Author's Note: I would like to dedicate this chapter, as well as The Soldier and the Savage series, to both Fallen -Angel -Spirit and a very special guest, Lazarus, on FF. Recently, you both gave me a much needed lift in spirits in regards to this 'verse and your words of encouragement are what will keep it going. Thank you both so much. :)

Standing outside the Community Dining Area, Leela fidgets nervously while Andred tries to soothe her. "Leela, you need to calm down. There is nothing to worry about; everything is going to be fine." Trying his best to hold back a grimace, he silently frets, I hope.

When she continues to ignore him and repeatedly smoothes down her dress and hair, he firmly takes her hands in his own and gently requests, "Leela, please tell me what is wrong, it cannot simply be meeting my mother. I have never seen you this upset, not even when the Sontarans were hunting us."

Leela offers him a rueful scowl as she claims, "The Sontarans were merely warriors, Andred." She casts an anxious glance into the dining area before turning back to face him. "This is family."

She releases a sigh of frustration while gazing at him forlornly as she admits, "I don't want to lose you."

Andred's smile is both kind and reassuring as he lifts his hand to cradle her cheek and he vows, "Leela, just as you worry in regards to embarrassing me, that will never happen."

An elderly couple happens to come along at that precise moment, stopping just long enough to glare at the young couple's physical contact with both shock and abhorrence at such an emotional public display.

Issuing another sigh, this one more resigned, Leela reluctantly draws Andred's hand away from her face and murmurs, "This isn't considered to be proper behavior, Andred."

His smile becomes devilish as he tightens his grasp on her hand and raises it to his lips to brush a soft kiss across her knuckles. "And when have we ever been proper, my love?"

Leela offers a wide smile in return accompanied by soft laughter when Andred recalls another not so far away memory.

"Now how can we make you more comfortable, Leela? What do you need?" A teasing gleam enters his eyes as he politely inquires, "How about a knife, a bow, a quiver or a packet of Janis thorns?"

Acknowledging her own foolishness, Leela's grip suddenly tightens on Andred's hand and with fire in her eyes and a toss of her hair, she proclaims, "I am ready, Andred. Let us go and meet your mother."

They swiftly enter the room moving as one, each of them well aware that the other would still willingly bolt from this meeting given half the chance. Both Andred and Leela are silently considering turning this idea into an actual plan when a tall and stately dressed woman calls out to them and waves them over to her table.

Andred quickly steels his resolve and mutters, "Well, I suppose that it's time to face the music."

"Music?" asks Leela with a bewildered stare. "Is there to be a concert as well?"

Andred chuckles softly as they near the table and remarks, "It's merely a saying, Leela. It means that our moment has come."

Upon finishing his sentence, they arrive at his mother's table where Leela stands by quietly while Andred and his mother greet each other with barely imperceptible nods of acknowledgement.

Hestitantly, Leela steps forward and introduces herself. "Hello, Andred's mother, I am…"

"I know who you are, Leela," she declares as she cuts off her future daughter-in-law. With an accusing stare at Andred, she states, "My son finally saw fit to confide in both his father and I of your existence."

Be nice, Mother, warns Andred telepathically, I love her.

Eyebrows rising at such a blatant admission, she is even more surprised when she turns to find Leela bowing low onto the ground in the form of a curtsy.

Having expected such a reaction during their first meeting, Leela recalls the formal introductions that she learned during her travels with the Doctor. She extends out her hand to his mother and states, "It is a pleasure to meet you."

Uncaring of the stares that Leela's display is garnering from the other diners, Andred's mother gazes down kindly at the young woman before taking her hand and pulling her to a standing position. "Please, Leela, call me Ambalika. Let's all dine outside in the garden area, shall we?"

Once they are all outside and seated comfortably, at least Ambalika, she attempts to ease the tension with some light conversation. "Well, shall we partake in, oh… what did the Doctor used to call it? Oh, yes, I remember now…small talk?"

Leela lights up at the Doctor's name, all traces of nervousness vanishing from her countenance. "You know the Doctor?" she asks excitedly.

"Oh, yes, my dear, I've known him for simply ages. We attended the Academy together at the same time." An expression of fondness cross her face as she remembers, "His particular brand of humor was only matched by his sense of adventure."

Leela flashes her first true smile of the day as she informs her, "He hasn't changed."

Ambalika's smile is genuine when she mentions, "So, Leela, Andred told me that the robes that he gave you were embroidered with our family crest." She holds herself proudly as she proclaims, "I don't know if Andred has told you but our family crest is several millennia old and our house is among those of the most respected on Gallifrey. I'm curious as to your opinion of it."

When Leela's confusion causes her to remain silent, Andred explains, "Our crest is the pattern that was woven throughout the cloth that I gave you, Leela."

As understanding immediately dawns, Leela opines, "Well, I thought that it was very ugl-" She halts her sentence when she catches Andred's pleading eyes and slight shaking of his head warning her not to go any further. "Um, it was, uh, uh…"

Outwardly, Ambalika maintains her composure while inwardly she cringes. Dear Rassilon! Don't tell me that the child prefers to communicate in grunts.

Leela is finally able to find the words to answer, "Unusual, I found it very unusual. The Sevateem have nothing like it."

Ambalika simply nods at Leela while one telling glance at her son reveals him to be clutching the armrest in a deathgrip that he then promptly releases only to begin the entire process over again. He still does that? she wonders in bemusement.

"Andred," his mother addresses him, "you know what I enjoy and I'm sure that you're familiar with Leela's tastes by now, so would you mind ordering our meal while I speak with Leela privately?"

"You want me to leave the two of you alone?" blurts Andred. "By yourselves?"

"Yes, Andred, dear," replies Ambalika with a hint of condescension, "that is the definition of the word after all." She swivels her gaze to Leela and questions in a tone that brooks no argument, "We'll be fine, won't we Leela?"

Leela answers firmly, "Of course we will." She turns her determined gaze onto Andred and proudly proclaims, "I am ready to face the music."

Andred closes his eyes to shut out his mother's shocked expression at Leela's choice of words and anguishes, Let's hope it's not a funeral dirge.

Andred leaves to obtain their meal from the food dispenser in the main hall of the dining area while Ambalika warily eyes Leela from across the table. She straightens her posture and comments in a disapproving tone, "Andred's father and I were greatly disappointed to learn that Andred had refused an offer of advancement to Castellan. However, once he explained his reasoning, we did understand that for Andred, the decision that he made was due to a matter of honor."

She watches Leela appraisingly as she adds, "Politics are the basis and mainstay for any hope of advancement on Gallifrey. Andred is most likely giving up any future possibilities for a promotion when he forms a union with you. Are you truly both able to accept that burden overshadowing your marriage and what those consequences might entail?"

Leela's stare hardens slightly at Ambalika's assumption that she and Andred had not considered the adversities that they would surely face when she chose to remain on Gallifrey. Although their courtship was swift, the decision to face his world's prejudice was made with both heart and mind.

In this instance, Leela doesn't even take, much less need, a moment to consider her answer before she retorts, "I am aware that Andred loves his work and what marrying me might cost him in regards to his future." At Ambalika's nod of satisfaction, Leela reiterates, "Andred loves his work, Ambalika, but he loves me more."

With a scarcely undetectable nod of acceptance, Ambalika concedes, "I can see that, Leela, even if he hadn't informed me of that fact himself."

Leela acknowledges her victory with a slight smirk before she remarks, "I hope that I have settled any fears that you may have concerning our marriage." Her gaze and tone both become somewhat anxious when she questions, "Do you have any objections to our having children?"

Ambalika seems to consider this for a moment, before dashing off a quick response followed by her own inquiry. "Any child, regardless of the means of their conception, would be welcome in our family, Leela. However, I am rather inquisitive on one point."

She leans forward in keen interest as she tells her, "Leela, Andred told me about your objections to the Looms, and from what I understand of your background, I can see your point of view. I do think that I should make you aware though, that a union on Gallifrey tends to be more of a melding of the minds rather than a joining of the bodies. Knowing that you have a more primal nature that leans more towards the physical, will this be a problem for you?"

Leela's brow furrows as she figures out how best to convey her words. "In my tribe, we are very physical, whether it is with our labors, fighting or in love. Because of this, it is our natural instinct to show our emotions physically and allow any connection of the mind to grow from the connection of our hearts. Also, I believe that it is much easier to shut one's mind off from another than to shut off the body's reaction."

Much impressed by Leela's reply, Ambalika takes a moment to view her future daughter-in-law through new eyes before murmuring, "You make an excellent argument for the advocacy of physical intimacy, Leela. Perhaps it is you, and not Andred, who should be speaking to the High Council on your behalf."

Pleased with Ambalika's response, Leela is found to be sporting a huge grin when Andred returns to the table. He breathes a sigh of relief as he notes, "I see that you two appear to be getting along well. What are you talking about?"

"Sex, Andred," answers his mother mischievously, "we were talking about sex."

Blanching, he chokes out, "I'm sorry, I must have misheard you."

Leela turns to assure him, "No, you heard her correctly, Andred. We are discussing sex."

"I would love to hear your views on the subject, son," pronounces Ambalika as she bears a smile similarly striking to that of a cobra.

Andred hurriedly places everyone's meal tablets onto their plates, much to Leela's displeasure, and croaks, "It seems that I've forgotten dessert, how remiss of me. Please don't delay your conversation on my account," and rushes away back into the main hall.

"Well, that was fun," deadpans Ambalika as she watches Andred's form fade away into the throng of diners. She casts a playful gaze onto Leela. "I am finding that I quite like you more than I thought I would, Leela, but setting that sentiment aside, I am afraid that the time has come to ask the most dreaded of all questions from a potential mother-in-law."

Leela braces herself for this latest inquiry and meeting Ambalika's gaze with her own unwavering one, she inquires resolutely, "And that would be?"

"How do you intend to take care of my son?" She waves a hand to indicate their surroundings and notes, "As I am sure that you are already aware of by now, the Citadel is extremely self-sufficient. Everything that we rely on to accommodate us is either mechanical, chemical or computerized, all created from the latest technological advances. My point is, Leela, what exactly do you intend to contribute to this union?"

Leela's resolve doesn't falter even once while under Ambalika's piercing stare as she relates, "Besides my love, loyalty, respect, trust and friendship? I know that there is not much that I can offer at an intellectual level, but I do have my own particular skills which I will be calling upon during our honeymoon."

Eyes bulging, Ambalika rasps, "Excuse me?"

Leela holds her chin high and throws back her shoulders as she proudly declares, "We will be going to the Wastelands to visit the Outsiders for our honeymoon. Once we are settled, I will hunt and kill the animals that I come across to provide us with food."

Unable to hide her distaste at this vision, Ambalika persists, "Leela, Andred may not utilize his survival training very often but he does share some of your skills. Don't you think that you will make him feel useless if you leave him with nothing to do?"

"Oh, there will be plenty for Andred to do while we're there," answers Leela merrily. "While I am busy hunting, he can clean the hut, cut skins and weave baskets. Then, when I return with my kill, he can prepare the meal."

Ambalika's state of disbelief is such that she can barely utter, "You're going to have Andred cook and clean for you while on your honeymoon?" At Leela's enthusiastic nod, she speaks in a very grave and serious tone. "Leela, I want you to consider your answer carefully, when I ask you this next question."

Leela takes a deep calming breath and nods to indicate that she is ready for the question. Ambalika is unable to hold back the faintest giggle when she requests, "May I please be there when you tell him?"

Frowning in consternation, Leela discovers that she has no need to reply when they are interrupted by a voice coming from the garden entrance. The voice belongs to an elegantly clad noblewoman who is known as Envika. Ambalika has always found her to be incredibly pompous and tiresome, even for a Gallifreyan.

"Ambalika," she greets in a voice full of disdain, "what a pleasure to see you here." She directs her gaze to Leela and surmises, "This must be the alien that I have heard so much about."

Both Leela and Ambalika straighten up in anger at the offending remark but it is Leela who grinds out between clenched teeth, "My name is Leela."

"How nice for you," acknowledges Envika in a haughty tone. "Where exactly do you originate from, Leela?

Leela meets her gaze head on while she answers, "I am a warrior of the Sevateem."

"You are a warrior?" Envika visibly recoils in disgust. "So fighting and killing then? Well, I suppose that you can expect nothing less when it comes to dealing with lower life forms." She displays a slight shudder of revulsion. "How archaic."

Ambalika glares at the newcomer as she defends, "Leela is not a lower life form, Envika. From what Andred has told me, she is a prestigious warrior who came to Gallifrey's aid when we needed her most. Not to mention, she is soon to become a member of my family."

Envika merely dismisses the rebuke with a roll of her eyes while Leela looks to Ambalika and questions, "Archaic? I do not know what that means."

"How astonishing," huffs Envika who immediately quiets upon a glower from Ambalika.

Ambalika ignores the woman in favor of focusing her full attention onto Leela. "The term archaic refers to something that is considered to be old fashioned, ancient and belonging to a much older time."

Realizing that their cultures might not be so different after all, and wanting to share a common bond with Leela, Ambalika divulges, "Did you know that two of the most powerful and revered Time Lords that were ever produced on Gallifrey acted in ways that could be construed as archaic?"

For once, Envika chooses to maintain her silence as she is as curious as Leela is as to what Ambalika has to say. She continues, "Although we have continued to reap the benefits of their knowledge and experiments in time travel, there are those on Gallifrey who also labeled them as vindictive and cruel."

"How so?" inquires Leela with great interest.

Ambalika replies, "It has been said that they were men who believed that the end results justified any means necessary."

Leela slowly nods in consideration of this new insight into Gallifrey's history before stating, "I am aware of men like that. The Doctor and I have fought men like that many times."

"The Doctor?" hisses Envika. "That man is nothing but a renegade and an embarrassment to Gallifrey."

Leela's chair nearly falls over when she unexpectedly rises and advances towards Envika. Fists clenched, she growls, "The Doctor is an embarrassment to no one! He has saved more people and planets than you could ever hope to know, including your own world! I would not be here now if it wasn't for him."

"Well," questions Envika smugly, "that merely supports everything that I have just said, does it not?"

Ambalika has had enough and frostily voices, "I believe that it would be best if you left, Envika. Now."

"Yes," agrees Leela as she presses forward causing Envika to retreat a few steps in automatic response. "That would be wise, before I show you how archaic that I can be."

Taken aback by both Leela's outburst and Ambalika's lack of support, Envika hurriedly turns on her heel and storms out of the garden area without another word. Leela glares in the direction that she's taken while Ambalika breathes a sigh of relief at her departure before directing a compassionate gaze towards Leela.

"I am truly sorry for that, Leela," she apologizes with heartfelt sympathy. "That woman has always been unpleasant at the best of times, but that was completely uncalled for."

"Leela slowly turns back to Ambalika, her expression full of bitterness and resignation at the daily occurrence of bias that she has been forced to endure during her stay on Gallifrey. "It is nothing that I have not encountered before, Ambalika, nothing that I am not used to."

"You do realize, Leela, that not only will this not be the last time that you suffer such insults, but this will most likely be an ongoing occurrence as long as you stay on this planet?" inquires Ambalika gently.

Leela keeps silent but her gaze hardens to steel as she looks at the woman before her. Moving slowly, so as to not startle her prey, she reaches into a pocket of her robes and withdraws her knife.

Alarmed at the young woman's actions, Ambalika is too frightened to react other than to gasp out a whisper. "Leela? What?" And then Leela throws the knife.

To Be Concluded…