Louve, or 'Wolvie', as she was to her friends and family, sighed heavily and pocketed her phone after returning the text she'd just received. It had been close to a week since she'd even heard from daughter's somewhat estranged father, and now he was asking something like this... She closed her eyes and stood for a moment, trying to feel the flow of time on Earth as it moved, putting her senses out to try and detect changes, however minor, that the message she'd just sent could've possibly caused.
"Papa, what's mumma doin'?" She heard Rosaline whisper to her grandfather, who was sitting across the room from where Louve stood.
The three Gallifreyans were currently having a tea party, at Rosaline's request, at the home of the close family friend, Clara Oswald. Rosaline had been very fond of Clara her entire life, Clara having been present for her very birth, and Louve had ask Clara to be her godmother.
Clara went all out for her goddaughter, and had purchased a small table and chairs for such events, which the three adults didn't quite fit in, but the soon to be four year old found it to be a perfect fit, and insisted they always take tea at 'her spot' in the house.
The Doctor looked to where his daughter stood, arms wrapped around her own shoulders, and he took a guess.
"Talking with your dad, I believe." He growled, and Clara kicked in the shin him under the table for his tone. It was no secret to the other two women that the Doctor had issues with how Jack handled his family life, but they were both insistent that when speaking to Rosaline, he make it a point to be at the very least, indifferent.
"Hey Dad?" Wolvie called, nodding for him to come over.
Unfolding his long legs from the small table setting, he rose and came over to where the child couldn't hear them speak. Clara took the hint and began a conversation with little Lanie to help her not overhear anything.
"Did you ever meet me before I was born?" She ask when he finally got over to her.
Her father furrowed his brow, checked the galactic watch on his wrist, and huffed.
"Time for that already?" He replied, answering her question indirectly.
"And my mother?" She blinked, her large blue eyes drilling into his own.
Her mother was a sensitive subject. It had been many centuries since he'd lost her in terms of his timeline, and the ache had never truly dulled. Rose Tyler had been so truly special, so healing after his time fighting in the Time War, helping see the good in himself again. She'd reminded him just who he was and what he was meant to do. Because of Rose Tyler, he'd remembered he was the Doctor, and he saved lives.
"Yeah." He nodded. "Her too."
Wolvie took a deep breath, then slowly blew it out her nose. She glanced over upon hearing her own child giggle, and saw that Clara had produced a bubble wand from somewhere, and was blowing soap bubbles that Lanie was popping as they floated around her. The Doctor took his daughter by the shoulders, directing her full attention to him.
"I know you can do this, because I remember it, but darling-" He looked at her with such sadness, "Please, you cannot let either of us know who you and Rosaline are. If something were to happen that caused either of us to find out who you are or how you were born... I don't know that you would be at all."
"Oh. Great. No pressure." Wolvie nodded. "What about Jack?"
"What about Jack?" He parroted back.
"What if, sitting there, seeing how much I look like freaking Rose Tyler, he puts it together?" She inquired, her face showing her obvious annoyance at Jack's involvement at all.
"He's an idiot, but he's not stupid." The Doctor replied. "He puts it together, he'll know enough to keep his mouth shut."
"Mumma?" Rosaline called, running over to her mother. She tugged on the cardigan Wolvie wore. "Mumma, I need the toilet."
"Oh? Right, come on." She held her hand down and Rosaline took it, as they made their way down the hall from Clara's sitting room.
The Doctor came back to the tiny table and again folded his legs enough to accommodate the small chair.
"Clara, can I ask a favor of you?" He ask, picking up a biscuit from the tray in the middle of the table. She eyed his face carefully, then nodded.
"Right, yeah." She agreed.
"Could you go with them?" He pleaded. "I know its short notice, but..." He shook his head and sighed again, "Meeting her mother is going to hurt. There is no way around that- but she needs to, she deserves to."
"I was already invited, but even if I wasn't, of course I'd go." Clara agreed, "Plus Jack will be there, and I can keep them from fighting... Or sneaking off..."
"Stop it." The Doctor groaned, preferring not to think about the on and off relationship his daughter had with the serial time criminal.
"What exactly is your deal with him, anyway?" Clara ask, taking a biscuit of her own.
"We met in reverse." The Doctor explained. "He's been my friend for hundreds of years, but he doesn't know me very well yet. Met me as the Doctor about a week ago. That is why its so important that none of you use my name around him."
"And here I was thinking you made the poor guy call you 'Sir' just to bully him." Clara laughed.
"No, that's exactly why I chose 'Sir' rather than making something up." The Doctor grinned. "He's a jackass, but eventually, while traveling with me, somewhere along the line he becomes a good man. I don't see him much after that, and I am hoping it is because he decides to at the very least be a better father. That would happen in this timeline, so I haven't a clue if its what happens... Heaven knows Louve can do much better than Jack, though."
The pair jumped apart when they heard Rosaline running back down the hallway, but Clara gave the Doctor a reassuring look.
"Ready for lunch?" Wolvie smiled, nodding to the door. "Dad, I'd invite you, but ya know..."
"I get it. I'm over due to have some Chinese take away and prune my plants anyway..." The Doctor smiled. "Have so much fun." He said as he stooped down and scooped his granddaughter up, kissing her forehead. "Stay right with your mummy and Auntie Clara, yeah?"
"I will!" The tiny girl promised, as he handed her off to Clara, placing a quick kiss on Clara's cheek as well.
"You got this." He said, finishing his goodbyes with his daughter. He kissed her cheek as well, and opened the door of Clara's home for the three of them to exit. The Doctor had materialized his TARDIS in Clara's kitchen, but Wolvie had kept hers outside on the curb, currently disguised as her signature purple Ford hatchback sedan.
"Is that a different car?" Clara ask as they climbed out of Louve's TARDIS, now parked on a street in New York City, circa 2012. The car was still her signature purple, but appeared to be several years older, in addition to having another model.
"The other one was too new, and British." She replied with a snort. "Chameleon circuits that work take things like that into account."
"Your poor dad..." Clara laughed, taking Rosaline's outstretched hand.
"Lanie, guess who we're seeing at lunch?" Wolvie ask, putting on a chipper face.
"Daddy?" Rosaline ask, her eyes wide with excitement.
"You got it first guess, you clever thing!" Wolvie smiled as she watched the little girl bounce with excitement. It hurt her hearts just a bit, thinking about how Jack popped in and out on Rosaline, with no set schedule. Even her own father, who was known for running more than anything, stayed put on Darillium the entire time following her birth, raising her with River Song as a stationary family- and remaining full four years after she'd taken out on her own with her fully functional TARDIS.
River. That was another tightening in her chest. For her whole life, River Song had been her 'Mumma', the same way Rosaline called Wolvie. River had loved her from the moment the Doctor had laid her in her arms, and had never once faltered on being the best mother she could.
Now she was moments away from seeing her biological parents face to face. Her father as he was when she was conceived, and her mother, who would never even know she existed. She was excited, nervous... Maybe anxious was the right word, she thought. It almost felt like betraying River, in a way, though she knew River would wholeheartedly disagree. River had never been anything other than understanding and supportive of Louve's questions and longing for her mother, having been removed from her own mother as well.
"Alright, Wolvie?" Clara ask, calling her attention back to the present, as they walked down the bustling sidewalk of the inner city. "You zoned there for a moment."
"No, yeah, I'm good." She smiled. "Come on- its right up here-"
"DADDY!" Rosaline squealed, pulling away from Clara to run full speed toward her father, who had seen them coming and was crouched down, arms open awaiting his daughter to run to him.
"Sure you're okay?" Clara ask again as they hurried to catch up.
"I am totally fine." She lied, flashing another smile. That same smile, Clara recognized from both the faces of the Doctor that she knew. It was a mask, and to the untrained eye, a very convincing one. Much her father's child, however, there was no hope of getting her to admit anything was bothering her, so Clara went along as if all was well.
"Hello ladies!" Jack greeted, giving his brightest smile. He moved Rosaline to his hip and attempted to give Wolvie a kiss, to which she turned her head so that it landed on her cheek.
"Hey Jack." Clara greeted, trying to not let her own feelings about him, as well as the Doctor's opinion of him, effect her greeting.
"We went ahead and got a table, hope that's alright." He said before placing a kiss on Rosaline's nose.
"Right, great." Wolvie nodded.
Jack stepped ahead and opened the door to the restaurant, holding it for Wolvie and Clara to step in. They'd barely made it in the door when she caught sight of her parents, and she felt like her hearts stopped for a brief moment.
Her mother was every bit as beautiful as the Doctor had described, the pictures he still had not doing her enough justice. She watched as Rose laughed at something the Doctor said before leaning onto his arm. They looked so happy and loving and it took the very air from her lungs.
"My friends are right over here." Jack said, guiding them as he came in. Rosaline still clung to her father like her very life depended on it, having not seen him in quite some time. "Here we are. Doctor, Rose- this is Louve, and Rosaline, but we call her Lanie, and Clara, she's Lanie's godmom."
"Nice to meet you! Oh Goodness Miss Lanie you're just as adorable as the pictures your dad showed us!" Rose beamed. She held her hand out to Rosaline, who timidly shook her hand before snatching her arm back to wrap around Jack, who had moved chairs out for both Wolvie and Clara.
"Pleasure." The Doctor said, giving an equal smile to Rose's. "Really, you have no idea."
"Oh no, its mutual I assure you." She replied, internalizing her feelings as she spoke to the past version of her father. She turned to see her daughter was still clinging to Jack like a baby koala. "Lanie, why don't you let your poor dad sit you beside him, love? He's not going anywhere right now."
Rosaline shook her head violently, giving a squeak in protest.
"She's okay right here." Jack said, laying his cheek on the top of her blonde curls for a moment. "I missed you too, Noodle."
A waitress came over and took drink orders while Louve tried to think of something to say. She wasn't burdened with breaking the ice, however, as Rose spoke up as soon as their waitress stepped away.
"So Louve..." Rose started.
"Wolvie is fine." She smiled gently.
"Wolvie then," Rose continued. "How did you meet Jack?"
She sat forward and propped her chin on her hand, awaiting the answer.
"Well..." She laughed, looking over at Jack, who snorted, stifling a laugh. "That's an interesting story. Kind of a long one."
"We have time." The Doctor promised. "Go on, tell us."
Wolvie gave a glance over at Clara, who, knowing the story well, smiled and shook her head.
"Alright." She agreed. "You asked..."
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