Yeah this is a really short chapter...but it's still fun nonetheless (well I think so). Anyways, please R&R, much appreciated!


Athena awoke the next morning to the smell of something delicious baking. She got out of bed, put on a pair of fuzzy slippers, and made her way down to the galley. She walked in and saw the Doctor standing at the stove. She watched him for a moment before making her presence known, "you need some help?"

What he thought about sleep making him feel perfectly normal the next day ended up not helping. He was still an absolutely vulnerable and nervous wreck. As soon as he heard her voice he dropped the egg he was holding onto the floor.

Athena was getting worried about the Doctor. He seemed very out of himself. She went to clean up the egg and he stopped her, "sit down. I'm making you breakfast. Us breakfast, actually." She grabbed two glasses, filled them both with milk, and sat down at the table.
"You sure you don't want help?"

"Yeah, I'm positive."
"Well whatever you're making smells great."

He half turned around to show his gorgeous smile, "Thanks. Just relax, Athena."

He was acting rather strange. She didn't put too much stock into it though, she barely knew him.

He brought over two plates of French toast with banana sliced up on top and maple syrup drizzled all over. Athena ate quickly, still not used to the idea of having a fully stocked kitchen. The Doctor watched her, transfixed. It wasn't until Athena was almost done that he realized he hadn't touched his food. He inhaled about half of it to make it look like he was just taking his time eating.

When they finished Athena got up and cleaned their plates.

"You need to get dressed up."

"Why?"

"I'm taking you to a ball."

"A ball? Really?"

"Yeah. Russia. Imperial Russia, to be exact. Be sure to wear a dress with long sleeves, it's the Christmas ball. And, you know Russia, always cold."

"Right…okay…dress with sleeves, got it. Now?"

"We have an hour until we get there so yeah, now-ish would be good."

Athena stuck out her tongue and walked out of the galley. He was being a bit snippy at her. He needed to cool down otherwise he may upset her again.

About twenty minutes later, the Doctor was already in his room trying to figure out what to wear. Should he dress as a military general or an aristocrat? There was a knock on his door. He went to open it and saw Athena staring up at him.

"There a problem?"

"I don't know what to wear. What do you wear to a ball? What dresses are acceptable?"

"The TARDIS knows where we are going. Go walk into your closet and it'll pull out anything that is acceptable."

"Oh, just like the swimsuits?"

"Yes, just like the swimsuits." He replied, bemused.

"Okay…thanks." She let out an awkward smile and closed the door. As she walked back to her room she realized that she hadn't worn a dress since she was a little girl. This was going to be a new experience for her.

The TARDIS landed and the Doctor was waiting in the console room for her. "Athena! Hurry up or we're going to be late!"

"Be patient! I've never worn a ball gown before so walking is a bit difficult! I'd like to see you try!"
"Yeah, like that'll ever happen!" He shouted back, trying to restrain his laughter.

The Doctor continued pacing around the console room. Moments later, Athena entered the room. The Doctor turned around to look at her and his jaw dropped slightly. She was absolutely beautiful. She had taken a lot of her makeup off, only leaving a little bit around her eyes. Her hair was up in such a way that it cascaded in ringlets around her face and shoulders. She wore a shoulder-less mint green dress with a small train and a cream colored petticoat which, due to the design of the dress, was very visible. There were silver accents all along the edges of the dress that looked like ice crystals.

Athena stared back at the Doctor. Not because he was staring at her, but because he looked extremely handsome. He was wearing what she guessed to be some sort of military uniform. He wore a blue coat with brass buttons and gold fringe on the shoulders. He had on blue pants and black boots to match. He had combed his hair down somewhat, which slightly disappointed her. She just smiled at him and he smiled back.

"All right, sir, now where exactly are we going? Russia is a big place!"

"The Winter Palace! We're going dancing in 1847! It's the Christmas Ball and I would like to escort you." He held out his arm for her.

"Anything for you, Doctor." She gladly took his arm and they faced the TARDIS door. He stole a glance down at her and realized she had makeup covering up her tattoos. He couldn't see a single one. Not only that, but she had dyed her hair. It was now just black, no colors. Athena caught him looking, "I figured tattoos probably wouldn't be appropriate for a formal ball. Nor dyed hair."

"Good assumption." He smiled again, "Off we go!"

The two of them walked out of the TARDIS and onto the driveway nearby. They walked towards the Winter Palace, both excited for the night.

"Wait…there's going to have to be some sort of guest list, right? How are we going to get in?"

The Doctor searched through his pant pocket and pulled out a small, wallet looking piece of leather. He opened it and showed it to her, "Psychic paper. Can get us in anywhere. I just think of what I want it to say and it shows up here."

"So we're posing as a duchess and duke from Saxony?"

"Yes we are!"

"Wait!" Athena shouted, pulling the Doctor to a halt. "I can't speak Russian! Or German!"

The Doctor stared at her and did everything in his power to keep himself from laughing, "the TARDIS will translate for you, come on, we're going to be late!" He grabbed her hand and sped up their pace a little.

They walked up to the man keeping the guest list, flashed the psychic paper, and were led through the halls into the main ballroom. All the while the Doctor was spouting out random facts he knew about the building. "The first Winter Palace was built in 1711. When architecture took off, especially with the Palace of Versailles, I've been there, nice place. Met a horse. Anyways! When architecture took off the imperial family built a new Winter Palace in 1721. Then the family built another one between 1727-1728. The family moved out not too long afterwards, but they still come here for their balls and formal events. There was a huge fire in 1837, destroyed a lot of the palace but they rebuilt it, marvelous work. You could never even tell there was a fire! Granted a lot of workers died. But that's Imperial Russia for you." He looked around the hall in amazement.

Athena was too amazed by the splendor of the rooms they were walking by to be paying too much attention to the Doctor. She couldn't believe she was in Imperial Russia. She almost began crying, but then realized she would look ridiculous. Besides, the Doctor was used to doing this all the time, what would he think of her?

They got to the ballroom and the escort left them. They walked down the stairs, arm in arm, and proceeded to the dance floor. The orchestra was playing a waltz.

"May I?" The Doctor asked while holding out his hand.

"You may." She took his hand as he led her around the floor in a quick waltz. "So, is this common for you? Crashing imperial balls, posing as celebrities?"

He chuckled, "Every other day sort of thing." He moved his hand from her hip to her back and pressed her closer to him. He didn't want someone to cut in and take her, not yet at least.

They danced to two more pieces and then the Doctor eased his grip on her. Sure enough, almost as soon as he pulled back from her someone tapped on his shoulder and asked to cut in. He was a young man, probably in his thirties. He had dark brown hair, extremely pale skin, and piercing blue eyes. He reluctantly gave Athena to the stranger and was making his way to the edge of the dance floor until he saw a girl who looked like Rose. He walked over to her and offered his hand for her to take. She gladly accepted and the two of them started waltzing. He quickly realized this girl was not sober. She was having great difficulty on her feet and was relying heavily on the Doctor. He took advantage of that and steered themselves towards Athena and the stranger. He just wanted to keep them in eyesight, he didn't really care too much about what they were saying.

"So how did you meet your date?"

"Oh, we're just friends."

"Well how did you meet?"

"Dammit, out of earshot" the Doctor muttered to himself. He quickened up his pace, dragging the poor drunk girl with him. He could hear them again.

"Do you know who he is?" The stranger sneered.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure."

"Then you'd completely understand what happens next." The stranger looked straight at the Doctor. He grabbed Athena, turned her around and pulled him against her. He held a cloth up to her mouth and after she struggled for a little bit she passed out. He glanced back to the Doctor, and with a cat-like grin, hit a short-range teleporter on his wrist.

The Doctor abandoned the drunk Rose-like girl and moved his way through the crowd to where Athena and the stranger had been dancing. Since he was taller than most everyone in the crowd, he stood on his tiptoes and looked around the room for them. They couldn't have gotten far. Then he caught a glimpse of the stranger dragging Athena's unconscious body down the hall. The Doctor ran through the crowd towards the stranger.

By the time the Doctor caught up to the stranger in a parlor, Athena was gone. "Where have you taken my friend?"

"Your companion, Doctor?"

"Who are you?"

"Me? Well, I'm no one."

"Then what do you want with my friend?"
"It's not what I want. It's what they want." The stranger stepped aside and two Klexitors stepped into the room.

Suddenly, the Doctor's internal clocks clicked into place. It wasn't 1847, it was 1837, the year of the Winter Palace's fire. They were about to cause it.