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The TARDIS landed with a thump and Danni cheered, giddy as she was because it was her birthday, and she ran out onto the street outside. She frowned at the futuristic street, she had been expecting a time more contemporary to herself.
"When are we?" she asked the Doctor as he joined her.
"2251." He replied, "New Wales. Still in Great Britain, but just rebuilt. And there is our Captain." He pointed down the street to a man who was slightly fuller, and quite the bit greyer but most definitely Jack. He was hugging a blonde woman tightly before she stepped back and disappeared in a spark of white light.
"Who was that?" Danni asked him.
"I have no idea. Go find out." He pushed her towards him, "We'll be back in three hours." She looked at him in disappointment.
"You're not coming?" She asked and he shook his head, patting her on the cheek.
"It's your birthday, you should spend some time with your Captain." She studied him for a moment before grinning and kissing him on the cheek.
"Three hours, Spaceman, otherwise I'm coming to find you." He crossed over both his hearts and she turned, running towards Jack.
"No kissing him!" The Doctor shouted after her and she shook her head, laughing as she barrelled towards Jack, who was turning to head into the house he was stood outside of.
"Jack!" She called, waving frantically in his direction. He turned and gaped at her as she launched herself at him. He froze on the spot before looking down at the ginger girl clinging to him, who was looking up expectedly.
"Danni?" He asked, surprised and she nodded happily.
"Miss me?" He looked around for a moment before spotting the Doctor just in the distance. The Time Lord saluted him before heading into the TARDIS, flying away to take the Ponds somewhere interesting. He looked down and pulled her in for a tight hug, lifting her off the ground. She squealed and giggled.
"Danni-Girl!" He cried, putting her down and holding her at arms length, "Look at you!" She blushed but kept grinning at him, "It's been so long since I saw you all... ginger." She frowned.
"Why?" She gasped in horror, "I don't go white, do I?" He laughed and shook his head.
"No, more... blonde." She looked at him in confusion, since when had she wanted to be blonde? "And me starting to grey." He ruffled his own hair. He was older than this Danni would have seen him before, much older. His hair was definitely on the wrong side of grey and the lines on his face were more pronounced. Of course, he was ageing at a much slower speed than he had originally had been expecting all those years ago, but still... she was so young, and he wasn't.
"I think you look quite distinguished." She replied instantly, "Silver fox or something, isn't it?" he smirked with a nod, he liked the sound of that. He stared at her again and she looked away, feeling uncomfortable. It was like he hadn't seen her in years, and she didn't like the idea that she never saw him.
"You're so young." He breathed. She shook her head.
"I'll think you'll find it's my birthday." She pointed to her tiara much like she had done with Amy, "I'm a year older." He smiled and took her hand, leading her inside his house.
"Oh yes, November 22nd. I should have know." He said with a chuckle, "And how old would that be?"
"23. Why, do I look older?" She asked self-consciously, looking around the front room. It looked just like any other front room she could think of, just everything seemed... newer, more high-tech. A very thin piece of glass she guessed was the television in one corner, a black leather sofa facing it with a matching armchair. A few pictures were dotted about, a book here and there making it looked lived in. She liked it.
"No, you look about 10." She smacked his arm, offended and he laughed, "How about a drink to toast the occasion?" He walked over to a cabinet and pulled out a bottle of red wine of a drawer that opened as he stepped close.
"You read my mind, Captain." She replied, flopping onto his sofa, stretching out and kicking her shoes off underneath the glass coffee table in front of her, groaning lightly at the slight relief it brought her. The Beatles had been amazing, but her feet were killing her now. She was so happy to just sit down and relax with a glass of wine. Jack sat next to her, handing her one of the two glasses of wine he was carrying.
"So, Birthday Girl, tell me what you've been up to so far today. Did you have pancakes?" She nodded, taking a sip of her wine.
"I did. Rory made them for us. Have you met Amy and Rory?" He nodded.
"Red head and the Roman guy?"
"Yeah, that's them. He made me one, then the Doctor made one." His eyebrows shot up.
"The Doctor cooking? Never thought I'd see the day." She laughed, that was understandable. He didn't come across as a chef, "Then what?"
"We went to a little place called Paradise Cliffs and went swimming in this lake with these fish that shone different colours in the light. It was really beautiful. Then we went to see the Beatles perform on Ed Sullivan. That was amazing. Hence the outfit."
"The Beatles?" He repeated, "How did he manage that?"
"Well, apparently John Lennon owed him a favour or two. That's a good story."
"Tell me it." He told her gently and she shifted so she was sat sideways, cross-legged on the sofa.
"Well..."
~0~0~0~
"Who was the blonde girl?" Danni asked suddenly after they had fallen into a comfortable silence. She was reaching over to pour herself some more wine but didn't miss the alarmed look on his face at the thought she had spotted him with the other woman.
"Blonde girl?" He asked, faking confusion. She sighed and motioned to a picture of him and the blonde woman that sat on the wall behind them.
"You know, the girl you were hugging before she disappeared in a flash of white light. She wasn't me, even if I am blonde she was a lot taller than I was. Prettier too." He rolled his eyes as he took a sip of his own drink.
"You're gorgeous, you know that." He told her, "She was... she was just someone." Danni smirked knowingly.
"She your new girlfriend then?" She teased and he shook his head.
"No. Definitely not. She..." he sighed, "She's my daughter." Danni's mouth dropped slightly in shock, glass halfway to her mouth.
"Wow... Wasn't expecting that." She murmured before smiling, "I'm glad you've got someone." She told him and he grinned at the thought of his daughter.
"Yeah, me too." He replied honestly, "Wouldn't wish it any other way."
"I wish my parents had someone too." She stated, looking back out of the window, staring sadly. Again, she had managed to depress herself on her birthday. This mood slump she was in was slightly disconcerting, it came out of no where and she really hoped it would pass.
"I'm sure they do." Jack reassured her, after all these years he knew just how much she missed her parents. She shook her head, forcing the thoughts down then turned to smile at him.
"What's her name? Who's her mum?" She gasped, "Are you married? Did I go to the wedding? Did the Doctor wear something appropriate, I know how he gets in formal situations."
"Woah, woah, woah Danni-Girl." He chuckled, "One question at a time. Her name's Ella."
"That's really pretty. I surprised, I was expecting something futuristic."
"Like what?" He asked despite himself.
"I dunno." She shrugged, "Something made of just vowels, like 'aooe'." He laughed outright at the noise she made trying to pronounce a word of just vowels.
"In any case, her mother named her. Who, by the way, I'm not married to. I haven't seen her in years, actually." He smiled sadly at the memory of her, "She's been dead a while now." Danni scooted closer to him, resting on his arm.
"I'd like to meet Ella sometime." She told him gently, hoping to cheer him up. He wrapped his free arm around her shoulders, pulling her up against his side tightly.
"Oh, you do Danni-Girl. Just not for a bit, I'm afraid." Danni drank the rest of her wine in a couple of gulps.
"Right, enough moping for the pair of us." She declared loudly, "It's my birthday and I only have," She looked at her watch, "2 hours and 28 minutes until the Doctor comes to get me again. I demand we go out for a meal. It's on me." She frowned slightly, "Well, apart from the money, of course." He rolled his eyes and stood up with a stretch.
"God, getting up shouldn't be that difficult." He groaned. She smirked, her tongue behind her teeth as she cheekily jumped up as quick as she could.
"Come on Grandpa, time for food." She mock scolded, "You need to keep up with us young-uns." He raised an eyebrow at the challenge and picked her up, causing her to yelp as he chucked her back onto the sofa.
"Don't call me Grandpa, young lady." He replied, "In my day you had a lot more respect." She stood up, brushing herself down with a smile.
"All right. Sorry. Come on you big Boe Face, time for food."
~0~0~0~
Danni twisted the spaghetti around her fork, taking a bite as Jack seemingly attacked his steak. It was nice food hadn't changed too much over the years, she loved spaghetti bolognese. He had taken her to a little restaurant a few minutes away from his house, not too posh but still very nice. He told her he took his daughter here when she came to visit, apparently she was a pasta fan as well. She leant forward slightly, the room was dimly lit to give the air of intimacy but she just found it a little difficult to see him.
"Tell me about Ella." She told him, "All I know is that she's blonde and pretty." He swallowed his mouthful, picking up the streak knife and cutting his meat up a bit more.
"What do you want to know?" He asked,
"What was she like as a child?" She suggested, "What does she do as a job? Is she married?"
"I didn't get to raise her." He replied, looking wistful, "I met her when she was about 27. she didn't know I was her dad and I didn't know she even existed."
"Oh, I'm sorry." Danni apologised, feeling guilty for bringing it up. Jack shrugged, eating one of his chips.
"She's more like me than my other children have been." He explained, "She's not fully human, her mother was only half-human and she ages slower than everyone else. She's much older than she looks." He smiled fondly, "She won't leave me as quickly as everyone else." She reached over and grabbed his hand, stopping him and forcing him to drop his fork. She linked fingers with him and squeezed tightly.
"I'm not going to leave you." She promised him, "I'll be there 'til the end, I promise." He squeezed her hand back.
"Don't doubt it for a second, Danni-Girl."
~0~0~0~
Danni scooped the last of her vanilla ice cream out of the glass, spinning the long spoon around the edges to get every last drop.
"This is the best ice cream ever." She told him as she ate the last of it, "Thanks for the meal, Jack."
"You maybe should have taken the tiara off, though." He pointed out. She shook her head.
"Why?" She asked, "How is anyone supposed to know it's my birthday?" He shook his head with a chuckle. She picked up her glass of wine and took a sip as Jack looked at his watch.
"We should go soon, the Doctor said he'd be back in a few minutes." He told her and she nodded with a sigh, putting her glass down.
"I'm going to have to make him bring me more often. Three hours isn't enough." She told him and he nodded.
"Good. That Time Lord takes too much of your time." Jack motioned for the check and paid quickly, the pair walking out hand in hand. They chatted inanely as they turned onto Jack's street to see the Doctor stood outside his house, pacing slightly in boredom.
"There he is!" Danni cried, letting go of Jack's hand and running over to the Doctor, wrapping her arms around his waist and hugging him tightly. He wrapped his arms around her as Jack walked up, smiling knowingly at the pair.
"Where have you been?" The Doctor asked her, "I've been here a whole twelve minutes."
"We went out for food. It was yummy, Jack got me ice cream." She rambled and he tilted her head up so she was looking at him with a wide smile.
"And drunk, apparently." He added, amused. She shook her head.
"No, I only had a few glasses of wine. I'm fine."
"Well, Amy will be pleased. She wanted to take you to a bar and get you drunk. I didn't think you'd want to..." She gasped in delight and turned to Jack, kissing him on the cheek.
"It's been a blast, Boe Face, but I'm off to get drunk." She turned back to the Doctor, "Maybe there'll be karaoke." She exclaimed before dashing off into the TARDIS in a whirlwind of excitement, leaving the two men gaping at her, both highly entertained by her.
"Well, I'll see you soon, Doc." Jack said with a casual salute after an awkward silence,turning to head back inside.
"Did you kiss her?" The Doctor asked and Jack spun back around, staring at him incredulously.
"Are you still on that?" He asked with a laugh, god that felt like a few lifetimes ago.
"I know what you're like." The Doctor replied, "All handsome and tall and flirty." Jack stared at him with an amused smile, "Convincing people it's a good idea to get all... kissy with you."
"Well, let me put your mind at rest." Jack clasped both hands on his arms, "I didn't kiss her. I won't ever kiss her like that again, I promise." The Doctor nodded, looking pleased.
"Good." He replied with a nod, pausing for a moment, "Because she's mine." Jack laughed.
"Yes, yes she is." He humoured him, "Now, off you pop Romeo." He turned him around and pushed him towards the TARDIS, "Don't do anything I wouldn't do." The Doctor frowned in confusion as Jack left him standing on the street on his own before blushing, realising what Jack was implying.
~0~0~0~
Danni followed Amy into the bar, looking around with a frown of confusion. All of time and space and she takes her to Leadworth in 2012. Neither had gotten changed, so while both of them were still dressed up for the '60's they didn't look too out of place amongst the young people who had gathered there. It was around 11pm and the clientèle were already quite drunk, which was nice because it meant they had a goal to aim for, apparently.
"That's what me and Mels used to do." Amy explained, still getting over the fact that her best friend as a child had been her daughter, "Find a load of drunk people and try and catch up." They both headed towards the bar and Amy waved at the barman, who grinned at the sight of her.
"Amy Pond!" He cried over the music as he finished serving the man in front of them, heading straight over to them.
"Williams." She corrected with the same grin, "This is Danni. She was at the wedding as well." The man nodded.
"Oh yes, I remember. Pretty girl in the polka dot dress." Danni shrugged.
"Could have been, I've not been yet." His brows furrowed in confusion before he laughed it away.
"Oh yes, definitely one of Amelia's friends." He told her, "Usual Amy?" She nodded.
"Two please." He turned around and Danni looked up at her.
"Who's he?" Danni asked, pulling herself up onto one of the tall barstools, automatically swinging her feet as they dangled in the air.
"Oh, just Jonathan. One of Rory's mates. He went to the stag do." Danni nodded, trying to remember the man but couldn't, having been more focused on being in a cardboard cake at the time. He came back with two glasses of what Danni guessed was vodka and coke and Amy paid him, sitting down on the stool next to her.
"To a great Birthday." Danni toasted.
"And a great night." Amy added and they quickly drank down the vodka, wincing slightly at the burn from the alcohol. Amy pointed over to the other side of the room.
"The karaoke lasts all night." She explained, "When we're drunk enough we'll sign up." Danni nodded.
"Then we'd better start, Pond. Fetch me more vodka!" Amy laughed and nodded.
"Yes ma'am." She turned, "Jonathan, keep the booze coming!"
~0~0~0~
"One, two, three..." Amy counted down, "Go!" Danni and Amy licked the salt off the back of their hands, downed the shot then bit into the lime.
"Tequila!" The pair shouted together before falling into a fit of giggles, leaning against each other. Danni yelled in surprise as she almost fell of the stool, setting Amy off again. The singer on the karaoke finished.
"Oh, oh it's our turn!" Amy cried, grabbing Danni by the hand, "What are we singing again?" They headed unsteadily onto the stage.
"I... I have no idea." Danni told her, "But the screen will tell us." She pointed dramatically at the monitor in front of her. The music began playing, a cheap knock-off version of the real song.
"Don't wanna be an American Idiot!" Danni sung loudly and off key, "Don't want a nation under the new media."
"And can you hear the sound of hysteria?" Amy continued, ripping the microphone out of Danni's hand, "The subliminal mind... Hey, they bleeped it!"
"Just continue on!" Danni commanded, taking the microphone back, "Welcome to a new kind of tension. All across the alien nation... Haha, alien!"
~0~0~0~
"I've got two tickets to Iron Maiden, baby," Amy and Danni were still on the stage as the clock struck 3 and the Doctor entered the bar looking for the pair. The numbers in the bar were dwindling, leaving Danni and Amy to have practically free reign of the machine. Amy had her arm wrapped around the smaller woman, keeping her upright and they shared a microphone. Danni's face lit up and she pointed to the Doctor, Amy nodding, "Come with me Friday, don't say 'maybe'. I'm just a teenage dirtbag, baby, like you... Ooooooo." He laughed, wincing slightly as they both attempted a pitch neither of them could reach. Danni stepped forward to get off the stage, now barefoot, but Amy shook her head.
"Song s'not finished." She pointed out, slurring slightly. Danni nodded.
"Oh, yeah, dirtbag, no, she doesn't know what she's missin'" The continued on together, "Oh, yeah, dirtbag, no, she doesn't know what she's missin'." They then both began to play air instruments along with the song, chucking their arms up in the air as the finished on a high. Danni then pushed Amy away and stumbled off the stage, running over to the Doctor and chucking her arms around in, bringing him down for a kiss.
"Yep, you taste like a lot of alcohol." He told her, bopping her nose. She giggled, going cross-eyes as she watched his finger.
"You taste like..." She frowned in thought as Amy joined them, "Like the Doctor!" She settled on, proud of herself and he chuckled with a nod.
"That's probably right. Come on you two, time to head back." Amy pouted.
"Spoilsport." She accused him as she followed the pair out of the bar, the Doctor holding Danni steady.
"We did tequila, and this thing called a Cheeky Vimto; that was yummy." She rambled, "Then a lovely cocktail called Sex on the Beach. That tasted like peaches and reminded me of when we went to that planet with the pink ocean and we left Amy and Rory and went behind that big rock..." Her placed a finger against her lips, blushing deeply at being exposed by her as Amy looked horrified.
"You had sex on Entho? Me and Rory were right there!" She cried as they entered the TARDIS. Danni nodded as Rory heard the last of the conversation, grimacing at the fact that he had been the one to go look for them when they'd disappeared.
"Yeah." She gasped, "Oh, I've had a brilliant idea!" She pulled him down again, trying the kiss him. He pushed her back slightly, the taste of alcohol flooding into his mouth as he continued to blush.
"Danni, not here." He told her gently and she pouted, crossing her arms.
"You're no fun!" She sulked and he placed a kiss on her hair, reaching over to Rory who handed him a little test tube full of a purple liquid.
"This is for you. It'll stop you having a hangover. Drink it then I'll put you to bed." He explained gently.
"But I don't wanna sleep!" She cried, "I wanna be with you." He held out the liquid, "Ooo, it's purple." She yanked off him and downed it like a shot, "Oh yum, it tastes like grape. Can I have some more please?" He laughed, taking hold of her again as they headed into the TARDIS.
"They had sex while we were there?" The Doctor heard Amy ask Rory and shook his head. If Amelia remembered she'd never let him live it down. He yelped as Danni pushed him against the wall, trying to kiss him again. He let her for a moment, hoping it would keep her quiet, before using his grip around her waist to move her into their bedroom. He helped her lie on the bed, tucking her in, not even attempting to get her change.
"I left my shoes at the bar." She told him with a yawn, snuggling into the pillow. Pillows were comfy.
"It's fine. The TARDIS will make some more." He promised her.
"Are you going to be here when I wake up?" She asked him. He nodded, stroking her hair.
"I'll do my best." He promised, "I'm going to the library to catch up on some reading." She reached up, pawing at the top of his shirt.
"I'wan your tie." She mumbled, her eyes closing and he took off the red bow tie, placing it in her hand and she grasped it tightly. He leant down and placed a kiss on her hair as her breathing evened out and she fell asleep.
"Happy Birthday Danielle." He whispered, making sure she was covered up before leaving.
~0~0~0~
Danni's eyes flickered open and for that brief moment after she was torn from her dreams she looked around, disorientated. She reached up, rubbing her forehead expecting a headache considering what her and Amy had drunk, but was pleasantly surprised to find she felt fine. She grinned, man that stuff was amazing. Another perk of being in love with a time-travelling alien genius she supposed. She sat on the edge of the bed, stretching the kinks out of her back with a yawn, seeing the bow tie in her grasp and smiling warmly at it. Such a sentimental old fool. She stood up and headed towards the chest of drawers in the corner, hoping that even if she couldn't find a pair of pyjamas she might be able to find a shirt to sleep in instead of the dress she was wearing. She riffled through the drawers until her hands fell on something white. She looked at it, eyes wide before looking at the bow tie still wrapped around her hand. She grinned and yanked the garment out of the drawer, an idea forming in her mind.