Valete Liberi Temporis

While the Doctor set himself the task of bidding farewell to his companions in preparation for his impending regeneration, Romana set herself the job of forming her own sense of style. To this end, she entered the Wardrobe and locked it, not having the privacy of her own room into which to retreat, due to the fact that she didn't know where her room was. Then, she began using a nearby mirror to take stock of her appearance…

The first thing she noticed was her hair – the Doctor hadn't been lying when he said she was ginger. She wondered how she hadn't noticed before now, until she remembered that she'd been focused on trying to stop Rassilon and the Time Lords. After that was how young she looked – if she estimated, she'd say she looked the age of a young adult, possibly late teens in Human years. Then, she saw how tattered her ladies suit was, and knew she'd have to find something to replace it. Perhaps now was the incarnation to go wild in some way, whether in clothing or in colouring palette.

Well, if that's the case, thought Romana, a mischievous grin forming on her youthful face, perhaps I'd better discover what I'm going to keep concealed until I'm behind closed doors…or about to have my man in bed. A little alarmed as to where that came from, she nevertheless elected to embrace it – she wasn't wasting Time regenerating again. It would appear she was much more aware of the effect her body could have on men…especially her Theta. Her mind made up, she began divesting her skin of the pinstriped garments.

She took the chance to analyse her body now that it was only clad in the burgundy lingerie she'd been wearing for a few days. For some reason, she didn't feel like wearing that colour – thinking about the colour she'd like and deciding within moments, Romana threw off her lingerie as well. Smirking at the thought of revealing this youthful, and admittedly, alluring form to her fiancé, she pulled out a new set in the colour of violet, already tailored to her body by the Old Girl…

*DW* much later… *DW*

Deciding on what was going over the lingerie took much longer to decide. Romana would be surprised if the Doctor hadn't already regenerated. All she knew was that she wanted something a little outlandish, but how did you decide where to stop with the outlandish so that it wouldn't come across as wilfully tasteless? Perhaps it would be best to go with a certain kind of outlandish…like outlandishly casual…or regally outlandish…

*DW* shortly afterward… *DW*

Once the Time Lady was done with the Wardrobe, she had donned the following garments; bluebonnet pantyhose, moss green blouse, matching golden brown pinafore/jacket combo and black court shoes. Satisfied with her new look, she chose to return to the Console Room and show the Doctor. When she finally arrived there after navigating the maze of Corridors in the TARDIS, he had just finished walking through the Doors, and Romana remembered hearing several dematerialisations as she changed…

"How do I look?" she inquired, wanting some feedback from her future husband. He took a good long look at her – much unlike the first time she asked that question so many years ago. Eventually, she started to grow anxious, when…

"Ravishing," he whispered, and she could sense he was beginning to want her. What held him back from having her then and there was the chance that he might hurt her in the process by having the impending regeneration at an unexpected moment. Romana smiled at the man who was still very much her Doctor before changing the subject…

"Have you said your goodbyes already?" asked the Time Lady, a little disappointed at the thought of not being there for them.

"Not all of them," replied the Doctor.

"Oh, good," said Romana, before adopting a teasing tone in her voice. "As much as you probably shouldn't delay your regeneration…what kind of Time Lady would I be if I wasn't there when my Time Lord said farewell to his companions?" They both shared a few giggles before she closed the gap between them and gave him a chaste kiss that promised swathes more. Once they were done, her tone became perfectly serious, yet understanding at the same time. "So, my love…to whom are you saying goodbye next?"

*DW*

They found Martha Jones and Mickey Smith in an abandoned Factory, being fired upon by a rogue Sontaran Sniper. This struck the Time Lady as quite out-of-character for their race, considering what she knew about them – they were always the type to face their foes head-on in battle. Regardless of the Sontaran's honour, or lack thereof, the Doctor wasn't about to have him terminate two of his friends, and took to his probic vent with a mallet, leaving Romana to deliver a stomp to the vent, making sure the felled Clone Soldier wouldn't get up any time soon.

Soon, both Martha and Mickey took notice of the Doctor on the nearby catwalk, giving him a wave of greeting…and they both saw their puzzled looks when they noticed Romana. The reason was soon made clear by a text message from Martha:

Who's that?

The reply was sent back thusly:

She's a very old friend…

Whilst it was incredibly vague, the two Humans seemed to understand the gist of the message, and that there were some things he couldn't reveal right now. There was something that told her fiancé that they wanted to see him again soon, and become acquainted with who they clearly thought was an old companion. Perhaps they would one day…but for now, the Doctor had to say farewell, as the faint smile tried – and apparently, succeeded – to tell them…

*DW*

The next departing jaunt took them to Bannerman Road, where the Doctor spotted a boy named Luke Smith in the path of an oncoming car. Seeing what was about to happen, he pulled Luke out of the place where he'd have become pavement paint. Before her fiancé made to return to the TARDIS, the boy Romana had been told was the adopted son of Sarah Jane Smith appeared to recognise him from at least one prior occasion she was as of yet unaware of. After the departure from Bannerman Road, this occasion was revealed to be an aborted wedding set in motion by the Trickster, almost leaving the Time Lady to wonder some more about just what the Doctor had been getting himself into whilst she'd been absent…

Hopefully, she'd one day have the opportunity to actually meet the woman he believed to be the Best of Humanity…

*DW*

Romana felt like she'd been catapulted into a trampoline a thousand times in one second when she caught sight of the Fact. The Doctor had given her the name of his friend – Jack Harkness, continuing to style himself as Captain Jack Harkness – but the name had somehow vanished in the face of his nature as a Fixed Point in Time. She really didn't know what he'd been up to with her gone, did she? She had no idea how he put up with a person that was wrong in the flow of Time – she wasn't surprised the pre-regenerative 9th Doctor had deliberately left him behind…

Thankfully, she didn't have to endure the nausea for too long – the Doctor had managed to slip him a note he'd whimsically elected to write. Jack gave the Time Lord a salute…right before he sent what was clearly supposed to be a charming grin her way. A scowl from her fiancé soon saw him ceasing the activity and sending a salute that said many peculiar things. Nevertheless, they soon left the ex-Time Agent to his drinks, the Doctor anxious to keep her away from the 51st Century Human's libido, Romana just wanting away from the Fixed Point.

She only hoped she'd be able to one day look past that, as she was sure he'd done some good deed in order for the Doctor to take him onboard the TARDIS in the first place…

*DW*

Her fiancé came out of the Bookshop where copies of a rather peculiarly titled book – A Journal of Impossible Things, by Verity Newman – were being sold. In his hand was a singed copy of the aforementioned book, and Romana couldn't help but wonder what possessed him to get it. Then she had a strange, and outrageously probable idea – that her Doctor was the character the book focused on…

"I asked her whether her grandmother was happy in the end," he explained, leaving the part of his involvement unsaid. It didn't need to be said – his actions revealed that this was a given.

"Was she?" asked Romana, curious as to what the answer would be.

"Yes," said the Doctor, giving her a look that spoke volumes of a regret that she just knew she could relate to. She knew, in that moment, that the story was about the Doctor – turned a Human, just as Martha had explained to Donna, who'd explained it to her in turn. "Then she asked me the same question about myself – was I happy?"

"And are you, Doctor?" she pressed, a little unsure of his answer given the circumstances.

"More than I've ever felt in what could have been forever," said her beloved, just looking at her, staring into her soul with nothing but love blazing in those captivating eyes of his. He reached out his hand, inviting her to join him once again through his travels across the Universe. "Come on – it's time to see Donna again…"

*DW*

Both Time Lords watched the Photographer take the photograph of the participants of Donna and Shaun's Wedding. They watched as the light-hearted hilarity ensued, including Donna calling Nerys a peach, and Minnie the Menace throwing confetti over the head of Wilfred Mott. Needless to say, the man was a little ruffled at that. Eventually, both Wilf and Sylvia caught sight of them, and beckoned Donna over to join them in greeting the Doctor and Romana…

"Donna explained what happened," said Sylvia, struggling to talk to the woman who used to be her daughter's godmother. Understandable, since the woman she'd long considered her best friend was now a woman who was but a stranger to her. "Just tell me, Romana…was it worth it?"

"Giving her life so that her loved ones might live, and so that the Doctor wouldn't be alone in the Universe?" replied Romana. "I'd say that's a sacrifice worth making, Sylvia Noble. What do you think?"

"Yeah," sighed Donna's mother, unsure of what she could say. And she had to admit, that was the best way Fred could have gone…even if she wasn't entirely gone, living on in Romana.

"Gramps told me what's happening, Doctor," cut in the newlywed Donna Temple-Noble, speaking to her best friend for the first time in what felt like forever. "You gonna be alright, Spaceman?"

"Well…better than I might have been without…" he trailed off, not sure he could say the word so small in letters, yet so large in meaning. It always was the hardest word for him – he could feel it, but he could never say it…

"You love her. So badly it hurts," said Donna, no need for the Time Lord to speak the words, she could see it in his eyes. He nodded, fully aware that Romana was watching. "Then perhaps you ought to tell her."

"How do you Humans say it so easily, Donna?" asked the Doctor, his question a plea for help. How did Humans do it like they did?

"Not easily, Doctor," she replied, sighing as her heart went out for the man who'd never been able to say that little big word. "We do it when we feel we have to. But if it helps, say it in private when you first say it to Romana – you might find it getting a little easier after that. But say it like you mean it."

"When did you get so wise?" breathed the Time Lord, amazed at the pearls of wisdom she was imparting.

"Wasn't I always? Best Temp in Chiswick, is all."

"I second that," agreed Romana, smiling a smile that just shone into the Doctor's eyes. Whenever she smiled, he wanted to smile with her – just another of those place where she had power over him.

"Me too," said Wilf, smiling proudly at Donna, who just shrugged her shoulders. "Oh, by the way, they've arrested Mr Naismith – it was on the news. Crimes undisclosed. And his daughter – both of them, locked up."

"Good job. It's high Time something busted that grubby little millionaire," cut in the Time Lady, earning a few chuckles from the four around her, for varying reasons. When they were finished, the Old Soldier refocused his attention on both Time Lords.

"But I keep thinking, Doctor, Romana, there's one thing you never told me. That Man, and that Woman – who were they?"

The Doctor could only greet the question with silence, and Romana nearly did the same. Even when she decided to answer, she elected not to divulge the secret of the Woman being the Doctor's mother. But that didn't stop her from revealing the identity of the Man…

"That man…he was my father," confessed Romana. Somehow, she didn't feel she had to conceal anything from these Humans – she guessed it was something carried over from Fred. Something in her voice spoke volumes of how close she was to the Counsellor, to Lord Heartshaven. She was soon saved from going into anything that might have been uncomfortable for her by her fiancé's subsequent interruption…

"I just wanted to give you this, Donna," he said, turning to the Temp he called best friend in front of her grandfather. "Wedding present," he added, seeing Donna's confused face as he pulled it out of his pocket…

"A lottery ticket?" said Donna, raising both eyebrows in genuine surprise. After all, the last time she checked, the Doctor didn't carry money.

"Thing is, I never carry money, so I just popped back in Time, borrowed a quid off a really lovely man," he continued, knowing this would likely bring a few tears from the Nobles and Wilfred. "Geoffrey Noble, his name was." And sure enough, Sylvia's eyes widened in shock, as did Donna's. Romana, meanwhile, just gave a sad smile at the thought of Donna's father. "Have it, he said. Have that on me." By this point, Sylvia was nearly in tears, and Donna wasn't far behind, though still getting over her shock.

"Romana," whispered the Temp, getting the Time Lady's attention. "Make sure you keep an eye on this one."

"Will do," answered Romana. When did she ever not, except for when she wasn't there? "Are you three going to be there for our Wedding?"

"Sure," said Sylvia, cheeks still streaked with tears for Geoffrey.

"We'll be there," agreed Wilfred, in a similar state as his daughter.

"You bet we will," affirmed Donna. "Now, go help Spaceman through his regeneration."

"Need you ask, Noble-Temple?" said Romana, sending her a little friendly cheek.

"I guess not, Mrs Spaceman," teased the Temp, giving the Time Lady a hug, as if to say thank you for making sure her best friend would never again be alone. "Bye, Romana…bye, Doctor…"

"See you around," both Time Lords chorused. With that, both Humans and Time Lords parted ways for the Time being. Wilf, Sylvia, and Donna headed back to the guests, while the Doctor and Romana proceeded on to their next grand voyage through Space and Time…

*DW* TARDIS… *DW*

"Well, Theta – are we ready for our next odyssey in the TARDIS?" asked Romana, wishing by this point that he'd get the regeneration over and done with before it became any more painful. However, something told her that this was not to be the case, that there was still one more he needed to do.

"Not yet, Romana, just one more stop," replied her fiancé, confirming her guess, nevertheless unsure of how to phrase this. "Please understand – I thought you were dead at the time…"

"Wouldn't it be better to just tell me, Doctor?" she interrupted, not wanting this to be any more awkward than it was looking to be regardless.

"Romana, please, I've got to say this," he implored, needing her to understand what he was about to tell her. "You know I missed you, right?" She gave him a look that told him she'd be worried if he didn't. "Of course you know. Well, there was a time after I thought you died…that I tried to move on."

"Go on, my love," pressed Romana, waiting for him to continue.

"After I regenerated into this," said the Doctor, gesturing to his current, fatally wounded form, his voice just above a whisper, "I tried to convince myself that I could find solace again. Her name was…"

"Rose Tyler?" asked the Time Lady, recognising the name from her renewed contact with his mind after her awakening. She couldn't help but feel the tiniest spark of envy towards the name…as well as self-admonishment for not being there for him when he needed her.

"Yes," he answered. "And after she left…I honestly stopped trying. Donna made it a little easier to bear, but after she lost her memory…well, Bowie Base One happened. Looking back, there was a time when Rose was able to stop me from going too far…but it didn't last after I regenerated, right in front of her after saving her life." He paused for a moment, soon finding the strength to say what he felt he had to say. "I might be saying goodbye to her soon…but since she first left, I've realised that if anyone has to have these two hearts, it's you, or no one at all."

"Doctor, are you saying what I think you're saying?" she gasped, having a very good idea – and a very shocking one – as to where he was going with this.

"I love you, Romanadvoratrelundar," he finally said, each word feeling and sounding like he meant it. With that, the word 'love' seemed a great deal easier to say…but he wasn't expecting Romana to move to him and tug him into a crushing embrace that nearly choked him. "I love you…my Romana…"

"My Theta," choked Romana, a few unseen tears falling from those beautiful reddish-brown orbs. The hug seemed to last forever, and she almost wanted it to go on for that long. But she knew it could not be so – he had to say goodbye to one last person, and she had to be there with him before and at the end…

*DW*

The Doctor and Romana were leaning against a brick wall on the streets of the Powell Estate when they heard Rose and her mother, Jacqueline, otherwise known as Jackie. They were gossiping about typical 3rd Millennium subjects for gossip – in this case, each other's boyfriends. It ended with Rose suggesting that her mother might find her Mr Right, both bidding each other Happy New Year, and Rose telling Jackie not to stay out all night. The Time Lady could have sworn she heard a 'Try and stop me!' in there. Regardless, when Rose moved to head inside, the regeneration made itself felt by the Doctor in the form of a gasp that accompanied a stab of pain. Hearing him, the blonde Human turned and saw them…

"You alright, mate?" she asked, wondering what was up with the man in the pinstriped suit.

"Yeah," breathed the Doctor, waving it off.

"Too much to drink?" guessed Rose, looking between him and the ginger woman who, she noticed, looked no older than herself.

"Yep, he's well and truly plastered," said Romana, deciding to play along. It wasn't what she had in mind for any needed explanations…but it worked anyway. Besides, what could she say about the Doctor's condition that would make sense? "The booze really got to him."

"Well, maybe it's time he went home," suggested Rose. "Anyway, Happy New Year."

"And you. Happy New Year," replied the Time Lady. They watched the Human move to head off, when…

"What year is this?" called the Doctor, asking the one question that could've had him committed to a Mental Hospital.

"Blimey, how much have you had?" chuckled Rose, struggling not to laugh at the idea that a man could get so wasted that he'd forget the year. "2005, January 1st."

"2005…" the Time Lord trailed off, remembering that to be the year he first met the Human…at least, from his point of view – Timey-wimey, and all that jazz. "Tell you what…I bet you're gonna have a great year."

"Yeah?" replied the blonde, confused, but still thankful for the well wish of the man. She then decided to call it a night, bidding them farewell. "See ya!" she called, heading back inside the apartment block to get a good night's sleep. Romana started to wave after her, but stopped when she heard another gasp of pain, this one more powerful than the last.

Now, with nothing left to distract the Doctor from the inevitable, he allowed the regeneration to start catching up with him. The moment had arrived – this was to be his last regeneration, but unlike the stretch of Time before his reunion with his fiancé, there seemed no reason to be fearful, sad, or even angry at the thought. He was oddly fine with it – it could have been much worse, after all.

Staggering back to the TARDIS, he steeled himself for what was to come. Even when he collapsed onto the ground, the pain seemed to be diminished in the face of knowing that Romana would never again leave him…