Farewells

Emily woke up tucked into her bed, the wardrobe door had been closed and the curtains pulled shut. Glancing over towards the wardrobe the events of the night before came flooding back to her.

She sat up with a start, desperately looking around the room for the Doctor. Her heart fell as she realised he was no longer there.

She got up out of bed, still dressed in the same clothes as the night before, deciding that there wasn't much point in getting changed. Her heart heavy she began to make her bed.

As she slipped her hand under the pillow, tucking the duvet in, her hand brushed against a sheet of paper. She pulled it out and began to read the scrawled handwriting:

Dear Emily,

Sorry to leave you so suddenly, but I didn't think Maria would appreciate finding a 900 year old man in your bedroom. I've hidden the Tardis key in the pillow case of the green pillow on the chair nearest the window.

Hold it tight, and think of me. The Tardis will home in on the key, and fly to wherever you are.

I'll explain everything.

The Doctor

Emily quickly folded the note up and placed it in her pocket, heading over to the chair nearest the window while doing so. She unzipped the case of the green pillow, and slipped her hand in. She rummaged round the case for a moment, before lifting out a small brass key.

She held the key in her hand and smiled.

Emily sat on the same bench, looking out over the same beach with the same sea as she had the day before. She wasn't sure whether or not to call the Doctor back. She knew trouble must certainly follow him, but her heart told her he was good.

She got up off the bench and walked towards the same spot of grass where the Tardis had stood the previous day. Clasping the key tightly in her hand, she closed her eyes and thought of the Doctor.

Soon enough the somewhat familiar mechanic whirring filled the air, and Emily opened her eyes to find the Tardis beginning to appear.

The Tardis settled and the door swung open once more, and the Doctor stepped out.

"Emily!" he smiled, arms outstretched.

"Doctor," Emily smiled back.

"What took you so long?" Emily looked puzzled.

"It's only been a couple of hours…"

"Maybe for you, but it's been a week for me."

They walked towards the bench and sat down, looking out to the gently ebbing waves. Emily finally broke the silence.

"How did you do that… to the Delgada?"

"I didn't do anything - you did."

"What?" Emily looked up at him in confusion.

"Well," the Doctor cleared his throat. "Throughout the course of time, certain individuals have a… unique relationship with time… they… have to do something that absolutely has to happen… like Edison and the light bulb."

"So the Delgada couldn't take me because… because I'm destined to do something?" The Doctor nodded.

"Something of immense importance. Something that will change the world forever."

Emily sat for a moment, pondering the situation.

"But how did the Sonic Screwdriver do that?"

"That's easy," the Doctor smiled. "Because I was holding your hand the screwdriver was connected to you, it was using your energy as well as mine." "And my energy was enough to stop it?"

"Apparently." The Doctor grinned.

Emily stared back at the waves, reminiscing over the past day, knowing her life had changed forever. She stopped for a minute, a question entering her train of thought.

"Doctor?"

"Yes?"

"The Tardis… how does it… work?"

"Come on," the Doctor grinned and held out his hand for Emily.

They stopped just outside the Tardis and the Doctor reached out a hand for the door, pausing for a moment.

"The Tardis can seem a little… different at first, so relax and try not to faint…"

The Doctor flung open the door of the Tardis. Emily gasped and felt herself go weak at the knees, a sturdy arm around her shoulders keeping her upright.

It was… it was huge. Bigger on the inside than it was on the outside.

"But…" Emily struggled to say, lost for words.

"I know, I know…" The Doctor gently ushered her in through the door and shut it gently behind it.

Emily walked over to the confusing looking control centre in the middle of the Tardis.

"How do you remember what they all do?" she asked in disbelief.

"I don't," the Doctor smiled. "Most of the time I just make it up as I go along."

"Where can it go?" Emily asked, fingering one of the more complicated looking panels.

"Anywhere in the past, present or future of the universe. Pretty cool, huh?" Emily grinned.

"It's a little bit more than just pretty cool. It's amazing!"

The Doctor looked at the fifteen year old girl standing before him, taking only a split second to make up his mind.

"Emily?"

"Yeah?"

"What do you think of going on a little trip for your birthday?"

Emily beamed.