Blue Christmas

Part 2: Suspicious minds

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Missy had long come to the realisation that as soon as one child would settle the other would indubitably wake to test her patience and drive her grey. Sam by contrast to his sister was normally the easy child, normally happy to simply lie back and absorb the world around him through those large blue grey eyes of his. Only normally doesn't apply apparently when it comes to teething infants.

Gritting her own teeth Missy made another round of the Tardis console. So far Sam had chewed his way through the traditional teething ring and was currently drooling over a spare circuit board that Missy had found lying about, she only hoped it wasn't for something important. Well if it was that would teach The Doctor a lesson about leaving things out where the twins could get their hands on them.

Wincing as Sam's cries notched up into a new decibel range Missy stared longingly at the dematerialisation controls. It would be so easy. She didn't need The Doctor to pilot the Tardis Missy knew what each button on that dash was supposed to do without instruction, even if staring at the Gallifreyan display for too long caused her head to ache. She just needed some air, being cooped up in the time vortex wasn't doing any good for her sanity.

And it need only be for a few moments...she could always wipe the display afterwards The doctor need never know....

Her hands moved automatically as with a life of their own, dancing over the switches as she plotted in the destination she had in mind, remembering to switch off the brakes before she depressed the lever. The Tardis shuddered a little as they landed but it was a smooth enough landing and Missy didn't wait a moment before she was pushing open the doors and breathing in the clean crisp oxygen rich air. Even Sam was impressed as he stopped his crying to gaze up at the dark sky above him.

"That is how stars are meant to look dear one." Missy instructed him hovering on the threshold of the Tardis as she breathed in the scent of pine and snow. "And that big glowey thing is the moon Sam, see how bright it is."

Taking one step outside and then another Missy was relieved to find her slippers provided enough protection, there was a fine covering of snow in the forest but it was only a few inches deep. Closing her eyes Missy drew in a lungful of the fresh cold air and held it in her lungs until they burned.

"What do you think you are doing?!" An angry Scottish voice demanded from behind her and Missy cursed her luck.

"Taking some air Dear." Missy replied lightly not bothering to look behind her, she could already picture The Doctor's red face and his eyebrows were probably shooting up and down his face like the little flippers in a pinball machine.

"It's...You...Get inside this instant!" The Doctor demanded glancing around the dark forest as though expecting some dangerous slavering beast to suddenly appear.

"I will when I want to. Forgive me but I am not in any hurry to return to my prison." Missy retorted, knowing full well she was taunting the beast and yet unable to stop herself, there was just something so wonderfully satisfying and familiar about thwarting The Doctor.

A moment later The Doctor was at her elbow. "We've talked about this..."

"No you've talked, at length, on and on and on." Missy huffed rolling her eyes as The Doctor tried to usher her back inside only she wasn't budging, if he wanted her back in the damn Tardis so badly he was just going to have to carry her in. "And on and on..."

"For good reason since it seems you never listen to a word I say!" The Doctor spat. "Risking your own life is one thing Missy but to risk our child...."

"How dare you!" Missy was up in The Doctor's face before he could even dare to finish that sentence, blue eyes blazing in righteous fury. "I have already proven the lengths I will go to for our children Doctor! So please do not even embarrass yourself by finishing that sentence."

Chastened by Missy's reproach The Doctor rubbed his neck awkwardly as he bowed his head unable to meet her gaze for a moment. "I'm sorry."

"I should think you are."

"I...I just worry. You know how dangerous it is for them to be outside of the vortex, they're just too young and I can't protect you all the time." The Doctor confessed awkwardly, raising his gaze to stare sheepishly at her from beneath his shaggy eyebrows. "I can't lose you...any of you." He added as Missy's anger towards him seemed to cool slightly.

"Well I suppose your motives mean well." Missy huffed, her pout now more for effect than out of lasting pique. "Not that a girl would know it from the way you act sometimes."

A shy smile tugging on his lips The Doctor slipped an arm around Missy's waist and tugged her closer. "So why snow?"

"Well I was hot and ready to scream so it seemed like a good idea at the time." Missy retorted before happily burrowing into The Doctor's warm velvet jacket, sighing in pleasure as his other arm came up to wrap around her shoulders.

Pressing his cheek against the top of Missy's head The Doctor relished the simple pleasure of holding her and his now sleeping son. "Are you ready to come back in now?"

"In a minute." Missy pleaded turning her bright blue eyes on him in force and watching as The Doctor struggled with conflicting priorities. "Just a minute more I promise?"

Sighing The Doctor nodded, stepping back and unbuttoning his coat draping it around Missy's cold shoulders. "Fine one more minute, here let me take him back inside it is too cold for him."

Willingly relinquishing her son into his father's arms Missy reached up and laid her hand against The Doctor's cheek.

"Hmm perhaps then you could come back and help warm me up?" Missy teased before pushing herself up on to her tip toes and pressing a chaste kiss to his lips. For a moment The Doctor kissed her back but then Missy pulled away and for a moment The Doctor swung as if to follow her then he suddenly stopped.

"I...I should...Hot chocolate...I'll make us some hot chocolate, just the thing after being out in the snow." The Doctor stuttered backing towards the open Tardis doors as a heat infused his cheeks that had nothing whatsoever to do with the cold.

"One Minute now, not a second more!" He added sternly in an effort to collect himself, yet the way he actually bumped into the closed door more than slightly undermined that.

Unable to completely contain her giggle Missy could barely manage a composed reply yet somehow she did manage to roll her eyes at his predictability. "Yes Dear."

In the end Missy lasted little more than thirty seconds. It really was cold and hot chocolate did sound rather good, and perhaps she could persuade The Doctor that some time snuggled in the library just the two of them was in order?

Stepping back inside Missy shuddered at the sudden heat, shrugging off The Doctor's jacket and hanging it over the railing by the console. Reaching for the controls she was just pulling the dematerialisation lever when.

Rinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng...........Rinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng.....

The phone was ringing. Not just any phone the Tardis phone.

Frowning Missy left the console and marched back to the main doors, wrenching them open she fumbled with the hatch and reaching inside lifted the old fashioned receiver. Before she even had time to speak the person on the other end was speaking."

"Hello Sweetie."

"Sorry wrong number." Missy huffed setting the phone receiver down yet before she could close the door it was ringing again.

Now more than a little cross Missy wrenched the receiver back up. "Listen lady I already told you you have the wrong number!" Yet Missy's rant was cut off by one word.

"Doctor?"

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