A/N – OK, so I'm very very very bad. I did the initial drafts of chapters one and two at work. Things have been a bit slow lately, giving me a chance to let my imagination run wild.
I became a Doctor Who fan when it was running on KTEH many many years ago. "The Keeper of Traken" is one of the episodes I still have on an ancient VHS tape. (The predecessor to DVDs and TiVo for all you youngsters out there!)
That old VHS tape is as close as I get to owning any part of Doctor Who. Of course, the Doctor belongs to the BBC.
Hold On To Life
By
Lariel Romeniel
Chapter Two – Future's Past
Nyssa could have been a common name on Traken. As common as Jennifer or Jane or Emily on Earth. But seeing the child in her father's arms, the Doctor knew. This wasn't just any little girl named Nyssa. This was his future companion, sucking on the two middle fingers of her left hand. A sweet faced child with huge eyes and a corona of short brown curls.
She was bloody adorable.
And her father. So young, so much younger than the first time they'd met. Black hair and beard, an unlined face. A face that had, the last time he saw it, been taken by an old enemy.
But this was long before the Master would steal this man's body. His eyes were warm and lively, not cold and calculating. His smile was open and friendly, his chest heaving a little from the effort of chasing his daughter.
"Please forgive Nyssa," said Tremas of Traken as he caught his breath. "She's just about mastered walking, but bouncing a ball at the same time seems to be a bit difficult for her."
The Doctor smiled, rubbing his head where he'd been hit. "Accidents will happen with children around. Quite all right, really. Looks like she keeps you running."
Tremas set Nyssa down again. She laughed, a high-pitched baby laugh, and tossed her ball at Rose, who caught it with a delighted grin and tossed it back. Apparently Rose's assessment of children as "little terrors" didn't extend to those under two years old.
"Running? I suppose," Tremas said, hunkering down to get to eye level with them. "But when you two have children of your own you'll understand that it's not such a bad thing. I see your wife already has a knack for little ones."
Rose looked up sharply. "We're not married," she said.
Tremas blinked. "Oh. I thought…"
The Doctor stepped in quickly. "Not married yet," giving Rose's hand a significant squeeze. He'd suddenly remembered a long-ago conversation with Nyssa about social customs. Public hand-holding on Traken was virtually an announcement of engagement. The way he and Rose had been wrapped around each other earlier was considered very intimate. He didn't want to get tossed off the planet for violating their codes of public conduct.
Rose was learning. Without missing a beat she said, "Yeah, the wedding is next month. Seems like an eternity away, doesn't it, darling?"
Oh, so she was going to enjoy this! Well, no reason for him not to enjoy it too. "Dearest, I've been asking you to just slip away with me and elope. But you keep worrying about upsetting your mother. By the way," he said, extending a hand to Tremas and ignoring the sudden flash in her eyes, "My name is John Smith. And this is Rose."
The other man's eyes twinkled. "Glad to meet you, John Smith and Rose. I am Tremas. And you've already met Nyssa." The child had settled down onto the grass and was currently conducting a detailed inspection of the Doctor's right trainer.
"Yes, she's made quite an impression," the Doctor chuckled. "Especially on the top of my head!" He grinned at Tremas' suddenly panicked expression. "Not to worry, Tremas! No permanent damage!"
"Got a thick skull, this one," Rose said, a little too sweetly. Payback? Well, he should have expected that. He'd thrown the gauntlet by bringing up her mother. Of course she wouldn't let it pass.
"Well, that's good," Tremas said uncertainly. These strangers were not quite what he was accustomed to. "It's not our custom to welcome visitors to Traken with violence."
"Is it that obvious that we're not from around here?" the Doctor asked. Tremas smiled again.
"Our people are not as…publicly affectionate as you. But do not be concerned. There are many visitors here today, John Smith. From many worlds. Aren't you here for the Consular Installation Ball tonight?"
Rose glanced at the Doctor and gave his hand a squeeze. Obviously she wanted to go, like any young woman would. He knew very well that Jackie had raised her on bedtime fantasies of magic balls and charming princes. Too often, he'd shown her ghost stories and tales from the crypt. Here was a chance to change that. "Well, we'd heard about it," he told Tremas. "But we weren't sure…."
"Please come as my guests," Tremas invited them. "It's the least I can do after my daughter assaulted you," he continued, laughter in his voice.
Well, why not? "All right then," he said, standing and pulling Rose up off the ground. Sweeping Nyssa back up, Tremas stood with them. The Doctor reached out and shook his hand again. "Thank you for the kind invitation, Tremas," he said, and reached for Rose's hand once more. "Come on, dearest. Let's go put on our dancing shoes!"
