The Twelfth Doctor Meets Wilfred and Donna

The T.A.R.D.I.S. wheezed and groaned as it softly landed in a familiar street. With his stern look, the Twelfth Doctor pushed a lever, but paused before continuing. He then left the orange glow of the console, opened the wooden doors, and exited into the night. His attire was a more casual version of his traditional suit.

Street lights lit the quiet street lined with houses. One house in particular drew his attention. This was his intended destination. Through the illuminated windows, he could vaguely see an aged man. As he advanced towards him, his brain screamed in protest, but it was too late to turn back now. The closer he got to the house, more memories flooded his already heavy mind.

When he arrived at the door, he hesitated once more, but then knocked on the door. Unknowingly, he knocked four times. Chills spread throughout his body as he realized what he had done. The door was opened, revealing the old man wearing a red woolen hat.

"Yes?" he asked, not recognizing who stood before him.

"Wilfred Mott," Twelve simply stated in a nostalgic tone.

"How'd you know my name? Who are you?"

Instead of answering, the Doctor simply turned his head in the direction of the T.A.R.D.I.S., whose windows and lamp shone a clean white in the night. Wilfred's expression instantly turned to one of shock when he spotted the blue police box, gasping with disbelief.

"Doctor?"

"Who else?" Twelve replied.

Feeling ecstatic, Wilfred stepped aside so that the Doctor could enter. Twelve, still with a neutral face, stepped inside as Wilfred closed the door. Wilfred, still in awe, pulled a chair in the dining room for Twelve to sit. Wilfred stared at and inspected the Doctor's new face for a good while until he broke the silence with a chuckle.

"It really is you."

"Yes. It's been awhile," Twelve commented, feeling a little guilty.

"More so for you, I'd wager."

"Oh, it's been lifetimes since we last met."

"What made you come back, then?"

"Clara, a friend, she ... we had a row. I needed to be reminded of something."

"That can happen with friends. Just like with you and Donna back in the days. You'd bicker, but at the end of the day, you were best mates."

The Doctor didn't respond and avoided eye contact. They had reached a touchy subject. It was inevitable.

"Ah ... I miss the old her, too, you know."

"It was my fault," Twelve noted.

"No," Wilfred objected. "You don't get to blame yourself. 'She was the most important woman in the whole wide universe.' That's what you said all those years ago. She still is to me. You did what you had to do."

Twelve still looked down in shame, so Wilfred somewhat changed the subject.

"I kept my promise, you know," he reminded the Doctor. "Every night, I go outside and look up at the stars, envisioning my daughter in that good ol' blue box of yours."

While Twelve didn't cry, his eyes watered.

"They say time heals all wounds, and they'd be correct. It heals by making you forget. Time is an amnesia pill that slowly takes effect. When you've lived as long as I have ... regret is all that plagues your mind."

"Don't dwell on the past, Doctor. It'll only make you sadder."

They both sat in silence contemplating. Suddenly, a woman's voice called out.

"Gramps? What're you doing up this late?"

When the woman entered the dining room, both men looked at her. It was Donna, Wilfred's granddaughter, who used to travel with the Doctor.

"Oh. Who's this?" she questioned.

Wilfred tried to speak, but couldn't formulate words, so he ended up stuttering. The Doctor then spoke up.

"I'm Smith. Dr. John Smith. Your grandfather and I used to be friends."

"Did you serve in the army with him or something?"

"I've been in many wars," The Doctor explained, "but I'm not a soldier."

Although a bit confused, Donna said, "Alright, then."

"Why don't you come have a seat, love?" Wilfred said, patting the chair next to him. "She's interested in astronomy, Doctor. One day, out of the blue, she decided to start studying the stars. It's almost like someone inspired her."

Smiling, the Doctor remarked, "Just like Agatha Christie. Some memories are too strong to ever be completely forgotten."

Puzzled, Donna asked, "Sorry, what?"

"Ah, nothing ..." the Doctor whispered nostalgically.

Wilfred, seeing that Donna wasn't feeling good, asked, "Are you feeling under the weather?"

"A bit, yeah. I have a slight headache," she answered.

"Here, let me help," the Doctor offered, as he placed his fingers on her head, just like when he had made her forget. "Close your eyes."

A moment later, Donna exclaimed, "The pain - it's gone! How'd you do that?"

The Doctor grunted because he had taken Donna's pain and made it his own. However, he maintained his composure and replied, "I've had experience as a Doctor."

"Well, I'm off to bed again," Donna said and yawned. "Goodnight, gramps. It was nice to meet you ... Doctor."

"Likewise," the Doctor replied. After Donna had left the room, the Doctor turned to Wilfred and explained, "It's me. Coming here can't be good for her. I've enjoyed this reunion, but I think it's best if I leave."

"Well, it's been an absolute honor, Doctor," Wilfred declared as he offered a handshake, which the Doctor accepted. The two old war veterans then headed towards the door.

"Doctor?" Wilfred called out as Twelve walked out. "That friend of yours. Whatever the status of your relationship, know this - you still have a chance. If she is truly your friend, she'll come back, and when she does, make sure you know what to do. You can't ever travel with my Donna again, but you can with her. I have no doubt in your powers of healing the mentally troubled. It is in your name, your identity. However, your arrogance sometimes gets the best of you. Arrogance gets the best of us all. If you wish to reconcile your relationship, you must first heal yourself before attempting to heal anyone else. Good luck, Doctor. Tread lightly, and godspeed."

The Doctor saluted Wilfred, and walked back to his T.A.R.D.I.S.