The poll for whether I bring Florence back to life or not is up so have a go at that if you want before the fic ends.

"Why are you doing this?" He cries out, arms spread as hers had been so many times that day.

She turns her gaze to him and speaks of feelings. Their gazes connect desperately and she knows they both need each other so much.

"I need you to know we're not so different." She tries to make him see. She needs Florence back by her side but she needs him too. She needs him so much. She tries to smile- can't, "I need my friend back." The echo of drums resounds in her head and even one of them could help soothe the ache. She tries to tempt him, pleads with his conscience, "Every battle, every war, every invasion. From now on, you decide the outcome." Her voice pitches lower and some distant part of her tells her to stop but the voice is so far away and she wants the Doctor to accept the gift- accept her friendship.

He fiddles with the bracelet. She remembers where she is. Her face contorts into a smirk and she takes hold of her emotions, forcing them back onto the rails.

"What's the matter, Mister President? Don't you trust yourself?" He holds the bracelet in both his hands and takes a quaking breath. His gaze travels to the human then he looks around the cemetery. The Mistress has a feeling he is seeing something else.

Thunder rumbles overhead.

She sees the moment he decides- his body language shifting.

He turns to her.

"Thank you. Thank you so much." He kneels too and tenderly places a hand on either side of her face. Her hearts speed up and she closes her mouth to prevent the gasp trying to escape.

Gently he presses his lips to hers and the Mistress knows nothing more than him. His mind smoothes over hers and she closes her eyes too.

His voice rumbles comfortingly and she listens, letting the sound wear at the edges of her pain. His hands descend to her shoulders and the weight of them makes her want to grab for him, hold him close.

He pushes himself up and away from her and she can only watch as he passes her. She is paralysed by shock as he leaves again.

Careful of her weary body she stands, hating the trembling of her hand over her left heart which throbs painfully in unison with the right. The Mistress watches the Doctor shouts and rant, despair and hurt written over her face.

He turns back once, grinning like his first regeneration after the war. She steps forward as he steps back, lips parted with everything left unsaid pouring into her gaze.

"Do you know what I am?" She manages to raise her eyebrows in curiosity, "I am an idiot," She doesn't know if he's joking and smiles a little, privately agreeing with the assessment, "with a box and a screwdriver. Just passing through, helping out, learning. I don't need an army. I never have, because I've got them. Always them. Because love, it's not an emotion. Love is a promise." He finishes pointing almost violently at his pet and its pet. She gets the point regardless and sees that she loves him and Florence both in some ways- or it's the closest human equivalent.

The Cyber-soldier holds the ape to his cold metal body.

"And he will never hurt her. P E, catch!" The Doctor throws the bracelet and Missy watches it arc through the air, begging gravity to be lenient and not let it break. The Cyberman catches it and she sighs in relief internally.

"You didn't notice, did you? While you were doing all your silly orders, while you where showing off, the one soldier not obeying." The Doctor begins his victory speech and the Mistress only just manages to not roll her eyes.

"No, that's wrong. That's impossible." And I'm a Slitheen. She mentally tacks on. Her voice softens a little as she lies.