A/N: new chappie! enjoy!
Chapter 8: Eight Days
"Well, you lasted longer than I expected," Olivia smiled, bouncing Amelia in her arms as she stood next to the TARDIS console, the Doctor sailing around it to adjust it. He sailed up next to her to adjust something on the panel she stood next to and made a face at his daughter, making her giggle, before turning back to his adjustments. "Eight days. One day more than a whole week! That has to be a record for you."
"Olivia Felton, I would stay here for a century if it were just you and me and the baby, but you insist we stay at your mother's while on Earth," he shot back, making her frown at him as he only kept his gaze on the console. "She's starting to drive me a little…batty."
"Batty?" she chuckled, and Amelia giggled as well. "Amelia and I both think that's an interesting choice of words. How is she driving you 'batty'?"
"Just…asking questions," he replied, waving a hand as he moved to another panel as Olivia nodded, hugely.
"About time/space?" Olivia guessed, making a face at Amelia before nuzzling her cheek as the Doctor looked up at them and smiled at the sight.
"Yes," he replied, stepping toward them to place a hand on Olivia's as she held Amelia, the other hand on her shoulder. "And…how and when we plan to handle explaining to Amelia who and what I am."
Olivia frowned in wonder as she looked to him in wonder when he met her gaze, seriously.
"Handle it?" she echoed. "What did she mean by that?"
"Liv, Amelia's just a baby," he explained. "All she knows is I am her father, you are her mother and the TARDIS is a pretty blue box that makes a wonderful sound. She doesn't really understand yet."
Olivia bit her lower lip with a slight frown as she thought. She didn't like the idea of keeping a secret from Amelia as she got older, but she realized that was what she may have had to do. To protect her, she couldn't know who her father really was for a very long time.
"How long before we tell her?" she asked him, meeting his sad, blue eyes. "How long before you think she'll understand?"
He gave a sigh and looked down at Amelia, now dozing in her mother's arms.
"Well, she won't be half clever," he smirked. "I reckon she'll be able to understand more than any full human could at about…twelve?"
"That's a long time to keep a secret," Olivia sighed, looking back to Amelia and giving a small smile.
"I know," he murmured, pressing a kiss to her temple. "Meantime, you can tell her stories about me. I heard you telling her about 'The Doctor and Mrs. Sigma.' Very clever, my love."
"Well, I want her to know you somehow," she smiled, slyly. "Even if she admires you as her hero, and she'll still love you as her father. It's something."
"Yes, it is," he smiled, glancing to the console before grinning, "Ready for another adventure?"
"Ready when you are, my love," Olivia grinned. "I'll be back."
She turned to head back out the door as the Doctor ran around the console and she stepped inside to meet her mother in the kitchen, cleaning up from dinner.
"He's taking you away from me again, is he?" Joyce sighed, seeing her approach out of the corner of her eye.
"Yeah," Olivia smiled as she gently handed Amelia over. "He's cut it down to once a week, at least."
"Looks like it," Joyce smiled, hugging Amelia to her
"Mom, did you talk to the Doctor about telling Amelia about him?" Olivia asked.
"Of course," Joyce shrugged, slightly, still looking at Amelia. "These are things you have to think about, Olivia."
"Exactly," Olivia nodded and Joyce looked up to meet her daughter's glare. "We have to think about it. Not you. You're my mom, and I get that you're trying to help us out, but these are things we have to figure out on our own. How else are we…gonna grow up?"
"I never thought I'd hear you say that," Joyce smirked before sighing and nodding in defeat. "Alright, I'll leave it alone. I'll stick to questions about time/space when I talk to him from now on."
"Thank you," Olivia smirked back as she placed a kiss to her baby's forehead then her mother's cheek. "Back in a flash."
"Be careful," Joyce requested.
"Always," Olivia grinned before heading for the door and when she stepped out into the lawn, she was greeted with the Doctor leaning on the doorframe of the TARDIS, waiting for her.
"Adventure first, then I have a surprise for you," he grinned, grabbing her hand and pulling her inside as the door shut behind them.
"Shouldn't we do it the other way around?" Olivia wondered, running around the console with him to help him fly.
"My ship, my rules," he reminded her. "Go to the wardrobe. You'll need a proper outfit for where we're going. Toot sweet!"
"You pick up some random phrases when you regenerate," she giggled before heading toward the wardrobe.
"Since when did you start complaining about my phrases?!" he shot back, and her giggle echoed through the control room, making him smile as he still worked.
The TARDIS moved smoothly as he flew it to their destination landing it just as smoothly and leaning back against the console to wait for her to change. The sound of heels hitting metal caught his attention and he stood tall with a face-splitting grin at seeing her in a period dress in a deep shade of purple, her hair done in the same style with a matching hat with a small veil that should have gone over her eyes, but she kept it flipped up over the brim.
"Ok, why is the TARDIS giving me nothing but period clothes?" she asked, her hand behind her back as she approached. "Where are we going?"
"Which question shall I answer first?" he wondered, looking up in dramatic thought before looking back at her with a mischievous smirk. "You look fabulous, darling. It's a surprise."
"Well, in any case, I brought these for you," she smiled just as mischievously before bringing her hands out from behind her back to reveal a top hat that matched his suit and a walking stick that matched his shoes.
"Well, thank you, Liv," he nodded with a grin, taking the items and plopping the hat onto his head of curly black hair before spinning the walking stick in his hand then pointing it toward the door. "Shall we?"
He offered his arm and she grinned before wrapping her arm around his and letting him lead her to the door. When he opened it for her, he let her step out ahead of him and followed her out to shut the door behind him. Olivia stared huge eyes around the bustling streets filled with people dressed as she was and horses attached to carriages pulling other people down the street.
"Nineteenth Century London England!" the Doctor announced.
"Oh, my god! It's amazing!" Olivia grinned, throwing her arms around the Doctor's chest to hug him tightly as he laughed at her excitement. He never got tired of seeing it. "Let's go on a horse and carriage!"
"We'll need to anyway," he smiled, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as she still held onto him and they stepped away from the TARDIS to head down the street. "We're catching a show at the opera house this evening. If I've got the timing right we have an hour and a half before it starts." He caught the time on a standing clock post on the street as they passed it, adding, "And we do. Andiamo!"
He grabbed her hand and pulled her to the corner of the block before waving at an empty approaching carriage. The thing stopped and the Doctor reached into his inside jacket pocket to pull out his Psychic Paper and hold it toward the driver.
"Good evening, old chap," he grinned at him, still holding the paper up to him and speaking in a posh tone. "In my haste to leave the house, I've forgotten to hire a carriage and my wife is not accustomed to walking…much."
"Of course, sir," the driver nodded, seeing what was on the Psychic Paper and the Doctor tipped his hat.
"Thank you," the Doctor nodded, opening the door of the carriage and gesturing inside, entreating to Olivia, "Darling."
Olivia smiled slyly as she stepped in with a helping hand from the Doctor before he climbed in after her, shutting the door.
"Who did he think you were?" she asked as the carriage rattled down the cobblestone street.
"Oh, some lord," he replied, waving it off dismissively then looked Olivia over as she fidgeted in her seat. "Alright, Liv?"
"I don't know how women ever wore all this stuff," she muttered, still fidgeting, making the Doctor smile in amusement. "I'm in a corset and petticoats and flippin' bloomers! Give me jeans any day. I hope there won't be any running, because I dunno if I can."
"You could always take a few things off and leave 'em here," he smirked. "Scandalize the next passengers."
"Oh, you'd like that, wouldn't you?" she shot back, huffing as she finally settled, then muttered, "You're a bad boy."
"Your bad boy, Mrs. Sigma," he smirked, taking her hand and pulled it closer to press a kiss to her fingers.
She couldn't help but smile sweetly as their gazes met and she asked, "So what are we seeing at the opera, Mr. Sigma?"
"Don't know," he shrugged, setting his hand still holding hers on his knee, his thumb stroking her fingers. "You like the opera, don't you? I remember you were obsessed with one on Planet Hollywood."
"That was Phantom of the Opera," Olivia replied. "Technically a musical, not really an opera. It had speaking parts."
"Still, more singing than speaking," he recalled.
"Wouldn't it be funny if we got caught up in that?" she giggled. "You think that story was real?"
"Olivia, every time you say something like that, your dreams end up coming true," he replied, looking to her and pointing to her in warning. "Be careful what you wish for, young lady."
"Name one time that's happened," she shot back.
"1920s mob, your graduation, the ice planet, Tombstone…and that was all before my regeneration."
"I said name one," she muttered with a slight pout, making him chuckle.
"In any case, if some sort of phantom tries to steal you from me, he won't get far with you," he smiled, leaning closer to press a kiss to her cheek and she gave a giggle as she grinned at him.
The carriage came to a stop and he hurried out, still holding Olivia's hand and dragging her out of the carriage, waving a quick thank you to the driver and tossing a silver coin to him. The Doctor pulled Olivia toward the opera house where others were heading in and when they came to one of the attendants he flashed his Psychic Paper once again.
"The Doctor plus one," he grinned. "Box five."
"This way," the attendant nodded, entreating them to follow him and the Doctor gave a grin and a wink to Olivia as she grinned back at him, following the attendant.
"You just couldn't resist, could you?" she murmured of the box number.
"Well, I thought you'd like it," he murmured back. "Let's see what all the fuss is about, yes?"
She nodded with a smile as they reached the box and the door was opened.
"Enjoy the opera, sir, ma'am," the attendant nodded.
"We will," the Doctor nodded before turning and stopping him once more. "Oh! Um, sorry if this sounds like a silly question – I'm a busy man – which opera is this?"
The attendant frowned at him before answering, "La Boehme, sir."
"Ah! Yes, of course! Thank you, sir," the Doctor nodded, turning to Olivia with an excited grin and nodding toward the seats inside. "Come on, darling. Let's have a seat. You'll love this one."
"I'm afraid, my love, we're not alone," she smiled, turning to the two other men in the box with them, making the Doctor frown and turn to them as well. "Forgive our rudeness. My name is Olivia Felton. This is my husband…John."
"A lie, but it's nice to meet you, all the same," the tall, lean man nodded to her as the shorter gentlemen next to him looked to him in astonishment. "It matters not to me who you are, if you're hiding you're identity for one reason or another."
"Uh…well—"
"Oh, Liv," the Doctor whispered, looking the two over. "Hold onto your hat, love."
"What?" she frowned in wonder at him.
"Forgive my friend," the shorter man smiled, standing and holding a hand toward them, which the Doctor grasped instantly to shake it with a huge grin. "Doctor John Watson, and my friend—"
"Sherlock Holmes," Olivia breathed in realization as she took his hand when the Doctor finally released John's hand to let him take Olivia's and politely squeezed it. "Doctor Watson and Sherlock Holmes. It's…It's an honor!"
"Best sit down before you fall down, darling," the Doctor suggested, helping her shuffle toward the seat next to Watson as he sat as well, and Holmes remained looking disinterested.
"So, Mr. Felton—"
"Doctor," the Doctor corrected Watson, gently as he sat next to Olivia. "Just Doctor will do."
"Ah! A man of the medical profession! Smashing!" Watson grinned.
"Yes, well, actually—"
"He's not a medical doctor, Watson," Holmes spoke up, now looking to the two and Olivia took the Doctor's hand, knowing what was coming next. "They're foreigners. From the Colonies, I'd guess, by Mrs. Felton's accent, and by the ridiculous clothes he is wearing. Certainly not the fashion of London, wouldn't you say so, Doctor Watson?"
"Holmes, please, don't," Watson pleaded.
"Oh, it's alright," Olivia grinned, waving it off. "Please, Mr. Holmes, continue."
"Ma'am," he nodded in respect as he sat forward. "The Doctor title comes from your work as a scientist of some sort, like myself, I would hazard. And, if I did not know any better, I would say you were not of this world."
"Oh, Holmes, now you're just being ridiculous," Watson chuckled, but he went on.
"Mrs. Felton, you have no occupation, and are much more forward than any Englishwoman would be, demonstrated when you apologized for your husband. And, because I know better about this as well, I would deduce you are from the future."
"I never knew you to be tempted by flights of fancy," Watson chuckled.
"When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth," Holmes replied, making Olivia give a squeak as she grabbed the Doctor's hand in a death grip of excitement.
Before any of them could say anything else, the lights went down, indicating the show was about to begin.
"Theta," Olivia whispered to him as she shifted closer, still holding his hand. "Sherlock Holmes!"
"I know!" he whispered back, gripping her hand a little tighter in return with a huge grin.
"I thought he was a fictional character," she recalled. "Sherlock Holmes wasn't real, he was based off someone Sir Arthur Conan Doyle knew, wasn't he?"
"Well, there have been speculations that he actually did exist," the Doctor murmured. "Like Robin Hood. Ooh! There's another adventure waiting to happen. Alright, let's watch the show. You can swoon a bit more at intermission."
They watched the opera in silence, every once in a while, the Doctor would lean over to whisper things to Olivia. Memories and sentiments. It wasn't until something happened on the stage that caught both his, and Holmes' attentions that Olivia frowned in wonder at him.
"Doctor?" she whispered as he sat forward, Holmes mirroring the pose on the other side of Watson.
"Something's wrong," he murmured, making her frown and look to the stage.
She hadn't seen the opera before, but she could tell by the behavior of the players that something was, indeed, wrong. They all looked unnerved and frightened as they still went on singing and acting, but when the lights were instantly dowsed, the singing stopped, and someone screamed.
"Doctor!" Olivia cried, keeping a grip on his hand.
"No one move!" Holmes shouted from the darkness, but she was pulled to her feet just as the lights came back on, and she heard an agitated growl she could only assume was Holmes before he shouted, "Doctor! I said do not move!"
"Not my way, Mr. Holmes, sorry!" the Doctor shouted, dragging Olivia behind him as he ran out the door, abandoning his hat and cane.
"Where are we going?!" she questioned him, trying to run in the dress that weighed her down.
"Backstage!" he called, pulling her around a corner that made her squeak in surprise when he did. "That's where all the fun stuff happens! Maybe we'll find your phantom there, eh?"
"But what about Sherlock Holmes?" she wondered as he suddenly came to a stop and she rammed into his back.
"What about me, Mrs. Felton?"
She gasped and turned to see Sherlock Holmes had caught up to them and Doctor John Watson hurrying to catch up.
"There's a mystery here, Mr. Holmes," the Doctor smirked, stepping closer to the man who was equally as tall as he and asked, "Don't you think?"
"Mystery, Doctor?" Holmes frowned, raising a brow at him. "I see no mystery here. No one's been murdered, nothing and no one is missing, just a malfunction of the lighting, nothing more."
"Oh, come now, Mr. Holmes," the Doctor still smirked. "You saw how the players were acting. How could you not? You're Sherlock Holmes. Why else would you have followed us?"
"Of course I noticed—" Holmes cut himself off when Olivia giggled, and he knew he'd given himself away before clearing his throat, resuming, "Yes, I noticed. What had them so spooked?"
"The very question I asked myself," the Doctor nodded, turning back to Olivia to pull her with him. "And why I'm here. Now, we have to be quiet. The show, as they say, must go on, and it is."
"You talk an excessive amount, Doctor," Holmes whispered as he and Watson followed the couple farther back stage.
"Yeah, he does that," Olivia whispered.
The four made their way behind the backdrop being used for the opera, inching around to keep themselves hidden from the audience. Olivia found herself staring up toward the rafters, wondering if she should be looking for a disfigured man hiding in the shadows behind a mask and cape. She frowned when she noticed something about the voices on stage. Not wanting to be heard she ran her thumb over her wedding band to find her telepathic connection with the Doctor and once she had it, she spoke to him.
"Theta, do you hear the voices on stage? The heroine sounds different. It's not the same girl."
"She must have gone missing and they shoved the understudy out on stage as quickly as possible," he theorized, and she alone could hear him. He turned them all down a corner and ducked behind something to peek out at the audience.
"There!" Watson whispered loud enough for the three to hear him, pointing toward a corner in the rafters above the audience. "I saw a shadow!"
"Well, a missing soprano, and a shadow in the rafters," Holmes murmured, having noticed the change in voices as well, of course. "It seems we have a phantom on our hands."
"A phantom of the opera!" Olivia squeaked, gripping the Doctor's arm to push and pull on it.
"Brilliant," he muttered, looking to Olivia as she only grinned back. "I told you to be careful what you wished for. Now we've got Sherlock Holmes and your Phantom. How am I to compete with that, Liv?"
"You know it's no contest," she retorted. "Now let's find that Angel of Music!"
"I'm sorry?" Watson frowned at them in wonder and confusion. "Angel of music? What the devil are you two talking about?"
"Enough prattle!" Holmes nearly hissed, catching their attentions. "I mean to catch this Phantom, and I believe I know the exact route we can take to get up to those rafters. Come along. The game's afoot!"
He scurried off further backstage and Watson hurried after him, the Doctor and Olivia following.
"Allons-y!" Olivia giggled as the Doctor pulled her after him.
Little did they know, they were the ones being pursued by a darkened figure that would soon reveal itself to be more than a mere phantom.
A/N: I could NOT resist this. please don't kill me. and, the Sherlock im using for this one is supposed to be more like the classic Sherlock Holmes, not the modern one. and yes, i'm aware that a book was written involving Sherlock Holmes investigating the Phantom of the Opera. I plan on reading it soon. reviews?