Chapter Four - Say Hello

"Okay, I've sorted out all the paperwork, no need to thank me."

"Skip the small talk Jack, just tell us about this kid." the Master said, scowling.

"Well, you're in good ol' familiar English territory this time, a village called Leadworth. Poor kid lost her parents to unknown causes when she was a baby, and her aunt cared for her after that."

"And…?"

"Her aunt disappeared over a year ago, we assume she ran off to start a new life without her young niece in tow. Her name's Amelia Pond. Ginger and Scottish, a combination I thought our Doctor here might like."

"Amelia Pond. Like a name in a fairy-tale," the Doctor smiled "can we see her now?"

"Yeah, just through here," Jack opened the door and let them pass "Amelia? I got you some potential parents here. You be nice to them."

An awkward silence followed, "So? I guess you're Amelia."

"Yeah, and you're both blokes."

"Yes, but we're happily married and love each other."

"Yeah, guess you're still better than any of the other interviews I've already had."

The Doctor sat cross-legged to be at eye level with her "What do you think about all of this?"

Amelia sighed, "Mr Harkness said I should said hello when I meet my new parents, but I don't see the point in formalities if they're going to be my new parents."

The Doctor grinned, "Very intelligent for someone so young, seven years old? What's that you've got in your hand?"

Amelia flinched as his hand went towards it, but then brought it forward, "It's an apple. My mother always carved smiles into them when I was a baby, apparently."

"That's nice," he smiled, "you know, Mr Harkness is an old friend of ours, and he said we can go on a day out to get acquainted. Would you like that?"

"Make a change from staying in this place all the time."

---

"First, we'd like to introduce you to our home." the Master said.

"It's a blue box."

The Doctor revealed a pout, "Oh, it's so much more than that. Take a peek inside."

Amelia popped her head in and then pulled it out, "What is it - smoke and mirrors?"

The Master chuckled, "Alright, something is seriously wrong, even I miss the old 'it's bigger on the inside' routine right now!"

A snap of the Doctor's fingers, and the doors flew wide open, "Would you like to see the rest, Amelia? Because there's so much more."