CHRYSALIS

THE CHRISTMAS INVASION

"London... The Powell Estate... 24th of December... 2005... On the way to Earth! Now then... what do I look like? No, no no, no no no no nono no. No. Don't tell me. Let's see... two legs, two arms, two hands... Slight weakness in the dorsal tubercle. Hair! I'm not bald! Oh, oh! Big hair! Sideburns, I've got sideburns! Or really bad skin. Little bit thinner... That's weird. Give me time, I'll get used to it. I... have got... a mole. I can feel it. Between my shoulder blades, there's a mole. That's all right. Love the mole. Go on then, tell me. What do you think?" He asks.

"Is this how your regenerations go every time?" I ask, "Explosive?"

"No, that's just when something happens beforehand." He says.

"Okay." I nod, walking towards him.

He watches me stand in front of him.

"They're sideburns," I tell him, placing my hands on either side of his face.

"What do you think?" He whispers.

"I think it'll take some time for me to get used to not looking at your last face, but this one is nice. What do you think?" I run my thumb over his cheek tenderly.

He leans into my touch, "I think I like having you this close."

I let out a giggle, "You're definitely more open about your feelings in this body than the last one."

"What's that supposed to mean?" He pouts.

"It means I never knew you cared until you sent me away," I whisper.

"Of course, I care about you, I-" He pauses, "Ooh, the change seems to be going a bit wrong..." He stumbles out of my grip.

"What does that mean?" I ask.

He goes to the console and does something. "I haven't used this one in years."

The TARDIS lurches. "What're you doing?!" I shout.

"Putting on a bit of speed! That's it! My beautiful ship! Come on, faster! That's a girl! Faster! Wanna break the time limit?!"

"Stop it!"

"Ah, don't be so dull... let's have a bit of fun! Let's rip through that vortex!" He looks at me. "The regeneration's going wrong. I can't stop myself. Ah, my head..." He turns back to the console. "Faster! Let's open those engines!"

The TARDIS groans, "What's that?"

"We're gonna crash-land!"

"Well then, do something!"

"Too late! Out of control! Oh, I love it!" He cheers.

I scream as sparks shoot out of the console, "Doctor! I'm scared!"

He seems to snap out of it, staring at me. He stumbles over and pulls me into a hug.

I cling to him, whimpering. He strokes my hair before pulling away, still holding me.

He stares deep into my tear-filled eyes and leans down, pressing his lips to mine.

My eyes flutter shut, my hands leaving his jumper and going to his hair. His hands place themselves on my waist and curl into the fabric of my jacket. I whimper against his mouth, pulling on his hair. His tongue finds its way into my mouth, tangling with mine.

I don't notice the shaking anymore.

His lips leave mine, and I attempt to link them again, but he starts to trail them down my neck. I moan quietly, and he nips the skin at the pulse of my throat. Heat forms in the pit of my stomach, my hands move to grip his shoulders as he moves his hands to my front and undoes the belt of my jacket.