Chapter 2: "Katherine Poppy"
"So where do we start?" She said excitedly, after they sat down at small table.
"Where do we start with what?" The Doctor asked her, confused.
"What about your name?" She said. "Would you look at that, I'm on a date with a strange man in a bow tie and I haven't even asked him his name."
"The Doctor." He said quietly, ignoring her joke.
"You mean to say you're name's The Doctor? Like one of the characters in the book?" She asked.
He nodded. "And what about you? What's your name mysterious girl from the park bench."
"Katherine Poppy." She said. "Although I think Mysterious Girl from the Park Bench might suit me better."
He chuckled this time. "Katherine Poppy, that's a brilliant name. Tell me Poppy,"
"Poppy's my last name. I don't go by Poppy." She interrupted.
"Ah, well, I like Poppy better. Suits you nicely. Anyway, Poppy, how'd you find my book?" He asked.
"Found it In a basket next to, get this, a police box!" Poppy exclaimed.
"Did you now? Definitely my book." He nodded.
"Doctor, how come you have the same name as the character in that book? Not exactly a common name, The Doctor." She asked.
"Oh, Katherine Poppy, I am the character in the book." He smiled.
"Did you write the book then? An alternate life for you? Fun adventures you'll never really go on? 'Cuz sometimes I do that too ya know? Dream about what it would be like to be a movie star, or a deep sea diver." She rambled happily.
"It's kinda like that, but not really, because Poppy, unlike your dreams, the story in that book, it's real." The Doctor said, staring her right in the eyes.
She laughed. "You're lying. It's a story of time travelers, and monsters. It's not real."
"Come Poppy, let me show you something." The Doctor said after they stepped outside. He grabbed her hand and ran towards the TARDIS.
"Slow down, would ya?" She laughed. "We just ate for God's sake!"
When they got to the TARDIS, he quickly fumbled for the key, and pushed open the door.
"It's the police box where I found your book..." She said, stepping inside. "And it's... It's bigger on the inside."
The Doctor smiled.
"You.. You're a time traveler." She said breathlessly.
The Doctor smiled. "The last."
"Oh, but you can't be the last. There's got to be someone hiding somewhere, you've just got to look." She said walking around, mesmerized.
"For a thousand years I've looked. I'm alone."
"What about Amelia and Melody? Are they real too?" She asked.
"They're real.." He said quietly. "They just aren't here anymore."
"What do you mean?" She asked sympathetically, looking over at the sad time traveler.
"Here." He said, handing back the book he had convinced her to give back earlier, "finish reading."
She took the book at sat down where she was standing. The Doctor watched for a moment as he watched her finish those last few chapters. He smiled when she smiled, and when she reached the last few pages, he turned his back.
He thought about Amy and Rory, and how much he missed them. He thought about what happened to River shortly afterwards. The mystery he could not fully understand. He thought about all the terrible things he'd done, and all the awful situations he's dragged people in to, and he knew he would have to tell Poppy goodbye. Never again. Never again would he love something that death can touch.
He was ready to tell her goodbye, when he felt a sudden warmth. Poppy had snuck up, and hugged him from behind.
"Poppy, what's this about." He said, trying to turn around to face her, but she held tight.
"You poor, poor man." She whispered, her voice wavering.
Warm teardrops ran down her cheeks, and onto his blazer.
"I... Poppy?" He asked.
"Yes Doctor?" She answered.
"Would you... Would you like to come with me?"
A/N: So... Hello there everyone. I realize that I haven't written any authors notes so far for this story, mostly because I'm lazy, but you know what, I'll just write one now! So this terrible mystery of what happened to River... It'll be explained later and stuff. Well. I'm really liking this story so far. It's my first Doctor Who fic, and I'm thinking it's going to be like a bunch of ordered one shots? Like, lots of time skipping, but still in the right order, and with an overall plot? Okay well anyway, tell me what you think, don't forget to review!
-KLR
