Chapter 66 Home
Before he left Rose, he asked her to be ready to leave when he returned. She had them packed up in the Tardis and read to go. Alice was sad to leave. She had said good-bye to the friends she had made while there. They had given her a few duplicate copies of books and other "homework" to do.
He came back to the room to see it was emptied of their things and went to his Tardis. 8's machine was still beside his. He went inside his own first to check on Rose and the children. 8 was inside talking to Rose. He looked up at 10, "So, you still have your head attached. I take it that means it went well with Ohila?" "Yes, She understood that it needed to be done. It's your turn now." 10 began circling the console like a shark. 8 grinned and began to circle as well. "You'll have to catch me first." 8 looked up to spot the door. 10 stopped and huffed. "You agreed to this before it all began." "True, but I really didn't see anything I shouldn't." 8 was being an annoyance again.
"The trip to Gallifrey for Alice, went as expected and we didn't really run into any trouble. Rose having the baby was exciting, but will not alter my timeline. And our last adventure with Rom and Sayla came out as it should have, Ohila said so. So what's so all fired important, that I need to forget it all?" "Rose, that's what. You can't know Rose before I do."
8 stalled, "You told me yourself that the minute you took her hand in that basement, you loved her. Was it love at first sight, or a memory reawakening? Think about it, if you take my memory, you may not take her hand that day. Anyway, there's two regenerations between us. My memory of her could easily get lost in that time." "And if it doesn't?" "If it doesn't, what? Knowing what I know now, the only difficulty will be for me to not go looking for her too soon. Which I promise will not happen. Come on, what do you say? It will be handy for me to be able to smooth over anything Ohila may question later. Like a missing novice?"
The Time Lord huffed, He knew this would happen. "I don't know why I don't remember any of this, but I suppose it could be for some other reason. What do you think Rose? You're the one he saw naked." Rose narrowed her eyes and shook her head. "Only you would point that out. Considering the shape I was in, if he can stand it so can I."
10 straightened and looked in 8's eyes. "On the understanding that you can not use anything you know to alter any decision you must make…" 8 smiled as he looked at 10 caving in. "I mean it. Our lives are in your hands. Sayla and Roms life is in your hands. You keep your mouth shut! You screw this up for me, and I will come back and take you out. You won't even see me coming."
8 laughed at him. "You know you can trust me, and I would never do anything that might harm Rose or the kids….pookey." 10 lifted his arm slowly, pointing at the door. "Get out of my Tardis." 8 grabbed Rose in a bear hug. "Take care of that beast." His eyes took on a soft glow as he traced the line of her jaw. "And if you ever grow tired of him, you know where I am." Something in those eyes made Rose's body respond to him for a moment. It was a good thing her back was to her husband. "And kiss my son goodbye for me."
8 knelt down to the child to give her a hug, "Goodbye my little Alice in Wonderland. Take care of your parents, they need reminding how to be a child now and then." 8 walked to the gangplank and stopped, looking back at 10. "I know it must be something terrible to frighten Ohila as it did, and I don't want any details. Just tell me. Will I do the right thing?" 10's face contorted in pain, and then smoothed into acceptance, "Yes, you will do the right thing." 8 nodded and left.
The minute the door shut The Time Lord pushed the lever to take them home. Rose sat on the jumpseat with Alice, just as they had been when they arrived on Karn. The baby asleep in their quarters. The trip was not long and he had set the coordinates to only minutes after they had left on their adventure. The Tardis boomed to a stop. They were home.