-1

Due to popular demand, I've decided to continue this story. I've got a vague idea of what's going on, so forgive me if it drags on. The idea is from KarenD, so thanks to her xxx

Due to major characterization issues I realised I have, the river and the rose will be put on hold for a bit. I'm sorry to anyone who was still reading that. But I take reviews very seriously, and some complained about my characterization. So till I sort it out, I'm sorry x But enjoy this though.

The Doctor sighed as he walked into the TARDIS, Donna following behind.

"Doctor, can I ask you something?" She said quietly as he gazed at the console. He raised his head, urging her to continue.

"What was she to you? Because it's confusing. The way you talk about her, it's like you loved her, but you don't seem like you…"

"Like you what?"
"Like you want to admit it." The Doctor slumped into the couch, patting the seat for Donna to join him.

"It's difficult Donna. My people, we didn't love. Literally, it was technically not allowed."

"But you said you had children?" Donna pressed, if anything more confused.

"I did. But that marriage I had, it was arranged by the state, and giving children was my duty. I loved them so much. But then they died and…" His voice broke and he avoided Donna's gaze.

"Doctor, did you love her?" She wanted him to say it out loud, to admit it to himself.

"Donna, I think we should concentrate on the teachers if you don't mind." The Doctor practically leapt from his seat, slamming levers and buttons. Donna sighed and decided not to press him. When he didn't want to talk...He didn't want to talk.

"We're going to have spend one more day at the school." He murmured, and Donna didn't know if his voice was filled with regret or joy.

The bell rang as the class filed in, the Doctor sat behind the desk, grinning as he saw their faces light up.

"Me again." He waved and the children laughed. He scanned the class, trying to see a mess of blonde hair. The last few kids trailed in, Rose the last one.

"Hello Rose." He called out, smiling as her eyes slowly widened with realisation.

"John!" She squealed and ran to him, the Doctor got a face of pink fur from her parka.

"Glad to see me?" He laughed as she squeezed him tighter.

"Rose Tyler!" The headmistress walked in, and she was gone in flash, suddenly seated at her desk, her face to innocent for words.

"John, thank you again for this, I just don't know how to get hold of anyone." She explained. The Doctor waved her thankfulness away.

"Well, I'll leave you to it…but John, you should really think about taking a full time job here, you're more than welcome…and the children love you." The Doctor pretended to ponder the option for a moment before nodding.

"I'll think about it."

"Please do it John!" Rose called out, her wide eyes looking to him beseechingly. He almost wavered at that.

"We'll see." He said softly, hating himself for lying to her.

The Doctor stood with Donna in the grey playground, watching the children run through the climbing frame.

"I found something out Doctor. There's this other substitute here, but he's strange." She whispered, feeling a chill run through her at the mention of him. The Doctor nodded as he watched, distracted by the squeals coming from the slide.

"Why do you think he's strange?" He murmured back to her, as he strained to identify what the noise was.

"I don't know. He just….when you're near him, it's like you can feel something. It's horrible and….he just feels wrong. The children think so to." The Doctor turned his head to look at her at that.

"What do you mean?"

"They don't like to be near him. They go silent when they're with him, and it's just so strange." She shook her head in wonder. The Doctor jumped as he heard a scream through the playground. Donna and the Doctor ran to the other side of the playground, dodging stray toys. As they reached the playground, a small group of kids were standing there, doing nothing.

"What happened? Who screamed?" Donna asked urgently, and she gasped as the little boy looked up to her. He looked different. His eyes were black and fathomless.

"Rose screamed." The Doctor started at that.

"What do you mean? What happened to her? What happened to you?" He whispered as he gazed into the boys eyes.

"She fell. Sir came to take her to the emergency room. Then things got cold." The boy said, and Donna looked to the other two children who had now seated themselves on the floor.

"Where is she where is Rose. Tell me now!" The boy flinched as the Doctor shouted, and Donna touched his shoulder.

"I'm sorry. But this is so important. You need to tell me where she is." He said softly. The boy pointed off to the side of the playground to the kitchens. The Doctor's brow lowered as he saw the open door.

"Go inside. Get all the children, and take them inside. Can you do that for me?" The Doctor whispered, giving the boy a grin when he nodded.

"Good lad. Come on Donna." They waited a moment as the children were hurried inside, before creeping across the playground to the open door. Inside, they could hear a muffled whimpering. The Doctor rounded the corner to see Rose sitting on the table, face buried in her knees.

"Rose? Tell me what happened." The Doctor said as he lifted her head up to meet his eyes. Donna searched the room, glaring at any shadow she saw.

"He tried to take me away. But I said no, and I kicked him and ran away." She whispered tearfully. The Doctor clutched her to him as she cried, and Donna passed the Doctor a wad of tissue. He thanked her silently and wiped away Rose's tears.

"You did good Rose. He's not going to hurt you. Ever. I won't let anyone hurt you. Never." He promised urgently, with a small smile.

"I hurt my knee." She said quietly, pointing to he knee, where sure enough, there was a patch of blood drying.

"You fell." The Doctor reached into his pocket and drew out a pack of plasters with small stars on them.

"Here we are! Only special people get these." He grinned he placed one over her knee. Standing back up, he raised his eyebrows at her pointed look.

"What?"

"You have to kiss it better." Rose said sternly. The Doctor beamed as he kissed the plaster quickly.

"Doctor? We have to go." Donna whispered to him urgently. He nodded and picked Rose up, holding her on his hip. They walked out of the kitchen into the deserted playground. The Doctor looked to Rose as she tugged on his shirt.

"What is it?" He said with concern

"It's cold."