We were back in Shakespeare's room, which had somehow become our base of operations without anyone of us consciously mentioning it.

Shakespeare was washing his face in a basin in the corner, and he scrubbed like he wanted to erase something. Probably the knowledge that there were creatures in the universe he hadn't been aware existed. Martha leaned back against a bookshelf while I made myself comfortable in one of the top chairs. We all watched the Doctor pace, muttering to himself.

"The Carrionites disappeared way back at the dawn of the universe. Nobody was sure if they were real or legend." He said.

Shakespeare dried his face with a towel. "Well, I'm going for real."

"But what do they want?" Martha asked.

"A new empire on Earth," the Doctor explained, finally pausing his pacing and leaning against a table. "A new empire on Earth. A world of bones and blood and witchcraft."

"But how?"

I glanced at Martha. "Have you ever heard the phrase, 'words have power'?" she nodded. "Well, they take it literally."

The Doctor was nodding along, before pointedly looking at Shakespeare. "And I'm looking at the man with the words."

Martha and I followed the Doctor's stare. Shakespeare stared at us, bewildered.

"Me? But I've done nothing."

"Hold on, though," Martha said. "What were you doing last night, right about when that Carrionite was in the room?"

"Finishing the play."

The Doctor's head snapped up, like something had just occurred to him. "What happens on the last page?"

Shakespeare shrugged. "The boys get the girls. They have a bit of a dance. It's all as funny and thought provoking as usual," he paused, frowning. "Except those last few lines. Funny thing is… I don't actually remember writing them."

The Doctor's eyes widened. "That's it. They used you. They gave you the final words. Like a spell, like a code. 'Love's Labours Won,' it's a weapon!" His words increased in urgency and speed as he talked. "The right combination of words, spoken at the right place with the shape of the Globe as an energy converter! The play's the thing! And yes, you can have that."

Shakespeare grinned.

The Doctor approached the crude map in Shakespeare's desk.

"All Hallows Street. There it is! Martha, we'll track them down. Kylie, Will, you get to the Globe. Whatever you do, stop the play!"

"We'll do it." Shakespeare said.

My head snapped up. "No way. You saw what the Carrionites can do. And as good as Martha can be in these situations, you need something a little tougher than human right now."

The Doctor hesitated, his eyes flickering between Martha and I.

Shakespeare nodded. "She's right. Take her with you. Anyway, all I have to do is stop the play. I can do that alone." Shakespeare suddenly hesitated, eyes snapping to me. "Wait, not human?"

"I'll explain later," I told him. Then I faced the Doctor, who still looked torn. "All settled then?"

He sighed. "All right."

Shakespeare stepped up to the Doctor and took his hand before shaking it. "All these years I've been the cleverest man around. Next to you, I know nothing."

"Oh, don't complain." Martha laughed.

"I'm not," Shakespeare continued. "It's marvelous. Good luck, Doctor, Martha," his eyes flickered to mine as he smiled. "And you, Kylie."

The Doctor nodded. "Good luck, Shakespeare. Once more unto the breach!" He exclaimed, running to the door as Martha followed.

"I like that," Shakespeare ginned. "Wait a minute… that's one of mine."

I chuckled before placing a hand on his shoulder. "Good luck, Will."

He smiled fondly. "You too. Now run, the Doctor waits for no one."

I smiled, and ran out the door.

We found ourselves in All Hallows Street, wandering around and peering through windows.

"All Hallows Street," The Doctor muttered. "But which house?"

"The thing is, though… am I missing something here?" Martha asked. "The world didn't end in 1599. It just didn't. Look at me – I'm living proof."

"Doesn't work that way," I said, peeking in through a window.

"Oh, how to explain the mechanics of the infinite temporal flux?" The Doctor asked, though I doubted he was talking to me. "I know! 'Back to the Future'! It's like 'Back to the Future'!"

"The film?"

"No, the novelization." The Doctor said sarcastically, something I had yet to hear. "Yes, the film. Marty McFly goes back and changes history."

"And he starts fading away." Her eyes widened in realization. "Oh my God, am I gonna fade?"

"You and the entire future of the human race. It ends right now in 1599 if we don't stop it. But which house?"

The door to the house directly in front of us suddenly slid open, and we stared, open-mouthed.

"Ah," the Doctor continued, eyebrows raised. "Make that witch house."

The Doctor walked in, and after deep breaths, Martha and I followed.

The house was dark and cluttered, filled to the brim with dust and dirt. We ducked in after the Doctor, following his footsteps.

The Doctor suddenly paused. "I take it we're expected."

"Oh, I think Death has been waiting for you a very long time," a new, feminine voice suddenly said.

The maid. It was the maid. The one that had always been in the background at the Elephant's Inn. One of her eyebrows was arched as she watched the Doctor, her eyes cold and calculating.

Martha stepped forward. "Right then, it's my turn. I know how to do this." She raised her hand, and pointed at the Carrionite. "I name thee, Carrionite!"

The Carrionite gasped, her eyes widened, before her mouth settled into a smirk.

"What did I do wrong?" Martha asked, her courage now gone. "Was it the finger?"

"The power of a name works only once," The Carrionite said silkily. "Observe." She pointed at Martha. "I gaze upon this bag of bones and now I name thee Martha Jones."

Martha's eyes rolled back, and the Doctor only just caught her before she hit the ground.

"What have you done?" he raged.

The Carrionite looked almost disappointed. "Only sleeping, alas. Curious, the name has less impact. She's somehow out of her time. Now you!" She turned to me. "I name thee Kylie Reynolds!"

I staggered back, and only the Doctor's quick thinking and his arm around my waist kept me from falling. I suddenly felt completely dizzy, but I remained awake, only standing thanks to the Doctor's help.

"Hmm, even more curious." The Carrionite muttered.

"Witch," I muttered.

"Kylie," the Doctor warned.

"What? I said witch."

"No, that's not it. Can you stand up?" He asked.

"I think so." So I took a step away from the Doctor and tried to control my swaying as I faced the Carrionite.

"Your name carries even less weight;" The Carrionite said. "I will take care of you later. As for you," She twirled, facing the Doctor as she pointed. "Sir Doctor!"

The Doctor didn't even flinch as he glared at her. I stood beside him, and it occurred to me that the Carrionite was either very brave or very foolish. She stood in his scowl's path, and she only watched him calmly.

"Fascinating," she said. "There is no name. Why would a man hide his title in such despair?" She paused, a satisfied smirk crawling up her face. "Oh, but look. There's still one word with the power that aches."

"The naming won't work on me." He ground out.

The Carrionite clutched her chest mockingly. "But your heart grows cold. The north wind blows and carries down the distant…" She trailed off. "Rose."

The Doctor's face changed immediately. If he was angry before, now he was furious.

He stalked towards her, glaring down at her petite body. Something churned in his eyes. A storm about to be released.

"Oh, big mistake 'cos that name keeps me fighting," He growled. "The Carrionites vanished! Where did you go?"

"The Eternals found the right word to banish us into deep darkness," she explained, stepping back and up three steps so she was on even ground with the Doctor.

"And how did you escape?"

"New words. New and glittering from a mind like no other."

"Shakespeare," I breathed.

She nodded and looks towards a cauldron bubbling in a corner. There, the image of Shakespeare, hands on his head as he lamented, appeared.

"His son perished. The grief of a genius. Grief without measure. Madness enough to allow us entrance."

"How many of you?" Was the Doctor's almost monotone question.

"Just the three. But the play tonight shall restore the rest. Then the human race will be purged as pestilence."

I watched as the Doctor's eyebrows rose as he silently urged her to continue. I was surprised. He was doing exactly what he had done with the plasmavore at the hospital in the moon. He was extracting information, and his enemy didn't stand a chance.

"And from this world," the Carrionite continued. "We will lead the universe back to the old ways of blood and magic."

"Hmm," The Doctor considered. "Busy schedule. But first, you gotta get past me."

He stood face to face with the Carrionite, the height difference erased when he stood three steps down from her.

The Carrionite smiled, and I definitely did not like this one.

"Oh, that should be a pleasure considering my enemy has such a handsome shape." She said, seductively, her voice a mere purr as her hand ran over the side of his face.

"Now," He rumbled. I simply watched, unknowing what to do when the enemy was close enough to kiss the Doctor. "That's one form of magic that's definitely not gonna work on me."

"Oh, we'll see."

I heard the soft snick seconds before I saw what she had done. She held a lock of the Doctor's hair in her hands.

Trusting my instincts, realizing that that was not good, I rushed forward, my hand grasping hers, as I quickly took away the small lock of hair, ducking away as I felt its soft strands.

"Give that back," She snarled, the visage of the seductive witch gone. Now, her teeth were bared and her eyes flashed in the dim lighting.

"No," I said, frowning. The lock of hair was important, of course. But I didn't know how.

"What did you do?" The Doctor asked, rubbing his head.

"A souvenir I want back." She said.

Then she lunged, and it was so unexpected I didn't have time to react. Her nails scratched my cheek, her hands fumbling and scraping trying to grab the Doctor's lock of hair. I fell back to the floor, trying to roll away. She grasped my own hair, pulling it back before I could get away.

I hissed as I felt my hair give under her grasp. I threw the Doctor's lock of hair away from me, watching as it disappeared in the dusty floor.

She finally let go of me with a growl. Before I knew it, the lock of my hair was tied around a small crude doll in her hands. The change was so insignificant I almost didn't feel it. Something shifted inside me, and I knew that was the first sign of trouble.

She held a doll in one hand and a needle in the other as she faced us. The Doctor helped me up from the grubby ground, and we watched, astonished, as she pushed the needle into the doll's right leg.

Unimaginable pain surged within me, and my right leg buckled as I screamed. I fell to the ground, and from the distance, I could barely distinguish the Doctor's cry as he tried to catch me again. I clutched the thigh, watching in horror as my hands came away sticky with blood.

I leaned back on the floor, watching the Doctor's face appear above mine as he tried to stop the blood flow on my leg. I whimpered at the new pressure.

"Now, give me a lock of you hair, Sir Doctor." The Carrionite ordered.

"Don't," I gasped.

Pain suddenly blossomed on my left shoulder. My eyes almost rolled back from the accumulated pain. The pressure from the Doctor's hands divided into the two places. I felt lightheaded, though the pain was finally numbing down.

"Either you let me take another lock of your hair," The Carrionite growled. "Or she dies. Right now."

The pressure in my wounds disappeared for a second.

"Take it!" The Doctor yelled.

I turned my head to the side, watching as the Carrionite fingered the new lock of hair of the Doctor's. She grinned, before the window at her back threw itself open and she flew back, levitating mid air.

"Behold, Doctor. Men to Carrionites are nothing but puppets."

She untangled my own lock of hair from the doll before placing the Doctor's around it.

"You might call that magic," The Doctor snapped. "But I'd call that a DNA replication module."

"What use is your science now?"

I couldn't see what she did, but next thing I know, the pressure completely disappeared and the D octor's face vanished from my view. I could only hear his scream. A scream of pain.

I panicked. I couldn't see what was happening and I was feeling faint. My mind wandered for a minute, hovering just over the edge of complete unconsciousness.

"Kylie. Kylie! Kylie."

I opened my eyes, and the world was moving.

"Kylie?" The Doctor face materialized into view. He was incredibly close to me, his neck just inches from my nose.

"Doctor? You okay?" I rasped.

He chuckled, and his chest under my ear rumbled along with it. "Me? Two hearts, I keep telling you. Now, you. I'm really sorry. We had to keep moving. We're on our way to the Globe Theater."

I glanced around, and I realized why the world was moving so much. The Doctor was carrying me through the streets of London, Martha hovering at his side.

"How are you feeling?" she asked.

I coughed. "Just peachy," I said, trying a smile. "The pain's numbed now. Perks of being an Osirien, you know? Though I'm still a bit weak."

The Doctor nodded. "The blood loss already stopped. Though it's gonna take a bit before your body fully starts to recover."

"I know," I mumbled, tired. I shifted, and quite by accident I snuggled closer to the Doctor. I breathed in his scent, and it reminded me of the smell of time traveling, that little aroma that always wafted around when I used the Timepiece. It suited the Doctor completely.

A scream reached us, and I glanced up. The night sky was interrupted by a red flash. The light streamed from the Globe's direction, strengthening in size as the screams did.

"Stage door!" The Doctor shouted over the sudden rush of wind and sound.

Something rumbled, very much like a storm. Lightening crackled and I felt the Doctor's arms tighten around me.

We rushed in into the Globe.

"Stop the play!" The Doctor yelled, placing me beside a stunned Shakespeare. "I think that was it. Yeah, I said, 'Stop the play!'"

"I hit my head," Shakespeare grumbled. His eyes snapped to me. "Oh, God. Are you alright?"

I waved him off. "Yeah, yeah. Don't worry about me. Worry about the witches."

A scream came from the stage's direction.

"I think that's my cue!" The Doctor shouted, running off.

Martha followed, and Shakespeare hesitated in front of me.

"Go!" I yelled. He obeyed, running after the Doctor and Martha.

I tried standing up, succeeding only when I leaned all my weight against my left leg and transferred the rest of it into a broom I found nearby. I used it as a crutch as I followed the scream's directions.

I stumbled into the stage to see the Doctor clutching Shakespeare's shoulders. Black smudges flew around the Globe, and only after squinting, did I realize that the Carrionites had escaped from their banishment.

"Come on, Will!" The Doctor yelled over the noise. "History needs you!"

"But what can I do?" Shakespeare despaired.

"Reverse it!"

"How am I supposed to do that?"

"The shape of the Globe gives words power," The Doctor explained. "But you're the wordsmith, the one true genius. The only man clever enough to do it!"

"But what words? I have none ready!"

"You're William Shakespeare!"

"But these Carrionite phrases," Shakespeare hesitated. "They need such precision!"

I stepped up next to them and used my right arm to put a hand on his shoulder.

"Will," I told him. "Trust yourself." I told him, tapping a finger on his forehead. "You don't need anything else, remember? It's all in here."

"When you're locked away in your room," The Doctor continued. "The words just come, don't they? Like magic. Words of the right sound, the right shape, the right rhythm – words that last forever! That's what you do, Will! You choose perfect words. Do it. Improvise!"

Shakespeare took a big breath before facing the Carrionites. "Close up this den of hateful, dire decay! Decomposition of your witches' plot! You thieve my brains, consider me your toy. My doting Doctor tells me I am not!"

"No!" We heard a shriek from one of the Cariionites. "Words of power!"

"Foul Carrionite specters," Shakespeare continued. "Cease your show! Between the points…" Shakespeare hesitated, looking at the Doctor.

"7-6-1-3-9-0!" The Doctor helped.

"7-6-1-3-9-0!" Shakespeare repeated. "And banished like a tinker's cuss, I say to thee…" He trailed off, looking for the right word.

"Expelliarmus!" Martha supplied.

"Expelliarmus!" The Doctor and I repeated.

"Expelliarmus!" Finished Shakespeare.

The Doctor grinned. "Good old JK!"

The Carrionites started screaming.

"The deep darkness! They are consumed!" One of the Carrionites wailed. And then their shrieks filled completely our ears. The creatures that had appeared suddenly got sucked up into the red cloud. The doors behind us burst open, the play scripts flapping around as they too, disappeared into the red cloud.

"'Love's Labours Won'. The doctor said as we watched it disappear. "There it goes."

The cloud dissipated into thing air. There was a stunned silence, before suddenly a sigh of relief filled the room and the crows suddenly began to cheer and applaud.

I sighed in relief, wobbling in my makeshift crutch. Shakespeare and Martha came to stand beside me, helping me stay up.

"They think it was all special effects." Martha said, amazed.

I chuckled, running my eyes over the crowd. "Oh, humans. You never see what's right in front of you."

She rolled her eyes. "Aliens. You pompous lot."

I laughed, and after a moment, she joined.

It was morning, once again, and Martha looked like she was ready to fall face first into sleep. She prevailed, however, rummaging through the stage props and making sounds of disbelief.

I sat in a nearby crate, watching the empty audience. The feeling was still there, of course. To stand, - or sit,- in the Globe Theater's stage. The feeling you got when you knew you stood somewhere of extreme importance.

"How are you feeling?" Shakespeare asked as he sat beside me.

I shrugged, wincing at the twinge of pain the action caused. "A bit better."

He chuckled. "Oh, I shall miss you, dear Kylie."

I grinned. "I can come visit, you know."

"You'll forget me."

"Oh, the whole world will remember you, I can promise you that," I said, laughing.

He rolled his eyes. "Oh, come here." Suddenly his arm was around my waist, and we were impossibly close.

"Will," I warned.

"I may never see you again, sweet Kylie. And I want to make sure you remember me."

I couldn't tell him that there would be one point in time that everyone would know his name. Instead, I smiled softly. "Will-"

The Doctor emerged from backstage, interrupting what I was going to say. Shakespeare leaned back with a sigh.

"Good props store back there!" The Time Lord exclaimed. He was carrying a skull in his arms (slightly resembling a Sycorax, I might add,) and a ruff collar around his neck. The Doctor looked at the skull. "Reminds me of a Sycorax."

I chuckled. "I know, right?"

"Sycorax," Shakespeare wondered out loud. "Nice word. I'll have that off you as well."

"I should be on 10%. How's your head?"

"Still aching."

"Here, I got you this." The Doctor took off the ruff collar and placed it around Shakespeare's neck. "Neck brace. Wear that for a few days till it's better, although you might wanna keep it. It suits you."

"What about the play?" Martha asked.

"Gone," The Doctor said. "I looked all over – every single copy of 'Love's Labour' Won' wen up in the sky."

Shakespeare sighed. "My lost masterpiece."

"You could write it up again," I suggested.

"Yeah, better not, Will. There's still power in those words. Maybe it should best stay forgotten."

"Oh, but I got new ideas." Shakespeare grinned. "Perhaps it's time I wrote about fathers and sons. In memory of my boy – my precious Hamnet."

"Hamnet?" Martha asked, frowning.

"That's him."

"Ham-net?" She repeated.

"What's wrong with that?"

"Anyway," The Doctor interrupted. "Time we were off. I've got a nice attic in the TARDIS where this lot, " he held the crystal where the Carrionites were trapped. "Can scream for all eternity. And I've gotta take Martha and Kylie back to Freedonia."

Shakespeare ran a hand over his beard. "You mean travel on through time and space."

We froze. "You what?" The Doctor finally asked.

Shakespeare shrugged. "You and Kylie are from another world like the Carrionites and Martha is from the future. It's not that hard to work out."

We exchanged glances, eyes wide.

"That's…" The Doctor paused. "Incredible. You are incredible."

"We're alike in many ways, Doctor. It was a pleasure meeting you, Martha." He smiled at her. Then he turned to me. "And you, Kylie. I'll write about you, love." He paused, grinning. "All three of you. And I'll make a great story of you all."

Two men burst into the theater. "Will! Will! You'll never believe it! She's here! She's turned up!"

"We're the talk of the town," The other man said. "She heard about last night! She wants us to perform it again."

"Who?" Martha asked.

"Your Majesty! She's here!"

Just then, he sound of trumpets announced the Queen's arrival.

The Doctor grinned, excited. "Queen Elizabeth I!"

"Doctor!" The Queen growled.

"What?"

"My sworn enemy!" She continued.

"What?"

"Off with his head!"

"What?"

"Never mind 'what', just run!" Martha screamed and I scrambled to my feet, wincing. "See you, Will! And thanks!"

Martha and the Doctor rushed off, the Queen's soldiers rushing after them, and with a smile at Shakespeare, I went to follow.

A hand on my arm pulled me back. The next thing I knew, an arm wrapped around my waist and Shakespeare's mouth crashed into mine, stealing my breath.

"Goodbye, my little raven." He breathed as he stepped back. He grinned. "Remember me."

I laughed breathlessly, doubting very much I could ever forget that kiss.

I smiled. "Good bye, Will."

And then, I turned on my heel, and rushed towards the TARDIS, thoughts churning and lips tingling.

A kiss! :O

So, just so you know, there WILL be Doctor/Kylie romance at some point. Just not yet. I prefer it when it builds up to it. But don't worry! I'm going to start messing with their feelings pretty soon!

So.. ummm... stay tuned?:)

Oh! And thanks for all the new reviews and follows!:D Keep 'em coming!