A Mad Man, A Welsh Star and a Blue Box - The Bad Wolf Arc

by StrikeMoonstone9387

Seren Jones' life was pretty routine. Grieve for her dead parents, work to support herself and her younger sister, who was in University, deal with her god-mother's nagging and try to live her life. All that literally went up in flames when a mad man with a blue box blew up her job and she got entangled in his life of adventure. First in 'The Mad Man and The Welsh Star' series.

11. Father's Day

Father's Day

Picking up Rose from the Powel Estate took roughly about an hour, with Seren spending time with Siwan before the latter had to leave for class. Once the catching up, the hugging, the cautioning and the tears were done (the latter three done mostly by Jackie), Seren, Rose and the Doctor returned to the TARDIS.

Seren took the younger blonde to her room, showing her around and letting her leave the small overnight bag on the bed. Rose left the room to explore while Seren, who was still wearing the clothes she had been wearing in 200 000, took a hot shower and changed into a fresh set of clothes.

She wore a three piece lehenga, consisting of a black halter-neck blouse with a mirror embroidered neckline that showed off her toned abdomen, a light pink and light green floor-length skirt that flared out from her hips and a sheer light green dupatta that was around her neck* with a pair of small pink diamond studs in her ears. She pulled the front part of her hair back into a half crown braid, letting the bottom half tumble freely down her back in a mess of large curls*. On her feet, she had a pair of 6" high heeled peep-toe ankle strap sandals*.

She walked into the Console Room, hearing Rose talk to the Doctor about Pete Tyler, Rose's father and Seren's god-father.

"Peter Alan Tyler - my dad. The most wonderful man in the world. Born 15th September 1954." Rose said as she leaned against the console with a photograph in her hand, while the Doctor sat on the jump seat. She handed the Time Lord the photograph of Pete and Jackie. "That's what Mum always says. So I was thinking, could we, could we go and see my dad when he was still alive?"

The Doctor didn't reply as Seren came up to the console, leaning against it beside Rose. She immediately noticed the photo in the Time Lord's hand and suppressed a sigh. The Doctor glanced at her in concern, remembering what she had said a short while earlier about not being ready to see Pete when he was alive.

"If we can't, then never mind." Rose said hurriedly, misinterpreting the silence and the glance that he had shot Seren. "If it goes against the laws of time or something, then we can just go back." She trailed off sadly.

"No, I can do anything." The Doctor said reassuringly. "I'm just worried about you and Seren."

"I want to see him." Rose whispered firmly.

"Your wishes are my commands." The Doctor said to them with a smile on his face as he jumped up and started up the TARDIS' engines, piloting them through the Vortex. "But be careful what you wish for."

As Rose began exploring the Console Room and the surrounding area, Seren caught the Time Lord's eye and gestured to a secluded corner with her head. He nodded and followed her to the corner.

"What is it? What's wrong?" The Doctor asked her once they were out of Rose's hearing range.

Seren didn't reply immediately, biting her lip as she had her back to him. He gently put a large hand on her shoulder and firmly turned her around to face him, using his other hand to lift her face with a finger curled under her chin, making her look at him.

"What is it?" he repeated, still softly and gently. "What is bothering you?"

"I'm still grieving for him." She admitted softly, a few tears escaping her long lashes and running down her cheeks. "And my parents. Going back to when he was alive means the possibility of seeing my parents alive as well. And when Rose called to make her request, I didn't think about that. I just thought about giving her something that she needs." She reached up and put her small hands around his muscled waist as he shifted his grip on her, curling his arms around her in a comforting embrace. "Doctor, I don't know if I can handle seeing them alive." She admitted softly. "Seeing them and not being able to try and save them, I don't know if I can resist the temptation."

She stepped back, away from his suddenly slacken embrace and looked up into his wide eyes, filled with shock and surprise.

"I need you to promise me," she said firmly, wiping her tears from her cheeks and staring deep into his eyes. "I need you to promise me that you won't let me save them. I know that if I did than it can change the timelines in unimaginable ways. I've read the books that are in the Library, as well as in my room. I don't think I have the strength to fight the temptation on my own, so please," tears began streaming down her cheeks once more, "Please, Doctor. Keep me from saving my parents."

"I promise." He said softly, amazed that the woman had the strength to admit, even to herself, that she had considered the possibility of saving her parents from their untimely deaths.

She gave him a tearful smile and hugged him tightly once more. They pulled apart as they heard Rose coming back to the Console Room, Seren wiping her tears and erasing all traces of her inner torment and the Doctor going to the Console to check on the progress of their journey.

"Hold on." He said once Rose entered the room. "We're landing."

The two women grabbed hold of the nearest coral pillars as the TARDIS landed with her customary wheezing, grinding and shaking.

The three passengers stepped out of the Blue Box and looked around.

"What day is it?" Rose asked the Doctor.

"Aunt Jackie and Uncle Pete's wedding day." Seren said softly, almost to herself, after the Doctor replied to the blonde's question.

"Let's go see Mum and Dad get married." Rose said cheerfully, completely missing the torment on Seren's face as she ran off in the direction of the Registrar's office.

The Doctor took Seren's hand and they followed the blonde at a slightly more sedate pace. The entire time, the Doctor was hyper aware of the death grip Seren had on his hand and her admission of the possibility of being tempted to save her parents.

They quietly entered the Registrar's office, slipping into seats at the back with the Doctor sitting between the two god-sisters. Seren's still had a death grip on the Time Lord's hand as they watched the ceremony.

"I, Peter Alan Tyler, take you, Jacqueline Angela Suzette Prentice…" the Registrar said to the groom.

"I, Peter Alan Tyler, take you, Jacqueline… Suzanne," he stammered over the bride's middle names, "Suzette… Anita…" he helplessly looked at the Registrar for help as Jackie narrowed her eyes slightly at her groom.

"Oh, just carry on. It's good enough for Lady Di." Jackie said to the Registrar.

Seren couldn't help the smirk that crossed her face, it was so like Jackie to say something like that.

"I thought he'd be taller." Rose whispered, her gaze never straying from the bride and groom.

Seren reached out with her free hand and took the younger woman's hand, squeezing it gently. The sound of a baby crying drew everyone's attention away from the couple. Looking to the front pew, where the sound was coming from, Seren's grip on the Doctor's hand tightened even further. There, sitting beside each other, looking happy and alive, were Seren's parents – Ifan Llewellyn and Glenda Rhoswyn Jones. Sitting beside Ifan was a 7-year-old Rhiannon while Seren's infant self was in Glenda's arms, being gently soothed by the older woman. After a few seconds, the baby stopped crying as she fell asleep in her mother's arms, content in the safety and comfort being provided by the older woman.

"To be my lawful wedded wife, to love and behold till death us do part." The Registrar's voice coaching Pete drew Seren's attention away from her very much alive parents and back to the ceremony.

The Doctor looked down at the young woman in concern, the woman holding his hand so tightly that he was beginning to lose circulation and go numb. Seren's free hand was being squeezed tightly by Rose, who was oblivious to the torment her older god-sister was going through, so focused on her own parents, her own father.

After the ceremony, Rose let go of Seren's hand as the three walked back to the TARDIS, the Doctor and Seren still holding hands. Seren wasn't about to let go of the Time Lord until she was far away from the sight of her parents, knowing that the moment she had the chance, she would try to save them.

The moment they entered the TARDIS, Seren let go of the Doctor's hand and climbed up one of the coral, perching at the top, far enough away so she could have privacy as she tried to come to terms with seeing her parents alive, but still close enough to hear if she was being called.

Rose on the other hand, leaned against the Console and spoke to the Doctor about Pete; how he died, how it had been a hit-and-run, how he had died alone and how the ambulance had been too late to save him.

As Rose spoke to the Doctor, who was sitting on the jump seat and listening in silence, Seren let her own memories of the day wash over her. She remembered being in the car with Siwan as Pete was hit by the oncoming car. She remembered getting out of the car and running to Pete, Siwan beside her, both of them screaming and begging Pete to wake up – he had already been dead by the time her and Siwan managed to get out of the car and reach him. Rose didn't know that Seren and Siwan had been in the car that day, that they had seen everything through the window, and that the only reason they weren't with him as he died was because of the seatbelts that held them in place.

"I want to be that someone. So he won't die alone." Seren heard Rose say and the Welshwoman looked down at the two, startled.

Seren's startled gasp alerted Rose and the Doctor to her presence above them and the woman slowly made her way down the coral, coming to stand next to the Doctor. She stared at Rose in surprise as Rose looked back at her with large hazel eyes, silently pleading to be allowed this chance to sit with her father.

Every part of Seren was screaming at her to say no, she knew that if she said no than the Doctor would back her and he wouldn't take Rose to that day. But Seren knew that if they didn't, if they didn't let Rose have this chance to at least be with her father as he died, than Seren would never be able to forgive herself for not giving Rose at least one moment with her father – a moment among many that Seren already had with the man.

Seren nodded and the Doctor looked between the two women.

"November 7th?" he asked.

"1987." Seren confirmed in a shaky voice.

The Doctor started up the Time Rotor and took them to November 7th, 1987. Rose looked at the rotor with hope expressed clearly on her face. Seren bit her lip and hugged herself tightly, not ready to go back to the scene that had haunted her nights for so many years. The Doctor watched the tiny Welshwoman with concerned eyes, wondering what it was that had the feisty woman so traumatized. He wondered if he was doing the right thing, but one look at Seren's determined expression, despite her fear, he knew that she was willing to brave the possibility of reliving her trauma so that her beloved god-sister could see what she hadn't been told. See with her own eyes and truly understand what had happened that fateful day.

They materialized between a telephone box and a road sign, Waterley Street, by park railings. Rose slowly walked out of the box followed by the Doctor and Seren. The Doctor closed the TARDIS door behind him before putting an arm around Seren and holding her close as she began to tremble ever so slightly.

Rose looked around, taking in the bright daylight, the uncharacteristically warm November air and the songs of the birds and the animals.

"It's so weird. The day Dad died." Rose said softly. "I thought it'd be all sort of grim and stormy. It's just an ordinary day."

"The past is another country." The Doctor said to her. "1987's just the Isle of Wight."

Seren bit her lip as a few tears escaped her lashes and ran down her cheek. She hurriedly wiped them away as the Doctor looked at her.

"Are sure about this?" he asked, looking down at the tiny Welshwoman in his arms.

"Yes." Seren said softly as Rose walked a few feet ahead of them, leading them around the corner. "She needs to see. She needs to know what we hadn't told her."

"This is it, Jordan Road." Rose said before the Doctor could say anything. "He was late. He'd been to get a wedding present, a vase." Her voice broke as she said, "Mum always said, 'that stupid vase.' Remember, Seren?" Seren flinched at the reminder as they turned and watched a green van come around the corner. "He got out of his car…" the van pulled up to the curb. "And crossed the road." They watched as Pete parked the car and picked up the vase from the passenger seat. "Oh, God, this is it."

Seren watched with wide, horrified eyes, seeing from an adult perspective what she hadn't understood as a child. They watched as Pete got out of the car, oblivious to the fate that awaited him. He turned his attention to the back of the car, moving to open the back passenger door, as a beige car turned around the corner and headed straight towards the preoccupied man. His hand on the door handle, he turned when he heard the sound of tires squealing and his eyes widened when he saw the car come towards him. The driver's own eyes widened and he threw his arm over his face as he hit Pete. The vase fell form Pete's hand, shattering into countless pieces as Pete hit the ground, struggling to move as each breath he took sent stabs of agony through him.

"Go to him, quick." The Doctor said to Rose, though he meant the words for both of them.

Rose looked ready to run away from the heart-breaking scene, but Seren grabbed her hand in a tight grip, preventing the blonde from moving.

"Seren, what -?" Rose asked in confusion, tears in her eyes.

"Watch." Seren said in a quiet hard voice, her eyes never straying from the scene in front of them. "Watch and see what you do not know."

Rose turned back to the road, confusion still playing on her face as the sound of banging reached their ears. Following the sound, the Doctor and Rose's eyes widened in shock and horror as the back door of Pete's car opened and two tiny little girls climbed out, screaming. Both girls were dressed in salmon-coloured dressed, matching salmon coloured ribbons weaved into and holding their long curled chestnut brown locks back. One girl had large amethyst eyes while the other had sapphire blue eyes and except for that one difference, the two girls were identical in every way.

"Uncle Pete! Uncle Pete!" the girls screamed in unison, running to the prone man as they heard the sirens of the approaching ambulance.

Unable to watch anymore, and knowing that the ambulance was seconds away from reaching the scene, Seren let go of Rose's arm and ran down the road. They followed her to an alley, finding her leaning back against the brick wall with tears streaming down her face as she gasped for air.

"It's too now." Seren said brokenly, gasping for air.

The Doctor gathered her in his arms, rubbing her back soothingly as she rested her head against his chest. She used the rhythm of his hearts to slow her own heart rate, before pulling away.

"By the time the ambulance got there, he was already dead." Rose said, looking at Seren with wide eyes. "Seren, why didn't anyone say that you and Siwan had been there when Dad died?"

"How could we, Rose?" Seren asked back, looking at the tall blonde. "By the time you were old enough to ask, and to an extent understand, we had finally stopped having nightmares every night. Even still, the night terrors I have? Uncle Pete's death is one of the reasons, among a million other things."

Rose nodded and turned to the Doctor.

"Can I try again?" she asked hesitantly.

The Doctor looked at her, his expression mirroring the one on Seren's face. They both knew it was a bad idea, but Rose looked at them with wide hazel eyes, shining with tears she refused to let herself shed.

"Please, Doctor." Rose pleaded.

The Doctor nodded reluctantly and they slowly made their way back to the TARDIS.

The Doctor, Seren and Rose looked around the corner to see themselves standing by the curb side as they waited.

"Right, that's the first us." The Doctor said quietly to Rose. "It's a very bad idea, two sets of us being here at the same time. Just be careful they don't see us. Wait until she runs off and they follow, then go to your dad."

Rose nodded her understanding and the three of them turned to watch as Pete's van pulled up and parked at the curb.

"Oh, God, this is it." The heard the first Rose say.

"I can't do this." Rose said shakily, looking at the two of them.

"You don't have to do anything you don't want to do." Seren said gently as she put a hand on Rose's shoulder, pushing her own pain aside and focusing on the blonde in front of her. "But know that this is the last time we can be here."

Rose nodded and Seren pulled her hand back as they turned and watched the scene in front of them. The blonde girl breathed heavily as the three of them watched Pete pick up the vase from the passenger seat and get out of the car. They watched as he turned his attention to the little girls in the backseat of the car, moving to open their door.

Suddenly, Rose ran forwards as the beige car turned around the corner. Seren lunged forwards, trying to reach the blonde but missed by a fraction as the Doctor held her back before she could be seen.

"Rose, no!" Seren yelled as the blonde dashed past their earlier selves, who looked on in bewildered confusion.

Rose pushed her father out of the path of the oncoming beige car, tumbling to the ground with Rose landing on top of him as the car sped past. The vase slipped out of Pete's hand and rolled away, unbroken. As Rose got off him, the earlier versions of the time travelers disappeared.

The Doctor let Seren go and they both exchanged utterly horrified looks. They watched in horror as Rose helped her father to his feet, a wide smile on her face.

"I did it!" Rose exclaimed in happy relief. "I saved your life!"

"Blimey, did you see the speed of it?" Pete asked as he brushed himself off. "Did you get his number?"

"I really did it. Oh, my God, look at you. You're alive! That car was going to kill you." Rose breathed, still shocked that she had managed to save her father.

"Give me some credit, I did see it coming." Pete muttered defensively. "I wasn't going to walk under it, was I?"

"I'm Rose." She said, looking at her father expectantly as if waiting for familiarity or recognition. She received neither.

Pete opened his mouth to respond when the sound of banging drew his attention. He watched as the back door of the van opened and two identical girls climbed out and ran to him, wrapping themselves around each of his legs.

"Uncle Pete! Uncle Pete!" the cried in unison, the terror at what had almost occurred clear on their small faces.

"Seren, Siwan. I'm all right, my loves." Pete said, bending down and expertly scooping the two girls up in each arm. He kissed their chubby rosy cheeks as Rose stared at the younger versions of her god-sisters. Pete turned to Rose, her words registering in his mind. "You said your name was Rose?" she nodded in response, looking up at him. "That's a coincidence. That's my daughter's name." he said with a slight laugh, the sound further soothing the little girls that were holding on to him with a tight grip.

"That's a great name. Good choice. Well done." Rose babbled with a happy grin as Pete gave a slightly awkward chuckle.

"Right, I'd better shift. We've got a wedding to go to." Pete said. He went back to the car and put the girls down, coaxing them to let go of him so that he could buckle them in once more.

"Is that Sarah Clarke's wedding?" Rose asked as she watched her father with her god-sisters.

"Yeah, are you going?" Pete asked, managing to get the girls in the car and began buckling them in.

Rose glanced over at Seren and the Doctor, both scowling at her. Seren, hearing Pete's question, shook her head vigorously at Rose.

"Yeah." Rose said, nodding and turning back to the blonde man.

Seren scowled as her eyes, normally a warm amethyst colour, hardened to match the jewels they mimicked.

"You, your boyfriend, and his sister need a ride?" Pete asked, gesturing to the pair watching them.

Seren bristled when she heard Pete refer to her as the Doctor's sister.

"Sure!" Rose exclaimed happily.

The four of them climbed into the van, Rose in the front passenger seat next to Pete while the Doctor and Seren in the backseat between the two little girls (the Doctor between the two versions of Seren so that they didn't accidentally touch each other).

"You won't mind if we stop by my flat so I can change, would you?" Pete asked as they drove.

"No, it's okay." Rose replied when the Doctor and Seren didn't reply.

The two instead interlocked their fingers, their free hands being taken by the two little girls as they drew patterns on the strangers' hands.

The rest of the ride was silent, Rose oblivious to the Doctor's anger or her god-sister's pain as she basked in the knowledge that her father was alive as she stared at him as unobtrusively as possible.

Reaching the block of flats, Pete parked the van and got out, going to Little Seren's side of the door and taking her out, while the Doctor got out and picked Siwan up. Rose got out of the car and grabbed the vase as Seren kept a tight grip on her purse, making sure she stayed away from her child self. The two men swung the little girl's onto their hips, the girls needed no encouragement to cling tightly to their necks as they made their way up to the Tyler's flat.

"Right, there we go." Pete said, letting them into his flat several minutes later and putting Little Seren down on the floor. Rose followed him inside and placed the vase on the floor by the door. "Sorry about the mess. If you want a cup of tea, the kitchens' just down there," he pointed towards the kitchen as he continued, the Doctor closing the door behind him and Seren, Siwan still in his arms. "Milk's in the fridge." The Doctor and Seren stood beside Rose as Pete turned slightly sheepish. "Well, it would be, wouldn't it? Where else would you put the milk? Mind you, there's always the window sill outside. I always thought if someone invented a window sill with special compartments, you know, one for milk, one for yogurt, make a lot of money out of that. Sell it to students and things. I should write that down." He looked away thoughtfully as Rose looked at him with delight and the Doctor and Seren smiled politely.

"Uncle Pete?" Little Seren said, looking up from where she was clinging to his pant leg.

"Yes, my Little Star?" he asked, crouching next to her.

Seren's breath hitched at the nickname Pete had given her once he learned what her name meant. Hearing it for the first time in 18 years was like a punch to the gut and she tightened her grip on her purse to keep from drawing attention to herself. Seren didn't realize that the Doctor had noticed the momentary flash of pain that crossed her features or the sound of her breath hitching, she didn't notice him shoot her a worried look.

"You're rambling." Little Seren said matter-of-factly, her Welsh accent pronounced and lilting.

Pete chuckled lively, swinging the little girl up on his hip as she let out a peal of musical giggles.

"Excuse us for a minute. Got to go and change." Pete said to his visitors as he went to his bedroom, Little Seren still in his arms.

He paused at the door, turning to look at Siwan who was comfortable in the Doctor's arms.

"Do you want me to take her?" Pete asked him.

"It's okay." The Doctor replied as he gave the blond man a polite smile, not mentioning that the little girl was all that was keeping him from raging at the future version of his daughter.

Pete nodded and disappeared into the room, Little Seren closing the door behind him. Siwan yawned as the excitement of the day caught up with the tiny 4-year-old and she gently put her head on the Doctor's broad shoulder, falling asleep seconds later, her breaths coming out in short puffs against the Time Lord's neck. He adjusted his hold slightly so that she wouldn't slip and took her to the couch, gently putting her down and rubbing her back soothingly when she mumbled restlessly until she returned to her dreams.

Rose looked around the flat, taking in the items that covered nearly every surface. Seren turned and looked out of the window, her hands clenched into tight fists as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"All the stuff Mum kept. His stuff, Seren." Rose said softly looking at everything as the Doctor stood up from his crouch and leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, frowning at the oblivious blonde. "She kept it all packed away in boxes in the cupboard. She used to show me when she'd had a bit to drink." She gave them a small smile, not noticing the anger on their faces or the fact that Seren was ignoring her. "Here it is, on display. Where it should be." She smiled at them, picking up a trophy and held it up to show the Doctor "Third prize at the bowling. First two got to go to Didcot." She held it for a few seconds before replacing it as her eyes were drawn to several large jerry cans filled with liquid. "Health drinks." She exclaimed, crouching by the large bottles. "Tonics, Mum used to call them. He made his money selling this Vitex stuff. He had all sorts of jobs. He was so clever." They stayed silent as Rose stood up and walked around. "Solar power." She tapped her fingers against several paper schematics that were on the table. "Mum said he was going to do this. Now he can." Seren finally turned around to look at Rose as the blonde looked at them with a smile. The smile faded as she finally taking in their displeasure when they don't return the smile. "Okay, look I'll tell him you're not my boyfriend." She began fidgeting slightly when neither said a word. "Well, say something. Please."

"You're a complete and total idiot." Seren snapped in a hiss, mindful of the child sleeping near them. Rose jerked back, eyes wide as she took in the anger that radiated from her normally gentle god-sister. "Do you realize what you have done?"

"What are you talking about?" Rose asked, completely and utterly confused at the anger that was directed at her.

"I'm talking about the fact that you just saved Uncle Pete!" Seren hissed, anger radiating from every part of her tiny frame as she glared up at the taller woman.

"Why aren't you happy about that?" Rose asked angrily, her hands on her hips as she returned the glare with one of her own. "He's alive!"

"Rose, you have no idea what this could do!" Seren said in despair as the two women began inching towards each other without realizing it. "We already made that point vulnerable by having two sets of us there!"

"Oh, so it's alright for you and your alien boyfriend to save the damn world and whoever crosses your path but when it comes to saving someone you've known your whole life it's out of the question! As if you wouldn't have done the same if it were your parents!" Rose hissed, causing Seren to stumble back in shock.

"One." Seren said, raising a delicate finger in front of Rose's face. "He's not my boyfriend. Two." Another finger went up, "The Doctor knows what he's doing and I follow his instructions to a tee, except when they involve me running away from danger while he runs towards it. You don't have any idea what you just did nor did you have any right to! And three." The final finger went up. "I would give anything to save Mam and Tad from being murdered." The Doctor, who had been listening to the two women, whipped his head around to stare at Seren in shock. She had told him that her parents died in a car accident not that they had been murdered. "There isn't a single moment that goes by that I don't think about them, wondering about whether I could save them or not. Even if I couldn't save them, I would at least try to tell our past selves to cherish every moment they had because they would regret it after their deaths. And you know what the last thing I said to them was?" Seren had tears streaming down her face as she asked her question to the younger girl. Rose shook her head almost automatically. "I told them I hated them! Right before Tad turned the car on and the bomb went off, I told my beloved parents that I hated them. All because I didn't want to attend a family dinner and wanted go out with my friends instead! But I can't. I can't even go and take back the words that will haunt me for the rest of my life because that could cause repercussions that we can't even begin to imagine!"

The Doctor was staring at Seren with wide eyes as her words raced through his mind. A bomb killed her parents?

"But it's not like I've changed history, Seren." Rose protested. "Not much. I mean, he's never going to be a world leader. He's not going to start World War Three or anything. Why can't you just be happy that I can grow up with my dad now? Instead of your father playing the role of dad, I have my father to do it now."

Seren trembled with anger as she listened to Rose's words. Her father had always been there for Rose and Jackie, always being a father to the blonde girl just as he had always been Jackie's best friend. Her father had managed to be a father-figure to Rose without ever taking Pete Tyler's place or making his own children feel like they were second to his love, he always made sure they knew that he loved them all equally. Seren pushed Rose, making her stumble as she stared at the tiny Welshwoman in shock.

Siwan, still asleep but feeling the turbulent emotions in the room due to her currently latent Emphatic powers, whimpered and the Doctor crouched next to her, rubbing her back soothingly until she fell back to sleep while sucking her thumb. His eyes however, were not on the child but on the two women in front of him. Seeing Seren take a step towards Rose, he quickly stood up and grabbed the tiny woman's waist, preventing her from doing something she may come to regret later.

"What Seren is trying to say is that time is delicate and -" the Doctor started and Seren glared up at him as she took a breath to calm herself down, if only for the sake of her sister's past self. The sleeping child had a frown on her face as she sucked her thumb furiously.

"Hell no! That is not what I mean and you know it!" Seren yelled as she tore herself from his grip. Thankfully the sudden yell didn't wake Siwan up, who was a deep sleeper unless emotions were heightened like they had been for the past several minutes. Seren stalked up to Rose and stopped a hairs' breadth from her as she looked up at the blonde. She spoke to the younger girl, her voice coming out in a hiss, "Because Uncle Pete's alive, the whole world is different. I hope you can bear to live with the consequences."

Seren glared at her one last time before whirling around, grabbing her purse that had fallen to the ground at some point and stalking towards the door.

"And where are you going?" Rose asked her retreating back.

Seren paused in the entryway and half turned to the blonde.

"You got what you wanted." She replied in quiet anger, tears still in her eyes though they stopped streaming down her face. "Since you apparently know what you're doing and you know everything about time travel, you can find your own way back."

She turned back to the door and the Doctor moved to follow her.

"That doesn't scare me." Rose yelled to their retreating backs. The two froze at her unconvincing statement and turned to look at her as she continued. "You'll just hang out by that box waiting for me."

Seren gave her a blank stare, her normally expressive orbs completely devoid of emotion. The Welshwoman turned, opened the door and walked out as the Doctor followed, closing the door behind them.

Seren stalked down the steps of the flat block, silently fuming. She purposefully made sure she stayed in front of the Doctor, not wanting to rage at him for something he had no control over. By the time they reached the road and began heading towards Waterley Street, Seren's anger gave way to the crippling sorrow, guilt and regret that she had been carrying since she was 18. A hand on her shoulder startled her and she tensed, ready to defend herself when she was faced with beautiful baby blue eyes that connected with her own amethyst purple orbs. Eyes that belonged to the Doctor as he moved to stand in front of her. Eyes that had compassion, pain, sympathy and understanding expressed in their swirling depths, mirroring her own emotions. Also expressed in his eyes was an emotion that she saw all the time, recognizing it but not being able to put a name to it - an emotion that she would see in Siwan and Adam's eyes, in Rhi and Johnny's eyes and so many others.

Never breaking eye contact, he moved closer towards her with slow, deliberate movements, as if she could become spooked at any moment. He gently cupped her dainty face with his large hands, and with movements so gentle as if the slightest pressure would shatter her, he wiped the tears that streamed down her face with the pads of his thumbs. She brought her hands up and covered his larger ones with her own tiny hands as she leaned into his gentle touch.

She opened her mouth to speak but no sound came out, only another round of tears to stream down her face. Without a word, he gently wiped those away as well, only for more to fall. He gently lowered his hands and wrap his arms around her, bringing her tiny frame close to him as he held her while she sobbed her heart out. He rubbed her back soothingly, muttering soothing nonsense to her as he gently rested his chin on her head.

Finally, several minutes later, she was able to get a hold of her emotions. Her sobs slowed to sniffles with light hiccups escaping her periodically as she pulled a handkerchief from her purse and wiped her face, erasing the traces of her sorrow.

"Why does everyone think we're a couple?" she asked with a pout, causing him to chuckle.

She laughed as well, putting the handkerchief away and taking the Doctor's hand. They resumed their walk back to Idris, the Doctor pondering on what Seren had said about her parents.

"You're wondering about my parents." Seren commented, looking up at him.

"Yes." He admitted, not breaking their stride as he looked down at her. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but I am curious over what you didn't say when we were on Platform One."

Seren was silent for a moment, looking straight ahead.

"My parents were murdered, this you found out at the flat." Seren said finally. The only indication of her pain was the tightening of the grip she had on the Time Lord's hand. "They were killed by a car bomb, Siwan and I were in the back seat of the car at the time. We were going to Rhi's home for a family dinner and I didn't want to go, I wanted to go out with my friends and we were having a blazing row the entire time we were getting ready and leaving our house. The moment before Tad turned the key, I told them I hated them. Next thing I know, I'm being thrown back through the window and landing on the other side of the road, covering Siwan with my body as the Mara used the flames of the explosion to protect us as much as possible. I died from my injuries and made my Choice, though Siwan was able to be resuscitated by the paramedics." She sniffled as she leaned in against the Doctor's arm. He shifted slightly, letting go of her hand and putting his arm around her and she leaned in to him. "The worst thing is that… we still don't know who did it. It was one of the reasons that Siwan and I moved to London. We couldn't stay there knowing that our parents' murderer likely walked those streets. Rhi was able to manage because she had Johnny and David, Mica hadn't been born at the time."

"That is why you asked me to make sure you didn't do exactly what Rose just did?" the Doctor asked softly, the pieces falling into place.

"Yea." Seren replied, nodding. "I knew – I know that with the guilt and regret I feel, I would do whatever I could to at least get my past self to cherish the time with my parents." She gave a sarcastic laugh and looked up at him. "But you know what? There's a part of me that doesn't want to change anything. Not their deaths, no matter how painful it is to be without them, not my behavior when I was a teenager, nothing. Because I know I wouldn't be the person I am now if I hadn't been through what I went through. Is that silly?"

"No." the Doctor replied, looking at her with a gentle expression on his face, his eyes shining with the emotion that Seren didn't have the strength to name. "Not many people see it that way. Especially when they can travel through time."

"Everything happens for a reason. Whether we see it then or later, we can only live, learn and grow from our past." She said, looking at the sky as she spoke.

"Where did you hear that?" the Doctor asked curiously.

"Adam." Seren replied, looking at him with a smile as they rounded the last corner onto Waterley Street.. "He had said that once not long before you and I met. I don't remember what had prompted him to tell me that, but the words still stuck with me."

The Doctor nodded and they fell silent, walking up to the TARDIS. Stopping outside the doors, the pair looked up at the sky through the tree branches hanging above them as a bird cawed in the distance. Seren frowned, the TARDIS was unusually quiet.

"Does she seem unusually quiet to you?" Seren asked with a frown. Normally, Idris never stops her humming, but for some reason there was nothing. No humming, no talking, nothing.

"You're right, something isn't right." The Doctor replied, taking his key and unlocking the doors.

He gently pushed the door, freezing when both panels moved with the gentle touch. He pushed them opened and his eyes widened as he saw the empty telephone box. The TARDIS was gone, all that was left was the ordinary police telephone box. Seren covered her mouth in horror, stifling her scream, as the Doctor went inside and touched the four walls that made up the interior of the police box. He stepped back outside and the pair stared at each other in shock before realization struck them.

"Rose!" they shouted in unison, before running back in the direction they came from, heading back towards the flat.

The flat was empty when they arrived and the Doctor turned to his Companion.

"Do you know where they went?" he asked frantically.

"St. Paul's church." Seren replied, nodding. She ran out of the flat, the Doctor on her heels as she yelled, "Sarah Clarke's wedding!"

They ran as fast as they could without pause.

"Rose!" the Doctor yelled after they turned the final corner and they saw Rose with their back to them.

"Rose!" Seren yelled as Rose turned to them with satisfied smile on her face. "Get in the church!"

Rose's smile faded as Seren and the Doctor looked into the sky. Rose followed their line of sight and saw as a large creature with bat-like wings with a devilish appearance appeared in the sky.

Rose screamed as the creature hissed and swooped down to her. The Doctor pushed her to the ground just in time to narrowly avoid the creatures' talons.

"Get in the church!" the Doctor yelled as he and Rose scrambled up.

Jackie picked up baby Rose's carry cot while Glenda grabbed Little Seren and Siwan as Seren herded the frightened guests towards the old building. The small group of bridesmaids, flower girls, bride, guest and three time travellers stopped short as two more creatures appeared above the church.

"Oh, my God! What are they?" Suzie cried in fear. "What are they?"

Some of the guests that were in the church came out to see what the commotion was.

"Inside!" the Doctor yelled to the group of the church's front steps as he stood in front of the small group at the gate, Seren and Rose on either side of him. Behind them, Little Seren and Siwan started crying as the fear and pain that permeated the air began to drown them, unable to channel the emotions everyone was feeling combined with their own.

"Sarah!" Stuart yelled as he came out of the church and started to run towards his bride.

"Stay in there!" the Doctor yelled at him, making him freeze in his place as the creature turned towards the group on the church's steps.

Stuart's father, seeing the creatures, tries to run in fear but the creature pounces on him, making him disappear with a scream. Sarah tried to run to the church, but was blocked by one of the creatures. She screamed as it approached her, causing it to fly off. It attacked the Vicar instead, who screamed as he disappeared.

"In!" Seren yelled, ushering the terrified party inside the building.

While Seren stood on the side as she ushered the terrified people inside, the Doctor made sure that he stayed at the very back of the group to keep the creatures from attacking from behind. As soon as the last person entered, he slammed the large doors shut. The terrified party chattered to each other in fright.

"They can't get in." The Doctor said as they saw the creatures flying around outside, making them all turn to look at her. "Old windows and doors. The older something is, the stronger it is. Go and check the other doors!" he ordered some of the guests as he went and took one side of the church. "Move!"

Seeing her mother frantically try to calm her younger self and Siwan down without much luck, Seren reached out and picked Siwan up, holding the 4-year-old close and rocking her gently. Seren's mother, Glenda Jones, looked at her with a pondering expression, glancing between the child in her own arms and the woman holding her youngest daughter. Seren smiled and Glenda's eyes widened in realization. Seren shook her head, silently telling the woman not to say anything and she nodded in understanding, focusing on calming her fearful daughter down.

"What's happening?" Jackie asked frantically, following the Doctor as he checked each door on his side. "What are they? What are they?"

"There's been an accident in time. A wound in time." He replied, going to the next door as Jackie followed him. "They're like bacteria, taking advantage."

Seren turned, going up to Jack and the Doctor, watching the confrontation between the two, amused despite the situation they found themselves in. She soothingly rubbed her sister's back, the little girl also watching the argument with an adorably confused expression on her tiny face.

"What do you mean, time? What are you jabbering about, time?" Jackie hounded him.

"Oh, I might've known you'd argue. Jackie, I'm sick of you complaining -" The Doctor said to her.

"How'd you know my name?" Jackie shouted, cutting him off.

"We haven't got time for this -" the Doctor spoke over her shouting.

"I've never met you in my life!" Jackie yelled at him, cutting him off again.

Seren had to hide her face in Siwan's hair to conceal the smile that was growing on her face at their arguing.

"No, and you never will unless I sort this out. Now, if you don't mind, I've waited a long time to say this." He said to her before standing up to his full height and looking down at the woman sternly. "Jackie Tyler, do as I say. Go-and-check-the-doors."

"Yes, sir." Jackie breathed and walked away.

"I should've done that ages ago." He said, grinning and looking very pleased with himself.

He turned to Seren as she walked up to him with Siwan in her arms and winked, causing her to look away, utterly flustered. She found the commanding tone to be incredibly sexy and became more flustered at her realization.

"My dad was out there." He told them, making the playful mood evaporate instantly.

"You can mourn him later. Right now we've got to concentrate on keeping ourselves alive." The Doctor told him firmly.

"My dad had…" Stuart started to say.

"There's nothing we can do for him." The Doctor said, cutting the man off.

"No," Stuart said desperately as he held up a phone from the current decade. "But he had this phone thing. I can't get it to work. I keep getting this voice."

The Doctor took the phone and dialled a number, holding it up to his ear.

"Watson, come here. I need you. Watson, come here. I need you."

Seren and the Doctor exchanged looks of amazement. Siwan reached out for the phone.

"Phone!" she cried out happily. "Phone, please."

"That's the very first phone call." Seren breathed, her eyes wide in amazement. "Alexander Graham Bell."

"I thought you sucked at history." The Doctor asked, looking at her in confusion.

"I know the basics." She replied, glaring at him. "Besides, I have been reading you know."

"Oh, right." The Doctor muttered, turning back to the groom. "I don't think the telephone's going to be much use."

"Phone, please!" Siwan repeated, tugging on the Doctor's sleeve.

He handed the old phone to the child turned to check the door behind the Pastor's podium. Siwan wriggled in Seren's arms and she put the child down, who needed no prompting to climb onto one of the chairs and occupy herself with her new toy. Little Seren caught sight of her sister and joined her on the chair, the two blissfully playing happily, Glenda keeping a close watch on them though she gave a sigh of relief now that they had stopped crying.

"But someone must've called the police!" Stuart called after him.

"Police can't help you now. No one can." The Doctor said, turning around to look at the assembled group of people. Pete glanced up at them from where he was crouched over Baby Rose's carry cot on the ground by Little Seren and Siwan's chairs. Rose watched the Doctor as he did what he could to keep them safe for the time being while Seren helped him any way she could. Rose let out a sigh with guilt in her heart. "Nothing in this universe can harm those things." The other guests watched as the Doctor continued speaking. "Time's been damaged and they've come to sterilize the wound. By consuming everything inside."

He looked at Rose in the eyes as he stopped beside Seren. Seren looked away in shame and the Doctor took her hand, silently reassuring her that he didn't blame her for what had happened.

"Is this because…" Rose began shakily. "Is this my fault?"

Seren looked at the blonde in silence, the anger she had felt towards her giving way to self-hate for caving into the girl's desires. It was something she had done her entire life, the first time she had ever fought for something she wanted was when she adamantly fought to resume her travels with the Doctor. And yet, even then, they had the chance to keep her from going and she would have agreed without question.

This behaviour, while a part of her personality from childhood, had only begun to be more obvious after her parent's death – the nature resulting from the blazing row they had moments before they died.

Seren let out a choked laugh at the blonde's words and walked away, unable to face her god-sister without giving into the urge to yell at her for her actions. She was followed by the Doctor close behind her as they systematically check each of the doors and windows until they reached the Vestry.

Inside, they found Pete locking the door as the Doctor ran to the window, looking outside when he heard a screech. Seren stood in the archway, watching her godfather.

"There's smoke coming out of the city, but no sirens." Pete said, coming around the Registrar's table and standing beside the Doctor, watching as he looked out of the window. "I don't think it's just us. I think these things are all over the place. Maybe the whole world."

The sound of the screeching tires drew her attention away from the man.

"Was that a car?" she asked, the questioning look mirrored on Pete's face.

Seren moved to look out the window, but the Doctor put an arm around her waist, stopping her from going to the window and keeping her by his side. She looked at him in confusion as he stared at her for a moment before letting go.

"It's not important. Don't worry about it." He said finally.

She raised her eyebrow at him as he dragged her out of the room. Pete looked out of the window for a moment before glancing back at the Doctor as he dragged Seren out of sight. The Doctor let go of her when they were outside of the Vestry, going to check on the status of the other doors and windows while Seren decided to look for Rose.

She found the blonde sitting by herself near the altar, looking up at the stain glass window. She quietly approached the blonde and sat down next to her, noticing that the younger girl had been crying.

Seren's anger faded as she thought about how the younger woman was feeling, knowing that her simple action – caused by a desire to save someone she loved – caused so much pain and sorrow. She gently put her arm around the taller girl, guiding Rose to rest her head on the Welshwoman's delicate yet deceptively strong shoulder and rubbed her back. They were both silent, lost in thoughts and memories, only to be broken out of it at the sound of someone clearing their throat.

Seren and Rose straightened and looked towards the sound, seeing Pete standing there awkwardly, with his hands in his pockets.

"This mate of yours…" he started, looking between the two women, so familiar yet so strange. He looked at Rose as he asked, "What did you mean, this is your fault?"

"Dunno…" Rose replied, shrugging. "Just… everything."

"I gave you my car keys." He said with a frown. They gazed at him, their eyes slightly red from their tears. "You don't give your keys to a complete stranger." They watched him in silence as he began to slowly put the pieces together. "It's… it's like I trusted you, both of you. The moment we met, I just did. A wound in time…" Rose chewed her bottom lip as Pete continued, "You called me Dad. I can see it . . . my eyes . . . Jackie's attitude . . . you sound like her when you shout . . ." He turned to Seren, "I heard your breath hitch when I called my second god-daughter by her nickname. I left my youngest god-daughter with you and your friend. And you look just like Seren, older and slightly different, but the same. You have Glenda's attitude and calm pragmatism. And the way you carry yourself, with the grace of a dancer yet always ready to defend your loved ones, like Ifan." Rose closed her eyes and sniffed as Pete reached out and gently cupped their faces. Rose reached up and put her hand over his, holding it to her cheek and basking in the feeling. "You are. You are . . . you're my Rose. You're my Rose grown up. And you're Seren. My Little Star." Seren nodded as he threw his arms around the two of them.

Losing all remaining control, Rose's tears start to flow again. Seren withdrew herself from the embrace a few minutes later, causing Pete and Rose to look at her, still wrapped in their hug.

"Spend time together. I'm going to go find Mam, Siwan and Mini Me." Seren told them, wanting the two to make the most of this time they had together, while taking advantage of the chance that she had as well to spend time with her mother.

Pete and Rose nodded, the blonde girl mouthing 'Thank you' to Seren and she nodded in acceptance, reaching up to kiss Pete's cheek softly, before walking away.

Seren knew that they still had a lot of work to do to survive this mess they were in, but at least Rose had a chance to spend time with her father. She made her way through the main area of the church, between the pews, noticing the bride and groom talking with the Doctor. She saw her mother near the aisle at the back of the pews, the older woman watching Little Seren, Siwan and a young boy in a grey suit as they played a little further away. Jackie was nearby with Bev, and a group of other women, keeping an eye on the three children as they talked amongst themselves.

With a gentle smile, she made her way over to her mother, wanting to take advantage of this time she had, and hopefully be able to pass the experience on to the Older Siwan if they survive.

"Seren, right?" Glenda asked her with a knowing look in her eye when the younger Welshwoman was in hearing range.

"Yes, Ma'am." Seren replied with a mischievous smile, identical to her father's.

"Come, sit with me." Glenda said, moving over slightly so that Seren could sit beside her.

Seren did so, settling next to the older woman and using all her strength to keep from throwing herself into the woman's arms.

"Earlier, when we entered the church, I noticed something." Glenda said softly. "Except for your age, you are identical to Seren. And you have the aura of a Chosen One. There are only two Chosen Ones that have been born in this generation; my daughters. And you are not of my generation as she had made her Choice and joined the Mara in the Lost Lands. There is only one explanation." The older woman pinned Seren in place with a penetrating gaze. The older woman seemed to find what she was searching for, gasping as tears filled her eyes. "You are my daughter, an older version of Seren. And you have made your Choice."

"Yes, Mam, I did." Seren replied, tears in her own eyes.

Glenda gave a trembling smile as she pulled Seren into a tight hug. Seren melted into the embrace, her tears streaming down her face as she held her mother for the first time in 5 years.

They parted reluctantly after a few minutes, though they kept their hands locked together.

"What prompted you to have to make your Choice?" Glenda asked, wiping her tears from her eyes. "Has your sister made hers as well?"

"I can't tell you why I had to make my Choice." Seren replied regretfully. "It could mess up the timelines even more. But Siwan hasn't made hers yet."

"And your older sister, Rhiannon? How is she?"

"She's good. She's married, has two children."

"Married? Really?" Glenda asked in surprise. "And children, amazing. How old are they?"

"David is 6 and Mica is 1."

They were broken away from their conversation by something bumping into Seren's side. Looking down, Seren saw the little boy clinging to her waist with his head buried in his ribs.

"Mickey!" Jackie called out, running up to them.

Seren looked at the little boy in surprise.

"Do you know him?" Glenda asked her, seeing the surprised recognition on her face.

"Yeah." Seren replied softly. "I just didn't recognize him in the suit, that's all." She bent slightly, altering the pitch of her voice as she spoke to the little boy clinging to her, "You need to let go of me, Cariad." Seren looked up as she realized what she had just said. "I'm always saying that." She muttered quietly to her mother as Jackie came up to them.

"He just grabs hold of what's passing and holds on for dear life." The older blonde explained to the young Welshwoman. "God help his poor girlfriend if he ever gets one."

Seren laughed lightly at the blonde's words, realizing the irony in them. Between the two of them, they were able to coax Mickey to loosen his grip on Seren and step back.

"Siwan and Seren are with Rose. The Doctor is keeping an eye on them." Jackie said to Glenda. "They're by the choir stalls."

"Thanks, Jackie." Glenda said with a gentle smile as Seren had to work at keeping back her surprise. Jackie nodded and guided Mickey away. Glenda turned to Seren and saw the look of surprise. "Are you okay, Seren?"

"Yeah. I'm fine." Seren replied faintly, shaking her head. She turned to her mother. "In the future that doesn't happen." Glenda looked at her in confusion and Seren elaborated. "Aunt Jackie doesn't trust the Doctor. Just getting her to let me travel with him takes an insane amount of wheedling and reassuring."

"What is your relationship?" Glenda asked her. "Yours and the Doctor's?"

"We're friends." Seren replied, completely missing the knowing look her mother was looking at her with. "Why?"

"The way he looks at you." Glenda said softly. "And the way you look at him. It's not the way friends look at each other."

"Mam, I don't understand."

Glenda smiled gently, looking at her beautiful daughter, completely grown up yet still so innocent.

"You'll understand one day. When you're ready."

Seren pouted, always having hated when her parents gave vague and cryptic responses like that. Glenda laughed lightly at the younger woman's expression. Glenda's laughter faded as she saw Jackie walking away from the Vestry, fighting her tears.

"Why don't you go find the Doctor?" Glenda suggested to Seren calmly, standing up.

"Mam?" Seren asked, standing up as well.

"Go on. I need to speak with your Aunt." Glenda said reassuringly, gently pushing Seren in the general direction of the choir stalls.

Seren looked towards Jackie and saw the older woman's pained expression as she fought back her tears. Seren nodded in understanding and walked away, heading towards the choir stalls while her mother walked towards Jackie.

"Now, Rose you're not going to bring about the end of the world, are you? Are you?" Seren heard the Doctor ask the baby as the two older children played with each other by his feet. She walked into his line of sight and he glanced at her before looking back at the baby. "Jackie gave her to me to look after. How times change."

"Yeah, I was with Mam when she came up and told us." Seren replied softly. "And I think I imprinted on Mickey like a mother chicken at the same time."

Little Seren, fascinated by the vibrant colours of Seren's skirt, reached out to touch the fabric. Seren jumped back, not wanting to take the chance of her past self accidentally touching her as well.

The Doctor reached out and grabbed Little Seren's hand, stopping her from following Seren in her attempt to touch her. Outside, the Reapers screeched loudly.

"No! Don't touch the adult." The Doctor told the child firmly. Little Seren looked up at him with large amethyst eyes, pouting slightly. "You're both the same person and that's a paradox, and we don't want a paradox happening. Not with these things outside. Anything new – any disturbance in time makes them stronger. The paradox might let them in."

"We same." Little Seren said softly, pointing to herself before pointing to Seren. "No touching same."

"That's right." Seren said softly, crouching next to her past self. "We can't touch each other. But you know what we can do?"

"What?" Little Seren asked, a cute frown furrowing her face.

The Doctor also looked curious as to what Seren had in mind.

"We can do this." Seren reached out and picked Baby Rose up, kissing her on the cheek. She handed the baby to the Doctor, who took her and held her out to Little Seren, realizing what the Welshwoman was doing. "Now you can kiss the baby."

Little Seren smiled widely and placed a light kiss on the baby's chubby cheek before stepping back and smiling up at the two adults. The Doctor put Baby Rose back on her carry cot before putting the cot on the floor next to the two children, letting them play with her.

"What are we going to do?" Seren asked him softly, looking at the three children in front of them as she leaned against the choir stall.

"I don't know." He admitted softly. "Between you and me, I haven't got a plan. No idea. No way out."

"You'll think of something." Seren said with certainty. "We'll think of something. Together."

She reached out to take his hand, hesitating for a moment before taking his hand and interlocking their fingers.

"The entire Earth's been sterilised." He told her. "This, and other places like it, are all that's left of the human race. We might hold out for a while, but nothing can stop those creatures." He looked at the shadows that could be seen through the stain glass windows. "They'll get through in the end. The walls aren't that old. And there's nothing I can do to stop them. There used to be laws stopping this kind of thing from happening. My people would have stopped this. But they're all gone. And now I'm going the same way."

"If I'd realized…" Seren started quietly looking away, not able to look into the expressive blue eyes. "If I had realized she was going to save him, I would never have asked you to bring us." She looked at him sadly, her guilt at the role she played clear on her face. Her voice was barely more than a whisper as she said, "I can feel the emptiness, the hollowness, growing inside me."

"What do you mean?" he asked worriedly, not liking the way she spoke.

"The Mara." Seren said, turning to face him completely. "They're being sterilized as well. Even though they're in the Lost Lands, slowly they're being sterilized as well. Soon, they'll be go and I might go too."

"What? What do you mean?" he asked frantically.

"When a Chosen One makes their Choice, regardless of what the Choice is, the Mara henceforth sustain them." A voice said quietly from beside them.

Seren and the Doctor jumped and whirled around at the sound of the new voice. They had been so caught up in their conversation, everything else had faded away, leaving only the two of them and the babbling of the children as they played on the floor.

Glenda was the one who had spoken, having quietly come up halfway through the conversation and heard what Seren had said.

"Mam?" Seren said softly, questioningly as Little Seren and Siwan reached out to their mother, hugging her around the waist.

"It is possible that you will survive, I don't know for certain." Glenda said gently, crouching down and wrapping her arms around the two girls. "But the emptiness and the hollowness will always be inside you. So long as the Mara are gone. The part of you, the part of all three of you," she looked between the two Seren's and Siwan. "That is connected to the Mara will be severed once the last of the Mara disappears."

"Even Little Seren and Siwan?" The Doctor asked hesitantly.

"Yes." Glenda said, nodding as she straightened up from her crouch. "They have been connected to the Mara since they were born. It is more pronounced and deeper with Seren, as she has made her Choice."

"Oh, Duw." Seren breathed, falling back against the stall, her eyes wide as she stared at her mother.

The Doctor was staring at the older Welshwoman as well. A part of him, the part that wasn't so worried about Seren and how they were going to survive, noticed the calm aura the older Welshwoman portrayed. Glenda was sad and afraid, certainly, but she was also calm while everyone else was panicking. Probably because everyone else was panicking. The Doctor realized then, that Seren got her rationality and practical nature from her mother - the ability to remain calm and keep others calm while the world goes to hell around them.

"What can we do?" Seren asked her mother.

"For starters, you can apologize to your friend, Missy." Glenda said sternly, having heard enough of the conversation to know that, while Seren hadn't played a direct role in causing these event, she did play some role in it.

"You're right, Mam." Seren said to her mother before turning to the Doctor. "I haven't apologized to you." She looked up at him, staring into his eyes. "I am so sorry." She spoke with complete honesty and sincerity, truly sorry for the role she played.

The Doctor nodded in acceptance, taking Seren's hand and holding it tightly. The two turned to Glenda, wanting to know what else they could do, particularly regarding the Mara, since the Doctor had no idea.

"After the apology, I have no idea." Glenda told them matter-of-factly.

"Mam!" Seren cried out, barely managing to keep her voice low enough to not draw attention to them.

"What?" Glenda asked defensively. "This is entirely new territory for me. And I am not a Chosen One. Everything I know is from stories, mostly from your grandmother."

With that, Glenda smiled at the two of them and walked away, taking Rose's carry cot in her arms with Little Seren and Siwan following close behind.

"She always does that!" Seren exclaimed in frustration. "She always makes someone think that she knows what to do before she reveals that she was just winging it! That and she has a habit of being ridiculously vague and cryptic at times. It drives me nuts!"

Seren huffed in frustration, crossing her arms over her chest and leaning back against the choir stalls. She began muttering to herself about crazy and cryptic mothers while the Doctor watched in amusement. He had noticed Glenda turning around and watching them from a few feet away when Seren began ranting, and had realized what the older Welshwoman was doing.

The Doctor tugged Seren's arm gently, and she lowered her arms as he pulled her close. He wrapped her in a tight hug, reassuring her and accepting her. She returned the hug with equal vigor and Glenda smiled gently from where she was standing, watching the two.

She didn't know what it was that caused her daughter to make her Choice, the Choice her and her husband had prayed the girls would never have to make, but she was happy Seren had found someone to love and someone to love and cherish her for the gem she is. Even if the two were unaware of their feelings for each other. She turned and walked away, going towards Jackie.

Seren pulled away with a frown, his arms still around her waist.

"Have you got something hot?" she asked him, reaching into his jacket pocket.

She pulled her hand away with a flinch when she felt something burn her, tossing the burning TARDIS key that her hand curled around to the floor. They looked at the brightly glowing key.

"It's the TARDIS key!" The Doctor exclaimed as the two of them crouched beside it. Seren removed her green dupatta from her neck and folded it before using it to pick up the burning key. She held it out to the Doctor who removed his jacket and handed it to her, taking the dupatta covered key with his other hand. As he held the covered key, he told Seren with excitement, "It's telling me it's still connected to the TARDIS!"

He walked up to the front of the church, stopping at the pulpit. He looked around, seeing the small crowd milling about in two's and three's, sitting in the chairs or standing nearby. Most of them had their attention trained on the three children – Mickey, Little Seren and Siwan, who were playing happily with each other, completely oblivious to the reality that surrounded them.

"We need everyone's attention." The Doctor muttered to Seren.

"I got this." She said with a smirk, putting his jacket on the back of one of th chairs and moving to stand beside him again.

She smiled up at him before turning to the crowd, putting two fingers to her mouth and whistling, loudly.

The shrill sound startled everyone, making them all jump and turn around to face the source of the sound.

"The Doctor has an idea that might work." Seren said once she had everyone's attention. "Please take a seat, he can explain."

Seren hadn't even finished the last syllable when there was a flurry of activity as everyone grabbed seats, turning their attention to the Time Lord.

The Doctor gaped at Seren for a moment before shaking his head and turning tot eh crowd in front of him, all looking at him and waiting.

"The inside of my ship was thrown out of the wound but I can use this," The Doctor said, holding up the TARDIS key that he was holding with Seren's dupatta, "to bring it back. And once we've got our ship back, then we can mend everything. Now, I just need a bit of power. Has anybody got a battery?"

The small crowd was silent as they looked around. Stuart picked up the mobile phone and held it up. The kids had gotten bored of playing with it and had left on one of the chairs when they proceeded to find something else to occupy themselves with.

"Is this one big enough?" he asked, walking to the front as he took the back of the phone apart.

"Fantastic." The Doctor said with a smile as he ran down the stairs to stand in front of Stuart.

"Here you go." Stuart said, holding out the battery as the Doctor took out his screwdriver and put it in his mouth so he could have a free hand to use. "Good old Dad. There you go."

Seren rolled her eyes at the Doctor trying to multi-task and took the covered key, letting the Doctor use both hands for his task.

"Thanks Seren," he said absently as he used the sonic screw driver on the battery. "Just need to do a bit of charging up and then we can bring everyone back."

"Even…" Seren asked hesitantly, trailing off.

"Yes, even them." The Doctor replied gently,knowing she was asking about the Mara, looking at her for a moment before turning back to his task.

For the next several minutes, there was a tense silence in the church as the Doctor used the screwdriver on the battery. Outside, the Reapers screeched and banged against the doors. He took the dupatta covered key from Seren and she sat down on the floor beside Siwan, Little Seren moving slightly so that there was space between them. They all watched as the Doctor held the glowing key in mid-air right where the key slot should be. A few seconds later, the TARDIS began to materialize around it and the Doctor looked at Seren with a wide grin.

He took his jacket from the chair and put it back on, giving Seren her dupatta back as well. She went to put it around her neck again when she felt a tug on it. Looking down, she saw Siwan clenching a piece of it in her tiny fist.

"Siwan, play." She said, looking up at the older version of her sister. She tugged on the dupatta again. "Siwan, Seren, Mickey play."

"You want to play with the dupatta?" Seren asked.

"Yes, please." It was Little Seren who replied, still standing behind Mickey and staying away from the older girl.

The little girl remembered the warning that she had been given and didn't want to upset the nice man that had played with her. Little Seren had seen sadness and pain in the man's eyes and didn't want to cause anymore, so she made sure to stay away from the older girl that looked like her.

Seren smiled and nodded in agreement, taking the dupatta off and handing it to the kids. They giggled happily and began playing with it, putting it over their heads, wrapping it around themselves and used their imaginations to do a million and one other things with it that adults wouldn't even begin to think of.

The Doctor, who had been watching Seren with a fond look on his face, ran back up to the pulpit. He didn't notice Glenda looking at him with a knowing expression on her face. A quick glance at the people sitting around her showed that she wasn't the only one that noticed the way the two looked at each other.

"Right, no one touches that key." The Time Lord said sternly, turning to the small crowd. "Have you got that? Don't touch it. Anyone touches that key, it'll be, well, zap! Just leave it be and everything will be fine. We'll get out of here. All of us." He turned to the bride and groom. "Stuart, Sarah you're going to get married, just like I said."

He smiled brightly at them and they returned it as everyone let out cries of relief at the thought of being saved.

Slowly but surely, Idris materialized around the key. The Doctor walked towards Seren, grinning madly. Seren grinned back as he stood next to her chair.

"Doctor," Seren asked quietly after several seconds. He looked at her and she bit her lip.

"What is it?" he asked, crouching next to her, looking up at her hesitant face.

"When this gets sorted out, would I be able to tell Mam? Would I be able to try to save them?" she asked hesitantly, hopeful but resigned at the same time.

She wanted to save them, but she was ready to accept if she couldn't.

The Doctor looked up at her sadly, standing and pulling her into a hug.

"I'm so sorry, Seren." He said softly into her ear as he held her closely.

She began to sob, knowing that she was going to lose her parents all over again. He didn't need to finish speaking, just his apology was enough to tell her that she couldn't save her parents, not without risking the Reapers appearing again.

Several eyes were on them, watching in confusion as to why the young woman was sobbing. Glenda stood up and walked towards the pair. She put a hand on the Doctor's shoulder and he looked at her.

"She can't save her father and me, can she?" Glenda asked softly.

Seren looked at her mother with wide eyes.

"How did you…?" she stammered, purple eyes wide.

Glenda smiled.

"I am your mother." Glenda said, putting a hand on Seren's cheek. "You didn't have to say anything. I suspected from the moment you saw me, and it was only confirmed when we spoke." Glenda laughed lightly. "The way you looked at me is the same way many of your father's colleagues have looked at loved ones who they thought were dead."

"But how did you know about Tad?"

"Just a hunch." Glenda replied. "You wouldn't have made your Choice if your father were still alive."

"I'm so sorry, Mam." Seren sobbed.

The Doctor let go of Seren, allowing the mother and daughter pair to hold each other while he went and sat at the back beside Rose. The crowd that had been watching Seren and the Doctor turned away, going back to their conversations with one another, giving the pair as much privacy as possible – though they did not know the relationship between Glenda and the young woman, they could at least give them the illusion of privacy.

Glenda took Seren in her arms, holding her closely as she ran a soothing hand over her back. For several minutes, there was only the sound of quiet conversations around the room as they waited.

Suddenly, Seren tensed in her mother's arms, stumbling backwards and clutching her chest. Her eyes were wide and she gasped in pain.

"Seren, what is it? What's wrong?" Glenda asked frantically as the Doctor ran up to the two of them.

On the floor nearby, Little Seren and Siwan gasped as well, clutching their chests and began crying loudly, large tears rolling down their cheeks.

The Doctor caught Seren as she fell back while Glenda went to the girls. Jackie and Pete ran up as well, Rose right behind them. For the moment, Jackie put her irritation at Pete aside to focus on her darling god-daughters. Glenda picked Little Seren up and held her while Rose picked Siwan up. Baby Rose, who had been quiet in her mother's arms, began crying as well at the sound of her god-sisters pain filled cries. Mickey, seeing his best friends crying, began crying as well. Pete picked up the little boy and held him close.

The rest of the small crowd watched with worry and concern, wondering what was going on. Thankfully, they stayed where they were and didn't crowd around the small group at the front of the church.

Rose, Jackie, Pete and Glenda tried to calm the hysterical children while the Doctor was on the ground holding Seren . She was gasping, biting her lip to keep from screaming as pain-filled tears rolled down her cheeks. She had a tight grip on the Doctor's arm as he held her.

"Seren, what is it? What's wrong?" the Doctor asked frantically.

Seren opened her mouth and screamed, unable to hold back any longer. For several long seconds, the only sound in the church was Seren, Siwan and Little Seren screaming in pain while Mickey and Baby Rose screamed in sympathy and fear. The screaming completely drowned out the screeching of the Reapers that were outside.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity but was really only a few seconds, the screaming stopped as the three Chosen Ones and the two other children ran out of energy. Mickey and Baby Rose sniffled against the two people that were holding them while Little Seren, Siwan and Seren gasped, trying to catch their breaths.

"The Mara." Seren gasped hoarsely. "They're gone."

"That was why you were in pain." Glenda said in realization. "The connection is broken."

"What connection?" Rose asked. "Who are the Mara?"

"Rose, don't." Seren said weakly, looking up at the blonde girl. "Please, just don't."

Glenda and Rose gently put Little Seren and Siwan on the chairs to let them rest. Mickey, who had stopped crying wriggled in Pete's hold and the man put him down. The little boy went and climbed up onto the chair beside Little Seren.

"What's he doing?" Rose asked, looking at the little boy as he turned in his chair so that he could watch the two girls, keeping vigil on his best friends.

"Keeping vigil." Glenda replied, mirroring the little boy's pose from beside Siwan. "He does this all the time. Whenever they're together, he always protects them."

Rose nodded, several things that didn't make sense falling into place. She never did understand why Siwan didn't blame Mickey when Seren disappeared, why Rhi refused to make an opinion. This was why. They remembered their childhood and how Mickey had always been there to protect the twins. She felt another wave of guilt surge through her at the thought of how much her behavior during that year must have hurt Mickey. She vowed to apologize to him for everything she had done the moment they return to their own time.

"Doctor? Are you there? Where are you?" Seren asked, frantically looking around.

The question drew Rose's attention to the older woman on the ground. She was frantically looking around trying to find the Doctor. Rose frowned, the man was right behind her, didn't she see him?

"Seren, I'm right here." The Doctor said soothingly, turning the young Welshwoman's head toward him. "I'm right here."

"I can't see you." Seren breathed softly, gasping as she looked at the man holding her with unseeing eyes.

"I'm right here. I'm not leaving you." The Doctor said softly, wrapping the trembling woman in his arms.

He stood up, picking Seren up in his arms and carrying her towards the back of the church, setting her down on the chairs and sitting down beside her, letting her lean against him. The entire time, he was talking softly to her, letting her know what he was doing and where they were, keeoing the suddenly blind girl calm. Rose, her mind full of realizations and thoughts, absently followed him, sitting down on his other side. She glanced at Seren, struck by how weak the woman looked. Seren had always been the strong one, Seren and Siwan both. They had always been the two women that Rose looked up to, both strong and independent. Now, seeing Seren barely able to sit without help, and unable to see, was a complete shock.

"When time gets sorted out…" Rose said quietly, trailing off.

"Everybody here forgets what happened." The Doctor replied. "And don't worry, the thing you changed will stay changed."

The Doctor adjusted his hold on Seren as she shifted slightly to be able to hear the conversation. Jackie, who was sitting near the middle of the church by Bev, frequently sent contemptuous glances towards the back of the church where the small group was sitting. She had Rose in her arms, who was slowly falling asleep.

"You mean I'll still be alive." Pete's voice said from behind them. He had quietly made his way back to the chairs, sitting down behind them just as Rose asked her question. Rose turned around to look at him in shock while Seren looked around the Doctor's frame, the same shock on her face as well. "Though I'm meant to be dead." The three travelers looked at him silently, unable to say anything. He nodded, taking their silence as confirmation. "That's why I haven't done anything with my life. Why I didn't mean anything."

Seren bit her lip, her eyes watering as she listened to her god-father's words.

"It doesn't work like that." The Doctor said, mostly for Seren's benefit. She was gripping his shirt as tightly as she could, which wasn't much considering how weak she was from the connection with the Mara being severed.

"Rubbish." Pete scoffed. "I'm so useless I can't even die properly." He chuckled lightly as he looked at Seren and Rose. "Now it's my fault all this has happened."

Rose reached out and put a hand on his arm.

"This is my fault." She said firmly, despite her voice wavering slightly.

"No, love. I'm your dad. It's my job for it to be my fault." Pete said, covering her hand with his own, shaking his head.

"Her dad? How are you her dad?" Jackie asked quietly in a slightly heartbroken voice, making them all whip around to look at her. Her voice took on a horrified tone. "How old were you? 12?" The Doctor shook his head and distanced himself slightly from the drama, taking Seren in his arms and walking to the other end of the rows they had been sitting in. "Oh, that's disgusting!"

"Oh, dear." Seren muttered quietly, hearing the drama unfold as the Doctor gently put her down on the chair in front on him. She angled herself so that she could face the general direction of what was happening, feeling the Doctor behind her, his warmth seeping in to through her back.

"Jacks, listen." Pete pleaded softly as he stood up and looked at his wife, Rose watching them. He gestured to Rose as he said, "This is Rose."

"Rose?" Jackie repeated in a quiet tone that belied her anger. "How sick is that? You give my daughter a second hand name?" Pete rolled his eyes and let out a frustrated sigh. "How many are there? Do you call them all Rose?"

"Oh, for God's sake, look. It's the same Rose!" Pete said frustrated as he took the baby from Jackie's arms and turned towards the older Rose.

The Doctor started in shock, Seren reacting to his actions, and the Time Lord ran towards Rose to keep her from touching the baby.

"Rose, no!" the Doctor cried out as Pete gently placed his infant daughter in the arms of his adult daughter.

The Doctor reached the two and snatched the baby away from the adult and giving her back to Jackie, but he was a moment too late as a Reaper appeared inside the church, screeching. The small group screamed as they caught sight of the creature.

"Everyone, behind me!" The Doctor yelled, grabbing Seren's hands and pulling her towards him, holding her close while the group hurriedly gathered behind them.

Glenda, who was behind him, took Seren from the Doctor's arms and supported the weakened woman while Bev, Stuart and Pete held Siwan, Little Seren and Mickey respectively.

"I am the oldest thing in here!" the Doctor yelled at the Reaper, walking forwards slightly.

Above them, the Reaper chirped menacingly at them and swooped down.

"Doctor!" Seren screamed in terror as the Reaper pounced on the Time Lord, making him disappear.

Glenda held Seren tightly as the younger woman stared unseeing in horror and shock as the crowd screamed, running away from the Reaper as it flew above them to the materialising TARDIS and touched it. As soon as the Reaper touched it, both vanished and the key fell to the floor, no longer glowing.

Seren, with a burst of energy that she couldn't explain, ran forwards, her hands in front of her to keep her from bumping into anything. She fell to her knees at the spot the TARDIS had been, her strength completely spent. She picked up the key slowly, holding it in her hand.

"It's cold. The key's cold." She said in barely a whisper, her entire frame trembling with the effort to stay upright. Pete and Glenda slowly walked up behind her, Rose half a step behind them. "Oh, Duw. He's dead." Glenda reached out to her adult daughter, but she shifted away from the touch slightly. "It's all my fault . . . all of you . . . both of you . . . the whole world."

Glenda and Pete pulled the distraught and trembling woman into a hug as she sobbed. She was utterly spent, so weak that she could barely sit up and had to lean against Pete and Glenda just to stay upright, the lifeless key held in her fist.

Outside, the sky began to darken as though a cloud moved to cover the sun.

"This is it." Bev said as they heard the Reapers screeched outside the church. "There's nothing we can do. It's the end."

Seren pulled away from their arms, using the chairs to push herself up to stand. She slowly walked away, using the chairs to support her weakened and trembling frame, as she went to a corner. She sat down on the ground, pulling her knees up and curling her arms around them as she rested her chin on her knees. Rose slowly walked to her and sat down, unable to say anything. All the blonde was able to do was put an arm around the older woman and silently support her as she grieved. The rest of the group slowly split up into smaller groups, some going to the altar to pray while others sat in the chairs and held each other.

Pete slowly walked over to join his adult daughter and god-daughter after leaving the Vestry, where he had seen the beige car repeatedly drive around the corner from the window.

"The Doctor really cared about you, Little Star." He said to Seren as he came to a stop in front of the Welshwoman, making her turn her head up towards him at the sound of his voice. "He didn't want you to go through it again, not if there was another way. Now there isn't."

Rose stood up, helping Seren stand as well, supporting the older woman with an arm around her tiny waist.

"What are you talking about, Uncle Pete?" Seren asked weakly.

"The car that should've killed me, loves." Pete said. "It's here. The Doctor worked it out way back, but he… er, he tried to protect me." Rose and Seren's eyes slowly filled with tears as the two women realized what the man was saying. "Still, he's not in charge anymore. I am."

"But you can't." Rose pleaded tearfully.

"Who am I, love?" Pete asked her, cupping her cheek with a gentle hand.

"My daddy." Rose whispered tearfully.

"Who am I, Little Star?" He asked Seren, turning to her and gently cupping her cheek as well with his other hand.

"My Uncle Pete." She replied, tears streaming down her face as Jackie walked up to them.

"Jackie, look at her." Pete said as he stepped back from Rose and Seren, looking at his wife as he gestured to the younger blonde. "She's ours."

Jackie looked at her husband for a moment before looking at Rose, who smiled at her tearfully.

"Oh, of course." Jackie breathed and pulled Rose into a hug, the younger girl weeping silently. Jackie reached out and pulled Seren into a hug as well, the three women weeping silently and holding each other.

"I'm meant to be dead, Jackie." Pete told Jackie after the three women separated separated. "You're going to get rid of me at last."

He gave a trembling grin to his wife as she looked at him tearfully.

"Don't say that." She pleaded.

"For once in your life, trust me. It's got be done. You've got to survive, because you've got to bring up our daughter. And be there for our god-daughters." Pete said to her and pulled her close for a sweet and tearful final kiss. Once they parted, he turned to Rose and said, "I never read you those bedtime stories. I never took you on those picnics. I was never there for you, like I had been for Seren, Siwan and Rhiannon."

"You would've been." Rose said through her tears as her voice broke.

"But I can do this for you. I can be a proper dad to you now." Pete told her strongly.

"But it's not fair." Rose cried, looking up at him as tears streamed down her face.

"I've had all these extra hours. No one else in the world has ever had that." Pete said with a smile. "And on top of that, I got to see you." He brushed a lock of her hair out of her face and cupped her cheek. He turned and cupped Seren's cheek with his other hand. "I got to see both of you. And you're both so beautiful. How lucky am I, eh? So, come on, do as your dad/ uncle says." The two women wiped away their tears, though more streamed down their faces, as Rose picked up the vase and slowly handed it to him. "You going to be there for me, love?" Seren and Rose nodded. "Thanks for saving me."

Pete pulled Rose, Seren and Jackie in for a tight hug, holding them close. Seren stepped back slightly to give the family a moment together. Glenda walked up to them and held her close as they watched the family embrace one last time.

Rose squeezed her eyes shut and tried to imprint the moment into her memory so that she would never forget. She tried to memorize the feel of his arms around her as he held her, the scent of his cologne and the strength of his arms.

After a long moment, that at the same time didn't seem long enough, he pulled away from the two of them and, holding the vase, ran out of the church without looking back.

Rose, with her arm around Seren's waist to support the older woman, followed as quickly as they could, stopping at the steps of the church with Glenda and Jackie a few steps behind them.

Pete ran to the gate and stopped, waiting for the car to appear. He saw the car appear just as a Reaper spotted him. He ran to the corner and stopped in the middle of the road, directly in the path of the oncoming car. The driver, his eyes widening in shock and surprise, flung his arm over his face.

"Goodbye, love." Pete said, taking a deep breath and closing his eyes as the car hit him.

The vase broke, shattering into countless pieces, as soon as it hit the ground and the Reapers vanished.

The Doctor walked up to Seren and Rose, stopping beside the Welshwoman. Rose had her eyes closed as her father was hit by the car while Seren was unable to turn away from the sight. Seren gasped as she felt her strength and her sight returning, the connection with the Mara reforming as the Doctor gently put his hand on her shoulder.

"Go to him, quick." He told the two women softly.

They nodded and ran to the corner, Rose holding Seren's hand as her sight was still blurry, falling to their knees next to the dying man. One's father and the other's god-father. The driver was standing next to the car, this time having stopped as soon as he realized he had hit someone. Pete gazed into his little girls' tear-filled eyes, a smile on his face as he got to see who his daughter and god-daughter will grow up to be. He had no regrets as he breathed his last breath.

"Seren! Siwan!" Seren heard Glenda yell.

Looking towards the sound, Seren saw her younger self and Siwan running towards them, Glenda, Jackie and everyone from the wedding congregating by the church gates, wondering what was going on and what drew the two girls outside, screaming. Little Seren and Siwan fell to their knees on Pete's other side, opposite the two older women.

"Uncle Pete! Uncle Pete!" Little Seren screamed.

"Wake up! Now isn't sleep time." Siwan said tearfully.

The two little girls shook Pete's lifeless body, trying to rouse him. Seren and Rose kissed Pete's forehead one after the other before standing up and picked up the girls, Seren taking Siwan and Rose taking Little Seren. They carried the crying girls back to the church, letting them go at the gate before turning and walking away.

The two women slowly walked towards the Doctor, who was waiting for them across the road. He silently took Seren's hand and the three made their way to the relocated TARDIS outside the Tandoori a few feet away.

Entering the magnificent ship, she greeted Seren and the Doctor with a joyful hum at the back of their minds. The two smiled slightly as the Doctor went to the console and piloted them back to Rose and Seren's time.

"Where are we going?" Rose asked after a few minutes of silence. She was leaning against one of the corals while Seren sat on the jump-seat with her eyes closed and the Doctor fiddled with the controls on the console.

"Your time." The Doctor replied. Seren opened her eyes and straightened up, looking at the Time Lord's back through blurry eyes as he turned to the blonde. "I understand why you did what you did. Wanting to save your loved ones is a powerful feeling. And I'm not angry, not anymore." He sighed as he moved back and sat next to Seren, still looking at Rose. "But I need some time before I can look at you and not see what you nearly caused."

Rose nodded sadly in understanding.

"I guess i have to go back to wearing my glasses." Seren commented, looking around and squinting. Everything was incredibly blurry and trying to focus was giving her a headache.

"You have you glasses with you?" Rose asked, looking at the woman.

"Yea. I packed them in case I would need them, mostly out of habit." Seren replied, turning to the blonde's general direction and giving a wry grin to the girl's blurry figure. "Apparently it was a smart move."

"I'm sorry." Rose said softly, sincerely as she looked at her god-sister.

The woman was trying to be string, for Rose's sake, but was absolutely terrified.

"Just remember, there are somethings you don't know or understand." Seren said softly, leaning back against the Doctor. "When the Doctor tells you something, you can argue and ask to understand, but he knows what he's talking about."

Rose nodded sadly and leaned against one of the corals as they fell silent once more. Seren sighed and curled up against the Doctor, letting her eyes fall shut as she felt his warmth seep through her comfortingly.

The TARDIS wheezed and groaned, shaking as she landed in the Powell Estate. As Rose walked out of the TARDIS, taking a moment to apologize to the Doctor and thank him for taking her, Seren checked the time and saw that it had been a few hours.

"Siwan will be at work right now." She told Rose and the Doctor when she made no move to follow the blonde out. "Tell Aunt Jackie I said hi, and that I love her."

Rose nodded and hugged Seren one more time before turning and heading towards the flats.

"Next adventure?" the Doctor asked, turning to Seren as they walked back inside the TARDIS and closed the door behind them.

"Next adventure." Seren said with a smile, though it was shadowed by sorrow.

Links (on pinterest):

*Seren lehenga - .ca/pin/474566879478174109/

*Seren hair - .ca/pin/474566879478101212/

*Seren shoes - .ca/pin/474566879478312311/