Fixed in Time (Doctor Who Fanfiction)

Susan Squared and a Time of Bliss

"So, Doctor," I said, smiling. I gestured at the girl, who was watching us with those wide brown eyes of hers. "Introduce me."

"Oh, oh yes!" he placed his arm on the girl's back, smiling proudly. "This is my granddaughter Arkytior."

"Granddaughter?" I said with a laugh. "Oh Doctor, haven't you been busy."

The Doctor huffed, obviously not impressed with my observation. "Well, if you're going to be like that-"

I shook my head. "Ah Doctor, I'm just teasing. So why have you only come now? You're over 400 years old! That's, what, about 3 and a half centuries since we last saw each other."

The Doctor opened his mouth to reply but Arkytior cut him off. "Oh, you can't blame him, Susan. Grandfather's been really very busy. First he was studying at the Academy and then there was all sorts of trouble with Gallifrey and things he had to do. Plus TARDIS's are very hard to acquire. The time lords are very possessive, we barely managed to escape with this old thing." She patted the police box.

After processing everything she said, I stared at the time machine. "What did you call it, a tardis?"

Arkytior's eyes shone. "Yes, I made it up from the initials. Time And Relative Dimension In Space. Get it?"

I nodded. "Huh. I can't believe no one's ever thought of that before."

The Doctor cleared his throat. "Anyway, my dear, as soon as I got the chance we took this wonderful TARDIS and instantly became exiles. You were right, of course. The time lords are corrupt."

I stared at him. This wasn't really news to me. All that power is enough to go to anyone's head and the time lords had never cared about anyone besides themselves in the first place. But this explained everything to me. The Doctor had always wanted to fight for good, to save planets, to rescue those in need. But if his home planet was rotten to the core, they'd never give him the chance and he would devote his life to try to change them to be good. Obviously though, this constant struggle had taken its toll on the Doctor, and turned him into the person I now saw in his eyes; not the idealistic, selfless peace maker from our childhood but instead the universe-weary, tired old man whose prime goal was now to protect himself and the people he cared about. This Doctor wasn't heartless, just indifferent but many would think it, and I felt sorry for Arkytior, having to put up with a grumpy, overprotective grandfather. All in all though I was happy that the Doctor was here, and that he was achieving his dream of traveling the universe.

"Do you wanna come back to my place for tea?" I asked the pair.

The Doctor silently questioned his granddaughter with his eyes, and she nodded joyfully. He turned back to me.

"You know what? That would be lovely."

Before you ask, yes I actually poured them cups of tea, and the Doctor and I engaged in the usual; talking about his adventures and my life. I heard about their trips to the moon, to Quinnis where they lost the TARDIS for a bit, to the Rings of Akhetan and more. I described briefly my story but was enthralled by theirs. Arkytior was lucky to lead that kind of life, and to have the Doctor as a grandad. I guess I was lucky too.

They left soon after, the Doctor insisting that he had to set things up for them to stay here on earth for a while. Apparently Arkytior would be attending Coal Hill school (which was nearby) and he would spend his time doing research on the planet. I was ecstatic to hear they were staying and nodded happily as he gave excuses like the TARDIS needing repairs and Arkytior wanting to experience life as a human. I would have gotten the subtext even if Arkytior hadn't added that she and the Doctor wanted to spend some time with me while they were here.