Eva paced back and forth in her room, recollecting the recent events that had changed the course of her life. She had tried to go to sleep, still feeling tired after her recent encounter; but found herself restless. It felt like so long ago that she was a simple cashier at Save Mart. Now here she was, an alien of unknown origin, in a spaceship with an extraterrestrial madman with a box and a super-powered stranger who seems to know more about her than she knew about herself. The change was almost too drastic for her to bear. As she paced back and forth, her thoughts consuming her full attention, she was starting to miss the dull, lifeless life she thought she had.

Then, she remembered. The Batman. That man in the undercity. That was definitely him, but why would he teleport there? How did he teleport there? Why did he want her to try and hide those patches from the Doctor? What purpose was that for?

Eva stomped her foot, confused and angry that she had little to no idea what any of it meant. She slammed it down with such force that her entire room quaked. She was too wrapped up in her thoughts to even notice.

"Was it all some kind of test?" she wondered.

Why did Wally need to hurry back? Hurry back where?! Eva's thoughts shifted their focus and pinpointed on herself. What was she? What purpose did she serve? How does Wally know her? Why won't he tell? Why was that Cyberman after her? All of these questions kept racing through her mind, only adding to her ongoing stress.

"GOD!" Eva shouted in frustration. "What is even going on?!"

She gripped her thick black hair, trying to rack her brain into making some kind of sense of it all.

"Hey there." Said a friendly, chipper voice from the door.

Startled, she whipped her head around to see who it was. It was Wally. Of course. Eva opened the door, and looked downcast in embarrassment. He probably heard her. Wally stepped in, though at a slow, normal pace. No electricity or red blurs this time. He cleared his throat but couldn't find the words for what he wanted to say. Eva just looked at him, as if expecting him to break the silence. It was starting to feel awkward. He stood there in the middle of the room for a moment, though it felt like a minute, before he took a breath.

"So, um. Look, Eva." He said, scratching his head nervously. "I know you don't really know me that well, and you know that I know you, but you don't know how but-"

He stopped himself mid-sentence and grunted. Eva just tilted her head and lifted an eyebrow, confused.

"What I mean is, I owe you an explanation." He finally blurted out.

Eva gulped, almost as if an explanation would be too much for her to handle. Oh sure, all of those questions racing through her head were driving her insane, but maybe the truth would be that one final push that would break her. Perhaps the whole big mystery was actually better than knowing anything at all. Maybe, she thought, she didn't really want to know.

"Eva." Said Wally. "I know you're scared. But it's important that you know."

He took a step closer to her. "The Doctor's already plotting a course. We're heading to your parents' house, the day before the Cybermen invaded."

"What?!" Eva nearly screamed, in shock.

"Well, unless you want to travel to the day you were uh, born."

"No!" she yelled.

The Doctor rushed into her room, a look of urgency on his face.

He had anticipated that Eva would be against them traveling to her past, and who wouldn't be? Here were two people that she barely knew, and they were about to intrude into her past. It had to be done, the Doctor reasoned. Visiting the day she was born would be too much of a risk, Wally had told him earlier. Her parents would most likely be on the defensive, being desperate to protect their new bundle of joy. There was also that issue of that super Cyberman. Yes, it was only one Cyberman, but the Doctor knew better than to assume that super Cyberman was the only one of its kind. He knew from experience that with one, there usually comes another and another, and another. How many were there?

There was no telling. All he gathered from Wally's story was that it was a blend of Mondasian technology and that of another advanced race that he could not yet identify. He also determined that the strange Cyberman was following either him or Eva. That being the case, he reasoned that should another one of those things appear again, the last place it needed to happen would be on the day Eva was born.

"Everything alright?" He asked, glancing between Wally and Eva.

"No, I don't want to travel to when I was born! I just-" Eva took a breath in order to calm herself. "It's just that, I don't know if I really…"

She trailed off, casting her gaze down toward the floor and closing her eyes. The Doctor walked closer to her, with his hands in his coat pockets. He knew this would be hard on her. He knew better than anyone that sometimes, the truth hurts more than not knowing at all.

"Really..?" The Doctor asked, inquisitively. "Not sure you really want to know where you're from?"

Eva shook her head yes.

"Well, that's funny." He said. "Because the whole reason I brought you aboard in the first place was to help you find it out."

Eva raised her head and smiled at the Doctor.

"I know." She chuckling. "I guess I'm just nervous because this might finally be it."

"Oooh the big drumroll." The Doctor cheerfully joked, making a drumroll motion with his hands. "Yes, the moment of truth! The mother of all your questions, Eva!"

He twirled around excitedly, never dropping his excited smile. Then he rushed right up to her face, forming his right hand into a small pinch.

"And we're just this close!" He told her. "We're right there, Eva!"

"Alright." Grinned Eva. "Let's do it then."

"Fantastic!" exclaimed the Doctor.

He shirked back right after the word left his mouth.

"Ooh that was weird. Haven't said that for a while. No matter! Everyone to the Kitchen! I have snacks prepared for everybody!"

"Awesome!" exclaimed Wally. "I'm starving!"

"Sounds great, Doc!" said Eva.

The Doctor waved his hand high in the air, motioning for them to leave the room and head for the kitchen.

"Then it's settled! Allons-Y!"


In a well decorated and colorful neighborhood in Kansas City, A silver haired old woman was tending to her flowers on the front lawn. She hummed to herself while watering them, being careful not to overdo it. Her husband was inside still reading the newspaper and finishing his morning cup of coffee. He was a grey haired man nicknamed "Pa" by their daughter and the rest of the neighborhood kids. Pa was a tall fellow; measuring at six feet and two inches in height. He had broad, strong shoulders; and a muscular frame built from his years of hard work at his construction job. He had left the front door open with the screen door closed, in order to let in the fresh air without all the nasty bugs and insects that came with it. Their peaceful morning was interrupted by a strange mechanical grinding noise, and the small current of wind that seemed to accompany it. Frightened, the old woman dropped her water hose and nearly fell backwards onto the soil. Her husband heard the noise too, and ran to the front door.

A big blue box started to materialize right there in their driveway, just inches away from Pa's truck. Pa swung open the screen door and ran to his wife. He held her in his arms as the both looked on in fear and awe. The box fully materialized, and the noise stopped. It was a police box. Neither of them had ever seen one of those before. The door suddenly flung open, and out stepped the Doctor with a cheerful laugh.

"Oh how lovely!" he said, taking in a large breath of the morning air. "You should have told me that your house was this nice!"

"What?!" shouted Pa, on the defensive. "I've never seen you before in my life!"

The Doctor realized what was going on. The old man thought that the Doctor was talking to him, not Eva.

"Oh, well you see-"

The Doctor thrust his hands into his coat pockets, about to make up an excuse. Before he could complete his sentence, Eva shouldered him aside and ran out of the TARDIS and onto the front lawn. She embraced the old couple in her arms, being careful not to break them with her immense strength.

"Ma! Pa!" she exclaimed with relief.

She cried and held them tight. This had been the first time she had seen them again since they went missing during the Cybermen invasion. Now they were here, in the flesh, alive and well. It was like they had come back from the dead.

"Eva?!" said the old woman. "I thought you were at work! Oh sweetie, what happened?"

"Ah yes!" the Doctor chimed in. "You see I was just about to explain that. This young gentleman and I are her friends."

He pointed to himself and Wally, both of them having stepped onto the front lawn. The Doctor was quick to shut the door before the couple could take a peek inside.

"Yeah, well she got an excused absence from work and we're just giving her a lift home."

Ma scoffed in disbelief. "In a 'police box' or whatever that is?"

"You mean you've never seen-"The Doctor caught himself mid-sentence.

"Oh that's right." He said. "Forgot where I was for a sec. Anyway! We were just dropping her off when she invited us to have breakfast! And as for her crying, well, she was just feeling a little stress from work. After all, it is retail. Isn't that right, Eva?"

Eva stuttered a little. "Y-yes." She spat out, wiping the tears off of her face. "I uh, thought it would be okay with you, Ma. What about you, Pa?"

Pa relaxed his shoulders and gave a small shrug.

"Well I'd like a little bit of a warning next time." He said. "But I suppose if Ma says it's okay, then I've got no problems."

Ma's face brightened with glee. "Eva you should have told me you were making friends at work!"

Eva's face blushed red. Wally lowered his head, trying to hide his grin. The Doctor leaned his head back and smiled at Eva.

She pointed to them by name. "Ma, these are my friends: The Doctor, and Wally."

"Pleased to meet you." Said the Doctor, extending his hand.

The old couple took turns shaking his hand.

"Doctor, this is my mom Martha." She said, pointing to the old woman.

"Hello." Said the old man, before Eva could introduce him. "I'm Eva's father. My name's Jonathan."

The Doctor and Wally took turns shaking his hands as well.

Eva's face lit up. It was so wonderful to see her parents again.

"Ma, Pa," she said, with more energy this time. "I know I shouldn't have dropped them in on you like this but…"

She paused.

"Of course, sweetheart!" said Ma, knowing full well what her daughter was about to say. "I'll make steak and eggs for everybody!"

Steak and eggs. Now there was a breakfast that the Doctor hadn't had in a while. Wally rubbed his hands together in anticipation for the hearty meal. The only one who did not seem too eager to eat was Eva. She was scared. How was she going to explain to her parents that she had been time traveling with an alien and a comic book superhero? How was she going to ask them about her true origins? What was more important on her mind was this: Could she bear to leave, knowing she would never see them again?


The mouthwatering aroma of steaks on a grill filled the entire house. Pa was in the back yard, doing the grilling. He had left the back door open, again for fresh air. Ma was as busy as a bee, hurrying herself to and from the fridge and the stove. Wally was helping her pick out the seasoning she was going to use in the food, and which plates to serve them on. She was cooking the entire dozen of eggs that she had just bought from the store the other day, and had just cracked the first two before realizing she had forgotten a most critical question.

"Doctor!" she shouted.

The Doctor was standing by the dining room table only a few feet away, pretending to be cleaning it before the food was ready.

"Ow!" The Doctor covered his ears.

"Oh dear! I'm so sorry." She said softly, putting her hand over her heart apologetically. "Do you want your eggs scrambled or sunny-side up?"

"Ooh sunny-side up sounds delicious, Missus..?"

"Oh! You can call me Martha, or Mrs. Kent. Either is fine."

"What?" he thought to himself.

The Doctor hid his shock, and waited until Martha turned back around before continuing his work on the dining table. He returned to his real task: sifted through their mail, being sure to make it look like he was certainly not snooping. The mail had revealed a rather unexpected discovery. A letter from Save Mart had been addressed to Eva. The Doctor picked up the letter and felt his heart drop. The envelope was addressed to an Eva Kent.

"Kent?" he whispered to himself.

He looked at another envelope, this time for her parents. It read: To Jonathan and Martha Kent.

"Oh, I see where this is going."

The Doctor collected the pile of newspaper and mail in his hands and set it on top of a television in their living room. He slid his hands in his coat pockets and breathed in the delicious smell of food, being sure to hide the fact that he was very upset with Eva. She had lied to him all along, and all he wanted to do was to help her. He supposed he should better add this to the list of signs that his companion still didn't fully trust him. It cut him deeper than it probably should have. He decided it would be best to push the matter aside for now and start lending a hand in the kitchen. Mrs. Kent was more than happy to have another helper at her side. She instructed the Doctor to get some plates prepared, as her eggs were almost ready. Wally laid the napkins and silverware on the dining table. A few minutes passed, until the eggs were finally ready.

"Steak's done!" said Jonathan, from the grill.

"Oh, perfect timing!" grinned the Doctor.

Jonathan brought the steaks in on a large glass plate, and set the plate in the middle of the table. Mrs. Kent served the eggs evenly to each person's plate, being sure to save the sunny-side up ones for the Doctor. He held out his plate and received his serving of a thick juicy steak, with his special eggs. Everyone else had theirs scrambled. He delighted in this, and tried hard not to giggle even though he felt special.

As everyone sat down to eat, Eva appeared from her upstairs bedroom and sat beside her Pa. Jonathan sat at the head of the table, with Eva and his wife on either side. Wally felt it best to take his seat next to Mrs. Kent, so that the Doctor would have a chance to try and bond more with Eva. As the Doctor took his seat next to Eva, he watched for any change in her facial expression. She seemed uncomfortable, like she was secretly ashamed of something. Perhaps she knew that he had found out her real name. Maybe she felt guilty for having lied to him early on.

The meal was slightly uncomfortable, but delicious. Jonathan tried to break the awkward silence among his guests with a light conversation.

"So, Doctor, is it?" he said before biting a chuck of steak from his fork.

The Doctor swallowed his food and cleared his throat. "Yes, sir. That's me." He smiled, trying to be polite.

"Where you come from?"

"Oh well, I travel everywhere." He replied.

"But your accent." Said Mrs. Kent, smiling. "Are you European?"

"Um-"

"He sounds British, don't you think?" asked Jonathan.

"Oh no, dear. I think he sounds Irish."

The Doctor kept his smile, fighting hard not to show his annoyance.

"Actually," he began.

"I dunno." Eva cut in. "Are you European, Doctor?"

The Doctor threw his head back.

"Nope! I'm not Irish." He said, still keeping a lighthearted tone. "Take another guess!"

Jonathan tried this time. "Hmm. Dutch?"

The Doctor shook his head. "Uh-uh."

"German?" guessed Mrs. Kent again.

The Doctor just blinked at that one, and grinned in amusement.

Wally chimed in. "Maybe he's from England."

"Really?!" laughed the Doctor.

It was no use at this point. Everyone was taking turns guessing the Doctor's accent, though he knew that his companions were just throwing wild guesses for fun and laughs. Eva even suggested he might be French just to watch the Doctor's flabbergasted facial reaction. Wally joked that he might be from Wales. The Doctor's grin spread wider as his face flushed red, and he stifled his laughter. He knew they were just having fun with him; and besides, Mr. and Mrs. Kent had some amusing guesses. Jonathan touched his wife's hand with tenderness.

"Now look, Martha." He laughed. "You made him blush."

The Doctor laughed. "Oh, it's alright."

He took another bite of his eggs and decided to just tell them that he was Scottish. Jonathan's next question was about that "police box". The Doctor explained that they were from the United Kingdom in decades past, but his was really a vehicle that just so happened to look like one. With the ice broken, the air began to feel less tense. Eva joked with her parents, while Wally struggled to eat his food at a normal pace. Everyone was so slow compared to him, and not just in eating. Had they forgotten how little time they had before the Cybermen begin their killing spree? The impending danger loomed over him like a dark cloud. Should he try to hurry things up, or wait for the Doctor's cue?

After thirty minutes of chatting, everyone had eaten their fill of the Kents' cooking. Mrs. Kent collected the plates and made her way to the kitchen sink. Jonathan excused himself to the restroom in their master bedroom. With both of her parents distracted, the Doctor gently took hold of Eva's arm to get her attention. She turned and looked at him, ashamed. She knew what was on his mind.

"Why didn't you tell me your name was 'Kent'?" he asked softly.

Eva hanged her head. "I didn't know you just yet. I was scared, and after you decided to help me I just didn't think about it again."

The Doctor groaned. "You could have saved me so much trouble, Eva."

She cocked her head, confused. "How?"

"Never mind that now." He said with a heavy sigh. "Besides I think I figured it all out earlier on, anyway. Well, I say 'think' but what I really mean is I did figure it out. Well, I say 'figured it out' but it was more like-"

"You mean you know what I am?!" exclaimed Eva, shocked but excited.

The Doctor shushed her. It was too late, though. Martha had overheard her daughter asking the question that she had feared answering ever since Eva was just a baby. She pretended to be checking on Jonathan and paced hurriedly into their bedroom. The door closed quite forcefully. Wally coughed awkwardly. That didn't go so well.

Before long, Jonathan and Martha reemerged, with a stone expression on both of their faces.

"Why are you really here, Doctor? Wally?" asked Jonathan, forcefully.

"I told you. We're friends of Eva."

"Who sent you? The FBI?"

"No, Pa." Eva said, standing in between her friends and her parents.

"They came with me. I want to know the truth. Where am I really from?"

Jonathan grimaced, and held Martha in his arms as she began to cry silently. They knew this day would come, and the dreaded every moment that it came closer. It was time to tell her.

"All right, dear. Get in my truck." He said. "And I'll show you."

The Doctor, remembering what day it was, had another plan. To leave the TARDIS alone on a day like this would be asking for trouble.

"You go on ahead." He said to them. "I'll follow in my own vehicle."

Everybody made their way to the driveway, and Martha made sure to lock the door. Jonathan unlocked his red truck and put the keys in the ignition He then paused before starting his truck.

"How fast can your 'box' go, Doctor?" he asked. "Think it's fast enough to keep up?"

"Oh it's fast enough all right." the Doctor replied.

He then looked directly at Eva, who was already climbing in the back seat.

"Faster than a speeding bullet." he muttered.

Eva and her parents piled into Jonathan's red truck. As the truck roared to life and drove off into the streets, the Doctor raced into his TARDIS with Wally following close behind. Soon the big blue box was flying high into the air, following the truck from a distance.