Alicia

I have to watch my younger self every day while she wanders around the TARDIS waiting for the Doctor to come back from each adventure and I remember how lonely I was. Like I am now.

I don't go with him. I prefer trying to read every book in the library. The TARDIS helps me hide from my younger self as I sneak around when I get bored of my loop. I've created a home life here and I'm definitely not a companion.

Only the Doctor has access to me. Because only the Doctor knows I'm here. Until Donna comes again. I didn't meet her until later the first time so being able to hear more of their conversation this time cheers me up.

One day I heard the end of a conversation the Doctor was having with what I expected (though since I was here before, knew) was going to be our newest companion. It was quite funny.

I walked into the back of the console room licking the spoon I was using for ice cream.

"I just want a mate."

"You just want to mate!"

"No a mate. I just want a mate!"

"Good, because I'm not going out with you space boy."

I snorted and the Doctor heard my mental laugh. The lady went somewhere and the Doctor turned to me.

"Are you going to help me with all this then?" He gestured to a large amount of luggage outside the door.

"Oh no, you can bring all that in yourself space boy." I waved my spoon at him.

The woman came in and stopped when she saw me.

"You said you were alone."

"He said he wanted a friend."

"And who are you?"

"I'm his mate." I laughed.

"Ally!" cried the Doctor.

"Well it's true!"

"We've never.."

"You mean you've never and we are," I gave him a look. Somewhere between teasing and deadly serious.

"I know what your thinking and I want you to stop right now."

"Alright, alright. But you know she's going to ask eventually. "

"You two are crazy."

"It was nice meeting you Donna. Oh and you can call me Ally. Or Alicia if you want. It's up to you."

I walked away casually.

Doctor

Donna turned to me.

"What did she mean when she said she was your mate?"

'Ally what have you got me into?' I thought.

"It's complicated." was all I could muster up. I sighed before coming up with an explanation.

"Me and Ally, we're, well... married."

"So you do abduct people!"

"No, no, no! I didn't force her on board!"

It's no good, I need Ally to come back.

"Now will you help me out?" I say to seemingly empty air.

'Fine, but you asked.' I warned.

I re-enter the room.

"What the Doctor is trying to say is we are permanently and perfectly matched. We're not married according to Earth law. It's more... instinctual than that."

"You what?" We both sighed.

"You'll get it in time." I say.

Ally turns around. "I have to go. Ally is coming."

"I thought you were Ally?"

"I am, which is why she can never find out I'm here." Ally gave Donna a pointed look and went back the way she came.

Donna

As Ally left the Doctor busied himself with the console.

Another girl walked in, eight or nine years younger than the first and blonde.

She yawned. "Hello Doctor. I thought someone new was here."

"You look tired Ally." He said.

"You've been gone a long time."

Ally looked at me. "Hi I'm Ally."

"Donna." I got out.

"Ally, I'll just find a room for Donna and then we can go to bed.

Ally yawned again and then gave him a hug.

"I'll be in our room." She whispered and walked out.

The Doctor started carrying things down some stairs, Donna followed.

Donna

I waited until we were out of ear shot before speaking.

"Our room?" Donna whispered loudly.

"If we don't sleep in the same room we get nightmare's. Each others bad memories." His voice deepened dangerously like nightmares were a deadly disease. He mentally shrugged.

"How is that even possible?" She gawped vocally.

"It's part of how our relationship works. "

"How old is she?"

"About fourteen? Alicia tells me in a couple of years she'll be gone and she can come out of the dimension loop permanently. "

"What are you talking about?"

I am so confused.

"The older Ally appeared earlier in the time line a few years ago and has been hiding from the other Ally in a dimension loop since. Sometimes she comes out of the back door when something interests her but most of the time it's too dangerous. "

"How old was she when she came on board?"

"13, but I knew her long before then."

"13!"

"I swear I didn't abduct her."

"You're sure!"

"Absolutely. We had to live somewhere and this was the most convenient place. "

"Excuse me?"

"Look, I need to put Ally to bed now so I'll be gone for a while. Just, unpack or something. Okay?"

Alicia

I heard the Doctor's conversation with Donna and it didn't seem to be going well. I realised he was going to be away for a while so I figured it would be safe for me to keep Donna company for a couple of hours.

I startled Donna when I came to the door.

"Sorry. I just thought you'd like some company while the Doctor's gone. He'll be a few hours at least."

"Oh, yeah. Thanks."

"I know it's weird, Martha practically beat him to death. Rose sort of got it. I think she was the only person he told before they met me."

"Other people know about you?"

"Not many. Most of them find our relationship awkward. Unnatural. The thing is it's completely natural. Unusual maybe but not artificial. "

I think that helped, if only a little.

"How does it feel? Do you ever wish you weren't with him?"

I thought about it.

"To me it's completely normal. I don't know any different. In some ways I've been with him since I was six.

I mean things go wrong, we make mistakes but no. I've never wanted to leave him."

"Six, but he told me thirteen?"

"That's when I started living with him. I was six when this all started. Over the years he'd come visit me. About once a week in secret.

He even saved me from my own family. Two weeks after I first met him."

Donna's voice softened.

"What happened?"

"My uncle he would... I don't want to talk about it. But my family knew what he was doing. Eventually I was moved into foster care. Far away from my uncle."

I don't know what Donna would think from that. I don't tell many people about my uncle.

"Donna, he's not done anything wrong bringing me here. He might even have saved my life. At least twice. He's the only real family I've got."

I want Donna to understand just how much good the Doctor has done for me. Whatever he tells himself he's a good person.

Donna

I had plenty of time and plenty to think about after that.

Ally felt safe, possibly even safer than at home (although I can't be sure of that after seeing the kind of life he leads) and is perfectly happy with their relationship.

I still don't understand what's going on between them, I mean instinctual? Who has a relationship like that?

Who am I kidding I bet there's loads of aliens out there who have instinctual relationships.

Still, I have questions...