To Be Astrid

Chapter 2 - Luna University

Luna University -

Astrid took classes across the board. From different types of anatomy classes, over history, all the way to one class of quantum physics. (That one she was thrown out of for trying to recreate the Schroedinger's cat idea. Her teacher suggested switching to philosophy which she enjoyed much more.)

Out of all her classes, only one really stuck with her, though, making her laugh at herself when she sat awake one night and signed in to major in interplanetary law. She left her room afterwards so she wouldn't disturb River when she called her mother. The phone rang only once before she heard Jack's excited voice.

"It's my favourite alien", he greeted.

She laughed, "It's my favourite immortal! What are you doing with Mum's phone?"

"She left it in my care when she went to the bathroom. We're at this coffeeshop in Notting Hill and I'm pretty sure I'm Julia Roberts and she's my Hugh Grant", he told her.

"You're a famous actress and she's an awkward bookshop owner who can't form a full sentence?", she chuckled.

"You're right, your Mum is good with words. But I could be a famous actress."

"There is no coffeeshop-scene in Notting Hill", she then told him.

"Can you just let me fantasise about being your mother's love interest in a rom-com in peace? God, you're turning into your father", she could practically see him roll his eyes.

"Is that my phone, Jack?", her mother's voice then rang through, "Who is it?"

"It's not for you, Oracle, don't be so possessive", she then heard Jack's more muffled voice, presumably because he had moved his hand over the phone.

"Yes, it is, Uncle Jack, if I was calling you I would have called you", Astrid argued.

"That is so mean. You really are just another Doctor", Jack protested.

"Jack, give me that", there was some playful fighting on the other end, then a moment of silence, and then her intended contact, "Hello, my star, how's Uni? How are you?"

"I'm great, Mum", her smile grew at talking to her again, "I have this great roommate, she's majoring in archaeology, and I may or may not have laughed a bit."

"Oh, that sounds lovely", then more muffled, presumably with a hand over the speaker again, "You're right. She is turning into her father."

"Mum! Stop it! I was calling to tell you the exact opposite of that", she complained.

"Oh, okay. No, wait, I can confirm that he is your father. I swear."

"What are you talking about?", she was a bit confused now.

"That I have never slept with anyone other than your father."

"I didn't need to know that, Mum", she groaned, "I didn't call to ask about my lineage."

"Oh, good. Because there's not much to it", the Oracle sighed.

"I called to tell you I've picked a major", she smiled.

"That's brilliant, my star", she sensed her mother's smile brightening, "It's not archaeology, is it?"

"How redundant would that be? I'm a time-traveller, I point and laugh at archaeologists."

Then she heard the loud laughs of her mother and godfather on the other end. She rolled her eyes, realising she had just said something that could have just as well been said by the Doctor himself.