What It Is And Isn't

Chapter 1

Dedicated to Fandom2Fandom , who wanted a Creepypasta based fic.  It's hard to find one that's not OVERLY creepy, but I've toned down the gore of the ones I'm using and I really hope you enjoy it.

On a separate note, I am overwhelmed with the love my stories received while I was gone. My only hope is that you all show this one the same love.

"So, we'll be at this beach for a whole week?" Rose asked, a little tentatively, like she wasn't sure, not exactly, as to what was going to be happening.  She cocked her head at him as he rounded the console.

"That's the plan!" The Doctor said, grinning over at her. She couldn't help but grin back, but she wasn't done grilling him for information yet. 

"We're not going to miss?" She asked softly, patiently, and he immediately stopped in the middle of flipping a lever.

"Rose Tyler, that was one time."

She tapped her finger against her chin.  "Alright.  The first time I'll give you, yeah, twelve hours, twelve months, what's the difference?" She smiled and made a 'so so' motion with her hand.  "But then you take me to Cardiff instead of Naples, and we see Queen Victoria instead of a band...  Then we crash in parallel universe, and that was just last month.  Now, on our first trip since then, are you gonna do it again?"

He made a face.  "No, I don't think so. Not unless some sort of power drags us there, which, I assure you, shouldn't happen.  Unless, of course, it does."  He scratched the back of his neck and glanced at her, as though looking for reassurance.  "I really think we'll be fine this time.  If we're needed... Would you be that mad?"

He looked genuinely worried, like he wasn't pleasing her with what they were doing, or where they were going, or the adventures they were having.  So she quickly and emphatically shook her head.

"No, of course not, Doctor.  If I came with you for the expectation of perfect trips, I wouldn't continue traveling with you.  But it's more than that, yeah? It's people being happy, because we make them happy, because we change things for them.  We make things better," she finished softly.  "I love it."

He grinned and let out a long breath.  "You worry me sometimes."

She giggled.  "Not gonna leave, Doctor, thought you knew better than that by now."

"Oh, believe me, after you didn't leave to be with Mickey, I certainly got the picture."

"You thought I was going to leave with Mickey?" She kicked her feet uneasily from where she sat on the jump seat.  Although it had been a month since they had left the parallel world, it was still unnerving to talk about him, like he was dead. Because in a way, he was. She was never going to see him again.  In a sort of twisted irony, he was a world away.  And it was one that they couldn't get to again, even if they tried.  But after Rose had seen what she had, she was pretty certain that she didn't want to try.

The Doctor nodded, flipping another switch and pounding his mallet on a lever. "Yes.  You know, all the gingerbread houses of that place, figured he was bound to be yours."

"Nah. Don't have one."

"Everyone has one."

"Well, what would've kept you there, Doctor?" She asked.

He squinted and smiled again. "I don't know," he said, "Maybe we didn't come across it.  Maybe the Time Lords live there, but in a way, Rose, you must know I romanticize them. They really were a stuffy lot and I remember them differently because they're gone."