!EDITED!

A/N: was 11042 words, is now 14576! Enjoy! :D

Rose and I scream as we crash-land and fly to the grating flooring. I groan, laying back as my body aches, "you idiot! When you changed, did you lose your brain as well!?" I shout, throwing my hands up. "You know, I should slap you!" I glare at the Doctor as he jumps to his feet. "I can do it without hurting myself at the moment!"

"Ah... still upset?" he grimaces, coming over and giving me a hand up.

I pull my hand away, not looking at him, "what do you think?" I snap with tears in my eyes, going over to Rose. "You ok?" I ask, looking over her worriedly.

"Come on, tiny! I-" he snaps his mouth shut when I send him a harsh look. "I'll just... go check outside!" he squeaks - definitely not something my Doctor would do - going over to the door.

"You ok?" I ask Rose again, looking at the nasty cut on her cheek.

"Fine... just a scratch," she waves off.

"Here we are, then!" the Doctor shouts from the door. "London! Earth! The Solar System! I did it!" he laughs.

I roll my eyes, going over to the door to see him stumbling around, "yes! Great! Whoo! You did it!" I cheer sarcastically. "But you forgot to mention the fact that you almost got us bloody killed!"

"You're being rude," he pouts, still stumbling around.

"Well, it's been a rather difficult day, wouldn't you say, big-" I cut myself off, turning away as tears well up and I wrap my arms around my waist. "Mum?" I frown when I see her and Mouse standing there and eyeing the Doctor.

"Jackie! Mickey!" he exclaims happily, moving over to them. "Blimey! No, no, no, no, hold on," he stumbles back a bit. "Wait there! I've got something to say... there was something I had to tell you... something important... what was it?" he frowns. "No, hold on, hold on!" he moves between them, putting his hands on their shoulders. "Hold on, shh, shh, shh, shh... oh! I know!" he laughs, looking between them while they stare in confusion. "Merry Christmas!" he cheers before promptly collapsing.

"Oh, my God!" I rush over, kneeling next to him and making sure he was still breathing.

"What happened?" Rose comes out of the TARDIS, holding her sleeve against the cut on her face. "Is he alright?"

"I don't know! He just keeled over!" Mouse shouts. "But who is he? Where's the Doctor?"

"That's him,' Rose points down to the Doctor while I brush his sweaty hair from his face. "Right in front of you... that's the Doctor," she kneels on the other side of him, checking him over.

"What do you mean 'that's the Doctor'? Doctor who?" mum asks incredulously.

"I don't think I know..." I whisper, a tear sliding down my face.

"Come on, we've got to get him off the street," Rose stands, brushing off her pants. "Give me a hand, Mickey," she orders, grabbing under the Doctor's arms.

I watch Mouse grab a hold of his legs and they start to carry him off. Mum helps me stand and wraps an arm around my shoulders, "Lizzie, who is that? Why is Rose saying he's the Doctor?" she asks gently.

"I- I- I-" I break off with a sob. "I don't k-know what happened, mum," I wipe at my eyes. "One second he was there and then... he's standing there telling me he's the Doctor... I-I don't- I don't understand!" I bury my face in my hands.

"Oh, sweetheart," mum sighs, rubbing my arm. "Come on, a nice cup of tea is what you need," she squeezes me.

"That's your answer to everything," I give a watery laugh, letting her lead me to the flat.

"Cause it works," mum smiles, kissing the top of my head.

***

I was sitting in my bedroom with a steaming cup of tea in my hands. Rose and Mouse had brought the Doctor here to lay down and Mouse had kindly changed him into a pair of men's stripey pajamas - one's I had no idea where they came from. Rose was sitting on the bed next to the Doctor and wiping his brow with a damp cloth worriedly while she worries her bottom lip. Mum comes in, holding a stethoscope, "here we go," she hands it to Rose. "Tina the Cleaner's got this lodger, medical student, and she was fast asleep, so I just took it," she explains as Rose leans forward to check the Doctor's hearts. "Though, I still say we should take him to hospital," she looks at him worriedly.

"We can't," I shake my head, moving to sit on the other side of the Doctor. "They'd lock him up, they'd dissect him."

"One bottle of his blood could change the future of the Human Race," Rose sighs and mum opens her mouth to say more. "No! Shh!"

I watch Rose anxiously as she places the diaphragm on the left side of his chest, listening for a moment and then placing it on the right, "both working," she sighs out, leaning back.

I breathe out in relief, taking the rag from Rose and wiping the Doctor's brow with it. Mum was staring down at him with furrowed eyebrows, "what do you mean 'both'?" she frowns.

"Well, he's got two hearts," Rose shrugs, reaching down and giving the unconscious Doctor's hand a squeeze.

"Oh, don't be stupid!" mum scoffs.

"He has!" Rose insists, getting up and walking from the room.

Mum eyes the Doctor up considerately, "anything else he's got two of?" she smirks.

I groan miserably as my face burns, "mum, that's- leave him alone!"

Mum snorts, kissing the top of my head before walking out as well, leaving me in my room alone with the Doctor. I bite my lip, taking in his appearance... he was so different; more angular and lanky. I lean down, placing my ear on his chest and my breath hitches at the sound of his hearts. It was the same and it gives me the same feeling of comfort and familiarity... so why did it feel like I lost someone? Maybe because I couldn't feel him? Maybe if I could just feel him, I'd know it was him without any doubts. I sigh, getting off my bed and going to head out with my empty cup. I pause, though, and turn back to the Doctor. I move over and cup his face in my hand, stroking his cheek with my thumb as I lean down to press a kiss to his forehead, "please be ok..." I whisper against his skin, my voice cracking.

***

Stepping into the kitchen, I see mum and Rose talking. They both go quiet when they see me, making me roll my eyes. I move over to place my cup in the sink before leaning against the counter, folding my arms and crossing my ankles.

"... how can he go changing his face?" mum asks carefully. "Is that a different face or is he a different person?"

"How the hell should I know?" I snap, immediately feeling guilty at mum's wide eyes. "Sorry..." I bite my lip, messing with the end of my jumper and mum nods understandingly. "The thing is... I thought I knew him... I thought me and him could be-" I cut myself off when my voice breaks and Rose comes over, wrapping her arms around me. "... and then he goes and does this," I wipe at my eyes.

"It's not his fault," Rose shakes her head. "The Doctor was dying... he said he changed to save himself," she leans her head on my shoulder, pulling me closer when I tense. "Would you rather him dead?"

"Of course not!" I snap, pulling away from her. "It's just-"

"Can you feel him?" Rose asks instead. "I mean, that'd be a dead giveaway that he's still him," she folds her arms.

"How do you mean 'feel him'?" mum frowns.

"The Doctor and Lizzie can feel each others pain and emotion," Rose answers, making me frown. "He told me when we thought..." she trails off and I nod; there was no way mum was knowing about them thinking I was dead.

"Oh, don't be stupid," mum scoffs.

"We can!" I insist. "I don't know how or why but we can and I can't feel him now," I shake my head, wiping at my eyes again. "Before he changed, he took it away, blocked it... he didn't want me to feel the pain... he was protecting me from it," my voice cracks. "God, I'm a right mess," I groan, burying my face in my hands.

I feel hands on my shoulders and look between my fingers to see Rose smiling softly, "you really are," she bites her lip, making me huff lightly. "But! The big question is..." she trails off, turning to mum with a smirk. "Where'd you get a pair of men's pajamas from?"

"Howard's been staying over," mum shrugs.

"What? Howard from the market?" I frown, my eyebrows furrowing.

"How long's that been going on?" Rose asks.

"A month or so," mum answers. "First of all, he starts delivering to the door and I thought 'that's a bit odd'... next thing I know, it's a bag of oranges-"

"Is that Harriet Jones?" Rose cuts in, heading into the living room.

I frown, looking at the TV through the serving hatch and Harriet Jones was on there. Mum huffs from behind me, "nevermind me," she mutters, making me give a small smile.

"Why's she on the telly?" I ask her, walking into the living room as well with her behind me.

"She's Prime Minister now," mum shrugs, making my smile widen a bit as she stands between Rose and I. "I'm eighteen quid a week better off! They're calling it 'Britain's Golden Age'," she smiles. "Keep on saying 'my girls have met her'," she bumps her hips against mine and Rose's.

"Did more than that," I bump her back.

"Stopped World War III with her," Rose smirks, bumping mum back as well. "Harriet Jones..."

Reporter - Harriet Jones, what about those calling the Guinevere One Space Probe a waste of money?

"Space probe?" I ask mum curiously.

"Yeah, they sent it up to Mars; supposed to make it there tonight," mum answers.

Harriet - Now, that's where you're wrong! I completely disagree if you don't mind! The Guinevere One Space Probe represents this country's limitless ambition. British workmanship sailing up there among the stars.

A short, balding man comes onto the screen.

Daniel Llewellyn - This is the spirit of Christmas; birth and rejoicing and the dawn of a new age! And that is what we're achieving fifteen million miles away! Our very own miracle.

A little computerized image of a probe flying off from Earth shows and I tilt my head, watching.

Newsreader - The unmanned probe Guinevere One is about to make its final descent! Photographs of the Martian Landscape should be received by midnight tonight!

***

Mouse had come back and taken Rose shopping. They had tried to get me to go with them, but I wanted to say in case the Doctor woke up or needed anything. I still have my doubts, but I didn't want him waking up alone and thinking he'd been abandoned. I sit on my bed, next to his unconscious body as I mop his brow with the damp cloth; he was paler than he was earlier, panting and sweating. I sigh, setting the rag down as tears well up and I move under the covers. I scoot over to him and wrap my arm around his waist, leaning my ear against his chest 'ba-da-da-bump ba-da-da-bump'. I was so tired and emotionally drained that I let the steady rhythm of his hearts lull me to sleep.

***

I shoot up with wide eyes when the front door slams open. Rose and Mouse run past my door and I scramble to get up, running after them. "Get off the phone!" Rose shouts, her eyes wide and her face a bit pale, making me frown.

"It's only Bev! She says 'hello'," mum smiles.

Rose grabs the phone off her, "Bev? Yeah, look, it'll have to wait!" she hangs up and sets the phone down. "Right, it's not safe," she turns to us.

"Rose, what's going on? What's happened?" I ask cautiously.

"These Santas chased us," Mouse answers shakily.

"... Santas?" I repeat, confused.

"Yes!" Rose nods. "So, we've gotta get out! Where can we go?"

"My mate Stan! He'll put us up," Mouse offers.

"That's only two streets away," Rose shakes her head, turning to mum. "What about Mo? Where's she living now?"

"Peak District," I answer.

"Oh..." Rose blinks. "We'll go to Cousin Mo's, then," she nods.

"It's Christmas Eve!" Mum protests. "We're not going anywhere! What're you babbling about?" she demands.

"Mum..." Rose trails off, making me frown.

I follow her line of sight and freeze when I see the Christmas Tree. It was green... but I could've sworn that it was our usual white when we came in. "When did that get here?" I frown.

"You were asleep and I didn't want to wake you," mum shrugs.

"That's a new tree," Rose frowns. "Where'd you get it?"

"Well, I thought it was you!"

"How could it be me?"

"Well, you went shopping, there was a ring at the door, and there it was!"

"No, that wasn't me," Rose shakes her head and my stomach knots up; that can't be good.

"Then who was it...?" mum trails off.

"I have got a really bad feeling about this," I mutter and groan under my breath when the tree lights up by itself. "Brilliant..."

The tree starts to spin - slowly at first and then it speeds up quickly - creating a strong wind. A sped-up version of Jingle Bells starts to play and the tree begins to move toward us, shredding the coffee table to bits within seconds. Mouse grabs a chair, "go, go, go! Get out!" he shouts.

I pull mum to my room, Rose right behind us. Mum yanks her hand from mine and goes to the front door while Rose and I run into my room, "we've got to save the Doctor!" Rose shouts.

"What're you doing!?" mum screams from the doorway.

"We can't just leave him!" I shout.

"Mickey!" mum yells into the living room. "Leave it! Get out! Mickey! Get out of there!"

Rose pokes her head through the door while I try to get the Doctor to wake up. "Mickey!" she yells and Mouse runs in a moment later.

"Just leave him!" mum shouts.

"Get in here!" Mouse yells and she runs in, slamming the door.

I run over to help her and Mouse push my wardrobe in front of the door, all three of us holding it against the door. The tree was apparently outside the door now as the whole wardrobe was shaking and that bloody song was getting louder. Rose runs over to the Doctor, placing his sonic in his hand before shaking him by the shoulders, "Doctor, wake up!"

The tree smashes through the door and wardrobe and I scream as I'm thrown across the room. My head hits something hard and my vision goes blurry, my ears ringing. I wince, hearing mum scream something and grab my head in my hands, squeezing my eyes shut, "help me!" I call desperately.

There's a small explosion and I blink several times, trying to clear my vision. When it does clear, I see the tree was gone and the Doctor was sitting up on my bed with the sonic aimed at the doorway, "remote control," he murmurs, looking down at the sonic with a frown. "But who's controlling it?" he hops out of bed and grabs the blue dressing gown we'd laid out for him before pausing. "Lizzie?" he frowns, seeing me on the ground and he kneels in front of me. "Why are you grabbing your head like that?" he asks worriedly, moving to press his fingers gently to a sore spot on my head. "Sorry," he murmurs when I hiss in pain.

The tenderness and guilt and hurt in his eyes is too much and I look away, tears welling up, "I-I'm fine..." I whisper, wiping at my eyes.

"Don't lie," he scolds me softly and I feel his fingers being placed back to my head.

I look over when I feel a cool sensation and see golden energy swirling around the Doctor's hand. I bite my lip, watching him as the pain in my head subsides and the dizziness and blurriness go away completely. "How'd you do that?" I ask curiously.

"Excess regeneration energy," the Doctor shrugs, moving his thumb down the side of my face. "How does your head feel?" he asks with a soft smile.

"Doesn't hurt anymore," I shrug, looking away again as he sighs sadly; that smile... it was so similar but not at the same time.

"Alright!" Rose cuts in loudly and I look up to see her grabbing the Doctor by the back of his collar and bringing him to his feet. "I'm really sorry, Doctor, but this-" she gestures down to me, ignoring the Doctor whining as he tries to break free of her grasp. "-will have to wait, cause we've got bigger problems, so come on," she drags him out of the room.

"Rose! Rose, let me go!" I hear the Doctor's protests and I couldn't help the smile pulling at my lips.

***

I step out onto the balcony with mum and Mouse behind me. I lean on the railing beside Rose, who was beside the Doctor, and look down to see a brass band of Santas standing and staring up at us, "well..." I trail off, trying not to shudder. "That's not creepy at all," I fold my arms.

"That's them!" Mouse stands beside me, pointing down. "What are they?"

"Shh!" Rose hisses, making Mouse and I share a look as we both roll our eyes.

The Doctor raises his sonic and aims it at the Santas threateningly. I frown as they back away and scoot closer to each other before they teleport out in shimmering blue lights. I lean over the railing, watching the lights go up into the sky... brilliant. 

"They've just gone!" Mouse laughs. "What kind of rubbish are they? I mean, no offense," he looks over to the Doctor. "But they're not much cop if a sonic screwdriver's gonna scare them off!"

"I think they've gone back to master," I tilt my head thoughtfully.

"Hm... pilot fish," the Doctor nods.

"What?" Rose frowns between us.

"They were just pilot fish," the Doctor repeats before coughing violently and throwing himself backward against the railing, his face screwed up in pain.

I kneel beside him, "what's wrong?" I ask worriedly.

"You woke me up too soon," he groans, breathing heavily.

"I'm-" I start, tears welling up.

The Doctor stops me by cupping my face in his hand, "it's not your fault, you didn't know," he assures me quickly, wiping a tear away and I bite my lip guiltily. "I'm still regenerating; I'm bursting with energy," he pants, his hand dropping from my face as he clutches his stomach, some of the golden energy flowing from his mouth. "You see? The pilot fish could smell it a million miles away! So they eliminate the defense - that's you lot - and they carry me off! They could run their batteries on me for a couple of ye-" he cuts off with a loud groan.

"Oh! Oh! Oh!" mum exclaims, kneeling in front of the Doctor and fussing over him.

"My head! I'm having a neuron implosion!" the Doctor cries, sliding down to the ground as we all huddle around him. "I need-"

"What do you need?" mum cuts in frantically.

"I need-" the Doctor tries again.

"Say it! Tell me! Tell me!"

"I need-"

"Painkillers?"

"I need-"

"Do you need aspirin?"

"Mum!" I shout, having enough of watching the Doctor try and talk over her.

"I need you to shut up!" the Doctor manages to get out, whimpering in pain quietly.

"Oh, he hasn't changed that much, has he?" mum scoffs.

"Mum, be quiet," I close my eyes, breathing in deeply through my nose and blowing out through my mouth. "Now," I open my eyes, reaching up to push the Doctor's hair back as he pants, leaning into my hand. "Please, tell me how I can make this better?" I plead, tears in my eyes.

"There isn't anything you can do," he shakes his head, groaning and gripping my hand tightly. "If there's pilot fish, then-" he frowns, pulling out an... an apple from his dressing gown pocket with his free hand; what the hell? "Why's there an apple in my dressing gown?" he turns the fruit in his hand.

"Oh, that's Howard's... sorry," mum bites her lip.

"He keeps apples in his dressing gown?"

"He gets hungry," mum shrugs.

"What? He gets hungry in his sleep?" I raise an eyebrow.

"Sometimes," mum nods seriously, making me snort loudly.

The Doctor gripping my hand tighter as he shouts out brings my attention back to him. Rose kneels on the other side of him, trying to hold him up, "what's wrong?"

"Brain... collapsing..." he grinds out, making my face pale. "I'll be... fine," he groans, squeezing my hand.

"Now who's lying?" I retort, tears in my eyes.

"You're such a worrier, tiny," he jokes even as he grimaces.

"You're one to talk," I retort.

"The pilot fish mean..." he grunts, gritting his teeth.

"Something's coming, yeah," I nod, using my free hand to push his hair back.

"My head!" he cries, letting go of my hand to grip his head as he leans forward into me, leaning his head on my chest.

I shush him gently as I run my fingers through his hair, tears sliding down my face as he passes out in my lap.

***

Mouse, Rose, and I had gotten the Doctor back into bed. I cover him up with all of my covers, his dressing gown, and his leather jacket. Rose had checked his hearts a moment ago and now only one was beating. It was all my fault; if I hadn't woken him up too soon then maybe he'd have woken up by now and be properly healed. 

The small TV in my room was on New 24 and it was quietly playing in the background. I grab the newly wettened cloth and start to mop his brow, my eyes watering as he shivers, sweat coating his body. "Shh... you're fine... you're going to be fine," I whisper, my hands shaking slightly as he whimpers in his sleep miserably. "You've got to be..." I murmur, laying down beside him over the covers and watching him.

After getting a couple hours of sleep and not being in danger of being murdered by Santas controlling a tree, my mind was a bit more clear. Of course, I still had doubts; how could I not? But seeing how he still cared about how I was hurt and my feelings while he was in pain... that has to mean he's still there, doesn't it? That he's still the same man that puts others ahead of himself... that he's still my Doctor?

"I've been an awful bitch, haven't I?" I pull the covers up over him more when he shivers a bit more violently. "Here you are trying to recover from dying and I- I was so caught up in my own pain... I'm sorry..." I move closer to him, leaning my head on his shoulder.

"Oh, sweetheart," I hear and turn my head to see mum standing in the doorway. "Any change?" she asks softly, moving to sit on the edge of my bed.

"He's worse... just one heart beating now," I whisper, tears welling up as I sit up, drawing my knees to my chest. "What if he dies? How am I supposed to cope with that? I don't-" I wipe at my eyes. "I was so awful to him, mum... he was standing there, thinking that I would just know it was him and I couldn't even speak," I shake my head. "The look on his face..." I trail off, my voice breaking.

"Elizabeth Mae," mum says sternly, making me look at her with slightly widened eyes. "It's not your fault that he went and changed his face, you had no idea what was going to happen when you and Rose went after him," she grips my hand. "The two of you risked everything to bring him back and he's here and he's safe. Focus on that, not what could happen or things you can't change," she uses her other hand to wipe at my tears.

"But-"

"No, that's enough," she gives my hand a squeeze. "I hate seeing you blaming yourself for things you've no control over and I know that the Doctor would feel the same."

"Jackie," Mouse pokes his head in the doorway, holding his laptop he'd gone to get. "I'm using the phone line, that alright?"

"Yeah, keep a count of it," she nods.

"You alright?" he asks me softly as he sits at my desk.

"I'm fine," I shrug, hugging my legs. "What time is it?" I frown.

"Midnight," Rose pops up in the doorway.

"Christmas Day," mum smiles.

"... Merry Christmas," I roll my eyes, messing with the sleeve of my jumper.

Reporter - Scientists in charge of Britain's mission to Mars have re-established contact with the Guinevere One. They're expecting the first transmission from the planet's surface in the next few minutes.

Daniel Llewellyn - Yes, we are! We're- we're back on schedule! We've received the signal from Guinevere One! The Mars landing would seem to be an unqualified success!

Reporter - But is it true that you completely lost contact earlier tonight?

Daniel Llewellyn - Yes, we had a bit of a scare... Guinevere seemed to fall off the scope, but it- it was just a blip! Only disappeared for a few seconds! She's fine now, absolutely fine! We- we're getting the first pictures transmitted live any minute now! I'd better get back to it, thanks!

I frown, watching as Llewellyn walks off while fidgeting with his shirt sleeves. Doesn't he look a bit... flustered? And he kept stuttering over his words when earlier he was perfectly collected and confident in the project... what the hell's happened?

"Here we go! Pilot fish!" Mouse smiles and Rose moves to stand beside him, leaning on the back of his chair and I move to the edge of the bed so I could see what he was looking at. "Scavengers, harmless, they're tiny - but the point is: the little fish swim alongside the big fish," he explains.

"Do you mean like sharks?" Rose frowns.

"Exactly like sharks," I nod, folding my arms. "They swim next to them, picking up scraps from what the sharks eat and eating the parasites off 'em; in return, the sharks offer protection from predators," I explain. "I could've just told you that," I look down at Mouse.

"... thought you needed some space," he shrugs, making me smile slightly. "Anyway, we had them... now we get that," he points to the little animation as a shark swims on the screen.

"Something is coming..." Rose trails off, glancing at me. "How close?"

"There's no way of telling," Mouse shakes his head. "But the pilot fish don't swim far from their daddy."

"Funny sort of rocks," mum cuts in, making us look over.

I tilt my head at the fuzzy picture on the telly, my eyes widening as it starts to become clearer. "That's not rocks..."

Reporter - Coming live from the depths of space on Christmas morning!

The image clears completely and an alien with a skull-like head roars viciously on the screen. Mum, Mouse, Rose, and I gasp, jumping back from the screen.

***

BBC Newsreader - The face of an alien lifeform was transmitted live tonight on BBC1!

American Newsreader - On the 25th of December: the Human Race has been shown absolute proof that alien life exists!

Newsreader - These remarkable images have been relayed right across the world!

"Rose, Bird!" Mouse calls.

I look up from where Rose and I were on my floor, looking through one of the boxes of sketch-books to try and find something on the aliens that were shown. Rose moves over to stand beside Mouse while I continue to look through my drawings. 

"Take a look: I've got access to the military! They're tracking a spaceship! It's big, it's fast, and it's coming this way!"

"Coming for what, though?" Rose asks.

"I don't know... maybe it's coming for all of us," Mouse sighs. "Find anything yet?"

"Here!" I smile, standing up and laying the sketch-book on the desk in front of Mouse on the laptop while a video of them plays on it. "Sycorax! I didn't recognize 'em cause that skull isn't their head, it's a helmet!" I point to the sketch of one with a helmet. "This is what they really look like," I point to the one beneath it that showed a Sycorax without the helmet; an exoskeleton over red skin. "They're an extremely superstitious warrior race and they've got a huge business in slavery... that could be what they're doing here..." I chew on my bottom lip.

"I don't understand what they're saying," Rose mutters and I frown when I realize I can't either. "The TARDIS translates alien languages inside our head all the time, wherever we are..."

"So, why isn't it doing now?"

"Because of him," I whisper, looking over at the Doctor as tears well up again. "He's telepathically linked to the TARDIS... he's part of the circuit and him being like this... it's messing with her telepathic field."

*** 

A bit later, mum, Mouse, and Rose had left my room and I had taken a much-needed shower, changed my clothes, and ate. Now I was taking care of the Doctor with quiet music playing on my radio. I was humming to it while I mop his brow, sitting on my knees beside him. His shivering had gotten a bit less, but he was still shivering and whimpering every once in a while... and his other heart hadn't started beating yet either. I pause, taking in the song and I blush as I look down at the Doctor.

"God I hope you can't hear anything right now..." I murmur under my breath, brushing his hair back as I look him over more closely.

"Need anything?" Mouse's question makes me jump.

"Him awake," I murmur, tears welling up again. "What if he's dying, Mouse? I don't think I could handle that," my voice cracks.

Mouse sits on my bed beside me, "you really love him, don't you?" he asks quietly.

"I- I don't know..." I shake my head, my face burning as I go back to brushing the Doctor's hair back. "I've never- never-" I sigh, taking a deep breath. "I know I can't lose him," I bite my lip, tears welling up yet again.

"Come here," Mouse sighs, grabbing my hand and pulling me to where I was sitting between his legs. "It's gonna be alright, Bird," he wraps his arms around my waist and leans his head on my shoulder.

"You really are the best," I smile.

"Yeah, I know," he snorts.

I move to where I was laying sideways with my legs over Mouse's left one while I watch the Doctor pant and whimper in his sleep, "do you think he's still the Doctor?" I ask quietly, leaning my head against Mouse's chest.

"He acts the same with you," he shrugs. "Talk with him," he reaches up to stroke my hair.

"Well... he has to wake up first," I sigh.

***

I wake up still laying on Mouse with his arms around me. There was light coming in through my window and I look at the time... well, at least I got some more sleep. I look at Mouse - his face nuzzled in my neck - and wrinkle my nose at the drool on my neck and shirt. That's gross. I carefully wriggle out of his hold, snickering when he pouts in his sleep and turns, grabbing a pillow to hold. I lean down, kissing his cheek before moving to check on the Doctor. I sigh when I see there's no change and run my fingers through his hair; that was weird... he barely had any hair and now it's long and thick and all stuck up. I go into the kitchen, making breakfast for everyone and coffee.

***

After everyone had woken up and eaten breakfast, I decided to clean up the flat for a bit while Rose and Mouse go and walk around the estate. About an hour later, they come running into the flat, looking frantic, "what?" I ask, turning the vacuum off.

"There's people on the roofs," Mouse tells me.

"What do you mean?" I frown.

"They're just standing there," Rose mutters, folding her arms. "Like they're... like they're hypnotized or something... they look like they're all going to jump..." she whispers.

The TV grabs our attention and I see Harriet Jones sitting in Prime Minister's office. Mum comes over from where she'd been sitting at the dining table to watch as well.

Harriet - Ladies and gentlemen, if I may take a moment during this terrible time: it's hardly the Queen's speech, I'm afraid that's been canceled

She turns her head to the side, addressing someone off-camera.

Harriet - Did we ask about the royal family? Oh...

Harriet turns back to the camera, sighing dejectedly with her face a bit pale.

Harriet - They're on the roof... but, ladies and gentlemen, this crisis is unique and I'm afraid to say, it might get much worse. I would ask you all to remain calm, but I have one request: Doctor

I tense at his name, looking over to my bedroom door where he was still unconscious with only one heart beating and no sign of waking up anytime soon.

Harriet - If you're out there... we need you. I don't know what to do, but if you can hear me, Doctor... if anyone knows the Doctor, if anyone can find him... the situation has never been more desperate. Help us. Please, Doctor. Help us.

I shake my head, going to stand in my doorway with tears streaming down my face. I lean against the frame, sobbing... almost hyperventilating as I stare at his sleeping form. I feel a hand on my shoulder and turn into mum's embrace, crying into her neck, "he- he- he could be dying," I choke out. "I j-just got him back and I could- could be losing him all over again!"

Mum kisses my forehead, rubbing my back, "it's alright... I'm sorry," she whispers.

There's a huge boom and all the windows in the flat shatter, making mum and I scream as we nearly fall to the floor. My eyes widen, "... that was a sonic wave... oh, my god," I whisper, running from the flat. "The spaceship! It's hit the atmosphere!" I call over my shoulder, running down the stairs of the estate with mum, Mouse, and Rose right behind me.

I skid to a stop in the lot, looking up as a huge island-like ship moves over London, blocking out the sun. My heart races and my blood thunders in my ears as my breathing quickens. I run back up to the flat and burst into my room. I run over to the Doctor and move all the covers off him, making sure to be careful of the glass. I wince, muttering a 'sorry' when he shivers violently. "Mouse, we're gonna carry him," I tell him when he, Rose, and mum run in and Rose comes over to help me. "Mum, get your stuff and some food, we're going!"

"Well, where to?" Mouse asks.

"The TARDIS," Rose and I answer.

"It's the only safe place of Earth," Rose mutters as she holds the Doctor up while I get his dressing gown on him.

"What're we gonna do in there?" mum frowns.

"Hide," I answer, laying the Doctor back down.

"Is that it!?"

I huff, putting my hands on my hips, "mum, look in the sky! There's a great, big alien invasion and I don't know what to do! Alright? Yes, I know things and I've traveled with him but what good does that do when I've no way of even getting up to them? What would I do when I get up there in the first place!? I've no way of fighting back! I'm bloody useless!" I snap. "Now! All we can do right now is run and hide and keep him safe while he's healing and... I'm really sorry but move," I order.

Mum nods, leaving the room and Rose takes the Doctor's shoulders as I try to lift his legs, "God, how is such a skinny bloke so heavy?" I huff.

"Oh, lift him," Rose groans.

"Here, Bird, let me," Mouse sighs, taking over for me. "Go help your mum," he nods to the door.

***

The four of us - and the unconscious Doctor - get to the TARDIS and I set the bags of mum's stuff down on the grating floor. Rose and Mouse carry the Doctor up the ramp and set him down by the console. "No chance you could fly this thing?" Mouse asks, settling down in the jump-seat.

"Not anymore, no," Rose shakes her head, sitting beside him.

"Well, you did it before..." he trails off.

"I know, but it's sort of been... wiped out of my head, like it's forbidden," Rose mutters. "Try that again and I think the universe rips in half."

"Ah... better not, then," Mouse sighs.

"Maybe not," I shake my head, sitting cross-legged beside the Doctor and laying my leather jacket over his shaking form.

"So, what do we do? Just sit here?"

"That's as good as it gets for now," I mutter, running my fingers through the Doctor's hair.

"Right, here we go!" mum grins, coming in with another bag and a thermos. "Nice cup of tea!"

"Mm, the solution to everything," I roll my eyes.

"Now, stop you moaning," mum scolds me, slapping the back of my head lightly. "I'll get the rest of the food," she heads back out, shutting the door behind her.

"Tea... like we're having a picnic while the world comes to an end: very British," Mouse jokes, making me smile and Rose laugh. "How does this thing work? It picks up TV," he moves to smack the side of the monitor. "Maybe we could see what's going on out there! Maybe we've surrendered," he presses a few buttons. "What do you to it?"

"I don't know, it sort of tunes itself," Rose shrugs. "Lizzie, you know? The Doctor's always teaching you stuff about the TARDIS," she calls over.

"No," I shake my head.

"Maybe it's a distress signal," Mouse suggests.

"Fat lot of good that's gonna do," I roll my eyes.

"Are you gonna be a misery all the time?" Rose snaps.

"Until he wakes up, yeah," I nod.

"You should look at it from my point of view," Mouse cuts in, making me raise an eyebrow. "Stuck in here with your mum's cooking," he smiles.

"I'm gonna tell her you said that," I bite my lip.

"You wouldn't," his eyes widen.

"I would and you know it," I snort.

"Where is she?" Rose asks, hopping off the jump-seat. "I'd better go and give her a hand, it might start raining missiles out there," she heads to the door.

"Tell her anything from a tin, that's fine!" Mouse calls, making me roll my eyes with a small smile.

"Why don't you tell her yourself?" Rose asks. "Or maybe Lizzie could add that," she smirks.

"I'm not that brave," Mouse scoffs.

"Oh, I don't know..." Rose smiles as she opens the door, going out and immediately screaming.

"Rose!?" Mouse and I call, running to the door.

I skid to a stop when I see that we were not at the Powell Estate. Where we were looks like some sort of arena and there were thousands of Sycorax. Oh... the signal was letting us know that we were being teleported to the ship. Well, that would've been nice to know before my baby sister walked out here. 

"Get off me! Get off me!" Rose screams while I shut the TARDIS door.

"Rose! Lizzie!" I hear and turn to see Harriet coming toward us. "I've got you! My Lord! My precious things!" she wraps us up in a hug. "The Doctor... is he with you?" she asks, pulling away and looking between us hopefully.

I look over at the TARDIS, biting my lip, "we're on our own at the moment," I shake my head, Rose taking my hand and squeezing it.

A Sycorax with a staff, the leader I assume, points to Rose and addresses her angrily in Sycoraxic. I blink when a tall man with dark hair translates off a little screen, "the yellow girl: she has the clever blue box, therefore, she speaks for your planet!"

"But she can't!" Harriet protests.

"Yeah, I can," Rose straightens, her voice wavering only slightly.

"Rose, don't," I grab her arm to stop her.

"Don't you dare," Mouse narrows his eyes.

"Someone's gotta be the Doctor," Rose shrugs my hand off her.

"They'll kill you!" Harriet tries to grab her arm.

"Never stopped him," Rose steps forward bravely.

Mouse holds me back as I watch anxiously. I was in between proud, worried, and furious that she was stepping up. Rose stands in front of the leader, raising her head high, "I um... I address the Sycorax according to... article 15 of the Shadow Proclamation! I command you to leave this world with all the authority of the Slitheen Parliament of Raxacoricofallaportious and um... the Gelth Confederacy..." her voice wavers when the Sycorax Leader moves toward her. "A... as uh... sanctioned by the... Mighty Jagrafess and... oh, the Daleks! Now leave this planet in peace! ... in peace..." she trails off and I wince; that wasn't the greatest speech.

There's a few seconds of complete silence before the Sycorax burst out laughing. I wince at the volume and the echo in the arena. The translator speaks for the leader, "you are very, very funny and now you're going to... die..." his voice falters.

"Don't you dare touch my baby sister, you big ugly git!" I squirm out of Mouse's hold and jolt forward, only to be restrained by a Sycorax instead.

"Leave her alone!" Harriet shouts.

"Don't touch her!" Mouse snarls, getting held back by a Sycorax as well.

The Sycorax Leader smirks, moving to circle Rose while the... what is he? An assistant or something? Anyway, he translates for the leader, "did you think you were clever with your stolen words? We are the Sycorax! We astride the darkness!" he hisses, getting close to Rose's face and she whimpers, moving back and making me growl under my breath as I strain against the hold on me. "Next to us, you are but a wailing child! If you are the best your planet has to offer as a champion-"

"-then your world will be gutted-"

I tilt my head when I hear the leader speaking in english and my heart picks up. I bite my lip to keep from smiling while the translator continues to speak as well. "-then your world will be gutted-"

"-and your people enslaved-"

"-and your people... enslaved..." the translator pauses, looking up from his little device. "Hold on, that's english," he frowns.

"... he's talking english," Harriet frowns as well.

"You're talking english," Rose points to the leader.

"I would never dirty my tongue with your primitive bile!" he shouts.

"No, no, no! Shut up!" I shake my head, pointing to the leader, who growls indignantly. "Can you hear english?" I ask.

"Yeah, that's english," Mouse nods.

"Definitely english," the translator nods as well.

"I speak only Sycoraxic!" the leader yells angrily.

"If we can hear english, then it's being translated," Rose smiles.

"Which means it's working, which means..." I trail off, my smile widening. "You are in so much trouble," I snort as everyone looks toward the TARDIS.

Both TARDIS doors open wide and the Doctor stands there, looking fierce even in his stripey pajamas and dressing gown. I also note that he's looking much healthier as he beams around at everyone, "did you miss me?"

I let out a tiny squeal of delight, Rose and I beaming at each other. The leader roars and lashes his whip-thing at the Doctor, who simply catches the end of it, wraps it around his hand and pulls it from the leader, "you could have someone's eye out with that!" he scolds as he tosses it to the side.

The leader roars even louder and raises his staff, trying to attack the Doctor with that instead. The Doctor snatches it off him and snaps it in half over his knee before chucking the broken pieces on the floor, "you just can't get the staff," he shakes his head. "Now, you just wait! I'm busy!" he points up at the leader's incredulous face warningly before turning to Mouse. "Mickey! Hello!" he beams before turning to Harriet. "And Harriet Jones MP for Flydale North! Blimey! It's like This is Your Life!" he laughs, then turns to Rose with a wide grin and pulls her into a tight hug. "Tea! That's all I needed: a good cup of tea! Superheated infusion of free radicals and tannin! Just the thing for healing the synapses!" he explains quickly, pulling away. "Now.. first thing's first..." he becomes serious as he turns to me.

I shift on my feet while he walks toward me, stopping right in front of me and I chew on my bottom lip, "I think we can talk later..." I murmur.

"No, not that," he shakes his head, making me frown. "... can I?" he asks quietly, moving to where his hands hover by my face.

I nod my consent and the Doctor breathes out, moving a bit closer and placing his fingers on my temples. I gasp when I get a sudden and strong wave of emotions, closing my eyes and whimpering slightly at the strength. I reach up to rub at my temples, tears welling up with one sliding down my cheek at the potent hurt coming off the Doctor.

"That's better," the Doctor smiles down at me, wiping my tear away gently. "Now, be honest," he steps back, holding his arms out. "How do I look?"

I look him over, "um... different..." I murmur, biting my lip as I wrap my arms around my waist.

"Good different or bad different?" he asks, raising his eyebrows.

"Just... different..." I shrug, looking away as my cheeks burn; it was definitely a good different.

"Am I... ginger?" he asks carefully and I look back with a raised eyebrow at the strange question.

"Um, no," I shake my head. "You're brown, like me," I pull at my own hair.

"Aw, I wanted to be ginger!" the Doctor whines, turning around. "I've never been ginger!" he pouts and I bite my lip to keep from laughing. "And you, Elizabeth Mae Tyler!" he turns back, pointing an accusing finger at me as I glare at him for using my full name, Rose and Mouse snickering beside me. "Fat lot of good you were! You almost gave up on me- oh, that's rude," he wrinkles his nose as I look down guiltily, kicking at the ground with the toe of my shoe. "That's the sort of man I am now, am I? Rude... rude and not ginger..." he muses.

I snort, looking back up at him, "you were always rude!"

"Oi, this is no time for you to be cheeky!" he narrows his eyes, his lips twitching up.

"Yeah? Well, it's no time for you be rambling on about your hair either but you don't see that stopping you," I roll my eyes.

"I'm sorry... who is this?" Harriet cuts in.

The Doctor turns to her, "I'm the Doctor," he smiles.

"He's the Doctor," Rose smiles, pointing up at him.

"But what happened to my Doctor?" Harriet frowns. "... or is it a title that's just passed on?"

"I'm him," the Doctor moves to stand in front of her. "I'm literally him; same man, new face! Well... new everything," he smirks, making me snort and he sends me a wink over his shoulder that makes me blush and I slap Rose on the arm when she snickers.

"But you can't be!" Harriet protests.

"Harriet Jones," the Doctor smiles. "We were trapped in Downing Street and the one thing that scared you wasn't the aliens, wasn't the war; it was the thought of your mother being on her own," he tells her gently.

"Oh, my God!" she gasps with wide eyes.

"Did you win the election?" the Doctor asks, bending down slightly to be more at her level.

"Landslide majority," Harriet beams, very pleased.

"If I might interrupt!" the leader growls, making us all turn to him.

"Yes! Sorry!" the Doctor smiles, stuffing his hands in his dressing-gown pockets. "Hello, big fella!

"Who exactly are you?"

"Well, that's the question," the Doctor gives a fixed grin.

"I demand to know who you are!"

The Doctor holds his hands out, mimicking the leader's growl, "I don't know!" he shouts before going back to his own voice while Rose and I share an amused look. "See, there's the thing: I'm the Doctor but beyond that? I... I just don't know," he shakes his head. "I literally do not know who I am! It's all untested! Am I funny? Am I sarcastic? ... sexy?" he looks to me, clicking his tongue and winking, making me bite my lip and look away as my face burns, Rose snorting loudly beside me. "Right old misery?" he continues, sounding like he was trying not to laugh as he starts to talk faster and faster. "Life and soul? Right-handed? Left-handed? A gambler? A fighter? A coward? A traitor? A liar? A nervous wreck? I mean, judging by the evidence... I've certainly got a gob!" he pauses and notices something up a small set of stairs. 

"And how am I going to react when I see this?" he points up to something with an insane grin and we all move to see a big red button up on a small platform. "A great big threatening button!" he runs up the stairs, laughing. "A great big threatening button which must not be pressed under any circumstances! Am, I right? Let me guess... it's some sort of control matrix? Hmm? Hold on, what's feeding it?" he bends down and pulls open a little door to access the controls underneath. "And what've we got here? Blood?" he dips his finger in the liquid and tastes it, making Rose and I wrinkle our noses; that's so disgusting. "Yeah, definitely blood... Human blood... A Positive... with just a dash of iron... ugh," he sticks his tongue out, wiggling it in disgust as he wipes his finger on his dressing gown.

"Don't complain, you're the one who licked it," I snort, shaking my head.

"Cheeky again!" the Doctor smiles down at me before turning back to the leader. "But that means... blood control? Blood control! Oh, I haven't seen blood control for years!" he laughs excitedly and my eyes widen. "You're controlling all the A Positives! Which leaves us with a great big stinking problem!" he sucks his teeth. "Cause I really don't know who I am! I don't know when to stop! So, if I see a great big threatening button which should never ever, ever, ever be pressed.... then I just want to do this!" he slams his hand down on the button.

"No!" Rose and Harriet scream.

I sigh and roll my eyes, folding my arms. Apparently, this new Doctor is one for the dramatics along with having a gob. The translator stares up at him in horror, "you killed them!"

"No, he didn't," I shake my head.

"That's my girl! Clever as always!" the Doctor beams, making me blush and he sends me a wink. "What do you think, big fella?" he turns back to the leader. "Are they dead?"

"... we allow them to live," the leader grinds out, making me snort quietly.

"Allow!? You've no choice!" the Doctor laughs before turning to us Humans. "I mean, that's all blood control is; cheap bit of voodoo! Scares the pants off you but that's as far as it goes," he rubs at his ear.

I bite my lip when the others still look a bit confused, "... it's like hypnosis; you can hypnotize someone to walk like a chicken or sing like Elvis but you can't hypnotize them to death," I explain.

"Survival instinct's too strong," the Doctor nods, smiling down at me as he leans against a railing.

"Blood control was just one form of conquest!" the leader cuts in. "I can summon the armada and take this world by force!"

"Well, yeah, you could... yeah, you could do that! Of course, you could," the Doctor concedes. "But why? Look at these people!" he gestures down to us. "These Human beings! Consider their potential! 'From the day they arrive on the planet and blinking step into the sun! There is more to see than can ever be seen! More to do than...' no, hold on..." he frowns and Rose and I share a look, trying not to laugh at the fact he was quoting The Circle of Life. "Sorry... that's The Lion King..." he shakes his head. "But the point still stands: leave them alone!"

"Or what?"

"Or..." the Doctor grabs a sword from one of the Sycorax beside him and runs down the steps to stand in front of the TARDIS, raising the sword into the air. "I challenge you!" he shouts and all the Sycorax burst into laughter. "Oh, that struck a chord!" he smirks. "Am I right that the sanctified rules of combat still apply?"

The leader comes to stand in front of the Doctor, un-sheathing his own sword, "you stand as this world's champion?"

"Thank you," the Doctor smiles pleasantly, slipping his dressing gown off. "I've no idea who I am, but you just summed me up!" he tosses the dressing gown to me and I stumble slightly to catch it before folding it over my arm. "So... you accept my challenge? Or are you just a cranak pel casacree salvak?" he taunts.

I'm guessing it was a very nasty, and possibly vulgar insult as the TARDIS doesn't translate it; who knew the Doctor could be crass? The leader hisses angrily and kneels with his sword, "for the planet?"

"For the planet," the Doctor nods, kneeling as well.

The two stand, facing each other and holding their swords at the ready. They run at each other and begin to parry each other's blows. After a few back and forths, the Doctor's thrown aside and the leader laughs. The Doctor straightens and the two begin to fight again. I chew on my bottom lip, watching anxiously while I play with the fabric of the Doctor's dressing gown. The leader swings his sword to the Doctor and Rose jolts forward, "look out!"

"Oh, yeah, that helped!" the Doctor scoffs, dodging from another swing. "Wouldn't have thought of that otherwise, thanks!" he rolls his eyes, leading the fight up another set of stairs. "Bit of fresh air?" he smiles, hitting a button on the wall and a door slides open.

***

Mouse, Rose, Harriet, the translator, a few Sycorax, and I hurry outside to watch the fight. The leader had managed to catch the Doctor on the nose and I yelp, grabbing my own nose while the Doctor groans in pain. I take a step forward, but the Doctor raises the hand that wasn't holding his nose to stop me, "stay back! Invalidate the challenge and he wins the planet!"

I move back between Rose and Mouse, wringing my hands in the Doctor's dressing gown as my heart beats in my chest quickly. The Doctor and the leader run at each other, their swords clashing. 

The Doctor was suddenly pushed back and falls to the ground. I watch in horror as the leader takes advantage of this by cutting off the Doctor's hand. I whimper in pain, glaring at the leader, "you bastard!" I clutch at my right wrist.

"You cut my hand off," the Doctor points out and I nearly want to scream at him for only sounding slightly annoyed... and how is he not bleeding out right now? Is it because he's healing himself like he did with my head? "And language, Miss Tyler," he scolds me lightly while the leader shouts in victory.

"Oh, yes," I roll my eyes, massaging my wrist and wincing in pain. "You get your hand cut off and get on me about my language!"

"Yah! Sycorax!" the leader throws his arms up, the Sycorax outside cheering for him.

"Now I know what sort of man I am," the Doctor smiles, getting to his feet. "I'm lucky! Cause quite by chance: I'm still within the first fifteen hours of my regeneration cycle! Which means: I've got just enough residual energy to do this!" he holds up his stump and I wrinkle my nose, but then my eyes widen in awe as where his hand should be glows golden and it grows back.

"Witchcraft!" the leader accuses viciously.

"Time Lord!" the Doctor corrects with a smug smirk; bastard.

I grab the sword from the Sycorax next to me, "Doctor!" I get his attention and throw it to him.

The Doctor catches it deftly and begins to twirl it in his hand, "so I'm still the Doctor, then?"

"Yes... you are," I answer, biting my lip at the huge grin that breaks out on his face.

"Want to know the best bit, tiny?" the Doctor smirks. "This new hand... it's a fightin' hand!" he shouts in a horrible Texan accent, making me laugh.

The Doctor runs at the leader - both of them roaring - and they begin to parry back and forth yet again. The Doctor has the upper hand this time and manages to disarm the leader rather quickly. The Doctor takes the leader's sword and uses both swords to jab him in the stomach twice, causing the leader to fall to the ground. The Doctor points his sword at the leader's throat, "I win," he says darkly.

"Then kill me!"

"I'll spare your life if you'll take this champion's command: leave this planet and never return," the Doctor offers. "What do you say?"

"... yes," the leader nods.

The Doctor's features darken - a look I've seen before - and he pushes the sword further down, "swear on the blood of your species!" he orders and I wince slightly at his anger.

"I swear!" the leader chokes out.

The Doctor's entire demeanor changes and he grins, "there we are, then! Thanks for that! Cheers, big fella!" he jabs his sword into the hull of the ship.

"Bravo!" Harriet claps.

"That says it all: bravo!" Rose cheers, jumping up and down.

I run over to the Doctor and he lets out a soft grunt when I crash into him, wrapping my arms around his waist tightly, "that was brilliant!" I smile up at him.

"Yeah? Not bad for a man in his jim-jams!" the Doctor laughs, wrapping his arms around my shoulders and pulling me tight against him.

I bite my lip, burying my face against his chest as tears well up. The Doctor sighs, squeezing me as he presses a kiss to the top of my head, "we'll talk later?" he asks against my hair.

"... if you think we need to," I shrug, not lifting my head up as he strokes my hair.

"Yes, we need to," he squeezes me one more time before pulling away and taking his dressing gown from me, slipping it on. "Very Arthur Dent," he smiles as he shoves his hands in the pockets. "Now there was a nice man! Hold on, what have I got in here?" he frowns, taking a fruit from his pocket and I blink at it. "A satsuma? Ah... that friend of you mothers!" he laughs, shaking his head. "He does like his snacks, doesn't he?" he smiles, making me giggle. 

"But doesn't that just sum up Christmas?" he wraps an arm around my shoulders and starts to lead us to the others as he throws the fruit in his other hand, catching it over and over. "You go through all those presents and right at the end, tucked away at the bottom, there's always one stupid satsuma! Who wants a satsuma?" he wrinkles his nose, making me giggle again.

There's a roar behind us and I look back to see the leader ready to charge at the Doctor with a sword. The Doctor - without even looking - throws the satsuma at a button on the side of the ship. My eyes widen when the piece of the ship the leader was standing on falls, taking him with it and he falls to London with a scream. "No second chances," the Doctor murmurs. "I'm that sort of man."

***

The Doctor, Rose, Mouse, Harriet, the translator, and I go back into the ship and the six of us stand in front of the TARDIS while the Doctor addresses the Sycorax, "by the ancient rites of combat: I forbid you to scavenge here for the rest of time and when you go back to the stars and tell others of this planet... when you tell them of its riches, its people, its potential! When you talk of the Earth, then make sure that you tell them this: It! Is! Defended!"

A blue, shimmering light surrounds all of us and the TARDIS and we're suddenly in an alley underneath the Sycorax ship. "Where are we?" Rose asks as we look around.

"We're just of Bloxom Road! We're just round the corner!" Mouse laughs. "We did it!" he jumps up and down.

The Doctor holds his hand out as the ship's engines start, "wait a minute... wait a minute..."

The ship shoots off past the atmosphere and I bounce up and down, "yes!" I squeal.

"Go on, my son! Oh, yeah!" Mouse cheers.

"Yeah!" Rose shouts, jumping on Mouse's back. "Don't come back!"

"It is defended!" Mouse laughs.

"My Doctor," Harriet's voice makes me turn to see her with her arms held out.

"Prime Minister!" the Doctor beams, pulling her into a tight hug.

"Absolutely the same man!" Harriet smiles, pulling away. "Are there many more out there?" she asks, looking up at the sky.

"Oh, not just Sycorax," the Doctor smiles. "Hundreds of species! Thousands of them and the Human Race is drawing attention to itself! Every day you're sending out probes and messages and signals; this planet's so noisy, you're getting noticed... more and more... you'd better get used to it," he warns her.

"Lizzie! Rose!" mum yells and I look to see her running toward us.

"Oh, talking of trouble," the Doctor smirks.

"Shut up," I slap his chest lightly before running over to mum with Rose. "Mum!" the two of us pull her into a bone-crushing hug.

"Oh, my God! You did it, girls! Oh!" mum beams, holding us tightly.

"You did it, too!" I pull back with a huge grin, making her frown in confusion.

"It was the tea! Fixed his head!" Rose explains.

"That was all I needed!" the Doctor beams, coming over with his hands in his pockets. "Cup of tea!"

"I said so!" mum shouts, making me roll my eyes with a smile.

"Look at him!" I beam, holding my hands out to the Doctor.

"Is it him, though? Is it really the Doctor, Lizzie?" mum asks, making my smile falter a bit when I get a strong wave of hurt. "Oh, my God!" she gasps suddenly. "It's the bleeding Prime Minister!" she squeals.

"Come here, you!" the Doctor holds his arms out to mum, who throws her own around him.

Rose, Mouse, and I join their hug, making it a huge group hug with the five of us laughing happily. "Aw!" mum laughs, squeezing us all as best she can. "Are you better?" she asks the Doctor worriedly as we pull away.

"I am, yeah!" the Doctor smiles.

Mum then rounds on Rose and me, "you left me!" she narrows her eyes.

"We're sorry!" we squeak out quickly.

"I had all the food!" she complains.

I jump when there's a green light that shoots up from the ground nearby, all of us looking up. The same green light beams up from another four points and the five points meet up in the middle. The energy shoots up into space and an explosion lights up the sky. My hand flies to my mouth as a horrified, choked sob comes from me.

"What was that? What's happening?" Rose asks with wide, horrified eyes.

I get a potent wave of rage and turn to see the Doctor stalking over to Harriet slowly with a dark look, "that was murder!" he growls lowly.

"That was defense," Harriet corrects.

"... Harriet..." I gasp, shaking my head.

She glances at me before facing the Doctor, straightening, "it was adapted from alien technology; a ship that fell to Earth ten years ago," she explains.

"But they were leaving!" I glare, standing beside the Doctor.

"The Doctor said so himself: they'd go back to the stars and tell others about the Earth," Harriet retorts. "I'm sorry, Doctor," she looks up at him as he breathes heavily in barely repressed anger. "But you're not here all the time; you come and go. It happened today... Mr. Llewellyn and the Major, they were murdered. They died right in front of me while you were sleeping-"

"So that gives you the authority to murder thousands?" I raise a cool eyebrow, folding my arms.

"We have to defend ourselves," she argues.

"Against what? The off-chance that they tell others about the Earth?" I roll my eyes. "You obviously didn't listen to what the Doctor really said! Those aliens up there already know about us because everyone keeps sending up signals and probes! Murdering the Sycorax did nothing to change that fact! You acted on fear, not the urge to protect the Earth from harm!" I snarl and Harriet stares at me with wide eyes.

"Britain's Golden Age," the Doctor mocks, pulling me behind him and squeezing my hand.

"... it comes with a price," Harriet breathes out.

"The cost of your soul apparently," I scoff, glaring at her from behind the Doctor.

"I gave them the wrong warning," the Doctor shakes his head. "I should've told them to run, as fast as they can! Run and hide because the monsters are coming: the Human Race!" he sneers.

"Those are the people I represent! I did it on their behalf!" Harriet tries to defend herself, looking between the Doctor and me frantically.

"Then, I should've stopped you," the Doctor glares.

"What does that make you, Doctor? Another alien threat?" Harriet raises her eyebrows.

I move from behind the Doctor, getting in Harriet's face as best I could, "don't you dare think you can threaten him," I snarl. "I don't care if you are the Prime Minister, I won't hesitate to kick your arse!"

The Doctor grabs my shoulders, leaning down to my ear, "calm down, tiny," he whispers soothingly, even as anger washes over me and he straightens. "Don't challenge me, Harriet Jones, cause I'm a completely new man," he stares her down. "I could bring down your government with a single word!"

"... you're the most remarkable man I've ever met but I don't think you're quite capable of that," Harriet shakes her head.

"No, you're right, not a single word," the Doctor concedes. "Just six," he corrects himself.

"I don't think so!"

"Six words."

"Stop it!" Harriet's voice shakes, becoming unnerved.

"Six," the Doctor repeats before he gives her a harsh look and walks off to the translator.

I watch as he takes his earpiece and whispers in his ear. The Doctor comes back over, grabbing my hand on his way and we walk over to Rose, Mouse, and mum. The five of us walk off together as Harriet screams after us, demanding that the Doctor tell her what he'd said.

***

Rose, Mouse, mum, and I had gone back to the flat while the Doctor went to the TARDIS for a change of clothes. Mum was cooking dinner with Rose and Mouse's help; I'd offered to help as well, but she 'gently' forced me to get a bit of rest in my room. I was sitting on my bed with my knees brought up and the Doctor's old leather jacket in my arms. I knew that he was still himself... how could I not when he'd unblocked the bond? I had to admit to myself that the physical differences were... well... he was still very attractive and the hair! But... he was so different in the way he acted; he was still goofy, but in a different way and he seems more... open? I was going to miss my big-eared, blue-eyed, dorky soldier... but I was a bit excited to get to know more about the Doctor.

There's a knock on my door and I give a muffled 'come in' and the Doctor pokes his head in. "... hey," I murmur, taking him in as he walks into my room and shuts my door.

His apparel was certainly something; gone was the dark leather and jumpers. Now, he was wearing a brown suit with blue pinstripes and I snort when I see just the top three buttons of his four-buttoned blazer buttoned up. He was also wearing a white oxford button-up, a deep blue tie with some sort of swirly design on it, a long tan trench coat that very nearly touched the floor, and... white converse? "Oi, you stole my shoes!" I pout.

"They're rather comfortable," the Doctor smiles, looking down at his feet as he rocks on his heels. "What do you think?" he asks, doing a twirl for me.

"It's different, but you look nice," I smile, sitting up and setting his old jacket on my bed, the Doctor glancing at it.

"You can keep it," he offers. "If it... if it'd help with... you know..." he rubs the back of his head awkwardly as he bites his bottom lip, hurt washing over me.

I rush forward, wrapping my arms around his waist and leaning my ear against his chest, listening to his hearts as they speed up a bit, "I'm sorry..." I whisper, tears welling up as he slowly wraps his arms around me, pulling me against him more. "I don't- I should've believed that you were still you from the start and I- I don't need the jacket..." I squeeze him tightly.

The Doctor moves us to my bed and holds me in his lap, his face nuzzled against my hair, "I heard you... while I was in the healing coma," he murmurs and I blush in shame. "You were hurting and blaming yourself... I never wanted that and I certainly don't blame you for anything that happened... I'm sorry," he tightens his arms around me.

"But if I hadn't woken-"

"Stop it," the Doctor pulls away enough to see me and I look away, chewing on my lip in guilt. "You didn't know it would make me worse, you were sleep-deprived, and you'd just watched me die right in front of you... it's ok that you were a bit frazzled, Lizzie," he moves my face back to his, stroking my cheek with his thumb.

"I thought you were dying all over again," I whisper, a tear rolling down my cheek and the Doctor was quick to wipe it away.

"I'm right here... are you still gonna travel with me?" he asks hesitantly.

"Well, yeah," I smile.

"Are you, though?" he persists.

"Of course!"

"I just thought... since I changed..." he rubs the back of his head.

"Yes, I want to travel with you still," I nod quickly, nuzzling my face against his neck and feeling more than hearing him laugh as he strokes my hair. "... I thought you might not want me anymore..." I murmur.

"I'd love you to come," he assures me. "Told you: I don't have the strength to force you away again," he murmurs. "You want to get rid of me, it's got to be your choice," he warns.

"I think I'm ok with that," I giggle, my face burning when he kisses my forehead with a bright smile. "... um... so... you- you heard everything?" I ask hesitantly.

"Hm... if you're asking about that beautiful song you hummed to me? Yeah, I heard," he smirks, making me groan and cover my bright red face. "It was very nice," he leans his head on my shoulder.

"S-s-stop it!" I whine miserably, making him laugh. "Arse..." I huff, trying to get off his lap and he holds me tighter.

"Alright, I'm sorry," he bites his lip to keep from laughing anymore. "So, what's the plan, then?"

"Christmas dinner," I roll my eyes when he grimaces. "It won't be bad," I push between his eyebrows, making him stick his tongue out. "Nine hundred years old and you're acting like a bit of domestics is going to kill you," I snicker.

"It just might," he pouts. "Don't make me, tiny," he buries his face against my neck.

"Come on," I roll my eyes, getting up and grabbing his hands. "I'm hungry," I smile, pulling him to stand.

"You're always hungry," the Doctor points out, rolling his eyes. "Sure there'll be enough for all of us?"

"Oi, rude!" I poke his stomach.

The Doctor squirms away from me, "well, I didn't get to be ginger, did I?"

"That's not a valid reason to be an arse!" I narrow my eyes.

"Well, neither is being short," he raises an eyebrow and I squeak indignantly.

"You- you git!" I push him back lightly and he grabs my wrists.

"That hurt both my hearts... it really did," he pouts, making me snort. "Come on, then, let's get this over with," he sighs, pulling me from my room.

"Dramaqueen," I huff, making him laugh.

***

After dinner, the Doctor, Rose, Mouse, mum, and I were doing Christmas crackers. The Doctor had a red crown he'd won off me and I had a green one on I'd won off Mouse. Rose squeals as her and the Doctor pull a cracker open and the Doctor wins, but he gives the crown to Rose, "oh, that's yours," he grins.

"It's pink!" Rose smiles. "Mum, it should be yours!" she laughs, putting it on.

"Pink! Lovely!" the Doctor laughs.

"See?" I lean over, the Doctor leaning down a bit. "It's not so bad, is it?"

"I suppose," he shrugs, taking a drink of his Christmas punch and sending me a wink.

"Look! It's Harriet Jones!" Rose shouts and I look at the TV.

Reporter - Prime Minister, is it true you are no longer fit to be in position?

Harriet - No! Now, can we talk about other things?

The Doctor stands up, moving closer to the telly and I see him slip on a pair of thick-framed glasses. Does he even need those? Probably thinks they make him look clever, I muse with a smile. I eye him up... they do look really good on him, though. I jump when Rose clears her throat and she nudges me, wiggling her eyebrows with a tongue-in-teeth grin. I shrink down, my face burning as her and Mouse snicker. I glare, flipping them off, only making them laugh harder. I roll my eyes, turning back to the news report.

Reporter - Is it true you're unfit for office?

Harriet - Look, there is nothing wrong with my health! I don't know where these stories are coming from and a vote of no confidence is completely unjustified!

The landline rings and mum runs into the kitchen to answer, making me roll my eyes with a smile.

Reporter - Are you going to resign?

Harriet - On today of all days? I'm fine! Look at me, I'm fine! I look fine! I feel fine!

"It's Bev!" mum comes in. "She says to go and look outside!"

"Why?" Rose frowns.

"I don't know! Just go outside and look! Come on, shift!" she shoos us all outside.

***

The five of us step out of the estate and I see what looks like snow covering the ground and falling gently. My stomach knots up and I walk over by the TARDIS, looking up at the 'meteors' flying across the sky. Rose comes up beside me, spinning slowly as she looks up at the sky, "oh, that's beautiful!" she gasps in awe. "What are they? Meteors?"

"It's the spaceship breaking up in the atmosphere," I whisper, wrapping my arms around myself.

"This isn't snow, it's ash," the Doctor murmurs, coming up beside me and wrapping an arm around my shoulders.

Rose's face pales a bit, "ok... not so beautiful," she mutters.

"This is a brand new planet Earth!" the Doctor beams. "No denying the existence of aliens now! Everyone saw it! Everything's new!"

"What about you?" Rose asks. "What are you gonna do next?"

"Oh, back to the TARDIS, same old life," the Doctor grins, squeezing me briefly.

"The three of us?" she folds her arms.

"Unless you don't want to come?" he falters, a pang of hurt hitting me.

"Course I want to come, dummy!" Rose rolls her eyes with a smile.

"You're never gonna stay, are you?" Mouse cuts in sadly.

I bite my lip guiltily... I was taking his girlfriend away and he and Rose were already having problems. But she was my baby sister and I would never deny her coming if it's what she wants. Rose shifts on her feet, looking at Mouse, "there's just so much out there... so much to see, I've got to," she looks at him pleadingly, wanting him to understand.

"... yeah," Mouse forces a smile.

"Well, I reckon you're mad, the three of you," mum cuts in. "It's like you go looking for trouble!"

"Trouble's just the bits in between!" the Doctor rushes over, throwing an arm around mum and looking up at the sky wistfully. "It's all waiting out there, Jackie! It's brand new to me! All those planets, creatures and horizons? I haven't seen them yet! Not with these eyes!" he beams, coming back over to stand between Rose and me. "And it is gonna be... fantastic," he smiles softly, holding his hands out for both of us.

Rose laughs, taking his hand and leaning her head on his shoulder. I raise an eyebrow at the hand he was holding out to me... it was the one he'd gotten cut off and grew back, "that hand of yours gives me the creeps," I wrinkle my nose.

"Come on, tiny, won't you hold my hand?" the Doctor smirks, wiggling his fingers teasingly.

"Dork," I giggle, taking his hand and yelping when he pulls me to him, intertwining our fingers.

"So, where are we gonna go first?" Rose asks excitedly.

The Doctor tilts his head, looking up at the sky, "um... that way," he points our joined hands to a star. "No, hold on," he frowns, moving our hands a bit to the right. "That way!"

"That way?" Rose asks and the Doctor hums, looking down at her with a raised eyebrow. "Yeah, that way," she smiles.

"Lizzie?" the Doctor smiles down at me, eyebrow still raised.

"Anywhere's fine with me," I beam.

***

A bit later everyone starts to go back in and the Doctor squeezes my hand, making me look up at him questioningly, "come with me," he smiles, pulling me to the TARDIS.

"Doctor, we're not leaving without Rose," I joke, making him laugh as he pulls me inside.

"God no, she'd kill me," he snorts.

"Oh, wait!" I pull him to a stop, making him frown as I rush over to the console. "Thanks, girl," I whisper as I stroke the console and she hums softly, making me smile. "Ok," I bounce back over to the Doctor. "Ready!"

The Doctor chuckles, grabbing my hand and pulling me down one of the corridors. I frown as he takes me further into the TARDIS than I've ever been... we even passed a room full of trampolines that I had no idea there was! The Doctor pulls me to a stop at a large door with engraved Gallifreyan on it. I frown when worry and slight fear washes over me. "Doctor?"

"I... don't let anyone in here," he explains, squeezing my hand when my frown deepens. "I want to show you something," he sighs, not looking at me as he opens the door.

I look around the room; there were hundreds of books, little projects and gadgets everywhere, a desk that was messier than mine, and a few armchairs. I glance at the Doctor, but he was staring off at something. I follow his line of sight and see a photo on the desk of a young woman with short brown hair. "Who...?"

"My granddaughter, Susan," the Doctor replies from behind me as I get a wave of grief, making me look back to see him smiling softly at the photo.

"She's beautiful," I smile. "... what happened to her?" I ask hesitantly.

"Oh, she fell in love with a Human, stayed with him," he shrugs and I nod slowly, hating when he covers up his hurt with nonchalance. "Don't know where she is now, though..."

"Is this what you wanted to show me? Cause... hate to break it to, Doctor, but I already know you're an old man," I tease, trying to change the subject.

"Oi, cheeky!" he narrows his eyes. "Are you trying for a record or something?" he taps my nose, making wrinkle it and giggle. "No, this isn't what I wanted to show you," he rolls his eyes, pulling me over to a bookshelf. "This is just my study," he pulls a book from the shelf and I raise an eyebrow when it slides to the side. "This is what I wanted to show you..."

I walk in, gasping softly at the large room. There were several holograms of men standing around. I walk over to the first one and look him over closely; he was older with a suit and slicked back white hair but his eyes held a mischievous glint and my breath hitches in my throat... Doctor? I move to the second quickly and he has plaid pants pulled up high, a crooked bow-tie, and dark brown hair in a bowl cut... his eyes were the same but a bit older. The third has shaggy grey hair, a red suit, a white ruffle shirt, a neckerchief, and a cape. I raise my eyebrow with a small smile, moving on. The fourth was younger, carrying a bag of jelly babies and was wearing a plaid tan suit, a long brown coat, a ridiculously long and multi-colored scarf, a brown fedora hat, and he has curly brown hair.

Tears well up and I get a pain in my head. My hand moves to my necklace and I roll the chain between my fingers absently. I blink when the pain subsides... what was I... oh, right! 

I move on to the fifth, giggling. The fifth was a handsome man with blonde hair and wore a cream frock shirt, striped pants, cream and red blazer, a cream Panama hat with a red band, and had a cricket ball in his hand. This wasn't what made me giggle, though, it was the stalk of celery on his lapel. I move on and raise an eyebrow at the sixth, giggling again; he had curly blonde hair and wore a red plaid frock coat with green patchwork and yellow and pink lapels over a white shirt with red question marks embroidered on the collar, a waistcoat and large Victorian-style necktie, and yellow trousers with black stripes, and a pair of green ankle boots with red spats. I move to the seventh; he was older and had dark brown hair and wore an off-white safari-style jacket with a red paisley scarf worn under its lapels and a matching handkerchief in the left pocket, a pocket watch chained to the left lapel, a plain white shirt, a red paisley tie, a yellow pullover with red question marks and blue-green zigzag patterns, sand-colored tweed plaid trousers, white/brown shoes, a white Panama hat with a paisley hat-band and an upturned brim and an umbrella with a red question mark-shaped handle. I get to eighth and he was a younger, handsome man with shoulder-length, curly brown hair and he wore a steampunk, Victorian-style suit.

I turn to the Doctor, who'd been watching me the whole time and he stares with an apprehensive look, his hands in his pockets. I bite my lip and look over all the holograms as a whole, "they're all you..."

"Yes," the Doctor replies, moving over to me.

"Eight... where's...?" I wrap my arms around my waist.

The Doctor doesn't answer and goes over to press a few buttons on a panel on the wall. I go over to the new addition that was his recent self. Tears well up as I look him over; there he was with his huge smile, big ears, cropped hair, blue eyes, leather jacket, and jumper. I give a watery laugh, covering my mouth when I see a banana sticking out of his pocket. "Nine..." I breathe. "You've done this nine times..."

"Yes," he confirms.

My face contorts... he's died nine times? "So... this is the tenth body you've had," I bite my lip, turning to him. "How many have you got?" I ask hesitantly.

"I can regenerate twelve times, so thirteen incarnations," the Doctor explains.

I nod, going back to look at them all, "your fifth self certainly had a lot of self-esteem," I giggle. "Not many men can pull off a decorative vegetable," I tease.

"So, you're really alright? With all of... this?"

"I really am," I smile, moving over to wrap my arms around his waist. "I was upset... I mean, you told me I was never going to see you again and that you were dying... then you explode and some skinny bloke is telling me he's the Doctor," I smile, hearing him snort quietly as his arms wrap around me tightly. "... yeah, I had my doubts but I see that it's you.... in your eyes and how..." I trail off, my face burning; how he looks at me. "I see you, Doctor... my friend... well, my best friend," I squeeze him.

A/N: another chapter edited! So, the Doctor and Lizzie are doing much better than they were last chapter! Aren't they just adorable flirting in the middle of an alien invasion? XD Freaking cuties! *heart-eyes for days* I really liked how this chapter turned out and the song is the Doctor and Lizzie's song. I think it fits them rather well! :) Anywho, let me know what you think by dropping a comment or a vote or just be your ghost-reader self! Thanks for reading! :*