Lean on Me

Chapter One

After a couple hours of waiting on the beach for Dad to come and get us, and then another couple of hour's drive, we pulled up at the estate. Mum and Dad wouldn't shut up the whole ride home. Luckily enough thoug, that didn't leave much time for the Doctor to ask many questions about the sleeping baby in the back seat. I couldn't explain, not now anyways. I honestly never thought I would have to. I mean, yeah, I was hoping James might get to meet his dad some day, but I never thought about it. I knew there was no possible way for the Doctor to come back. Until, of course, he did. I knew he had children a long time ago, and that they had most likely burned with Gallifrey. I didn't want his pat to torment him, for him to have to be reminded his kids that I don't think ever got a chance to grow up.

I'd wait a day or two. See how he handled being around James, see how James liked him. I never told James about his dad. He was too young. And as far as I was concerned, the Doctor wasn't his father until he accepted that, until he wanted to be. I know that I wouldn't want a father who didn't want me.

Dad parked the car and we all piled out, happy to stretch our legs. I grabbed James from the back, almost without thinking about it. I held him and gave him a hug. I was gone for less then a day, but I missed him so badly. He woke up in my arms after his six or seven hour nap.

"Who's this then?" The Doctor wondered aloud. And the questions began.

"This is James," I said, trying to avoid as many details as possible. I couldn't explain this now. Too soon.

"Well, its nice to meet you James," he said, smiling and ruffling James's unusually long and thick hair. Oh good, I thought, he's happy. For now, at least.

I put James on the ground and told him to go run around. For a child of only one and a half years, his vocabulary was really very impressive. He could sit down with you and have a whole conversation. He could almost count to twenty and had memorized my phone number a few weeks ago. Owen, the doctor at Torchwood, said that it must have something to do with the Time Lord DNA. He said somethnig about his brain being able to work faster then most other people. I was fine with that. I didn't mind having a genius as a child.

James ran away, and Mum and Dad had already gone back inside, so it was just me and the Doctor for now. I was thankful.

"So its really you then," I said, still in shock that the Doctor was back and here to stay. That we could have a future together. "You're still my Doctor."

"In the flesh," he said, smiling wider than I ever thought possible.

"I missed you," I said, tearing up now. "So much has happened since you left."

"Well I'd love to hear all about it then," he said. "Fancy going to supper tonight? I mean, you don't have to, I'm not expecting anything of you, so if you don't want to go-"

"Of course I want to," I said, smiling and grabbing his hand.

"Oh," he said, "probably should've thought this out a bit more. I don't have any money."

"Alright then, I'm buying. But you'll have to get a job sooner or later. I bet I could get you one at Torchwood if you wanted. We'd be happy to have you."

He grinned at that. "Sounds good to me. I might as well work with something I already know about. I mean, I don't think I could ever get on one of those weird, boring job schedules." He stated, crinkling his nose. Maybe this was the same man I'd loved for so long.

"Alright then, you're coming with me tomorrow then. Let's get inside for now though, its getting dark out." We walked up the long drive way and I yelled out for James to come in. "Coming!" He answered in his baby-ish voice that made my heart melt a little bit more each time I heard it. I saw him running towards us a moment later, and I swooped him up into my arms and carried him inside, the Doctor striding along side of me. I set him down once we got inside, told the Doctor I'd be right back, grabbed James's hand and took him upstairs to his bedroom to get his pajamas on. As soon as we got to his bedroom, he started bombarding me with questions.