KITG: Okay, this is the follow on to "Guardians to the Time Lords" I suggest you read that first, other wise this will make little sense.

Thanks to Yamiseirei and Rosetylerrox for betaing this for me.

Disclaimer: i do not own Doctor Who and am making no money from this. but the Guardians are mine. please ask before you use.

Prologue

Inside the multicoloured corridor of the Time Vortex, the TARDIS-a dull blue brick on the outside-twisted and spun through the Time Vortex as if thrown. Let this not fool you, she moved with purpose…well normally anyway. But right now it waited, though it did not want to. For once she wanted to race to it's destination, to go home. But no she had been told to wait.

So she waited, its holding pattern a complex Mobius-strip path though past and future, intersecting with the now. It was impossible to tell how long she waited- how do you measure time outside time? It flickered in and out of reality, realigning itself with the space/time curve, taking readings, picking fragments of history from the ether and shunting them through to the telepathic circuits for retrieval at a later date.

Inside her, the Doctor, her owner and friend re-aligned her circuits for the difficult landing they would have to make. The other old friend had helped along with the new one. They had spent many hours, Her looking inside Galen; shivering at the horror she had seen inside him. He had given her the coordinates to pass through the bubble in time, where he could not. His flesh and bone body would be ripped apart if he tried, not having the computers to plot the course correctly. He could travel through the now and then like she could, land on the right day, right planet. But to travel outside of time was something his mind could not plot. So he had the position. There was just no way to pass through.

After time he had been of no more use, letting the Doctor do what must be done. So now he was to be found inside the garden, sat in the branches of one of the trees. It was a relic of two planets.

The TARDIS smiled to herself as she sensed Rose was walking towards Galen. She knew he could use some company right now. So the TARDIS continued to wait until its travelers were ready.

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Galen sat in the tree, listening to the artificial breeze blow through the silver leaves. The ripe gold fruit swaying with the branches, the fake sunlight was dancing over his dark form, catching his gold eyes every now and then.

"Galen?" He looked through the leaves to see Rose standing there; she looked messed looking like she had just got out of bed.

"Up here Rose" she looked up and smiled when she saw him.

"What you doing up there?"

"Well what you doing down there?" he replied, eyes glinting like the Doctors.

"Oh ha ha" she came forward to the base of the tree it was beautiful " what is this tree? …Eep" she exclaimed as a golden tail descended and picked her up from the ground and placed her in the tree with him. The tail disappeared under his cloak as he sat leant against the wide trunk of the tree.

"I was just thinking, and filling time until the TARDIS is ready."

"Are you ok?"

"In truth…no. I'm scared Rose Tyler"

"Scared? What could scare you Galen?" Rose asked concerned. "Do you think you will not be able to bring Gallifrey back?"

"No…it's not that. I know I can bring the planet and it's people back. I am not sure of their reaction to what has happened" Galen replied sadly, he picked on of the fruit and rolled it between his hands.

"What do you mean?"

"Without going into the history of Gallifrey, as it is not mine to tell you, they are bureaucratic fops. They will stay to the letter of their law as long as it suits them. And no doubt they would have branded me as traitor. But don't worry about me, I am actually more worried about you and Jack."

"Why?"

"Let's just say they frown on…lesser races." He replied looking sheepish.

"Lesser races?"

"They see humans as a lesser race and that they should not know the existence of the Time Lords. The Doctor made that mistake once before, he was forced to regenerate from his second life to his third, and exiled to earth. Which I found just a little stupid at the time." He reflected.

"So. He was put to death!"

"In lamens terms yes." Rose seemed shocked, that a race that could have produced the Doctor, could do such a thing. She had always thought them to be these wise people that would defend the future of the Universe.

"Rose," she looked to see Galen was right in front of her. "You must understand. The Doctor is an oddity among his race. Never following the rules, meddling in peoples lives."

"He doesn't meddle he saves them!" She shouted at him.

"Rose, you and I know this. But to them it is seen as meddling. So it is important Rose Tyler of earth. That they never know you held the Time Vortex. Once we get there either stay close to me or the Doctor. Okay?" his eyes blazing gold as he looked into hers. She nodded, twirling a bit of hair. Then seeing it was still a mess gave an exasperated sigh. Galen laughed and passed her the fruit as he took the hairbrush she had been holding.

"Here let me."

"You're going to do my hair…and what is this?" she indicated the fruit.

"Yes I'm going to do your hair. Used to do my sister's, so it no great leap. And as to the fruit it is called Fire Fruit, peal away the gold skin…think of it like a peach." She rested against the branch he was sat on as he did her hair. She pealed away the gold skin, and took a bite out of the fruit. It was beyond description, sweet and juicy and then as you swallowed warmth flowed down as if you had drunk hot tea.

"Wow, now I see why they call it fire fruit." Galen gave a small laugh as he continued to do her hair. "Where is it from?"

"What?"

"The tree."

"Oh…well no one really knows. It grew on my world, but also grew on Gallifrey. It's origins are now lost in the web of time. Though I would think the Time Lords would claim ownership. And why not, it's not as if I can argue anymore…No planet." He looked down to see Rose had placed her hand on his.

"I'm sorry I shouldn't have asked."

"Sweet Rose, always ask. Never feel you need to walk on eggs with me. It was their time, my fate. Nothing more….right. You're done." He replied with a smile and jumped from the tree. Rose climbed down after him and together they walked to the control room.

"So when you going to tell the Doctor you love him." Galen said with a cheeky grin, as it got the desired reaction of her nearly falling over.

"Galen!"

"Well I could tell him if you want. I mean, him and me being old friends and all." He continued, walking backwards to look at her, making out he was going to tell the Doctor.

"Galen…Don't-you-dare!" she advanced on him.

"I mean it's no trouble dear Rose" they had nearly reached the console room. "Doctor!" he called out then ran as Rose came after him.

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The Doctor looked up at the shout to see Galen walk in, then quickly disappear from his view with an 'oof' as Rose tackled him. She then proceeded to whack Galen on his head with her hairbrush. He noted her hair had been done in the style of a female guardian of royalty. Seems Galen must have done her hair for her. But why was she now preceding to nearly kill the poor guy? Didn't she like it?

"Don't you dare Galen!"

"Okay, okay. My lips are sealed." Rose got off Galen with a mock glare. And the Doctor couldn't help feel the pang of jealousy. He knew he shouldn't Galen would never do anything with her. But it laced through him nonetheless. He met Galen's eyes and knew he had nothing to fear. Should have known when he first saw the hair. She was like a little sister to him. He saw Jack drooling over Galen at the console and kicked him one.

"Jack, stop drooling on the console. You two ready?" the Doctors eyes were alight with promise and hope.

"Yep" Rose replied, jumping over to him and taking his hand, leaning close to his body.

"As I'll ever be" he looked to Galen and sighed. The hood had come up, and his eyes had darkened. He could see he was afraid. But of what?

"Well hold on, this could be rough" and he pressed the control the TARDIS leapt ahead, the whole ship rumbled as it hit the bubble, it shook so much Rose thought it would fall apart. She felt the Doctors arm snake round her waist to steady her.

With a final groan and clunk the TARDIS stilled.

"You all ok?"

"Now I know what a milkshake feels like" Jack replied from his place on the floor.

The Doctor looked at the door, seeing Galen stood before it like he was expecting something to jump out and attack him. They were home, were back on Gallifrey. About to revive his world, his people.

He was home.

TBC...

KITG: there we go. Hope it's okay. R&R. See you in time