Gallifrey - Five Months Later

Ace sighed. Finally, the baby was born. A beautiful, healthy girl, as promised. It had been wonderful to have Kyris by her side, as wonderful as having Leela there to assist Drea with the actual delivery. That process had gone as well as any, considering that Gallifrey, for all its cultural and technological advances, had no better way to bring a baby into the world than Ace's own planet. Of course, since the Time Lords had long since given up on this method of reproduction, that came as no surprise. A disappointment, perhaps, but not a surprise.

Ace hummed as she changed the baby's nappy. She was almost two months old now, and still the most beautiful thing her mother had ever seen. . Her little Patience. She stubbornly continued to call her daughter that, rather than Susan, as if the simple changing of a name could ward off the future. Who knew, maybe it could. Kyris was happy to go along with whatever Ace wanted at the moment, and the Doctor hadn't come back yet to offer an opinion.

Ace frowned. The Doctor's continued absence was the only thing marring her current happiness. Well, that and the fact that the Master was still running around. At least, she supposed he was, or the Doctor would have returned by now. Unless he'd been caught in another trap...

She turned her thoughts resolutely away from that possibility. No, the Doctor would be back, he'd promised, and he wasn't one to go back on a promise. Not to her, and certainly not to Kyris.

Noni appeared in the doorway. "I'm ready for our walk." Her eyes lingered on Patience. "Is she all set?" She tried to hide the eagerness in her voice, but Ace, who had become very attuned to the nuances of Leela's family over the past seven months, heard it and smothered a smile in response. Of all the children, Noni was the most interested in the Doctor's grandchild. Anji and Mia liked to play with her, to the extent that they cooed over her and shook rattles in her face until their enthusiasm brought her to anxious tears, while their brothers ignored her as best they could; but Noni loved to help Ace take care of her. Their afternoon walks were something she looked forward to, racing through her lessons and training to make sure she was finished in time to join Ace and Kyris in pushing the pram around the gardens and nearby walkways.

The pram had arrived with Kyris, and old-fashioned buggy with frilly lace trim and a sturdy metal frame supporting a very Victorian wicker body. "A gift from the Doctor," he'd explained at his unexpected return. But no Doctor to go along with it. Ace was disappointed that he hadn't even stopped to see how she was doing, but she understood. Chasing the Master took priority.

Having Kyris back had been more than enough to ease the disappointment. She'd expected a last-minute swoop into the birthing room, rather than having almost two whole months to luxuriate in his presence. Two months during which he anxiously kept reminding her that his abilities might not be much use to her when the baby was being born. "My healing skills are for fixing the broken bits, not easing the natural parts." Not truly comprehending what she was about to experience, she'd happily agreed.

It had certainly been comforting to have him nearby, and not only in case there were any "broken bits" that might need mending. Ace smiled to herself; in spite of his own protests, Kyris had done some surreptitious "easing" when Drea was otherwise occupied. By unspoken agreement, Andred's sister had been left uninformed as to Kyris' capabilities.

As if summoned by her thoughts, Kyris burst into the room, panting. Ace froze in the act of handing the baby over to Noni; there was something about his expression that held her motionless.

"Kyris? What is it?" Noni asked.

"It's the Doctor, he's back." Kyris brandished a piece of paper above his head. "He says he has good news, and wants us to meet him at his TARDIS." His voice was exultant.

Ace hesitated, glancing uncertainly at her daughter. "I will take care of her until you return," Noni said, correctly interpreting Ace's expression. "Go. Speak with the Doctor." She held her arms out, and Ace reluctantly gave her over. With a quick kiss to her daughter's forehead, Ace took Kyris' hand and sprinted for the door.

oOo

"Where is he? Why didn't he just come to the house?" Ace asked as Kyris led her back to where the Doctor's note said the TARDIS was waiting.

He shook his head. "Dunno. Maybe he didn't want to leave the Master alone on the TARDIS? Just because you lock someone in a room doesn't mean they stay there," he added, with a sideways grin.

Ace punched him lightly in the arm. "Right. And just because you knock someone out doesn't mean they stay knocked out. Got it."

They fell into a comfortable silence as they made their way to the Doctor's TARDIS. And there it was, the familiar old box. Ace groped automatically in her pocket, then gasped with dismay. "I've left my key!"

"The note said it would be open," Kyris reassured her as she stopped short. He tugged on her hand. "Come on, he's waiting." He drew a deep breath. "Let's see if this is finally over."

Hand in hand, they entered the TARDIS. The door closed silently behind them.