My Father's Companion

Disclaimer: I don't own Dr. Who. I'm just someone who got struck by a series of plot bunnies who won't leave me alone. Hope you enjoy.

It was late one night when I came down stairs into the kitchen for a cup of tea. I had not been sleeping well since father died two weeks ago. Mum still couldn't enter their old room, but I couldn't blame her. I couldn't enter my old flat with out crying for a month after Travis died. That is why I wasn't completely surprised to find my mother sitting at the kitchen table, her hands around a cold cup of tea.

She just smiled at me when I came in, and said "You too?"

I just nodded, removed the cold tea from her hands, and set about making new ones for the both of us. Then I too joined her at the table.

We sat there in silence sipping our tea for a long while before my mum spoke. "You miss him."

"Every day." I sighed, "There is just so much that reminds me of him that I just…." I looked back down into my tea.

"Sixty years with the man, and it still wasn't enough." My mother swirled her tea. "There are days when I still expect to see him come bounding though the door."

"Always up to something, even when sitting still." I gave her a slight smile.

"Oh the adventures we had." Mum wrapped her hands around her tea cup, and gave me wistful smile.

"The stories of those adventures were some of my favorite bedtime stories." I closed my eyes and remembered.

"And I seem to remember also a source of some of your nightmares." My mother gave me a pointed look.

I blushed. Some how every time mum would be out of town on business and Dad had to tuck me in to bed, I always ended up with nightmares; Mum blamed him for his overly descriptive stories he would tell me and my siblings. In truth, mum and dad's bed was always more cozy than mine, and the nightmare excuse always worked on my Dad. He may have been a force to be reckoned with against evil doer's and vicious aliens but he was a sucker for my 'poor pitiful cute little me' look.

"You know I never really understood what the two of you went through until I was oh…. 16 or 17." I sipped my tea.

"What do you mean?" Mum put her cup down on the table.

"Well…. I grew up on the stories of your adventures. You meeting Queen Victoria, and fighting off Werewolves. Meeting Charles Dickens on Christmas Eve, and fighting 'ghosts'. Evil aliens trying to take over Downing Street, and all you had to do to stop them. To me they were always stories, but never real."

"They were real when you were 14 years old young lady." Mum glared at me but I could see the playfulness in her eyes.

I couldn't help but laugh. I'm over 50 years old and I'm still being called "young". "Alright, the debacle when I was 14 was one thing. I was with the two of you getting into trouble; but what I meant was, just the two of you trying to enjoy being together and the universe throwing something into your lap."

"Did seem like that didn't it?" Mum couldn't help a smile herself. "So what changed when you 17?"

"James had just gotten married and was starting his professorship, Verity had just gotten engaged. I guess you could say I was depressed."

"Depressed? What ever for?"

"I was being left behind. James was off all grown up, Verity was getting married and leaving her childhood behind. I didn't have anything in common with them anymore. I felt alone."

"I'm sorry sweetheart." Mum squeezed my hand.

"It's alright." I gave her a weak smile. "I think Dad knew what was happening." I swirled my tea. "He said he had seen that look on a young woman's face before."

"Whose?" Mum squeezed my hand again. I noticed her eyes were a little watery.

I looked her in the eyes, "Yours, when you first met."

"Rose!" The Doctor jogged into the library, finding her not there he checked the lounge. Still no sign of her. "Rose!"

"Would you keep it down!" Melissa, the house keeper came into the hallway from the kitchen in a huff. "Ms. Rose called a half hour ago saying she was running late. You would know that if you checked you messages Doctor." She pointed at him, her tea towel still in her hand.

"Evee are you up there?" The Doctor headed up the stairs, and knocked on his daughter's door.

Music was playing loudly, but a muffed 'come in' could be heard through it. The Doctor was assaulted by the music when he opened the door.

"Oh, sorry," Evee picked up a remote and turned her music player down. "Did you need something?"

"Are you going to be home for the night?" He leaned on the doorframe.

Evee shrugged, "Should be. I've got exams starting a couple days, and as much as I wish it wasn't true, I do need to study for them. Why do you ask?"

"I've got some great news and I wanted to tell everyone."

Evee groaned and rolled off her bed, "Please tell me James, his wife, Ver, AND Jacob are NOT coming over."

"No it's just the 4 of us tonight; me, you, your mum, and Melissa." He reassured her.

"Good," Evee flopped back down on her bed, and sighed.

The Doctor watched his daughter for a few moments before quietly closing her door. Putting his hands in his pockets he made his way back down stairs, his good mood slightly soured.

"So what was this big news that you have to tell us?" Rose asked as she wiped her mouth.

The Doctor looked over to Evee who was just pushing the food around on her plate, not paying much attention to any of them. Clearing his throat he, put on a smile, "I have been asked to go on a short lecture tour."

"That's wonderful, where to? I know the University of Edinburgh has been trying to get you to speak for ages." Rose gave him a bright smile.

He noticed Evee still hadn't reacted to his statement, "Actually it is a series of lectures," He looked almost gitty.

"Alright, I'll bite. Where are the lectures?" Rose smiled.

"Currently they have planned 6 stops, New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Sydney, and Wellington New Zealand."

"That's a wonderful opportunity," She hugged her husband, "But forgive me, why Wellington. It isn't exactly the scientific capital of the world."

"I've been asked to meet with some of the curators at Te Papa to examine some odd items that have been discovered by hikers." The Doctor looked over to Evee who was trying to look like she wasn't interested, "While there Victoria University thought I could give a few lectures."

"How long will you be gone?"

The Doctor shrugged, "At least two weeks, the zeppelin over the pacific is a day until it's self."

"Long trip." Rose stretched and stood. "I don't think I could be away from Torchwood that long."

"Then stay here." He said rather flippantly, which he saw immediately irked Rose, "What I meant was, you are busy, you can stay here and enjoy a quiet house."

"Dad, I don't think the house could be quiet with Mom and I here. Our hair dryers alone drive you batty." Evee was heading out of the room to let her parents talk.

"Actually I was thinking," The Doctor put his hands in his pockets and turned to his daughter, "would YOU like to go with me Miss Evee."

Evee immediately spun back around the corner of the door frame, "WHAT!"

Author's Note: I started this a while back when I visited my family. I got to thinking about the adventures I had growing up with my father and grandfather. It was during a few of those trips I began to understand them better than I ever had. Makes you wonder, how do you live up to being the child of two very special people?