Reconcile (Doctor Who X Tenth Doctor)

Chapter 4: The Girl in the Fireplace

"So, Mr. Mickey Smith," Katie grinned at the young man across the console after her and the Doctor parked the TARDIS in a safe part of space, "Where would you like to go first?"

Mickey blinked, suddenly having no idea what he wanted to see exactly. Rose always droned on about her adventures with the Doctor and while some of the places she spoke of sounded enticing he also knew that they almost never went to the same place twice.

Katie and the Doctor shared a knowing look used to people being unsure where to start.

"Random mode?" The Doctor asked.

Katie looked away from her husband and back towards Mickey with a raised eyebrow as if silently looking for her companion's approval. He nodded and Katie quickly sprung into action flipping levers and pressing buttons. The Doctor joined her as soon as the time machine began to shake. Rose squealed as she hung onto the console next to Mickey. The human shared equally excited looks as the Time Lords reveled in the comfort of flying the machine together.

"I'd almost forgotten what an awful pilot you are," Katie laughed.

Rose's eyes grew wide as she tried to suppress her laughter after catching a glimpse of the Doctor's offended expression. His mouth was agape, and his eyebrows were in his hair line. "Oi! You'd never flown a TARDIS before you met me. This is the thanks I get!"

"Yeah. Remember that after my father saw how you drove he finally taught me how to drive the family TARDIS," Katie giggled as she thought back to her father's horrified gasps and angry mumbling after seeing how the Doctor was escorting Katie around the universe.

The Doctor's eyes grew sad mimicking Katie's, but he smiled as he thought back to his father-in-law. "Ah, the good ol' King. God, he hated me."

"Wait, sorry, King?!" Rose butted in flabbergasted. "Like, the actual King of Gallifrey. You're really a Princess!?" Rose turned her head to keep her eyes on Katie as she stumbled around the blond to flip another lever.

Katie pointed towards a button for Mickey to press. "Yes. I was. Not really a Princess though if there's nothing left to rule."

Rose's shocked expression was replaced by remorse. The Doctor never really mentioned his home planet, so hearing Katie talk about it made Rose forget it was gone for a moment.

Mickey's eyes went wide as he thought about Katie's words. "So, wait, if you two are married, that makes the Doctor a prince! Doesn't it!?"

The Doctor frowned at Mickey as the Time Lords finally landed the TARDIS. The humans let go of the console and stood up straight. Katie gazed at the Doctor fondly as she thought back to his fifth incarnation when she had dragged him to her sister's wedding. The Doctor was forced to wear the royal family's robes and circlet that evening. He looked how he felt, uncomfortable. As he did every time he was forced to wear the blasted clothing.

The Doctor gestured towards the door and Rose and Mickey rushed forward. The Doctor didn't move, instead he watched his wife pull the scanner towards herself to glance over the environmental readings. "Really?" He raised a brow. "You're ruining the fun!"

"No, I'm making sure we're not walking into a death trap," Katie replied. She finished reading and finally made her way to the door closely followed by the Doctor.

Katie smiled as she took in the spaceship that they landed on. They had parked in what appeared to be a central hub. Two long control panels lined the room and there were several circular windows showing the galaxy around them. Two hallways branched in opposite directions. The room was monotoned, everything was the same dull steel color omitting a few lights flickering on the control panels.