A/N

Alright my lovelies! Seems I'm continuing the story! So long as a single person requests more and enjoys it, I will keep writing :]

You've all made me so very happy, I owe you at least that, don't I? ;]

Lots of Love

-A.


Seems like I've been running with the Doctor for years now.

Years of excitement, and love, and grief, and healing, and joy, and exploration, and discovery.

I know that can't be right though, because… Well, actually, I suppose I wouldn't know. Time is relative, but in the T.A.R.D.I.S, there's nothing to relate it to. Time back on Earth was predictable, safe and steady. Everything happened when it was supposed to happen, how it was supposed to happen, and that was all you needed to know about it.

Time was a river, and you were just floating along, powerless to turn around.

The Doctor, though, he appeared one day and plucked me out of that river, the little inconsequential guppy I was, and showed me the truth. He gave me the ability to know myself not as the lonely and socially inept geek I saw, but as a giant. He told me that I was intelligent and beautiful and powerful, and then he let me prove it.

I helped save lives, including the Doctor's, and he saved mine in return, in more ways than the obvious. Because, as I'm just starting to learn, that's what he does.

The Doctor makes people better.

These are the thoughts swirling in my mind as I watch him working the T.A.R.D.I.S, looking ridiculous as ever. He leaps back and forth, pushing buttons and yanking levers to and fro.

Sometimes I swear he doesn't even know what he's doing. Just pushing random buttons and hoping it does the correct thing.

I lean slightly to the left, the perfect angle in anticipation of the familiar lurch of the T.A.R.D.I.S, and as I expect, the room tilts. I don't even lose my balance anymore. I suspect that the Doctor's driving skills are also improving, in some miniscule manner.

The Doctor grins and throws the doors to the T.A.R.D.I.S open to reveal trees, capped with fluffy white. A bitterly cold gust of wind blows dusty snowflakes into the console room between our feet. The piles of snow capture all of the sound of the surrounding forest, and absorb it, creating a peaceful, sort of numb world. Yet… Panic grips my heart, causing my breath to come short. My eyes sting with tears, of fear and grief.

The snow. Why is the snow bad? Why is the snow frightening me?

"Evy? You alright? Thought you'd like a nice stroll through a forest, you being Mother Nature and all. And not just any forest, a forest virtually untouched by human civilization, wild as wild can be." The Doctor says, giving my arm a quick, excited shake when I don't respond.

The Doctor stumbles in the snow covered alley, practically dragging his dying body towards the T.A.R.D.I.S.

Our first kiss for me, our last for him.

"God damn it! Just tell me what to do, tell me how to help you!"

"Nope, we're leaving. I'd love a walk through a forest, just not this particular forest. Any other forest, maybe during summer time? Much too freezing out, I'm definitely a summer gal myself." I say, forcefully grabbing his arm with all my might and marching back into the T.A.R.D.I.S.

"What? That's it, you don't even want to know when or where we are? You, Evelyn Anne Crenshaw, are refusing to explore? Now that'd be plain strange even if you had a good reason, but… Just because it's a bit nippy out?" He slides his arm out of my grasp and squares himself in front of me, searching my eyes carefully, "Well that's complete rubbish, what's really going on here?"

He must see the fear and sadness in my eyes because the mocking smirk upon his lips melts away. I just shake my head, my mouth open yet refusing to utter words.

I can't tell him. He even agreed that it wouldn't be a good idea. His fate might worsen, time might unravel, who knows what will happen when a Time Lord learns his future.

"Evy?" he says, quirking an eyebrow, and I let out a groan of exasperation.

"When are we?" I say, suddenly furious, at myself for not bring clever enough to know how to change his future, at the universe for even considering killing this stupid, wonderful man.

"Um… Early to mid 1800's, Earth, America, Colorado, The Golden Age of the Frontiersman." He says, giving me jazz hands in his excitement, forgetting that this situation might have some pretty heavy gravity to it.

"Near any cities, or… towns?" I ask, remembering the snowy streets and alleys of his end.

"Oh no, definitely not time for that yet! You've only just got here, you humans have! It'll be fur trappers and trading posts up here, no settlements to speak of. Expect maybe native settlements, but I'd classify those more as 'villages' rather than cities or towns, wouldn't you?"

I hum in agreement, thoughtfully biting my lip.

I mean, if it's impossible for the scenery in my dream to even be here… Then today isn't the day. I still have plenty of time.

The word 'plenty' being used quite loosely, of course…

"Okay… I suppose we can take a look around. I'll go grab a jacket, or maybe a triple layered fur coat. I hate winter, I really do." I say, sighing. He lets out a rowdy laugh.

"Hafurtian Slime Monsters didn't scare you, but a winter breeze does!" He taunts as I enter the wardrobe.

"The Hafurtian Slime Monsters could be reasoned with, winter stops for no one! It's absolutely ruthless. When's the last time you bargained with a season, Time Lord?" I shout, sifting through the racks of clothes like one would leaf through the pages of a book. Finally I find the perfect coat. It's long and wine-colored, just thickly padded enough. Not too poofy to restrain movement, but definitely warm enough for the white hell waiting for me outside. It buttons up the front, and cinches with a belt in the middle. I put it on as I make my way back to the console room, and the Doctor is standing in the doorway, donning his usual brown coat, his breath leaving his mouth in wisps of steam.

"Alright, let's get this over with." I say, marching out of the T.A.R.D.I.S, and my leather boots crunch in the white snow. Not a single print in the snow to be seen anywhere. Icicles hang from the ends of the evergreens like designer Christmas ornaments. Every single thing my eyes rest upon is sparkling and shimmering crystal.

I guess it's kind of pretty. White hell or not.

"Chin up, Crenshaw, you can't resist a forest." He says, taking my hand, and I'm glad for the warmth.

Been awhile since something life threatening has happened to us, though…

"Yeah, as true as that is, I'm still keeping my guard up. Nothing good happens in winter…" I mutter, and we start to walk through the trees, lifting our feet high over the snow and ducking stiff branches.

"Except for Christmas, that's not too bad, yeah?"

Always have to be Mr. Brightside, don't you, Doctor?