WOOP! FINAL CHAPTER! So, about time you found out what this gift is! I hope you've enjoyed this story as much as I've enjoyed writing it! I hope this is the conclusion you've been hoping for :) THANK YOU!

Snow dusted the Doctor's hair.

In Trafalgar Square, perched on the edge of the foundations. And in front of him . . . Christmas!

Families, couples, single men and women and elderly and teenagers flocked out of their homes and onto the streets. They were laughing and dancing and singing and joking. Wrapped up against the cold. Rouged cheeks.

"Excuse me," the Doctor asked, catching a young boy, a snowball moulding in his hands, "why are you all outside?"

The boy laughed. "It's snowing!"

"But aren't you all usually inside on Christmas. It's cold out. You could catch your death. Especially at your age."

"Well there's no TV signal. No channels at all and because of what's happened to the phones, everyone's too scared to use anything electric."

"Exactly! Isn't that Christmas ruined for you lot?"

The boy simply smiled. "Not today."

The Doctor shook his head in confusion. "But you're not crying at all, you're actually singing!" the Doctor exclaimed, gesturing to a group of carollers. The Doctor sighed. "Go on then. Have some fun. I imagine you somehow deserve it."

The Doctor was left alone in the snow, the world rejoicing around him. And he looked up – a helicopter! And he smiled, waving up at his distant companions.

It really was a Merry Christmas!

"Come with us," Sasha pleaded, stroking Claire's shoulder, stood outside the TARDIS in the middle of a street. It was night. But the air was still warm and joyous. Fairy lights were hung across the balconies of nearby flats and orange street lights illuminated the dark. Around them, Alec chauffeured suitcases into the TARDIS."I need some more sisters in that ship."

Claire frowned under her smile. "You know I can't. This life isn't for me. I belong back at my Emergency Department and my flat – adventure and danger has no place being wasted on me."

Sasha smiled glumly, "I'll miss you."

"And I'll miss you!" Claire laughed hugging Sasha firmly. "Give us a call whenever. And pop back for some tea and biscuits. I know it's your favourite so don't deny it."

"Always!"

"Take these," Claire insisted, handing Sasha a large sparkling bag. "Christmas presents. Enjoy!"

"I got Alec to sneak yours under your tree," Sasha grinned.

"Look after him too," Claire added, her eyes growing solemn. "He's still a kid. Don't forget that."

"I know, I know," Sasha insisted. "Believe me, I'd do anything for him."

"Good."

Alec placed a bundle of suitcases in the TARDIS. He looked up. The Doctor was working, already planning their next adventure by the monitor – oblivious to Alec.

"I've got something for you," Alec called, trying his best to catch the Doctor's attention. "You can have it. You can have the Christmas present I got you."

The Doctor simply held out his hand – not paying much attention. Alec learned to cope with this.

"It's not much really. You remember when we went to Bellamore – the tourist planet with layers of gardens in the sky? Anyway, I found this tickets for this concert. I bought two of them, hoping me and Shannon could get but . . . Anyway, I wanted you to have them. Take River on a date or something. My treat to you. A thank you," Alec explained, placing two tickets in the Doctor's hands.

"Great. Hand-me-down presents. I suppose I should thank you anyway," the Doctor thanked, in a way, turning over the tickets to inspect them. "Who are we even seeing anyway."

"The Singing Towers of Darillium."

Silence.

The Doctor's hearts paused – too terrified to beat. Realisation sunk in. Sweat flooded. His hearts started again, now racing! His hands shook, barely holding the tickets.

"Are you ok, Doctor?" Alec inquired. "Is there something wrong with them?"

"Yes," the Doctor quickly replied, hurriedly calming himself as he became aware of how obvious his fear was to Alec. "They're perfect. Thank you," the Doctor smiled.

"Don't hug me!" Alec quickly interjected.

"Why would you think I'd do that?"

"I don't know. Normal people do. Anyway!" Alec cried, stepped towards the door. "Spend those wisely! I'll be back in a moment," he added, hurrying out of the TARDIS door.

Alec interrupted, shaking out his back and arms, "That's it! Everything packed!"

Sasha and Claire separated from their embrace. Claire stepped towards Alec. "Goodbye for now then."

"I guessed so," Alec nodded. He held out his hand – a farewell for the meantime.

Claire simply laughed. "Really?!" she joked, pushing down Alec's hand, wrapping him in a hug instead like a boa constrictor. She eventually placed him back on the ground and smiled. Alec smiled back.

And then came the silence. The acceptance that the three close friends were dividing, and may not reunite for some time, if ever again.

"He cried on my shoulder like a little girl! There was a summer dress, pigtails and everything!" Claire called to Sasha, the two of them reverting to their school day youth.

Alec gasped. Mortified by the embarrassment. "That was a secret!"

"What?! HAHA!" Sasha laughed, bursting into hysterics.

"Come one!" the Doctor called, poking his head out of the TARDIS doors like a cuckoo.

"And you!" Claire snapped, aiming her finger directly at the Doctor. "You saved Christmas, so I'll let you off for now. But I want these two back and safe and well. And don't you dare abandon them again. They will always deserve better in my eyes, so I expect you to give them your best every single time. Do you understand me?"

A smile grew across the Doctor's face. "Yes, Ma'am."

"Good boy," Claire thanked him, a small smile appearing from her too.

The closest they would get to friendship.

"Come on! Time to go," the Doctor hurried, gesturing for Sasha and Alec to join him in the TARDIS.

"You'll want to stay for this bit!" Sasha laughed, running into the TARDIS behind the Doctor and Alec, the door closing behind them.

"Why?" Claire called after them.

"Alec – these for buttons, keep them down. Sasha – pull this left, down, right and top. All ready?" the Doctor instructed, dashing into the TARDIS with his companions, allocating them to their tasks, positioning them around the console.

"Ready!" Alec grinned.

"Ready!" Sasha announced.

"Fantastic! Allons-y! Geronimo! Goodbye, Christmas!" the Doctor laughed, and on his signal, the three of them stepped into action, setting the TARDIS into flight!

Claire watched, flabbergasted, as the TARDIS dissolved into the air around her. She laughed. One last laugh. And why not? As the fairy lights glittered, choirs rejoiced in the distance and white snow drifted through the ebony sky, for once – and only that once – did she finally believe in miracles . . .

The offices were quiet, glittered with tinsel and glow of computer monitors. The remaining police officers on duty in the building were huddled in corners, laughing and joking with elf hats. Band Aid hummed in the background.

Constable Jameson entered – tired, a little shambolic.

"Where's Rippon's office?" Jameson asked, exhausted.

"Down there," one of the officers replied, mid laugh.

Jameson pulled himself into the office – knocking before entering. Rippon was sat on his own in the dark, the blue light from his monitor illuminating his face, shrouding him in mystery.

"Yes, Sir?" Jameson inquired. "It's just . . . Well, it's Christmas. And I probably shouldn't be on duty; I was drinking."

"Never mind. Come round here," Rippon insisted, clicking his fingers in a gesture for Jameson to watch the monitor. Jameson obeyed. "It's footage from the car crash by the markets."

"Do we have an identification?" Jameson asked.

"Yes indeed," Rippon replied. "Sasha Parker and Claire Hodgson – nothing to worry about. Just a couple of ordinary women. Miss Parker, in fact, used to work here. Lazy officer, shouldn't be on the force, annoyed me once too often but she's not a bad girl. The older gentleman can't yet be identified."

"And the boy?"

"That's Alec Parker. Now this is where it gets interesting. He was reported missing and dead over ten years ago. And any record of him has been scrubbed clear. Blank. Now, just a couple of months ago we received a phone call specifically warning us to keep an eye on this boy. He's dangerous."

"And mysterious, I can see."

"I want to you to find out everything you can about this boy."

"Ok, well I can come back in the morning to make a start-"

"-To your desk, Constable Jameson. This starts tonight."

And that's it! As I said, thank you for being so loyal and for reading this story - I really do hope you liked it! So, PC Jameson and Rippon are out to get Alec, and by any means! And The Doctor has the tickets for Darillium! I'll be back with a new series at some point soon (maybe as a Christmas present). It's all planned, and just needs writing, and believe me, it's going to be a ride! THANK YOU!