I woke to the fruity smell of mum's favourite tea, and freshly made toast.

I got up to see myself still in my clothes from before; the red skirt and silken top only sans my stockings, boots and my necklaces sat by me on my bed stand. The bottle cap necklace and Sexy's key, I'd painted it blue thinking I'd need to distinguish it one day.

As I sat up, I was surprised by long hair that was like another blanket beneath me falling below my bum. It fell in soft curl waves spread out on either side of me.

"What in the world?"

"Rose!" Mum's voice sounded, "Not you lot, give her some space."

My forehead wrinkled, then Jackie Tyler was before me.

One of her reassuring smiles on her face, the kind she'd give me when I was little when something didn't go to plan. The kind she'd give when she was trying to keep me chipper.

"What's going on, Mum? Where's the Doctor?"

"He's…"

"Oh and I guess we are just chopped liver." Mickey's voice sounded and I jumped up from the bed to find my two boys, Mickey & Jack, alive and well in front of me in the hallway.

I jumped into Mickey's arms, "I'm sorry."

"What are you sorry for?"

"I couldn't save her."

Mickey's smile faded and eyes grew sad, "Lynda and I made our choice. It's not your fault."

"But if I hadn't brought you…"

"I would have never the wonder outside my own planet. I don't regret that, Rose."

Jack tapped my shoulder and I turned around.

"Where's my hug, Rapunzel?"

I pulled him into a hug.

I looked at my long waves. "I know its crazy right."

"That's one word for it."

I looked back at my mum, "You will cut it for me right?"

She smiled, running her hands through my locks, "I'll even give you a discount."

We all laughed but then it all stopped as I peeked into the living room finding it empty. Where was the Doctor?

"He's not here, sweetheart."

I looked over at my mum, my eyes growing wide. I'd dreamed of Sexy crying out to me, scared to leave me behind. I thought it was just a nightmare.

I looked back at mum with a pleading look, "He didn't…?"

"We don't know. He left us behind too." Jack wrapped his arms tighter around me and I rested my forehead against his broad chest.

Mum spoke up, "Let's get you a cup of tea."

"I've been seeing Howard."

"From the market?" I blew on my tea, it was still too hot. But the comforting smell of Earl Grey wafted towards me letting me let out a long breath I'd been holding in.

"Yeah."

I smiled at the look of hope on my mum's face.

"He was always nice."

"Yeah, he first started delivering to the door and I thought that's odd. Next was a sack of oranges."

"Then what happened?" I warmed my hands on my teacup.

"I don't know, one thing led to another. He's nice company."

I held my hand out to her and she placed hers in mine.

"As long as you're happy, mum."

Mickey called out to me from the living room,

"Rose, didn't you meet her when the Slitheen were here?"

I went into the living room and saw where Mickey was pointing on the telly.

It was Harriet Jones.

Mum came up, "She's Prime Minister now. They call it a golden age. I tell everyone you met her."

"Did more than meet her, prevented World War 3 with her."

Later past midnight, none of us could sleep.

Jack called from the living room, "You've got to see this!"

Whatever it was probably it would be better to look than continue staring uselessly at the ceiling of my room.

BBC One was showing some sort of red.

As I neared I came to realise that it was no rock, unless rock had eyes and a mouth.

"This is being transmitted live from the depths of space on Christmas morning."

The rocky visage shifted and we could just barely make out red eyes before it growled at the screen.

Everyone jumped.

Jack and I shared a look.

"Something is coming."

The news boomed with news of an alien lifeform transmitted live on BBC One.

"We need the Doctor." Jack stared at the screen.

I pursed my lips, "He's not here, so we'll have to figure things out ourselves." I looked over at my brother only to find him already at his laptop. "Mickey, do you think…"

"Already on it. I've been checking for news of the Doctor since we came back. Nothing about him but when I hacked into the military, I found this."

He pointed to his screen where it showed a tracking system showing Earth's coordinates and a glowing red blob fastly approaching.

The screen changed to show the aliens speaking, it translated automatically in my mind and I realised I must have received the ability from Sexy. I smiled, even far apart my sister was looking after me.

I translated for the rest of my family, "People you belong to us. To the Sycorax. We own you. We now possess your land, minerals, your precious stones, your women. You will surrender. Or they will die." I paused and furrowed my brow, "And then they chant about being strong and mighty."

I could feel all their looks but Jack was the one that spoke up, "How are you doing that?"

"A gift from Sexy when I became Bad Wolf."

Mickey spoke up, "Earth has sent a reply. They said today is a day of peace, they extend the peace to Sycorax but Earth is armed and we do not surrender."

I nodded, "That sounds like Harriet."

Mum looked frightened, "What do we do?"

I pulled her in my arms, "For now we wait for a reply."

We sat around drinking tea when the reply came. The Sycorax held a hand out and a blue light shone from it.

"What was that?" Jack leaned over my shoulder.

From outside they started to hear cries for help and shouts.

Mickey and I stepped outside to see one of our neighbours try to drag back her unresponsive husband that was walking out.

Downstairs there were more, children and parents, old and young; all making their way up.

I went back into the flat.

"It's mind control."

Jack was there looking out the window, "For mind control they'd need…" His eyes widened, "They sent out the Guinevere One."

I let out a sigh and shook my head, "Probably some part of the human genome on it. Stupid move."

Jackie bent toward Mickey, "I'm lost."

"Me too." Mickey whispered.

More cries came from outside, and Jackie ran out and came back.

"They are all on the roof!"

My lips pursed, "It's a scare tactic."

My mum pulled me to her, "What's going on?"

"Suggestive mind control."

"Are they in danger?" My mum looked worriedly back over her shoulders. The people out there weren't just neighbors but family, they'd helped raise me. When mum would need to go to work, several would always offer to babysit.

I placed my hand on her arm reassuringly,

"No more than the rest of us once the Sycorax find out their bluff is found out."

Mickey spoke up. "And who's going to tell them?"

"Me."

Harriet Jones' pleas for the Doctor were getting to me.

I wanted him back too but he was off somewhere 'thinking' according to mum and I don't know how to bring him back.

Sexy still was connected to me, I could feel her flux of emotions telling me that she was trying her best to come back to me.

"Help us. Please, Doctor help us." Harriet Jones pleaded.

I slumped in my chair and tugged at a strand of my long hair. A tear slipped down my cheek but I brushed it away.

It was no time to cry.

"Mum, I'd like that haircut now, please."

Before my mum could even go get the scissors, the windows burst and tremors shook the building.

We all ducked, Jack covered Mum with his body and Mickey covered me.

When the tremors settled, mum and I sat them on the couch and helped pluck the shards of glass from their skin. No sooner were they cleared of glass did their wounds heal almost immediately.

"Thanks sis." Mickey gave his best grin and I gave a wobbly one in return.

"Mum are you alright?"

We cleared a small space at the foot of the couch and leaned our backs against it. The boys legs on either side of us.

"Thank goodness I haven't started cutting your hair yet!"

My mom caught my lopsided smile and leaned over to embrace me. She pulled my head down to her chest like she used to when I was small.

"He's gone." Tears threatened to spill over. I felt as both Mickey and Jack awkwardly patted and petted my hair trying to console me. I cleared my throat and straightened up, "But I'm still here, I'll do whatever I have to in order to keep you all safe."

A shadow fell over our glassless window pane and we crossed carefully across the glass strewn leaving room to peer out the broken window. A massive spaceship slowly moved over above head, casting its shadow upon London.

[Harriet Jones]

"Harriet Jones, alert 9."

"The Doctor?"

Harriet looked so relieved that her assistant hated letting her down.

With a strong voice of assurance, "Rose Tyler, she says she has knowledge that might help."

Harriet Jones looked at the screens full of news all around the world.

A third of the population of planet Earth at the highest points they could reach.

"Bring her in."