Chapter One Hundred and Sixty Four
While the TARDIS headed to its destination, the Doctor walked out of the console room so he could use the lavatory. While he was heading towards it, there was a shimmer in front of him and he froze when he saw the TARDIS's three dimensional female representation standing in front of him.
"Is…there a problem?" the Doctor asked.
"I have a thought, Beloved," the TARDIS replied.
"And that thought is…"
"I know you like that suit," the TARDIS said, gesturing to his brown suit. "But I think it would be fun if you did something a bit unusual and unexpected for Hope's benefit."
"Such as?"
The TARDIS smiled and told him her idea.
Hope stood by the console holding her Barbie doll while her brothers and sisters stood nearby and chatted with Amelia and Opal. She watched the monitor, imagining what the Gallifreyan writing on the screen was saying and longing for the day when she could read it like the others. While she was doing that, she felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up to see Jenny smiling at her.
"Leave me alone," Hope said, turning her attention back to the screen.
"Oi, I just wanted to ask my little sister if she wanted me to go shopping with her today," Jenny said.
"Oh, I thought you were gonna make fun of me again," Hope said.
Jenny wrapped her arms around her sister and kissed her cheek.
"I make fun of ya because I love ya so much," Jenny said as she sent love into her mind.
"What we gonna shop for?" Hope whispered to her.
"Dunno…toys?"
Jenny chuckled when Hope nodded eagerly at that and she gave her little sister a kiss on the cheek.
"Ta-da!"
Everyone turned around when they heard the Doctor and they froze when they noticed he was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. The t-shirt had a large photo of Elmo on it, arms outstretched with TICKLE ME above him in bold black lettering. Hope let out an ooo and walked over to it. The Doctor smiled as she stared at Elmo intently.
"Elmo," Hope said, pointing to it.
"What? Where?" the Doctor said, jerking his head around while Hope giggled.
"What does that say?" Hope said, pointing to the lettering above Elmo.
The Doctor told her and laughed loudly when she did just what the lettering said. He patted her on the head and put his hand on her back when she hugged him around the middle. Rain came into the room and slowed down when she saw his outfit.
"Oh my God, he's gone casual," she said while the others laughed.
"Yes, this was my ship's suggestion. She thought little Hopey might like it," he said, pointing to the t-shirt.
"He's got Elmo on his shirt, Mummy," Hope said, pointing to him.
"I see that, baby," she said, rubbing her head as she walked over to him. "I like the new look. It's nice to see you being casual for a change."
"Well, I'll do anything for my Hopey's happiness," the Doctor said.
"Even strip down and roll in chocolate?" Amelia asked.
"Um…almost anything," the Doctor said while the women laughed.
The TARDIS landed in the car park of a large shopping center in London in the year 2060. The building was made out of plate glass and steel and the glass gleamed in the afternoon sun. The Doctor closed the door of his TARDIS and leaned against it while he waited for his brother to show up. While he was doing that, he looked down when Hope tugged on his t-shirt.
"You didn't park it like a car," Hope said, pointing to the TARDIS.
"I know. That's because it's a TARDIS," the Doctor said.
"But…"
Hope pointed to the cars on either side of them.
"You see. The cars are in these places here," she said, walking over to the car on their left. "And you need to do that too."
"But this is a TARDIS," the Doctor said to her while everyone laughed. "I'm parked properly in the parking space, trust me."
"Nuh-uh, you gotta put it on its side so it looks more like a car."
"No, we will not be doing that," the Doctor said while everyone laughed harder.
They heard a wheezing noise and watched while Daisy landed on top of Hope.
"Hey," Hope said as she was absorbed into Daisy while it materialized around her.
Daisy stopped a few feet away from the Doctor's TARDIS.
"Look, Rose!" they heard Alan say. "Daisy has given us a gift. A new child. Let's take it and go far away from here where we can love it in private."
The Doctor walked over and banged on Daisy's door while everyone laughed.
"You better give me the child back this instant!" the Doctor yelled.
"No, Daisy gave us this child. She made it out of thin air and it's ours now. Finders keepers, so neener neener, old beaner!" Alan yelled back.
"Daddy, Mummy, you out there?"
"Hey! Close that door, newly made child that in no way belongs to my brother," Alan said while Hope unlocked Daisy's door and peeked out.
Alan looked out the door with him and froze when he saw what his brother was wearing. He opened the door wider and stepped out, taking a couple of steps before he stopped and stared down at the Elmo on his t-shirt.
"Ooo-kay," Alan said while Rose and Hope came outside and shut the door.
Rose noticed that Daisy had disguised herself as a toll booth and shook her head.
"Love, I think you need to check Daisy's chameleon circuit again," she said, turning around. "She's getting confused and…"
She trailed off and everyone laughed when she finally spied the t-shirt. She walked up beside Alan and joined him in a silent stare at it.
"I would say you've gone off your trolley except I'm pretty sure I know who this t-shirt is meant for," Rose finally said, putting her arm around Hope when she came up beside her.
The Doctor looked down when Alan put his finger in the Doctor's armpit.
"Gitchee-goo, there…consider yourself tickled," Alan said in a dull voice as he withdrew his finger.
Hope giggled and tickled his ribs. The Doctor looked down at her and let out a bored yawn before walking away. They laughed when Hope ran after him and he ran faster while she tried to tickle him. Suddenly, he turned around, swooped her up in his arms and spun her around while she laughed. He gave her a firm kiss on the cheek before setting her down. Hope took her mother's hand while everyone followed the Doctor into the shopping center.