Disclaimer: Doctor Who (c) BBC Television.

Also, I am in no way intending to be harmful nor hateful towards Africans and African Americans alike. Please remember that in the mid-1700s in France, where Reinette is from, Africans were commonly used as slaves and servants. Slavery was not abolished in France until 1794. The historical figure Madame de Pompadour lived from 1721 until 1764. She would never see a time when Africans were anything but slaves and, in some cases, servants.

Thank you.

Reinette.

As she lay back on her new four-poster bed, looking up at the gauzy canopy in awe, Reinette decided that this had been the worst and best day of her life. Outlandish monsters had wanted to slice her up into bits for some unknown reason, but the Doctor, her Lonely Angel, had arrived to save her. And what a glorious entrance it was! A white stallion-! Not many men did that for women nowadays. Well, she should probably say, 'In the days of French society, mid-1700s.' Because it was certain that she was no longer in the 1700s. She couldn't even guess as to what year it was.

The aristocrat sighed happily, snuggling down into her soft, lacy pillows. She really didn't mind if she did not know everything about this new world. She trusted the Doctor to let her know anything important. Anything the Doctor didn't tell her, she didn't need to know, as far as she was concerned.

Oh! But Rose! Yes, Rose was also included. Although she dressed a bit scandalously, wearing men's trousers and far-too-tight blouses, Reinette also counted on Rose to let her know anything that was still necessary, but not as important as what the Doctor said. More like, a secondary source of information.

Reinette turned from her side onto her stomach, her hands clasped on top of the covers, the way her governess had taught her to sleep so many years ago. However, even the familiarity of the sleeping position and the loveliness of her new room could not lull her to sleep. Rather, the fact that this beautiful room even existed on-board such an extraordinary vessel helped keep her awake.

Deciding she could stand it no longer, the blue-eyed-blonde folded back her bedcovers and stepped out of bed. She picked up a soft lilac dressing gown on her way to the door, slipping it on before entering the hallway. She could not be wandering around wearing nothing but her nightdress. She wasn't worried about Rose, as they were both female, but what if the Doctor saw? He might think her some common trollop. Although... it could be considered trollop-esque to kiss the Doctor... Reinette grinned to herself, a light blush tingeing her creamy cheeks. Maybe he liked scandalous girls. That was certainly expressed in Rose. The girl had a very distinct air of the lower class about her, from the way she talked, the way she dressed, the way she slouched...

'No, Reinette,' she told herself. 'I must not mock Rose; it is very unbecoming of a woman of my background. Lower class or not, I must act civil, and even amiable, towards her. It is not her fault she was born into a far lower class than I.'

With that decided, Reinette set off to find her new... Crew-mates? Companions? Friends? Yes, they would be her new friends. She followed the long corridor, trying to remember the exact route Rose took to find her new quarters. It seemed to be the right path, although all the doors looked so similar it was extremely difficult to tell them apart. A thought occurred to her: How would she find her door? The one that would enter into her room? She felt very lost all of a sudden, but brushed off the anxiety by deciding that she would find the Doctor, and he would lead her back to her room.

She saw a kitchen up ahead, and thought she made a wrong turn… But it did not matter. Maybe the Doctor was having a late-night appetizer. The thought made her smile. She quickened her pace, reaching the kitchen in moments… Although it looked like no kitchen she had ever seen. But then, Reinette saw few kitchens, as she never had a need to learn to cook with chefs around to do that for her, therefore perhaps this kitchen was just like every other kitchen in her world.

She saw someone opening a very large, tall metallic box. Light spilled out from it, and Reinette could see the shelves inside lined with many different items. The man opening the metal box took out a jug of… Cream? Or milk? And poured it into a glass he had already set onto the counter.

Getting a better look at him, Reinette was immediately relieved. She had been thinking this world was completely different in all sense of the word than her own home, but now she saw that it really wasn't that different at all. She smiled gratefully and stepped forward, lowering herself onto a tall stool set before a counter. It was a peculiar way to dine, but she was flexible, and would manage.

"Excuse me, I would like a chocolate éclair and a cappuccino, s'il vous plait." She smiled and waited expectantly for the negroe to fill her order.

"…What?" He just stared at her, in the middle of replacing the top back on the jug and returning it to the metal box.

"Oh, and maybe some crème brulée, if the Doctor arrives." He still did not move. A light frown creased between her thin brows. "Be quick about it, Negro."

"What the hell?!" Now the man seemed downright furious. "Look, I don't care if you are Miss High and Mighty Madame de–bloody–Pompadour from France, but I will not be spoken to like that! I have my rights!"

"Excuse me?" Where in the world had the Doctor found such a ridiculously disobedient slave? "I will give you one last chance, slave," she said, her voice as cold as ice. She had lost patience with this insubordinate African. She re-stated her order and waited, her eyes glittering like hard sapphires.

"And I'm giving you one last chance to apologize! So, go on, say it, say you're sorry!" He demanded, scowling. When he saw she wasn't going to budge, he threw up his hands and put the jug back in the metal box. "God I can't believe this! Leaving us on that stupid spaceship for five and a half hours was bad enough, but all so he could bring back a racist girlfriend?! That's just crossing the line- No, that's jumping over the line then turning around to pick it up and throw it over a cliff!"

"What is going on?"

Reinette turned to see the Doctor entering the kitchen, wearing an old bathrobe. Her heart soared. Finally. Now he could come and set this incorrigible slave to rights. If there was one rule Reinette had been taught over and over in etiquette lessons, it was that you were not to punish another man's slave, but Reinette had been ready to demand this Negro's death sentence!

"Doctor!" The slave cut in before she could even open her mouth. "This girl you brought, she's treatin' me like a slave! A real one! She wants me to get her cappuccinos and cream blueberries and just-"

"Doctor," Reinette spoke, smiling graciously. "I suggest that you do something about this unruly slave. It seems that he is truly ignorant of his status, or at the very least, rebelling against it. I cannot see how you can deal with him."

"You see?!" The black man demanded, pointing a finger at her. "You see that?! I have my rights, Doctor, and I will not be treated like a slave!"

"Ahhh, I see what is going on... Ricky the idiot, didn't you ever take your history lessons? Slavery was not abolished in France until 1794. Of course Reinette thought you were a slave. She didn't know; it's not her fault." The Doctor flashed the blonde a heart-warming smile, and Reinette smiled back.

"…" The 'Ricky' man seemed to mull this over for a minute, and then blurted out, "It's still no excuse! …Well, go on, have your cappuccino or whatever. I've got my milk," he thrust his glass of milk in the air as proof, then started stomping towards the exit, "So I'm leaving." They heard him muttering to himself as he left.

"I'm sorry I forgot to tell you before, Reinette," the Doctor said with a rueful smile.

"Tell me… What exactly was it?" She was still a bit confused as to the whole situation. The Doctor smiled and sat down on a stool next to her, taking her hand in his.

"See, you came from about 1745, about, so obviously you would think that all Africans were slaves."

Reinette nodded her head in agreement. She understood that much so far.

"But in 1794, Africans were no longer slaves. At least in France, anyway. They were freed, and viewed the same as Caucasians. Now, Mickey is from United Kingdom, or Great Britain. Great Britain passed an Act of Parliament called the Slave Trade Act on March 25 1807, and that abolished slavery in Britain. Mickey is from 2006, so he's never been remotely treated as a slave. I may mess with him by calling him Ricky the idiot, but that's different. The point is, Reinette," he looked into her eyes very closely. "You can't be calling Mickey a 'Negro' and treating him as a slave. It's extremely hurtful towards him, and it's a line that even I won't cross. Understand?

Reinette smiled. "Of course, Doctor." Treat the Negro as a normal human being? "I shall apologize to him at once, and be ever cordial to him afterwards." I supposed it is worth a try… If the Doctor wants it.

"Thanks Reinette. I knew you'd understand." He smiled warmly and patted her hand. "Now, it's pretty late, but what was it that you were asking Mickey to get for you?"

"Well, I had wanted a cappuccino and a chocolate éclair, but it is quite alright if I do not receive them."

"Don't know about the éclair, but I'm sure I can handle a cappuccino." He stood and walked to a cabinet, taking out a cup and setting it on the counter. Next he went to an odd contraption resting on the counter, flicking a switch so that a green light came on.

"Just have to wait for it to warm up," he explained.

"Doctor, what is that?"

"Hm? Oh, a coffeemaker. Makes fantastic espressos, but it can also do you cappuccinos and frappuccinos. Rose loves to make frappuccinos."

"I see…" She should probably have them, then, so she can at least be as good as Rose in that aspect. She turned back to see the Doctor turning off the machine, carrying a steaming cappuccino over to her.

"Here we are."

"Thank you very much." She lifted it to her lips gracefully, taking a sip. It tasted wonderful. She saw the Doctor looking at her and smiled. "Would you like some?"

"Me? Oh, sure, why not." He grinned and waited for her to give the porcelain cup to him. But Reinette was feeling bold, so she moved the cup to rest against his lips, grinning. He raised his eyebrows slightly, then smiled just for her and took a sip.

"Ouch, burned my tongue," he said, making a face. "Tastes great, though."

"Oh dear! Here, I'll make it better." She leaned over to place a warm kiss against his lips. She felt his lips curve upwards in a smile before he responded, kissing her back. His mouth tasted like cappuccino and something vaguely spicy, such as pine, or mint. She decided quickly she loved how he tasted. He must like how she tasted as well, she thought wickedly, as he raised a hand to cup the back of her head, kissing her still more deeply. They broke away only for air. She looked at him, her head tilted to the side in what she knew was an attractive pose; she used it on her King often. Maybe she would visit his bed tonight...

"You must be tired. You've had a long day," he said. "I'll help you find your room." He stood, smiling down at her and holding out a hand. His eyes were the colour of melted chocolate… She sighed inwardly, not really wanting to go to her room… But there was always tomorrow. She smiled in reply and placed her own daintier hand in his larger one, rising and following her Lonely Angel out of the kitchen.

You know that feeling you get when you post a new story kind of randomly and you don't expect it to get any reviews, or to even get any hits, and then you check it again and suddenly it has a bunch of reviews? MAN, I love that feeling! Thank you so much for reviewing everyone!

Note: If you haven't noticed by the end of this chapter, the story will alternate between Rose and Reinette's point of view.