A/N: So here is a - just a tiiiiiiiny little bit late - Christmas chapter. ;D

Enjoy!

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After - no, actually during their wedding - Amy and Rory decided to stay with team TARDIS. At the mention of this name the Doctor giggled happily, while the Master only groaned annoyed. Roka liked it somehow, although they were quite the horrible team.

For a good while the not-so-sober-anymore Amy had fun running around the TARDIS in her wedding dress, dancing and singing around Rory, who was as tipsy as her, but still too shy to be too outgoing. Promptly the Doctor let his ship play some old school love songs from somewhere around the fifties and had fun doing useless moves and wriggles with the pair.

Of course the Master didn't join them. Roka only heard him mumble something along the lines of, I'm far too old and evil for that. She chuckled at him, but also wasn't too eager to get spun around by the celebrating folks. It was fun though to just watch, so she sat next to the Master in a jump seat and, well, did exactly that. Watch.

"Never do that again," the Master suddenly demanded, his mouth so close to her ear that it sent a surprised shiver through her. "Just running away, sacrificing yourself. That was horribly stupid."

Roka turned her head and rubbed her ear with a scowl. "We wouldn't be here otherwise, remember?"

"That weird River person would have gone instead." He shrugged. "No one needs that one anyway."

Yeah, she would have done it. But...

"...I thought you would bring me back," Roka admitted honestly and glanced at her folded hands in her lap.

She hadn't wanted for it to sound like an accusation, but it probably did anyway.

"I... that wasn't a conscious choice," he snapped back and sulked, eyes glued to the ceiling.

Roka didn't respond to that and they both continued to say nothing to each other, until the Master had enough and vanished through the doors to the inside. Not much later and his place got occupied by a panting and red flushed Amy. She giggled and nudged Roka.

"What's with that sour face?" she asked, her voice audibly altered by alcohol. "Everything went great. We're aaaall back and safe and married. That's great, isn't it?"

"No," Roka grumbled and continued to frown at her shoes.

"Aaaaw, come on! What is it?" Amy leaned over and hugged her with one arm. "Tell your big sis."

"I... I don't know." She tried to push Amy's arm away, but failed miserably.

"Ooooh, you do know. I can sense it."

"No, you're just drunk." Roka rolled her eyes and wished she would have gotten drunk too. Maybe she should. And then go after the Master and kick his butt for... for... "Yeah, for what?" she mumbled confused and irritated.

"Hahaaaa, I know!" Amy called out, receded her arm and pointed a finger at Roka. "You thought it would be the Master who would bring us all back. But it was meheeeee!"

Was it the truth? Maybe it was. Roka had no idea what actually made her so angry. But Amy's words right now... they stirred something in her, made the anger well up even more. No... not even anger.

"He... replaced me," she eventually mumbled. Good thing she had told Amy a short version of the events before. Explaining them to her in that drunken state would have yielded nothing helpful for sure.

Amy giggled and leaned against Roka. "Jealous? That's dumb, you know? You can't be jealous of yourself after all. Or can you?"

"I'm not...!" Roka pushed her away and got to her feet. "Why would I even? It makes no sense! And... and... ugh!"

She flung her hands in the air and let them fall to her side in a helpless gesture. It was unbearable to see the happy Amy giggling in her dishevelled wedding dress and the two men having so much fun, while her own head was so confused. So she rushed away and into her room to maybe find some sleep at least.

.

The Master vanished. No one noticed it at first, but after what had to be a few days Roka finally found it in her to go to his room and knock. It still was the same one he had chosen for himself when the Doctor had imprisoned him in his TARDIS for a while. (Her memory wandered to the day they had spent hours searching for something the Master wasn't too picky to choose.) She remembered that it looked a little like a quite simple quarter that could stem from Star Trek and was filled with lots of miniatures of spaceships and planets and what not. There also were two big windows, showing the universe outside of them.

When Roka entered, she found the room to be completely deserted. Some books were lying around and a smaller table was completely filled with taken apart devices. Next to it was something that could be a highly advanced computer, but its monitors were dark.

Back in the console room Roka asked everyone if they had seen the Master, but no one had.

"Maybe he left," the Doctor pondered. "Didn't he want to do that anyway some time ago?"

"But he decided to stay," Roka explained a little worried and felt a nasty sting of fear.

"Well... he can call his TARDIS pretty much everywhere. Could have done that when we were visiting London recently. Haven't landed since, so..."

"Can we go back there?" she enquired. "Just for a while. And... you know... wait?"

The Doctor agreed and got the time machine to their destination. They waited for hours, everyone minding their own business. Eventually Amy strolled back into the console room, finding Roka perched on a jump seat with a book in hands that she wasn't even reading.

"You think, he's coming back?" Amy asked.

"He has to!" Roka slammed the book shut and tossed it next to her. "For frick's sake, he can't just run away like that!" she called out exasperated.

"Who's running away?" a voice sneered from behind, making everyone jump.

Roka spun around and frowned at the amused face of the Master, who was just about to close the doors behind him. He wore a black coat and had his collar fully turned up to keep back the snow that was contrasting his clothes.

"You of course! Where were you?"

"Since when do I have to give account for that?" The grin on his face broadened and couldn't have been nastier. "Last time I checked, I wasn't a prisoner here. Meaning I come and go as I please."

"And simply expected we would return to London anyway, so you could hop back aboard?" the Doctor wanted to know, appearing out of nowhere as if he had sensed the Master returning.

The other Time Lord shrugged. "Yup. I know you can't resist Christmas time. Wouldn't have taken you that long to return there anyway. And if not..." he pursed his lips mockingly at the Doctor. "Your soft heart wouldn't have allowed for leaving me behind, right?"

The Doctor groaned exasperated. "Why in the universe do I even let you stay here?!"

"Because your life would be dull and colourless without me," the Master purred back happily.

At that the Doctor rubbed his eyes, his whole posture showing exactly what he held of that statement. "Next time why don't you just inform me that you need some time and I'll simply wait?" he offered impatiently.

"Naaaah, too boring."

That earned him another sigh from the bowtie wearing Time Lord. The Master only snickered and made his way to the doors inside.

It was indeed Christmas out there. It had been the reason they had visited in the first place, although Roka had no idea what year exactly it was. Probably the seventies or so. The Master walked past her and let a small paper bag fall into her hands. Perplex she looked inside and found some short pastry cookies there.

"Thought you liked those." The Master smirked amused and went to his room without another word.

"You know," the Doctor drawled, halfway in thoughts, "How about we celebrate some Christmas on our own? Stay here for a bit and do all the glittery, fun decorating stuff and all that."

"Oh yes!" Amy exclaimed. "I mean... I married in the middle of summer just a few days back. But hey... who would say no to some extra Christmas, right, Roka?"

The woman in question looked up and around, then nodded. Her anger hadn't subsided completely yet, but those cookies were indeed delicious. And the fact that the Master had gotten them specially for her was at least a tiny consolation.

.

Roka's ire was gone quickly as soon as they began to decorate the console room with lots of shining and blinking Christmas things. They had glass spheres and candy and wooden figures, fir branches and lots of candles in all colours. And of course the Doctor had countless stories about what people in different times would use to celebrate this day.

"In the year 9372 on the planet Ohfhara they will mostly use painted apples. Apples... can you imagine? They grow wonderfully on that planet, so it's the cheapest resource everyone's got."

Rory stood behind Amy and Roka, balancing a big carton in his arms that was filled to the brim with glittery stuff. All of his protests hadn't reached his wife and so he now had the questionable job of standing there and holding out the decorations for the two women to grab.

Eventually the Master strolled back in and stopped dead his tracks as he saw what was happening.

"Oh no. I'm so not going to participate in that!" he exclaimed, but stayed put nonetheless. "What in the Vortex are you even thinking, Doctor? That's a human festivity. Why would we even want to-"

"Because it's fuhuuuuun!" Amy sang and shot him a joyful grin. "Even you mighty and noble Time Lords can celebrate. And if not..." She chuckled and continued in a mock half-whisper, "I really feel sorry for you."

Roka too glanced at him and when she saw his sulky face, she couldn't help but smile, although she hastily turned her head away to hide it.

Later that day they went out to go shopping in London. The Doctor organized some money of the respective time and let his guests have fun outside.

The newlywed pair stuck together the whole time, clinging at each other as if there would be no tomorrow. They looked so happy, laughing and chatting and just being silly. Roka observed them, feeling like some third wheel, but she wouldn't complain. They had all the right in the world to behave like this. And it was fun to see London in its seventies, so she had enough to occupy her mind with.

If they would celebrate Christmas, it also meant they needed presents for everyone. For Amy and Rory she got a handcrafted, wooden plate with their names engraved into it, that they could hang on their door room in the TARDIS. For the Doctor she bought a stack of colourful magazines. She knew he loved to collect these things from all times. She only wasn't sure whether or not to get something for the Master. He probably would hide sulking in his room while they were celebrating.

The thought let her smile. It was funny how someone so intelligent could sometimes behave like a human teenager. In the end she got a pair of cuff buttons with lapis lazuli stones on them. The dark blue stones were intervened and dotted with golden speckles, making them look a little like star patterns.

As evening lay its black cloak over the city she found herself alone at the river Thames. The others had already gone back, but she enjoyed the atmosphere of the city too much to leave yet. For quite some time she only sat there, staring out into the water, her mind wandering all sorts of places. And only when she got aware of the rapidly dropping temperatures did she decide to go back and finally get some food into her stomach.

.

The next day the Doctor went out with Rory alone. Amy had wanted to bake cookies and Roka had found some parts on the console that needed repairing. During the years that she had travelled with the Doctor she had learned quite a bit about the time machine. Not enough to fly her, but at least enough to do some basic maintenance here and there.

She didn't notice at first that the Master joined her in the console room. He only stood there, arms folded, and watched her working.

"Mhm... maybe I should have let you lay hands on her," he muttered eventually.

When the two of them had travelled together, he had always refused to do anything the like.

Smirking proudly Roka looked up. "That happens when you always underestimate me."

"Heh, yeah." He chuckled and stepped next to her. "But this will go a lot faster if I help."

"Uhm... I can do that alone, really," she ensured, knowing he only wanted to help to be around her, or because he was bored. Or both. "Go and do... whatever it is you do all day."

She turned away and attended to another part, farther away from him.

"You're still mad," the Master assessed calmly and picked up a screwdriver.

"No..." Roka protested, but all words left her before she had actually found them. "I'm not mad, really not. I... I don't even know myself." She sighed and shook her head. "It's just all weird and confusing."

And maybe she really was a tiny little bit mad. Even though she had denied it vehemently, but the thought of simply having been replaced bothered her more than it should. To make it worse, she knew that Amy was totally right. It was stupid to be jealous of another version of herself. But each time she thought about it, the feeling returned and she wanted nothing more but to punch the Master.

She had no idea how much time passed while they silently continued with the repairs. At some point Amy strolled in, sat on a seat and watched them for a bit, how they moved all around the console table, fixing and dusting and cutting things, while being surround by Christmas decoration.

Eventually she chuckled and it sounded mischievous, so Roka shot her a questioning look.

"Oh, it's nothing." Amy could barely hold back a wide grin. "Maybe except for the fact that you two are standing directly below... that." She pointed above their heads.

Both looked up at the same time and saw the small mistletoe, wrapped in a red ribbon, hanging right above them. Roka hissed out a "damn you, Amy," while the Master only looked confused and raised an eyebrow at the plant.

"In case you're not familiar with this human tradition," Amy started and could barely hold back another chuckle, "If two people happen to find themselves under a mistletoe-"

"Amy, just leave it be," Roka groaned and wanted to step away.

"Oi, don't you leave! That's calling for a disaster."

"I don't think..."

"What's this about?" the Master enquire irritated. "I'm not familiar with your silly human superstition."

"When people find themselves under a mistletoe, they have to kiss!" Amy hastened to explain with a wide grin. "It will bring ill luck, if they don't."

Roka rolled her eyes and folded her arms in front of her chest, peeking at the Master from the side. Even though she wasn't used to celebrating Christmas, she was rather certain the thing about ill luck was made up.

"Is that so?" The Master stroked his chin thoughtfully and didn't ever bother hiding the mischief from his gaze. He turned around fully and looked down at Roka, one hand reached out, grabbing her by her collar to draw her almost against him.

She pushed both hands against his chest, a scowl etched deeply into her face. Her irritation lasted only for a split second though, and got quickly replaced by a whole bunch other feelings that threatened to overwhelm her. Standing so close to the Master, feeling the warmth emanating from his body, his face, as he leaned down to her, so close, his hazel eyes mesmerizing in a way completely unique to him, it all made her head spin her cheeks glow red.

The Master tenderly stroked a finger along her jaw line, rested it under her chin and leaned even a little closer, head tilted to have better access. But he stopped, just a breath away, only to smirk at her.

"Too bad I promised not to do anything you wouldn't let me," he uttered, his voice laced with a mixture of sarcasm and regret.

Roka took in a breath, hoping he wouldn't notice how it hitched a little. He was so close, all it would need would be for her to... close her eyes halfway and stretch just a tiny little bit. Her lips brushed against his, the sensation making her heart race almost painfully. A second passed, distended into an eternity. Roka got all her courage together and finished what she had started before the Master could even react properly, leaning in fully and kissing him. Once. And only once, before she retreated already.

The puzzlement on his face made her almost laugh, almost forget how madly her heart raced. It was seldom to see the Master so absolutely clueless about a situation. Roka shrugged and shyly turned away, mumbling something about tradition.

.

The day they wanted to celebrate they contemplated where to get dinner for the evening. It had to be something special, the Doctor decided and all heads turned towards the Master, who was just strolling into the console room.

"What?" he growled.

"You're actually quite good with cooking," the Doctor remarked with a smirk.

The other Time Lord rolled his eyes extensively. "You were too, once. How about y-"

"No!" Roka and Amy called out together.

"He has a horrible taste!" Amy deadpanned. "When I first met him, he ate fish fingers with custard!"

"Yeah, and tastes great!" the Doctor whined.

"And I remember very vividly the few attempts he made at cooking while I lived here," Roka added. "Was a different regeneration, but still..."

There was a mean and nasty grin flashing on the Master's face. His arms were folded over his chest and it was clear how much he enjoyed having his old enemy being called out like that. It probably, Roka assumed, was also the reason he changed his mind.

"Okay, I'll prepare something," he agreed and rubbed his hands together before his eyes landed on Rory. "And since you reside under the living, non-plastics again, you'll help me!"

"Wh... why?" Rory whined and cast a help seeking glance at his wife.

"Guess you made an impression the last time you helped," she nonchalantly, and non-helpingly replied, put her arms over his shoulders and pressed a short but sweet kiss to his lips. "Be a good husband and make us a great dinner, will you?" she begged teasingly.

Rory sighed and smiled a little. "Okay, okay. If my wife says so."

"She does." Amy winked and released him.

.

The Master, admittedly, liked having Rory around. The boy was quiet and astonishingly helpful, even though a little useless without proper instructions. But he possessed a certain sensitivity that a lot of humans lacked. Could be the reason Amy had decided to marry this, otherwise meek and boyish person.

Well, okay, he had spent two millennia watching over the Pandorica. That certainly was a thing the Master found himself admiring the man for. He wouldn't have done that. For no one! At least not in person. And not with endangering his own life in the process.

Or would he?

While the goose was baking in the oven, the Master glared into the air, sunken into his own mind and the thoughts within.

On some level he had decided to simply replace the person he loved with a cheap copy.

Was he really that stupid? Or desperate? Or... he couldn't find a proper word for it. The Master couldn't even re-enact his own actions in that alternate timeline. Had he done so because he hadn't remembered the real Roka? Or had it been a conscious choice on some level?

"What's bothering you?" a quiet voice asked, tearing him out of his thoughts.

The Master blinked, getting himself back into the present moment, where he got aware of Rory. Yeah, that boy truly was sensitive to other people's emotions.

"Do you remember being a centurion?" he asked.

Rory's face was unreadable, although his eyes moved about quite a bit, as if he had to search for the memory.

"In some ways, yes. It's... snippets. Like from dreams. Not really like memories, I guess. Why?"

"Would you do it again?"

"Yes," Rory replied immediately and without the slightest hint of hesitation in his voice or his eyes.

Visibly perplex the Master blinked at him before another thought formed in his head. "Would you have done so hadn't she remembered you?"

"Uh... yeah, of course." A soft, affectionate smile played around his lips.

The Master only scowled and proceeded to glare at the ceiling. For a while it seemed as if Rory wanted to say something, his mouth opening and closing a few times, before he turned away and watched over the baking food, probably too afraid of the Master to speak forth.

He snickered at that. "You spent two thousand years protecting a box. But you're too afraid to speak what's on your mind. I'm flattered."

Rory's mouth dropped open and closed again a second later. "I... uh... It's just..."

"Yes?" the Master asked sweetly, enjoying that at least one person was still scared of him.

"I... it's not your fault, you know," Rory blurted out. "S... sorry, Amy told what happened. I err... uhm... Just wanted to say..." He took a deep breath and straightened, suddenly displaying his centurion self. "Even when your consciousness couldn't remember... I'm sure you still knew, deep down, this alternate life would be better... for Roka, without the glitch. And for you too, of course. You both would have been... happy. Tha... that's a good thing. A good reason."

Puzzled the Master blinked at Rory, his arms unfolding on their own and falling to his sites. And for once he refrained from threats and being snarky. Instead he actually smiled, albeit it was a somewhat pitying expression, because that boy really believed he would understand anything.

But the smile turned to an honest one entirely on its own and the Master huffed. "Yeah... it was a good reason."

.

They hadn't awaited too little. By the time dinner was ready they were all almost starving, because the Master made sure to take his time. Maybe a little more of it than necessary.

All of them gathered in an extra room the Doctor had selected. It resembled some kind of restaurant, although there was only one big table in the middle. But the floor had a thick carpet, the walls wore fine, red wallpaper and some tapestry and chandeliers were hanging from the ceiling. From an unseen place there was music playing softly in the background. Christmas songs from all over the universe (The Doctor had even made sure to select only songs that were pleasant to human ears) filled the room.

And of course there was a large Christmas tree nearby.

To their surprise the Master didn't vanish and rather joined them, albeit a bit silent and seemingly absent. Or was he observing? Roka watched him here and there, curious as to what might be going on in that head of his. Since she sat next to him, she eventually nudged him to meet a slightly puzzled gaze.

"Come on, laugh a little" she teased with poked out tongue. "That's a really fine meal, you should be proud."

"Pffff, that's nothing," he smugly waved her words away. "If you hadn't confined me to human dishes this would be a lot better."

Roka chuckled. "You really are in the wrong profession, you know that?"

He smirked back amused and picked up his wine glass to stir the liquid a little. "Was enough to have that bar once."

Right. A past regeneration of his had owned a bar on a trading moon. He had told her about it. She even had met this regeneration of his by chance, once. And...

"I went there," she told him with a smile that grew wider when she saw the surprise in his eyes. "In disguise, of course. You wouldn't remember. I... just wanted to see it."

"So?" There was an almost melancholic expression on his face, his voice soft and only curious. "Did you like it?"

Roka nodded. "A lot. It's so loud and full, and there are so many different species around. If it wouldn't have caused a paradox I would have asked you for a job." She giggled and closed her eyes to fully remember that evening.

The lights in there had been dim and mostly blue and purple in colour. It gave the place a futuristic, but somehow also welcoming atmosphere. Smoke from all kinds of alien tobacco had thickened the air, the smell of alcohol mixing with that of sweat and rain and perfumes. Always was there music playing in the back. Loud enough to be heard over the crowd, but not so loud to make conversations impossible.

She had still been a glitch back then, so no one had noticed her for the most part. Sometimes she had contemplated activating the coat she had been given from Jack Harkness. It had somewhat enabled people to remember her, although only if she stayed in their line of sight. But this night she had only wanted to watch and to soak in the atmosphere of this place.

And she had also watched the Master's past regeneration being a bartender, chatting with all sorts of folks, or forcefully throwing them out into the streets if they wouldn't behave. He instigated at least as much fights as he mediated, and if someone wouldn't pay for their drinks, he let them walk out butt-naked, either by force or mostly by hypnosis. A lesson they certainly wouldn't forget.

At the end of the night, Roka had been one of the last guests and...

"I do remember," he suddenly spoke softly.

Roka returned to the present and blinked puzzled at his smiling face.

"You were one of the last guests and we played the piano together. You refused to take that hood down, though. Now I know why." He chuckled.

She remembered. Her head hadn't been too clear anymore from all the alcohol, or otherwise she wouldn't have risked it. But in that moment, when their eyes had met and he had cast a smug smile at her, nodding to his right to join him on the seat, she hadn't cared. Not that she could actually play, but they had fun nonetheless.

"And now I know why you seemed so horribly sad," the Master muttered.

Yeah, she had lost him after the incidents with the Time Lords returning and all that. And then she had been there in this bar, in the past, knowing she wasn't allowed to get too close to the man she would later come to love, because it would alter their timelines.

Roka glanced up and felt her eyes filling with tears at those memories. It still hurt. This wound would take forever to heal, she realized. So many decades, and over a century of being alone and broken couldn't be mended within a few months.

The Master stretched out hand and ruffled through her short hair, before he returned his attention to his meal.

.

Later that evening they went back to the console room, where now stood a few sofas to make everything more comfortable. They told jokes and stories and played cards and had a good evening together, before it was finally time.

"Presents now!" the Doctor declared and shot to his feet, clapping his hands together excitedly. "Me first!"

He rushed to the tree and retrieved a few clumsily wrapped packages from underneath it.

"I have no idea at all what you would actually like, so I thought it's the gesture that counts and got pullovers for y'all!" he explained happily.

And really, each present had one of those knitted, cliché Christmas pullovers in them. The wool though was extraordinarily soft, so Roka decided she liked it and wore hers right on the spot, together with Amy.

"Oh, well, I actually knew exactly what to get for you," the Doctor said happily and handed a smaller present to the Master.

The blond Time Lord unfolded his arms and glared puzzled at the wrapped rectangle as if he had no idea at all what to do with a present. His eyes shot up and met the Doctor's. "Why?" he only demanded, his voice low.

The Doctor's shoulders visibly slumped a little and his eyes got sad. Only Roka noticed because she sat so close. She also was the only one beside the Master to hear the softly spoken words.

"Because I haven't always been there for you when I should have."

With that he pushed the package into the other one's hands and rushed away. For a few moments the Master stared at the present in puzzlement, then he carefully opened the paper and got out a book that looked as if it were as old as time itself. Not too thick or big, but with a delicate cover. With fascination in his eyes he tenderly stroked a finger over the filigree letters and opened the pages to take a peek inside.

"What is it?" Roka asked, her curiosity finally winning over.

"Gallifreyan fairy tales," the Master mumbled with a smile. "They are quite scary compared to human ones. Used to read them to my daught..." He stopped abruptly and closed the book forcefully, looking for a moment as if he wanted to throw it away. But in the end he carefully lay it aside.

Roka said nothing, knowing all too well that he avoided this subject at all cost. Only by chance had she learned that he once had a child, and what had happened to her.

Amy and Rory had gotten scarves for all. Wide and warm and Roka's had a plaid pattern. She was the last to hand out presents and enjoyed watching everyone being thrilled about what they got. Of course the Master hadn't brought anything at all, still rebelling against the whole festivity - and completely ignoring the fact that he had spent the whole evening with the group, so far.

Roka sat back down on the sofa next to him and handed him his present. Grumbling something inaudible, but clearly sulkily, the Master unwrapped it and glanced at the cuff buttons in his hand.

"They looked a bit like stars, so I though..." Roka trailed of and watched how he applied them immediately to his black dress shirt.

"More like Vincent's night sky," he remarked, but didn't say anything else about it. Not even a thanks, of course.

Roka didn't bother. It was clear he liked them, and that was enough.

She joined the group in another few rounds of cards before she simply leaned against the backrest and closed her eyes. For the rest of the evening she decided to only watch, being slightly overwhelmed already by so much social interaction. That, too, would need quite some time to get better.

It was fun enough to watch the Master trying to cheat at every possible occasion - and succeeding with it every so often. Much to the dismay of everyone else. Not that the Doctor was that much better though. He only was blabbering so much that no one paid much attention to what his hands were doing.

Eventually Roka got nudged into the side and she shot straight, glancing around confused and a bit dazed.

"You fell asleep, little crow," the Master stated amused.

She looked around and found the Doctor and Rory having a deep, philosophical discussion about something Roka didn't bother to find out. It seemed Amy had already headed to bed. Yawning she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and glanced back at the Master, who seemed in thoughts.

Roka smirked. "So, what's the big plan this time?"

His right eyebrow shot up, but he didn't look at her. "What plan?"

"Och, that one to take over the whole universe." Roka shrugged with a smirk. "Can't tell me there is none."

Now he looked at her, an impish smile twitching the corners of his mouth. "Sounds like you want me to have one."

It definitely was back, she noticed. That twinkle of ideas and schemes and the will to conquer each and every star out there. When Roka looked into those ancient, hazel eyes she always had the feeling as if she would fall right into a pool of stars. His hearts belonged to them and always would, that she knew. And it made her own heart jump to know that, despite this fact, she had a place in them as well.

"Wouldn't mind," she answered.

"Heh, and what then? Running around like in the old days and preparing everything together?" His gaze was fixated on her face, aware of every twitching muscle in it.

"Yeah, that was fun."

There it was again. A smile on her lips, as if it were the most natural thing, although it had been nothing but a faint memory for so many years of her life. She had been only a hollow. Not only after her travels, but also when she had first met the Master. Being a ghost and mostly confined to the TARDIS - because going outside always meant the danger of being left behind and losing her home - had left her that way.

But when she had met him, had faced the danger his whole person radiated, had looked into his fascinating eyes for the first time, had felt the curiosity sparking, had wanted to find out who he truly was... it had changed her. Other people probably wouldn't call her a good person for some of the things she had done... or hadn't. But good and evil were only concepts in the minds of people anyway.

It had sparked the urge to be near the Master, to travel the countless stars together with him, to abandon morals and rules.

And with every passing day this urge started to grow once more.

"How about we leave?" she asked quietly, so the other two wouldn't hear it.

"Where to?"

She shrugged and looked away, drawing her feet onto the sofa to wrap her arms around her knees.

"Everywhere."

A low chuckle made her look at the Master once more. He leaned closer to her, not at all hiding the mischief on his face.

"I'm not one to take companions. You should know."

"Yeah, I remember." Roka unfolded her arms and turned a little to him, only to poke a finger at his chest. "It would be stupid, right?" She poked him once more. "And this time it would have consequences."

Her heart beat faster against her ribcage, time coming almost to a halt, while she kept eye contact and waited. Thoughts were ticking through his mind, one by one, visible but unknown to her.

"Not so long ago you wanted nothing but to get away from me as fast as possible," he eventually said.

Roka cast her eyes down. "Because I was an idiot."

"Yeah, you still are." When she looked back up, he smiled. "Travelling with me isn't... pleasant," he recounted his words from the last time she had asked him to come along.

"Mhm... if you say so." She chuckled, "I don't mind," and poked him again.

The Master grabbed her finger and grinned wickedly. It wasn't the evil grin from so long ago, not promising to hurt her, like it had back then. Danger was still radiating from the Master whenever he wanted, but now it wasn't directed at her anymore. He opened her hand, palm facing upwards, while his other hand reached into his west pocket to get out a tiny box that he gave to her.

Perplex Roka blinked at her hand and opened the box to find a single delicately worked ear stud in it. A tiny, silver-coloured crow.

"Thought, since I threw away the only one you had..." He picked up the stud and loosened the clasp.

Once she had gotten her ear gristle pierced by his laser screwdriver - involuntarily. But the ear stud he had given to her had showed her when she would have a small visibility frame for other people. A gadget, not more, but to her it had been of value. When they had reunited and the glitch had been gone he had taken and thrown it away without bothering to ask.

Now he leaned closer and carefully applied the stud to her ear.

"I'm afraid there is no useful gadget inside this time," he said with an sarcastic undertone. "But it suits you anyway."

"Th... thanks," Roka mumbled, feeling her cheeks glow pink.

His hands on her ear were warm and he was so close to her, it didn't help much with her pulse. For some reason she remembered that Time Lords actually had a much lower inner body temperature, but their skin was as warm as that of humans. Weird actually, but she liked feeling him so close, wanted to lean a little at his side and dose of off for a while.

When the ear stud was in place he retreated only a little, mumbling close to her ear, "You'd really travel with me?"

Roka nodded, her heartbeat fast. She turned her head slightly to look at him, finding a thoughtful and also amused twinkle in his eyes. He shifted slightly, one of his hands dropping something light on her head.

"I'll think about it." The mischievous twinkling got stronger as he swiftly leaned closer and breathed a feather light kiss onto her lips. "Merry Christmas."

The Master got up and left, before Roka could even react, too perplex and flushed for anything at all. She watched as he went deeper inside the TARDIS, her finger tracing her bottom lip as if she could somehow bring back that short sensation. The Movement let something fall from her head and into her hand and it made her smile.

It was a mistletoe.