Tegan took Nyssa's hand and the two of them stepped out of the TARDIS doors. Sure enough, here was Tegan's living room. Complete with the mess she'd made whilst trying to find the TARDIS phone number.

'Doctor, is this the same day as you arrived?'

'You sound surprised,' the Doctor said, stepping out onto the carpet.

'Well, after what you were like with getting me back to Heathrow.'

The Doctor put a hand to his chest in mock outrage, before letting out a bark of laughter.

It had been a difficult departure for Nyssa. They didn't know when next she would see Adric and Neeka, but that didn't stop it feeling so… final. Tegan hoped that the Doctor could help them visit Nyssa in the future. Wait, their future? The future respective to this time period? God, time travel was so confusing!

'Doctor?'

'Hmmm?'

Nyssa stepped forward, still holding Tegan's hand.

'I think you need to find someone,' she said, simply. 'You've been on your own for a long time, haven't you?'

The Doctor stared at her, and gave a curt nod.

His eyes lingered on Nyssa and Tegan's intertwined hands. He smiled, the skin crinkling around his eyes.

'I best be off, then; places to see, planets to save-'

'Wait, you're going already?' Tegan interrupted. 'We've only just got back.'

The Doctor smiled in a very knowing way, and Tegan felt her face flush. Bollocks. He knew. He bloody knew the way Tegan felt for Nyssa.

'I think you two have some catching up to do,' he said. 'Besides, you've got the TARDIS number now; just call me whenever you like.'

'O-okay, then,' Tegan said, suddenly even more aware of Nyssa's hand intertwined with hers.

'Bye, then, it's been… fantastic to see you both again,' the Doctor said, waving quickly. 'Until next time.'

Tegan and Nyssa smiled at him, and the Doctor stepped back into the TARDIS.

The blue door shut. A few seconds later, the sound of ancient chains creaking began to emanate out from the police box, and the TARDIS dematerialised.

'He never was good with farewells, was he?'

'No,' Nyssa said, looking around them. 'So… is this your home?'

'Er, yeah; sorry about the mess,' Tegan said, awkwardly piling a stack of old diaries back into a drawer and then bending down to pick up a bunch of letters. 'I was in a rush to find the TARDIS number and-'

The letters tumbled out of her arms and scattered across the floor.

Smiling, Nyssa bent down next to Tegan and began to help clear up the mess.

Nyssa's fingers grazed hers, and the two women turned to look at each other. Tegan felt her heartrate increase. She'd been trying to avoid thinking about it but… they were alone now. No military dictators or crazy time lords. Just her and Nyssa. For the first time in over two decades-

'Do you moisturise your hands often, Tegan?'

'Er…' Tegan said, pulling herself together. 'I guess. Why?'

'I just…' Nyssa said, before linking their fingers together. 'I just thought your hands were really soft.'

Tegan swallowed. This was bad.

'T-thanks,' she said, standing up. 'Let me show you around the place…'

Nyssa nodded, and stood up as well, following Tegan across the room.

Tegan pushed open the door in front of her.

One large double bed. Why did she suddenly feel so flustered? She wasn't some blushing teenager; she was in her forties!

'You… you can take my bed,' Tegan said, quickly. 'I'll sleep on the sofa for the time being.'

'Oh,' Nyssa replied. 'I mean… if you're sure.'

Tegan nodded.

That had been a mistake.

It was several hours later. Tegan couldn't sleep. She had tried telling herself that her lack of sleep was due to sleeping on the sofa, but she knew it wasn't true. It was because Nyssa was sleeping in the next room.

A room that had the door open.

Sighing softly, Tegan climbed off the sofa, intending to head over to the kitchen. However, halfway through-

'Tegan?'

Her eyes immediately snapped sideways into the bedroom. Nyssa was sat up in bed, just visible in the half-light.

'Sorry,' Tegan whispered, stepping into the room. 'Didn't mean to wake you. Just getting some warm milk.'

'It did always help you sleep,' Nyssa said, smiling.

'You remembered?'

'Of course,' Nyssa replied. 'I couldn't forget. You always slept well after a cup of warm milk and me singing-'

Nyssa cut off, her cheeks reddening.

Of course. The Traken love song.

'You… you can sing it again, Nys.'

Nyssa looked up, startled.

'Are… are you sure?'

Tegan nodded, smiling softly.

Nyssa patted the bed next to her. Tegan didn't move, feeling her pulse race.

'We have slept in the same bed in the past,' Nyssa said, as if to allay Tegan's worries. 'And I can sing to you this way.'

Tegan had a brief mental battle, but she couldn't stop herself climbing under the covers and snuggling down next to the last daughter of Traken.

'Nyssa?'

'Hmmm?'

'Thanks.'

'Whatever for?'

Tegan smiled.

'Just… being you.'

There was a slight pause.

'I… thank you, Tegan.'

'No worries.'

Nyssa seemed to clear her throat, and began to sing.

'The stars of a thousand systems… the bulb of the smallest flower…'

Immediately, Tegan began to relax. God, she had missed this.

Tegan slowly drifted off, the sound of Nyssa's voice lulling her gently into the most restful sleep she'd had in… roughly two decades, at least.

Tegan yawned, and opened her eyes, stretching out slightly in bed. It was then that she realised who she had been sharing the bed with. Sitting up in bed quickly, Tegan realised that Nyssa wasn't there.

But, she could hear noises coming from the general direction of the kitchen. Tegan climbed out of bed and followed them.

As she entered the kitchen, she was stocked to discover that Nyssa was stood in the centre, hands awkwardly crossed around her back as she fumbled with the apron she was trying to do up. Numerous recipe books were opened on the kitchen counters.

'Nys?'

Nyssa startled, her hands tangled up with the apron strings. Her face had turned red.

'Ah, Tegan!' she said, as if trying to draw the conversation away from how Tegan had found her. 'You're awake; did you sleep well?'

'Brilliantly, actually. Er…' Tegan said, stepping forward. 'Need a hand with that apron?'

Nyssa nodded, looking acutely embarrassed.

Tegan smiled, and began to do up the apron strings.

'So… any reason for wanting to put this on? Or why half my recipe books are open?'

'Well…' Nyssa said, hesitantly. 'You've let me stay in your home and I wanted to make it up to you by… cooking something. Only… I don't know many earth recipes.'

Tegan finally finished with the apron strings and Nyssa turned to face her.

'You know you don't need to worry about that, Nys,' Tegan said, softly. 'But… we can make something together, if you like?'

Nyssa's face lit up.

'Really?'

'Course; I haven't baked in a while but I'm sure we rustle up a Victoria sponge cake between us.'

'Do earth people normally eat cake for breakfast? That doesn't seem healthy.'

Tegan chuckled. Nyssa had always been so… earnest about these things.

'That is true. But… hey, it's your first full day living here; we should celebrate it.'

Nyssa smiled, and nodded.

A few minutes later, they were pouring flour through a sieve into a large bowl. The two of them were laughing as they tried to stop the flour covering the kitchen counter around the bowl.

'Stop wiggling,' Tegan laughed. 'You're gonna make me drop it!'

'Oh, I won't!' Nyssa giggled in return, her hand coming to rest on Tegan's arm. Unfortunately, it was the arm carrying the packet of flour.

The flour hit the floor, and a cloud of the powder erupted, covering both Nyssa and Tegan.

'Sorry!' Tegan said, blinking the stuff out of her eyes. 'Nys, are you-'

But Nyssa was laughing. The flour had stuck to her curly brown hair, making her look as if she'd gotten stuck in a snowstorm. Tegan's breath caught in her throat. God, Nyssa looked cute.

'Is baking a cake normally this fun?'

Tegan smiled.

'It is if you're baking it with the right person.'

Nyssa's cheeks flushed again.

'And I am the right person?'

'No one better.'

The two of them shared a smile, before they got back to making the cake.

A few hours later, they were tucking into slices of the sponge cake. Nyssa hadn't tried Earth food in several decades, and she was clearly enjoying the experience. Her mouth was lined with sugar and jam, which Tegan found too adorable to mention to her.

'Tasty?'

'Very much so,' Nyssa replied, smiling widely. 'We didn't really have baking on Terminus, and I was so busy with my work, you see.'

'No baking? That's a shame. The next time Neeka and Adric visit, I'll help you all bake something.'

Nyssa's face lit up.

'Really?'

'Course,' Tegan replied, smiling. 'Besides, I'm happy I can help you enjoy Earth food again. Amsterdam was the last place we had cake, wasn't it?'

'Oh, yes! Have you been there since?'

'Once on holiday a few years ago; my friend Babs got married to her girlfriend there and…'

Tegan trailed off. However, Nyssa didn't seem to notice.

'I love a nice wedding,' she said, smiling. 'A day of joy for people in love is always wonderful to behold.'

'Er, yeah,' Tegan said. Well, there was no harm in checking, surely? 'So… the whole women-marrying-women thing isn't a shock for you?'

Nyssa blinked, looking confused.

'No,' she said. 'Why? Is that unusual on earth?'

'Well, a lot of people still don't like the idea of it.'

'I can't imagine why,' Nyssa said. 'If people are in love, what is there to complain about?'

Tegan stared at her for a moment, before smiling.

'Has anyone ever told you that you're too sweet for words, Nys?'

Nyssa's cheeks seemed to flush as she went back to eating her slice of cake.

It was that evening. Although they hadn't really discussed it, Nyssa had assumed that Tegan would be sleeping in the double bed with her. And Tegan… well, Tegan couldn't of a single good reason why she couldn't. After all, they had both slept really well the previous night. But Tegan's brain knew several reasons why she really shouldn't. Most of them involving the fact that, without exhaustion, she wouldn't be able to sleep much with Nyssa lying next to her.

Tegan felt Nyssa slip under the sheets beside her. Calm down, she told herself, don't overthink things… Nyssa isn't aware of how this might be construed on Earth-

Nyssa curled up behind Tegan and slipped her hand over the Australians waist, so that their bodies were close together.

Tegan felt her heartrate rapidly accelerate.

'Any… any particular reason why you're spooning me?'

'Is that what this is called on earth?'

Tegan nodded.

'Not really,' Nyssa replied. 'I can move if you would prefer I didn't.'

'No,' Tegan said, softly. 'It's… nice.'

'Good.'

There was a pause.

'Thank you, Tegan,' Nyssa whispered, causing gooseflesh to erupt up Tegan's neck. 'It means so much to me that you've let me stay here, even if it just for a little while-'

'I'd happily have you stay with me forever if you wanted to.'

There was a billowing silence. The seconds seemed to stretch into years as Tegan realised what she had just said, and the implications that laid therein.

'What… what do you mean by that?'

Tegan swallowed, and turned over, sitting up in bed.

'I mean…' she said, looking into the middle distance. 'You can stay here with me. Not just as a guest.'

She turned and looked at Nyssa, who was staring up at her, balanced on one elbow.

'I missed you for two decades, Nys. I… I couldn't bear to lose you again.'

Nyssa's eyes were wide in the half-light as she sat up next to Tegan.

'Tegan… I couldn't bear to leave you either,' Nyssa whispered, leaning forward to place her free hand on Tegan's. 'You're my best friend and I love you very much.'

Tegan's mouth dropped open.

WHAT?!

What… that couldn't mean what she thought it meant, right? Nyssa must have surely meant it in a platonic sense! Except… except…

Nyssa's face was now burning red. She had clearly not been expecting to say that, but the words had tumbled out regardless.

It wasn't just platonic.

Tegan stared as the magnitude of Nyssa's words washed over her. Nyssa, her best friend, the woman she had loved before Tegan had realised she loved women was… in love with her.

Suddenly, the puzzle pieces slotted together in Tegan's brain. The Traken love song, Nyssa telling her children so much about Tegan, Nyssa being so flustered when Neeka and Adric had mentioned this to Tegan…

'I'm sorry,' Nyssa said, quickly. 'I shouldn't have said anything, I understand that you don't see me in the same way-'

'Are you bloody blind, Nys?' Tegan said, grabbing her by the arm. 'Of course I do!'

'W-what?' Nyssa gasped, her eyes briefly darting down to where Tegan's hand was holding onto her. 'Tegan, whatever do you mean?'

'I mean I bloody well love you, Nyssa!' Tegan exclaimed. 'I've loved you since the day we first met. How could I not have?'

Nyssa stared.

'R-really?'

'Yes!' Tegan said, letting out a bark of laughter. 'Rabbits, I've been so thick with you! I'm sorry, I should have told you all those years ago, but I was too scared!'

'Scared?'

'You're Nyssa of Traken; the level-headed scientist and voice of reason! Smart, kind, sweet and all-around amazing! I'm just… Tegan, the mouth on legs who wandered into the TARDIS one day. I didn't even know if people from Traken liked people of the same gender in that way! I… I didn't think you'd ever see me as anything other than a friend!'

'Tegan!' Nyssa said, shocked. 'How can you say that about yourself?'

'What, about me being a mouth on legs? That's all I've ever been, Nys-'

Tegan lost her train of thought because, at that moment, Nyssa leaned across the few inches of space between them and pressed her lips against Tegan's. The Australians brain seemed to momentarily halt in place, replaced by a blissful nothingness. The world could have ended around them and Tegan wouldn't have noticed. All she could focus on was Nyssa's lips against her own, and her distinctive Nyssa scent enveloping Tegan's sense, and the way Nyssa's eyes had fluttered shut as she deepened the kiss.

Tegan was so startled that she didn't even get round to kissing her in return before Nyssa pulled back.

'W-what?'

'Now do you believe me?' Nyssa said, opening her eyes. Tegan was shocked to see tears trickling out of them. 'Don't you dare be so harsh on yourself, Tegan; you're amazing and you shouldn't keep assuming you aren't. I… I love you, Tegan Jovanka.'

Tegan put her arms around Nyssa, pulling her into an embrace.

'And I love you, Nyssa of Traken. I bloody love you.'

'And, as for being a mouth on legs,' Nyssa said. 'I rather like your mouth. And… and your legs, it has to be said.'

Tegan goggled at her.

'Nys, are you… flirting with me?'

'Well, I was just kissing you, Tegan; I would have thought the evidence was irrefutable.'

Tegan let out a bark of laughter and leaned back against the pillows.

'I suppose,' Nyssa said, laying down and leaning into Tegan's side. 'I can openly sing the Traken love song now with its original intention.'

Tegan let out a laugh and pressed a kiss to Nyssa's forehead. The sun was now peeking through the blinds, signalling the start of a brand new day. Only it was also a brand new life.

A life for the two of them to share.

'Remind me how that song goes again?'

Nyssa smiled.

'You must know the words off by heart now,' she said. 'I've sung it enough times to you.'

'Humour me,' Tegan replied. 'For old times' sake.'

'Only if you kiss me after each line.'

Tegan wrapped her arms around Nyssa, squeezing her. And, as she had once done in the room aboard the TARDIS, Nyssa began to sing the song from her home planet. Tegan closed her eyes and smiled, Nyssa in her arms.

Together again. At last.