A/N: Alex's outfit for this chapter can be found on my Tumblr, under the name 'darksideofparis'.

The TARDIS rematerialized outside young Kazran's bedroom window. Of course, they had to make a pit stop before they could go there.

"How do you get all these lottery tickets to people?" Alex asked as they stepped out of the TARDIS and up to the window.

"I've had a lot of practice," the Doctor said as he looked through the window. Just as he expected, young Kazran had raised his head upon hearing the TARDIS materialization noise and was staring at them bafflingly. "See?" the Doctor crowed into Kazran's camera, knowing that the elder Kazran was watching them right now. "Back!"

"Who are you?" Kazran questioned as the Doctor pushed open the window and began climbing in.

"Hi. I'm the Doctor."

"And I'm Alex," Alex said, poking her head through the window as the Doctor entered the room.

"We're your new babysitters," the Doctor explained as he helped Alex into the room.

"Where's Mrs. Mantovani?" Kazran frowned.

"Oh, you'll never guess!" the Doctor grinned. "Clever old Mrs. Manters, she only went and won the lottery!"

"There isn't any lottery," Kazran objected.

"So we keep hearing," Alex said, smoothing out wrinkles in her skirt. Her new outfit consisted of a black long-sleeved shirt, a blue blazer, a white skirt with black roses on it that hovered several inches above her knees, black tights, calf-length black suede boots, a white scarf, a black belt, large hoop earrings, and her sonic necklace.

"I know!" the Doctor exclaimed, jumping up and down on the bed. "What a woman."

"If you're my babysitters, why are you climbing in the window?"

"Because if we were climbing out of the window, we'd be going in the wrong direction," the Doctor answered, hopping off the bed. "Pay attention."

"But Mrs. Mantovani's always my babysitter."

"Times change," the Doctor shrugged, peering closer into the camera. "Wouldn't you say? You see?" He gestured to himself. "Christmas Past."

"Who are you talking to?" Kazran questioned.

"You," the Doctor said, which didn't serve to clear things up for the boy at all. He turned back to the camera, addressing the older Kazran watching the video. "Now, your past is going to change. That means your memories will too. Bit scary, but you'll get the hang of it."

"I don't understand," Kazran said, shaking his head.

"I'll bet you don't!" the Doctor grinned at him. "I wish I could see your face." Then, clapping his hands, he plopped down onto the bed, automatically reaching out and pulling Alex onto his lap. "Right then! Your bedroom. Great! Let's see. You're twelve years old, so we'll stay away from under the bed. Cupboard! Big cupboard! I love a cupboard." He nudged Alex off his lap and raced over to the thing, opening it up and sticking his head inside. "Do you know," he said over his shoulder, "there's a thing called a face spider. It's just like a tiny baby's head with spider legs, and it's specifically evolved to scuttle up the backs of bedroom cupboards—"

"Which you really shouldn't have mentioned," Alex interrupted, placing a hand on the terrified-looking Kazran's shoulder.

The Doctor winced. "Right." He shut the cupboard doors and came back over to them. "So. What are we going to do? Eat crisps and talk about girls? I've never actually done that, but I bet it's easy. Girls? Yeah?"

While Alex snickered at the Doctor's lack of babysitting knowledge, Kazran asked, "Are you really babysitters?"

"I am," Alex confirmed, sitting back on the bed. She eyed the Doctor. "Can't say the same for him, though."

The Doctor glared at her, affronted, before turning back to Kazran. "I think you'll find I'm universally recognized as a mature and responsible adult," he boasted proudly while handing the boy the psychic paper.

Kazran squinted at the paper and frowned. "It's just a lot of wavy lines," he reported.

The Doctor took the paper from him and examined it. "Yeah, it's shorted out," he explained. "Finally, a lie too big." Alex burst out laughing, though she was silenced by the sharp look the Doctor gave her.

"Okay, no," the Doctor admitted once Alex was quiet. "Not really a babysitter, but it's Christmas Eve. You don't want a real one. You want us."

"Why? What's so special about you?"

"Have you ever seen Mary Poppins?" the Doctor asked.

"No."

"Good," the Doctor nodded. "Because that comparison would've been rubbish. Fish in the fog. Fish in the clouds. How do people ever get bored? How did boredom even get invented?"

"My dad's invented a machine to control the cloud belt," Kazran told them. "Tame the sky, he says. The fish'll be able to come down, but only when we let them. We can charge whatever we like."

"Yeah," Alex nodded, thinking of what the machine was doing right now a couple decades in the future. "We've seen your dad's machine."

"What?" Kazran said, surprised. "You can't have."

"Tame the sky," the Doctor repeated, ignoring the boy's protests. "Human beings. You always manage to find the boring alternative, don't you?"

Boring, but safer, Alex thought.

"You want to see one?" the Doctor asked Kazran. "A fish. We can do that. We can see a fish."

Kazran eyed him suspiciously. "Aren't you going to tell me it's dangerous?"

Alex opened her mouth to do just that, but the Doctor beat her to it. "Dangerous?" he laughed. "Come on, we're boys! And you know what boys say in the face of danger."

"What?"

"Mummy," the Doctor grinned.

"Or 'Ally', in somebody's case," Alex smirked.

The Doctor shrugged good-naturedly, slinging an arm around her shoulders. "Well, yes, that's true. But only in my case. Only I can call her Ally. So, if there is danger, don't go yelling 'Ally'. Got it?"

"Are you a couple?" Kazran asked instead.

The Doctor made a why me expression up at the ceiling while Alex shook her head. "No, not a couple," she replied.

"Nope, most certainly not!" the Doctor agreed, his voice squeaking a little.

Kazran nodded, trying to hide his smile. Oh, the Doctor was so far gone for this Alex. . .

~Living the Life of Ally~

A few minutes later, the trio were seated against the back wall of Kazran's closet. The Doctor had concocted a pulley that was currently dangling his sonic screwdriver out into the bedroom. The other end of the pulley was a string wrapped around the Doctor's finger.

Kazran looked around the dark closet worriedly. "Are there any face spiders in here?"

"Nah, not at this time of night," the Doctor answered. He was currently seated on Kazran's right while Alex was on Kazran's left. "They'll all be sleeping in your mattress."

"He's kidding," Alex said quickly, noticing the look of alarm on Kazran's face. Knowing he needed a distraction, she asked, "Why are you so interested in the fish?"

"Because they're scary," Kazran told her.

"Good answer," the Doctor smiled.

Kazran turned to face him, his eyes shooting down to the Doctor's bowtie. "What kind of tie is that?"

"A cool one," the Doctor defended.

"Why is it cool?"

"God knows," Alex giggled.

The Doctor pointedly ignored her. "Why are you really interested in the fish?"

"My school," Kazran sighed sadly. "During the last fog belt, the nets broke and there was an attack. Loads of them. A whole shoal. No one was hurt, but it was the most fish ever seen below the mountains."

"Weren't you scared?" Alex asked.

"I wasn't there," Kazran admitted. "I was off sick."

"Ooh, lucky you," the Doctor said. Kazran shook his head. "Not lucky."

"It's all anyone ever talks about now. The day the fish came. Everyone's got a story."

"But you don't," the Doctor and Alex said together. On his own, the Doctor said, "I see."

"Why are you recording this?" Kazran asked, nodding at the camera the Doctor had set up across from them.

"Do you pay attention at school, Kazran?" the Doctor asked.

"Sorry, what?"

"Because you're not paying attention now." The Doctor nodded down to the string, which was tugging at his finger. He stood up and made his way over to the door, motioning Alex up. "Shush."

"Doctor, are you sure?" Kazran asked.

"Trust me."

"Okay," Kazran sighed.

"Oi!" The Doctor turned and knelt next to him, looking the boy right in the eye. "Eyes on the tie. Look at me. I wear it and I don't care. Trust me."

Kazran nodded, looking more ready to trust him now. "Yes."

"That's why it's cool," the Doctor explained, before getting up and rejoining Alex by the door. The two exchanged a look before stepping outside together.

A small fish was in the center of the room, examining the sonic. The Doctor watched it as he shut the closet door and maneuvered Alex behind him, just to be safe.

"Hello, fishy," the Doctor smiled as they stepped closer to the sonic. "Let's see."

"Crystalline fog," Alex announced, having already used her sonic necklace to scan the environment. She was getting much better at using it. The Doctor always found some way to get her to practice using it on their travels.

The Doctor nodded approvingly at her. "Good job, Ally. Crystalline fog, eh? Maybe carrying a tiny electrical charge. Is that how you fly, little fishy?"

"What is it?" Kazran called from the closet. "What kind? Can I see?"

"Just stay there a moment!" the Doctor replied.

"Is it big?" Kazran asked.

"No, it's just a little one," Alex answered.

"So, little fellow," the Doctor murmured, leaning closer to examine the fish. "What do you eat?"

But right at that moment, a huge great-white shark burst into the room. The Doctor and Alex, eyes outrageously wide, hastily backed up against the wall as the shark swam forwards and devoured the sonic screwdriver and the fish in one gulp. Alex probably would have screamed in terror had the Doctor not put a hand over her mouth to keep her from doing so and scaring Kazran half to death.

"How little?" Kazran questioned, blissfully unaware of the danger his 'babysitters' were in.

"Er. . ." the Doctor choked as he and Alex started inching their way around the room and towards the closet. He moved his hand off Alex's mouth and placed her fully behind him, his hands on her hips to keep her moving. Behind him, he heard Alex whimper and felt her clutch the back of his jacket.

"Can I come out?" Kazran asked.

"No, no," the Doctor hastily answered. That was not a good idea.

"Just . . . wait there for a moment," Alex gulped, her eyes fixated on the shark, who was watching them with what she was pretty sure was a hungering stare.

"What color is it?" Kazran wondered.

"Big," the Doctor gasped. "Big color." Then, before he could change his mind, he grabbed Alex's hand and pulled her along as he made a mad dash to the closet. He threw the door open, shoving Alex inside ahead of him, just barely managing to shut the door before the shark threw itself against it.

"What's happening?" Kazran demanded as the Doctor leaned against the door and Alex threw herself down onto the ground next to the boy. She reached out and pulled him closer to her, hoping to protect him should the shark break through the fragile wooden door.

"Well, concentrating on the plusses, you've definitely got a story of your own now!" the Doctor said in a reassuring voice, which was ruined a little as the shark banged against the door. The Doctor grimaced and pressed himself tighter against the wood. "Also, we got a good look at the fish, and I think I understand how the fog works, which is going to help me land a spaceship in the future and save a lot of lives. And I bet I get some very interesting readings off my sonic screwdriver when I get it back from the shark in your bedroom."

"There's a shark in my bedroom?!" Kazran shouted.

"Oh fine, focus on that part!" the Doctor snapped.

There was another bang on the door and then, nothing. It had stopped. "Has it gone?" Kazran breathed. "What's it doing?"

The Doctor looked at them, a mixture of worry and graveness on his face. "What do you call it if you don't have any feet, and you're taking a run-up?"

Us being screwed, Alex thought as the Doctor dove down beside her, pressing them all into a corner away from the doorway. And just in time too, for right then, the shark burst through the door.

"It's going to eat us!" Kazran shouted while Alex screamed bloody murder. "It's going to eat us! It's going to eat us. . . Is it going to eat us?"

"Well, maybe we're going to eat it," the Doctor suggested, eyeing the glowing green sonic screwdriver in the shark's open mouth, stuck that way since only its upper portion was in the doorway. "But I don't like the odds. It's stuck, though. Let's see. Tiny shark brain. If I had my screwdriver, I could probably send a pulse and stun it."

"Well, where's your screwdriver?" Kazran asked.

"Well, concentrating on the plusses, within reach. You know, there's a real chance the way it's wedged in the doorway is keeping its mouth open."

"There is?" Kazran questioned skeptically.

"Just agree with me, because I've only got two goes, and then it's Alex's turn."

"Two goes?" Kazran and Alex wondered.

"Two arms!" the Doctor exclaimed, holding up his arms for emphasis.

But before he could even attempt to stick a hand into the shark's mouth, a sudden buzzing rang out and the shark's mouth closed and it fell to the ground, unconscious.

The Doctor and Kazran whirled around, only to see Alex beaming victoriously, her sonic necklace held out in front of her. "Aren't you glad you gave me a sonic necklace, Doc?" she chirped.

The Doctor blushed. In all the excitement, he'd forgotten that Alex had her sonic necklace. "Yes, immensely. Good job, Ally."

"No problem, Doc," Alex said modestly, dropping her necklace back down to her collarbone. Then she reached out and whacked the Doctor upside the head.

"Ow!" the Doctor cried, putting a hand to the spot she'd hit. "What was that for?!"

"You were going to stick your hand down a shark's mouth, you idiot!" Alex snapped. "And then make me and Kazran do it if you lost both limbs!"

The Doctor winced. "Ah. Yes. Right. Sorry?"

Alex huffed and rolled her eyes, but ultimately scooted forward and kissed the Doctor on the cheek. "It's cool, Doc," she said, not noticing how red the Doctor's face had gotten at her kiss. "But don't do that again."

"Yes, Ally."

Kazran bit his lip to keep from grinning. They were so a couple.

~Living the Life of Ally~

A few minutes and a lot of heavy lifting later, the trio were on the patio outside Kazran's bedroom. Behind them, the cloud dome was still under construction. The stunned shark was lying at the Doctor's feet, Kazran kneeling beside it. The Doctor and Alex were standing a few feet away, examining the remains of the Doctor's sonic screwdriver.

"What's the big bad fishy done to you?" the Doctor crooned to the piece of sonic lying in the palm of his hand. "Swallowed half of you, that's what! Half a screwdriver, what use is that?" He frowned down at the shark. "Bad, big fishy," he scolded.

"You can build another one," Alex sighed. "And not all's lost; we have my necklace."

"Doctor? Alex?" Kazran called. The two turned to him, taking in the boy's worried face. "I think she's dying."

"Half my screwdriver's still inside, but yeah, I think so," the Doctor sighed.

"They probably can't survive long outside the cloud belt," Alex guessed.

The Doctor nodded his agreement. "Just quick raiding trips on a foggy night."

"Can't we get it back up there?" Kazran asked. He sniffled a little. "We were just going to stun it. I didn't want to kill it."

"She was trying to eat you," the Doctor reminded him. And Ally, he thought, but didn't say.

"She was hungry," Kazran countered.

The Doctor sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry, Kazran. I can't save her. I could take her back up there, but she'd never survive the trip. We need a fully functioning life-support."

"You mean like an icebox?" Kazran said, his face turning from sad to hopeful in the blink of an eye. "Okay!"

~Living the Life of Ally~

The Doctor and Alex followed Kazran down some stairs and into a sitting room. A large tree had been set up in there, lights twinkling merrily, making the big blue, green, and red ball ornaments shine like jewels.

This, of course, distracted the Doctor. "Ooh, a tree," he marveled as Kazran grabbed a lamp off a nearby table.

"Doctor, come on!" Alex said, tugging on his hand to lead him down some more stairs after Kazran. They soon entered a basement area where a large round door with a window and wheel was.

The Doctor peered through the window to see a large room full of big metal boxes, all lined up in neat rows. "What is this?" he asked as Alex bounced up and down a little to try and see. Rolling his eyes at her antics, he reached down and lifted her up by the waist, ignoring the tingling in his fingertips as he did this.

"The surplus population," Kazran explained. "That's what my dad calls it."

The Doctor set Alex down and moved to help Kazran open the door. "Oh, it's not turning!" Kazran groaned as they strained against the wheel. "Oh, why won't it turn?"

"I think this is why," Alex said. The Doctor and Kazran turned to look at her. She was leaning against the wall next to the door. She reached up and tapped a keypad with her nail.

The Doctor hurried over to examine it. "Ah, what's the number?" he asked.

"I don't know," Kazran admitted.

"This place is full of alarms. It's not just the door. I need the number."

"I'm not allowed to know until I'm older," Kazran confessed.

"Lucky we have another sonic," Alex chirped, balancing on tiptoe to reach the keypad. She buzzed her sonic charm over the keypad for a few moments, the light in the topaz on the charm turning her face copper, before there was a beep and the door unlocked. "There we go!" she beamed, settling back down. "And it's seven, two, five, eight, by the way."

As Kazran headed inside, the Doctor grinned and said, "Have I mentioned you're brilliant lately?"

"Not in the last hour, but thank you," Alex smiled.

The Doctor laughed and put an arm around her waist, leading her into the cryovault. The vault was very cold, making Alex thank God for her long-sleeved shirt and blazer. A thick fog ran across their knees, which the Doctor scanned with Alex's necklace.

"Crystalline fog," Alex read. "Same kind of fog upstairs, which means. . ."

"There's fish down here, too," the Doctor finished, pointing at a few small fish swimming by.

"Yeah, but only tiny ones," Kazran explained as he led them through the vault. "The house is built on a fog lake. That's how Dad freezes the people. They're all full, but we could borrow one." He led them further along before stopping in front of one storage unit. "Yeah, this one."

The Doctor and Alex peered inside. It was the same woman they had seen earlier, the one Kazran had deemed 'unimportant'. "Hello again," the Doctor murmured.

"You know her?" Kazran said, surprised.

"Why her?" Alex asked. "Important, is she?"

"She won't mind," Kazran assured her. "She loves the fish." He went to the side of the box where a keypad was. Tapping in a few numbers, he started a video recording that began playing on the box's window.

"My name is Abigail Pettigrew," the young woman began, "and I'm very grateful for Mr. Sardick's kindness. My father. . ."

"She starts to talk about the fish in a minute," Kazran told them.

". . .but I would not allow it. I could not have chosen this path were it not for the compassion and generosity of the great philanthropist and patron of the poor, Mr. Elliot Sardick. But I'm also surrounded by the fish, the beautiful, iridescent, magical fish. . ."

As Kazran and Alex continued watching and listening, the Doctor began wandering through the rows of storage units, looking into a few to see people frozen like Abigail. "Why are these people here?" he asked Kazran.

". . .they dash beneath the light as they dart through the fog. . ."

"What's all this for?"

Kazran shifted a little. "My dad lends money," he explained. "He always takes a family member as . . . he calls it security."

"Hard man to love, your dad," the Doctor commented. "But I suppose you know that." Kazran's only response was to look down at the floor. Alex put a reassuring hand on his shoulder, thinking about how her grandmother was very much the same way.

". . .nature. I am not alone, and I am at peace." With that, Abigail's recording ended.

Kazran hit another button on the side of the storage unit, this one starting the thawing process. As the container lit up and the icicles on Abigail's face began melting, a strange radar-like beeping sounded. Kazran and Alex turned to see the Doctor examining his lone half of the sonic screwdriver, holding it up in the air.

"What's wrong?" Alex asked.

"Just my half a screwdriver trying to repair itself," the Doctor answered. "It's signaling the other half."

Alex's eyes widened just before Kazran reminded them, "The other half's inside the shark."

Oh, shit, Alex thought.

"Yeah?" the Doctor said, like he hadn't remembered this. "Sounds like she's woken up. Okay, so it's homing on the screwdriver. . ."

Right then, like the shark in Jaws popping out of the water, their shark popped up over the fogbank, its mouth wide and gaping, exposing row upon row of sharp, pointy teeth.

"Run! Run!" Kazran shouted, taking off in one direction with Alex while the Doctor ran off in the other. Halfway into his run, the Doctor realized that Alex wasn't with him. He debated going back for her, but immediately decided against that as the shark lunged at him, sending him toppling to the ground, knocking down a few storage units along the way.

Meanwhile, Alex ushered Kazran behind a large storage unit. She kept the boy pressed against her side, her hands on his shoulders, ready to shove him behind her at a moment's notice. She had briefly thought about going with the Doctor, but she didn't want to leave Kazran alone and at the mercy of a hungry, possibly pissed-off shark.

They stayed behind that storage unit for what felt like an hour, though it was really a few seconds. Just as Alex was imagining the Jaws shark score in her head, a sudden, melodious voice rang out.

"In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan. Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone. Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow. In the bleak midwinter long ago. . ."

Ever so cautiously, Alex and Kazran made their way out of their hiding place and over to the source of the voice. They soon came upon the Doctor, who was staring ahead of him at the sight of a newly unfrozen Abigail singing to the shark, the formally hostile creature now lying peacefully on the floor.

"It's not really the singing, of course," the Doctor said as they approached.

Kazran frowned. "Yes, it is!"

"Nah."

"The fish love the singing!" Kazran argued. "It's true!"

"Nah," the Doctor dismissed again. "The notes resonate in the ice crystals, causing a delta wave pattern in the fog—" Suddenly, he slapped the back of his neck. "Ow! A fish bit me!"

"Shut up, then," Alex suggested, Kazran nodding in approval.

"Heaven and Earth shall flee away. . ."

"Of course!" the Doctor exclaimed, ignoring her advice. "That's how the machine controls the cloud belt. The clouds are ice crystals. If you vibrate the crystals at exactly the right frequency, you could align them into, ow!" He slapped the back of his neck again. "Why do they keep biting me?!"

"Look, the fish like the singing, okay?" Kazran glared at him. "Now, shut up!"

"Okay," the Doctor agreed, pouting slightly, making Alex giggle into her hand.

"In the bleak midwinter, falling down before, the ox and ass and camel which adore."

~Living the Life of Ally~

"It's bigger on the inside!" Kazran exclaimed a few minutes later. He and Abigail were gaping at the dimensionally transcendental TARDIS while the Doctor and Alex were attempting to fit the shark into the icebox.

"Yeah, it's the color," the Doctor quipped as he shoved the lid of the icebox down, Alex sitting on top of it for good measure. "Really knocks the walls back."

Alex looked through the window at the currently peaceful shark and shook her head. "Of all the things I imagined doing with you on our travels, putting a shark in a box was not one of them."

"Expectations are boring, Ally," the Doctor smirked. After making sure the lid was secure, he leapt up, looking pleased with himself. "Shark in a box, to go!"

While the Doctor and Alex were pushing the icebox inside, Kazran and Abigail stepped through the TARDIS doorway. "This is amazing!" Abigail breathed as she turned around every which way, trying to take in as much of the control room as she could. She fell back a bit as the Doctor started piloting the TARDIS, though their flight this time was nowhere near as bumpy as it usually was.

"Nah, this is transport!" the Doctor said, racing down from the console to the doors. "I keep amazing out here." With that, he threw open the doors, showing off a brilliant view. They were now up in the cloud layer, surrounded by fish of every type, size, and color.

"Come on, then!" the Doctor called as Kazran, Abigail, and Alex admired the view. "Let's get this shark out!" He rushed over to the box and pressed a few numbers into the keypad, defrosting the frozen shark. A few moments later, it burst out and sped towards the doors. Kazran, Abigail, and Alex leapt out of the way as the shark swam outside, home once again.

"Hey, look at her go!" Kazran cheered, snapping a photograph with a camera he just happened to have.

Alex laughed and turned away, only to see the Doctor frowning at Abigail's icebox. Sensing a pair of eyes on him, he looked up and waved Alex over. Alex hurried over to him. "What's wrong?" she asked, kneeling next to him.

The Doctor pointed to a set of dials on the front of the icebox. They read 000 0008. Alex frowned at them. What could they possibly mean? Maybe it's a number Mr. Sardick uses to identify her? She guessed. It wasn't completely outside the realm of possibility.

"Abigail, this number," the Doctor's voice rang out. "What does it mean?"

Abigail moved over to them and took a brief glance at the number before sighing. "It pertains to me, sir, not the fish."

"Yeah, but how?" the Doctor asked.

"You are a doctor, you say?" Abigail recalled. "Are you one of mine?"

Alex frowned worriedly. Abigail certainly seemed healthy. "Do you need a doctor?" she asked gently.

But before Abigail could answer, something on the console went ding! The Doctor whirled around and ran back over to the console. "Ah. Sorry! Time's up, kids!"

"Why?" Kazran questioned, wandering over to them.

The Doctor smiled at him. "It's nearly Christmas Day."

~Living the Life of Ally~

A few minutes later, the Doctor, Alex, and Kazran were standing in front of Abigail's icebox, Abigail back inside, ready to be frozen again.

"If you ever wish to visit again. . ." Abigail began as she adjusted herself inside.

"Well, you know," the Doctor shrugged, putting one hand up against the icebox, trying to figure out a polite way to say no, "if we're ever in the neighborhood. . ."

"They come every Christmas Eve!" Kazran cut in.

The Doctor gaped at him while Alex snickered. "What?!"

"Yeah, they do!" Kazran continued, ignoring him. "Every time! They promise!"

"No, I don't!" the Doctor started to protest as Kazran shut the door to the icebox, plunging Abigail back into a deep-freeze.

"Are you out of your mind?!" the Doctor cried when Kazran finished doing this.

"Oh, come on!" Kazran pleaded.

The Doctor shook his head. "No! Absolutely not! Forget it. I won't."

Kazran frowned, beginning to look disappointed, when Alex stepped up. "Don't worry, Kazran," she assured, winking conspiratorially at him. "I can get him to say yes."

The Doctor's eyes widened, knowing exactly what Alex was about to do. They both knew she had him wrapped around her finger, and there was nothing he could do to change that. "Alex. . ." he began, hoping that his voice expressed the desire that she not do this to him.

"Doc. . ." Alex said in the same voice. Behind her, Kazran watched them curiously, wondering what Alex was about to do.

"Ally, if you respect me at all, please don't do this," the Doctor begged.

"Doctor, will you,"

"Stop!"

"Visit Abigail every,"

"Ally, please!"

"Christmas Eve, for me, please?"

Kazran watched the Doctor close his eyes and breathe deeply. It was like Alex's question was causing him physical pain. But finally, a moment later, he said, almost inaudibly, "Yes. Yes, Ally."

Alex grinned at Kazran over her shoulder, the boy stunned that Alex, with only a simple question, could get the Doctor to change his mind. "Thank you, Doc!" she squealed, hugging him before darting over to the TARDIS. "Kazran, hug the Doctor, and we'll see you next Christmas!"

Kazran did as she said, beaming up at the Doctor. "Thank you, Doctor! Thank you, Alex! See you both next Christmas!" With that, Kazran ran out of the cryo-storage room, completely enthused with the excitement only a twelve-year-old could have.

The Doctor sighed and leaned against Abigail's box. They really didn't have the time to make a bunch of trips through Kazran's timeline, not when Amy and Rory's lives were on the line a couple decades in the future. However, maybe these trips could soften the elder Kazran a little. With this reassuring thought now in his head, the Doctor straightened up and headed back to the TARDIS.

A/N: So many fluffy bits! Who liked the part where Alex got the Doctor to agree to visit Kazran and Abigail every Christmas? He's so wrapped around her finger. :)

Some notes on reviews. . .

Red - No, Alex doesn't only own velvet clothing. And actually, I don't think her clothing is consisted of velvet. Leggings, at least the ones I wear, are cotton. But I do understand your opinion about Alex's wardrobe. I'm not sure if she'll branch out into other types of clothing, but we'll see. :)

ShadowTeir - Lol, yeah, I don't think he'd forget about the Ponds either, just . . . avoid going back for them for a while so he could spend more time with Alex. :) Glad you liked the chapter!

Gwilwillith - Thank you! :)

ElysiumPhoenix - Thank you! I try hard to make sure her being in there looks natural and not forced. :) Yes, I can see the Doctor scribbling all over the TARDIS walls after he got finished or bored with the coloring book. Hope you liked the chapter! :)

rycbar15 - Thank you! I did want to put a little spin onto the crayon thing, considering how childlike the Doctor can be. He'd be like a maniac sugar-high toddler. :)

Guest - I can't say! Sorry! :)

jesterlover - Yeah, probably not his best line. I couldn't resist though. Another reviewer said I should put the 'Locke Ness' bit in like that, because I wanted to do it in the 'Apollo 23' adventure, but couldn't find a good spot, so it went in here! :)

Neko 97 - Lol, I love that part! I have honestly no idea how that popped into my head. :)

SopherGopherroxursox - YES! I used your thing! I'm glad you liked it! :) I think 'A Christmas Carol' is usually classified with Season 6, but I've read stories where it's included with Season 5, so I put it in here. Lol, that's okay! I love the show, but I think I like my version a little better too. :) Have fun camping! I've been once and didn't like it, but I'm sure you'll have fun! See you Friday! :)

SopherGopher'sAwesomeSister - Lol, glad to hear your sister liked that I put her suggestion about the 'Locke Ness' in here. :) Nope, this isn't an original adventure. This is an actual episode. :) Nope, the OC isn't a part of the 'Living the Life of Ally' universe. She's completely separate, but I think you'll like her. I haven't seen an OC like her on here yet. :) Ahem. . .*coughs*. . .um, to be honest, I am not writing from experience. That's my imagination coming into play. I also read stuff like that. A lot. Hope that answered your question. :)