TWO MONTHS LATER…

Charlie continued life as if nothing happened. But the experience she had with the Doctor changed her a little. She no longer hid herself in solitude, she spent more time with friends and meeting people at the newly rebuilt Rose's Café. Her new boss, Jill, was a kind, young woman that helped her around the restaurant, and Lily would take her out shopping on the weekends. But Charlie felt that there was still something missing. Something still unresolved.

"Charlie, what are you doing tonight?" Lily came over to girl cleaning the counter.

"Just staying in tonight, Lil. Maybe I'll go to the zoo. I haven't there in years."

"Ooh, can I come?"

"Sure. I don't see why not." Charlie pulled back her hair into a low ponytail and smiled.

"Awesome! I'll see you later." Lily skipped away.

"Bye." Charlie chuckled and went to the back. She looked down and there was the Gem of All, still resting on her neck. He never came back and took it off. Maybe he forgot about it. It'd be a shame to forget something important like the Gem of All.

"Yes, make sure that she gets it."

Charlie heard a familiar voice that made her turn toward the front of the café. She ran out and saw Jill holding an envelope, "Who was that?"

"I don't know. He told me to give this to you." Jill handed the waitress the envelope.

"What did he look like?"

"Tall, tweed jacket, bow tie."

"Bow tie?" Charlie ran out of the café, "Doctor?" She couldn't find him in the sea of people walking pass the café. She became filled with disappointment, it could've been something, but not the Doctor. Charlie went back in and sat down.

"You okay, pumpkin?" Jill asked.

"Yeah." She stroked the envelope, "I'll be fine." Charlie watched Jill leave and opened the envelope.

Miss Charlotte Marcus

You have been invited to an event of honor

Dress code: Formal

Transportation will take you to the venue at

Precisely 7:00 P.M.

Charlie scanned the invitation once again and shrugged, "Eh, what the hell?" She got up and approached Lily, the stylish person she ever knew, "Hey, Lil. I need your help with something."

"Sure, Charlie, what is it?"

"I can't go to the zoo tonight, I've been invited to some formal event. But I don't have a nice dress, and…"

"You think I can find one for you?"

"Yep, pretty much."

'Sure, Charlie. Ooh, I think I saw a cute little number at the mall. Let's go! Jill, we're heading out early!" Lily grabbed Charlie by the hand and dashed out of the café.

Later that night, Charlie checked herself in the mirror. A short, blue halter dress that covered her body as her jet black locks set up into a bun. "Well, you wanted a good life, Charlie. And you're going to get one." She smiled as she applied her lip gloss. 6:50 on the clock's face, "I better go." She grabbed her matching wrap and invitation before heading out the door. She walked out the building and she stood there in awe…smiling.

"Hello again, Miss Marcus." The Doctor, in a tuxedo, smiled at her.

Charlie threw herself into the Doctor's arms, "I can't believe it. You're back. I was scared that you ditched me."

"Come along, Charlotte." The Doctor opened the door for her and went up to the console, "We don't want to be late for the coronation."

"Coronation?" Charlie raised an eyebrow.

The TARDIS materialized inside a giant throne room surrounded in stained-glass windows. Thousands of insect-like creatures filled the room, leaving the only space in the middle. "Look, here come the man of the hour." The Doctor pointed to a familiar face.

It was Mikquin, dressed in regal robes, approaching the throne as the people of Corsect watched him. Mikquin turned to his audience and sat down. A elderly insect approached Mikquin with a silver crown, adorned with glistening jewels. "Mikquin of Corsect, will you rule this planet like your forefathers and the forefathers before them?"

Mikquin nodded his head, "I accept this right with full responsibility."

The elderly insect gently placed the crown on Mikquin's head, "People of Corsect, I give you your new king! All hail King Mikquin!"

"All hail King Mikquin!" The audience roared.

"Go Mikquin! You rule! Whooooo!" Charlie howled, leaving everyone staring at her, even the Doctor. Mikquin looked at Charlie and laughed.

At the reception, Charlie sat down watching the Doctor crazily dance to the upbeat music. She smiled and rolled her eyes at how silly the man was.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Someone came up from behind.

Charlie turned around and there was Mikquin, the crown on his head, and a smile on his face. "The Doctor sure can dance." She chuckled.

"Charlotte Marcus, if you'll allow me to remove the Gem of All."

"Oh, God, yes." Charlie turned around.

Mikquin gently fondled her neck and then carefully removed the necklace from the girl's neck. Charlie was free. "Better."

Charlie turned and saw the Gem of All in his hands. She looked deep into his eyes and smiled.

Mikquin felt lost staring into the blue pools of Charlie's eyes. His head leaned forwards, pulled by his lips, locking them with Charlie's.

Charlie wrapped her arms around the king as they kissed as they unlocked with grace, "It's good to be the king, huh?" She giggled.

"It is. I will never forget you, Charlotte."

"Same here. It's not everyday where you get kissed by an alien king." She smiled.

"I hope to see you again someday."

"Charlie, it's getting late. You should be getting home." The Doctor panted from dancing, "Your Highness." He bowed before Mikquin and pulled Charlie away.

"Doctor, what's the rush?" Charlie was thrown into the TARDIS. "I have plenty of time."

"That's just it, Charlotte! Time! There's always got to be a time and place for everything."

"You're right, time is short. Look, I don't want to go back to San Diego, Doctor."

"What?"

"I want to travel, see the universe and what it has to offer. Listen, I'm not going to live forever, unlike you, since you're what? 800?"

"You're flattering me, Charlie. But I'm 907 years old."

"Technically, you're old. You have seen so much while I've seen so little. So, would it be okay to travel with you?"

"You with me in my TARDIS?" The Doctor walked up to her, frightening her, "What the hell? The more the merrier." He smiled.

"You mean it?"

"Welcome aboard the TARDIS, Miss Marcus. Where shall we go first?"

"Can we stop by my apartment so I can pack? I really don't want to travel the universe in such a nice dress."

"Alright. But I have the perfect place to show you to start off."

The TARDIS materialized inside Charlie's living, it was snug between the floor and ceiling, but at least it would fit. "Okay, I'll just get a few things." Charlie ran out and noticed an envelope on the floor, "What the-?" She picked it up.

TO: CHARLOTTE C. MARCUS

FROM: SAN DIEGO MERCY HOSPITAL

Charlie's face turned scared at she looked at the letter, and took it with her into the bedroom. Minutes later, Charlie knocked on the door, with a backpack filled with clothes and snacks, and dressed in a simple red T-shirt and jeans. "Hey, Doctor, open up!" She banged on the door.

The Doctor opened it, all wet and rubbing his hair with a towel. "What took you so long?"

"Why are you all wet?"

"I went swimming."

"Swimming?"

"Yeah, there's a pool in here. Ready to go?"

Charlie took one more look of her tiny apartment, "Yeah, let's go." She walked in and the TARDIS slowly vanished from the home of Charlotte Marcus. Charlie sat down as the Doctor pressed some buttons on his console. She opened her backpack and pulled out the envelope from the hospital. She was tempted to open it as her fingers began to open the flap, "Nah…" She stopped and returned it back into her bag, "Carpe diem." She smiled to herself. Nothing was going to let her down, her adventure had just begun.

THE END