~ The Library ~
[30 minutes later]
"Reminder. The library has been breached. Others are coming. Reminder. The library has been breached. Others are coming. Reminder. The library has been breached…"
The robotic voice again filled the room. The Donna looked around in a panic.
"What's it talking about," Donna said in a high voice. A door behind them blew open. Seven spacesuited figures slowly walked in. Instinctively, the Doctor and Donna stepped back a bit. The leader of the group adjusted the cover on the front of the helmet so her face was visible.
"Hello, sweetie," she said in a low, seductive voice. Her eyes were a gleaming hazle. Her mouth was large and it produced a wide smile.
"Get out," the Doctor immediately said.
"Doctor," Donna said in a warning voice.
"All of you. Turn around, get back in your rocket and fly away. Tell your grandchildren you came to the library and lived. They won't believe you." The woman was not wavered by his words. She turned to her crew.
"Pop your helmets, everyone. We've got breathers," she said.
"How do you know they're not androides," one of the women behind her asked.
"Because I've dated androids," she answered. "They're rubbish." She smirked at the woman and turned her attention back towards the Doctor.
No one in the group noticed one of the spacesuited figures in the back freeze when she saw the Doctor. Her breath hitched in her throat. She stood in shock, watching him, tears brimming in her eyes.
"Who is this? You said we were the only expedition. I paid for exclusives," a man said as he took a step closer to the lead woman and the Doctor. The woman shrugged her shoulders at him.
"I lied, I'm always lying. Bound to be others."
"Please, just leave," the Doctor pleaded, his voice growing in frustration. "I'm asking you seriously and properly, just leave." He paused. "Hang on. Did you say expedition?"
"My expedition," the man said. "I funded it." The Doctor made a face of disgust.
"Oh, you're not, are you?" He grimaced. "Tell me you're not archaeologists." The woman raised her eyebrows at him, tilting her head.
"Got a problem with archaeologists," she asked in a mocking tone.
"I'm a time traveller," he said smugly. "I point and laugh at archaeologists." Behind him Donna rolled her eyes.
"Ah," she stuck out her hand. "Professor River Song, archaeologist." The Doctor looked at her hand for a moment and then nodded at her.
"River Song, lovely name. As you're leaving, and you're leaving now, you need to set up a quarantine beacon. Code wall the planet, the whole planet. Nobody comes here, not ever again. Not one living thing, not here, not ever." The Doctor saw one of the people in the back turn away from him. They kept their cover on their helmet so their face wasn't visible. They looked very petite. The Doctor assumed the person was female. "Stop right there," he called out to her. "What's your name?" The person looked around helplessly. The Doctor saw River Song widen her eyes at the individual in the corner of his eye.
"Leila," she said in a timid voice.
"Leila, stay out of the shadows. Not a foot, not a finger in the shadows till you're safely back in your ship. Goes for all of you. Stay in the light. Find a nice, bright spot and just stand. If you understand me, look very, very scared…" The Doctor went on talking to the next person completely unaware of the nervous breath Leila let out as she lifted the cover of her helmet. The Doctor was also completely oblivious to the look that River and Leila gave one another.
~ 20 minutes later ~
"Thanks," River said as she approached the Doctor. Things seemed to have calmed down a bit and River thought it was the opportune time to approach him and speak to him privately.
"For what," the Doctor asked with genuine curiosity.
"For the usual," she answered. "For coming when I call."
"Oh, that was you?" River scoffed.
"You're doing a very good job, acting like you don't know me." She paused. "I'm assuming there's a reason." The Doctor looked at her, confusion flooding over his features.
"A fairly good one, actually," he said matter of factly.
"Okay, shall we do diaries, then? Where are we this time?" River pulled out a small dark blue journal with four squares on the front. She looked at his confused face. "Er, going by your face, I'd say it's early days for you, yeah? So, er, crash of the Byzantium. Have we done that yet?" He didn't respond, neither in words nor in facial expression. "Obviously ringing no bells. Right. Oh, picnic at Asgard. Have we done Asgard yet?" Nothing. "Obviously not. Blimey, very early days, then. Whoo, life with a time traveller. Never knew it could be such hard work." She looked at him closer, inspecting his face. The Doctor was frozen, unsure of what was happening. "Look at you," she said. "Oh, you're young." The Doctor came out of his trance
"I'm really not, you know," he said, humor in his voice.
"No, but you are. Your eyes. You're younger than I've ever seen you."
"You've seen me before, then?" River's face changed. She went from curious to panicked. Her face began to whiten.
"Doctor, please tell me you know who I am." Her voice shook. She looked genuinely afraid. At the Doctor's expression her eyes turned sad. He didn't know her. He really didn't and that broke her heart.
The sound of a ringing phone filled the air.
"Sorry that was me," one of the men said. "Tryin to get through into security protocols. I seem to have set something off. What is that? Is that an alarm?"
"Doctor," Donna said, grabbing his attention. "Doctor, that sounds like…"
"It is," he interrupted. "It's a phone."
River snuck away from the crowd and approached Leila as she fidgeted with something on her spacesuit.
"He doesn't know who I am," she whispered as she stood next to her. Leila looked up at her.
"What?" River looked Leila in her brown, famillar eyes.
"He's the youngest I've ever seen him."
"Do you think he knows about me yet," Leila asked. River shrugged.
"I'm not sure. Surely he could recognize you. You're the spitting image of your mother. He is probably just preoccupied. That man and his scattered, ridiculous brain." Leila nodded. River closed her eyes, taking deep breaths.
"Professor Song? Are you alright?" Leila reached out and took her hand. River squeezed it.
"I'm alright," she answered. "I just...I've been dreading this moment for a long time."
Leila nodded in response. River turned towards her.
"What's it like," River asked. "seeing him like this again." Leila hung her head.
"I never thought I would see this him again."
"He can't know," River said, her voice deepening. "He can't know what's going to happen, Lily."
Lily Tyler looked up into River's eyes.
"I know," she said.
Lily stood off to the side watching as the Doctor zoomed about with his sonic screwdriver around the floor. Lily's eyes turned to Donna who was sitting off to the side with a very worried look on her face. Lily couldn't help herself. She quietly walked to Donna and sat down next to her.
"You travel with him, don't you? The Doctor, you travel with him," Lily asked her, not looking at her.
"What of it," Donna answered back immediately. Lily held her head down, unsure of how to respond. Donna looked up to River Song who was watching the Doctor with a smirk on her face.
"She knows him, doesn't she?" Lily looked up to meet where Donna's eyes were looking.
"She does. They have a long history." She paused. "Well, they will have a long history."
"I'm sorry, what?"
"River sent him a message but it went wrong. It arrived too early. This is the Doctor in the days before he met us." Lily closed her eyes. "He doesn't even look at me. He glances right through me. It shouldn't kill me. But it does."
"What are you talking about? Are you talking rubbish," Donna said loudly.
"Donna," the Doctor scolded. "Quiet, I'm working!"
"Sorry," Donna mumbled.
"Donna. You're Donna. Donna Noble," Lily said, baffled.
"Yeah, why?" Lily just stared at her, looking at each feature. It was if Lily were trying to remember her.
"Hang on," Donna said. "You said us."
"Pardon?"
"Before." Donna turned to look at Lily. "You said, 'the days before he met us.' So you know the Doctor too?" Lily let out a long breath, looking towards the Doctor.
"I know him." It was Donna's turn to study Lily. Donna felt as if she were looking at her for the very first time. There was something she didn't notice before.
"You look like a friend of mine," Donna said to her. Lily turned her heads towards her and Donna saw the Doctor's brown eyes.
"Really? Who?" Donna's eyebrows scrunched together.
"So you're from the future, yea?" Lily nodded.
"It can't be," Donna whispered, completely bewildered. "That's just...insane." Lily smiled, her head towards the floor. She sensed that Donna was connecting the dots.
"Are you Lily? As in the Doctor's Lily?" Lily's eyes met Donna's. She gave her a small smile. Lily shifted to look at the Doctor to make sure he wasn't paying attention. Then she looked back at Donna.
"Yes," she whispered. Donna was having a hard time grasping this whole situation. The girl looked exactly like Rose but Donna could also see the Doctor in her. But there was something else about Lily that made her unique. Donna couldn't pinpoint what it was.
"Blimey, time travel." Lily let out a snort of laughter before quieting herself. The women sat there, not looking at eachother, just thinking.
"So the Doctor already knows that I was born," Lily asked.
"He does."
"And you know my mum?" Donna looked at her and smiled.
"I do. Have met you too actually. But you're just a baby now. Well, in my now." Donna let out a quick breath. "Wow." Then she was overwhelmed with a very disturbing thought.
"If you're from the future then why didn't you know me? Where am I in the future?" Lily looked at Donna, heartbreak in her eyes. Her mouth hung open. Donna watched her intently, waiting for the answer.
"Okay, got a live one," the Doctor exclaimed. "That's not darkness down those tunnels. This is not a shadow. It's a swarm. A man eating swarm."
Everyone, including Donna and Lily, looked at the Doctor, all previous conversations forgotten for the moment.
~ 24 Hours Later ~
The Doctor slowly walked over to the balcony rail. He put River's diary on the rail with a heavy heart. He still heard her words in his mind.
"Don't you dare."
Donna walked up behind him.
"Your friend, Professor Song. She knew you in the future, but she didn't know me. What happens to me?"
"Donna, this is her diary. My future. I could look you up. What do you think? Shall we peek at the end?"
"Spoilers right?" The Doctor smiled.
"Right." Donna shuffled her feet.
"Doctor, there is something I have to tell you." A figure appeared in the corner of the Doctor's eye. Both Donna and the Doctor turned to see Lily standing in the doorway. Her eyes were red and puffy from mourning the loss of her friend and mentor.
"I'll tell him Donna," she whispered, her voice raspy from crying. The Doctor squinted at her, tilting his head. He looked at her long blond hair, her brown eyes, the shape of her face.
"Who are you," he asked. Lily gave him a small smile.
"Hi dad." The Doctor's eyes widened. He looked at his daughter, realizing how much she looked like Rose.
"Why didn't I see it before," he whispered, mostly to himself. Lily was still looking at him intently, unsure of what he was going to do. The Doctor walked towards her, taking her into his arms. Lily hugged him back, more tears brimming in her eyes. The Doctor laughed, squeezing his daughter closer to him. He felt her double heartbeat against his chest. It was such a wonderful feeling. He pulled back. He cupped her cheek with his hand.
"You look so much like your mother," he told her, looking at every feature of her face.
"So I've been told," she retorted. After one quick hug the Doctor turned around to look at Donna.
"You knew?" Donna gave him a smirk.
"Yea, figured it out before you did." The Doctor shook his head.
"How old are you Lily?" He loved saying her name.
"I'm twenty," she answered. The Doctor left out a breathless laugh.
"Twenty. My daughter is twenty years old." He smiled, tilting his head at her and stroking his thumb across her cheek. "My baby girl." Lily looked towards the floor, attempting to hide her tears from her dad. He couldn't know why she was crying.
"Why were you with River Song?" He watched Lily intently as she shifted her stance, glancing at the ground. She opened her mouth slightly and then closed it again.
"I shouldn't say anything about the future." She said. "Spoilers." She smiled, her tongue in between her teeth. It was her mother's smile. The Doctor gave her his sad puppy dog eyed look.
"But you can tell me a little," he said. "I'm the Lord of Time. I'll allow it." Lily smiled at him, suppressing a laugh.
"River was my professor. This was kind of a...field trip."
"And I let you go? With archaeologists," he gasped. Lily laughed.
"You did. You weren't thrilled about it but you trusted River to take care of me." She let out a shuddering breath. Lily let out a small sob as she thought about River. The Doctor rubbed her back.
"I'm so sorry honey," he said, consoling her. He pursed his lips. "Who was she? Who was she to me?" Lily gave him a sad smile.
"I shouldn't give you the details. It's a bit...complicated."
"It always is," the Doctor stated.
"Let's just say she's a family friend," she finished. She smiled up at her dad. The Doctor nodded, wanting to push her for more information but knew that he couldn't.
"Are you safe Lily? Are you happy?" The was the most important question he just had to ask. He had to know if his daughter's future was bright. Lily nodded at him, biting her lower lip. He knew there was something she was holding back.
"I am. Don't worry dad, everything works out." The Doctor let out a breath of relief. But there was something behind Lily's eyes that lead the Doctor to doubt her a little. Maybe she was just trying to protect him. At that moment Donna walked up to them.
"Lily, where am I in the future," she asked desperately. Lily closed her eyes, stepping away from her father.
"Please," she begged.
"Donna," she paused. "You are healthy and happy. That's all you need to know," she answered. Donna opened her mouth to protest but the Doctor let out a shout.
"What," Donna asked aggravatedly. The Doctor ran back to the screwdriver on the rail while Donna and Lily watched him go.
"Why? Why would I give her my screwdriver? Why would I do that? Thing is, future me had years to think about it, all those years to think of a way to save her, and what he did was give her a screwdriver. Why would I do that?" He inspected the screwdriver in his hand, tinkering with it. On the sides of the screwdriver two green lights started to blink.
"Oh! Oh! Oh, look at that. I'm very good!" The Doctor danced around in a circle, jumping for joy.
"What have you done," Donna asked as she approached.
"Saved her," he said excitedly. Then he started to run. As he ran, his chest heaving, one green light went out.
"Stay with me! You can do it, stay with me! Come on, you and me, one last run!" The Doctor ran as fast at he could to the core of the library. With one fluid motions he plugged the screwdriver into the core. River Song's neural energy transferred. The Doctor collapsed on the floor, letting out long breaths. He rested his head against the core, smiling.
After they celebrated the Doctor and Donna stood in front of Lily by the Tardis doors. Lily looked up at it, smiling.
"It never changes," she whispered. Donna put her hand on Lily's arm.
"Goodbye Lily. I hope I get to see you again." Lily nodded, giving her a smile. Donna turned towards the Tardis, ready to go in.
"Donna," Lily called out. Donna turned around and Lily lunged into her arms. Donna resisted for a moment before returning the hug.
"Take care of him," Lily whispered to her. Donna nodded. With one last squeeze Lily let Donna go.
"You are brilliant, Donna Noble." Donna opened her mouth at her in shock. "The most important woman in all of creation," Lily quoted. Donna didn't know how to respond. She just gave Lily an odd look.
"I'm just a temp," Donna said. Lily smiled.
"Bye Donna." Donna looked up at the Doctor who was watching them curiously.
"I'll give you both some time. Take care Lily. And thank you." With one last smile Donna turned and entered the Tardis. Lily turned back towards her father.
"What was that about," the Doctor asked. Lily smiled at the Tardis doors.
"You'll see," she answered. The Doctor rolled his eyes.
"I see you've inherited my vagueness." Lily smiled at him. The Doctor looked at the journal the screwdriver in his hands. He held them out for Lily to take. Lily took the items slowly.
"Take these back to your father for me," the Doctor asked. Lily nodded.
"I will," she promised. Lily looked up at the man she never thought she would see again. She smiled.
"Thank you for helping us. And for saving River." The Doctor put his hands in his pockets.
"It's what I do." Lily smiled back at him. A thought popped into the Doctor's head.
"Lily, is your mother safe? Is she happy?" Lily stood, staring at him. Her face started to pale. She opened her mouth slightly. The Doctor felt his heart rate rise. Why wasn't she answering him?
"She's safe," Lily answered, giving him smile. The Doctor let out a skeptical breath.
"I'm sure," the Doctor began. "You have your reasons for not telling me anything."
"You know how dangerous it is dad." Despite their conversation the Doctor smiled at her calling him dad.
"I know," he said. "I'm sorry for pushing you."
"I love you, dad." The Doctor smiled at his fully grown daughter. Tears came to his eyes.
"I love you, my daughter." The Doctor wrapped his arms around Lily, holding her as tightly as he could.
"I'm so proud of you," he whispered to her. Lily squeezed him tighter, letting a few of her tears fall.
"Dad?" Lily paused, unsure of what to say. "Dad, something big is coming." The Doctor held his breath. "Remember who you are, how strong you are." She paused again. "And really think before you do anything drastic." The Doctor let all the fear and desperation out as he hugged Lily tighter. He pulled away, masking all his feelings down. He gave her a smile.
"I'll do my best." He cupped her head in his hands.
"Stay safe Lily." They wrapped their arms around each other for one last time.
"I love you," he said to her.
"I love you too," she answered.
The Doctor turned towards the Tardis, standing before the doors. He thought for a moment before putting his hand out and snapping his fingers. The Tardis doors flew open. The Doctor smiled and without looking back, walked into the Tardis. Lily watched him go, smiling. The Tardis made it's usual, wonderful noise as it disappeared. Holding the diary and the screwdriver tighter to her chest, she walked off. Lily Tyler closed her eyes, her heart heavy for her father and Donna for what they soon would have to go through.
