows where the story will take us. But all will be answered, I promise you that. Though I don't think I will be doing any adventures with the Thirteenth Doctor. Maybe a brief meeting with her, but at the moment I don't have any plans. Hope that's okay. Until next time!

Guest(c): haha I'm sorry. Can't help the cliffhangers sometimes. ;)

Nott01: I'm very sorry. :( But the final part four is here. I hope you like it!

FREYA ASTRID NOVA: I'm very glad you liked it. Even if it was very sad to read. I cried as well, believe me. But though it may have ended sad for us, doesn't mean it was not a happy ending for our Wanda. She was at peace in the end, trust me. Though for the Doctor, maybe not so much. Let's hope things will be better for him in the future. Yep, Aleena is indeed their daughter. Actually, Aleena is Ember. As we saw here, she had her abilities to save her from the Master. More of which will be explained in the future to come. Hope to see you for the more to come! :)

Will: I'm just so glad that you've enjoyed it for so long. I really hope I can continue to bring enjoyment through the next part to come. :)

kissforMrSmith: And thank you for giving support to the story and helping me become an even better writer for you. :) I hope you continue to enjoy the rest of the instalment. Take care!

N7SpaceHamster: haha No worries as always. ;) Sorry that I'm late getting back into the swing of things in writing. Really needed a break. Hope you understand. :( If there was anyone who would have fought as hard as the Doctor in keeping Wanda alive, it would be River. That adventure was very hard for everyone during that moment. As you said, between a rock and a hard place. But, again, you pointed out correctly. It was a happy ending for Wanda. Even if it wasn't for us or the Doctor. :( Hahaha Glad the epilogue surprised you so much. Yep, Aleena is Ember. Not much else I could say, except thank you so much. You've helped support the story so much and I could never show how much that means to me. Just, thank you from the utter bottom of my heart. Thank you. :) Wish I could do a heart symbol but FF won't let people put that in *sigh* Well, until next time! Take care friend. :)

NoVacancyMind: I'm very sorry. :( To be fair, though it was sad for us, it was not a sad ending for Wanda. She was at peace in the end. More to come though! Don't know what is waiting for us here in the future. Hope you like it. :)

m: Oh, I like Made in Abyss. Very good show. And sadly, no. That would be something that could never happen at this point.

NightHunterDeath: I know. I'm just as devastated for the poor Doctor. :( Though I think Wanda was at peace at the end. So there is that at least. Ah, so many questions with so many answers to come. You'll just have to wait and see for all mysteries to be solved in the future. ;) But I do promise everything will be answered in this last part of the story. Aww, thank you! That really means so much to me. It's hard for me to wrap my head around how long this story has come along. I feel like there's still much of which I had not done well in and still so much more I can do for you and other readers. I just really hope this story will be just as enjoyable as the last. Until next time!

Oh man, I can't wait to jump into this story and see where it takes us! :D Get ready for a ride everyone!

~Tinker~