CHAPTER 21
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IS THIS THE NEW DOCTOR?!
Suddenly just as Clara felt as though everything was lost, she sensed the presence of yet another Rose along with the first one. What was going on here?
She could now see another glowing figure that looked just like one of the Divergence drawing closer to her. She wasn't afraid though. She immediately felt warmth and friendship emanating from this new arrival, and she knew that this was the other Rose.
Clara felt so out of place now as she saw this new Rose joined by the glowing but still human looking Rose that she now realized was the Rose that she had met before. The two of them began to talk with one another several feet away from her while Clara waited breathlessly on the outcome.
"Hello, Rose!" Rose said as she greeted her other self.
"Hello to you too, Rose. I see that you have a little problem with a paradox ripping your universe apart. I think I've brought just the solution to that for you. I just found some missing Time Lords of yours that were pretty far from home," The Rose from the other universe replied.
"Thank you. I don't think I could have kept things together here for much longer," Rose responded.
Then she turned back toward Clara and said, "You don't have to worry anymore, Clara. Everything's going to be alright now. The other Rose just brought reinforcements."
"What? Who?" Clara asked in surprise as she had been too far away to hear what the other Rose had said.
"Who do you think? It's time for the Time Lords to come home. Go ahead, Clara. Prove to them that they're in the right place. They're waiting. Call them, Clara. Tell them the name of the man that we both love," Rose said with her face filled with joy.
Clara then said the Doctor's true name out loud, and she could instantly feel a collective burst of emotion come from somewhere nearby as she heard a chorus of millions of voices suddenly answering her all at once in her mind.
The Time Lords were returning at last.
The other Rose left and her own Rose disappeared as Clara could feel the mental presence of the Time Lords growing stronger and stronger by the moment. She had to clench her teeth together as the mental din created by hearing so many voices in her mind at once threatened to drive her insane.
Suddenly Clara heard one voice clearer than all of the others in her head, and it sounded very familiar to her. It was almost as if she recognized it even though she was sure that she had never heard it before.
"Let me help you clear your mind of the voices of all of the others before they drive you completely mad," the voice said.
"That would be great not to be turned into a vegetable. Thanks," Clara said as she started to hear fewer and fewer voices in her mind by the moment.
Then they were all gone except for the woman who had first spoken to her. She could feel a warm, comforting presence in her mind now. She felt more and more like she knew her, but she was sure that she had never met her before.
Who was this?
"It's impossible but it must be true. You're a Time Lord but you used to be human," the woman said in surprise.
"Impossible's just what I do. Yeah, I was changed because I jumped into the Doctor's timestream to save his life from an old enemy of his. I'm still trying to get used to it, and it hasn't always been easy," Clara admitted.
"I'm sorry. Maybe I can help you in the future. It doesn't surprise me that he would wind up marrying a human. Both of us have always been very fond of humans after all," the woman said.
"Who are you? Have we met before? You just sound so familiar to me," Clara finally asked as she didn't bother to explain that she wasn't married yet.
"To be honest, you sound very familiar to me. You sound just like an old friend of my family's, but I know that you couldn't possibly be her. She was a natural born Time Lord," the woman said.
Clara smiled as she said, "Maybe not. You see when I went into the Doctor's timestream I was scattered into fragments throughout his timeline. All of these echoes of me all looked and sounded exactly like me."
The woman laughed as she said, "Why do I get the feeling that you're a perfect match for my grandfather? You sound like you get into just as much trouble as he does."
"Grandfather?" Clara asked in surprise.
"Oh, yes. Let me introduce myself. I'm the Doctor's granddaughter, Susan. Susan Foreman to be exact. I used to be Susan Campbell once, but my husband's been gone for a very long time now. You see I used to be in love with a human too once. In fact, I'm still in love with him."
"I'm sorry for your loss," Clara said.
"Thank you. That was a long time ago, but it still feels like yesterday. He's very lucky that you became one of us. It's so hard to live without the person that you love for such a long time," Susan said sadly.
"So that's why he wouldn't stay with me then. It was because he saw what happened to you." Rose said as she reappeared next to Clara again.
"You are?" Susan asked.
"I am the Bad Wolf, but I am also Rose Tyler. I love the Doctor with all of my heart, but I already know that I will never keep him. I can see the future after all. I'm seeing more of that future happening right in front of me now," Rose said with a wide grin.
"About that can you lot fix things here? It's not that I don't enjoy the conversation, but I'd like to actually meet you in person instead of talking to you while floating through an empty white void. No offense," Clara said.
"None taken. Don't worry. The Time Lords are working on fixing the paradox that was created even while we speak. It won't be much longer now. Then you will return to your friends who will all be unharmed," Susan reassured her.
"How do you know about what happened to my friends?" Clara asked.
"She's a Time Lord, Clara," Rose said as she looked at Clara like she was mental.
"Oh, of course. She read my mind. Wait a minute! You read my mind?" Clara asked a bit annoyed.
"I'm sorry, Clara. I couldn't help but read it. Your concern for them and my grandfather is radiating off of you in waves. You're broadcasting that loud and clear. Any telepath could hear it," Susan said.
"Sorry, Susan. I guess it must be overwhelming you. So they're going to be alright?" Clara asked.
"Yes, time will be reset to just before the two versions of my Grandfather were killed, and everything that happened after that will be erased. Only you will remember it," Susan said.
"I have to warn you about the Divergence. They created this whole mess in the first place. They're also the ones who were working with the Master of another universe to keep you from coming back here," Clara said.
"I've heard of them from history class. So they've escaped their pocket universe. It doesn't matter now. We're back, Clara, and we won't let them do anymore damage," Susan said.
"Get ready, Clara. It's time to turn back on the lights," Rose said with a grin.
Clara suddenly felt herself being plucked out of the crack, and then she was back on Trenzalore once again standing with the Doctor and the others. The Divergence were standing just a few feet away from them, and Clara knew that at any minute now one of them was about to appear next to the Doctors and kill both of them. She couldn't let that happen this time.
It turned out that she didn't have to worry about it. Suddenly Gallifrey appeared in the sky above Trenzalore, and an entire army of Time Lords dressed in long flowing robes of various colors seemingly materialized out of nowhere in-between the Doctor and the Divergence. The Doctor gasped in recognition as he saw a familiar face among them. Clara now knew from Oswin's memories that this was the woman that she had been talking to. This was Susan.
The Divergence almost cowered before the assembled Time Lords as they stared at them with stern looks on their face.
"This is our time now. Yours has ended. We will never be sealed away again," the leader of the Divergence said.
"You're right. You won't," Susan said.
A glowing force field instantly surrounded the Divergence, and they couldn't escape from it no matter how hard they tried. They continued to attack it with one blast of Vortex energy after another to no avail.
Suddenly the Divergence began fading away as their leader screamed, "This is not the last of us. We are destined to inherit the future, and we will not be denied!"
"Your future no longer exists now. It's being erased. Now you'll never have even existed at all. I'm sorry," Susan said as she looked at them with regret.
"No!" the Divergence all shouted together before vanishing from history forever.
Now the Time Lords had a brand new completely unknown future spread out before them once more.
"Was that really necessary?" the Doctor asked in disapproval.
"It wasn't my decision, Grandfather. It was the High Council's," Susan said sadly.
"You could have stopped them. You could have at least protested," the Doctor said.
"That's enough, Doctor. The threat by them to the universe was deemed to be too great to allow them to exist anymore. Susan was completely outvoted by the rest of the High Council. Hers was the only vote against," one of the Time Lords standing with Susan said.
"I'm sorry, Grandfather," Susan said sadly.
"It's alright. It wasn't your fault, Susan, at least you tried," the Doctor said in a gentle voice.
"Let the matter be dropped. The High Council's decision is final," one of the Council said.
"That's funny. I thought that the Lord President's decision was final. What happened to him? Did you finally regain your minds and decide to put Rassilon back in the Dark Tower again?" the Doctor said with a smug grin on his face.
"We overthrew Rassilon and sent him into the Void, Grandfather," Susan said.
"Good riddance I say. It's the best news that I've heard in centuries. Well, that and the fact that there's a sale on jammie dodgers at this little shop that I frequently go to in London. Now that is some really good news!" The Doctor said smiling madly.
Susan smiled back at him in amusement while the rest of the Time Lords frowned. One of them gave him a withering stare as he said, "Enough frivolity, Doctor. We no longer have time to waste. With the Divergence defeated, we must now find the version of the Master who worked with them and ensure that he doesn't return to bother us again."
Rose suddenly appeared then said, "There's no need for that. He's already been taken care of by a version of me from another universe. She completely wiped his memory of everything that he knew about this universe. He's not going to be bothering any of you anymore. Trust me. Well, the other me anyway."
"Rose," the Doctor said as he stared at her in surprise.
The Time Lords all bowed their heads in deference to her surprising the Doctor even more. Why would they be showing respect for a human even a human as powerful as Rose was as the Bad Wolf? That wasn't like the Time Lords at all especially the High Council.
The only human that they had ever respected was Leela, and that was only because she had once threatened to shoot them all full of Janis thorns when they attempted to bully her. None of them ever said a word against her again from that point on.
Rose seemed surprised as well as she said, "Well, this is new. I can't say that I hate it exactly though. I could definitely get used to Time Lords who don't give me lip."
The Doctor looked at her with a huge smile on his face that quickly turned to a look of sadness as he reminded himself that this version of Rose was from his past during the brief time that she had been the Bad Wolf. She was only here for a short time before she had to return to her proper place in his timestream.
"I'm sorry, Doctor. I wanted things to work out between us too. At least we're getting to see each other again though even if it is only for a short time. That's not too bad, is it?" Rose said in a sympathetic voice.
"What if things could be different?" one of the High Council asked.
"What do you mean?" Rose asked in confusion.
"You and your counterpart from the other universe helped save us. We owe you much, Rose Tyler. What if we could rewrite your timeline where you could stay with the Doctor forever and were never trapped on Pete's World? We could even make you into a Time Lord with a full set of regenerations if you wish," another member of the High Council offered.
Rose and the Doctor both looked at each other in shock while Clara's stomach fell. If Rose had never left the Doctor, then what would happen to her? Would she have ever even met him at all? They certainly wouldn't be in love because he would have never left a Time Lord Rose especially if she had never been trapped on Pete's World.
"What about Clara? She said the Doctor's name. She helped save you too," Rose said.
"Do you propose that we reward her instead of you? You wish nothing in return for your help?" a Time Lord asked in disbelief.
"I've seen my own future, and I'm happy on Pete's World. I'll be okay. I don't want anything. If you want to thank someone then thank Clara," Rose said.
Clara did a double take at the same time as the High Council did. This she had never seen coming and apparently neither had they.
She guessed their ability to read minds only went so far.
The High Council now turned to Clara as Susan asked on their behalf, "What kind of reward do you want for saving us?"
"I already have my reward. I don't want anything else," Clara said as she smiled at the Doctor.
"Nevertheless a reward shall be given. The Doctor has run out of lives and since you obviously must mean a great deal to him if he told you his name we will reward you best by giving him a new life cycle," a High Council member said.
A stream of golden energy quickly descended from Gallifrey and went into the Doctor's mouth. He gasped in surprise as he could feel all of his regenerations instantly returning to him.
"Thank you," the Doctor said appreciatively.
"That's the best reward that you could have given me too," Rose said smiling.
The Doctor looked at Rose with a look of sudden understanding on his face as he realized that this was what Rose had meant when she had told him that he and Clara would be with one another forever the last time that he had saw her. The Doctor smiled as Rose winked at him. He was sure now that she had planned this whole thing somehow.
Rose smiled at him and gave him a hug as she said, "Goodbye, Doctor. Don't look so sad. We'll meet again and soon. I guarantee it."
Then she quickly vanished as Clara grabbed the Doctor's hand in silent support. She knew what Rose meant to him after all.
"Now we must return Gallifrey and ourselves to our proper place. Before we do though, we need a new Lord President to replace Rassilon. We will need someone to lead us into this new age in our history. Romana, do you think that you would accept the office once again as acting Lady President until we can have a vote?" Susan asked.
"Me? All of the High Council with the exception of you voted me out in favor of Rassilon when the war wasn't going how they wanted it to. Why would they want me back now when they have already shown no confidence in my abilities? I must respectfully decline. I can however suggest a suitable alternative to myself however," Romana said.
The Doctor clenched his teeth together as he silently hoped that Romana didn't say his name.
"We're listening," one of the Council said.
"I suggest Ushas," Romana said shocking everyone.
"What?" Rayna asked in disbelief.
"What?" several members of the High Council asked as they all echoed her.
Romana then explained how Rayna had changed and become a better person. She explained it so eloquently and with such conviction that she quickly convinced them that it was true.
"Then it is decided. Ushas is the new Lady President of Gallifrey until a new election is held at which time she may run for office to maintain her position," A Council member declared.
Rayna's mouth opened and then closed in shock as she couldn't speak. Romana meanwhile smiled. She couldn't think of anyone who deserved this shot at redemption more.
"Of course I will go along with the Lady President to serve as her advisor. I will bring my two assistants along with me," Romana said as she gestured to Leela and Oswin.
"It is agreed," Susan said happily.
Everyone seemed happy now except for the Master. Where did this leave him?
"Come along then, Lady President. You have much work to do," A Council member said as he took Rayna's arm.
"Wait. What about the Master?" Rayna asked looking back at him.
"What about him? He's far too treacherous to be allowed back on Gallifrey if that's what you're asking. The only reason we aren't attempting to arrest him for his crimes is because of the role that he played in helping to save us by alerting the Doctor to the original location of our transmissions," Another Council member said.
"Either he goes with me or I don't go at all," Rayna said not really caring what they decided about it either way.
She wasn't sure about this new job at all. She didn't feel as if she even deserved it. She certainly wasn't confident of her ability to do it.
The Council quickly debated this with one another telepathically, and then they all nodded. They then looked to Susan to give Rayna their answer.
Susan sighed. That seemed to be all that they wanted to use her for was as their mouthpiece.
"The Council has decided to allow the Master to go along with you. Be warned though that if the Master does anything against Gallifrey that you will be punished for it for suggesting that he comes back there. I'm sorry," Susan said apologetically.
The Master looked at Rayna instead of the High Council as he said, "I would never do anything that would lead to her having to suffer. You can count on me not to do anything to Gallifrey or its precious Council that would cause Ushas to be punished."
The Council all nodded and believed him for once because they knew just how much that the Master cared for Rayna. He always had after all and had voluntarily joined her in exile so that she wouldn't have to be alone when she had been sent away from Gallifrey for what had happened to the President's cat because of her size control experiments with rats.
"I guess that this is goodbye then, everyone. Goodbye, Doctor. Thank you for always being such a good friend," Rayna said as she hugged the Doctor.
"Goodbye, Ushas, and good luck. If you ever need any help, you can always call on me," the Doctor said.
Then Rayna wrapped her arms around Rory and kissed his cheek as she said, "Thank you for believing in me even when I didn't believe in myself. Goodbye, Rory."
"Goodbye, Rayna. What the Doctor said goes double for me. I'll always be there for you," Rory said.
Amy wanted to be jealous. She really did. She simply couldn't though. She could see that the deep friendship that Rory and Rayna had was something special and rare and was not in any way sexual in nature. She could never be jealous of that.
That's what she had with the Doctor after all.
"I'm still not sure about this," Rayna admitted.
Romana took her aside and said, "Believe me when I say that I think you'll do just fine. They need someone like you to motivate them to become better. You see how they bully around Susan, right? They need someone used to dealing with manipulative tyrants and putting them in their place. Sound familiar, Ushas? I think if you can handle the Master that you can handle them easily. Gallifrey needs you to truly bring it into a new era and to keep it away from the horrible influences that brought a monster like Rassilon back in the first place. What do you say, Ushas?"
Rayna smiled as she said, "I'll do it. I didn't like what they were doing to Susan either. I'm going to make sure that I create a Gallifrey where someone like me isn't made into a renegade just over a simple mistake and where a kind soul like Susan isn't either ostracized or forced to become something vile in order to survive. That's happened far too much in our history. I'm going to change that if you'll all help me."
"That sounds good to me. I'm with you all the way," Oswin said.
"I will crush anyone who dares to oppose you. Believe me when I say that they have learned quite well to fear me," Leela said as she glared at the High Council who quickly looked away.
The Master smiled at Rayna as he said, "I almost pity them. They'll never know what hit them."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Rayna said with a frown.
"Nothing. Nothing at all," the Master said still smiling.
"It had better be nothing," Rayna said as she began to smile back at him and kissed him.
The two of them walked up to the High Council hand in hand as Rayna formally accepted their offer.
Susan Foreman meanwhile was getting to know the other Susan. Susan Oswald had approached her timidly as she said, "H-hello. I'm Susan too. I'm . . . Well, I guess I'm your aunt which is kind of weird but true."
Susan Foreman looked at her in surprise and then realized, "You're Grandfather's daughter with Clara, aren't you? You definitely look like your mother, and you're just as sweet. It's so nice to meet you, Susan."
"Really?" Susan Oswald asked looking both surprised and relieved at once.
Susan Foreman smiled at her as she said, "Really. You know you don't have to be so nervous around me. I'm not that hard to get along with I don't think."
"You'll have to look over her. She wants you to like her because she was named after you, and it's making her very self-conscious. I'm Jenny by the way. I'm your other aunt," Jenny said as she suddenly inserted herself into the conversation.
"You're Clara's daughter too?" Susan Foreman asked.
"No, I'm a special case. I'm a clone of your grandfather," Jenny said.
Susan looked at her in surprise and laughed as she said, "Really? You're not quite what I would imagine a clone of him to look like."
"Tell me about it. At least I'm much more sane than he is and cuter too," Jenny said smiling.
"Oi!" the Doctor said.
"Which are you protesting to? That she's saner or cuter?" Clara joked.
"Both," the Doctor said with a brief smile appearing over his fake pout.
"I'm glad to see that he really hasn't changed that much at all," Susan Foreman said watching him fondly.
"Susan, it's time to go now. We're returning home," A Council member said.
"Do you have to go? Can't you stay with us? I've barely gotten to know you at all," Susan Oswald said in disappointment.
Susan Foreman looked at her young, eager face with sadness. She wanted to get to know her and the others in her Grandfather's new family better as well, but she knew that it wasn't to be. She was a member of the High Council now and as such had certain responsibilities that she had to meet. If only she hadn't been forced to join it because of her superior intelligence. She had been made to join for the sake of the war effort, and she had hated it there ever since. Most of them did nothing but attempt to intimidate her into supporting whatever the majority of them wanted at every opportunity. She could easily see from the start just why and how their society had become so corrupt and why they had started to resemble the Daleks more and more the longer the war had progressed. She truly wanted to go with her grandfather and make a difference in the universe once again instead of pining away as yet another cog in a bureaucratic machine.
Rayna must have somehow guessed this from the emotions on her face and whispered, "I'll see what I can do about getting you released from the Council, Susan. You don't really belong there anymore than I do. You're far too good for them"
Susan Foreman smiled as renewed hope filled her hearts. Maybe just maybe she could be free to roam the universe after all soon.
The Time Lords all returned to Gallifrey now along with Rayna, the Master, Romana, Leela, and Oswin as they moved the planet away from Trenzalore and restored it to its proper place in the universe at last once more. Now the Doctor and what was left of his crew were ready to leave Trenzalore behind for good as soon as he tied up one last loose end.
He turned to see the Tenth Doctor still standing there watching him with a smile on his face. He had been there all along ever since the universe had been restored but had said nothing the entire time for once. He had just been there as an observer. That was very rare for him.
He had done this because he knew that he really had no place being here in his own future. This was a part of Chinny's life not his. All he had come here for was to see Donna one last time, and he had done so. Now it was time for him to go at last now that everything was finally over with.
"Well, I suppose I'll go now. At least you didn't botch it all up. I didn't have to step in to fix anything once. It's nice to know that everything's in good hands. At least your hands aren't as big as your chin anyway," the Tenth Doctor said grinning.
"And neither of them are as big as your ego," the Eleventh Doctor shot back.
The Tenth Doctor shook his head but smiled as he said, "Goodbye, Chinny. I can't say I'll miss you too much."
As the Eleventh Doctor frowned and pouted, the Tenth Doctor embraced a visibly upset Donna as he said, "I will miss you though. Very much. Goodbye, Donna. Keep him from killing himself, will you?"
"I will, Doctor. I will. Goodbye. I'm really going to miss wrapping my arms around that skinny waist of yours," Donna said in tears as she returned his embrace.
The Tenth Doctor struggled to hold back the tears. He really didn't want to lose Donna all over again. His hearts were already breaking over it.
He gave Donna one last look and then got into the TARDIS and quickly left without saying another word. Donna then dissolved into tears as the current Doctor held her in his arms.
"I'm sorry, Doctor. I know that you're him, but I still miss him. I know it must seem silly to you," Donna said.
"No, Donna. It doesn't seem silly at all," the Doctor said in a soft voice as he kissed her forehead.
Suddenly the Doctor stiffened and screamed in pain as Clara said, "Doctor, what is it?"
"I don't know. It almost feels like regenerating," the Doctor said mystified.
Then he suddenly glowed with golden energy even though he knew that he wasn't regenerating. He had absolutely no idea what was going on whatsoever.
"Doctor!" Clara and Amy both screamed in concern.
Then there was a flash of light, and a very familiar face took the Doctor's place as he now looked like the Tenth Doctor again once more. He looked at them with a mystified expression on his face as he said, "Now, that's weird. That's a new one even for me. That's the first time I've ever degenerated before, and I didn't even use up one of my lives."
"What just happened? How did you do that?" Amy asked as she stared at him in shock.
Her raggedy man was now suddenly gone and replaced by someone completely new. Or was that old? She wasn't quite if she'd like this or not if it proved to be permanent. The other Doctor hadn't been that bad, but she definitely preferred her own.
The Doctor noticed this as he said, "Don't worry, Amy. I'm sure you'll get used to this me quickly if you have to. I have to admit that being him wasn't that bad. I'll miss wearing bow ties though. Or will I? They just don't seem to be me anymore. I wonder where I put those trainers."
"Doctor, what is going on?" Clara asked as she continued to stare at him in shock.
"I have absolutely no idea, but it could be worse. I could be Shouty. Besides I thought you liked this version of me and my perfect hair," the Doctor said grinning at her.
"I did. I do. I . . . I really miss my adorable little giraffe too though," Clara said upset.
"Now you tell me," the Doctor said trying to smile until he could see just how upset that Clara really was.
"It's okay, Clara. I'll find out what happened and I'll fix it. I promise. It won't be so bad. I'm still me. I'm just different. That's all," the Doctor said in a gentle voice.
Clara smiled and embraced him as he sighed with relief. He was glad that she wasn't going to reject him. He didn't think that he could have been able to bear that.
"Molto bene!" the Doctor said happily.
"Doctor, you don't think that it's something serious do you? This didn't happen because of the paradox, did it?" Amy said sounding worried.
"I don't know, Amy. I honestly don't know. I've never heard of anything like this happening before," the Doctor said.
"As long as he's alright, I really don't care. I missed this version of you," Donna said as she quickly joined Clara in embracing the new/old Doctor.
"I don't like this. He's just so different. It's like he's not my Dad anymore," Susan said shaking.
"Of course he is. This is the way he looked when I was created. It'll be alright, Susan. He's still the same man. You'll see. It's going to be just fine," Jenny said as she put a comforting arm around her.
"This is a little disturbing to all of us except Donna, Susan. I think Jenny's right though. You don't need to worry. I'm sure this Doctor is just as strange and out of his mind as the other one," Rory said as he tried to make Susan smile.
"Oi! I am not. No one's as weird as Old Floppy Hair was. Are you okay, Susan?" the Doctor said with concern.
Susan smiled at him as she said, "Yeah, I'm just a little shaken. That's all."
"I still love you, you know. Exactly the same. You and your sister," The Doctor said.
Susan's face seemed to brighten up as she said, "I love you too."
"Good. Then let's get out of here and go somewhere much less depressing. Someplace brilliant. Where would you like to go, eh? We could go to so many places and have oh so much fun. So where will it be? Woman Wept? New Earth? Barcelona?" the Doctor said with renewed vitality and eagerness.
"Just do what you usually do, Bright Eyes, and go wherever the TARDIS decides to take you," Clara said as she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him.
"Bright Eyes?" the Doctor asked in surprise.
"They're so full of manic energy now. I could call you Hair Boy instead though if you want," Clara said.
"Bright Eyes it is then. I'll just pick somewhere at random. Everyone into the TARDIS. Allons-y! It feels so good to say that again. I really need to get out of these clothes," the Doctor said as he looked at his tweed suit in distaste.
"Do you need any help?" Clara joked.
"Well, you seemed to get over Chinny very quick, didn't you?" the Doctor said looking almost hurt.
Clara immediately turned serious as she said, "It's not like that. I just realized that you're still you no matter what body you wear. I do love my giraffe, but I love my pretty boy just as much."
"Pretty Boy? I'm not sure about that. I do like it better than Bright Eyes or Hair Boy though. It's definitely better than Hair Boy," the Doctor said babbling.
"Maybe I should call you Captain Manic instead? How about that?" Clara said as she kissed him again.
Amy watched them with an uncertain expression on her face. She still didn't like this. She knew that this was the same man, but she really did miss her Doctor. She was worried about this whole thing. What would have happened to make him change like this and would it wind up causing him problems on down the line?
"I'm sure that it's going to turn out to be fine, Amy," Rory said.
"I certainly hope so," Amy said.
"Oh, stop being so gloomy, Red. Everything's fine now. It's just as it should be," Donna said excited.
"I'm certainly glad someone thinks so," Amy said in a low voice as Rory gave her a comforting kiss.
As everyone got into the TARDIS and prepared to leave Trenzalore behind them at last, Rose reappeared nearby and watched them with a grin. She couldn't resist it. She had to bring him back even if it was only for a little while.
She had missed him herself after all.
Next: The new/old Doctor and his uncertain crew wind up in trouble just as soon as they leave Trenzalore behind as it turns out that the Divergence aren't quite as gone as they had hoped after all. Meanwhile back on Gallifrey, Rayna finds that her new job is going to be even more trouble for her than she thought when the Daleks find out that the Time Lords have returned and aren't too happy about it. What will they do about it? Is the Time War about to start up all over again? Plus will Susan ever get to leave the High Council or is she destined to continue in her unhappy life of servitude?