Sorry for the long break. I've been trying to figure out what I'm going to do with this story. I'm not totally sure where it's going yet or if I'm even going to continue with it. If there's something you'd like to see (monster, place, etc.), feel free to send it in a review.
Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who, and for this I am disappointed.
"Now then!" said the Doctor as he whirled around the console in his usual orbit. "Where are we off to this time?"
River walked up beside him, flipping a lever as she did so. "I think we ought to wait for Rain and Jet before we make any decisions, dear."
"I think they're a little… occupied at the moment," the Doctor answered. However, when River didn't respond, he crossed his arms in submission, making him look like a pouty five year old. "Oh, alright. But if they take too long, I'm leaving without them!"
As if on cue, Rain and Jet emerged from one of the adjacent hallways. "Oh, take it easy, we're back," Rain said as she proceeded towards where the Doctor and River were standing.
The minute these two entered, the three children—who had been running around the room playing tag—now came to a halt. As the twins called, "Daddy," Storm called, "Uncle Jet," running to climb on his legs. For some reason they had always been fascinated with Jet. Of course, Rain would never admit that this annoyed her, but he never missed an opportunity to rub it in.
"Look," he said now, to get her attention. Rhett and Jane each clung to one of his legs, while Storm rode on his back. Teasingly, he pretended to shake them off, which just elicited an excited squeal from the children. Rain couldn't help but laugh at this, even though she tried her best to look unimpressed. Once Jet finally got tired, though, he said, "Why don't you all go run along and play now."
After the children regained their own footing, Storm spoke up. "But we can't play anymore."
"Oh yeah?" Jet asked, smiling. "And why is that?"
"I was it before you came in, and then I tagged you. Now you're it!"
There was a moment of peace when Jet seemed to be determining how to respond to this. Finally, he answered, "Well then I guess you'd better… run!" At this, he began chasing them around the room, leaving Rain to deal with the matter of their next location.
"Have anywhere in mind?" The Doctor asked. After a moment, he decided to add, "Because, if not, I may have a few ideas."
"Well," Rain began, before hesitating, "there is one place…."
The Doctor almost looked disappointed at this. He'd really been expecting her to leave this decision to him. "And where is that?" he sighed.
"I just thought… you know… that maybe the kids would like to see Jet's old home in Leadworth."
At the mention of this, Jet froze in his tracks, causing Jane to slam into him and cry, "You're it!" But he paid no attention to her.
"We're going to Leadworth?"
His expression was hard to read at the moment, and this caused Rain to falter slightly once more. "It was just an idea, dear. We don't have to go if you don't want to." She knew that he would have a good reason to never want to return to that town again. Their last visit hadn't exactly ended well.
"No," he began after taking a moment to consider it. "No, I think this will be good. It would be nice to see the town again. Maybe that would give me the chance to wash out the bad memories." He said all of this as if he were a child who knew that they had to face their fears to overcome them. Rain wouldn't have objected at all if he didn't want to go back to face his past. He'd been through so much there that fear was only to be expected. However, if he truly wanted to return, who was she to deny him that closure?
"Leadworth it is," the Doctor said, putting in the coordinates and executing all the necessary actions to pilot them to their destination. Within seconds, they had arrived.
The excited children immediately rushed out the door, racing each other to get outside. Upon exiting, they soon found that they had landed at the edge of a playground, which only served to increase their energy level. River led the Doctor in their direction, while Rain and Jet headed directly for the swings.
Rain sat down, and Jet moved behind to push her. "Do you remember this place?" she asked.
"How could I forget?" Their voices were soft and lowered, unheard by the others.
"I'm always unsure of just what you remember. For a while you didn't even remember who I was."
Jet was silent for a moment before answering. "It must have taken all of their power to make me forget you."
Rain smiled, and together they silently watched the kids chasing each other around. Finally, though, she tore her eyes from them to the slide that stood not too far away. The structure, once a symbol of joy for many a child, was now ominous; at least, it was to them. "And do you remember that?" Rain whispered.
Jet's voice was filled with pain when he finally answered. "Yes," he said. "Yes I do." Here his voice changed, as if he were forcing himself to be happy. "But you know what? I don't care about what almost happened there. All I care about is actually happened. That was the day I met you. That was the day you saved my life for the first time. That's what I choose to remember." Up to this point he had just been absently swinging Rain with one hand, but now he gently brought the swing to a stop, causing her to turn and look up at him. Smiling ever so slightly, he leaned down to say, "And what really matters is what I choose to remember."
With her looking up and him leaning down, their faces were so close, just inches away. However, before their lips could touch, Rhett and Jane came racing towards them. "Daddy," Rhett called, panting from all the running he'd done. "Why did we come to a playground?"
"It's not just any playground," he chuckled. "It's where your mother and I first met."
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