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Chapter 26 - Empress of the Needle Braid

The Doctor walked out of the bedroom. He was wearing his black suit. He had asked Rose to help Genie get dressed and he would do her hair. As he walked into the sitting room, he saw them both. He stopped and smiled at them.

"There's my girls!" he smiled at them.

Rose was wearing a black dress with a jacket. It looked very formal. Genie had on a small, short sleeved, black dress. Rose was helping Genie put on some little black shoes with straps.

"Are those heels?" the Doctor asked.

Rose laughed at him. "No. I know you won't let her wear heels. Relax."

"I wish you wouldn't wear them, either!" he fussed as he sat down on the sofa next to her.

He sighed.

"Tired?" Rose asked him.

"A bit. It's already been a long day and it's not even gotten started yet. This rain isn't helping." he said as he rubbed his face.

It had been raining all night in London.

"It will stop soon enough." Rose told him.

"Not for at least four more days." he yawned.

She looked back surprised at him. "Can you tell that?"

He smiled, "I can read a weather forecast, woman!"

She laughed at him. "Right."

He shook his head at her. Genie laughed.

The Doctor spoke up, "Oh! I ordered all of that stuff this morning while you were asleep. It should be here this afternoon when we get back."

He pointed at Genie. "I got you and Tony something to play with. Did Rose tell you that Tony and Zeus are coming to stay with us for a while?"

Genie smiled and covered her face. "Yes!"

"And I got something special for you too, Rose. So, don't go crazy opening stuff in front of these children if I'm called away or something." he warned her.

"What did you get me?" Rose sounded surprised.

He smiled like a loon, 'Some more of that lingerie. Oh man, I love that stuff and I am ready for you to try your best to get that number out of me. Oh, I dare you woman!'

He spoke aloud. "Talk physics, and try to get a number out of me. Oh, it will be brilliant! I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to this."

Rose laughed at him. Genie jumped up and ran to get a brush so the Doctor could braid her hair.

Rose asked him. "I've never seen you wear that suit. When did you get it?"

He looked down at it. "It was one of those first ones that we got when I first got here. I really don't like it, and don't plan to ever wear it again. I ordered some more this morning, but will probably need to go to a proper tailor sometime soon."

Rose looked confused. "Why? You look handsome."

"Nah, I feel like I look like...him. I want to look like me. I prefer the three piece suits, with the vests. Black and greys. More... I don't know. Me."

She leaned over and kissed him. "I think you look like you. But, wear what you want."

"Yeah, I figure I'd wear it today for the last time. Genie will see me wearing suits and I don't want her to be reminded of this if I can help it. So, I'm going to get rid of all of the ones like he would wear. I'm done with it."

Rose grabbed his hand. "What is bothering you? Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Just finding who I am. That's all. Don't worry about me. Are you alright? This is your friend's funeral we are going to today. Don't think I'm so wrapped up with Genie that I've forgotten that. I know you still need me, too. Pete will be there. I'll give him Genie if you need me. Just let me know."

"Thank you." Rose told him as Genie came back in the room.

He picked Genie up and put her on his knees. "Hey there, pretty little one!" he greeted her. "Do you want a braid today?"

She smiled and nodded her head. "The one like you did at Jacob's."

"Ah! An Empress of the Needle Braid!" he exclaimed as he brushed out her hair.

Rose asked, "A what?"

He started braiding her hair as he told the story. "There is a place. Far away were a brilliant Empress rules her kingdom. She was born to do this job. Her Father, was the last survivor of a catastrophe that ravaged his kingdom. In fact, he was assassinated the night the Empress was born. She was saved by two of the Royal staff and they rushed her to a... umm... wizard to keep her safe. The two guards were killed shortly afterwards, because they wouldn't tell where they had hidden her."

"Meanwhile, the wizard kept her safe, for all of those years as she grew up. He educated her, braided her hair every day, and even took her on grand adventures. Always being very careful not to let the Rebels know that the small girl he told everyone was his daughter, was in fact the hidden Empress."

"Wow! She sounds like me!" Genie said.

He smiled. "She was a lot like you. Full of adventure. Very spirited. Very strong. So, very clever."

Rose asked him, "What happened to her?"

"Ah... what you would expect. When she got to the right age, the wizard returned her to her kingdom. She inherited her father's title, 'Supreme Ruler of the Universe' and was crowned Empress. She ruled her kingdom for many years."

He finished braiding Genie's hair and she turned around to face him. "Daddy, why are you sad?"

He pointed at himself. "Me? I'm not sad."

"Yes, you are. I could feel how sad you were when you told me that story." Genie told him.

He smiled at her, "You, little one, are too smart for your own good."

Rose was sure Genie was right. She had felt it, too. Was he the wizard in that story?

He rubbed his face. "Genie. I have an idea. Let's let Rose sing to you. In your head."

Rose looked surprised. "What? What are you on about now?"

He reasoned. "This will be excellent for you both. You are perfectly capable to do that. I'll be here the entire time. Everything will be alright."

He looked at Genie. "Would that be alright? Rose sing to you?"

Genie smiled and nodded.

He picked up Genie and sat her more comfortability in his lap. "Now, since it's the first time you two have communicated telepathically, it would be better if you touched while you did it. Now, Genie. Rose can communicate without even touching people. It's brilliant. I usually have to touch you to be able to sing in your head."

Rose was still unsure about this. She had never telepathically communicated with a child. She wanted Genie to like her. Even love her, as much as she loved her Daddy.

"Come on, Rose. I'll help you." he took her hand and lay it on Genie's cheek. "Now, just like you do with me. Think of a song and send it to her."

Rose was so nervous. She laughed. "I can't even think of a song!"

He laughed at her. "Oh, Rose. Relax. Think about the song I sang to you last night." He started singing 'Witchcraft' to her again.

She smiled and closed her eyes. After just a few seconds, Genie smiled. "I can hear her!"

The Doctor beamed at them. Rose opened her eyes and looked up at her.

He asked, "You can hear the tune, or the words?"

"Some of the words! Why can't I hear your words?" Genie asked him.

"You had to know to listen for them. Girls usually have a sweeter voice, and Rose has the sweetest voice. I knew if you would be able to hear any words, they would be from her."

He spoke very deep and dramatically to make them both laugh. "Mens' voices are usually very rough and hard to understand. A child's head doesn't normally want to let the scary man voice in their head. So, they will just hear the tune of the song."

Genie laughed at him. "You are silly."

He laughed at her. Genie stood up on the sofa and hugged Rose. Rose was surprised, but hugged her back. The Doctor smiled at the both.

'We'll get there Rose. Our crazy little family. It just takes time. You're doing great.' he told her in her head.

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