A/N: This is a one time expression that I, isansa, do not own any bit or piece of the Doctor Who franchise. Everything written here is based on something I did not create. The only things I lay claim to are the concept, the style, and the non canon characters. There have been a few changes made in this chapter, but nothing major, from its original posting. I would also like to state that all three of the New Who doctors will make an appearance. 9, 10, and 11 will meet with Ava at their respected times; so, if you have a favorite, don't fret. I've finished a good portion of the episodes from series 3, 4, and 5. I've seen all of 1 and 6, and I'm working on series 2. There may be some cannonical chronology mistakes because of this. At this time (21/11/2011) I'm not sure how I will incorporate 11's life and adventures, but I do know he will be around. I hope you enjoy what's here, and I look forward to any questions, comments, or reviews. :)

The Man from Gallifrey

Chapter One: Expectations

"I was born the day I met you."
'In A Lonely Place'

The first meeting was brief, as one would expect. Expectations, however, were never Ava Walker's strong suit. Years of empty offers from boys, friends, and family prepared her well enough to never be disappointed, even at the tender age of thirteen. It was the year 2001 and young Ava was outside the walls of her home, far away down the bank from the protection of her mother's eyes. Her pockets were full of daisies just waiting to be knotted together. The girl's fingers had just plucked another flower from the stem when a strange noise seeped from the sky.

Ava's eyes were drawn upward toward the sound. An energy washed over her as if to say something rather large was heading her way; something she should avoid. Just as little Ava turned to run back to the sanctuary of her mother's arms, a blue box appeared, hurdling from the clouds. Ava glanced over her shoulder as she ran. The strange sound came from the box. The muscles in her legs pushed as hard as they could against the soggy spring ground. Ava's white sneakers sunk into the hillside as she climbed and she fell to her hands and knees. One more glance over her shoulder assured her the recklessly spinning box would not miss her. Expectations or not, Ava knew this encounter would not end well for her.

In a last attempt to escape, Ava ducked down with her arms over her head and neck, just as they taught in school. She pressed herself into the cool mud, trying desperately to make herself as small as possible. The strange noise faded away as the box skimmed just above her form. As soon as it passed over, Ava peeked between her arms to watch the blue box, a police call box she noticed. The box spun once more before a bottom corner caught the ground, sending it skidding against one of the few scattered oak trees.

White petals fluttered all around having been torn away in the tizzy that was the blue police call box. The box groaned once and then was silent. Cautiously, Ava yanked her foot from her stuck sneaker and stood to brush the mud from the navy jumper her mother had bought for her just the day before. As far as expectations go, Ava knew her mother would not be happy with the crusting stains. Her mother believed fully in expectations. Ava stepped tenderly through the flowers, or what was left of them. The call box had flattened a row of the plants, creating a path right to its door.

As far as expectations go, Ava did not expect to be so courageous. Stepping with one white socked foot in front of one white sneakered foot, she made her way across the still dewy and bent daisies to the police box. When she was but a foot from the box she extended her arm and placed a hand on the door. She waited, listening for a sound. The wood of the box was warm and tingled against her skin, almost as if it were alive. She held her breath, waiting for the leaves above her to quite themselves. That's when she heard it. A knocking sound like leather shoes on metal. The same sound as when the schoolgirls crossed the tin bridge to school. The scrape of a lock came from the door and Ava yanked her hand to her chest. The blue door flew open and she stumbled backward, falling to her backside. Ava wondered if she lay still maybe everything would be okay, but expectations were, once again, never suited to Ava.

"Where am I?" A voice wafted on the air. Not Ava's voice and not one she knew.

The girl pushed herself onto her elbows to find the speaker. This was not what she expected. A man, clothed in a long wool coat and tie, was half out of the box staring straight at her. Her heart beat so fast she could hear the blood rushing through her ears.

"Brightling." She huffed.

"The year?" He asked.

"2001." Ava dare not move.

The man looked out across the field, searching it seemed. He did not move from his half in half out spot in the door of the police box, and Ava didn't think he ever would. She scrambled up when his eyes turned to the field and backed away to where her sneaker had been sucked into the ground. She pulled it up and shook clots of mud from it. The man looked to her once more and Ava froze.

"What's your name?" He asked. The man was very strange and not like one she had ever seen before. His nose had a crook and his ears stuck out, and his eyes were as blue as she had ever seen.

Her eyes crinkled at the corners and her brows furrowed. What a strange question from such a strange man, "What's yours?"

"I'm the Doctor." He said.

"If you're a doctor, what are you doin' in a police box?"

"Exploring the galaxy," he grinned, "Want to come along?"

Ava tucked a piece of hair behind her ear before pulling on her sneaker, ready to run, "My mother taught me to stay away from strangers."

"Fair enough."

The man's grin seemed to fade instantly. A shiver wove its way through Ava's body. His eyes had gone stony and his jaw clinched tight. Just as quickly as he came, he slipped back inside the box and closed the door tightly. Just like that all the excitement Ava had ever experienced was gone. Ava called out in a flurry of confusion.

"Wait! Wait!" She walked briskly to the box. The door opened and she was struck by how tall he was to her.

"What's your real name?" She asked.

"I'm the Doctor."

Ava stiffly held out her hand, hoping he wouldn't pull her inside, "I'm Ava Walker."

He took her small hand in his and pumped it once, twice, "It's very nice to meet you, Ava Walker."

The young girl dropped her hand to her side and backed away, her eyes still locked with those of the man called Doctor. He flashed a quick smile, one she was sure was for her sake, and locked himself away in the blue police call box. Ava stood still, waiting to see what would happen. Waiting to see if she were just dreaming, or if she had really just gone insane from too much fresh air. Soon enough the box's light began to flash and that same strange noise cut the air. A groaning, wheezing noise. Right before her eyes, the blue box began to fade and with it went Ava's fright.

The man called the Doctor had more of an impact on young Ava's life than she could have ever imagined. From that spring day onward Ava Walker would be more than her mother ever bargained for, and more than she ever thought of herself. A man she met one soggy spring morning, a man she never expected to see again, changed her life for the small price of a question. Ava Walker, a young girl from Brightling who once did not believe in expectations of others, began to turn the gears in her head, looking for a way to show she had always been wrong.