Journeys Anew

Chapter One

The End of the Beginning

"It's not fair, I tell you!"

"Oh for God's sake keep your voice down or she might hear you!"

Wilf opened his mouth to complain loudly again but the withering look from his daughter cut him off and he contented himself with scowling instead. Sylvia Noble sighed wearily before continuing her previous job of tidying up the stuffed toys that seemed to permanently cover their living room floor. Wilf put his head in his hands feeling a familiar ache spread through his head. These days' things seemed a lot more confusing than they used too...and the pains in his head were becoming almost as frequent as his arthritis.

"And anyway, that man was trouble mark me," Muttered Sylvia darkly as she picked up a purple fluffy stuffed dog toy lingering near the television which was displaying the latest news report. The sound of a hair-dryer at work drifted down the stairs into the living room and combined with the volume of the television Wilf couldn't possible see how his Granddaughter would be able to hear them. He shifted slightly and continued glaring furiously at the news. Bunch of tripe they had on it these days. All these new laws and parliament acts. Right bunch of rubbish.

"No he wasn't! He took her up there and let see the stars! Our Donna, up their in space I tells you!" Protested Wilf valiantly. Regret gnawed away at him like a tumour spreading through his mind. Donna, he had always loved her even when she was a little girl throwing tantrums and stropping about in moods. Going away with the Doctor had been the best thing in her life and she was cruelly robbed of it. The Donna he saw in his mind was the one who had returned from her travels with fresh news and an optimistic attitude. No more of this daft business with gossip and men...suddenly that shining beacon of hope had been taken away and replaced with the old Donna. The one who cared only for the richest man she could grab and what was on the front page of OK magazine.

"Yes, well she's back now. Home where she belongs with a life and a family. Can't you be happy for her Dad?" Sylvia asked tiredly. Wilf pressed the red button on his remote control switching the television off. He was restless, he missed being able to go out to his hill with the telescope but ever since his joints had started playing up he'd been stuck at home and made to be content with the view from his bedroom window in the attic. Something the eighty year old pensioner was not amused or happy about.

Grudgingly he acknowledged his daughter may have a point. Donna, although still hot tempered, loud mouthed, gossip-obsessed and ignorant had managed to find some happiness. Wilf would admit that over the past nine years he had been proud of her and changes she'd made. Getting a proper permanent secretarial job, getting married, having a child. He wouldn't trade Eleanor for the world. Smart little kid he thought, bright minded. Could read better than most adults and do mathematical problems which seemed like Chinese to him. That girl would go far with a brain like hers.

But of course a part of him would always miss the old Donna and her travelling days. The glory. The adventure. It seemed to pale everything else. If only she could just remember. All the wonderful places and thing she'd seen. If only she could remember. Wilf choked back a lump in his throat. Tonight had brought up his old sentimentalities. Watching the news always did. Seeing the state the Earth was getting itself into always made his blood boil.

"And now that poor Doctors all up there on his own," Moaned Wilf.

"I'm sure he'll manage," Sylvia retorted curtly, "He managed before Donna and he'll manage after. There's no point discussing it now Dad. Don't upset yourself." Wilf shook his head, sometimes he really failed to understand Sylvia. She was just like her mother, all logic and sensible notions with a narrow mind. He was tired, very sleepy. He noticed faintly that the noise of the hair-dryer had stopped.

"-Hey! I thought I put you to bed missus!"

Wilf raised his head and looked towards the doorway. Donna stood dressed up in her best black skirt and tailored green blouse. Tonight was some sort of work's night out which she and Lee were attending. Her red hair was slightly frizzy and still needed the appliance of straightners but her make-up was already on. At Donna's side there was a small girl dressed in a pink nightgown. Eleanor Marks was seven and her wild curly red hair was loose while her other hand held on to a Cinderella book limply.

"Right. Come on then," Donna said picking up Eleanor and balancing her on her hip, "Wave Good night to Granddad and Gran." She encouraged gently. Wilf smiled and raised his hand and Ella grinned shyly waving her own.

"Night sweetheart," Wilf said as Donna left the doorway. Soon he could hear loud footsteps running up the stairs. No doubt Eleanor would be tucked back in again. Lately she had developed a habit of wandering the house at night. He'd been given the fright of his life when he awoke at half three in the morning thinking there was a burglar in the kitchen when really it was Ella attempting to get herself a drink but failing miserably since she could hardly reach the cupboard to grab a mug.

"That child and her bloody toys," Cursed Sylvia as she had close encounter with Lego house that nearly resulted in her tripping up and falling backwards landing on the coffee table. Thankfully she regained her balance and continued her furious mutterings, "Honestly, It should be Donna cleaning all this lot up. I don't know, I never made you clean up after her!"

"Yes you did. I almost broke my neck on some stuffed animal lying on the stairs once," Corrected Wilf finding some amusement in his daughter's exasperation. Picking up the newspaper he flicked through to the sports pages. England was over in Spain playing in the World Cup again and this week they were opposing Germany. The elderly war veteran could gain some satisfaction from knowing that they had thrashed Germany four-nil. Yawning slightly, he was in the middle of a crossword puzzle when he heard the loud crash echoing from up the stairs. Sylvia moved towards the bottom of the stairs in a concerned manner.

"Donna! Is everything all right up there!" Yelled Sylvia. For a few moments there was no reply until they both heard Ella's shaken voice shout back to them.

"Granny! Mummy's not waking up!"

Wilfred froze and Sylvia shot him a frightened glance before darting up the stairs. The older man took considerably more time in moving as swiftly but managed to make it half way up the stairs feeling his heart pound all the way. Had Donna collapsed? Fainted? Perhaps a dizzy spell or an infection? Anxiety stabbed away at his mind like a razor sharp dagger. When he reached the top of the stairs he could hear Sylvia's cries mingled with Ella's sobs coming from the spare bedroom Donna and Lee always used when they came to stay.

"Dad! Dad ring an ambulance! She's having some sort of attack!" Shrieked Sylvia wildly. Wilf pushed open the bedroom doors as the pungent smell of flowery perfume hit him like a tidal wave. The peach walls were illuminated softly by the bedside lamp while the pink curtains floated in the breeze coming from the open window. There was a double bed in the centre of the room and a vanity table opposite. The sight Wilf saw caused something inside him to break like an elastic band pushed too far. It would remain burned in his sight until his last breath. Worse than those monsters from space. Worse than the Titanic almost crashing into Buckingham Palace. Worse than fighting the Nazis in the World war.

Donna was lying on the floor, her body was convulsing and shaking while her breathing game in huge painful gasps. There was an eerie golden glow around the edges of her eyes which were glazed over as though not quite seeing Sylvia who was bent over her daughter screaming at her to be alright. In the corner of the room almost hidden by the curtains Ella was crouched hunched with her knees curled up to her chin protectively. Her body was trembling and the young girl was struggling to breathe as she went into shock.

"For Gods sake Dad! Phone an ambulance!" Bellowed Sylvia tearfully. Wilf stood paralysed to the spot unable to move as Sylvia huffed furiously and pushed passed him to get to the telephone. She punched in the numbers frantically and began to scream at the operator. Wilf didn't know were to go. His Granddaughter who was having a fit or his Great-Granddaughter sitting in the corning whimpering like kicked puppy going into shock.

"W-Why..." Donna murmured choking. Wilf kneeled next to her feeling a lump rise in his throat. Her eyes burned into his with pain and hurt written all over them. She knew. How she'd found out he had no idea but guilt wrenched him. Tears were streaming down her cheeks and she gasped for air trying to breathe.

"M-My head...burning...why?"

"Donna hang on! The ambulance is just coming," Urged Wilf desperately.

From the corner of the room Eleanor Marks watched. Nobody noticed that her own eyes were quickly clouding with the same eerie golden tones as her mothers. Many hours later she would awaken in the Hospital room to be told that 'Mummy was very sick.' Nobody in the Noble family would quite understand what had happened that day. Only Sylvia and Wilf could guess the truths but only people who could possible know for certain were Donna and seven year old Ella.

It would be nine years before Ella would finally find out the truth.

Nine years later...

"Al, listen to me. Take Emily and run. Whatever you do don't stop running. Do you understand me Al? No running back, just keep running no matter what you hear or see," Commanded the blond woman staring down at her two children. It was raining heavily, pelting down harshly off the ground soaking them all to skin. The sky was dull and overcast with thick heavy black crowds while the strong wind brought the scent of smouldering buildings and blazing inferno's to their nostrils. There were sounds of screaming, running and the crashing of waves against the shore.

"M-Mum," Pleaded the younger girl. She was supporting a bruised eye and bleeding lip and her skin had turned a queasy pale colour framed by her untamed wild brown hair that was billowing around her face caught up in the wind. Standing over her was a youth of about eighteen with a grim look on his face. The blond woman looked around her suspiciously to check that they were still alone.

"I'm sorry...I am but you have to go! Now! Just keep running yeah? I'll catch up with you." Promised the woman as tears streamed down her cheeks.

"You won't! Mum, please come with us, you can't leave us!" Accused Emily frantically feeling a mixture of rage, confusion and fear. All around them the sky was marred with an orange glow symbolising the fires they had just fled from. Not even the rain could abate the flames that consumed everything in its path. Emily narrowed her eyes and focused her thoughts clearly pushing her will forward. Almost instantly she felt her older brother brush her hand and the temple of her forehead. She growled in frustration but was met with a sombre face.

"How can you stop me? I don't want to leave! I want Mum with us!" Screamed Emily furiously.

"She'll catch us up Me. Come on, we have to move now or they'll find us," Urged Alexander. Their mother nodded attempting a smile despite the make up streaking down her face. Emily froze staring at her mothers face as she mouthed the words 'I love you.' The next thing she aware of was something grabbing at her arm tugging her along. Giving her Mum one final look Emily turned around to face the churning ocean and sand ahead of them.

Running on sand is difficult, you end up sinking if you do not move swiftly enough. It is easy to slip up and fall when running on sand and it adds more strain to the muscles in your legs. Emily felt exhausted emotionally and mentally. Physically she was sore all over especially in her legs that were trying to match a pace much faster than her own. Every now and then a lock wet hair would smack her in the face and she struggled to breath. If she showed any signs of deterring or slowing down then her brother would push her onwards. Loud banging noises could be heard over the wind.

Finally, after what felt like hours they stopped. The place they stopped was not anywhere particularly remarkable and the tide was moving in drenching her trainers in salty water. Alexander checked their surroundings warily before pulling out a circular disk from his jacket pocket. Emily eyed it fearfully feeling bile rise in her throat. On the grey, metallic disk there was a distinct yellow button sitting innocently. Emily loosened her hand from her brother's grip turning to face the beach.

Somewhere out there her family was fighting. Emily couldn't see why her mum couldn't come with them, she failed to understand why it had to her and Alfie and she confused about what was going on. Why did it feel like she had just been pushed off the side of a cliff and was now falling into an abyss? Or drowning in an ocean with solid ice forming a barrier preventing her from getting crucial much needed air? Nothing made sense. What her mother was asking them to do made no sense. A teleport? They had teleports. Why was this was so significant? Emily had her suspicions but she was more infuriated at her brother who seemed to follow their mother's commands without question. Something very abnormal. Al questioned everything.

She doubled over panting deeply trying to inhale air. There was a slicing pain in her side that was causing her extreme discomfort. Behind her Alexander stood up looking scared and pale. Emily knew her brother was terrified, she could practically feel the waves of fear and anxiety radiating from him. Perhaps he was just as confused? He must know something...something she didn't know. Why else was he following along without any reluctance?

Silently he grabbed her hand. Emily opened her mouth to protest but the next moment white lights were dancing in front of her eyes and she could feel something invisible dragging her backwards into the darkness. Sound became disorientated and echoing as though many people were shouting at her from underwater. Everything felt stretched, the smell of salt and burning still stung her nose but it was becoming more distant. Finally when she dared to open her eyes she could no longer feel the rain drenching her body or the wind battering her hair.

Instead she was faced with a clear night sky full of stars. There was no water or traces of any beach. In fact they were standing in the middle of a cobbled street surrounded by small pubs, take-away and late night cafes. Nearby an alley cat gave a hiss of surprise and skulked off into the darkness of the streets. Emily felt sick, she could feel her insides squirming as she stumbled, falling on to the cobbles feeling hard stone bruise her hands.

Everything felt different. Everything felt wrong.

This wasn't her home.

This wasn't even her world.

This Idea has been tumbling around my head for months and after watching Journeys End again I decided to take the plunge. This is my first Doctor Who fiction and I pray no characters turn into Mary Sue's. Anyway I always wondered what would happen if Donna had a child? Would there be any sort of backlash of Time Lord genes? Same with Rose and Clone-Doctor.

Anyway Please R&R.

Daydreamer!xxx