The Doctor and I

Or so I've heard...

"Astrid Smith get your ass down here now!" I yelled as I plated up three full English breakfasts. "I mean it!"

"Alright alright I'm here calm down,"

"You're still in your pyjamas. If you don't get ready you'll be going to school in them," I joked as I handed her a plate. My vortex manipulator began beeping on my wrist as I turned away in hopes of masking the sound.

"Is that what I think it is?" Astrid shrilled her fork hovering millimetres from her mouth. "Hypocrite. You destroyed mine but you have one,"

"It's different okay. I don't use it. It's only so River can visit me,"

"Blah blah blah!"

"Astrid!" My mother snapped from the door as she strolled in holding Athena in her arms. "You're going to school and no amount of protesting is going to change it,"

After a blazing row I managed to get Athena into her push chair and Astrid through the front door in her uniform. She wasn't happy as she liked to express how much she had seen in the universe without me telling her what to do.

"If you didn't want me telling you what to do then why did you come back?" I snapped as I pulled the large pram through the door to 13 Bannerman Road. "I am technically both of your parents so I would appreciate some respect,"

"Yeah I know," she rolled her eyes and turned her attention down the street. "Hey Rani, Hey Clyde,"

"Hey," they replied. We had explained Astrid to Rani and Clyde. They seemed rather surprised but promised that they would keep an eye on her and watch that she didn't go getting into mischief.

"Yoo hoo," Geeta chimed as she ran across the street to join us. "Where's Sarah?"

"Oh she's got a lead on a new story," I smiled as I turned to the woman who was looking at Astrid with curiosity.

"Who this?"

"Astrid, my daughter," I replied causing her jaw to drop.

"You must have been young and where has she been? I've never heard anyone mention her?"

"She was staying with her dad. Weren't you sweetie?"

"Yeah but he was always busy with work and traveling. He barely had any time for me at all. I practically had to raise myself. I guess Ive always been so grown up," Astrid smirked as she turned to me. I could see that she had definitely inherited my sarcasm and cunning streak. "I thought I would come back to Mum for some normality. To be brought back down to earth sort of speak,"

"Wow, so your going to school with my Rani?"

"Yeah Geeta. She's the year below Rani and Clyde,"

"We had better be off. We don't want to be late," Rani said briskly as she mimed 'Sorry' to me. "Bye Mum,"

"Bye Mrs Chandra,"

"I'll walk with you," I said as I walked with the others not wanting to be left behind. "Bye Geeta,"

"Bye then. Have fun at school,"

"If only your mother knew how old I really was," I mused aloud causing everyone to turn to me. "What? I did kind of stop ageing when I became a time lady,"

"You're only 29. I mean you are Sarah Jane's daughter," Rani frowned as she stopped me by my arm. "Sarah Jane told us that you're 29,"

"Technically I am 29 when I'm in this year but I am a time traveller. I can spend a whole year 'travelling' in the blink of your eye. I could go now, spend a 10 years and be back before you guys finished school today. That's how time travel works,"

"So how old are you then?"

"I'm actually quite a considerable amount older than my mum," I laughed as I resumed pushing the pushchair.

"What really?!"

"Does she know?"

"Look guys I am 29 to her and that's all she needs to knows. I could disappear as I have said and I could come back home with a different face,"

"Can't we just get this god awful day at school over with?!"'Astrid snapped she marched off ahead. "We're going to be late and without my vortex manipulator there is nothing I can do,"

I waved one last time to Rani and Clyde before I pulled Astrid to one side. I smiled weakly before I spoke "I am glad that you came back you know. I thought I would never see you again," I held tightly to her hand. "I shouldn't have left,"

"Yeah well I guess I did kinda die,"

"I didn't think that you would be able to regenerate or heal. I thought you were gone,"

"Yeah well I'm not I'm here. It looks like I'm staying as I don't have much choice,"

"You can go if you really want but when you're out there you could get hurt and I would never know,"

"Look mum in I'll stay and I will be a good daughter and big sister to Athena. I'm sure that I will get the best grades in school and I'll make you and Granny very proud,"

"I'm glad to hear it,"

"Oh one more thing," Astrid said as she took my arm. "Who is the master?"

"He is the doctors enemy. He's a time lord gone Rogue," I frowned "Why do you ask?"

"Well, I heard someone talking about him and they said something about him finding his human. His human woman friend. Ya know," she did a kissing face. "Or so I've heard,"

"Why should that have any concern of mine?"

"Well mum. I think that grandma might have some explaining to do because I think it was her." She looked around sheepishly before she made eye contact with me again. "You see this person was saying that the master has unfinished business on Earth and that he has his jeans out in the universe-,"

"What like denim ones?"

"No I mean genes you muppet. He seems to think that he has a child. He wants to track down his genes aka his child,"

"This all sounds like hearsay to me. Who was spinning this tale?"

"I dunno some middle aged woman with a Scottish accent. She was quite strange to be honest but that doesn't matter. If there is a child out there that is the spawn of the doctors enemy don't you think that we should investigate?"

"Honestly Astrid you are boring me,"

"No, listen. Seriously if you are this child then you are in danger and so is Athena," she sighed before she adjusted her bag on her shoulder and continued. "That was part of the reason I found you. To protect you and to get to the bottom of this before it's too late,"

"Okay. I'll talk to mum whilst you're at school,"

"Just think about it. This master guy is a time lord isn't he?"

"Yes,"

"Does the TARDIS really have the power to make new time lords? Did she make you a time lord or did she wake up genes that were already inside you? Who is your father? These are the real questions because I am sure that something doesn't add up,"

"Astrid. Come. On!" Clyde yelled causing my daughter to turn away from me and shrug.

"I'm coming!"

"You had better go kid. I'll talk to my mother,"

"Good. See you soon. Mum,"

Then with that Astrid ran off to join Clyde and Rani leaving me with Athena and a whole host of unanswered questions. Who am I?