Time's running out for Reinette and the others as the clockwork droids are closing in. Can they save her before it's too late?

***

Strapped onto two slanted tables, individually spaced, were Rose and Mickey. Around them, several clockwork droids were present, watching them sleep. The young blonde's head twitched as she slowly awakened. Her eyes opened to the sight of the first clockwork man, slightly out of focus. Mickey awoke shortly beforehand, more panicked than she was at first.

When Rose finally realised they were trapped, her fear of death sparked her dread. "What's going on?! Doctor?"

"Rose?" Her boyfriend said from the other side, clearly tensed. Rose leaned her head back onto the table who was now noticeably more irritated than scared. "They're going to chop us up, just like the crew. They're going to chop us up and stick us all over their stupid spaceship. And where's the Doctor? Where's the precious Doctor now? Bot he and Willow been gone for flipping hours, that's where they are!"

The clockwork man stepped forward, addressing Rose. "You are compatible."

She gulped silently but attempted to buy some time. "Well, you might want to think about that. You really, really... might... because me and Mickey, we didn't come here alone. Oh no. And trust me, you wouldn't want to mess with our designated driver... or my cousin for that matter. If you lay one finger on me, she'll definitely kick your a-"

The droid interrupted her, extending its blade and pointing it towards her. A little clogged wheel spun at the end like a saw as if it were ready to cut her up. Rose's eyes widened in fear but she maintained some control over the situation. "Ever heard of the Daleks? Remember them? They had a name for our friend. They had myths about him and a name. They called him the-"

A sudden crash from a short distance away startled them until hearing a drunk singing voice that came swiftly after. "I could've danced all night, I could've danced all night-"

All the clockwork droids twisted their heads in mechanical motion, directing their focus onto the singing. Rose attempted to continue whilst being distracted by the noise. "They called him the..."

Out from the shadows, the Doctor swayed in with his tie wrapped around his head, a pair of sunglasses and a silver goblet of wine in hand. Willow slowly followed from behind, a little worried about approaching the clockwork droids and for her friends' safety. "And still have begged for more. I could've spread my wings and done a thou- Have you met the French?" He asked, interrupting his song. "My god, they know how to party!

Rose rolled her eyes at him. He was supposed to be the most feared man in the universe, yet here was, drunk off his ass. "Oh, look at what the cat dragged in. The Oncoming Storm."

"Oh, you sound just like your mother." stated the Doctor.

Her cousin's eyes widened. "Don't say that!"

He glared at her. "Well, I'm not wrong!"

"What've you been doing? Where've you been?" Rose questioned angrily.

"Well, among other things, I think just invented the banana daiquiri a few centuries early." He edged closer to Rose. "Do you know, they've never even seen a banana before. Always take a banana to a party, Rose. Bananas are good."

The Doctor gazed up, spotting the first clockwork man who was still eyeing him. "Oh ho, ho, ho, ho, brilliant! It's you! You're my favourite, you are. You are the best! Do you know why? Because you're so thick. You're Mister Thick Thick Thickety Thick Face from Thicktown, Thickania. And so's your dad."

Willow giggled under her breath, wondering what it would actually be like if he was actually drunk. The Doctor continued his speech, referring to his findings. "Do you know what they were scanning Reinette's brain for? Her milometer. They want to know how old she is! Know why? Because this ship is thirty-seven years old, and they think that when Reinette is thirty-seven, when she's "complete", then her brain will be compatible." He wandered around the other clockwork droids in the computer, leaning in on each one. "So, that's what you're missing, isn't it, hmm? Command circuit. Your computer."

He reached Mickey's table, leaning over him. "Your ship needs a brain. And for some reason, God knows what, only the brain of Madame de Pompadour will do."

"The brain is compatible." The clockwork man stated, still pointing his knife at Rose.

"Compatible?" He climbed over Mickey, trying to reach the ignorant droid. "If you believe that, you probably believe this is a glass of wine." Then, he removed the clockwork droids mask, revealing its beautiful design underneath until next pouring the liquid from his goblet onto it. As the red fluid dripped into its mechanical system, it made a scratching sound as if it were getting rusty. 

After it had seeped in, the Doctor placed its mask back on its head. Eventually, the clockwork droid seized any movement, bending over, seemingly deactivated. "Multigrain anti-oil. If it moves, it doesn't." Abruptly, the other droids, in outrage, charged at them. Nevertheless, they were too slow to stop the Doctor from finding their off-switch nearby and pulling it. They too bent over, deactivated.

Willow finally breathed a sigh of relief as she ran over to Rose, trying to help her out of the restraints. The Doctor used his sonic screwdriver to free them whilst getting to work on their plan to save Reinette from any more trouble. "Right, you two, that's enough lying about. Time we got the rest of the ship turned off."

Rose slid down the slanted table, being helped off by her cousin. Mickey, however, seemed to struggle with breaking free. "Are those things safe?" He asked, stepping past one nearby.

"Yeah. Safe. Safe and thick, way I like them. Okay. All the time windows are controlled from here. I need to close them all down. Zeus plugs. Where are my Zeus plugs?" He furiously searched his pockets, requiring them. "I had them a minute ago. I was using them as castanets."

Her eyes lit up, realising they were in her dress pocket. Willow picked up the Zeus plugs, laying them in her hand. "You mean these?"

His wandering gaze observed the Zeus plugs in hand before looking up at her gorgeous smug smile. A wide grin spread on his face as he took them back. "Thank you!"

Rose eyed the two, slightly bewildered but focused on the matter at hand. "Why didn't they just open a time window to when she was thirty-seven?"

"With the amount of damage to these circuits, they did well to hit the right century. Trial and error after that." He said as he placed the plugs onto the machine, trying to shut the time windows for good using the power he was providing. Although, they didn't seem to be working. "The windows aren't closing. Why won't they close?"

Unexpectedly, a bell rang somewhere in the room, alerting the group. A faint typing noise followed shortly as if someone was sending a message. "What's that?" She questioned.

"I don't know. Incoming message?" The Doctor continuously fiddled with the machine, attempting to stop Reinette's timeline from flowing through into the fifty-first century. He tried everything but everything he did wouldn't work.

"From who?" asked Mickey.

"Report from the field. One of them must still be out there with Reinette. That's why I can't close the windows. There's an override." He leaned over the machine, flicking a few levers until a sudden pulse from the droid behind him startled everyone.

Rose and Mickey jumped back in shock, while Willow and the Doctor watched as the clockwork man drained the anti-oil from his fingertips by shooting it onto the floor and the Doctor's red converses. "Well, that was a bit clever." muttered the Doctor. Then, the off-switch flicked back in his direction, reactivating the other droids. They were surrounded.

"Right. Many things about this are not good."

Willow's eyes widened, surprised by his sentence. "You don't say!"

Another bell went off, dinging several times. "Message from one of your little friends? Anything interesting?"

"She is complete. It begins." The clockwork man retracted his knife and lifted up his arm to use the teleport. He disappeared into thin air as did the other droids who copied their leader's movements.

Once again, it was just the four of them in the room. "What's happening?" Rose queried, a little panicked.

"One of them must have found the right time window. Now it's time to send in the troops." The Doctor glared at Willow in worry. "And this time they're bringing back her head."

She had only known this girl for a few hours but Willow knew that she would give her life just to save her.

***

Reinette sat in a music room in Versailles, contemplating while admiring the night sky above. She was at peace in her new home but was a little saddened that Willow or the Doctor had not reappeared. It had been so long since she had last seen them. From what she saw in the Doctor's mind, the man travelled the stars and knew each of their names. She wished she could find out where they were now.

Suddenly, she heard a few footsteps behind her. Reinette turned to see the silhouette of a figure walking nearby. It slightly resembled the clockwork droids she had seen in her past; Reinette had been the lookout for one ever since the clockwork woman explained that they wanted her.

Using her extensive knowledge, she remembered how the clockwork droids smashed clocks to remain hidden so she wandered over to the nearest clock, but it wasn't broken. In the reflection, was a female-like figure, staring at her.

"Reinette?" The figure spoke. She faced the female, startled that it was not a clockwork droid. It was Willow. "It's just me."

A grin was soon perched upon her face as she strolled over to hug her friend. "I thought you were one of them."

"Yeah, luckily I'm not." Willow broke off the hug, frowning a little. "But I'm afraid they're still coming."

They sat down by the piano, discussing their drastic situation. "We haven't got a lot of time but I've come to warn you that they'll be here in five years."

Her eyes widened. "Five years?"

"Sometime after your thirty-seventh birthday. I er, I can't give you an exact date. It's a bit random. But they're coming. It's going to happen. In a way, for us, it's already happening. I'm sorry, it's hard to explain. The Doctor does this better." She explained.

"Then be exact, and I will be attentive." She stated in a mature manner. Reinette really had grown up in their time spent together. 

"Look, there isn't too much time-"

"There are five years." said Reinette, firmly.

Willow sighed. "But for us, we barely have five minutes."

"Then also be concise." She responded.

She took a breath, attempting to explain the problem. "Er, there's, say, a vessel, a ship, a sort of skyship, and it's full of, well, you. Different bits of your life in different rooms, all jumbled up." Willow paused, noticing Reinette striving to comprehend these details. "I told you it was complicated. Sorry."

Reinette nodded, processing her words. "There is a vessel in your world where the days of my life are pressed together like the chapters of a book, so that he may step from one to the other without increase of age while I, weary traveller, must always take the slower path."

Willow raised her eyebrows, surprised at her correct assumption and understanding. "The Doctor was right, you are one of the smartest women in the universe."

"So, in five years these creatures will return. What can be done?" She asked, changing the subject.

"The Doctor says to keep them talking. They're kind of programmed to respond to you now. You won't be able to stop them, but you might be able to delay them a bit." She informed Reinette.

"Until?"

"Until the Doctor can get there," affirmed Willow. "I promise you that he's coming."

"But he cannot make his promises in person?" Reinette questioned.

"He'll be there when you need him. That's the way it's got to be." She mentioned, sighing a little.

"It's the way it's always been. The monsters and the Doctor. It seems you cannot have one without the other." Reinette moralised, defining him perfectly.

"Tell me about it." Willow chuckled, emphasising with her. "The thing is, you weren't supposed to have either. Those creatures are messing with history. None of this was ever supposed to happen to you."

Reinette unexpectedly grew sterner, appalled by what Willow had said. "Supposed to happen? What does that mean? It happened, child, and I would not have it any other way. One may tolerate a world of demons for the sake of an angel." She stood from her seat, looking away from the girl who she believed was her imaginary friend.

The ginger girl dropped her head in sadness after being belittled by Reinette. "I know you're not a little girl anymore, Reinette. You're older than me now but you have to understand that all we've done is for your protection." 

She gazed back up at her friend who was staring right back at her. "I understand, but I can't quite comprehend how all of this started because of you."

Before Willow could say more, a male shout was heard from a little further away. "Willow? Willow!"

The girls stormed out of the room in a frenzy, coming across the tapestry from which Willow stepped through to warn Reinette. Mickey popped out from behind it. "Willow! The time window where she's thirty-seven. We found it. Right under our noses."

Ultimately, Willow realised now that Reinette could see the doorway to the ship. In an instant, Reinette stepped under the tapestry he was holding. "No, you can't go in there, the Doctor will go mad-" She pleaded, but it was too late.

She followed Reinette through the tapestry and back onto the spaceship, acknowledging Reinette's obscure looks at the futuristic technology around her. "So, this is his world." Abrupt screams were heard further down the corridor, coming from another time window. "What was that?"

"The time window. The Doctor fixed an audio link." Mickey notified Willow, facing her. 

"Those screams. Is that my future?" She wondered.

Willow nodded, sorrowful. "Yes. I'm sorry..."

The still youthful woman took a breath in salutation of what must be done next. "Then I must take the slower path."

Another voice came through the audio link, one that belonged to a future Reinette. "Are you there? Can you hear me? I need you now. You promised. The clock on the mantel is broken. It is time."

The present Reinette became panicked at the sound of her future self's begging. "That's my voice."

"Willow, come on. We've got to go. There's, there's a problem." said Mickey.

"Give me a moment." She replied, watching him leave in the other direction. Willow turned back to Reinette who seemed to be on the verge of tears. "Are you ok?"

"No, I'm very afraid." She gathered herself, not wanting to cry in front of her friend. "But you and I both know, don't we, Willow, the Doctor is worth the monsters."

"Come here," She calmly demanded, taking Reinette in her arms and embracing her. "I promise you that we'll fix this."

Reinette broke away from her, exiting back through the tapestry and into her time once again. Overhead, Willow could hear Reinette's cries from the future. "Doctor! Doctor! Willow?"

The moment she heard her name, Willow ran back down the corridor to find the others. They were going to save Reinette whether the droids liked it or not.

***

When she finally reached the main part of the ship, she saw the time window being shown from the perspective of a mirror. "You found it, then?"

"They knew we were coming. They blocked it off." The Doctor told her. She knew that if they wanted to get through, they'd have to smash the mirror.

"I don't get it. How come they got in there?" queried Rose.

"They teleported. You saw them. As long as the ship and the ballroom are linked, their short-range teleports will do the trick." He declared.

"Well, we'll go in the TARDIS!" Rose thought.

The Doctor surveyed the other machinery around the ship, marching about in agony. "We can't use the TARDIS. We're part of events now."

"Oh, don't use that excuse!" Willow argued.

"Well, can't we just smash through?" Mickey suggested.

He looked back at the group for a moment before answering his question. "Hyperplex this side, plate glass the other. We need a truck."

"We don't have a truck." He bluntly criticised.

"I know we don't have a truck!" The Doctor yelled, now clearly infuriated.

Willow looked back at the ballroom on the other side of the mirror, seeing Reinette being dragged in by the clockwork droids. "Well, we've got to try something! If we don't save her, then she's going to die and the whole of history could be changed!" 

"No. Smash the glass, smash the time window. There'd be no way back." He apprised.

"It's worth the risk, isn't it?" She questioned, drawing in his attention. Suddenly, an idea had come to fruition inside her head. "Can't something huge, like an animal, do the trick?" 

After listening to her last sentence, the Doctor shed a huge grin, realising what she meant. "I'll go get Arthur!"

***

The moment Reinette stumbled into the ballroom with the clockwork man from her childhood grasping onto her arm, she observed the royal court of Versailles in shambles. Everyone screamed as the clockwork droids closed in on everyone with their sharp knives.

Willow said to keep them talking and they'd listen to her. She was promised that they would be here to save her and perhaps they will, all she had to do was wait. The now thirty-seven-year-old woman released herself from the droid's arm, marching towards the centre of the room. "Could everyone just calm down? Please." She asked, gaining the attention of the French lords and ladies but also the droids. "Such a commotion. Such distressing noise. Kindly remember that this is Versailles. This is the Royal Court, and we are French."

The male clockwork droid stepped forward as Reinette addressed him. "I have made a decision. And my decision is no, I shall not be going with you today. I have seen your world, and I have no desire to set foot there again."

"We do not require your feet." He declared as two other clockwork droids snuck up behind her, forcing Reinette to her knees. Their knives were at her throat, ready to cut her head off.

***

The Doctor rode in on the saddle of a white horse, seemingly prepared to gallop through the mirror. Willow smiled up at him, happy to have found a solution "Now, I'm not quite sure how I'm going to get back without a time window but I'll try-"

Her smile abruptly contorted into a terrified frown. "What?"

"If I smash the time window, all the links in the ship will be cut off." The Doctor explained.

"You can't!" Rose joined in the conversation, arguing against it. 

His eyes wandered over to Rose. "It's the only way we can save her."

"Then I'll come with you." stated Willow.

The Doctor glared at her. "No, you're not coming with me."

"Please," She started. "If you're trapped on the other side of that looking glass forever, then you shouldn't be alone. I don't want you to be alone."

"Willow-"

"It's my choice, I want to go for you and Reinette. She needs both of us." Willow defended her decision with tears in her eyes. "I'm going whether you like or not."

The Doctor sighed, knowing that he wouldn't be able to convince her otherwise. He yielded. "Hop on."

Upon hearing his agreement to her terms, Willow smirked a little and attempted to climb on the back of the horse. However, a hand landed on her wrist. "You can't go, Willow!" appealed Rose, scared. "What if you don't come back?"

"I will, Rose, I promise you that I will." She told her.

"But you barely know her." She truthfully pointed out. "Why are you going to risk everything just to save her?"

Willow stepped down, thinking about her cousin's words carefully. She was right, Willow was bout to risk everything just to save a girl she had only known for a few hours. Yet, from a different perspective, Reinette had known Willow for a significantly long time. She knew her as a trusted friend. 

"Because it's the right thing to do." Without a second thought, Willow unrestrained herself from Rose and mounted the horse, eager to charge towards the eighteenth century.

***

With Madame de Pompadour on her knees, the court was in shock whilst anticipating what would happen to her. She stared up at the clockwork man, who was armed to slash her throat in cold blood. "You think I fear you, but I do not fear you even now. You are merely the nightmare of my childhood. The monster from under my bed. And if my nightmare can return to plague me, then rest assured, so will yours."

Somewhere in the distance, the sound of a horse neighing startled the clockwork droids, who twisted their heads in the direction of the time window. Then, the tremor of galloping hooves caused the room to vibrate until the mirror over the mantelpiece was eventually shattered from the inside by an extraordinary man, an amazing woman and their noble steed. 

The crowd covered their eyes from the rogue pieces of glass flying in the air. Reinette observed the pair, stunned by their dramatic entrance. Willow had her arms wrapped tightly around the Doctor's waist as he rode the horse across the ballroom floor. The Doctor winked flirtatiously at Reinette as she grinned at her friends.

Ultimately, the Doctor and Willow came to a stop, jumping off Arthur and addressing Reinette. "Madame de Pompadour. You look younger every day." He said with a tad insinuation. 

The clockwork droids returned their knives to her throat, unsure what to do next. "Ok, the revolution isn't here yet so there will be no beheadings now!" Willow exclaimed as her eyes glided over to the astonished views of King Louis.

"What the hell is going on?" The French King asked.

Reinette comprehended that he wasn't happy with this situation at all. "Oh. This is my lover, the King of France."

The Doctor scoffed, strolling over to the clockwork man. "Yeah? Well, I'm the Lord of Time, and I'm here to fix the clock." He removed the mask, revealing to the crowd that it was no man at all. The droid focused his blade onto the Doctor's throat, threatening him. "Forget it. It's over. For you and for us. Talk about seven years bad luck. Try three thousand."

They all looked back up at the mirror, analysing that the spaceship was no longer linked to the mirror as all there was, was a brick wall. Willow's eyes widened, finally realising her mistake. She was stuck on one side of the looking glass, and her family was on the other.

***

Rose stared at the broken mirror, saddened by the fact her cousin had chosen Reinette over her. "What happened? Where did the time window go? How are they going to get back?" Mickey queried but Rose gave no reply. 

She continued to face the shattered glass as a tear rolled down her cheek. Willow had promised she would come back, but now she was gone.

***

The clockwork man, tried several times to teleport back onto the ship but failed. "The link with the ship is broken. No way back. You don't have the parts." He leaned in on the clockwork droid who now had no hope of ever fixing the ship. "How many ticks left in that clockwork heart, huh? A day? An hour? It's over. Accept that. I'm not winding you up."

The clockwork man, who once seemed so terrifying to Willow, now ceased any movement. The ticks inside his body stopped as did the others, one by one. Most of them bent over, deactivated while another fell onto the ground and smashed into pieces. They were all deactivated now, it was all over. Willow sprinted over to help Reinette onto her feet. "Are you alright?" 

She nodded as the Doctor sauntered over to join them. "What's happened to them?"

"They've stopped. They have no purpose now." The Doctor described. Nevertheless, neither the Doctor nor Willow had a purpose either. They were stuck in the wrong century with no idea how to get back.

***

Later, by a window in Versailles, Willow and the Doctor held two glasses of wine as they watched the stars in curiosity. She wondered whether Rose was looking at them too, just at another point in time. "Why did you come with me?"

She paused, pondering what to say. "I told you. To help Reinette and make sure you weren't alone-"

"Yes, but why?" He asked. "Why did you decide to leave Rose and Mickey behind to fend for themselves? Why did you consider me so important?"

Willow gazed up at him. "Because you're one of the best things in my life... and I don't want to lose you."

He smiled slightly before looking back up at the beautiful night sky, silently blushing. Behind them, Reinette entered the room to join them in stargazing. "You know all their names, don't you? I saw that in your mind. The name of every star." She said, approaching the Doctor.

"What's in a name? Names are just titles. Titles don't tell you anything." He explained.

"Like the Doctor!" joked Reinette.

He smiled at her, smugly. "Like Madame de Pompadour."

The trio guffawed for a moment before looking up at the sky once more. "I have often wished to see those stars a little closer. Just as you have, I think."

"From time to time." He muttered.

"In saving me, you both trapped yourselves. Did you know that would happen?" Reinette questioned.

Willow nodded. "Yeah, but it was all worth saving your neck in the end."

"You did that all for me. The king's mistress?" She questioned.

"I did it for the young girl I saw through the fireplace." mentioned Willow, remembering how she helped Reinette as a child.

She frowned a little. "There were many doors between my world and yours. Can you not use one of the others?"

"When the mirror broke, the shock would have severed all the links with the ship. There'll be a few more broken mirrors and torn tapestries around here, I'm afraid, wherever there was a time window." The Doctor stated. "I'll- I'll pay for any damage. Er, that's a thought, I'm going to need money. I was always a bit vague about money. Where do you get money?"

"You'll probably have to work for it!" She sarcastically quipped. However, the Doctor had a point. They wouldn't last a day in the eighteenth century even if they tried.

Reinette couldn't help but smile when listening to their chatter. "So, here you are, my imaginary friend and the lonely angel, stuck on the slow path with me."

"Yep, the slow path. Here's to the slow path." He toasted as they all drank from their glasses of champagne.

Her smile soon faded once more. "It's a pity. I think I would've enjoyed the slow path."

"Well, we're not going anywhere any time soon." Willow informed, knowing there would be no possible way to get back.

"Oh, aren't you?" She extended her hand to Willow, ordering her to take it. "Take my hand."

Confused by her demand and feeling a little out of place, Willow nervously took her hand. Reinette pulled her out of the room, guiding her somewhere else. She looked back at the Doctor who also appeared bewildered yet still followed along behind.

She escorted them to her bedroom in Versailles where a large bed was placed in the centre of the room on top of a chessboard styled floor. However, what caught the Doctor and Willow's eyes was a very familiar fireplace. "It's not a copy, it's the original. I had it moved here and was exact in every detail." She told them.

"The fireplace," muttered Willow. "The fireplace from your bedroom. When did you do this?"

Willow wandered over to it, along with the Doctor. "Many years ago, in the hope that a door once opened, may someday open again. One never quite knows when one needs one's Doctor or a friend." She smiled as they observed it in all its detail. "It appears undamaged. Do you think it will still work?"

"You broke the bond with the ship when you moved it, which means it was offline when the mirror broke. That's what saved it. But the link is basically physical, and it's still physically here. Which might just mean, if I'm lucky. If I'm very, very, very, very, very, very lucky." The Doctor fiddled with its properties before tapping the fireplace surround, listening in. "Ah-ha!"

Willow's eyes lit up. "What is it?"

He stepped back, yanking out his sonic screwdriver and using it on the fireplace. "Loose connection. Need to get a man in." He gave it a thump, hearing a system boot from the inside. "Willow, jump on!"

 A big grin shone on her face as she clung onto the fireplace with the Doctor. She looked back at Reinette, who seemed a little saddened. "Wish us luck!"

"No." She replied as the Doctor used the switch to turn the fireplace round. Willow frowned as she watched the eighteenth century disappear in front of her very eyes as the duo found themselves back on the spaceship.

Although, in a short amount of time, the Doctor crouched down by the fireplace. "Madame de Pompadour!" He called, witnessing her kneel down on the other side. "Still want to see those stars?"

Reinette smiled, admitting to him. "More than anything."

"Give me two minutes. Pack a bag." He told her.

She raised her eyebrows. "Am I going somewhere?"

"Go to the window. Pick a star, any star." The Doctor commanded, excited.

He returned to his normal stance while staring at Willow in joy. "You're letting her come with us?"

"Just for a bit!" He said. "You know, have to keep in line with history and all but yeah, she is."

Willow squealed a little, jumping into a tight hug. "Thank you! Thank you!"

The Doctor seemed surprised by her gesture but still joined in. His hand rested upon her ginger hair, softly stroking his fingers through her locks. 

For a moment, everything appeared quiet until a female voice piped up further away. "Willow?" She let go of the Doctor, noticing Rose standing at the entrance to the fireplace room. "You're back!"

"I did promise, didn't I?" queried Willow before sprinting up to Rose and embracing her in excitement. "How long did you wait?"

"Five and a half hours." She answered with laughter in her voice.

"Great! Always wait five and a half hours." He exclaimed whilst shaking Mickey's hand.

"Where've you been?" She asked.

"Explain later. Into the TARDIS. Be with you in a sec." The Doctor stated before running back to the fireplace. "Reinette? You there, Reinette?" In an instant, he used the fireplace to travel back to the eighteenth century to fetch their friend. 

Nevertheless, Willow stayed behind upon reuniting with her family. "Reinette's coming with us!" She spoke, ecstatic as they entered the TARDIS.

Rose raised her eyebrows, stunned. "Why? Isn't she a historical figure?"

She shrugged. "Well, in a way, we're all historical figures. It's just nobody knows about us yet."

***

The group waited patiently for Reinette and the Doctor. Willow was full of glee while her cousin was unsure about the new companion, however, Mickey was quite fine with it and didn't really care. There was a feeling of change inside Willow, she knew that everything would change soon.

Eventually, after some patient waiting, the Doctor returned to the TARDIS. Willow smiled, thinking she'd see Reinette come in from behind with a large bag packed for the journeys ahead. However, she never came in. The Doctor was alone.

Willow frowned, glaring at him. "Where's Reinette?"

He shifted his head, facing her. "Oh, er... well-"

"She's not coming, is she?" She blurted out, realising the truth. In response, he silently but hesitantly nodded. Willow was taken aback, she had no idea how to deal with this rejection. All she could do was solemnly exiting the room, hoping no one was following her.

Luckily, no one did. Rose addressed the Doctor herself, grabbing his attention. "Why her? Why did they think they could repair the ship with the head of Madame de Pompadour?"

The Doctor shrugged. "We'll probably never know. There was massive damage in the computer memory banks. It probably got confused." He explained. "The TARDIS can close down the time windows now the droids are gone. Should stop it causing any more trouble."

He seemed upset but didn't sound like he was rejected by her. "Are you all right?"

"I'm always all right." replied the Doctor.

"Come on, Rose. It's time you showed me around the rest of this place." Mickey said, leaving the Doctor in the console room.

Once they were all gone, the Doctor took one of the unopened letters from his jacket pocket and unsealed it, reading the last words of Madame de Pompadour.

My dear Doctor. The path has never seemed more slow, and yet I fear I am nearing its end. Reason tells me that you and I are unlikely to meet again, but I think I shall not listen to reason. I have seen the world inside your head, and know that all things are possible. 

I hope your love for Willow will be revealed soon. I saw many friends and companions in your memories, yet the one that sets them all apart is her. You think about her the most, even when you're sleeping. The way you danced with her was magical. 

Tell her or I shall tell her for you when you return. Hurry though. My days grow shorter now, and I am so very weak. God speed, my lonely angel.

The Doctor sighed, knowing she was right. He was in love with Willow and he wished that she could know his feelings for her. But a relationship with her would be impossible, by the next life, she would be gone. Just like the rest of them.

***

If you haven't realised yet, Willow doesn't know that Reinette's dead and the Doctor's hiding her letter. Also, Reinette knows the Doctor has feelings for Willow and is trying to make him reveal them to her. Will he? Probably. But when?

This chapter isn't exactly the best, I'll admit it. However, it's the best I can offer in the meantime. Sorry, this was so late. 

Another thing I'd like to admit is that I've recently got into this show called 'Teen Wolf' and I've been planning a Stydia fanfic that I'm going to write soon. I get into way too many fanfics!!

Anyway, this story recently hit 1000 reads while my first book now has 8000 reads! This is beyond insane so thank you so much for your support during these years. I love seeing you vote and comment on my stories, it really means a lot! 

Thank you, everybody!

- Alice ❤