Hiya another chapter in thanks for the reviews I'm getting! I'm not picky about reviews but I would like some critique on this chapter - Thankies!

When I wrote this I actually struggled with writers block, I'm not that proud of this chapter, but I hope you like it.

Luke/Maria definitely in the next chapter. Fluff alert!


Sarah-Jane pulled up to the house, and killed the engine. "Do you want to get K-9 out of the car?" she asked to Maria, who nodded, and went around to the boot, popping it open and watching K-9 levitate his way out of the car.

"I didn't know he had a anti-gravity system," she commented in surprise.

"Well he didn't but the Doctor installed it after a few mishaps, and he thought it would be best..." she trailed off, and Maria realized that it was something that she didn't want to talk about. The faithful robotic dog hovered over to the door, and waited patiently to open it. As soon as he was in the house footsteps sounded across the road, and a woman Maria didn't recognize, but Sarah-Jane obviously did, made her way into the front yard.

"Sarah!" she called, and Maria grinned as Sarah mouthed her real name.

"Yes Gita?" she replied friendly.

"Have you seen Rani this afternoon. I mean she should be home from school by now, I haven't got a call or a text from her, and I wanted her to help with the housework before her cousins come round."

Sarah shook her head. "Sorry, come to think of it, Luke hasn't come back either."

"I just don't want her to go missing, like those other girls - I couldn't dream of what the parents are thinking at the moment."

Sarah nodded, and Maria moved her case out of the car. "I'll give you a call if Rani comes round to mine,"

Gita nodded, and saw Maria. "Hello, I'm Gita from across the road,"

Maria suddenly realized that she must mean her old house, and felt slightly forgotten. "I'm Maria, I'm coming back from America to visit for a couple of weeks."

"Nice to meet you," Gita replied kindly. "Well I'd better get going then. Got a lot to do,"

Sarah nodded. "If you see Luke, please tell me, I've been worried about him lately."

Smiling Gita. "Yes I will," and left the two friends in the drive.

"She seems nice," Maria commented.

Sarah laughed. "Yes she is. I decided not to be too frosty when I met them," and she let her old friend pass into the house. "Her daughter wants to be a journalist."

"I wonder why that is!" Maria kicked off her shoes in behind the front door.

"I've set up the guest room for you," Sarah started. "It's right next to Luke's – if that's okay,"

"It's definitely okay, I just want to be here, that's all," she paused. "How's Mr Smith doing?"

"Why don't you ask him yourself?" she replied, after putting Maria's case into the guest room. The younger girl practically ran up to the attic, jumping the stairs two at a time. Maria felt a lump in her throat as she stepped through the old wooden door of the attic; it had been so long – almost three years – since she and her Dad had departed from Bannerman road for the last time. Her eyes scanned the old room, knickknacks and odd objects still covered the surfaces, and it seemed even more had acuminated over the years. Smiling she ran her hand across the wall, feeling the old bumps in the darkened room.

Stepping down the old steps she stood in front of the large wall in the attic where Mr. Smith remained hidden.

"Mr. Smith, I need you," she commanded, and had to step back from the pressurized air as the super computer slid open.

"Hello Maria, I did not know that you where arriving – at all," he exclaimed in what only could be moderate surprise.

"Well, I'm here now," she replied. "You can't get rid of me,"

"I wasn't going to, but I could vaporize you, although I doubt Sarah-Jane would be happy about that,"

She giggled. "I think Sarah-Jane's right, you have required some sort of humour, it's almost as bad as my Dad's!"

"I'll take that as a complement," the computer replied rather stiffly.

The attic door creaked, and Sarah strode in. "Mr. Smith, can you scan this teleport that we were given? To make sure that it is completely safe for getting the girls home?"

"Certainly Sarah-Jane," the computer complied. "I was surprised that Maria is here – has she returned?"

"Not permanently."

K-9 rolled in. "I think that she asked you to get on with your job Mr. Smith," the robotic dog instructed, as Sarah went and put the teleport on his data scanner.

Maria couldn't help but giggle as Sarah then walked over to the dog, and crouched down at his level. "Just because you're back, and were here before Mr. Smith, doesn't mean that you are in charge. I am in charge. Understood?" she tapped him firmly on the nose.

"Yes Mistress," he apologized.

Maria suddenly had an idea. "Mr. Smith, could you possibly check for alien activity around the London area in the last several weeks?"

"Great idea Maria!" Sarah enthused, coming to stand beside her. "And can you trace any abnormal weather patterns as well? Such as thunderstorms and freak rain showers?"

"Certainly, although this might take longer than usual, something has been tampering with my systems, you might have to wait a while,"

Sarah-Jane smiled and put a hand on Maria's shoulder. "No problem – we have a lot of catching up to do."


Dusk started to settle as the two friends made their way home. Luke's bag slung off his good shoulder and he smiled softly as they entered Bannerman Road. Rani had fallen into silence a while ago, wondering whether or not to tell her father about her good friends issues. The two made it up to Rani's house where her mother was stood outside dumping some old papers into the bin.

"Hide me!" Rani hissed and stepped unconvincingly behind Luke in an effort to conceal herself from her mother.

Gita heard the pair walking down the pavement and turned smiling. "Hello L-" she started, and her arms crossed as she saw Rani hiding behind the teen. "Rani, where have you been? You need to tidy your room and help me get the spare room ready."

Realising that she'd been spotted Rani tried to cross the road to Sarah-Jane's house, but was stopped mid step by her mothers don't-you-even-think-about-it glare. Sighing and putting on a pout she stepped up next to Luke, who was bemused about the whole situation.

"I though that you were excited about your cousins visiting?" he asked, confused about his friends avoidance.

"I'm looking forwards to it, yeah – but I despise housework," she groaned and hung her head, hoping the depressed teenager look would work on her mother.

Gita was used to this, and she was able to divert any guilt look sent her way. Hands on her hips she pointed to the front door of the house. "Now Rani, I'm sure there are other times you can visit Luke, but not today."

She sighed in defeat, and started to drag her feet towards the house, Luke saw this as an invitation to leave so started to make his own way across the road to number thirteen. He gave Rani a little wave as he disappeared into his front garden. As he pushed the key into the lock he paused, and wondered about how to tell his mum the whole detention deal. Sighing in frustration he pushed open the front door to his home, and slammed the door behind him, kicking off his shoes in the process.

Realizing that his mother was in the kitchen he tried to tiptoe past, maybe he could get away with it, but as he put his foot on the stair it gave an ominous, loud creak – the teen groaned as his mum popped her head out of the kitchen door.

"Hello Luke," she greeted, and all she got in return was a mumbled reply. "Are you alright?" she asked, her mothering concern showing clearly in her voice.

"I'm fine," he mumbled. "I just want to go and work," he started up the stairs.

"Are you sure everything's fine Luke?" she pressed gently. "I'm worried about you at the moment,"

"Everything's fine!" he replied through gritted teeth. "I just need to go and do some work to concentrate – and I want to speak to Maria on web cam, that's all,"

Sarah-Jane mentally sighed. "Alright – you know if anything's wrong just talk,"

"Fine!" he growled, and stomped up the stairs, leaving his mother open mouthed at the bottom – she really wanted to know what was going on with her son.


"I have processed and analysed the required data Maria," Mr. Smith's voice cut through the teen's thoughts, and she placed the object that she'd been fiddling with back onto the shelf.

"Yeah?" she asked interestedly.

"There have been twenty-one reported sightings of aliens spaceships over the past few months, though I think the ones you are after are the alien life forms called Tula,"

"What are the Tula?" Maria asked, stepping forwards and sitting on the steps, scratching K-9 behind his ear.

"They are a calcium based life form, originating from the Horse Head Nebula. Their planet is mostly like Earths, and future humans reside there. Although the Tula are a host race, and can in-slave humans, and implant them with their offspring,"

This information made Maria shiver. "So what you're saying is that they kidnap girls and knock them up, only to wipe their memories after the experience – and they don't know anything about it? That's disgusting,"

"To the human race maybe, but to the Tula it's the only way of survival for their kind. It has been going on for years – closely monitored by organisations such as Torchwood and UNIT, but recently there has been – you could say – illegal operations."

"This is gross," she replied to the comment. "Does this mean that they can take human form? Like the two that where in the building in London?"

Suddenly the door slammed open on its hinges, and Maria stood rapidly and turned, knowing that Sarah wouldn't dare do it, as there was sensitive equipment in the room.

She realised who it was as soon as he entered the room, he hadn't noticed her yet, as he had gone straight to the computer in the other bit of the attic. Maria swallowed, and held tightly onto K-9's collar – should she do anything? Right now all she wanted to do was hug him, and most possibly also kiss him for the next five hours – but she stayed put.

"Are you feeling alright Luke?" the zylox asked calmly, sensing his frustration through his erratic movements.

"I'm fine," Luke, replied irritated beyond measure.

"Do you need the nanogens today Luke?" it was a simple question but Maria guessed it had a deeper answer. She knew what nanogens were, as the medical team used them in Torchwood – and she'd seen them in operation, they were amazing.

"No thank you Mr. Smith," the boy replied quietly. "All I want to do is speak to Maria on web cam,"

"What's the point?" Mr. Smith asked. "When she's standing right behind you?"


Hope you like it. It is unbetaed so if there are any grammatical errors please notify me. Thanks for all of the amazing reviews so far.

LostLyra

Please keep reviewing! Free internet cookies available which your plot bunnies will love! LOL, I need more sleep.