Imaginary Worlds

"I can definitely start looking about. Don't worry about it. But hiding upstairs definitely sounds decent enough." the Doctor murmured, stealing a kiss before he got up to head to their bedroom. He just wanted a lazy day. Who cared if that was dull?

He got settled into the bed and absently flicked on some random film. Again. He didn't really care. The Doctor just wanted to lay back, close his eyes, and relax. A thing he most definitely settled in to do.

They lay in bed together quite content and constantly teetering on the edge of sleep. The Master would of stayed in bed but he realised, just as he was on the verge of falling asleep, that Marnal existed. Peering over his shoulder, he winced.

He must of slept longer than he thought. "Doctor? We're five minutes late to get Marnal," the Master informed him as he reluctantly hauled himself out of his nice warm position. Like he'd said before... having kids sucked.

The Doctor made a soft noise of distress as he stirred, only to cringe. Damn. He hadn't meant to forget the kid. He really hadn't. Shaking his head, he got up and stretched a bit. "Alright. I'll get him. You just stay here and rest." he murmured, straightening himself out as he headed out.

It wasn't too bad. A few lectures from the staff and off they were. The Doctor even made quick work of getting home. He apologized the entire way, bu that was just him. He felt guilty for all of that.

Marnal hadn't liked being left behind but he soon forgot when they got home and the Master had already started dinner. Toast and spaghetti, something that took literally 15 minutes to make and Marnal managed to devour in about the same amount of time.

The Master went back upstairs to lie down and tried his hardest to tug the Doctor upstairs with him. "Come on, we both just want to lie down today. And I bet Marnal won't mind watching TV on the end of our bed, huh Marnal?" the boy nodded happily in agreement, he was more than happy to just be in the room with them.

"Right, right. Laying about and watching shows." the Dotor assured with a grin, lifting Marnal up and heading for the bedroom. This was nice. Cozy even. Just a happy little family unit. It was hard to be irate or anything at the moment.

"So. How was nursery then? Any better than before?" the Doctor asked as he got settled in with the child. He never imagined his life would come to this point. It was a lot to take in. More so when he has a moment to do so.

Marnal smiled as sat on the Doctors lap and watched the Master set up the TV with a small curious look. He never did know how the TV worked, he was at the age where he assumed you just pressed and button and cartoons came on.

"It was all right, some boy kept trying to play with me," Marnal mumbled, as if he wasn't sure what to make of it. The Master sighed, they really didn't need another socially messed up kid. "He was nice... little funny. Gave me a cookie."

The Doctor sighed and ruffled the lad's hair. "That's called making friends. Know what I mean? Sort of like when you try and play with others and whatnot." he informed lightly. What? He was being nice. He was helping his son.

Then again, it might no be that best scenario for them. Another kid running about with Marnal might just be asking for trouble. Considering how hyperactive their son already was.

The Master rolled his eyes. Like that would ever end well. Marnal and a friend sounded like trouble, especially two boys. they'd probably come round and trash the place - something that the Master really didn't want.

"Why do we have to have friends?" Marnal asked before curiously cocking his head to the side and looking between the Master and the Doctor. "Are you two close friends? ... Do all friends share beds?" How could he know any better? Everyone at nursery had a mom and a dad. Why did he have a dad and a master-dad.

Because that wasn't awkward at all. And wasn't he already banned from these discussions? Sighing, he moved Marnal so that he could actually look at the kid properly. "Friends are nice because they're somebody to play with and spend time with. Somebody to talk to. It's good to have friends." he murmured softly.

And then the more difficult topic. Right. "See. I'm going to tell you the same thing as I told Koschei before. The Master and I are just that. The Master and myself. We are your parents just like any other kid will have a father and a mom. Understand?" the Doctor asked softly. What? He was trying.

Marnal cocked his head to the side, took it all in before offering the Doctor a somewhat confused look. Well, he had a few questions from that. "So which one of you is mom and which one is dad?"

"The Doctors mom," the Master chimed in quickly, grinning playfully before sitting on the bed by Marnal and ruffling the kids hair. "Look, kiddo. Some kids have moms and dads, some kids have moms and moms and you have a dad and another dad. Course, the Doctor is dad, you can just call me Master."

The Doctor sighed softly and shook his head. "Sort of like how Koschei is your brother, but he only calls the Master dad. It's the same basic idea." he assured, glancing toward the Master briefly. That was the best he could think to explain it.

Because how else was he to say he and the Master were shacking up to raise a family together? It just didn't work out. It wasn't easy putting this sort ofthing into the perspective of a four year old child.

"So you're not like a mom and dad? Are you divo--divore?" Marnal tried to get out, trying to remember the word that his friend today had used about his parents. Moms and dads that don't love one another often get them.

"Nah, we're not divorced. We're unconventional mavericks," the Master mocked playfully, they had their own unique little family in there own odd way and that was that. They didn't need the normal or ordinary.

"No. We aren't divorced. We've never been married to one another. We're dating...Long term. Sort of like you seen in movies." the Doctor offered. Actually, it was a bit odd to him. He didn't mind or care. He just...Didn't know what to expect as their kids got older.

He didn't think it would be an issue. But would questions like this come up? Probably. Especially if the Doctor tried to talk to Koschei or Marnal about dating. Not to mention the example that they were currently setting.

"Why is Master Koschei's dad and you're mine. Can't I have bother?" Marnal asked and the Master had to laugh because it seemed they had opened pandoras box. "Are me and Koschei brothers for sure then? Cause we have different dads."

"Name, its just confusing calling us both dad and we go by preference. Don't over think it, just watch the TV," the Master flipped on the boys favourite cartoon and his attention was gone like that, settling against the Doctor to watch it.

The Doctor sighed softly and settled back a bit, tilting his head to stare at the ceiling as he brushed his son's hair affectionately. This was nice. Much better than all o the bothersome questions. Of course Marnal would be curious as to what was going on in their family dynamic.

It just wasn't easy to explain. In fact, it was quite impossible. He waited a bit before tapping Marnal's temple playfully. "Time to start thinking about bed kiddo." the Doctor said lightly, yet keeping firm enough to show he wasn't taking anything.

Marnal was definitely half asleep and despite being in his normal clothes still, he was ready for bed. more specifically, he was ready to sleep on the Doctor who was he already sprawled on and trying to get comfortable.

"I sleep here," he mumbled and the Master smirked, he wasn't willing to help the doctor. Oh now. He just slipped into bed and settled down himself. What? It was kinda funny to see how sleepy the kid was.

"Not tonight. Sorry. But tomorrow, okay?" the Doctor murmured. If only because he knew the next day would be emotionally taxing. Dealing with visiting your psychopath of a simply in an institution could do that to a person. Particularly a small child.

He lifted the boy as he stood, getting Marnal settled into his own bed for the night before returning. "Alright. Tomorrow, I'll see Marnal off and we can pick him up together on our way out." the Doctor murmured as he settled into bed tiredly.

"Better he sticks with us tomorrow at all times, we hardly need Marnal getting confused or letting Koschei lie to him. We can take it in turns watching him," The Doctor would have to watch Marnal more, he assumed, he didn't have muchof a relationship with Marnal.

He left it all to the doctor and he assumed they would always be close. Which they were, hence the luck of everything. "Look tomorrow will be hard, lets not worry about it and just get some sleep in, yeah?"

((Off to bed!))

The Doctor sighed softly and nodded. "Alright. We'll trade him off and whatnot. Don't worry abou t." he murmured softly as he cuddled up to sleep. He wasn't going to complain. This was nice. Cozy even.

Until morning when he woke up. He did the usual routine. Get up, get Marnal goig, and cook. Period. It was the routine that sucked. He'd never been one for monotony.

The Master got up later than the Doctor, sat downstairs to watch cartoons with the boy and have his breakfast. His routine was much more relaxed and hey, the Doctor had wanted this life, now he got it. The Master wouldn't be doing anything about it.

"So what time do we visit Koschei?" the Master asked from the floor where he was crouched down with Marnal, playing with his dinosaur toys and pretending to eat Marnals favourite one with his t-rex. Which, of course, distracted the boy from listening as he was too busy laughing and trying to get him back.

The Doctor sighed softly and shook his head. "I wanted to go a little earlier today. I figure we can pick Marnal up a bit early at two and be there by three. Usually we won't be there until sox thirty." he said softly, perching upon the arm of the couch.

And that's all there was to it. He wanted to go early so that he could check in and see that Koschei was adapting well and the like. He doubted that was the case. That didn't mean he wouldn't hope and see.

"I'll drive Marnal to nursery and them we'll go for dinner and maybe go for a walk. Kill some time till we pick Marnal up," the Master remarked, knowing that today was going to be a rough day but the Master was determined to stay strong as he snagged the keys to the car and waited for Marnal to finish fiddling with his shoes.

"Unless, of course, you have work?" the Master never did follow the Doctors work schedule, only that he gets a few days off in the week like Marnal did, which worked out fantastically for the Master.

"Took it off. I mean, it's not like it's goin to be too rough on us for me to miss a day." the Doctor said lightly. If only because his schedule was being changed a bit. He didn't like how...Erratic it all was.

"Go. Have fun. We can go when you get home." the Doctor assured, bidding Marnal goodbye before cleaning up the kitchen while he waited on the Master to return. Alright. So maybe a little monotony was alright.

The Master and Marnal played songs all the way to nursery and he dropped off the kid in his usual hap-hazardous way... left the side of the sidewalk and pointed in the direction of the school instead of walking him. "Stay off the road as well! We'll be here at two!"

Leaving the boy too it, the Master got back home and parked the car just on the road outside. Heading along the pavement, he knocked the door and waited for the Doctor to open it with a playful smile. "Ready yet?"

The Doctor opened the door with a broad grin as he stepped out, kissing the Master as he slipped past. "A carnival is going to be in town on Koschei's first weekend visit. Maybe we can take the kids to it. Invite along Epsilon and whatnot." he offered.

It seemed like a nice enough idea. What kid wouldn't like it? And Epsilon usually helped to mellow their son out a bit. Hopefully. It was a bit of a toss up at times.