I only own my ideas

ENJOY!

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He stayed with her as they wandered the streets of the enormous market. Anything shiny or brightly colored would catch her eye and he would gleefully explain about any and every thing she didn't understand. She kinda figured he was trying to cheer her up and she had to admit, it was working. There were these awesome things called assists. They were these little carts that would float in front of you while you shopped and if you filled one. It simply printed out a tag and floated off to a designated holding area and you could get a new one at a service stand.

"I'm going to call you Molesbey." Sophie chirped. She'd named every one they'd had. The Doctor told her they needed to restock the TARDIS with some of the more complicated and unearthly like foods. He'd filled one assist with fruit another with veggies while she wandered. He told her to catch before tossing her a small box and then mimed opening it. Inside was a cake like she'd never tasted before. It was fruity, spicy, rich, chocolaty, and entirely decedent. "Um buy the whole stand?" She exclaimed.

"I thought you might say that." 10 laughed, placing what must have been a box of them in what was now dubbed, Molesbey. "I think we have…" He trailed off when he noticed she had gone ahead.

She was looking at a table of brightly colored containers in all shapes and sizes. Sophie didn't know why, but one the color of an oil spill felt like it was calling her. "Can I?" She asked when he reached her. He almost wanted to tell her no, never could say for certain what was in an Imprinta. She looked so excited he almost had no choice. As a way of saying thanks she tried her hand at making dinner that night. It was by no means bad, but when you work at an Italian restaurant chicken Alfredo isn't all that hard.

~IDoD~

It felt like she'd been traveling with 10 for longer. She guessed excitement would do that. He took her to a lot of museums and bazars and those were fun and calm. It was when her 'home girl' Idris took the reins that there was trouble. You learned to love running and to think on your feet. Sophie had already saved two planets from destruction, kept a country from going to war, and earned a commendation from a race she couldn't pronounce if she wanted to. She was failing her self-proclaimed mission. Day by day, she fell a little bit more. It didn't help that he was clueless and hugged her so often, she knew his scent by heart. A month was apparently long enough to fall for someone.

Trying to keep her mind off the growing attraction, at least on her end; she held the Imprinta she had gotten in Lenai. The redhead didn't know what she had to do to open it, she couldn't hear anything inside, but that didn't mean there wasn't. These last weeks had been so exciting she'd almost forgotten about the sphere like trinket. Deciding it was high time she figured it out.

She tried rubbing it like a magic lamp, kissing it like a Snitch, nothing worked till she shook it, hit it and tossed it to her bed. Suddenly it unfurled like a blooming flower and sitting there in its center was a fox like creature the size of a squirrel. It blinked at her and made a 'tittering' sound. She screeched so loud the Doctor came running. Sophie Pointed to the bed as she practically glomped on to him. "That! What is that!?"

The creature 'tittered' again and the Time Lord laughed. "Got the Imprinta open did you? Clever girl."

Man if he only knew how she felt when he called her that. "Not answering my question, is it dangerous?" Sophie replied, loosening her grip on him. She chose not to tell 10 that she had gotten the strange bauble open by throwing it. He told her the creature wasn't a threat and she asked what it was.

"An Eunae, full grown they're the size of a house cat." The Doctor answered as he walked to the bed. "All fluff and cuddles aren't you?" He cooed at the creature, who nuzzled and licked the doctors hand. "There see?" 10 added, picking it up and bringing it to her. She asked if this meant she could keep it. He noticed that the TARDIS had already set up a 'pet space' in her room and he remarked that if Idris didn't mind it was fine with him. She smiled; a big beaming grin and he felt it wake something in him he hadn't experienced since…Rose. This wasn't good… or was it? Shouldn't he be moving on?

"Well ok Eunae I'm gonna call you Fox Trot cause you look like one." Sophie decided, taking her new pet from the doctor's hands. He cleared his throat and told her they had another hour at least in travel time. She nodded as she brought the little orange creature to her bed.

10 stalked the halls of his ship, warring with himself about Sophie. It was true she was one of the best companions he'd had; did that mean he loved her? Seeing her smile like that, he loved her smile. Damn it! He had come to love everything about her. If he accepted this, he'd have to tell her the truth. It was only fair and the right thing to do. With no site nor sound of Bounty Hunters, of any race, he'd almost forgotten he'd have to explain it to her someday. She seemed so happy, could he really do that to her?

IDoDIDoDIDoDIDoDIDoDIDoDIDoDIDoDIDoDIDoDIDoDIDoDIDoDIDoD

It started innocently enough a wink here, a smile there. Now she was playing hostess, cooking for new travelers he'd take on a trip or two. It wasn't that cooking for more was a problem; she just missed 10 being her doctor. Even if it was only platonic he had cared what she thought. Now she felt like she could be on fire and he couldn't be bothered. She wasn't his 'clever girl' anymore. She found small solace in the fact he never called anyone else that, but still.

He was by no means stupid; the Doctor noticed how withdrawn Sophie had been lately. It was because of him; he was actively pushing her away. He told himself it was to protect her, but that was an excuse to make him feel better. 10 came back from dropping off his latest tag along. The TARDIS gave him a disapproving huff and nudged him toward Sophie's studio. Fox Trot was full grown and curled in her lap as she sat in a corner stroking his downy fur. "So Soph where to?" The doctor exclaimed brightly.

"Deirdre doesn't have a suggestion?" Sophie replied darkly, not looking up.

"Nah, dropped her off. Just you and me."

The TARDIS gave her a mental nudging. "Idris wants to go to Cardiff." Sophie stated softly. He looked to be contemplating this then agreed with a shrug and went to set the controls. She didn't know what her 'home girl' was up to, but anything was better than traveling with Deirdre. There was just something about her that didn't sit right.

IDoDIDoDIDoDIDoDIDoDIDoDIDoDIDoDIDoDIDoDIDoDIDoDIDoDIDoD

Apex Unlimited had grown from a small business to a giant corporation. Dealing with everything from running work unions to charity auctions like the one Alena Braxos was trying to put together now. "Deirdre you're late." She called as she swiveled in her chair behind a long glass desk.

"Many apologies." Deirdre replied as she stood and phased into an Immaculate Perfecta.

"I over looked your quarrel with the Thrinax because of your usefulness." Alena stated, drumming her recently manicured nails on the table. "I hope you don't make me regret the courtesy." The CEO added leaning forward. The Perfecta shook her head and stated that she had planted the tracker on target as asked.

"Mam if I may ask, why all this trouble? She's a lost little female."

"She is the last Felorin a rare and valuable commodity. The Auction's collection is not complete without her. Don't tell me you have come to care for her!" Alena laughed the sound icy and cruel. "Apex Unlimited stands to make a fortune and you will be rewarded. You do not want to make an enemy of us." She added darkly.

"No mam." Deirdre agreed.

"Good see to it the trap goes as planned. The Doctor must suspect nothing. He'll not leave her if he does and we need her alone, vulnerable." Alena stated, dismissing the Perfecta with a turn of her chair. From what she'd been told things had gone perfectly if not a little slow. The elusive Princess Sophia was in her grasp at last. Her ancestors plight would not be forgotten, she may not be killing the girl, but she could at least do this much to honor the Geb.

TBC...

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Lovely readers I HEART Y'ALLS