One Day

[shivver]

Title: One Day
Fandom(s): Doctor Who
Characters: Eleventh Doctor
Pairing(s): None
Rating: G
Genre: Missing Scene
Word Count: 310

Summary: Gallifrey may be out there waiting to be found, but it's not the first thing the Doctor went to look for.

Entry for who_contest Drabble Challenge #31: "Back"


The moment the ship landed, the Doctor burst from the blue doors, barely glancing behind him to see that they latched closed as he sprinted over the high weeds growing among the rubble of buildings destroyed decades ago. This area hadn’t been restored yet, but it hardly mattered: he was looking for the housing estate on the current edge of the city.

As he ran, hopping over broken concrete, the old curator’s resonant voice still rang in his ears. “Gallifrey falls no more.” The planet, his home, survived, and that meant that the Time Lords survived. They hadn’t been wiped from existence wherever they stood, because the Moment was never fired. Every few steps, he leapt into the air and whooped.

He raced to a twisted chain-link fence that guarded the steep, gravelly slope down to the estate and, grabbing it, leaned far over to peer at the families in the playground below. He bounced on his toes as he searched, finally spying a young woman with curly black hair, sitting on a bench, watching over three small children playing tag among the play structures. A man who looked old enough to be her grandfather sat with his arm around her, and she leaned her head on his shoulder.

The Doctor leaned back, his eyes bright and proud. “Susan. With your David. As it should be.”

He spied a path down from a break in the fence. Spinning on his heel, he turned towards it, then hesitated, looking down at the family again. “You’re alive, safe and happy. You’re where you should be.” Clasping his hands together, he shook his head with some regret. “You don’t need your silly old grandfather mucking everything up.” Glancing down at them one last time, he murmured, “One day, I shall… oh, you know.”

Content, the Doctor smiled as he strolled back to the TARDIS.

Comments

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

Ohhhh, this was lovely...just perfect!! I know a few people that have touched on One and his era...and having Eleven come full circle like this...just wonderful!!

*HUGS*

[shivver13.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I do wish we knew how Susan's life really turned out. Her parting was such a wonderful episode.

[but_can_i_be_trusted]

Beautiful and bittersweet. :) Well done.

[shivver13.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[fannishliss.livejournal.com]

Oh yay! Never thought about the Time Lock breaking! that's wonderful! :)

And now there are little great grandkids!!! :)

[shivver13.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :) And hopefully someday the Doctor will finally visit her. I just thought the Eleventh Doctor wasn't the one who would actually do it.

[pony-express.livejournal.com]

Aww, I love this! <£
Nicely done!

[shivver13.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much!

[pony-express.livejournal.com]

I mean you poped my First Doctor cherry with these references to characters but it was still enjoyable. I like the coming full cirlce. Very well done! :D
You're welcome!

[flowsoffire.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is so, so lovely ♥ Delightfully written; the Doctor's mad race and frantic glee/excitement were perfectly portrayed. It's so lovely that Susan would be his very first thought, and spot-on too. The scene in the playground was lovely, and I love that David aged, but Susan didn't show it much; perfectly realistic and just a small taste of angst, for all the consequences of this. And the Doctor's reaction was exactly right—moving instinctively to approach, but then catching himself and telling himself she would be better off without him banging into her life… Oh, that's so Eleven. ♥ So very bittersweet. Love that ending! Thank you for sharing this piece, it really is lovely!

[shivver13.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much! Though I haven't seen much of the First Doctor's episodes, Susan and her relationship with her grandfather is so intriguing to me. I'm glad that you found the Doctor's actions in this story appropriate. :)

[flowsoffire.livejournal.com]

Quite right too! She isn't the first companion for nothing. The First Doctor era and part of the Second are all I've seen of classic!Who as of yet, but it's wonderful and that relationship is certainly a big thing. (Well, Susan's role could have been deeper/more layered but that's 60's young girl parts for you… Carole Ann Ford certainly wishes it had been! Susan does have highlights.)

[radiolaires]

Nooooo, why would anyone write such a fic? This hurts. It's beautiful and cleverly paced, yet full of emotion. I love the sweeping building up, the race across familiar yet damaged landscape. I absolutely adore how David aged while Susan stayed young. The image is striking and powerful. The Doctor's decision not to intervene is just spot-on; any other reaction would have been disturbing. Gallifrey falls no more but the Doctor's still the Doctor, ever running, even from his family. Wonderful fill! Thank you for sharing.

[shivver13.livejournal.com]

Why, thank you! Your reaction makes me happy - I wanted this to be bittersweet, to be both triumphant and painful. Somehow I think that if the Doctor and Susan ever reunite, it would be wonderful and terrible for both of them.

[paynesgrey.livejournal.com]

Oh, sweet and lovely! Wonderful job!

[shivver13.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much!!