You can all thank KleeAlise11 for getting my ass into gear and for their writing FINALLY getting me back into my writing mojo so as a thank you for FINALLY getting my head in gear please, please, please (sabrina carpenter) you like my writing 100% go and read her beautiful work that is 'Dreaming of a Blue Box' because without her kindness I wouldn't have a chapter for you all right now.

Moving on... I'm really excited for this chapter, the Rings of Akhaten is one of my favourite episodes so I hope I did it the justice it deserves.

─── ｡ﾟ☆･*.☽ .* ☆ﾟ. ───

Araya quietly watched from the jump seat as the two older Time Lords moved in practically complete unison to pilot the ship. It didn't take long until the ship disguised as a blue police box landed with a small thud and the Doctor stepped out first followed by the Stone and Araya.

She followed her parents who walked towards Clara's house. The Doctor rang the doorbell multiple times like an impatient child. Clara didn't take long to answer the doorbell before they found themselves back in the TARDIS heading off again.

×××

Clara walked around the console, the Doctor stood on one side while the Stone stood on the opposite. Clara walked past the Time Lady as she pulled a lever down. "So we're moving through actual time?" The human asked. The Stone nodded slightly and Clara continued to speak. "So what's it made of, time?" She frowned slightly as Araya frowned too in thought. "I mean, if you can just rotor through it, it's got to be made of stuff, like jam's made of strawberries. So what's it made of?"

"The vortex is made of strawberries?" Araya asked, jumping off the seat she was perched on to stand next to her father. She frowned even deeper now, her nose scrunching up slightly as she tried to think.

The Doctor chuckled, smiling warmly at his daughter before patting her head lightly. "No. No, no, no." He rubbed her hair after a moment. "It's a saying Rae, almost like how I call you poppet as a nickname." He hummed. "Humans do it a lot."

"'It's raining cats and dogs' would be a better example." The Stone nodded, looking around the console at the older Time Lord.

"Is it?" Araya asked seriously.

Clara chuckled with the Time Lords. Araya blinked before pouting at them as the fact they were laughing at her set in as she huffed. "Humans are complicated."

"Yes, they are." The Doctor agreed picking his daughter up and setting her on his hip. "Your mum was very complicated for the small amount of time she was human but you'll soon understand how confusing they can be." He winked.

"So the Time Vortex is definitely not made of strawberries?" The young brunette double-checked.

"Definitely not." The Doctor confirmed kissing her cheek before setting her back down on the ground.

"And we can go anywhere?" Clara questioned, pulling the Doctor's attention away from Araya.

"Within reason." The Doctor shrugged and then looked slightly thoughtfully. "Well, I say reason."

"So, we could go backwards in time," Clara said.

"And space!" Araya enthusiastically added.

"And forwards in time." Clara supplied.

"And space!" Araya said again making the Time Lords laugh at their daughter.

"So, where do you want to go, eh?" The Doctor asked Clara while giving his daughter a look while adding pointedly. "Seeing as we do have a guest."

She sighed slightly almost dramatically at her father.

The Stone looked at Clara. "What do you want to see?"

"I don't know." Clara frowned. "You know when someone asks you what's your favourite book and straight away you forget every single book that you've ever read?"

The Stone blinked. "No, that actually never has happened to me, then again I never really have had a favourite book, I like them all."

"Mine's the Harry Potter ones!" Araya cheered just about poking her head over the console while on her tiptoes.

"Well, that's a thing." Clara looked between them. "That does happen."

"And?" The Doctor said not seeing how it linked to choosing where to go or what to see. "Back to the question?"

"Okay. So." She looked around. "So. So. So I'd like to see." She started to pace. "I would like to see." She grinned and turned around to face them. "What I would like to see is, something awesome."

The Doctor grinned and Araya cheered as her parents moved around the console, almost as if they were dancing while piloting the TARDIS.

×××

Araya was the first out of the TARDIS, gasping loudly as the beautiful stars hit her eyes. The Doctor guided Clara out of the TARDIS, his hands covering her eyes.

The Stone smiled at the wide beaming grin on her daughter's face. It was even better than the one she had when the Doctor told her the stories from when he brought Susan here many centuries ago.

"Can you feel the light on your eyelids?" The Doctor asked Clara, stepping forward and further away from the TARDIS. "That is the light of an alien sun." The woman smiled at his words. "Forward a couple of steps." He gently pushed her and she complied. "Okay. Are you ready?"

"Yes." She answered only to change her mind. "No." She changed it again. "Yes." She opened her eyes as the Doctor let go of her. She stared in awe at the burning sun in front of her. "Welcome to the Rings of Akhaten."

She continued to stare out and then looked around, noticing that they were standing on a small asteroid that was slowly moving around the large sun. "It's-" she whispered.

"It is." The Stone smiled wrapping an arm around her daughter who continued to beame, the sun and stars around them shining in her eyes.

"It so completely is." The Doctor agreed. "But wait, there is more."

"More what?" Clara asked.

He held up a hand. "Wait, wait, wait." Checking his wristwatch he smiled. "In about five, four, three, two..." The asteroid in front of them moved, revealing a golden pyramid that shone on a rock near the sun.

"Is that the Pyramid of the Rings of Akhaten." Araya looked at her mother who smiled and nodded picking her up so the girl could see it better.

"What is it for?" The human asked.

"It's a holy site for the Sun Singers of Akhat." The Doctor answered.

"The who of what?"

The Doctor opened his mouth to answer and pouted as Araya quickly answered:

"There's seven worlds orbiting the same star and all of them are sharing a belief that life in the universe originated here," Araya brightly smiled., "on that planet."

"Alright miss Wikipedia." The Doctor huffed.

"Shush." The Stone narrowed her eyes at him. "She's taking an interest, sweetheart." She turned to her daughter, warmly smiling. "Ignore him."

"Right." He blinked. "Sorry, Rae."

"It's okay Daddy." She grinned back at him.

"Wait so does that mean all life?"

The Doctor nodded. "In the universe."

"Did it?"

Araya opened her mouth remembering another story the Doctor told her. "Well, it's what they believe." He quickly cut her off. "It's a nice story. "

"Can we see it?" She asked. "Up close?"

The Stones eyes met the Doctor, the two of them smiling.

×××

The quad walked around a busy alien market. The Stone carried Araya while the Doctor walked in front of her and Clara. "Where are they from?"

"Oh, you know, the local system, mostly." The Doctor waved off.

"What do I call them?" She asked.

"Well, let's see. Ah! There go some Panbabylonians." He looked around a moment before pointing to one alien not so far away with a metallic look to them. "A Lugal-Irra-Kush." He pointed to another. "Some Lucanians. A Hooloovoo. Ah! Qom VoTivig." He did a greeting with the alien that concluded in both parties giving a small pelvic thrust. "That chap's a Terraberserker of the Kodion Belt." He pointed. "You don't see many of them around any more. Oh! That's an Ultramancer. Do you know, I forget how much I like it here." He smiled making his daughter's eyes twinkle. He looked at the Time Lady over his shoulder. "We should come here more often."

"You've been here before?"

"Yes, yes, yes." The Doctor nodded. "I came here a long time ago with my granddaughter but I brought the Stone not long after we got married." He answered casually.

Clara looked at Araya who giggled at the shocked look on the human's face.

"Ah, that was fun." The Time Lady smiled. "We just wanted to have a look around for a bit."

"Hold on!" Clara called as the Time Lords headed off. "Did you just say granddaughter?"

"Ooo." Araya looked over at something, Clara quickly catching up with them as Araya looked completely transfixed by a basket of blue glowing gloop.

The Doctor scanned the gloop balls. "Exotic fruit of some description. Non-toxic, non-hallucinogenic." He stated. The Stone handed one to Araya. "High in free radicals and low in other stuff, I shouldn't wonder." Clara also tried one and shook her head frowning. Araya happily took hers while the Time Lords tried one each as well. "No?" The Doctor asked as she nodded.

"So, why is everyone here?" She asked.

"For the Festival of Offerings." The Stone answered. "Takes place every thousand years or so, when the rings align."

The Doctor nodded. "It's quite a big thing, locally, like Pancake Tuesday."

Clara froze when an alien with large teeth stepped in front of her barking exactly like a dog. "Oh!" She gasped. "Er..." Araya giggled when her dad started to bark at the alien, sounding like a Yorkshire terrier. "What's happening?" Clara asked. "Why is it angry?"

"This isn't an it, it's a she." He shook his head. "Dor'een, meet Clara. Clara, meet Dor'een."

"Doreen?"

"Loose translation." The Stone shrugged.

"She sounds a bit grumpy but she's a total love actually, aren't you?" The Doctor asked scratching her chin. "Yes, you are. No, actually, she's just asking if we fancy renting a moped."

"So, how much does it cost?"

Araya shook her head. "Not money. Something valuable."

"Sentimental value." The Doctor cut in. "A photograph, love letter, something like that. That's what's used for currency here. Psychometry. Objects are psychically imprinted with their history. The more treasured they are, the more value they hold."

"That's horrible."

"Better than using bits of paper." Araya smiled.

"Then your parents can pay," Clara suggested.

"With what?" The Time Lord asked.

"You're a thousand years old. You must have something you care about." She walked off. The Doctor took out his screwdriver before shaking his head and putting it away, quickly glancing at the rings on his fingers in the process.

"Araya can you go with Clara please, I need a word with your father." The Stone shot the Time Lord a look.

"Okay." Araya smiled as the Time Lady set the young Time Tot on the floor and watched as she hurried off to find Clara. The Doctor swallowed hard at her tone. "Don't even think about it." The Time Lady sent him a threatening look.

"I would never." The Doctor held up his hands and then took her own, lightly running his thumb over her rings before kissing them and then the back of her hand entwining their fingers. "Our rings are far too important to put a price on."

"Good." She smiled and stepped closer to him. "Now Araya's with Clara we can have some time alone."

A chuckle sounded low in the Doctor's throat, it was her plan all along. He tugged her towards him and softly kissed her lips before they headed off.

×××

"Where did they go?" Clara asked Araya after she found the Time Tot running towards her.

"They told me to go with you," she shrugged. "I think they're doing boring TARDIS part hunting."

Clara frowned slightly then walked on. A young girl ran towards them, through the crowd of people looking terrified and panicked. "Are you okay?" Clara asked. The young girl stared at them before running past them.

Two men ran up to the duo moments later. "Have you seen her?"

"Who?" Clara and Araya asked.

"The Queen of Years." One of them replied.

Araya mentally frowned, she knew that there was a queen and what she meant but not who it was.

"Who?" Clara asked. The men split up and Clara looked around to find Araya, spotting the Time Tot had run off heading in the same direction as the other girl went in.

"Hey!" She shouted and ran after her. If she lost Araya on both their first planet the Time Lords would surely kill her on the spot.

×××

Following the girl in the red robe into a large storeroom, the Time Tot and human frowned. A loud noise was followed by two screams echoing around the room, one of the little girl and one from Araya who clutched her chest.

Clara gasped and turned around before smiling at the girl. Araya began to giggle setting the other girl off which then was followed by Clara. "Are you all right? What are you doing?"

"Hiding."

"Oh. Why?"

"You don't know me?" She frowned.

Araya shrugged at her and Clara shook her head. "Sorry. Actually not."

"So why did you follow me?"

"To help." Araya answered smiling. "Mummy says it's good to help people and you looked lost."

She stepped back from them. "I don't believe you."

"We've got no idea who you might be." Clara reassured. "I've never been here before and I don't think Araya has either." She nodded at the younger brunette. "I've never been anywhere like here before. I just saw a little girl who looked like she needed help."

"Really?" She blinked.

"Really, really."

"Can you help me?" She asked looking at them.

"That's why we're still here."

"Because I need to hide."

"It's okay." Araya held out her hand smiling. "I know the perfect hiding spot for you."

"I think we're thinking of the same box." Clara grinned as Araya took the girl's hand.

×××

Using herself and the environment around them to nearby to hide the girl Clara managed to get her, Araya and the little girl in the red robe to the TARDIS.

"What's this?" She frowned looking at the TARDIS.

"A space-shippy thing," Clara answered after pausing. "Timey, spacey."

"Daddy says 'Timey Wimey'." Araya giggled.

"It's teeny." The girl stared at it.

"You wait," Clara said grabbing the handles and pulling, her face fell when it didn't budge. "Oh, come on." She groaned.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't know." Clara stared at it. "I don't think it likes me. Come on, let me in."

"The TARDIS is a she, not an it." Araya pouted. "And she won't hate you, we need a key and I'm not old enough to be trusted with one yet, I've never actually been on another planet let alone on one on my own before." She admitted.

"And they let you go off all alone on your first time?" Clara asked.

"I'm with you plus Daddy has told me some of his stories when he came here with Mummy last time so I know a lot of the places and culture." She smiled. "Plus I can still talk to them." She grinned.

"How," Clara asked. Araya tapped her head making Clara look at her confused. The little girl frowned at them before running behind the TARDIS. Araya shrugged and followed her with Clara just behind them.

"Hey." Clara looked at her. "Hey, little girl."

"My name's Merry." She corrected.

"Hi, Merry." Araya grinned. "I'm Araya."

"Hi Araya." She smiled back.

"So, what's happening?" Clara cut them off sitting down with them. "Is someone trying to hurt you?"

"No." She admitted. "I'm just scared."

"Of what?" Araya frowned.

"Getting it wrong."

"Okay. Can you pretend like I'm totally a space alien and explain?"

"I'm Merry Gejelh." Araya's eyes widened while Clara blinked.

"Really not local. Sorry."

"She's the Queen of Years," Araya answered. "I didn't realise."

Merry nodded. "They chose me when I was a baby, the day the last Queen of Years died."

"Okay." Clara blinked.

"I'm the vessel of our history," Merry explained. "I know every chronicle, every poem, every legend, every song."

"Every single one?" She raised a brow. "Blimey. I hated history."

"And now I have to sing a song in front of everyone." She whimpered at the very thought. "A special song. I have to sing it to a god. And I'm really scared."

Clara's lip twitched upwards. "Everyone's scared when they're little. I used to be terrified of getting lost. Used to have nightmares about it. And then I got lost. Blackpool beach, Bank holiday Monday, about ten billion people. I was about six. My worst nightmare come true."

"What happened?" Merry asked.

"The world ended. My heart broke. And then my mum found me." She smiled at the girl. "We had fish and chips, and she drove me home and she tucked me up and she told me a story."

Merry tilted her head to the side. "And you were never scared again?

"Oh, I was scared lots of times, but never of being lost." She crossed her arms. "So, this special song. What are you scared of, exactly?"

"Getting it wrong. Making Grandfather angry."

"Do you think you'll get it wrong Merry?" Araya asked.

She opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by Clara. "Because I don't certainly don't and I don't think Araya does too. I think you, Merry Gejelh, will get it very, very right."

Merry smiled at them and tightly hugged Clara, she then hugged Araya and stood up, holding out her hand for the Time Tot she grinned and took it. Clara took Merry's other and led her back to bazaar where the man looking for her from before placed a lei around her neck and then lead her away.

The Time Lords noticed the two and caught up to them, the Doctor eating one of the blue fruits.

"What have you two been doing?" The Doctor asked.

"We helped the Queen of Years." Araya brightly smiled at her parents. The Stone chuckled and picked her up.

"You're definitely your father's daughter Rae."

The Doctor laughed and headed off. "Come on you lot."

Clara frowned and followed them. "Where are we going now?"

×××

The Doctor ran through Bazaar with Araya on his back giggling with every step he made. The Doctor ran out into a busy Amphitheatre and skidded to a stop as creatures nearby turned to stare at them, the Stone and Clara following the Time Lord.

"Shush, shush." He hushed as they quickly found some spare seats. "Sorry." He winced stepping past and letting Araya down. "Sorry. Excuse me. Sorry. Excuse me."

"Sorry, sorry." Clara apologised. "Are we even supposed to be here?"

"Shush." The Doctor huffed.

"But are we?"

"Shush!" He said even louder and winced when people around him looked in their direction. Araya got up on the Stone's lap seeing as there were not enough chairs for four of them. Merry looked around and smiled at Araya and Clara before looking at the pyramid in the distance and began to sing.

"Akhaten Lay down, my king, sleep now eternal. Sleep, my precious king. Lay down o god of Akhaten."

The Doctor took out a leaflet and put Amy's reading glasses on. "They're singing to the Mummy in the Temple." He read off the leaflet. "They call it the Old God. Sometimes Grandfather."

"O god of Akhaten."

"What are they singing?" Clara asked.

"The Long Song." The Stone informed. "A lullaby without end to feed the Old God."

"To keep him asleep. It's been going for millions of years, chorister handing over to chorister, generation after generation after generation."

Aliens around them held out their hands, holding different items out, they sparkled and slowly disappeared. "What are they doing?" Clara asked looking around.

"Those are offerings." The Doctor answered. "Gifts of value. Mementoes to feed the Old God."

"O god of, O god of, O god of Akhaten"

The whole chorus started up amongst the congregation. "Lay," the Doctor tried but came in too early making his wife and daughter giggle. The Stone shook her head and rested it on the Doctor's shoulder. "Lay down."

Her head shot up when something rumbled making Merry stop singing.

The queen cried out when an energy beam lifted her off the pedestal she was stood on and pulled her through space and towards the pyramid.

"Okay, what's happening?" Clara asked the Time Lords. Araya gasped and clutched onto her mother. "Is that supposed to happen?"

"Help!" Merry cried.

"Is somebody going to do something?" Clara asked around seeing everyone frozen in fear. "Excuse me, is somebody going to help her?" She turned to the Time Lords and saw the Doctor and Stone were marching away. Araya in the Stone's arms.

×××

Clara caught up with the two in the Baazar market. "Why are we walking away?" Clara shouted at them. "We can't just walk away. This is my fault!" She winced when Araya whimpered.

The Doctor spun around. "Listen." He narrowed his eyes at her for a moment. "There's one thing you need to know about travelling with us." He frowned for a second. "Well, one thing apart from the blue box and the two hearts. We don't walk away."

He turned to Dor'een and barked. "I need something precious." He looked around.

"Well, you must have something. All the places you've seen, there must be something."

He blinked. "My family isn't for sale."

The Stone smiled slightly and kissed his cheek. Araya brightly beamed and reached from her mother and hugged the Doctor. Her face hid in the crook of his neck for a moment.

"You're a thousand years old and you don't have anything precious?"

The Stone sighed and reached into her pocket. Fondly smiling when she felt the silk brush against her fingertips she pulled it out. The Doctor stared at her and blinked. "Is that-" he breathed, eyes fixed on her hand where the silk cloth was tightly held.

"Yes." She smiled tears pricking her eyes.

Araya tilted her head confused. "Why is mummy crying?" She whispered to the Doctor.

"She's about to give something up that's very important to me and your mother."

"What is it?"

"It's the cloth we both shared when we got married and united, our regeneration energy and blood mixed together on the cloth, entwining our lives, if one of us dies permanently so does the other."

The little girl blinked at her parents. "Wow."

"But it isn't enough." The Doctor shook his head as the Stone passed the cloth to him. "We need two bikes and this isn't enough for two of them."

Clara swallowed and handed him one of her rings. "It's my mum's."

Nodding wordlessly he handed the cloth and ring to Dor'een.

─── ｡ﾟ☆･*.☽ .* ☆ﾟ. ───

I get so much joy when I write Araya, she's so innocent and adorable and the bond she has with her parents. UGH too cute!

At the start of the chapter I shared what is one of my favourite episodes so my question is: what's your favourite episode of Doctor Who?