Imaginary Worlds

"In fine. Promise. They come and go." the Doctor assured firmly. He would handle it as he always had.

"Look. Can we just ignore it for now? I thought I was suppose to be relaxing." the Doctor teased playfully.

"fine, fine, just lay back," the Master offered as they sat back and enjoyed the silence. They would surely have some time until the boy upstairs woke so they could just relax.

Which was what everyone seemed to really need lately, it had been a harsh year.

((Off to bed then!))

The fact that it had been a year spoke wonders. It truly did. He sighed softly and settled back, content for just a moment.

The Doctor was happy for once. So who was he to complain? Especially when the Master was still hanging about.

They relaxed together for a while until the Master checked his watch and sighed. "I'm late, I said I'd be back to see Koschei by now and I don't want him to get a complex."

He needed the boy to know that no matter what, he did come first. That was just that.

The Doctor sighed softly and nodded a bit. "Don't worry about it. I'll see you again later." he assured softly, stealing a quick kiss.

Right. He didn't mind letting the Master go. "Watch the news." he murmured.

"If I get chance, Koschei is still frustrated over the puzzle so most my time is wasted keeping him company," he said wasted because he wasn't even sure if Koschei liked him there.

Putting his hands n his pockets, he nodded and headed outside the door. "I'll call you."

The Doctor sighed softly as he shut the door. Right. He probably needed to get Marnal up to feed the lad.

Heading up, he did just that, shaking the child gently. "Come on, kiddo you still need food." he murmured.

Marnal yawned and stretched out, sitting upright and rubbing his eyes, clearly quite tired and that was obvious by how sluggish his movements were by this.

"Did you have fun with Mr Saxon?" he asked with a small curious frown.

The Doctor smiled softly at that one. "I suppose. Don't worry about it. Come on and I'll make you a sandwich or something." he said lightly.

Why not? He saw no reason to cook much at the moment. He felt a bit lazy.

"Can I have peanut butter?" Marnal asked with a frown as he got up and headed after his dad. He didn't want to ask too much of his clearly tired father though. "Can I have jam on it as well?"

"And some milk? I can pour it myself," Marnal promised with a small smile, determined to help out.

"that's easy enough." the Doctor assured, setting to work about the kitchen. He even poured the milk for his son.

"Eat up." he murmured, thanking a seat beside the lad. He didn't feel muh up for getting up.

Marnal happily ate his sandwich, watching his dad with a small frown, he knew the man was upset but he didn't know how to make him feel any better, he always looked so tired these days.

"Do you have bad dreams?" Marnal asked with a curious expression.

The dreaded question. "I do. It'll get better. I just...It's not easy to get around." he murmured softly.

The Doctor was coping. Just not very well. "I don't have the same dreams that you do though." he admitted.

"Dreams are just dreams, you said so, why do they worry you?" Marnal asked because he was sure he had been told many times that dreams were not that important.

If they weren't then why did they upset him so much? He took a bite and gave his dad an expecting look, he always explained everything.

He should have seen this coming. "I know. I have them more often than you do, which means I get woken up more often than you." he offered.

And they hurt. As though his nerves could remember something as he dealt with the ghost of past incidences.

"I'm sorry you have so many, can I stop them?" Marnal asked with a small curious expression because he did have to wonder if it was something that he could do.

Even if it was just giving away his night light or something, he was always looking to help him.

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