The Littlest Timelord: The Fall of the Eleventh

Chapter 40

A/N - Wow. 40 chapters. And we still a little to go until the Christmas special! I really loved writing this chapter.

The Doctor and Elise rang the doorbell of the Maitland home and Angie answered.

"Ah, hello Angie. Is Clara home?" the Doctor asked.

"She's busy...but we can play a game while we wait."

"A game? I love games."

"How about Blind Man's Buff?" Artie suggested.

Angie blindfolded the Doctor and shared a look with Elise. Elise smirked and nodded. Angie smiled and bumped her fist with Elise's before they ran off.

Elise explored the Maitland home while the Doctor walked around calling out for the children.

"Angie? Artie? Am I getting warm? Am I getting warm? Look, I'm pretty sure you have to tell me if I'm getting warm. I'm...I'm...I'm pretty sure that's in the rules."

Clara came running down the stairs. "Doctor?"

"Ha! Clara. How are you? Don't worry, everything is under control."

"What are you doing?"

"Elise and I showed up and the kids said you were busy..."

"At which point they suggested Blind Man's Buff."

"Yes. Where are they?"

"At the cinema." Clara took off the blindfold.

"The little Daleks." He looked at Clara. "What's wrong?" She was normally so excited to see him.

Clara led them into the kitchen where she made tea. "I saw her," Clara told Elise.

"Who?"

"Your mum." Clara watched Elise's eyes light up.

"River? You saw River?"

"River asked Vastra for the exact words. What were they?" the Doctor asked.

"The Doctor has a secret he will take to the grave. It is discovered," Clara told him.

The Doctor's eyes filled with tears and he started crying.

"Doctor?"

"Sorry. And it was Trenzalore? Definitely Trenzalore?"

"Yeah."

"Oh dear." He sniffled. "Sorry." The Doctor stood up and ran out of the house, Elise following. "Please, leave me alone Elise."

"No way."

He made his way under the rotor and sat down.

Elise sat next to him.

"You know. I miss the days where you cried over everything."

"Because I was scared. Everything scared me. But you taught me to be brave." Deep down, Elise's hearts were breaking. Never let him see the damage. She knew this day was coming; she just didn't think it'd be this soon.

Clara entered the TARDIS and found the two Timelords. "Well?" she asked.

"Trenzalore. I've heard the name, of course. Dorium mentioned it. A few others." He stood up and soniced the cables above his head. "Always suspected what it was, never wanted to find out myself. River would know, though. River always knew. Right, come here. Give me your hand."