AN: Is this an update? Yes, indeed it is. I'm terribly sorry it's taken so long.
This was a complicated chapter for me to write; I don't dislike it or anything but I'm afraid some of you may find it off putting that the Master seems a bit out of character ... the thing is I know the history between him and Ailla (in my story at least) and you don't, and it's hard to express that "bond" without having to flat out say "this is a thing; accept it!" ... I hope you understand what I mean.

Anyway, I'm trying to get on with all of these unfinished fanfics that's been roaming around in my head for years and I hope that you'll stick around to see what's coming.

Enjoy =)

~ Chapter Six ~

Little Talks

The Master was walking through the corridors not really sure where he was heading but assuming he would find his way somehow. He was filled with a cascade of different emotions: Anger, frustration, remorse, glee and even a bit of empathy. Half an hour ago he had tried to strangle Ailla out of sheer fury and now he was looking for her to bring her some sort of comfort. He wasn't even sure why he was doing this; he was indeed furious with her … yet he also felt bad for the way she had had to find out about Gallifrey being gone. He remembered that hollow feeling in the pit of his stomach from years ago when he himself had found out what the Doctor had done. It wasn't really that he blamed the Doctor as such – he might even have done the same thing if he had been in his shoes, though obviously he would never tell the Doctor that – he just couldn't cope with that damn sanctimonious façade that the Doctor always flaunted, so when the Doctor had started exposing the Master as the one behind them ending up here, he needed to strike back somehow. And he had.

After a bit of walking the Master found himself in front of a door. This was the one, he could feel it. He didn't bother knocking as he entered the room and found the Time Lady sitting on her bed facing away from the door.

"If you've come to try and strangle me to death again, can we please save it for another time, I'm not really in the mood." She stated in a dull tone.

Always those sarcastic remarks, the Master thought, though he did actually find them quite amusing at times. "How did you know it was me and not he Doctor?" He asked.

"Please, as if the Doctor would dare to follow me after that," she replied.

"It could have been the girl… what's her name? Claire?" He said.

"Clara." Ailla corrected. "And no, she cares too much about the Doctor to leave him when he's upset."

"Of course. He always goes for that type."

"Hm." Was her only response to his statement.

The Master walked a bit further into the room looking around, "anyway, I thought we could save the strangling for later… maybe once we get off this ship, we can give it another go," he said, trying to lighten the mood and get the woman to talk.

It didn't work, she didn't say anything.

He glanced around the room. It was quite bland without anything to add just a touch of personality to it. He assumed that meant that she really hadn't been travelling with the Doctor for that long. Of course, it could also just be that she never spent any time in her room but still … the TARDIS always had a way of adding a few bits and pieces to make the occupant feel more at home.

"I am sorry." Came her voice suddenly, making the Master turn to look at her. She was still looking away.

"For anything in particular?" He asked.

"Everything." She said simply and finally turned her face towards him, causing him to see the lone tear running down her cheek. It stirred something inside of him, but he wasn't sure what.

"That's not very specific," he stated.

"For lying to you … then and now." She clarified.

The Master took a deep breath, how should he respond to that? He couldn't say that it was okay or that it didn't matter – of course it mattered! Instead, he merely nodded.

"I just … I was so scared – terrified – that you would leave me behind if you found out who I really am." She told him. "I know that doesn't make it okay by any means but I … I just panicked."

The Master just continued to look at her as silence once again filled the room.

"How did you find out about Gallifrey being gone?" She asked quietly, glancing down toward the floor.

The Master ran his hand over his brow, "short version; I stole the Doctor's TARDIS and ended up on Earth. Something felt … off somehow. I realised it was the psychic link. It felt … hollow, empty." He paused for a moment before continuing, "when the Doctor showed up I asked him where Gallifrey was and he confirmed it was gone and that he was behind it."

"That was … when you became Prime Minister of Britain?" She asked. "The year that never was?"

The Master looked at her in surprise, "he told you about that?"

"No, I looked you up in the TARDIS' archives," she explained.

His brows rose in obvious surprise, "miss me that much, did you?" He asked sarcastically.

"I did actually," she responded much to his surprise, "but that wasn't why I looked you up. I just wanted to know if you ever made it out alive … after Darkheart."

"I hope the answer was to your liking." He said somewhat mockingly.

Ailla rose from the bed and walked towards him, "it was," she stated.

The Master scoffed sceptically, "right."

Ailla was stood right in front of him. She raised her hand to his cheek and stroked it with her thumb, and he froze staring straight into her eyes, "I'm not lying. I was so relieved to find out you had survived," she told him.

The Master swallowed. He didn't know what to say or what to do. He just stood there completely still, looking into her eyes as she stroked his cheek. It had been so long since anyone had touched him like this.

"I … I hope we can leave the past behind and try to move forward from here," she said. "Stars, I've missed you, Koschei," the last sentence coming out in an almost longing sigh.

That made him react. In an instant he had grabbed her around the wrist of the hand she held to his cheek and he pulled it away from his face, "Don't call me that. I don't use that name anymore," he said in a firm voice.

"I'm sorry. I'll try to remember in future." She answered, swallowing a lump in her throat.

The Master released her hand, "please do." He cleared his throat, "in regard to moving forward and leaving the past behind … I'm willing to give it a try."

She smiled at him, "good."

For a moment they stood somewhat awkwardly in front of each other. Then Ailla decided to pass him and ran her fingers along the wall, "why did you follow me?"

The Master glanced sideways at her but didn't utter a word.

"I mean you did just try to strangle me moments before … why come after me?" She asked.

"I … I remembered the feeling I had when the Doctor told me what he'd done. I felt … compelled to check on you." He tried to explain, "I'm not sure why."

"It makes sense … somehow." She said.

"I'm glad you think so, cause I wasn't so sure it did."

"Do you miss it? Gallifrey?" She asked him.

The Master sighed. "Sometimes I do … a little. But it's complicated. The Time Lords wronged me in so many ways and I resented them for it; Rassilon in particular. For so long I wanted them dead … yet when I found out they were gone I wasn't solely pleased to find out. I also felt mournful and … and resentment towards the Doctor for taking my chance at revenge away from me, and a bunch of other emotions."

"I understand." She said.

"Do you?"

Ailla nodded, "I think so. All of those conflicting emotions … even if it isn't the exact same emotions as you I feel, I do know what it feels like to deal with those. I've been filled with them for years about you, about my job, about Gallifrey, about so many things … I was terrified to return to Gallifrey, yet I don't simply feel relief that I don't have to … I also feel anger that the choice was taken from me … sadness that everyone I knew is gone … and so on … it's hard."

"Very." The Master agreed.

Ailla walked back and stood in front of the Master, "thank you," she said.

"What for?" The Master asked confused.

"For feeling compelled to check on me," she said with the tiniest hint of a smile.

"Well, you did essentially promise to do anything I command mere hours ago, so it would be a pity if you'd killed yourself in despair before I had a chance to make you do my bidding," The Master stated, giving her a cheeky grin.

"Hilarious." Ailla said returning a very sarcastic looking smile.

"Get used to it, Isabella." He said.

Ailla rolled her eyes. "Let's get back out there so we can get off this ship," she said and headed towards the door, the Master following close behind her.

AN: That's it for now. I'll be back with another chapter soon.

x Karina