Doctor Who One-Shots

Hope (10th Doctor x reader)

Your soul had become shallow. As you stared at your exam papers, tears dropped down her face. They'd been falling for some time, your skin now red and harsh. Was this really the rest of your life?
  With one quick swoop, you knocked the revision guides off the desk, pencils toppling with them.
  You were used to this. Too much pressure on yourself, it all built up until one day you couldn't handle it. But then you'd feel guilt for not revising. It was an endless, toxic cycle.
  Your family had no clue about it, thinking you were just moody. You wanted to reach out, but no one would understand. They couldn't help the way your mind worked.
  You knew this day was just a blip, that it would all be okay tomorrow, but GCSEs were becoming increasingly close. How would you feel during the real things?
  You slammed your book closed. Five hours was enough. Had to be enough. You needed a break, and deserved one.
   You began to dream of the food in your fridge that could be devoured: chocolate tart, pears, cheesecake. Your tastebuds prickled just a the thought of it.
   Downstairs, you could hear voices emerging from living room. Your parents but then an unfamiliar one. A young woman, perhaps. Early twenties. Intrigued, you opened the door.
   Sat with a cup of tea in her hands, a pretty woman was perched. She was blonde, her curls tumbling down her back, framing her bright blue eyes.
  The room quietened as you entered.
  "Oh, hello," the woman greeted.
  "This is Rose, (y/n)," your mother introduced, "her mum used to go to school with me, so we're family friends."
  "Oh, hi!" You chirped.
  "Hi! Your mum has talked a lot about you," she replied, taking a sip into her tea. She had a nice smile, dimples forming on her cheeks as she did so.
  "All good things I hope," you replied, your voice a tiny bit strained.
  "Of course. Other than you struggling with your GCSEs?" You instantly froze. The cursed word.
  "Oh... yeah. I'm finding them tough, I guess," you replied, running a hand through your (h/c) locks.
   "Aw, you'll be fine," she beamed, her eyes meeting yours. You held eye contact for a moment, and found yourself almost jumping back.
   The emotions in them... they had so much depth and life to them for someone so young.
   "Do you travel?" You blurted out, trying to place the maturity of her blue.
  "Um... not really. I like the odd trip but I'm very homely," she replied, almost averting eye contact.
  "Oh. Okay," you replied, slightly unconvinced. Something was up, and you wanted to find out what.

A few weeks later, you ran into Rose in the local shop. Tears were streaming down your face after a bad mock exam, but you needed to find out the mystery.
   "Rose!" You called. She turned instantly, clearly unfamiliar with your voice.
  "Oh, (y/n)! Hi- are you okay?" She asked, after seeing your tears frozen halfway down your cheek.
  "Hmmm? Oh. Yeah, just a bad exam," you replied.
  "Year 11's really getting to you, huh?" She asked, her eyes widening with concern. You wished she wouldn't do that; it reminded you of the niggle in the side of your head.
  "More than my parents realise. There's so much pressure, so much tension, so much... it's all so tiring," You gushed, the presence of someone you don't know well leading you to lose control.
  "Sorry. I don't normally admit how much I'm struggling," you added.
  "Wow... I've never known someone so aware of your studies. I barely studied, and here I am, happy as I can be. I didn't even do well!" She reassured me.
  "I guess," you muttered.
  "Hmmm... I think I know someone who could help..."
  "Really?" You perked up.
  "Yeah. I think they'd be a great help. Honestly, just hold on. They'll be round soon," she smiled at you. "Anyway, I best be off. I hope everything turns out well."
  And then she left you, leaving you staring at the ground wondering who was going to visit you.

That night, a droning noise stirred you from your sleep. You wrapped yourself in your dressing gown as you made your way to the window.
  Outside, a blue box had appeared.
  It wasn't there before. You knew this street off by heart. You blinked, trying to make it disappear- you were tired, you must have been hallucinating. But yet as you watched, the blue doors seemed to swing open.
  A man emerged. He had a mop of brown hair sticking up and a trench coat that reached the pavement on which his red converse were stood.
  You squinted harder to see him.
  As if sending this movement, he glanced up to your windows and began to wave, causing you to freeze on the spot.
  Should you go? You asked yourself. Something has piqued your curiosity, yes, but it could be dangerous.
   But then it could be who Rose mentioned.
   Blocking out any doubts, you began to creep downstairs.

"(Y/n)?" A strong British accent called out to you as you entered the freezing air. Suddenly your hairs were on end, your knees trembling. It was November, after all.
  "Yes..." you replied warily. "Did Rose send you?"
  "Aah! Yes! Unfortunately she's not here- had to go visit her mum or something, but offensive really- but yes, she did indeed send me," he babbled a torrent of words, leaving you slightly stunned.
  He led you into the box, which was way too small for any more than two.
  But as you entered, your breath was taken away. Inside, it was bigger. Bigger on the inside.
  It was like a chamber, with an orange glow of light and a strange tube in the exact centre. A metal frame guided the pathway to it, which the man was now following.
   "It's... what?!" You gasped.
  "Yep... bigger on the inside. I'm the Doctor and this is my TARDIS. Annoying thing sometime, but I couldn't live without it."
  "I don't get it. Why did Rose send me to you?" You asked.
  "Because, my friend, you are going on an adventure. To cure your exam stress!" The Doctor told you. "Now pick somewhere or somewhen... is that a word? Anywho, pick a time, a place."
  "Um... the Gold Rush Of California, 1840s?" You suggested. "I'm doing it for my exams."
  "Right... okay..." he began pressing some buttons and levers on the centrepiece *thing*, before suddenly a jolt juddered through the room.
   A strange noise filled your ears as the Doctor began to smile.
  "Well, (y/n), welcome to the best day of your life! And probably the longest."