As the Doctor attempts to piece together the mystery of Reinette, she also wishes to know more about her saviours.

***

"You are in my memories. You walk among them." Reinette spoke as if she were reliving her past but the Doctor was a prominent figure in each one even though he was never there in the first place.

Willow stood aside, attentive to what was happening whilst also checking around for any clockwork people still stalking Reinette.

"If there's anything you don't want me to see, just imagine a door and close it. I won't look." For a moment, he was a little taken aback as Reinette noticeably opened her eyes, staring smugly at him. "Oh, actually there's a door just there. You might want to cl- oh, actually, several." Her eyes fluttered in Willow's direction, surprising her. 

She smiled at her before once again shutting her eyes. "To walk among the memories of another living soul. Do you ever get used to this?"

"I don't make a habit of it." He informed her.

"How can you resist?" She asked.

Nevertheless, he ignored her question and moved along to the specific details of his search. "What age are you?"

"So impertinent a question so early in the conversation." Her eyes were once again exposed, gazing at Willow while on the edge of laughter. "How promising!" Willow grinned, giggling under her breath before Reinette closed her eyes anew.

The Doctor continued, unknown to the badinage the girls were sharing. "No, not my question, theirs. You're twenty-three and for some reason, that means you're not old enough." Abruptly, Reinette gasped as if she had seen something she shouldn't have. "Sorry, you might find old memories reawakening. Side effect."

She grew unexpectedly saddened. "Oh, such a lonely childhood."

"It'll pass." He insisted. "Stay with me."

"Oh, Doctor." Willow's giggles ceased, startled by what Reinette had just said. "So lonely. So very, very alone." She didn't recall telling Reinette either of their names.

"What do you mean, alone? You've never been alone in your life-" The Doctor froze mid-sentence, opening his eyes. "When did you start calling me Doctor?"

Reinette resumed reliving memories in her mind, however, they were not of her own. "Such a lonely little boy. Lonely then and lonelier now." Both Willow and the Doctor were surprised by what she was saying even after she opened her eyes. "How can you bear it?"

He let go of her head, breaking the link between them. The Doctor backed away slightly, stunned. "How did you do that?"

"A door, once opened, can be stepped through in either direction."She explained whilst acknowledging the expressions left upon her new friends' faces. "Oh, Doctor. My lonely Doctor. Dance with me."

The Doctor shook his head. "I can't."

"Dance with me." insisted Reinette.

"This is the night you dance with the King." He told.

"Then how about you dance with Willow." She stated, directing his attention over to her. Willow's eyes widened in disbelief, unable to say anything. 

The Doctor didn't know quite what to say either but he knew that Reinette had seen his thoughts. His thoughts of Willow. "I-I..." She gazed awkwardly at him, expecting the end of his stuttering sentence. "Well, I mean... um, we should probably be getting back to the others."

Willow nodded in response, understandably. Although, Reinette stopped him. "Doctor. Doctor who? It's more than just a secret, isn't it?"

He glared at her, confused about what she was insinuating. "What did you see?"

"That there comes a time, Time Lord when every lonely little boy must learn how to dance with their lady." Reinette pulled on the Doctor's arm dragging him away with Willow following along from behind.

***

As the three wandered down a hallway towards the ballroom, Willow grew ever more insecure. "Are you sure we should be going to a ball?" She whispered to the Doctor. "We're not really dressed for it."

"Oh, at this time, I expect they won't care." He replied. "The French were always so flamboyant with their outfit choices."

"I meant we're a bit underdressed," said Willow, pointing out her somewhat loose dress. "I'm sure the French would find that disgraceful."

He gazed at her, smirking a little. "Well, I think you look beautiful."

Barely anyone called her that, so hearing it from his lips made her blush. Willow looked away from his view, shyly smiling. Once they reached the archaic double-doors that led to the ballroom, Reinette took a hold of the handles and pushed it open. A large chandelier-lit room was revealed behind, full of people in fancy dresses with unique hairstyles. Through all the times she has travelled to, Willow had never seen something quite so magical.

There were a few stares up at them, recognising two people shockingly underdressed for a party. However, they soon returned to their activities, seemingly forgetting that they existed. Reinette grinned at them before waltzing off to the King, leaving the Doctor and Willow to their own devices.

"Wow," She muttered, admiring the ballroom in all its glory. "I never quite realised how amazing time travel is. It's like looking at a picture, only you're in it."

"That's the beauty of it, Willow." The Doctor added. "The essence of seeing history being woven into the fabric of time while also reliving it. It's the best feeling in the entire universe."

"I think the best feeling of travelling through time and space is that I get to be with you and Rose." admitted Willow, smiling up at him. "I can't get enough of it."

"Neither can I." He declared, also beaming down at her. "Dame Willow of the Powell Estate, would you care to dance with me?"

The Doctor raised his right hand, requesting her to take it. She widened her eyes, surprised yet gleeful. Willow slowly slipped her left hand into his. "I'd love to, Sir Doctor."

They walked calmly from the entrance to the centre of the ballroom, right under a glistening crystal chandelier. He pulled her around to face him, ready to dance. "You sure you remember how to dance?"

"Have you ever doubted me?" asked the Doctor.

"Sometimes." Willow stated, offending him slightly.

The music began and every couple on the ballroom floor, including the Doctor and Willow, began to dance. The pair spun each other round in time to the melody, feeling free whilst forgetting the crisis at hand.

As Willow gazed into his eyes, a question came to mind. "Did you have parties like this on Gallifrey? You know, since you're like "Timelords" and stuff."

He shrugged, twirling her around. "Not really. Just large gatherings and standing about in long robes and ridiculously sized collars."

"And weird hats that are fixed onto their heads?" She questioned, unfazed until wondering why she had said that.

"Yeah..." He uttered curiously. "Something like that."

"Sorry, I don't quite know where that came from." mentioned Willow.

"It's fine." The Doctor said with some uncertainty. "But no, my species never really got round to dancing. We were more focused on keeping the laws of time in balance."

"Wait, so does that mean you're disobeying the laws of time by being here?" She asked.

The Doctor nodded slightly, causing her to giggle a little. "I mean, just a little. Nevertheless, when have I obeyed the rules."

"Well, usually you're the first to do so." She giggled as they held tightly onto each other, swiftly moving across the dance floor in a slow movement. It was as if it were only themselves in the room. All of their past troubles faded away for a few moments as they seemingly danced for infinity, so eloquently. 

They didn't want the night to end, for they knew that they would have to return to the real world. But at least they had now, though they'd prefer it to be forever.

***

Meanwhile, back on the ship, Mickey and Rose continued to search for the clockwork droids; fire extinguishers at hand. "So, that Doctor, eh?" 

Rose sighed. "What are you talking about?"

"Well, Madame de Pompadour. Sarah Jane Smith." He started, mentioning the names of the girls the Doctor seemed interested in. "Cleopatra-"

"Cleopatra!" She stopped. "He mentioned her once."

"Yeah, but he called her Cleo," Mickey stated. "It's really not looking good for Willow if he keeps flirting with all these girl-"

Although, before he could finish his sentence, a clockwork droid appeared from behind. The sudden appearance of the thing they were hunting for startled Rose, slightly dropping her extinguisher. "Mickey!" She shrieked.

He turned around but could do nothing to stop the droid from grabbing his neck and forcing him onto his knees. Rose attempted to use her weapon but it was jammed. Soon enough, another droid emerged behind her and grabbed her. From the clockwork droids arms, a needle-like weapon injected them with anaesthetic, sending them to sleep.

***

GOSH! YES I'M ALIVE! I'M HERE!

Sorry, it's been a little while, hasn't it? I've been feeling the lockdown blues and have no idea how to socialise anymore.

However, I managed to push through and complete this short interlude between the first part and the last part of 'The Girl In The Fireplace'. The next part will be out shortly, I promise! I just wanted this short little moment where Willow and the Doctor are connecting. 

Originally, I planned for Willow to be dressed in a similar dress to Reinette's but I decided not to.

- Alice ❤