A/N hello my lovelies. So this might be my last chapter for a few weeks unless I get on in the next few day but I can not promise anything.

I would just like to thank everyone that has reviewed this story and to those that have followed and favorite it thank you to you too :)

Disclaimer: I own nothing though Ari is mine :)

A few weeks had passed since the incident with the crack in time and in those weeks nothing happened again between Ari and the Doctor. However their routine became one of the Doctor reading in Ari's room as she slept, and the few times when she caught him sleeping curled up next to her she would just watch him before falling back to sleep again herself. By the mornings though he would always be up before her after only having three or four hours sleep, but then that was all he needed.

They had been to a few place in the intervening weeks but they hadn't really gotten into trouble and he seemed to be finding planets that had a very good reputation.

And that was how they found themselves on Zoria.

Zoria was one of the most beautiful places Ari had ever seen. It was a forest planet, but unlike the forests back home where trees where green, here they where silver and gold and the leaves where like paper thin crystals. The people of Zoria lived in the trees and they where as the Doctor had told her one of the most peaceful people he had ever met. They where all rather tall and all had white hair that fell to their waists and they all had pointed ears and they where all stunningly beautiful.

"They remind me of the legends of Elves from Earth." The Doctor said as he had landed the TARDIS. Of course Ari had asked what Elves where and he had gone on to explain that they where beautiful creatures that lived as one with the world around them, they where immortal and wise but they where just stories that Earth parents had told their children.

So when she had first left the ship not only did she feel small by the towering trees she also felt self-conscious next to the people who lived there. The Doctor had been greeted like an old friend and they had gone on to spend a few days with the Zorian's.

Ari spent her time there exploring and she was even given a stunning gown in blue and silver that was made especially for her. It draped simply over her shoulders and flowed around her body hugging her curves but at the same time looking to just fall around her. She loved it and wore it when possible, the memory of the Doctors face when she had first showed it to him forever ingrained into her memory. He had for a moment lost his ability to speak and she had just pushed him to tell her what he thought and in the end he had just coughed and nodded as he said she looked very pretty, to which she had simple raised and eyebrow as if to say, is that all? But before he could say anything more she had turned and walked away with a smile on her face knowing he thought her more than pretty.

It was their last day on Zoria and Ari had decided to take one last walk through the forest leaving the Doctor with the elders as he talked with them about who knew what.

She was wearing her normal black jeans and blue top as it was their last day and she found herself walking along the bridges that connect the tall trees together. She was thinking about turning back and finding the Doctor when she realised she had become lost. She had been so busy taking in the beauty around her that she had lost track of what bridges she had crossed and so when she turned back around she didn't know which way to go.

She had become lost before on another planet and when the Doctor had finally found her he had told her that if she was ever to get lost again to stay put as he would always find her. So she walked to the middle of the bridge she was on and sat down so that her legs dangled over the edge and she just took in the world around her. Even after three days she found the forest to be the most beautiful thing ever seen and as she sat in the dark of night watching the trees glow she could see that they pulsed with energy as though they all had a shared heartbeat. She had asked the Doctor about it the first night they where here and he had smiled at her before looking at the trees themselves before saying "They are alive!" She hadn't asked for anymore of any explanation as that was all the information she needed to understand what she was seeing.

So now as she sat suspended between huge trees she let her legs swing back and forth and she started to hum softly to herself as she just took in everything around her. The tune she hummed to herself was something her mother used to sing to her as she grew up. She missed home, missed her parents and her sister but she so glad she had done what she had. The Doctor was the most amazing person she had ever me, he was crazy in so many ways she sometimes found it hard to keep up with him. But because of what had happened to him she could see that at times he held back, he would try not to get them into trouble though at times trouble found them.

But the traveling to new planets seeing things she thought never possible was amazing and she reviled in the new.

Smiling she closed her eyes and continued to hum to herself, she felt so at peace here and she almost felt like she could stay right where she was sat forever.

However as she sat with her eyes closed she missed the sudden change in the light around her as it darkened and she didn't see as the people of Zoria started to slowly gather around her, and she didn't see their hungry looks or their bared teeth.

Slowly she allowed herself to lay down her legs still dangling in the air and she continued to hum as her heartbeat started to slow down to the same beat of the trees around her. And just as she was sure she could stay there forever a voice shouted her name.

At first she ignored it, far too happy and peaceful to let anything interrupt her bliss. But the voice shouting her got closer and more urgent. Part of her mind registered the worry in that voice but the rest of her didn't really care. It wasn't until the voice shouted her full name that she tried to move and that was when she realised that she couldn't even lift her hands,

"Ari!" The voice came again and this time she knew it was the Doctor.

*Doctor* She thought still trying to regain control of her body.

"Ari!" He shouted again. "Ari get up!"

*I would if I could.* She thought again, this time throwing that thought towards the Doctor.

*Tell me what you are feeling?* His voice said in her mind, which took her by surprise but she would think more on that later.

*Heavy.*

*Okay well I don't mean to alarm you.* He directed into her mind. *But you have a very hungry hoard heading towards you, as they wish to eat you for dinner. Now get up!*

Ari felt her heart jump as adrenalin flooded her system and she sat up her eyes opening and then she was on her feet. On either side of the bridge she was on she could see the Zorian's all tall and beautiful heading towards her. But their beauty was marred as they all bared their teeth at her and a hungry look covered their faces.

"Doctor!" She shouted looking around for him but she couldn't find him anywhere.

*Grab hold of something.* His voice commanded in her mind.

*What?*

*Get a hold of the railing, anything! Just do it!"

Ari reached out and took hold of the rope railing just as the suspended bridge collapsed and the Zorian's all fell to the ground below. As the bridge swung to the tree on her left she held on for dear life until she slammed into the thick golden trunk.

*Climb!* The Doctor ordered and she did just that pulling herself up to the large platform the bridge was attached to. As she got to her feet she turned to look to the other side looking for the Doctor but he was nowhere to be seen.

"Doctor!" She shouted but she got no response. "Doctor!"

Turning she started to make her way around the platform to another bridge but as she moved around the large tree she came face to face with more Zorian's. Licking her lips she started to move backwards but they followed and like the others they all had the same hungry look on their faces.

"Doctor, where the hell are you?"

As she continued to move backwards she kept a hand on the tree until she was back by the now broken bridge with nowhere else to go. As the Zorian's got closer she let go of the tree and edged herself further and further backwards until she was on the edge of the platform with nothing but a forty-foot drop behind her.

"Doctor!" She shouted again now with nowhere to go. If she moved even an inch she would fall, but the Zorian's where so close now that the front-runners where starting to claw at her clothes.

That was when she heard it, the sound that always made her heartbeat with excitement, and then arms where around her pulling her backwards and then doors closed in front of her blocking the Zorian's from getting in.

Breathing hard Ari turned to the Doctor and then hit him on the arm several times as she spoke. "You never said that they eat people!"

"Ouch! I didn't know. Ouch!" He grabbed hold of her wrists stopping her onslaught and just looked at her. "I'm sorry. Last time I was here they seemed perfectly normal, and not at all bitey!"

"Yes well" She said pulling her wrist free. "They are not and they were going to eat me!" She walked around him towards the console her anger towards him building though she knew it was unfounded anger.

"Ari…" He pleaded.

"Do you Ari me!" She grounded our turning back to him. "You left me, you just disappeared!"

"I had to get the TARDIS." He said not really understanding her anger.

"Yes well…" She turned and let out a frustrated growl.

"Ari." He said gently slowly walking up behind her. "Why are you so angry?"

"I don't know!" She shouted then headed towards her room. She heard him start to follow her but she turned slightly to him her eyes narrowing. "Just stay, don't even try to follow me." She almost hissed before turning back and leaving him in the control room.