Hally should have known.
She and Lily should have stayed in the car. But when Ianto had mentioned he needed to pop into Pets at Home to grab bird food, they'd stupidly followed him. What harm could it do? Quick in and out. Simple.
Or so she thought.
Lily had found the glass pens somehow within seconds.
Hally, blissfully unaware, had been waiting with Jack, arms folded, waiting for Ianto to return from the aisles.
"Bird feed?" she asked Jack, glancing over. He shrugged in that nonchalant way of his.
"He likes the robins in the garden," Jack explained, as though that was a perfectly reasonable explanation.
Hally pulled a face.
"Mummy…"
The small voice cut through their casual conversation, drawing both of their attention. Jack and Hally turned simultaneously, eyes landing on Lily, who stood transfixed, nose almost pressed against the glass.
Oh no.
Lily was staring through the pen's glass, wide-eyed, at a tiny, tortoiseshell, lop-eared rabbit.
Hally's stomach dropped.
She exchanged a quick look with Jack, hoping for an ally. But the coward cleared his throat and quickly found something else to look at—suddenly very interested in a random display of dog toys.
"Yeah…?" Hally cautiously approached her daughter, already knowing where this was heading.
Lily's big, hopeful eyes turned up to her. "Can I have a rabbit?"
Her hearts sank. She already knew she'd lost. The way Lily looked at that rabbit, at her—Hally was defenceless.
"Well…" Hally stalled, her mind racing to come up with a valid excuse.
"Please, Mummy?" Lily pleaded, pressing her small face up against the glass again. "I promise I'll look after it."
Jack, still pretending not to be involved, stifled a laugh behind them, not helping her situation in the slightest.
Hally ran a hand across her face, knowing she was on the edge of defeat. "We don't know how to look after a rabbit, Lily…"
Lily frowned, clearly considering the problem, then with a spark of brilliance, countered, "Well… you look after me. So how hard can it be?"
Hally heard Jack snort with laughter, his back still turned to her, and resisted the urge to kick him in the shin.
"Yeah… well… that's solid logic there, Lils…" Hally muttered, helpless in the face of her daughter's determination.
Ianto returned, holding a small bag of bird food in hand, blissfully unaware of the situation he had walked them into. "All done."
Jack hummed, now unable to hide his amusement. Ianto raised a brow, sensing something was up. "Everything alright?" he asked.
Hally straightened, resigned to her fate. "Yeah… we're just… well, we're getting a rabbit."
Ianto's brows shot up. "Oh… you are?"
Jack chuckled from behind. "Yuhuh. Because this Time Lady hasn't quite learned how to say no yet."
Hally shot him a death glare, but Jack just grinned wider. "You tell her no, then," she retorted, motioning toward Lily.
Jack shook his head, backing away as if even suggesting such a thing was preposterous. "Nope."
"Exactly."
Lily, fully aware she had won, grinned up at them, triumphant.
Hally pressed her fingers to the bridge of her nose, half wondering if The Master would have been better at this. Would he have let Lily have the rabbit? Probably. Maybe. Who knew?
Ianto chuckled softly. "I'll get the shop assistant…"
"Yeah… the more people to witness this, the better," Jack said with a hum of approval, clearly enjoying every second of this.
With the assistant's help, they ended up purchasing everything. Not just the rabbit. But the outdoor hutch, the indoor pen, the food, toys, and a list of things Hally hadn't even known rabbits needed. The complete pet owner starter pack.
On the drive home, Hally tried to rationalise the decision. A pet was a good idea, right? It would teach Lily responsibility. Lots of kids had pets. The rabbit was cute, after all. Not that she had much of a choice anymore.
She pretended, briefly, that The Master would have agreed. Probably. Maybe.
Saying no to Lily was hard, okay?
Hally had asked for approval from Kate, and to her surprise, had gotten it. A week off—just her and Lily. Well, as close to just the two of them as they could get. Hart and Armitage, her ever-present shadows, were there, of course, lingering in the background. But they'd kept a respectful distance, allowing her the illusion of a real holiday.
She hadn't dared go too far from London—no jet-setting across the globe. There were still... obvious reasons why she needed to stay close. But a seaside escape to Hastings was just what they needed. A proper summer holiday, just before Lily started school.
The days had been filled with simple, human things: beach walks, exploring the seaside town, playing at the arcade, mini-golf, and kids' playgrounds. It was exactly the kind of mundane that felt special now. Normalcy, disguised as a treat.
On Sunday, as usual, she'd texted The Doctor their coordinates for their weekly meetup. Only this time, instead of being at home or some borough of London, it was on the beach, amidst seagulls and sunscreen.
Of course, The Doctor had materialised the TARDIS directly on the beach, plain as day, out of nowhere. Luckily, no humans had noticed. They never did. Humans were stupid. He'd appeared, hugged them both tight, and then sat right down beside them. They were in the midst of building sandcastles, an intricate, organised affair thanks to Lily's very specific vision for her sand village.
It had been her fifth birthday last month. Hally had managed to convince her that the rabbit had been her main present.
Lily was dictating every detail of her sand kingdom, and The Doctor was happily complying with her demands. "Excellent plan. Defence is everything," The Doctor said seriously, nodding as he dug out the moat.
"Yes. Of course. Can you be a bit faster?" Lily directed, her tone far more bossy than sweet.
Hally stifled a laugh, catching The Doctor's eye. He raised his eyebrows in amused resignation.
They talked between castle towers and sandy moats. Lily, as always, was fascinated by her grandfather's recent stories of adventures. She loved hearing where he'd been, what strange new planets he'd visited. But eventually, their conversation slowed. The Doctor looked up at Hally, something thoughtful in his expression.
"I… I've started to travel with someone," he said quietly, almost like he was testing the waters.
Hally's interest piqued, and she gave him a warm smile. "Oh, yeah?"
"Yeah… but I didn't want to introduce her too early." His eyes flicked meaningfully toward Lily, who was still deeply engrossed in her sand village construction.
Hally let out a soft laugh, snorting a little. "Well, I'm sure Lily would love to meet your new friend. Wouldn't you, Lily?"
Lily paused from her work, looking up with wide eyes and glancing between them. "Can she build sandcastles?"
The Doctor hummed, considering. "I think so…"
"Good," Lily decided with a nod. "Because you're rubbish at it."
Hally burst into laughter. "I think that's you told, Dad."
The Doctor, pouting slightly, rubbed at his nose and muttered something under his breath. Then, after a pause, he cleared his throat. "Well… I can go and get her."
Hally raised an eyebrow. "Have you left the poor girl in the TARDIS?"
He shrugged sheepishly. "Maybe."
Rolling her eyes fondly, Hally waved him off. "Yes, go and get her. Obviously."
The Doctor jumped to his feet, bounding off toward the blue box parked conspicuously on the sand, not a single passer-by questioning it. Hally watched him go, shaking her head. She briefly considered telling Lily to be on her best behaviour, but decided against it. Lily would be however Lily wanted to be.
A moment later, The Doctor re-emerged from the TARDIS, not alone this time. Hally stood up as they neared, brushing the sand from her legs.
The woman walking beside him was smiling, bright-eyed and familiar. Clara.
The Doctor gestured between the two of them. "Clara, this is Hally. Hally, Clara."
Hally smiled warmly as Clara approached. Without hesitation, Clara stepped forward and pulled her into a hug.
"It's so great to finally meet you!" Clara beamed, her enthusiasm genuine. "I've heard so much about both of you." Her eyes flicked from Hally to Lily, her smile widening.
Hally gave her father a pointed look, an eyebrow raised. "Oh, have you now? That's new."
The Doctor waved her off, shooting her a knowing look. Lily, however, was staring up at Clara, her head tilted in curiosity.
Lily's eyes narrowed slightly before she asked, in that blunt, unfiltered way of hers, "Why are you so pretty?"
A smirk tugged at the corner of Hally's mouth. She sat back down beside her daughter, patting the sand. "Mmm, it's a very good question, Lils. Why are they always so pretty?" she mused aloud.
The Doctor huffed indignantly, crossing his arms. "Don't you start," he grumbled, but there was no real bite in his tone as he also plopped back down onto the sand.
Clara, for her part, laughed, her cheeks flushing faintly. She crouched down beside Lily, ready to join the sandcastle-building efforts, her hands already moving to help fortify the fragile village.
The morning of Lily's first day at school, Hally was a held-together mess—barely.
She moved mechanically, pulling Lily's school uniform over her head, smoothing down the pleats of the skirt and fussing with the collar more than was necessary. Lily, her usual cheerful self, didn't seem to notice her mother's tension. She swung her legs back and forth at the breakfast table, chattering on about how excited she was to meet her new teacher.
Hally couldn't bring herself to eat. She felt nauseous, nerves buzzing under her skin, her stomach in knots. Jack was there, thank goodness. He'd arrived earlier, knowing she'd need the extra help. He helped Lily finish her breakfast while Hally paced the kitchen, phone in hand, texting Armitage for what had to be the tenth—no, twelfth—time that morning.
Hally: Everything's secure, right? Are you sure the cameras are working?
Armitage: Yes. You've already asked. I've already confirmed. Yes.
Jack glanced at her as she typed furiously, exasperation creeping into his features. "If you keep this up, Armitage is gonna block your number, you know."
Hally grumbled, finally putting her phone down but not without a quick look at the screen. No new messages. "It's her first day, Jack."
Jack smiled softly, his hand resting on her shoulder. "I know. But you've got to let her go sometime."
"I don't have to like it."
Lily bounced up from the table, her little backpack in hand, ready to go. "Mummy! I'm ready!"
Hally turned, her hearts clenching as she took in the sight of her little girl, dressed in her uniform, looking so... grown-up. "Alright, Lils. Let's go."
Jack drove them to the school, the car filled with chatter from Lily about all the things she was going to do at school—her plans, her excitement. Hally barely spoke, focusing on her daughter's voice to keep herself from falling apart. Her pulse in her throat the entire drive.
When they arrived, the schoolyard was buzzing with other parents and children, all in various stages of morning drop-off. Lily squeezed Hally's hand, practically vibrating with excitement.
And then it was time.
Time to say goodbye.
Hally knelt down in front of her daughter, pulling her into a tight hug. "Be good, alright? Listen to your teacher. Don't... don't get into trouble."
Lily giggled, pulling back just enough to look at her. "I will, Mummy. I promise."
Hally's throat was tight, her eyes prickling. She kissed Lily's forehead, lingering a second longer than usual before finally letting her go. Lily waved happily, turning to join the stream of children heading into the building without a second thought.
Hally's breath caught in her lungs, her whole body feeling like it was trembling. Panic fluttered through her chest. What if she wasn't safe? What if something went wrong? What if—
"Hal." Jack's voice, steady and calm, broke through her spiral. His hand squeezed her shoulder gently. "She's going to be fine."
Hally blinked rapidly, forcing herself to nod, even though everything in her was screaming to go after Lily, to bring her back. To take her home and keep her safe.
"I know," she whispered, her voice shaky. "I know."
Jack's grip tightened, a reassuring presence as he gently turned her toward the car. "Come on. Let's get you out of here before you break through the gates."
She resisted, just for a second, looking back over her shoulder, but the doors had already closed, and Lily was inside. Safe. Gone.
Jack led her back to the car, and they both climbed in. Hally stared out the window, watching the other parents and kids, her heart still pounding in her chest. She hadn't cried yet—barely. But she could feel the tears threatening.
Jack started the car, glancing over at her with a knowing smile. He reached into the glovebox and handed her a tissue.
"God, I hate you," she muttered, taking the tissue and dabbing at the corners of her eyes.
Jack chuckled lowly, his laughter comforting in a strange way. He didn't push her further, just drove them both to UNIT in comfortable silence.
The day passed slowly, a blur of paperwork and meetings. Hally tried to focus, to keep her mind occupied, but it didn't help. She kept glancing at her phone, waiting for something—anything—from Armitage. He had said he'd only text if something was wrong and he hadn't texted. So, that was good, right? Or… it meant Armitage was dead and everything was very, very wrong.
By midday, she couldn't take it anymore.
Hally: Is everything okay?
Armitage: Everything is fine. Let me do my job.
Hally: But is she ok?
Armitage: She is FINE. Stop worrying.
She didn't stop worrying, though. Couldn't. After lunch, she sat in Kate's office for their scheduled meeting, her leg bouncing up and down beneath the table, her mind far from the discussion.
Kate stopped mid-sentence, eyeing Hally with a sympathetic smile. "How are you doing?" she asked, her tone gentle but knowing.
Hally looked up, blinking. "Hmm? Oh, I'm good." She wasn't. She wasn't good at all.
Kate's smile widened, a touch of amusement in her eyes. "On my eldest's first day, I cried for three hours. Hid in the toilet so no one would know."
Hally stared at her, incredulous. "...Really?"
"Oh yes," Kate nodded. "The second day was only a tiny bit easier. And the day after that, but eventually… it just becomes normal."
Hally hummed, her voice shaky as she let out a soft whine. "I know... I know... it's just..." The waterworks began, pooling in her eyes despite her best efforts to hold it together. "She's growing up so fast…"
Kate chuckled softly, nodding in understanding. "I know. Believe me, I know."
Hally made a face, rubbing her hands over her eyes to wipe the tears away. "Ugh."
Kate sat down beside her. "Go home at three. Pick her up from school. Have a hug, ask her how it was. It'll make tomorrow a little bit easier."
Hally sighed deeply. "Are you sure…?"
Kate chuckled again. "Yes. Go home. Have a long cry."
Hally laughed weakly, hiding her face in her hands for a moment. "Okay… thank you, Kate."
She stood, giving Kate a smile. "I guess there's no chance Alina isn't going to hear about this?"
"Not a chance," Kate smirked, already reaching for her phone.
Hally wasn't supposed to be the one picking Lily up, it was supposed to be just Armitage. But there she was, standing beside him as the kids poured out of the school building. He shot her a look when she arrived, but to his credit, didn't say anything.
The moment Lily spotted her, Hally crouched down and pulled her into a tight hug. Lily giggled in her arms, her little body wiggling with excitement.
"Did you have a good day?" Hally asked, her voice full of anticipation.
Lily nodded enthusiastically, grinning as she waved goodbye to a few of her new friends. Hally's hearts soared at the sight, a mixture of relief and pride flooding her chest. She took Lily's hand, leading her to the car where Armitage was waiting, as always. After strapping Lily in, Hally slid into the backseat with her daughter, ignoring the curious glances from the other parents, most of them directed at Armitage.
Once inside, Hally smothered Lily with cuddles, her arms wrapped tight around her little girl, taking in every moment she had missed throughout the day. She could feel her worries starting to ease, just having Lily back in her arms.
Armitage broke the moment purposefully. No doubt interrupting before Hally actually smothered her daughter. "So, Lily, what did you do at school today?"
Lily, of course, launched into a detailed account of her day, confident and bright.
"We all went to assembly and said hello to all the teachers," Lily began, her voice animated. "Then we went around all our classrooms and then we played some games to learn everyone's names. Oh, Mummy, look! This is my bookbag and these are my books." She proudly pulled out a couple of notebooks from her bag, showing them off as though they were treasures.
They spent the rest of the evening together, with Lily recounting every little detail of her first day. She had made some new friends, and liked her teacher. Hally listened closely, taking in everything her daughter said, even as her mind ran through all the things they still had to hide. They'd agreed on it beforehand—no lies, just half-truths. If anyone asked, Lily would explain that she and Hally had come from a faraway country, and that her father was still stuck there. As for the two hearts? Congenital condition. It was easier that way, less to hide.
Later, Lily helped with dinner, setting the table, her small hands carefully placing each fork and knife. Afterwards, they curled up together on the sofa, watching Hercules, the familiar movie playing in the background as they snuggled up in their usual spot.
When it was time for bed, Hally led Lily upstairs, the little girl yawning and rubbing her eyes. They read together before Lily finally settled under her blankets, looking up at Hally with a sleepy smile.
"I'm so proud of you, Lily," Hally whispered, kissing her on the forehead.
Lily gave her a tight hug, her small arms wrapping around her mother. "Love you, Mummy."
Hally felt the gentle press of Lily's mind against hers, the familiar mental nudge, and she hummed softly, sending a warm wave of affection back. She could feel Lily's excitement, her joy from the day and her eagerness to go back to school tomorrow. It was so pure, so innocent, and Hally couldn't help but smile, even as she felt a small pang of her own worry still lingering. But she squashed it down, pushing her pride toward her daughter instead.
"Love you too, sweetheart," she whispered, pulling the covers up around Lily before slipping out of the room, leaving the door slightly ajar.
Kate had been right. It did get easier, though Hally wasn't sure when exactly it had happened. At some point, the wrenching worry had dulled to a low hum, and their new routine became normal. They all took turns picking up Lily from school, which worked out well enough—except for the occasional odd looks from the other parents.
About a month in, one of Lily's classmates' moms sidled up to Hally as they waited for the kids to be dismissed. She had that look about her, the kind that told Hally she was fishing for gossip that would immediately end up being everyone's business.
"So," the woman began casually, "are any of them single?"
Hally blinked, confused for a second. She turned back, brow furrowing. "Sorry?"
"All those silent, handsome men who come to pick Lily up when you're not here," the woman elaborated, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "Jane and I were trying to figure out which one is Lily's father. We guessed it's the one who always wears the long blue coat."
Hally just stared, her brain taking a second too long to process the absurdity of the question. "Oh… uh, no. They're all… uncles. Lily's father is… away."
"All uncles?" The woman's eyebrows raised.
Hally nodded, slow and deliberate. "Yep."
"All blood-related?"
"…No. But I'm not really sure it matters."
The woman just hummed, giving Hally a knowing look. "Must be nice."
Hally blinked again, trying to keep her patience. "Sorry, what?"
"Being surrounded by so many gorgeous men while your husband's away."
Hally pressed her lips together, her patience hanging by a thread. "Right. Well… we're off now."
She quickly steered Lily towards the car the moment she was within reach.
As they walked, Lily tilted her head up, her big brown eyes studying her mother's face. "Are you ok, Mummy?"
Hally's anger simmered just beneath the surface, but she forced it down. Instead, she let the warmth of being with Lily replace it, plastering on a calm smile. "Yeah… the humans just said some stupid things." She leaned down to kiss Lily's forehead. "But it's all fine."
Despite the occasional annoyance, Lily was thriving. She made friends quickly, and Hally often hosted playdates. It wasn't easy, though. Hally did her best to chat with the other mums and dads when she could, but most of the time, she found their conversations tiresome. They were nice enough, but she still felt out of place, often standing alone while waiting for Lily.
Hart, of course, had discovered his newfound popularity and leaned into it, flirting with every parent who showed the slightest interest. Jack and Ianto were much more restrained, engaging in friendly small talk when necessary, though they mostly stuck to the background. Armitage, bless him, didn't say a word, and Hally appreciated that. If Armitage ever started making small talk with the other parents, she was fairly certain the universe would implode.
The thing was, it wasn't just that she missed The Master. His absence stung every day, but now that Lily was in school, there were just so many more events—parents' evenings, school performances, sports days, birthday parties. Hally wasn't the only single parent, of course, but their situation was unusual, to say the least. The rotating cast of men she brought with her—Jack, Ianto, Armitage, or Hart—never failed to raise questions. "They're her uncles" became her standard line, but the more she said it, the less satisfied the other parents seemed.
And then, of course, there were the parents who recognised her. In hindsight, her celebrity status had been a massive oversight. She had introduced herself as Hally on the first day, so now when people pointed her out, she couldn't pretend they were mistaken. She'd just wave them off with a vague "Torchwood business" and leave it at that.
All in all, most of Hally's school pickups ended with her in a bit of a mood—though she never let Lily see it. Her daughter adored school, and that was what mattered. She loved it so much that she'd stopped asking when they were going to rescue Daddy, at least not every week. For that, Hally was quietly relieved, even if the absence still cut a hole in her own chest.
It was a regular Sunday evening. Hally had decided to pull out the book she'd made for Lily, she'd tried to go through some of it when Lily had been four, though it hadn't quite stuck at the time. Now seemed like a good opportunity to try again. They snuggled together on the sofa as Hally got the book and opened it up.
"Do you remember when we read this book before?" Hally asked softly.
Lily nodded eagerly. "Yes. The book mummy made."
Hally smiled, glancing at the highly handmade pages. "Yeah… which is why it's practically falling apart." She gave a little laugh. "What do you remember about it?"
Lily scrunched up her face, thinking hard. "Umm, I remember some bits about Gallifrey."
"Ok, good," Hally said, nodding. "Well, can we read it again, together?"
Lily nodded again, more enthusiastically this time, and helped Hally turn the first page.
Hally began reading aloud, and Lily followed along with the pictures on the page. "Far, far away, in another galaxy, there's a very old, beautiful, golden planet called Gallifrey. The people who live there are called the Time Lords."
"Or Time Ladies…" Lily interrupted with a grin.
Hally chuckled softly, leaning down to kiss the top of her daughter's head. "Indeed. Now, the biggest city on Gallifrey is the Citadel, with tall, shiny buildings and skies that glow orange."
They turned the page together. "Time Lords are smart and very curious. They love to learn all about the universe, and they can even see and feel time. But what makes them really special is their ability to regenerate."
Lily hummed softly, the concept sparking recognition.
"When a Time Lord gets too hurt or too old, they change into a brand new person! Their face and voice might be different, but they're still the same inside," Hally continued.
Lily shifted, her expression thoughtful. "But not mummy?"
Hally shook her head, smiling gently. "Not mummy. Mummy doesn't regenerate because mummy can do magic." She held out her hand, a soft golden glow radiating from her fingertips. Lily's eyes lit up with excitement.
"Can I do magic?" Lily asked, her voice filled with curiosity.
Hally stroked her hair, her voice soft. "I'm not sure. Mummy's magic was a bit of an accident, so it might be that you have a little bit, or that you're more like Daddy, more Time Lord."
Lily's face scrunched up again in thought, but she nodded. "Ok." After a moment, she added, "But Daddy can regenerate." It was more a statement than a question, but Hally nodded.
"Yes, he can. And Grandad can too."
Lily shook her head. "But not humans."
"No."
"What about Uncle Jack?" Lily cocked her head to one side.
Hally chuckled softly. "Uncle Jack is a special human. He doesn't regenerate, but he has his own kind of magic, like mummy, and it keeps him young."
"Forever?"
Hally hummed. "For a very, very, very long time."
Lily's next question was one Hally had been expecting. "When can I regenerate?"
Hally couldn't help but smile. "Well, you don't need to. Only when you're very old." She kissed Lily on the forehead.
Lily hesitated, her voice small. "Does it hurt?"
Hally paused for a moment, thinking carefully. "Umm… I think it tickles."
A half-truth.
If you squint.
Lily nodded, her brow furrowed in concentration as she considered it. "Can you regenerate into anything?"
Hally smiled, amused. "What do you mean?"
"Could I regenerate into a dog?" Lily asked with all the seriousness of a child.
Hally shook her head, chuckling softly. "I don't think so. You'll still look like a human, but you might get taller or shorter, younger or older. You might have curly ginger hair or bright blue eyes."
Lily hummed again, satisfied with the explanation. She turned the page and pointed at a picture. "Daddy is there. In the bubble."
Hally nodded, her voice gentle as she helped Lily read the page. "Yes. A long time ago, there was a very dangerous war called the 'Time War'. It was fought between the Time Lords of Gallifrey and the Daleks. The Daleks wanted to take over the universe and destroy everything they didn't like, while the Time Lords tried to protect time itself. The war was so big and so powerful, it could have destroyed the entire universe. So, to keep everything safe, the Time Lords made a big bubble around Gallifrey and the Time War, called the Time Lock, to keep it all locked away."
Lily nodded slowly, her expression more serious now. "And Daddy's there…"
Hally nodded again slowly, watching Lily's face.
Lily frowned, biting her lip in thought. But after a moment, she just said, "Ok." She flipped through a few more pages, her small fingers tracing the edges of the book. "There's a lot of pages."
Hally smiled softly, nodding. "Yes, but some of the pages are for when you're older."
Lily pouted, clearly not pleased with that answer. "Why?"
"Because there are some stories about your mummy and daddy, but they're for when you're a bit older. Ok?"
Lily huffed but nodded, accepting her answer as Hally closed the book. "Fine."
Lily was upstairs getting dressed for school. Hally was crouched by the rabbit hutch when Jack entered the kitchen. Hart, already there, shot him a wry smile. "Ah, the cavalry's here. Get him to do it," he said, gesturing toward Jack.
Jack frowned, glancing between Hart and Hally. "Get me to do what?"
Hart clicked his tongue against his teeth. "The rabbit's dead."
Hally turned and glared at Hart. "Shhh! Don't say it so loud. She'll hear you."
Hart cocked an eyebrow. "I think she might work it out when she notices Mr. Floppy isn't breathing."
Hally shot him another glare. "Shhh, I'm thinking."
Jack looked between them, clearly confused.
Hart shrugged, a smirk on his face. "Just buy her a new one."
Hally made a face. "I can't just buy her a new one. She really loved that one…"
Jack moved closer, crouching down beside her. He peered into the hutch.
Yep, indeed one dead rabbit.
"Perhaps we can just explain it to her…?" he suggested.
Hally turned to him in horror. "No… no, we're not doing that."
Hart made a gesture with his hand, as if waving away the problem. "Can't you like… you know… resurrect it?"
Hally stood up, whining in frustration. "I can't."
Jack frowned, concern creeping into his voice. "Why not?"
She huffed, covering her face with her hands. "Because I did that last week."
Hart chuckled, shaking his head.
Jack levelled a serious look at her. "What?"
She hissed in response. "It was a reasonable thing to do. But… it's…"
"Dead again," Hart finished for her, and she glared at him.
Hart shrugged nonchalantly. "Just go to the shop and buy another one that looks the same. She won't notice."
"She will." Hally scowled at him, but then her expression changed, an idea forming in her mind. "Huh… maybe we could just buy a new one…"
Hart nodded, pleased. "Yep. Told you."
"And I'll tell her it regenerated…" Hally suggested, a hopeful expression spreading across her face.
Jack stared at her in disbelief. "Are you kidding? Please tell me you're kidding."
Hally shrugged, her plan solidifying. "What? Then she won't be sad, and she won't question why all of a sudden her black and ginger rabbit is now black and white?"
Jack shook his head, exasperated. "Or you could just… you know, tell her."
Hally huffed, pulling a face and crossing her arms. "I will, but just not right now…"
Jack crossed his arms, mirroring her. "You said you wanted no lies."
She frowned. "It's not a lie."
Jack groaned, clearly frustrated but unable to argue further.
"It's a half-truth… plus it'll get her used to the idea of regeneration," she added cheerfully, growing more confident in her scheme.
Jack huffed, finally relenting. "Fine. Whatever you want."
Hart grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Can I pick the rabbit?"
"No," they both answered in unison.
He pouted dramatically, but Hally was already moving on. "Ok… me and Hart will drop her at school, and Jack can go pick up another Mr. Floppy." She gave Jack a pleading smile, and after a moment, he huffed in agreement and nodded.
After Lily had been to so many of her classmates' birthday parties, she wanted a big one of her own.
Which was fine. Totally fine. Not stressful at all.
In hindsight, perhaps Hally should have split them and had two birthday parties—one for family and friends, and then a school party with the other kids and their parents. She probably should have done that. But at the time, she hadn't considered it.
They'd sent out invites to the kids at school, planned party games, arranged for an inflatable assault course, and decided to do fancy dress. Lily was currently slightly obsessed with Alice in Wonderland, so that ended up being the theme. The kids could all dress as characters, and Hally could create a 'tea-party vibe'.
She'd already briefed everyone else—Torchwood, UNIT, etc. Most of them could pretend to be normal fairly easily; she was mainly concerned about The Doctor and possibly Hart and River. Armitage promised he'd keep Hart on his best behaviour, and Hally had invited her dad and River over before all the other guests to explain what they would say if anyone asked. They would pretend The Doctor was her brother.
Clara wasn't coming, although Hally had a small suspicion that was more due to The Doctor not wanting Clara to meet River just yet...
She'd have pried more if she wasn't unbelievably stressed.
She was actively suppressing her internal panic.
She probably should have taken a minute or asked for help, but she didn't.
It wasn't that the party wasn't going well because it was.
Lily was loving it; her classmates were loving it. Watching Lily run around in her Queen of Hearts outfit had made her smile. Watching her classmates' mothers weirdly fawn over Armitage and Hart had made her laugh to herself, considering that it definitely wasn't polite to invite morally questionable ex-Time Agents and assassins to a six-year-old's birthday party.
Oh, well.
The Doctor was actually being sort of normal too.
A miracle.
Well, he was being an overgrown child, but the kids loved it, so she didn't mind.
Hally found herself watching, her hearts aching painfully.
Her daughter was so happy.
And Koschei wasn't here.
Emotions she'd been suppressing were trying to suffocate her.
She took a deep breath. She was fine. It was fine.
She shut down her mental barrier so Lily wouldn't pick up on anything.
Grief smacked into her.
And Hally almost choked, totally unprepared for it.
She was very aware of how surrounded by people she was.
Breathing was hurting.
Why wasn't he here?
What if he was dead?
What if he had left them?
It had been six years.
He should have been there, watching with her.
Watching how happy their daughter was surrounded by friends.
What was Hally doing?
She couldn't do this.
She wasn't good enough at this.
She stepped away, moving inside into the kitchen, into the quiet. She needed to catch her breath. That was all. It'd be fine. She was probably hovering around the beginnings of a panic attack. She needed to calm down.
Hally tried to push it back down, the mass of emotion, but it wouldn't budge.
She moved to the fridge, grabbing a bottle of wine and a glass.
Martha moved out from the lounge, spotting her in the kitchen, and gave her a smile. "Hey…" Perhaps noticing something was off, she paused. "Are you ok?"
Hally nodded. "Yep." It was short, clipped. Not very nice. She was never very nice to Martha, was she?
Guilt washed over her.
She closed her eyes tightly, trying to breathe.
"Hal…" Martha's hand gently landed on her arm, making her flinch. Hally dropped the glass, and it shattered.
"Fuck…" Hally glared at the broken glass, now a mess on the floor. She put the wine down and grabbed the dustpan and brush. Martha knelt down to help her.
"Martha, it's fine. I've got it."
Martha didn't say anything; she just continued to help. Hally was getting impatient, picking up bits of glass with her hand.
"Don't do that…" Martha muttered gently. "I've got it. Go take a breath."
"Martha…" Hally grit her teeth. "I don't need a breath. I'm fine." Her voice growled low.
The lights flickered above them, and they both stopped to look up.
Water was burning at her eyes.
She was losing control.
She couldn't lose control here. Not with Lily. Not surrounded by their friends, family, and other children.
Hally let out a short breath, uncurling her hand, which had tightened around a piece of glass, and wordlessly moved out of the room, leaving Martha to deal with it. She headed upstairs, scowling at the small puddle of red that was pooling in her palm from the glass. She went into the bathroom and washed it off, watching as the skin stitched itself shut, trying to get her breath back.
Not right now.
Can't break right now.
Later.
Now she needed to be calm. She needed to be fine. It was her daughter's birthday; she would be fine.
Hally took a few slow, deep breaths and managed to squash it down.
She moved into the bedroom, into her bedside drawer, she pulled out the silver band and, with a slow breath, placed it around her neck, sealing it. She couldn't be losing control here.
She knew they'd see it. The people who knew what it was would see it and they'd ask her if she was ok, but it was better than the alternative.
Just a precaution.
Deep breath.
Hally headed back downstairs and out into the back garden, the laughter and chatter of the party still echoing in her ears. She could feel a few eyes on her, no doubt because Martha had gone to Jack, who'd gone to Alina, and now they were no doubt all worrying about her. But she didn't look at them. She could pretend to be fine. The biodampener was on. Nothing bad could happen.
They did presents, pass the parcel, enjoyed food and cake, and throughout it all, Hally maintained an outward appearance of total composure. The Doctor noticed the band around her neck. She caught his eyes flick down to it, but he didn't say anything. Jack lingered close by, she knew he was only trying to be supportive but it grated. Alina tried a few times to check in, but Hally brushed her off every time, feigning smiles and nods.
If she could just get through to the end of this, she'd be fine.
Eventually, the party wound down, and the time came to say goodbye to all the kids and parents. She felt the others lingering, Jack, Martha, Alina, The Doctor... She knew why they were hanging back. They wanted to ask her if she was okay.
Well, she wasn't okay.
She moved through into the kitchen, her eyes landing on River. An idea sparked in the back of her mind. "Can we go somewhere?" she asked, her voice a mix of urgency and frustration.
River looked up, eyebrows raised. "Go somewhere?"
"Yes. Like now. Like anywhere. Running. Stealing something. Whatever."
"Are we running away?" River asked, amusement lacing her voice.
Hally huffed, shaking her head. "No. We're blowing off steam. It's different."
"Sure it is." River smiled, glancing out toward Lily, who was still happily occupied outside. "She'll notice if you disappear."
"Well, we can be quick." Hally clipped back quickly.
River studied her for a moment, clearly weighing something in her mind before she held out her arm. "Alright then."
Hally and River reappeared in the bustling heart of a city, she didn't know where, she didn't care. It looked like they'd ended up in East Asia. The air was thick with the scents of street food and the sounds of bustling life and conversation echoing off the buildings. It was a vibrant, bright neon lights illuminating the night sky. The sudden burst of energy and life around her was overwhelming, yet somehow, the chaos was welcome.
She didn't ask where River was taking her, she just followed her.
River was talking, saying something about prisoners, her eyes glinting.
They slipped inside a building through a side door, the dim interior contrasting sharply with the vibrant city outside. Hally's senses sharpened, her hearts starting to beat hard in her chest. Every sound amplified, every shadow seemed to dance with potential.
They moved through the darkened corridors, Hally could hear muffled voices—people trapped, held against their will. It stirred something deep within her. A perverted sort of excitement.
They rounded a corner, and River motioned for Hally to stay quiet. Ahead, a group of men stood watch, guarding those held against their will. Oblivious to the two women sneaking closer. River's expression was serious as she nodded toward a door on the opposite side of the room. Hally understood immediately; the prisoners were beyond that door.
Just as they were about to move, one of the guards turned, sensing something amiss. A rush of something a little like desperation propelled Hally forward. She tackled into him, the impact jolting her system.
River was right beside her, engaging the others. The exertion was therapeutic.
She needed this.
Fighting was helpful.
Knocking down humans—also helpful.
Letting one or two land a blow on her, just to remind herself that she was alive, was also helpful.
They'd freed the captives and slipped out into the night, the sounds of the city embracing them again. Hally glanced back at the warehouse, her hearts still beating happily in her chest.
"Is that a bar?" Hally hummed, already walking away from River, her feet leading her toward the flickering neon sign.
River followed, tutting softly. "We should be getting back."
"We won't be long," Hally insisted, her eyes glimmering.
"Hally." There was a warning in River's tone, but Hally turned and shot her a glare.
"What? I thought you were meant to be fun? I hope you're not taking your role as 'stepmother' too seriously," Hally retorted, a challenge in her voice.
River clicked her tongue against her teeth, but Hally had already turned, striding into the bar with purpose, as River begrudgingly followed.
Inside, they settled into a booth. Hally wasted no time in ordering a drink, eager to numb some of the incessant thoughts that wouldn't leave her mind alone.
In the haze, her brain would be unable to think, unable to feel. Drunk was nice. Drunk was quiet.
River joined her, sipping on something slowly, but mostly watching Hally. They talked, though the conversation centred around River's adventures, her travels mostly. River didn't ask what was wrong while Hally drank far too much, far too quickly.
River knew if she just waited long enough, Hally would eventually break.
"Lily had fun today," River tried, her voice light.
Hally hummed, taking a sip of her drink. "Yes. She did. Good. That's good." She turned her gaze away from their table, focusing instead on the crowd beyond, the warmth of the alcohol spreading through her.
The world began to blur around the edges, and she welcomed it. Each sip eased the unbearable pressure pressing down on her chest.
River studied her, her fingers tracing the rim of her own glass, which remained mostly untouched. "Did you?" she remarked softly, casually.
Hally clenched her jaw. She didn't respond immediately, instead tilting her head back to drain the last of her glass. The haze of drunkenness was intoxicating in more ways than one, better than thinking. A warm, fuzzy space, a cocoon.
River leaned back, observing quietly, waiting. The silence grew heavier, the alcohol loosening Hally's grip on her carefully restrained emotions.
"It's not fair," Hally said suddenly, her voice tight and bitter.
River raised an eyebrow but remained silent, allowing Hally to continue.
Hally looked at the empty glass in front of her, she had started to tremble. "None of it is fair," she continued, the words spilling out. "I don't want to do this. I don't want to raise her without him."
Her eyes burned with unshed tears, but she blinked them back, refusing to let herself cry. Not here. Not now. "He has missed so much of it. He won't even know anything about her." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I keep telling Lily he's stuck. I keep telling her we'll find him soon, that he'll come back. But I don't know, River. I don't know if he'll ever come back."
River's gaze softened, but she still said nothing, just listened, her presence grounding.
"I'm angry," Hally admitted, her voice barely a whisper. "I'm so angry, and it's not fair. He was supposed to be here. He was supposed to help. We were supposed to do this together."
Her hands shook as she wrapped them around her empty glass, knuckles white. "How long can I keep lying to her? How long until she realises that I have no idea where he is? Or if he's even coming back?" Her eyes were wide and desperate as she looked at River. "What if he never comes back, River? What if I'm doing this alone forever?"
Finally, River reached out, placing a steady hand over Hally's. "You're not alone," she said gently.
Hally let out a harsh laugh, the sound bitter. "I know I have all of you. But it's not the same, is it? It's all just fucking make-believe."
The admission hung heavy in the air between them, and Hally felt something crack open inside her. "I miss him," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I miss him so much, all the fucking time, and I hate it. I can't tell anyone. I can't talk about it. There's just this hole in my chest, and all I can do is give Lily as much love as I possibly can, but I am so empty. I am so tired."
Her breath hitched, tears threatening to spill over. "All the time. It's me. Being strong and brave and responsible. The mother. The protector. All the time. Every single minute of every single day, and I am so tired…"
River squeezed her hand. "You're allowed to be angry," she said softly. "And you're allowed to miss him."
Hally nodded, but the tears came now, slipping down her cheeks despite her efforts to stop them. She swiped at them furiously with the back of her hand, frustrated with herself. "I am so tired of pretending I'm okay…"
"You don't have to," River replied, her tone reassuring.
"I can't show her this… River. I can't show a six-year-old any of this." Hally rubbed her hands across her face, desperate to wipe away the evidence.
"Perhaps not with her, but you can ask for help, Hally. You know they'll always give it to you."
Hally sighed, pressing her eyes together.
A sound started to hum around them.
A gratingly familiar whirring.
She looked up at River, shooting her a glare. "You told on me? Not cool, River," Hally muttered.
River pressed her lips together as she leaned back in her chair watching the TARDIS materialise.
Jack stepped out first, followed closely by The Doctor. Hally couldn't help but groan. "Wonderful," she sighed, hiding her face in her arms.
River stood up, a hint of sass in her tone. "Harkness, what part of 'come alone' was confusing?"
Jack shot her a look, raising an eyebrow. "He insisted." He moved over, his hands lifting Hally up out of her seat by her armpits. Setting her onto her feet. "Hey there…" She stumbled slightly, prompting him to catch her. "Little bit drunk, huh?"
"Fuck off…" she mumbled, trying to shake off the haze.
"Oh, drunk and an attitude. Is it my birthday?" Jack quipped, guiding her towards the TARDIS. The Doctor followed, his disapproving gaze firmly fixed on River.
Once inside, The Doctor moved to the console silently and dematerialised the ship. The tension in the air was palpable, and Hally could feel his eyes on her. She turned to him, bracing herself. "Go on. I can practically hear the disapproving monologue festering, Dad."
He let out a soft sigh, moving away from the console. A moment later, he returned with a bottle filled with a green liquid. "Drink this. It'll sober you up."
Hally looked at the bottle with disdain. "Oh, wow. Thank you." She rolled her eyes. "Maybe… maybe I don't want to sober up." She scowled and pressed the bottle back into his hand.
The Doctor's jaw clenched, and his tone sharpened. "We're about to land in your kitchen, and your daughter is still up, so unless you want her to see you like this, I suggest you drink it." He held her gaze, unyielding.
Taking a small breath, Hally felt tears pricking at her eyes as she looked away. The Doctor moved back to the console, leaving her alone as she begrudgingly unscrewed the cap. She reluctantly drank the liquid. It took a few minutes, but as the fog of alcohol began to lift, she rubbed her eyes, the unwelcome thoughts returning.
Was Lily okay?
Had she upset her?
Had she ruined the day?
Probably.
She was selfish.
So fucking selfish.
The others were silent.
She assumed it was because they were disappointed.
They know she's fucked up.
Judging.
They know she's terrible at this.
That she's ruined Lily's day.
It isn't.
That isn't what they're thinking at all.
The TARDIS landed, and The Doctor wordlessly moved toward her, pulling her into a hug. Hally buried her face against his chest. He held her close, one hand bracing the back of her head while the other gently rubbed her back.
After a few long moments, he spoke. He didn't speak out loud, but his voice echoed in her mind.
"I know it's hard, and I know you won't believe me when I tell you how amazingly you're doing, but you are. She is amazing, and she is amazing because of you."
Hally sniffled against him.
"Sometimes I forget how strong you are…"
She wiped her face and pulled back slightly. "I'm not," she mumbled.
He smiled. "Yes, you are." His voice continued in her mind, gentle and encouraging. "It's okay. It's okay to have a bad day, Hal. It's okay to be lost. It's okay to take time. To grieve." He shot her a knowing smile, repeating her own words back to her. "Come on. I'm sure Lily would love a hug."
Hally nodded, making sure there weren't any tears left on her face before heading out of the TARDIS, the others following closely behind. Ianto was with Lily, but otherwise, the house was empty. It didn't appear to be long after she had left, though the place was now tidy. They'd tidied for her.
Lily looked up and her face brightened. She got up and ran over to Hally, enveloping her in a tight hug. Hally crouched down, settling onto the floor to hold her daughter close.
"Are you okay, Mummy?" Lily asked, concern in her eyes.
Hally nodded, forcing a smile, though tears still pooled in her eyes. "I'm okay, sweetheart." She brushed Lily's hair away from her face. "I just needed a minute…" Clearing her throat, she wanted to be as honest as she could. "I felt sad, and I didn't want anyone else to be sad… I didn't want to be sad after your birthday party…"
Lily considered her for a moment, then hugged her tightly. "It's okay to be sad, Mummy. I will look after you."
Hally hugged her daughter back, tears threatening to spill again as she pressed kisses against the side of Lily's head. Her hearts unbearably full. Lily pulled back and gently wiped the tears from Hally's face. "Why are you sad?"
Hally offered her a small smile, clearing her throat to steady her voice. "Um, I was sad today because sometimes I miss Daddy very much." She smiled softly. "And I was sad that he couldn't be here to see how much fun you had today."
Lily wiped away another stray tear and nodded, hugging Hally again. "It's okay, Mummy."
"I know," Hally replied, kissing her forehead. "Thank you, Lily. This is the best hug."
Lily smiled and squeezed her tight.
Hally stood at the kitchen counter, watching Lily fumble with her bag, an unmistakable frown on her small face. She'd been in a mood ever since Hally had picked her up from school, giving monosyllabic responses to every question on the drive home. It was more than just the usual after-school grumpiness. There was a heaviness, a sadness. She knelt down to meet her daughter at eye level, hoping that whatever was bothering Lily could be coaxed out gently.
"Hey, Lilypad," Hally said softly. "What's going on? Did something happen at school?"
Lily shifted, still avoiding her mother's gaze. After a long pause, she mumbled, "No."
Hally pouted at her gently. "Well, you know you can always tell me if something's bothering you… I'm here to listen and give hugs." She smiled.
Lily chewed on the inside of her mouth. "My friend Chloe, she said something mean."
Hally's stomach tightened. She kept her voice calm. "What did she say, sweetheart?"
Lily hesitated again, clearly debating whether to open up. Finally, with a little huff of frustration, she whispered, "She said… she said her mummy and daddy love each other more than mine do."
Hally felt a flash of anger bubble up, already imagining the snide little girl and considering whether it was possible to discreetly remove one of her parents from existence to see how she liked it. But before she could entertain any immediate plans, Jack, who was leaning casually by the fridge, cleared his throat, his eyebrow raised knowingly towards her.
Hally blinked, forcing herself to take a breath and return to calm parent mode. She gently brushed a strand of hair away from her daughter's face. "That wasn't very kind of Chloe, was it?"
Lily shook her head, her frown deepening. "No. She said it at lunch, and… and everyone heard." Her small voice cracked a bit, and Hally's hearts clenched. "She said her mummy and daddy cuddle all the time and that you don't have any cuddles because my daddy isn't here."
Hally frowned. "Well, that's silly, because the best cuddles come from you." Hally smiled at her. "And we cuddle all the time."
"That's what I said." She frowned. "But she said Mummy and Daddy cuddles were special."
Hally cleared her throat.
Ah.
Right.
Hally let out a soft whine, wishing her kitchen wasn't always so full of people. Jack was standing with his arms crossed, trying to stay neutral but clearly paying attention. Ianto was pretending to focus on his cup of coffee, but his lips were twitching, and Armitage stood stoic as always, though his eyes flickered with an amused curiosity. And then there was Hart, lounging against the dining table with a gleam in his eyes, smirking.
"Well, first of all," Hally started. "Just because your daddy isn't here right now doesn't mean we don't love each other. We're still a family, aren't we?"
Lily nodded but remained unconvinced. "But you don't get special cuddles."
Hally bit her lip, feeling the conversation slipping further into uncomfortable territory. She cleared her throat again, feeling the eyes of everyone in the room on her. "Mummy doesn't need cuddles from Daddy because I have the best cuddles from you," she said, pulling Lily close and hugging her tightly.
"So… you don't need special cuddles?"
Hally shook her head. "Nope. Just Lily cuddles."
She kept Lily held in the hug, hoping to shift the conversation away from the minefield they were currently dancing around. Lily snuggled into her mother, but Hally could tell her little brain was still churning, thinking it all over.
Lily's small voice broke the brief silence. "But... can't Uncle Jack give you special cuddles?" she asked innocently, looking up at Hally with big, curious eyes.
Hally froze, her cheeks flushing. Jack, who had been quietly sipping a tea, nearly spat it out in surprise. Ianto choked on a laugh and had to turn away, his shoulders shaking. Hart, of course, was openly grinning, his eyes dancing with mischief.
"Oh, this is too good," Hart muttered, his grin widening. He raised a hand lazily, a smirk pulling at his lips. "I offer her special cuddles all the time, Lils."
Hally shot him a withering glare, resisting the urge to throw something at him. "Not. Helpful," she hissed through gritted teeth. Then, turning back to Lily, she plastered on a warm smile. "You know, Uncle Jack is a very good friend. And friends... well, friends give hugs when we need them. But not special cuddles."
Lily thought about this for a moment, her brows knitting together in concentration. "Oh. Okay," she finally said, accepting this with a nod before leaning back into Hally's arms.
Hart hummed. "And I think Uncle Ianto might have a thing or two to say about it if he was."
She shot him another silencing glare.
"I'm still on the table for cuddles, just so we're clear," Hart chimed in, his voice brimming with amusement. He winked at Lily. "In case Mummy ever needs them."
Jack rolled his eyes, stepping in to save Hally from Hart. He crouched down beside Lily and gave her a reassuring smile. "Best friends like me and your mum—we look out for each other. And that means I'm always here if she ever needs a hug. But your cuddles are the best, just for her. No one else gets those, not even me."
Lily smiled, reassured, and cuddled deeper into Hally's arms. "Okay, Uncle Jack."
Hally sent Jack a grateful look, he winked back at her, the corner of his mouth lifting in amusement.
The kitchen was its usual scene of domestic chaos. Glitter, glue, and half-dried paper crafts littered the countertops, and the faint hum of impending disaster filled the air. What had begun as a quiet afternoon of making cards had taken a swift turn the moment Hart decided it was time for a pirate duel. Now, the floor was shimmering with glitter, Lily's sword gleamed with sticky sparkles, and Hart was mid-duel, fending off the tiny terror with dramatic flair.
Lily, standing on a chair, waved her sword high, her face a picture of intense concentration. "Prepare to meet your doom, Captain!" she declared, launching another handful of glitter in Hart's direction.
Hart staggered back, hand pressed dramatically to his chest. "No! The magic dust! It burns!" he groaned, collapsing onto the floor.
Hally, standing by the counter, was half-watching the scene, half-attempting to clean up the glue-covered spoons when her phone rang. She grabbed it quickly, tucking it between her ear and shoulder as she tried to wipe glitter off her hands.
"Mrs. Oakdown?" Came the smooth, feminine, slightly posh voice on the other end.
"Uh-huh," Hally mumbled, only half paying attention as Lily attempted to clamber onto the table for a better vantage point in her glittery battle.
"Wonderful," the voice purred. "Headmistress, at Bridgewater Primary." The voice introduced herself, there was a lilt, ever so slight, slipping into a Scottish accent before receding again.
Hally blinked, her focus finally shifting to the phone call. "Oh," she said, standing a little straighter. "Is everything alright?"
"Quite alright, dear. I just wanted to have a quick chat about your daughter, Lily." The headmistress's voice held an edge of wry amusement.
"Right…" Hally rolled her lip between her teeth, preparing herself for bad news.
"She's doing wonderfully in her studies. Quite ahead of her peers, actually."
Hally swallowed, a different kind of knot tightening in her stomach. "Oh. That's... good?"
"Very good," the headmistress continued. "Which is why I wanted to chat with you." She hummed. "It would be a shame to see such a bright mind stifled, don't you think?" The way her voice lilted upwards, told Hally that while it was a rhetorical question, Hally was expected to answer it.
Hally's eyes flicked to Lily, who had just thrown another fistful of glitter into the air, twirling in victory as Hart dramatically fell to his knees. She chewed on her lip. "Uh… yeah." She wasn't entirely sure where this was going.
"I'm talking about tutoring, Mrs Oakdown." There was something weird about how she was saying her name. Hally hummed.
"Right… I mean… she's six?"
The voice on the other end let out a soft, slow chuckle. "And yet, she's already outpacing children a couple of years older than her. We wouldn't want her to get bored, now would we?"
Boredom was one thing, but advancing too quickly? Drawing attention to herself? That was dangerous. If she stood out too much…
"Well..." Hally hesitated, glancing back at Lily, who was now laughing as Hart pretended to be vanquished again, covered head to toe in glitter.
The headmistress's voice softened. "I would personally oversee her sessions, of course. I assure you, Mrs. Oakdown, I'm quite experienced in guiding extraordinary children."
Hally frowned, picking up on the subtle undertone of the statement but unsure what to make of it. "I don't know…" she said slowly. "I mean… yes it's obviously a great idea… I just…"
"Mmm?" There was a cheery hum from the other end.
"I don't want her to be ostracised, from the others in her class…"
"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that," the headmistress replied, her voice dipping. "Children like Lily need special attention. And we wouldn't want to waste her potential now, would we?"
Hally's attention started to drift again as she watched Hart sneak up behind Lily, about to launch a counterattack.
There was a slight pause on the other end of the line, and then the headmistress's voice came again, lower and with a slight edge. "Mrs. Oakdown." She said, almost chastising. "Are you paying attention?"
Hally blinked, startled. "What? Yes, sorry." She stood straighter, feeling oddly scolded. "It's just... things are a bit chaotic… here."
A soft, lilting chuckle came through the phone. "I can imagine. But do take this seriously, dear. It would be such a shame for Lily to be held back."
Hally pressed her hand to her forehead. She was making a good argument. She didn't want Lily to feel stifled. To be bored. She was different. But that came with risks. But… how could she deny her daughter the chance to grow and learn at her own pace? If someone was offering?
"Well…" Hally sighed, glancing back at Lily, who was now hopping from chair to chair, sword raised high. "How often are we talking?"
"Twice a week to start with," the headmistress said, her tone slipping back into that smooth, reassuring cadence. "We can always adjust if it becomes too much, but I suspect she'll take to it quite naturally."
Hally hesitated again. "And you'll oversee it personally?" she asked, though she wasn't sure why she was asking. "It's just… I need her to be…" She didn't know quite how to word it.
"Of course, dear," the headmistress replied, her voice dipping into a softer, more intimate tone. "I wouldn't trust Lily with anyone else."
Hally didn't quite know what to make of that, but the way the words were delivered made her feel like there wasn't much room for argument. She sighed again, resigned. "Alright. Ok."
"Wonderful," the headmistress practically purred, the hint of a patronising edge had returned. "I'm so glad."
Before Hally could respond, there was a loud crash from the living room. Hart had knocked over a chair in his latest pirate attack, sending glitter and paper flying everywhere.
"I have to go," Hally said quickly, pulling the phone away from her ear. "Thanks. I'll, um, speak soon."
The headmistress chuckled softly. "I look forward to it, Mrs. Oakdown."
Hally hung up, tucking the phone into her pocket just as Lily came charging toward her, glittery sword still in hand. "Mummy! I won! I beat him again!"
Hally laughed, scooping Lily up and pressing a kiss to her forehead. "You did, my little pirate queen."