[Dimension 1]
The Doctor grinned cheekily. “Of course I’m right. Oy!” He exclaimed as she hit his arm playfully. Smiling, he took it good naturally. It was good to have a companion again. Someone who could keep him on his toes and help him remember the good in life. He had gone so long without a companion he had forgotten the benefits of having one. They helped keep your mind off of stuff you really did not want to remember. He smiled. Jen was good in that way. Little did she know that her being a ‘pillock’ as she called herself and forcing herself on him, helped him. Sure, he probably would have continued on without a companion for who knows how long, saving the world. But it just wasn’t the same.

As they browsed through the bookstore, the Doctor scanned the books, while keeping an eye on Jen. She didn’t look like she was going to use this as an excuse to get out of meeting her ex. No. He didn’t believe that. Not after she seemed to brighten up when he gave her his little speech. No, it was probably just because she was fascinated with books and needed to kill a little time before the meeting. Watching her look through the books, the Doctor made a mental note to show her the extensive library on the TARDIS. Of course, he wouldn’t show her the Gallifrey one. No. That was locked safely away. No one but him could enter. He had coded it so that none could enter. There were too many secrets that should never be reveled in there. No. He would show her the other extensive library. The one with books from almost every civilization and time period. He frowned. Maybe that wouldn’t be a good idea. He had to stir her away from too much knowledge of the future. Sure he could take her through all of time and space but he normally avoided the major capsules that could hinder her if she ever came back to earth. 

Before he realized it, Jen had grabbed his hand and was taking him out of the bookstore. This was a first. Grinning at the irony, he just followed along, knowing that the next few moments was going to be very important to her. Pausing in the park, he listened as she started to tell him to wait. However, a young man came up and interrupted before she could finish. Glancing him over, the Doctor crossed his arms unimpressed. If this bloke dumped Jen then he wasn’t going to get any support from him. However, he did grin and give a small wave when he was introduced. “Hello.” 

He could tell that the young man was a bit confused as she talked about him being an alien and traveling in a blue spaceship. Yeah, he saw that a lot. People would think he was crazy. However, Jen didn’t give the young man much time to ask about it as she just rambled on, talking to him. It was apparent that she had been thinking about this for some time and she just needed to get it off her chest. He smiled, as the young man was once again cut off. He should just keep his trap shut and wait until her steam ran out. That was the best thing to do. Otherwise, it wouldn’t matter. 

As her words flowed out, the Doctor’s expression grew grimmer. There were times he disliked humans. Well not all of them. But a lot were completely selfish. They didn’t care what their actions did to others. This man’s casual betrayal of someone that was supposed to be dear to him irked the Doctor. Especially considering the man had no excuse and was reconsidering even coming. As Jen finished up and turned to walk toward the fountain, the Doctor stepped forward. “Run along, Drew boy. Go back to your meaningless life.” Whether it was his threating demeanor or the fact that the kid didn’t want to bother with anymore confrontation, the boy left. 
The Doctor waited a few seconds, watching him go before heading over to Jen. Sitting down, he said nothing, just sat there. 

There were times that words and actions were needed. Times were people needed to hear the truth and words of comfort. Some people preferred to hear lies that everything is better they just need to forget and move on. Not that it would help. However, there were other times when it was better not to say anything. When words would only get in the way. Sitting there, the Doctor believed now was that time – at least for the moment. He sat there letting Jen slowly say goodbye to that part of her life. His silence, hopefully her comfort. Staring at the fountain, he watched as the fountain he watched as the water fell into the pound only to be pulled back up and reused. A few other people walked around the park, none taking a second glance at the pair of them. 

After a few moments of silence, the Doctor finally spoke. “Some people say that it goes away. That life will move on and this will soon be a passin’ memory.” He glanced over at her. “But there will always be a part of you that will remember this. That will feel the pain you feel today.” He shrugged. “And that’s alright. It’s part of life. Life wouldn’t be anything if there wasn’t sorrow in it. Some of the greatest triumphs and achievements come from sorrow and failure. Look at Edison.” He said waving to a street lamp. “It took him over ten thousand tries to create the light bulb. In fact, one reporter asked him what it felt like to fail. You know what he said? ‘Young man, why would I feel like a failure? And why would I ever give up? I now know definitively over 9,000 ways that an electric light bulb will not work. Success is almost in my grasp’.” The Doctor looked at Jen. “You can take your pain and anger and nurse it and let it turn into bitterness. I’ve seen it. It’s not easy to live with.” He frowned slightly. “Or you can let it help you grow. Make you into someone better, someone stronger.”

He looked away. It had been some time since he comforted someone. “You did the right thing.” He told her looking over at her. “If you hadn’t you would have regretted it.” He smiled, not his cheeky grin, just a plain old smile. “I’m proud of you.”
---
[Dimension 2]
Summer appreciated the Doctor’s kindness. He was leaving it up to her. Letting her decide if she wanted to continue or head back to the TARDIS and go somewhere else. Before she could decide, her mother came back. A bit shy around the younger version of her mother, Summer just listened as the Doctor and her discussed what to do for the next few days. When her mother offered the cabin, Summer ducked her head to hide her smile. That was so like her. It didn’t matter if they were strangers. Mabel Fox, or Mabel Jones as was now, had never met a stranger. Another thing that had somehow missed her daughter.

As Mabel left, Summer took a drink thinking on the offer. She remembered the lodge. Shortly after her parents married, they had purchased it as their new home. She had many a found memory until it burned down when she was ten. She glanced up as the Doctor inquired if she would like to go to the party. Frowning thoughtfully, Summer didn’t reply right away. Instead, she waited for the Doctor to pay and then followed him outside. She didn’t see him get the key from Mabel but then again her mind was still thinking on the possibilities of staying or not.

As they walked, the Doctor didn’t pressure her. For that she was grateful. Most people, including an ex-boyfriend or two try to rush her when it came to making decisions. [i]You think to slow[/i]. One friend had complained. It wasn’t that she thought slow, she just liked to take her time in deciding certain things. The decision to go or stay was important to her. If she left, there might never be a chance to come back. However, did she really want to risk sticking around? Did she have the guts to take this opportunity provided to her?

She didn’t say much as they walked. Occasionally as they passed something she recognized, she pointed it out to the Doctor. “Dad and I used to fish over there.” She told him. Or, “Mrs. Henderson used to live there. She used to make the awfullest tea.” She smiled at the memory. “But Mom said I had to be polite and drink it.” She made a face. “However, her biscuits were excellent and helped cover the taste.” 

It was nice really. Recalling all the old places. The places she used to play. The alley she got into a fight with Tommy Sanders, a bully from school. Sure she got some bruises and her mother nearly threw a fit but she had given that kid a nice bloody nose and he never bothered her again. She smiled. Sometimes she wondered what her mother thought of her. Her looks, her introverted personality, and tomboyish attitude all came from her father. She couldn’t really think of anything major she got from her mother except for her love of tea.

The Doctor spoke up talking about presents and Summer glanced over at him. Presents? She had forgotten that tomorrow was Christmas. Just her luck. She had nothing really to give him. What did someone give a time traveler anyway? She frowned. What was a Zygon? She shook her head. “No. I don’t need anything.” She gave him a small smile. “This is a gift in of itself.” She told him. 

Pausing at the bay she looked out over the water. Her mind finally deciding. “I’d like to go.” She told him looking over. His expression, though a bit guarded, seemed a bit down. She chuckled as she realized how it sounded. “Go to the party tomorrow.” She told him. Her smile faded and she glanced out over the water. “That’s if you still want to.” Technically, it was his time machine. Also, he said he didn’t stop for humans. He was a time traveler. He could go anywhere in the universe. Why would he want to stay in Dover and go to a Christmas party? Glancing at him from the corner of her eye, Summer understood why. He wanted to. If it meant this much to her, then he would do it. Why he cared so much for her, she didn’t understand but she was glad he was doing it.

Even though she had her parents almost all her childhood, a lot of memories had slipped away. Just being her had brought some back. Maybe this party would help her get a better understanding of her parents. An outside perspective, now that she was an adult. She looked back at the Doctor. “Well, should we go tell her, we accept?” Her eyes searched his face. She felt relief as he grinned and gave his response. Heart light, Summer turned and walked with him back the way they had come. As they walked, she chuckled. She had never been a partygoer. To many people around. But here she was not only going, but actually looking forward to it. If only for the fact that she knew her parents would be there and that tomorrow would be the day her father would ask her mother to marry him. 

She smiled. That was something she couldn’t wait to see.