A/N: Yep. I caved and posted early. I'm a failure. Disclaimer: Don't own Doctor Who. Maybe tomorrow.

The Doctor was running through the mall looking for his Ponds. He thought he saw a ginger in the sea of heads but it quickly disappeared. Turning a corner he ran into a woman and they both ended up sprawling on the tiled floor. The Doctor clumsily picked himself up and held out his hand babbling apologies.

"I am so, so sorry. Clumsy me can't watch my step. Always running into things as I said I am VERY-" he trailed off staring into the flushed face of a familiar woman. "-sorry, Donna Noble."

"Excuse me? Do I know you? And why were you running around like a dumbo? You big dunce!"

The Doctor still stared at her with big round eyes and gaping mouth.

"Yes... Yes, that's me. Big outer space dunce."

She looked him up and down.

"Are you alright?" "Yep. Thats me. The king of ok."

"Please stop looking at me like I just dropped out of the sky."

"Ok." He nodded fervently.

He probably should be leaving, but it was like trying to separate fish fingers and custard. You just couldn't. An old man appeared out of the crowd surging by them.

"Oh, Donna. Thank goodness. And- oh, who's this?"

Wilfred Mott took in the very young (by the looks of it) gangly skinny man. He was dressed in braces, tweed, and (out of all things) a bow tie.

"I- I don't know. Whats your name?" Donna inquired.

"Uh."

"You sure we haven't met before? You feel familiar."

That started the man out of his reverie.

"NO! No, I've never seen you before in my life, um. My name is... Uh. Doctor Wilf Noble. Uh, sorry not Wilf, I, uh, meant John Pond. Yes. Doctor John Pond? Pond. No, Smith. Doctor John Smith."

"Oi! Stop chattering! I know, I've seen you somewhere."

The man's eyes widened. "No! You have NEVER seen me in your life!"

Donna's eyes narrowed. How had he forgotten the most important rule?! NEVER EVER tell Donna Noble she couldn't do something without a good reason and since he didn't have a good reason, he decided it was time to retreat.

And, then the loud voice rang out, "Doctor!"

Oh, thank goodness.

"That's my um, friend! Bye!"

The Doctor rushed off as fast as he could go, tripping over his limbs and bumping into shelves as his arms flailed helplessly at his sides.

"What a queer person. Come on, Grandfather."

But Wilf only stared, that person had called him 'Doctor' not John or Smith or Doctor John Smith. But, Doctor.

DWDWDWDWDWDWDW

Amelia whirled in surprise as the Doctor bolted past her in a panic.

"Doctor?"

He said something that sounded like, "OhgoodnessDonna!I'llmeetyouatthecarbye!"

Rory blinked and the madman was gone. Amelia looked curiously at the other ginger and the old man in the gap the Doctor had created. Amelia strode forward even though Rory hissed a pained, "Amy!" But, he still followed.

Amelia put her hand on her hip and held out her hand in greeting to the old man.

"Hello, I'm Amelia Pond- that's my husband Rory and I assume you've already met our local madman."

Her smile showed it was an old joke.

"Wilfred Mott and my granddaughter, Donna Noble. Donna, can I ah, speak to them privately?"

"Grandfa-" "Please Donna?"

Donna threw her hands up into the air in exasperation, but she strode toward the hats section. Wilfred jerked back towards the Ponds once she was out of earshot.

"Was that the Doctor?"

"Well, yes. Didn't he say so, Mr. Mott?"

"No, goodness, no. And call me Wilf, any friends of the Doctor are friends of mine. He wasn't kidding about changing his face was he?"

"Changing his face? You mean the regeneration stuff he told us about?"

"Yes."

"You knew the Doctor before regeneration?" Rory put in.

"Yes, he was still skinny, but sideburns and hair that defied gravity."

"Did he still wear that bow tie?"

"Bow tie? No. A pinstriped suit, tie, and long trench coat. Never wore bow ties."

"No bow tie? He can't be separated from that thing!"

Rory who was still in the background looked up at Wilf, "Why didn't the Doctor tell you who he was?"

"Ah, I suspect that has something to do with my granddaughter Donna."

"What about her?"

"Ah... It's a long story, but she used to travel with him. And, something happened. If she ever remembers her travels with the Doctor she would die so... The Doctor erased her memories. She had to forget everything about him. If she ever hears about him again, there would be consequences."

"Oh. No wonder he left in such a hurry."

"Could you tell me your address? I- I would like to see him again. The last time I saw him he was dying. I thought he was dead."

"Oh, oh, of course." Amelia quickly scribbled on a scrap of paper and handed it to him.

"I can keep him at the house till tomorrow. Come then."

Amelia waved goodbye and grabbed Rory's hand as she proceed to the chip and pin machines.

"Well, who were they grandfather?"

Wilf jumped and then looked into his granddaughters eyes. "No one, just an old... Friend. A very old friend."

He had gotten that distant look that made Donna feel like she being pitied. She frowned.

"I heard you were going to see them tomorrow. I'm coming."

"Uh- what?"

A/N: Poor Wilf! Unfortunately he still has a long way to go, you do realize it's going to get worse before it gets better. Right?