The Doctor strolled through the park on an unusually calm day. His mind was buzzing with ideas of the places he could've gone with Amy and Rory...had he not lost them... He stopped, abruptly, squeezing both his eyes and his fists together. The familiar sting of tears hitting him like a burst of air. Harsh, and all too hard. He ran a hand through his hair, tousling it, and destroying all the work he had put into his hair, only hours before. He sighed, heavily, and looked up at the sky, staring into nothingness. He shook his head.
"Why...?" He slightly pleaded, obviously oblivious to the humans' gazes as they cautiously walked past the Doctor.
One girl, however, slowed her pace. She gazed at the strange man, obviously distraught and anguished. She furrowed her brow, and tentatively walked towards him. This presented her with a few funny looks from the passing people. She dismissed this and reached a hand out. She tapped his shoulder, biting her lower lip. She wasn't sure what drove her to doing this, only she had seen this before. These...emotions...these were so dearly familiar to her, and she despised seeing the emotions displayed on others. She cleared her throat when she speculated that the man wasn't aware she had just touched him.
"Sir?" She whispered, her hand still on his shoulder.
He spun around, surprised, his face wet with tears, "Oh...uhm...hi, sorry..."
"No need to apologize, you were sad. I've been there, before." The girl smiled warmly, and offered the man a tissue from her bag.
He wiped his cheeks, tossing the tissue in a near-by waste-basket.
"What's your name, then?"
"I'm Alana. Alana Blackwood." She said, giving a mock-curtsy.
The man chuckled, "Blackwood...sounds familiar for some reason." He looked at her for a moment. "Never mind that, I'm the Doctor."
"Well then, Doctor, since you look sad, how about I take you to get something to drink?" Alana suggested, giving a firm nod. It was obviously not a question, more like a statement.
The Doctor nodded, and walked beside her. He looked down at her, and raised an eye-brow. Why did she look so familiar?! He searched through recent and very distant memories, but was unable to find anything. He shook his head, dismissing all of his concerns and worries as they walked through the door to a small café. They sauntered up to the counter and Alana placed her hands on counter, leaning on it as she examined the menu above their heads. The Doctor bit his lip and watched as a barista walked over to them.
"Hi, would you like to order?" The barista's tone was highly too cheery, and to be honest, a bit annoying. So chipper, so happy to be there... He didn't understand any of it.
Later, after they had eaten, they walked out of the café, Alana talking about a part of her past. The Doctor listened aptly, surprised how much sorrow that could be in one's life. She didn't speak of her and her free, though. Obviously something she didn't like dwelling on. The only thing she did mention about him, was that he was a horrible man who never should have had children.
"My mother was always there for me. Even when she knew my dad was right, she sided with me. I don't know...she just wasn't fit for living in such a cruel world. I mean, she was a free spirit, a goddess full of life...full of love." Alana looked at the ground, a small smile over her pale lips, a spark in her icy blue eyes. "She ran out of the house one day, and was found by the police floating in a river. She was dead; killed herself. I don't think she really wanted it, but she couldn't handle my father."
The Doctor looked at her, and saw a tear slip down her cheek. He felt a sudden rush of sympathy for the girl, and enveloped her in a warm embrace. He squeezed his eyes shut, his chin resting on her head. She was only tall enough to reach his chin...short Alana. He sighed, and stroked her light brown hair. Running his hands through the elegant waves, that trailed to the middle of her back.
"Alana... People don't leave you. They never leave you. They are always there, somewhere, someway. They never stay gone, they are always with you. Whether it's in a memory, or in a dream. Or just a simple saying that reminds you of them. They are there. Your mother is still with you." He pulls back, his hands on her shoulders, looking in her eyes. He smiled, slightly, and nodded. "I promise you, Alana Blackwood."
Alana nodded, and let out a shaky breath. She wiped her eyes, patting down the stray hairs. She smiled at the Doctor, brightly. He had his way of comforting, even when there was still a sense of melancholy in his eyes. She sighed, and the Doctor wrapped an arm around her shoulders. He leaned close, a mischievous smile on his lips.
"Alana, do you want to see something cool?" He questioned, looking ahead towards a strange blue box.
Alana nodded, and the Doctor gripped her hand, tugging her towards the blue box.