Who is 'R.' ??

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"I know it was wrong of me to keep this from you. But I was so scared you'd read this and it somehow helped you find your real mum. Then I'll never see you again."

- Jackie Tyler

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London, England
April 2006

IT WAS ONE OF THOSE RARE SUNNY DAYS IN LONDON, and half of the city seemed to be enjoying the nice day at the very place Jackie took Lily. It was packed with families and their children and even elderly couples taking their afternoon strolls. Lily enjoyed seeing them live their lives. Life in the TARDIS can make you start dislocating yourself from reality, an issue Lily understood long before she met the Doctor. It felt nice to come back to a place where she had so many fond memories.

Lily sat at one of the many outside tables the ice cream stand provided for its customers. They started going to this park a bit after her dad died- now older, Lily thinks it was for her mum to get a little time out of the house that probably still had all his inventions and investments cluttered inside.

The park was a three-minute walk from their building and, including the ice cream stand, had a hotdog stand, many different kinds of playground equipment, a splash pad, and various sports courts. The white wired tall table Lily was at sat on a slab of pavement right beside the stand, where Jackie had been in argument with its cashier for the last two minutes.

She ultimately gave up and took the two cups of ice cream, returning to Lily. "I swear, these people." She commented, putting down the ice cream on the table before taking her seat across from Lily.

"What was it this time?" Lily held back a chuckle as she moved to take the cup closest to her which matched the other cup -pink and white striped with the business's logo and came with a small pink, plastic spoon.

Jackie slammed her handbag next to her ice cream. "They didn't have your strawberry shortcake. Apparently, they don't sell it anymore." She said like she was mocking the person who told her.

The voice she made had Lily giggling. "Well, we haven't visited here in maybe a couple of years." Lily brought up. "It's normal for businesses to change menus." She took a scoop of her ice cream and ate it, adding after she swallowed. "Regular strawberry is fine, Mum."

They silently each took a few bites of their ice cream before Jackie spoke. "So, how did Rose take the news?"

Lily leaned back against her chair, cup and spoon still in hand. "Rather well." She swirled her ice cream around to soften it. "I guess it was better than if I said I was a certain large green monster."

Jackie knew who she was mentioning and it nearly made her choke. "Oh lord," She put a hand on her chest and finished the ice cream that was still in her mouth. "Don't bring up those things again."

Lily stifled a laugh. "Sorry."

"You're my daughter, Lily. The best birthday gift I've ever received." The genuine truth in her tone made Lily beam. "And I don't care if you're not human. Because that changes nothing, you understand me?" Lily nodded. "If it's not only your aging and something else changes in you then we'll face it head-on as a family." Her eyes fell and she let go of her ice cream. "And I think I should do this now before I lose my confidence." Lily eyed her as she reached into her handbag and took out a white envelope.

Lily studied it. "What's that?"

Jackie took a second before answering her. "This was left with you inside your basket."

Lily sat up and abandoned her own ice cream. "I didn't know-"

"I know," Jackie hugged the envelope to her chest. "I know it was wrong of me to keep this from you. But I was so scared you'd read this and it somehow helped you find your real mum." Tears started filling her eyes. Then I'll never see you again." Lily went to speak but Jackie continued. "But now you're all grown up. And you're beautiful, talented and so brilliant. And you deserve a chance to find where you come from." She turned the envelope around and showed her the front. Lily gasped when she saw 'Lillian Carter' written across it in dark blue ink. "This is how we got your name."

Jackie handed it to Lily and she took it gently like she was handed a newborn kitten. "I did see, right after opening the door and finding you, a flash of red hair duck behind a wall from the end of the corridor." She nodded to the envelope. "Maybe it was her?"

"She had my hair color?" Jackie shrugged. Lily examined it closer and furrowed her brows when she saw it was still sealed. "You never opened it?" She asked her mum.

"It wasn't mine to open."

"Before I open this I want you to know," She reached across the table to take Jackie's hand. "That whatever I find in this envelope doesn't change anything. Rose is my sister, Pete was my Dad and you are my Mum." Jackie's eyes were glazed over but she still lifted Lily's hand and kissed the back of her palm.

Lily took her hand back and carefully unsealed the envelope and took out a piece of paper. Putting the envelope onto the table she used both hands to unfold the letter and read out loud-

Dear Lillian,

You are a vision. A true and utter vision. I cannot fathom how a person like myself was blessed with a baby girl as extraordinary as you.

We will see each other again. And when we do I'll explain everything.

Mummy loves you.

- R.

"That's all? Not even an explanation for 'Carter'?" Jackie said what Lily was thinking but was too disappointed to voice it. "Lily?"

She grazed her fingers over the ridges the blank inked pen made, tracing each word, memorizing it. "This is her handwriting. My birth mum's," Lily had to get out of her chair to walk around the table and give her mum a proper hug. "Thank you." Jackie's arms tightened her hold like she didn't want Lily to let go.

Later, after they finished up their ice cream, Lily reentered the TARDIS and brought the Doctor and Rose up to speed on what happened, including the letter. The Doctor said he could help find her if she wanted and Rose became giddy at the thought but Lily rejected him. Her birth mum said they'll meet again. Whenever the time is right they'll reunite.

When they were done reading it themselves, Lily took it back and folded it into several squares until it became a small square that fit in her palm. She then opened her locket and tucked it inside before reclasping it closed- keeping it safe until that day.

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- Author's Note -

R.? A flash of red hair? Who the heck is Lily's birth mum? Is it someone of significance or just a normal lady? Only I (and a handful of others) know the truth .. you'll just have to wait a see :)

By the way, the mystery may just stay with her birth mum and not dad cause I don't even know who the dad is at this moment in time (lol!)

But that could change! Love to hear y'all's theories!!

Love you guys so so sooo much !! <33

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Question of the Day

QOTD ~If you had to travel with one of the 'Classic Doctors' .. from One to Eight .. who would you choose?

Kayleigh's answer ~I think I'll stick with Four? Cause I see our personalities fitting quite well together .. plus I wanna know what a jelly baby tastes like, haha!

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Please leave your wonderful comments below and don't forget to vote :)

- Kayleigh