A/N: Interludes are short chapters that are focused more on character than plot.

Edited: 1/1/2023

Between running away from danger and exploring the cosmos, Elm didn't have much downtime. So, three adventures after Downing Street, her things still sat stacked in the corner of her room. It was irritating, but tolerable, seeing as she didn't spend much time there anyway. There was too much to see and do.

In the present, however, there was nothing to do. Nothing pressing, that is. She'd caught up on all her favorite book series (secretly of course). The Doctor hadn't paged her about an adventure. Rose was off doing… whatever she did in her off time. Elm could go poking around the TARDIS or venture into the library again, but her eyes were drawn to her boxes. Perhaps it was time.

The first, and largest, box was full of clothes. Sweaters, cardigans, t-shirts, pajamas, and pants, all shoved into one great big box. Jackie clearly was in a rush when she'd packed it. Elm winced and began sorting. A pile of underwear, a pile of shirts, a pile of pants, a pile of sweaters, and lastly a pile of socks. The young woman couldn't help but smile at that pile. Elm was a bit of a sock fanatic and loved collecting odd pairs. She quickly swapped out the plain white ones she'd been borrowing for a pair that were covered in bees. Cartoon bees, of course. Not actual bees.

Not feeling like putting away her clothes yet, Elm moved on.

The next, much smaller, box was full of professional documents. She shoved that one aside.

The third box was interesting, as Elm didn't remember procuring the items within. There was a metal paperweight, an assortment of pens (all different), a tiny bear figurine, and other odds-and-ends. Elm put that box next to the bookshelf to be unpacked later.

The next three boxes, the heaviest of the lot, were full of books. Cracking her knuckles, she got to work on filling the empty shelves lining her walls.

First up were children's books, picture books, and comics. Her fascination with literature began young, so she had a significant number of these. She put those books on the bottom shelf by habit. Above them went YA and above those went adult fiction. Classics were placed at the top, the likes of H.G. Wells and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle filling the last of that section.

There were, of course, more books.

Non-fiction took up a few shelves. Textbooks upon textbooks from her college years. Book after book on subjects ranging from butterflies to astrophysics. It took her a few minutes to sort them by subject, then by author.

The last box of books made her pause. Within it lay all 32 of the Encyclopedia Britannica, the first books ever read to her.

"What have you got there?"

Elm started, dropping the box she was already unbalanced by. The weight shift brought her to the floor with a soft thud. The Doctor stood in the doorway.

"There's this thing humans do," Elm began as she stood back up. "It's called knocking."

The Doctor shrugged. "The door was open."

"What? I could've sworn-"

"Quite a collection you've got," the Doctor interrupted. He approached her shelves and ran a finger over a few spines. "Have you read all of them?"

"Over the years, yeah."

The alien man hummed. "What is it with you and books?"

"I dunno. Everyone's got a hobby," Elm replied as she started filling an empty shelf with Encyclopedias. "You're welcome to any of them so long as they're returned in good shape."

The Doctor snorted. "I've got at least two copies of all of your books in my library."

Elm shrugged and got started on her knick-knack box. "Offer stands."

"When we were moving these boxes in," the Doctor began. "I expected memories and pictures, not books and clothes. Is this all you've got?"

Elm shifted awkwardly. "Yeah."

"Doctor? What are you doing here?" Rose said as she barged into Elm's room. She had a bag slung over her shoulder and a determined look on her face.

"I was just helping," the Doctor defended.

"Snooping more like," Rose replied. She grabbed the alien man and dragged him out the door. "Elm and I are going to have some quality girl time. No boys allowed."

"I'm not a-" the door was closed before the Doctor could finish.

Elm breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you."

"You owe me one," Rose said with a grin before dropping her bag on Elm's bed. "Now then, I've been snooping around the Doctor's things, and you'll never guess what I found."

Curiosity piqued, Elm stopped unpacking and turned to Rose. "What?"

Rose held up what looked like a flash drive and a laptop. "Alien rom-coms."

OoOoOoO

Elm passed out somewhere between 'Interstellar Hearts IV' and 'I'm in Love with a Tree'.

She woke up to a pounding on the door. Rose, who was sleeping beside her, roused from the noise as well.

"Whatsit?"

Yawning, Elm sat up on the bed. "Come in."

The Doctor jerked open the door and gave the two tired women a manic grin. "Distress signal. You've got 10 minutes."

E/N: Hope you enjoyed! Leave a comment letting me know what you thought.

QUESTION: Which character are you looking forward to Elm meeting the most? Jack? Amy? Clara? the 12th Doctor? Let me know who and why in the comments!

Comment Responses:

Little Di-LD: You're welcome! Thank you for the comment!

Isabelnecessaryonabicycle: Thank you! I hope you continue to enjoy it.