A/N: This story takes place five years after mine and Carol's joint story, The Past Comes Back to Haunt Us, and by this time the Valeyard is no longer evil and has been accepted by everyone. He goes by the name Doc to avoid confusion.

Chapter Nine

After chatting for a couple of hours, everyone went inside to sleep except for the Doctor. He stayed awake, lounging against the log while he stared up at the stars. He smiled when he heard Rain singing the children to sleep and then it fell silent inside the tent. Outside, there were a few scattered animal noises and the crackling of the fire to break the silence of the night. He stared at one star while he thought about Namid. For years now, he and his wife had held out the hope that her blindness might be cured while at the same time consoling themselves that she would regain her sight as soon as she regenerated. The fact that she might be cured in this life filled him with joy.

"Daddy?"

The Doctor leaned back up and looked around at the tent. He smiled when he saw Namid tentatively stepping out of it.

"Over here, my treasure," he said to her.

He let out several high-pitched beeps as Namid giggled and followed the beeps to his side. He embraced her as she sat down beside him.

"What's the matter? Can't sleep?" he asked her.

"I haven't been to sleep yet. I was just listening to the rest of your CD," she said.

"Oh, what did you think of it?"

"I like it. I like the story of Sutekh and the mummy robots. Aunt Sarah really did all that?"

"Oh yes, your Aunt Sarah was a very brave woman, still is, actually," he said as he leaned back onto the log and stared up at the sky.

"What did they look like, Daddy? The mummy robots?"

The Doctor showed her an image of them.

"They're weird looking. They're big and they got the bandages all over them," Namid commented.

"Yes, but they were dangerous. I was glad when we finally defeated them."

"What did Sutekh look like?"

He showed her.

"Ooo, he looks scary, Daddy? Weren't you scared?"

"Nah, I wasn't that scared," the Doctor replied. "I've faced far worse than a bunch of mummy robots and an Osirian."

He frowned when Namid fell silent.

"Penny for your thoughts?" he said to her.

She rolled on her side and faced him.

"Daddy, why do you fight evil people?" she asked.

"Because it's the right thing to do. It's what I decided my purpose in life should be," he replied. "I'm not the sort of person who can just sit back and let evil people do whatever they want so I fight the evil and injustice that's out there."

"Aren't you scared of dying?"

He chuckled and stroked her hair.

"Sweetie, I've died nine times already," he said. "Dying doesn't scare me anymore."

"Did it hurt?"

"Nah, not really."

"Do you think I'd make a good Time Lady?"

He smiled tenderly.

"I think you'd make an excellent Time Lady, Rainbow. You're already shown so much courage in your life and now with this operation; I think I'll take you and your brother and sister out for more exciting adventures."

"But I have to see first?"

"Yes, Honey. I know you get around pretty well but you really do need your eyesight if you're gonna travel with me. I can't show you things all the time, especially in the heat of battle. That's why I'm glad that man found us today and gave me the information on this doctor. We'll go and see him when we leave here in the morning."

"Will you still show me things and make my CDs for me, Daddy?"

"Sure. That won't stop if you gain your eyesight, Rainbow. I love doing those things for you. Course once you see, we'll have to teach you how to read and write since you only know how to use Braille but that's easy to do."

"Will I see things like the mummy people and Sutekh?"

"Oh, I don't know if you'll see them personally, but you'll see things like them. Are you scared?"

"A little bit."

He smiled and stroked her hair.

"Well, you don't have to worry. I won't kick you or your brother or sister out the door of the TARDIS and tell you to have at it while I hide. I will train you how to battle monsters and evil people just like I showed your mum and your aunts and uncles how to do it. By the time I'm through with ya, you won't know the meaning of the word fear," he teased.

He frowned when Namid started crying softly.

"Love, what's wrong?" he said, moving closer to her and putting his arm around her. "Honey, I promise if you wanna travel with me, I'll do everything in my power to keep you safe. I'm not gonna send you out to fight a mummy robot at the age of ten, trust me."

"No, it's not that," Namid said, sniffing.

"What is it then?"

Namid put her arms around him.

"I don't want you to die," she said, snuggling close.

The Doctor's hearts warmed and he kissed her head tenderly.

"I promise you, if I die I'll get right back up and be your daddy again," he said.

"No, I mean die for real. I don't want you to ever die."

The Doctor rubbed her arm.

"Baby, I have to die sometime," he said softly. "Our kind does live a long time but we're not immortal. Eventually, I will die permanently. But…I don't think that's until a long ways off in future so don't worry about it. You'll be able to irritate me for years to come."

He smiled when Namid giggled at that and kissed her temple.

"And frankly, I wanna die sometime. I'm tired. Your dad's an ooooooold man now; he's been through a lot. That's why I bred you cattle so you could take over from Papa Moo-moo when he snuffs it."

He grinned when Namid giggled harder.

"I'm a moo-moo, Daddy?"

"Yes, you're my little moo-moo named Clarabelle that gives me chocolate milk."

Namid laughed and the Doctor laughed with her when she mooed for him.

"Yup, you're my little moo cow," the Doctor teased as he tickled her. "And…little moo cows need to get their rest so they can give me lots of yummy milk so…how's bout you go back in your tent and start snorin'?"

"Will you come with me, Daddy?"

"Aw, do I have to?" the Doctor whined.

He chuckled and kissed her cheek.

"Alright, I'll come back inside and you can lie near mummy and me," he said to her.

"You mean we're gonna sleep with the robot mummy, Daddy?"

"No!" he said, tickling her while she giggled. "I mean the mummy who'll be very angry at me for keeping you up when you need your sleep!"

He gave her several wet kisses on her cheeks while she giggled with delight and then he held her close while he sent love into her mind.

"When you get your eyesight back, you're gonna be amazed at all the things you'll see with them," he said to her. "And it'll be a lot better to see them with your own eyes than to have people show them to you. That's what I'm looking forward to, you seeing things with your own eyes."

"Me too, Daddy."

He gave her a hug and a kiss before both of them got up and he escorted her back into the tent.

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The next morning when they finally got back to New Gallifrey, the Doctor called all the family members and told them to gather in his house. Once they were there, he told them about Doctor Prevensie and everyone was ecstatic.

"So, you're gonna go through with it?" Jack asked.

"I think so. We're gonna go visit this doctor and talk to him to make sure he's competent. So, anyone wanna come with me and Rain, now's the time to say so."

"I will," Doc said, "after all, she's my daughter too."

"And I'll go as well," Adam said.

"Me too," Theta said.

"Me too," Alan said.

"And me," John added.

Jack and Ianto also volunteered along with Rose, Rosie, Marion, Tara and Frankie. Everyone else decided to wait and watch the children while the Doctor promised to call and let them know what Doctor Prevensie said to him. After that, the ones who were going climbed into the Doctor's TARDIS and everyone chatted about the good news while the Doctor took it into the vortex.