A/N: I know some of my readers that I talked to were probably expecting something much different in this chapter. I'm sorry to disappoint, but what I was writing just wasn't flowing smoothly at all and felt a little forced in some parts. But I am taking each and every one of your suggestions and ideas into consideration and I do love them all, but I feel that some of those ideas might need to wait. That's all. :)

I leaned against the closed door and sighed as I let my eyes close. I knew I would see Twelve again, but I hated to leave him so soon after we had come to an understanding. He would be wondering where I was and if my luck held out, he and Clara would continue to avoid each other until I returned.

My thought process was interrupted when the door I was leaning on suddenly jerked and pushed outwards, causing me to stumble forward with a squeak of shock. I barely managed to regain my balance and keep myself from falling over. Confused and a little annoyed, I turned around expecting to see Jamie or Zoe or Victoria but instead found myself face to face with a blonde woman I had never met before.

"Oh, Diana, I'm so sorry!" the girl cried with a concerned expression.

Although I had never heard her voice or even seen any of her episodes, I knew who the girl was almost immediately. "Polly," I said simply.

She smiled and I liked her instantly. "Sorry. I didn't know you were there."

"Oh, it's fine. No harm done." I quickly ran a hand through my hair and readjusted my glasses before speaking again. "Hey, um, I just got here and I was wondering where the Doctor was..."

Polly's smile faded just a little when I mentioned his name and I wondered why. Had something happened? "Diana... Ben and I are a little worried. You see, he changed just recently and while we don't mind, it's... quite strange and he did explain it but it's still confusing."

"He regenerated?"

She nodded wordlessly and I understood the expression on her face. Like many other companions, Polly was probably having a difficult time accepting the Doctor's new face. But I couldn't be sure of how she felt since I had never seen any of her episodes during my time back home.

"Where is he?"

Just a few minutes later I was standing in front of the Doctor's room with my hand hovering over the door, prepared to knock. Finally I rapped my knuckle against the door and took a step back so I wouldn't fall into the room when the door opened. I could hear the soft padding of feet on the floor, then the door handle turned and the door creaked open.

"Diana," the Doctor said with a half smile.

"Hi."

He seemed to notice quite easily that I was worried because his eyebrows came together and when he spoke, his voice was tight with concern. "What's wrong? Has something happened?"

I shook my head and looked away for a moment. "No. Sorry, nothing's wrong. I just..." I looked back into his eyes and smiled. "Polly said you regenerated recently. I was... worried."

"You've just arrived, haven't you?" When I nodded in response, he pressed his lips together. "I see."

"But I still know you. I mean, I've been with you later selves mostly but I've also been with this you and your previous self. So it's still me."

"Of course it's still you." The Doctor smiled and reached for my hands, which were clasped tightly in front of my stomach, and wrapped his fingers around them. "After everything that's just happened recently, Diana, I just needed to rest. But truly, I'm alright."

"Please don't ask me to leave," I said quickly. "I mean, if you want to be alone that's fine. But I... I-I want to stay with you if you don't mind. I've been through a few difficult things lately, so I'd be glad of the company. If you'll have me."

"Of course I'll have you. I would be glad to have your company for a while, as well."

Relieved that the Doctor really was alright, I pulled my hands from his and threw them around his waist in a tight hug. I let my cheek rest against his shoulder and sighed into his neck. He chuckled and let his hands rest on my shoulder blades. After a few moments, he seemed to want me to release my hold on him but I wasn't willing to let him go just yet.

"Diana, I do like hugging you very much and I think I'm more of a hugging person this time around, but could we perhaps pause for a moment?"

I tightened my grip on him momentarily before pulling back. "Sorry. I just wasn't ready to let go yet."

The Doctor's playful smile seemed to fade again and he gazed into my eyes for a few long moments before grabbing my hands again. "Talk with me," he said seriously as he pulled me into his room.

As I had guessed, the Doctor had latched onto what I had briefly mentioned about difficult times and was worrying over me. I knew I couldn't spoil his own future for him or go into very deep detail, so I vaguely summarized what had happened to me. I told him about how the Master had used me basically as a science experiment and how he had used the Doctor's feelings for me to his advantage. Then I explained in a little more detail about the unknown length of time I spent in the vortex calling for him and the TARDIS and hearing no answer. And finally, I let my guilty conscience surface and I told him what I had wanted to tell him from the beginning.

"Doctor," I began slowly, looking away out of shame and guilt, "there's something I need to tell you... I, um, was with one of your older selves after the vortex. And it was a wonderful time and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the universe, but... Theta, I lied to you about something and I've felt badly about it ever since."

The Doctor wore a confused and questioning expression. "What did you lie to me about?" he asked, his voice deepening and sounding ever more serious.

"You were so happy to see me and I didn't want to hurt you by telling you that I wasn't as far in our relationship as you thought we were, so I didn't say anything. But I only did it so you wouldn't be hurt. It wasn't because I just felt like it or anything."

"I understand," he replied with a nod of his head. "But whatever you lied to me about, I still wish you would have told me."

"Theta, I wanted to but we had been fighting and we had finally made up and you were so happy to see me. I didn't want to hurt you more than I already had."

"I know... I know, my dear." The serious expression on the Time Lord's face melted into a soft smile and he raised his hand up to cup my cheek. His thumb moved lightly over my skin and I brought my own hand up to grasp his wrist. "You're always looking after me."

I smiled and leaned into his touch. "Of course I am. You're my family and my friend and I care about you. Besides, you're something of a trouble maker so somebody has to be up for the job."

The Doctor dropped his hand form my cheek and shook his head. "I most certainly am not!" he protested.

"You really are."

"Am not!"

His childish tone that I grown so used to throughout his various incarnations made me smile. Even so soon after his regeneration, he was still himself in some way and I hoped that I could stay with him long enough to help him as he learned more about his new self.

We both smiled at one another and remained close to another on the bed. I reached for the Doctor's hand and closed my fingers around his. "Doctor? I know you don't understand half of what I was saying and you won't know about any of it for a long time, but I am sorry. I know it doesn't make up for lying to you, but I wanted to tell you. It was important to me that you understand why I lied."

"I do. I understand and I am not angry with you," the Time Lord assured me. He brought his free hand up to my chin, letting his thumb just brush against the bottom of my lip. "Now let's not worry about all of these arguments and misunderstandings and spoilers. Alright? I say we make new memories now, new moments to look back on with a smile."

I nodded and felt as if the weight of the world had been lifted off of my shoulders. "Alright, Doctor."

"Good." He playfully tapped his finger on my nose and grinned when I giggled. "Now come along."

I raised an eyebrow. "Are we going somewhere?"

"Yes, yes, come on!" the Doctor exclaimed excitedly as he leapt to his feet and clapped his hands together.

I stood and started after him as he bounded out of the room. I turned my back from the Doctor long enough to close the bedroom door behind me and when I turned back to face him, I found that my surroundings had changed yet again. My throat constricted and tears threatened to spill down my cheeks as I stared emptily at the blank corridor.

"Not again," I choked. "Please, God, not again."

Anger welled up inside my chest and I turned to rest my forehead against the wall, closing my eyes and taking a deep and soothing breath. "It's not fair," I whispered. Why… What can't I just be with him and stay with him? I wondered. That's all I want.

"Diana?"

My head snapped up and I whirled around to see the Doctor in the hallway, his wild mass of hair and ridiculous scarf the most heartwarming sight I had seen in a long time. My mouth broadened into a smile and I forgot how frustrated and sad I was. Without a moment of hesitation, I rushed towards him and threw my arms around his neck.

"Oh, Doctor," I breathed as I fell against him.

"Hello, my dear," he chuckled in his deep voice. His hands fell to my waist and warmth spread throughout the rest of my body. "It's very good to see you, too."

"You have no idea."

He hummed and gently rested his cheek against the crown of my head. His scarf was scratchy against my arms and his hair was partially in my face, but I didn't care. I hadn't seen Four in a long time and it was wonderful to be with him again after so long.

"My, you're particularly attached to me today."

"Problem?" I mumbled.

"Not at all."

"Good." We stayed in one another's embrace for a little while longer before I finally pulled back with a real smile. "So. Who are you traveling with nowadays?"

"Romana, actually."

"Which one?" I questioned.

The Doctor furrowed his brow and tilted his head slightly. "The… only one?"

"Ah. So… You're still looking for the Key to Time, right?"

"The one and only, I'm afraid."

I nodded. "Yes, I thought so."

"Why? There's nothing wrong, is there?"

"Hm?" I shook my head. "Oh, no. No worries there, Doctor. But, uh, no spoilers."

He flashed me his characteristic grin and wide eyes and I couldn't help but laugh. "Of course not," he replied.

"So, where were you last?" Romana asked me as she looked through the rack of clothes the TARDIS had left out for her.

"The Doctor's second incarnation. A long time ago for him."

She nodded and the corners of her mouth quirked upwards. "Yes, he is getting on in years, isn't he?"

"Yeah, but don't let him hear you say it. He'll get all cranky and defensive."

Romana glanced over her shoulder at me and smiled, then looked back at the rack of clothes in front of her. "You're not married yet, are you?"

I raised my eyebrows in shock. "What makes you say that?" I wondered.

"I am occasionally much more perceptive than he is."

"But what makes me so different from the me already married to him?"

The Time Lady exhaled and paused looking through the clothes for a few moments. "You're not as confident. The you married to the Doctor is more confident in herself, in her love, in his love for you."

"Am I so obviously insecure?"

Romana shook her head. "No, but I know you better than you probably think." She pulled one outfit off of the rack and held it in front of her torso. "What do you think of this one?"

I looked up and down the peach colored trouser suit and accompanying leather belt and smiled. "I think it suits you. But maybe you should try a hat."

"A hat?"

I nodded and reached for a plaid cap that was hanging on the end of the rack and had so far gone completely unnoticed. "Yeah. Just pin your hair up and then put this over it. You'll look beautiful."

"You're not so bad yourself."

I raised an eyebrow. "Are you flirting with me?"

"Well, you're not taken yet," the Time Lady replied with a half smirk.

The Doctor suddenly walked into the room, making Romana and I jump a little in surprise. He gently took my hand and I turned to face him, then he planted a light kiss on my cheek, narrowed his eyes at Romana, and left the room. We both burst into laughter as soon as the Doctor was gone.

"I think you just made him jealous."

"I was only teasing," she replied. "After all, you're my friend."

"And you're mine." Even if I've literally only just met you, I thought. I handed the hat to Romana and then turned towards the door. "Hey, I'm going to go find something my size in the wardrobe, okay? I'll be right back."

"Yes, alright."

So now I've met Romana. I always admired her. I smiled and added an extra spring to my step as I walked down the hall. Maybe I'll get to stay a little longer this time.

The TARDIS, like she always did, partially helped me pick out a new outfit. I decided to try something different than my usual jeans and jacket combination, a decision which may or may not have been affected by the presence of the most beautiful Time Lady in the universe*. So I decided to try an outfit that would be more stylish and eye-catching than what I might normally wear.

The TARDIS hummed in approval when I stepped out of the dressing room in my new clothes and I was sure that if she had been in human form, she would have whistled. I twirled around on my toes and smiled.

"What do you think, Sexy?"

I walked over to a long mirror that was attached to the wall and stared at my reflection. I was wearing a pair of black Oxford heels, dark blue jeans the flared out at the ankle, and a black tank top decorated with a symmetric silver design. I had also added a silver bracelet on my left wrist and had found my silver hair clip from Christmas time with Three, which I also added to my outfit.

"Knock 'em dead, Di," I told my reflection. "Think, 'I'm awesome. I'm hot. I'm confident.' Channel your inner Romana. Be a confident Diana-Romana hybrid. Actually, no. Don't think that because that's weird. Forget that."

I realized as I stood in front of the mirror, talking myself into getting my confidence up, that the Doctor was starting to wear off on me. Sighing, I resigned myself to my realization and pulled open the wardrobe room door. The sound of my heels clicking on the floor boosted my confidence just a little bit more and made me feel a zing of energy.

Confident. I am confident and awesome and hot and when the Doctor sees me, he'll go, "wow," and it'll be great.

I walked into the console room feeling nervous and confident, only to find that no one was there. Confused, I looked around the room to try and find the two Gallifreyans.

"Doctor? Romana?" I glanced down at my front and smoothed a few wrinkles out of the shirt as I searched each possible hiding place in the room. "Sorry I took so long. But I thought that since Romana was getting herself all dressed up, I should try it too and see how it goes aaaaand neither of you are in here."

A feeling of extreme annoyance rose up in my chest and I rolled my eyes. I walked over to the console and flipped the lever that opened the TARDIS doors. "Honestly," I began as I stepped out of the ship, "you couldn't wait for, like, seven minutes?"

The Doctor turned when he heard my voice, his hands grasping at his coat lapels. "I'm sorry, my dear, I didn't hear you. Would you say that again?"

I smiled a little. "Oh, nothing. I was talking to myself."

The Doctor smiled when he saw me and that alone was enough to make my own smile widen considerably. "Oh, Diana, how wonderful to see you again! Susan will be absolutely thrilled."

"Where is she?" I asked.

"Oh, still sleeping, my dear," he replied with a wave of his hand. "I just parked the TARDIS for a few hours so the old girl could get some rest."

"Diana, have you gotten taller?"

I looked down at my shoes and pulled the hem of my pant leg up to look at them. "Um, yes?"

The Doctor suddenly looked up and down my figure and I noticed his cheeks turn slightly pink. "Yes, well. You look… Ahem. You look lovely, my dear," he stammered.

"Thank you, Doctor," I said with a smile.

I noticed then that the Doctor's face was slightly younger than I was used to seeing. He had a few less wrinkles and his skin seemed less pale. I smiled and started to reach my hand forward to grab his, but stopped myself before I thought he noticed. A rather sad thought came to mind when I remembered that this incarnation mainly thought of me as a granddaughter. And even though he looked old enough to be my grandfather, I still couldn't help but have the smallest of crushes on him.**

"So, where are we?" I asked as I glanced past the Time Lord at our surroundings.

"Veticale."

"Gesundheit," I replied.

The Doctor glanced at me from the corner of his eye and chuckled. "No, no, no, Diana. Veticale. It's a planet covered in purple grass. Susan read about it in a book in the library and has been obsessing about it for weeks now."

I looked down at the grass and wondered how I hadn't noticed the purple hue earlier. "Huh. That's the weirdest color I've ever seen." I flashed the Time Lord a smile and laughed. "Purple grass is just wrong."

"Susan didn't seem to think so."

"Should I go and wake her?"

He shook his head. "No, no. She needs her rest. She's a growing child." Gently, he reached out and patted the back of my hand. "Let's explore for a short while, hm?"

I smiled. "Oh, no you don't. We'll end up getting kidnapped or lost or stuck in a cave with a dangerous animal." I shook my head and leaned against the TARDIS, crossing my arms over my chest. "No, we're waiting for Susan to wake up before we go anywhere. And besides, I think I still have a hundred pages let in 'The Return of the King'."

One Day Later

I stumbled groggily into the kitchen, my hair frizzy and sticking out in every direction possible. My bed shirt was wrinkled and just brushed my knees, so my legs were a little cold as I started setting out my breakfast. I prepared myself a few eggs, a bagel, and some orange juice, then sat down at the table and started eating.

Susan stumbled into the kitchen about seven minutes later, her hair messy and her eyes tired. She saw my food set out in front of me and her eyes widened. "Oh, I haven't had real food since you were last here!" she exclaimed in excitement.

I raised my eyebrows. "Really?"

The young Gallifreyan nodded. "Grandfather still eats the manufactured food when you leave. He says he only eats real food when you make it."

I smiled and quickly ate the rest of my bagel before standing up. "Would you like some eggs, Susan?"

"Oh, yes please, Diana!"

Of course, the Doctor walked in fifteen minutes later on the two of us in our pajamas, giggling, and splashing water onto one another instead of washing our dirty dishes. He cleared his throat and we turned, our arms frozen in mid air and water making my shirt cling to my chest.

"What exactly is going on here?" he questioned in a pretend scolding tone.

Susan and I glanced at each other and burst into giggles all over again. The Doctor merely sighed and rolled his eyes before hurrying out of the room, his movements a little awkward. Susan snickered behind her hand and turned back to the sink, splashing me again. I gasped and turned so I could splash her in return.

"You two are cleaning up that mess," the Doctor shouted down the hallway and I could practically picture the scowl on his face.

Three Days Later

"You can play piano?"

Susan nodded and grinned up at me. "Grandfather taught me when I was a little girl."

"Would you teach me?" I asked.

"Of course! And who knows," she said as she nudged me with her elbow, "maybe you can impress Grandfather with your playing."

I flushed and rolled my eyes. "Oh, shush you. And stop trying to play matchmaker. Your Grandfather and I are good friends, you silly goose," I laughed.

One Day Later

I walked into the kitchen with the intention of making myself a snack. I was surprised to see the Doctor sitting at the table with a steaming mug in his hands. He heard me come in and glanced up at me with a tired smile.

"You alright?" I asked worriedly.

"I tried to make myself some tea, but it's awful," he scowled.

I laughed and rested my hand on his shoulder for a moment. "How about," I started as I leaned over his arm and grabbed his mug, "you show how to make tea and I'll try making some for you? Who knows? Maybe it's my secret talent."

The Doctor stood up and gave me the few simple instructions needed to make tea. I flushed when I realized how easy it was and felt just a little ridiculous for asking for help. Well, that's what I get for being American, I thought.

I filled up the kettle with water and placed it on the stove, then started going though the various types of tea in the cupboard above it. "What kind do you like?" I asked.

"Anything but chamomile, my dear. Chamomile is absolutely horrid."

"Alright, anything but chamomile coming up soon," I laughed. "How do you feel about lemon?"

"Hm." The Doctor thought for a moment and sighed. "It's not chamomile. Now, then, erm… I'll be back in a moment, alright? I think I'll go and grab my book. I've just started reading an Agatha Christie novel and it's rather good."

I waited in the kitchen, stirring the tea bag around in our mugs having decided that I wanted to try some tea at the last minute. But after about ten minutes, the tea had gone lukewarm and I was just a little impatient for the Doctor to come back.

I finally stepped out of the kitchen and looked around the hallway. "Doctor?" I called.

The TARDIS looked completely different and I realized that I had left One and Susan behind. But the darkened corridors and dim lighting weren't familiar or reminiscent of any Doctor I had ever met, which worried me.

"Theta?"

Feeling confused and extremely worried, I rushed to the Doctor's room and knocked frantically on the door. "Theta? Theta, are you in there? It's me."

I stood in front of the door for another minute, waiting for the Time Lord to answer the door, when I finally sighed and turned away. I started to walk away down the hall when I heard the doorknob squeak and turn and the door creaked open. A relieved smile spread across my face and I turned around again to greet the Doctor.

A gasp fell past my lips when I saw him and my heart skipped a beat. My hand, which was outstretched towards him, pulled back and fell at my side. I stared up at him in shock and fear and I prayed to every god known to man that he wouldn't throw me out.

"Valeyard," I breathed.

My response was a cold smile and empty eyes that were so full of hate and despair that I couldn't find any trace of the Doctor in them. "Wife," he sneered.

I set my jaw and lifted my chin an inch, hoping to appear as if his demeanor hadn't affected me. "Not just yet, I'm afraid," I replied slowly.

"I see you've been with some of my… other selves," he said as he looked over my figure.

"Why?"

The Valeyard blinked in confusion. "I'm sorry?"

"Why?" I repeated in a quivering voice. "Why did you become this? What happened to make you think that this was what you had to do?"

"I don't have to answer to you."

"If I were married, would you answer to me then?"

"No."

We stared at one another in silence, the tension growing more and more by the second. Finally, I broke the silence with a loud breath and forced myself to look away from the Time Lord. The intensity of his gaze was almost too much for me to withstand.

"You're still the Doctor."

"I stopped being him a long time ago."

"But it's still you," I snapped, looking back into his eyes. "You're still in there. Somewhere. When you were fighting in the Time War, you refused to call yourself 'Doctor' but it was still you."

"I can never be the Doctor again."

It could have been a result of me hoping against all hope, but I thought that I could hear regret in the Valeyard's voice.

"You can. I promise you, you can." I swallowed my fear and reached forward for the Valeyard's hand, interlocking our fingers before he could pull away. I placed my other hand on his cheek and made him look at me. "Theta, it is never too late. No matter what mistakes you've made, what people you've hurt. None of that matters. You can be the Doctor again. I'll help you. I won't leave your side, I'll stay with you through all of it-"

"You always leave," he snarled, ripping his hand out of mine and stepping back. "You never stay."

My eyes welled with tears and my mouth fell open. "I can't help that. You know I can't."

"You had a chance to change it and you didn't take it."

"Do you think I like living like this?" I hissed. "Do you think I like being with you for short periods of time and then being ripped away from you? I don't have a warning half the time. Sometimes I just wake up and you're gone and I don't know if I'll still be in the TARDIS or on Earth. Sometimes I look away for a second and you're gone. How do you think that makes me feel?"

"How should I know?"

"Are you really that stupid that you think I ever wanted to leave you? You are all I have! Doctor, you are my world! You are everything to me! I don't have a family, I have you. And when I leave you, when I go into the vortex for God knows how long, it hurts me," I said in a strained voice as I placed a hand over my heart.

"I never know when I'll see you again. I don't know if I'll ever see you again because when I'm in the vortex, it's just me. I call for you, for the TARDIS, and sometimes even she doesn't hear me. I'm alone and I'm scared. But you make me feel safe."

The Valeyard narrowed his eyes at me. "You don't even know what you're saying."

"Just because I'm not married to you doesn't mean I don't have feelings for you. I still care about you. I still worry about you."

"I will not be the Doctor."

"Whatever has happened to make you like this, we can get through it together! It doesn't have to be this me. It can be a future me, a me who has been married to you for years and years if that's what you want. But don't continue like this alone. Never be alone, Doctor."

"I will never be the Doctor, Diana! Not now, not ever!" The Valeyard moved towards me and I stumbled backwards into the wall. He loomed over me, his face hard and cold and his eyes angry and in that moment, I was more afraid of him than any monster I had ever faced. "The Doctor was a weak, meddlesome, fool who thought he could change the universe! But he never realized that he wasn't a hero. He was a killer, a destroyer of worlds, a little boy who ran away and cowered in his stolen TARDIS. He destroyed lives and hurt innocent people and you loved him!"

"I believe in him!" I countered. My voice shook as I continued. "I believe in you. If there is one thing in this universe that will always be constant, it's you. The Doctor, in his TARDIS, saving the universe one planet at a time. That is the man I believe in."

The Valeyard shook his head and stepped away from me, his lips curled into a hateful sneer. "Then you're a fool, Diana Scott."

I shrugged and offered the Time Lord a sad smile. "Maybe I am. But I believe you, Doctor, whether you want me to or not. And I always will."

After a few long moments of tense silence between us, the Valeyard took a step forward and cupped his hand under my chin. "I'm afraid you've worn out your welcome, my dear," he purred in a manner that reminded me too much of the Master. "It's time for you to go."

"No."

He pulled his hand away and sighed heavily. "Diana-"

"I'm not leaving you! Not if I can help it!"

"Don't you understand? I don't want you here."

Those words hit me like a bullet in my chest and I nearly stumbled backwards when I heard them. The tears that I had been managing to fight back threatened to spill this time and it took all my strength to keep from letting them go. One look into the Valeyard's eyes told me that he was trying to hurt me, trying to make me hate him.

I swallowed my tears for a second time and steadied myself before I spoke. Then I stepped forward and took his face in my hands. "Think about whatever kept you grounded before, Doctor. If you hate me, then fine. Forget about me. Think about the people that you still love. Your granddaughter, your daughter. They loved you and adored you more than anything else in the universe and if they were here right now, they would still love you because underneath all that hate you're still the Doctor. And you always will be."

The Valeyard grimaced and pulled his face out of my hands. "Don't touch me," he snarled.

"Theta Sigma, you listen to me! I don't care what you've done, who you've hurt or killed. That's all behind you now. Just let go of it and be the Doctor again!" I grabbed his hands this time and pulled him closer to me. "I swear to you on my life that I will do everything in my power to stay with you and help you. And when I leave, I will find you again. I promise."

"Your promises mean nothing to me."

"They mean something to me. You mean something to me and while I am still with you, I will help you in every way I can."

He ripped his hands out of mine and shoved them against my shoulders, causing me to stumble and bump into the wall. I braced myself against the wall to regain my balance while the Valeyard shouted, "There is nothing you can do to help me! No one can help me now. I will fulfill my destiny and kill the Doctor once and for all."

I shook my head. "I know you, Doctor-"

"I am not the Doctor!"

Silence stretched between us for an eternity.

"Maybe not, but you are still Theta Sigma." The Valeyard visibly winced at the name and I felt hope rise in my chest again. If I could just remind him of who he used to be, then there was a chance for him. "The little boy who ran away from home with a stolen TARDIS. No matter how far you run or how fast, you will always be Theta Sigma. That will never, ever change."

"I am not a little boy anymore."

"You're still running," I said with a shake of my head. "You're running away from everything, from your past, from your mistakes, from your friends, from me… You can't run forever, Theta."

"I'll do what I please," the Time Lord snapped in my face.

"You'll destroy yourself!"

"Then you can watch me in all my glory as I burn. And I'll bring the Doctor with me, my dear. Make no mistake about that." He smirked and took a step back, looking down at me in sick amusement. "I'm not a hero. I never was."

"Yes, you were."

The Valeyard raised his eyebrows and gave me an expression of pity. "Goodbye, Diana," he said softly before turning on his heel and walking down the hall.

I ran after him in hurt shock. "No. Theta, stop! You can't just walk away from me like that!" I stretched my arm out to grab the back of his coat and froze mid step. My arm was rapidly becoming translucent. "Doctor!"

But the Valeyard ignored my please and continued walking away from me. My chin fell to my chest and I brought my hands up to cover my face so I could muffle the sound of my sniffling. "I'm sorry," I whispered to the air.

*Okay, so I may or may not have the biggest crush ever on Romana I/Mary Tamm. Honestly, she is the most gorgeous human being I have ever laid eyes on and while I am very completely in love with the Doctor, Romana I is basically the queen of my life and I felt that needed to be said.

**I also have a really big crush on William Hartnell. I know that's probably really weird, but it's the honest truth and I figure if Di is going to be married to him in the future, looks aren't really going to matter to her, right?

Sorry if it's kinda crummy, but it's almost midnight and I have classes tomorrow and I really wanted to get this published so I could work on the next chapter.

I wanted to know what you guys think of a female Doctor. I personally think it may happen in the future, so I was considering writing a chapter at a later time about Di meeting a female Doctor. And also let me know which Doctor you ship Di with the most. I'm curious, so thoughts please! And stay tuned for the next chapter, which will be "Robot of Sherwood".