Thanks to Mittens-chan, killthewhispered, RainyEnglishMorning, animeloveranimegunner, KurtWaterDragon, Stella-Nyx, mermaidcakee, GrimmyGrimm666, Ed's lil Alchemist, katethepinkarrow, Gairah, Yukira-Kuchiki, laura. alves78, Lunamaow, ItsJustMe-94, Sersala, Emily01111, The Crimson Killer, sailor. Sadness, musicalanime99, timano, ElemenTalia, animegal1357, mafiaunity, loveablecub, marissaiswholocked1011, allanimelover2, femke98, AceShadows for following/faving my story.
MaidensTouchOfMadness: here it is!
Silverdeaf1977 (Guest): you'll have to wait and see if Melanie can remember Rory fully.
NicoleR85: thank you!
Momochan77: it was a good effort on the Doctor's part. And he's not going to give up on getting her to remember Rory, now that he knows she can sort of recall the dirty blonde.
An: sorry for the really long wait folks!
The next place the TARDIS materializes is a small park on Aickman Road. The door opens and the Doctor and Melanie. "I don't know about you but this doesn't look like that alien moon you were going to take us to, unless its got a Rymans", the brunette remarked.
"That's because it's not the fifth moon of Sinda Callista", the Doctor said, apologetically "sorry".
"That's o-" Melanie was abruptly cut off when there was a sudden explosion from within the TARDIS, throwing herself and the Doctor to the ground.
"Amy!" the pair cried as the blue box dematerialized before their eyes.
"What the hell just happened?" Melanie asked, worried for her best friend.
"I don't know…this kind of thing doesn't usually happen", the Doctor replied. He got to his feet and helped his Bonded up.
"So what do we do now?" Melanie asked.
"I don't know", the Doctor answered "but I'll figure something out, I promise".
A day later saw the pair standing outside a two story building, number 79A Aickman Road. Melanie pushed the Doctor's hand away from the bell as he reached for it for the fourth time. "Give him or her a chance to get the door", she said.
"Fine", the Doctor mumbled. He then smiled, taking hold of her hand and kissed it. "I love you", he declared.
"I love you too", Melanie said back, returning his smile. Over the past day, her Bonded had grown more affectionate toward her which she didn't mind at all. Suddenly the front door was pulled open and a man in his mid-twenties, Craig Owens, stood there holding a bunch of keys.
"I love you!" he declared.
"Well, that's good, because we're your new lodgers", the Doctor said. He took the keys from Craig.
"But I only put the advert up today. I didn't put my address", Craig said, confused as to how the pair knew where he lived.
"Well, aren't you lucky we came along?" the Doctor remarked "I'm less of a young professional, more of an ancient amateur" he put his arm around Melanie's waist "This lovely lady is an absolute dream", the female brunette gave Craig a small smile "My dream, mind you", the Doctor quickly tacked on, giving the man a pointed look. He wanted their landlord to know straight away that Melanie was his.
"Hang on a minute, mate. I don't know if I want you two staying", Craig said, rather flustered "And give me back those keys", he took them back from the Doctor "You can't have those".
"Yes, quite right. Have some rent", the Time Lord held out a brown paper bag stuffed with money to Craig "That's probably quite a lot, isn't it? Looks like a lot. Is it a lot? I can never tell".
"I told you it was a lot", Melanie reminded him.
"Yes, you did", the Doctor agreed "now, let's go check out the place". He took her hand and stepped past Craig, going into the building. "Don't spend it all on sweets, unless you like sweets. I like sweets", the Time Lord continued "especially this sweet" he kissed Melanie on the cheek.
"Doctor, stop", Melanie said giving him a playful push, cheeks red.
"Never", he said tapping her on the nose "I'm the Doctor and this is Melanie Hannigan".
"But you can call me Elle if you like, most people do", Melanie added.
"Craig Owens", Craig said, introducing himself "The Doctor?"
"Yep. Who lives upstairs?" the Doctor asked.
"Just some bloke", Craig replied.
"What's he look like?" the Time Lord questioned.
"Normal", Craig answered "He's very quiet" there was a loud crash coming from above them "Usually", he amended "Sorry, who are you again? Hello?!"
The Doctor ignored him and walked further into the flat. "Who are you two?" Craig asked Melanie.
"I told you. I'm Melanie and that's my boyfriend, the Doctor", Melanie replied "we're your new lodgers".
"Yeah but who are you two?" Craig repeated.
"Just a couple who's looking for a place to stay for a little bit", Melanie answered. She then walked into the room where the Doctor was eyeing a large stain on the ceiling.
"I suppose that's dry rot?" the Doctor asked Craig.
"Or damp. Or mildew", Craig shrugged.
"Or none of the above", the Doctor muttered, earning him a look from Melanie.
"I'll get someone to fix it", Craig assured the couple.
"No, I'll fix it", the Doctor told Craig "I'm good at fixing rot. Call me the Rotmeister".
"I'm not calling you that", Melanie said firmly "ever".
"It's a rubbish name, isn't it?" the Doctor asked/stated.
"Yep", Melanie agreed, popping the p.
The Doctor nodded and turned to Craig "This is the most beautiful parlour I have ever seen", he remarked, changing the subject "You're obviously a man of impeccable taste. Can we stay, Craig, can't I? Say we can".
"But…you haven't seen the room", Craig pointed out.
"No we haven't", Melanie said "lets see our room".
Craig led them out of the parlour and down the hall to a bedroom decorated in 80's style "this is Mark's old room. He owns the place. Moved out about a month ago. This uncle he'd never even heard of died and left a load of money in the will", Craig explained as the Doctor sat down on the bed, bouncing on the mattress slightly, testing out how comfy it was.
"This'll do just right. In fact…" the trio looked up when they heard more crashes above "No time to lose. We'll take it. Ah…you'll want to see our credentials" the Doctor took out his psychic paper and showed it to Craig "There National Insurance numbers….NHS number….References…" he listed off, switching the paper behind his back.
"Is that a reference from the Archbishop of Canterbury?" Craig asked, gobsmacked.
"Elle is his special favourite", the Doctor replied, winking at Melanie "Now! Are you hungry? I'm hungry. Elle?"
"I'm pretty hungry", Melanie admitted.
"Ok then", the Doctor said and headed into the kitchen.
"But I haven't got anything in", Craig said.
"You've got everything I need for an omelette fines herbes, pour deux", the Doctor informed him as he raided the fridge and cabinets.
"Who's the girl on the fridge?" Melanie asked noting the photograph on the large appliance.
"My friend. Sophie", Craig replied.
"Girlfriend?" the Doctor questioned looking away from the pan.
"A friend who is a girl", Craig corrected "There's nothing going on", he insisted.
"He's got it bad", Melanie mentally remarked to the Doctor.
"Yep", the Time Lord agreed.
"We met at work about a year ago, at the call centre", Craig continued "Firm's going down though. The bosses are using a totally rubbish business model. I know what they should do. I got a plan all worked out. But I'm just a phone drone, I can't go running in saying I know best" the man frowned "Why am I telling you this? I don't even know you two".
"Well, I've got one of those faces. People never stop blurting out their plans while I'm around", the Doctor said.
Melanie couldn't help but chuckle at that statement. He didn't exactly get those lady fish vamps to tell him the plan. And he even told them to. "Right", Craig said slowly "Where's your stuff?"
"Oh, don't worry, it'll materialise. If all goes to plan", the Doctor assured him.