"Hello! That's me!" The Doctor beamed, holding out his hand for me to shake fingers wiggling at me.

I look at it with wide eyes, blinking at it as if he might suddenly grab hold of me an kidnap me away to go on one of his mad adventures like he had to my Grama all those years ago.

I shook it.

He shook me with his boundless energy.

"May I say that you're looking… a bit young, Madeline." he said, frowning a little bit as he looked at me.

He thought I was Madeline.

My Grama.

We were startlingly similar.

Taking an odd instrument from his pocket he began to, well I suppose he was scanning me actually.

I knew that instrument.

His sonic screwdriver!

I took a moment to look at him while the screwdriver whirled and whistled away in his hand, telling him what he needed to know. What he wanted to know. What did he want to know?

I began to really look at the Doctor and realise my Grama's description was perfect. She was a good storyteller. Well, he was a bit taller than I'd ever imagined actually.

And a bit bloody handsome! You never told me that, you old cow!

From the tips of his Converse to the spikes of his hair he exuded a childish enthusiasm, like he was born for fun.

Or running.

He looked like a good runner and the way he bounced on the balls of his feet, it seemed like he was ready to race off in a heartbeat.

"My watch is right… you've not… gone in any big white machines and become a big monster have you?" he asked, frowning and shoving on a pair of rather geekish glasses to look at me.

At last I found my voice.

"I'm her granddaughter," I said in a pale voice, "Madeline… Grama passed away. About three weeks now."

"Ah…"

That was all he said, but it was so filled with sadness and sorrow, it said more than a condolence ever could.

I realised I was just stood there with my hand in his and I felt overwhelmed.

My Grama was dead.

And I was breaking it to the man who gave her such a zest for life.

Tears burst into my eyes.

"I think you need a cup of tea." the Doctor said in a soft tone, letting himself in and pulling me along to the kitchen in his wake.