The Doctor followed her mother into the familiar home. Even though years had passed on Gallifrey since had lived in this home, everything looked and smelled the same. The family crest on the wall still hung in the same place and the old wooden table that she had traced the design on so many times that she was positive that if she looked close enough would still have the imprint of the crest sat between the two blue-clothed wooden chairs and similar-looking couch. The furniture on Gallifrey had always been simple and practical regardless of someones standing in the community. To buy things more extravagant was seen as boasting about your position and therefore frowned upon by others. Her own room at the top of the stairs had held no more than a bed, wardrobe, simple chair, and small bookcase. She had hardly slept in the room as a child but it was comforting to know that the room remained whenever she needed to return home for a while.
Together they went into the kitchen and she took a seat at the small table as her mother went to put the kettle on. She pretended not to notice as her father slipped out of the house a moment later. He had disowned her many years ago and while her mother had always remained close to her, she had never been able to repair the relationship she once had with her father. It wasn't her fault that she couldn't be the Time Lord that he expected her to be and that she had failed to meet his expectations one too many times. He had finally washed his hands of her when she divorced from the arranged marriage she had been unhappy in leaving her wife and three sons behind to go live with the nameless on the streets of Gallifrey instead. Nothing she did from that point on would make her father proud of her and their relationship had faded to passing glances as he hurried away from the house soon after her arrivals.
Her mother didn't ever comment on her father's absence while she was around and this was no exception. Instead, she cut them both a slick slice of bread from the loaf cooling by the window smearing it with fresh butter and drizzling it with honey. She made the Doctor her tea just like she preferred, strong and overly sweet before bringing everything over to the table. The Doctor lifted the bread happily taking a bite of the still-warm piece. It brought back memories of being a child in this kitchen and stealing pieces of the bread her mother would bake each day for their supper.
"You're spoiling him again. He will never be a good Time Lord if he doesn't learn discipline and control," her father would complain as she hid beneath the table happily snacking. Her mother would agree but that never stopped her from leaving the loaf within reach with the end already cut off for him to enjoy.
"What brings you home this time, my child?" her mother wondered snapping her out of her thoughts of the past. She took another bite not commenting as she chewed and swallowed the piece allowing her a moment to think. She wasn't about to tell her mother that she was carrying a half-human child. That conversation could wait until her child was an adult and able to defend itself against the council. She needed answers though about what Koschei had told her. So setting down her bread, she turned so that she was facing her mother.
"Have you ever heard of someone called the Timeless Child?" She asked. Her mother smiled.
"Where did you hear that name?" She wondered.
"The Master mentioned it the last time I saw him," she stated. She had always had trouble lying to her mother. Somehow her mother always saw through those lies and she knew it wasn't just because of the family bond that they kept. So telling her mother the truth was the best way to get the answers she needed but she kept the details to a minimum.
"You always did put too much thought into things that boy said. The Timeless child is just a fairy tale told to some children as a way to explain where the regeneration abilities came from. It is nothing more than a myth and an attempt by others to discredit Rassilon. There is has been no proof provided that such a child ever existed yet there are still some people who claim its existence," Her mother told her calmly before taking a sip of her tea. The Doctor took a sip of her own tea before she asked her next question.
"He seemed to think that I was the Timeless child," She admitted to her mother. Her mother laughed as she reached out placing a hand gently on her arm.
"You are my child of the flesh. I would know better than anyone if you were a Timeless being from another dimension. I carried you next to my hearts for eleven months and gave birth to you in the very room that you now call your own," her mother reassured her. She nodded feeling silly for even asking her mother about the myth as she felt comfort was over her. Her mother hadn't used the bond to reassure her since she was a child but it was welcome as she let the bond soothe her. She had got herself worked up for nothing and now she was pregnant with Jack's child because she let her emotions get out of hand. Not that she regretted being pregnant. It didn't matter how this child came into the universe, she still planned to love it no matter what.
"Thank you. I was wrong to listen to him," she told her mother. Her mother patted her arm, then pulled away. She could still feel the bond connection strongly and she held onto it as she finished off her bread and tea. The conversation turned to what was happening on Gallifrey while she had been gone. It was nothing really new as things didn't tend to change. The Time Lords were set in their ways about watching over the universe but not interfering with anything but her own life. She knew she wasn't being fair with that last thought only she didn't care at the moment. They had tried to force her too many times to conform to their ways and her only escape had been to steal a TARDIS and escape to the stars. She told her mother a little about her own recent adventure leaving Jack out of them as she explained her travels.
The day passed comfortably as they enjoyed each other's company. She stayed for a light supper of homemade soup before making her way out of the home. She hugged her mother tightly as they said goodbye, promising she would be back soon even if she didn't have any intention of keeping the promise. The twin suns were just starting to set as she made her way back to the TARDIS and she turned to watch the silver leaves of the forest blaze as if the leaves were on fire. The image had scared her as a child and brought back the horrible nightmare of watching the planet burn because she had been helpless to save it. She had no other choice that day when she had used the moment to stop the endless war and the moment had forced her to stay alive as she watched the planet be destroyed. It was only in her eleventh body that she had managed to change time but that wouldn't stop the nightmares or change the fact that at one point she was truly alone in the universe.
"Not anymore," she whispered as she placed a hand on her stomach and forced herself to turn away from the image. She wanted a drink but instead, she would settle for two arms to hold her and help carry the pain for a while and she knew just where to find that comfort. Going inside, it was easy for her to find Jack lounging in the library with a book in his hand.
"Did you enjoy your visit?" Jack questioned her as he heard her approach.
"I did," she agreed.
"So, I guess this means you don't need me anymore after all. You can raise our child here among your people. Just do me a favor and drop me back at the bar you found me at first rather than leaving me stranded at some random space station," Jack told her. The Doctor frowned as she went around the couch.
"Don't be ridiculous. I am not going to raise our child on this planet. I hated my life here and I am not going to subject it to that. They will look down on my child not only because it is mine but it is a child of the flesh and half-human. Our child will never fit in here and I will not listen to him cry in the barn at night thinking no one is going to come or try to hang himself in the rafters after being bullied in school and unable to meet the grades that were expected," The Doctor ranted. She quickly went quiet after realizing what she said looking across the library as if she were suddenly interested in the books on that side of the room. Jack didn't comment but he couldn't help but notice when the child turned from it to him and knew that the little boy the Doctor was referring to had been herself. His own heart broke for that scared child and he agreed silently that their child would never go through that.
"Come here," Jack whispered holding open his arms. To his relief, she sat down on the couch in front of him allowing him to wrap his arms around her. She was tense as he held her even if she had desperately wanted his arms only moments before. "Listen to me."
"You realize I was speaking hypothetically," the Doctor interrupted him.
"I know," Jack agreed, as he kissed her softly on the cheek. "I am not going to let our child grow up scared or alone, though. I know what that feels like too, Doc, and I promise you that our child will never have to go through that."
"Does that mean you will stay?" the Doctor asked softly, barely daring to hope that their time together wasn't over after all.
"I'll stay," Jack agreed. The Doctor felt the relief was over her from his words. She leaned against him allowing herself to relax into his embrace as he rested once more against the couch. They were going to be a family, and maybe one day they could even give the child she was carrying a sibling to play with. She smiled at the thought even if it did mean having sex again with Jack but that had actually been more enjoyable than she expected. The thought startled her as she had never really been overly sexual. Yes, she had sex on occasion but that had always been with her on the top. Being penetrated was a new experience and she had been embarrassed to spread her legs for him even if she had wanted him that night. She shuddered slightly at the thought. "All ready thinking of me making love to you?"
"Stop it," She complained softly. She rolled her eyes as he kissed the side of her neck. He was right but she wasn't in the mood at the moment to have sex with him again. Maybe tomorrow and maybe she might even let him leave the lights on this time. Maybe.