A/N: Hey guys! For those waiting for a Matchmaker update, I'm so sorry. For personal reasons, there won't be an update for that story this week. To make up for it though, I'm going to start posting this story I've had saved on my computer for ages. I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who or anything related. That all goes to the BBC.

Trigger Warning: There is mention of fire and deaths resulting in that tragedy.

~Ages 5 and 15~

"Now remember, Donna's cousin Ian is going to be there. You probably won't see much of him, Sylvia says he's been staying in his room mostly, but if you do see him, you mustn't bug him. Alright, sweetheart?"

"But what if he wants to play with me and Donna, Mummy? It's not nice to esclude people," five year old Rose Tyler said matter of factly.

Mummy smiled lovingly at her. "That's right, love, it's not nice to exclude people, but Ian is going through a bit of a hard time right now. He's very sad and likes to be alone."

"Why is he sad, Mummy?"

"He just lost his family a couple of months ago."

Rose looked up with wide eyes. "He lost 'em?! Well, I'm a good finder, Mummy, I can help him find his family!"

"That's sweet of you, baby," Mummy said, bending down to kiss the top of her head, "but his family isn't actually lost. What I meant is, his family passed away."

"Oh. Like Daddy?" she asked. Her Daddy had died when she was just a little baby. She didn't remember him, but sometimes, Mummy would show her his picture and all his old bowling trophies!

Mummy nodded. "Yes, like Daddy."

"I'll make sure I'm extra good then, Mummy," she promised. "I don't want to make him even more sad." It was true. Being sad was the not fun. She knows that Mummy still gets real sad about not having Daddy anymore. Rose makes it her job it to cheer Mummy up when that happens. Maybe she could do the same for Ian!

"Right then. Best be going or I'll be late for work again."

Rose took Mum's hand and let herself be lead to their next door neighbour's house. She had spent almost every day of summer there so far and loved it. Mr and Mrs. Noble's only daughter, Donna, babysat her while Mummy was at work at the salon. Donna was such fun! She let Rose watch Disney movies and play dress up with her old fancy dress clothes. And, best of all, when Donna's mum was away at her book club, she would set up a blanket fort right in the middle of the sitting room! The best. She was going to be very sad when summer break was over.

Three hours later, and Rose had been the quietest she's ever been. She hadn't seen Donna's sad cousin at all, but while Donna read her new book she'd got for her birthday, Rose had spent her time drawing a picture just for Ian. Now that Donna was in the kitchen preparing this lunch, it was the perfect opportunity to sneak upstairs to the former guest room and deliver her special present! As quietly as she could, she snuck past Donna in the kitchen and carefully made her way up the stairs. The door to Ian's room was cracked open just enough that she caught the sight of the young teenage boy lying on his bed, eyes squeezed shut tightly. The last thing she wanted to do was wake him from his nap, so she tip toed into the room and gently set the picture on his tummy, where he was sure to find it.

She gasped in surprise when suddenly Ian suddenly grabbed her hand.

Ian Noble was numb. That was a good why to describe it. Fifteen years old and he was already numb towards life. He clenches his eyes shut and regrets it immediately. All he sees is fire. All he hears is his family's screams. It's just his imagination, he knows. He wasn't anywhere near his home when the fire started or his family burned to death, but it still haunts him. It would forever haunt him. He loved his Aunt Sylvia and Uncle Geoffrey dearly, and appreciated that they took him in when he had nowhere else to go, but he still wished he could have just got his own flat somewhere in the city. He has the money. He knows he does, but his parents had to go and make it so he couldn't access said money until he was bloody well twenty years old! Twenty! What on Earth were they thinking when they decided on that?

It was probably Harry. Ian shook his head at the thought of his older, more rebellious brother. His parents never discussed Harry's issues with him, but Ian could only imagine how much of Harry's inheritance had been wasted on drugs and booze. It had hurt to see his once beloved brother turn down that awful path. There was some comfort that the reason Harry had been home that fateful night was to make amends to his parents. According to that last letter he'd received from his mum, Harry had even agreed to seeking treatment for his addictions. He would never know now if it would have stuck or not, but he'd like to hope it would have.

Suddenly Ian's ears perked as he caught the sound of someone sneaking into his room. At first he thought it was his cousin Donna, coming to try and convince him to eat something. When would she learn? He would eat when he was hungry! But then he realised the footsteps were much lighter than Donna's. He'd just felt something settle on his stomach when grabbed the offender's hand and opened his eyes.

He was oddly surprised when he realised it was a young blonde girl, no older than five. He vaguely recalled someone mentioning that Donna babysat during the days, but he couldn't remember any details. She was obviously frightened at being caught, so he put on, what he hoped, was a pleasant smile.

"Hello," he greeted.

She blinked and offered a small smile in return. "Hi."

"What's you're name then?"

"Rose."

His lip quirked. Rose. The name fit her perfectly for reasons he couldn't name. "Nice to meet you, Rose. Can I help you with something?"

"I was just bringing you that picture. I'm not supposed to bug you, but I just wanted to help," she told him, bitting her bottom lip nervously.

Ian looked awkwardly down at his stomach and realised there was a white sheet of paper resting on it. Letting go of Rose's hand, he pulled himself so he was sitting up against the headboard. Flipping the paper over revealed an expertly drawn picture of the night sky. "You drew this?"

Rose fidgeted with her shirt. "Yes," she admitted.

"That's brilliant! You're exceptionally talented, Rose! But why did you draw this for me?"

"I know you're sad cause your family's not alive anymore. When Mummy's sad, I draw her a picture. I just wanted to make you not sad anymore. Did it work?"

Ian felt a lump rise in his throat at her declaration. She was so sincere and she didn't even know him. "Oh, Rose."

"I've made you more sad," she cried, seeing the tears in his eyes. "I'm sorry!"

"No, no, no! These aren't sad tears. These are tears of appreciation."

"So you're not sad anymore?"

"Well," he began carefully, not wanting to hurt her feelings, "I'm still sad, and I probably will be for a long time, but your picture has definitely helped make me feel better."

She nodded. "Okay. My Daddy died too," she added quietly. "I can't remember him though. I was just a baby."

"How did he die?" Ian asked, surprised with himself. She was only a little kid, he really shouldn't be discussing this with her, but there was something comforting about her presence."

Rose hoisted herself up on the bed as she answered. "He was hit by a car. How did your family die?"

He stared at the wall behind her. "There was a fire, right before summer break. I was away in a study abroad program and right before I was set to come home, they all died. My mum, my dad, and my brother. I'm all alone." He felt a small hand slip into his.

"There's me."

She meant it, he realised. This little girl, who he knew next to nothing about, genuinely meant it. "Yeah?" he choked out.

Rose nodded enthusiastically. "Mmhmm. I'm a really great friend."

"I bet you are. So, you like the stars?"

"Oh, yes! Sometimes when Mr. Wilf comes over, he'll let me look through his telescope. Wait! Is Mr. Wilf your granddad too?"

Ian chuckled. "Nah, he's my Aunt Sylvia's dad. My dad was my Uncle Geoffrey's brother."

"Oooh. I bet he would still let you look at the telescope though," she told him sweetly.

He smiled. "I imagine so. He's always been very kind to me."

"Rose Tyler, where have you run off to?!" Donna's voice shouted from the hall. "Oh, god, Ian, I'm so sorry!" she said, appearing in his door way.

Ian shook his head. "Donna-"

"I swear, she's normally so good!"

"Donna-"

"And she's gone and upset you!" his cousin noted, seeing the sheen in his eyes.

"Oi!" he finally shouted, causing both a frightened looking Rose and a frazzled Donna, to jump. "Relax. Rose was just giving me a picture she drew to make me feel better."

His older cousin deflated and bent down to Rose's level. "That's was sweet of you, Rose, but your mum told me this morning that she specifically told you not to bother Ian."

Rose sighed. "But I wasn't! I just wanted to help him not be sad anymore."

"It's fine, Donna. She didn't do anything wrong," he responded.

"Okay, okay," she gave in, "but now it's lunch time, Little Miss, so get on downstairs."

The little blonde girl looked hopefully at Ian. "Are you going to come eat too?"

Ian looked hesitantly at Donna who merely quirked an eyebrow. "I... I don't know. I'm not that hungry."

"But we're having my favorite! Chips and cheesy noodles!"

"Chips and cheesy noodles, huh?"

"Yep! Come on, Ian! Mummy says we'll get tummy aches if we don't eat lunch."

Ian took a deep breath, releasing it slowly, before heaving himself off the bed. "Well, who am I to argue with a mum?"

"Usually the first," Donna muttered under her breath. Ian shot her a glare, but saw the pleased look on her face. This was the first time he had voluntarily chosen to eat anything.

All it took was a little blonde girl who seemed to have him instantly wrapped around her finger.

Thoughts? xoxo