The stepsisters and Lady Tremaine let the Doctor roam around the property on his own, knowing that Cinderella wasn't going to interfere after what had happened to her. Little did the family know that the Doctor was searching desperately for his companion, and reached the backyard as a last ditch effort in finding her. The only thing on his mind was comforting her… letting her know that she wasn't alone in such an awful situation. He never intended to cause such an event to happen, especially when he cared about his companions as much as he did.
Cinderella hid in her favorite mare's generously huge stall, sitting on the hay and wiping tears away from her cheeks as she cried. Despite having lived with the abuse her whole life, the cruelty that she suffered from felt as though it were getting worse and worse the longer she lived in the house. She longed for her father; she longed for a better life, an opportunity to escape. She felt so trapped, even if she could easily just blatantly refuse anything from her family. Yet she was so scared of them. They frightened her with threats of severe abuse, of homelessness, of a life she could never have. She believed it.
Cinderella felt a presence near her as a shadow cast itself over her head, and it wasn't until someone opened the stall door did she spin around in surprise to see a familiar face that she didn't expect to see.
"It's okay," was all he said, a sad smile on his lips as he bent down beside her, the mare realizing that the door was open and went out willingly to munch on green grass. "I… I heard what was happening from the kitchen. I saw everything, and trust me when I say that it is completely unacceptable on that woman's part. All I can say is that I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
She felt as though she couldn't really move or breathe, because all she could focus on were the man's eyes. A warm feeling came over her, and even though she didn't know him she felt comforted by his presence and she had no idea why. She suddenly remembered her dream… the way his eyes stared back at her with such an intensity that frightened and fascinated her. Right then and now, she was looking at them again, only this time she was fully conscious. It suddenly made her hopeful.
"You're not a Duke, are you?" was her response.
The Doctor looked away, pretending to come up with a lie but knowing that he was caught. "Weeelllll… okay, you got me, you clever girl!" Cinderella managed a small laugh, enough to get her mind off of why she was upset. "Was it that obvious?"
Cinderella smirked. "Only a lot."
"It's the clothes, isn't it?"
"Yeah… you've got to be a bit more prepared. Thankfully they aren't the brightest of people."
The Doctor could only smile, showing his teeth. He noticed her start to wipe her eyes clean of tears, and his smile faded. She still looked disheartened, despite the mood lifting.
"Do you escape here often when this happens to you?"
Cinderella looked back at him, her eyes looking slightly sad. "Either here or my room, though I find myself coming here more often since they can all easily yell at me from the tower." She pointed at her bedroom, which was perched in the sky next to the large house.
"I just don't understand," said the Doctor, his voice drifting. Cinderella continued to look at him as he did so, not understanding what he meant.
Why her? Why does this world abuse her like this? How could they do this?
"What don't you understand?"
"Just… everything." Anger was all he could focus on. The Doctor felt protective of Rose… his Rose. He didn't like thinking of it like that since he knew she was never his, but he cared for her greatly… and to see this happen to her, even as a completely different person, enraged him. He had to do something. He couldn't deal with the thought of her being abused again mere minutes from the TARDIS where he could be safe from danger… because she was in danger and needed him. Part of him knew that interfering too much into her life could cause a major disturbance in the Cinderella story line, but his companions' safety was his main concern. Always.
"Who are you?"
His eyes looked into hers, drifting back to the topic at hand. "My name's not John Smith if that's what you're asking."
She looked at him mockingly as though he were daft. "Obviously. I mean, John Smith? Who's named John Smith?"
"I can name one from a little settlement called Jamestown, but that's beside the point! I'm the Doctor, by the way."
"… A doctor of what?"
"It's just the Doctor, Miss…?"
"Cinderella."
The Doctor spoke her name on his tongue. All he heard was her 'family' speaking it with such harshness and frowned. "Can I call you Cindy? Because, quite honestly, it's easier on my brain because I cannot say that name over and over again and take you seriously."
Cinderella laughed, finding that she liked the Doctor a little more now that she knew he could be trusted. Whether it had to do with her dreams or not, she was comfortable around the lanky gentleman. She felt the urge to befriend him. "You're a strange man."
"You don't know the half of it."
Despite herself, Cindy hugged him, her arms around his neck. The Doctor stood still, and felt a little taken aback, but relaxed once he realized what was going on. It was nice feeling her arms around him again, and he drunk her in approvingly.
She suddenly pulled away slightly, looking at him apologetically. "Sorry… I just—"
"No, don't be sorry," the Doctor said happily. "C'mere!" He embraced her in return, and she joined in despite herself barely knowing him, loving the warmth coming from his long coat and dug her face into his chest.
"Thank you," Cindy told him. "Thank you for… well, being here." She felt a smile on his lips, and instantly she felt like she could trust someone for once. The Doctor let himself enjoy spending time with Cindy before he would have to let her go back in the house to be ordered around again, as much as he didn't want her to; he couldn't be around her too long before she would end up abused again, based on how easily jealous her stepsisters were whenever he was around for them to flirt with. If there was one thing he figured it immediately it was that she was being punished for having a friend, or even a lover.
Still not the time, Doctor.
He didn't have the heart to ruin her life any more by talking about how she wasn't who she thought she was. At the moment she needed some support in the world she existed in, and despite how much he wanted to bring Rose back, he had to get Cindy better, considering how much Rose did mean to him. In a small way thanks to the chameleon arch, Cindy was a small part of Rose as Rose was apart of Cindy.
"CINDERELLA!"
Immediately the two jumped at the sound of Anastasia's grinding voice.
"Quick, hide in here," said Cindy, not wanting to get punished further for being with a man that her stepsisters fancied. She exited the stall, closing the door as Cindy grabbed the mare's reins and put it on her head, letting the horse graze under her guidance. The Doctor knew that even as Cindy, Rose was clever, using the mare as an excuse to hide him.
Anastasia was now at the door to the backyard as Cindy patted the mare.
"Mother has been searching for you. She wants you to go shopping for dinner tonight, so get cracking and go to the market before the shops close!"
"You didn't grab anything while you were shopping earlier?" asked Cindy.
Anastasia's grin widened. "I grabbed that wealthy gentleman to take home, isn't that a job well done?" Cindy didn't respond, making Anastasia shrug and roll her eyes. "Speaking of which, where did that attractive devil run off to?"
"Oh… well, I recall him slipping out the moment he was finished looking at the house. I heard him talk to another man stating what he saw, and then they left together by horseback."
"You didn't talk to him, did you?"
"Not a word," Cindy lied.
The stepsister's coy expression on her face was barely concealed. "Well let's hope I spot him again around town and get him to come by again! It won't be too hard with the charm I can pull off."
She went about her merry way, tossing her long red hair over her shoulder with an exaggerated sway of her hips, leaving Cinderella alone. Cindy rolled her eyes and nearly groaned at how annoyed she was. The Doctor soon stepped out of the stall, swiping hay off of his clothes and standing beside her. Cindy looked back at him with an amused yet apologetic glance.
"I'm sorry that you had to be subjected to hearing that."
"Trust me, Cindy, I've heard much worse. The ladies can't seem to get enough of me wherever I go..." He sniffed pompously, running a hand through his hair as Cindy snorted.
"Don't flatter yourself."
"I can't help that this body is fit… or has a nice bum."
Cindy gave him a surprised look. "They touched you, didn't they?"
The Doctor scratched the back of his neck, ruffling his hair a bit. "Eh… brushed against me a bit, but hey, at least they didn't grope my–"
"I know, I know!" She started laughing as the Doctor joined in. They both smiled at each other, their grins from ear to ear, as Cindy felt herself put a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Out of nowhere she felt herself blushing, and once more she couldn't understand why. Not much was said until the Doctor broke the silence.
"Well, then… I suppose I shall see you later, in secret of course because of your crazy stepsisters?"
She suddenly blurted, "Can I come with you?"
The Doctor gave her a quizzical look.
"I… I was told to go shopping anyway, so…"
The Doctor couldn't help but chuckle a bit. A little part of Rose was showing through Cindy, and he loved it. Already she wanted an adventure, since Cindy never got the chance to, being stuck in the house all the time. He got ever closer to getting her back to him.
"I'd love to join you, Cindy! Now come on! Allons-y!" He grabbed her wrist as Cindy started laughing, running after him as they ran from the backyard and tried not to be seen near the front porch. It didn't take long before they were on their way to the marketplace, making sure the mare was properly released into the open fields before going their merry way.
"I never did this before!"
"What? Sneaking off, running away?"
"Yes… It's so exciting!" Cindy beamed, giddy as a child as she held onto the Doctor's arm and laughed.
"Well, clearly you've missed out!" said the Doctor. He knew the answer to the question he was going to ask, but said anyway, "Why do they coop you up like that? I'd certainly go mad at the thought of it."
Cindy replied, "My stepmother, Lady Tremaine, married my father when I was a little girl. My mother died some time ago and when he remarried I thought I'd finally have a mother again. Suddenly, though… my father fell ill and passed away…"
"I'm sorry…"
She shrugged sadly, trying not to feel nostalgic as she continued her story. "That's when everything turned around. Suddenly my stepmother starts treating me horribly, and practically orders her daughters to boss me around. They took everything away from me, and gave whatever I owned to her daughters and left me with no personal possessions of my own... though I did manage to keep a picture of my father, just in case they thought of discarding it. I was always shut in and wasn't allowed to leave the house as my stepmother let my sisters squander themselves in the riches that belonged to my dead father. In a way, they treat me like a slave. It's been like that ever since. And as a child I didn't even know why, but I figured it out over time."
"And it's all because of…"
The discontent on her face made the Doctor stare in disbelief as she continued to talk. "I'm not 100% sure. Sometimes, though, they tell me how ugly I am just to put me down, even though I know it's not true. So… I guess it's because of the fact that they're jealous? Gosh, I sound so snobbish when I say it like that, but that's the only reason I can think of. Once and I while I think, maybe if I wasn't pretty, then maybe they wouldn't feel the need to ruin my life."
The Doctor stopped walking and gave her a disapproving glare. "Don't ever say that again. Just… never speak like that. Don't stop believing in yourself, Cindy… not even in the likes of them." He placed a hand on her shoulder, because he couldn't help but touch her and reassure her of what she was capable of… of what his Rose was capable of. "Don't let them stand in your way, you hear? What they think shouldn't be important, because they're the ones who need fixing, not you. If they're willing to hurt you like this for shallow reasons, then they are not worth it, believe me. You're perfect just the way you are… please remember that. Don't lose sight of what's really important."
Cindy, much to her chagrin, let a tear slide down, never thinking that anyone could say something so sweet to her without lying through their teeth. She looked straight into his eyes again, how she loved them. All the things he was saying to her, how they lifted her so high above the clouds in a place she never thought she could find. It was wonderful. She couldn't help but feel more and more drawn to him the longer he stuck around. Even at that moment, she felt as though she belonged with him in some way or another. The only difference between him and them was that his words felt and sounded genuine.
The Doctor wiped her tear away before flashing her a dashing smile. "Now… I think it's best if we start having some good old fun, since such a thing is so foreign to you."
"You make it sound as though I don't even know what fun is."
"You may know what fun is, but you've never experienced what fun is. I think you deserve a bit of that, don't you?" Cindy couldn't help but smile more, knowing that he was right, and hugged him again. In an instant the mood had changed as they finally got to the market place, smiles permanently on their faces. They almost forgot what had happened moments ago.
It didn't take long for an earth tremor to interrupt the peace, but once more the people in town went about their merry way without a care in the world. After happening at least three times during the same day, the earthquakes were soon ignored by everyone, including Cindy and the Doctor, who didn't stop to investigate. He took advantage of the freedom he had with Rose before she would be subjected to torture.
Even in a simple place like the market, Cindy has never had so much fun before. She loved how childish the Doctor could be, and even something as silly as playing tag could get her giggling like a schoolgirl. Why tag? She didn't know or care, nor did she question him. It was the Doctor's odd choice of a game in such a dense area, which made it much more entertaining. Most of the time Cindy got tagged more than she tagged the Doctor, though she secretly did so on purpose and didn't want to admit it. She couldn't help it—it made her smile whenever he was around. She never wanted to stop smiling.
After that, knowing that people around them were getting annoyed, they decided to pop around the shops and booths to be silly and try on hats. For most of the afternoon all they did was laugh and goof off, even playing pranks. During the whole experience, Cindy didn't once think about the groceries she had to pick up. And she didn't care.
Around dusk they settled down on a bench, sharing a pastry that they bought from the local bakery. The Doctor noticed such a change in Cindy as the hours passed between them, from being so shy and scared to bubbly and outgoing. It was what he had wanted to see all day long from his companion. Rose's smile could light up the TARDIS, and seeing it on her face that day after what he witnessed was a better treat than the pastry he was eating. He sneakily put his arm across her shoulder, and as if she was expecting it Cindy put her head against his body. The cool breeze didn't faze her when she had the comfort of his body to rely on.
"Doctor?"
"Mm?"
"I dreamt about you… the night before."
The Doctor's eyes widened and looked at her curiously. So the chameleon arch is projecting thoughts from her previous identity. That means there's a possibility to find a source. "Because I'm that wonderful?" he replied cheekily.
She glared at him playfully, knowing that he was only joking. "No, you silly man. I really did dream about you. I mean… all I saw were your eyes and your hair, and I couldn't make out your face, but I saw you. I saw you with this blue box, with it traveling around in the stars with all of these really beautiful colors… It was amazing." The Doctor listened quietly, feeling saddened by the harsh reality of having to tell her about her true identity, or at least the identity that existed in his universe. It would ruin the only happy thoughts that ever graced Cindy's life, and he didn't want to see it. It would scare her, hearing all of it coming out of a strange man like him. He would wait as long as he could. "Which brings me to a question… where are you from? You're obviously not from London."
The Doctor smiled, looking to the sky. "I'm from a very, very far away place, Cindy. Farther than anywhere else you've ever known."
"Are you from the stars? Did you come from heaven?" Her eyes were full of hope, like a wishing child. He knew it was all she had. It was adorable yet sad at the same time.
"You can say I came from there, yes…" he said.
She dug her head closer to his chest. "I knew it. I knew that the stars were alive. I knew that, in some way, they all came down from the darkness to bring people happiness and joy. I know that because that's what you gave to me."
Inside the Doctor laughed. While he did bring that to Cindy, he knew that he usually brought death and destruction, sorrow and rage; he brought on his curse to the people he touched, including the woman he was trying to save, but he knew that what he did with Rose that day was enough to forgive himself, if only for a few hours.
Cindy looked at him, full of admiration. How can he be so perfect? she thought. He was an eccentric savant, mad and full of life and yet so mysterious. He brought her joy and happiness within a single afternoon, his pleasant smile a bonus to her day spent looking at angry faces and cruel acts of punishment. She wanted a grasp at a free life with someone, and it just felt so right to be next to him. I wonder if I…
Before the Doctor could say anything more to his beloved companion, she clashed her lips to his, taking him by surprise. His head began to race, knowing what he just did and knowing that it wasn't a good sign.
Doctor… Doctor, you've got to wake up and stop this! This isn't suppose to happen! She's not suppose to do this, she–
Anything he was supposed to think to get himself out of the situation went to the back of his mind, lost and forgotten. She was pulling him in, interlacing her fingers in his hair just as she had done when Cassandra had taken over her mind. He couldn't help but deepen the kiss, missing Rose, missing her being with him even when it had only been a day. His hearts ached for her enough as it was, not to mention that he already had feelings for her. Cindy's kiss was satisfying and intensified those feelings, making them grow stronger and driving him mad.
They suddenly broke apart, Cindy's cheeks flushed and suddenly feeling quite bashful. She smiled sheepishly, looking away and blushing as she pulled a loose strand of hair out of her eyes. Of course, like a fool, the Doctor couldn't help but grin back, knowing full well what he was doing was going against what was suppose to happen.
She's suppose to end up with the Prince. She's supposed to get her wishes granted by some stupid fairy godmother and go to the Ball looking as beautiful as ever. This is so wrong, on so many levels. It's my Rose… but it's not her.
Somehow, based on how she was responding to him, Cindy was—and possibly had—fallen in love with him… and it was his fault. The Doctor knew his feelings for Rose were clouding his thinking, and he had to stop it before it could go further. He had a bad feeling the moment he started interfering.
"Cindy, it's getting really late; you ought to get back to the house before they start to wonder."
She agreed, looking somewhat disappointed but knew she couldn't avoid her stepmother and stepsisters any longer. They both got up from the bench, walking through the crowded streets, though this time didn't leave as jovial as they came.
Sometime later as they walked up a narrow path back to the house, the only sounds were that of the crickets, as well as a small earth tremor that made a small crack in the ground. Cindy didn't bother to grab the Doctor's arm or attempt at holding his hand, because she personally felt as though she went past his comfort zone.
She blurted out, "I'm sorry."
The Doctor looked back at her. "For what?"
"I shouldn't have done what I did."
"Cindy, there's no need to—"
Cindy shook her head. "No, I could tell that you were uncomfortable after that, because the moment we got up to leave you distanced yourself from me. There's something on your mind and I wasn't helping. I was just so excited and happy in the heat of the moment and… I don't know, it just felt so right to be with you, Doctor. You really lifted me up when I was so down, and despite knowing you for only a day, I feel like I've known you my whole life."
The Doctor could only look on, not knowing what else to say. All he kept hearing was Rose talking, saying such meaningful things to him. He knew it was Cinderella talking, not her… but he knew Rose was in there, coming out to him.
Cindy suddenly looked shy. "I know… it sounds weird to say, but that's how I felt."
The Doctor gave a sad smile. "There's nothing strange about that. Don't be ashamed. I felt it, too… which is why I had to stop. It's… complicated. Let's just say that you're exactly like someone I know, who I care about very much, and I miss her deeply. And I just couldn't help myself either."
Cindy returned a smile, rubbing his arm as a way to comfort. "You were in love with her."
He placed a hand on her cheek, rubbing it with her thumb as she held it. "No. I am in love with her. She's still here." Her expression changed as her brow knitted together in confusion. His smile was still sad. "She's standing right in front of me."
She could only stare, confused yet also contemplating what he said. Slowly, yet surely, she was piecing together what he meant. "… When you said you were from the stars, does that mean that strange things can happen to the people you meet?" The Doctor nodded. Cindy blinked, licking her lips and knitting her brow. "So… what do you mean?"
The Doctor was speaking quietly now, bracing himself for impact. "Your name isn't Cinderella. Your real name is Rose Tyler, a girl from the 21st century who travels with me as my companion. I travel with her around the same stars you dream of. I'm not human."
"But… but how can that be? What do you mean?"
"This world you live in? It's not real. I mean, I'm not sure if it's real or not to be honest, but—"
Cindy widened her eyes in a glare, stepping away from him at his accusations. "No… no that's not true! I've been here my whole life, and it's always been like that since I was a little girl! How can you say that?"
The Doctor knew what was coming, but continued to explain. "Cindy, no, please! Let me explain. This whole place is a strange alternate universe, and it exists because of an accident."
"So I'm an accident, then?"
"No! You're still Cindy, but you're still apart of Rose. You're still the same person, but at the same time you're not. It's hard to explain, but you have to listen to me!"
Cindy shook her head in disbelief, not wanting to convince herself. Her pain, her suffering, her stepmother and stepsisters, to say that wasn't real enraged her. "Who are you to say what's real? Is the pain that I told you about not real, Doctor? Is that what you're telling me? That I'm just some nonexistent person who is actually your partner or… something!"
"Cindy… everything you go through here is real because you are Rose Tyler. You're as real as I am, but you have to realize that what you're going through are lies because your consciousness is different from Rose's. You have to believe me when I say that the people you are going home to are who you think they are."
Cindy just stared at him with her eyes wide, backing away from him as she shook her head in shock. "You're mad!" Too frightened to argue anymore, she fled, running back to the house despite the abuse she knew she was going to face. It was better than dealing with the information she just received.
"CINDY! Cindy, please, no!" No matter what he did, the Doctor couldn't convince her. By now he knew it was hopeless. He was exhausted, mentally and physically. He couldn't do anything unless she came to him. He knew nothing of what laid behind the estate's doors at night, and he couldn't risk getting himself hurt when he needed the TARDIS to get Rose home. He watched her disappear into the coming night, praying…
Please be safe.
