"He's so beautiful. What is his name?" Rose smiled to see her reaction, "David John Smith"." Sayla looked at David dreamily, "He is so much bigger than my son." Rose was surprised, "You have a son? I thought you were a novice here." "I am" she said sadly. "They took him from me and I miss him very much." She began to gently rock the baby. The look on her face was so sad, Rose could not look at her without tears.

Chapter 60 DO Something

"Why? Why did they take your son?" Rose couldn't bear the sadness coming off the woman. "My house punished me, for having a child without permission. It was a great shame upon them. They kept him when I was sent here." She began to cry while telling the story. "I only held him for a moment. I don't know where he is, and he will never know me." Rose began to get angry, but tried to stay calm. Her motherhood instinct kicking in.

"If you don't mind me asking, where is his father?" "Rom and I love each other very much. We ran, but they found us. They would not tolerate my bringing down the prestige of our house and sent me here." Rose was furious. "They took your child, abandoned you here, and who knows where he is?" Sayla silently nodded.

"My son will be raised in a loving home and I will have a vocation. I am told, this is for the best, and I'm very lucky to be accepted here." Sayla was crying, but trying hard not to show it. "Do you want to stay here Sayla? I mean, if you had a choice…" The girl lifted her eyes to Rose, "If I had a choice I would be with Rom, but I don't have a choice."

Rose was not going to stand for that. "Sayla, Do you think you could stay and watch David for me? I have an errand to run and will be back shortly." The delight in her sad tearfilled eyes was heartbreaking. "Yes, I would be most grateful to watch him for you." "Good, There are supplies in that cupboard, I'll be back soon."

Rose was fuming, giving her strength to forget her physical weakness. She went to the gardens to find her husband. The three of them were sitting at a small table with cups when she approached. "Momma!" Alice ran to her. "Hello my angel", kissing her on the forehead. "Can you go and sit with..um..Grandpa for a minute. I need to talk to your father." "Yes, momma." Rose signaled the Time Lord to follow her.

"...And they took her child and abandoned her here. What kind of monsters would do such a thing? We have to help her!"

The Time Lords shoulders sank. "Rose, I'm so sorry for her, but it's not an unusual story in our society. Time Lord houses have a strict code of conduct they follow. Those who stray from the rules are often punished cruelly. That's one of the reasons I left. I was lucky the rules worked both ways. Once at academy my family had to accept me. I came from a high born family with influence and access to a Tardis. If truth be told they were happy to see me leave." He grinned remembering how everyone looked the other way when he stole the Tardis.

"I'm sorry, but there is nothing we can do, unless you want to start a feud between houses."

Rose was miserable, as he continued, "It sounds like the father ran off and the baby is either in foster care, like I was, or has already been adopted out to a couple. In which case, they will fight for him." He held her tight. "I have to remind you that we are in the past and can not interfere in the lives of those around us. Please don't try, you'll only get hurt." Rose couldn't let it go. "Can we at least find the baby for her. Just to let her know he's ok and in a good home." He closed his eyes and shook his head, no.

Rose began to cry. He was right and she knew it. She kissed him and hurriedly left them all there. He knew this would not be the end of it. But there was nothing to be done and she needed to find that out on her own. "What's with Rose?" 8 was standing next to him. "She just found out what kind of people we are." 8 knew what that meant and was sad for her, even without knowing the circumstances.

Rose tried to think of what to do. If I can't do something, then maybe Ohila can help. She stopped the first novice she found and asked to be taken to the Rev Mother. The novice bowed and showed her the way to a large office with a balcony. Sunlight was streaming in, Ohila was at an ornately carved desk of dark wood with papers in small piles around it.

Rose knocked on the open door. Ohila looked up from a dispatch. "Come in child. Are you unwell?" Rose shook her head no and proceeded to tell Sayla's story and how her husband had asked her not to interfere. "Isn't there anything that can be done? Can you find out what happened to her son?" Ohila looked at Rose with pity. "I know who you're speaking of. Very sad case. I have done all I can do.

We welcomed her into the sisterhood. If we hadn't done that, she would have been cast off, homeless. Anything more would have caused an open rift between Karn and Gallifrey. The poor girl has made her own fate."

Rose sat in the chair devastated. "My husband has told me how little value love has on Gallifrey. That those who dare to have such feelings are outcast. But I am not from Gallifrey, and those feelings are precious, even sacred, to my species." Rose stood up resolved. "Thank you for your time Ohila. I should get back to David."

"Rose, Your husband is right, you should not interfere with the past… so... let me know if I can help." Ohila grinned and went back to the dispatches.

Rose returned to the room to find her husband, Alice and 8 there. The Time Lord had dismissed Sayla, and David was crying, hungry again. "There you are! I have half the place looking for you." The Time Lord was worried for Rose as much as David. "Are you alright?"

Rose smiled and picked up David, going to the comfy chair. "Yes, I'm fine. I've just had a conversation with Ohila. She said she had done everything she could for poor Sayla. That you were right in telling me not to interfere."

She looked 8 in the eyes shaking her head. "It would break so many rules, and cause such trouble between houses to help her." Rose turned to her husband and kissed him lightly, "I guess, I just expect too much of you sometimes dear." David was still fussing, "Shush David, It's not daddy's fault that he can't give you what you want." He suddenly stopped crying as he was content with a nipple. She began to hum his grandmother's lullaby.

8 looked at 10, and 10 looked at 8. Message received, loud and clear.

THERE'S TWO OF YOU. DO SOMETHING BOY'S, YOUR REPUTATION AS A RENEGADE IS AT STAKE.

The Time Lord drew a heavy sigh and shook his head. 8 grinned at him, "She's good, she's really, very good. No wonder you married her. Come on, we have work to do." They both left the room.

Alice was standing by her mother. She knew something had just happened, but wasn't quite sure what. "Mother where is father and grandpa going?" Rose smiled, "What he does best. To do good in this universe."

Chapter 61 Rachan