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A Recognised Gain

Part Seven

The Doctor walked forwards clutching Venetia's hand – she was walking along behind him – the Doctor had made sure of it. He needed to keep her safe, she was his daughter, his own flesh and blood – she was all he had left of Rose. She clutched his hand nervously – excited about the new world and the new people, and worried about the possible danger that could ensue. The walked slowly across the golden sand – their shoes sinking into their warm depths, they had both removed their jackets now due to the twin suns beating down on them. Venetia's black dress floated behind her in the gentle breeze, her blonde curls had escaped the black ribbons that now hung lifelessly by her ears. The two black figures moved towards the horizon approaching the five figures that were shadowed by the suns that lay behind them. The Doctor took a deep breath in he was going to protect Venetia no matter what – he had promised Rose that.

The Doctor lay across the double bed in Roses' flat, her head rested on his chest as she listened to his hearts beat, he held her close wishing for this moment to never end. Rose entwined her fingers with his and gently squeezed

'Doctor…?' she began slowly – almost cautiously. He looked down into her troubled hazel eyes, he gently stroked a lose lock of hair off her face playing with the hair between his fingers.

'Yeah?' he asked as he watched her mouth move trying to decide what to say.

'If something were to happen to me' she began. The Doctor went rigid and sat up looking at her seriously

'Don't say stuff like that' he warned her. She sat up beside him and grasped both his hands

'Please – I need to say this' she told him watching his eyes carefully.

'But Rose-' the Doctor began wishing for her to see how the words of her death were affecting him. She held one of her hands to his lips and moved forward so they were almost touching, she framed his face with his hands

'Doctor, if something were to happen to me I want you to know that I want Venetia to live with you.' she told him softly a gentle smile tugging at her lips. The Doctor opened his mouth again to say something but she shook her head

'I want you to take her in the Tardis and show her the stars. Show her everything you showed me – make her dreams come true like mine did' she traced her fingers down his face her finger tips dancing on his skin. The Doctor looked at her as though he wasn't sure what to say, he eventually nodded

'Is that what you really want?' he asked her, she smiled at him –a knowing smile

'Yes. I want her to know what I know' she told him, her hands moving behind his neck

'Okay' he simply agreed, she grinned at him before turning serious

'But promise me you'll keep her safe' she whispered as she settled herself against his chest. He held her close and pressed a kiss to her head

'I'll protect her – with my life' he vowed to her. Rose smiled up at him

'Thank you' she whispered before she kissed him. Her laughter filled the air as he pulled the sheets up over theirs heads as they lost themselves in the kiss.

The Doctor clenched his fist

'With my life' he murmured to himself. Venetia looked up at him and saw his eyes had hardened and his face at set into a determined frown. Venetia could see everything in him that her mother has spoken of, she remembered her mum telling her stories of him when she was younger.

Venetia was tucked up in bed, her Winnie the Pooh teddy tucked under her chin, her brown eyes stared out of the darkness at Rose. She gently pushed the curls back off her head and kissed her forehead

'Goodnight sweetheart' she told her warmly as she began to stand up

'Mummy!' Venetia called out, Rose turned around and smiled at her daughter

'Yes Vennie?' she asked

'Tell me about Daddy' Venetia asked in small voice. Rose looked at her for a moment then sat back down on the edge of the bed – a forgotten smile coming over her face.

'You're Daddy was a protective man' she began as she slowly lost herself in her memories.

'You could always tell when he was angry – there was something in his voice that could stop anyone or anything in its' tracks. And he would die to protect me – without a second thought – there was something in his eyes…' she trailed off as she remembered the chocolate brown of the Doctors' eyes. Venetia watched as her mother smiled whistfully to herself as she remembered a forgotten man, Venetia loved watching her remember the happiness she used to live in. She would then fall asleep and dream of the hero her mother told her stories of.

'He'd die for me' Rose whispered to herself when Venetia was asleep 'He did die for me'

She kissed Venetia's head and returned to her memories.

Venetia looked up at her father and in that moment she understood her mother – she understood the way Rose spoke of the Doctor with such a look of awe on her face, why she never wanted to leave him, why she trusted him implicitly. Venetia could easily see why her mother loved the Doctor and she was starting to love him for the very same reasons.

The Doctor looked down at Venetia and she beamed back up at him – she was ready to live, to live exactly how her mother had, she was ready to discover the meaning of life. Hand in hand they walked towards the approaching figures – both having their own motives to remember.

Both groups stopped with ten feet of golden sand in between them – each assessing the other. The Doctor watched the five people – they were three men and two woman – they had mustard yellow skin, black hair that reached their backs, each creature had black eyes that stared curiously at the pare – nothing reflected out of their eyes, no light and no emotion – everything just drowned within them. Venetia swallowed heavily and clutched her fathers hand tighter, the Doctor squeezed it back reassuringly.

The Doctor gazed ahead at the creatures – they were partly human, he could tell that much

'I'm the Doctor and this is Venetia' the Doctor welcomed them. He wasn't smiling but he wasn't frowning either. The creatures looked from one to another slowly nodded before talking between themselves – whispering so the Doctor and Venetia couldn't hear.

'Daddy? What's happening?' Venetia worriedly asked

'I'm not sure' he replied frowning. Suddenly the creatures started towards them – their pace increasing and their faces frowning.