Of Sons, Sea and Sand ♦ for justneededtea

[noblexcompanion]

Beach! Beachbeachbeachbeach! Yay! Best medicine ever. Sun, sand and sea. Perfect. Donna had spent ages getting ready. How hard was it to pick a swimsuit? Apparently, very hard. It had taken ages to find the perfect fit, but she had eventually settled on a black swimsuit - not wearing blue, not with the two skinny boys being all bluewars! Right, black swimsuit, hot pink sarong and matching flipflops, and of course sunhat and oversized sunglasses. She'd also put on some superstrength suncream.

She had then busied her getting Percy and Adi ready. She fed them and ensured Percy was flly charged. She had smothered Adi in suncream and found sunhats for the pair of them. And of course, she found buckets and spades.

She had made a picnic for everyone and packed beachtowels and drinks and extra suncream. No one could say she was unprepared. "Doctor! Adam! Come on! Hurry up!!!"

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[justneededtea.livejournal.com]

Neither were happy about this whole thing. The Doctor was stuck in white and blue stripes, both accidentally wearing white T-shirts but neither wanted to give into the other. Adam just sighed and slipped on the sunglasses, just so they could be told apart.

"We're coming!"

Hurrying along, the Doctor grinned and dashed to the door, not really spending much time hanging around, he just happy burst through the door and out into the sandy beach. "No time to waste! Come along!"

Adam was miles behind. Solely because Percy insisted on being carried and that was never easy.

[noblexcompanion]

"So, where are we? Earth? Somewhere else? When are we?" Donna called after him, carrying the heavy baskets. Yeah, thanks for the help there, Doc. You just carry on.

Adi dashed between the Doctor's legs into the sand and rolled around happily until he looked like a walking sand ball.

[justneededtea.livejournal.com]

"Earth, 28th century!" the Doctor proclaimed as he strolled ahead, Adam and Donna struggling behind, though the Doctor hadn't realised, he was too busy appreciating the lovely beach. Bloody git. Adam wheezed and struggled while Percy beep excitedly in his ear and flailed about.

"Thanks for the help!" Adam complained, but the Doctor didn't hear him. He was too busy playing with Adi in the sand.

[noblexcompanion]

"Wow... lovely." Much better than 21st century beaches. Cleaner. The sea actually looked blue instead of, well, brown. Donna heaved the baskets over to where the Doctor and Adi were playing, and laid out the biggest blanket.

She got the buckets and spades out. A tiny one for Adi and a bigger one for Percy. She handed the tiny one to the Doctor. "Here..."

[justneededtea.livejournal.com]

The Doctor frowned before passing the bucket and spade to Adam. The hand looked it over, frowned and nodded in agreement. Well, he had nothing better to do. Off he went to teach Percy how to make a castle. The Doctor dropped down beside Donna and grinned.

"So what do you wanna do then?" Well, this was Donna's trip. What did she want?

[noblexcompanion]

"Wanna ditch the kids for awhile and take a stroll along the beach?" Perfect parenting at its best! She smiled and put on her sunglasses.

She handed Adam a credit stick. Yay for money. "Here, in case you boys need ice cream." Which would be likely. Very likely. "We're going for a walk. Stay out of trouble, and stay near the TARDIS. There's food and drink in the baskets and suncream."

[justneededtea.livejournal.com]

"You're leaving me alone with them? Ah yes, you two are perfect parents," was that sarcasm? It was indeed. Adam rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to the rather epic sandcastle he was building with Percy and Adi. No doubt they'd be at it for a while.

The Doctor simply rolled his eyes and patted Percy on the head. They were great parents. They just needed alone time. Falling into step with Donna, he sighed slight. "So how are you feeling?"

[noblexcompanion]

Well, Adam was always insisting he was responsible and didn't want to be treated like a kid. Babysitting was a perfect way of proving it. Plus alone time was very much needed.

Donna walked along so the waves rolled over her ankles every time the sea swept in. She slipped her hand into the Doctor's. "Me? Oh, you know. I'm fine. Always alright, me."

[justneededtea.livejournal.com]

"Wellll, so am I," Which meant Donna wasn't. It was a good always a good lie but it only worked on people who didn't know all the tricks in the book. "If you ever have any problems or, you know, you're upset. I can help. I'm always here to help."

He was trying but he just felt daft to do this sort of thing.

[noblexcompanion]

Donna smiled and leaned over to kiss his temple. "I know, Spaceman. Same goes for you. No need to keep everything bottled up inside anymore, y'know. Might not be able to help you, but I can listen at least, and offer tea and hugs. Lots of tea and hugs."

Besides, isn't that what best mates were for? She gave his arm a tug, to pull him into the water with her. Paddling was always more fun with two!

[justneededtea.livejournal.com]

"I don't bottle anything!" He did, he pretty much bottled everything he could. He didn't like showing when he was hurt or vulnerable. It was like admitting he wasn't a hero or that he wasn't as strong as he made everyone think he was.

Smiling, he hoped into the water and playfully splashed Donna for her efort. Oh yes, get them nice and wet, always amusing!

[noblexcompanion]

"Oh no. Never bottle anything at all." Donna teased. "Open book, you are." Aw Doctor, you'd always be a hero, no matter what. Well, as much of a hero as Donna had ever seen him to be, at least. Which probably wasn't as much as others might. Oh, she thought he was brilliant, no doubt about it. But hero worship? Nu uh. Never.

She gave a loud squeak as she was splashed. Well, two could play at that game, mister! She splashed him back.

[justneededtea.livejournal.com]

Oh how mature. Kicking water at Donna, he grinned and backed up, moving away from Donna. Well, it was fun to have a play around. He didn't get to make castles like Adam does. It was totally unfair!

"Oh now this is not what we're meant to do," the Doctor teased, wondering how far Donna would like to push it.

[handyhandyhand.livejournal.com]

"Ha! Knew it," Adam teased as he bounced off to go fetch ice-cream. The Doctor stood there with an arm full of paper and gave Donna a small sigh. Oh yes, Adam was trying his last nerve but it was the ever present angst of an incomplete time lord.

"Yep, we're definitely in the terrible twos with that hand," dumping the paper in a bin, he offered his arms to Donna, willing to take Percy if she needed.

[noblexcompanion]

Donna handed Percy to the Doctor. The little android squeaked happily and wrapped his arms around his dad's neck. No longer upset about the fear of Adam being abandoned.

"I just don't know what to do with him." She sighed. "I don't want to treat him like a kid, but he needs structure in his life." She looked at the Doctor. "Any ideas? How do you calm down a hyperactive, bratty metacrisis?"

[justneededtea.livejournal.com]

"Wellllll, perhaps parenting advise from me is not a good idea," the Doctor admitted because honestly, he had two modes - attack and avoid. And with his own kids, he spent most the time ignoring them.

Well, he never claimed to be perfect, did he?

[noblexcompanion]

"Typical bloke," Donna teased, giving him a nudge. "Don't worry. I'll think of sommat. Dunno what yet, but sommat. Maybe some one on one time." She clicked her tongue against her teeth. "Maybe some Daddy/Son/TARDIS mechanics bonding? Might do the pair of you good to spend more time together."

[justneededtea.livejournal.com]

"TARDIS bonding is not something we can do," the complex issues of TARDIS was a sticky one. Both Adam and the Doctor were somewhat attached to it and it was an issue of seriousness. They were best to avoid it.

"Hmm, how about we do studies? Oh! We could read some galifreyan."

... This was why he didn't spend much time with his children.

[noblexcompanion]

"Well, yeah, you could. But really? Studying with Dad? Hardly the height of excitement, is it? Besides, he knows everything you know. We'll figure something out. In the meantime, we just have to try and keep him under control."

Easier said than done.

Donna rubbed at her temples. Oh joy. A headache. Just wat she didn't need right now.

[justneededtea.livejournal.com]

"Well, yes, I suppose. Erm, what's fun? Video games? We could play them," Well, that was fun. And besides, it wasn't like Adam was a major threat, he was just an awkward bleeder.

"Is anyone going to help me move the ice-cream?" Adam asked as he fumbled with the cones, trying to make sure none dropped.

[noblexcompanion]

"Think you can sit still long enough to play video games?" Donna teased. But the thought of the Doctor and Adam playing video games for hours on end was somewhat cute. No doubt it'd turn into some battle of egos and skills.

Ignoring her headache, she headed over to help Adam with the ice cream. "Here, hand some over."

[justneededtea.livejournal.com]

Passing them along, Adam grinned and walked across, offering Percy his. Course the robot consumed it in seconds and printed out a picture of an ice-cream cone, a smiley face and a aeroplane.

He personally didn't get it.

The Doctor merely smiled and took his off Donna. That little robot was hours of amusement.

[noblexcompanion]

Maybe he was on an ice cream high? Who knew. More likely he was just printing random images though.

"So, Adam. Once we get back to the TARDIS, you and the Doctor. Video game marathon, what d'you think?" Donna licked at her ice cream. Doctor/Hand bonding. Perfect.

[justneededtea.livejournal.com]

Adam just stared in disbelief, then looked at the Doctor... theeeen back at Donna. Right. This was obvious. They'd all gone a bit mad and believed themselves to still be in that domestic hell of a universe.

"I think you're all mad and regardless of that fact, I'd still be better than the Doctor at it."

[noblexcompanion]

Donna laughed. "That's settled it then. You boys can drop me and the kids off back home and then you can spend a few days playing video games and trying not to kill each other. I can visit Veena, go to the pub and relax."

That way she wouldn't be bombarded with cries of 'Donnnnnnnnaaaaaa, he's cheating' and other such calls.

"Never know, I might meet a bloke."