Just Imagine...

Coming Back To Me

The Doctor hadn't seen her since she was sixteen years old. But that changed when he visited the Saint Lucia Relief Point, landing the TARDIS on the pink sand of Pearl Beach. How old was she now? Twenty nine? Thirty? Didn't matter now, really.
She had aged and changed so much the Doctor almost didn't recognize her.
Almost.
But those green eyes, alight with a brand new fire that burned like a star in the night, were unique, undeniable, unmistakable.
When she saw him, racing across the pink sand with her shoulders squared and her chest puffed out - they way she'd looked when they first met - that flame changed from defensiveness to recognition to joy.
"Doctor?" Sam Ryder asked quietly, her body relaxing, her guard immediately lowered. That was the thing with Sam; when an initially perceived threat turned out to be a friend, she focused on that, ignoring any other possible issues around her. It was both her greatest weakness and greatest strength, her devotion to others and the instinctual avoidance of appearing frightening to them. The Doctor had figured that out long ago.
"Should I know you?" The Doctor asked, not recognizing his old friend at first.
"You probably don't remember me," Sam murmured, ducking her head and looking slightly disappointed, "I... was only sixteen."
"Sixteen?" The Doctor echoed, frowning. Then he remembered. "Sam," he murmured, "Sam Ryder."
Sam looked up, beaming.
"You remember me!" She exclaimed.
"Of course I do," the Doctor said, "I'm the Doctor. I never forget anyone."
"Really? Cuz it looked like you forgot me three seconds ago."
"No! You've just changed a lot!"
"Uh huh? So you're saying I look old?"
"No I'm not! Stop putting words in my mouth!"
"So what were you trying to say?"
"I don't know! That scar on your eyebrow's new? Your hair's different? Did you actually get taller since the last time I saw you?"
"All true."
"See your attitude hasn't changed a bit in... what's it been? Forty years?"
"Ey, watch it! Your attitude hasn't changed much either! What're you doing here anyway? Trying to stalk the next generation now?"
"I never stalked anybody!"
"Ha! Go back in time and tell that to sixteen year old me!"
"Alright, maybe I will."
They stared at each other for a moment before Sam burst out laughing, wrapping her arms around herself and bending over. When she straightened, she was still smiling, but there were tears in her eyes.
"Goddamnit, I missed you like hell, buddy." She sniffed.
"I missed you too." The Doctor murmured.
"Can I hug you? I really wanna hug you. But it's been like forever and that might be awkward-"
"Sam. Stop babbling. Of course you can hug me."
Sam smiled gratefully before bounding across the short stretch of sand between them and throwing her arms around the Doctor's neck. She was almost taller than him now but hugging her still felt the same as it always had.
"Doctor! Who are you talking to out there?" A voice called from inside.
It was Rose, stepping out onto the sand in overalls and a tatty pink t-shirt, no shoes on her feet, holding one of her and the Doctor's twins under each arm. Sam's eyes widened.
"I'm sorry about him if he was being rude," Rose murmured, "what's your name? I'm Rose."
Sam didn't respond, she just stared.
"Are you okay?" Rose pressed worriedly.
"I... yeah," Sam said, finally remembering how to speak, "it's just... I knew about... but I just... WOW!" She laughed, playfully punching the Doctor on the shoulder, "you were a busy man, weren't you?"
"Now stop that, it's not funny." The Doctor said sternly.
"Ohhhhh it kinda is," Sam murmured, rocking from foot to foot and grinning widely, "greetings, Rose, I'm Sam. And it would be an honour if you were to introduce me to these two little wonders." She smiled at the twins, and they both giggled at her.
"Oh my God," Rose laughed, "is there a reason she's just like Jack?"
"Course there is, I'm his renther!" Sam exclaimed.
"Renther? As in parent?"
"That's right."
"He never said anything about that!" The Doctor cut in.
"Course he didn't, he's a stupid boy. But I love him."
"But how-?" The Doctor began, running the timelines through his head. If Jack was from the fifty-first century, and Sam was from the twentieth... that just didn't add up.
"It's a long story," Sam sighed, putting up her hand to stop him, "why don't you just come and see him."
"Jack's here?" Rose asked, face lighting up.
"Well yeah," Sam laughed, "I told you, I'm his renther! C'mon!"
She turned and headed back the way she'd come without waiting for a reply, so they had no choice but to follow her.
That was another thing that hadn't changed, the Doctor noted; Sam had always been outright and energetic, immediately taking the lead without consciously trying to. She'd just wander off and expect people to follow her without question. And they did. And that's what he and Rose did now, the Doctor taking one of their two children from Rose.
"You know her." Rose murmured.
"I do." The Doctor responded.
"How?"
"I used to travel with her, after the end of the Time War. She... gave me hope."
Rose kissed his cheek.
"And what was that for?" He asked with a grin.
"Because I love you." Rose replied, beaming back.
Neither Rose nor the Doctor had actually seen Harmony Palace before, and they were both blown away by the huge, white house. Sam grinned as they stopped in their tracks behind her, turning around to walk backwards - well, more saunter backwards.
"You two should see your faces." She chuckled.
"This is your house?" Rose demanded, "you're joking!"
"I'm not." Sam replied.
"I like you already, Sam." Rose said decisively.
Sam gave an abashed nod, blushing slightly.
"C'mon, I want you to meet everyone."
"Everyone?" The Doctor echoed.
"Didn't Jack tell you about his little team?" Sam asked, "well they're all here!"
"Isn't Torchwood based in Cardiff?"
"Was. Now it's here. In friggin' Saint Lucia."
Sam giggled.
"That's the first time I've said that," she murmured, "and it feels great! Torchwood Saint Lucia!"
"Right on top of the Saint Lucia Relief Point," the Doctor mused, "the most beautiful Relief Point in the universe. Sam Ryder, you are fantastic."