A/N: Yay! We've reached 100 reviews, which is just mind boggling for me. I have some news for you guys though. This story will be wrapping up soon and I can guarantee you'll get a sequel if you let me know you want one.
Something you should know: this chapter is split into two and the first scene of this chapter is actually the last one to happen in both of them. Hopefully it'll make sense once you read it.
Quick disclaimer and then I'm done: a scene of this was actually taken from the short Rain Gods. If you haven't seen it, you totally should.
. . .
Charlie groaned while the doorbell was being abused. There was some sort of curse placed on her to never have a decent sleep, she was sure of it. She shoved a pillow over her head, trying to block out the damn bell. Who shows up at six on a Saturday? Jack said that he wouldn't be able to visit for a while and Amy and Rory were off for a romantic weekend. Isabelle was stuck babysitting her cousins so she had no idea who could be bugging her at this hour. Maybe it was Mrs. Samuels from down the street checking up on her.
"If I get killed by an axe murderer Amy will never leave my side ever," Charlie muttered, stomping down the stairs. "It's six in the bloody morning," she grumbled while swinging the door open.
"Hello Charlie. Mind if I come in for a bit?" the Doctor asked, looking into the house. Charlie just stood there, staring at him. "Do I have something on my face?" He asked, reaching up to wipe away whatever was drawing her attention.
"What? Oh, no," Charlie said, heading to the kitchen. "Amy and Rory aren't home right now."
"I had a suspicion," he replied, walking in after her. "I just wanted to drop by, see how you were doing." He played around with the tea kettle while the teen fished around the cupboards for some cereal. She watched as her father fiddled with the dishes she had left out on the counter last night. There was something on his mind.
"How long has it been for you?" she asked, leaning against the counter. He just shrugged and pointed to the box on the top shelf, as if asking her permission to grab it for her.
"It's been about sixty years," he said, grabbing the box and setting it down beside her. "I've been caught up in plans and stuff." He leaned against the counter beside her but kept his gaze fixed on the wall.
"I would've loved to be dragged to help you with plans and stuff you know," Charlie said with a playful smile, bumping his shoulder. He smiled sadly, kissing the top of her head.
"I know dear. But this was too dangerous for you to tag along for," he sighed, sticking his hands in his pockets. "A little more than the usual type that is."
Charlie just watched her father, studying the tic in his jaw. She had been around him long enough to read his facial expressions. "Do you hate me?"
That finally got the man to look at her, eyes blown wide with shock. "What? Of course not," he spluttered. "Why would you ever think such a thing?"
"You take sixty years to come visit me and you won't even look at me. Did a future version of myself fight with you?" she pressed. "Or maybe I did something terrible. You're going to have to tell me. You know I have abandonment issues."
He pulled her into a hug, rubbing her back. "Nothing you could do would ever make me hate you Charlotte. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. It's something that I've done, not you."
"What did you do?" She pulled away to look at him. His jaw twitched again before sighing.
"I can't tell you. Not yet," he said, giving her a weak smile. "But I do have something that I'd like to give you."
"I'm up for presents," she said with a grin. "What's the occasion though?"
"Can't a father give his daughter a gift without a reason?" he countered, handing her a box.
She turned it over in her hands before opening it carefully. She gave a tiny gasp when she saw the contents and looked to her father in disbelief. "Is this what I think it is?"
"Yes!" he grinned, loving how excited his daughter was getting. His daughter. "Your very own sonic screwdriver. I made sure it glowed purple, just for you."
"I love it!" she exclaimed, knocking the breath out of her father with a hug. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
He chuckled, returning the hug. "Your welcome love." He had to be sure that he made the right decision.
He had to.
. . .
"I'll see you soon, alright? And study for that physics test, alright?!" the Doctor called after his daughter's retreating figure. The only indication he got that she heard was a wave. He shook his head, chuckling to himself as he shut the door. That girl was going to drive him crazy.
"Who would have thought I would have a daughter, huh old girl?" he said, shoulders shaking as he laughed. "A teenage one at that! Thank the stars she isn't dating yet."
He put the TARDIS in flight, no particular destination in mind. The Doctor had honestly forgotten how satisfying it was to raise a child. Sure, he wasn't there to raise her, but he was making up for that in a way. He was allowing her to blossom, to become who she really was.
It made his heart swell with pride when they had gone to 19th century California and Charlie had yelled and dived into fighting the Skaratid to protect that little boy, to stop him from being eaten. She was so brave. And that's what terrified him.
She had jumped headfirst into the situation without caring about her own safety. He made sure to talk to her about it afterwards, but she had just brushed it off. The Doctor was proud of the woman his daughter was becoming, but terrified that he didn't get to protect his little girl.
"Whoa!" The TARDIS landed with a 'thump' jolting the entire ship. "What's with you today old girl?" he muttered, checking the monitor for information where they had landed this time. "It's always England with you, isn't it?" he chuckled, hesitating for a moment before grabbing his jacket. He might as well take a look around while he was here.
It was fall if the multicolored leaves were anything to go by. There was a chill in the air, making him pull his coat tighter around himself. He was near a school, but it seemed to be over for the day. There was no kids running around or playing in the park.
He was about to leave when he heard something. It seemed to be coming from the park.
"Ow!"
The Doctor didn't even pause to think, sprinting in the direction of the noise. Why was he doing that? He was met with the sight of a young girl, jumping to reach a pair of gloves that hung on the monkey bars, dangling limply in the wind.
"Do you need some help?" he asked, kneeling down a few steps away from her so he was on the same level as her. The girl turned, almost shrinking into the hood of her too-big hoodie. She hesitated before nodding quickly.
The Doctor reached up and grabbed the mittens, holding them out to the girl. "Here you go," he said with a smile. She snatched them out of his hands, stuffing them onto her own. "How did they get up there?"
"Some boys took them," she said, watching him cautiously. "They're meanies."
"It sounds like they are," he agreed, trying hard to keep the frown off of his face. The last thing he wanted to do was make the girl think he was mad at her. "Why are you still here?"
The girl kicked at the pavement, shrugging. "Mommy isn't here yet. Sometimes she forgets."
His hearts ached for the girl. "Do you want to see a magic trick?" he asked, attempting to cheer the girl up.
"Yes please!"
The Doctor waved a hand behind her ear, procuring a piece of candy, which he gave her. "I hope you don't mind lemon drops."
"Thank you," she grinned, showing off her two missing teeth. She tucked the candy in her pocket, glancing over his shoulder. "My mommy's here now," she said skipping to her mother. Her hood managed to fall on the way there, revealing wild blonde curls.
She stopped for a moment, as if she forgot something. "Bye bye!" she said, turning around to wave at him before running to her mother. The Doctor didn't wave back, to overwhelmed with shock to lift his hand.
He had just spoken to his daughter as a child. Five-years-old if his guess was correct.
The Doctor ran to the TARDIS and slammed the door. He set the ship to auto-pilot before sinking down to sit on the floor. That was the life that he left his daughter to. One of waiting for absent parents and having gloves stolen.
What kind of father was he?
. . .
"You are so totally whipped," Charlie smirked, slipping through a magazine as he struggled to choose an outfit for his date.
"I am not," he scoffed, tossing the shirt on the floor before lifting another. "Do you think she'll like this one?" he asked, turning to his daughter. She sighed and closed the magazine, taking the shirt from him. She threw it away without a second thought and picked out another one.
"There. Those pants, that shirt, and wear the purple bowtie," Charlie said, putting the clothes on his bed. "Do you need anything else?"
"No. Thank you," he said with a smile. She smiled back before leaving, probably to the library.
This had become a routine on his date nights with River. He would go crazy trying to find an outfit, Charlie would waltz in and choose the perfect one, then she would give him advice for his date before heading off to the library to give him some privacy for when he grabbed River.
He found himself falling in love with River more each time they went out together. At first he felt like he had to do it out of duty to the ne that had died for him in the library, but that thought had fled his mind quickly a few minutes into their first date. He was falling fast for that woman.
"Hurry up before you're late!" Charlie shouted, banging on his door. "You don't have a lot of time Dad."
"I'll be out in a moment. Fly the old girl for me, will you?" he shouted back. A squeal and fleeing footsteps were his only reply. He chuckled softly at his daughter's excitement. While he loved River with both his hearts, Charlie was the most precious thing in his life. He dearly hoped that River was her mother, but the chances were slim.
He didn't have much time to think since they had landed and he was being rushed out the door by his teenage daughter. The next few minutes were a blur: seeing River, Charlie suddenly disappearing, flying off to a Beatles concert – for real this time. All he could remember was River standing there, waiting for him so they could go listen to the music on the other side of the doors.
"Ready for our date Ms. Song?" he asked, holding his arm for the woman. She smiled and took it, moving close to him.
"Of course. Lead the way Doctor."
. . .
"Hello again Ms. Song. Are you ready?" the Doctor asked, leaning against the TARDIS. The cell door was unlocked and River smirked, swinging it open.
"Of course. I actually wasn't expecting you today," she remarked, walking over to the TARDIS and giving it a gentle pat.
"Thought I'd surprise you for once dear," he said, giving her a quick kiss. "Now, I have the perfect restaurant picked out for supper. Care to join me?"
"As long as you turn off the breaks for once sweetie," she said, already heading into the ship.
"She sounds fine with them on!"
The Doctor tried sounding cross as he entered the ship but couldn't help smiling. His daughter was right; he was completely in love with the wonderful woman that is River Song. And in the end he let her down at the Library, watching her die so that he didn't have to. He should have done something more to protect her. But he failed, just like he would fail his daughter, his friends, and everyone else he had ever met.
River frowned slightly, walking over to the man. She put a hand on his arm, snapping him out of his thoughts. "What's wrong sweetie? You have that face on again."
"What face? This is my face," the Doctor replied, trying to sound upbeat. The last thing he wanted to do was make her worry.
"Your brows are furrowed, your mouth is doing the half-frown thing and your eyes got distant," she said quietly, brushing her hand across each feature gently. "The sad faraway look you get. Tell me, maybe I can help."
He just smiled, shaking his head and kissing her hand. "It's nothing to worry about, I promise. Now, I owe you a date," he grinned, walking over to the console, twirling around it. "I swear, this place has the best food you've ever tasted."
"Sounds like you like this place more than me," she teased, earning a laugh from the Time lord.
"Never. Now come on!"
He grabbed her hand as soon as the ship landed and flung the door open. "I may have come to the wrong place," he mumbled, noticing that they were parked at the bottom of a cliff. Of course the TARDIS had to do this to him now, when he was trying to impress his girlfriend.
"Why don't we do a bit of exploring before dinner?" River suggested, noticing the disappointed look on her boyfriend's face. She led him out of the TARDIS.
It took five minutes for them to be captured by two men with spears.
"Okay, so tell me you have a plan," River whispered, glancing at her husband. They both had their arms up while the men kept their spears trained on their backs.
"Hey? Why do I have to have a plan? You could have a plan. I chose the restaurant," he argued, turning to his girlfriend.
"Yes, and accidentally took us to the planet of the Rain Gods, where we are now being sacrificed," River said, giving a pointed look at the man. "Plan!"
He thought for a moment, glancing around to see if there was anything he could use to save them. Nothing. "Okay. The plan is we need to distract them with something before they actually sacrifice us to the Rain Gods. Then when they're distracted, we run away."
"That's not a plan, that's just hoping," River sighed, shaking her head.
"Hey it's a start," he pointed out, turning his head upwards to sniff at the air. "Can you smell something?"
"Why are they sacrificing us to the Rain Gods, anyway?" she asked, not listening to the man.
"Appeases their wrath. Apparently it's very good for the crops, you know, sacrificing. There is actually some scientific evidence –" the Doctor started, getting enthusiastic. He completely missed the look River was giving him.
"Oh, so you're in favour of being burnt alive now?" River asked, exasperated with the man. "Seriously Doctor."
"Just looking on the bright side, dear," he said, glancing back at the sky once more. If he was right, there may be a chance that they could get out alive.
"Huh! Ha, ha! And there it is, Oi!" the Doctor grinned as thunder boomed. He looked at the sky and yelled. "If there are any Rain Gods out there, you're rubbish! Strike me dead if I'm wrong!"
River glanced at him like he had lost his mind. "What are you doing?"
"Smelling the ozone, dear," he smiled, just as thunder boomed once more. "Get down," he said, pulling her into a crouch with him. It was just in time, since lighting seemed to strike near their captors.
The two laughed together. The Doctor pulled an umbrella out of his pocket as it began to rain.
"Hey! River, Run," he said, giving her a kiss on the cheek before turning to the men behind them. "Run away! I think the Rain Gods are going to do that again, you know."
The couple ran back to the TARDIS before the men could stand up again. They were cackling the whole way there, thanking their good luck.
"So that was your plan?" River asked, drying her hair with a towel once they were safe inside the ship.
"Well it worked didn't it?"
"Basically you hoped for lightning," she summed up again, glancing over to the man. "Pure luck."
"And here we are," he grinned, taking his eyes off the console to appreciate how lovely the woman looked even when she was wringing out her hair.
"We should be burning at the stake right now," she mused, unaware of his staring. "It's lucky for you you're pretty."
"You were in no danger. I knew something would come up," he assured her, waving his hand.
"No you didn't."
"I did! I promise I did."
. . .
Morning – or something like it – came and the Doctor was very comfortable snuggled up to his girlfriend. So much so that he didn't hear footsteps approaching his door. He didn't even hear the door creak open.
"I didn't expect you to – OHMYGODSORRY!" The door slammed shut and the Doctor was wide awake now.
That was his daughter. She had –
Crap.
River squirmed beside him, waking up. "Who was that?" she mumbled, rubbing her eyes. So this River didn't know about his daughter. Probably not the best time to tell her.
"My companion," he replied. "My sixteen-year-old companion."
"Oh." There was a beat before she added "Crap."
"Yeah," he said, head buried in his hands.
"How did she even get here?"
"I put the TARDIS on autopilot. The old girl must have landed nearby," he groaned. Getting up, he pulled on the clothes scattered on the floor. "I better talk to her."
River hummed, getting up as well. "I'll take a shower, give you two some space," she said, giving him a kiss. He smiled before heading out to find his now – probably scarred for life – daughter.
He had been so careful every other time, he was bound to mess it up at some point. He found Charlotte curled up in a corner of the library, head on top of Go Set A Watchman they had grabbed on their last trip to 2020 Earth.
"Charlie?" he whispered, putting a hand on her shoulder. She just shook her head.
"I need to rip out my eyes now."
"It wasn't that ba –"
"Don't continue that sentence," she said, glancing up at him. "Spend time with River, get me some breakfast, and we'll pretend this never happened. Deal?"
"Deal."
. . .
"Hello dear," the Doctor grinned, walking into River's cell at Stormcage. "Feel up for an adventure today? Or maybe just a quiet evening together?"
River didn't move from her spot on the bed, curled up around herself. She didn't even acknowledge he was there.
"River?"
He walked towards her, kneeling down and gently putting a hand on her back. He now noticed that the woman was crying. The Doctor tried to give her an awkward hug.
"What's wrong River?"
She turned to him and shook her head, burying her face in the crook of his neck. "You'll hate me."
"I could never hate you River. Ever," he whispered, placing a kiss on her temple. He adjusted them so that they were both sitting on the bed. He rubbed circles on her back, trying to calm her down.
"Promise?" she croaked, glancing up at him. He nodded.
"I promise. Cross my hearts," he joked, offering a small smile. "Now what's wrong dear?"
"I'm pregnant."
. . .
And that's where we'll stop for this week! Let me know what you think please! Also, let me know in a review if you do want a sequel since I am wrapping this story up soon.
Also, would anyone like to make some cover art for this? Please let me know in a PM if you would.