They were back on Haven. Rose hadn't seen the Doctor much since she'd handed the baby over. She couldn't forget the expression on his face; the stark anger as he held the last child of his world, rescued from a slaver ship. It didn't bear thinking about, it really didn't.

The night was almost over and Rose supposed she ought to try and get some sleep while it lasted. However she'd tried once and hadn't been able to settle down. So instead she wandered around the castle aimlessly. It seemed quite endless. She wondered who had built it and why. And where they were now.

Lyselle stood in the darkness, leaning against a low wall and staring up at the sky. Anger burned in her soul, coupled with a sense of hopelessness. Hands settled on her shoulders and rubbed at the tension they found there. She sighed, wishing the knots in her stomach could be so easily dispelled.

"Some days wouldn't go right if you paid them," his voice came low by her ear.

Pain lanced through her, causing her to breath shallowly until it eased. She leant back against his hard frame. The years of separation melted away. Some things transcended time and Lyselle was suddenly unbelievably grateful for one.

"It will get better," she said, trying to put some actual belief into that statement.

The Doctor sighed in response. "You always were overly optimistic."

"And you were always overly pessimistic," she retorted, but her heart wasn't in the old argument. "I have to be optimistic," she continued darkly. "Just when I think I can't witness anything worse I do."

"Yes the day I discovered a Gallifreyan child being transported into slavery will always go down as a shining example."

"You found me," she pointed out.

"I did that."

"And we have her now. She's safe."

"That's true. A glimmer of hope after all."

"That's nice. I think I'll call her that. Hope."

He chuckled. "Oh Lyselle, you're getting all maternal."

"Heaven forbid," she said, sounding horrified at the very thought. "Shush your mouth Theta." She threw him a glare.

The Doctor laughed at her expression. "I'll behave."

"Hmm yeah. When hell freezes over."

"You don't believe me?"

"I know you."

"And here was I thinking that you'd missed me." He felt her stiffen and swore silently.

"I did," she whispered. "Gods, Theta… You have no idea what I've been going through. I was so scared."

"No idea?" He replied, turned her to face him. "Lyselle I thought you were dead. Isn't that worse?"

She shrugged. "No… yes… I don't know." Her voice gave out as tears clogged her throat.

"I'm sorry," he said then. "I didn't mean to start an argument. Not with you, not now… I ought to go later…"

Lyselle looked up sharply. "You ought to stay… a little while."

"You know me. Hate staying still."

"Theta, for crying out loud, stay. Just a few days. Let yourself rest. Heal. You need to."

"Lyselle… please. Don't lecture me."

She stared at him. She knew from experience it was pointless trying to persuade him further. She rather reluctantly let the matter drop.

"Okay," she said finally. "Well at least you know where we are. Don't be a stranger. Or I'll hunt you down."

He looked down at her and grinned. She hugged him tightly, then planted a firm kiss on his lips.

Which was, of course, the very moment that Rose found them.