So not what I'm supposed to be writing. So no change there. There's a Bugs piece that's about 1600 words. Unbeta'ed because there's basically no fandom, so no-one to beta, or to read. But, hey, it's good practice. And two Doctor Who pieces, both only about 500 words. Also unbeta'ed because I'm not in the fandom, I'm not entirely sure about being in the fandom, and I don't feel I can go into it and ask for betas. So these three are unlikely to end up anywhere except for my LJ, website and ff.net.

Bugs: Happily Ever After

A Happy Ever After post-ep - which is the one where Ros decides, at the last minute, not to go to America with Channing. Ros's new flat is sort of jossed by the next episode, but we'll just gloss over that.


Ros and Alex had long since abandoned thoughts of any entertainment other than that of Ed and Beckett cooking in Ros's kitchen. Although her new flat was more open than the old one, the kitchen was still round the corner from where the two women sat, on the sofa which was the only comfortable seat Ros had so far. The problem wasn't that she didn't have the money to buy more, it was just that she had quickly got attached to her new flat and furniture, and a small part of her was still scared something would happen to this one.

"It's gone very quiet," Alex said, "I wonder what they're doing in there."

Before Ros could reply, though, there came an ominous crash followed by Ed's voice: "Beckett!"

Ros winced and worried whether she would even have a kitchen left by the time they finished.

"I never touched it!"

"Guys..." Ros called, warningly.

"It's okay, it's just a plate, you've got loads," Beckett called back. It was probably supposed to be reassuring.

Alex smiled; Ros rolled her eyes. It was just as well they were good friends of hers, otherwise they might suddenly find their bank accounts had no money in, and they knew it. Although in Beckett's case that was not really much of a threat any more. Ros had considered sneaking some money into his account but she knew he would notice and that would be a more embarrassing conversation than any others they'd had on the subject so far.

"Maybe we should pay them for being the evening's entertainment," Alex suggested and Ros laughed.

Just then, Beckett came out of the kitchen, cutlery in hand, and gave Ros and Alex a smile before setting the table.

"So," Ros said, looking at Beckett's back, "everything okay in there?"

Beckett moved round the table to face them before he answered. "It's all in hand, don't worry, Ros." He waved his hand in what would have been a placatory gesture if he hadn't had a collection of knives and forks in it, and if Ed hadn't chosen that moment to swear loudly.

"Hmm," was all Ros said to that.

Alex giggled but then it wasn't her flat that was in danger.

Beckett grimaced and, having set out the cutlery, disappeared back into the depths of the kicthen and "Ed, what are you doing?" was heard from within it.

"It's supposed to look like that."

"No, it isn't."

A pause then, "Are you sure?"

There was quiet for a minute while Ros and Alex tried hard not to worry about being accidentally poisoned. Separately, the guys were fine and Ros had eaten food they'd cooked before with no ill effects. Together, though, they just seemed to egg each other on. Ros wondered if there was a way of extracting testosterone - it would probably make all the difference.

Eventually the master chefs brought the meal out and Ros was surprised by the way it was all tastefully arranged on the plate and nothing looked burnt. If she hadn't been sitting there the whole time she would have wondered if they'd just gone out and bought something and microwaved it. The comments she'd heard earlier still worried her but she reasoned the guys would probably not want to make themselves ill too. And besides, they could do wonderful things with a stomach pump these days.

All their fears were unfounded, though, when the meal surprised everyone by being delicious.

Afterwards, all four of them reclined at the table, equally unable to eat another thing. Although given that Ed and Beckett had managed to use up practically every ingredient in the place, that was probably just as well.

"We should clear up," Ed suggested.

"I have a dishwasher, we can leave it," Ros said. Not that she really wanted to have to deal with it all on her own in the morning but it was always nicer not to have to worry about the washing up after a nice meal.

"You haven't seen the state of the kitchen," Beckett said.

Ros thought that she probably didn't want to see the state of her kitchen.

"Come on," Beckett said, standing up and stacking the plates, "the sooner we start, the sooner we'll be finished."

"Agh. Who came up with that inspiring statement?"

But Beckett, heading for the kitchen, just laughed, and Ed was forced to follow.

Ros and Alex moved back to the sofa and switched the TV on. A bit of channel surfing revealed a Bond film was just starting. Alex made an 'ooh' sound as Bond leapt to safety with only the aid of his watch.

Ros sighed. "You can't actually make watches that do that," she said.

Alex matched her sigh. "I used to like these."

Ros smiled slightly. She did too, back when she thought they were realistic and actually possible.

Alex soon got into the act though, complaining about the fighting. When Ed and Beckett joined them they added their own thoughts, although Ed spent time trying to convince them that he could do the stunts better than Bond could. Beckett was quieter but still put in a few words of his own.

The two guys were too gentlemanly to try and take the comfortable seat from Ros and Alex. Ros had found them some cushions and they sat on them at the foot of the sofa. Ros knew that the floor was hard but it didn't seem to matter too much for Ed was continually jumping up to demonstrate his refutation of a stunt. Beckett leaned his head against the seat and Ros tried not to move her legs too much to avoid kicking him in the head.

There were a few moments of quiet, though, as they were all either impressed by the story or the special effects, or in Ed's case Bond's ability to get any girl he wanted. One of Q's gadgets had given Ros an idea, though. As he demonstrated it she had frowned, considering it, and it was a while before she realised Beckett was looking up at her with an odd look on his face. He didn't comment, though, so neither did she.

When the Bond film ended the next programme turned out to be a murder mystery none of them followed. There was so rarely time to watch any television, and when they had time they all had other things they wanted to do. So it was nice to spend a comfortable evening not moving and not having to use their brains. And not being shot at or have people trying to kidnap them or blow them up.

"I think the old guy did it," Ros suggested, during one of the advert breaks.

"What, no way!" Beckett said. "He was miles away at the time."

"So he says. And that doesn't stop him paying someone else to do it."

"Because that always works out so well."

"All right, smartypants, who do you think did it?"

"Definitely the girl. I mean, she had a key!"

Ros considered his suggestion. "No, too obvious."

"Ed?" Beckett turned round to elicit some help.

Ed refused to be drawn though. "I'm staying out of this."

"I think the butler did it," Alex suggested.

"There isn't a butler," Ed said.

Alex just shrugged. "Seems as likely as any other suggestion."

Turning back to the screen, Beckett and Ros shared a smile. Neither of them were going to give, however. It was only when they reached the end that they found neither was right (nor was it the absent butler). Ed just laughed as the murderer was uncovered. Ros thought about leaning down and throttling him. Beckett had obviously had the same idea for Ros saw him shift slightly and Ed said, "Ow" in an indignant tone.

Luckily for Beckett he was saved from retribution by the discovery that Alex had fallen asleep.

"I'll take her home," Ed said, getting up and gently reaching over to wake her.

Alex yawned and barely opened her eyes.

"Come on," Ed said.

Alex allowed him to put his arm round her waist and leant against him as they negotiated the door and the stairs.

Ros reached for the remote control to turn the TV off and was suddenly aware, in the wake of Ed and Alex's departure, of an uncomfortable silence between her and Beckett. She knew they were all pretending that this was just an ordinary evening spent in each other's company and she knew what Beckett really wanted to speak to her about. When the others had arrived he had barely got the word "Channing" out before she'd forbidden him to talk about it, for tonight at least.

"I am sorry," Beckett said, after a while, not looking up, "it would have been a great opportunity. But I'm glad you stayed. I would have missed you. We would have missed you," he amended.

"I would have missed you guys too," Ros replied, quietly.

"Are you okay?" Beckett asked, after a pause. "I could stay if you like."

"This sofa's not that comfortable."

"Don't tell me you don't have spare rooms?" Beckett finally looked up at Ros, now they were back into something more like their familiar banter.

"I do, but I only have one bed."

Beckett chuckled.

Ros was only glad she had cleared the kitchen of some of her more valuable and delicate gizmos.

"In that case," he said, "I'll see you tomorrow."

Ros nodded. Beckett smiled at her before he left and she couldn't help but return it, just wishing he had said something earlier. That he'd realised he only had to ask her to stay and she would have. It was the only reflection she would allow herself, though, and she went to bed, determined not to think about it again.


Doctor Who: University

Ages ago, actually it was nearly a year ago, I had an idea about Ace and the Doctor going undercover in a modern-day (ish) university. She could pretend to be a student by going to lectures (no-one's actually going to notice) and the Doctor can be a lecturer. So Ace can call him Professor for real.

This was the only scene I wrote and when I came back to it I realised that's because that was what the whole plot was for. I certainly didn't have any more plot - like why they were undercover for a start.

This is inspired by the Big Finish audio 'The Harvest', at least in the idea of the Doctor and Ace undercover.

This is set not that long after Survival, and Ace is about 18/19ish.


When the Doctor found Ace she was eating pizza with one hand and writing with the other, only stopping occasionally to brush crumbs from one of the books scattered around the table. His books.

"Ace," he said, with a warning in his voice.

Ace chose to ignore it. "Professor," she greeted him, not really looking up, or indeed stopping.

The Doctor took her preoccupation as a chance to sneak in close, lean over, and take the pen from her fingers.

"Oi!"

"What," the Doctor asked, leaning on the table next to her, "are you doing?"

"I'm writing an essay. It's just that it has to be in tomorrow and it's on the future of computing, which is something I can actually do for a change..."

She trailed off as the Doctor closed one of the books to see the title. "Ignoring the fact that your knowledge of the future makes this cheating, you have more important things to do."

"Yes, Doctor," Ace said, sounding more contrite.

The Doctor was not fooled. "You can't hand the essay in anyway. The university doesn't know you exist."

Ace gave a sigh. "I know." Her voice was quiet and she slumped back against her seat.

The Doctor frowned, pulled up a nearby chair and sat, resting his cheek on his hand, watching Ace. Ace picked up her essay, looking over it.

"But you wish they did." It was not hard to guess. He had been wondering for a while, given the amount of cajoling he had to do to get her to help with their investigation instead of having fun with her new friends.

"Sometimes I just wish my life was normal. That I spent my time studying and partying like everyone else my age."

The Doctor was quiet for a minute before asking, "Do you want to stay here?"

"I can't. I don't have any A-levels. I don't even understand half the stuff they teach."

"I can help. Get you into university, if that's what you really want." The Doctor chose, for the moment, to ignore the legality of that. It was one thing to do it to get them undercover to investigate something, if the need arose, it was something else to do it for life.

"I can't ask you to do that." Ace suddenly stood, closing books and piling them up. "It doesn't matter. I'm not really an academic sort of person anyway. I'm probably destined to a life of waitressing. Never amounting to anything."

As she made for the door with a pile of books the Doctor took her arm and stopped her leaving. "I couldn't have done it without you," he said. When she opened her mouth he added, "And I need you now, to help me finish it, to sort this mess out."

Ace nodded but did not look at him and the Doctor released her. As she reached the door he called out. "The offer still stands, if you want it, when you're ready."

The only indication she gave of hearing him was to stop in the doorway before she disappeared out of sight.

The Doctor sighed. He always seemed to be at something of a loss to understand his young companion.


Doctor Who: An Ordinary Morning in the TARDIS...

This was inspired by a line in 'The Veiled Leopard' where Ace threatened to confiscate Hex's favourite marmalade if he didn't do as he was told. After that, I can just imagine Ace and Hex as squabbling siblings and the Doctor the much put-upon parent.

Warning: this is not to be taken seriously.

This is set after 'The Veiled Leopard'.


The Doctor, Ace and Hex were enjoying a relative period of quiet. The TARDIS was in need of its annual MOT, as Ace put it, so they were parked in the middle of nowhere. Ace and Hex both complained about there being nothing new and see and do but this did give them some time to relax, which they all needed but none of them would admit to. Although they did not necessarily all have the same idea of what relaxing meant.

This particular morning the Doctor sat calmly drinking his tea and eating his toast while doing his best to ignore Ace, who banged about the kitchen, opening and closing each cupboard door in turn and muttering under her breath. Or at least, it had started off under her breath; it was, by now, definitely audible.

The Doctor finished one piece of toast and started on another, spreading it with a substance that was thick and green. Ace had long since refused to try it, despite the Doctor describing its appetising properties at great length. He did not look up but told her to, "Try the oven."

Ace did as he suggested and retrieved a box of cornflakes from it, saying, "I'm going to kill him." However, she merely sat down and poured her cereal into a bowl, along with some milk that she had long since learned not to ask where it came from.

"I still don't know what was wrong with toast," the Doctor said.

Ace shrugged and swallowed. "Coming from someone who regularly has a roast dinner for breakfast."

"Do you know how hard it is to get cornflakes? Every planet has bread but-"

"...only Earth has cornflakes. I know, you say it every time we go shopping. But you buy it anyway."

"Are you saying I'm getting predictable?"

"Never." Ace grinned and the Doctor smiled in return.

Hex interrupted when he arrived and dumped a ball of string on the table before putting a slice of bread into the toaster. "Morning," he said, cheerily.

"What's that for?" Ace asked.

"I thought I'd have another look in the library today."

Ace smiled. "How long did it take you to get out last time?"

"Half an hour. I could have sworn the room wasn't that big when I went in." Hex, his bread having toasted by this time was staring intently into one of the cupboards. "All right, I give in, where's my marmalade this morning?"

Ace continued eating her cereal and adopted a particularly innocent expression. Hex could not see it from his position, though, so it was somewhat wasted.

The Doctor sighed. "Fourth cupboard down, behind the custard."

"Traitor," Ace told him.

The Doctor ignored her and got up to dispose of his dirty crockery. Spotting a row of mugs on the side, he picked one up to examine its contents.

"Careful!" Ace warned. "That could be explosive."

The Doctor put the mug down gingerly. "I do wish you wouldn't do your experiments in the kitchen."

"Sorry."

"Well, as much as I enjoy watching your games at breakfast, I have work I need to do on the TARDIS. Ace, I'll need your help today, if you've finished."

Ace sighed, but gave her bowl and spoon to the Doctor anyway, who piled it up with his. She kept her tea with her, though.

"Have fun," Hex said, as they left.

"If you're not back for dinner we'll send a search party," Ace called back.

"Children," the Doctor muttered under his breath.