Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who or any characters affiliated with the series
Graduation Gift
2030: Barcelona
The Doctor huffed and puffed as he sprinted through a thick forest. He smirked as his target ran just a few paces ahead of him before he quickly leapt forward and wrapped his arms around the wriggling creature. He smirked to himself before he stood to his feet, grinning with triumph. He nodded to himself as the creature tried to escape his grasp. He shook his head before he carefully carried it out of the forest and through a field, his TARDIS sitting at the base of the valley. He glanced down at his wrist, realizing that he didn't have a watch, and then chuckled before he ran to his ship. He pushed the door open and quickly shut it, letting loose the creature he had successfully caught. It ran up to the console and began to yap at it before turning to yap back at the Doctor.
"Oh, calm down. It's alright!" he assured as he quickly ran up to the controls and began flicking switches and pressing buttons.
He had a ceremony to catch.
May 18, 2013: Montana, United States
She was in a blue gown and cap, with a white tassel hanging on it. Her hands were fidgeting in her lap as her foot lightly tapped against the auditorium floor. There were cameras flashing and whispers throughout the dome that bit away at Eve, but she ignored it all as she continued to stare at the program in her hands. She smiled to herself as name-after-name, students lined up and made their way up to the stage. She watched as the students in the row in front of her all stood up, making their way down the aisle for their awaiting futures. She glanced up at the audience as her gaze softened; she wondered how proud her parents would be of her at that very moment.
The young woman beside Eve tapped her shoulder, nodding her head and motioning for her to stand with the rest. Eve quickly scrambled to her feet before she straightened out her gown and followed the line of young men and women. She took a deep breath and smiled as names were called one-after-another. She waited patiently before she raised a brow; she could hear a familiar whirring in the distance.
Evelyn waited at the bottom of the steps as she watched the young man in front of her make his way on to the stage. He shook hands with the president of the university before holding his diploma out. Cheers could be heard as he grinned and made his way back down. Eve stared after him for a moment before excitement fluttered in her stomach.
"Evelyn Young." Taking a deep breath, Eve made her way up before she approached the president, who smiled widely at her. He shook her hand and congratulated her as she thanked him and took her diploma. She could hear several cheers from a few of her friends, but there was a single voice that had caught her attention.
"That's my girl!" Evelyn's eyes immediately scanned the crowd before they landed on a man that stood just at the top row of the seats. He was clapping and grinning down at her, and in that moment, Eve found herself grinning from ear-to-ear as people continued to cheer and clap. She carefully made her way down the steps before she headed down the aisle.
She had officially finished up her last year in college.
§
"Eve!" Said young woman turned and smiled widely as she opened her arms, Lisa leaping into her embrace and holding her tightly. "We made it!"
"Yes, yes we did!" the black haired graduate said with a laugh before they pulled away from one another.
"Have any family here?" Lisa asked curiously as Eve smiled and shook her head.
"My aunt is in England and doesn't like travelling alone." Her uncle had passed long ago.
"Sorry to hear!" Lisa said with a frown as Eve shrugged and continued to smile brightly.
"That's alright," she said as she looked past Lisa and found the Doctor smiling widely at her. "The people I need are already here," she said as she gave Lisa one more hug.
"I'll give you a ring later," Eve stated as Lisa nodded and began to make her way towards her own family. Eve stared after her fondly for a second longer before she turned to the Doctor. She smirked widely as he grinned back at her before opening his arms. She laughed before sprinting towards the Time Lord and throwing herself into his arms. He laughed along with her as he held her tightly lifting her from the ground with ease.
"Congratulations, V!" he said happily as he carefully set her back down on her feet after a moment. The young woman sighed as she smiled widely, before noticing the dirt on his face and the way his pinstripe suit was slightly torn here and there.
"What the hell happened to you?"
"Oh! That's right!" he exclaimed as he held his hand out to her. "I've got a gift for you."
"A gift?" Eve grabbed his hand without thought as he led the way, walking around the building and into the back field. She smiled at the way the blue police box seemed to wait for them; it had only been a week but she had missed the TARDIS so.
Releasing her hand, the Doctor reached for the door before he looked over his shoulder with a wily smile. "Ready?"
"Ready as always," she said before the brunet opened the door and stepped inside. Eve quickly followed after him before she blinked, watching as a fury blob darted for her and leaped up at her. She yelped as she stumbled back, quickly catching whatever had jumped at her. She stared down and blinked before she looked at the Doctor. He wore a grin the entire time as he watched quietly with his hands in his pant pockets.
"What is this?"
"It's a Barcelonian dog!"
"…A dog from Barcelona?"
"The planet Barcelona," the Doctor stated before Eve blinked. She gazed down at the dog before she blinked.
"It has no nose."
"Wonderful observation." Eve shot the Time Lord a look at that.
"Well, thank you," she said with a wide smile as she lifted the small dog in her hands. She gazed at it as he panted, staring back down at her; it would have to take some time to adjust to the nose-less animal.
"Aren't you just the sweetest?" Eve smiled happily as the dog barked, its tongue hanging from its mouth. She chuckled at that before she cradled it in her arms. "Was the mad man scary?"
"Oi!" the Doctor snapped as he looked up from the controls and shot an annoyed look at Eve.
"Don't worry, I'll protect you from his wrath," she cooed playfully as she smirked at the Time Lord, who merely muttered under his breath before chuckling.
Swiftly, he stood up tall and clapped his hands together as he smiled widely. "Graduation gift part two!"
"Oh? You really know how to spoil a girl," Eve said with a smirk as the Doctor laughed.
"I can be quite the charmer when I want," he said playfully.
"So then! Where to?"
Evelyn thought for a moment before her gaze softened. She smiled as she approached the Doctor's side and nodded her head; she knew exactly where she wanted to go. "London, July 12, 2000." The Doctor blinked at the rather specific date as he raised a brow at his companion.
"Any special reason?" he asked as he began inputting the coordinates. He glanced at Eve as she smiled and shrugged. Hesitating, the Doctor stared at the young woman before nodding.
"Allons-y!"
July 12, 2000: London, England
"Well then! Here we are!" The Doctor opened the door and stepped out before Eve followed him, glancing around with wide eyes. The pair was broken from their thoughts as a barking dog caught their attention. They quickly looked down and watched as the black puppy slipped between their legs before Eve quickly caught it, not wanting to let him wander off on his own.
"Whoa there!" the young woman said as she grabbed her new pet, the Doctor chuckling and rubbing him behind the ears.
"You're just a wonky fellow, aren't you," he said before he shut the TARDIS door.
"So! What is there you'd like to see?" the Doctor inquired as Eve smiled widely. She grabbed the Doctor's hand and quickly led him through the city. He eyed the young woman carefully as he noted her accelerated heart rate and the slight clamminess of her hands; she was excited about something.
They walked hand-in-hand for several minutes before they stopped, Eve smiling widely up at an apartment complex. "This is it!"
The Doctor blinked as he gave Eve a confused stare. "This is what?"
"Come on!" The young woman wasted no time as she dragged the Doctor in, the man nearly losing his footing. He followed after Eve before she finally stopped on the third floor, walking up to room 347.
"Doctor, sonic?" He narrowed his eyes at her suspiciously but did as asked; it was her gift, after all.
Pulling out the screwdriver, the blue end lit up as the Doctor pointed it at the lock. He smiled at the sound of the door unlocking before he opened it and stepped inside. He wasn't sure what he had been expecting, but when he had stepped inside, he was positive that he never would have expected this.
An empty room.
"V? Sorry. You'll have to get me up to speed. What exactly are we doing?" the Doctor asked as Evelyn waved his question off and quickly made her way through the flat. She set her dog down as he ran freely around the vacant apartment. The Doctor watched curiously as the young woman stepped out on to the balcony door that was across the way from the entrance. She leaned against the railing and peered to her left, as if she was waiting to see something. Wanting to know what she knew, the Doctor followed her out before he stood beside her, following her gaze.
"Ev, darling! Please don't sit on the railing like that." The Doctor's eyes widened as he watched a young woman—probably in her 30s—step out on to the balcony beside theirs and grab a young girl that was trying to peer over the edge.
"Mum! I can't see if you do that!" the little girl snapped, her mother gently guiding her back inside.
"No."
"What?"
"Absolutely not!"
"What?"
"You know what!"
"Do you know what?"
The Doctor shook his head as he quickly grabbed Eve's hand and pulled her back inside. "How long?" he asked as Eve tried to play innocent.
"I don't know—"
"How. Long?" Eve frowned at the seriousness in the Doctor's voice before she sighed.
"…Two days." Two days before her parents had died.
The Time Lord glared before he began to search half-hazardously for the dog. "We're leaving."
"What?! Why?!"
"I'm not doing this with you," he snapped as he turned to look back at Eve. "I'm sorry for your parents and your loss, I truly am. But I can't let you change that. It's already a part of your history—your life. By saving them, the universe would need—"
"Doctor!" Eve called out as she quickly approached him and placed her hands on his chest. He breathed heavily as he stared down wide-eyed at Evelyn, who stared at him with a taken aback stare. She rubbed his chest in a circular motion with both hands, calming the Doctor down after a few seconds. "I'm not here to change anything," the young woman assured quietly, though the Time Lord was not quick to believe her words.
"I can't take that ris—"
"Do you trust me?" The Doctor blinked as Eve stared up at him with a firm gaze. She waited quietly for his reply before she frowned. "Doctor. Do you trust me?" she asked once more.
He had been here before. He had made the same mistake before. Maybe not with this face, but that didn't matter because he still remembered. He remembered the way Rose had promised him her visit would be innocent, and then he remembered the way it had all played out in the end. And although it had all worked out, that sad and torn expression on Rose's face still haunted the Doctor when he thought about what had happened; he didn't want to see that look upon Eve's glowing face ever.
But Eve was different. There was a stability in her eyes that made the Doctor feel a bit more relaxed—a bit more at ease. And so, he answered honestly. "Of course I do."
"Then trust me. I'm not here to change anything," Eve said with a reassuring nod. "I just…there's something I need to do," she stated evenly as she walked down the hall of the empty apartment in search for her puppy. The Doctor stood in her wake as he frowned before clearing his throat and following after her.
"I'm sure you have an explanation for this flat?" he asked lightheartedly as Evelyn chuckled, picking up the black dog as he sniffed around an empty bedroom.
"This room has been vacant for the eight years that I lived here. I figured it would be the perfect place to stay while we wait."
"And what exactly is it that we're waiting for?" the brunet inquired gently as Eve let her shoulders sag.
"…We're waiting for the day my parents die."
§
The Doctor had given Eve specific ground rules.
One. She wasn't to come into any contact with herself at all. At all. He had gone on about paradoxes and about the universe and the last thing Eve wanted was to give him any right to say "I told you so" or "this is what happens when you don't listen to me". So, she decided from the start that she would do as told for the time being; and anyways, she didn't want to have to deal with any strange side-effects of meeting herself.
Two. She was to stay as under-the-radar as possible. There was no need to draw any strange attention to themselves. As far as the Doctor was concerned, the year 2000 had very little issues with aliens, and he wanted to keep it that way.
Three. No matter what she saw, she was forbidden to interfere with anything her parents did. Fixed point in time—the breakdown of time and space—there was no need for the Doctor to explain; Evelyn was smart enough to realize just how essential it was to keep important points in time and life the same.
And so, with that agreed upon, the Doctor had decided that they could stay for the time being; it wasn't as if he was going to leave without Eve anyways.
"What am I going to call you?" Eve stared down at her dog as she held the leash that was connected to its brand new collar—courtesy of the Doctor. The puppy contently dug at a spot in the grass, his stubby tail wagging in the air as it did so. The graduated student chuckled before she gave the leash a light tug, her puppy lifting its head up and then quickly running up to her; surprisingly, Barcelonian dogs were rather easy to domesticate.
Turning to head back to the flat, Eve winced as she bumped into someone, the person falling and dropping a few bags. Her eyes widened as she immediately knelt down and began to help the stranger with their bags. "I'm so sorry!" she apologized as she shook her head at her clumsiness. She muttered under her breath about her own stupidity before she looked up with a smile. "I—" Eve froze as her pupils dilated. Her breath was lost in throat as well as her words, the stranger seemingly clueless to the tension in Eve's body.
"It's alright. I probably should have been paying more attention myself," a young brunette said as she chuckled. She looked up and blinked as she finally noticed the strange look upon the other woman's face. "Are you alright?"
"Ye—Yes! Sorry, I just realized that I recognize you from somewhere," Eve stated on the fly as the woman before her raised a brow. "You live in the building on the corner of Quill, yeah?"
"That's right! Third floor."
"Oh! I just moved in," Eve lied as she placed a pleasant smile upon her lips; she wasn't sure when she had begun to excel at creating stories. "Room 347!"
"Oh, that's right next door to us!" the woman exclaimed as she laughed. "How serendipitous!" Eve chuckled weakly as she nodded her head, standing as the woman did so as well.
"Serendipitous, indeed."
"Eleanor. Eleanor Young," the woman introduced as Eve ignored the burning in her eyes and blinked away the hot tears that threatened to form.
"It's great to meet you," she said gently as they shook hands. Eleanor raised a brow as the stranger's hand lingered in hers before it was quickly pulled away.
"What's your name?"
"Oh! How rude of me! Evelyn. Um—Evelyn Smith," she said with a forced smile as Eleanor nodded her head. The two began to walk side-by-side, the black dog on Eve's leash running ahead but just stopping far enough that the leash wouldn't choke him.
"You have a lovely pet! Oh, dear. What happened to its nose?"
"Oh, he was born that way. Still haven't picked a name out for him. I actually just got him," Eve said offhandedly as Eleanor smiled widely.
"Buy him yourself?"
"Oh, no. He was a gift from—"
"Eleanor?" Said woman looked away from her companion and smiled widely as her husband climbed out of his car and made his way towards her. Eve blinked and stared with shocked eyes as her entire figure seemed to become as stiff as a plank. She watched as her mother and father kissed before they turned to her.
"Oh, Jin! This is our new neighbor! She just moved in next door," Eleanor introduced. Jin smiled as he looked to Eve and held his hand out. Eve stared at it with the same, surprised expression she had been wearing throughout the entire scene.
"Pleasure to meet you. I'm Jin Young," he introduced with a friendly smile as Eve tried to gain her bearings. She cleared her throat as she quickly blinked away the fresh tears and composed herself. She hesitantly held her hand out to his before shaking it and nodding her head.
"Evelyn Smith."
"Oh, what a coincidence. Our daughter's name is Evelyn," Jin pointed out as his wife nodded with a laugh as they led the way inside the building. Eve let out a held breath as she slapped herself on the forehead and quickly followed after them.
"So! Do you live alone?" the 34 year old inquired as Eve shook her head.
"Oh, no. I'm living with—well, you see—I'm not technically alone—" Approaching her door, Eve began to panic as she unlocked the door, her dog barking at it and pawing at it before she opened it.
"Evelyn?" Jin and Eleanor blinked as a man's voice resonated from inside of the room. Eve blinked as she looked to her neighbors before nodding her head.
"I live with my boyfriend!"
"Evelyn, what's—" The Doctor stopped as he stepped through the threshold of the doorway and found himself not only in the company of Eve, but her parents as well. He blinked before he looked down at Eve, who smiled anxiously at him before she looped her arm with his.
"This is my boyfriend, John!"
"What?" the Doctor quietly asked as he forced a smile across his thin lips. Eve merely continued to smile as she leaned her head against his arm.
"Well, it's a pleasure to finally meet our new neighbors," Jin said as he stepped towards the Doctor and held his hand out. "I'm Jin Young, and this is my wife, Eleanor Young," he introduced as the Doctor numbly shook their hands. He chuckled weakly as he nodded before clearing his throat and gaining back his self-control.
"It's lovely to meet you, it truly is." And that, he really meant.
"If you'll excuse us, I've got to feed the wonky one down here," the Doctor said as he motioned to the yapping dog. The Youngs nodded and waved goodbye as they stepped into their home before the Doctor pulled Eve in. She quickly shut the door and let out a breath as the Doctor shook his head.
"I can't leave you alone for one minute!"
"This time it really wasn't my fault!" Eve insisted as the Doctor shook his head and gave Eve an unconvinced look. She sighed before letting her shoulders sag, only to feel rather caught off guard when she noticed a couch and the small ottoman in front of it. She then took notice to the few dishes and silverware in the kitchen as well as curtains in front of the balcony door.
"When did you get all this done?"
"While you were out causing trouble," the Doctor replied back snarkily as he smirked, Eve shooting him a cold stare before she sighed.
"I didn't mean for any of that to happen. I was just walking the pup here—"
"Are you ever going to name him?"
"I'm still working on it." The Doctor chuckled as he knelt down and watched as the Barcelonian dog ran circles around him.
"Anyways, I was just walking him and then I bumped into El—my mum on the street. It was completely by chance! And then dad showed up and it was just all a mess after that." Eve let out a tired breath as she ran her hands through her hair, the Time Lord smirking as he stood to his feet.
"So…boyfriend?" Eve shot him a heated stare as she scoffed and brushed past him and into the kitchen.
"I panicked! You and I don't look a thing alike, so that ruled out family member. And, honestly, if I had been smarter, I should have just said that you were a friend or something, but obviously I'm not! So now, we're stuck playing the part of the happy couple," she snapped as the Doctor laughed. He smiled cheekily as the young woman grabbed a water bottle from the fridge that was supplied with the flat. She gave the Doctor an unamused stare before sighing, the humanoid leaning against the counter. He let his jaw fall open as he prepared to speak, but he winced and cried out in pain as he looked down to his feet and watched as the black dog bit at his feet and ankles. Eve smirked at that as she took a seat on the couch, her nameless pet quickly following after her and sitting in her lap. The Doctor narrowed his eyes at the pair before he rubbed his ankles.
"Wonky little…"
§
"If you keep teasing him, he's only going to get angrier and like you less."
"Who said he didn't like me?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
Eve sat on the couch with her legs crossed as the Doctor sat on the floor in front of the puppy, holding a treat just out of its jumping reach. The Time Lord smiled playfully as he lowered the treat and then pulled it back into the air as the dog leaped for it once more. He listened for a moment before laughing, catching the young woman off guard. She blinked before a curious expression came over her.
"Are you…Are you speaking dog?"
"I can also speak baby."
"Baby?" Before Eve could go one with the ludicrous idea, the pair stopped when someone knocked on their door. Eve hesitated before standing to her feet, her dog already barking and waiting at the entrance. Pulling the door open, Eve blinked as Eleanor stood on the other side with a smile.
"Evelyn! So glad you're home!"
"Uh—hello!" Eve said as she composed herself and smiled widely.
"Sorry to bother, I was just going to see if you and John had any dinner plans." Eve blinked as she looked over her shoulder at the Doctor, who approached her with a raised brow before he stopped behind her. He smiled happily at Eleanor as she smiled widely back at him.
"Eleanor! What a pleasant surprise," he said as if they had been neighbors from the beginning. The brunette chuckled as she nodded her head.
"I was just asking Evelyn if you two would be free for dinner!" The Doctor glanced down at Eve as she looked back up at him, the two sharing a quick conversation before the tallest of the three spoke.
"I don't think there's anything!" the Doctor said innocently, catching Evelyn off guard. She watched as her "boyfriend" smiled widely before he nodded his head.
"Well, if that's the case, Jin and I would love to have you over!" she said with a grin as Eve merely nodded with an in-between expression of a smile and an apprehensive stare.
"Thanks very much! We really appreciate the invitation," the Doctor said as he continued to smile, lightly bumping Eve on the back with his arm as she coughed and nodded her head with a wide smile.
"Yes! Thank you so much."
"Of course! I remember when we first moved here. We hadn't had a thing to eat because we'd been so busy with setting the flat up and making sure we had everything," Eleanor said sweetly as she chuckled at the memory.
"Well, dinner will be ready in 20 minutes so feel free to pop on by then!" The pair nodded as they watched Eleanor walk away before they shut the door, Eve looking at the Doctor with a confused and suspicious stare.
"What the hell was that?"
"What?"
"After all the grief you've been giving me about staying out of trouble?" Eve snapped as the Time Lord shrugged, sitting back in front of the puppy and continuing his ministrations.
"She's right. We haven't got a thing to eat," he pointed out as the young woman behind him marched over to the couch and plopped down with a pout on her lips. "As long as we act natural and like we belong, then there shouldn't be a problem. Just make sure you absolutely stay away from your younger self." Eve nodded before she pulled her legs up on to the couch and close to her chest. She smiled softly as the Doctor played more with the puppy, wincing when the Barcelonian dog finally snatched away the treat and pinched his finger.
All the while, she counted down the minutes.
§
Just as they had been instructed, Eve and the Doctor showed up at their neighbor's door, a rich scent wafting from the room. The pair glanced at each other before they chuckled, the Doctor raising his closed fist and knocking on the door. They waited for a moment before the door swung open and Jin stood tall with a welcoming smile.
"Evening, you two."
"Hello again!" the Doctor said with a warm smile as he shook Jin's hand. Eve merely smiled, finding her voice gone as she gave her father a nod before stepping into his home.
The flat was cozy and snug—just enough space for three. It had looked exactly the way Eve had remembered it looking. There was a piano right beside the balcony door, and the one-seater sat close to the tele with a small couch beside it. A small wall separated the kitchen from the sitting room, and the hallway to the right led to the bedrooms and the bathroom.
"Please! Make your selves comfortable," the man of the household suggested as he motioned for the Doctor and Eve to sit. They did as asked, and immediately Jin and the Doctor broke into conversation. The young woman beside the Doctor tried not to roll her eyes at the thought of her father and the Time Lord getting along. She merely listened to the conversation, not wanting to speak in fear of having her voice crack and her composure breaking.
The Doctor took notice to Eve's silence but did bring attention to it. He merely continued speaking with Jin, realizing that the man was rather genius. He carried himself respectfully and he spoke without hesitation and with assurance; he was smart and he knew it. The thought made the brunet smile, for Eve seemed to hold the same assurance with her intelligence as her father did. Not to mention she shared many physical similarities with the man—including, hair color, face shape, skin tone and eye color; though there were a few similarities between Eve and her mother as well. She shared her mother's figure as well as her mother's clear complexion. Not only that but she had Eleanor's smile, and she had a beautiful smile.
After a few minutes of conversing, Eleanor called out from the dining table and motioned for the three to come and eat. Everyone took their seats, Evelyn sitting across from the Doctor and her parents across from each other. And although Eve had originally been rather anxious about the entire exchanged, it seemed that the Doctor was able to keep the mood light and conversation flowing with no trouble; she was thankful to have him there. There was no possible way she could face this on her own.
There was no possible way of her having dinner with her parents one last time without breaking.
"So! How did the two of you meet?" Eleanor asked as Eve and the Doctor blinked. They exchanged glances as they quickly smiled, masking any unsureness they felt.
"It's a funny story," the Doctor said as Eve smiled and nodded.
"I bumped into him by complete chance. And somehow, he ended up whisking me away with him," she said with a smirk as the Doctor smiled back at her. "Don't let that innocent face of his trick you. He's nothing but trouble," she added playfully as the alien across from her laughed before shaking his head.
"Is that how you really feel?" he asked with a spritely tone before he looked to Eleanor and Jin. "I'm really not as bad as she makes it sound."
Eleanor laughed as she shook her head. "Don't worry! It's obvious you two care very much about each other." The Doctor's eyes caught Eve's as they stared at each other for a long moment. Her smile faded before she cleared her throat and averted her gaze to her plate. She quickly took a bite of her dinner as the Doctor smiled softly, nodding his head in agreement; he supposed that Eve's mother was right about that.
After that, dinner continued on smoothly. Laughter filled the air, and slowly, Eve began to speak up. She contributed to the conversation before she began to laugh and make jokes. Soon enough, the entire table was glowing. Jin threw his head back as he nearly choked on the wine he was drinking as the Doctor laughed and placed his hand on the man's shoulder—Eve covering her mouth and laughing and Eleanor leaning forward against the table as she tried to gain back control of herself.
"That's just brilliant," the Doctor said as Jin nodded, wiping his lips with a napkin before he began to help his wife with the dishes. The Doctor and Eve quickly did the same before Eleanor shooed them away and out of the kitchen.
As "John" and Jin took a seat in the sitting room, Eve began to wander in the place she once called home. She began to sober up from the laughing fit she had gone through before she stopped and stared at the many picture frames hanging on the wall. She smiled softly as she carefully placed her fingers against the glass; it was her family together on her sixth birthday.
"That's my daughter." Eve stiffened as she looked over at Eleanor, who approached her side and smiled widely. "She's at her grandmother's for the next few days, which gives us a bit more freedom to have people over," the mother of one explained as Eve nodded her head, turning her full attention back to the pictures.
"…She's lovely," Eve whispered as Eleanor grinned.
"Yes. She really is." Eleanor sighed as she placed her hands on her hips and gazed up at the photos. "My little girl…she's really magnificent." Eve tried not to tremble as she listened to her mother before she cleared her throat, her vision blurring. She continued to stare at the pictures, smiling widely at another image of her sitting on her father's shoulders. She chuckled before she felt a hand on her upper back.
"Dear, are you alright?" Eleanor asked as Evelyn blinked. Her eyes widened as she felt warm tears fall down her cheeks. Acting quickly, Eve wiped her eyes and chuckled as she shook her head.
"I'm not sure what's gotten into me. Must be the exhaustion from the move," she lied as she quickly moved past Eleanor. "I think I'll just excuse myself," she said with a smile as she quickly made her way down the hall and to the front door.
"V?" said young woman heard the Doctor call out. She ignored him as she quickly opened the door and turned back for just a quick moment to thank the pair for having her over. Without a second glance, she scurried out the door and ran to the door over, forcing it open and then slamming it shut. She closed her eyes and leaned back against it before she heard barking from her puppy. Tiredly, Evelyn gazed down before sighing, kneeling on one knee and scooping the puppy up in her arms. With a few steps, she strode to the couch and laid across it, her puppy settling comfortably in her arms.
"Evelyn?" She ignored the Doctor as she listened to the humanoid open the door and step inside, softly shutting it. She continued to ignore the time-traveler as she positioned herself comfortably on the couch, stroking the puppy as it cuddled with her. Her eyes fluttered shut and darkness overwhelmed her sight before she felt the couch at the end of her feet shift. "…I'm sorry," she heard the Doctor say quietly.
"…It's alright," she replied back as she took a deep breath, keeping her eyes shut. "I just…it was all just a bit overwhelming—sitting there and talking to them. I was a complete stranger," she said softly. "And…And then it hit me. They were sitting in there, talking and laughing and eating with me for the very last time. And they didn't even know it."
The Doctor sat quietly by Eve's feet as she kept her eyes closed, holding tightly to the now sleeping dog. He frowned as he watched her lay motionlessly before he placed his hand on her foot and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
"…They loved you very much," the Doctor stated quietly as Eve nodded her head. "And they knew—they know just how much you love them," he assured as Evelyn nodded her eyes, tears slipping through her shut eyes; even after all this time, she mourned the loss of them.
The pair sat silently in the night, Eve softly crying to herself as the Doctor listened, keeping his hand on her leg in order to make sure she knew he was with her. He gave it a gentle squeeze ever so often when her quiet sobs would grow harder, and that would succeed in calming her down for a few moments. And after an hour or so passed, Eve finally quieted down. She opened her eyes and sat up, pulling her legs away from the Time Lord. He raised a brow as he turned his head from the night sky, looking at Eve with curiosity. She hesitated, looking more vulnerable than the Doctor had ever seen her, and he smiled to her before he opened his arms to her, giving her the invitation she had been looking for.
Smiling back, Eve crawled over to him and leaned against his chest, relaxing in his embrace. They sat quietly for a few minutes before the brunet finally spoke. "Well, at least we both know they like me."
Eve laughed at that.
July 14, 2000: London, England
"What about Felix?"
"Felix? That sounds more like a cat name than a dog name."
"Alright. What about…K9!"
"Doctor."
"Fine, I suppose one K9 is enough."
Evelyn walked beside the Doctor as he held on to the black dog's leash. The sun was shining above their heads, and not a single cloud had been in sight; it had been a perfect afternoon. So, they had wanted to take advantage of that. After all, Eve had specifically told the Doctor that she had planned on staying in this time for a few more days—for what reasons, she didn't say. But he didn't argue with her. Instead, he agreed and supported her, because he knew that dealing with a loss such as losing parents was not easy.
As they made their way down the street, Eve blinked as she noticed a strange gray cloud of smoke rising into the air. A brow rose on her face as she came to a slow stop, the Doctor noticing her discomfort and immediately looking back at her.
"V, what's—" Not giving him a chance to ask, Eve ran past the Doctor, leaving him in confusion. He looked up and his own eyes widened before he picked the dog up and began to sprint after Evelyn.
There was a fire.
§
It had all been an accident. It had been a mash-up of unfortunate events.
You see, a young, energetic, and forgetful young woman lived in the flat across from 346. She lived on her own, and since her parents had been paying for the entire thing, she never bothered to take much care of the place; that was what the paid cleaning service was for.
That day, Terra—that had been her name—she had left her flat in a rush, not wanting to miss a lunch date with a young man she had met just the other day. She had made sure to dress nicely and do her hair properly, and without a second glance, she was gone. But you see, there were two things wrong with this scenario; one, she had left her window open, and two—a candle had been lit.
Not five minutes after Terra had departed from her home, did a strong breeze roll through her open window. The candle she had left lit on her desk wobbled before it tipped over completely, landing on a pile of sheets the young woman had forgotten to collect from the floor. And at first, the flame that had caught on had been small. But after the minutes passed, the fire grew stronger and less controllable. And then, it roared with fury.
Meanwhile, the habitants of room 345 remained in their home for the afternoon, both having days off and wanting to enjoy their time together before their daughter returned home the next day; they loved Evelyn very much, but it was rare to share the flat to themselves. So, Eleanor and Jin laid together in their bed, fast asleep. And as they napped, the fire across the hall slowly began to spread. And although the fire alarms began to go off, it all seemed a bit too late.
And you see, it wasn't Terra's fault, though she was responsible for the entire fiasco. For if she had just gotten up five minutes earlier then she wouldn't have been so rushed, and she would have remembered to close her window and blow out the candle sitting right by the window. And there would have been no fire and there would have been no need for the alarms to go off. There would have been no evacuation and there would have been no tears.
There would have been no death.
But sadly, that was just not how the story played out.
Eleanor's eyes flew open as the shrill screech of the fire alarm yanked her from her dreams. She took a few seconds to gain her bearings before she realized just how much smoke was floating in her bedroom. She coughed before she quickly shook her husband awake; the man could sleep through just about anything if he really wanted to. He immediately put himself to work, grabbing his wife's hand and pushing her head down. He navigated the way, coughing when he found the entire front of his apartment drowning in smoke. He quickly reached for the door knob to the entrance but yelled out in pain, burning his hand. He winced as Eleanor carefully held his hand in hers, the man before her grimacing as he quickly pushed his wife back to the furthest room. He quickly kicked the door shut, keeping his head down as well as Eleanor's. He glanced around and frowned; they were in his daughter's room.
"Jin—"
"Don't! Just cover your mouth!" he warned as he quickly grabbed a shirt from his daughter's dresser and handing it to his wife. She did as told, watching as he did the same. She watched as he gazed at her with loving and warm eyes. Her eyes began to blur as tears formed and spilled out.
In that moment, for some unknown reason, she felt like the end of the line had come.
§
She had never known what exactly had killed her parents. As a young girl, Eve had been "too fragile" to know the truth. And so her aunt and uncle had kept that detail out for quite some time. And by the time she had grown up and matured, she was quick to leave; her aunt had never had the chance to tell her what had happened. And so, Evelyn had lived the last 13 years of her life not knowing. But now, she was living through it. She knew exactly what was to take the lives of her parents.
"Evelyn!" She ignored her name and continued to sprint, only stopping once she had reached her apartment complex. She stared with wide eyes as the building sat ablaze, several fire trucks out trying to diffuse the situation. Her heart raced as she stared up at the burning building before a hand held hers tightly. She turned to the Doctor as he gave her a sympathetic stare before looking back at the apartment complex.
"…They're in there right now."
"You don't—"
"Yes I do!" she shrieked, causing the Time Lord to frown deeply at her. "They're in there at this very moment…dying…" she whispered as she quivered. She took a step forward and stared, the fire reflecting in her eyes. She stared upon the beautiful disaster but nothing more; she had made a promise to the Doctor.
The Time Lord stared at Evelyn for a long moment before gave her hand a squeeze. He stepped forward to the young woman's side, watching as she unraveled before him.
And as her heart shattered, so did both of his.
July 28, 2000: London, England
There had been no aliens. No worldly disaster and no horrible battle.
There had only been a fire.
Eve stood quietly in the distance, staring at the ceremony playing out before her. She watched as her grandmother from her mother's side spoke, her voice cracking and her tears nearly soaking the note-cards she had been using for her speech. There were several faces that the 21 year old recognized, but there was one particular face that had been missing.
"This is why you wanted to come here." Evelyn didn't bother looking over her shoulder. Instead she continued to stare at the funeral playing out before her. She felt a sudden warmth beside her and immediately she recognized it; the Doctor.
"…I was young and stubborn," Eve began softly as she chuckled lifelessly. "And when they had first told me that my parents had died, I didn't believe it. But then…" The Doctor stared intently at his companion as she leaned against the tree beside her, eyes empty and cold.
"…It's alright," he assured her as Evelyn shook her head.
"No, it's not."
"You were just a child—"
"No matter how old I was, it will never be ok that I didn't show up to my own parents' funeral!" she almost yelled, her composure slipping for only a second before she took a deep breath and cleared her throat. "...I'm sorry." The Doctor smiled before he pulled Eve against his chest and held her tightly. She hugged him in return, far too weary to ward his kindness off.
"You may not have been there then, but you're here now," he stated as Eve found solace in his words. She nodded before stepping away and watching as the caskets began to slowly disappear into the graves dug for her mother and father.
§
The Doctor watched from a distance as Eve stood over her parents' grave. His face was empty of life and the colors of the world were dull—far duller than they normally were. He slid his hands into the pockets of his black suit, Evelyn standing silently in a long-sleeved, black dress that billowed down to her knees. She hadn't moved from that spot since after the crowd had dispersed and the ceremony had ended; she had wanted to get a bit of privacy with her parents.
As the warm summer breeze whisked past him, the Doctor strode over to Eve, stopping just behind her. He placed his hands on her shoulders before he leaned forward and kissed the top of her head. His lips lingered for a second longer than they should have before he felt Eve relax under his touch.
"When you're ready."
"Right."
Turning, the Doctor began to walk away, leaving Eve with her parents. She glanced over her shoulder and smiled as the Time Lord disappeared. She then knelt down and read the engraving on the headstones before she sighed. "…This long, and I still want to cry when I think about you two," she said quietly. She shook her head before tears began to bubble in her eyes once more.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry that I didn't come," she whispered as she ran her fingers against the stone. "I was young and I was stupid and I was just so sad," she explained quietly. "I couldn't face the fact that you were gone…so instead, I closed myself off to people and pushed everyone away," she claimed before she shook her head.
"I lived almost the entire rest of my life up until now keeping people at an arm's length. I was afraid to get close to others because I just figured they would be taken from me like you both were." Smiling, Eve glanced up at the blue sky above her head. "I just let life pass me by while I withered away."
"…I'm getting on alright though, now. I promise. I'm better now," she stated with a chuckle. "I actually care about life these days—and about the decisions I make." Because for a long time, she hadn't cared what happened to her. "And I know. It took me a long time to get to this point, and I was acting childish and stubborn…but I'm here now," she quoted the Doctor.
"…I'm glad you got to meet him," Eve said as she slowly stood up. "He's completely mad, and I'm pretty sure that he's actually just a figment of my imagination…but he really helped me. And he's been through his own journey…so I think he understands what it's like to feel pain," she said with a nod.
"I'm off now…I'll be sure to come by soon." Turning, Evelyn began to walk away. She stopped and looked over her shoulder for only a second because she smiled widely.
§
It was the middle of summer, and yet it was freezing cold.
A young girl sat in a tree, high up without a care in the world. She was wearing a pair of black pants and a black shirt, but her face was pale and stained with dry tears. She stared through the leaves, listening as the wind whispered in her ear. She shivered before leaning against the trunk of the tree she was perched in before she heard a voice call out to her.
"Aren't you afraid of being up so high alone?" Brown eyes caught with another pair of brown eyes before the voice spoke again. "I'm surprised you were able to reach the branches in the first place."
"Go away!"
"Oh, just as cranky in the past as you are in the future."
"What?"
"Come down. How about an ice cream cone on me," the stranger offered.
Normally, Evelyn would have ignored that man. She would have snapped at him and told him to bugger off. But she didn't have the heart to. Her parents had taught her to never speak with strangers.
But now her parents were gone.
Slowly, Eve began to climb down from her tree branch, the man below watching her with a fond smile. He waited patiently and watched carefully before Evelyn finally reached the last branch. She dropped down to the ground and landed with ease before she stood up tall. She stared up at the man as he gazed down at her, almost intrigued by her.
She was almost exactly the same to the Eve he knew. She still had the same bright brown eyes and the same lean shape, but her hair was much shorter as a child. And she was paler. Not to mention her facial features had yet to develop and form properly. Still, she was adorable.
"Where's my cone, mister?"
"Quick to the point, aren't we." Eve stared at the strange man as he smiled widely and nodded his head. "Let's get you that cone then. Allons-y!"
§
Just as promised, the stranger had bought her a cone. And he hadn't tried anything strange either. He merely bought her ice cream, and then they wandered back to the park that she had been hiding at. They sat quietly on a bench as she contently ate her treat, stealing glances at the peculiar man ever so often. He hadn't said a thing since they had sat down. He had merely stared out at the park around them.
"…Thank you for the cone, mister." The man looked down at her before smiling widely and placing his hand on the top of her head.
"No problemo—no, no. Won't be saying that again," he said to himself as he smacked his lips and cringed, almost as if he had eaten something sour. The young girl beside him blinked before she smiled at him, giggling at his strangeness. He grinned at her brightening expression before he turned back out and began to stare once more.
"…Why're you dressed fancily for?" Eve watched as the stranger blinked before softening his smile.
"I was attending a funeral of two rather wonderful people," he stated, causing Eve to stiffen before she gazed down numbly at her cone; her appetite had disappeared. The man beside her watched quietly but didn't say a word, merely noticing all the emotions that seemed to wash over the young woman in waves. First, she looked angry, but then—there was a sense of sadness in her eyes, followed by despair.
"…Would you like to hear a story?"
"…A story about what?" Little Eve asked curiously as she tore her eyes from the melting ice cream and stared up at the strange man. He smiled gently down at her before he looked up to the clear sky.
"The story of the girl who traveled through time." Eve's eyes seemed to brighten at that as she slowly nodded her head. The brunet smiled widely before he turned his body to face the young girl properly.
"You see, there was a young woman, who met a rather unusual man. And together, they traveled through time and space."
"Time and space?" the young woman asked skeptically; even at this age she was hard to please.
"That's right. She saw the world. She went to the past and saved lives. She traveled and met Jack the Ripper. She even visited other planets and galaxies...for the first time in her life, she had truly lived," the man said with a fond smile. "Because, before that, she had been an empty shell. She had lost the people she had loved most and had lived her life much like a hollow ghost—floating silently and never truly seen for what she really was."
"What was she really?" the young girl asked curiously before the man began to grin.
"She was a bright and beautiful star," the man said as he looked at the young girl, his eyes gleaming as he smiled widely. He watched carefully as the young Eve beside him stared down at her cone before smiling softly and taking the last bite.
"…Maybe one day I'll be just like the girl in that story!" The Doctor laughed as he nodded his head, standing to his feet and placing his hand on the top of the girl's head once more.
"I have no doubt about it. You'll become the brightest star of them all." Without another word, the Doctor turned and began to walk away, leaving the young girl behind. She stared after the unusual stranger but smiled; for the time being, she felt weightless.
§
He had been walking with a smile on his lips the entire time. His hands were in his pockets and his eyes were aimed up to the sky. As he approached his TARDIS, he stopped when he noticed Eve standing and waiting for him. Her back was to him as she stared at the ship, hugging herself. She never noticed him come up from behind her until she blinked, a key dangling in front of her face. She turned and gave the Doctor a confused glance before her eyes flickered back to the key.
"Don't just stand there. Open the bloody door," she snapped, her spirits returning. The Doctor gave Eve and unimpressed look before he grabbed her hand and opened it, placing the key in her palm. She blinked as she felt the alien close her hand around it before she looked up at him. He was smiling widely, not saying a thing; he didn't need to.
Eve began to grin before she pulled the Doctor close and held him in a warm hug. He laughed as he hugged her back, lifting her from the ground for just a moment before he set her back and motioned for her to open the TARDIS with her new key. She smirked and did as asked, pushing the door open and stepping in. The Doctor soon followed after her as he gave the year 2000 one last look before shutting the door.
"So! Back home then?"
"I've got a lot of packing to do. You know, part three of my gift could be you helping me—"
"Now you're just being greedy."
"If you think you're going to sit in my room and just watch, you have another thing coming!"
"I—ow! Stop that you wonky little—"
"Be nice to him!" With an exasperated sigh, the Doctor shook his head before smiling and pulling the lever; it was time to head back home.
Yes! Some back history about Eve has finally been revealed. I felt that having her parents' death being not alien-related was a good way to go. I felt that it fit with Evelyn better than having her parents' dying because of some sort of extraterrestrial happening. And the Doctor was still able to meet them, so that was a bit of a positive thing from their little trip. And then there's the Doctor's gift to Eve, the Barcelonian dog! Which I thought was just fun to bring back because Nine and Ten always did sometimes mention visiting the planet Barcelona with the nose-less dogs. I honestly didn't know much about what they looked like so I sort of just created my own idea of what they looked like, so sorry if that bothers anyone! And, some good old fluff between the Doctor and Eve (who doesn't love that ;D)
Thank you, thank you, thank you, everyone! Thanks for following this story and thank you for favoriting it! Thanks for even giving this story a shot. It's extremely flattering to know readers enjoy this story idea and the writing enough to continue with it (I wonder how actual best-selling authors feel ^_^). I've been going through a bit of a down lately, so I've been writing more, so I suppose that's a good thing? Even if I wasn't going through a down, I'd still be writing. It's crazy how much I've come to truly enjoy writing as a hobby. Anyways, thank you so much! I hope the writing continues to satisfy you readers, as well as the plot and Eve! I'll continue to do my best!
To those who have something to say, feel free to leave a review or a send me a pm! I'm truly open to all criticism and I'm open to any advice you have to give me! What you think is truly important to me, and I'm actually genuinely curious as to how you view this story, whoever you are! So please, don't hesitate to tell me something, no matter how minuscule or huge it may seem (not that anything you guys have to say is minuscule at all!) because I can assure you that it is all very important to me :)
Reviews:
silent song of shadows: I am very glad to hear that you are enjoying this story so far! I've put a lot of work and effort into this story, and I personally really do enjoy writing it, so it's always reassuring to know that readers do actually like it. There will definitely be more Doctor/Eve action in the future, not to worry! You'll have to wait and see just what I have in store for the pair! Thank you so much for leaving a review and telling me how you feel! I really appreciate it, and I hope that will continue to read and enjoy.
Littlebirdd: That face is definitely one of my favorites! That little nose, and the tongue sticking out is just adorable! And since you haven't said otherwise, I will assume that these faces are all a good sign for this story. If not...well, that's my mistake ;) Thank you so much for reviewing again! Your support for this story is truly appreciated, and I hope that you read and enjoy future chapters.
margie-me: Hello! You've been leaving reviews for every chapter you've read thus far, at least, I assume, so for that, thank you so much! Just to show your support that way is very kind and I truly appreciate you taking the time to leave one when you read :D As you read, I'm sure more answers will come to your questions that you have, and I hope that as you read you continue to enjoy my story. I'm so very happy that you've decided to read as much as you have thus far! I can only hope that my story and writing can keep you reading! I happen to reference to some things that are not directly referenced in the show, so if you have any questions at all, even if they're just general questions, please feel free to ask. Google is always great (it's my go-to) but if there is just some clarification you need, I'm a friendly person! And there are definitely moments of foreshadowing that I've put into chapters that you'll perhaps catch as well. As for the mistake I made in the first chapter, thank you very much for pointing it out! My brain must have had a oopsy-moment or something, and I probably wouldn't have caught it if you hadn't mentioned anything! That will be fixed thanks to you! If you see anything else at all that I need to fix, please, let me know! Thank you sooooo much for reviewing and thank you so much for even reading in the first place. I hope that you continue to like this story. I will work my hardest.
TooLazytoLogin: Yes, the kiss was finally a thing! I figured that the pair were overdue for one LOL. I actually had no idea what OTP meant when I saw that, so I had to look it up. And now that I know what it means, I'm truly flattered that you feel that way about about Eve and the Doctor! I wanted their friendship/relationship to come off as real and not forced as possible, so I'm glad that you like them so far! Thanks for the review! Hope you like future posts as well!
Nonuser: I'm glad that you liked that last chapter! It's always a good feeling when you know that you're doing something right! There will be more fluff moments between the Doctor and Eve, so look forward to that :) Thank you for leaving a review! I appreciate you doing that, and I hope that you like future chapters! I'll being updating soon, don't you worry!
Freddie4153: Hi there! I'm not positive if you were referring to the way the chapter ended or something more specific, but I can only hope that it was meant in a positive way! The unexpected is not always a bad thing, at least, that's what I tell myself sometimes XD I sincerely hope you've been enjoying this story thus far. I've put lots of work and effort into, so I hope that shows. I hope you enjoy future chapters! Thank you so, so much for leaving a review and letting me in on how you feel about this story! It was very much appreciated!
Lady Artimes Blaine: The Girl in the Fireplace was actually one of my favorite episodes with Ten too, so we also have that in common! I'm glad that you liked the idea of the Clockwork Droids! You haven't seen the new season yet, but once you do, you will think back to this (or not XD) and it will all make a bit more sense as to what was happening! I thought incorporating the droids was a good way to tie in the Tenth and Twelfth Doctor! I've actually never heard of the movie Bicentennial Man, but I loved Robin Williams in mostly everything he was in, so perhaps I shall give this movie a go and see what you're talking about! Thanks so very much for leaving a review! I am grateful for you leaving them! And I hope that you continue to read, and also find enjoyment from reading these chapters!
Champ: I'm glad that you saw the reference I was making! It's too early to really know, but once you guys (as in the readers, I suppose is what I mean) get further into this story, it will all begin to make sense as to why I put in certain things and specifically chose specific events to happen! Don't worry about romance, there will be more to come! There's a long road ahead for Eve and the Doctor, lots of time for growth ;) Thank you for leaving a review! Hope to see you in the future chapters to come!