Archive of Our Own ^beta

3rd Person POV

She'd been around 20 when she'd first met him. Young, fresh and naive. Painfully naive. Blind to who he truly was. A charming young man who wooed her every chance he'd gotten. His name was John Smith and he was the Professor of History at Farringham School for Boys. Her name was (Name) (Last Name) and she was the nurse at the same school. Over the months of knowing John Smith, they both hopelessly fell in love with each other.

However, fate had a different course of action for the star-crossed lovers. A tragedy, like Romeo and Juliet. John Smith wasn't real. He was a pseudonym, created by the Time-Lord known as The Doctor in order to hide on Earth from The Family of Blood who were catching up with him. John was unaware of the truth of his identity, believing his adventures to be dreams, which he both wrote down in his journal and confessed to (Name).

(Name) had become fast friends with John's maid; Martha Jones. She saw the look in Martha's eyes. The unrequited love she possessed for John Smith, or rather The Doctor. (Name) pitied her, the poor Martha Jones. In love with a man who never gave her a second look, even before the events that brought them to Farringham in 1913. John had begun to court (Name) in private, exposing their relationship at the village's annual dance.

The Family of Blood had attacked that night, an army of animated scarecrows at their disposal. They'd already possessed four people from Farringham. Jeremy Baines, a student at Farringham School for Boys. Lucy Cartwright, a local child. Mr Clark, a local farmer who was rather pompous. And Jenny, a maid from Farringham School. (Name) and Martha's friend. It pained (Name) to know the truth.

The group of four (John, (Name), Martha and a student called Timothy "Tim" Latimer, who'd acquired the fob watch containing John's true identity; The Doctor), had taken sanctuary at a cottage belonging to the parents of Lucy Cartwright. John was distraught about learning the truth. He refused to become The Doctor again, arguing with Martha that he should just give the Family of Blood the fob watch so he can stay on Earth with (Name). Martha's angsty love confession to John, no, to The Doctor had made (Name) feel worse.

(Name) had taken to trying to block out the arguing by reading John's journal of his life as The Doctor. John was pleading with Martha, tears burning in his eyes. (Name) was silently sobbing. "If they get what they want, then-" John had begun before he was cut off by (Name), who now stood up, the open journal in her hands.

"Then it all ends in destruction," (Name) said, visibly on the verge of tears, as John looked at her with a pained look, "I never read to the end...but those creatures would live forever. To breed and conquer. A war across the stars; for every child,".

John's bottom lip wobbled, sniffling. (Name) sighed. "Martha, Timothy," she continued, taking a sharp exhale, "Would you leave us alone, please?".

Timothy left the room, followed by Martha, going outside. John turned to look at (Name), the fob watch in his hand. John let out a pained noise as (Name) rushed towards him and enveloped him in a hug, which he immediately returned. Amidst the chaos outside, John Smith stilled loved (Name) (Last Name). She held him close, pressing a tender kiss to his temple, as John cried into her shoulder.

She'd cupped his cheeks with her hands. "John," (Name) softly said, as John looked up at the mention of his name, "It's okay. It's okay,". John cried out again, holding (Name) close to him as if he'd lose her. She sat him down, holding him close to her for what seemed like an eternity. They had kissed softly, but it was so passionate, full of unspoken feelings.

―⁕⁕⁕―

John had calmed down, as did (Name). John was staring at the fob watch in his hand. "If I could do this instead of you, I would," (Name) had said, looking at him lovingly, "I would. But my hopes aren't important,".

John looked up at (Name) wistfully. "He won't love you," John said, with sadness in his voice, distastefully speaking of who he really was. (Name) pressed a soft kiss to his cheek, knowing the truth and it pained her.

Rose Tyler. The girl The Doctor had been in love with before she'd been trapped in another dimension. Even though (Name) had thought her to be fiction, she was still jealous of the wonderful Rose Tyler. Who'd choose ordinary old (Name), a school nurse, over the magnificent Rose Tyler? The Doctor certainly would. Martha Jones felt the same way about herself.

"If he's not you," (Name) began, "Then I don't want him to. I had one fiancee and he died in that godforsaken accident. I never thought...ever again...that I'd love. Then you showed up and made my life worth living. So...".

John had been looking at (Name) with such...fondness in his eyes that she'd didn't miss. "It was real," John stated, voice breaking a bit, "I really thought...".

(Name) cut his off by pressing a kiss to the corner of his mouth. She'd withdrawn her lips when she'd said: "Let me see,". (Name) extracted the fob watch from John's hand, looking at the device on her palm. She laughed a little, "Blasted thing. Blasted, blasted thing. Can't even hear it, it says nothing to me,". As the fob watch laid flat in the palm of her hand, John placed his hand over her's, exhaling sharply. As a vision overtook them both. 

The sound of church bells. It was their wedding day. John in a suit with a big grin on his face, his arm looped with (Name)'s, who wore a gorgeous white wedding dress and veil. In her free hand was a bouquet of flowers and a large smile on her face. (Name)'s parents were there, along with some of the boys from the school. The pair met with a loving kiss. It felt like what should've happened.

A bedroom setting within a family home. (Name) was in bed wearing a white nightdress as John perched on the bed next to her. A baby was nestled in (Name)'s arms, wrapped in a white, knitted blanket, which she passed over to John. Their baby. The infant cried as it was shifted between its mother's arms and its father's arms. The baby's cries echoed throughout the vision. The couple looked at their child with love. It felt like what should've happened.

Childlike laughter filled the air of the next vision. John was taking a walk in the forest, with (Name) and their three children. Their eldest daughter, called Edith, raced her brother, the middle child named Thomas. (Name) and John smiled lovingly at their youngest child, a daughter named Martha. It felt like a dream come true. It felt like what should've happened.

The final showing was of an elderly John Smith, laying in his bed. (Name) sat by his side, holding his hand. The life of their dreams. "They're all safe, aren't they?" John has asked, "My children. My grandchildren. Everyone's safe,".

John's face was wrinkled and his hair was grey. (Name) had grey/white hair and her face had wrinkles too. "Everyone's safe," (Name) repeated, "And they all send their love, John,". (Name) leaned forward, kissing John lovingly on the forehead.

"Well...it's time, my darling," John said, his voice tired, "Thank you,". His eyes fluttered shut. 

The two were brought out of their vision, both with exasperated faces. "Did-did you see?" John asked in a desperate voice.

(Name) nodded softly. "The Time-Lord has such adventures," (Name) commented sadly, "But he could never have a life like that...not with me,".

John shook his head, cupping (Name)'s cheeks. "Yet I could," John insisted, "I don't want to go,".

(Name) pulled him in for one final kiss between lovers, breaking it eventually. John looked at the fob watch. His head turned mournfully to (Name). "I love you..." he finally said, a sad smile gracing his lips.

"I love you too," (Name) sniffled. John pressed his lips to hers before John turned back and opened the fob watch.

―⁕⁕⁕―

After John restored his personality as The Doctor, he made sure to deal with The Family of Blood, giving them appropriate punishments in accordance with their actions. The Doctor had walked through the village, going to his TARDIS. Martha had already gone, saying her goodbyes. He found (Name) standing by the building where the TARDIS had been hidden in. She looked wistfully at him, smiling sadly at him.

"Hello John," (Name) smiled, correcting herself quickly, "Or should I say Doctor,".

The Doctor approached (Name), smiling sadly at her. She'd been crying, visibly. Her eyes were red and her lips were trembling. "Do you have to go?" she had asked in a sad tone. The Doctor had sighed, placing his hands on her shoulders. 

"Yes," he'd replied in a sorrowful tone, but not too sorrowful, "Thank you. For helping me, well John, to love again,".

(Name) looked down at her lace-up boots, brushing down her long skirt. She looked up again, crying. "Will I ever see you again?" she'd cried, "I don't know what I'll do without you,".

The Doctor pulled her into a hug, (Name) crying against his shoulder. It gave them both reminders of when John did the same back in the cottage the night before. She pulled away from the hug, sniffling. "I love you," she'd sobbed, "I don't care about what I said. I'll always love you. You helped me relearn to love. John or not,".

The Doctor felt his hearts tug at (Name)'s words. "A part of me will always love you, (Name). You beautiful woman. Don't you forget that" The Doctor had said, letting her go for the final time.  

(Name) sighed, composing herself. "I do have one request," she began, as The Doctor listened.

―⁕⁕⁕―

Two incarnations, another regeneration cycle and two companions later, The Doctor felt like he'd finally moved on from the woman called (Name) (Last Name). The year was 2016 and he was a lecturer at St. Luke's University Bristol. 20 years ago, he'd made the toughest decision of his life; letting (Name) go. He'd dropped (Name) off in 1996, where she'd met a man named Rory Williams. A human. A nurse from Leadworth. 

She'd married him. God knows what they'd done after that. He'd got a lot to focus on. Teaching. Keeping Missy, the Master's latest (and female) incarnation rehabilitated and in the Vault beneath St. Luke's. His current "companion", more or less, was called Nardole. Who was slightly irritating but made sure The Doctor kept his promise to stay on Earth and help rehabilitate Missy. 

His office was classy. There was a desk and chair with a rug. His TARDIS was in the corner. On the said desk was a pencil pot filled with his past incarnations' sonic screwdrivers and two framed photos. One was a black and white photo of his Gallifreyan granddaughter, Susan from the 1960s. The other? Well, the other was also a black and white photo. But it was a photo of (Name) from around 1912 before he'd met her at Farringham. Two people he cared for.

His current incarnation was a grumpy, grey-haired man with a Scottish accent. He liked his guitar, sonic sunglasses and so much more. But he wasn't much of a hugger. He was so much different to that from his previous two incarnations. The Tenth Doctor was a smiley-type man who wore Converse (sandshoes) and a trenchcoat, and loved saying "Allons-y!". Whilst the Eleventh Doctor was a ball of energy who loved fezzes, bow-ties, jammy dodgers, fish fingers and custard and showing people the stars.

Three brisk knocks at the door brought him from his thoughts. He cleared his throat, beckoning whoever was at the door come in. The door creaked open, revealing a girl, in her early 20s. She had long red hair, which was naturally curly but straightened, and a pair of (eye colour) eyes. She wore a velvet, turquoise long-sleeved shirt, black trousers with black stockings and black slip-on Vans. Her bag was a satchel, which hung on one shoulder and she carried her phone in her hand.

"Can I help you?" the Doctor asked.

The girl took a deep breath in. "Are-are you The Doctor?" she'd asked, very nervously.

The Doctor raised an eyebrow, before responding. "Yes. I am," The Doctor had responded curiously, "Why? Do you have something for me? A message?".

The girl took another deep breath in, stuffing her phone in the pocket of her trousers. She cleared her throat before looking at The Doctor. "My name's Brianna (Last Name)," she began before hesitantly speaking again, "I'm your daughter,".