The woman stares at him for a moment, seeming to turn over the word in her mind. A smirk spreads across her face, as though the fact that he's there is like some sort of joke. If he had been his former self the Mast- Koschei would have bristled, but instead he just sunk a bit into the shed, arms crossed defiantly. The Scottish woman chuckles, tossing the cricket bat off to the side. Giving her a once over Koschei isn't sure she would have needed it against him anyway. He doubted he could have fought off a child, let alone her.

She holds out a hand, and he glares. "I'm not gonna bite, stupid." She says the word like it's endearing, and this time he does glare. "I've got a big, strong husband to do that for me. Just come with me back to the house." He pauses, and then forces himself onto his feat, nearly collapsing before righting himself. She raises an eyebrow, wrapping and arm around him and holding him up. He scowls, because it's so human of her. She misinterprets, smacking him upside the head.

"Don't be like that just because it's a girl helping you." She smirks again, and it's just a bit more playful, like they were old friends. Koschei can't help but think how humiliating this is, returning from the Time Lock so weak he can hardly stand and having this human helping him. How far he had fallen.

As they walk on the old gravel path he can't help think there's something… off. The swing is creaking despite there being nothing to push it, and there's a feeling in the air he can't quite place. It reminds him of his childhood, but not quite. When they walk up to the house he can't help but think it's too big. For a woman and her husband when there's clearly no one else living there, the house is simply too big for two. It's plain, and normal, but he can't help but think of the ghosts that must be living in the walls.

There's a clatter from inside the house and the woman cringes. "Sorry Amy, Rory! Didn't mean to!" Someone shouts, and Koschei grits his teeth. Not only was he going into some Scottish woman's house, with her husband home, they had someone over as well. Could the day get any worse? Well, of course it could, and didn't he just deserve every minute?

He blinks at the thought, stumbling along. He hadn't meant to think it, but it still crossed his mind somehow. Must be the guilt coming up again. Was this how it would be from now on? God, it would be so annoying. He didn't know how other people stood it, gnawing senses of guilt. But then, other people didn't usually have it over millions of deaths and trying to take over the universe.

The woman -Amy- opens the door, leading him inside and setting him down on the couch and completely ignoring what the other two people in the house are doing. The first is rather ordinary looking, with a bit of a large nose, and he'd been sweeping bits of a broken vase into a dustpan. The other was happily munching on what looking like fish sticks and custard with one hand while straightening his bowtie with the other. They'd both stopped, and big nose had tried asking what was going one. Amy just waved him off and kept walking.

Bowtie blinked, the custard covered fish stick falling from limp fingers. His pale green eyes widen comically, jaw dropping. He places the bowl to the side, standing slowly. In an instant he's standing over Koschei, looking confused and hurt and enraged. One hand falls on Koschei's shoulder, the other dangling awkwardly. Bowtie opens his mouth, and the other hands curls into a tight fist. It is this moment that Amy returns, a first aid kit in her hand.

"Doctor!" She shouts, walking over angrily, and bowtie took a step back. "What are you doing?" The Doctor (Sweet Rassilon, that was the Doctor? When had he regenerated? Did he even remember? No, stupid thought; he always remembered.) kept starring, one hand remaining clenched at his side while the other stayed out to now empty air. Slowly it went down to his side.

"You went into the Time Lock," he says, voice strangled. "I thought you were dead. That Rassilon had killed you." Koschei smirked, forcing himself to play with the old song and dance even though he was so out of rhythm - didn't even have a rhythm,

"Well, now I'm back," he replied, spreading his arms smugly and revealing scars as the torn material of his hoodie came up. "Didn't you miss me? Miss your Master?" This felt wrong, this felt wrong, this felt so wrong. The Doctor -oblivious as ever- didn't notice, instead clenching his teeth. Emotionally stunted, this one was. Must have been alone during the regeneration. Lord knew what damage that had done to the Master.

The Doctor shook his head slowly, the movement so small it was barely visible. "You haven't changed." He said coldly, taking a step forward. "Still the same old Master. Any big plans for taking over the world? Don't answer that - it's you." He glared, giving a shout about Rory and watching before storming off. Amy looked back, eyes regretful, before following behind. Koschei stared off after them, hating himself for the taunts. It had been necessary though. Who knew how the Doctor would have reacted to how he was now? Probably a lot worse, especially in this regeneration. Ten would have been pleased with any sort of "improvement", but this one… possibly Eleven…

Nose (Rory?) walked in, brow furrowed. He gave Koschei a glance over, looking to the first aid kit on the other side of the room before walking over. He bent down slightly, examining the bleached blond like a specimen under a microscope. Koschei shivered slightly under the scrutiny, He fidgeted when Rory's gaze didn't waver. It made him feel like we was back in his cell of Gallifrey, various Time Lords trying to figure out where to hurt him next, leaving no skin un-marked.

Finally, after several quiet minutes, Rory stood back to his full height. "Any injuries that need to be taken care of?" He questioned, his voice akin to that you would use on a frightened child. Koschei shook his head, and the other man sighed in relief, plopping down on the couch.

"Do I want to know why you look like Harold Saxon?" Rory asked after a moment. Koschei laughed, then recoiled, shocked at the genuine sound. It had been so long since he'd had any reason to laugh, to smile…

"Probably not," he said after a quiet moment, leaning back into the couch, eyes starting to drift shut of their own accord. "Not that I'd tell you."

His head nodded once… twice… and he was asleep.

{][Meanwhile...][}

"Doctor!" Amy called, going into a light sprint to catch up with the raging alien. "Doctor, get your arse back here and explain!" The Doctor finally stopped, shoulders heaving as he leaned up against a tree, one hand rubbing over his face.

The redhead came over, placing a steadying hand on his shoulder. "Explain. Who was that, and why did you call him the Master? He said his name was Koschei." The Doctor gave a sort-of laugh, the sound choked and dry.

"That… that hasn't been Koschei in a long time. Not since we were kids. He's been the Master almost as long as I've known him - he always said it suited him better." He let out a shaky breath. "He's-he's done some horrible things Amy. Granted, I've probably done worse, but he's taken over the Earth and tried for the universe more times than I can count… Al because of those blasted drums…"

Amy raised an eyebrow. "Slow down, boy," she said, keeping her voice just a little softer than she normally would. "You're starting the sequel when I haven't read the first book. Beginning."

So he explained. He told Amy about Gallifrey and fields of red grass, and the untempered schism. He explained, in detail, what the drums were, how they came to be, and how they'd effected the Master's head. Carefully, quietly, he spoke of who the Master had been, what he'd done, and if he skipped over many of the finer points on the Year that Never Was no one could blame him. Finally, he spoke of Rassilon, the Time War, and the Christmas of 2009.

He looked up at his friend, eyes so wide an innocent, but at the same time shinning with every minute of nine hundred-eleven years. "I don't know if I can take him tricking me again, Amy. There have been so many times I thought he was getting better. I can't take another betrayal."

Suddenly, Amy pulled him into a tight hug, rubbing gentle circles into his back. Whoever said Amelia Pond was terrible at comforting people had clearly never met her.

"You care about him, yeah?" She muttered, feeling the Doctor nod against her shoulder. She pulled him back, keeping their eyes locked. "You have two hearts, Doctor, and I can tell they've both been hurt." Pause. "But there wouldn't be a point in any relationship if trust wasn't involved. Hearts get broken, people change, but there is always a second chance, or a third, in an eighteenth, you understand me? Give him another try. You might be surprised."

Blinking hard, the taller man nodded, and turned back toward the house. Amy gave a harsh sigh, rolling her eyes and she followed.

"My boys…"

{][][}

A/N: Awww... *looks at Koschei while he's all cuddly and unconscious* Just a bit of a reqeust here - could someone do fanart for that? Rory and the Master/Koschei, sitting on the couch, with Koschei nodding off on Rory's shoulder? Because that would be absalutley adorable.

Anywho, thanks for thoes that reviewed, thoes who will review, and the people that were/are too lazy t do either of thoes things and just faved/alerted. More on the way!

~Piki :B