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.

14. Boom Town

Boom Town

Seren was in the swimming pool, doing her workout laps. She was wearing a light purple/ dark purple one shoulder swimsuit with a cut-out waist* with her long hair wrapped in a purple swim cap and goggles covering her large eyes. She cut through the water with the same grace and elegance she had when walking on land.

The Doctor walked into the library where the pool was located that day. For several moments, he watched her as she swam, her long toned legs maintaining a set speed as her graceful arms dipped in and out of the water propelling her forwards. He crouched at the edge of the pool and waited until she reached the edge of the expansive pool.

"What's up?" she asked, lowering her goggles so that they hung around her neck as she looked up at his blurry figure.

"We're headed to Earth, Cardiff to be specific. You wanna drive?" the Doctor asked her, a smile on his face.

"Sure." She said excitedly, lifting herself up and sitting on the side, with her legs still in the water. She was completely oblivious to the effect she had on him; he was adamantly trying not to look down at her body, concentrating his gaze on her face. "Give me few minutes to dry off." He nodded as she grabbed a towel and dabbed her face before taking of her swim cap and shaking out her hair. She put her glasses, that had been resting on her towel, and put them on. "That's better." she smiled up at him. "We need to refuel, yeah?"

"Yeah." He replied, a slight blush on his face as his eyes inadvertently roamed down her hourglass figure, the athletic and graceful form that was as lethal as it was beautiful.

"Great." She said with a smile as she wrapped the towel around her body. "Let me rinse off and change, I'll be there in a few minutes."

He nodded and left, the blush still on his cheeks. Once he was a few corridors away, he leaned against the wall and let out a breath.

"Why am I acting like this?" he asked himself quietly. "What is it about her that makes me behave like a hormonal teenager?"

Idris hummed her amusement at the back of his mind and he glared up at the ceiling.

"You are not helping." He growled to her.

"Doctor? Who are you talking to?" Seren asked, coming out of the library, a towel now wrapped around her head while she had a bath robe covering her entire body. She also had her glasses on. She evidently took a quick shower, more excited about driving the TARDIS and going home to enjoy her usual long shower.

"The TARDIS." He replied, pointing to the ceiling.

"Idris, stop picking on him." Seren said, looking at the ceiling with a frown. "That's not very nice." She felt the TARDIS giggle and Seren rolled her eyes. She turned to the Time Lord, saying, "I'm going to change. See you shortly."

She turned and walked down the corridor, turning right and going into her room. The Doctor went back to the console room where Jack was.

"She coming?" the ex-con asked, sitting on the jump seat.

"Yeah, she's just getting changed." He replied, nodding and going to the console.

Sure enough, Seren appeared several minutes later wearing a black spaghetti strap tank top, slim fit leather-like jeans tucked into 6" high heeled lace-up ankle boots with a leather amethyst purple and black contrast blazer and black handbag* in her arms. Her glasses were perched on her face with her long hair wrapped in a towel to help it dry and to keep the damp locks from wetting her back.

"Jack, can you text Mickey, Siwan and Rose, please?" Seren asked, handing her sleek light purple Samsung Galaxy S9* mobile to the American as she put her jacket and purse on the jump seat next to him.

"Sure. What do you want me to tell them?" he asked, opening the messaging center on her mobile.

"That we're going to be in Cardiff and ask if they want to meet us." Seren replied walking over to the Doctor, who was standing by the console.

She stood beside the Time Lord as Idris gave the Welshwoman directions on how to pilot. The Doctor stepped back slightly, letting the Welshwoman take control. It never occurred to him that he had never let anyone pilot the TARDIS, never mind on their own.

"Rose and Mickey are asking where to meet us." Jack said after several minutes of watching Seren as she piloted them. "There's no response from Siwan though."

"That's normal." Seren replied. "She's either at work or in the middle of something. Tell Rose and Mickey to meet us on Roald Dahl Plass. I'm going to try and park by the water tower."

Jack nodded and went back to the mobile, typing away on the ancient – at least to him – device, even though it was a top of the line gadget from 2018.

"Next stop, Cardiff!" Seren had her hand on the last switch that they would need to use, a wide grin crossing her face.

She flicked the switch and grabbed hold of the console, laughing energetically, as the TARDIS hurtled through the Time Vortex. The Doctor and Jack laughed as well, the former holding on to a coral pillar and the latter holding onto the back of the jump seat.

Landing in Cardiff in September, 2006 with the usual grinding and whirring, the pilot was sent to the ground while the remaining two managed to hold on, barely. Still laughing, Seren pulled herself up to her feet, the towel that had been covering her hair on the ground where it had fallen from the impact.

"It'll take some time for them to get here, so we might as well get some maintenance done." The Doctor commented, looking at the walls as he spoke. He moved to the console and flipped a series of switches, opening up the engines and letting the TARDIS soak up the Rift energy that permeated through the city.

"Good idea." Seren replied. She turned to Jack, "Can you wait by the door, please?"

He nodded, putting her mobile on her purse and getting off the jump seat. He walked passed her, flicking a lock of her drying hair in her face as he went to the door. Seren pushed the lock out of her face and glared at him in response and he laughed.

"Love you, Star-Flower." he called over his shoulder, settling on a coral with his arm around the pillar to keep himself from falling.

"Yeah, yeah." Seren muttered, picking her towel up from the floor and hanging it over a coral to dry.

She pulled her hair brush out of her purse and began brushing through the almost dry hair. She worked for several minutes, parting and braiding her hair in an efficient and methodical manner.

"Okay, done." She said finally, drawing the two males' attention to her.

"Wow." The Doctor breathed, looking at her.

She had pulled her long hair in to a stylish 3-strand French and 2-strand fish braid, coming to rest over her shoulder* and down to her hips. The overall appearance, the braid combined with the outfit, gave her an appearance that screamed 'don't mess with me', with the glasses making her appear scholarly at the same time and the radiant smile making her seem approachable and kind.

"And you look adorable and dorky." Seren said with a smile, looking up at him. "What are you doing?"

He had climbed up a ladder and was working on the wall, behind one of the panels, with his bag of tools on the top-most step of the ladder and a red flashing light strapped to his head.

"Just some maintenance." He replied, looking down at her.

She nodded, moving to the jump seat and sat down. She tucked one leg under her thigh and let the other one swing freely as she angled herself to face Jack.

"Remember to be careful what you say to them." She reminded him, putting her brush in her purse and picking up her mobile. "They're just beginning to get used to the idea that aliens and time travel is real, let's hold off on the moment about telling them that there are Chosen Ones and that Siwan and I are the Ones for our generation. They think that my Mark is just a tattoo that I had gotten in a fit of teenage rebellion, and we're letting them believe that."

She had told him some time earlier about being a Chosen One when he had inquired about her Mark on her lower back, as well as the aura he was adamant that she seemed to display – one of power and understanding of things both Seen and Unseen. She didn't really believe what he said about her aura, but explained about the Mark.

"Fine." Jack said, nodding as he lounged against the pillar behind him. Seren turned to her mobile. "I won't tell them anything about how you're keeping secrets from your family."

"It may not be the best thing to do, but I am adamantly holding on the belief that what they don't know can't hurt them, much." Seren said, not looking up from her mobile as she texted away with rapid fingers. "Aunt Jackie all but freaked out completely when she learned that aliens and time travel was real, the last thing I want to do is tell her that I am essentially immortal, and that there will come a time when Siwan will have to make her Choice."

"Okay, okay." Jack said, raising his hands in surrender.

"You know that you will have to tell them eventually." The Doctor pointed out, glancing at her from across the console room. "They will eventually notice that you're not aging. And there's only so long that you can chalk it up to time traveling."

"I know." Seren said softly, sighing as she put her mobile down. "I'm just worried about how she'll take it."

Her mobile pinged and she looked at it, going back to rapidly texting.

"Who are you texting?" Jack asked curiously.

"Rhiannon." Seren replied, not looking up. "I want to know if she can come meet us, or at least bring the kids by for a bit." She let out a breath. "Unfortunately, she's got a doctor's appointment and David's in school, but we can keep Mica with us if we want." She looked up at the Doctor. "What do you think? You want to babysit a 1½-year-old for the duration of our stay?"

"Ah, what the heck. Might as well." The Doctor said after a moment of deliberation. "Rhi or Johnny going to drop her off here or are we going to pick her up?"

"I'm going to see if Mickey and Rose can pick her up on their way here." Seren replied, a wide smile on her face as she went back to her mobile. "If not, then we can go pick her up."

"Okay." The Doctor replied, going back to his maintenance work. They flinched slightly when sparks began flying from the panel.

"You better not be hurting Idris." Seren said sternly, looking at the Time Lord with a mock frown on her dainty features.

"I am fine, Star." She heard the TARDIS say. "But thank you for the concern."

"What the hell?" Seren said startled and looking up at the ceiling.

"What is it, Star-Flower?"

"What happened?"

Jack and the Doctor said in unison, looking at her in concern.

"I just-. She just-." Seren stammered, looking around wildly.

"What? What happened?" Jack and the Doctor asked in unison.

"Just after I told you not to hurt Idris," Seren started, looking at the Doctor, her eyes wide. "She said 'I'm fine Star. But thank you for the concern'. She spoke to me."

The Doctor climbed down from the ladder and bounded over to the Welshwoman. He picked her up and spun her around, causing her to giggle madly.

"You are amazing, Seren! Absolutely amazing!" He said happily, a wide grin on his face.

"I know you told me that she could talk, but I didn't think that she would speak to me.' Seren admitted once the Doctor put her back on her feet and let her go.

"Why wouldn't she?" Jack asked. "You are an extraordinary woman, Star-Flower."

"I know." Seren sassed, amazement still written on her face. Her mobile pinged and drew her attention. The Doctor went back to his maintenance work while Seren picked up her mobile and looked at the incoming text. "Okay, Mickey said he and Rose can pick Mica up on their way here." She told them, reading the message. She turned to Jack, "Mica's only a year old, so be careful what you say. It won't be long before she starts saying coherent words, if she hasn't already. She is at the age were she's soaking up what is being said around her."

Jack nodded in understanding and Seren turned back to her mobile, sitting back down on the jump seat in the same position as earlier, with one leg curled under her and the other swinging freely.

A knock on the door almost an hour later, drew their attention. Jack hopped off the coral and went to open the door.

"Who the hell are you?" he asked rudely to the person outside.

"What do you mean, who the hell am I?" Seren heard Mickey say. A wide smile crossed her face as she turned towards the door. "Who the hell are you?"

"Captain Jack Harkness." Jack replied curtly. "Whatever you're selling, we're not buying."

"Get out of my way!" Mickey snapped, pushing past Jack and entering the TARDIS, Mica in his arms with her diaper bag slung over his shoulder. The baby was wide awake and looking around at her surroundings.

"Don't tell me." Jack said snarkily, closing the door behind the new arrivals. "This must be Mickey." His tone softened as he added, "And the gorgeous baby must be Mica."

"Yea." Seren replied with a smile, turning to look at her best friend and her niece.

"Here comes trouble!" The Doctor called down from the top of the ladder, turning to look at Mickey and Mica. "How're you doing, Ricky boy?"

"It's Mickey!" Mickey snapped, putting the multi-purpose diaper bag* on a coral pillar by the door without losing his hold on the curious baby.

"Don't listen to him. He's winding you up, like always." Seren said with a smile, taking Mica from Mickey and giving her a tight hug, kissing her chubby rosy cheeks.

The little girl was wearing a black long sleeved sweater dress, a white long-sleeved sweater, white wool stockings with small black polka dots and white faux fur boots*. Her soft golden hair was parted on the side and held with a matching back and white clip, the lose curls reaching her shoulders. To ward off the Wales chill, she was wearing a white parka, the hood lined with white faux fur.

"You look fantastic, Seren." Mickey said, taking a good look at his best-friend and liking the healthy and happy glow she was giving off.

Though he wasn't a big fan of the Doctor, he couldn't deny that the traveling was good for her – even if he would rather she stay on Earth were she was safe. She was truly beginning to move on from her parents' murder, and for that reason alone he could push aside his dislike of the Time Lord that took his best friend away.

Seren handed Mica to Jack and hugged Mickey tightly, the Londoner lifting her up and twirling her around, drawing happy giggles from the beautiful Welshwoman.

"Aw, sweet, look at these two." Jack said wistfully, taking off Mica's parka and putting it on the jump seat next to Seren's purse and jacket. He turned to the Doctor as he said, "How come I never get any of that?"

"Buy me a drink first." The Doctor sassed. He looked at Jack, though he still fiddled with the panel he was working on.

"You're such hard work." Jack said with a whine.

"But worth it." The Doctor said with a self-satisfied grin before turning back to his task.

Mica looked between the two men and babbled her input, making Jack smile. He gently tossed the baby in the air and caught her, causing her to giggle madly and look at him with her large ocean blue-grey eyes.

"Mickey, where's Rose? And Siwan?" Seren asked, pulling away from her best-friend and noticing the distinct lack of the two other women.

"Rose is at that restaurant on the Bay, the one on the jetty that she likes so much. She said she was hungry and for us to hurry up. And Siwan couldn't come. She has a huge assignment to work on, something about Marine Biology and Psychological." Mickey replied. "She wanted to come, but knew you would be cross if she didn't focus on her school work."

"She's right." Seren said with a smile. "I'll just text her to give me a call when she has a moment, or when she's taking a study break."

"And Jackie wanted me to give you this." Mickey said, reaching into the diaper bag and withdrawing a small maroon booklet and handing it to her.

She looked at it for a moment before a grin spread across her face. Jackie sending her the passport meant that she was truly beginning to accept what her god-daughter was doing, no matter how much it frightened and worried her. She turned and brandished the passport at the Doctor, who was watching them as he worked.

"I can go anywhere now." She said happily, turning around and going to her purse to safely put the passport away.

"I told you, you don't need a passport." The Doctor said, shaking his head at her.

"Maybe not when we're going to Platform One, Justicia or the Glass Pyramid of San Kaloon." Seren replied, turning around to look at him as she took a still giggling Mica from Jack. "But I'd rather be prepared if we end up in contemporary Brazil or something. Better to be over-prepared than under-prepared."

"I guess this means you're staying? If you're thinking long-term." Mickey said softly, causing them to turn to him. He had a resigned look on his face and Seren smiled sadly. Not liking the sad look on his normally cheerful best-friend's face, he gave a smile of his own, half-hearted though it was, and asked, "So, what are you doing in Cardiff? From the text, it sounded like babysitting Mica wasn't planned." He looked at Jack, who was leaning against the console and watching him. "And who the hell's Jumping Jack Flash?" He looked back at Seren. "I mean, I don't mind you hanging out with big-ears up there…"

Oi!" the Doctor yelled, affronted.

"Look in the mirror!" Mickey snapped at him and Seren hid her grin in Mica's hair as the Doctor shook his head and returned to his work. The baby was watching the by-play between the adults with wide eyes. Mickey glanced at Jack before turning back to Seren. "But this guy, I dunno, he's kinda…" he trailed off, not sure how to phrase his sentence.

"Handsome?" Jack asked with a smirk, coming around the console and putting an arm around Seren, reaching out with the other to let Mica play with the weapon-calloused fingers.

"More like cheesy." Mickey said deadpanned as Mica began squirming in Seren's arms.

"Early 21st Century slang – is cheesy good or bad?" Jack asked Seren with a thoughtful frown.

"It's bad." Seren said with a gentle smile as she put the squirming baby on the ground and watched her.

"But bad means good, isn't that right?" Jack asked, looking at the woman with expressive ocean blue eyes.

"Not in this case." Seren replied, patting him on the shoulder reassuringly as he pouted. She ducked under his arm and went off after Mica who had begun to make her way across the room on shaky legs. "I can't believe she's walking!" She squealed happily. "I mean, I knew she was. Rhi had messaged me and sent me a video file of her first steps, but I can't believe I'm seeing it."

Mica toddled her way to the Doctor who had climbed down the ladder and crouched in front of the baby.

"Are you saying I'm not handsome?" he asked as he picked the baby up and stood, hugging her tightly in greeting.

They ignored him as Seren turned to Mickey, the Doctor beside her as they moved to re-join the two human men.

"We just stopped off to refuel." Seren began explaining. "Cardiff has a Rift running through the middle of the city. It's invisible, but it's like an earthquake fault between different dimensions."

"It was healed back 1869." The Doctor added, holding Mica on his hip and letting her play with the flashlight strap that he removed from his head. She was fascinated by the red light that was still flashing, trying to put it in her mouth as the Doctor gently kept her from doing so.

"Thanks to a sweet girl named Gwyneth." Seren continued as Mickey nodded along, slightly overwhelmed but happy at the excitement on Seren's face. "There were these aliens called the Gelth that were using the Rift as a gateway."

"But closing a Rift always leaves a scar, and that scar generates energy." Jack added, taking over the explanation as the Doctor and Seren came to a stop beside him. "The scar is harmless to the human race…"

"But perfect for the TARDIS." The Doctor finished the sentence with a wide grin. "Just park her here for a couple of days right on top of the scar and…"

"Open up the engines, soak up the radiation." Jack added with excitement.

"Like filling up with petrol and off we go!" Seren exclaimed happily.

"Into time!" Jack exclaimed as he and Seren high-fived.

"And space!" The three time travellers exclaimed in unison as the Doctor and Seren high-fived as well.

"My God, have you seen yourselves?" Mickey asked them in disbelief, staring at their happy grins. "You all think you're so clever, don't you?"

"Yeah!" the Doctor said with a grin, nodding.

"Yeah!" Seren said with a giggle.

"Yep!" Jack said cheerfully, patting Mickey lightly on the cheek.

Mickey glared at Jack with a furious look on his face as the ex-con walked away. The Doctor looked at Mica who was trying to put the flashlight in her mouth again.

"No, Mica. No putting the light in your mouth." He said as he gently pried it out of her hands. Mica looked at him with a pout, her wide eyes filling with tears.

"Rhi said she's teething." Seren told the Time Lord, seeing the worried look on his face when he caught sight of the pout. She went to the jump seat and picked up her mobile, her back towards Mickey, and quickly sent a text to Siwan asking her to call or message when she had the chance, just to catch up with each other – it may not have been very long for Seren, but for Siwan it had been a few months since the conversation connecting 1941 and 2006.

"Ah." the Doctor said nodding, putting the light away and giving the baby his fingers. She wasted no time to grab hold and put the larger index finger in her mouth, sucking and biting furiously to try and relieve the ache in her gums.

"So, what say we go meet up with Rose before she storms down here?" Seren asked, putting her mobile away and catching sight of Mickey's still furious expression.

"Sure."

"Great."

"Sounds good," Mickey replied before turning to Seren. "Mica's portable carry sling is in the bag if you want to use it. Rhi said that she's trying to get Mica used to the carrier."

Seren nodded her understanding as she put on her leather jacket. She held Mica's coat out for the Doctor so he could gently coax Mica's arms into the sleeves before turning her around in his arms for Seren to do up the zipper.

Mickey, who had been watching them, was taken aback slightly by the way they looked together, so content and perfect. Seren's face glowing as she gently admonished the Doctor for pulling Mica away while she was in the middle of pulling up the zipper and the Doctor smiling gently at her in response.

"You see it too, don't you?" Jack asked quietly, coming up beside Mickey with his coat on, pulling on his gloves.

"They look so right together." He said softly, a pang shooting through his heart. "She'll never willingly leave him, will she?"

As well as he knew that Seren would never willingly stop travelling with the Doctor, her happiness at Jackie sending the passport being a testament to that, there was a part of him that hoped she would be able to have a life on Earth, away from the danger that seemed to follow the TARDIS crew.

"No, she won't." Jack said softly, putting a gentle hand on the slightly shorter man's shoulder. "I've only known them a short time, but they are always in sync with one another, looking at each other with such love in their eyes. The funny thing is, they're both oblivious to it."

"Seren's always been like that." Mickey said with a slight laugh. "Her and Siwan both. They can always tell when other people like each other, have crushes on each other, but they can never tell when it's them on the receiving end. Nor can they see the effect they have on people." Mickey smiled wryly, glancing up at the Captain before turning back to the touching scene in front of them, the Doctor was now quietly teasing Seren with Mica babbling away at the two of them. "As amusing as it is, it drives us all insane."

The two moved apart when the Doctor and Seren turned to them, Jack picking up the diaper bag and slinging onto his shoulder.

"You ready to go?" Jack asked them.

"Yeah, let's go." The Doctor said as Seren held Mica in her arms. "The refuelling should take another 24 hours, which means we've got time to kill."

"Has she had her nap this morning?' Seren asked Mickey as they walked out of the TARDIS one after another.

The Doctor put his arm around Seren's waist as she held Mica played with the Welshwoman's braid and babbled away incoherently. She was content; the love and attention she was getting from the four adults giving her a profound sense of safety and security.

"Yeah." Mickey replied absently as he caught sight of an old woman staring at them. "That old lady's staring." He told them, gesturing towards the woman's direction.

"Probably wondering what 4 people could do inside a small wooden box." Jack said with a snigger, patting the Doctor's free shoulder suggestively.

Seren and the Doctor sniggered as well, Jack dropping his hand from the Time Lord's shoulder as he passed the diaper bag over. The Doctor took it and swung it onto his shoulder, holding the strap with one hand to keep it from slipping off.

"What are you captain of? The Innuendo Squad?" Mickey asked snarkily. Jack glared at him and made a 'whatever' sign with his fingers before stalking off. "Wait, the TARDIS -we can't just leave it." He said as Seren and the Doctor turned to walk away as well. "Doesn't it get noticed?"

At Mickey's question, Jack turned around with curiosity written on his face.

"Yeah, what's with the police box? Why does it look like that?" he asked, gesturing to the TARDIS' disguised form.

"Well, one, I like how Idris looks." Seren said, looking up at the two men and gently pulling her braid away from Mica's mouth. "Two, it's called a Chameleon Circuit. Thanks." She added to the Doctor, who had pulled out a grey soother and given it to Mica who immediately put it in her mouth. He nodded as she continued, "The TARDIS is meant to disguise herself wherever she lands. If for example, she landed in Ancient Rome, she would have taken on the form of a statue on a plinth or something similar." She turned to the Time Lord standing next to her, his arm now around her shoulders. "Is that right, or did I mix it up somewhere?"

"That is exactly right, Seren." The Doctor replied, squeezing her shoulders. He turned to the two men and continued the portion of the explanation that Seren wasn't entirely aware of. "I first landed in the 1960's and she disguised herself as a police box, and promptly got stuck."

"So, she copied the real thing? There were actual police boxes?" Mickey asked curiously, unconsciously referring to the TARDIS as 'she' just as the rest of them were.

"Yeah, on street corners." The Doctor replied, nodding. "Phone for help before they had radios and mobiles. If they arrested someone, they could shove them inside till help came, like a little prison cell."

"Why don't you just fix the circuit?" Jack asked, leaning towards the Doctor to speak in an almost conspiratorial whisper.

"I like it." The Doctor replied and turned to look at Seren curled under his arm. "Don't you?"

"I absolutely love it." She replied with a smile, patting the TARDIS' panel with her free hand.

"But that's what I meant!" Mickey exclaimed with a grin. "There's no police boxes anymore, so doesn't it get noticed?"

"Ricky, let me tell you something about the Human Race." The Doctor said, letting his arm drop from Seren's shoulder as he slowly walked towards Mickey. "You put a mysterious blue box slap bang in the middle of town and what do they do?" he put his hands on Mickey's shoulders. Before Londoner had a chance to reply, the Doctor continued. "Walk past it. Now stop your nagging, let's go and explore!"

He put his arm around Seren's shoulders again as they began walking away. Jack and Mickey joined them, the former beside Seren and Mica while the latter beside the Doctor.

"First we meet up with Rose and get something to eat, then we go exploring." Seren said, looking up at him.

"Fine." He said with a pout.

"So what's the plan for exploring?" Jack asked.

"I don't know." The Doctor admitted with a shrug. "Cardiff, early 21st Century and the wind's coming from the… East. Trust me. Safest place in the universe."

"And you just jinxed us." Seren muttered with a groan.

"Oh, come on Seren." The Doctor said, squeezing her shoulders gently. "It's Cardiff! Nothing exciting ever happens here!"

Seren rolled her eyes and didn't get the chance to respond as Mica began fussing.

"What's wrong? Why's she fussing?" Jack and Mickey asked in unison, completely panicked.

"She's hungry." Seren said, laughing at their reaction.

"She'll be fine once she gets some food into her." The Doctor added taking out a bottle of water to keep the baby occupied until they reached the restaurant.

"Oh." Mickey and Jack said in relief, still speaking in unison. The two glared at each other as the Doctor and Seren rolled their eyes.

They four quickened their pace and Seren led them toward the Bay and the restaurant where Rose was waiting for them.

They arrived at the restaurant within the next 10 minutes, just in time as Mica got tired of the bottle of water and began fussing once more.

"Table for 4?" the Hostess asked, looking at them. "With a baby seat?" she added, taking note of the baby in Seren's arms.

Before Jack could reply, and presumably start flirting, the Doctor took charge.

"No to the table, were meeting a friend." He said, smiling at the woman. "But yes to the baby seat."

"Please." Seren added, glaring at the Time Lord when he forgot the basic manners.

The Doctor rolled his eyes and took the bottle from Seren, putting it back in the diaper bag.

"Absolutely." The Hostess said, a smile crossing her face as she watched the pair. "Can you see your friend?"

"Yeah. She's the one standing and waving madly at us." Mickey said, pointing to Rose, who was doing exactly what Mickey said she was – standing and waving madly at them.

Mica, tired of being denied her meal, made her displeasure known – loudly.

"Here, pass her." The Doctor said, handing the diaper bag to Jack as he held his hands out to Seren. She passed the cranky baby over and he wasted no time to toss her up in the air. Seren bit back a scream of surprise when Mica stopped screaming and started giggling madly. "Okay, this is not gonna last long." He told them, not looking away from the baby he was tossing up and catching.

"Follow me, please." The Hostess said to them.

She had a gentle smile on her face as she took in the way the man was playing with the child and the woman was watching like a hawk. They made such and adorable couple, even if the man looked to be much older than the woman, and the baby was just too cute for words. The fact that the woman was wearing a leather jacket and leather-like jeans with high heels didn't take away from the maternal way she was looking at the baby or the way her eyes were filled with love when looking at the man.

The Hostess led them to the table Rose was waiting at, wasting no time in throwing her arms around Seren in a tight hug. Seren laughed and hugged her god-sister back with the same amount of vigour.

"I'll be back in a few minutes with the baby seat." The Hostess told the Doctor who was watching the reunion with a gentle smile playing across his face. "Would you like anything for the baby?"

"Actually, I'm not sure what Seren wants to give her." The Doctor replied, turning to look at the pretty brunette woman. "Can you ask again when you come with the seat?"

"Sure." The Hostess replied with a smile and turned to walk away.

"Rose, this is Captain Jack Harkness." Seren said, once they had pulled away from their hug. "Jack, this is my god-sister, Rose Tyler."

"Hello." Jack said with a slight purr in his tone as he took Rose's hand and gently kissed the back of the smooth palm.

Seren and the Doctor looked at each other and rolled their eyes when they saw the way Rose practically swooned at Jack's action.

"Stop it, Jack." Seren and the Doctor said in unison.

"I was just saying 'hello'!" he cried out defensively.

"For you, that's flirting." The Doctor said, turning back to Mica who was slowly beginning to lose interest in being tossed as she remembered her hunger. "Seren, we have food for her or are we going to be getting something for her?"

"We have food." Seren replied, reaching out to take the diaper bag from Jack and begin rummaging through it. "We'll need to get warm water though. For her formula."

"'Kay." The Doctor said. "The Hostess is getting a baby seat and we can tell her about the water."

Seren nodded, taking out a bottle of baby food and putting it on the table as the Hostess returned, a waiter pushing a baby seat behind her.

"Here you are, sirs, madams." The Hostess said with a smile as the waiter put the baby seat at the short end of the table. She smiled at them once more and walked away, returning to her spot at the front of the restaurant to greet the new customers.

The small group took their seats around the table, Seren and the Doctor across from each other on either side of Mica's baby seat as the Time Lord buckled the squirming child in place. Mickey sat beside the Doctor while Rose and Jack sat beside Seren, the blonde in the middle.

They gave their orders to the waiter, Seren translating the Welsh into English for Mickey, as well as asking for the water needed for Mica's milk to be brought first if possible. The waiter, seeing the baby's large teary eyes, nodded in understanding and left.

While waiting for the waiter to return, Seren began feeding Mica, the baby not making any more fuss now that she was being fed.

"Huh. She's not fussing anymore." Jack commented, looking at the baby in disbelief. "A moment ago, you would've thought the world was ending."

"Well, she's being fed, which is exactly what she wanted." The Doctor replied with a grin.

"Now, she won't fuss like before until she's ready for her nap in a few hours." Seren added.

She threw a slightly confused look at the Doctor, absently wondering how he knew so much about childcare and child-rearing before assuming that he'd probably been exposed to kids, if not had a few, considering how old he was.

"Ay, kids are a lot of work." Jack said with a slight groan, sagging against his chair in exaggerated exhaustion. The action had them roaring with laughter, not heeding the amount of noise they were making. As it was, none of the other patrons seemed to mind, occasionally sending amused glances their way – not that the small group noticed.

"They're kids, Jack. What did you expect?" Seren asked, grinning at him and feeding Mica another spoonful of her mixed fruits and vegetables.

"No idea, but I definitely did not expect the amount of work she is." Jack admitted as the waiter returned with their food, including a thermos filled with hot water.

The ex-con gave a mega-watt grin to the waiter who blushed slightly at the attention the handsome Captain was giving him.

The Doctor and Seren rolled their eyes at each other, passing the plates of food around to the right person.

"Is there anything else you would like?" The waiter asked, looking around at them.

They exchanged looks and Seren turned to him, saying, "No thank you. We have everything."

"Yes, ma'am. Enjoy." The waiter said, inclining his head respectfully before turning and walking away to attend to another customer.

The group of five turned to their meal, Seren multi-tasking between feeding herself and Mica, the baby nearly finished with her meal. The Doctor paused long enough to pour water from the thermos into a shallow bowl to let it cool enough for Mica to be able to drink it.

Jack began regaling them with an exciting story in between bites of food.

"…I swear, six feet tall and with big tusks…" Jack continued his story after pausing to take a bite of his food. He spread his hands to demonstrate how big he was talking about.

"You're lying through your teeth!" Seren exclaimed through her laughter, preparing Mica's bottle while the baby laughed along with them – though she had no idea why the adults were laughing, she was enjoying the happy and lively atmosphere.

"I'd have gone bonkers!" Rose exclaimed, shaking her head. "That's the word - bonkers!"

"I mean, it turns out the white things are tusks and I mean tusks! And it's woken, and it's not happy." Jack continued through his laughter, the joyous sound echoed by the other four and one baby.

"How could you not know it was there?" the Doctor asked, his laughter slowing to chuckles.

"And we're standing there, fifteen of us, naked…" Jack continued.

"Naked?" Rose repeated with a bright red blush covering her cheeks as she imagined the mental picture of the man beside her.

"And I'm like, oh, no, no, it's got nothing to do with me!" Jack said, a grin on his face as he wriggled slightly in his chair for a moment before carrying on with the story. "And then it roars, and we are running. Oh my God, we are running! And Brakovitch falls, so I turn to him and I say -"

"I knew we should've turned left!" Mickey exclaimed delivering the punchline.

"That's my line!" Jack exclaimed as the 5 of them roared with laughter. The sound of Mica's bell-like laughter mingling with their own.

"I don't believe you. I don't believe a word you say ever. That is so brilliant." Rose gushed, looking at Jack as he laughed.

A newspaper caught the Doctor's attention from the corner of his eye. The grin faded from his face as he stood up, the sudden move catching Seren's attention – the others too caught up in the story to notice.

"Doctor?" Seren whispered as he passed her.

He didn't reply, only patted her shoulder reassuringly.

"Did you ever get your clothes back?" Rose asked Jack.

"No, I just picked him up went right for the ship, full throttle. Didn't stop until I hit the space lanes. I was shaking! It was unbelievable. It freaked me out, and by the time I got 15 light years away I realized I'm like this." Jack prattled on, him and his three audience completely oblivious to Seren and the Doctor. Mica looked around to see what had captured her beloved Aunt's attention.

Seren watched as the Doctor walked over to an old man and abruptly pulled the newspaper out of the startled man's hands. Seren shook her head in exasperation and stood up as well, quickly making her way over to the Doctor.

She gently took the paper out of his hands, a chastising expression on her face, as she looked at what had captured his attention.

"Oh, nuts." She said, reading the front page headlines.

"And I was having such a good time." The Doctor said, the troubled tone in his voice causing the three laughing humans to turn to him.

Seren held up the paper and showed them the headline – New Mayor, New Cardiff. It had a photograph of Margaret Blaine, though she had a hand in front of the camera objecting to the photographer taking her picture.

"And who was the one that said nothing exciting ever happens?" Seren asked him pointedly as she returned the newspaper to the old man. She apologized to him in Welsh, noticing the Welsh flag pin he had on his tie and assuming that he was a native.

"You are a Welshwoman?" the old man asked in Welsh, looking at her with old eyes.

"Yes, sir. I am." Seren replied, also in Welsh, with a radiant and gentle smile on her face as she bent slightly to be at the seated man's level.

"What is your name?"

"Jones, Seren Jones." Seren replied.

"You wouldn't happen to be related to the late Commander Ifan Llewellyn Jones, would you?" the man asked, looking at her closely. "And his wife, Glenda Rhoswyn Jones?"

"They were my parents." Seren replied, a slight frown on her face as she wondered how the man knew them.

Behind her, the Doctor packed up Mica's diaper bag and bundled the baby once more in her coat.

"I knew it. I knew I recognized your eyes." He said, tears filling his eyes as he shakily got to his feet and Seren straightened up from her slight crouch. "The last time I saw you, you were 8 years old. Your mother brought you and your sister to the hospital where I had been admitted to after your father risked his life to save me." A tear slipped down his weathered cheek. He reached a shaking hand up, gently cupping her rosy cheek, rubbing the high cheekbone with the pad of his weathered thumb. "You and your sister came every day to visit us, always telling stories, singing and lifting our spirits."

Seren frowned, memories flashing past her mind's eye as she remembered the time the man was talking about. It was during the Gulf War, her father and his battalion had returned and they had all been injured in some way. The first time they went to the hospital, her mother had told the three of them that their father was sick and needed his 'songbirds' to help him get better. Rhiannon - at 15-years-old and understood what had really happened - hadn't been able to bear the sight of the soldiers' injuries and visited only a few times, just enough to give their father the strength he needed to recover. Seren and Siwan on the other hand, had gone every day after school, even temporarily stopping their extracurricular activities to spend time with the soldiers. The two of them hadn't really understood what had happened, having been too young to learn about the War that was being raged at the time, only knowing that their father and his comrades needed them to 'hold on and not let go'.

"I remember." Seren said softly, looking up into the aged hazel eyes. "Captain Griffiths?"

"Yes, dear child. It is me." Griffiths replied, nodding. "I am so sorry about your parents."

"Thank you." Seren replied softly as he lowered his hand, the usual pang of irritation at the reminder absent as she took in his sincerity at the condolences.

"Seren, come on." The Doctor said, coming to stand beside her, the diaper bag on his shoulder and Mica in his arms.

He had paid the bill before returning to get the woman who was in deep conversation with the elderly man, his bearings that of a military man. He silently wondered how they knew each other before realizing that she probably knew quite a few people, having grown up in Cardiff. He also realized that the man probably had known Seren's father, if he was indeed military, considering that her father had worked for UNIT before his death.

"Yeah, coming." She replied and turned to Griffiths, saying in Welsh, "I have to go, Captain. It was nice to see you again."

"You as well, little songbird." He said with a smile.

Seren pouted slightly at being called 'little' and he laughed, the reaction being the same as when she was a child. She smiled and turned, taking her purse and Mica from the Doctor as he put his arm around her shoulder.

They joined Rose, Mickey and Jack at the entrance of the restaurant and made their way to City Hall to meet with the Lord Mayor of Cardiff.

Captain Griffiths watched the group cross the Bay from his vantage point inside the restaurant, the baby babbling away happily in Seren's arms. His battle trained eyes, undiminished despite his advanced age, noticed the way the man seemed to subconsciously shield Seren and the baby from any perceived threat. Like everyone else that encountered the pair when they were together, he assumed that the two were together and silently prayed that the man could protect, love and cherish the priceless gem whose heart he held. He decided to speak with the man if they ever meet again, for no other reason than for the sake of Ifan and Glenda who were no longer with them.

The small group was silent, Mica being the only one providing any noise as she babbled away happily – Seren had put her in her baby carrier sling, attached to her front with the baby facing front as well and able to see her surroundings. They strode purposefully up the steps and into the building foyer before coming to a stop, looking around at their surroundings.

"According to intelligence, the target is the last surviving member of the Slitheen family, a criminal sect from the planet Raxacoricofallapatorious, masquerading as a human being, zipped inside a skin suit." Jack said purposefully, removing his gloves and neck scarf as he spoke. "Okay, plan of attack, we assume a basic 57/56 strategy, covering all available exits on the ground floor. Doctor, you go face-to-face, that'll designate Exit One, I'll cover Exit Two, Rose and Star-Flower with Mica, you're Exit Three, Micky Smith, you take Exit Four. Have you got that?"

As Jack spoke, the Doctor looked at him with an expression of mild surprise at the perceived impertinence and Seren looked at him with an expression of mild amusement. Rose had a frown on her face as she made the effort to understand what was going on while Mickey looked completely confused and Mica was just enjoying herself, babbling away happily to herself.

"Excuse me." The Doctor said in a stern voice, making them snap around to look at him. "Who's in charge?"

"Sorry." Jack said apologetically, straightening his back and looking forward. "Awaiting your orders, sir."

"Right. Here's the plan." The Doctor said, his voice deep with authority and looking at the rest of them, his glare fading. He paused for a moment and grinned manically. "Like he said. Nice plan." He looked at Jack, beaming, as Seren smiled. "Anything else?"

"Present arms." Jack ordered with a grin.

Each of them pulled out their mobiles, voicing once the devices were in hand.

"Ready." The Doctor said.

"Ready." Rose said.

"Ready. No Mica, no touching the mobile." Seren quickly grabbed the toddler's hand before she could take the mobile.

"Ready." Jack said, as they all looked at Seren who shrugged at them helplessly, one hand holding Mica's reaching arms away from the mobile. "Speed dial?" Jack continued.

In unison, they each pressed a button on their mobiles, a 'beep' sounding to let them know the command had been registered.

"Yup." The Doctor chirped with a grin.

"Ready." Rose said.

"Check." Mickey said, nodding.

"Pretty much." Seren said, having the command registered into her 'emergency contact' mode since she didn't have speed dial.

"Where'd you get that mobile?" Rose asked, looking at the sleek device.

"Jack and the Doctor got it for me a few weeks ago." Seren replied, glancing up at the younger blonde. "Someone" she mock-glared at Jack for a moment before turning back to Mickey and Rose, "tossed my previous mobile into the pool while I was doing my laps, and there isn't enough dry rice in the Universe to repair chlorine water damage."

"It was an accident!" Jack exclaimed defensively as the Doctor gave Rose the diaper bag with a wide grin on his face.

"Three times?" Seren asked him pointedly, looking up at the handsome captain. "You managed to accidentally toss my mobile into the pool three times?"

"We got you another one, didn't we?" Jack asked her with a whine, pouting slightly as he looked at her with a pitiful expression on his face.

"Yes you did." Seren said, a smile crossing her face as she reached up and tweaked his nose. "With the same top-up feature as the previous one," she turned to look at her gaping god-sister and best-friend, "making it possible for me to keep in contact with all of you."

Rose and Mickey nodded numbly, their eyes drifting to the mobile. It was very different from anything they had seen on the market. Seren tucked the mobile into Mica's carrier behind the baby's back, making easy to reach when needed.

"See you in hell." Jack told them, turning them back to their mission.

He grinned at them and turned, walking off to the right. Mickey headed off towards his designated exit while the Doctor turned to Seren.

"Be careful." He said softly, taking her hand and squeezing it gently before letting go.

"You too." She replied, looking up at him as he took Mica's tiny hand and squeezed it gently.

He nodded, letting go of the baby's hand and watched as Seren ad Rose turned away, heading towards their designated exit. He watched for several second until they were out of sight before turning and heading towards his designated exit – meeting Margaret face-to-face.

Seren and Rose walked in silence, Mica looking around in amazement and babbling away at the portraits that they passed. Seren took in the differences and the similarities of the building from the last time she had been there, a few months before her parents died.

"So what's up with you and the Doctor?" Rose asked after a while. "And you and Jack."

"What do you mean?" Seren asked, looking at the blonde beside her.

"Do you like Jack?" Rose asked bluntly, raising an eyebrow at the brunette Welshwoman. "Because I thought you were in love with the Doctor."

"Of course I like Jack." Seren said, rolling her eyes at the absurdity of the question. "He's my friend, and he's saved my life."

"But do you like him as more than a friend?" Rose probed curiously.

"No, he's my friend." Seren said matter-of-factly. "Like Mickey, Andy, Rhys and the others."

"So, you do love the Doctor." Rose stated in conclusion as she walked.

Seren froze and stared at Rose's back in shock. Was she in love with the Doctor? They held hands and hugged, he would put his arm around her and hold her close, like couples do. Whenever he was truly happy, it made her happy as well, whenever he was sad, she felt sad for him. Whenever he smiled at her, she felt as if she could fly and when he held her, she felt certain that no power in the Universe could hurt her. But that didn't mean that she was in love with him, did it?

The blonde, oblivious to the thoughts racing through the older woman's head, carried on down the corridor.

"Slitheen heading North." The Doctor's voice coming through the mobile jolted Seren out of her musings.

"On our way." Rose said into her mobile.

The two women grinned at each other and began running down the hallway. Mica's squeals of joy at the sudden increase of speed echoing through the hallway as they ran.

"Over and out." Jack called in confirmation.

"Oh, my God." Mickey said faintly.

Seren and Rose turned around the corner and rushing past two secretaries that had their arms piled with paperwork. The papers and the files went flying.

"Oi!" one of the secretaries yelled at their retreating backs.

"Sorry!" Seren yelled over her shoulder. "We're in a hurry!"

The two secretaries looked at each other and bent down to pick up their papers, muttering angrily to themselves about crazy people running around indoors.

Seren and Rose burst out of their designated exit and looked around for any sign of Margaret. Catching sight of her in the car park, they ran through the large iron gates towards her, Seren keeping one arm around the laughing baby while Rose had one hand on the diaper bag strap.

Margaret snarled when she caught sight of Seren running towards her with Rose. The Slitheen woman turned around to head in the other direction, only to see Jack coming towards her from that direction. She gasped in surprise and turned, running in the only available direction – across the front of the building.

"Margaret!" the Doctor called in a sing-song voice, climbing down the construction crew ladder as Margaret ran as fast as she could.

The Doctor hopped off the last few steps and began chasing after her.

"Who's on Exit Four?!" Jack yelled as they crossed a set of iron gates on the other side of the car park.

"That was Mickey!" Seren yelled as they came to a stop in an alley beside the City Hall building.

Rose bent over, her hands on her knees as she panted for breath, the Doctor coming to a stop beside Seren. They watched as Margaret ran as fast as she could on her thick legs, the small group covering one end.

"Here I am!" Mickey cried, bursting out of a door on the side and coming to a stop beside them, bending over and catching his breath.

"Mickey, the Idiot." The Doctor muttered.

Mica babbled happily, clapping her hands.

"Oh, be fair. She's not exactly going to out run us, is she?" Seren commented, gesturing to Margaret's retreating back.

As if to prove Seren wrong, Margaret vanished a second later.

"I had to say it." Seren groaned, face palming in exasperation.

"Oh, come on, she's got a teleport!" Jack exclaimed, his voice taking on a whine as he added, "That's cheating! Now we're never going to get her!"

"Oh I wouldn't be too sure about that." Seren said, a bright smile crossing her face as she saw the Doctor remove his sonic screwdriver. "The Doctor is very good with teleports."

And sure enough, the Doctor held up the screwdriver and clicked it once, a rather dopey grin on his face. Margaret reappeared, closer than before and running towards them with a self-satisfied smile on her face. The smile faded when she saw the group on front of her. She hurriedly changed direction and pressed her teleport, causing her to disappear once more. The Doctor clicked the screwdriver once more and she reappeared, again much closer than before. She glared at them as she turned around and began running in the other direction once again, pressing her teleport and disappearing.

The Doctor looked at Seren with a grin and clicked his screwdriver again as she held back her giggles. Mickey and Rose had identical grins on their faces as Jack looked on with surprise written all over his face.

Margaret reappeared, running directly towards them and coming to a stop right in front of them, looking completely exhausted. She bent over, her hands on her knees as she gasped for breath.

"I could do this all day." The Doctor told her cheerily, lowering the screwdriver.

She glared at them as she put her hands in the air.

"This is persecution." She snapped. "Why can't you leave me alone? What did I ever do to you?"

"You tried to kill us and destroy this entire planet." Seren reminded her, an angry expression on her normally cheerful face.

"Apart from that." Margaret said dismissively.

"That's enough to piss us off." The Doctor said. "Now take us to the exhibition room."

"Why?" Margaret asked.

Mickey, Rose and Jack looked confused as well, wondering what was in the exhibition room.

"Because it has the model of the nuclear power plant that you've been building." Seren said.

Margaret grumbled quietly to herself as she led them back inside the building.

"So, you're a Slitheen, you're on Earth, you're trapped." The Doctor said as they walked into the exhibition room. "Your family get killed but you teleport out just in the nick of time. You have no means of escape. What do you do? You build a nuclear power station." He gestured to the large model of the nuclear power plant that was on a table in the center of the room. "But what for?"

Seren and Jack examined the model with interest, taking in every detail. The model was entirely white except for a grey platform in the middle, where the main part of the power plant cylinders was located. Seren absently took Mica out of her carrier and removed her coat, leaving both on the side, and put her on the floor with a few toys to keep her occupied.

"A philanthropic gesture." Margaret replied, glancing at Seren briefly with a raised eyebrow before turning back to the Doctor. "I've learnt the error of my ways."

"And it just so happens to be on top of the Rift." Seren remarked, looking away from the model and at Margaret.

"And what Rift would that be?" Margaret asked, looking at them in picture of complete innocence.

"A Rift in space and time. If this power station went into meltdown, the entire planet would go schwwwupboom!" Jack replied, making an exaggerated motion with his hands as he tried to convey the damage that would be caused.

"This station is designed to explode the moment it reaches capacity." The Doctor said, looking down at the model keenly.

"Didn't anyone notice? Isn't there someone in London checking this sort of stuff?" Rose asked, complete confused as to how things can get so far without anyone seeing.

"We're in Cardiff. London doesn't care!" Margaret exclaimed, rolling her eyes at the blonde as Seren turned to look at her with a smirk on her face. "The South Wales coast could fall into the sea and they wouldn't notice…" she trailed off, her eyes wide as she realized what she was saying.

"Ooh, someone sounds like a Welshman." Seren said with a giggle.

"God help me, I've gone native." Margaret groaned, sending Seren into a fit of laughter.

"Why would she do that?" Mickey asked, looking at the model. Seren stopped laughing and turned to the Londoner, seeing the point in his question. "A great big explosion, she'd only end up killing herself."

"She's got a name, you know." Margaret ground out, glaring at Mickey.

"She's not even a she, she's a… thing." Rose said, looking Margaret up and down.

"Oh, but she's clever." The Doctor said, eyeing Margaret. In one swift move, he removed the white cylinders that were covering the grey platform and pulled it out, flipping it over and revealing the electronic circuit-board beneath. He looked at it with a grin. "Fantastic."

"Is that a tribophysical waveform macro-kinetic extrapolator?!" Jack asked excitedly, looking at the circuit-board like a child on Christmas.

"Couldn't have put it better myself." The Doctor commented, looking at Jack with an impressed expression on his face.

"Ooh, genius!" Jack exclaimed excitedly as he took the extrapolator from the Doctor and looked at it closely. The Doctor's eye caught a poster on the far wall as Jack turned to Margaret with a frown, "You didn't build this."

"I have my hobbies." Margaret replied, shrugging. "A little tinkering…"

"No, no, no, I mean you really didn't build this." Jack interrupted her, shaking his head. "Way beyond you."

"I bet she stole it." Mickey commented, handing the power plant model cylinders to Mica to play with when she shakily toddled her way to him.

"It fell into my hands." Margaret said defensively, glaring at Mickey.

"Is it a weapon?" Rose asked, looking at Jack as he placed the extrapolator on the floor.

"It's a transport." Jack replied, standing up straight as he explained. "You see, if the reactor blows, the Rift opens. Phenomenal cosmic disaster. But this thing" he pointed to the extrapolator at his feet, "shrouds you in a force-field. You have this energy bubble, zzhuum," he gestures wildly around his body to imitate the force-field, "so you're safe. Then you feed it coordinates, stand on top, and ride the concussion all the way out of the solar system."

"You mean it's a pan-dimensional surfboard?" Seren asked, simplifying the ex-con's explanation.

"Pretty much, yeah." Jack said, nodding.

"And it would've worked. I would've surfed away from this dead-end dump and back to civilization." Margaret muttered bitterly.

"You'd blow up a whole planet just to get a lift?" Mickey asked, incredulous.

"Like stepping on an anthill." Margaret told him unrepentantly.

Seren glared at her, using every ounce of self-control not to march over and slap the Slitheen woman.

"How'd you think of the name?" The Doctor asked, drawing their attention to him.

They saw him standing with his back to them, staring at the poster that held the name of the project. Seren looked at it and her eyes widened in surprise.

'The Blaidd Drwg Project' was the name of the power plant project.

"What, Blaidd Drwg?" Margaret asked before adding dismissively, "It's Welsh."

"We know." Seren replied, the only other person in the room who knew Welsh.

"But how did you think of it?" the Doctor asked again.

"Chose it at random, that's all." Margaret replied, shrugging. "I dunno, just sounded good. Does it matter?" she looked at the Doctor in confusion.

"Blaidd Drwg." The Doctor said softly, turning around with his brow furrowed.

"What's it mean?" Rose asked, seeing the Doctor's furrowed brow and Seren's wide eyes.

"Bad Wolf." Seren replied quietly, picking Mica up when the baby came near her. She looked at the Doctor with a haunted expression. "Doctor, I've heard that lots of times, over and over in various forms…"

"Everywhere we go." The Doctor said in agreement, looking at Seren with just as haunted an expression. "Two words. Following us. Bad Wolf."

"But how can words follow us?" Seren asked, holding Mica tighter to her chest. "Especially two specific words?"

He didn't reply, staring at Seren and Mica for several minutes without really seeing them.

"Nah! Just a coincidence!" The Doctor said finally, a grin making its way across his face. Seren sighed, her tense posture relaxing slightly. "Like hearing a word on the radio then hearing it all day. Never mind! Things to do." He claps his hands briskly. "Margaret, we're gonna take you home."

"Hold on, isn't that the easy option?" Jack asked argumentatively. "Like letting her go?"

"I don't believe it!" Seren exclaimed excitedly. "We actually get to go to Raxacoricofallapatorius!"

"That's it!" the Doctor cheered excitedly, taking Seren – and Mica- in his arms and spinning them around happily.

Mica and Seren laughed at the movement, and Seren looked into his expressive blue eyes. In that moment, she realized that Rose might be right, she might be in love with the Doctor. The realization brought a bright smile to her face, lighting her up as though she were glowing.

"Hold on, how were you able to pronounce it?" Rose asked, having tried to pronounce the name only to mess it up.

"Rose, I speak Welsh." Seren told the blonde, turning in the Doctor's arms to look at her god-sister. "It is one of the most complicated and difficult languages in the world."

"Good point." Rose muttered quietly.

The Doctor let go of Seren and took Mica out of her arms, throwing her in the air and catching her, causing the child to laugh.

"We're gonna go to Raxacoricofallapatorius." He said cheerfully, tossing the baby up in the air again and catching her. "Do you wanna come to? Is Mam gonna let you come?" he turned to Seren, asking her, "Is Mam going to let her come?"

"Yeah, I really don't think so." Seren replied regretfully. "Mica is going to be staying on Earth, where it's safe." She turned to Mica, poking the baby gently in her chubby rosy cheek. "Isn't that right, Mica?"

The two were so caught up with each other and with Mica that they didn't realize the image they made to those that were watching them. Mickey and Jack exchanged looks with soft smiles on their faces and turned back to watch the Doctor, Seren and Mica. The three really looked like a family – the Doctor holding Mica in his arms, a gentle smile on his face as he looked at Seren with love in his eyes; Seren looking up at him and talking to Mica, love shining brightly in her own expressive orbs; and Mica babbling away to the two of them, one tiny hand on each of their cheeks.

Without the Doctor or Seren noticing, Jack opened his wrist strap and snapped a photo of the three of them laughing with each other, wanting to treasure the image that they made.

"They have the death penalty." Margaret's comment sent a nasty silence echoing through the room. In that moment, the happiness and cheer that had filled them faded as they turned to her. "The family Slitheen was tried in its absence many years ago and found guilty with no chance of appeal. According to the statutes of government, the moment I return, I am to be executed. What do you make of that, Doctor? Take me home and you take me to my death."

"Not my problem." The Doctor replied indifferently, shrugging as much as he could with Mica in his arms.

Seren and Rose proceeded to pick up the toys Mica had been playing with and put them back in the diaper bag while Mickey picked up the model pieces that Mica had been playing with and put them on the table while the Doctor put Mica's coat back on her and grabbed her carrier.

Once that was done, the Doctor led them out of the City Hall building and toward the direction of the Plass where the TARDIS was parked. Rose, seeing that it had gotten dark out, decided that it was time to return home, especially since she had work the next day.

"Remember to call Mum." Rose said, hugging Seren tightly as the rest of the group walked ahead of them slightly. "And Siwan, they both miss you."

"I will. Don't worry." Seren replied as they let each other go. "Be safe and let me know when you reach London, and when you reach home."

Rose nodded and handed the diaper bag she had been carrying over to Seren before the two hugged each other once more.

"Bye." Rose said.

"Bye." Seren said as well, watching the blonde turn around and head in the direction of the train station.

Seren waited until she could no longer see Rose before turning around and running to catch up with the Doctor – Mica in his arms, falling asleep as she drank from the bottle that the Time Lord was holding - Jack, Mickey and Margaret.

"How is she?" Seren asked softly, gesturing to the drowsy baby.

"Falling asleep." The Doctor replied. "I guess she had more excitement than she's used to."

Seren laughed lightly as she watched Mica's eyes flutter gently closed and her breathing even out as the bottle slipped out of her mouth. The Doctor made to move it away but she stopped him, putting a gentle hand on his arm.

"Wait until we reach the TARDIS." She said softly. "If she wakes up while we're transferring her, the bottle will be the only thing that will keep her from screaming."

The Doctor nodded in understanding and just lowered his hand slightly, taking Seren's hand with his free one and interlocking their fingers. Arriving at the TARDIS, the small group went in, Seren dropping the diaper bag and her purse on the floor beside the jump seat as Jack took off his jacket, gloves and scarf, tossing them over a pillar.

Seren proceeded to take Mica out of the carrier, wincing when the baby woke up and began crying. She took the bottle from the Doctor and held it to Mica, who took it and eagerly began drinking, falling back to sleep seconds later; however, not wanting the baby to wake up again, she began walking around the console room with the bottle held to Mica's mouth as she subconsciously continued to drink her milk. The Doctor removed the carrier and put it on top of the diaper bag, rubbing his shoulders slightly to ease the tension that had built from having the carrier on for so long. Jack sat on the ground beside the console, hooking the extrapolator to the TARDIS, with Mickey standing behind him and watching as he worked.

"This ship is impossible! It's superb!" Margaret exclaimed, looking around in wonder. She turned back to the Doctor, who was now standing by the console, just in front of Jack. "How do you get the outside around the inside?"

"Like I'd give you the secret, yeah." The Doctor replied sarcastically, glancing at her briefly before turning back to the console.

"I almost feel better about being defeated." Margaret commented. "I never stood a chance. This is the technology of the Gods."

Seren rolled her eyes as she put Mica's now empty bottle on her diaper bag and resumed rocking the sleeping baby.

"Don't worship me. I'd make a very bad God." The Doctor told her with a hint of warning. "You'd never get a day off for starters." He turned to Jack as he asked, "Jack, how we doing, big fella?"

"This extrapolator's top of the range." He commented, peering up over the console to look at Margaret. "Where did you get it?"

"Oh, I don't know. Some airlock sale." Margaret replied shrugging, attempting to sound dismissive.

"Must've been a great heist." Jack commented to her before turning to the Doctor. "It's stacked with power."

"But can we use it for fuel?" the Doctor asked, looking at him.

"No, it's not compatible." Jack replied regretfully, shaking his head. "But, it should knock off about 12 hours. We'll be ready to go by morning."

"Then we're stuck here. Overnight." The Doctor muttered grumpily.

"I'm in no hurry." Margaret muttered.

"So, we've got a prisoner in a police box." Seren commented with a smirk.

"You're not just police, though." Margaret pointed out. "Since you're taking me to my death, that makes you my executioners. Each and every one of you . . ." she trailed off, smiling unpleasantly at them.

"Well, you deserve it." Mickey stated coldly.

"You're very quick to say so. You're very quick to soak your hands in my blood." Margaret said, turning her gaze onto Mickey. "Which makes you better than me, how, exactly?" Mickey didn't reply, not having an answer. "Long night ahead . . ." Seren and the Doctor watched her as she took her time walking around the console, seating herself elegantly on the jump seat. She looked around at them as they watched her. "Let's see who can look me in the eye."

Margaret fixed Mickey with a calm and collected gaze. He managed to hold it for several seconds before averting his eyes, an uncomfortable look on his face. She turned her collected gaze to the Doctor who only glanced up for a moment before turning back to the console, more preoccupied with his task at hand than holding the Slitheen's gaze – despite this, he was very aware of the tense atmosphere that engulfed them. Unable to see Jack due to him sitting on the ground with the console between them, she turned her collected gaze onto Seren. Seren looked at her with large eyes, unblinking as she continued to rock the baby in her arms, holding the gaze until the Slitheen began to fidget in her seat and broke the look.

"I've stared death in the eye, Margaret, just as I have stared the most violent of criminals." Seren told her cryptically. "I'm perfectly capable to hold you gaze."

Margaret looked back at Seren, this time with a glare on her face. Seren ignored the look, turning to her bag when her mobile pinged twice inside with the alert of incoming texts. She read the texts, her mobile in one hand and Mica in the other. One was from Rose saying that she was at the station and about to board her train while the other was from Rhiannon. Seren looked up at the Doctor, seeing Mickey quietly leave out of the corner of her eye.

"That was Rhi. She'll come by in a short while to pick Mica up." She told him and he nodded. She moved around him and put Mica, in her diaper bag-turned- baby cot, on the floor next to Jack, with a blanket covering her. The cot was far enough away so that the baby wouldn't be affected by the work going on at the console, but close enough that Jack or the Doctor could keep an eye on her as she dreamed. "I'm going to go outside. Mica's here next to Jack."

"Stay nearby." Jack said as Seren moved around the console to grab her purse. "In case we need to get you."

She nodded and squeezed the Doctor's hand before kneeling down and kissing Mica's forehead.

"I have my mobile with me if you need to get in touch. I'll be nearby with Mickey." She told them as she turned around and walked out of the TARDIS.

The Doctor and Jack watched her leave, gently closing the door behind her with her purse on her shoulder. She walked around the TARDIS and came up beside Mickey. He was staring up at the water tower, watching as the water cascaded down endlessly.

"How are you holding up?" Seren asked him softly, looking up at the water tower as well.

"Freezing." He replied cheerfully, turning to look at her and rubbing his hands together to warm them. "But it's better than in there." He gestured towards the TARDIS with his head. He let out a breath. "She does deserve it. She's a Slitheen. I don't care." He sighed as he looked back at the TARDIS. "It's – it's just… weird, in that box."

"It takes some time to get used to her and the Doctor." Seren replied softly, smiling up at him and walking forward slightly before turning to look at him.

"How are you not freezing?" Mickey asked her, taking in her distinct lack of reaction to the cold night air that surrounded them.

"I grew up here." She reminded him, a bright smile on her face as she looked up at the star-studded sky. "And I've been to places that were infinitely colder."

"Have you spoken with Siwan?" he asked her, wondering if she had been able to with how crazy it had been throughout the day.

"We haven't spoken over the phone, but we have texted each other." She replied, looking at him once more. "Rhi said she'll be by in a bit to pick Mica up."

"Mica still sleeping?"

"Yeah." Seren replied, nodding. "Jack and the Doctor are keeping an eye on her." She looked at him and saw a shadow of sadness on his face as he looked at her. She frowned and walked up to him. "Mickey, what is it? Why do you look sad?"

"It's nothing." He replied shaking his head. She looked at him, raising an eyebrow disbelievingly. He sighed and rolled his eyes. "What are your feelings for the Doctor? Are you in love with him?"

Seren stared at him, taken aback by the questions.

"I don't know." She admitted finally. "I think I might be."

"I thought so." He said, nodding. "When you're with him, it's as if the shadows that had haunted since your parents died no longer exist. Seeing you guys today, I realized that, as terrified as I am of you going with him, I can't blame him for helping you heal."

"You really think so?" she asked, looking up at him with her eyes shining with unshed tears.

"Yeah, Seren. I do." He replied nodding. "It's the reason Jackie didn't fight too much with you about going with him. Even then, as much as she wanted to deny it, she could see just how much he was helping you heal." He shook his head and grinned down at her. "Although, I think it has more to do with you actually being firm with her about wanting to resume travelling with him."

"Yeah, I still can't believe I did that." She muttered, a slight blush on her cheeks. "I have never really gone against anything I have been told since Mam and Tad died."

"That's exactly why she knew that going with him was something you needed to do." He told her gently. "For your sake, she agreed."

Seren smiled up at him, wiping away a few tears that tracked down her cheeks.

"Come on, we've got the night before we leave. Let me show you my Cardiff." She said, holding her hand out to him. "And I'll show you some pubs that are said to be pretty good."

"Don't you need to tell him or something?" Mickey asked, taking her hand and gesturing towards the TARDIS with his head.

"No. If he needs anything, he can phone me." Seren replied as she began leading him across the Oval Basin of the Roald Dahl Plass.

As they walked, she pointed out different places and told them what they were. Slowly, they made their way towards Mermaid Quayside, Seren still chattering away.

"You said you had been to a place that was colder then Cardiff. Where was it?" Mickey asked curiously, as they walked past a few restaurants.

"Well, there was one a while back called 'Woman Wept'." She replied enthusiastically as they made their way down the steps to the Bay. "It was actually called 'Woman Wept', because if you looked at it from a certain angle from above, there's a massive continent that resembles the shape of a woman lamenting."

He nodded, looking mildly interested. Seren, happy to be with her best friend and back in Cardiff for the first time in at least five years, continued talking about the adventures she had. She didn't realize that Mickey was no longer interested, only listening because of how long it had been since she was so enthusiastic about something.

"And there was this beach we had gone to. There were no people, no buildings, just a beach thousands of miles across as far as the eye could see. And something had happened to the sun, causing the sea to freeze over entirely." They reached the edge of the pavement and leaned on the railings as she continued talking. "It had happened in a split second, in the midst of a raging storm with waves and foam, it just froze over all the way to horizon. At midnight, we walked along the beach, beneath the waves that were over a hundred feet tall and made entirely of ice." She took a breath and looked at him. "Okay, enough about me. What's new with you?"

"I'm going out with Trisha Delaney." He replied, staring out across the water and adamantly not looking at her.

"Mickey, that's great." Seren said, looking at him with a sincere smile. "Trisha from the shop, right? Rob's sister?"

"Yeah." Mickey replied, nodding as he glanced at her for a moment.

"She's really nice, very sweet." Seren said nodding. She was happy Mickey was living his life again, being himself.

"You've been away." He said softly, looking at her, feeling the need to justify himself.

"Mickey, it's great that you're dating Trisha." Seren said with complete sincerity.

"So, tell us more about your adventures then." He said with a smile.

Seren smiled and once again launched into a descriptive story, telling him about the places she had been. They began walking once more, going along the Bay. They came to a stop on the jetty by the restaurants and Mickey sat on the bench while Seren leaned against the railing and looked out over the dark waters, lost in thought.

She was startled from her thoughts by her mobile ringing, 'Ode to Joy'.

"Jones." She said, answering the call and putting the mobile to her ear.

"Seren, it's Siwan." Siwan said from the other end.

"Siwan, how are you?" Seren asked with a wide grin. "How's Adam?"

Mickey walked away, just out of hearing range to give the two some privacy though he could still see Seren as he looked out over the Quay.

"We're good." Siwan replied. "Just wanted to call and catch up. How long you staying for?"

"We should be leaving in the morning." Seren replied. "How's your assignment coming along?"

"It's good. Just finished it, finally." Siwan replied with an exaggerated groan. Her tone became slightly serious as she said, "There's something I need to tell you."

"What is it?" Seren asked in a slightly worried tone, straightening up from her near slouch against the railing. "Is everything all right?"

"Yeah, everything is great." Siwan replied reassuringly. "Adam asked me to move in with him."

"What did you say?" Seren asked curiously.

"I… didn't exactly get the chance to reply." Siwan admitted.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, he got called in for an emergency and I got busy with school work and all the paperwork involved with the emergency he was called in for." She replied almost sheepishly. "But I don't know how to reply to him." Siwan let out a frustrated breath.

"Do you want to?" Seren asked. "Move in with him?"

"Yeah." Siwan replied after a moment's pause. "I am seriously considering it."

"Then what's the problem?" Seren asked.

"You're right, there isn't one." Siwan replied, a smile in her voice. "We have been practically living together since you began travelling with the Doctor after your brief visit home back in March. Either here at the Estate or at his place."

"Exactly." Seren said, leaning back against the railing and looking at the star-studded sky.

"Thanks Seren." Siwan said softly. "I love you."

"I love you too."

They spoke for several more minutes, talking about everything and nothing, until they heard Adam enter the Estate flat.

"Okay, Adam's home." Siwan said. "I'm going to talk to him. I love you, bye."

"Good luck. I love you too. Bye."

They hung up the phone and Seren was about to put the mobile back in her purse when it pinged with an incoming text. She read it and sent a message back before putting it away as Mickey came back towards her.

"Rhi's picked Mica up, they're heading back home." She told him and he nodded, sitting down on the bench.

"So, what d'you want to do now?" he asked looking at her.

"I don't mind." She replied. "Whatever you want to do."

"There's a bar not too far away with a Spanish name or something." He said, looking in the direction of the bar.

"Mickey," Seren said quietly, causing him to look at her. "There's something that's been bugging me."

"What is it?"

"You said you were going out with Trisha Delaney." Seren started, looking up at him. "You don't even like Trisha!"

"Oh, is that right?" Mickey asked loudly, "What the hell do you know?"

"I know you, Mickey!" Seren exclaimed. "I know you better than you know yourself! Who do you think you're kidding?"

"At least I know where she is!" he exclaimed.

"This is about me?" She asked, her own frustration and anger deflating just as quickly as his as she looked up at him in complete confusion.

"You left me!" he yelled, standing up and suddenly very angry. All the feelings that he had been trying to work through for the past several months surged to the surface as he was confronted with Seren's complete cluelessness. "Even though we weren't entirely happy, we were content. We were nice and content. And then what? You kissed my cheek and run off with him, making me feel like I was nothing, Seren. All my life, you always made me feel like I was worth something, then in that one moment, you made me feel like I was nothing." Seren stared at him in shock, his eyes filling with tears as he finally told her what he had been holding onto for over a year and a half. "I can't even go out with a stupid girl from a shop because when you pick up the phone, I come running. Is that what I am to you, Seren? Just some standby?" Seren shook her head mutely, unable to say anything as she was confronted with the unintentional way she had been treating her best friend. "Am I supposed to sit here for the rest of my life, waiting for you? Because I will, Seren. For my best friend, for you, I will."

"I'm so sorry, Mickey." Seren said softly, looking up at him with tears in her own eyes. "I didn't realize…"

He sighed and leaned back against the railing beside her, looking away from her.

"I'm not asking you to leave him." Mickey continued as he sat down. Seren sat down beside him. "I'm not going to ask you to leave him, because I know that's not fair. Not after everything he has done to help you, even if he doesn't know it. But I just need something, yeah? Some sort of promise that when you do come back, you're coming back for me. Not just Siwan, Rhi or the kids. Not just because you guys happen to be nearby and decided to drop in for a visit, but for me."

Seren looked at him, ready to give him that promise, when the sound of a low rumbling echoed in the distance.

"Is that thunder?" She asked instead, turning around to look in the direction the sound came from.

"Does it matter?" Mickey asked.

There was another echoing rumble, this one louder than the previous one.

"That's not thunder." Seren said, looking around the Quay.

A streetlight exploded and several nearby pedestrians shrieked in horror and fear. Along the Quay, several more streetlights exploded as shop and restaurant windows smashed from the force of the quakes. Seren shot to her feet and ran in the direction of the TARDIS, where the rumbling was echoing away from.

"Oh, go on then, run! It's him again, isn't it? It's the Doctor! It's always the Doctor! It's always going to be the Doctor. It's never me!" she heard Mickey yell bitterly behind her.

She gasped as a few tears escaped down her face, knowing that he was right. She didn't even realize it, but she would almost always choose the Doctor if it came down to a choice, and that realization filled her with sorrow for the best friend that she unintentionally been taking advantage of.

She ran across the Quay, dodging exploding streetlamps, shattering window glass and panicking pedestrians. As she crossed the Oval Basin on the Plass, she avoided the cracks that began appearing in the ground beneath her heeled feet, becoming increasingly larger and appearing rapidly as the seconds passed. She jumped over several cracks in quick succession and grounded to a halt when she saw what lay in front of her.

She stared with wide eyes at the TARDIS, silver-blue energy streaming into the sky from the magnificent blue box. At the back of her mind, she can feel Idris screaming in agony at the energy that was being channeled through her.

Seren ran forwards, jumping over the widening cracks and barely pausing when she reached the TARDIS doors. The forward momentum propelled her through the still open doors and she had to grab hold of a coral pillar to keep from being thrown into the sparking console. The Doctor and Jack were frantically working at the console, trying to close the Rift.

"What's going on? What's happening?" Seren asked the Doctor and Jack, noticing Margaret standing nearby. The lights inside were tinged with blue and green, giving the TARDIS an almost sickly glow. "Why's the Rift open?"

"Oh, just little me." Margaret said gleefully, causing them to whirl around and look at her in surprise and confusion. She freed one of her arms from the skin-suit, revealing her claw. With one swift movement, she grabbed Seren by the neck and pulled her close as her own personal shield, holding tightly enough to prevent the tiny Welshwoman from being able to fight back against the dangerous hold. The Doctor darted forward, moving around the console to try and reach Seren when Margaret looked at him and snapped, "One wrong move and she snaps like a promise."

As if to emphasize her promise, she tightened her hold on Seren's neck ever so slightly, causing the woman to flinch at the pressure as she grabbed hold of the claw and tugged uselessly. It was Seren's flinch that halted him in his tracks more than the threat; he knew that Seren was capable of defending herself, but with her being held the way she was, she was helpless.

"I might have known." The Doctor said, glaring at Margaret.

The glare was mimicked by Jack as Margaret raised Seren up, dangling a foot above the ground.

"I've had you bleating all night, poor baby, now shut it." Margaret spat at the Doctor, moving herself and Seren closer to the console. She turned to Jack, snapping her orders. "You, fly boy, put the extrapolator at my feet."

Jack hesitated, glaring at Margaret. In response, Margaret tightened her hold around Seren's neck, causing the woman to gag and gasp as the constriction slowly prevented her from getting oxygen into her lungs. Jack looked at the Doctor, hesitation written all over his face – he didn't want to let Margaret get away while destroying the planet, nor did he want Seren to die. The Time Lord nodded and the ex-con obeyed the orders, reluctance still expressed clearly on his face as he picked up the extrapolator and placed it at the Slitheen's feet.

"Thank you." She said sweetly as Jack moved back, glaring at her. "Just as I planned."

"What happened to needing to blow up the nuclear power plant?" Seren gasped, her voice coming out strangled. She was trying not to scream in pain as she felt Idris screaming at the back of her mind, the Rift doing the opposite of what it was supposed to do for her – rather than refuel her, it was zapping her strength as it channeled all its power into creating a concussion wave to carry out across the solar system.

"Failing that; if I were to be… arrested…" Margaret said, a self-satisfied smirk on her face, "then anyone capable of tracking me down would have considerable technology of their own. Therefore, they would be captivated by the extrapolator." She looked at the Doctor, her smirk becoming a glare as she spat out her next words, "Especially a magpie mind like yours, Doctor." Her tone became smug as she continued, "So the extrapolator was programmed to go to Plan B!" she put her free hand on the back of Seren's head and pulled, causing the Welshwoman to gasp at the sudden increase of pain. "To lock onto the nearest alien power source and open the Rift." She looked around the TARDIS in awe as she breathed, "And what a power source it found… I'm back on schedule…" she turned to the Doctor and smiled. "Thanks to you."

"The Rift's gonna convulse." Jack exclaimed, looking at Seren worriedly. "She'll destroy the whole planet."

"And you with it!" Margaret screeched, holding Seren to the side though she still had a tight grip on the woman's neck. She stepped forward to stand on the extrapolator, looking at the Doctor and Jack, saying gleefully, "While I ride this board over the crest of the inferno all the way to freedom. Stand back, boys… surf's up."

The TARDIS console flashed and cracked open, bathing Margaret in a bright golden light. Immediately, the sound of Idris' screams faded from Seren's mind, to be replaced by the usual humming.

"Of course, opening the Rift means you'll pull this ship apart." The Doctor told her, seemingly calm. Only the tightening of his fist indicating his worry about Seren's safety, as well as the planet's.

"So sue me." Margaret replied dismissively.

"It's not just any old power source. It's the TARDIS. My TARDIS. The best ship in the universe." The Doctor said.

"It'll make wonderful scrap." Margaret said nastily.

"What is that light?" Seren asked in the slightly strangled voice, though her tone portrayed her wonder. "It's so warm."

"The Heart of the Tardis." The Doctor replied, adamantly trying not to look at her. "This ship's alive. You've opened its soul."

Margaret glanced at him before staring into the light, breathing heavily and seemingly forgetting everything else.

"It's… so bright…" she breathed, her voice dreamy and vague, her eyes not tearing away from the light.

"Look at it, Margaret." The Doctor said encouragingly.

"…Beautiful…" she breathed dreamily.

"Look inside, Blon Fel Fotch." The Doctor said encouragingly. "Look at the light."

Margaret looked at the light, her gaze transfixed as her grip on Seren relaxed unintentionally. Seren stumbled out of the hold but couldn't move herself away from the warmth of the golden light. Jack, who had held his arm out for Seren, moved to her when he saw that she wasn't planning to move.

A blissful smile spread across Margaret's face as she stared into the light. She looked up at the Doctor, her gaze blissful and dreamy, as the Time Lord smiled gently at her.

"Thank you…" Margaret breathed, softly and genuinely.

Within the next second, she was engulfed by the golden light. Jack turned around so his back was facing it, covering Seren's body with his own against the light. He straightened up when the light cleared and Seren peeked around his muscled chest to where Margaret was standing, only to gasp in shock.

Where Margaret had been, there was only the skin-suit as it flopped onto the extrapolator, completely empty.

The Doctor sprang into action, darting around the console and pressing buttons and pushing levers as the light shot a concentrated beam out of the console and shone against the wall.

"Don't look! Stay there!" he ordered. "Close your eyes!"

But Seren couldn't tear her eyes away from the mesmerizing light, only Jack's hold on her keeping her from moving forward. The Doctor slammed down the last lever and the gap in the console closed, shutting out the light. Seren blinked a number of times to clear the spots in front of her eyes and the haze that settled over her mind.

"Now, Jack, come on, shut it all down." The Doctor ordered and Jack opened his eyes, springing into action as well, rushing over to the console. "Shut down!" he turned to Seren. "Seren, that panel over there," he pointed to the one he was talking about, filled with switches. "Turn all the switches to the right."

Seren nodded and hurried to the panel in question, doing as told and turning the switches to the right. The three of them worked quickly, the Doctor telling them what to do and the two Companions carrying out the orders without question. As they worked, the console shot up several sparks that they dodged until finally, the shaking inside the TARDIS and the quakes outside stopped as the Rift energy stopped streaming into the sky.

Idris sang happily at the back of her mind, pulling a smile to Seren's lips.

"Nicely done." The Doctor said as the console room lit up with the usual soft yellow-gold lights. "Thank you all."

"What happened to Margaret?" Seren asked, looking down at the apparently empty skin-suit.

"Must've got burnt up. Carried out her own death sentence." Jack replied, not to torn up about the fact.

"What?" Seren asked in dismayed sorrow. "No."

"I don't think she's dead." The Doctor said, shaking his head.

"Then where'd she go?" Jack asked, shooting Seren a confused look, wondering why she was upset over the woman that had held her hostage.

"She looked into the heart of the TARDIS, and even I don't know how strong that is." The Doctor replied, leaning against a coral pillar by Margaret's empty skin-suit. "And the ship's telepathic - as Seren demonstrated earlier. Gets inside your head. Translates alien languages. Maybe the raw energy can translate all sorts of thoughts . . ."

He trailed off as he crouched next to the suit, Seren and Jack joining him on the floor. The Doctor noticed something in the middle of the suit and reached in, pulling out an egg and holding it up to show the two Companions.

"There she is!" He said cheerfully.

"She's an egg?" Seren asked, confused.

"Regressed back to her childhood." The Doctor replied.

"She's an egg?" Jack asked, repeating Seren's question and just as confused.

"She can start again." The Doctor said, looking at them happily. "Live her life from scratch."

"As in give her to a different family?" Seren asked, the wheels turning in her head.

"Tell 'em to bring her up properly, she might be all right!" The Doctor continued happily.

"Or she might be worse." Jack pointed out cynically.

"That's her choice." The Doctor told him.

"Choice." Seren repeated softly and her eyes widened. "Oh Duw, Mickey!"

She jumped to her feet and ran out of the TARDIS. She ran across the Plass, toward the Quay where she had been with him last. Reaching, she looked around, taking note of the Emergency Services that were there, identified by the fluorescent yellow jackets, helping the civilians. There were ambulances arriving on the scene and leaving, all with their sirens blaring loudly.

Not seeing Mickey, she walked up to one of the paramedics and put a hand on his shoulder, getting his attention.

"Yes, miss?" he asked in Welsh, instinctively as he had just been attending to an elderly person in Welsh.

"Sir, I'm looking for a friend of mine." Seren replied in Welsh. "He's dark skinned, with dark hair and dark eyes, speaks with a London accent . Can you remember if you've seen anyone fitting such a description? His name is Mickey Smith."

"I'm sorry miss." He replied after a moment, shaking his head regretfully. "I have attended to so many people tonight alone that I can't remember any of their descriptions."

"I understand." Seren replied, nodding sadly. "Thank you."

"Your welcome, miss." The man nodded to her and turned back to the senior he had been attending to.

Seren turned and began walking away, heading in another direction. Her walk soon became a run as she searched every place she could think off, from the pubs to the restaurants and every place in between.

Finally, two hours later when she was still unable to find him, she headed back to the TARDIS. A few sorrow-filled tears ran down her cheeks and she angrily wiped them away. She didn't blame Mickey for not sticking around; after all, he had been right when he said that she would always choose the Doctor. She just wished she had the chance to tell him that she would always be there for him, no matter what, just as he had always been there for her. She wanted to give him the promise that he had asked of her - that she would return for him just as she would return for her sisters, Rose, Jackie and the kids.

She entered the TARDIS quietly to find the Doctor and Jack fiddling with the controls.

"We're all powered up. We can leave. Opening the Rift filled us up with energy. We can go, if that's all right." The Doctor said, glancing at her.

"Yeah, that's fine." Seren replied quietly.

"How's Mickey?' he asked, taking note of the sadness in her large eyes.

"He's all right, I think." She replied, silently praying that she was right and that he hadn't been injured when the Rift had opened. "I couldn't find him."

"Do you want to go back out and try finding him again?" The Doctor asked, realizing that something was bothering her. "We'll wait."

"No, it's all right." Seren replied, picking her purse up from the ground where it had fallen when Margaret had taken a hold of her. "I'll just text Siwan to let me know when Mickey returns to London."

Seren took out her mobile as the Doctor nodded, a slight frown on his face as he took in her sadness.

"Off we go, then!" He said cheerfully his mask effortlessly falling into place. He pressed a switch and the engines started up. "Always moving on!"

"Yeah." Seren said quietly, unheard by the two men as her own mask fell into place.

She looked down at her mobile and saw that she had a message waiting for her. Opening it, she found that Rose had messaged her while she had been out searching for Mickey, saying that she had reached London and was heading back to the Estate. She sent Siwan a message saying that they were leaving earlier than planned, mostly out of habit than actual need since Siwan could always call her whenever she needed or wanted to.

"Next stop, Raxacoricofallapatorius." Jack said before pausing and adding with a slight chuckle, "Now you don't often get to say that."

"We'll just stop by and pop her in the hatchery. Margaret the Slitheen can live her life again. A second chance." The Doctor told them.

"That'd be nice." Seren said almost wistfully as they dematerialized. She looked at her mobile, staring at the photo she had of Mickey as his contact profile. "He deserves better." She quietly whispered, wiping away a stray tear.

Links (on pinterest):

*Seren swimsuit - .ca/pin/ASCWAn123AH1o4pF8d1fFWMlOiDCa5PA58KlBj3hIfpKkTP9_hNM4S39oi7ooQSZx4c3WOpzCuRdRJF8q1Y0jO0/

*Seren outfit – .ca/pin/474566879478858806/

*Seren mobile - .ca/pin/344032859030033955/

*Seren hair - .ca/pin/474566879477393480/

*Mica multi-purpose diaper bag - .ca/pin/474566879471467618/

*Mica outfit - .ca/pin/474566879478286655/