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"Daddy!" A child's excited cry rang out. The voice belonged to a young girl who looked to be around six or seven. She ran to her father, who lifted her easily and spun her around, making her giggle. The slim man held his daughter just a moment more before setting her on the red grass at his feet and looking up at the others who had followed the girl out. The child wrapped the fingers of one little hand around her father's hand, and pushed her dark, flyaway hair back with the other.
Behind the girl had come three more figures, one an eight year old boy with a head full of dark blonde curls, another a teenaged girl, green eyes flashing excitedly, and the last, a woman, long blonde hair half pulled back, standing just outside the door of the modest house.
The man drank in the sight of his home. It rose only one floor, sprawling across it's corner of the majestic glass dome that encompassed the city. The house's walls reflected the orange sky winking through silver-leafed trees. Many of the windows shone with welcoming light, and provided a glimpse of the rooms within.
The other two children each hugged their father, who happily exclaimed that he had brought them all gifts. The faces of the children lit up; their father always brought fantastic gifts!
Picking up a small bag that lay at his feet, the man followed his family into the house. As he reached her, the man slid his arm around the woman's tiny waist. She smiled up at him as she put her own arm around him. The pair walked into the front hall, where the man caught sight of himself in a mirror. He smiled at his reflection as he tossed his long, tan coat onto one of the many hooks of a coat rack. He ran a hand through thick, dark hair and shook his head at the hopelessness of that particular situation.
The children already sat on the floor in the living room, but the man shook his head. "Tonight," he laughed. The children groaned but tumbled off to wash up for supper, which had been set on the table just in time for the man to join his family. An extra plate was set at the head of the table, and the children playfully fought for a place next to it.
Finally, the family sat at the table, smiles on their faces as they listened to the man's tales of his journeys. He told them of many wonderful sights, and terrifying encounters. They gasped and laughed in all the right places. The meal lasted for hours as they simply enjoyed each other's company.
After a while, the man announced that it was time for the gifts to be given. The children scrambled to get to the living room quickly. The man and woman followed more slowly. They all sat in the cozy room; a fire burned in the grate, tinting the deep green furniture with an orange glow. The paneling on the walls shone, as if reflecting the mood as the man passed out gifts, each with it's own fascinating story. A giggle rose up from the younger girl as her father tickled her nose with a long feather. He couldn't help but laugh along with her, his face happy and his eyes sparkling.
The Doctor slept alone in his huge bed aboard the TARDIS. A peaceful smile softened his features as he dreamed about the home he once knew and the family he still loved.
For a short while he was not alone, had no worries, no cares. And for that time, he was perfectly content.