Doctor Who Fic-"Roles"

[walkwithheroes]

Title: Roles
Author: walkwithheroes
Disclaimer: I do not own the Doctor or Rose or Jackie or Jack. Don't even own Torchwood.
Pairings: Rose/The Doctor. Hints at Others.
Word Count: 8,452
Warning: There is slight incest. Basically, Levi is in love with Lily. It happens.
Summary: Everyone plays many roles in their life. Some they want to play, and others they just play.
Author’s Note: Written to be a companion piece to "Lessons." It's basically a mirror of the Doctor/Rose relationship, through their children. I'm not sure if I'm totally happy with the ending, but it is all that came to me. 

I. TARDIS

When Lily Tyler was three years old, she looked into the heart of the TARDIS. She never told anyone, and she let the TARDIS stay inside her, warming her.

II. Time Lord or Human

When Lily was four and Levi was twelve, The Doctor began to teach them about being a Time Lord.

"Couldn't I be a Time Lady?" Lily asked softly. "I'm not a boy like Levi."

The Doctor gave her a raised eyebrow as he took them outside the TARDIS. "No! Its Time Lord or human. Take your pick." He sat them down on the grass of a planet and told them about his home world, its people, and how Levi and Lily may or may not be different then other children.

Levi found that he was most interested in regeneration. Lily got scared by the stories of the Daleks and the Cybermen. The Doctor ended up taking Lily into his arms and rocking her gently. Levi told Lily jokes, until she giggled and smiled again.

The Doctor let Lily go, he told the children to play and learn who they were and what they could do. That day, Levi learned that he was a Time Lord; he was intelligent and interesting, and he could learn things just by licking objects. Lily did not learn about being a Time Lord that day. Instead she held her brother’s hand, and watched him with all the awe and hero worship of a child.

That night, Levi told Rose: "Mum, I think Lily and me an’ ‘ave get married someday. Keep Dad’s race goin’."

Rose and Jackie had looked horrified, but Lily had just giggled. She rather liked the idea of pretending to marry, and Levi was as good a choice as any. "I could be Levi's loyal companion."

From his spot in the corner, the Doctor grinned widely. "That's the idea, sweetheart. Time Lords do need someone to take care of them."

It was then that Lily knew her role: she had been born to take care of Levi. Levi was born needing her and she was born to take care of his needs. Every Time Lord needed a companion after all.

III. Sleep

Lily liked sleeping with Levi. He’d wrap his arms around her, and let Lily rest her head on his arm. She was just four and he was twelve when Rose made them stop sleeping in the same bed. She had a long talk with Levi, and then told Lily that she was moving into a new room. Rose had tried to make it sound exciting, but Lily knew what it meant. It meant that she would no longer be able to cuddle up with Levi when she had her nightmares.

And her nightmares could be so very awful; all burning planets and screams. Lily had tried to explain it to Rose, but Rose had refused to listen. According to Rose and Gran, it wasn’t right or natural for Lily to still be sleeping with Levi. A boy his age should sleep alone. Not with a four year old girl.

Lily threw a fit and cried as Rose and Jackie moved her things from one room to another. Why didn’t they understand that Levi needed her? It was just like the Doctor and Rose; you couldn’t make a person stop needing another person.

Lily and Levi never told anyone, but for years afterward, Lily still snuck to Levi’s room so the two could sleep in the same bed. He told her that he wanted her with him always, and who was Lily to argue?

IV.

Rose, Lily, and Time

Levi would be like the Doctor when he grew up. Rose had that much figured out when Levi was eight. She worried about Levi because he was so much like the Doctor. She worried about Lily for others reasons. Lily could do complex math problems in her head. Lily was small and soft; she was a little scared child that clung too much to her older brother. It only made matters worse when it came to Levi's feelings for Lily. He was in love with her and there was no getting around that. That was what made Rose the most nervous, the simple fact that Levi was in love with Lily. It wasn't right nor was it natural.

Lily was nine when Rose took Lily shopping for the first time. Before, it had always been Jackie or Levi who had bought Lily's clothing. But, Jackie was dead and Levi was off kissing the locals. As Lily pulled a tiny sun-dress over her raven colored head, Rose wondered how to start the conversion. She couldn't just come out and ask if Levi had tried anything funny.

"Lily...you and Levi are close, yeah?" Rose absent-mindedly played with a shirt hanger.

"Yeah." Lily twirled around the dressing room. "He’s my brother and I love him very much."

"He hasn't..." Rose trailed off, not sure how to word it.

Inside the dressing room, Lily stopped twirling. "Hasn’t what?"

"He hasn't done anything that would be considered inappropriate?"

"No." Lily stepped out of the dressing room. "May I have this one? Levi says yellow is my color."

Rose bought Lily the yellow dress. Days later, Lily wore it on a planet made up of green hills and blue lakes. Lily wore it as Levi twirled and ran with her up and down the hills.

V. Dance

Lily had a habit of dancing up and down the rooms of the TARDIS. She twirled and lifted her legs in ways that Rose didn’t think possible. Lily would smile happily as she danced throughout her home, softly humming ballets to herself. When she was eleven, right after the Doctor regenerated, Lily asked if she could be a prime ballerina when she grew up. The Doctor had laughed loudly and told her that she would be Levi’s companion when she grew up.

Later that day, Lily snuck into Levi’s room. She crawled under the covers with him and rested her head on his arm.

"I want to be a ballerina and he says I can’t. I think I could do both. I shouldn’t have to choose between you and ballet."

Levi gently kissed the top of her head. "You don’t have to choose. You’ll never have to choose. You and I are destiny. We’ll be together whether you’re a ballerina in the 1900s on Earth or whether we’re traveling the universe."

"We can’t be destiny, we’re related." Lily reminded him kindly. "Besides, we can be far away from each other and still be close."

He tightened his hold on her. "No, no, no. We have to be together, always. I couldn’t function properly without you." Levi lowered himself and kissed her forehead. "I need someone. I need you."

Lily smiled sadly. "Oh, Levi. I think that I’ll just be the first of a long line. You’ll have many like me."

Though neither wanted to admit it, they both knew that Lily’s words were true.

VI

. Human Hearts for a Time Lord

Twelve-year-old Lily Tyler sat on the edge of the porch, swinging her legs in tune with the sounds of the concert that was going on across the street. The Doctor and Rose had run off, wanting to get in the front row. Levi had gone off, hoping to find someone else to have sex with. Levi had lost his virginity just a week before and already he was addicted to finding women to take Lily’s place. It made Lily feel slightly uncomfortable around him.

"Lily!" She glanced up thru her hair to find Levi rushing to her. Lily noticed that he was buttoning his shirt and that his belt was missing. "I’ve just had some fun, which made me think of you. Are you still alone? I would have thought you’d be off getting in trouble."

"I don’t get in trouble." Lily protested. "I’m just interested in things." She moved over so that Levi could sit beside her on the porch of the building. "You have to question everything. That’s what Gran always used to say." She awkwardly laid her head on his shoulder. "You’ve been off with all kinds of girls, haven’t you?" There was no jealously in her voice, just slight disgust. She could never understand why he kept shagging people.

"Don’t be jealous." Levi wrapped an arm around her waist. "I don’t love anyone else in the whole of space and time. I just love you."

She glanced up at him. "You oughtn’t say such things, Levi." She gently pushed herself away from him. "You’re...it isn’t natural." Lily stood up from her seat, and began dusting off her yellow sun dress. "You...Mum would have a fit if you talked like that in front of her."

"So? He wouldn’t care. He’s the one in charge here. She doesn’t matter." Lily found herself moving backward, as Levi angrily stood up. He gave her a hard look, a look that reminded Lily so much of the old Doctor, and grabbed her arm. "You’re so...you don’t understand your role, do you?!"

"Levi...I didn’t..." She wanted to tell him that she loved him. That she’d always be with him. Lily wanted to tell Levi that she was his loyal Lily, but that they could never have that closeness that he wanted. But, she couldn’t tell him. She couldn’t do anything. Her chest felt odd and she couldn’t quite get air into her lungs.

Lily knew that she should be thinking about Levi, yet all she could think was that she wasn’t ready for this. She was too young and there was still so much she hadn’t seen and done. And...

"Lily?" Levi’s face softened, as he reached out for her. "You okay, Lily?"

Her only response was to reach out for him, her face full of fear. Levi would help her. Levi would always help her. You couldn’t love someone has much as they loved each other and not want to help one another.

"Lily?!" He reached out and took her hand in his.

That was when it all went black.

She awoke hours later, in a hospital bed, on another world. Rose and the Doctor were nowhere in sight. Levi, as always, was by her side. He was slumping over in a chair, his hand firmly holding hers. A look of pure happiness pasted over his handsome face when Levi noticed that Lily was awake.

"I thought I lost you." He whispered softly. "I thought you were gone, that you had left me."

"No. Levi, no." Her voice was so childlike, so soft. She gently touched the side of his face. "I would never leave you, not without saying good-bye. I wouldn’t leave without getting someone else to take my place. Who would hold your hand if I left you all alone?"

Levi looked guilty and unsure for a moment. He just had to ask, but he just had to."What about you?" He nervously looked into her eyes. "Do you love me? The way she loves him?"

"No." Lily’s voice was barely above a whisper. Though, she knew that Levi had heard her. "No, I love you the way he loves her. Her love for him is all consuming; she’d do anything for him. He doesn’t want to lose her, but he would let her go. I feel the same way about you." Levi’s face fell slightly. "I do love you. I love you more then anyone, because I know you’ll always be there for me. But, I don’t love you the same way that you love me."

"So, you take after the Time Lords in that way." He kissed her forehead. "It’s all right. I’ll love you enough for the both of us." He glanced toward the door. "They say you need new hearts. Maybe one of your new hearts will love me."

Levi wanted Lily’s human hearts to make her love him. Lily just wanted her human hearts to keep her alive for a bit longer. She had so much to see, after all.

VII. Two By Two

Rose Tyler died when Lily Tyler was fourteen years old. After Rose’s death, The Doctor became too depressed to even bother taking care of her, so Lily attached herself to Levi, again. She hadn’t slept in the same bed as Levi for over six years, but after Rose’s death, Lily found herself crawling into Levi’s bed late one night.

She crawled under the covers and snuggled against him."Can you hear the sobbing?" Lily spoke softly against Levi’s side. "He’s either sobbing or throwing things about the TARDIS now a days. He misses her too much."

Levi moved his arm, so that it was under Lily’s head. "Yeah. It seems as if he’s finally let himself realize how much he loved her. It happens." Levi sighed softly. "He never would have stayed with her this long, you know. Not if he hadn’t gotten her pregnant, not if he hadn’t been in love with the fact that there could be other Time Lords."

Lily yawned, suddenly feeling to tired to really think about the truth of the matter: the Doctor had only ever wanted the two of them to rebuild his race. Guilt could be a funny and madding thing. "Isn’t that the trouble? He always loves his companions, but he stayed too long with this one. He let himself go all domestic, didn’t he? Now, he isn’t sure how to go back to the way he was before. He isn’t sure how to survive without her."

Levi moved himself closer to Lily. "I know, I know. And for the first time in my life I have no idea what to do."

"I don’t care what you do." Lily told him honestly. "Just promise that you won’t leave me alone with him. Promise that you won’t leave me alone."

Levi paused for a moment. He would never leave her, so why didn’t she understand that? It was the two of them forever and for always. "Lily..." His voice had suddenly become low and throaty. "why don’t you understand? I’ll be with you forever."

VIII

. Loyal Companion

The Doctor disappeared soon after, and Levi took on the role and name of ‘The Doctor’. Lily was left to be ‘Lily Tyler, loyal companion’. It made Lily rather disappointed; it made people think she was an idiot that got into trouble. She was just as, if not more intelligent, then Levi. It was because he was the boy, Lily decided. It was because he acted like he would be the Doctor. Lily was more quiet, more polite, more human.

Still, she was just as much a Time Lord as Levi, even if he preferred to think they weren’t the least bit related. Levi preferred to think of them as ‘The Doctor and his loyal companion’. It was something that Lily understood, but didn’t always approve of.

Her feelings were often confused and the thoughts of what everything was were often jumbled inside her head. ‘Were she and Levi supposed to fall in love?’ ‘Did Levi only love her, because she was all he had left?’ Or maybe, just maybe, Levi loved her because he thought he had to. After all, Doctors always fell a little in love with their companions. She wanted to ask him, she wanted to ask the real Doctor, but she couldn’t. So, she stayed and she played her part.

IX. Hands

In public, Lily called Levi ‘Doctor’. In private, she called him ‘Levi’. But she always held his hand.

They held hands when they walked, when they ran for their lives, and when they sat. Their hands fit perfectly together, almost as if they had been born just to hold one another’s hands. His hands were larger, more manly and rough. Her hands were small, soft, and they often flew across paper or her latest home made machines.

Levi liked to watch Lily’s hands fly across keyboards or paper. He adored when they got greasy, and he loved when she would slid her hand into his. He’d always smile at her, and say: "Ready for an adventure? Stick close and don’t go wondering off again, Lily Tyler."

It was the hand holding, Lily supposed, that really made them ‘The Doctor and his loyal companion.’ She could remember the real Doctor and Rose holding hands. Smiling widely as they would step out of the TARDIS, hands tightly together, ready for whatever the universe had to throw at them.

Whenever she thought about hands, it made Lily sad. It made her remember the two people who should have been her parents, but never truly were. It made her remember that one day, someone new would have to hold Levi’s hand.

X. Regeneration

When Lily was fifteen, Levi left her. She had always thought that she would be the one to leave him, not the other way round.

They had been on a satellite, floating through space in the year 759, 896. Levi, the Doctor, had decided that Lily needed a little fun. So, he’d taken her to watch the live swearing in of the president of some sort of far off nation. They hadn’t counted on Levi, the Doctor, getting thrown into the brig.

The two had been pulled apart on the observation deck. Lily had been held back by two guards, all the while screaming "Doctor!" He’d been dragged away, all the while fighting to get free and yelling her name.

The guards left Lily alone, locking her inside the large deck. She sunk to the ground, letting the tears fall. Levi was gone and she wasn’t sure how to save him. Many ideas kept popping into her head, but nothing that would work. She was a fifteen-year-old girl, and there was a small army standing in her way. Lily sat alone on the observation deck for two hours, before the doors were opened.

She quickly stood, finding herself face to face with a man. He was wearing Levi’s pinstriped suit, only he wasn’t Levi. He was at least twenty-nine years old, his hair was a dirty blond color, and his eyes were a piercing blue. He was taller then Levi, and his built was more that of a grown man, and less that of a man freshly out of his teens.

"You okay?" The voice was smooth, low, oddly sexy. He sounded like Gran, Rose, and The real Doctor had when Lily and Levi had been children. "I was scared they had hurt you." He moved to her, placing a hand on her cheek, he smiled warmly at her.

"You’re...Doctor?" She felt an awkward laugh escape her throat. "No." she shook her head, feeling the tears begin to trail down her face. "No! You’re not him." Lily pushed him away as hard as she could. "This is a trick! You can’t just take someone and bring them back all different. We can’t regenerate!"

Levi’s face was full of regret and sadness, he looked like The real Doctor had whenever he had looked at Lily and Levi after Rose’s death."Shh." He reached out for her, but Lily batted his hands away. "No, shush, you don’t understand."

Her jaw held tight, Lily began to push him toward the door. "Oh, I understand, just fine, mister. This is a trick. Do you think I’m stupid? Where’s the Doctor? Where’s Levi?!"

"It’s me." Levi wanted to grab Lily, wanted to hug her, but thought better of it. He didn’t have much time, but he didn’t want to hurt her. "Look, they took me away. They hurt me. I had to regenerate. I had to save myself, so I could save you. I haven’t even...it was only twenty minutes ago. Look, it’s not like I went and picked someone else up."

"No, no, no, no." Lily began to slowly back herself away. "I want him back. I’m warning you, give the Doctor...give Levi...back to me."

Levi moved slowly toward her. Honestly, they didn’t have time. He thought she’d react better then this. "Lily...Lily, honestly, it’s me. I know I look different, but we can regenerate." He lightly touched his chest. "I’m living proof."

"You can’t be." Her voice was hardly above a whisper. "You can’t be someone new."

He moved even closer to her. "I’m still me. I promise, I’m not like him." He slowly reached out and took one of her hands in his. "See?" They both looked down. "Our hands still fit. We were meant to hold one another’s hands. Doesn’t matter what I look like or sound like. It’s still me. Still your Doctor, your Levi."

He stared deeply into her eyes. "How else would I know that the two hearts in you are human? That more then anything you wanted to be a ballerina growing up? That the first word you ever said was: ‘Newton’s Law’?" He paused for a moment. "Weeeellll, that’s actually two words."

"Levi?"

He grinned from ear to ear. "Hullo."

They escaped from the satellite with little trouble. According to Levi, the real Doctor had caused some problems there a year before. The guards thought that Levi, being called ‘Doctor’ by Lily, was the real Doctor. The two of them ended up laughing about it in the TARDIS, as Levi studied his new body.

Levi ran a hand thru his hair. "Hair! I’m not bald!" He ran his hand down his face. "No side-burns, but good skin." With his free hand, he patted his stomach. "Bit more meat on me, that’s weird. I’ll get used to it. New teeth." Levi opened his mouth, and ran his tongue across his teeth. "Tell me they’re white."

Lily smiled softly. "They are white." She nodded slightly. "Bit big, as well. They’re like a game show host’s."

"Huh." Levi paused for a moment. "Oo, I’ve got moles. Two; I can feel them. One on the back and one of the left thigh."

"Levi?" Levi glanced up from his wrist. Lily was staring at him from her spot by the controls. "Um...your personality, things you like, that will be different too, yeah?" Levi shrugged by way of an answer. "Will you...do you...still want me around?"

"Course." A nervous look passed over his new face. "Why? You want to leave?"

"No!" Lily blushed slightly. "I just, just thought you’d want to strike out on your own."

Levi rolled his eyes. "Don’t be daft, Lily. It’s you and me, forever. You know that." He sighed heavily. "Look, I could regenerate a hundred times or you could regenerate a hundred times, but I’ll still want you with me. It’s just like it was with our parents, she stayed with him no matter what, and I’ll stay with you, too."

Lily felt her lips form into a large smile. "It is always better with two." She chewed on her lower lip for a moment. "Levi, I think you’ll need a new outfit. Shall we run find you something?" She gestured toward where their rooms were. "I’m sure if we look hard enough, we can find something in your room." Lily didn’t waste time, she just ran off to Levi’s room.

"Lily!" Levi shook his head with a laugh. He rushed after her, feeling like a kid again.

XI. Captain Jack and Kissing

When Lily was fifteen, Levi took her to the fifty-first century.

Levi was surprised when they literally ran into the famous Captain Jack from their childhood stories. Lily, on the other hand, had vague memories of Jack. She remembered smiles, hugs, hands, lips, running, and finally screaming.

The missing two years of Jack’s live were spent with Levi and Lily Tyler. Lily knew this. She knew everything, after all. All the feelings of all the creatures of the universe, all the stars, everything; she had looked into the TARDIS, after all.

Lily begged Levi to take Jack on as crew, and for some reason that Lily never quite understood, Levi agreed. Thus, they started their two years with Captain Jack.

Captain Jack was charming and he flirted with both Levi and Lily. He called Levi ‘Doctor’ or ‘Doc’, but never Levi. Lily followed suit, and for the two years Jack was on board the TARDIS, she never called Levi by his birth name. Levi liked it best that way.

Lily flirted shamelessly. For the first time in her existence, she felt sexual. Lily would put her arm through his, and cuddled up against it when they walked. If Levi was jealous he never showed it. Lily always assumed Levi never acted jealous because of the very fact that Lily never held Jack’s hand; she only ever held Levi’s hand.

For his part, Jack smiled more with Lily. He said she reminded him of someone he must have known as a kid. The truth was, long after his memories had been taken, Rose would remind him of Lily.

Time is a forever loop.

Eleven months after meeting, the three of them ended up on a world that was hurling toward its sun. Levi decided to try and stop it with a little help from Jack and Lily. The people of the world had a math problem that could help them build a machine that would help them, but they didn’t have an answer to the problem. It was Lily that solved the problem; she solved it in under three minutes. She solved it in her mind, and without looking at any of the formulas that the people of the world had made.

Levi called her fantastic, brilliant. Jack kissed her. He had just looked at her in an odd sort of way, before pushing her against a wall. Levi had made a move to stop him, but Jack put a hand up. Lily gasped lightly, opened her mouth to protest, and was stopped by Jack’s lips catching hers. It was by far the most wonderful moment of her life.

Kissing, kissing Jack, was sweet and hard and rough and simply beautiful. Lily wondered if all kissing was like that, or if it was just kissing Jack that made her feel that way.

Jack pulled away with a small smile and gasp. "You really are wonderful, Lily Tyler."

She returned the smile, though she glanced over to Levi. "Am I? If this works, then you’ll be right, Jack." She felt a giggle crawling up her throat. "I," she coughed the giggle away. "I think we should hurry. Doctor?" Lily nodded toward the door. "Shall we go tell them that we might be able to save their home?"

Hours later, after the world was saved and they were back on the TARDIS, Lily found Levi in his room.

"Doctor?" He took off his glasses even as he looked up from his book. "Remember when I told you that Jack would leave us after two years?" She sighed deeply. "Is it wrong that even though it would mess up time, that even though it might be wrong, I don’t want him to forget me?"

Levi offered her a sad smile. "Oh Lily, no one could ever forget you. Even when all his memories are gone, there will still be a tiny piece of his brain that remembers your scent, the way you move, your beauty. When people love you, it’s forever. You’re like the real Doctor in that way."

Lily felt herself returning the smile. "I...Doctor? I’ll never forget you either. Please, remember that."

XII. Sex

Captain Jack Harkness would leave the TARDIS, would leave and get his memories taken away, in two weeks. Lily knew this, she remembered it. She knew it was wiser to just let him kiss her once in a while. That it would be better to just have her memories of him. Yet, there was something in her mind that kept whispering: "Do it. Do it. Do it." So, she did it.

She’d had her birthday, Levi and Jack took her to Paris to see a ballet. She was seventeen years old now. A lady, a grown up. And Jack wouldn’t remember anyway.

Lily went to Jack’s room, quietly and lightly walking along the floor of her home. She cracked the door open and hoped that Levi was still soundly asleep.

"Captain Jack?" Her voice was a whisper.

Jack sat up in his bed, yawned, and asked: "Lily? Shouldn’t you be in bed?"

Lily reminded herself that he was as old as Levi, even if Levi looked older. So, it wasn’t wrong because of the age difference. Besides, if he had his way Levi would have slept with her long ago. And that would be much more wrong.

"I’m not sure how to do this." Lily told him truthfully. She shut the door behind her and sighed softly. "I just...I would...I’d like to have sex with you, please."

Even in the dark, she could see his eyes bug out. "What? Does The Doctor know you’re here?" His voice was all high and nervous. "You’re a kid. The Doctor would kill me, Lily."

"No, he wouldn’t." Somehow her voice sounded more smooth then soothing. She had wanted to sound soothing. "It just has to be this once. I can’t just lose my virginity to any old person off the street." Lily paused for a moment, then: "I love you."

"Yeah. And I love you, too. And I love The Doctor and he loves me. And The Doctor loves you and you love The Doctor-"

"I don’t love him like that!" Lily protested, cutting Jack off. "I don’t." She sounded somewhat regretful, but Jack knew better then to push the subject of Lily’s relationship with The Doctor. "I love you that way. I know I do. Please, Jack. Please."

There was a moment where Lily thought Jack might change history and say no. Instead, he smiled that charming smile and told her to come closer.

It felt surreal to be walking to Jack’s bed, even if Lily knew it was all right. He stood up from the bed, and Lily noticed that he was taller then her, but not as tall as Levi or as tall as The Doctor had been. They stood awkwardly facing one another for a moment or two, before he kissed her forehead.

"If it hurts, tell me to stop and I will." Lily nodded dumbly to Jack’s order. "Lily...you’re perfect." He helped her take her nightgown off; she helped him take his shirt off.

It was slightly strange, but slow and sweet. It was soft touches, lips brushing against all sorts of body parts, hands, and tongues. Lily’s senses nearly exploded with all the feelings that were pouring into her head. It was almost too much for her. It was like it was when the TARDIS was awake inside her. Jack had to calm her at least three times.

Lily wanted it to be that way forever. She knew better. So, when it was over, when she curled herself against Jack, she kissed his cheek and told him "I love you, Jack Harkness." Totally true or not, it was the way she actually felt at that moment. It was what she actually wanted to feel at that moment. That was what was important.

XIII. Love

At twenty-seven Lily felt as if she had seen it all. She’s been traveling the universe, the whole of time and space, since she was been two. Levi seemed to always love it, he did so love helping ‘the stupid apes’. Lily just felt like finding a home. She missed her Gran, her parents, Jack. She wanted to go domestic, even if Levi didn’t. Yet, she just couldn’t leave Levi alone...could she?

Levi brought Lily to London on Christmas Day in 2018. It was snowing as they walked hand in hand out of the TARDIS. It was the Christmas after they had left on the TARDIS. Levi wanted to see if the school bully was still a little jerk. Lily just wanted to see Earth. It had been a very long time since she’d been to Earth before the year 100,000.

They walked along the streets, admiring the shops and glancing in all the windows. It wasn’t lost on them that they were supposed to be children, running through the streets, begging their parents for shiny trucks or pretty dolls.

"Doctor?" Lily hadn’t called him ‘Levi’ since Jack. "May I buy you something?"

Levi chuckled. "I have all I need right here, Lily." He squeezed her hand. "Lily? How long are you going to stay with me?"

Levi sounded so nervous; Lily wanted to comfort him. "Forever." She smiled at him as brightly as she could.

"Liar." He let his hand fall out of hers. "How long do you want to stay with me?"

Lily pulled Levi down to a bench. "Doctor, I...you need me and you love me. I love you, too. We fit." She took one of his hands in hers. "See? We were meant to be together. We have to stay together, because we are all the other has."

Levi was quiet for a moment, and Lily was scared that he had gotten angry at her. He spoke softly, sadly. "No, no. Lily, I love you more then anyone, I always have. But, since I’ve regenerated, you’ve grown up. You no longer need me. Even if I need you, you don’t need me. I won’t keep you. You can leave me anytime you want."

Levi placed his hands on her face. "I love you, Lily Tyler." He tried to smile, but failed. Instead, he leaned into her and gently kissed her lips. It only lasted a moment, but it was enough for the both of them. "Stay here. Become a ballerina. Become Lily Tyler, defender of Earth. Become some lucky bastard’s wife and the mother of his kids. Become anything you want. Just live, be happy, for me."

Lily’s brow was knitted in confusion. Was he...was he the one leaving her? "Doc-Levi? But, you need me."

"Despite appearances, I am thirty-five. It’s time I grew up." He laughed back tears. "Besides, a Doctor should never stay with a companion for too long, it ruins the magic. So, uh, just tell me when and where to drop you off. I’d rather you be somewhere you want to be, then just tossing you out."

She didn’t even have to think about it. "Torchwood headquarters, spring." Levi nodded, turned to leave, but Lily grabbed his arm. "Levi? Drop me off tomorrow morning, yeah?"

That night, for the first time in years, Lily slept in the same bed as Levi. They slept like two children, sweetly and innocently. The next morning, Levi took Lily to Torchwood. He had to TARDIS appear in a storage locker, and he and it were gone a moment later, leaving Lily alone.

She carried nothing but an old suitcase and a note from ‘The Doctor’ to Captain Jack Harkness. In the note, it explained that she was the link to Jack’s missing memories. It also explained that she was Rose Tyler’s daughter, and that she was there to help.

XIV. The Other Doctor

It had been an accident. The Doctor had meant to bring his time machine at least a hundred years later and twenty-six miles away. And yet, he had ended up inside the Torchwood headquarters in the year 2033. The guards had been waiting for him outside. He and his loyal companion, Leven Campbell had been taken into custody. Leven had been taken to another room, while the Doctor had been taken to the private offices of the head of Torchwood.

He walked in, causal and all smiles. "Hello. Seems to have been a bit of a misunderstanding. If you could just let us be on our way, we’ll be in time for the show. We have tickets, you see."

Lily turned away from her window to get a good look at the Doctor. It only surprised her a little that he had regenerated again. He was now no more then thirty in human years. All charming smile, dark eyes and light ginger hair, and dressed in causal jeans, tee-shirt, sneakers, and short leather jacket.

Lily offered him a smile. "Hello, Dad."

The Doctor wrinkled his nose up. "By me, you’ve gotten old!"

"I’m forty-two, you crazed idiot!" She crossed her office, so she could stand directly in front of him. "And you’ve regenerated. What is this, the twelfth or the thirteenth body?"

The Doctor smiled proudly. "Twelfth. I stayed in the eleventh body for hundreds of years. It was only after Leven that I had to regenerate."

"Leven?"

"Leven Campbell, new traveling partner. She’s a lovely girl. Nineteen, just a kid really, but sharp." He took a closer look around the office. "Where’s the TARDIS? Where’s Levi?"

"Gone." Lily looked away, unable to meet The Doctor’s eyes. "Levi left me here, at my request, about fifteen Earth years ago. He said he wanted to try it on his own. I wanted to be useful."

"NO!" Lily jumped, the two guards reached for their guns. "You two were supposed to stay together. Supposed to rebuild our people!"

"And what? Give you grandchildren with more problems? Levi and I had completely twisted views on everything. We were too smart, too close, too weird, too everything. My hearts gave out, for goodness sake. Gave out four times! Had to get two new new new ones when I was nineteen, twenty-nine, and thirty-five. If Levi and I had gone and had children, they would have been freakishly intelligent horse faces with bad hearts."

The guards, and The Doctor, stood with mouths open. It was The Doctor who spoke. "But, I destroyed them. I had to bring them back." He looked, he sounded, so utterly pathetic. Eyes downcast, mouth turned in a soft frown. A part of Lily wanted to tell him to go shag Leven, then. Another part of Lily wanted to hug her father and offer him some tea. "I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Lily love."

"Daddy." She reached out and gave him a tight hug. "It’s okay, Dad. It’s not your fault, not anymore." They pulled away from one another a moment later. "Could we be left alone? Go get Ms. Campbell, please." Lily asked the guards. "I’d like to catch up with my father, please."

Lily guided The Doctor to her couch. "Now, tell me everything. How did you get off the TARDIS? Where did you go? We heard rumors, but we never knew anything solid. Where’s this Leven girl from? Do you...is she what Rose was to you? Have you run across rumors of Levi, he’s calling himself Doctor as well. Do you want to see Captain Jack Harkness? He’s sixty-five, but he’s still sharp and he’d love to see you. Those missing two years of his memories? He was with me and Levi."

The Doctor didn’t even miss a beat. "Stopped it, took parts, and left you two alone. Stopped on a planet for a bit, built a new time machine with spare TARDIS parts. Traveled a bit, but never stayed in one place for too long. Leven’s from this time, lived in a nice flat with her mother and stepfather. Good folks, really. She’s...she’s a special one. Heard rumors ‘bout another Doctor, thought that was him. Glad he’s taken up the business. Jack? Love to see him, again." He raised an eyebrow. "He hasn’t tried to shag you, has he?"

Lily waved a dismissive hand. "Oh, it doesn’t matter anymore. The shagging part, I mean."

He let out a shocked laugh. "You did shag Jack! I’d kill him if he weren’t about to drop dead." The Doctor glanced down at her hands. "You married?"

Lily nodded happily. "Years ago, old friend I used to shag on and off. You’re a granddad, Doctor. I’ve got eight kids; three sons and five daughters." She blushed slightly. "My husband and I had a thing for...we enjoyed one another’s company."

Something suddenly popped into The Doctor’s head. "Oi! You didn’t married Captain Jack, did you?" Lily opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted by the door opening. The Doctor glanced behind him, smiled brightly, and called, "Leven! You okay?" He stood from his seat, and rushed over to hug his newest companion. "Oh."

From her spot, Lily tried and to get a good look at the girl. Nineteen, average height, pretty, dressed in casual jeans, fashionable shoes, and a lovely pink shirt. Leven’s hair was blond, long and straight, her eyes were a soft brown. She really was lovely. She reminded Lily of Rose in some odd little way.

"Ms. Campbell?" Lily cleared her throat. "I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for any harm or worry that came to you." She gave The Doctor a little look. "Torchwood, before it was rebuilt, had some rather unpleasant dealings with The Doctor. I simply wanted to privately give him my regrets."

Leven stood protectively beside The Doctor. "I...it’s okay." She seemed only somewhat confused.

"No harm done, I suppose." She shared a glance with The Doctor, who smiled warmly at her. "No, no harm done."

"No, it’s been most enlightening." The Doctor gave Lily a private smile. "Need any help here, Lily or is it all right if we go about our way?"

She looked down. "Yeah. But, Captain Jack? I could just phone him if you like."

The Doctor chewed on his lower lip for a moment. "I don’t do visits." He reminded her gently. "Besides, you’ve got a house load of kids."

"He doesn’t like kids." Leven offered.

"Well, I was a dad once...twice." Both Leven’s and Lily’s eyes widened. "Gave that up long ago." He shrugged. "Still...if you’re cooking, Leven and I could stop for a moment or two. It would be nice to see old friends again."

Lily smiled softly. "It would be nice to have one last proper good-bye. It’ll be nice to play our roles just one last time, Doctor."

 

XV. The Doctor and Rose Tyler; Lily Tyler and Levi

Lily Tyler hadn’t been Lily Tyler in a lifetime. She had had many roles in her life: granddaughter, daughter, sister, beloved, loyal companion, lover, agent, wife, leader, mother, grandmother, widow, great-grandmother. She had been given many roles, and she had played each role to perfection. Now, now it was time to leave the stage of life. She was eighty-nine years of age. Lily Tyler, who was no longer Lily Tyler, had been allowed to live a very full and very long life. It was time for it to end. It was time to let someone else try her roles on for size.

She slept in a bed in the ICU of Torchwood, quietly waiting to die. Would she regenerate into some younger self? Maybe. If she did, she had no idea how she was going to explain it to her family. It had always been hard enough trying to explain to them why she had two heart beats.

Lily Tyler, who had not been Lily Tyler for sixty years, would "died" on Christmas Day in the year 2080.

For him, it had been three hundred and ninety-three years since he had left her on Earth. Three hundred and ninety-three years to the day. He had traveled all through time and space, had dozens of companions, and even a fling or eighty. But, nothing and no one had ever come close to matching her. No one else’s hand had ever fit quit like hers.

He found her in the Torchwood building. He parked the TARDIS in the middle of the medical wing, told the guards and nurses that he was The Doctor, the other one, and that he would like to see Lily Tyler. He hadn’t thought that he had been gone so long. He hadn’t thought he’d find her the way he found her.

Old and ‘dying’ in a bed.

His little Lily, old and nearly dead.

He still looked fresh, twenty-nine, and ready for the world. Yet, Lily was so old. So old and nearly gone from the world.

He had to stop himself from running over and begging Lily to go back to the way she had been when he had left her. Instead of causing a scene, he simply shoved his hands into his coat pockets and waited. 

Ten seconds.

Lily’s machines signaled that she was gone.

Twenty seconds.

A familiar light filled the room. Lily’s body twisted and turned. He watched as her hair grew out, as her body got shorter, then thinner, her face lost the lines. He watched as she changed into her second body. She bolted up from the bed, gasping for air. The nurses quickly moved back from their spot in the doorway, even as Lily adjusted to having come back from the dead...sort of.

There was a beat, as her newly blue eyes seemed to be adjusting to the light. Her eyes focused on him. "Hello." Her lips formed a small smile. "You haven’t regenerated."

"No." He shook his head slightly. "But you have, just now. How do you feel? Everything all right?" He moved over to the foot of the bed. "You look all right, at any rate."

"I," she coughed. "I...uh...my voice." Lily placed a hand on her throat and gently rubbed it. "I sound so young." She made a face. "Good Lord, I sound odd. I...how do I look?" She took her hand off her throat and took a strain of long blond hair into her hands. "Blond." Lily glanced down at her hand. "Bit pale, aren’t I? Thin, as well. I feel short." Lily looked back up at him. "Am I short, Le-Doctor?"

Levi shrugged. "Bit. Doesn’t matter though. You look young, real young. Like you’re fresh from your A-levels." He shrugged again. "Ah, well, I don’t mind. Rather like you like that, actually."

Levi looked around the room, all the nurses looked as if they might faint at any moment. "Oh, it’s all right. She’s just regenerated into her second body. We do that. Go on, go get a coffee or something. Forget about this."

"No." Lily shook her head as hard as she could. "No, no, no! They can’t just...my children. I can have more time with them."

"Oh." Levi glared at the nurses. "I SAID GO!" He waited until the last of them had rushed out. "Lily, you can’t stay. You’ve had your time here. You’ve played all the roles you could play. It’s time to move on. Time to start a new life, the life you should of had."

"I’ve been the loyal companion." She reminded him, not unkindly.

Levi looked down for a moment. When he looked up again, his eyes were full of hope. "You were very good in that role." He moved again, this time to the side of the bed. "It’s been more than three hundred years for me, and no one’s matched you."

Without thinking, she leaned her body against him, moved a bit, and wrapped his lower stomach in a hug. "I’ve missed you so very much, Levi. So much. I thought about you. I always thought you’d come back, but you never did."

He lovingly touched the top of her head. "Oh, sweetheart. This is what you wanted. You lived a good, normal, human life. Now, that’s over and it is best if you come with me."

Lily had played many roles in her life: granddaughter, daughter, sister, a beloved, loyal companion, lovers, agents, wife, leaders, mothers, grandmothers, widow, great-grandmother. She had been given many roles; she had played each role to perfection.

Now was the time when she should have been finished with her roles. Instead, she was just beginning again. "Lily Tyler, loyal and loved companion of The Doctor?" She gently pushed Levi away, before standing up. Fixing her hospital gown, Lily seemed to consider everything. "I should tell my children good-bye. I have to explain everything, Levi. I have to make sure they understand."

"Their Lily Tyler is gone. Don’t make it harder on them. I’ll make sure they understand." He held out a hand for her. ‘Come with me. Be my friend, my partner, my Lily."

She glanced over Levi’s shoulder. The nurses and guards were all standing just outside the door, waiting for her to ask for their help. But, she didn’t need their help. She had lived a lifetime here. She’d been an agent for Torchwood, a wife, leader of Torchwood, a mother, grandmother, widow, great-grandmother. Her lifetime on Earth was over.

She took his offered hand. "You’ll tell them? Make sure they understand?"

Levi offered her a half smile. "I had a speech for this moment. I learned it all. Oh, God. We weren’t supposed to be this way. You weren’t supposed to become this person. God, you never understood." He pulled her toward him and wrapped her into a tight hug. "You’ll never understand. Just be Lily. Just be Lily Tyler now. "

Moments later, he half-drug, half-walked her to the TARDIS. Levi sat her down by the controls, and set the date for December 24, New New Earth.

He brought her to the hill where they had played as small children. New New York was covered in snow. He found her an old and worn yellow sun-dress, fashionable snow boots, and a large coat. He stayed in his black suit, though he did put a coat on. He took her hand, and together they walked out of the TARDIS.

"It’s beautiful." She breathed. "So lovely." Lily glanced over to him. "Doctor? How long will we be together?"

He smiled brightly. "Forever."

Lily had played many roles in her life: granddaughter, daughter, sister, beloved, loyal companion, lover, agent, wife, leader, mother, grandmother, widow, and great-grandmother. She had been given many roles; she had played each role to perfection.

Now, she would play a new role, one that she did not yet know. She was no longer just the ‘loyal companion’, she was now more then that. 

She could be, for the first time in her life, simply Lily Tyler.

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[vertrauen.livejournal.com]

Aw.

I love your Levi and Lily. Love this story. :)

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

First-thanks for reading.

Secondly...

I love your Levi and Lily.

I really love them, too. They are so sort of twisted, but they are loving at the same time. It's an odd mix, but I find it works. I just wish I could use them more.

Love this story.

Again, thanks. :) It was an interesting and fun right. Plus, I totally got to use the wonderful Captain Jack! Oh, and btw: love the icon!

[vertrauen.livejournal.com]

Yeah... cameo's from Jack are always fun. :)

theoldvicarage is responsible for the icon, one I don't see getting rid of for quite a while. :)

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

cameo's from Jack are always fun. :)

They really are. :) Though, I will admit to being nervous about this cameo. I've never written Jack before, so I hope he came out well.

As for the icon, I'll have to head on over and take a look at the Jack icons there.

[vertrauen.livejournal.com]

I think he did. Jack's a pretty hard character to get your head around. Believe me, I've gotta write him by the end of the month, and I'm... as nervous as you. I think you did all right.

Her icon journal is flocked, but she keeps new posts open for a few weeks. It's been a while since she's posted any Who, but you can always friend the journal and see what she's got. :)

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

I think he did. Jack's a pretty hard character to get your head around. Believe me, I've gotta write him by the end of the month, and I'm... as nervous as you. I think you did all right.

I think Jack is so hard, because he has so many layers, but we didn't get to know him as well as I would have liked. He's all happy and flirting, but he's also serious and has a bit of a darker side. I cannot wait for Torchwood, for the simple fact that it will be 13 episodes of Jack development.

I'm sure you'll do great with the Jack writing. Personally, I think I'm going to have read some fics with Jack as a main character. Why? Because, I have a semi-formed idea for a long 'Doctor Who' fanfic series, and I want Jack as one of tthe main characters.

As for the icons, I'll have to friend her. :)

[miladyhawke.livejournal.com]

Lovely, sad, and sweet all at once. Another incredibly poignant fic *g*

Loved the Jack cameo, btw ;)

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

Got to love Jack. :)