The Redhead Outlander

by Alvia the Ginger

I was just a red-haired girl, in the immensity of my universe. A simple accident and I find myself alone with a dangerous knowledge in a dangerous and yet so wonderful world. English is not my mother tongue.

21. The Girl in The Fireplace

Hey people ! a new chapter ! the longest so far !

I really enjoyed writing this chapter.

Thanks to my friend, I was able to catch up on the delay that I had on Doctor Who. the last episode was so full of intrigue, I can't wait to see the end of it all! and Jaaaack !

thank you bored411 for correcting my chapters!

Anyway, Enjoy!

---

I was ready and headed for the console room with a pin between my teeth as I hung my hair. When I was finished I was at the end of the corridor, watching the Doctor tweak his sonic screwdriver. When I looked at him a little more closely I noticed a change in him.

"Did you cut your hair?"

He looked up sharply at the sound of my voice, it seemed he was far too focused to have heard me.

"I did some touch-up yes, what do you think?" He asked, running a hand through his hair.

"As long as you're not completely bald, everything is fine with me. And is it gel?" I asked as I approached to gently touch his locks.

He hums with affirmation as he gets closer to me.

"This incarnation is definitely more apt for vanity ..." I whispered, tightening his tie a little.

His lips curved in a lazy smile as he played with one of my curls. It seemed like I could send the devil all my promises and restrictions about the Doctor. I couldn't stand still when he was so close to me and he offered me a tempting smile.

"You don't seem to be complaining though," he said as if he was purring.

My cheeks slowly started to blush as my lips curved in an identical though slightly more mischievous smile.

"No complaints from me." I laughed softly as I became a little more ambitious in our relationship.

His fingers slowly and gently pulled one of my locks while his lips gathered in an adorable pout.

"I'm jealous, you're ginger and not me. I'm sure I would have looked absolutely awesome with red hair. "

The image of the Doctor with red hair came to my mind before yellow eyes like those of a snake replaced his usually brown eyes and the memory of having some pictures of David Tennant with his red dye and a haircut similar to that of the Doctor, on my phone suddenly come back to me. This reminder was like a light bulb that suddenly lit above my head and I suddenly backed up, frantically looking for my phone on me.

"I've something to show you, you'll surely like it! Just let me find my phone," I said, rummaging through the inside pockets of my dark gray frock coat with burgundy red lining.

I finally took out my phone, turned it on and searched among all my photos while hiding the screen from the Doctor, knowing that there were spoilers and everything… finally I found the right photos and I showed him the phone, so he can see the pictures there.

"Hey! It's me!"

"Doctor, let's introduce you to the actor who plays your role as well as many other great roles in other movies and series, David Tennant."

"He was born ginger?"

"No!" I laughed. "He's brown like you, he just used a dye for one of his roles in a series ... Good Omens."

"From Neil Gaiman?"

"Yup. And in this series, he plays Crowley, the demon. It may not be a natural ginger, but even as a color it suits David Tennant. And I think that would suit you too."

The Doctor looked even more delighted than before and grabbed my shoulders before kissing my forehead energetically.

"I could dye my hair! And I would finally be ginger! Well, not natural, but still ginger! Ah!" He exclaimed with joy. "Alvia! You are brilliant!"

My cheeks ignited slowly as he complimented me again and again. The kiss on the forehead didn't help any more. I awkwardly put my phone in my coat before plunging my hands into the outside pockets.

"All you have to do is find the right shade."

"What are you talking about?" Suddenly asked a voice behind us.

"Ah!" Mickey finally you are there! Alvia discussed about the possibility that I can finally be ginger! I could dye my hair!" He explained excitedly like a hyperactive puppy.

"Why do you want to be ginger? No offense, Alvia!" Added Mickey after I raised an eyebrow at his statement.

"I've always wanted to be red, since I was a child. I haven't had a single incarnation with red hair. "

"Dude, you're so weird," added Mickey with a confused look.

"You'll get used to it quickly," said Rose, who had just entered the room.

Her gaze focused on the short distance between me and the Doctor, and she glared at me before suddenly ignoring me to turn to the Doctor.

"So, let's go?"

"Okay, let's go!" Exclaimed the Doctor, pulling a lever.

---

Despite the chaotic journey, we arrived on good terms without injuries. It was the Doctor who got out of the Tardis first, wearing his coat; followed by Mickey, who blocked the exit as he gazed in wonder at the spaceship in which we had landed. After gently pushing him with one hand behind his back, Rose's boyfriend finally spoke. For once I had left my coat inside, only going out in a shirt.

"It's a spaceship! Awesome! I have got a spaceship for my first go!"

"Welcome to the world, Mickey!" I said, patting his shoulder before looking at the dark room.

"Looks like it's been abandoned," said Rose. "Is there anyone on board?"

"Nah, nothing here. Well, nothing dangerous. Well, not too dangerous."

"You're going in, Doctor," I commented with an amused breath.

"You know what? Let's take a look, in case there is something dangerous," he said before heading to the control panel in the center of the room.

He started tapping some buttons while Rose went over to the Doctor and I decided to start lounging around and observing every little detail I could catch. The light suddenly turned on as the ceiling opened and showed us a magnificent exterior view of the stars and a purple and pink galaxy. Mickey went to a window followed by Rose as the Doctor announced what time we were in and how many light years we were from Earth. Far in the future and far from Earth, in summary. I approached a rusty-looking machine that reminded me of a cockpit. The rust devoured the metal while the brown and black grime and the dust and covered the thing like a layer of paint, it was better not to run your fingers over it, at the risk of removing a sort of viscous paste with the composition more than doubtful.

"I don't know what happened here, but this ship has tons of repairs to do." Suddenly commented the Doctor with a few objects in hand before his gaze fixed on a screen. "But that's odd. All the engines work, full capacity. There's enough power to punch a hole in the universe and we're not moving. What then is all this power for? Any ideas, Alvia?" Asked the Doctor.

Rose turned to me as if I was going to reveal the greatest secrets of the universe. I didn't like her look. I was starting to get something bad, very bad feelings.

"Sure, I've got ideas, but the question is, where's the crew? A ship with such power doesn't just drop like that in the middle of space."

"Indeed, good question Alvia. The scan doesn't detect life on board other than us."

"We're in space, they didn't just nip out for a quick fag."

"No, I checked the smoking pods," added the Doctor seriously.

I suddenly heard Rose sniffing the air and glancing at the group I could tell they did the same.

"Can you smell that?" Asked the Doctor suddenly after a short silence.

"Yeah, someone's cooking," answered Rose.

A mass weighing more than a ton fell into my stomach and my throat tightened as this unpleasant feeling of nausea suddenly settled in me. I paled a little as I inhaled the smell of roasted flesh. My eyes unconsciously searched for any android and I tried to concentrate to hear a deep tic-tac.

"Sunday roast, definitely!" Added Mickey with an appreciative and dreamy smile.

The Doctor randomly pressed a button and the door behind me suddenly stood up, causing me to jump. Turning around I saw a Rococo style fireplace, which was lit. Forgetting the smell of cooked meat, I walked with joy and excitement to the fireplace. I traced the details and patterns with my fingers as I appreciated the warmth of the fire.

"This is an object you don't often see in a ship," said the Doctor.

"18th century, French Rococo style fireplace, definitely. It's absolutely beautiful, I never thought I would see one so close and in such good condition!" I smiled greatly. "Brilliant!"

"How do you know?" Suddenly asks Rose.

"I studied art's history when I was in high school, painting, fashion, architecture... Everything went there! I loved having these lessons, I totally dreamed of traveling back in time to observe architecture without the damage of time, fashion and lifestyles! To live in times of the past as if it were my present."

"You never indicated that aspect of the trip you wanted to have ..." remarked the Doctor, with a slight sadness in his eyes.

"Because what I would like is not a few hours or a day trip, it would be several weeks. And I know you hate staying in the same place for a long time at the same time…" I explained gently, stroking the patterns of the fireplace without looking at the Doctor.

"Never put my envy before yours ..." gently reprimands the Doctor near me, his hand gently caressing my cheek.

I smiled gently, thanking him silently. My attention went back to the fireplace.

"Anyway, this fireplace seems authentic to me."

The Doctor took out his screwdriver to analyse the fireplace, while Rose went to a window to look outside.

"Not a hologram and according to the sonic this is an authentic 18th century French fireplace. Double-sided. "

"There can't be, that's the outer hull of the ship, look!" Rose replied as the Doctor moved to go see.

I crouched down and saw a young blonde girl on the other side. She had her eyes wide open in surprise but remained calm.

"Bonjour toi!" I greeted. (Hello, you)

"Bonsoir mademoiselle. "(Good evening, miss)

Oh! French! Finally, someone who spoke French! I never noticed how much I missed hearing my native language.

"Comment est-ce que tu t'appelles ? Moi, c'est Alvia," I asked as I introduced myself, drawing the attention of the trio. (What's your name? I'm Alvia)

"Reinette," replied the girl.

"Reinette? Un si jolie nom. Dis-moi, je ne veux pas avoir l'air suspicieuse ou bien quelque chose dans ce genre là mais où est-ce que tu te trouves ?" (Such a lovely name. Tell me, I don't want to be suspicious or something, but, where are you?)

"Dans ma chambre ?" (In my room ?)

"Je le pensais bien, Reinette. Mais ta chambre se trouve dans qu'elle ville ? Où est-ce que tu vis, Reinette ?" (I thought so, Reinette. But where's you room? Where do you live Reinette?)

"Paris, bien sûr !" She replied with obviousness. (Paris, of course.)

I already loved her. And I felt more than I saw, the Doctor crouched down behind me to see the little girl in the fireplace. Rose was not so discreet and leaned over to look into the fireplace. The Doctor's hand went to my back, encouraging me to continue the discussion with Reinette.

"Mais madame, que faites-vous dans ma cheminée ?" (Miss, what are you doing in my fireplace?)

"Ne le dis à personne, mais j'essayais de faire de la magie, un moyen de voyager grâce au cheminée. J'essayais d'aller à Lyon depuis une cheminée de Toulouse!" I explained, finding an excuse a little more fanciful than that which the Doctor had given in the series. (Don't tell anyone, but I was trying to make some magic, a way to travel by the fireplace. I was trying to go to Lyon from a fireplace in Toulouse!)

And it seems that my excuse fascinated Reinette enormously because her eyes sparkled with excitement at the mention of magic.

"Magie, vraiment ?! Mais il semble que cela n'a pas bien marché, madame." (Magic, Really ?)

"Ce n'est que le début, Reinette. Il y a forcément des ratés ! Juste une dernière question légèrement idiote, pourrait-tu me dire en quel année je suis ?" (This is just the beginning, Reinette. There are bound to be failures! Just one last slightly silly question, can you tell which year it is?)

"Bien sûr, c'est l'année 1727!" She replied with intelligent eyes. (Of course, this is the year 1727)

"1727!" Intervenes the Doctor suddenly. "One of my favourite, although August is just rubbish, stays inside."

I gently hit the Doctor with my elbow before I spoke again.

"Merci pour tout, Reinette. Merci pour ton aide. Il est temps pour toi jeune fille d'aller dormir. Bonne nuit!" I said to her with a sweet smile and a wink. (Thank you for everything, Reinette. Thank you for your help. It's time for you, young girl to go to sleep. Good night.

"Bonne nuit, madame," she said before leaving. (Good night, miss)

I did the same and turned to the Doctor with a big smile on my lips.

"What was that?!" Exclaimed Mickey. "I absolutely didn't understand what Alvia said!"

"I spoke French, Mickey. I had missed it by the way. Now, how could I speak with Reinette who is in 1727 and I in the 51st century? This isn't normal."

"I also said earlier that the spaceship generates enough power to punch a hole in the universe. I think we just found the hole." Replied the Doctor, hands in pockets. "Must be a spatio-temporal hyperlink."

"It makes sense," I confirmed, shaking my head.

"What's that?" Asked Mickey confused.

"He just created it because he didn't want to say magic door, which is pretty much the excuse I gave Reinette about why I was in her fireplace."

"And on the other side of this ... magic door," Rose continued, taking a deep voice on the last two words. "This is France 1727."

"Yup totally! The monarchy is still in place and I spoke French."

"Besides, why did the Tardis not translate what you said, it's supposed to translate all languages, you speak French constantly, right?"

"That's the thing, I don't speak French all the time. I speak English actually, that's why I have this accent. After talking for a long time in English, it's hard to get used to speaking French again."

"What are you talking about?" Asked Mickey with a frown.

"The time I spent at Jackie's while Rose was still gone," I replied with a shrug.

During this little conversation the Doctor went to throw his coat against a wall or a coat rack and came back to the fireplace. He seemed to be looking for a mechanism he found because a movement made me lose my balance enough for me to stand against the fireplace, next to the Doctor.

Rose called out to the Doctor as the room changed in a twisting motion.

"Couldn't you warn me?" I hissed softly while we were in a dark room.

The Doctor just gave me a sheepish smile and wandered around the room in silence. It was a little girl's room, there was a dollhouse and a bed. In this bed slept a young blonde, Reinette. She seemed so peaceful, having absolutely no idea that we were in her room. The Doctor walked to the windows and gently drew a curtain to get a better view. We were in Paris, I recognized the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris. The Eiffel Tower has not yet been built. The sun was starting to rise, and the snow was falling outside.

"Snow..." I whispered softly with joy. "In my days, it had become rare to have it. Because of global warming ... Winters were getting more and more sad and gloomy."

A horse suddenly neighs, waking Reinette with a start. She gasped in surprise when she saw us at the window.

"Tout va bien ! C'est juste moi, Reinette ! Ne crie pas." I reassured quickly as the Doctor walked over to a candle to light it." Et c'est mon ami, le Docteur. Nous avons parlé un peu tout à l'heure, j'étais dans ta cheminée grâce à la magie," I continued, approaching my turn with a skeet smile. (It's okay ! It's just me, Reinette ! Don't scream. And this is my friend, the Doctor. We talked a little while ago, I was in your fireplace thanks to the magic)

"Mais c'était il y a des semaines, des mois même !" (But it was weeks, even months ago)

"Really?" Asked the Doctor before heading to the fireplace to examine it.

"Je pense que je me suis encore loupée avec la magie, alors," I joked softly to bring a smile to Reinette's face. (I think I failed again with the magic again)

Which actually worked. I sat on the edge of the bed smiling at her as she giggled, and the Doctor continued to analyse the fireplace.

"Au moins tu as réussi à voyager de Toulouse jusqu'à Paris. Pourquoi est-elle surnommé la ville rose ?" (At least you managed to travel from Toulouse to Paris. Why is it nicknamed the Pink City ?)

"En fait c'est dû au brique utilisé pour faire les bâtiments. Elle sont faites en avec la terre cuite du sol de la région et à une certaine heures et une certaine lumière du soleil, les briques prennent la couleur d'un Rose léger jusqu'à un orange soutenue," I explained gently, taking one of his hands. (In fact, it is due to the brick used to make the buildings. They're made with terracotta from the soil of the region and at a certain time and a certain sunlight, the bricks take the color of a light pink until a sustained orange)

"J'aimerais visiter Toulouse un jour," confessed the child. (I'd like to visit Toulouse, one day)

"Okay, this is scary," said the Doctor suddenly.

Turning my head, I saw him observe a broken clock which was on the chimney. It was broken, and I could hear a deep ticking in the room. It was with all my control that I did not show my sudden fear so as not to frighten Reinette.

"Are you scared of a broken clock?" Asked the girl, doubtful.

"Just a bit, yeah. Just a little bit. Because you see, if it's broken, and it's the only clock in your room, then who owns that noise?" He said, looking for the source of the noise.

Reinette realized how frightening this situation was and I squeezed her hand gently to reassure her as she also looked for the source of the noise.

"Because it is not a clock. Continued the Doctor, moving again. "We can't hear the resonance, it's too big. Six feet, I would say. Size of a man."

"What's that?"

"Nothing you should take care of, Reinette. Because we're here," I reassured her, putting one of her locks behind her ears. "Doctor, find the source without making a monologue that might frighten her, she's a child."

"It is not my fault if I tend to speak," he said with slight indignation as he began to search, doing what I asked him to do.

He looked around the windows before realizing that there was nothing hiding there and that the only place to hide the source of the noise was under the bed.

"Reinette, stay in your bed," asked the Doctor, approaching to bend over. "Alvia, at least raise your feet to avoid being caught."

I nodded and slid my legs onto the bed. Reinette approached me, completely frightened and I took her in my arms. The Doctor got down on all fours, the screwdriver in one hand to scan. Something hit him suddenly, causing the Doctor to back away. Reinette gasped and made me tense violently as I saw the thing standing by the bed. It was damn scary, especially the mask.

I put my hand on Reinette's face so that she wouldn't look sideways while the Doctor informed us that I was standing by the bed.

"Doctor, get up."

"Stay where you are Alvia. Reinette, don't turn around," he said as he got up. "And you, don't move!"

The thing only observed Reinette. The Doctor glanced several times between Reinette and the thing before leaning over and grabbing Reinette's head between her hands, removing mine in the process.

"You've examined her brain!" Declared the Doctor in shock. "You've crossed two galaxies and millennia to scan a child's brain? What is in a little girl's brain to make a hole in the universe?"

"I don't understand, does that thing want me?" She asked, fear written on her face.

She turned to the masked thing, without flinching.

"You want me?"

The thing tilted its head slightly to the side before responding in a mechanical voice, close and yet distant from that of Cybermen.

"Not yet, you are still incomplete."

"Incomplete, what does it mean, incomplete?" Asked the Doctor suddenly, standing up.

The thing didn't answer and continued to fix Reinette.

"You can answer her and answer me. What do you mean by incomplete? "

The thing didn't respond but suddenly started to move.

"I think you pissed him off" I guessed as the Doctor pulled me off of the bed by the wrist.

The Doctor had threateningly held out his screwdriver and the masked thing did the same, it raised his arm and a blade came out of his arm suddenly, forcing the Doctor to tilt his head slightly away from him. Reinette begged the Doctor to be careful.

"Don't worry Reinette, many have threatened the Doctor and yet he's still here today," I added with a strained smile.

"It's just a nightmare, don't worry. Everyone has nightmares."

The thing moved forward, forcing us to move back to the fireplace and the Doctor to let go of my wrist.

"Even monsters have nightmares, right Monsters? "

The thing raised its arm and struck, its blade crashing into the fireplace.

"What are the nightmares of monsters?" Asked Reinette.

"US!" Replied the Doctor, activating the mechanism of the chimney, making us return to the ship.

As the masked thing tried to break free, the Doctor ran to a wall to retrieve some sort of firearm. By activating it sprayed ice on what had tried to attack us, and it convulsed in vain before stopping any movement, completely freezing.

I sighed in relief as Mickey praised the merits of the ice weapon and the Doctor corrected it by explaining that it was a fire extinguisher.

"Where did that thong come from?" Asked Rose.

"Here", replied the Doctor.

"So why is it dress like that?" Continued Mickey.

"Hiding itself in the 18th century, although the mask freaks out more than anything else," I explained as the Doctor removed the mask and the wig at the same time.

Then before our eyes appeared a plastic egg-shaped head with a mechanical system inside with golden cogs. The Doctor and I couldn't help but be amazed and admire the mechanism.

"Oh! You are beautiful!" Complimented the Doctor

"I confirm, I have never seen anything so impressive, imagine the rest of the body!" I added with admiration.

"No, really, without joking. You are gorgeous. Look at that!" Continued the Doctor, putting on his glasses. "Mechanism of the space age. I love it. I've got chills! "

"It looks like Steam punk."

"It's exactly that! Listen seriously. From the bottom of my heart and in my case, I have two, it would be a crime, vandalism to dismantle you," continued the Doctor before taking a last look and raising his sonic screwdriver. "But it's not going to stop me. "

Unfortunately for us, the mechanical droid started up again and after a movement of the head it suddenly teleported, disappearing from our sight and going elsewhere.

"Short range teleportation, It's still on this ship. Don't go looking for it!" Ordered the Doctor before taking my wrist again and pulling me towards the fireplace.

"Where are you going?" Rose asks with a hint of anger at the sight of the Doctor pulling me towards him.

"We come back quickly," he said simply before activating the mechanism, without giving details to anyone.

The landscape changed again and this time we were back in the room during the day. The room was bright, and it seemed that some objects had disappeared, like the doll's house. The Doctor called Reinette before being drawn to a harp and lazily running her fingers over the strings, playing some notes. A blonde woman in a vintage dress of cream and gold color entered. I offered her a smile, recognizing the woman, while the Doctor didn't even seem to notice her presence.

The young woman cleared her throat gently, finally drawing the Doctor's attention.

"Oh! Hello!" Greeted the Doctor, putting away his glasses. "Um, I was just looking for Reinette. Is it still his room? We moved away, I don't know how long."

Reinette wore an amused smile just like me, when the Doctor really didn't recognize the young woman. Unfortunately, this little pleasure ended quickly when Reinette's mother called her from outside.

"Reinette, we're ready to go!"

"Get in the carriage, mom, I'll meet you there!" Replied the young blonde.

An amazed smile grew on the Doctor's lips as he realized she was the girl five minutes ago.

"It is common, I think, to have imaginary friends and to see magic in childhood. You should be congratulated for your persistence," she teased.

"Hello Reinette, how are you?" I asked warmly.

"Very well and I see that your experience with magic is still not perfect."

"It never will be, I think," I said.

"Goodness, Reinette, you have grown!" Said the Doctor in amazement.

"You're lovely, Reinette," I complimented.

Reinette advanced and climbed the steps to get closer to us while she told us that it was rude on our part not to have aged. Her eyes watched the Doctor and me constantly, although she spent a little more time on me than the Doctor. It must have been because of the clothes I was wearing, after all, a girl in something other than a dress would be scandalous at that time. I have already been reprimanded by Queen Victoria for that.

"Sure, yes, sorry. Uh ... "stammered the Doctor, not knowing what to say. "Look, we're glad to see you again, but it would be better if we left, right? You wouldn't want your mother to find you with a pair of strangers, would you?"

"Unknown? How could you be unknown when have I known you since I was seven?"

"We only saw each other for an instant, Reinette," I said.

Suddenly her hand went to touch the cheek of the Doctor and stroked his cheekbone with his thumb before removing her hand and going towards me, also touching my cheek but placing one of my locks behind my ear. I glanced quickly at the Doctor, meeting his gaze before returning to Reinette. She seemed genuinely fascinated with us.

"You seem to be flesh and blood, but this is absurd. Reason tells me that you cannot be real."

"Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth," I quoted before being interrupted by one of the house servants.

"Mademoiselle? Your mother is getting impatient!"

"A moment!" Asserted the young woman suddenly annoyed.

She looked at the Doctor then looked at me.

"So many questions. So little time. "

And there she did something that will remain in my memory for the rest of my life. Instead of pulling the Doctor by his jacket and kissing him passionately and pushing him to the chimney, it was me that she kissed instead.

Her soft lips, which had a slight honey taste, crushed against mine and I groaned in surprise. I enjoyed that kiss, my eyes closed. So, I couldn't see the Doctor who seemed more than surprised, his mouth open to this spectacle. My hands that I didn't seem to know where to put went to her hips and the kiss ended suddenly, Reinette rushing to retrieve a small bag and leave the room and her house without looking back.

I was still stunned by the kiss, it was the first time I kissed a woman and I admit that the kiss was good. Not as good as the one I had with the Doctor after the incident, but definitely in high position if I had a Top. I licked my slightly swollen lower lip, still tasting honey from Reinette's lips when the servant entered the room asking who we were. The Doctor finally realized who Reinette really was, praising what she was going to be and went back to the fireplace to activate it.

"Who the hell are you?" Exclaimed the servant.

"I'm the Doctor and my friend Alvia has just snogged Madame de Pompadour!"

The landscape suddenly changed, finally returning to the ships without Rose or Mickey. I suddenly breathed, realizing that I had just been kissed with passion by an important feminine figure in the history of France.

"I kissed a girl! And I liked it!" I said with an incredulous laugh in my voice.

"You can rave afterwards; Rose and Mickey are gone!" He exclaimed before walking into the ship "We have a rule about that, do not venture! Rule # 1! There can be anything in this ship!"

Quickly taking my mind back I followed the Doctor who was sinking in the corridors before bumping into him as he stopped suddenly. By leaning a little to the side, I could see the cause. There was a white horse in the ship.

"Anything on this ship, like a horse?" I joked, gently knocking the Doctor on the elbow.

"What?! How did he get here?"

"Surely there must be other doors leading to the 18th century, so much energy cannot have made just one hole. "

"We have to find Rose and Mickey, quickly so he could fall into one of these holes, or worse," said the Doctor taking my hand.

"Droids or dinosaurs?" I half joked.

"Dinosaurs? Seriously?" Asked the Doctor, eyebrow raised.

"Dinosaurs on a spaceship, admit that it would be interesting."

"No chance of that happening, Alvia."

"Mmm ... the universe is full of mysteries," I whispered mysteriously.

The Doctor said nothing but rolled his eyes before resuming walking. We got around the horse which started following us immediately after we had passed it. At a corridor junction, the Doctor finally turns to the horse with irritation.

"Are you going to stop following us? We're not your parents!"

"He's probably lost, Doctor. Don't blame him, and it's better to follow us than the androids, don't you think?"

"Hm," hummed the Doctor, suddenly attracted by two white wooden doors. "He must come from here ..."

He opened the doors and I could only follow the Doctor, absolutely not wanting to be alone in a ship with the mechanical androids. The doors opened into a sort of garden which turned out to be that of Versailles, I leaned against a stone wall, observing the green park where there were some nobles, including two women side by side and laughing softly.

One of them turns towards us and it is thanks to the Doctor's reflex that we were not spotted. He suddenly grabbed my hips to pull me with him as he hid by the bush. I could feel his hearts beating against my back and I had absolutely no doubt that he could feel my heart beating. He picked us up gently after the two women walked away from a satisfactory distance but didn't remove his hand from me. Quite the opposite in fact, he took the opportunity to wrap his arm correctly around me. His chin rested against the top of my head and we watched the two women. I blushed softly as I wondered about the Doctor's actions.

"What do they say?" I whispered softly. "I don't hear anything they say."

"They talk about the possibility of becoming the new mistress of the King of France. Reinette is there, she is holding the cream-colored umbrella," answered the Doctor in the same tone.

We watched Reinette and her friend walk away, it was time to get back on the ship.

"Have you seen a horse?!" Suddenly asked a man behind us with a whip.

We barely had time to turn around and the Doctor answered, when the man in dark clothes, holding his whip, continued his tirade.

"I would whip him as if he was never whipped in his life, as soon as I find him. "

"Oh, I wish you never said that," groaned the Doctor before returning to the ship.

As soon as the Doctor moved away from the man enough, I grabbed his whip and whipped him suddenly and violently three times before throwing the whip.

"It hurts, doesn't it? Now I hope you won't hurt the horses anymore, I'm against animal abuse." I smirked mischievously before leaving to join the Doctor.

I returned to the ship to see the Doctor inform the horse of rule # 1. I smiled in amusement until the Doctor turned to me with a disapproving look.

"I don't like violence ..." he said.

"I know. But this is not the first time, nor the last time Doctor. I would make efforts just as it will be necessary to make concessions. "

He sighed in annoyance and abandonment, closing his eyes for a few moments before opening them again and heading off in one direction.

"Alvia, Arthur, come. "

"I prefer Roach, it suits him better. Or Sleipnir. "

"Nah, Arthur is a good name for a horse. "

And we wrestled with the subject of the name for the horse until it became ridiculous and we finally find Rose and Mickey, who had the fire extinguisher in his arms, watching through a window.

"My god look at this guy. Who does he think he is?" Spoke Mickey.

"The King of France," replied the Doctor, making them jump.

"Oh, here's the trouble. What were you doing?"

"Oh, a little bit of this, a little bit of that," vaguely evoked the Doctor. "Alvia and I became the imaginary friend of a future French aristocrat, I fought with an automaton, Alvia was kissed ..." listed the Doctor with a slight touch of jealousy on my part, before being cut of by a neigh. "Oh, and we've met a horse. "

"Have you been kissed? By who?" Asked Rose.

"People, what does a horse do in a ship?" Mickey asks in amazement.

"A girl. Replied the Doctor with annoyance and a hint of sarcasm. "Mickey, what is France doing with the old regime in a spaceship? Take a step back. "

He suddenly pointed to the window.

"But do you see that? It's everywhere on this ship, on every deck. Doors to History. But not only the history with a capital H. But hers," he said, suddenly placing his fingers against the glass, showing Reinette.

You could see Reinette bow before the King, before an inaudible discussion began, but certainly with flirting. Reinette radiated charm and sensuality, she was magnificent. No wonder I fell in love with her. I think I could love women as well as men, although I preferred the male gender.

"Time windows. Deliberately dotted around the life of this woman. A 51st century vessel tracking an 18th century woman. Why?"

"Who is she?"

"Jean-Antoinette Poisson," I replied before the Doctor. "Reinette for her friends. She is known as Madame de Pompadour. She was for a time the mistress of the King and gave her support to important writers of French history and literature, such as Voltaire, Montesquieu or Diderot. "

"She is an accomplished woman," commented the Doctor, as we watched the King go. "I think it was the night of their meeting, the night of the Bal des Ifs. In a short time, she will be the official favourite with her apartment in the palace as well as her own title. Madame de Pompadour. "

Reinette approached the window, smoothing her dress, nervous.

"The Queen was to worship him," Rose commented with sarcasm as an intention.

"They really adore each other, very well even. "

"The king's wife and his mistress? "

"France is another planet - Oi!" He exclaimed, as I slapped his arm.

"Don't insult my country!" I warned him, finger in the air for the only threat.

He rubbed his aching arm, sulky, when suddenly the thud of the android was heard. The Doctor suddenly noticed the broken clock as well as Reinette who turned in fear towards a figure standing in the corner of the room, in the shade.

"How long have you been there? Show yourself!" Demanded Reinette.

The thing turned over and it was indeed one of the androids of the spaceship, different from the first met. The Doctor grabbed Mickey's fire extinguisher and turned the window to enter Reinette's time and spray the ice droid.

"Hello, Reinette! You are as ravishing as the last time!" I bowed, moving it as far away from the right as possible.

"Mon Renard ! Homme de cheminée !" She exclaimed. (My Fox! Fireplace man!)

The Doctor threw the fire extinguisher at Mickey as soon as the droid was no longer able to move. On the other hand, the droid began to click and roar loudly. Mickey asked what the robot was doing, and the Doctor replied that he was melting the ice before he could kill everyone in the room. The robot's right arm suddenly Rose in the direction of the Doctor's throat, blade out, and the Doctor jumped back before backing up a little to protect Reinette and I, on the same occasion.

"Who are you? Identify yourself?" Demanded the Doctor.

The robot tilted its head but did not answer.

"Reinette, order the droid to answer us," asked the Doctor, turning to us.

"Why would he listen to me?"

"He did it when you were a kid, maybe it's still relevant?" I tried, holding Reinette's hand, drawing a disdainful look from Rose.

Reinette nodded and looked at the droid seriously and courageously.

"Answer his question," she ordered. "Answer any questions you may be asked."

The droid lowered his arm and finally spoke.

"I am Repair Droid 7."

"What happened to the ship, then?" Asked the Doctor. "It was badly damaged. "

"Ionic storm. 82% of systems failed. "

"But the ship hasn't moved for more than a year. Why is it taking so long? "

"We didn't have the parts. "

Mickey laughed suddenly, laughing that in the end it always came down to the lack of materials. The interrogation continued, the Doctor asked where the crew was, and the droid only replied:

"We didn't have the parts. "

The Doctor insisted, receiving the same response from the droid until he finally understood and stopped in the middle of his sentence.

"You didn't have the parts, so you used the crew ..."

Reinette and Mickey looked horrified while Rose was shocked. Mickey didn't seem to want to understand and asked for an explanation before Rose intervened and told us that she had seen a camera with an eye and a beating heart plugged into the machinery. The Doctor said the droids were just doing their job, repairing the ship at all costs with whatever it found, including the crew; he also commented on the smell of cooked meat, pairing it with a barbecue. I put a hand on my mouth, repelling as best I could the nausea that settled in me. Reinette didn't look well, she seemed slightly ill because of it all.

The Doctor continued in his interrogation, asking what they were doing here, why open time windows when it was taking a lot of energy and especially why come to France in the 18th century? The masked robot replied that an extra piece was needed before his face suddenly turned towards Reinette. Everyone turned to the woman behind me.

"Why didn't you take her?" Asked the Doctor.

"She's not complete."

"So, what? Is that your plan? Just keep opening time windows and scanning her brain to make sure it's ready? "

"Why she?" Asked Rose suddenly with slight brutality. "Why Reinette specifically, you have the whole story to choose from."

"We are the same," replied the robot.

"We are not the same. We have nothing in common!" Replied Reinette, outraged.

The robot repeated again that they were identical and Reinette seemed to have had enough. Angry, she ordered the robot to leave immediately. The droid obeyed and teleported out of the room, probably returning to the ships with the other droids. The Doctor then ordered Mickey and Rose and the horse to follow the Android, not to approach it but to just watch what it was doing.

"Arthur?" Asked Rose, confused.

"A good name for a horse!" Answered the Doctor

"No, you're not keeping the horse!" Replied Rose, exasperated.

"And his name is Roach!" I added, looking at the Doctor, still not agreeing on the name of the horse.

"I'll let you keep Mickey! Go, go, go!" He said, gesturing.

Rose and Mickey returned to the ship through the portal and the Doctor closed behind them before returning to my side and that of Reinette.

"Reinette, you're going to have to trust me. I need to know what they are looking for."

"Her age, they are looking for her age," I said suddenly. "The droid said that Reinette wasn't complete, that means that she is missing something, that must have to do with her age. "

"Why would my age be so important?" Asked the main concerned.

Answering now would do a lot of damage and the Doctor seemed to realize it because he was helping me answer without sounding suspicious.

"Maybe by looking into your memories Reinette, we will know. They have been there for a long time in your life, maybe at some point they told you about their intentions without you noticing. "

"You would go see my memories?" Asked Reinette with slight fear. "Is it safe?"

"Have no fear, Reinette," I reassured her. "The Doctor has already gone to my mind several times, there is nothing to fear at all. "

"If you're so sure my Renard, then I trust you," she declared after swallowing gently.

The Doctor placed his fingers against her temples, as he had done with me, and closed his eyes followed by Reinette. I stepped back to give them space and not to disturb them during this procedure.

"Homme de cheminée..." Reinette gasped softly. "You are in my mind. "

"Oh, dear Reinette. You had cowboys in here. "

"You are in my memories, you're walking among them. "

"If you don't want me to see something, imagine a door and close it. I would not look through this door. "

Unlike the series, Reinette did not seem to amuse herself by showing some memories that the Doctor would have warned to hide behind a door.

"Browse the memory of another soul. Do you do it frequently? "

"I'm trying not to make it a habit, but Alvia seems to want to break the record on that. "

"Not consciously," I muttered loud enough to be heard.

"I know it, Alvia ..."

Reinette suddenly starts and the Doctor quickly apologizes, explaining that side effects such as the return of old memories to the surface could occur. It was then that Reinette seemed to be remembering the Doctor because she mentioned such a lonely childhood.

"This will pass. Stay with me," reassured the Doctor.

"Oh, Doctor. So lonely, so alone."

"What do you mean, alone? You have never been alone. "

The Doctor's eyes suddenly opened, realizing the thing.

"When did you start calling me Doctor? "

"A boy so lonely," Reinette continued. "So lonely before but not anymore ... You have your fox with you now."

My mind tilted at the mention of the fox again. She had nicknamed me like that recently ... the note on the board in my room will have to be told to the Doctor, it was becoming more than urgent. If something so big and like Bad Wolf happened, I had to warn the Doctor, no matter what the Fox was.

"How did you do this?" Asked the Doctor, cutting the mental connection.

"An open door can be crossed on both sides. Oh, Doctor ... my lonely Doctor and my Fox." Reinette continues, glancing at me filled with tenderness and affection. "Dance with me. "

"We can't," refused the Doctor.

"Dance with me." Repeated Reinette adamantly.

"It's the night you dance with the King! "

"I would, but after making him jealous," confessed Reinette with a touch of mischief.

"We can't," continued the Doctor.

"Doctor. Doctor who?" She said sadly, looking at him. "It's more than a secret, isn't it? The one and only secret to which Alvia is unable to answer…"

"You know?" I breathed suddenly in shock.

She turned to me and walked over, placing her hand on my cheek.

"I saw in his mind how important you became to him and why."

I met the Doctor's eyes. Why did I feel that what she had revealed to me was something huge and important?

"What did you see, Reinette?" I dared to ask, staring at the Doctor again.

"I saw that there comes a time when every lonely little boy has to learn to dance with his fox." Reinette smiled. "And where the fox has to be metamorphosed. "

So, she went to take my hand and pulled me gently with her to get away from this room. I looked frantically at the Doctor following us and Reinette, not knowing what to do.

"Reinette! Where are you taking me?" I asked with slight anguish.

"You used your magic to come here, I would use mine to transform you!" She teased.

"What?! B-But! Doctor help me! "

When I arrived in a sort of room, Reinette dragged me with her and prevented the Doctor from entering.

"The Doctor will go to the ballroom, waiting for us to come back," Reinette decided. "We will be there for the dance. "

She slammed the doors in the Doctor's nose, surprised. I heard the Doctor's steps against the ground after a few seconds as he slowly walked away.

"Reinette ..." I groaned. "Je ne sais même pas danser !" (I don't even know how to dance!)

"Eh bien, cela sera aussi ton tour d'apprendre. Déshabille-toi, maintenant. La noblesses ainsi que le Roi et la Reine serait choqué et outré de te voir dans une telle tenue. " (Well, it will also be your turn to learn. Undress now. The nobility as well as the King and the Queen would be shocked and outraged to see you in such an outfit.)

"Tu ne me fera pas porter une robe comme la tienne !" I panicked, guessing Reinette's plans. " c'est trop imposant pour moi! " (You will not make me wear a dress like yours! It's too big for me !)

"Malheureusement autant que je l'aimerais, aucune des robes que je portes habituellement seront de ta taille. D'autant plus que je n'ai ni paniers pour toi, ni corsage." She said, rummaging for a dress my size. " Maintenant, tais-toi donc mon Renard. La seule chose que tu pourras garder sont tes chaussures. " (Unfortunately, as much as I would like, none of the dresses I usually wear will be your size. Especially since I have neither pannier for you, nor corset. Now quiet, my Fox. The only thing I allow you to keep are your shoes.)

I took a look at the pair I was wearing. For once I had exchanged my usual pairs of converses and vans for a pair of black leather heeled oxfords. Half reluctantly, I undressed, staying only in my underwear waiting for the outfit that Reinette was preparing for me.

She helped me put on a deep green French cut dress with few frills on it. The square neckline made me feel a bit uncomfortable because it was deep enough and let my breast be seen more than I wanted. Reinette asked me to remove my chain containing the Tardis key and my ring, and then tie a gold and emerald necklace around my neck. The necklace was cold and heavy against my skin. Reinette amused herself by styling my hair in a sort of updo from that time with a slight volume; she couldn't do much about it because my hair was way too short for the 18th century. Fortunately, she did not touch my makeup.

Looking at myself in the mirror, I felt like I was another person. Reinette put her hands gently against my shoulders and smiled at me through the mirror.

"Mon Renard est finalement transformé," She declared, satisfied with her work. (My Fox is finally transformed)

"Reinette? D'où t'est venus ce surnom pour moi ?" I finally asked, turning my face to her. (Reinette? Where did this nickname come from for me)

"Je ne sais pas, cela m'est venue comme ça. Je trouvais que cela t'allais parfaitement," she replied before placing a light kiss on my lips. (I don't know, it came to me like that. I thought it suited you perfectly)

I blushed from the kiss.

"Allons rejoindre le bal, nous ne devons pas faire attendre le Roi ainsi que le Docteur. Cela serait impolie de notre part," she said suddenly, presenting her arm to me. (Let's go to the ball, we must not keep the King and the Doctor waiting. It would be rude on our part)

So, I took her arm and we left the room before heading to the ballroom. On the way I admired the palace that was Versailles, I had never had the opportunity to visit it before.

"Je pense que je préfère te prévenir, mais moi et la royauté cela ne marche pas vraiment. J'ai eu des problèmes avec la Reine d'Angleterre auparavant." (I think I prefer to warn you, but me and royalty don't really work. I've had problems with the Queen of England before)

"La Reine Anne?" She said surprised. "Cela est étonnant. " (Queen Anne? This is interesting)

"Non, pas elle… plus comme la futur reine," I mumbled before suddenly shutting up. " Oh mon dieu, la boulette que je viens de faire… " I groaned as I realized the mistake I had just made. "S'il te plait, ne dit pas au Docteur ce que je viens de te révéler, ni à qui que ce soit d'ailleurs. " (No, not her ... more like the future queen. Oh my god, the dumpling I just made... Please don't tell the Doctor what I just told you, or anyone else.)

"Je comprends. Ne t'inquiète pas tes secrets sont en sécurité avec moi," she reassured. (I understand. Don't worry your secrets are safe with me)

"Merci beaucoup…" I thanked with sincerity and relief. "Je ne voudrais vraiment pas modifier l'Histoire, surtout que le Docteur le saurais immédiatement. " (Thank you very much… I really don't want to change history, especially since the Doctor would know immediately)

"Parlons du Docteur, qu'est-ce que tu ressent envers lui ?" She asked with a slight smile in her voice. "Plus que de l'amitié, je le sais, ne me mens pas. " (Let's talk about the Doctor, how do you feel about him. More than friendship, I know, don't lie to me)

I stammered, hoping to deny any attraction to him, but Reinette's gaze told me that she didn't believe me. I sighed before I finally confessed.

"D'accord, je ressent des choses pour lui. Je sais que je ne devrais pas, mais je ne peux m'en empêcher." (Okay, I feel things for him. I know I shouldn't, but I can't help it.)

"Que ressens-tu?" (What do you feel?)

"Parfois, c'est comme si mon cœur loupais un battement, parfois ma poitrine se réchauffe et je rougis. Je ne peux deviner que c'est de l'amour, mais je n'en suis pas sûr. J'ai aimé un garçon il y a quelque années et maintenant quand j'y repense je me demande si je l'ai vraiment aimée ? Je n'arrive pas à savoir si j'aime le Docteur." (Sometimes it's like my heart misses a beat, sometimes my chest warms, and I blush. I can't guess it's love, but I'm not sure. I loved a boy a few years ago and now when I think about it I wonder if I really loved him? I can't figure out if I like the Doctor.)

"Le fait que tu te poses ces question prouve que tu l'aime." Reinette advised wisely. "Et je pense et sais qu'il en ressent la même chose. Le seule conseil que je puisse t'offrir est de lui déclarer ce que tu ressent. " (The fact that you ask yourself these questions proves that you love him. And I think and know he feels the same. The only advice I can offer you is to tell him how you feel.)

"J'aimerais tant… Mais il n'aurais pas dû ressentir ça pour moi… Cela aurait dut être Rose." (I would love so much ... But he shouldn't have felt that for me ... It should have been Rose.)

"Elle est la fille blonde qui vous accompagne ?" Guessed Reinette. "J'ai vu ses regard noirs et méprisant qu'elle te jetait quand le Docteur ne faisait pas attention. Je ne pense pas qu'elle serait bonne pour le Docteur. " (Is she the blonde girl who accompanies you? I saw her dark and contemptuous looks that she threw at you when the Doctor was not paying attention. I don't think it would be good for the Doctor.)

"Je suis encore moins bonne que Rose. Rien que ma présence change des choses, les sentiments du Docteur en premier !" I revealed with anguish and concern. (I'm even worse than Rose. Nothing that my presence changes things, the feelings of the Doctor first!)

Reinette suddenly stopped and faced me, her hands against my cheeks.

"Je ne prétends pas savoir ce que tu sais ni ce que tu vis, mon Renard. Mais sache qu'il y a des forces, plus puissante qui gère la vie et le monde. Si ces forces voulaient que tu sois là avec le Docteur, changeant ce que tu sembles savoir. Alors il faut les laisser faire, car combattre le Destin ne sert à rien, il gagnera la bataille d'une autre façon," she said to me with the intention of questioning me. "Il faut accepter que parfois, tu n'es pas maitre de ton destin et laisser aller. Tu comprends?" (I don't pretend to know what you know or what you're going through, my Fox. But know that there are more powerful forces that manage life and the world. If these forces wanted you to be there with the Doctor, changing what you seem to know. So, let them do it, because fighting Destiny is useless, he will win the battle in another way. You have to accept that sometimes you are not in control of your destiny and let go. You understand?)

I nodded after a few minutes. Maybe Reinette was right. That I had to let go and live what I was living with the Doctor, without worrying about the rest. But it seemed so difficult to give up now, not to worry about the future, not to know if it was correct and not to know if certain events will take place or not. I was playing with the future of the universe and reality itself, making sure we were still living, and Reinette advised me to live what I wanted deep inside. My deepest desire ... It seemed so selfish, to let myself be tempted and succumb to the peach that to love the Doctor was. Reinette was the snake that whispered in my ear to reach the Doctor, as if it were the apple and me Eve.

"Derrière ces portes se trouve le bal," she informed me. "Allons rendre jaloux nos hommes. " (Behind these doors is the ball. Let's make our men jealous.)

"Le Docteur n'est pas mon homme," I mumbled, red on my cheeks. (The Doctor is not my man)

"Tout comme le Roi ne l'est pas pour moi, pas encore en tout cas," she replied mischievously. (Just like the King is not for me, not yet anyway.)

We finally entered the ballroom, where there were monarchs and nobles, musicians, King and Queen. Some danced to music, others talked to each other while some drank and ate. The French courts seemed alive and happy.

Reinette led me to the Doctor, who was installed near the appetizers, looking slightly lost.

"Homme de cheminée, I told you that I would transform our Fox and I did it," called Reinette.

The Doctor turned his head towards us and seemed to be gasping for breath when he saw me. I nervously smoothed the dress that Reinette had lent me.

"Hey, Doctor," I greeted hesitantly.

"Alvia..." whispered the Doctor. "You are beautiful," He complimented.

My cheeks became even redder if possible and I offered him a delighted and shy smile.

"Really?"

"Yes, this dress looks good on you and I like this haircut," he said, brushing some strands with his fingers.

Reinette finally intervened by clearing her throat, interrupting the moment reluctantly but with an amused smile on her lips.

"Doctor, would you like to be my dance partner? After all, I plan to make the King jealous. "

The Doctor nodded without forgetting to promise me that he would come back to my side. So, I found myself alone in the crowd of nobles who discussed and laughed happily. I felt like a lost lamb in a crowd of wolves, imagining their looks when it didn't seem like I was getting their attention.

"Un verre de vin, mademoiselle ?" Offered a man, handing me a glass. (Glass of wine miss ?)

Looking up to thank the man who handed me a drink, I realized that he was not a servant but the King. The fucking King of France. One of my Kings.

"Merci beaucoup," I stammered. (Thank you very much.)

"Vous êtes venue en compagnie de Mademoiselle Poisson n'est-ce pas ? Car je ne semble pas reconnaitre votre visage." (You came with Miss Poisson, right? Because I don't seem to recognize your face)

"Non, votre majesté, je suis une amie d'enfance de Reinette et elle a eu la gentillesse de m'inviter ici avec mon ami." (No, your majesty, I am a childhood friend of Reinette and she was kind enough to invite me here with my friend)

"L'homme qui danse avec elle je suppose ?" (The man who dances with her, I presume?)

"Effectivement." (Indeed)

"Puis-je vous demander d'où vous venez ? Je n'arrive pas à mettre le doigts sur votre accent." (Can I ask you where you come from? I can't put my finger on your accent.)

"Oh, je viens de Toulouse, votre majesté. Et si je n'ai pas l'accent de la région c'est parceque j'ai vécu jusqu'à mes dix à Lyon et que depuis un peu plus d'un ans je voyage avec mon ami et parle anglais," I explained before drinking my wine. (Oh, I'm from Toulouse, your majesty. And if I do not have the accent of the region, it is because I lived until my ten in Lyon and that for a little over a year I have been traveling with my friend and speak English.)

The wine was burning my throat a little. It was different from the wine I used to drink.

"Je vois et votre ami vous a laissée seule ici. C'est mon devoir en tant que Roi de ne pas abandonner mon peuple et mes sujets. M'honoreriez-vous donc d'une dance? " (I see, and your friend left you alone here. It is my duty as King not to abandon my people and my subjects. Would you honor me with a dance?)

We don't say no to the King, even if I wanted to and my instincts were screaming. So, I put down my glass and accepted the hand that the King extended. He accompanied me on the dance floor.

"Je dois vous confesser mon Roi, que je ne sais absolument pas danser," I confessed with a sheepish smile. (I must confess to you my King, whom I absolutely cannot dance.)

The King gave me a reassuring smile and said to me.

"Il est toujours temps d'apprendre, suivez mes gestes et mes pas. Tout ira bien. " (There is always time to learn, follow my actions and my steps. Everything will be alright)

The King was considerate and smiled at me just by helping me correct myself for every mistake I made. I could see that despite the attention he paid me, his attention was focused on Reinette who was dancing with the Doctor. Finally came the moment in the dance when we had to exchange partners. The King found himself with Reinette and I found myself with the Doctor. Fortunately for me, the Doctor preferred to withdraw us from the dance floor and remove monarchs. The Doctor actually preferred to take me to a room where we would be alone, but where we could still hear the music playing.

"Finally, we are back together," greeted the Doctor tenderly. "As I promised. "

"Yes indeed."

"And you drank wine" he scolded lightly.

"I don't think you can deny the King anything, especially the King of his own country. "

"You grew up and lived in the republic and I remember that you were not really for the monarchy. "

"It is difficult to love the monarchy and all that implies, when the history of his country tells the end of this same monarchy. We French decapitated our King and our Queen and established the Republic, it is not nothing anyway. "

"Indeed... from this point of view," conceded the Doctor.

We fell into a pleasant silence accompanied by music from the ballroom. The Doctor had put his hands on my waist and my hands on his arms. The Doctor started to swing us on an inaudible waltz for my ears and I put my head against his chest, appreciated his warmth, the rhythm of his hearts and his smell. That smell that indicated it was the Doctor and no one else, a unique smell mixed with that of Time. Reinette's words and advice came back to my mind, maybe it was an opportunity to reveal everything, to confess to the Doctor what I felt? In the worst case, we would end this adventure and I would ask to be dropped off in Cardiff, to hide in shame and cry all the tears of my body in Jack's arm. I hesitated, and I hated this hesitation, I would hate to miss this opportunity, but I don't know what to do or what to say ...

I moved my head, lifting it up and resting my chin against his chest. I watched the Doctor quietly as he watched me in silence. Her eyes sparkled with emotion and tenderness. I don't know how I could live if these things disappeared from the Doctor's eyes when he looked at me. I don't know how I could survive the pain of knowing he was giving those looks to someone else. I backed up slightly, opening my mouth to speak, say something, say anything as long as it makes sense. My words did not come, my mind was empty, and my throat seemed to have closed without my being aware of it.

Oh, fuck it. I thought before I decided and act.

I grabbed the edge of the Doctor's suit and tiptoed before putting my lips against his. I waited a few seconds before moving my lips against his and receiving a response. The Doctor's arms wrapped around my body and pulled me closer to him as he deepened the kiss. I did well to act, I have absolutely no regrets. One of my hands climbed up to his neck and played with his hair a bit. The kiss ended when I ran out of air, but the smile I had on my lips, which must have been identical to that of the Doctor, said it all. The Doctor rested his forehead against mine, and we closed our eyes enjoying this moment.

I kissed him again, just placing my lips against his in a soft kiss before I pulled out and laughed happily. A weight from my shoulders seemed to fly away as the Doctor simply stroked my cheek.

"I've wanted to do this for a while..." I whispered softly, as if speaking louder could break this moment.

"Since when?" He asked with tender curiosity.

"The beginning?" I chuckled.

The Doctor too giggled and everything seemed so simple.

"Are we one thing? Not that I want to put a name to it now, it's too early..." I asked with a small smile.

"If you want. I would be delighted if we were a "thing"..." he replied with a tender and joyful smile.

"The Doctor and his companion," I said, my chest swelling with joy and love. "Yet it is so obvious. "

"The Doctor and his Fox," corrected the Doctor. "Much more than just a companion," he said before kissing me passionately.

His lips were as I remembered, as were his kisses and every facial expression he could have. I knew them before he even knew it.

The Doctor smiled, and I did the same. He dragged me with him to return to the dance hall where the fun was at its height. Were far from the noble ball with some giggles here and there, it was now a holiday worthy of the feria in Spain. The laughter was loud, the songs were plentiful, and the dancing was not full of grace. Alcohol was flowing, and we were having fun. For a moment I never imagined that I had left my house and my country. For a moment, when I closed my eyes I imagined myself in summer, wearing a completely white outfit with a scarf, a beret and a red belt, with a glass of alcohol in my hands, a song that broke my throat and laughter. I imagined myself with my family and my friends, happy and drunk with joy.

I do not know how long we stayed in Versailles during the night of the Bal des Ifs. But long enough for my mind to float because of alcohol. The Doctor had at one point give up on his duty not to make me drink. But like all good things came to an end, that moment was not the exception. We didn't say goodbye to Reinette when we left. I changed, returning with great joy to my pants, leaving a note for him and left with the Doctor. We weren't very sober when we got back on the ship. The Doctor had long abandoned his tie which ended around my neck loosely, his shirt was out of his pants, his hair ruffled, and he wore a pair of glasses that did not belong to him. I was in a state almost similar to the Doctor, apart from the tie, the buttons on my shirt were undone at the neckline, my modesty having long disappeared after the third glass; my pants were not buttoned, I had already struggled to put them on, and my hair was simply in firecracker, I would have made a good imitation of the Disney heroine in Brave. My chain with my key and my rings was in my back pocket, my fingers being too nimble to handle the chain latch ...

We were both holding glasses, his being empty and mine still filled with alcohol. Standing awkwardly against the wall, the Doctor poured a wine-like liquid that he said was not wine. So, we went in search of Mickey and Rose as well as the Droids of the ship. When the Doctor raised his hand to indicate that we were close, the Doctor put his arm around my shoulders and my arm wrapped around his waist; he leaned toward me, leaning a little and started to sing drunk before continuing to move forward.

"I could have danced all night! ... And I still have begged for mooree! I could have spread my wings! And done a…"

As we arrived in the main room, now in full view, the Doctor caught me as if we were dancing a stuffed waltz and I chuckled as I made sure to hold my glass of wine as if it were the Holy Grail.

"Have you met the French?" Asked the Doctor. "My God! They know how to party! "

"Yes, we know, my dear!" I giggled madly before pressing myself against the Tardis with a dreamy smile and drinking my glass. "You're not bad yourself!" I added with a touch of flirt and a wink.

"Oh, look what the cat dragged, the Oncoming Storm," Rose said sarcastically, glaring at me and the Doctor.

"You sound just like your mother," he remarked, distastefully.

"What were you doing? Where were you?" Asked Rose dryly, to the Doctor.

"Well ..." he began, emphasizing the first words. "In addition to many other things, I think I invented the banana daiquiri a few centuries earlier and Alvia danced with the king of her country, a pretty dance by the way!"

Rose dropped her head against the thing she was tied to, furious at us. The Doctor got up a bit and approached before leaning towards her.

"Did you know they had never seen a banana before? Always bring a banana to a party, Rose. Bananas are good. "

"Good source of potassium!" I chuckled before leaving in a laugh while drinking my glass.

I correct what I said, this glass will knock me down. The alcohol in this wine seems stronger than I thought. My mind was starting to float.

"Exactly! Brilliant!" Congratulated the Doctor before noticing the robot near him. "Alvia! Look! He's our robot! Our favourite, really! You are the best and you know why? "

"He's so thick!" I added, pointing with my fingers and holding my stomach with the arm that held my glass.

"You're Mister Thick, Thick, Thickity, Thick Face from Thicktown, Thickania." Said the Doctor before adding. "So's your dad! "

The Doctor walked away from the droid and walked around the room.

"Do you know why they're scanning Reinette's brain? her milometer. They want to know his age. You know why? Because this ship is 37 years old. And they think that when Reinette is 37, when she is complete, then her brain will be compatible. Because that's what you're missing, huh?! The control circuit, your computer. Your ship needs a brain. "

"And only Madame de Pompadour's brain is useful, and I know why, but I wouldn't say it, spoilers!" I sang with the effects of alcohol.

The droid threatening Rose's life with his blade suddenly spoke.

"The brain is compatible. "

"Compatible?" Asked the Doctor, coming closer. "If you believe that, you also believe that it is a glass of wine and that Alvia is drunk. "

He suddenly removed the robot's mask and poured the wine into the gears of the droid's head. The interior watchmaking creaked until it stopped. The Doctor put on his mask and wig and the droid leaned over, no longer working.

"Multi-use anti-oil. If it moves, it doesn't," the Doctor explained simply as Rose and Mickey sighed in relief at the end of the Doctor's acting.

"I think I'm more than drunk ..." I informed with a sheepish smile. "I'm going to put this glass down and don't touch it for the moment. I envy you to quickly sober up. "

"Was the wine too strong?" The Doctor asked with an amused smile as he released Rose and her boyfriend. "Come on, you two, daydreaming enough. It's time to turn off the ship."

"Are those things safe?" Mickey asks to check.

"Yep, exactly. Out of use and stupid. The way I like them. "

He went to the console of the ship.

"Okay, the windows are controlled from here. You have to close them all," he said before rummaging through his pockets, looking for something. "My Zeus plugs. Where are my Zeus plugs? "

"You used them as castanets to entertain one of the duchies," I reminded, continuing to stand against the Tardis, making sure I didn't fall asleep against her.

Rose asked why the robots hadn't opened a window when she was 37 years old and the Doctor replied that the ship was far too damaged to properly calibrate their blow and that it was already a chance to have arrived in the right century. Suddenly the Doctor notices that the windows are closing and wondering why. We learned that one of the droids remaining on the ground had finally found the right window and that time was running out. The droids in the room woke up and teleported back to when Reinette was 37 years old.

The Doctor looked for a window to warn Reinette and sent Rose there to warn her and at the same time found the window of Reinette's 37 years old. It was via a mirror which was in the same room where we were. The Doctor searched for a way to connect the audio and sent Mickey to get Rose.

"Did you find him, then?" Asked Rose without preamble

"They knew I was coming, they blocked it. "

"But how did they get in?"

"Teleportation," I groaned, rubbing my temples because of a headache from alcohol and the screams.

"As long as the ship and the ballroom are connected, they can teleport from close range!"

"Let's use the Tardis," proposed Rose.

"Impossible, we are part of the events," countered the Doctor by scanning a screen with his screwdriver.

"Can't we break the mirror?" Asked Mickey.

"Hyperplex on this side, armoured glass on the other. We need a truck! "

"We don't have a truck. "

"I KNOW!" Exploded the Doctor.

"We can try something else!" Rose tried to find a solution.

"No, break the mirror, break the time window. There will be no return path. "

Suddenly a hot breath stroked my cheek as I watched the trio look for a way to save Reinette. Reinette who had also spoken. Turning to the source of the warm breath I saw Arthur /Roach at my side; his head hit hard against my shoulder and no one except me seemed to have noticed his presence. I gently flattered his cheek and scratched the area above his nostrils as I watched Reinette's speech.

"Doctor," I called without drawing the attention of Rose and Mickey.

He turned his head quickly, his eyebrows rising in surprise when he saw the horse. He approached quickly, and I handed him the reins of the horse.

"It is a round trip ..." he said with a sudden sadness in his eyes.

"It's a round trip for all who aren't The Doctor." I corrected him before placing my hand against his cheek. "Go and save Reinette ... I trust you to come back."

The Doctor blinked without saying anything before grabbing the reins I offered him. I was going to remove my hand from his cheek when he grabbed my neck and then put his lips on mine in a fiery kiss that seemed to last a lifetime and whose feeling of touch lasts even after the end. But it lasted at most a few seconds before he retired and climbed on that of Arthur / Roach before galloping towards the mirror which was destroyed at the meeting and which no longer left the Doctor the possibility of entering through this portal. The window overlooking Reinette's 37 years old no longer broadcast any image or sound and was permanently broken.

" What happened? Mickey asks Rose. "Where did the window go? How will he come back? "

But Rose didn't answer, instead she looked at the broken mirror as if she had lost everything in her life. I cracked my neck and shoulders, stopping to rest against the Tardis.

"He'll come back, Mickey," I reassured Mickey. "Don't worry, you won't be able to on this spaceship lost in the depths of space and at the wrong time. "

"How can you know?" Asked Rose curtly, turning to me.

A tear had trickled from her eye, slightly spoiling her thick mascara.

"Tell me, how can you know that?! Huh?! "

"You know that perfectly well, I have a vague memory that the Doctor revealed it to you, Sarah-Jane and Finch. Don't be ignorant," I growled at Rose's tone and black look.

"I have more than enough of you!" She finally snapped. "Always have the right words! The right questions! How can you know everything?! "

"BECAUSE I DO!" I shout suddenly.

"Why didn't you tell us what was going on here?! Why didn't you tell us from the start?! Because of you the Doctor is gone, and he won't come back! "

"Knowing things doesn't mean spoiling what's going to happen. Time doesn't work like that. "

"It's easy for you to say that!" She sneered wickedly. "How can we trust you?! You manipulate everything so that everything goes as you planned! And if that happens, all the deaths we have experienced during our adventures have been planned by you! Including my father! "

"HOW DARE YOU? How dare you tell me that?! Do you think it's easy to know how people are going to die when you're next to them?! Do you think it's easy to choose between a person and the rest of the universe?! NO, ROSE ISN'T EASY!" I yelled finally.

"AND WHAT ABOUT MY FATHER?! "

"You should never have saved him in the first place!" I yelled at HER. "If I hadn't been there, dying and sick like a dog because of the paradox that YOU created, if I hadn't pushed the Doctor aside to avoid the Reaper it would have been him who would have disappeared! You accuse me of manipulating people and their dead, but do you know how many people I saved? How many people are still alive thanks to this knowledge, huh?! "

"And yet the Doctor disappeared because of you! It's your fault! "

"I let him do it because I knew he was going to come back! No matter the pre-knowledge or not! He's able to find a way to return! So, stop accusing me like I'm the cause of all the evils in this universe; because I've had enough of this, Rose. Enough of your dark looks, enough of your damn character! And above all I have more than enough to hear you whine whenever something doesn't suit you and doesn't meet your expectations."

SMACK!

She had slapped me. Fort. My cheek was burning, and I had no doubt that the shape of her hand marked my cheek. My cheekbone was biting too, one of her rings had scratched me. The blow of the slap sent me waltzing against the doors of the Tardis. I held back with one hand while my other hand held my bruised cheek. I stared stunned at the blonde who had raised her hand on me.

"ROSE!" Yelled Mickey, pulling her away from me.

Because she seemed more than ready to do battle with me. The outcome of this fight would certainly not have turned in my favor because of the alcohol still running through my veins.

"You deserved it, you drunkard bitch!" Spat Rose held back by Mickey. "One day you will see! You will be the cause of several deaths and the Doctor will realize who you really are! "

"And who am I?" I asked darkly as strands of hair fell on my face.

"A monster."

"Rose! That's enough!" Mickey finally intervened.

He spoke to her, but I preferred not to stay in the same room as Rose. So, I took my key out of the Tardis and put it in the lock before turning the key and pushing the door to get in.

"Alvia!" Called Mickey as he stopped Rose from speaking. "What are we doing? "

"We wait. The Doctor will come back," I said curtly before entering the Tardis without looking back.

I crossed the console room and walked the hallway furiously. I had to get away from Rose and calm down and sober up. Or get drunk and sober up by following. I opened the door to my bedroom and slammed it down next, when Sexy buzzed to scold me I immediately apologized. I sat on the bed, resting my elbows on my thighs and leaning forward enough that my hands would sink into my hair. I was almost pulling my hair so furious and angry. I had to calm down and I did. I went to the shower, taking off all my clothes. The water that fell on my body was cold and it was exactly what I needed.

Coming out of the shower, wiping myself properly so as not to get sick, I saw on the bathroom cabinet was a glass of water and an orange pill and a note. The words said that the pill helped remove all traces of alcohol and avoid a hangover. So, I took the pill and put it on my tongue before drinking two sips of water. The effect was immediate. The feeling of floating in my mind disappeared immediately, I had the impression that all the alcohol was sucked away elsewhere, and I could taste in the back of my throat and on my tongue a kind of mixture of ash and iron, as if I ate a helicopter and charcoal. I finished the glass to remove the taste and thanked Sexy before getting dressed.

And while waiting for the Doctor, I had to keep myself busy as I could, staying as far away from Rose as possible. When Rose returned to the Tardis it was after being warned by Mickey not to meet her that I was able to return to the ship. For several hours I stayed outside while Rose was hiding inside with her boyfriend. I finally sat against the Tardis, watching the space above my head. This huge gigantic void. I felt even smaller sending this immensity. The sound of a rotating object sounded, and I got up and took a few steps before being buried against the chest of a few and firmly held by a pair of arms.

I didn't need to see anything, it was the Doctor. I wrapped my arms around his thin body.

"How long?" He asks before letting go of me

"Just over five hours," I smiled softly, happy to see him again.

"Okay, always wait a little over five hours. Tell the others, I'm going to get Reinette. What happened to your cheek?" He suddenly asks, brushing my bruised cheek with his fingers.

"I'll explain to you later. Go ahead, I will warn them of your return. "

He watched my cheek for a few seconds before meeting my gaze and nodding and heading straight for the fireplace. My smile faded as I realized that I would never see Reinette again. A small tear ran down for the fiery young woman who had kissed me and given me good advice. I erased that tear quickly before returning to the interior of the Tardis. Mickey was in the console room and I told him that the Doctor had returned before leaving to pick up Reinette and that he could go get Rose. The Doctor returned a few seconds after Rose arrived in the main room, without Reinette, Rose seemed to play the card of ignorance and focused all her attention on the Doctor who showed no emotion on his face.

"Why her?" She asks without preamble. "Why would you want to repair the ship with the head of Madame de Pompadour."

"We'll probably never know," replied the Doctor.

I swallowed before I spoke, my voice slightly hoarse with grief.

"There is a painting by Reinette hanging on the wall behind the Tardis. And the ship's name is the SS Madame de Pompadour... that's why. "

"The Tardis can close the time windows now that the droids are gone. It should stop the problems. "

Rose suddenly asked if the Doctor was okay and replied that he was still okay. It was a lie, everyone could see it. His smile was fake, and his eyes were sad. The room was quiet if we didn't count the noise the Tardis made, and Mickey gently pulled Rose with him, finding an excuse to leave and leave the Doctor alone. Rose followed suit and I didn't see them again for the evening.

He took out of his pocket a letter which he opened and read for a few moments before putting it in his coat pocket, drawing me to him and kissing the top of my head for a long time. Our hands looked for each other, found each other and we crossed our fingers together. We watched Reinette's fireplace and its fire on the screen, which went out forever after the Doctor had pressed a button. The windows were now closed for good and the ship will sail for a long time in the vastness of space.

I helped the Doctor lead the Tardis to materialize it in the Vortex of Time. As soon as it was done, the Doctor gently rubbed the knuckle of his index finger against the small wound on my cheek. I hissed softly, and the Doctor avoided touching it, he nevertheless put his hand against my cheek and I leaned on it with joy.

"What happened?" He asked quietly.

"A confrontation with Rose," I confessed without trying to lie or hide the truth. "She doesn't really take the fact that I know and when I tried to reassure Mickey after you left with the horse she fell for it. We had arguments and she ended up slapping me. End of the story. "

"Maybe I should talk to her..." he suggested.

"No," I refused. "It's between the two of us, I don't want you to interfere. It could make things worse and worse."

The Doctor didn't seem to agree with my words but said nothing and sighed acceptance. He rested his forehead against mine and I closed my eyes, appreciating our proximity.

"I wish it didn't happen..." he said.

"I know... and sometimes you have to accept that things don't go the way you want. "

"Hm," he hummed.

His hand slipped under my chin and lifted my head slightly so that my lips met his. After a few exchanged kisses, I whispered.

"Let's change our ideas. I remember you proposed me to see a real Queen concert. "

His lips twisted upwards, remembering the suggestion that he had whispered in my ear in his old body and he lowered a lever to start the engines.

---

I may not publish a lot during my vacation, I have to revise a lot so as not to repeat. I didn't manage to validate my semester.