When Rieka awoke, she found that she had somehow managed to get herself in the blanket. The witch managed to fee a hand to scrub it over her face tiredly, feeling as though she hadn't gotten enough sleep. It had been a few months since she had experienced nightmares, but she knew that what she had just gone through the day - night? - before would have caused them to come back. More so as her thoughts had been circling around a topic she knew to leave well enough alone.
With a heavy sigh, the red head managed to get herself untangled and sat up on the bed. The lights in the room brightened and Rieka blinked before a small smile appeared on her face. "Thank you," she said rather sleepily as she pushed herself off the bed and looked around, finding the room to be quite scarce of anything. It reminded her a little of her small room at her lab, and was rather thankful that the ship hadn't gone all out in creating a room for her.
"I guess this is the bathroom," she muttered to herself as she headed to the partially opened door near the back of the room, taking her coat off and draping it over the chair in front of the desk as she did so.
It didn't take her long at all to get cleaned up, and Rieka thanked the ship once more when she found her clothes had been cleaned and left folded on the counter in the bathroom. As she dried her hair, a snort left her as the thought of how many wizards would sell their first borns to have a TARDIS to run their estates instead of having to deal with house-elves.
Though her humour was quick to leave when she caught sight of her bare right forearm and she frowned. Her eyes flashed and the glamour that she kept on it at all times disappeared, revealing a tattoo-like mark that shimmered on her forearm. It almost looked alive as it glittered in the light, looking as though it faded in and out as she ran a finger over it, tracing the initials that were on either side of a crest.
On the left side had her father's initials, S.S. with a snake curling around the letters before a great cat appeared, all teeth and claws. And on the other side were what she had been told were her own initials, L.S with a wolf howling before it changed into an infinity symbol. The witch couldn't help but find it rather ironic as she ran her finger over the howling wolf, knowing that her boggart had been a werewolf, whereas the meaning behind her name, as well as the corporeal form of her patronus were both a wolf. Well, I still think it's a wolf, she thought, shaking her head before she continued to dry her hair.
Ever since she had lost her father, Rieka hadn't actually attempted casting her patronus. It wasn't like there was anyone she would send it to, and anytime she had thought about summoning it just for a bit of company, it had only brought on the memories of what she had lost. And there was a part of Rieka that was afraid it had changed; terrified that she would lose another part of who she once was if she cast the spell and found it to have changed, so she had never wanted to try.
Letting out a frustrated sigh as she stared at her still damp hair in the mirror, Rieka's eyes flickered to the ceiling and back again before she placed the towel on the counter. She gave the ceiling one more glance, ignoring the amused buzz in the back of her mind as she started to run her fingers in her hair, drying it quickly with a little of her magic before pulling it up into a simple ponytail.
"You're not gonna tell him, are you?" she asked as she summoned a hairband from her coat that was still hung over the back of the chair in the bedroom. The ship stayed silent, and the buzz in her mind suspiciously vanished, and the witch couldn't help but snort at the TARDIS' rather Slytherin tactic, a small smile appearing on her face. "My father would have liked you; you know. He would have said you'd be worthy to be placed in Slytherin, despite the fact that you're an alien spaceship disguised as a muggle police box," she said, earning herself an amused hum that rang through both her mind and air around her. "Though I am unsure as to how he would have reacted to those two last points, more so the mind reading part," she added with a frown.
When she was certain she was ready for the day, the red head left the bathroom and grabbed her coat before leaving the room. "Do you know where the Doctor is?" she asked out loud as she walked down the corridor, "I should be getting back an..." Rieka trailed off with a frown when the light in the corridor dimmed, and the buzz in the back of her mind told her that the ship wasn't too happy with her words. "Look, I need to get back to them," she tried to explain, "It has been far too long as it is, and there is no telling what those two could be getting up to right now."
The TARDIS let out an unimpressed hum and the lights in the corridor flickered out, leaving Rieka alone in the darkness.
"Oh, come on," she moaned, her shoulders slumping as even the buzzing in her mind dimmed until it was almost silent. She stood there in the dark for a few moments, wondering how in Merlin's name had she managed to upset a sentient space ship.
"Perfect, just perfect, Rie. You just had to get her upset with you," she grumbled under her breath as she rested a hand against the wall of the corridor, using it as a guide as she walked.
The witch had only taken half a dozen steps when she paused, the wall under her hand having changed texture, becoming as smooth and cool as polished metal, though it did not feel like metal. Rieka's eyebrows raised and furrowed in succession as confused curiosity overcame her as she trailed her fingers along what felt like a seam, finding that it went all the way to the floor. Following it back up until she was almost standing on her tippy toes, the red head frowned as she placed her hand back against what she assumed was a door of some kind, and ran her hand across the surface, feeling slight but smooth indentations on the unknown surface. Almost as if there had been something carved into the door.
She traced a finger along one of the indentations, trying to work out what it could possibly be, though the moment the thought of using her magic crossed her mind to provide her with some light, she pulled her hand away from the door with a hiss when her finger came across something sharp on the door.
"What the...?" Rieka breathed as she tried to get a look at her finger, only for her eyes to widen and go back to the door as the carving she had been tracing begun to glow a dim red in the darkness, revealing what looked to be the life-cycle of a wolf as the dim light slowly spread across the door.
"Why is it dark in here?" Rose's voice questioned in the dark, causing Rieka to jump and turn away from the door, just as the lights flickered back on and caused the red head to blink rapidly at the sudden change in brightness. "Of course it's you," the blonde huffed as she stepped into the corridor that Rieka was standing in, something clutched in her hands. "And here I was hoping that the Doctor had already dropped you off," she added under her breath.
"And a good morning to you too," Rieka replied with a roll of her eyes, hearing Rose's comment, though decided to just ignore her. She turned back to the door, only to find that it was no longer there; just a normal corridor wall in its place and the witch frowned.
"Do you know where the Doctor is?" Rose asked, not even getting a glance from Rieka as the red head continued to try and work out what she had seen in the darkness.
"Wouldn't have a clue," she stated, "I was actually looking for him, myself."
"And what, got lost?" the blonde asked with a snort as she watched the red head run her hand over the wall. Her nose wrinkled as she stated, "That's a wall, if you didn't know."
Rieka inhaled deeply, counting backwards from twenty as she tried to keep herself calm. There was a reassuring buzz in the back of her mind as the TARDIS tried to offer her its support. She closed her eyes, sending the ship a mental thank you without thinking about it before she reopened her eyes and turned back to the blonde. "Oh, I know it's a wall, Rose. But if you didn't know, this is a TARDIS. Stands for Time and Rela- Oh! That's what you were trying to tell me," she suddenly exclaimed as she turned back to the wall, feeling a warm hum of agreement fill the air.
"What the hell are you going on about?" Rose asked rather rudely, glancing at the wall the Rieka was facing. She had heard the ship hum or make odd noises when the Doctor was around and she didn't like the fact that the TARDIS seemed to be doing to same thing with Rieka when the Time Lord was nowhere to be seen.
"Sorry, girl," Rieka apologised as she placed a hand against the wall, "Should have remembered. Lot on my mind, aye," she continued before looking back to Rose, letting her hand fall back to her side. "As I was saying, this is a TARDI-"
"I know what it is!" Rose cut in with a huff, and Rieka almost imagined her stamping her foot like some kind of child.
Instead, she just raised an eyebrow at the blonde's attitude. "Well, if you know that, would you know that she's sentient?" she asked, "And that as a sentient being, she is able to make things appear and disappear in her domain... like a door, for instance."
And if Rieka's words had summoned such a thing, a set of large double doors appeared behind the red head, causing Rose's eyebrows to shoot upwards.
"Come on, where is it?" the Doctor muttered as he rummaged through the piles of books and journals on the table before him, accidently knocking a stack with his elbow and knocking them over, causing him to wince. "I swear I remember seeing it here."
Most of the books were written in languages that were older than the Time Lord himself. But he was looking for one in particular. One his ship had always refused to translate. He recalled finding it centuries ago, an old handwritten, weathered journal that had immediately caught his attention with the fact that it was the only one he found he couldn't read. And after trying for what felt like days to get his TARDIS to translate it – even going as far as trying to do it himself – the Doctor had reluctantly returned it back onto its shelf and forgotten about it.
But after encountering Ly on Satellite Five, it had sparked a memory and it had been on the forefront of his mind ever since, having an idea as to why his ship had never been able to translate it.
She couldn't have if she had never seen the language before.
If he was correct in his assumption with who the journal could have possibly belonged to, having grown up with the whispered tales of the Drailvec imk Rauv like any other ancient race in the universe, the Doctor knew that he had to tread carefully. But the Time Lord also had his doubts, as no one knew who they were. Their history was nothing but tales and bedtime stories told to the young, and he had never put much thought into them.
But what he had seen on Satellite Five...
He just needed to find that book.
"What the hell are you going on about?"
The Doctor's head jolted up, his eyes narrowing when he heard Rose's voice, missing a book that was in the pile he was just about to start searching through disappear, another replacing it. He straightened as he realised that his TARDIS was letting him hear what was going on just outside the library, and he supressed a groan of frustration at how his little chat with his companion hadn't seemed to get her to treat his Nesdra in a more civilised manner.
"Sorry, girl. Should have remembered. Lot on my mind, aye," Rieka's voice reached his ears and her words confused the Time Lord, his mind scrambling to work out what could be troubling her. He knew that Rieka hadn't been acting like herself when he had found her in the kitchen almost eight hours ago, and he had presumed that it had something to do with where she came into his timeline. But it looked as though whatever had been on her mind was still troubling her.
"As I was saying, this is a TARDI-"
"I know what it is!" Rose cut Rieka off and the Doctor couldn't help but bristle at her tone as he straightened; he search all but forgotten as he moved around the table and towards the doors.
"Well, if you know that, would you know that she's sentient?" he heard his Nesdra retort as he got closer to the doors, "And that as a sentient being, she is able to make things appear and disappear in her domain... like a door, for instance."
The moment he heard those words, the Doctor pushed open the doors and stepped into the corridor, surprising Rieka in the process as the red head hadn't actually been expecting anything to happen. Rose's face paled, however, as the Doctor looked to her with a raised eyebrow, his expression frankly disapproving.
"Doctor!" Rieka exclaimed as she spun on her heel, shooting a glare to the ship as there was an amused hum that rang through the air for all to hear. "Could have used a little warning," she muttered under her breath, causing the Time Lord to chuckle when he noticed her pouting.
"Sorry, I couldn't resist the opportunity," he said with a grin before nodding to the wall of the ship, "And she does like playing pranks. Keeps her entertained, I think."
"Just a bit," the witch murmured, earning herself a curious look from the Doctor as another hum sounded through the corridors; the lights flickering.
"Doctor?" Rose spoke up from behind Rieka, and he glanced at her questionably. The blonde swallowed before she continued, her gaze lowing to the item in her hand. "I was wondering if... well, if I could see my father?"
Rieka froze at Rose's question, her body slowly turning to the blonde and saw her looking at the item she noticed in her hand. It took the red head a moment to register that it was a photo frame before something else hit her.
"Oh."
This... this was before the Doctor and Rose appeared at the church. Before Rose had saved her father and caused those blasted creatures to be released. And Rieka had the unsettling realisation that there was nothing she could do to stop what had already happened from happening; that no matter how much she wanted to change what had occurred at the church, it had already happened, and to change any more could possibly create an even bigger catastrophe.
The Time Lord continued to frown at his companion, missing his Nesdra's reaction as he wondered how Rose thought she even had the right to ask him such a thing after the way she had been acting. The way she had treated Aries while they had been stuck in the Cabinet Room at Downing Street had been atrocious to say the least. Though before he could voice his thoughts, Rieka spoke up and caused his gaze to snap to her; all thoughts of Rose's question going straight out the window.
"Before that, do you think you could drop me home?" the red head asked. Seeing his alarmed expression, she was quick to add, "There are some things I need to do, and beside..." her smile was tight as she spared a glance at Rose, "The agreement had been for one trip."
The Doctor swallowed as he forced himself to stay put, wanting to go back in time and hit his past self – hard – for only extending the offer of one trip to his Nesdra. He should have realised that she of all people would take him at his word, and internally cursed himself for his stupid blunder. "Are... are you sure?" the Doctor question, not wanting her to leave, but he could never force her to stay either. A small part of his mind was telling him that she needed to leave so they could meet up again at the correct time, so Rieka could meet him for the 'first' time, but he didn't want to listen to it.
She was here, in his ship, and he was loathed to see her go.
Rieka caught her bottom lip between her teeth before slowly nodding, finding that she didn't want to leave, but knowing that she couldn't stay.
"I'm sure."
Neither noticed the triumphant gleam that had appeared in Rose's eyes as she watched them, waiting for the red head to leave. Had she realised that it would have been this easy to get rid of Rieka, she would have brought up her father earlier.
The Time Lord straightened, his eyes darting to his companion before back to Rieka, not wanting to show how much her decision was affecting him. "If you're certain," he said, giving her one last chance to change her mind, but already knowing that she wouldn't.
Rieka, by this point, was actually contemplating saying yes, but her thoughts shifted to Mickey and Luka, and even knowing that she was standing in a time machine, she knew that she had to go back to them. She just had to figure out a way to get the Doctor to drop her off without knowing exactly where and when he was dropping her of-
Oh!
But would it work? she asked herself when an idea came to her, Magic and technology don't always mix well, and there's no telling what would happen to the TARDIS is she were to land where she was thinking. The buzzing in her mind grew, causing the witch to glance away from the Doctor and to the corridor wall, wondering if the ship knew what she was thinking.
Her eyebrows furrowed as the buzzing sound seemed to grow, and she turned back to the Doctor. "I want to stay," she told him truthfully, "But I think I need to get back."
As Rose, the Doctor, and Rieka made their way to the console room, Rose was openly smirking as she trailed behind the others so they couldn't see it. The blonde was rather ecstatic that Rieka was leaving, though she was still rather annoyed by the other woman's presence. She still couldn't believe that the Doctor had actually spoken to her; warning her that if her behaviour didn't approve that she would end up back home.
Her smirk was quick to disappeared though, as the moment the Doctor and Rieka stepped into the console room, the doorway vanished, leaving Rose to walk straight into a wall.
It was less than ten minutes later when Rieka let out a sigh as the last echoes of the TARDIS faded. She looked up and smiled somewhat sadly as there was a chirp before something landed on her shoulder; running a sharp beak through her hair in a soothing manner before giving her ear a friendly nip.
"I'm fine, Azure," she said as she ran her fingers down her familiars' back, her eyes returning to her surroundings, "I'm just rather glad that I decided to leave the charms up," she said, her gaze looking around at the brightly-lit 'park' before it faded with a whispered spell and left the red head standing in a small, empty room with a hawk on her shoulder.
Azure let out a small noise at the sudden change in his surroundings, and Rieka shook her head at the bird. "Come on, you," she said, heading for the door. It slid open and she stepped into her lab. Her familiar was quick to leave her shoulder the moment they were inside, still finding her own version of the Room of Requirement rather unsettling and unnatural, and the witch let out a chuckle.
"For the only familiar that I've come across in this world, Azure, you sure chose poorly if you're still afraid of magic," she told the bird as he landed on a perch that was placed next to one of the two only windows of her lab, both charmed to allow him to come and go as he pleased. Her lab was in the middle of a rather large hotspot for nightclubs, but Rieka had used it to her advantage and had her lab hidden right under everyone's nose; taking a page right out of number Twelve Grimmauld Place.
The witch moved over to a charmed chest near the birds perch and pulled out a stunned rat, offering it to the hungry predator with a fond smile. It had been a few years back when she had first found the hawk – dubbed Azure for the small flecks of blue in his eyes – when he was barely old enough to have been out of his nest. She had brought the chick back to her lab, feeling a little nostalgic as she cared for him, finding that she missed her old familiar. It had been a mere accident that a bond had formed between them, as it had only happened when his conditioned had spiralled downwards. Rieka had not wanted to lose her new-found friend, and had done something she had never done before.
She healed him with her magic.
Ever since then, there had been something that had formed between them, and Azure had been with her ever since.
The hawk was quick to dig into his offering and Rieka shook her head at him with another fond chuckle before heading towards her main workbench that was littered with notes and various bits and bobs. She sighed, collapsing onto the stool and ran a hand through her hair. Tomorrow she would be seeing the Doctor again, and she didn't know what she was going to tell him, or even if he would realise where she had gone when she had disappeared from the church.
She knew that he had been reluctant – sad even – when he had dropped her off, although it had seemed as though the ship had taken to piloting herself as to not reveal exactly where there red head was going, and Rieka was now unsure as to how to feel about leaving herself. A part of her wanted to stay with him; the offer of another trip so very tempting. But she knew that she had to get back to reality. She had to make sure that Luka and Mickey were okay and safe, as well as try and find a way to try and stop whatever those creatures were.
And then there was the reason behind the whole mess to begin with.
The real reason behind how those creatures had appeared and threatened the entire planet.
Rose Tyler.
Although Rieka now understood the motive behind why the Doctor had brought Rose back to see her father – though why he chose the exact moment Pete died was still not known – there was still the problem behind her having saved the man. Rieka had the uncomfortable feeling that she knew exactly how to fix the blonde's mess, and it was gnawing at her heart.
How could she condemn a man to death for having his life saved?
How could she even begin to explain to Luka and Mickey that their 'uncle' would pass?
The whole reason she had even agreed to take Luke to the wedding in the first place was to shelter him from his own grandmothers' slow demise – only to now have him live through someone else's death.
Azure landed on Rieka's shoulder and nipped at her ear, drawing the witch from her musings. She glanced at the bird and smiled, giving his feathers a nice scratch before looking down to her notes.
"Guess I better get some work done," she muttered as she pulled some of the papers closer and picked up a pen. "What do you think of calling it Compromised Atmosphere Software?" she asked, "C.A.S. for short."
Before she could even write the first word down, her entire lab was doused in darkness. Azure let out a screech before taking to the air, and Rieka was already on her feet, her magic curling around her at the possibility of a threat inside the one place she had never expected. As the light slowly returned to the room and Rieka felt as though she could breathe again, her eyes widened as the same vortex she had seen in the museum now was inside her lab.
Though her eyes narrowed seconds later as an auburn-haired woman stepped through.
"Hello Rieka," she said with a smile, "I think we need to talk."
Before the witch could even think of why the woman seemed familiar – or even a spell – Rieka's world once again went black as she fell to the floor unconscious after being hit in the back by something.
"Oh, maybe a bit too much?" a young woman with short blonde hair said as she stepped towards the unconscious witch as a different kind of vortex disappeared behind them.
The brunette let out a sigh as she levelled a look at the blonde. "I told her if she resisted, Raven," she said before pinching the bridge of her nose, "No wonder why he wasn't happy," she added with a sigh.
The platinum blonde whistled. "Happy was an understatement," she stated as the brunette checked Rieka's pulse, just to make sure her companion didn't accidently overdo it. "Really?" Raven questioned when she heard a sigh, meeting the brunette's gaze looking a little offended.
Rolling her eyes, the brunette motioned for help as she started to get Rieka up, ending up with the red head supported between them. "As I recall, neither of them really were," she huffed, shaking her head as she glanced down at Rieka, "Ximukr, you are one very complicated person with some serious anger issues."
The blonde just snorted at the other's words before they disappeared in a burst of blue flames as a cry filled the air; whisked away by Eildrim as the phoenix landed on Rieka's head.
The Doctor sat on one of the pews in the church, staring blankly ahead at nothing as the humans bustled around him. HE didn't know what to do – what to feel. Aries, Eris, his Nesdra was gone, along with his ship and he felt lost.
Alone.
Hollow.
His fingers curled around the cold, silver key in his hand until his knuckles turned what; wanting nothing more than to have them back. His Nesdra. His TARDIS. The only things he had left of his past.
His home.
Gallifrey was lost, by his own hand, and when he had been given a second chance – a life he thought he would never get – it... Aries had been ripped away from him before their life could even begin.
All because of Rose Tyler, he thought angrily, his eyes narrowing and muscles tensed. But not a moment later, the Time Lord had closed his eyes, his shoulders slumping. No, he corrected himself, I'm as much to blame as Rose is. If I hadn't agreed to bring her back, Aries would still be here.
He could vaguely hear Rose and her father arguing, but gave them no mind. His Nesdra had been right. It had been absolutely foolish to think that given the chance, Rose wouldn't have saved her father.
Hadn't he himself not sat for hours, days – months – inside his ship, wondering if he could have done anything different to save him people?
Had he thought about going back to change what he had done?
The Doctor knew that Rieka had lost people close to her, and had possibly thought the same thing.
But she... the Doctor sighed; She had known that it was impossible, foolish even to go back.
She had never said it. Had never rubbed it in. But he had seen it in her eyes while he had been explaining what he and Rose had done. It had been brief, and he had almost missed it, but he had seen the pain, surprise, and the almost longing in her gaze before it had been pushed away and hidden behind her anger.
Gods, she had been so angry. So hurt, the Time Lord thought as he looked back down at the key in his hand, And then to think she had apologised when she had nothing to apologise for.
"Aries," he whispered.
A wish.
A pray.
Just hoping she was okay.
He couldn't... wouldn't believe that she was gone.
"You know where she went, Doctor," the brunette's words played in his mind, almost taunting him. But the Doctor had no idea where his Nesdra had gone. How was he suppose...
"It was black, gold, and blue. Well, more black than the others. It also felt as though the wind had been knocked from me when..."
"No," the Doctor breathed, his eyes going wide before they darted to where the vortex had been. "But that's not possible," he continued, quickly getting to his feet as his hand closed around the TARDIS key; hope igniting in his hearts.
She had been sent back to Van Statten's museum.
Back to him.
"But why?" he asked aloud, his eyebrows creasing.
"To save her, of course," a voice spoke up from behind the Doctor.
The Time Lord turned towards the voice, frowning at the sight of an unknown male standing in front of him. The man had short black hair and green-grey eyes, wearing a dark blue, almost black suit.
"How?" the Doctor asked, not even bothering to question who the man was. All that was on his mind was why Aries had been sent to him, and how. How had the brunette managed to create a portal through time and space to send her to two thousand and twelve?
The man smirked, "Now, that would be revealing secrets, Doctor," he stated and his words had the Time Lord frowning.
"Oh, Vanla, stop teasing him," another voice said, this one feminine and laced with humour. And when the Doctor turned to see the owner approaching them, he found that it was the same auburn-haired woman that had been the one who had created the vortex. She smiled softly at the Time Lord, who's eyebrows furrowed when he realised that he hadn't actually understood the word she had called the black-haired male. Though he was also getting the vague sensation that there was something off about the brunette.
Something almost wrong and discomforting.
"Your Nesdra is safe," the brunette continued as she stepped up beside the male. "In fact, she just arrived outside a few seconds ago."
The Doctor's eyes widened as his head turned towards the church doors, missing the blacket shake his head and raising a raven eyebrow at the young woman beside him.
"Go," he told the Time Lord, "I'm sure she needs to see that you're alright as well."
The Doctor looked back to the pair, his eyes landing on the brunette before quickly sliding to the man, unable to stand the wrongness that was coming from her. It made it hard for him to look at the woman, even for the briefest amount of time.
"Who are you?" he questioned, his eyes still on the black-haired man.
The man smirked, and the Doctor blinked at how familiar the expression seemed, although he couldn't pinpoint why. "I'm just an old friend," he replied before nodding to the doors. "Your Nesdra should be fine now that Pete has..." he cleared her throat, shifting slightly, "Well, he did the right thing in the end."
Frowning, the Doctor looked around, realised that both Pete and Rose were no longer in the church. In fact, it seemed almost deserted. He gave the odd pair one last look before going to search for his Nesdra, hoping that they were right.
The blacket watched the Time Lord leave before sighing as his form shimmered and changed. Black hair lengthened, becoming a dark orange, almost amber as features shifted and changed, softening and becoming more feminine. "It's good to see you smiling again," the man-come-young woman murmured as she wrapped an arm around the brunette's waist, "I know that Vanei and Vanla would be so proud of how far you've come."
"It..." the brunette swallowed as she leant into the woman's side, watching the Doctor disappear through the church doors. "It was a long road, Seir. But I think even if this doesn't work, it was worth every bump I came across. And I'm grateful that you were always there to try and guide me to the truth, even when I didn't want to listen. As well as putting up with how much of a git I was."
The ginger chuckled as she gave the brunette's shoulders a squeeze in comfort before pulling her into a hug. "I'm sorry I wasn't always there for you, Seir," she murmured.
"You were there when I needed you the most, and that's all that matters to me," the brunette replied as she tightened her hold, "I miss you, Aruile. And I'm sorry I couldn't bring you back.
"It wasn't your fault, Seir," Aruile muttered into her hair, "I never blamed you, and would have done it a thousand times over if it meant that you survived."
The brunette's eyes closed as a tear rolled down her cheek. "Sometimes I hate being a Drail," she said with a slight chuckle as she pulled away, "It's hard to imagine that you always knew what was coming."
Aruile cupped the other woman's cheek, her lip twitching upwards slightly. "All power comes at a price, Seir," she reminded as she brushed away the tear with her thumb, "And none more so for those of the dead, Ximukr." She dropped her hand and grasped the woman's left wrist, her finger brushing across the broken, dull vine-like mark that marred their skin.
"Do..." Lydeth trailed off, swallowing as she tried to get her question out, "Do you think that I did the right thing?"
The smile on Aruile's lips was soft, almost sad. "What do you feel in here?" she asked, placing a hand against the brunette's chest.
"I'd like to believe I did," the brunette replied.
Aruile's smile grew as she grabbed the brunette's hand. "I think it's finally time," she said before they both disappeared in a flash of blinding light.
Rieka stepped out of a vortex, the sad smile that was on her face turning confused as she found herself back outside the church. Something rolled down her cheek and the witch frowned as she brushed a finger against her face, pulling it away to look at it when she realised that it was wet.
Crying? Why am I crying? she thought, her confusion only mounting as she felt the answers slip through the grey-matter that made up her mind. Tantalising close... on the tip of her tongue – but at the same time just out of reach.
Her confusion grew even deeper as she realised that she was carrying something, and when she looked down at her hand, she blinked in surprise. "Why do I have a fez?" she questioned out loud, looking to the red headwear as her eyebrows only furrowed more.
Before she could think any more on as to how she came into possession of the odd item, two small objects suddenly collided into her and clung to her sides tightly.
"Aunty, we tho- we thought we lost you," Luka sobbed, and Rieka couldn't stop herself from smiling fondly down at the boys, popping the fez on the older boy's head as she knelt before them. Her action had Luka tilting his head up as he tried to catch what had been placed onto his head, and Rieka shook her head at him.
"Nothing could keep me away from either of you," she soothed the two boys, and much to the pairs amusement, conjured a handkerchief from nowhere which had them giggling. Using the cloth, she wiped their tears away as she continued, "Now, tell me that you two haven't managed to get into trouble," she said as her eyes looked around for any more of those creatures.
Seeing none around, the red head let out a sigh before something caught her eye, noticing that people were gathering on the street, a car stopped not far from them. She inhaled sharply before standing up and begun to usher the boys back inside the church, recognising the vehicle as the same one she had seen appearing and disappearing.
"We were good," Mickey told her with a cheeky grin, not even noticing what his aunty was trying to do as he held up his arm that had the silver band he had been given on it. He was just so excited to have his aunt back. "And look! Look what I got," he added excitedly, showing off his gift.
"That's very nice, Little Mouse," Rieka replied rather distractedly, spotting Rose kneeling next to her father through the gathering crowd of wedding guests. She was glad to note that the people that had been taken by the creatures had returned, and it had her heart beating a little easier.
And as much as she didn't like the blonde, her heart went out to Rose knowing what it was like to see a loved one die. Though for some unknown reason, the witch felt another tear roll down her cheek as she felt a wave of both grief and happiness, knowing that it had nothing to do with Rose, or Pete. But something else entirely.
She just didn't know what.
"What is it, aunty?" Luka questioned when he noticed the gathering as well, trying to peek around Rieka to get a better look.
However, before the red head could open her mouth and respond, the church doors were flung open and the Doctor came to a halt when his eyes landed on her. "Aries," the Time Lord breathed, his hearts beating so fast in his chest at the sight of his Nesdra alive and unharmed.
The witch couldn't explain why, but at the sight of the Doctor, she was suddenly overwhelmed with a mix of relief and sadness – though was once again unable to pinpoint why. She gave her head a mental shake, pushing her confused emotions away as she replied with a smile that didn't quite meet her eyes.
"Doctor."
"I thought I..." he begun as he started to approach, only to trail off when he noticed Rieka's tears. "You've been crying," he stated before quickly asking, "Are you okay?" as he took a step towards her; wanting to pull her into his arms and never let her go. The believe that he had lost her had shaken him to his core, and he never wanted to experience that feeling again.
"Yeah," Rieka gave him a nod as she glanced down to Luka and Mickey as the pair stared at the Time Lord, "Just had to make certain that these two trouble makers were managing to keep their nose out of mischief," she replied, her lip twitching upwards ever so slightly at the boys when they pouted at her.
The Doctor chuckled at the boys expressions, raising an eyebrow at the fez that Luka was wearing. The boy slammed his hand atop the headwear as he glared at the Time Lord, almost as if he were afraid that the man would take his new – and quickly – favourite hat. The Doctor glanced at Rieka, his mind coming to understand why she had wanted to return home after their last adventure, and he once again found her compassion towards others to be quite light-heartening, as well as rather endearing.
"So, who might you two be?" he enquired as he looked to Mickey and Luka.
"Mickey Smith!" another voice cried out as someone quickly headed towards them, and the boy in question cowered slightly, trying to hide behind Rieka.
"What have I told you about running off?" Odessa continued.
"Good, aye?" Rieka chuckled to her nephew, her eyes alight with amusement. "Sorry, Odessa," she apologised as she looked to the approaching woman, "He was rather adamant to make sure I was okay."
The Doctor observed quietly, once again seeing how at ease his Nesdra was around not only the two boys, but who he guessed was Mickey's mother. He was quite surprised to learn that she knew Mickey so personally, however, and it had him confused as he recalled how Aries had reacted to learning that Mickey was on the other end of that call during their stint with the Slitheen.
Odessa gave her son a disappointed look, but otherwise accepted Rieka's apology. "Come along, Mickey. Your Gran is waiting to see you," she said, and Rieka nudged the boy towards his mother, although allowed him to give her one last hug.
"How is Rita?" the red head asked the other woman, knowing it was best not to ask about Mickey's father.
The woman smiled warmly as she grabbed her son's hand. "She's doing well. And I have to thank you for helping out this last month. With how..." A slight frown tugged at her lips, but she continued, "With how Mickey's father is, it has been rather... difficult. With this one underfoot and trying to get everything organised," she smiled rather warmly at the red head, "I really can't thank you enough."
Rieka shook her head, "Really, Odessa, it's nothing," she told the woman, glancing at the Doctor when she noticed him shifting uncomfortably.
"How is..." the woman trailed off, her eyes darting to Luka who was quite happy to stay by his aunt's side.
"She's getting there," the witch replied, knowing who Odessa was asking about, "They went to visit today, which was why this one has been stuck with me." She ruffled Luka's hair, "But anyways, we best be heading back. It's been good to see you, Odessa."
"You as well, Eris."
When Odessa headed off with Mickey in tow, Rieka turned back to the Time Lord a little embarrassedly. "Sorry about that," she apologised, "I tend to help her babysit Mickey as his Gran is blind. Though I wouldn't underestimate her. She's got quite an attitude and doesn't let her loss of sight stop her."
"It's fine," the Doctor replied, although he couldn't help but be confused. His Nesdra seemed to help anyone she could, but he had never heard her mention any of these people before. She hadn't even acted familiar with Mickey the last time he had seen the young man, nor when he had first met Aries, and it troubled him far more than he realised.
Once again he found himself questioning what had happened between now and two thousand and five for so much of the light he could see in his Nesdra's eyes to disappear. Sure, she still cared for those around her, but she had acted in a more cold and detached manner; like she was trying to keep herself separate from those she helped.
Rieka nodded, her head turning in the direction where Rose's father was, noticing that the blonde was no longer there. "They're gone, then?" she asked, looking back to the Time Lord.
"They're gone," the Doctor confirmed, his eyes being drawn to Luka as the boy moved to peek from around Rieka. Still looking at the Time Lord, Luka slowly made his way to his aunt's side, the boldness he had held previously coming forth once more with someone he trusted beside him.
The witch glanced to her nephew before back to the Doctor as she placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "This is Luka," she introduced, and the Doctor smiled at the boy.
"Hello, Luka," he said softly.
A small smile appeared on Rieka's lips as he knelt down to be more at Luka's level. She couldn't help but recalling how ecstatic she had been when Luka's father had been his age and Nancy managing to get through to the nanogenes and saved Jamie. Though this time, the red head felt something more profound at the memory. The way that the Doctor's eyes had been ignited with genuine happiness at the way that just once, everyone had lived, and once again Rieka felt mixed emotions towards the Time Lord. She felt something akin to understanding as to why he had reacted the way he had.
Though for some reason, she knew that it had little to do with the fact that he was the last of his kind.
"Hello," Luka replied quietly, and Rieka gave his shoulder a squeeze.
"So, what happens now?" she asked, trying to keep her mind in the present, knowing that it would be foolish to let it wander to the past.
The Doctor looked to her as he stood, giving Luka a quick grin as he did so. His eyes went to where the crowd was, hearing an ambulance approaching in the distance. "No one will remember. Time will fix itself, and with..." he trailed off with a frown, his gaze going to Luka.
"Whatever was supposed to happen, happened," Rieka finished, knowing what he didn't want to say in front of Luka.
With a thankful sigh, the Doctor nodded. "I'm sorry, Aries. If I had any idea that in bringing Rose bac-"
"It's okay," the witch cut him off with a small smile, "I should never have blamed you without knowing why you brought her back."
Confusion flickered across the Time Lord's face, but before he could ask what Rieka had meant, he noticed her demeanour change as she looked passed him. A sigh escaped him, not needing to know who had appeared behind him, knowing that there was only one person who had his Nesdra reacting like that.
"I," Rieka tried to keep her smile as she took her eyes off Rose, but she found that she didn't like the idea of leaving him alone with the blonde. "I should take him home. His parents should be there soon, and I'd rather not have them worry," she continued rather stiffly, trying to process her shift in emotions. She shook her head, trying to clear it and added, "Until next time, Doctor."
The Time Lord just blinked, rather confused as he watched her go. Had he done something?
"Why was he calling you Aries, aunty?" Luka's question cut through the Doctor's confusion, and he almost snorted when he noticed the boy glance back at him.
"That, Luka, is a very long story," Rieka replied, successfully gaining the boy's full attention.
"Will you tell it to me?" he almost pleaded, and his tone had the Time Lord chuckling quietly to himself.
"What's so funny?" Rose asked rather rudely, not seeing how the Doctor could be laughing after she had just witnessed her father die for the second time that day.
His amusement disappeared as quick as it came and the Doctor frowned as he looked to his companion. "Come on," he said, not divulging anything as he headed back to where his TARDIS had appeared. "Before you do any more damage," he muttered under his breath, sending one last glance in the direction his Nesdra had gone.
Rose frowned, following his gaze, and her expression was quick to turn into a scowl when she noted that he was watching Rieka and the little boy that had been playing with Mickey.
Hopefully, this will be the last time I see her.
Fin...
