Rose Red

Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who

The Story Begins

Once upon a time, in a time of royalty and legend, there was a man called King Pete who lived in a beautiful castle. Aside from being a wealthy and powerful King, he was also one of the kindest and cleverest of men. He had a lovely wife, Queen Jacqueline, whom he loved most dearly.

For several years, they lived quite happily, but couple longed for a child of their own. Finally, on a beautiful spring day, a daughter with skin fair as snow, hair as golden as the sun, eyes like chocolate and lips as red as a rose, was born to them. It was no wonder then, that the little Princess's name was Rose.

For a brief time, the royal family was happy as could be, but sadness soon followed. When Rose was six months old, Jacqueline passed away from an illness. As a result of the tragedy, Jacqueline left her husband a widower and her daughter motherless.

For the next five years, Pete raised his daughter as best he could and formed a close bond with Rose that could never be broken. They were as happy as could be and Rose's life was like paradise. As long as she had someone who cared about her as much as she cared about them, she was happy.

But after five years, Pete became lonely and more than anything, he wanted Rose to have a mother's love and guidance. When he met a woman named Lady Cassandra, who seemed to be kind as well as extraordinarily beautiful, it seemed to be an answer to his prayers. Still, he had to ask Rose's opinion on the matter before he made any decisions.

One afternoon, a few weeks before her sixth birthday, Rose was playing with her doll in her room when Pete knocked on the door and went into her room. "Rose, sweetie, we need to talk."

Upon hearing her father's serious tone, Rose put down her doll and looked up at him. "Have I done something naughty, Daddy?"

"No, of course not, dear," he assured her. He knelt down beside her. "Rose, I need to ask you something very important and be completely honest with me. Do you understand?"

Rose nodded.

"Lady Cassandra and I have been growing close, and I'm considering asking her to marry me. But I want to know if you'd be all right with that. Would you mind if she joined our family?" asked Pete. He knew Rose was friends with Cassandra, but it was asking a lot for a little girl to go from being friends with someone to having her as a stepmother.

"Does she make you happy?" asked Rose.

"Yes," he admitted. No one would ever replace his wife, but he had come to care about Cassandra.

"Then I'd love for her to be with us," said Rose. "She makes you happy and she's so nice."

Pete smiled as he kissed his daughter's head. "You're as sweet as you are lovely, Rose."

Rose smiled back and hugged him tight.

A week later, Pete and Cassandra were married. Rose gained a stepmother and with her stepmother came her devoted servant, Chip. Chip was a strange-looking man, but he was quite sweet and appeared to have taken a liking to Rose because she was so kind to him to the point where he danced and sat with her during the wedding celebrations after the ceremony.

"Mister Chip, it feels like Christmas! Daddy's so happy and now I have a new mother!" said Rose, happily, as they sat together, eating a slice of wedding cake.

"Oh, indeed Miss Rose," said Chip. He'd taken to calling her 'Miss Rose.' "And please, just call me Chip, Miss Rose. I have no doubt that Mistress Cassandra will make a fine Queen and stepmother."

"Did someone say my name?" said Cassandra, appearing out of nowhere. She was fairly beautiful with blond hair and fine features. Her golden-white wedding gown and expensive jewelry seemed to add to it.

"Yes, Stepmother," said Rose. She looked at Cassandra in awe. "Oh, you really are the fairest one of all."

"Well, thank you, Rose. That's very kind of you," said Cassandra, as she sat down beside her.

"I hope I look as pretty as you do on my wedding day," said Rose, smiling.

"Oh, I daresay you will, little one," said Cassandra, smiling sweetly.

Rose beamed.

With so much happiness and high hopes, it seemed like everything was going to be perfect. But alas, hardly anything lasts forever and before long, Fate worked her hand.