Of Loneliness and Second Chances

by TeamTHEFT

No. They had to be lying. There was no way this girl, this sad lonely girl, could be the hope for his race. There was no way this girl could revive the Time Lords. Who is she? How does she have more potential than even a Time Lord? Who is Freya O'Leary? The Doctor intends on finding out. Sequel is now up! DoctorxOC

17. Tooth and Claw

Chapter 17: Tooth and Claw

Freya walked out of her room to hear music playing. The Doctor…well, the previous Doctor…didn't play music. Not to her knowledge anyways.

"Like it? It's Ian Dury and the Blockheads. They were number one in 1979!" the Doctor said cheerfully.

"I've never heard you playing music in the TARDIS before," Freya commented. The Doctor grinned.

"Oh I like music. I love it! We're going on an adventure to 1979! Let's go get you some clothes!" the Doctor said cheerfully, grabbing her hand and pulling her along.

"I could have gotten dressed on my own," Freya told him with a laugh as he threw open the doors to the wardrobe.

"You could…but do you know what to wear in 1979? I do!" the Doctor told her cheerfully.

"The TARDIS coulda helped," Freya pointed out, only to see the Doctor's expression drop.

"Oh. I can go," he said, pulling his hand from hers. Freya tightened her grip, pulling him back.

"You don't have to go. Show me what to wear," Freya told him with a smile.

And just like that, his excitement was back.

He really was just an overgrown child.

The first thing he handed her was a short. Way too short. She was sure it would fit – the TARDIS wouldn't have it in front of them if it didn't fit her – but she didn't want to wear it.

"No," Freya responded immediately.

"But it was in fashion in 1979!" the Doctor whined. Freya only shook her head once more.

"I'm pregnant. I don't want to wear that," Freya protested. The Doctor's eyes widened and he nodded, mouth hanging open slightly.

"Oh. Yeah. Right. Maternity clothing?" the Doctor asked her then, dragging her off with him towards a different section of the TARDIS.

"You keep maternity clothing on board?" Freya asked in disbelief. The Doctor didn't turn to look at her, instead continued working on trying to find her an outfit.

"I was a father once. A long time ago," the Doctor said, his tone light with the undertone of regret. Freya swallowed at his words and walked over to him. She reached around him and grabbed a longer dress.

"Will this be too out of style in 1979?" she asked him, painting a small smile on her lips. The Doctor mirrored her smile.

"You just won't be in style. Get dressed!" he said as he flounced out of the room.

Freya didn't take her time getting dressed. The Doctor was antsy still. Having spent three months on Earth had really made him want trips. They'd been on trip after trip since New Earth. That had been a few weeks ago. However, the Doctor had actually managed to take them to places without danger. They'd had nice picnics, little walks on the beach, even one or two shopping trips for the baby.

Freya had a feeling that this was going to be a running adventure. They were overdue for one of those.

With that in mind, she slipped on some sturdy trainers and a pair of shorts underneath the dress. This dress fit just fine, unlike the skirt in 1944. Still.

As soon as she made it to the console room, the Doctor grabbed her hand and was pulling her towards the door.

"1979! Hell of a year. China invades Vietnam. The Muppet Movie. Love that film. We'll watch it later. Margaret Thatcher. Urgh. Skylab falls to Earth, with a little help from me, of course. Nearly took off my thumb," the Doctor complained as he burst through the doors.

"And I like my thumb. I need my thumb. I'm very attached to…" the Doctor drifted off. Freya's eyes widened and she gripped the Doctor's hand tightly.

They were surrounded my soldiers, all of whom had guns aimed at them. The Doctor shifted Freya behind him immediately.

"…my thumb," the Doctor finished.

"1879. Same difference," the Doctor mumbled.

"Girl! Move out from behind him where we can see you," the leading officer, who was on a horse, commanded Freya. The Doctor's hands were up and Freya slowly moved out from behind him, holding her hands up as well.

"You will explain your presence. And the state of attire on this girl," the officer said, waving his gun at Freya. Freya was thankful, so thankful, she hadn't worn what the Doctor had tried to get her to wear. She knew that wouldn't have gone over too gracefully. But her clothes were still too light for the day.

She probably looked like she was in her undergarments to them.

"Are we in Scotland?" the Doctor asked, his accent suddenly Scottish.

"How can you be ignorant of that?" the head officer scoffed.

"Oh, I'm, I'm dazed and confused," the Doctor said. Freya felt nausea crash over her and immediately slid to the ground, willing herself not to throw up.

"What is wrong with her?" the officer barked. Freya slowly glanced up, not moving too much.

"I beg your pardon, sir. I'm with child. Been ill and couldn't manage any more than this without ill consequences," Freya said softly, keeping her eyes off of their faces. She didn't think women had that many rights in this time period. But she had a feeling that the Doctor was going to put his foot in his mouth.

It was what he was good at, after all.

"Will you identify yourself and your wife?" the head soldier ordered. The Doctor nodded quickly.

"I'm Doctor James McCrimmon and this is Freya McCrimmon, from the township of Balamory. I have my credentials, if I may," he said, gesturing towards his pocket. The head soldier nodded and the Doctor pulled out the psychic paper. He held it up.

"As you can see, a Doctorate from the University of Edinburgh. I trained under Doctor Bell himself," the Doctor bragged. The head soldier nodded once more and the Doctor carefully helped Freya to her feet.

"Feeling sick still?" the Doctor murmured.

"It passed," Freya admitted, her voice equally low.

"Let them approach," a woman's voice ordered.

"I don't think that's wise, ma'am," the soldier called back.

"Let them approach," the voice repeated firmly. The soldier turned to Freya and the Doctor.

"You will approach the carriage, and show all due deference," the solider ordered them. They slowly walked around and a footman opened the door.

"Freya, might I introduce her Majesty Queen Victory. Empress of India and Defender of the Faith," the Doctor said, a grin forming on his lips. Freya's eyes widened.

"Freya McCrimmon, Ma'am. My apologies for my state of undress," Freya whispered. Of all people, she'd meet Queen Victoria in this era's undergarments.

Queen Victoria waved her off.

"I've had children myself. I understand the sickness. But you, Doctor. Show me these credentials," Queen Victoria ordered. The Doctor handed her the psychic paper. She stared at it for a moment before handing it back.

"Why didn't you say so immediately? It states clearly here that you have been appointed by the Lord Provost as my Protector," Queen Victoria stated, sounding slightly irritated and confused.

"Does it? Yes, it does. Good. Good. Then let me ask – why is Your Majesty travelling by road when there's a train all the way to Aberdeen?" the Doctor asked her.

"Safety reasons," Freya muttered, elbowing him slightly. Queen Victoria gave Freya a nod.

"A tree was on the line," Queen Victoria agreed.

"An accident?" the Doctor asked, eyebrows furrowing.

"She's the queen," Freya reminded him, feeling quite embarrassed for how slow he was being.

"Your wife is smart. I am the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Everything around me tends to be planned," the Queen explained.

"An assassination attempt?" the Doctor asked. The Queen shot Freya a look – one Freya was sure meant that she was sorry Freya had to put up with this man – before glancing back at the head soldier.

"Sir Robert MacLeish lives but ten miles hence. We've sent word ahead. He'll shelter us for tonight, then we can reach Balmoral tomorrow," the head soldier said.

"MacLeish?" Freya repeated, feeling her eyes widen. The Queen ignored her.

"This Doctor and his wife will come with us," Queen Victoria ordered.

"Yes Ma'am. We'd better get moving – it's almost nightfall," the head soldier suggested. Queen Victoria nodded.

"Indeed. And there are stories of wolves in these parts. Fanciful tales intended to scare the children. But good for the blood, I think. Drive on!" the Queen ordered. Freya and the Doctor were escorted to the back of the carriage and the carriage took off.

"You acted surprised when you heard the name of the house we're going to. MacLeish. Do you know any MacLeishes?" the Doctor asked Freya conversationally as they started walking. Freya hesitantly nodded.

"Yeah. My grandma, when I was little, used to tell me family history. She didn't tell me a whole lot of names, but she did trace it back for me a bit. I was a little girl then, but I remember hearing MacLeish. Grandma used to say that once upon a time, our family was really wealthy, really important. Said they owned a huge house. I looked just like them, from the painting she had of them," Freya admitted.

"It would be a rather big coincidence for this to be the set of MacLeish you are related to. How far back was it?" the Doctor asked, looking almost suspicious. Freya shook her head.

"I don't remember. I think it was Grandma's grandparents. Her mother was an only child, and it was her mother's parents that were the MacLeishes," Freya explained. The Doctor shook his head, staring at her out of the corner of his eyes.

"You never cease to amaze me. Of all time and space, we keep ending up in your past. How does that happen? Why?" the Doctor questioned. Freya could only shrug.

"Maybe it is purposeful? What if we are supposed to ensure that I turn out the way I do. Physically, that is. With the second heart. If we keep coming to my past, what's to say we aren't doing it to make sure I can have your child?" Freya asked him. The Doctor very nearly stopped walking at that.

"I never thought of it that way," he mused.

They walked in silence for awhile. It was almost a comfortable silence, but not quite.

"I wish Rose was here. She'd say something ridiculously funny," Freya commented.

"She'd probably be surprised the Queen had assassination attempts on her life," the Doctor said sarcastically.

"It is shocking to think about. We don't generally think of people having assassination attempts on their lives unless the assassins succeed," Freya pointed out.

"She would have been more excited to have met Queen Victoria," the Doctor added, grinning at her. Freya couldn't hold back her own grin.

"I didn't want to look like an idiot in front of her!" Freya defended herself. The Doctor laughed at that.

"If Rose were here, she'd probably decide that she wanted to hear Queen Victoria say, 'I am not amused.' That seems like the sort of thing she'd strive for," Freya added after a moment.

"And she'd fail," the Doctor said with a sniff. Freya shot him a look.

"Oh? Bet you five quid she'll say it. Probably to you, too. You don't know when to shut up," Freya teased. The Doctor looked quite indignant.

"If I were to gamble on that, it'd be an abuse of my privileges of a traveler in time," the Doctor said huffily. Freya couldn't help but let out a tiny laugh.

"Ten quid?" she challenged. The Doctor nodded.

"Done."

When they reached the estate, Freya was shocked.

She knew the estate. She'd been there once before, as a child.

With her grandmother.

"Doctor, I've been here before. My grandma took me," Freya whispered to him.

"So this would be your ancestors. Interesting," the Doctor mused as a man exited the house. A man Freya seemed to resemble. He bowed to the Queen.

"Your Majesty," he said before standing back up.

"Sir Robert. My apologies for the emergency. And how is Lady Isobel?" Queen Victoria asked diplomatically.

"She's indisposed, I'm afraid. She's gone to Edinburgh for the season. And she's taken the cook with her. The kitchens are barely stocked. I wouldn't blame Your Majesty if you wanted to ride on," Sir Robert said nervously.

"Oh, not at all, I've had quite enough carriage exercise. And this is charming, if rustic. It's my first visit to this house. My late husband spoke of it often. The Torchwood Estate. Now, shall we go inside? And please excuse Dr. McCrimmon's ill-dressed wife," the queen said, waving her hand at Freya. Sir Robert glanced at Freya for the first time and his face paled.

"Freya! I was unaware of your visit. We don't have your room prepared," he said, glancing nervously at the men behind him. The men looked quite intrigued by his change of attitude.

"You know Mrs. McCrimmon?" Queen Victoria asked, glancing between them. Sir Robert nodded.

"She's my…you could call her a cousin of Lady Isobel. Lady Freya, perhaps you could try to call on Lady Isobel instead of staying here tonight? She misses you. I know how uncomfortable you were last time you stayed here when she was gone," Sir Robert lied smoothly. Freya glanced at the Doctor.

He was trying to get her to leave. But why? And how did he know her?

"Dr. McCrimmon, my husband, is the Queen's Protector," Freya finally said quietly when it became obvious everyone was waiting for her to answer. Sir Robert nodded, but his smile was more forced than anything else.

"Shall we proceed?" the Queen asked, obviously quite bored with their interaction.

"She is not amused," Freya whispered to the Doctor, hoping to lighten up what she had a feeling was going to be a dark mood once they entered the house.

The Doctor grinned at her and they followed the Queen into the house.

They were lead down hallways Freya had been in before. To one of her favorite rooms. The room with a large telescope. Freya remembered wondering what it did, after her grandmother explained that it didn't work.

"This, I take it, is the famous endeavor," Queen Victoria mused as she eyed the telescope. Sir Robert nodded.

"All my father's work. Built by hand in his final years. Became something of an obsession. He spent his money on this rather than caring for the house or himself," Sir Robert explained sadly.

"I wish I'd met him. I like him. That thing's beautiful. Can I?" the Doctor asked, gesturing towards the telescope.

"Help yourself," Sir Robert said, glancing at Freya.

"He seems as interested in it as you were when you and your…friends…visited last time," Sir Robert mentioned. Freya nodded.

"My husband is fascinated with things such as that," Freya said, hoping her words fit into the context.

"What did he model it on?" the Doctor asked, glasses now perched on his nose.

"I know nothing about it. To be honest, most of us thought him a little, shall we say, eccentric. I wish now I'd spent more time with him and listened to his stories," Sir Robert said, glancing behind him at the servants once more.

He was scared, Freya realized. No, terrified. Of the servants. Something was dreadfully wrong.

"It's a bit rubbish. How many prisms has it got? Way too many. The magnification's gone right over the top. That's stupid kind of…oh. Am I being rude?" he asked, glancing at Freya. Freya nodded at him.

"I'm sorry for his behavior," Freya apologized. Sir Robert shook his head.

"It was expected," Sir Robert said drily.

"But it's pretty! It's very pretty!" the Doctor tried saying.

"And the imagination of it should be applauded," Queen Victoria added solemnly.

"I wish I had met him," Freya murmured. And she did. He sounded like a genius.

"He was a polymath, steeped in astronomy and sciences, yet equally well-versed in folklore and fairytales. You would have liked him," Sir Robert said with a smile.

"Stars and magic. I like him more and more," the Doctor said with a grin.

"Oh, my late husband enjoyed his company. Prince Albert himself was acquainted with many rural superstitions, coming as he did from Saxe Coburg," Queen Victoria explained.

"That's Bavaria," the Doctor murmured to Freya. Freya nodded, thankful for the tidbit.

"When Albert was told about your local wolf, he was transported," Queen Victoria explained.

"So, what's this wolf, then?" the Doctor asked, sounding highly intrigued.

"It's just a story," Sir Robert said quickly.

"Then tell it," the Doctor shot back quickly. Sir Robert drew in a shaky breath.

"It's said that…" he started, but one of the servants moved forward.

"Excuse me sir. Perhaps her Majesty's party could repair to their rooms. It's almost dark," the man suggested. Sir Robert nodded tersely.

"Of course. Yes, of course," Sir Robert agreed.

"And then supper. And could we find some clothes for Mrs. McCrimmon? I'm sure she would appreciate real clothes. Your wife must have left some clothes. See to it. We shall dine at seven, and talk some more of this wolf. After all, there is a full moon tonight," Queen Victoria suggested. Sir Robert nodded, not quite so comforted by her words.

"So there is, Ma'am. Freya, with me," Sir Robert said. Freya nodded and hugged the Doctor first.

"The servants. Something about the servants is scaring him. Watch them," Freya suggested. The Doctor wrapped his arms around her as well.

"I will. Be careful," he warned her.

She pulled away from him and followed Sir Robert into a wing of the house away from the others. As soon as they were out of earshot, Sir Robert spun around, eyes wide.

"You need to leave. Now. Please. You have to get out of here. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if you get hurt too," Sir Robert begged.

"You know who I am. Who I really am?" Freya asked him. He nodded.

"You're one of my descendants. We went over this before. But you have to get out of here. Isobel loves you so much. I can't bear the thought of seeing something happen to you," Sir Robert begged.

"What's going on? Why are you terrified? Is…Is Lady Isobel okay?" Freya asked, the thought terrifying her.

"They've locked her up. But you have to get out of here. The servants…they've got this monster. They're after the Queen. I can't do anything. But you have to leave," Sir Robert begged.

And then his eyes got wide.

"I was just telling her where the room was," Sir Robert said, eyes still wide. Freya turned around, horrified, to see a few servants standing there.

And then her vision went black.

When she woke up, her head was in someone's lap. Her vision came slowly, as did the feeling of cold metal tight on her wrists. They were in some sort of cellar. The lap she was laying in belonged to a woman who looked like her.

"Sh. Don't make a sound. They said I we scream or shout, then he will slaughter us," she said quietly. Freya slowly sat up, glancing around.

All of what Freya assumed must have been the maids were there, chained up, as was the lady who'd been holding her.

"Are you Lady Isobel?" Freya asked her. The lady's eyes widened in surprise.

"You haven't met me yet? I've met you," she told Freya. Freya nodded.

"Time travel…it gets a bit…tricky," Freya explained awkwardly. Lady Isobel nodded. Freya took that chance to glance around the rest of the room.

Opposite to them sat a young monk in a cage. He had his eyes closed, but he was facing their way, an almost malicious grin plastered to his face.

"Him? He'll slaughter us? But he's in a cage. He's a prisoner. He's just like us….isn't he?" Freya asked quietly, feeling more unsure with every word that left her mouth. Lady Isobel shook her head violently.

"He's nothing like us. That creature is not mortal," Lady Isobel spat.

The man's eyes shot open. Freya bit back a gasp. They were pure black.

"Who are you?" Freya asked, slowly moving to her feet. Isobel's hand grasped her arm tightly.

"Don't. Please, don't," she begged. Freya didn't move any closer but didn't sit down as well.

"Don't enrage him," a male servant begged. Freya glanced behind her, surprised. She hadn't noticed the male servants before now. Freya turned back to the creature, examining him.

"Where are you from? You aren't from Earth, are you? What planet did you come from?" Freya asked. The boy tilted his head, eyeing her carefully.

"Oh, intelligence," he crooned.

"Please, don't talk to him," Lady Isobel begged.

"Where were you born?" Freya persisted. The boy's grin grew.

"This body? Ten miles away. A weakling, heartsick boy, stolen away at night by the brethren for my cultivation. I carved out his soul and sat in his heart," the creature said gleefully. Freya took a half a step back automatically before pushing herself forward. His words horrified her.

"What about you? You killed the poor child. Where did you come from?" Freya asked, her words coming out hard and cold.

"So far from home," the boy whispered. Freya almost felt sorry for him. But she remembered the boy who was. So many conflicting emotions flitted about inside of her.

"We can help you get home," Freya said cautiously. That would be the easiest solution, but in her many trips with the Doctor, the amount of times that offer had worked was slim to none.

"Why would I leave this place? A world of industry, of workforce and warfare. I could turn it to such purpose," the boy said with a grin that matched his glee at the thought.

"And how do you plan on doing that?" Freya shot back.

"I would migrate to the Holy Monarch," the boy told her. Migrate? Move to? Move to…Queen Victoria? No. But they were here. The tree on the line. They were after the queen.

The boy was watching her, grin growing.

"With one bite, I would pass into her blood, and then it begins. The Empire of the Wolf," he elaborated. He then lunged at the cage, eyeing Freya almost hungrily.

"Look. Inside your eyes. You've seen it coming," the boy said eagerly.

"Seen what coming?" Freya asked uncomfortably.

"The Wolf. The Wolf is coming. There is something of the Wolf about you. And it's coming. He's coming," the boy said gleefully.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Freya said honestly. But a glance at Lady Isobel said that she knew. She knew exactly what the boy was talking about. But how? What was going on?

"You'll burn like the sun, but all I require is the moon," the boy said, glancing upward at the cracks in the wooden door. Streams of moonlight hit him and he closed his eyes, sucking in a deep breath.

"What did that mean, I'll burn like the sun?" Freya asked Lady Isobel, but Lady Isobel shook her head, eyes glued to the creature.

The cellar doors, which had been only cracked before, were flung open suddenly. The moonlight drowned the boy and he pressed his face against the crate's bars.

"Moonlight," he crooned before tugging his cloak off. A wind started blowing, one that wasn't coming from the open door. Freya was horrified. She could only watch in terror as the boy began to morph in front of them.

A tiny hint of panic pulled Freya from her own horror. The baby. They had to get out of there. For the baby.

"Don't look at it! We have to get out of here. Maybe if we all pull on the chain at once, we can bust it. Come on! We're not dying today," Freya told them, her voice sounding more sure than she felt as she grabbed the chain tightly and tugged on it. A few of the maids grabbed the chain as well.

"All of you! Come on! We can do it!" Freya ordered. Lady Isobel grabbed the chain as well, as did some more of the servants.

"Flora, now!" Lady Isobel ordered one of the maids who was shaking. The maid grabbed the chain as well.

"On the count of three, pull," one of the men ordered, having finally gained his senses enough to come up with an order. Freya glance back at the boy to see he was only part boy now, part wolf. She jerked her head away, focusing on pulling as the man servant shouted three. They managed to start to pull it free. The sight was enough to fuel Freya and the others to pull harder.

"One, two, three, pull!" Freya shouted along with the man now. The metal was slick under her hands as she pulled with them. The chain broke from the wall just as the Doctor and Sir Robert burst into the place. Sir Robert was instantly pulling people out, helping unlatch the chains from people's hands and shove them out the door.

The Doctor was distracted by the now complete wolf in the cage.

"Oh, that's beautiful," the Doctor breathed.

"Come on! Go! Get out!" Sir Robert ordered the Doctor and the others. The Doctor jerked away from the cage as the wolf burst from it. He grabbed her and pulled her out of the cellar, following the others. He stopped in the doorway, staring down at the creature as Freya desperately tried tugging him away.

He only started moving after the werewolf threw a piece of the crate at him. He immediately locked the door before turning and sweeping her up in a massive hug.

"Where have you been?" the Doctor asked her.

"I could ask you the same question!" Freya shot back. She glance at Sir Robert, who was hugging Lady Isobel. He shot her an apologetic look.

"I couldn't tell them. They would have killed both of you," Sir Robert apologized. Freya nodded, even as she felt the Doctor stiffen in her arms. He went to pull back, presumably to yell at Sir Robert, but Freya just gripped him tighter, not allowing him to do so.

They followed who Freya realized was the steward to the gun cupboard. He started handing out the guns as the Doctor used the sonic screwdriver to get rid of the cuffs off of Freya's hands and then the others.

"Lady Isobel, take the girls. Get them out through the kitchen," the Steward ordered Lady Isobel. She shook her head, staring at Sir Robert.

"I can't leave you. What will you do?" she asked him, tears falling from her eyes.

"I must defend her Majesty and Freya. Now, don't think of me, just go," Sir Robert told her. Lady Isobel kissed him hard, hugging him tightly before pulling back, glancing at the maids.

"All of you, at my side. Come on. Freya, please!" Lady Isobel begged, but Freya shook her head.

"I'll stay with the Doctor," she said. Lady Isobel nodded, but she looked terrified as she did. She led the girls out of the room.

"It could be any form of light modulated species triggered by specific wavelengths. Did it say what it wanted?" the Doctor asked Freya.

"The Queen, the Crown, the throne…all of it," Freya told him grimly. A loud crash came from down the hallway. The Doctor let go of Freya's hand and peeked around the corner. He was back in an instant, pulling Freya behind him quickly.

"Fire! Fire!" the Steward shouted as they ran past. The Doctor tried getting their attention as soon as they'd fired.

"All right, you men. We should retreat upstairs. Come with me," the Doctor ordered, but the Steward shook his head.

"I'll not retreat. The battle's done. There's no creation on God's Earth that could survive such an assault," the Steward said with a confident sniff.

"I'm telling you, come upstairs!" the Doctor shouted at him. Freya gripped the Doctor's hand tighter.

"And I'm telling you, sir, I will sleep well tonight with that thing's hide upon my wall," the Steward retorted as he stepped into the corridor. He glanced back at them, shrugging.

"It must've crawled away to die," he said before a claw grabbed him from the ceiling and pulled him upward. Freya let out a scream and the Doctor grabbed her arm, pulling her away, but not before she heard the sound of the Steward being ripped to pieces.

"There's nothing we can do. Run!" he urged Freya. They ended up near the stairs where Sir Robert had his eyes on the queen, who was at the top of the stairs.

"Your Majesty!" Sir Robert said happily at the sight of her.

"Sir Robert? What's happening?" Queen Victoria asked, staring sharply at him as she made her way down the stairs.

"I heard such terrible noises," she continued as she reached them.

"Your Majesty, we've got to get out. But what of Father Angelos? Is he still here?" Sir Robert asked anxiously, glancing around.

"Captain Reynolds disposed of him," Queen Victoria said flippantly. Freya shuddered at the implications.

"The front door's no good. It's been boarded shut. Pardon me, Your Majesty. You'll have to leg it out a window," the Doctor apologized as he ushered the group on. They entered what Freya knew was the drawing room from her visit. All the running was wearing her out. Between that and the walk they'd had before, she was exhausted, and slightly hungry.

"Excuse my manners, Ma'am, but I shall go first, the better to assist Her Majesty's egress," Sir Robert offered. Queen Victoria nodded.

"A noble sentiment," Queen Victoria said.

"Yeah, any chance you could hurry up?" the Doctor asked impatiently.

His Scottish accent was gone.

Sir Robert threw the window open but before he could try climbing out, gunshots echoed through the room. The Doctor peeked out the window and shook his head grimly.

"I reckon the monkey boys want us to stay inside," the Doctor tried joking.

"Do they know who I am?" Queen Victoria demanded. Freya nodded solemnly.

"That's why this is going on. This is another assassination attempt, I'm afraid," Freya told her. She didn't want to tell the queen that there was a werewolf.

"Yeah. The wolf's got you lined up for a biting," the Doctor added. Freya smacked his arm. That was exactly what she had been avoiding telling the Queen.

"Stop this talk. There' can't be an actual wolf," the Queen scoffed, just as a wolf howled. Freya suppressed a shudder at the sound. The Doctor pulled her into the corridor, gesturing for the others to follow.

"What do we do now?" Freya asked the Doctor worriedly.

"We run," the Doctor told her simply.

"Is there nothing else we can do?" Freya asked in disbelief.

"Do you have any silver bullets?" the Doctor retorted sarcastically.

"No. I left those in my other dress," Freya shot back at him.

"There we are then, we run. Your Majesty, as a Doctor, I recommend a vigorous job. Good for the health. Come on!" the Doctor ordered as he mimed running in place before urging her up the staircase. He pushed Freya ahead of him alongside the queen as they made their way as quickly as they could up the stairs.

Freya glanced over her shoulder to see the werewolf smash through the wall. The Doctor started dragging her faster.

"Come on!" he shouted as they raced up the stairs. The Captain of the guard turned and shot at the werewolf as they reached the corridor.

"I'll take this position and hold it down. You keep moving, for God's sake! Your Majesty, I went to look for the property and it was taken. The chest was empty," the Captain said regretfully.

"I have it. It's safe," Queen Victoria reassured him.

"Then remove yourself, Ma'am. Doctor, you stand as Her Majesty's Protector. And you, Sir Robert, you're a traitor to the crown," the Captain told him,

"Bullets can't stop it!" the Doctor interrupted frantically.

"They'll buy you time. Now run!" the Captain ordered. The Doctor didn't hesitate to drag Freya after the queen and into the library. Freya hesitated in the doorway, turning around in time to see the wolf pounce on the Captain. The Doctor yanked her inside and slammed the door.

"Barricade the door!" Sir Robert ordered. Freya tried helping but the Doctor shoved her away, instead helping Sir Robert himself. Freya stood back by the queen, arms wrapped tightly around herself.

"Wait a minute. Shush, shush, wait a minute," the Doctor said, pressing his ear against the door. A lone howl rang through the room.

"It's stopped," the Doctor murmured. He was silent for a moment before stepping away from the door.

"It's gone," the Doctor said.

"Are you sure?" Freya asked uneasily. They could hear footsteps and growls coming from outside the walls as the werewolf moved along the wall.

"Is this the only door?" the Doctor asked Sir Robert.

"Yes," he said quickly. Freya's eyes widened.

"No!" she protested. Sir Robert's eyes mirrored hers and he threw himself at the other door, quickly locking it as well.

Him and the Doctor stacked more stuff in front of that door.

They all were silent as they listened to the wolf sniff around.

"Why isn't it coming in? What's stopping it?" Freya asked in confusion.

"Something inside this room. What is it? Why can't it get in?" the Doctor asked rhetorically.

"Doctor…that was a werewolf. A real live werewolf," Freya said. The Doctor's expression broke into a grin.

"I know!" he said cheerfully. Freya shook her head, causing the Doctor to hurry to her side.

"Are you all right?" the Doctor asked her. Freya nodded slowly, glancing over at the Queen. Sir Robert was standing in front of them now.

"I'm sorry, Ma'am. It's all my fault. I should have sent you away. I tried to suggest something was wrong. I thought you might notice. Did you think there was nothing strange about my household staff?" Sir Robert asked. The Doctor shrugged at his words.

"Well, they were bald, athletic, and your wife's away. I just thought you were happy," the Doctor said nonchalantly. Freya elbowed him hard in the side. The Queen simply glared at the Doctor.

"What, exactly, I pray tell me, someone, please. What exactly is that creature?" Queen Victoria asked.

"You'd call it a werewolf, but technically it's more of a lupine wavelength haemovariform," the Doctor said, his tone matter-of-fact.

"And should I trust you, sir? You who change your voice so easily? What happened to your accent?" the Queen demanded. The Doctor's eyes widened.

"Oh right, sorry, that's…" he stopped as the Queen threw up her hand.

"I'll not have it. No, sir. Not you, not that thing, none of it. This is not my world," she declared. The Doctor nodded and turned to Freya.

"You should probably sit. Rest. While you can. For the baby," the Doctor clarified. Freya found she couldn't argue with his logic and allowed him to help her into a seat. He carefully placed his hand on her stomach, closing his eyes as he did.

"Everything feel okay? No movement, no panic?" the Doctor asked.

"Nothing," Freya breathed, allowing her own eyes to close. A sudden light pressure on her lips made her eyes flutter open. The Doctor pulled back slowly, hand still on her stomach, smile still on his lips.

"First real kiss with this body. I wanted it to be sweet. Not as much we're about to die as it was in the last body," the Doctor told her with a smile.

"With you, we're always running for our lives," Freya said ruefully. The Doctor grinned at her once more before pulling back and examining the room.

"What could be strong enough to keep him out?" the Doctor mused, glancing around the room.

"Maybe it's the wood. After all, the sonic doesn't do wood. Maybe other aliens are scared of wood as well," Freya teased. The Doctor's eyes widened at her words, however, and he rushed at the door. He jumped onto a chair and poked at what looked like a few dried up leaves. They were hanging over another carving. A carving of some sort of leaves.

"Mistletoe. Sir Robert, did your father put that there?" the Doctor asked, turning to face Sir Robert. Sir Robert shrugged helplessly.

"I don't know. I suppose," he said quietly.

"On the other door, too. No, a carving wouldn't be enough. I wonder," the Doctor said slowly before licking the door. Freya shook her head.

She was glad he kissed her before he started licking things.

"Viscum album, the oil of the mistletoe. It's been worked into the wood like a varnish, How clever was your dad? I love him. Powerful stuff, mistletoe. Bursting with lectins and viscotoxins," the Doctor said with a grin.

"Is it dangerous to the wolf?" Freya asked skeptically. The Doctor sniffed.

"Well, it thinks it is. The monkey monk monks need a way of controlling the wolf. Maybe they trained it to react against certain things," the Doctor suggested.

"Nevertheless, that creature won't give up, Doctor, and we still don't possess an actual weapon," Sir Robert protested. The Doctor stared at him. The look was like one Freya sometimes got when she asked him what he was talking about at the end of a long spiel.

"Oh, your father got all the brains, didn't he?" the Doctor asked. Freya shook her head, shooting a glare at him.

"You're being rude. And I got my genes from him. Are you saying I don't have any brains?" Freya shot back. The Doctor's eyes widened and he shook his head.

"It can skip generations. Fine. You want weapons? We're in a library. Books! Best weapons in the world. This room's the greatest arsenal we could have," the Doctor said, ripping a handful of books from the shelves. He tossed a few to Freya. She managed to catch one of them while the rest clattered to the ground around her, eliciting winces from both her and the Doctor.

"Arm yourself," the Doctor said with a grin as he whipped out a pair of glasses.

He started skimming the shelves as Freya flipped through the books the Doctor had thrown at her.

"Biology…zoology. I doubt this kind of wolf would be in a zoology book," Freya murmured.

"Hold on, what's this about? A book no mistletoe?" the Doctor asked, whipping a book from the shelf.

"A book on magic?" Freya guessed, moving towards him.

"Some form of explosive," Sir Robert guessed, staring at the page as well.

"Hmm, that's the sort of thing!" the Doctor exclaimed.

"Wolf's bane, what's that? Is it a magical solution to get rid of the werewolf?" Freya guessed hopefully. The Doctor shook his head, turning to Sir Robert.

"Look what your old dad found. Something fell to Earth," the Doctor explained, showing them the book.

"A spaceship?" Freya assumed.

"A shooting star," Sir Robert corrected before picking the book up, "In the year of our Lord 1540, under the reign of King James the Fifth, an almighty fire did burn in the pit. That's the Glen of Saint Catherine just by the monastery," Sir Robert realized, eyes wide.

"Is it the same werewolf? That was over three hundred years ago. Surely the queen's came by before this," Freya protested.

"Maybe just a single cell survived. Adapting slowly down the generations, it survived through the humans, host after host after host," the Doctor said grimly.

"But why does it want the throne?" Sir Robert asked.

"Imagine it. The Victorian Age accelerated. Starships and missiles fueled by coal and driven by steam, leaving history devastated in its wake," the Doctor said.

"Sir Robert, if I am to die here," Queen Victoria said, drawing all attention to her.

"Don't say that, Your Majesty," Sir Robert protested, moving to her side.

"I would destroy myself rather than let that creature infect me. But that's no matter. I ask only that you find some place of safekeeping for something far older and more precious than myself," Queen Victoria said, her voice full of dignity. The Doctor lowered his book and stared at Queen Victoria in disbelief.

"Hardly the time to worry about your valuables," the Doctor scoffed. The Queen ignored him.

"Thank you for your opinion, but there is nothing more valuable than this," the Queen said as she pulled out a massive diamond. Freya moved closer, eyes wide.

"That's the Koh-I-Noor. The greatest diamond in the world," the Doctor breathed.

"Rose would freak out if she was here," Freya said quietly. The Doctor chuckled.

"Rose? Think of Jackie. She'd fight the wolf off for it. And win," the Doctor pointed out. From what Freya knew of Jackie, she knew that was a true statement.

"Given to me as the spoils of war. Perhaps its legend is now coming true. It is said that whoever owns it must surely die," Queen Victoria said solemnly.

"Well, that's true of anything if you own it long enough. Can I?" the Doctor gestured to the diamond and the Queen reluctantly let him hold it.

"That is so beautiful," the Doctor breathed. Freya couldn't help but agree, but she had a feeling there were more important things to worry about.

"Doctor, I get that it's fantastic, but what about the wolf?" Freya urged him. Sir Robert nodded.

"I don't trust this silence," Sir Robert agreed.

"Why do you travel with it?" the Doctor asked the Queen, ignoring both Sir Robert and Freya.

"My annual pilgrimage. I'm taking it Helier and Carew, the Royal Jewellers at Hazelhead. The stone needs recutting," the Queen said.

"Why? It looks perfect," Freya said, staring at it.

"My late husband never thought so," Queen Victoria said, her tone reminiscent.

"Now, there's a fact for you. Prince Albert kept on having the Koh-I-Noor cut down. It used to be forty percent bigger than this. But he was never happy. Kept on cutting and cutting," the Doctor said. Freya couldn't believe that. Forty percent bigger? Why cut on it if it was that big? It seemed pointless to her.

"He always said the shine was not quite right. But he died with it still unfinished," Queen Victoria said sadly.

"Unfinished….yes," the Doctor murmured, tossing the diamond back to Queen Victoria, " there's a lot of unfinished business in this house. His father's research, and your husband, Ma'am, he came here and he sought the perfect diamond. Hold on, hold on. All these separate things, they're not separate at all, they're connected! Oh, my head! My head! What if this house, it's a trap for you. Is that right, Ma'am?" the Doctor asked, his words slurring together.

"Obviously," the Queen huffed. Freya couldn't help but agree with the Queen there. The Doctor was stating the obvious. But that did seem to be how this body processed things.

"At least, that's what the wolf intended. But, what if there's a trap inside the trap?" the Doctor asked excitedly.

"Explain yourself, Doctor," Queen Victoria said stiffly.

Freya moved to sit down as the Doctor continued his explanation. Sir Robert was instantly at her side.

"Are you feeling okay?" he asked her. Freya nodded.

"Just a bit tired, thanks," Freya admitted. Before Sir Robert could ask her anything else, a bit of plaster fell in the middle of the room. Everyone's heads shot up in horror to see the wolf standing over the dome light. Sir Robert immediately pulled Freya to her feet as the Doctor rushed the Queen out of the room.

As soon as they were all out of the room, the Doctor slammed the door on the wolf.

"Get to the observatory!" the Doctor ordered. Sir Robert and the Doctor both tried pulling the Queen and Freya along in a frenzied manner. Freya risked a glance over her shoulder and screamed.

The wolf was right there.

Mid-pounce, the wolf was soaked with some sort of liquid. It hissed and slunk away.

"Good shot," the Doctor praised as he immediately pulled Freya into his arms. His grip was almost bruising, and it didn't feel as if he planned on letting her go anytime soon.

"It was mistletoe," a maid explained happily.

"Isobel!" Sir Robert exclaimed, pulling her into a kiss. He pulled away and gave her a sad look.

"Now, get back downstairs," Sir Robert ordered. Isobel's eyes widened and she shook her head.

"No. Not yet. Please," Isobel sobbed. But Sir Robert shook his head.

"We were told this would happen," Sir Robert told her sadly. Isobel shook her head.

"But I only found out a day ago!" Isobel sobbed. Sir Robert pulled her in for another kiss, a deeper one, before giving her a light push back. Isobel let out a single sob before beckoning for the maids to follow her.

"Down the back stairs, back to the kitchens. Quickly," she ordered, her voice shaking.

"Come on," the Doctor commanded to Sir Robert, his arms still tightly around Freya.

"The observatory's this way," Sir Robert explained, gesturing for the stairs. Freya started to pull away from the Doctor but he decided to scoop her into his arms instead.

"Wouldn't it be faster if I ran too?" Freya argued as the Doctor raced up the stairs. He shook his head.

"You're not leaving my arms that easily. Not now," the Doctor told her, his voice sounding almost possessive. As they reached the observatory, the Doctor sat Freya down in a chair.

"No mistletoe on these doors because your father wanted the wolf to get inside. I just need time. Is there any way of barricading this?" the Doctor asked Sir Robert. He shook his head.

"Just do your work and I'll defend it," Sir Robert said stiffly.

"If we could bind them shut with a rope or something…" the Doctor drifted off, but Sir Robert made his way to Freya and hugged her tightly.

"I said I'd find you time, Sir. Now take care of her," Sir Robert ordered as he made his way outside of the room. Freya's eyes widened at the implications but before she could even stand, the Doctor had closed the doors.

Freya's eyes slid shut as she heard the Doctor asking the Queen for her diamond. He was going to do. Sir Robert was going to die for them. But Isobel didn't have a child…did she? Was that what she meant? She had just learnt she was pregnant? Oh.

And sometime in the future, she'd told them that he'd die before the baby was born.

The werewolf burst into the room and lunged at Queen Victoria just as the Doctor aimed the telescope at the wolf. The entire room glowed in the eerie silver light before the wolf faded back into the man he was before.

"Make it brighter. Let me go," the man begged, and Freya had no doubt that it was the real man speaking now. The Doctor adjusted the light and the man vanished. Freya glanced over at Queen Victoria, who was staring at a tiny scratch on her hand in fascination. The Doctor slowly moved towards the queen.

"Your Majesty? Did it bite you?" the Doctor asked cautiously.

"No, it's a cut, that's all," the Queen said, absently looking away.

"If that thing bit you…" the Doctor drifted off, but the Queen waved her hand at him.

"It was a splinter o wood when the door came apart. It's nothing," Queen Victoria explained.

"Let me see," the Doctor tried, moving closer, but Queen Victoria pulled away from him.

"It is nothing."

Isobel was heartbroken but almost resigned when they told her what had happened. She had a maid lead the two of them to what she deemed "Freya's room" for the remaining few hours of the night.

Freya recognized the room. It had been her favorite room when they'd visited the estate, years ago.

The Doctor had all but forced her immediately into the bed, sliding in next to her and wrapping his arms firmly around her.

As if he were scared she'd disappear in the night.

When she woke up, the Doctor was already awake. Or still awake. He insisted on helping her out of the bed and back into her dress before they made their way down to the Drawing Room where Queen Victoria and the household was waiting on them. Isobel offered her a watery smile before gesturing to the Queen.

"Kneel," she ordered them. The Doctor appeared slightly apprehensive but led them closer and they did just that.

"By the power invested in me by the Church and the State, I dub thee Sir Doctor of TARDIS. By the power invested in me by the Church and the State, I dub thee Lady Freya of Torchwood. You may stand," Queen Victoria said.

"Many thanks, Ma'am," the Doctor said, a goofy grin on his face. Freya, however, was thinking. Why was she dubbed of Torchwood? Surely future her had told them she lived near London?

"Your Majesty, you said last night about receiving no message from the great beyond. I think your husband cut that diamond to save your life. He's protecting you even now, Ma'am, from beyond the grave," the Doctor told her solemnly.

"Indeed. Then you may think on this also. That I am not amused," Queen Victoria said. Freya's eyes widened and she stared that the Doctor. His own eyes were wide and he shook his head in disbelief.

"Not remotely amused. And henceforth, I banish you," she finished.

"I'm sorry?" the Doctor asked in disbelief.

"I rewarded you, Sir Doctor, and now you are exiled from this empire, never to return. I don't know what you are, or where you've come from, but I know that you consort with stars and magic and think it fun. But your world is steeped in terror and blasphemy and death, and I will not allow it. You will leave this shores and you will reflect, I hope, on how you came to stray so far from all that is good, and how much longer you will survive this terrible life. Now leave my world, and never return," Queen Victoria ordered. Isobel surged forward.

"Your Majesty, surely you don't mean Lady Freya as well? She is my blood relative and is very dear to me. It is not her fault what happens. She is merely following her husband," Isobel said. The Doctor's eyebrows shot up at her words.

"I was not including Lady Freya in the banishment. However, I would rather she be removed from him as soon as possible, if she is as dear to you as you claim," Queen Victoria stated. The Doctor's grip on Freya tightened.

Isobel nodded.

"She has to go with him now. I'll send for her as soon as she returns," Isobel said. Queen Victoria left the room and Isobel pulled Freya close in a hug.

"As soon as you get back home to your time, get married. Legally married, not fake married like you have been. Sir Robert and I wrote up the deed to the house and our will after our first meeting with you. Upon your marriage, you will inherit Torchwood. Take care of it, enjoy it, and tell my granddaughter I said hello," Isobel said with a choked smile.

Freya didn't know how she would see Isobel's granddaughter, but chose not to argue with that. She nodded, unable to say anything. Isobel pulled her tighter into another hug before handing her a piece of worn paper.

"Go there. That's where you'll get married," Isobel told them. Freya nodded and allowed the Doctor to pull her along.

They rode on the back of a wagon right near where the TARDIS was parked. The Doctor was rambling about something, but Freya wasn't paying much attention.

"Are you okay?" the Doctor finally asked her as they entered the TARDIS. Freya nodded and handed him the sheet of paper.

"Do you want to? Get married?" Freya clarified, biting her lip as she said it. The Doctor's eyes widened.

"We already are. Really. But...I guess not legally. Yeah sure. Let's do it. When?" the Doctor asked her. Freya started to say now but was cut off when the TARDIS started shaking.

"What's wrong?" Freya asked, eyes wide. The Doctor threw himself at the console.

"She wants to take us somewhere. Right now. I guess we can get married later. Come on, old girl! Where're we going?" the Doctor asked, eyes wide in excitement.

And another adventure had begun.

I was disappointed guys. I only got two reviews. Come on people! That's why it took so long to write this chapter. I had half of it written when I posted the last chapter, but due to the lack of interest, it took another week to write. Granted, I have an incredibly busy two weeks, but if people are very interested and leave me reviews, I write faster! So please, leave me some reviews!

On that note, next chapter is an original chapter, an original adventure. I hope you guys enjoy it. I also hope you like what I've done here. I've done a LOT of interweaving in this story, and I can't wait for you all to figure it out! Any guesses as to who Isobel's granddaughter is? ;)

Please leave some reviews! They'll speed up the writing process!

Andi