River Song: Hello Sweetie

Just You And Me

Just You And Me

It's early on a Saturday morning, and eight-year old John Frey-Smith does not feel like getting up. "Mum," he whines for the second time. "Why can't I stay home?" Gale Frey huffs a long, drawn-out sigh. "Because, your babysitter's baby is almost due and I can't find anyone else to watch you on such short notice." "Amy's going to have a baby?" John asks, surprised. "Of course, did you not notice her stomach growing?" She asks, amused. "Yeah, but I dunno," he shrugs. "I just thought she'd swallowed a planet." Gale turns her eyes heavenward and tries her best not to laugh. "Nevertheless, you can't stay here with no one to watch you." "I can watch myself." He says insistently. "No, John." "Why not?" "You're eight." He crosses his arms and pouts. "Cheer up, Sweetie, you might make some new friends, the kids I work with are very nice and friendly." "Where do you work again?" "Mrs. Tardis' Home For Children." John makes a face. "Mrs. Tardis has a funny last name." "It is rather out of the ordinary." Gale admits. John's eyes narrow as he mulls over his options, to Gale's relief, he brightens and smiles. "Ok, but can I bring a game to play with?" He asks. "Of course, Sweetie." He whoops and races up the stairs, shouting he'll be back in just a minute. Gale shakes her head, knowing his 'minute' is more like thirty. She climbs the stairs and hopes the day goes well.

They arrive at the children's home and John spins around in the hallway of the house. It's a whole lot bigger inside than what the outside projects. "Hello Gale, I have some papers I need you to help me find and sort." A woman's voice calls. John stares up at the lady, she has unruly brown hair and a kind smile. Her dress swishes and it's not anything like what John's seen his mother wear. The woman crouches down to John's height and holds out her hand. "And who's this cutie? Hello, I'm Mrs. Tardis, but you can call me Idris." John shakes her hand and smiles shyly. "Hi Ms. Idris." "And so polite! I like you." She winks and he blushes. "What do you want to be when you grow up?" "I want to be a doctor in history. I'm going to get a PhD." He says, his little chest puffed out in pride that he knew what a PhD was, she smiles. "My husband was a doctor, in many different areas, but never medically. Rather ironic, isn't it?" She opens her mouth to say more but Gale, knowing Idris's tendency to talk for long periods of time and John's curiosity for new words, interrupts. "You said you had some papers you needed help finding?" Idris nods and stands up. "Oh, yes. But first you can show John which room he can help out in." He shuffles his feet nervously and tugs on Gale's jeans. "What does she mean?" Gale takes his hand and gently pulls him along with her. "She's just teasing, she means the room you'll be playing in." He nods solemnly and walks down the hallways with her. She stops at a blue painted door, she kisses John's head, opens the door, and smiles down reassuringly at him. "I'll come back to bring you lunch, go have fun." She pushes him gently on the back, she waves goodbye to him. He waves back as she closes the door, he turns to the room and promptly trips over someone.

"Hey! Watch it!" A little, slightly lisp-y voice shrieks. "Oops." John says sheepishly, he sits up. "Still sitting on me!" The voice cries. He quickly rolls over onto his stomach, on his left, a little girl is lying on her stomach and glaring at him fiercely. He's awestruck. Despite the heavy scowl scrunching her features, the little girl is the epitome of adorable. Her golden hair has perfect, corkscrew curls and her eyes are the most interesting shade of green he's ever seen. "Well," she demands. "Are you going to keep staring at me like an idiot, or are you going to apologize?" "Idiot isn't a nice word." His mouth says automatically, he cringes, she just smiles mischievously. "Maybe I'm not nice. Maybe I'm a bad, bad girl." He stares at her like she's crazy and she laughs. She stands up and towers over him, her hands fisted on her hips. "So, who are you?" He rolls over onto his back and stares up at her in confusion. "What?" She rolls her eyes. "I wanna know who you are." She says slowly, as if he's a simpleton. He scowls. "I thought you wanted an apology." She shrugs. "I'd like to know who's apologizing." "I'm John." "And?" He doesn't answer her, she prods him with her toe. "And?" She says again. "I'd like to know who I'm apologizing to." She humphs and crosses her arms. "Say you're sorry first." "Not until you tell me who you are." "We'll say it on three." The little girl offers, he nods, they say together, "One, two, three!" "Sorry!" He blurts out, she says nothing. "Hey!" He cries, feeling betrayed. "Hi. Bye!" She waves her hand and runs away. He huffs and picks himself up from the ground. He looks around the room, it's large and open, some toys litter the ground. On the floor where the little girl had been, there's a blue book. John picks it up and scans the room for the girl. She's sitting by the window, a red haired girl sitting next to her. He walks up to her, she's in an animated conversation with the redhead and ignoring him. "Ahem." He coughs politely, trying to get her attention, he doesn't get it. "Excuse me." He tries again, no response. "Oi!" He shouts, both the girls turn to him with a huff. "Rude." The redhead girl says. "You dropped this." He says, he thrusts the book into the blonde's hands, she cradles it and glares at him. "You didn't read it, did you?" She asks accusingly. "No I didn't!" He cries indignantly. "Whatever." She says flippantly. The redhead stares at John appraisingly, she holds her hand out to shake his. "I'm Donna, and you are?" "That's John." The blonde says, as if she's already bored. "Hi John. You must be new here." "I'm not here to stay! My mummy works here." He clarifies, Donna looks interested. "Who's your mum?" "Gale Frey." "Your mum is Gale?" The blonde asks, her eyes wide. "It's Miss Gale to you." He says, still miffed. She rolls her eyes, but Donna smiles and stands up. "Well, it's nice to meet you, John. Want to play with me?" John nods happily, Donna looks at the blonde. "You in?" "Nope." With that, the little blonde opens her book and starts writing. Donna shakes her head. "Oh well, come on John." He follows after her, he spares a glance back at the mystery girl. She's writing furiously in her book, he doesn't look at her again.