Summary: It seems that interfering is a genetic trait, as the Doctor is soon to learn.

Disclaimer: Doctor Who © BBC Mel, John, Megapolis 3 and the Meganians © Me

Warnings: Is "bleeding" really a curse word? Well, if it is, then that's it.

N'joy.

The Doctor strolled down the crowded street following his three companions with his hands shoved into his pockets. In front of him, Donna, Martha and Jack were chatting away. Martha was getting married soon, and the three were discussing dresses and suits and plans for the reception.

He'd just had to mention that Megapolis 3 was the best shopping port in the universe.

The Doctor was passing the time by going through each Law of Time individually, and counting how many times he'd broken each. He hadn't moved passed the First Law of Time, and it had been twenty minutes. Perhaps he should try to be a little more careful in the future? He didn't even want to think about how many times he'd broken the No Interference Law. He forgot about his many rule-breaking regenerations as he heard a commotion from one of the vendors.

It was a sort of shoddy looking tent that held bits and bobs made of metal and wire. The Meganian running the tent had a flustered look on his green-hued face, and he was gesturing wildly with his four arms. And then, the Doctor groaned out loud.

The cause of the commotion appeared to be a young human girl. He could only see the back of her, but she had long blonde hair that was tied up into a high ponytail. She was wearing a denim skirt and yellow tights. She was also wearing a black bomber's jacket and pink Chuck Taylor Converse. The only thought that crossed through his mind was not again.

Had he taught his children nothing about crossing timelines? And what was wrong with him, letting them cross his past timeline? And boy, was his daughter rude.

The girl was pointer her finger at the poor Meganian, who looked like he might burst into tears any moment. The Doctor shuffled a bit closer to her, to Mel, he remembered, and listened in on their conversation.

"You listen to me, you swindling conman, I know for a fact that this Hyperdrive Module came from a Chula battle ship, and you've removed the power cell. You can blow your smoke all you want to, buddy, but you ain't foolin' me. My Uncle Jack's as crooked as they come, and I know a snow-job when I see one. You've just painted the damned thing, like any creature with a spit's worth of intelligence couldn't see it. And you didn't even paint it well. You know what, I bet the Meganian Trade Commission would just love to hear you pushing tainted goods. And mister, I got a big mouth. People listen when I shout. Time Lords cower from the Tyler Shout. An' no cheatin idiot of a Meganian is gonna trick me with his shoddy Michelangelo'd Module. I'm givin' you ten seconds to show me the real thing before I start shoutin' for the MTC."

The girl tapped her pink plimsol in a decidedly haughty manner, and the Doctor couldn't help but smile. Really! She was like a stick of pink and yellow dynamite!

"You're being rude again."

"Push off, bud- well this is just wonderful. Just what I need."

The little hurricane crossed her arms and glared at him.

"Wotchu doin' here?"

He grinned down at her.

"I could say the same thing to you, Mel."

"'S Melina to you, buster. I'm not even a twinkle in yer eye yet, so you'll have to be earnin' that nickname."

"Good lord, you sound like me."

"Da says I got five's hair and six's attitude."

"I can see that. What are you doing here?"

"Uncle Jack, bleeding idiot, tried to swindle a better con and they took the Hyperdrive Module from Nancy. Uh, Nancy is his ship."

"He got another Chula?"

"Well, you know… timelines and all."

He raised his eyebrows.

"Now you remember?"

The petite Time Lady uncrossed her arms and pointed at him.

"This is your fault, you know. You shoulda warned me or somefing."

"Right. My fault, of course. Where am I, then?"

"You're back on Earth with Mum and John. Uncle Jack promised to take me shopping for my birthday, but of course, Murphy's Law decided to rear his ugly, but familiar, head."

"So, all's pretty much normal, then?"

She sighed.

"'S normal for us, I suppose. Who're you here wit?"

"Oh, you know, Martha, Donna, Jack… oh crud."

"Oh Crud! This planet has two Jack Harknesses on it and all you can say is "oh crud"? What kind of good are you, then? Where is that slimy Meganian? I need the completed Hyperdrive Module, so we can get out of here as fast as possible."

The little fury of a girl strode around the vendor's table and drug out a container that had been hidden by the sign. She dug around in it until she shouted "Snap!" and jumped up. She dug around in her jacket until she came to a credit stick. Shrugging, she left it on the table with the painted Hyperdrive Module. She grabbed his hand and drug him away from the vendor's table, just in time to hear the Meganian shouting behind them.

"Shut yer mouth, you swine! You got yer credits. I got my powercell. We're square!"

The Doctor didn't have a whole lot of time to think about the hilarity of the situation until later. For once, it wasn't him causing the ruckus, and it was him being drug away before something really bad happened. Melina drug him through the tiny side streets, between buildings until she came to the impound shiplot, where she ducked through the wire fence, which looked as if it had been cut through. They ran to the nearest Chula battleship, which now that he was close enough, had a pinup girl on the side and said "Nancy" on the tailfin. He fought the urge to roll his eyes. How very Jack.

"You gonna stand there, or are ya gonna help me?"

He helped her prise the front end compartment from the nose of the warship and watched in amusement as she crawled into the tiny space, pulling a decidedly feminine looking Sonic Screwdriver out of her pocket. He finally understood what John meant when he said that orange was better than pink. The inside of the Chula ship lit up neon pink as Melina finessed and tweaked the powercell back into its' place. With a triumphant "Ace!" she shimmied back out, him helping her so that she didn't fall on her backside.

"You think you're so impressive."

She turned to him, offense on her face, but laughter in her eyes.

"I am so impressive. Had a fantastic teacher."

"Oh really," he said with a smug sort of smile. It felt nice to be complimented by his future daughter. However, the smile fell into a shocked face as she spoke.

"Yeah, Mum was tops with her screwdriver."

The girl reached behind her to grab the end of her ponytail and twist it around her fingers, trying to keep from laughing at his expression, he knew.

"Oi, who're you? Oh, jeeze, Mel! You didn't!"

They turned to see a slightly older Jack strolling back into the compound. His eyes were avoiding the Doctor's, and he had his most serious "disapproving" face on for his appointed niece.

"Not me! I was fine, dealin with that idiot Meganian when who should decide to interfere, but The Doctor. He can't half follow his own rules."

Jack grinned and swept the girl up in a hug.

"Tell me about it. You got the cell?"

She scoffed as he set her down.

"Didja think I wouldn't?"

Finally Jack's eyes met the Doctors and he grinned, parroting his words from so long ago.

"Never doubted you, never will."

The Doctor cleared his throat.

"That's my cue to go! My posse… gang… clique… oh, well, my plus three will be wondering where I wondered off to."

Jack laughed.

"No we didn't. We figured you got into some sort of trouble."

And Melina had to pipe up with a "like usual."

The Boeshane human turned back to the girl.

"I think I promised someone a shopping trip?"

The girl rolled her eyes.

"Can we go somewhere else then? I don't think those vendors will be exactly pleased to see me, now." She turned back to the Doctor. "I'll be seein' you in the future, I should think."

He stooped down a little to hug her, feeling so much better than he had in a long time.

"I'll be seeing you, Melina."

She cuffed him on the arm, and grinned at him with that famous grin, tongue between teeth and all.

"You can call me Mel."

He nodded and waved to the two getting in the Chula battleship. As he turned away, he stuffed his hands in his pockets, and walked the path back to the main vendors. He smiled to himself.

Before he realized that, yet again, he'd broken the rules. It was no use. He'd never be able to keep track of them all. And knowing that he would still be breaking the rules in the future, teaching his children to break the rules, encouraging his friends to break them, well, it just made him grin.

Though that grin died quick when he saw Martha and Donna hurrying toward him and pointing to their bags. One day, he was going to stop giving unlimited credit sticks to his companions.

Yay! Another chapter accounted for :D Go on, review!