A/N: Okay! Third chapter is up. Once again, hope you all like it. Thanks again to all who are following and who have favourited this story ^_^

P.S. Do I have to give a disclaimer in every chapter? Can someone let me know pls.

Chapter 3: First Trip

"Right, where to?" he asked, pulling a lever to send us back to the time vortex.

I shrugged. "I was going to go wherever you took us." He fiddled around on the console a bit before I asked. "Weren't you looking for Rose when to landed in my dimension?"

He looked up, shocked, and I realised that it may have slipped his mind. Sorrow instantly overtook his expression before he turned back down.

"Well…the plan was to scan for cracks in the universe and find the right one. But you deserve a few side trips first. Besides, you don't even have to help me. I don't see why you would." He muttered.

I sighed, mildly annoyed. "Doctor, I explained before we left that I like you and your character, so I know how you feel about Rose and I would love you to be happy by finding her."

His eyes met mine. Ten different emotions flew across them, only some of which I identified. Confusion. Wonder. Hope. Appreciation. "Well…thank you. Ok, well we need one that first of all leads to Pete's world, then it has to be in or around London so we don't have to go traipsing around the whole world to get there, and finally it needs to be open for at least a day to give the TARDIS time to charge." He rambled off. "But…still, since it's your first trip you choose where we go."

I grinned. "Thanks for that. Well…How about you randomise the coordinates. We'll always end up somewhere interesting that way."

He chuckled. "Sounds like a plan!"

Several levers and buttons later, both he and I were roughly thrown backwards as the TARDIS landed. Laughing, he jumped to his feet and pulled me up, before indicating for me to open the doors.

"It really could be anywhere, anytime, right?" I checked. He nodded, so I went and pushed the doors open. "…It's Earth."

I was slightly disappointed. I expected an alien planet, considering the random coordinates and the millions of planets out there. But the TARDIS had landed in what appeared to be a London market street.

"Well…not quite!" The Doctor exclaimed. "You see, this is the year 3456, Earth time and fifty years previously a race called the Raporians discovered the Earth and greatly admired it. They didn't care it was a level 5 planet, they loved the human culture! Something I must say I can relate to. So, when they returned to their own planet, they copied the areas of Earth that they saw. So, Talia, welcome to Rapor London!"

A grin lit up my face. As if on cue, the previously empty market stalls were suddenly filled with aliens. They certainly did not appear human. Their heads looked normal from the front, aside from slightly bigger eyes, but the backs went out into a point where a single lock of hair fell to the floor. Their bodies were thin, half the size of even the Doctor, and their four arms worked smoothly to unload all the wares they sold. To top off their appearance, their skin had a purplish hue.

"Wow." I stated.

"Did you bring money?" he asked.

"Yeah. In my purse. What?...They use Earth currency?"

He nodded, then asked for the purse. "I presume you'd have Australian dollars in here? Well, this is London. You need pounds."

"Your sonic screwdriver can even do that?" I couldn't help a slight tone of disbelief enter my voice.

He scoffed. "No! There's an exchange stall over there."

He pointed to a stall nearest them and walked over there. I followed out of sheer curiosity.

As we approached, the alien's already bigger than normal eyes widened. "A human!" he gasped, rushing out from behind the stall, grabbing my hand and shaking it. "Oh! All my life I've dreamt of meeting a real human!"

Somehow I got the sense that he was young…this species' version of a teenager, maybe.

Not to mention, I was slightly embarrassed and relieved when he released my hand. "Um…it's an honour to meet you, as well. What's your name?" I asked. "Mine's Talia."

The alien smacked his head. "Of course! Of course! I should have introduced myself. I'm Curco."

The Doctor chose this moment to speak up. "How did you know I wasn't human?"

Curco smiled at him. "We Raporians have an inbuilt sensor to identify the species of those we meet. It helps when this is one of the most famous markets in the region, sir."

He seemed slightly miffed, but his voice let me know that he was faking his annoyance. "What? So the last of the Time Lords…nah! But a common human?"

Curco seemed to be slightly embarrassed. "Well…I didn't mean to show you any disrespect, sir. You see…"

He was interrupted as the Doctor gave him a comforting pat on the shoulder. "Don't fret, Curco. I really don't mind. Besides, I have come here before. While Talia, here, well, it's her first time."

Curco's eyes brightened. "And are you desiring some money for trinkets, miss?"

I looked up at the Doctor, who nodded encouragement. "Yes, although nothing specific…I was just going to browse. I do need to exchange my dollars for pounds, though."

Curco nodded and dashed back behind his stall, taking my purse and swapping the money. I was impressed at the amount I got and distractedly hoped that the money was distributed fairly in Rapor London.

The Doctor then asked, "This may sound odd, but do you know of any cracks in the universe around here?"

"I do not know of any such thing." Curco replied. "But you are welcome to look around, sir, for there are many things I do not know."

Then the Doctor looked at me. "Will you be alright for a while, while I do a bit of searching?"

"Sure." I said, looking forward to seeing what was being sold.

He smiled. "If I'm not back in an hour, wait in the TARDIS. Don't come and find me."

I raised an eyebrow. "What if you're gone two or more hours?"

He scratched the back of his neck almost nervously. "Well…let's just hope it doesn't come to that but then yes, come looking."

I laughed and said goodbye, watching which direction he headed in before turning to the next stall; a fabulous display of jewellery.

Forty one minutes later, I was startled by a tap on my shoulder. It was the Doctor.

"Having fun?" he asked.

I nodded, grinning. "Yeah. I got a few things, too. I bought these earrings for myself…" I brushed my hair back to show him the hanging droplets that seemed to swirl with green fire.

"Very nice." He commented and I fought to keep from blushing.

"Oh! And I even got this for Rose!" I cried, holding up a charm bracelet. Each charm was a miniature TARDIS, coloured with a strange alien metal. There was the obvious blue one, a green one, a red one, a yellow one and a plain silver one. "The jeweller made it for me as soon as I showed him what the TARDIS looked like."

He was stunned. "I…I think she'll love it." Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a necklace. "I got something for her, too. What do you think?"

It was very simple, and elegant. A single pendant hung from the golden thread; a solid gold rose. Appropriate. "It's beautiful."

He leaned closer and whispered, "Your gift can wait until the right moment."

This time I did blush; I hadn't seen anything he would like. "You – you didn't have to get me anything."

He grinned. "Trust me."

I turned back to the stall I was currently at to hide the bright red I knew my cheeks were, and spotted a gorgeous tea set. "My Mum would love that! I should…" I trailed off, remembering that Mum was trapped in another dimension and I had no idea when I would see her again.

"Buy it for her." The Doctor murmured.

"What's the use?" I asked. "It could be months before I see her again, or longer. I don't want it to sit in the TARDIS gathering dust." I had to struggle to keep my voice steady as I processed the implications of what I had actually agreed to.

For some reason the Doctor looked almost…sheepish. "Um…I haven't told you yet but I guess this is a good a time as any. While you were unconscious, the TARDIS recharged faster than usual. I…well…took you and your family to this universe, where your copies live in the same place leading almost exactly the same lives…and swapped them. The other family don't know, of course, and when this is all over we can always swap them back but…"

I held up a hand. "You did what?" I gasped, my voice raising several octaves. "You brought my family into this universe…took my alternate family to the other universe…and no-one noticed the difference? How on Earth, no pun intended, did you manage that?!"

He shrugged, smiling smugly. "Time Lord."

A slightly hysterical laugh escaped from me; I knew he was good…but I didn't know he was that good.

After that I wasted no time in buying the tea set and asked him, "So, did you end up finding anything?"

He shook his head. "No, although I did have a run-in with a rather bad-tempered alien. There I was, calmly walking along, when he bumped into me. He started yelling at me, thinking it was my fault. So, I told him exactly why it wasn't and that he should watch where he was going."

"Doesn't sound too bad." I commented.

He shifted his weight to the other foot, avoiding my eyes. "Yeah…I also added that it would in fact be difficult for him to watch where he was going because of his huge nose and horn…"

"Doctor!" I cried, exasperated.

He suddenly became very distracted with something over my shoulder. "Uh-oh. Here he comes now."

I turned…and felt my eyes widen. "Hey, that's a Jud…"

"Yes it is." He grabbed my hand. "Run!"

The Judoon, calling out in its native tongue, chased us all the way back to the TARDIS. The Doctor's bigger-on-the-inside pockets came in handy for the tea set, otherwise there would be bits of china covering the streets.

We threw ourselves through the blue doors, shutting them quickly behind us. The Doctor raced to the console and quickly put us into flight. Then we looked at each other and started laughing.

"I knew you attracted trouble…but I didn't realise you asked for it!" I gasped between bouts of mirth.

He had the face to look shamed. "Yeah, I have never prided myself on being politically correct."

"So…what's this about a gift?" I asked cheekily.

He winked.

A/N: Ok, there will be a jump between this chapter and the next one of...like a few days or something. The usual jump between episodes like in the series. Also, the present will come back into it in a while...wait and see! Oh, and there will be some...well...feelings and fluff going on. I'll try to keep in mind that the Doctor isn't human, so please tell me if he seems OOC.