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

8 was chattering, "So, I suggest we start with the girls family. Find out what happened to the child and if we're lucky the father." 10 agreed, "If we can get it out of them. A scandal like this, they will be very tight lipped about it." "Yes, but there's always a gossip in a rival house that loves to tell a tale." Sudden inspiration hit, HA! Rachan!

When's the last time you had a decent Gallifreyan meal?" 10 was sad, but smiled, and lied, "About 20 years, give or take." 8 was surprised and drew his own conclusions, "Exiled for marrying a human? I didn't think they did that anymore. I bet they didn't even meet her. Anyone who met Rose would know she's special. Like mom."

8 was getting annoying again, "Look, can we just focus and get this done with as little harm to the timeline as possible?" "Ok, ok, don't get your knickers in a twist. We'll take my Tardis. I know just the place. A little cafe in the capital. Right about now Rachan will be holding court for anyone who wants to listen or buy her a cuppa."

8's Tardis was very different from his own. A Victorian dream, lavish as his manner of dress. A sweeping staircase, chandeliers, candelabras and gilded red velvet settees. 10 laughed at the memory displayed again before him. 8 may envy him his family, but 10 was starting to envy 8 his fanciful light heart. The time war, had put an end to all of this.

The Tardis buzzed and chirped and stopped. They exited to an ally off a side street in the capital. The sights and sounds of the city were almost too much for 10 to bear. The memories flew too quickly by him, when he realized 8 was speaking. "So... we can't both be The Doctor. Shall I call you John?" "I suppose." "Right. This way John." The Time Lord was about to chide him for treating him as if he were a common tourist. He knew this city and it's people almost as well as 8 did. Regeneration had left a few gaps, but he knew exactly where they were.

The Doctor led 10 to a cafe with red curtains in the window. The smell of all his favorite foods made his mouth water. He hadn't had them made fresh in more than 300 years. The Tardis had copied them of course, but it just wasn't the same. The doctor ordered for both of them.

10 scanned the room for Rachan. He remembered her, because all his previous incarnations had used her for information and stories of the houses. He was proud to be one of her favorite scandals, and she had full permission to say what she liked. It helped his reputation as a renegade, but if half of what she told about him was true, he wouldn't be allowed back on Gallifrey. The best one was of him stealing a moon and running off with the president's wife, and she told it often.

The food arrived and 10 was savoring every bite, when Rachan came in with her entourage. A huge woman, lavishly dressed. It was said most of her wealth was from blackmail. She spotted him immediately. "Doctor! How wonderful to see you." She came close to whisper in his ear. "Anything new for me?" Totally ignoring 10, which suited him.

8 grinned and replied, "Rachan, my dear, I always have something." She laughed and clapped her hands. "What have you got?" "It's a sad story I'm afraid. I was just at the Karn temple and happend to have a chat with a young novice."

He whispered, "She had a child without permission."

Rachan's eyes were practically glowing, "And?" "The family abandoned the poor thing on Karn and gave her child away. Heaven only knows where the father is."

"Wait." Rachan looked puzzled, "Is this about Sayla and Rom? That's old news. Where have you been." The Doctor glanced at 10 who was smiling. "No, no Rachan. This must have just happened." Rachan was offended, "Doctor, do not tell me my business. I was spreading that story more than a month ago." 8 was leading her on, "Really? Tell me more."

Rachan raised herself up to tell the tail in the most dramatic way she could. "Such a sad tale. They were very much in love, revolting, but from different houses. Her house had so much pride they had notions above their station for her. She was to be the wife of a councilman, an old dull codger due for regeneration. It would raise the prestige of their house tremendously, but she wanted Rom. They eloped, and she fell pregnant, of all the disgusting things." The waitress came and sat a hot beverage and cakes in front of her. "Thanks, dearie." Rachan was on a roll and continued. "Where was I."

The Doctor jumped in, "Eloped and pregnant." Rachan's eyes twinkled and she took a deep breath. "The couple ran, but of course couldn't get away. The family tried to keep it quiet, but when she disappeared from society for four months, and then ended up on Karn, well… it was obvious what had happened." She picked up a sweetcake and dunked it, swallowing it it whole.

The Doctor almost had what he wanted but tried not to show too much interest, lest Rachan get suspicious. She would make him pay for any specific information. "Well… It's really such a common tale these days. If truth be known, there's a lot more of that going on than any house will admit to. Dumped in a convent. Well... end of story."

Rachan was again offended into giving more than she should. "End of the story, what do you take me for? Rom's family sent him to some agricultural world on the fringe, what was it, Vislaga 4 I think. The child was put into foster care on one of those farms in the north, and the girl, languishing away on Karn. Never to see either of them again. So sad," she said, picking up another sweetcake. The Doctor jumped up and kissed Rachan on the cheek, "There's more to the story my sweet, I'll tell you when I get back."

The doctors practically ran back to the Tardis and took off. "You can't tell her about Rose or me. So keep us out of it." Now 8 was offended, "You really don't have a high opinion of me do you? I'm not that stupid, as you so kindly said yesterday. Besides if you're going to wipe my memory, I won't have anything to tell. So, the father first and then the child?"

"No, We'll just go back to Karn and tell Rose what we found out." 8 had an answer for him, "If you go back and tell Rose where he is and not go get him, she will take the Tardis and do it herself." 10 knew he was right.

"Very well then. The father first. He will have legal access to the boy and make retrieval easier if we have to fight for him." 8 laughed, "You know, sometimes you sound like a soldier." "Do I. Then how about this. How are we going to find this needle in a haystack? We're not even sure of the planet. We don't even know what he looks like!"

8 didn't understand 10's hesitation. It sounded like a great adventure with a happy ending, to him. "What's happened to you? You act like all the fun got kicked out of you." 10 knew he couldn't explain what the war had done to him. He was resentful and jealous of 8's joviality. He gave him a likely excuse. "Oh, I don't know. In the last few weeks my daughter, my son, and my wife almost died. I want to go home before any more damage is done to the timeline, but now I'm on a fool quest to reunite a couple who shouldn't be reunited. How's that for you? Answer your questions?"

Chapter 62 Rom