A/N: Hey my amazing readers and writers! So, I have decided that The Youngest Companion, among other stories, is staying. But, it is being rewritten. The plot is somewhat the same but there will be more emotion and vulnerability and adventures in between, you'll find out so much more about the little Time Tot and see how the others feel about her company. This new version is literally, from the bottom of my hearts (and by the way, count both of those), going to knock your bowties off. So hang onto your scarves, drop the guns, and don't forget your bananas (good source of potassium), for our tale is just about to begin...

London, England

January 3, 2007

08.32 AM

Early this winter morning, the city rested cozily snuggled up in their nice, warm beds with family and friends alike just in the other rooms, awaiting them to wake up to enjoy the leftovers of the Christmas and New Years spirits and get ready to swing right on into the shiny new 2007, with new objectives and goals to greet them like excited puppies. Of course, this was only half of London, the other half had already busied themselves to old situations and habits that needed their temporary fixing.

A street bustling with people, cars passing by in quick, loud blurs of red, blue, grey, or black with an off chance of yellow or white every once in a while. People talking on their phones about important business transactions and friends walking together, talking of the local gossip of hottest new clothes and extracurricular activities among other things. All was peaceful and calm, everything in it's fast-paced harmony with hardly a thing out of place. But that one thing that was very much out of place, was the small child running like her life depended on it, or at least her mild safety.

Her legs moved like lightning in a storm, and her heart rate spiked but she hardly broke a sweat, and was running without any form of panting. Her clothes were dirty and torn in random spots. Her raven hair was matted and dirty in such a way that it seemed to have no hope. Her skin was so pale and her body was much too skinny for a girl her age, but yet, there was something about her that sort of blew all of that away. The look in her emerald eyes as she glanced back, and the little cheeky tongue in tooth grin that made it's way to her face when she saw her pursuer trip over themselves, these were things that distracted others from her obviously not very healthy-looking state. But she was never around long enough for anyone to ask, or try to help. She was always on the run, never able to sit still for very long at all. Her heart longed for adventure and it seemed that fate would have that in store for her, she just needed a little push in the right direction.

Perhaps that was why she turned to look at her pursuer for so long, perhaps that was why the car was speeding down that street on its way wherever it seemed so important to be that safety was not prioritized, and perhaps that was why a strange man in a brown suit and coat, with cream colored shoes happened to be standing at that street corner, as if he were waiting there for her. When she turned back, the car registered in her mind and before she could stop, she felt two very big hands on either one of her jacket-clad arms and was quite quickly pulled back to the safety of the sidewalk. Her eyes widened as she looked at this man, jaw dropping as a gasp quickly escaped her mouth before any coherent words could. Her mind raced as the area behind her eyes began to sting just slightly before she could even say "thank you". His dark eyebrows knitted together as he looked at her, she recognized something about him that she couldn't quite place and almost pulled away, but he hadn't let go and she was scared, and possibly a bit curious. Looking him up and down, the adrenaline in her system dropped as an excited and accomplished smile came to her face and she released a soft, almost breathless, "Thank you."

He stared down at her for a very long moment, unsure of why she was so familiar and allowed his inquisitive nature to get the better of him. "Are you alright?" He asked, concern lacing his deep voice. He'd get through the formalities of her time and then start the real questioning. She nodded, her attention focusing deeply on him as both their minds attempted to connect the dots. Then she remembered what was at stake and got ready to make a run for it.

"Yeah," she answered, her voice high and light, "Now I'm sorry Mister, but I've really got to run." She got ready to pull away, her heart racing excitedly at the thought of running again.

"Now, hold on a minute," the strange man said, his grip firm so she couldn't go anywhere, her smile disappeared for a moment, fear rooting her to the spot. "Just why exactly are you running like that?"

She lit up again with a soft laugh, bouncing on the the balls of her feet as she replied, "Because it gets me places faster." He smirked at that answer, She pulled her gaze away, glancing back and tensing her body to start running again if she was to see the one coming after her.

"Are you running from someone?" He asked, following her gaze causing her to get a glint in her eye.

"Why? Have you got a hiding place?" At that, he released her, standing up straight as he looked around, for something or someone.

"Well..." He drawled out the sounds for a long moment, almost cueing her to giggle softly with a raised eyebrow. This man was funny, and didn't seem all that dangerous, usually she wouldn't be so still but something about this man had her sprouting questions that maybe he could answer, plus she knew how to hold her own if anything were to happen.

But before he could continue, a pretty blonde woman came out of the shop, walking up to the two as she stared at her receipt. "Doctor, that thing you needed came up to a bit more than you thought, you'll have to reimburse me for-" her brown eyes shifted up and she saw him standing in front of a small girl who looked to be around ten years old, with old clothes and dirty hair. Whoever she was, she obviously wasn't living under good conditions. "Oh hello," she greeted, surprised.

"Ah there we are, thank you very much," he replied, taking the bag from her and not reaching for any form of money. "Come over here really quickly, there's something we need to discuss." He put his arm around the blonde and began leading her towards the alley where they could clearly all still see each other, but not before calling back to the little girl, "You, stay, we will be right back," And into the alley they went, still clearly able to see her and stop her if she tried to run off.

The little girl stood there, she knew that she could run and they wouldn't be able to catch her, but something made her want to stay, something made her want to know more. She watched the alleyway they went into where she, quite correctly, assumed that they were talking and she had a funny feeling she knew what about.

"Doctor, who is she? Why does she look like that?" Rose quickly asked, concern clear in her voice as she glanced back at the girl who leaned against a wall, looking around as if for somebody. The blonde looked back to her friend, meeting his dark eyes which held so many emotions, she could only name a few off the top of her head.

"I don't know yet but we have to help her," He explained quickly, glancing her from afar before looking back to his human companion.

"Of course, have you seen her? She looks like she hasn't had a proper meal in weeks she's so small, and just look at the state of her hair, I don't know any little girl who would let that happen." She explained, not with disgust or annoyance but concern for the small girl.

"A little girl with no choice," The Doctor pointed to her, "See her shirt? It has holes, and her pants they're too big." Rose looked back and noticed with a wince.

"So what? D'you think it's abuse?" She asked softly, hoping that little girl couldn't hear them talking about it like that. Rose didn't want to scare her, but she knew that no good parent would let that happen to their child. Her own mother made sure she washed her hair and clothes and only bought clothes in her size. But her thoughts were cut short by the Doctor shaking his head and pointing again.

"No, d'you see? Her jacket is different from the rest, it's old but not as torn, she cares about it and by the looks, it's a woman's." When Rose looked, it connected slightly and she turned back to her friend. "I'm guessing her mother and father passed away a few years ago, no-one to take her, most likely took to the streets." Both frowned with concern and they became quiet, Rose soon broke the silence and spoke up.

"So, what do we do? Take her to the police?" It was currently the only thing they could really do, they would take her to a foster home and she'd get clothes and food and a proper shower.

"No, they're not equipped enough to handle her, not in this century. See the jacket? That's not two thousand and seven material, that's not even of planet Earth."

"So what? You're saying she's an alien?"

"Most likely."

"So, why is she here?"

"I don't think she knows, if she does, she's a very good actress. Her father might be human but whoever owned that jacket, definitely wasn't." She adjusted her jacket and dusted her pants as if that would help to get even a fraction of the dirt off.

"So take her to alien police then?" She offered slowly, attempting to be helpful.

He shook his head. "No, they wouldn't know how to help her, they don't do well with homeless children."

"Then what do we do?" A thought came to her mind, lighting her eyes and she turned, already to speaking to him. "Doctor, what if we-" He had walked back over to the little girl and was currently bending down to her level, causing Rose to come running.

"-Yes, everything is fine, I promise. Listen, I'm the Doctor, and this is my friend Rose," he turned and pointed to the blonde causing her to smile and wave, "we were wondering if you might want to come with us, just for a few minutes, we have a warm house with showers and towels and food, if you're hungry, but if not, you do not have to." He knew for a fact she was hungry, and even though she tried not to show it, she was tired and scared. They had to help her, he had to help her, figure out what she knows and go on from there. She opened her mouth, ready to politely decline but a shower and food sounded just so good to her, and they did their best to seem as friendly as possible.

"Yes, please."