The Doctor's Nemesis

The Girl in the Fireplace -part four-

The mantel yet again settles in Reinette's room for the second time. The room large as always, yet it now holds a sophisticated air that was not there the last time the two of us were here; it's open and quite plush, something that was very modern in noble French households of this time, it's split level-elegance demanding attention in a glamorous and mature way. This is not the Reinette we know. This thought sticks in my mind, causing confusion to swirl behind my eyes, a strong emotion that I am very careful to keep from Theta. I don't know what has happened to Reinette, but this is not the little girls' room. The Vortex feels my slight nerves, coming out to explore around the room, something we learnt together from our time in the war.

"Reinette?" The Doctor calls, not noticing the vast difference between the décor. "Just checking you're okay."

He looks around the room quickly, eyes settling on the harp that rest in the center of the lower level of this section. He walks over to the grand instrument, plucking a few strings, the perfectly tuned notes echoes through the relatively empty room. Someone's here. I tense up, the Vortex warning still ringing in my ear, I look over to the woman that stands by the entrance, her eyes focused on my mate with a nostalgic smile; I watch her, she stands there for several seconds before she starts to look around the room, looking for someone else. Me. Our eyes meet, her smile widening, miniscule tears fill her eyes. Her blue eyes and beautiful golden locks are set up in an elegant up-do. I immediately recognise her face, my own nearly giving away my complete shock. A very loose connection it seems. Her eyes move away from mine, even though we had only been watching each other for only a few seconds, I felt the decades we had been gone for just flashed before us, she settles back to the Doctor.

"Ahem." Is all she says, now composed. Even though it was only a soft sound, the Doctor jumps slightly at the noise, looking like a child caught stealing sweats.

"Oh. Hello." He awkwardly says, giving me a look which clearly said 'why didn't you say anything'. I just shrug. "Er, I was just looking for Reinette." He says looking back at her. Come on Doctor, you must be able to see the uncanny resemblance. "This is still her room, isn't it? We've been away, not sure how long." He finishes his sentence slightly uneasily. He obviously doesn't know this is Reinette, I should probably tell him.

"Doc-"

"Reinette!" An older woman's voice cuts me off, sounding from outside the room, "We're ready to go."

"Go to the carriage, Mother." Reinette replies back, not quite yelling but her voice still demands attention. "I will join you there." I walk over to the Doctor, sensing his shock that I felt only a few minutes ago. I tentatively grab his hand, I can tell he feels the slightest bit of quilt that we didn't return earlier. Her eyes settles back onto the both of us, if she noticed our hands she doesn't show it.

"It is customary, I think," she begins, her voice stern but her face still holding nostalgic qualities, "to have imaginary friends only during one's childhood. You two are to be congratulated on your persistence." She ends with a small smile on her face.

"Reinette!" My Bonded says, completely flabbergasted by how fast she's grown. "Well. Goodness, how you've grown."

"And you two don't seem to have aged a single day." She says eloquently. "That is tremendously impolite of you two."

"Sorry," I laugh, "we must have come through the fast route, loose connection and all." Even though she doesn't understand what I am saying, she laughs slightly, thoroughly enjoying the company of her 'imaginary friends', us it would seem. The Doctor gives my hand a little squeeze, symbolising we have to leave.

"Listen, lovely to catch up, but better be off," He rambles slightly. "eh?" He looks at me for a second before looking back to Reinette. "Don't want your mother finding you up here with a strange couple, do we?"

"Strange?" Now she is confused. "How could you be strangers to me? I've known you two since I was seven years old."

"Yeah, I suppose you have." He mumbles, still feeling slightly guilty. "We came the quick route, like Nemesis said."

"You two seem to be flesh and blood," She looks the both of us up and down, "at any rate, but this is absurd. Reason tells me you cannot be real." I smile slightly.

"Never listen to reason," I say, "it's rather boring" She smiles at me brightly.

"Mademoiselle!" A man's voice calls from behind the door, I'd guess a servant. "Your mother grows impatient." Reinette's smile slightly faulters.

"A moment!" She calls back, a sliver of irritation in her voice. "So many questions," she looks back at us, our hands still intertwined, "so little time." In a flash, she grabs me and holds me in a hug. Not being used to close contact with people due to the war, I awkwardly reciprocate.

"I missed you," She grabs the Doctor, making him join in. "I missed you both." She releases us, smiling down at me for a few second before she grabs my face in her hands and kisses my forehead, quickly doing the same to my mate, though with him she has to get on her tip toes.

"Mademoiselle Poisson!" The Servant man yells, entering Reinettes room, stopping when he saw her in a familiar embrace with people he does not know. I look him over, slightly protective of her and my Doctor. With a short wink, Reinette rushes out of the room, to her mother, leaving the man behind.

"Poisson?" I ask, excitement bubbling in my stomach. "The Reinette Poisson?"

"No way!" The Doctor laughs, his chocolate eyes gleaming excitedly. "Reinette Poisson? Later Madame Etoiles" He squeezing my hands as we both happily bounce towards the mantel. "Later still, mistress to Louis the Fifteenth, uncrowned Queen of France?"

'Don't give him too much information, Theta.' I half-heartedly scorn him. He seems to listen to me slightly, if the small nod of his head is anything to go by.

"Actress," He begins to list enthusiastically, "artist, musician, dancer, courtesan."

"And not to mention," I but in, "a fantastic gardener!" I use my mate's previous generation's catchphrase.

"Who the hell are you?!" The servant yells, overwhelmed by all the information we (mainly the Doctor) just dropped on him.

"I'm the Doctor," He nearly giggles back, "and this is my beautiful soulmate, Nemesis." He rests his hand on the lever. "And we're the imaginary friends on Madame de Pompadour! Ha, ha!" He lets out a victorious laugh as he pulls the lever, my own laughs follow his as the mantel swiftly turns back around to where we left our companions.  

...

I was having a shower earlier and I got into the writing mood, so as soon as I got out I started writing this chapter. I hope you guys like it, it's awesome to see the views and votes for this book going up after every day.

Until next time,

Buscuit