XXXXXXxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxXXxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Chapter 58 – A Walk on the Beach

The Doctor leaned against a palm tree on his private island watching the ocean waves. The wind blew in his hair as he breathed in the salty air. He wished he had brought his sunglasses. The sun reflected off of the bright sand and water. He squinted his eyes as they adjusted to the bright light.

He was wearing a t-shirt and a pair of his football shorts. He could feel his bare feet in the warm sand. Consumed in his own thoughts, he never noticed someone had walked up beside of him.

"Well, hello there, Grandfather! What are you looking at?"

He turned and to his complete astonishment, Susan stood next to him. She was wearing a cute blue blouse, and a pair of shorts. She was carrying her shoes as she walked in the sand barefoot.

He looked at her in shock. "Susan. What are you doing here?"

She smiled at him. "Grandfather. You must be confused. We had planned to walk on the beach together this afternoon. Our evening constitutional. Remember?"

It all made sense to him. He laughed at his own embarrassment. "I'm sorry, my dear. You're completely right. Shall we?"

Susan hugged his arm as they started down the beach together. The wind blew in her hair as she shook her head. "Okay. You said that you were going to tell me something that would knock my socks off today."

"And I'm noticing you didn't even wear socks. You must have believed me." He teased her.

She laughed at him. "You always tell me the best stories, Grandfather. What is it?"

He smiled as he leaned over and kissed her head. "Oh, my child. This one isn't a story. This one is completely true."

Susan smiled as she looked up at him. "Oh, that's what you have always said about all of your stories. Even when I was a small child. All of those couldn't have been true. What a mad life you've had indeed."

He laughed, "That's very true. But we're all stories, if you think about it. Aren't we?"

She smiled at him, "Indeed. I like this new you, Grandfather. The beard is odd, though. I never thought I would see you in a beard."

He smiled at her as he rubbed it. "I've grown fond of it, although I don't like it too long. It is extremely itchy. I don't know how your Uncle Braxiatel wore one for so many years."

Susan shook her head as she looked out at the sea. "I don't remember that. Was that before I was born?"

The Doctor rubbed his beard, "I suppose it was. He wore a beard. Similar to the one I have now, but kept it longer. He would sometimes turn the ends up in an arc on mustache. It always made the children laugh."

Susan laughed. "This must have been when you where both Time Burners."

He nodded his head and took a deep breath. "Yeah. Right around that time."

Susan smiled back at him as they continued to walk on the beach. The surf came up and washed over their bare feet. "I love this place, Grandfather. I can't believe you have your own island here on this planet. Although, I shouldn't be too surprised. You are far away from all of these people here now. You are safe. No one can find you here."

He shook his head. "Ah, I still worry about that my child. I've even made a force field that surrounds the entire place. You have to have special permission to come on the island."

She smiled at him. "Like you helped Rassilon make back home? That was so brilliant, it was. What have you named this place?"

He smiled as he looked at her. "I honestly haven't thought of a name. I think of it as my Island of Solitude. Like Superman had."

She stopped walking as she laughed at him. "Oh, Grandfather. You always loved that story. Island of Solitude, indeed."

"Well, what would you call it?" he asked her as he smiled.

She tapped her lips with her finger as they began to walk together again. "Maybe Treasure Island? No, you hated that book. Whatever happened to it?"

He chuckled, "I traded it for a copy of the Time Machine. That is a much better story."

Susan giggled as she continued to consider, "Geez. A name for your island. Oh! I have an idea, Grandfather! How about Prospero's Island?"

He smiled, "From Shakespeare's play, 'The Tempest'! You know, that's a swell idea. Home to Prospero the Sorcerer during his exile! Granted, it's never called that in the play. It honestly is never is even named."

Susan smiled at him as she quoted, " 'Now my charms are all o'erthrown, and what strength I have's mine own'. My dear Grandfather. Doesn't that sound like something you would say?"

He nodded his head and smiled. "Which is most faint, 'tis is true." He stopped walking and looked at her. He couldn't shake the feeling of confusion he felt at seeing her there with him.

She looked at him curiously. "What is it? You look as if you've seen a ghost."

He smiled and shook his head. "It's nothing, my dear. I'm just happy to see you. I'm sorry. What were we talking about?"

Susan rolled her eyes as she took his hand and continued to walk down the beach. "You must really be confused today. Walk a bit with me, it always clears your head. It always has."

He nodded his head as he walked with her. He still couldn't shake the feeling something wasn't right. He sighed, "I've been thinking, Susan. I'm going to be living here on this planet for a while. What do you think about me just being John instead of The Doctor?"

Susan stopped walking and laughed at him. "Like, all of the time? You hate it here."

"I've started to like it."

"And taking a name from here? That's not like you." Susan smiled at him.

"Maybe I'm growing up." He reasoned.

She laughed, "I doubt it."

He put his hands on his hips and looked at her sternly. "Now, young lady!"

She laughed at him and covered her mouth. "I'm very sorry. This is just all very surprising to me. Are you alright?"

He shook his head and smiled. "You are always so silly. I'm trying to have a serious conversation here." He started to walk down the beach again. She caught up to him and took his hand.

"I'm sorry, Grandfather. You are so sensitive. Why does it always have to be your way?"

Her words sounded familiar to him, although he didn't agree with her. He shook his head. "Sweetheart, it doesn't always have to be my way."

"It does! If you don't get your way, you just…. Pout. You've always done that." Susan explained.

He stopped and chuckled as he looked at her. "Yeah, I do. I really do need to grow up. Geez."

Susan laughed at him. "Says the oldest man on this planet at the moment."

He smiled at her, "As he looks at the oldest lady on the planet at this moment. Tell me, Susan. Why did you want to stop being called by your name? Your name was beautiful. You were named for your grandmother, sweetheart."

Susan nodded her head. "I know that. I knew it was too painful for you to hear it, or even say it. Everytime you would call my name, I could feel the pain from you. I couldn't do that to you anymore. There is such power in a name. You know that."

He nodded his head. "That's very true. But, still Arkytior. That's probably the most beautiful name there ever was. In the entire Universe. It has such love wrapped in it. It should really mean love."

Susan smiled at him. "You are really confused today. It doesn't mean love. It means Rose-"

Then he remembered. "Rose! That's right! That's what I wanted to talk to you about! You'll never believe what I have done!"

Susan laughed at his excitement.

"Susan! I've done something! I can't remember what it was. Something about Rose? My Rose…. I wanted to tell you. You won't believe it." He was so confused. He was beginning to get frustrated. He hit the side of his head and complained. "Why can't I think straight?"

Susan took both of his hands. "This is normal, Grandfather. Let's take it one step at a time. Okay. Rose. Is this a woman?"

He smiled, "Yes! She's beautiful. She's dear to me. She's my other half."

Susan looked confused. "Other half? She's your wife?"

His eyes got big as he remembered. "Yes! She is. She's from here! She's a human! I married her! We're joined!"

Susan raised her eyebrow at him and stared. "Oh, that's the craziest thing I've ever heard! You are mad, Grandfather." She walked away from him.

He laughed and grabbed her hand. "No, Susan. It's true! I swear to you."

Susan laughed in disbelief. She took his hands in hers. "Sweet Grandfather. How old are you now?"

"I'm not mad!" He laughed, "I promise this is true! We have two children!"

Susan smiled at him. "What are their names?"

He put his hand on his head and thought hard. He couldn't remember. "Why can't I think straight? What's going on?"

Susan looked in his eyes. "Take it slow again. Your children. Their names. What are they called?"

He ran his hand though his hair as he thought. "I can't speak the names aloud. Someone will hear. Someone will know. It wouldn't be safe for them. It has to remain hidden."

Susan smiled, "Grandfather, not those children. These children with this human named Rose. You can't have children with a human. Are they adopted?"

He remembered, "Yes! One of them is! A girl. Something like Sara Jane. No, that's not right. Sara… Why can't I think? This is so frustrating! Susan, what's wrong with me?"

Susan held both of his hands and smiled encouragingly. "Nothing is wrong, Grandfather. Your memories are there. Slow down and you'll remember."

He nodded as he thought. He snapped his fingers. "Sam! The baby is named Sam! After my friend who died. And the Brigadier! I've told you about him, haven't I?"

Susan giggled, "You named a child Brigadier? Do you like this child?"

He didn't take notice of her words. "No. That's not right either. Susan, I'm so confused."

"I can tell. Let's walk a bit and maybe you will think of it. You need to give your mind a rest. Too many things have to run through there. Does that ever get too loud?"

He shook his head. "No. It's been there my entire life. I wouldn't know what to do without it."

They walked on the beach together for a while in silence. They held hands as they walked in the surf. The Doctor tried to remember what all he wanted to tell Susan, but continued to not be able to think straight.

Susan finally broke the silence. "What sort of things does Rose like to do? What is she like?"

He smiled at the mention of her name and relaxed. "Oh, Susan. She's lovely. Completely wonderful. She is brilliant, too. She understands physics and has an amazing understanding of the universe. She doesn't even realize it yet. She managed to cross the dimensions to come find me. She brought me back to life. Twice. She even created fixed points in the universe so I would end up here with her. I can't figure out how she did that. She's just beginning. She is amazing already, and will be completely unbelievable in the time to come. I can't believe she loves me so much."

Susan laughed as she turned to look at him. "Well, that's all about her mind. That's so you. Falling for someone because of how smart they are."

He sighed as he put his hands on his hips. "That wasn't the reason. She is brave. She's not like these others here. She is…different. I can't even explain it, Susan."

Susan smiled at him. "Grandfather. You've been so unhappy for so long. You seem so happy, right now. Has this Rose made you this happy?"

He smiled as he nodded his head. "Absolutely. She's amazing. Why can't I remember Sam's name? And that other child?"

Susan wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him. "I've never seen you so happy. I'm so thrilled for you."

He held her and laughed, "I am happy, sweetheart."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxxxx