The Master went onto one knee, looking devastated as he saw all of his doings become undone. He couldn't understand! Rassilon needed him! The Master needed him to bring back the Time-Lord's and Gallifrey! Why was he destroying everything that he did with the Gate? "But...I did this. I get the credit! I'm on your side!" He yelled as everyone ran outside, screaming and terrified as they saw the Time-Lord's and felt the Earth shaking violently around them.
Nobody saw Wilf fighting his way into the room. "Come on, get out of the way! Get out of the way! Thyra..." There was urgent knocking and one of the technicians was locked in the booth.
"Somebody, please!" The tech pleaded.
"All right! I've got you!" Wilf quickly went into the other booth.
"Wilf, don't!" Braxiatel yelled out warningly, having a bad feeling about him entering the booth. Didn't Wilf realize the full potential dangers of the booth? Didn't he not realize that the man inside the booth was not even worth saving at all? But Braxiatel knew it was just so human for Wilf to save another human's life.
Wilf ignored him. "I've got you. Come on. Go on!" He ushered the tech out and the tech ran from the room fearfully.
Gallifrey loomed even closer to Earth, becoming even more visible. "Oh Romana, Braxiatel, Thyra, I really do hope you three know what you're doing." Donna whispered, staring at the Time-Lord's burnt planet with wide eyes. The Planet was huge! At least four times bigger than the Earth and Donna knew that this was her last ever chance of seeing the planet itself, knowing millions of Romana's people were waiting to come back to reality once more.
The Doctor stepped down away from the other Time-Lord's, standing away from Rassilon. "You've done enough damage now Rassilon." The Doctor hissed angrily at him. It was always Rassilon's fault. Ever since Romana stepped down as President during the early stage of the Time War, all had gone to hell since Rassilon took over and the Doctor wished Romana never did step down. She was a far better ruler than Rassilon will ever be and the Doctor wasn't just being biased either. "Stop this at once. This is madness."
The Master looked at the Doctor, cocking his head to the side. He looked younger when he had last seen him. When The Master last saw him, it was when the man broke the promise of his Name and he looked as old as his age then. But now, but now the Doctor looked nothing more like a young boy with his eyes as old as time itself. "But this is fantastic, isn't it Doctor? You will be reunited with your brother and your TARDIS with Gallifrey just above the Earth! Hasn't that always been your dream? To have Gallifrey and Earth near one another? And have a race of Time-Lord's and Humans unite?"
Romana rounded up on the Master. She had to make him see of the evil he brought into reality. As much as she wanted her people and home planet back, she didn't want it to be this way and especially at this moment in time with the final days of the Time War still trapped on Gallifrey. "You weren't there in the final days of the Time War because you ran away like the craven you are!" Her lips curled up into a snarl. "You never saw the true horrors that have extended. If the Time-Lock is broken, then everything will come through. Not just the War Daleks, but the Skaro Degradations. Remember them? Then the Horde of Travesties, the Nightmare Child, the Could-Have-Been-King with his army of Meanwhiles and Never-weres." She spat at the Master's feet before pointing at Rassilon furiously. "Do you remember your former tutor Borusa? Do you want to know what Rassilon did to him? He experimented on Borusa. He turned him into a Time Engine and Rassilon himself was planning on changing every fibre of our beings! Turning us into Daleks almost!" Rassilon didn't even flinch once, but instead clenched at his staff tightly.
The Master sniffed the air, a greedy look upon his face. What Romana described to him was perfect! It sounded like the perfect ideal world where he could rule as king. "My kind of world!"
"Listen to her Master!" The Doctor told him and for once the Master looked at him properly. Romana and Braxiatel looking at the Doctor longingly, wishing he could stay with them. Even for the Master to desire such hell, even the Master would never survive this. He remembers the Master running away as though it was yesterday and the Doctor wished he could run away but he couldn't. He couldn't run away for he stayed to protect the children of Gallifrey. Gallifrey and the people itself didn't matter to the Doctor anymore but the children did. They may be still hope that the children were still innocents and they could help their parents overcome their corrupted ways. He had to cling onto faith a little while longer. He just had to. "Because Lady Romana is right. Now even the Time-Lord's could have survive this!"
"Please Master, what they are telling you is the truth!" Thyra pleaded. She was torn. On the one hand, she wanted to be with her people and Gallifrey and more importantly, her Uncle, but she knew that if she stayed with them, that Rassilon will eventually use her for his own gain and destroy her like he did to her mother and she wouldn't let that happen. She valued her liberty and she would fight for it even if that meant going against her own people.
"We will initiate the Final Sanction. The End of Time will come at my hand. The rupture will continue until it rips the Time Vortex apart!" Rassilon continued, eyeing Thyra somewhat warily. He saw the power she held when the Time family arrived at the mansion. He saw how she used her telekinesis power to break the glass and to land them neatly and he had to admit, he was impressed. No Time-Lord child could ever have such power for most just had basic telepathic powers but never telekinesis. But he knew Thyra was special for the Visionaries have told him about her and her destiny.
"That's suicide!" Braxiatel shouted. He knew Rassilon was evil, more evil than the Master especially with what he did to himself and Romana during the Time-War. Rassilon had to be stopped for he has lived too long and Braxiatel knew it was time to send Rassilon back to sleep. The Master nodded in agreement, too stunned to speak.
"We will ascend to become creatures of consciousness alone, free of these bodies, free of time and cause of effect, while creation itself ceases to be!"
"You see? This is what they were doing to Tutor Borusa! They were trying to rewrite us entirely so that we weren't even Time-Lord's anymore! Don't you see now why Rassilon's opponents now wanted me dead? I-" Romana gestured at her chest desperately. Trying to persuade the Master that what Rassilon was doing was way out of control. "Had to stop them! I would not stand for our people to be changed from who we are! This is what they were planning in the final days of the War, Master and I led a revolution against them!"
The Master glanced at Romana knowing she was right but he still had to try and persuade Rassilon that he needed him. After all, he was the one that pulled Gallifrey and the Time-Lord's out of the Time-Lock! He had suffered the drumming noise all his life all because of Rassilon. He had to mean something to him! "Then take me with you, Lord President. Let me ascend into glory." He kneeled with arms outstretched and Romana shook her head disappointedly at him, Braxiatel not daring to take his eyes away from his brother for he had missed him so much and feared the moment he looked away was the moment he would disappear.
"You are diseased, albeit a disease of our own making. No more." Rassilon hissed and The Doctor flinched at the last words, knowing he was the one who uttered those words when he was in the incarnation that broke the promise to be the Doctor during the Time War.
The Master lowered his arm in defeat, realizing he couldn't talk his way out of this. The President held the gauntlet-covered hand but as energy started to hum, Romana stepped in the middle between them, holding Braxiatel's blaster tightly in her hand, gritting through her teeth as she glared at Rassilon, full of hatred for the man.
"Choose your enemy well Lady Romana. We are many. The Master is but one." Rassilon warned her. He knew Romana well. He knew she could be a killer when she wanted to be but could she really kill him even after everything she has done? Rassilon knew she had spent too much time around the Doctor to be the killer like he was.
"But you nearly destroyed my life Rassilon. You tried to erase me from history as though I've never been born!You blackmailed my Mate for wanting to work for you and now you have my good friend, the Doctor too. I am the only one with the power to stop you."
"But he's the President. Kill him, and Gallifrey could be yours!" The Master told her quickly, thinking on the top of his head. Knowing that any second now Romana would point the gun at him.
As though on cue, Romana turned around, the blaster still aimed at his head. "He's to blame, not me!" The Master snapped, before sighing. Oh of course she would kill him over Rassilon. After all, he destroyed all of her children save from Thyra and tortured her too. "Oh, I killed yours and Braxiatel's children." The Doctor frowned at this, wondering what the Master meant because he could only see Thyra and she was alive. "And the link is inside my head. Kill me, the link gets broken, they go back. Do you still have the soldier in you to kill me? Go on then, do it!" Romana turned back to the President, trembling with rage. "Exactly. It's not just me, it's him. He's the link, kill him!"
"The final act of your life is murder. But which one of us?" The President asked daringly. "Which one would you kill in front of your daughter?"
"Romana, think carefully." Braxiatel communicated telepathically. "And choose wisely-" He felt his brother tap on his shoulder and Braxiatel frowned before his brother jerked his head towards the council to see their mother standing behind Rassilon, the one who voted against him. Braxiatel trembled and Wilf eyes widened, recognizing the woman. "Mother?" He whispered in Gallifreyian, overcome with emotions at seeing his brother and mother together. He wanted to weep with joy. He wanted to run up to her and embrace her with his brother. Wanted to show her how far he has come and how proud he was of his own daughter and to introduce Romana to his mother properly. He saw tears running down her face and the two brothers embraced each other tightly, afraid to let go as they rested their heads against each other, trying to spend as much time as they have left together, knowing they would be ripped away from each other once more in a matter of minutes.
Romana switched position once more, the Master looking at her with mixed emotions. "Get out of the way." Romana growled out in Gallifreyian towards him and the Master smiled as he dived out of the way and Romana shot the device that was holding the diamond and completing the link and the machine went up in flame. Romana turned back to Rassilon. As much as she wanted to kill Rassilon and the Master, she couldn't be a killer in front of Thyra. Her time as a soldier was up for she was now a mother and Romana wanted to be the best she could be for Thyra. "Back into the Time War Rassilon. Go back into hell and stay in hell for the rest of your immortal life!"
"Gallifrey falling!" The visionary cried as the Earth began to tremble once more. "Gallifrey falls!"
"Brother, don't leave us!" Braxiatel cried in Gallifreyian, clinging onto his brother tightly. He's only just found his brother! Braxiatel needed him. The TARDIS needed him. As annoying as the Doctor could be at times, they were brothers and family meant everything to Braxiatel. "Don't leave us alone again. Please."
"I'm sorry brother. But this is where we say goodbye." The Doctor held his brother's face in his hand firmly. It had been many, many centuries since he has last seen his brother and to see him with Lady Romana and a child of his own, it made him happy at the fact that Braxiatel has found peace. If Braxiatel could find peace from being the cold, sociopath and manipulative Time-Lord he had always been, then perhaps it gave the Doctor hope to find peace on Gallifrey. Even if that meant his death.
"Then take this." Braxiatel quickly thrust a Time Ring into his hand and the Doctor looked at with wide eyes. He had kept the Time ring in the deepest part of his pocket. Always carrying it for he knew he might need it. But this time it wasn't for his use, it was for his brother. It was the least Braxiatel could do. "If you ever find a way to escape the Time-Lock once more, find us. Find us and come back home to us." He held his brothers hand tightly as the white light began to cover the room.
"Father, be careful!" Thyra shouted worryingly, afraid that he too may be taken back into the Time War with her Uncle. She wanted her Uncle to stay. She wanted him to see his TARDIS once more and spend with him and tell him all about her adventures and her schooling. She wanted to show him her human family and introduce him to the wonderful Torchwood team. Oh, she wanted to do so much with her Uncle but now Thyra was never going to get the chance to be able to.
"You'll die with me, Lady Romana!" Rassilon shouted out angrily.
"You forgot, dear President, that I'm already a dead woman!" Romana replied back, haughtily. As if she didn't know she was going to die today. The amount of times she had to be reminded, Romana knew her death was only going to happen quicker. "Go on and kill me then! I'll die knowing that I would have died to protect my family! What are you going to die for Rassilon? Nothing!"
"Mother!" Thyra cried and she made her may towards her but Braxiatel grabbed her by the shoulders as Thyra sobbed within his grasps, wanting to help her mother.
Rassilon let out a war cry of rage as Romana stood there, accepting her death and Braxiatel glanced at his mother to see that she has covered her eyes once more, his brother standing by her side solemnly. Knowing there was nothing they could do.
The Master stood up behind Romana, knowing this was the only thing he could do to to owe her. "Get out of the way." Romana looked confused before diving towards Braxiatel and Thyra as the Master shoots a bolt of energy and Romana gets out of the way just in time. The bolt struck Rassilon in the chest and the man staggered backwards. "I confess that I tortured Lady Romana! I confess that I killed her and Braxiatel's children!" Braxiatel embraced Romana, finally getting the justice that they deserve as they watch the Master fight Rassilon. "You did this to me! All my life!" He used another hand to send another bolt at Rassilon. "You made me!" With each bolt, he stepped closer. "One! Two! Three! Four!" The Master was within the pull of the link and got sent back to Gallifrey with the others.
The Doctor jumped onto Rassilon's back, strangling him by the neck as The Master sent energy bolts at him, causing Rassilon to fall to his knees underneath the weight. Rassilon fell from grace, trying to cling onto what little strength and power he had as the Doctor and Master worked together to defeat him.
"Brother!" Braxiatel cried out, seeing his brother and his own mother fade with the rest of the Time-Lord's. "No!"
The people on the street near the Noble house saw Gallifrey flicker and fade before it finally moved away from the Earth. The people in the street laugh in relief and hug each other and Sylvia smiled and turned to her daughter, seeing her solemn look. "What is it, Donna?"
Donna swallowed, pushing back a stray of hair. "That was Gallifrey. The Time family's home planet. They had a chance to go back to it and start their lives...but they didn't. They chose to save us instead of their home planet." Sylvia smiled faded away, realizing Donna was right.
"Mother!" Thyra cried and she rushed to her mother embraced her, both crying with relief. "Oh mother!" She laughed shakily, unable to believe her luck. Her mother was alive! Rassilon was defeated! Not only that, but the Master was now forever trapped in the Time-Lock with Gallifrey and it's hell. The prophecy was wrong. Her mother wasn't going to die. She was going to live and she was going to live well.
"He's gone." Braxiatel whispered, walking over to them with his shoulders slumped. His feet picking up heavily off the floor. "I couldn't stop him...My...my own brother-"
"I'm sorry my love." Romana whispered, knowing he was talking about the Doctor. She had seen the Doctor and her only regret was not being able to say more than a few words to him. "I'm sorry." She nuzzled her head against his as they came to terms that they survived Rassilon's wrath when suddenly there was four knocks on a glass. The Time family froze within their embrace, Romana's eyes wide at the realization and the four knocks began to repeat twice before they slowly turned around to see Wilf in the booth, dread filling their every bones.
Wilf tapped again and gave a little wave. "They've gone, then? Good-oh. If could let me out...?" He asked hopefully. He understood why Romana had to send her people back where they came from. Seeing them there today, he understood the fact that the Time-Lord's were not wise and peaceful as Romana had once claimed them to be. He felt so sorry for Romana. So sorry for her that she had to send her home and people far, far away from this world and out of her reach.
Romana exhaled. "Maybe..." She murmured, knowing this was her end. This was how was she was going to die. It wasn't by the hands of Rassilon or the Master. She was going to die by saving an old man's life. Just this once she wanted to prove the prophecy wrong. Just this once she wanted to prove that she could defy her destiny.
"Only, this thing seems to be making a bit of a noise."
"The Master left the nuclear bolt running. It will overload any second." Braxiatel replied coldly, not letting Romana go. It was not the Master's or Rassilon's fault in the end. It was Wilfred's Mott fault. Even if Braxiatel might sound selfish for admitting this, but he didn't want Romana to go in there. Oh, he knew she could regenerate but Romana didn't deserve to die this way. She didn't deserve to die this way. She deserved so much more after everything she has done for mankind. It just wasn't fair!
"And that's bad, is it?"
"Not really because all the excess radiation will get vented inside the booth. The Vinvocci glass will contain it. All 500,000 rads will flood the booth." Braxiatel didn't care if he was sounding heartless. He didn't want Romana to save Wilf. As much as he liked the man, he didn't want Romana to sacrifice herself for him.
"Oh." Wilf gave a slight chuckle, not under standing a word that Braxiatel was saying but decided to go along with it. "Well, one of you better let me out then."
"Braxiatel is right. Only, it's in it's critical stage. If either one of us take control it would flood and set it all off." Romana told him, taking out her sonic screwdriver and looking at it solemnly. "Even my sonic screwdriver would set it all off."
"I'm sorry." Wilf told her honestly. Now understanding what Romana was saying. From what he gathered if Romana stepped inside and let him out of the booth, then that would mean she would die. But Wilf didn't want her to die. Especially not for him. She was just so wonderful and Wilf will never forgive himself for being the one to cause Romana's death. "Look, just leave me."
Romana tried to hold herself together but she couldn't. She couldn't remain the proud, Ice Queen that she was famous for and she felt her eyes watering as she broke apart from her Mate's and daughter's embrace. "The one time where I thought I could've survived the hands of Rassilon and The Master, you were waiting for me all that time to come and rescue you! I thought I could have survived this! I thought I could have my peace and salvation and justice! But no. Because that's who you are, Wilfred Mott. You are the one to bring me to my downfall!" She pointed a trembling finger at him, her vision blurred by her tears.
Wilf looked at her tearfully, seeing Thyra crying into her father's embrace and he knew it was his fault. "No, really...just leave me. I'm an old man, Lady Romana. I've had my time."
"Had your time? Ha! Your nothing but a primitive human whose life doesn't even matter. But me? I'm a Time-Lady and I'm practically a goddess!" She threw her head back, yelling out towards the ceiling. Feeling angry and despair and frustration and hopeless, all those emotions running through her system. "I could have done so much more! I could have done so much!"
"Romana..." Braxiatel tried to cut in, trying to remain calm as he held his sobbing daughter in his arms. "Please..."
Romana pushed some papers off the table angrily. "Are you not entertained yet? This is my destiny Braxiatel! This is what has always been written in the stars." She turned around to face them once more, looking old and tired. "All I've ever wanted was to have a family with you and raise our daughter and be married and Mated. But this is what I get. This is my reward for everything I have done and it's just not fair!" She threw a table to the other side of the room and they watched it clash with a loud bang, Wilf wincing at her rage. She panted heavily before walking towards Braxiatel. "I'm sorry my love. But there's nothing you can do." She kissed him deeply on the lips longingly before kissing Thyra on the forehead, breathing deeply as she trembled. "Oh, how I have lived." She walked across the room, her shoulders slumped. "And how I have not."
"No...no, no, please, please don't. Please...! You can't!" Wilf cried, seeing what Romana was about to do.
Romana put her hand on the door to the other booth, looking at him sadly. She will not let this man die. After all, Donna will never forgive her for letting her gramps die in the booth and she knew that Wilf was part of Thyra's family and family meant everything to the Time family. "Wilfred Mott, it will be my honour to die for a respectable human. Be quick. Three, two, one." Romana stepped inside the booth and pressed the button, releasing Wilf and he stood next to Thyra and Braxiatel who watched with horror.
"Mother!" Thyra cried, unable to do anything as she watched her mother groan with pain as she slides down to the floor. Thyra whimpered as she watched Romana curl up in pain, Braxiatel mumbling quiet, soothing words too her as they stood and watched until the machine switched off. Romana slowly unwinds and sat up. "Mummy?"
"Thyra." Romana gave her daughter a weak, tired smile, groaning slightly as she ran her hand through her messy hair.
"Still with us?" Wilf asked, crouching slightly to see if Romana was alive still. He didn't understand. How hadn't the radiation effected her yet?
Romana stood up slowly with a glass. "The system's dead. I absorbed all the radiation." She put her hand on the door and she rolled her eyes, pursing her lips. "Typical. As soon as I absorb the radiation it opens." She stepped out and Braxiatel and Thyra rushed to her side. She could feel the process starting already. She could feel it slowly seeping through her body like poison.
"Oh Romana." Braxiatel sighed, holding her hand and pulling her in so his arm was resting around her waist. "Always putting others before yourself. My Mate."
"Not yet." Romana gave him a small smile. "But I will be." She was about to kiss him but felt sudden pain run through her and she gasped, clutching her hand between her hearts and Braxiatel and Thyra helped to steady her. "It's starting."
Wilf walked over to the Time family and hugged them, sobbing whilst Romana and Braxiatel remain static, Romana wincing slightly whilst Thyra hugging Wilf back.
Donna, Shaun and Sylvia stood in the doorway and smiled as they saw the Time family and Wilf step out from the TARDIS. "Auntie Donna!" Thyra beamed and she ran up to Auntie Donna and hugged her.
Donna laughed, hugging her back. It was so good to see Thyra again in her usual pirate outfit but she couldn't help but see how much mature Thyra has gotten and she knew that was because of her parents and the adventures they have. "Blimey kid, you're almost as big as me now!" She tried to pick her up but failed and ended up straightening her hat. "I have your presents for you and your family." She quickly handed Thyra her presents, knowing this was the only opportunity she had to give them.
Thyra gaped at them, taking them gratefully. Whilst Time-Lord's didn't celebrate Christmas, she would gratefully accept the human traditions and gifts for it meant a lot to Thyra and Thyra did need some cheering up. "Thank you Auntie Donna." She hugged her once more.
"My favourite niece." Donna grinned, squeezing her tightly and not wanting to let Thyra go but she knew she had to in the end and she reluctantly pulled apart.
Shaun looked at Thyra and held out his hand for her. "Donna has been telling me all about you and your parents." He gave her a dreamy smile before hesitantly holding out his hand and Thyra eagerly shook it. It was true. Ever since he has met Donna, Donna has been none stop telling him about the wonderful alien family, even showing him photos of their spaceship and the adventures she has had and he knew this family meant a lot to her and how they have made her see how brilliant she truly was.
"Lovely to meet you too, Uncle Shaun." Thyra grinned and Shaun looked quite touch at being called Thyra's uncle and Donna beamed, so happy at the fact that Thyra and Shaun were getting along just fine.
Romana gave a curt nod towards Donna who waved back and Thyra gave Donna one last kiss on the cheek before heading back towards the TARDIS with the gifts. "Oh, look, Sylvia's smiling. As if today wasn't bad enough. This will not be our last goodbye Wilf. We will see you three again, two more times." Romana replied wryly, seeing Sylvia smiling and waving at them next to Donna and Shaun.
Wilf frowned, looking at them in confusion. Two more times? What was Romana talking about now? "What do you mean? When's that?"
"Well, the wedding season is going to be coming up soon." Braxiatel gave him a small smile, linking his arm through Romana's as Thyra stood next to them. "And you know what that means surely?"
Wilf nodded in understanding. Of course! Donna's and Shaun's wedding and of course, Romana and Braxiatel had their own Wedding Ceremony as well. He was glad at the fact the next time he was going to see them at a more happier time. "So where are you three going now?"
"To get my happy ending." Romana gave him one last solemn smile before the Time family headed into the TARDIS and closed the door behind them.
Before the wedding Ceremony began, the Time family had a few special visits they needed to do. One of them was visiting a book store of a woman who released a book called 'a Diary of Impossible things.' They waited in line in the signing queue, the woman being none other than Verity Newman and they listened to her talk to a customer, Romana and Braxiatel smiling faintly as they remembered their time as being the happily married human couple. Looking back at how far they have come.
"No, it's not just a story, no. Every word of it is true. I found my great grandmother's diary in the loft. She was a nurse in 1913 and she was best friends with this wonderful married couple called Irvine and Frederica Lungbarrow, except, except they were visitors from another world. She used to be best friends with the couple who came from the stars and she wrote it all down." She closed the book and slides it across to the man.
"Thank you." The man leaves and Braxiatel pushed their copy of the book towards Verity, noticing how the woman before them closely resembled her great grandmother Joan Redfern. It had been a long time since either one of them thought of Joan Redfern. Remembering how both Time-Lord's sent the family on trial for what they have done and how Joan had disapproved of their methods. But it was only right for Joan had been Frederica's friend when she was human and to Romana, it felt right to pay her respects for Joan and see her great, granddaughter who looked very much like her.
"And who's it for?" Verity asked, not looking up as she opened the book.
"Lord Irving Braxiatel and Lady Romanadvoratrelundar and their daughter, Thyra." Romana commented with a smile, trying to remain strong despite the fact she was slowly dying inside.
Verity blinked and quickly wrote their names down. Even managing to spell their names correctly on the first try. "Lord Irving Braxiatel, Lady Romana-funny, that's the name they used..." She looked up, her mouth dropping open as she was unable to believe her eyes. It was them! It was Lord Irving Braxiatel and Lady Romana. Exactly the very same people in her great grandmother mentioned in the diary and they didn't even look a day old or anything. They were real, properly real.
"Was Joan happy, in the end?" Romana asked softly, knowing one of her biggest regrets was making Joan angry with her for replacing Frederica.
"Yes. Yes, she was." Verity nodded, looking at Thyra before looking back at Romana. Knowing how it mentioned in her grandmother's diary how hard Romana and Braxiatel tried to have children but were unable to and she wondered if this young girl, Thyra was their daughter. Verity knew she was for she closely resembled her parents and she couldn't help but be happy that they finally found their wish to have children.
Romana merely smiled ruefully as Braxiatel pulled her in, kissing her on the forehead. Romana's lips trembled as Thyra picked up the book and they quietly left, Verity staring at them with wide eyes as she felt something was troubling them.
The church bells chime and flower petals are blown in the wind. Donna and Shaun exit the church to the cheers of well-wishes. Donna laughs and shows off her ring and Wilf kissed them both before Braxiatel raised his glass of whiskey in celebration. "Three cheers to the happy couple. Hip, hip-"
"Horray!" They all cheered delightedly.
"Hip, hip-" Wilf winked at Braxiatel, noticing the man had been unable to take his eyes of Romana ever since he saw her arrive in the church with Donna few hours before. Romana was currently wearing a lovely, pale pink flowery dress that reached to her knees, a shawl wrapped around her and her long black hair was done up in a French plat. She sent him a smile and Braxiatel raised his glass to his lips, unable to stop smirking at her.
"Horray!"
Donna began to organize people, Romana giving her a helping hand. "Romana, I want you next to me and Thyra on my other side. My favourite niece! Right, come on then, you lot. Come on. And I want all of you in it, come on. That's it. Well, friends, and Nerys!" Donna laughed as the woman looked unamused at her as Donna took her place in front and centre, Romana and Thyra at her side. "I'm only joking! Oh, look at her!"
Nerys scowled, looking down at her peach dress in disgust. "You made me wear peach."
"I think it matches you wonderfully." Romana gave the woman a wicked grin. She turned to Donna cheerily. "And you look beautiful in your wedding dress. At least you're not being used by a Racnoss this time."
Donna whacked Romana playfully on the arm but couldn't help but beam at the compliment. But she was right. At least there were no aliens involved in her wedding this time, well except for the Time family but they were her guests. "Oh, you just have to mention that. Haha!"
"Ok, smile!" The photographer instructed, getting his camera ready.
"Cheese!" The humans all shouted, smiling as the photograph was being taken. After the photograph was done and after Donna had managed to get a photograph of just her, Romana and Thyra, Romana and Thyra managed to pry themselves away from the group and went to join Braxiatel, Wilf and Sylvia and Minnie who were standing near the kissing gate, their TARDIS parked meters away from them.
"How about it, Wilfred?" Minnie asked Wilf with a cheeky and hopeful look on her face.
Wilf looked oblivious, making Thyra giggle at his expression."Eh?"
"Well, it's never too late." Minnie dropped petals over his head, wriggling her eyebrows at him.
Wilf quickly brushed the petals off him and this only made Thyra laugh more and she helped Wilf, clearing the petals away. "Will you behave, Minnie! Honestly!"
Minnie winked at them. "I'm going to catch that bouquet." She quickly headed off.
Braxiatel shook his head before he looked at Wilf. "You better watch out with that one." He told him, downing his whiskey before putting it on the wall as Romana and Thyra came over.
Wilf chuckled. "I think I better had." He looked more closely at the Time family before pointing at Romana. He hadn't had chance to see the Time family yet, too busy entertaining the guests and seeing Donna off to her new husband. "And here you are, same old face. Didn't I tell you, you'd be all right? Oh! They've arrested Mr Naismith. It was on the news. Crimes undisclosed. And his daughter. Both of 'em, locked up. Yeah, but I keep thinking, Braxiatel, there's one thing you've never told me, that man with the funny bow-tie of his and that woman, who were they?"
"The man you saw was my brother...The Doctor." Braxiatel gave a heavy sigh and Wilf and Sylvia's eyes widened. He still thinks of his brother often. He still thinks if it was the right thing for him to do was to give him the Time ring for him to help him escape the Time Lock. But Braxiatel knew deep down in his hearts his brother could never escape the hell hole and neither could his own mother for they were forever trapped there like the rest of their people. "And the woman...the woman was my mother. Both gone now, lost to Rassilon and the War."
"I'm sorry." Sylvia told him softly, looking at him sadly. Wilf had told her and Donna and Shuan everything that had happened on Christmas day. How Rassilon and Romana and the Master were arguing with each other and how Rassilon was nothing but a very cruel and sickening man with twisted ideas. "Donna told us about that planet being Gallifrey. I'm sorry you had to lose it a second time."
"Thank you." Romana whispered before nudging Thyra forward. "Show them what we got Donna as a wedding present."
Thyra dug out a small envelope from her TARDIS blue dress that she wore for the wedding. Of course, her mother and Donna picked it out for her and she loved it but she loved her pirate outfit even more. "We got you this." Wilf gratefully took it. "We normally carry money with us but as we were in a hurry, we decided to go back in time and we borrowed a pound off a really lovely man, Geoffrey Noble, his name was. 'Have it,' he said." Sylvia gasped, overcome with emotions and Thyra smiled at her. 'Have that on me.'
Sylvia and Wilf headed back to Donna who's just had a photo taken with Nerys and the flower girl. Wilf handed her the envelope. Donna gave an exaggerated sigh. "Oh, don't tell me, it's a bill. Just what I need, right now." She opened it to find a lottery ticket and a note. 'Wishing you good fortune until the end of time. Love, the Time Family.' They've given me a lottery ticket?!" Donna laughed as Wilf and Sylvia looked at each other in shock. "Oh, it's just so typical of them. Though saying that, I might get lucky." She slipped the ticket in her bodice and turned around to look for Shaun. "Oi! Shaun! Come on, we're on a tight schedule, oxtail soup at 2.30!"
Wilf and Sylvia smiled and laughed with each other before they looked back at the Time family and saw the solemn looks they all had. Wilf saluted them and Braxiatel and Romana saluted back before she gently tugged Thyra's hand and they entered the TARDIS. Wilf blew them all a kiss and gets teary-eyed as he watched the TARDIS dematerializes.
The day was finally upon the Time family. The Wedding Ceremony of Romana and Braxiatel. They have finally agreed upon a date and ironically enough, Romana chose it to be on Christmas Eve. Everything was arranged perfectly due to the Time-Lord's perfect organization skills and with the help of their friends. They had managed to book St. Paul's Cathedral privately. They had the whole Torchwood team, Sarah Jane and the gang, Martha Jones and her husband Mickey Smith, Donna,Sylvia Wilf and Shaun and even had Jenny and her husband Cline had come. Jenny in her Time-Lord robes that her mother made her wear and they even found a spare set for Cline who couldn't stop fussing with the head collar which made Jenny laugh.
All of the humans were seated and in front of them was a pedestal where a pure white bowl with a burning flame lay within, the flame was not destructive but merely ceramic. Thyra standing behind it in her own Time-Lord robes. No doubt the flame was part of the tradition of the wedding ceremony. According to Braxiatel, it was to help his and Romana's minds connect telepathically when they bond. The TARDIS was parked right outside the cathedral and in the falling snow, the humans were glancing towards the big heavy doors, some with cameras ready to film the Time-Lord's wedding. All knowing it was going to be a great opportunity to see how Time-Lord's actually get married and Mated.
Braxiatel came out of the TARDIS first in purple wedding robes. He remembered everything now. He remembers taking Thyra to Gallifrey and how he had let her chose the robes to wear on their wedding ceremony and he strolled to the flame purposefully, his head held high proudly. He also liked the robes because they were the exact same colour as his aura.
As he reached the flame, Thyra gave him a large smile, unable to hide her happiness as she was given the duty to perform her parents wedding and he smiled back when the doors of the cathedral opened once more and out stepped Romana.
She was beautiful. Despite the fact she was dying, even now she looked more beautiful than ever. Her crimson Time-Lady robes fitted her perfectly and she had her long, black hair down in neat wavy curls that bounced every time she moved. She smiled widely as she stepped on the opposite side of the bowl, facing opposite him. "You look beautiful." Braxiatel told her sincerely in Gallifreyian, knowing this was being filmed by Jack. He couldn't help but be pleased at the fact she was wearing his mother's necklace that his mother had given to him as a gift.
Romana gave him a sincere smile, despite it being seen clearly in her eyes that she was dying. "Thank you my love." Only Wilf knew she was dying. They couldn't bare to tell their friends for they wanted their wedding ceremony to be special. They wanted to look back on it for centuries to come and remember that this was meant to be the happiest days of their lives and not the day where Romana was dying.
"Stand before the flame, Lady Romana." Thyra spoke, though it sounded weird to call her mother that and Romana obeyed and Braxiatel extended his arm, both holding their arms near the flame. Jenny stepped forward and wound a TARDIS blue cord around their wrists, joining them together before she stepped back to her place beside her sister.
Romana and Braxiatel stared into each other's eyes; both of them feeling all sorts of emotions as their minds began to link. Both were barely aware of Thyra speaking, reciting a familiar ancient Gallifreyian speech as they were so focused on each other, knowing they were about to be Mated and Married in this very moment.
"I love you more than duty and Time itself, Romana. I will put you above those things-the very things that I stand for. I will do anything for you. I will love you for a thousand years and more. I have loved you not for the way you dance with my angels, but for the way the sound of your name could silence my demons." Braxiatel told her telepathically, now that their minds were open to each others.
Romana's hearts fluttered with happiness and love and she looked into his eyes and saw the truth there. She felt herself overcome with emotions as memory upon memory crashed into her mind. She felt all her long dry years of being in command as president, the anger, the control, the order, the arrogance, the ice queen and the satisfaction. She felt the endless intricacies of Time and a bright golden glow erupted in her abdomen. All of their centuries flew before each other's eyes and Romana could feel her grip on reality falter before it faded entirely and she felt her aura and Braxiatel's mix together brightly, their songs entwining and dancing with each other and Romana felt like she could sing and dance with joy because she felt so incredibly happy and peaceful than she had felt in a long time.
Romana knew she was achingly aware of everything around her. She could smell her own perfume as well as the other women's perfume nearby her, she could hear the rustle of her robes, Braxiatel's cold icy fingers clasping her own. She knew the blue cord and flame had everything to do with it. She had researched all the traditional Gallifreyian marriage ceremonies. It was meant to be a symbol of a mental link she would always have with her Mate, that she was Mated with him for eternity and the flame was meant to be a symbol of fire and passion for their marriage.
"I love you. You have always been there for me. Always supported me and always gave me advice and you have always been a dear friend. But now you are my Mate and husband and I promise to love and protect you until my last breath. I am the Ice Queen but you are the only one who can melt me and I love you for it." Romana told him firmly despite sounding weak. She had to hold on. She couldn't let the rest of these humans know she was dying. Only Wilf knew and she made him vow not to tell anyone else.
"...May Mother Gallifrey bless you both." Thyra spoke, her voice suddenly becoming clear to Romana.
Romana was not aware of Thyra finishing her speech, only of the emptiness of Braxiatel's mind leaving hers. His song and colours fading slowly away and Jenny unwounded the cord from their wrists and Braxiatel leaned in and kissed her longingly on the lips. "My Mate." Braxiatel growled in Gallifreyian.
"Just as you are Mine." Romana gave him a weak smile as she fought to remain awake and alive, feeling drained and she looked down at her hand, seeing her veins wriggle with a bright glow and she knew it was her time. She turned to the guests, wanting to stay around for as long as possible.
Thyra stood next to her parents proudly, facing the guests. "Thank you for coming to the Wedding Ceremony of Lady Romanadvoratrelundar and Lord Irving Braxiatel of House Heartshaven." The guests all stood up and clapped, the Torchwood team whistling and whooping and Gwen sat back down again due to her being six month pregnant and she merely grinned and whooped with delight with Rhys next to her.
Martha and Donna bounced over to Romana. "Finally!" Martha laughed, throwing her arms around the Time-Lady carefully. "Finally after all these years you and Braxiatel are married."
Romana gave a shaky laugh. "Oh, patience is everything Martha. It looks like us women are going to be busy for quite some time with our husbands." She shared a wicked grin, a wicked gleam in her eyes as the woman laughed and the men looked at them uneasily, wondering what their wives were planning this time.
"Affirmative Mistress!" K9 rolled up to them and Romana crouched down carefully with the help of Thyra as she patted K9. "Congratulations for you and Lord Braxiatel. The Wedding Ceremony was most adequate."
"Oh hush you." Braxiatel chuckled as he walked over to where the men were, Jack and Mickey slapping him on the back as gentle waltz music began to play throughout the building.
"Time-Lord wedding ceremony. Are they all that dull?" Owen enquired and Ianto nudged him in the ribs. "Ow!"
"Time-Lord Wedding Ceremonies are meant to be like that. Back on Gallifrey, Wedding Ceremonies were hardly ever out of love and were usually to join Houses together." Braxiatel admitted honestly. He was glad he got to marry out of his one true love, his true Mate. Most Time-Lord marriages that are forced do end up loving each other and sometimes even becoming Mates after a while but most never did have it like Romana's or Braxiatel's wedding. "Because we are telepathic, we do everything within our minds."
"So that's why you were so silent." Mickey nodded as he handed the camera over to Braxiatel where he recorded the ceremony. "Though I didn't understand a word what Thyra said."
"Ah, that was some ancient speech about Love on Gallifrey." Braxiatel gave him a wry smile. "We Time-Lord's are very fond of speeches."
"I can tell." Jack let out a fake yawn and laughed when Braxiatel scowled at him. After the the Time-Lord's mingled with the guests, they had a grand evening meal in the TARDIS, all of them laughing and joking with each other.
For a while, Romana had seemed to forgetten that she was dying and that she was celebrating of one of the most happiest days she had with her friends and her newly wed husband. They laughed, danced and swapped stories with each other, the TARDIS humming delightedly as Thyra and Jenny took sneaky pictures of everyone, Cline trailing along after them reluctantly as he tried to avoid tripping over his own robes.
But the time had come to an end and as the clock struck 11:00pm, they decided to drop everyone off home. The Torchwood team were dropped off back at Cardiff, all of them whooping and cheering drunkly apart from Gwen one last time. Then it was Sarah Jane and the gang. Luke, Clyde and Rani giving Thyra one last group hug as Jenny took the photo and K9 and Sarah Jane having quiet words with Romana and Braxiatel as Braxiatel told her about seeing the Doctor one last time and Sarah Jane shed a tear for her dear old friend gratefully before saying her final goodbye.
Next it was Martha and Mickey. They told the Time family how they were now freelance alien fighters and how they were saving the world by themselves with Romana's sonic screwdriver which Mickey still had and Romana couldn't be more proud of them and couldn't stop her hearts warming at the fact how much they have matured since they've joined the TARDIS.
Then it was time to drop of the Noble family for Jenny and Cline made their own way back to Messaline. Sylvia was very glad to be back home, not at all used to the TARDIS being bigger on the inside but she had to admit, she had enjoyed seeing the Time-Lord's wedding for she had never been to an alien's wedding before. She and Shaun crept back inside as Wilf and Donna said goodbye to the Time-Lord's.
"You will still visit us, right?" Donna asked hopefully, wrapping her arms around herself to keep warm as the snow was falling heavily on them.
Romana's hand entwined through Braxiatel's, her wedding ring shining brightly through the dark. "Oh we will. You are Thyra's favourite Auntie."
Thyra nodded eagerly. "Oh yeah! Of course we will. And we will bring Jenny and Cline too!"
Wilf turned to look at Romana, gesturing towards her face. "You're going to be okay though eh? Still your same old face?" Donna frowned, wondering what Wilf was implying.
"It's already started." Romana whispered faintly, brushing down her wedding robes gently with her spare hand. "And I think this is where we say our goodbye."
"Goodbye, Wilf and Donna." Braxiatel gave them a curt nod. "Thank you both for everything." Without another word, the Time family gave Wilf and Donna one last wave, Wilf had tears streaming down his face once more as Donna kept shouting at them, wanting to know what was going on but the Time family continued down the street, trudging through the snow and towards the TARDIS.
Romana clung onto Braxiatel and Thyra tightly for support as she struggled to stay upright, even to move forward was very difficult for her as she felt pain sear through her body. She let out a small cry of pain and began to fall but Braxiatel and Thyra helped her up.
"Mother. It's going to be okay." Thyra whispered somewhat encouragingly and as they reached the TARDIS, they saw Ood Sigma standing there. Her mother was going to regenerate. That was all that needed to know but what mattered the most was that Romana wasn't going to regenerate alone.
"We will sing to you, Lady Romanadvoratrelundar. The universe will sing to you in your sleep." Just as Ood sigma spoke, Romana gritted her teeth, forcing herself to continue on proudly in her wedding robes. "This song is ending. But the story never ends." He raised his hands, faintly disappearing as the Time family reached the TARDIS and they unlocked the door and stepped inside.
Thyra and Braxiatel helped Romana out of her wedding head collar and helped her make her way to the console of the TARDIS with Braxiatel. "Goodbye my loves. I will never see you again with this face." Romana told them in a petulant tone in Gallifreyian. She wasn't afraid. No, in fact, she welcomed regeneration to take her pain away from her.
"It's never a goodbye. It's only the beginning." Braxiatel kissed his Mate one last time before setting the TARDIS into motion as Romana looked at her right hand as it began to glow with bright energy. She swallowed thickly and Thyra whimpered and went over to her father who wrapped his arms her.
Romana looked at her daughter sadly. "Don't cry my love. I'll be back, just you watch." She gave them one last smile and the energy began to flow from her face. She held out both hands to the side suddenly and Thyra and Braxiatel ducked as energy began to pour from her. It was too much for the TARDIS and it began to catch fire and beams collapse around them.
Thyra winced as fire started around them, the TARDIS falling apart as it was taking flight. "The TARDIS is not going to be happy." She told her father, watching her mother scream as regeneration took place.
"I know. She needs redecorating anyway." Braxiatel told her, watching gasp before taking inventory. The TARDIS didn't bother him at this moment in time. What bothered him most was Romana's regeneration. Was her regeneration process going to be okay? Was she going to be needing the Zero room? Braxiatel hoped she would be okay as they watched the bright energy spark all the way around the TARDIS.
Suddenly, the regeneration process stopped and the new Romana before them exhaled deeply before gripping hold onto the TARDIS console to steady herself. The Romana before them was a good three inches shorter than her last self, making her wedding robes look incredibly small on her. Her skin was white with a slight brown tan, with golden caramel straight brown hair, her eyes honey brown and she had defined eyebrows. She lifted up her arms, seeing the sleeves much to large and baggy for her and she made a face of disgust. "Oh no! I've gotten smaller! I've shrunken!" She cried, examining herself as Braxiatel and Thyra shared a smile with each other, amused. "Brax, it looks like I'll have to tiptoe to kiss you each time!" She ran her hands over her face feeling herself quickly. "Yes, I got the basics. Eyes, ears, nose. Ooh, I'll have a look later. I wonder what colour hair I have this time..." She ran a hand through her long, straight and thin hair. "Brunette?! Reminds me of my first incarnation." She flinched as an explosion landed next to her and she looked at the console with a wild expression before looking crossly at Braxiatel and Thyra. "What are you two doing just standing there?! We're crashing for Gallifrey's sake! Come on!"
Braxiatel chuckled, helping the newly regenerated Romana fly the damaged TARDIS as did Thyra, the three of them grinning at each other as they tried to take over the TARDIS. "Still the noblest Romana of them all! Ha!" The TARDIS began to tumble back towards Earth once more.
