"How long have we been gone?" Piper asked, stepping out of the Tardis.

The Doctor had landed them at the Powell estate. "About 12 hours," he answered.

"Right, won't be long. Just got to pop in and see mum quickly." Rose laughed.

"And Grams," Piper cut in.

"And tell them what exactly?"

"I dunno. We've been to the year five billion and only been gone what, 12 hours? No, I'll just tell her I spent the night round Piper's. See ya later." She ran off.

"Hey, I was gonna use that excuse with you and Jackie. Now what am I gonna tell her?" Piper whined. She lifted a finger and pointed it at him. "Don't go anywhere," she warned.

"Wouldn't dream of it."

Piper ran to the doors of the flats. She ran up the steps to get to her front door. It was a good thing she still had her key on her otherwise she'd be in trouble. Opening the door, she was surprised to see her grandmother standing there in a purple dressing gown and looking tired. Her gaped as she caught sight of Piper. Her face went pale and she dropped the cup she was holding. It smashed on the ground, leaking tea on the floor. "Oh my god. It's you. It's really you!"

Piper was confused. Why was she making such a fuss about her coming home? She pulled her in for a hug and Piper could feel her shaking. "Grams, what is it? What's wrong?"

"What the hell do you mean what's wrong?" She shouted. "Where the hell have you been?"

"What do you mean?"

But she couldn't answer as she began to cry. Piper was shocked. What was going on? A few moments later she had her answer. The Doctor burst in sheepishly, stopping to look at them both. "Um, it's not 12 hours. It's 12 months. Sorry."

Piper's eyes widened and she gaped at him. "A year?!" She hissed lowly. She had been gone for a year? A whole year? No wonder her grandmother looked like she'd seen a ghost when she walked through the door. A few moments later the three of them stepped out of the flat. Piper watched as her grandmother locked the door and said nothing when she grabbed her wrist tightly. They were only going to Jackie's but she had insisted on going with them, probably just doesn't want to let me out of sight, she mused and she couldn't really blame the woman. As they got closer, they could here Jackie yelling. Piper winced, knowing she was about to get the same treatment.

Jackie turned to look at them as they walked in. She rushed forwards, pulling Piper into a hug. "Sit down," she told her. Piper moved to sit by Rose, feeling like a child caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Rose was glaring angrily at the Doctor who stood by, watching.

Rose leaned over to Piper and whispered in her ear "She's called the police by the way."

Piper groaned. "Oh, great."

Rose smirked. "So how'd it go with your Grams? You can already guess how mine went."

Piper raised her eyebrows. "I can see that. Um, you do realize that they probably won't even trust us to go the shops now, right? I already feel like I'm trapped in a prison."

Rose let out a laugh before she could stop herself. Big mistake on her part and she cut herself off when she realized that. Jackie turned to glare at her daughter. "The hours I've sat here - the hours we've sat here! Days, weeks, months, all on our own! We thought you were both dead and where were you? Travelling! What the hell does that mean, 'travelling'?" Jackie yelled. She turned to the policeman. "You ask em. She won't tell me. That's all she keeps saying is 'travelling'."

"That's what we were doing," Rose answered.

"With your passport in the draw, Piper?" Piper's grandmother, Penny, yelled. Piper winced.

"It's just one lie after another," Jackie added.

Rose and Piper looked at each other. "We meant to call. We really did but we just...forgot." Piper flinched and nudged Rose harshly. Wrong thing to say Rose, Piper thought to herself. She could see their hurt faces. Definitely the wrong thing to say. She looked around, trying to distract herself from the awkward moment Rose had unintentionally created.

"What, you forgot for a year?" Penny asked. Jackie smiled at her gratefully. "While we're just sitting here? We don't believe you. You're going to tell us right now, young lady!"

"Actually, it's my fault." The Doctor said, finally stepping in. "You see, I sort of employed them as my, um, companions."

"When you say 'companions' is this a sexual relationship?" The policeman asked.

"No," they all said at the same time.

"Then what is it?" Jackie stepped towards him. "Because you, you walk in here, all charms and smiles and the next thing I know, they disappear off the face of the Earth. So c'mon, how old are you then? 40, 45? Where'd ya meet them, on the internet? Do ya go online and pretend to be a doctor?"

"I am a doctor," he protested.

"Prove it. Stitch this, mate!" Jackie said as she slapped him. Both girls flinched. It looked like it hurt.

After taking a shower and changing, Piper met up with Rose and the Doctor. Rose was sitting on a wall while the Doctor leaned next to her. "I can't tell her. I can't even begin. They're never gonna forgive us," Rose was telling him. "We missed a year. Was it good?"

"Middling," he commented.

"You're so useless."

"Well if it's this much trouble, are you both gonna stay here now?"

"I dunno. Can't do that to her again though."

"Well she's not coming with us," he said firmly. This made them laugh.

"No chance," Rose bit her lip at the thought.

"I don't do families," he told them.

"She slapped you!"

"900 years in time and space, I've never been slapped by someone's mother."

"Your face," Piper teased.

"You got lucky," Rose told him.

He looked at her incredulously. "Lucky? How's that then?"

Rose smirked. "If you think my mum's bad. Then you've never been slapped by Penny Halliwell before. Trust me, I've seen people get on her bad side and let me tell ya...it's not pretty. Right Piper?"

Piper nodded. "Oh, yeah!" The Doctor paled at this causing the girls to break into hysterics.

"When you say 900 years...?"

"That's my age."

"You're 900 years old?"

"Yeah."

"Jackie was right. That's one hell of an age gap," Piper commented.

"You know, there's so much that we've seen but we can't talk to anyone else about it. They'd think we're nuts," Rose paced thoughtfully. There was silence for a while when suddenly there was a loud noise. They looked up to see a spaceship flying towards them. They watched as it crashed into big ben. "Oh, that's just not fair," she moaned.

"You're an alien magnet, I swear." The Doctor just grinned. He grabbed their hands, pulling them down the street. He was a bit disappointed to see it was blocked off. "It's blocked off."

"We're miles from the centre. It must be gridlocked. The whole of London must be closed off."

"I know. I can't believe I'm here to see this. It's fantastic!"

"Well it seems your poor driving skills do come in handy after all," Piper teased.

"Oi, watch it you!" He teased back.

"Did you know this was gonna happen?" Rose questioned.

"Nope."

"Do you recognise the ship?" Piper asked.

"Nope."

"Do you know why it crashed?" Rose asked.

"Nope."

"So glad we got you," Rose said sarcastically.

"I bet you are. This is what I travel for, Rose. To see history happening right in front of us."

"Well let's go see it then. We've got the Tardis," Piper said.

But he shook his head. "Not a good idea. They've already got one spaceship in London. Don't wanna shove another one on top," he replied..

"But yours is different. Yours is a box. No one's gonna notice."

"In an emergency like this? You'd be surprised. No, the Tardis stays where it is," he said firmly.

Rose sighed. "So history's happening and we're stuck here?"

"Yes. Yes we are."

"We could always do what everyone else does," Piper suggested. The Doctor looked at her in confusion. "We could watch it on the TV."

They walked back to Rose's flat. Rose and Piper sitting on the couch and the Doctor on the chair. He flicked through the channels, all of them were the same. All talking about the Big Ben crash. Jackie had some friends around. Piper and Rose sat up straighter when the man stated they had found a body in the crash. They barely paid any attention to Jackie who was going on about someone asking her out. Piper giggled as the channel changed. She watched as the Doctor wrestled with a toddler for the remote. Once he got it back, he turned it back to the news. Piper's eyes widened as the toddler began to cry. She never could stand it when babies or children cried. So she got up and headed to the toddler. The Doctor watched her as she bent down to pick him up. "Hey," she soothed softly, rocking him. She didn't notice the Doctor's eyes soften as he watched them. It didn't take long for him to stop crying but just in case, she began to sing to him , hoping to calm him down. His eyes widened as he listened.

Skies are crying, I am watching, catching teardrops in my hands.

Only silence, as it's ending, like we never had a chance.

Do you have to make me feel like there's nothing left of me?

You can take everything I have.

You can break everything I am.

Like I'm made of glass.

Like I'm made of paper.

Go on and try to tear me down, I will be rising from the ground.

Like a skyscraper. Like a skyscraper.

As the smoke clears, I awaken and untangle you from me.

Would it make you feel better to watch me while I bleed?

All my windows, still are open but I'm standing on my feet!

You can take everything I have.

You can break everything I am.

Like I'm made of glass.

Like I'm made of paper.

Go on and try to tear me down, I will be rising from the ground.

Like a skyscraper. Like a skyscraper.

Go run, run, run, I'm gonna stay right here.

Watch you disappear, yeah-oh.

Go run, run, run, yeah it's a long way down.

But I am closer to the clouds up here.

You can take everything I have.

You can break everything I am.

Like I'm made of glass.

Like I'm made of paper.

Oh!

Go on and try to tear me down!

I will be rising from the ground.

Like a skyscraper. Like a skyscraper!

Like a skyscraper. Like a skyscraper!

Like a skyscraper.

She finished softly. She hadn't noticed to whole room had gone quiet when she started singing. What she did hear however, was the clapping that came after it. Startled, she looked up to see everyone staring at her. She blushed furiously.

"You know, you should be a professional singer. You've got the voice for it." Jackie told her. The Doctor nodded to himself. He'd try and get her to sing for him later. She had a beautiful yet powerful voice. That was something he couldn't wait to hear again. But for now, he turned his attention back to the screen.

Later that night, The Doctor decided to leave the flat. It was becoming a little too much in there - too human for his liking. He was surprised to see Piper sitting outside. He smiled as an idea came to him. He walked up to her, not wanting Rose to notice. "Hey," he said quietly. "Wanna come with me to the Tardis?" Piper nodded. She stood up and made her way to get Rose when he stopped her. He shook his head. She got the message. He just wanted them for whatever reason. She happily followed him back to the Tardis. He opened the door to let them in. She watched as he set up a scan. He turned around to face her, a hopeful look on his face. She was confused. Why did he look hopeful? "So...while we wait for that. Will you...sing for me?"

"You want me to sing for you?"

He nodded.

"Waddya want me to sing?"

"Anything. Your choice."

She thought for a moment before smiling. "Okay. Don't suppose you have a microphone?"

"Should be one somewhere," he said looking around til he found it. He handed it to her and she flicked through her phone for the right music. She took a deep breath and began to sing.

I searched for love when the night came and it closed in.

I was alone, but you found me where I was hiding.

And now I'll never, ever be the same, it was the sweetest voice that called my name.

Sayin.

You're not alone for I am here let me wipe away your every fear.

My love, I've never left your side.

I have seen you through the darkest night.

And I'm the one who's loved you all your life.

All of your life.

You cry yourself to sleep cause the hurt is real and the pain cuts deep.

All hope seems lost with heartache your closest friend and everyone else long gone.

You've had to face the music on your own but there is a sweeter song that calls you home.

Sayin.

You're not alone for I am here let me wipe away your every tear.

My love, I've never left your side.

I have seen you through the darkest night.

And I'm the one who's loved you all your life.

All your life.

Faithful and true forever.

My love will carry you.

You're not alone for I, I am here let me wipe away your every fear, oh yeah!

My love, I've never left your side.

I have seen you through the darkest night.

You're darkest night.

And I'm the one who's loved you all your life.

All your life.

When she had finished she looked at him. "Wow," he said quietly. "You're really good. Nice song. What's it called?"

"You're not alone," she said.

The Doctor was stunned that the lyrics came so close to home and she didn't even realise it. He was alone. He did have dark moments, he did have fears and sometimes it seemed that hope just wasn't enough. She had put all that into one song. She was amazing! He had a feeling she was going to become someone he wouldn't be able to live without. And shockingly, he didn't mind. After travelling with her a few times he found he didn't want to let her go, hadn't really wanted to take her back home. He wanted to keep her with him. He wanted her to stay. She was something special. With a wheezing, groaning sound, they disappeared into the night.

A while later, Rose stood outside where the Tardis had been. Mickey had told her he had left so she had run out to see if it were true. And it was. But couldn't have! He had given her a key! He wouldn't just leave her! A second later with a gust of wind, the Tardis began to materialise. Rose panicked when she realised her mum was still there, witnessing it. "Mum, mum! Go inside! Mum, don't just stand there, go inside! Mum! Oh, blimey." Rose sighed and walked inside. The Doctor was standing over a screen. Piper was standing nearby, watching him. Rose was shocked. Why would he take Piper and not her? The Doctor didn't seem to notice the conflict of emotions Rose was feeling. "Alright, so I lied. I went and had a look. But the whole crash landing's a fake." He didn't notice Mickey and Jackie. "It's too perfect. I mean hitting Big Ben, come on! So I thought, 'let's go have a look-"

"My mum's here," Rose interrupted him.

"Oh, that's just what I need!" He turned to Rose. "Don't you dare make this place domestic!"

Jackie was too busy looking around. Mickey walked straight up to the Doctor. "You ruined my life Doctor! They thought Piper and Rose were dead. I was a murder suspect because of you!"

"See what I mean? Domestic."

"I bet you don't even remember my name."

The Doctor rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Rickey," he said, turning to face him.

"Mickey."

"No, it's Rickey."

"I think I know my own name," he insisted.

"You think you know your own name? How stupid are you?" He mocked.

It was at that moment, Jackie turned and ran out the door. Rose made to run after her but stopped. "Mum! Don't! It's not like that!" She turned to Piper. "Make sure they don't fight." A few seconds later she ran back in. "That was a real spaceship."

"So it's all lies? What is it then, are they invading?"

"Funny way to invade, putting the whole world on red alert," Mickey said from behind him. Piper smiled at him. He smiled back, happy he had at least one person on his side.

"Good point. So...what are they up to?" The Doctor stood under the console, fiddling with something.

"So, what are you doing down there?" Mickey asked, crouching down, watching the Doctor.

"Rickey-" he started.

"It's Mickey," he corrected.

"Rickey, If I were to tell you what I was doing to the controls of my frankly magnificent ship, would you even begin to understand?"

"I suppose not." He grumbled.

"Well shut it then," he told him rudely.

That's when Piper decided to step in and help Mickey, if only a little. In truth, she was pissed that Rose wasn't doing this for him. She was SUPPOSED to be his girlfriend and not once had she made a move to defend him. "But that's the whole point though, isn't it?" This made them pause and look at her questioningly. "That's why you travel, to learn right? That's why you have us, so we can learn and see the Universe. It's the same with Mickey. You say he doesn't understand which is true but mocking him instead of explaining properly isn't gonna help is it?"

Mickey laughed while the Doctor honest to God pouted. This made Mickey laugh even more. Neither of them had been expecting that. "I suppose," the Doctor muttered.

"Well then," she smirked, knowing exactly what she had done. Someone HAD to defend Mickey and it didn't look like Rose was going to do it. Mickey looked at her proudly. He knew the Doctor had this charm about him that made girls like him. So for her not to fall for those charms made him feel better and proud of her at the same time. He was happy, because it meant she was able to resist those kind of men that had the ability to sway women to them which wasn't necessarily a good thing and meant she knew exactly what she wanted in her life so far. Rose didn't seem to be able to, too hooked up on the travelling and the alien that seemed to pull her in despite his rudeness and everything else. An image of Earth appeared on the monitor, showing a red dot moving around it.

"That's the spaceship on its way to Earth," he pointed to the screen. "Except, hold on, see? The spaceship did a slingshot round the Earth before it landed."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that it had to come from here in the first place," Piper said before the Doctor could. "It went up and came back down. Whoever they are, they've been here for a while. So the question is: Who are they, why do a slingshot and come back around and what are they up to?" She looked at the Doctor for approval.

"I think that's more than one question," he pointed out teasingly.

"Bite me," she responded.

"You know, you're good at this," he nudged her.

"How many channels do you get?" Mickey asked.

"All the basic packages," he answered.

"Do ya get sports channels?"

The Doctor rolled his eyes. "Yes, I get the football." He frowned suddenly. "Hold on, I know that lot." People in uniform were being taken to a room. "UNIT. United Nations Intelligence Taskforce. Good people."

"How do you know them?" Rose asked.

"Cause he's worked for them." Piper and Rose turned to Mickey. "Yeah, don't think I sat on my ass for 12 months, Doctor. I read up on you. You look deep enough on the internet or in history books, and there's his name. Followed by the list of the dead."

Piper glanced at the Doctor. Pain flashed through his eyes before disappearing. "That's nice. Good boy, Rickey."

"If you know them why don't you help them?" Piper wanted to know.

"Wouldn't recognize me. Changed a bit since the old days. Besides, there's aliens everywhere. Fake aliens, wanna keep this alien out of the mix," he pointed to himself. "Need to keep the Tardis out of sight. Rickey, you've got a car. You can do some driving."

"Where to?"

They all piled out of the Tardis. "We need to have a look at that spaceship."

Above them, there was a helicopter with a spotlight shining down on them. "Step away from the box and raise your hands. You are under arrest. Do not move." Police cars surrounded the area. Mickey ran. Jackie ran out but was held back by the military. "Rose! Piper!" But there was too much noise and they didn't hear her.

The Doctor raised his hands and smiled. "Take us to your leader."

A few Minutes later, they were all sitting in the back of a police car. "Bit posh," Rose said. "If I'd known it was gonna be like this, I would've done it years ago."

"We're not being arrested. We're being escorted."

"Where to?"

"Where do ya think? Downing street."

"You're kidding!"

"I'm not."

"10 Downing street?" Rose asked, laughing.

"That's the one." He looked at Piper who had been silent the whole time. "Are you alright?" He asked, concerned. "You haven't spoken in a while."

"It's better that way," she said quickly.

"Why's that then?"

"Car sickness."

His eyes widened in mock horror. "You're not going to be sick are you. Don't be sick on me!" He pulled her into a hug. He thought of the ways he could distract her. "Focus on me," he told her. "That should help." She nodded. "Anyway. Hate to say it but Mickey's right. Over the years I've visited, I've been noticed."

"And now they need you?"

"Like it said on the News. They're looking for alien experts. And who's the biggest of them all?" Piper burst out laughing. They looked at her curiously. "What?" He asked. "What's so funny?"

"You! What you said!"

"What did I say?" Rose smirked. She had a feeling she knew what she was talking about. Piper always did have a bit of a filthy mind. The Doctor's apparent obliviousness made Piper laugh even more. "What?"

"You said 'who's the biggest of them all!"

"So?"

Rose leaned over to whisper in his ear. He just looked at her in confusion. She rolled her eyes as she leant back in. A second later, his blue eyes widened and his cheeks went bright pink. "Oh," was all he said.

When they got out of the car, there were people taking pictures of them. They were directed inside to a waiting room. A man walked into the room. He looked around. "Ladies and Gentlemen, can we convene? Quick as you can please. It's this way and may I remind you, I.D cards are to be worn at all time." The man walked up to them, handing the Doctor his I.D card. "Here's your I.D. I'm sorry but your companions don't have clearance."

"I don't go anywhere without them."

You're the code 9, not them. It's The Doctor, right? They'll have to stay outside."

"They're staying with me," the Doctor responded firmly.

The man sighed. "Look, even I don't have clearance. I can't let them in. I'm sorry."

"It's fine, Doctor. He's just doing his job," Piper said. The Man looked at her gratefully.

"Excuse me, are you the Doctor?" A woman asked.

"Yes."

"Not now. Can't you go home?" The man's eyes slanted as he regarded her.

Piper pushed him towards the doorway. "Go. We'll be fine."

"I'm gonna have to leave you with security," the man told her. She nodded and looked around. Rose was nowhere to be seen. She groaned in annoyance. Typical.

"It's all right. I'll look after her," the new woman said, having been eavesdropping in their conversation and putting her arm around the girl. "Let me be of some use." They began to walk. "Walk with me. Just keep walking. Don't look round. Harriet Jones, MP, Flydale North." They stopped by the stairs. "Your friend. He's an expert, is that right? He knows about...aliens?"

"Yeah. Why?"

She began to cry. Piper moved to comfort her but she took the girl's hand, dragging her to another room. She walked to a cupboard and pulled out what looked to be human skin. It was a human skin. "He turned the body into a suit. A disguise for the creature inside."

"It's fine. It's gonna be fine. Trust me, we're gonna stop this. They must have some serious tech to be doing this. If we can find it, maybe we can use it against them." She moved to a wardrobe and opened it. She jumped back, startled when a body fell out.

"Oh, my God! Is that-"

"Harriet, for God's sake!" The man from before walked into the room, looking at the woman - Harriet. His demeanor suggested this wasn't the first time he'd dealt with her and had finally grown tired of it. "This has gone beyond the joke! You cannot just wonder-" He stopped and looked down at the body. "Oh my God. That's the Prime Minister!"

"Ohhh," A short blonde plump woman slowly walked in, shutting the door behind her. "Has someone been naughty?"

"That's not possible. He left this afternoon! The Prime Minister left Downing street. He was driven away!

"And who told you that?" She grinned, walking over to him. "Hmm? Me." She lifted her hand to remove her hair from her forehead. Piper paled when she saw a zipper running across. She grabbed it and a blue light lit up the room. They watched as a green alien struggled to get out of the body. It growled. It had black eyes and huge claws. It stood up to it's full height, grabbing the man and pinning him against the wall. He struggled against the creature. It looked at them. "We are the Slitheen," it said.

Piper needed a plan and she needed one fast! She had to find Rose and the Doctor. Even if it killed her.