Will be a three-shot! XD Have fun and please please review.
March 16th, 1914
London, England
The Latimer mansion stood silent and imposing, it's power and elegance visible even behind the great gate. Even though there seemed to be a slightly despairing feel about its atmosphere, passer bys stopped and stared in awe at the place. All knew the rich importance of the landmark and all knew the stories.
"Mother!" A voice screamed out through the night air, resounding through the halls of the mansion, screaming past beautiful dark walls, velvet cushions and burning chandeliers. "Mother!"
A young girl sat straight up in bed, clutching her soft bed covers closely around her as she stared in fear out into the claustrophobic darkness. Her nightmares having woken her, she had screamed out for her mother and then been left to wait in the utter reality of her fears until her savior came to the rescue. At eight years of age, the girl couldn't help but imagine any series of monsters climbing out from underneath her bed, from her closet and in from the window to try and …
"Elizabeth? Are you alright my dear?" Francesca Latimer asked, walking into her daughter's room, a bright candle clasped in her hand.
"Mother, I had a nightmare." Elizabeth cried, bursting into tears out of relief, comforted by the soft light and warmth brought by her mother. "It was really scary."
"Oh Eliza, it's alright." Frannie replied, coming and sitting down next to her daughter, enveloping her in a tight hug. "You're alright now. Everything's fine now."
"Mother, I've never had this dream before. I didn't like it. I dreamt that a person came out of the pond from outside."
Frannie froze, memories instantly resurfacing of a time many years ago, one that herself and Digby had needed many years of therapy to get over. She was almost comfortable with thinking of it now but it still brought unpleasant feelings of grief and loss. After a moment, she remembered that her daughter was still fearful.
"Shush, it's okay darling. It's over now." Frannie continued, giving her daughter a quick peck on her forehead.
"Mother, did you ever have nightmares when you were younger?" Eliza asked, looking across at her.
"Yes, I did. Every little girl and boy has them, until they learn that there is no need to fear something when you have someone to drive away the darkness. You have me." Frannie replied smiling softly. "Why don't I tell you a story."
"A story?" Elizabeth asked curiously, sitting up straighter and wiping away her tears. "One of your definitely true stories?"
"One of my definitely true stories." Francesca told her, earning herself a giggle from her young girl. "It goes like this: There is a man called the Doctor, he lives on a cloud in the sky and all he does, all day, every day is to stop all the children in the world having bad dreams. One day, long ago, a little girl by the name of Francesca Latimer –" Here Elizabeth giggled again. " – was having terrible nightmares. She dreamed that her previous governess, a horrible woman, was going to come out of the frozen pond at Christmas and punish her. Luckily though, her current governess, Miss Montague, was there to chase away the dreams but when even that didn't work she came up with the perfect idea. Miss Montague was the close friend of the Doctor and she got him to come down from her cloud and try to help Francesca. However, that night, her nightmares came true and the governess came up from the ice to try and punish them. The Doctor though got there just in time and brought some of his friends along. A green lizard woman, a potato dwarf and a beautiful Victorian woman. With their abilities and Miss Montague's cleverness, the Doctor and Miss Montague managed to draw the evil woman up onto the Doctor's cloud." Frannie told her.
"Continue mother please. What happens next?" Eliza asked.
"It gets sad here. Are you sure you want to here the rest?" Frannie asked, unpleasant feelings surfacing again as she thought of the painful death of her beloved governess.
"Yes please mother." Eliza continued eagerly.
"Well then. The Doctor and Miss Montague had a few spare moments before the governess caught up to them. In that time, The Doctor – who was very much in love with Miss Montague – asked her to travel with him in his blue police box that traveled through time and space. Fortunately, Miss Montague returned the feelings and told him –"
Frannie stopped as she noticed the shadow of a woman reflected onto the wall directly across from her. The figure was leaning against the door of the room, obviously listening into their conversation. Elizabeth didn't notice and began to pester her mother to continue with the story but when that started, the person suddenly disappeared. Feeling a sense of curiosity and familiarity, Frannie jumped up from the bed and raced out of the room, speedily following the figure of the woman.
"Hello? Who's there?" She called out but the woman only continued to run faster, lifting her blue dress a fraction so her petite body wouldn't fall over.
They continued through the house leading Frannie to suspect that this woman knew more about the mansion then she should. Finally they reached outside, the same area with the pond full of ice and snow mirrored on that very night. As the woman darted under a lamplight connected to the mansion, Frannie got a proper look at her escapee.
"Miss Montague?" Frannie asked in disbelief, stopping in surprise.
The woman in front of her stopped as well, rather abruptly before turning to face her with a large and very familiar smile. "Frannie."
"M-m-miss Montague. How?" Frannie stuttered.
"Ah, ah, ah, proper grammar." Clara told her affectionately, using her past term.
"How are you still alive?"
"I can't tell you much but it's only because of a little luck, the Doctor ... and a leaf." She answered vaguely, grinning.
"The Doctor?" Frannie exclaimed and only then did she notice the dark blue TARDIS standing next to the pond. "Why are you here?"
"Unfinished business." She replied.
"Why didn't you come back earlier? We thought you were dead." Frannie asked sadly.
"I forgot. I couldn't remember." Clara told her, pulling a TARDIS blue shawl closer around her shoulders, thinking about all of the other lives she had lived.
"Why did you come at all?"
"I remembered. I'm so sorry that I can't tell you more. Really I am but my Doctor is always so careful. I don't blame him, it's what has saved him many times before."
"When you were listening to me tell Elizabeth, my daughter, a story, why didn't you come and talk? Why did you run away when I came after you?" Francesca said.
"I'm short on time." Clara replied.
"Are you and the Doctor still traveling together?" Frannie asked.
"Yes, you wouldn't believe the places we've been. The future, the past and everywhere in between." Clara laughed.
"Frannie! What are you doing? Come back inside, it's freezing out-" A voice yelled out before the person it belonged to saw who was out there.
"Miss Montague!" Digby cried, rushing forward, forgetting all about looking presentable and mature even though he was forty years of age.
"Digby! Oh my stars, look at you. You're all grown up." Clara exclaimed, laughing.
"Digby, what are you doing here?" Frannie asked, although she wasn't cross, more delighted that her brother would be able to share in this happy occasion.
"I came to visit my niece and nephew. It seems I came at the right time." Digby explained. "Are you here to stay this time? We've missed you so much. Especially Father."
"I can't stay long." Clara told them again, apologetically.
"How long?" Frannie asked.
"Long enough. Enough to say goodbye." Clara answered and in that moment she rushed forward and gathered her two previous wards into a tight, loving hug. They responded with equal if not more determination, their relief at seeing the beloved governess again shining through. Eventually they broke apart when the TARDIS made a noise from behind them.
"I've got to go." Clara said regretfully, looking at both of them and holding their hands.
"We know." Digby said. "We'll miss you but at least now we know that you're alive and happy."
"That's all I've ever wanted for you, for both of you, to be happy. I love you two." Clara told them as she walked slowly back to the police box.
"We love you too, Miss Montague." Frannie said, her voice breaking as she started to cry. Her brother placed an arm around her shoulders.
Regretfully, Clara opened the TARDIS doors behind her, the Doctor appearing behind her and giving a small wave, her eyes continually placed on Frannie and Digby. "Goodbye."
"Goodbye, Miss Montague and to you, Doctor." They called out as Clara shut the door behind her and the blue police box began to disappear from sight, whisking away their beloved governess and her Doctor.
Frannie and Digby stood silent and unmoving for many minutes in the freezing cold and snow before finally turning back and heading inside. A permanent smile appeared on both of their faces once they were inside and Digby stuffed his hand into his pockets, to warm his hands up. However, he felt something there that he didn't entirely expect. Pulling it out, it was revealed to be a photograph, one that contained Miss Montague from 1889.
"This isn't mine." He whispered softly, gazing at it in wonder.
"It's hers." Frannie replied.
"Mother, are you going to finish the story?" Elizabeth asked, appearing at the foot of the stairs, her nightgown swirling around her.
"No Elizabeth, Miss Montague's story isn't over yet." Frannie told her, grinning.
Review please if you want more! XD