Extreme Time Twist

by Lumendea

Chapter Four: Babysitting Nightmare II

Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who and gain nothing from the creation of this story

….

Confused, the Doctor lowered his sonic screwdriver and examined the brunette girl that stepped forward. In stunned silence he noted the traces of temporal energy dancing around the girl. There was a faint buzzing at the back of his mind threatening to fill the empty spaces left there by the Time War. His brain gave him a helpful suggestion of who and what she was, but it was too much all at once.

Then little girl blinked up at her with oddly familiar blue eyes and pouted slightly. The pout was familiar too and the Doctor felt his dual hearts begin to pound in his chest. His mouth dropped open slightly, but nothing came out.

"What's wrong Daddy?" the little girl asked with real concern shining in her eyes.

Rose gasped behind him and stepped forward, her eyes wide in shock. The Doctor couldn't move, but managed to tear his eyes away from the little girl to look at Rose. A smile was taking over her surprised face and the tension in her shoulders was easing.

"Abby? Is that you?" Rose asked cautiously, leaning towards the little girl.

The nine-year-old girl raised an eyebrow and put her hand on her hips with an unamused look on her face. Had he not still been mentally tripping over the situation the Doctor probably would have laughed at the expression.

"Yes Mum," the girl, Abby, replied with a frown as she glanced between them, "What is with you and Daddy? Where did Uncle Jack go?"

Kneeling down onto the grate floor, Rose sat at eye level with the her future eldest daughter and glanced up at the Doctor who was blinking at her in stunned silence. Smiling, Rose turned back to the little girl and brushed a strand of hair out of her face.

"Abby, you've been moved back in time," Rose explained softly with a gentle smile. "You and Alex haven't been born yet. I only got back to this universe a year ago."

Abigailexiratha glanced up at her surprised father and then slowly nodded before a grin spread over her face. It was manic and there was an oh so familiar spark in her eye. The Doctor managed to look at the other children and saw the look of compression on the look of the boy who looked a lot like Abby, her twin Alex he remembered.

Alex turned and gently handed the baby to the younger boy with blond hair, James, the Doctor realized from Rose's description. Then he stepped forward with a bright smile.

"This is so cool!" the nine-year-old boy shouted, giving his sister a high five.

James stepped forward with Diana and said softly to Rose, "She's a bit upset. We all felt this really strange . . . " James shrugged and shivered, "I'm not sure actually."

Diana gave a small sob in his arms, so Rose scooped her up and began cooing to her. The Doctor leaned over his shoulder to stare at his future daughter with a silly little smile on his face. Rose looked over at him with a smile and he kissed her cheek.

"You look good with an infant," he whispered into her ear before freezing as something grabbed onto his leg.

Looking down in confusion, the Doctor found a small boy holding onto his leg tightly and staring up at him big brown eyes through blond hair. The Doctor's hearts both stumbled for a moment at the sight of the small boy. Just being near the children was easing the emptiness in his head and he found himself already dreading them leaving.

"That's Sammy," Abigail informed her father quickly, "He's only four years old."

Nodding, the Doctor knelt down carefully and let the little boy hug him. He was aware of Rose watching with a smile behind him as he stood up with the child in his arms. Swallowing, he looked at the three older children who were watching them with interest. Nodding, the Doctor snapped himself back into action.

"Rose, why don't you find a room for Sammy and Diana to take a nap while Alex, Abby and James help me figure out what happened," the Doctor suggested as he smiled at the boy in his arms

Giving him a smile, Rose shifted Diana into one arm and took Sammy's hand as the Doctor set the boy down on the floor. Glancing back over her shoulder, she watched him lean against the controls as Alex and Abby started rapidly talking to him. He still looked a bit overwhelmed, but his eyes were bright and a smile was taking over his face. A giggle escaped her, those two and their father, peas in a pod. James looked over at her and gave her a smile which she softly returned.

Opening a door, Rose was happy to find that the TARDIS had provided her with a small room with a crib and a small bed. Sammy rubbed his eyes and let go of Rose's hand, walking over to the bed. He was dressed in his pajamas and he shoved back the blankets before crawling into the bed. Rose watched him with a small smile and set down, the already asleep Diana into the bed before turning to Sammy. Walking over to him, she brushed some of his blond hair from his face as he whimpered.

Frowning in worry, Rose said softly, "Don't worry sweetie, we'll have you home soon."

He looked up at her and whimpered, "I miss my teddy."

"Oh…" Rose answered with a sigh. "I see."

The Doctor looked up in relief as Rose stepped back into the control room, but his relief was short lived at the look on her face. "Set a course for London 2008."

Blinking in surprise, he stepped around his three children to stand in front of her.

"Rose, what is it?" he asked, concern in his voice, but Rose gave him a small smile.

"We are short a teddy bear."