A/N: Right, most importantly, this story was betad by the lovely Gamine Madcap – who is brilliant and saved me from the rambling and helped me make sense – so all praise to her.

Also – this is a bit angsty – there is some humor in there but ye have been warned.

If you don't know my OC Ella by now – well, I'd read the other stories I've written about her first – they are in order on my profile.

And I don't own Doctor Who.

Nothing Endures But Change

Chapter One

Edward Marlowe was not an old man. He wasn't even sixty, and this was completely unprecedented. Blindsided him from out of nowhere. It was he who phoned his daughter to break the news to her. He who explained the details calmly and comforted her, when it should have been the other way round. He'd always been like that though, always putting others before himself.

He had let Ella chatter on about her adventures and what she and the Doctor had been doing; let her tell all her news before telling her his. She'd barely been able to react apart from promising to be home, within seconds if she could manage it. He tried to put her off but she hadn't listened. Resigned, he'd said goodbye and she had reluctantly hung up, as if by keeping him on the phone she could keep him safe.

Ella's breath caught in her chest as a sob, and the weight of the phone in her hand made no impression. Her mind was whirling but the overwhelming thought was that this couldn't be real. This did not happen in real life. It was one of those stories you read about. It wasn't happening. Her father was infinitely strong and always there. He didn't get ill. The most he ever had was the occasional cold or hangover. Long, severe, life-threatening sickness just didn't come into it.

Her heart felt like it had stopped, or frozen in a block of impenetrable cold, cold ice, and her hands began to shake uncontrollably. Blindly, she left her room and stumbled down the corridor, searching for the Doctor. When she entered the console room he looked up, startled by her sudden entrance and shocked by her expression. Her face was ashen and a dark curl had fallen forward over her staring eyes, in stark contrast to her pale skin.

"Ella?" he began, and the single word broke her control. The phone slipped from her hand and her barely contained sobs broke free. He crossed the room in a moment and gathered her in his arms.

"What? What is it?"

She could only shake her head as she sobbed into his chest, her whole body wracked with grief.

It was a long time before she could speak. They were sitting on the ground and one of her hands was clutching unconsciously at the front of his shirt, just to make sure he wasn't going anywhere. She spoke quietly, broken, explaining what she'd been told. The Doctor held her tighter, wishing he could protect her from the sorrow.

Realization suddenly broke on her and she got shakily to her feet, filled with a sudden nervous energy.

"I have to go home," she said. He nodded, watching her pace from where he was still sitting on the floor. "Now," she added, and he nodded again, got to his feet, and moved to the console to put in the coordinates.

Five minutes later and they were there, Ella's family home in Derbyshire. She left the TARDIS instantly, clutching her hastily packed bag in one hand. The Doctor followed more slowly and hung back as Julie Marlowe hugged her daughter and sent her into the sitting room, where her father was waiting. The Doctor tried to look as if he couldn't hear as Ella cried onto her father's shoulder, calling him daddy over and over again, while Edward tried to soothe her.

"Would you like a cup of tea, Doctor?" Julie asked, resolutely cheerful despite the tears in her eyes.

"Yes, thank you." He followed her into the kitchen as he had so many times before.

"Right, why don't you sit down." He followed her instructions and took a seat at the table, watching her carefully. "Thank you for bringing Ella home, I knew we could rely on you. It's lovely to have her about again." She was babbling and he knew why - he'd done it himself. "We're moving as well, did you know? We're going down to London. Be nearer the family, and my parents and – and the doctors - "

She broke off abruptly and the cup she was holding slid from her suddenly slack grip to smash on the floor. He got to his feet quickly and took her hand, leading her to a chair. She was shaking, but working hard to master her emotions. He picked up the broken china and took a replacement out of the cupboard.

"So sorry," Julie muttered, just for something to say. "Perhaps you'd make the tea, Doctor."

"Of course." he replied, something thick obstructing his throat.

He handed her a steaming mug of tea and held one in his hand, feeling the warmth without properly registering it. Ella came into the room and he straightened from where he'd been leaning against the counter. Her face was tear-stained but set. He'd seen that look before; she had come to a decision and was determined about it.

Walking to the table she put her hand on her mother's shoulder, Julie covered it with her own and seemed to relax, as if having Ella there was going to make all the difference. And, the Doctor thought, it probably would.

He met her eyes and for once they were unreadable. But he had a sinking suspicion he knew what she was going to say next.

"I'll come outside to say goodbye."

There it was. He'd known from the moment she had told him her father was ill, and, truthfully, if she had reacted in any other way he would have been disappointed. He nodded, gave Julie a brief hug, shook hands with Edward and followed Ella out of the door.

They didn't talk as they walked back to the TARDIS. Pausing at the doors he looked down at her as she avoided his gaze. Sighing, he pulled her towards him.

"I'm sorry, Ella. I'm so sorry."

She nodded against his shoulder but stepped away quickly, unwilling to rely on him. She had to stand on her own now.

"I'll call you."

That was all she said, and he smiled that sad smile, before walking into his spaceship and flying away.

A/N: Please review thanks x