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Title: My Love, On Christmas Day
Author: wishiknewwho
Rating: G
Characters: Ten / Rose, OC (Kira)
Dislcaimer: I don't own Doctor Who and it's probably just as well that I don't because it'd be nothing but hugs and hair ruffling for the foreseeable future. Title taken from the song "Christmas Day" by Dido.
Spoilers: None for DW; takes place in a world where Doomsday never happened. However, if you intend to read my fic Miles to Go and don't want it spoiled, you might want to wait on this one.
Summary: Kira's Nativity.
Author Notes: I know that British schools usually do the Nativity before the last day of school, but I needed to do it this way for the story to work out.

Big thanks to [livejournal.com profile] salimali  for the beta and for helping me with all the British stuff in this one.


“You’re hurting me,” Kira whined, pulling her head out of Rose’s reach.
 
Rose sighed and waited patiently for her daughter to calm down. “You know we need to leave in about ten minutes, love. I need to finish your hair.”
 
Kira’s bottom lip curved into a perfect pout. “But it hurts. You’re pulling out my hair.”
 
Rose stifled a laugh. “I’m not, Kira,” she said soothingly. “But you want it to look perfect, yeah?”
 
Kira gave her a look that said she didn’t really care, but remained silent. Rose moved her hands back to Kira’s hair, and gently tried to pin it. It was the night of the Nativity, and Kira was an angel. Rose wasn’t sure it was the best casting choice, but she had to admit that she did look adorable in the little white dress and wings. If only she could get the halo pinned on.
 
Kira hissed in pain again, and Rose rolled her eyes. Her daughter was being melodramatic. She’d been complaining all evening, from the early bath to the rollers in her hair to the white tights that she claimed were too itchy. Rose didn’t point out to her that they were a new pair of the same tights she wore every day to school, only with little silver sparkles of glitter.
 
Rose fussed with Kira’s hair a little longer until finally it was perfect. She’d managed to tame her daughter’s hair into loose waves, a feat that Rose was sure should earn her an engineering degree. “There,” she said, kissing Kira’s forehead. “You look gorgeous.”
 
Kira gave her a small grin and slid off the barstool. “I’m going to go look,” she said, skipping out of the kitchen and towards the bathroom.
 
“Don’t mess it up,” Rose called after her. Kira didn’t answer her, but Rose knew she’d heard.
 
Rose turned, pushing the barstool back under the bar and smoothing her hands over her skirt. She straightened her jumper and checked her own hair, which she’d curled to match Kira’s. This would be her first school function to attend with the Doctor, the first time she’d present her family, and while she normally didn’t care about those sorts of things, it still mattered. She’d seen the looks some of the other mother’s had given her, and she knew exactly what they thought: single mother, too young to have a child in the first place. She hated those looks, hated when teachers spoke to her as if she didn’t know what was best for her own child, simply because she was younger than the other mums. Maybe tonight would bring an end to that.
 
She heard footsteps and looked up to see the Doctor coming into the kitchen, looking at his hands as he buttoned his shirt. His tie was draped over his shoulder and his hair was still damp from the shower. She’d talked him into a dark grey suit and a dark blue shirt with one of his blue swirly ties. Just the sight of him brought a flush to her cheeks.
 
He glanced up, a smile growing on his face as he took her in. “You look lovely, Miss Tyler,” he murmured, moving forward to kiss her. His lips met hers and she let herself get lost for a moment, delighting in the taste of the toothpaste on his tongue and the smell of his skin. When he pulled back, she slid the tie from his shoulder and looped it around his neck. He leaned down as she deftly knotted the tie then ran her hands through his hair, mussing it up into its usual disarray.
 
“Do I meet with your approval?” he asked, taking a step back and giving her a smug half-smile.
 
Rose bit her lip, holding back a grin. It wasn’t fair, the effect he had on her, but it was even worse that he knew it. But he did look handsome, and she couldn’t help herself. She nodded.
 
“Good,” he said, moving forward to kiss her again. His lips were just centimetres from hers when Kira bounded into the room.
 
“I’m ready,” she announced. 
 
The Doctor pecked her lips then turned to face their daughter. Rose watched him for a moment, taking in the look of awe that came over his face as he saw Kira in her costume. She was pretty sure her heart melted.
 
“Kira,” the Doctor whispered, moving to her, his hand fondly touching one of Kira’s golden curls. “You look beautiful, sweetheart.”
 
Kira beamed. “Thank you, Daddy.” She curtsied, then giggled. Rose bundled her into her coat and scarf, then put on her own coat while the Doctor put his on.
 
Once they were ready, Kira held out a hand to each of them. “Let’s go,” she said.
 
Rose and the Doctor each took one of Kira’s hands and she led them out of the flat. Outside, the air was crisp and cold, a rare night without rain and with little wind. Still, Rose tugged Kira’s hat down over her ears and pulled her close between herself and the Doctor. It had only been a little over a week since she had recovered from a cold, and she didn’t want her suffering a relapse over the holidays.
 
They walked along, not saying much. Rose’s teeth were chattering and the Doctor was lost in his own thoughts. She wondered what he was thinking about. This would be their first Christmas together, the three of them. Rose had to admit that she was excited. It wasn’t that her Christmases without him had been bad, exactly. She’d had Kira and her mum, and she’d enjoyed watching Kira fall in love with the magic of Christmas, but she’d been so lonely. She was lonely all the time, but the holidays made the ache that little bit deeper. But this year she wouldn’t be alone.
 
The Doctor’s eyes met hers; he’d caught her staring. His eyes were warm and bright, reflecting the lights from the Christmas decorations on the street and the love, the devotion she saw there left her breathless. He was hers. She slipped her hand into his, curling her fingers around his fingers. He gave her hand an answering squeeze.
 
Kira’s school was lit up and children and parents were milling about outside. The three of them made their way up the steps and into the school hall. Rose caught sight of Kira’s class and ushered her daughter over to join them while the Doctor found a couple of seats.
 
Kira gave Rose a fearful look as they got near the other children, but Rose just straightened Kira’s halo and gave her a wide grin. “You’re going to be brilliant, love,” she said encouragingly. “Just smile when you’re onstage and sing your songs with the other kids, okay? Daddy and I will be right here watching you.”
 
Kira nodded and Rose guided her towards Ben who was dressed as a wise man. Rose couldn’t help but giggle at the unkempt little boy in the long blue robe. His hair hung in his eyes, his sash was coming undone, and as soon as he saw Kira he started talking a mile a minute.  Kira was a daughter after her mother’s own heart.
 
She walked back to the Doctor who had managed to find them a set of seats near the front of the hall. She could feel a couple of the other mothers’ eyes on her as she took her place next to the Doctor. Rose ignored them, but she couldn’t help the small swell of pride she felt at having him with her, at showing them that she wasn’t at all what they thought.
 
“Is she all right?” he asked, concern in his eyes. He must have been watching them.
 
Rose nodded.  “She’ll be fine. She’s just nervous.” They sat down and their arms met between them. He pressed his along hers and held her hand. 
 
“So, what can I expect from this performance?” he whispered, his breath on the skin of her ear making her shiver.
 
“Well,” she said, turning her head towards his. “You can expect singing, butchering of lines, a lot of cameras going off. And at least one of them will trip.”
 
The Doctor gave her fingers an affectionate squeeze. “Should be interesting then.”
 
She murmured her concurrence, and they settled in to watch the show as the lights went off. They watched as the children filed out onto the stage. Rose looked for Kira in the little group of angels, but her daughter wasn’t there. She looked over to the Doctor, who was looking as worried as she felt.
 
“Isn’t this her group?” he asked, and Rose nodded. “Then where is she?” He stood up and Rose followed, whispering apologies as they made their way out of their row. They went to the backstage area.
 
Kira was nowhere to be found; even Miss Wilder didn’t know where she was. Rose searched frantically until she felt the Doctor’s hand on her shoulder and she looked to where he was pointing. There was a large pile of mats, and just over the top of it she could make out a bit of blonde hair and a silvery halo.
 
The Doctor took her hand and strode over to the mats. Crouching down next to them, he whispered, “Kira.”
 
After a moment, Kira’s head popped out. “Hi, Daddy,” she said, looking a little sheepish.
 
“What are you doing back there, love?” Rose asked, although she was pretty sure that she knew the answer. Of course Kira would have stage fright. She was surprised she had agreed to do the Nativity in the first place.
 
“Hiding, Mum,” Kira said, as if it wasn’t already obvious enough.
 
The Doctor sat down on the mats and pulled Kira into his lap. “Are you afraid of going out there in front of everyone, Kira?” he asked.
 
Kira nodded. “I look silly,” she said.
 
Rose watched them as the Doctor put his hand under Kira’s chin, getting her to look at him. “You do not look silly,” he said, conviction in his voice. “You look beautiful, Kira.”
 
“Really?” she asked, her voice hesitant.
 
“I promise,” he said, wrapping her in a hug. Rose felt her heart constrict. There were no words for how much she loved him.
 
“I’m ready to go out now,” Kira said, sliding off his lap.
 
“That’s my girl,” he said, placing a smacking kiss to her forehead.
 
Rose gave her daughter an encouraging smile. “We’ll be waiting for you when it’s over.”
 
Kira nodded and rushed out to the stage. Rose and the Doctor hurried back to their seats, just in time to see Kira join the other angels. Her mouth moved along with the words of the song, and even though it was just a children’s play, something about the lights and the Christmas carols left Rose with a feeling of magic. She gripped the Doctor’s hand tightly in hers, and she glanced at his face. He was watching intently, and she knew he felt the magic too.
 
And then before she knew it, the Nativity was over. The children were taking their bows. Kira was smiling out at them, her cheeks flushed with pride. Rose joined the Doctor as he stood up and clapped, and she didn’t care at all what anyone in the hall thought of them. She only had eyes for her daughter.
 
She and the Doctor were just about to retrieve Kira, when Rose saw Ben approach her. She grabbed the Doctor’s arm, stopping him.
 
“What?” he asked, looking at her in confusion.
 
Rose shook her head. “Just watch.”
 
The Doctor frowned but stayed still, and together they watched as Ben stood in front of Kira. He was saying something to her and appeared to be pulling his hair to great effect. And he was blushing. Then, he threw his arms around Kira and pulled the startled little girl into a hug, before letting go of her like she was on fire and running toward his parents.
 
“What?” the Doctor said again, this time a little indignant.
 
Rose just laughed and led the Doctor over to their dazed daughter. Rose was tempted to tease her, but when Kira looked up at her with stars in her eyes, she didn’t have the heart to do it. Rose knew all too well how much a hug could mean, when it came from the right person.
 
Instead, she lifted Kira and kissed her cheek. “You were so good, love. You looked beautiful up there. Don’t you think, Doctor?” Kira smiled at her and they both turned to the Doctor.
 
He nodded dumbly, still distracted. “What happened back there? Why did Ben hug you?” He said Ben’s name like it left a bad taste in his mouth.
 
“Daddy,” Kira said with a sigh, burying her face in Rose’s shoulder.
 
Rose swatted him, ignoring his affronted look. “Let her be, love. Let her have her moment.”
 
“What are you talking about?” the Doctor asked, leading them out of the hall.
 
Rose gave him a look. “The first time you gave me a hug like that, I walked on a cloud for days.”
 
“But that was...” The Doctor’s mouth curved downward again. “Oh, you cannot mean...”
 
Rose giggled and followed him out into the dark night. She put Kira down so she could walk, taking her hand in hers and looped her other hand through the Doctor’s arm. “Oh but I do mean,” she said with a grin. “Like mother, like daughter.”
 

They walked along, making their way back to their little flat to make their preparations for their first Christmas as a family, the two Tyler girls off in their own little worlds, and the Doctor lost in bewilderment.



Four




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January 2012

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