Look - obviously I know things y'all don't know about the future of this couple and the series in general. So, if you want to be sad with me (who could only hear this song as I wrote this chapter), go to the song '(I Just) Died in Your Arms - Epic Theme' by Hidden Citizens and fast forward to 2:29 .. and take that how ever you'd like 😊

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"There is no other person, in this vast universe, that I would want to have traveling the stars with me. There's only you, Lily Carter."

- The Doctor

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Later that Same Night

THE STARS WERE STUNNING THAT NIGHT. Lily couldn't help but admire the view from her spot on top the roof of their flat. She was stretched out on her back, lying on a blanket she brought up from her bedroom, and her hands rested upon her stomach. She hadn't changed out of her clothes even when the hours passed by- still in her jacket and shoes.

She regretted what she did the second they all returned home to Jackie in hysterics. That was quite possibly her one chance and she blew it by trying to do the sensible thing. But she always chose the sensible choice- the safest option. Rose left to bring Mickey back to his car, and to possibly help him unwind after the events that Lily was hoping didn't traumatize him. While her other half was gone, and her mum retiring for the night, Lily took her blanket and took the fire escape up to the vacant roof.

She watched the sky closer than ever, hoping to spot the TARDIS flying past with the Doctor inside- off on his next adventure. For a moment when they were against the Nestene she thought she'd be that companion next to his side- and she almost was before she fucked everthing up.

"Oh, god." She groaned, rubbing her hands through her hair. She was so incredibly daft- she could even still hear the TARDIS as if it was right behind her. She paused and slowly sat up, looking over her shoulder just enough to spy the flashing blue behind her.

She was on her feet right as the TARDIS finished materializing and one of its doors opened- the Doctor sticking his head out. "I'm sorry .." He blinked and spoke with an offended sound in his voice. "Did you seriously say 'no' ?"

It was Lily's turn to blink- three times at that. "Huh?"

He exited the TARDIS, the door closing behind him. "I offered for you to travel with me." He stopped a few feet from where she stood. "A dream you've had for over a decade and you just reject me."

Lily laughed at that, but the Doctor's face hasn't changed from what it looked like when he exited the TARDIS. So, her laughter started to die down to just a shy smile."I feel like you're exaggerating a bit. How much time has passed for you?"

"Minutes."

"Minutes?" Lily was startled- what was minutes for him was hours for her. He must have jumped a timestream to get back to her. She then remembered something. "You still have my locket."

"Yeah, I know." He searched inside the pocket of his leather jacket, and pulled out her locket. Instead of handing it to her he kept it in his hand and looked down, running a thumb over the design. "I had to make sure my theory was right before I told you."

Lily tilted her head slightly. "Theory?"

His eyes lifted up, meeting hers. "Since the day you were given this locket," He held it up to eye level. "Have you found it troubling to differentiate what's reality and what isn't?"

For a moment she couldn't come up with a response. Lily felt a sudden breeze of disbelief as the reality of what he was telling her sank in. "The doctors called it 'maladaptive daydreaming.'"

His eyes hardened at that, as if he didn't like what she had said. "It's not. The locket was doing that to you- forcing my memories into your head, no matter if you were asleep or awake. I was able to alter its mechanism. It wasn't an easy fix. I had just finished but-"

Lily interrupted him as the realization hit. "You're going to let me keep it?" She asked, hopeful.

His voice was soft. "It's always been yours." The Doctor gave her a nod. "Turn around."

Lily obeyed, facing her back toward him. She heard him carefully step closer, like he was worried he'd scare her away if he moved too fast. She stifled a gasp once she felt his hand start to move her hair to the side. To help him, and herself from internally exploding, Lily reached back and gathered her hair, lifting it off her neck and exposing it to him. He stayed quiet, and Lily only wished she knew what his face looked like as he wrapped the chain around her neck. Lily knew he was taking his time fastening it because the entire time she was counting in her head, to help distract her from what she was feeling. She got to ten before she heard him retreat one step backwards and said quickly before she could move. "Why didn't you say yes?"

She turned to face him- ecstatic to have her locket back so she could mess with it as she talked. But when she went to speak, no words came out.

His eyes held desperation- which took her by surprise. "Tell me .." He asked again.

"Fear?"

He frowned. "Of me?"

She shook her head- determined for him to believe that she could never be scared of him. "No, I just .." She had to look back up at the stars to get courage to say what she needed to say. "I'm scared of it not being everything I imagined it to be." Even admitting it out loud- it sounded ridiculous to her. She imagined the Doctor would start laughing at her, she would have laughed at herself if she was him. But when she looked from the stars back to him that wasnt at all what he had on his face. What she thought to be humor in his eyes were actually the same determination she'd seen in them before.

"Put me on trial."

She gave him a grin, astounded at what he said. "What?"

He glanced down and she wondered if the grin he now had on his face was because of hers. "Come with me for a few trips and get a better first hand account of if I'm still that man you've grown up dreaming of. Better than what the last two days had shown you."

She was now giggling. "This Doctor can't take no for an answer, can't he?"

He shrugged and put his hands in her pockets- his shoulders relaxing. "It's still new- still needs some test driving." He added in a wink before reaching behind him to open one of the TARDIS doors- stepping back and stopping in the doorway. "There is no other person, in this vast universe, that I would want to have traveling the stars with me. There's only you, Lily Carter." That's when he backed up further and disappeared into the TARDIS, leaving the door ajar.

It was there on that roof, twelve years after their first meeting and under a sky of a million stars that Lily Carter .. that 'Red' .. stopped concerning herself over the consequences of what could come from her actions. With a final intake of breath, and a look behind her at her city and the stars above, Lily beamed and turned back around- stepping into the TARDIS and closing the door behind her.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Question of the Day

QOTD ~ Who is your favorite companion?

Kayleigh's answer ~ this is a tad tricky for me .. Amy will always hold my heart as my top girl. Plus Rory, of course. Although, Clara is a veryyy close second. I also adored Rose and Bill, for the short time we got her. And I'm so excited for more of Ruby Sunday cause, just by watching the Christmas Special, I can feel she's gonna join my favorites list 🫶🏻

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

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

- Kayleigh