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

'No, but it'll do for now." 8 started to worry about his future. To see his older self act in such a way was disconcerting. What had happened to sour him on life as he was now? The only time he relaxed was when he was with his family, and sometimes not even then. 8 knew it had to be something huge and very bad to do this. Ohila had seen his memories. He would find out from her what he could.

But for right now, the quest. "The Tardis can check the transport logs for anyone named Rom in the past two months. He will be a relatively young man, on his own, and from Gallifrey. Piece of cake, isn't it my darling." He rubbed the console and the Tardis chirped. "We should be there in about twenty minuets."

The only sound in the room was the Tardis time rotor. It became very awkward after a while. 8 just had to fill it with something. "Where did you meet Rose?"

"On earth." 10 said simply.

"No kidding, a human, on earth. Who would have guessed?"

"You know I can't…." "Yah, yah, yah, you can't tell me anything. Except I won't remember any of it, right?" 10 sighed, "All right. I met her in a department store basement. She was being chased by the Nestine, and I knew I loved her from the moment I grabbed her hand to run."

His face was transformed when he spoke of Rose. Gentle and relaxed and full of wonder. "She has been the center of my universe ever since."

"How long have you been married?" "Alice is eight, that makes it twelve increadable years. I'm so happy with her, so content that I happily left all this adventuring behind me. I know you don't understand, but someday you will.

A need to just stop and find peace. The kind of peace I see in my family's faces when they sleep. The kind that waits for me on the other side of the door when I come home. A kind of peace that exists nowhere else in the universe, and I wouldn't trade it for Rassilon's crown."

"I saw that peace on your face when I put your son in your arms that day. I was filled with envy. It takes the right woman to make that happen. Too bad she's two lifetimes away."

The room grew silent again until the Tardis chirped. "We have a candidate. He's on a farm on the southern continent. Shall we drop in and say hello?" 10 was not so kind, "Or maybe ask him how he could leave a wife and child behind without so much as trying to get a note to her?" 8 shook his head. "You're going to make things difficult aren't you? Better leave the talking to me."

The Tardis landed in a tree line of the fields where he was working. Rom heard the sound of a Tardis and ran toward it. He was hoping for the face of his brother, who had promised to help them. Rom had waited months with no word. When he reached the tree line he stopped short to see two strange men coming out of a blue box.

"Is your name Rom?" The first one asked. Rom was desperate for word of his family and gladly walked up to them. "Do you have a woman named Sayla and a son born several months ago?" "A son?" he said wistfully. "Yes! Do you have word of them? Are they safe?"

10 stepped forward and grabbed him with both hands by his shirt, screaming. "Why haven't you contacted them? Don't you know Sayla is heartbroken thinking you don't care." Rom pushed him away and screamed back, "I can't! They wouldn't tell me where she is! I wrote every day to her family, begging for information, but they never replied. My brother was supposed to help us, but he never replied." He lunged at the Time Lord grabbing his suit lapels, "Where is she?"

8 looked at the two of them locked in mortal combat, and said casually, "Good for you?" The Time lord smiled back just as calmly, "Yep, that works." Popping the last p, he grinned at the frantic man, pushing him away, "Well my boy this is your lucky day. She's..., ten minutes?" He looked at 8 who nodded his head, "Yep, ten minutes away, and were leaving right now." Rom was so happy he surrendered to them without second thought. Ten minutes later they were in the sanctuary of Karn. Rom was at the door and when the Tardis was done winding down he burst out, calling her name.

Rose had asked Sayla to her room for tea and heard him call. Sayla stood not believing her ears. "Sounds like my husband is back with Rom. Go to him Sayla." The woman had hope for the first time in months and ran from the room calling Rom. They met at the end of the hall and came together like two black holes. Nothing, and no one would ever separate them again. He twirled her in a circle, pouring kisses on her face. Soft words of love coming from them both.

Rose was watching the two brave and stoic Time Lords have a rare moment of, awwwe. Their heads cocked to one side the same way, smiling for all they were worth. They did not see her coming, and jumped when she spoke, trying to recover their dignity. "I'm so proud of you." She kissed her husband's cheek. "Both of you", kissing 8 as well. "Where's the baby?"

"Ummm, well we didn't…" Rose was calm, "You didn't find the baby?" "Oh no, no. We kinda know where he is. It's just a bit more complicated, but we'll find him."

Ohila entered the room. "What in the name of The Well is going on here?" Sayla dropped to her knees, pulling Rom with her. The two, penitent before her. "Rev Mother, this is my mate Rom."

"Child you are a sister of Karn, you took an oath to have no mate and serve this house." Sayla was frantic, "Please, forgive me Rev Mother. I do not take those vows lightly, but they were forced upon me by circumstance. I ask that you release me from them, for I can no longer live without Rom."

The silence was like the coming of a storm that would quickly blow past or devastate everything it touched.

Rose was watching, and started to go to them, but her husband held her firm, shaking his head. This judgement was up to Ohila. There can be penalties for breaking a vow in this order. Finally, she spoke. "If you break your vow to us you will be cast out, to never return. We will offer you no sustenance, no support." Ohila's face was made of stone. "I understand Rev Mother" Sayla bowed so low she touched the floor. Rom, not sure what to do, followed suit. "Very well, You have until sunset to go." They stayed that way until Ohila was gone.

Released from her vow, Sayla kissed Rom with such passion, that the floor almost caught fire. Rose went to them, "I'm so happy for you both, but you're missing something." They would not turn away from each other's face. "My son." Rom said it to Sayla with so much feeling, Rose wanted to cry hearing it. They looked to the Time Lords still kneeling. "Please, where is he?"

Chapter 63 Baby Mine!