PHOENIX RISING

Author's Note: Well, now we come to the end. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed my little tale. If you did, I encourage you to read my other stories, all of which I have thoroughly enjoyed writing for your enjoyment. I may consider writing a sequel to this story if I get enough positive feedback. Meantime, enjoy "The Waters of Mars" as much as I will (woohoo! New Who!) and God bless!

Epilogue

The Doctor walked into the TARDIS, gently lowering Phoenix to the grated floor before walking to the console. Sending the time ship into the Vortex, he sighed slowly, thinking about all that had happened. For him, it had been only three short Earth years since Nariam of Pande Nisse had died in his arms, giving him the light in his eye who was tottering to a pile of toys on the floor. For the Lensiati, however, it had been fifteen long years of planning towards the revolution he'd just left behind. A nudge in the back of his head told him that, whatever future the Lensiati had now, Empress Seran had kept her words to him. One day, he would have to return to see exactly how the people were holding up to the new dynasty. For now, though, he was content with the knowledge that the blood shed on that fateful day was not be in vain.

A tug on his trouser leg refocused his attention towards the floor. He smiled as Phoenix used the piece of clothing to pull himself to his full height, looking up towards the Doctor with a smile and a giggle. The boy was only a year and a half old, in terms of his lost homeworld, and as such hadn't yet picked up on the skills of forming distinct sentences. However, he was quite capable of expressing himself with his own unique babble and his emotional state. Right now, he jabbered up at the Doctor, saying the word "Da" and "Nanana" several times, all the wide smiling with innocence.

"Hello, there," the Gallifreyan greeted his son, gaining yet another laugh from the boy. The child tugged on the leg again several times, his happiness fading slowly as he realized he wasn't getting what he wanted. Seeing the expression on Phoenix's face, the Time Lord easily interpreted the expression and bent down to pick the boy up. "All right. If you insist. Blimey, you've got me well-trained."

"Bu bu bu na na na na!" the boy told him loudly, clapping his hands together sloppily.

"Really? I didn't know that," the Doctor replied with a broad grin. "So… where do you think we should go? Somewhere quiet. I personally would rather not risk putting you in danger. Have to be a responsible parent, you know."

"Na na da da da!" the child stated.

"Yeah," the Time Lord agreed. "Disney World is a bit too much at your age. Maybe in ten years. How about Hahih? Lovely place to stay for a couple of years or so. Settle down for a bit to let you grow up a little more."

The boy blew a raspberry and giggled at the sound.

"Right. Hahih it is then." He readjusted his hold on the boy as he walked around the console, setting the necessary coordinates and thus redirecting the TARDIS towards the destination. "There, that should do it. Until we materialize, though, I think it's time for a certain young man to have a bath and a nap."

The big yawn from the baby indicated that there was a definite consensus on the issue.

Smiling gently at the boy, the Doctor patted the console before carrying Phoenix through the time ship towards their ultimate goal, namely for both of them to grow in their life together.