Greetings from the TARDIS-Part I

    The Doctor fiddled absentmindedly with the controls of the TARDIS. He'd just taken his companion, Connie--Former companion now, he reminded himself--back home to Dublin. She'd said she'd had enough danger and monsters for a lifetime, "but keep in touch, okay?" He didn't blame her, of course; danger and monsters were part of the daily schedule for him. Hah. 'Schedule'. As if, he thought. He just wished she'd have stayed at least a little longer.

    He decided it was time to find himself a new companion. He'd given up trying to travel alone a long time ago. Always, someone found him, always, that someone helped him vanquish whatever foes he'd found, and always, he took that someone traveling with him if they wanted to go. Besides, if he was honest with himself, he liked the company.

    Flipping switches and pressing buttons without really paying attention, he chose a place at random and set the TARDIS flying. When she landed, he stepped out of the door and found himself face to face with...Chiswick. Of all places, Chiswick. Oh, well, here's as good a place as any to find someone. Hopefully this time it doesn't involve monsters. I'd really like for him or her to be in one piece. Closing and locking the door of the TARDIS, he got a proper look at his surroundings. It was snowing. Knowing his luck, and his past experiences, it was probably Christmas. He decided to find somebody of whom to ask the date.

    Walking down the street, the first person he ran into was a little girl who looked to be about ten years old. She was wearing a black skirt, black cloth boots, black knee-length socks, a black cape, and a black shirt with an overlong right sleeve and missing left sleeve. Black. Everywhere black. Even her hair was black, for goodness' sake! He wasn't entirely sure if that was its natural colour, or her parents had let her dye it. Both were equally likely. He smiled at her and knelt down a little so he was on her eye level. "Hello, there. Could you tell me what day and year it is? I'm a little...well...lost."

    "It's December twenty-fifth, two thousand twelve," the girl replied. "Are you new here? Are you like Aunty Maddy? Some people say she shouldn't be taking care of me because she belongs in a nut house. Do you belong in a nut house? You sure don't look like you do. What's your name? Is it something cool like...like...Maximus? I love that name! It is an awesome name!" She ranted happily. Then she seemed to remember something. "Oh, I'm rude! My name is Snow Xavier!"

    The Doctor grinned, both at the irony of this little girl who wore nothing but black being named Snow, and at her seeming inability to stop talking. "Hello, Snow. I suppose I am new here, yes," he said. "I'm from a long way away. If people think Aunty Maddy belongs in a nuthouse, then I sure hope I'm not like her! And my name's not Maximus, but that is a brilliant name. I'm the Doctor." Snow grinned at him.

    "Nice to meet you, Doctor! Are you a real doctor? You don't seem like one, you seem much nicer! Are you going to be my friend? I have none because people think I am a weirdo and plus because I have no parents and Aunty Maddy is a nut. But she really isn't! She is nice! Though she is confused...for Christmas, she got me a 'gorilla' when it really was just a banana peel, but she tried! Hey, Doctor, do you like the snow? 'Cause I sure do! It's pretty, quiet, and doesn't judge. Maybe that is why I like being called Snow. My real name is Mira, but I hate it. I like Snow much better than Mira!" She picked up some snow and formed it into a snow ball, handing it to the Doctor. "Isn't it pretty?"

    Good grief, how does she not lose her breath? Thought the Doctor. She was so curious, too! To humour her, he answered all her questions. This seemed to be all he'd be doing for the next few minutes... "No, I'm not a real doctor, that's just what I'm called. I could be your friend, if you want. Yeah, I like snow. Oh, but Mira's a beautiful name! 'Course, so is Snow," he added. He took the snowball from Snow. "Yes, it is pretty. For the record, I don't think you're a weirdo. I've met much weirder than a girl called Snow who wears nothing but black and lives with her confused aunt. Much, much weirder." He smiled.

    "Yes! I want you to be my friend! I get lonely!" Snow cheered. She bounced a little bit up and down in excitement. "I never had a friend before! Plus, I know Mira is pretty, but no one has the name Snow! It is very original! I like original! You meet weirder people than me?! Like who? What's their name? How old are they? Are they your friend? Do they have a pet animal named Oswald? Can you tell me where you are from? What's your middle and last name? Did you take a plane to get here? I like the colour snow, do you like the colour snow? It is a pretty colour, don't you think so?" Snow ranted, still jumping up and down. "Are you cool?"

    So many questions! One answer per wave of questions, Doctor, he allowed himself. Then he thought about it. Ah, forget it. "Oh, yes, I've definitely met several people weirder than you," he said. "There's this one bloke, old friend of mine, by the name of John Smith. He wasn't really weird, so much as goofy and nonsensical." He was, of course, referring to some of his past regenerations, specifically the fourth (Would you like a Jelly Baby?), tenth (Allons-y!), and eleventh (fish fingers and custard, anyone?). "Yes, like I said, he was my friend. He didn't have any pets named Oswald, but he did once have a horse called Arthur. I'm from quite a long way away. I'm just the Doctor. I didn't take a plane to get here. Yes, I suppose it is a beautiful colour, but my favourite is blue. 'Am I cool?' Well, I certainly like to think so." He laughed.

    "How did you meet Mr Smith? I love the name Arthur! Really? Does that mean you are from...from...from the Artic? If you are, then you are lucky! I always wanted to go to the Artic, but Aunty Maddy said that penguins will eat my soul. I like my soul, so I will not go there...did penguins eat your soul?" She cocked her head in curiosity. "If you didn't take a plane to get here, how did you get here? And yes you are cool! You are amazing!" Snow jumped around goofily, her cape flapping up and down behind her. The Doctor answered each question as it came.

    "He and I...er...went to school together." It would be kind of tough to explain the concept of regeneration to a ten-year-old. "No, I'm not from the Arctic. People can't live there; it's too cold. Penguins don't eat people's souls! All they eat is fish! Well, the question of how I got here is a hard one to answer...It's a long story."  Suddenly, Snow ceased to hop. She looked at the Doctor sadly. "Will you ever leave me? I just met you a few moments ago, but I had the most fun I ever had in my life. I don't want you to be like Mummy and Daddy, leaving and never coming back...will you ever leave me, Doctor?"

    There it was. The question the Doctor feared most: 'Will you ever leave me?' He had been sincerely hoping she wouldn't ask that question. Partly because he didn't want to feel bad if--when--something happened to his friends. Mostly because it reminded him of Rose. Reminded him of how she'd been confident that they'd never be separated, and then a mere day later, she'd been sucked into a parallel universe. When she'd come back to help save the universe once again, he'd dreaded the feeling he knew would come when she left. Sure enough, it came, and she left. He'd left her with a human version of himself (in his tenth generation) that would grow old with her, but he still regretted never being able to tell her himself that he loved her. He'd gotten very close--twice--but was never able to voice his feelings. No. He shook his head. Stop. You're just feeling guilty. Guilt won't get you anywhere. She's happy. She'll be okay. You've moved on. Now stop thinking about her, and answer Snow's question. What came out of his mouth should have surprised him, but it didn't. "No, Snow. I won't be like Mummy and Daddy." As if to emphasize the finality of his answer, he put a hand on Snow's little shoulder. "No. I will never, ever leave you."

    Snow wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled brightly at the Doctor. Hugging him tightly, she whispered, "Thank you." She looked up at him. "You are truly cool!"

    "You're welcome, Snow." He grinned back at her. "You're cool, too. Tell you what." He looked around exaggeratedly, as if checking for eavesdroppers. She was ten, after all. He leaned in. "Can you keep a secret for me?" Snow looked at the Doctor with wide, curious eyes. "What?" She asked. "I want to know! Tell me! I have no friends and Aunty Maddy hears words differently for some reason, so I won't tell anyone!"

    The Doctor smiled and gave Snow a mock reproachful look. "Hey, now I thought I was your friend! But anyway, here's the secret." He whispered in her ear, whispered to her about the TARDIS and how it could travel through space and time and that's how he got to Chiswick and that's why he asked what day it was. Then he told her that he was a Time Lord, an alien that could travel through the universe with his TARDIS. He didn't bother telling her that he was the last of his kind; that would be just a bit morbid, he thought, for a ten-year-old girl. "So, how would you like to come see my TARDIS?" Snow's eyes went huge with amazement. "You are amazing!" She squealed, jumping up and down. "Oh, and you are my friend!" She added, her smile spreading from ear to ear. "Oh boy! I would love to see your TARDIS!"

    The Doctor grinned. This had to be a record, in many ways--Snow's was the first case in which he'd revealed most everything about himself (except his name; he never told anybody his name) within a day of meeting a person, and she was without a doubt the youngest companion he'd ever had. He supposed she was his companion now, seeing as how he'd promised her he would never leave her, and that was a promise he intended never to break. He stood, took Snow by the hand, and half-walked, half-ran, back to the TARDIS. He opened the door and let Snow step inside with an exaggerated bow. "After you, Madame."

    Snow stepped inside and said what must have been the first thing that came to her mind: "Awecoolis! This is by far the most awecoolis place I have ever seen!" She squealed in delight. She turned to the Doctor, smile even bigger than before (if possible). "Doctor! You are the most awecoolis person in the whole entire universe!" She spread her arms to her side to show him how 'awecoolis' he was. "How did you even become that awecoolis?!"

    The Doctor laughed. "Awecoolis. That's a brilliant word! I think we've found your catchphrase, Snow! Tell you what. Remember how I told you that the TARDIS is bigger on the inside? Well, it's a lot bigger than just this! Have a look around! I'll be there in a minute, provided I can find you by that time." He pointed down the hall, allowing her to explore so he could have a quick look around outside again, sonic the area for hostile life forms, maybe.