Our Story

Chapter 4: Christmas

Over the course of the next two months, every time the Doctor came to visit, Christine would give him a sticky note with another date and time on it. Sometimes it was a few times a week, sometimes it was a few weeks later. Every time she'd have something new or different for them to do. It wasn't saving the universe, running from aliens, or staring out the TARDIS door at another galaxy—but the Doctor had to admit he was enjoying every moment he got to spend with this remarkable woman. There was something about her cautiousness and unwillingness to just up and run away with him that intrigued him. It drew him to her. She was learning everything she could about him, and he was doing the same. They took turns asking each other questions. She had taken the information about regeneration just as well as she had every other bit of information.

-*-*-

Every time they met, when it was time for him to leave, she reminded him, "No cheating." She wanted them to experience their time together and their time apart at the same speed.

On the two-month anniversary of him showing back up on her doorstep, she had found out during their conversation that he had a mobile phone on the TARDIS he had been given by a former companion, Martha Jones. That night, when she wrote down a date, she included her cell phone number. "You can text me. Or call. If something interesting happens, or you ever just want to talk, or something comes up and you can't make it."

It was always him that called and texted her first. She always said she didn't want to interrupt him in the middle of saving the universe or battling alien robots.

Almost three months into their friendship, when it was time for the Doctor to leave for the night, Christine took extra time writing the date down, folded the piece of paper, and with a smile, placed it in the pocket of his jacket. Taking it as a sign, he waited till he got back to the TARDIS to open the paper.

Christmas Morning, December 25, 2002. 7am. Why don't you park the TARDIS in the back garden this time?

The Doctors mouth spread into a huge grin as he sat back in the jump seat, propping his feet up on the console. The TARDIS hummed at him and he nodded. "Soon, maybe? I don't know, Old Girl. Slow and steady wins the race, I think. But you'll be closer than ever before. She'll finally get a look at you this time."

-*-*-

Christine had never heard the Doctor's ship before, but as soon as she heard the sound, she knew that it must be him. She sat in the living room, her hands wrapped around her mug of tea. A second mug sat on the coffee table, as well as a tray of donuts and pastries.

More than anything she wanted to jump up and run out to see that big blue police box he had told her so much about. Perhaps catch a peek of the bigger-than-the-outside interior. But she steeled herself.

Meanwhile, the Doctor had everything he needed for the day already by the door of the TARDIS. As he settled her in, checking the circuits, he half expected to hear a knock at her door. But then again, he half expected not to. He peeked out the door a few minutes later to find—no one. Just Christine's back garden. He did get a bit excited to see it had snowed and the ground was covered in a thick blanket of white. He sighed and looked to the back door of the house, picked up the packages by the door and adjusted the red hat on his head before approaching. He shifted the packages enough to tap at the glass of the back door and soon saw shadows in the glass as Christine approached.

She opened the door and immediately her face went from smile to big grin.

"Merry Christmas!" he said with a broad grin and lots of excitement.

She giggled at the sight of the red Santa hat on his head, and then looked at all the packages in his hands. "Did you bring more people with you? There are enough gifts there for an army!"