Chapter 3
Life in the TARDIS
Lilly's POV
"Well, then Allyson wasn't that fun?" the Doctor barely breathed out. That adventure was exhausting!
"Yeah," I nodded.
"Exhausting?"
"Yeah."
He just smiled a bright smile. He looked over at me mischievously now and I just looked over him like 'Oh No.' He looked away suddenly as if jerking his eyes off of me like it was a painful thing to do.
"What's wrong, Doctor?"
"You just remind me of someone."
I didn't dare ask who. This man could be a bit over emotional. I smiled and nodded instead, "I can have that effect." I slapped my hand over my mouth. That did not sound right. "Where to next?" I said trying desperately to change the subject.
"Ah, I thought we could just hang around for a bit. It has been a week Allyson…"
"Well, If that's what you want, Doctor. Goodnight."
"Are you really tired?"
"No, I just thought I'd get out of you hair."
"That's not what I meant. Could you just stay here with me, please? You're not tired, anyway. Why don't I get to meet you officially and you know learn your background."
"Yes, I guess you should."
"Aw, Why so down? You really think I can adventure all the time. I travel with humans. After we hang around a bit you should go to bed Allyson. I know you came to escape, but we can't have fun if you are so sleepy!"
"What about you?"
"I hardly need sleep."
"Wouldn't you just get lonely. And man are you old. I can tell bacause you lost your sense of adventure, Doctor. I've read about you from lost works of artists and writers. I've read about you in fairy tales a man traveling across time in a blue box. The so many stars."
"Ah...I know what we can do!"
"What?"
"Fancy seeing the stars?"
"For real? I get to see the stars? I thought you just showed me a part of modern Earth for a second and that wasn't much of an adventure. And now the stars! Oh, the stars!"
"Remember, I am The Doctor. You can trust me and that was Darion. We may be back at some point. If I am right then that was the year before Gallifrey comes. They will find a way through to the universe. Our universe. We'll be back. We can wait though. I promise that next time we go on an adventure it will be fun. Now, would you like to see the stars Allyson?"
"Don't you show all your companions the stars?"
"Well, yes, but would you like to see them. You can't tell me you will decide against it because everyone has."
"Aw, but how would I be special?"
"Stop it! You know you want to see the stars!"
"Oh, of course I do!"
He pushed some buttons, pulled some levers, and selected options on a screen then pushed down a lever and I heard the TARDIS set to drift.
"Well, go ahead open the doors."
I did I opened the doors and carefully tipped my toe out the door. Then I took out the pony tail holding my braid. I slipped of my flats and backed up then I ran out and jumped trusting the zero gravity. I wiggled my bare toes. I slipped of my jacket and dropped it on the TARDIS floor. I just swam around like it was a swimming pool. It didn't quiet feel like a swimming pool.
"Extend the oxygen barrier and increase density. Increase force field and add "bounce back" he said. Instruction for the TARDIS.
I just swam around and did forward flips. My hair was floating around me but me shirt and shorts stayed tight around my skin. I wiggled my fingers and felt the skin on my inner hand. On my palm. This is so unreal. One day I'll wake up and find myself at home and this is the dream I'll never want to end.
"Don't stray to far, Allyson. You have limited space and 'bounce back' can be painful if met the right way."
"Okay! I'll be fine! This is so amazing, Doctor!"
The Doctor just chuckled and said, "Why yes. Yes it is."
I just smiled back at him. I could stay forever. Just stay in the TARDIS forever and never go back to see my mother or my father. The filthy who leave me to fend for myself and The Doctor here helping me, raising me, and most of all just seeing of my exsistance! That's all I ever wanted: acknowledgment and attention. If he could do that for me I never would go back. No one ever has. Except Lilly who snuck me away every night to go shopping or to go to a movie or something.
I just cheered though forgetting my thoughts, "I am in SPACE!"
If I looked back all I saw was The Doctor's brilliant smile flashing. His eyes were bright with joy.
I swam back to the TARDIS and landed gently closing the doors behind us.
"Doctor have you ever had a daughter?"
"Yeah, I did."
"Well, you saved Gallifrey right? Where is she then?"
"In a different universe, if she remains alive."
"Oh my God. I'm sorry Doctor."
I hugged him tightly seeing he was in an upset mood. After living for over a thousand years one can become fragile. Some days I am not sure if he should have just died back then or if I wished he was here with me now. The man deserved his peace. Then, again he can find it with me. Surely he's better of with me than alone.
We did we went out and sometimes had long nights and days in the TARDIS. Him occasionally heading into his own room. The room that held secrets that called my name, but. I could never invade his privacy.
One year finally passed with adventures and me growing only an inch, but growing and filling out my clothes as I matured from a girl to woman. Only seventeen, but so much has changed.
The Doctor's POV
Allyson was growing and I couldn't help but noticing. I had become an almost father to her, but I hope a lot more fun. In just a year she'd be an adult. Allyson came onto the TARDIS as a young girl hopeful of a better life full of adventure. Her eyes were maturing too. Older and Older those young eyes. All our adventures coming home to the TARDIS. I couldn't help, but wonder when she would leave. She remains happy though. Lilly! I had almost forgotten of her sister.
We were on the TARDIS celebrating her seventeenth birthday. "How long are you staying?"
"Well, as long as I can. Why?"
"At your age and your maturing self we can't head back likes it's been five minutes the longer your with me the longer they wait. We can't go to present because by now your parents have called the cops. You should stay with me for now, Allyson."
"Doctor, please. It's been a year, call me Ally."
"Okay, Ally. Why? Why tell me this now it's been so long. Allyson is your name. A proper name too. Are you sure?"
"Of course," she was whispering now.
No. She can't! She's only seventeen this isn't fair and is so wrong! She's trying to be romantic. I've become like an almost father and this is just wrong. I backed up from her slowly, "Um, Allyson! You are way too young!"
"Oh I am almost an adult now, Doctor. You've been kissed so many times. Why is it so bad from me?"
"If you were the Ally I knew back when I picked up that stubborn girl from her house with doubts over me that burned to the heart of the sun. You'd know why I can't. You are almost a daughter to me! I really just- No stop it!"
"Aw, but why?"
"Why are you doing this now, Allyson?"
"Don't you know?"
"Wouldn't a girl like you have a boyfriend back home?"
"Oh so you do think I'm pretty."
"Yeah, I do. What's wrong with an almost father thinking his almost daughter is pretty?"
"Nothing. You know it's there though. You love me."
"Yes, like a daughter! Now, just stop!" I ran up the stairs to my bedroom. I really had no idea what was going on with her.
"I'm almost an adult now. I'm your companion and your my Doctor!"
"That doesn't mean-" I had kissed almost all or maybe all of my recent companions. That may as well be what marks them as a companion. This though is nonsense at least they were adults and she is only seventeen!
We are always just children shouting to each other through my bedroom door. I opened it now facing her. Her face looked mad and hurt that I didn't just love her.
"That is not why your here Allyson..."
"Oh, really then why am I here?"
"I just get lonely and a girl like you...well, you are wise and hurt and could use a break from your life back here. Now, this is your life and your not lonely or mistreated. You wanted and needed to be here with me. Your not ignored anymore with me. I get lonely too Ally. I needed you and you needed me. But what we don't need is this. This already changes how I see you and we can't. I can't. Just, please if you knew- if you just knew. Any time I love someone I lose them."
"You already love me! You said so! You may not be in love with me but you do love me. What can this change?" She was shouting now and tears made her eyes puffy and red.
"Everything," I whispered to her.
She smiled at me. No, she couldn't help but to break a smile and lost it. She lost her anger toward me seeing it as useless.
"It already has changed. When you took me into your TARDIS my entire life changed course. I know what you'll say next: it was meant to happen that way. It was and I agree, but Doctor you can't say you'll give your life as a person to adventure and act like you can never go back. You act like you can never love, ever."
"I do and right now that's my problem. Love, it always hurts me in the end. It always does."
"You already love me! There is nothing left to lose!"
"Yes, I know I love you like a daughter and if only you can see why this is wrong! It's wrong, this is all wrong!"
"Then stop looking at me like a daughter and start looking at me like what I am. Your companion."
"Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! You are messing with my mind. Stop it! You are driving me mad. I can't ever be in love with you that would be wrong. It's always wrong no matter how hard you try to change my mind it will always be wrong."
She studied my face for a minute then smiled, "You said it was wrong, you never said I couldn't change your mind. Now, come here you daft old boy!"
She pulled me in and kissed me on the lips with so much force and it shocked me still. I stood still under her arms but she pushed harder pressing her face to mine with urgency like it could be taken away in second then it happened. We fell into my bedroom.
She stopped for a moment ontop of me as I looked up at her with such a horrified look in my eyes. She stared at me for a moment then looked around my bedroom the curiosity in her. Then she got up and wandered opening the second room in my bedroom showing pictures of all my companions and all my outfits of all my faces. She looked around and saw small toys and trinkets of Gallifrey that I could grab before the planet burned. My bow tie, my scarf, my umbrella, lots of hats, seriously so many hats you barely had the time to count. She picked them up and looked at them.
"Your past. So many years have gone by since you were born. So many lifetimes. Over a thousand years. My, my Doctor."
"Just because you fell into my room didn't mean you had to look around. This is my past, and all of my secrets but just leave it alone would you!"
She passed the last piece of my remember acne the one I kept a big secret. My other faces outfits weren't much of a secret, but having one open thing doesn't mean I'm out in the open. I have many secrets. She passed my diary and skimmed over it with her fingers.
"Please, Allyson get out!"
"Fine, fine, Doctor. But, I have a question. Why do you hide your past?" She scanned my gaze for a moment. I was still wiping off some of her lipstick that had stained my lips pink.
"A mystery for you to solve later, now let's go."
"Okay, I'm leaving your room! Now, you silly old man what are we to do next?"
