Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who.
Final Chapter!! Enjoy!
"You think that you can just walk out of here with her?" Francine asked.
The Doctor held his daughter tightly, "Yes, I do. It's what Martha wanted, and I will adhere to her wishes."
Francine sat down, she took off her hat and placed it on the table in front of her. She looked at her family and then back at the Doctor.
"Then I must respect them too." Francine stood once again and walked over to the Doctor, she looked down at Lily and smiled. She took him by the shoulders, "You must promise me that you will visit often."
The Doctor nodded, "I will."
She kissed him on the cheek and hugged him, then planted a kiss on Lily's head.
"Go." She commanded, nodding towards the door.
"Goodbye." The Doctor whispered as he passed her.
The Doctor walked out into the brisk winter weather, he clung Lily to him as he made his way to the Tardis. He fitted the key in and pushed the door open. He walked up the ramp and noticed packed bags. The Doctor sighed and made his way over to the jump seat. Gently he sat down, staring down at Lily, he smiled when she grabbed a hold of his tie.
"Well, Doctor." Jack came into the room.
The Doctor looked up at the captain, "You leavin'?"
Jack nodded, "Yeah, I have to get back to work. My team will probably ki…"Jack stopped when he saw the hurt look in his friend's eyes.
"I'll be phone call away, Doc."
"Don't call me that." The Doctor said with a smile.
Jack smiled in return.
"So you gonna be alright?" Jack asked.
The Doctor nodded, "Yeah, we'll be alright."
"Okay then." Jack walked over to the Doctor and hugged him when the Doctor stood. When they released, Jack looked down at Lily, "Be good to your dad, and stay cute."
He could have sworn she understood.
A moment later, the Tardis landed outside Torchwood.
The Doctor walked the captain to the door. Jack lifted his bags and shoulder them, "See ya later."
The Doctor nodded, "Yeah." He watched as Jack walked away, and he slowly pulled the door closed. He walked back up the ramp and sighed deeply.
He looked down at Lily and he saw her emit a yawn, "Come on, let me put you down."
The Doctor went into his room, and picked up her blanket from off the end of his bed. He gently lowered her into the crib; he changed her, and placed a clean nappy on her body. The Doctor covered Lily with the light pink cover. Almost instantly, Lily fell asleep. The Doctor bent over and pressed a kiss to her temple.
He quietly closed the door behind him and walked down the hall, turning into the kitchen. He reached into the refrigerator, reached past Lily's lunch, and pulled out the milk. He set it on the counter; he busied himself as he boiled some water for tea.
He placed his hands on the lip of the countertop and closed his eyes. So much had taken place in the past three days. He squeezed the bridge of his nose, and sighed deeply. He heard the whistle sound and he quickly removed it from the burner. He took a cup for the cupboard, and filled it with the boiling water.
He grabbed a tea bag from the box, he was about to turn away when his eyes fell upon a brightly wrapped box, and a red ribbon.
The Doctor breathed out, raggedly.
He picked up the box; he brought it over to the table and sat down. He placed his teacup aside, and twirled the box. Tears came to his eyes, regretting not opening it when Martha was there. He swallowed the lump in his throat and pulled the ribbon, it fell off easily.
He removed the blue paper and revealed a wooden box; he pushed and pulled the sides until he found the lid. He slipped it off and inside, lying on a red velvet material; a golden locket.
The Doctor lifted the necklace from the box; underneath the locket was a key and a slip of paper. He laid the locket and key on the tabletop, and unfolded the sheet he smiled when he saw Martha's familiar handwriting.
"Dear Doctor,
I do not wish to begin this letter with, "If you are reading this…" In my opinion it's kind of tacky. And another reason I do not wish to start the letter that way, just in case you have found a way to well, you know. But, if I am gone, then please do not blame yourself. I don't, at all. Anyway, here is your and Lily's Christmas gifts. The locket is a gift for Lily. When the day comes to give it to her, you can tell her that it was her grandmother Francine's. The key, however, is for you, all I can tell you is that you will know what it is for when the time comes.
I love you both very much and I wish that I can be there, but remember that I will look out for you and Lily. And thank you, Doctor. Thank you so much, for giving me the stars, and in case I have not told you, I forgive you. To tell you the truth, if I could only give you one thing as a token of my appreciation, I am glad that I am giving you Lily. Take care of each other, and please keep each other safe.
All my love, Martha
The Doctor stared at her words, the way each stroke of the pen contained her love and soul. The Doctor lingered his gaze upon her name for a moment before he folded the paper, and brushed his tears away. He laid the letter down and picked up the key, he did not recognize it, and had no idea what it could possibly go to, still if Martha found it important for him to have it, then he would keep it in a safe place. And he would put aside Martha's gift to their daughter for when she was older.
Again, he felt the pang of regret; he wished that Martha herself could have given the necklace to Lily.
The Doctor stood and placed the objects back inside the box, and slid the lid back on. He took the box and the letter in his hands and walked out of the kitchen.
He cracked the bedroom door open and silently went into his room, he went over to his side table and opened the drawer. He placed the box inside and closed it. He went over to the table next to his bed and put Martha's letter next to their wedding photo.
He picked up the picture and smiled at the memory of that day. His finger swept along the glass above her face. He set the frame down again and checked on Lily. She shifted slightly in her sleep, a soft coo emitted from her lips.
The Doctor left the room again, shutting the door behind him.
He entered the console room, looking around. He smiled when the Tardis' gentle voice filled his mind.
"Hello, old girl."
The Doctor went to the controls, and flipped a switch. The whirling sound of the Tardis filled the air. He began down the path of getting on with his life. He now had someone to care for; Martha had given him the strength to carry on.
He sat down in the jump seat, he rested his feet on the rim of the controls, and he let the Tardis carry him and his daughter through the Vortex.
Well that's the end, please see the author's note for the summery to the sequel I'm working on. I want to thank everyone who read and reviewed, I hope that you continue to read the continuation.
Thanks again, and as always VampMistress
