The Defender of Time

Seven

"It's kitty cat day! Today's kitty cat day!"

It was a miracle that Alessia wasn't dizzy, she'd been dancing circles around the console for an hour now. They hadn't even left the TARDIS and both Clara and the Doctor were exhausted.

"Lessie, please calm down," the Doctor tried. "We're just getting a cat, it's not like we're doing anything exciting."

"I'm finally meeting Oliver," she protested. "This could be the most important day of my life. Ever."

Clara raised her eyebrows skeptically. "You could go anywhere in space and time, and the most important day in your life is adopting a cat?"

Alessia stopped her dancing, placing her hands defiantly on her hips. "Yes, it is. I'm adopting a potential best friend today. We're going to go everywhere together. TARDIS gave me a backpack for kitty cats, so I can carry him with me all the time."

The Doctor threw his head back in exasperation. "I have important places to be!" He whined.

Clara punched him in the arm, walking up to pick Alessia up. She held Alessia just like her mother used to, with Alessia up on her left hip just right so she could use her right hand. Alessia noticed this instantly, but held it in. "You own a time machine," Clara scolded. "You can be back in time for your important places. For now we're getting your daughter a cat. Now, come on. We're going."

"Who put you in charge?" He muttered, trudging out the door after the girls.

When they left the doors, Alessia's eyes widened instantly at their surroundings. She had her first taste of the 21st century, and it looked just like it did in all the movies she'd seen. People walked busily and quietly across the streets and down the sidewalks, which were lined by tiny shops and restaurants. Music was playing from someone's car radio, and the stoplights flashed red, yellow, and green periodically. Alessia was silent in awe, taking in her surroundings with wide eyes. August seemed rather bored, and he began to entertain himself by standing directly in front of pedestrians so they'd walk through him and receive a chill, which he laughed at every time it happened.

"Is this where you're from?" Alessia asked, looking around as Clara began leading the group down one of the sidewalks. "Is it always this busy?"

"Yes and yes," Clara responded. "This isn't London, though. I'm from London. So not exactly here, but close enough."

"Look at all the dogs!" Alessia exclaimed, pointing across Clara's face to a small pomeranian that was making its way on a purple leash toward a nearby park. "There aren't any cats, though."

"People don't walk cats, Alessia," the Doctor said, annoyed, acting like a toddler who'd been deprived of his way. "That's just silly."

"Says the man in the bow-tie," Clara retorted. Alessia giggled at his expense.

"Soo," Alessia sang, adjusting herself so she was on Clara's back. "Can we go get ice cream, too? Amy told me London has really good ice cream."

"Who's that?" Clara asked.

The Doctor sent Alessia a warning glare, but she ignored it, sick of secrets.

"Amy's my ghost friend," she said, toying with a strand of Clara's hair as they walked further down the sidewalk. "She watched me for a couple weeks while the Doc-- Dad was out. She told me all about London food. She said it's yummy."

"Ghost friend?"

"Uh-huh! I've got three of them. Amy's married to Rory, but they haven't been around since you got here. And then I've got August. He's my age, and he's walking with us right now. He's really fun." Alessia exhaled, content with her explanation.