oOo

The Doctor found Tegan in the room they shared with their daughter. "I'm going to have to add an extension to the back," Lavinia had jokingly complained when Harry and Sarah Jane announced their intention to continue living with her, but everyone could tell she was overjoyed at the prospect. She had lived alone for years, then with Sarah Jane intermittently, and the full house she now boasted made her happier than she could have imagined.

Tegan and the Doctor had offered to move out, an offer which Lavinia had refused, much to Tegan's secret relief. Oh, it was a bit cramped at times, and it wasn't always easy trying to rebuild her relationship with the Doctor under what felt like continuous observation, but she liked having a built-in support system. It came in very handy at times.

Like today, for instance. When the Doctor was about to leave, possibly for good, never mind that he had every intention of returning immediately. He wasn't the only one messing about with his future at the moment. She watched as he picked Lanie up from her crib, making faces at her until she giggled and grabbed for his nose. He gave her a noisy kiss on the cheek and deposited her in her playpen. After a disapproving pout, she deigned to pick up some of her blocks, thoughtfully tasting them before stacking them up, knocking them over, and stacking them up once again.

"Do me one favor before you go." The Doctor tensed, then turned to face Tegan. She was staring at Lanie, watching her antics without her usual smile.

"What is it?"

"Tell me your name." It took every ounce of courage she had to ask. Not that she didn't think she had a right to know, but because he invariably brushed such requests off, either by making a joke or ignoring the request altogether.

"Theta."

"Please, I really--what?" Tegan blinked. Had he just answered her, without having to be threatened or cajoled or, God forbid, whined at?

"Theta," the Doctor repeated patiently. "I haven't used that name in a long time, but I haven't forgotten it."

"Theta," Tegan repeated. "Isn't that a letter in Greek?"

"On your world," he agreed, smiling, moving toward her. "On my world, it's my name."

"Theta. I'll have to try to get used to that," Tegan conceded, allowing him to bring her close for a hug and a brief kiss. "So go and get this over with," she whispered, gently pushing him away. He took a step toward the door, hesitated, turned back to look at her. "Go on," she urged. "Either you'll be right back or you won't. Either way, I can't stand the suspense."

He nodded, leaning forward for one last kiss. Or not.

Behind them, Lanie babbled to herself and stacked her blocks. Neither of her parents noticed that she chose the ones with the letters "T-H-E-T-A" on them. And since the Doctor wasn't really listening to her, he didn't notice that she was reciting the alphabet in flawlessly accented Greek.

Such discoveries would have to wait for another day.

oOo

The Doctor encountered no one as he made his way back downstairs, at least not until he reached the kitchen. Lavinia was fixing herself a cup of tea, K-9 waiting patiently at her feet. "Where are you off to?" She leaned against the counter, one hand still on the teaspoon she'd been using to stir in her usual half-teaspoon of sugar.

He explained, briefly, and her friendly smile turned to a frown. "Is there a chance the White Guardian will do as Tegan fears?"

K-9 took the question as if it had been directed toward him. "There is a 3.0759 percent chance that the entity known as the 'White Guardian' will interfere at this current junction, Mistress."

The Doctor's eyebrow rose. "As much as all that?" he protested. "I'd calculate the odds a bit lower, myself."

K-9's antennae whirred and rotated. "All variables have been factored into my calculations." Lavinia could have sworn he sounded offended.

"Very well." The Doctor turned back to Lavinia, recognizing his desire to argue with K-9 as a delaying tactic. "I should return almost immediately after I dematerialize. If I don't..." he hesitated, unsure of what he wanted to say.

"If you don't, we'll deal with the consequences," Lavinia finished for him in the firm, no-nonsense tone of voice she usually reserved for her students. "You could stand here dithering all day, Doctor, and it won't change the fact that you've already decided this is the best way to approach the problem. Do you want to wait until the White Guardian shows up and takes the choice out of your hands?"

The Doctor crossed to the table and kissed Lavinia on the top of the head. "Thank you for reminding me of that. Good-bye, K-9." He didn't wait for a response from either of them, just strode jauntily through the kitchen door. The two watched as he crossed the small stretch of yard, opened the TARDIS, and disappeared inside. They continued to watch as the TARDIS, with its usual noisy ratchet and flash of light, disappeared as well.

"All that's left is the waiting," Lavinia murmured.

"Affirmative, Mistress."