Characters: 9 + Victorian!Rose
Song: Styx - Come Sail Away

Nearing mid-morning, on a rare sunny day, Rose Tyler found herself to be bored. Her mother, bless her, was chatting with their neighbor Mrs. Donna Noble about the new hat shop that had just opened up.

"Ooh, and the feathers they use," Mrs. Donna was saying, her lace and pearl gloved hand resting lightly on her mother's arm in excitement, "Mrs. Tyler, they're simply stunning!"

"Do you think I should get a hat or two for my Rose?" Mrs. Jacqueline Tyler spared a quick glance at her young daughter, frowning slightly at the yellow ribbon threaded through her hair. "There have been no new suitors as of late; perhaps she needs something new to showcase her beauty?"

"One in a lovely shade of pink should brighten her complexion!" Mrs. Noble had replied, and the two women began walking towards the shop with the stunningly feathered hats. Rose walked behind her mother, mind wandering as it was wont to do. She had no interest in hats, pink or otherwise, and soon the conversation of the two women became nothing more than background noise. The soft pink parasol she held to block out the sun twirled lightly in her grip as she thought about the good weather. The sky was the clearest of blues with the simplest of breezes caring the fragrant scent of the spring flowers. Ooh, what she wouldn't give to just bask in the feel of it!

So distracted was she by her thoughts that she didn't realize she had slowed down enough to have been left behind. When she it came to her attention that the chattering she had been ignoring was gone, she looked around to see that her mother and neighbor were nowhere in sight. She frowned and swallowed nervously, unsure of how to proceed. She had no clue where the hat shop was! She squared her shoulders and twirled the parasol once more for good luck; surely she could find it without getting lost. She continued down the road for a few minutes before peering down a side street. It looked rather busy, she thought. If this shop was so good, surely it was popular. She turned down the street and walked for a few paces before she turned down another busy-looking avenue.

She had been on her own for close to fifteen minutes and had yet to come across any hat shops! She was beginning to grow worried as she finally acknowledged that she was well and truly lost.

"'Ello love," she heard behind her, and turned quickly to face the voice. She had wandered down a deserted alleyway and realized all too late that it was a dead end.

"Pardon," she bit her lip nervously, eyeing the man who blocked her exit. "I'll just be on my way." His face was smudged with dirt and oil and he a strong, unpleasant odor that accompanied him.

"Don't fancy a cuppa?" He asked, giving her a crude smile of sharpened black teeth. She took a weary step back, fingers clutching the handle of the parasol tightly in an effort to hide her growing anxiety. He was large enough that he blocked the entire alleyway. How was she to get around him safely?

"I'm afraid I haven't the-oomph!" She toppled to the ground as another man jumped down from a nearby roof and landed next to her, knocking her over.

"Sorry about that," the new man grinned at her, extending a hand to her. He was dressed oddly with a leather coat and a deep green shirt underneath, but she immediately felt comforted by his presence. He helped her up then turned to face the man in front of him as she dusted herself off. Her mother was surely going to be crossed when she noticed the dirt.

"Who are you, now?" the dirty man in front of them asked, frowning. His breath reeked of onions and what she imagined stale ale would smell like, and the combination made her stomach feel queasy.

"Me?" The man in the strange clothes put his hands behind his back and gave the other man a pleasant grin. "I'm the Doctor... and you? You're a Flagelon. Bit far from home, ain't yah?"

"You will die!" The other man snarled as he took a step towards them. The Doctor reached out and grabbed Rose's hand, pulling her behind him as he frowned slightly.

"What's your name?" he asked as his free hand dug into his coat pocket.

"Rose Tyler," she answered, fingers gripping his tightly. The other man lunged for them and the Doctor pulled out a silver device and pointed it at him. It made a strange buzzing noise and the tip glowed blue. The other man stopped short and doubled over, clutching his head as he roared in pain. It sounded terrifyingly... inhuman.

"Nice to meet you Rose," the Doctor said, pocketing the device. His grip tightened on her hand and his grin returned in full force. "Run for your life." He took off then, pulling her along and causing her to drop her parasol as he led them through a series of twists and turns. They dodged through ladies and gentlemen alike, running down the streets hand-in-hand, and Rose was breathless with elation. He finally stopped in front of a newly constructed building and she looked behind them, glad to see they hadn't been followed. Her hair fell loosely down her back, the ribbon having been lost shortly after the parasol, and her cheeks were flushed as she struggled to catch her breath.

"You must be an angel," she said finally, and he gave a short bark of laughter.

"I'm no angel," he told her, giving her hand a final squeeze before releasing it.

"I would have been killed," she insisted, and his eyes softened.

"Still pink and yellow, returned safe and sound." She laughed then as she tucked stray strands of golden hair behind her ears.

"Thank you," she said in earnest, and he gave her another quick grin.

"Pleasure's all mine. Now if you'll excuse me Miss Tyler, I've got me a Flagelon to catch!" He made to turn when Rose suddenly realized the man was racing towards them.

"Doctor!" she called out, pulling him towards her as the man barreled into the space the Doctor had just been occupying with another animalistic roar. His finger nails had elongated to what looked like claws and he hissed and turned, ready to begin the chase anew.

"Thanks for that," the Doctor called out as he began to run in the opposite direction. "Be seeing you!" The Doctor disappeared around the corner with the other man racing behind him. Rose took a step to follow before a surprised gasp from behind her made her turn.

"Rose Marion Tyler," she met the shocked eyes of her mother, "what has happened to your dress? Your hair!" She was immediately pulled into the building her mother had just exited and realized with a start that the Doctor had left her in front of the hat shop. Mrs. Noble joined her mother and the two women began fussing over her as they struggled to fix her appearance. Rose said nothing as she gazed out the shop window, a worried frown tugging at her lips.

"I just met an angel," she whispered softly, before she was dragged deeper into the shop to find the right hat with stunning feathers to brighten her complexion.

She sat on the wooden swing her father had built for her later that evening, turning her newly acquired soft pink hat in her hands lightly. She wondered how her angel had faired. She tried to look for him during the walk home but could find no sign of him or the man who had chased them. She hoped he was safe.

"Rose Tyler," she jumped as she heard his voice, turning quickly in the swing to see him leaning casually against the large tree that supported it.

"Angel," she stood and left the hat on the swing, quickly walking towards him and looking him over for any sign of injury. He chuckled.

"Just the Doctor," he corrected again, giving her his broad grin.

"Are you unharmed?" She couldn't see any injuries but that didn't mean he was free of them.

"I do a lot of runnin'," he waved off her searching eyes. "Hard to catch, me."

"You said he was a... a Fla..." She struggled to remember the word he had used.

"A Flagelon," he supplied and she nodded eagerly, taking a step closer to him.

"Yes - a Flagelon! I am unfamiliar with this country. Where is it located?" He laughed and turned, pointing to the night sky.

"See that cluster of stars?" he narrated, and she gazed at him in confusion. "Look," he insisted, and she turned to follow the direction his fingers were pointed in.

"I see the cluster," she squinted.

"Flagelons are from the planet Flagelos V, and it's located in that cluster." He brought his arm down and turned to face her.

"You mean to say he is not of this world?" She looked at him in disbelief. "He appeared human!"

"So do I," he shifted his jacket and rubbed his nose, doubt flashing briefly in his eyes.

"Are you saying you are not of this world?" Her gaze jumped between the star cluster to his face a few times before it settled on his amused expression.

"Yeah," he squared his shoulders, standing tall. "That alright?"

"Yes," she answered without hesitation, and then was surprised to discover she meant it. "But if you are not an angel, and you are not of this world, how did you get here?" She was genuinely curious, and his grin seemed to become wider.

"Askin' the right questions, Miss Tyler. I have a ship." He pointed just down the hill from where her swing had been built, and she noticed a blue box sitting quietly next to her mother's garden.

"A star ship," she breathed, taking a few steps towards the box as a bright smile slowly broke on her face. "You can sail the skies." The Doctor held out his hand, eyes twinkling with warm affection.

"It also travels in time. Rose Tyler," he nudged his head towards the ship, giving her the largest grin she had seen on his face yet. "Fancy a trip?"

Author's Note: These stories will all be unbeta'd. Feedback is greatly appreciated! :)