Notes: This is the end of the story and the end of the series! Thanks for reading all of it!
Rose found a small conference room nearby and led her family inside, closing the door behind them. Rose paced nervously as they all found places to sit for this discussion.
"They want our help in setting up their rules and guidelines for relations with the rest of the universe," Rose explained. "Romana said that they used to believe in non-interference until the Celestial Intervention Agency was started, then they became the supreme police for everyone. She doesn't seem happy with either option and she wants our opinion."
"I thought that might be what this was about," the Doctor sighed.
He slumped heavily into a nearby chair and put his feet up on the large conference table. Crossing his ankles, the Doctor looked up at the ceiling as he considered just what they should say to the council.
"And because you've always been the one to save their butts in both situations, Romana wants to know how you might prevent the problems in the first place, right?" James reasoned.
"So it would seem," he agreed.
"Well, avoiding trouble isn't exactly your strong suit," River argued.
"Not even my preferred state," he added.
"No, we're definitely in the middle of trouble, but this is a chance to help shape some attitudes. Doctor, you always told me how much you didn't like their rules and pompous attitudes. Now they're asking you to guide them away from exactly those things, they just don't know how," Rose said.
"True, but I can't encourage them all to poke their noses in the way we do. I planet full of nearly immortal trouble makers is more than the universe can handle," he countered.
"Granted, but maybe what they need isn't your way of dealing with things so much as why," Clara suggested.
They stayed in their private meeting for an hour or so as they discussed all of the hows and whys of their lifestyle. Not only for the sake of helping to shape this new Time Lord society, but also to reassure themselves that what they did throughout the universe, wasn't just spreading their own brand of chaos, but was the right thing to do. When they finally emerged, Romana was pacing the hallway and glanced up at the sound of the door opening.
"Are you ready?" she asked.
"We're ready, Romana. Lead the way," Rose assured her.
The council had stopped their meeting when the emergency with the Matrix occurred, so they were now called back together to discuss their original purpose. The Doctor's family entered and was brought before the governing council. They saw a mix of the people they had saved from Gallifrey, along with some of the planet's colonists. Romana took her seat in the middle, apparently still the appointed leader, if not President.
"We welcome you, Lord Doctor, Lady Rose Tyler, Lord James Tyler, Lady River Tyler, and Lady Clara Tyler. As current head of the Council of Trenzalore, I Romanadvoratrelundar, have asked that your esteemed advice be consulted on the formation of our Charter on Relations through Time and Space. As you know, Gallifrey of old held strong to their code of non-interference in word, but had long since declared itself superior in the universe and therefore responsible for steering events to their will. The survivors of the Time War that resulted from those beliefs, along with our newfound friends, hope for a better way. We look to you, dear friends, for guidance," Romana explained.
"Thank you, Romana, for your confidence in my abilities. However, having travelled with me for some time, I'm sure you realize that preventing trouble and having a plan, aren't exactly my forte," the Doctor told her with a smirk. "However, after a lengthy discussion with the rest of my family, we've decided that there are a few things we can share to help."
Rose stepped forward to address the group. "We certainly don't want to encourage all of you to go running across the universe the way we do. Blindly landing in the middle of a rebellion and getting tossed in jail might be our daily routine, but it certainly isn't for everyone. That being said, we've seen your little garden of baby TARDISes and we think that you should have a few representatives of your society visiting other places and making friends, especially in the nearby systems. Meet your neighbours and find some allies."
"When you do meet those people, there might be a few that aren't very nice," James added. "If there's one thing that I've learned, it's that there are some very cruel people out there. But there are also some really amazing people too. Don't let individuals sway your opinions of a whole race, and try not to end up on the oppressing side of a conflict. There's one thing that we always do; Stand up for the little guys. As a group, you need to establish a shared code of right and wrong. Make sure that you can agree on that so that you have something to stand behind as a group."
River took her husband's hand as she said, "Don't be afraid to ask for help. From each other, from your allies, and from us. You said yourself that the Doctor has often come to the aid of the Time Lords. He and the rest of his family are still here to help if you need us, as we hope that you will be willing to help us from time to time should we need it."
"None of us really know much about Gallifrey," Clara interjected. "We spent most of our lives on Earth or roaming the universe. We know how hard it will be for all of you to make a change from the rigid society that you're used to. But this is an opportunity to make a fresh start and prevent another tragedy, like the Time War, from happening again."
"I don't have a magic plan to set out for you, Romana," the Doctor admitted. "You know I don't make plans or follow rules in general. I don't do things because they're easy, because they make everyone happy, or because they're safe. I make the tough choices and make a stand because I believe in being good, fair, and most of all, kind."
"Thank you, Doctor. You have given us a lot to consider and I hope that your family will stay on Trenzalore for a while as these discussions continue?" Romana asked hopefully.
The Doctor groaned and rolled his eyes. Rose giggled and took his arm as she agreed that they could stay for a little while. They were offered rooms in his mother's house and took the opportunity to visit and get to know his Gallifreyan family while they were there.
The Doctor and Rose were lying awake in the large bed of one of the guest rooms in his mother's home. They'd shared a lovely supper with his friends and family, discussed the differences between how he was raised on Gallifrey to how they had raised their children, in the TARDIS and on Earth. His family was surprisingly accepting, having long ago given up trying to understand or change the Doctor and his ways. Rose felt that they were growing to really be a part of that family too.
"You smell so good," the Doctor mumbled as he nuzzled her neck and pulled her body closer to his.
Rose hummed happily. "Wish I felt so good. I've been nauseous all day," she grumbled, settling into his arms to find a comfortable position.
"Why didn't you say anything earlier?" he asked, reaching to grab his sonic and run a quick scan.
"Wasn't anything serious, just a bit queasy, you know," she replied.
"But that's-" he gasped as he stared at the results of his scan for a moment. Dropping the sonic on the floor, the Doctor leaned over and licked Rose's neck at her pulse point.
"What?" Rose squeaked. "What are you doing, Doctor?"
"Oh, Rose," he sighed. "Finally."
Whatever he was going on about, it didn't seem to be anything bad, but Rose wasn't quite sure what to make of it since he hadn't said exactly what his scan or licking had told him.
"Finally, what? Doctor, what is it?" she insisted, trying to turn and look at his face, but her husband had decided that snuggling her as close as possible was preferable to anything else in the universe for the moment.
"We did it, darling. After centuries of trying for another miracle, we're pregnant," he whispered in her ear, caressing her tummy reverently.
Rose gasped as her recent symptoms suddenly made sense, along with his rather intimate check of her hormone levels with his tongue. She hadn't been licked in quite that way since he wore pinstripes.
"I'm so glad we have a TARDIS this time around. Dealing with cravings for foods not on Earth was really difficult the last time," she told him with a smile.
"I'll take you to the edges of the universe to get anything you'd like, my love."