Chapter 1

The Doctor and Pride got into the TARDIS, and the Doctor took off.

"I've got to make a stop," she said. "You stay here. You should call your mother. She's probably very worried."

Probably. And Pride did actually want to let her know what was going on, so he didn't complain. When the Doctor stepped out, he grabbed the TARDIS' phone and dialed the house. He wasn't sure how a phone that could be anywhere in time and space knew what he was looking for, but it did, as it called the right house.

"Yes? You've reached the Bradley residence."

Pride smiled. It was nice to hear her voice. Though from her tone, the Doctor had been right about her not handling things well. It's not like there had been much choice. Everyone knew Pride had his memories back. He had to get out before anyone noticed. He couldn't have stopped and explained he was going with the Doctor at the time.

"Hello Mother."

"Selim. Where are you? Are you alright."

"I'm fine." He nodded. "I'm with the Doctor. I'm . . . not sure I can come back."

He was strangely a little sad about that. He glanced around the TARDIS. It was good to be back. When the Doctor had kicked him out (taking him back about a year later because the Amestrians likely planned to kill him) he'd said Amestris wasn't his home. But that TARDIS wasn't really either. That would be like living in a taxi.

"No, I suppose not," Mrs. Bradley agreed, bringing him back to the conversation.

She sounded resigned, a little tired. Like. . .

"Has something happened? No one's giving you trouble already, are they?"

Amestris had just been attacked by aliens. Surely, they had better things to do than harass his mother, who always claimed to be too old for these things and wanted to be left in peace. If someone was there, she better hand the phone over so he could tell them off.

"No. We're fine. I'm just, sure they'll come eventually."

Yes. That was why he'd left, and why going back would be difficult.

"You don't have to say you knew. I already told them you didn't," he reminded her.

"I don't want to lie. You are my son and that's nothing to be ashamed of."

That was her firm, not moving on the stance, voice. He'd heard her use it on Grumman a few times. Pride rubbed his forehead and sighed, softly. He didn't want her to hear. He always admired how much she cared, and this was no exception, but he was trying to save her some trouble down the line. He didn't do that for just anyone. Did she really understand that? Should he keep insisting? When she changed the subject by asking where the Doctor was, he was more than happy to go with it.

"Oh. She's making a stop. She'll be back in soon."

"And you'll be okay with her?"

He briefly considered lying, or more accurately, exaggerating. But, well, he'd tried that a few times. She always seemed to end up discovering the truth, and it had led to issues before. When she found out he'd never lost his memories, her main concern somehow didn't seem to be that he was a monster, but that he hadn't told her.

The Doctor had saved him, in a way, but her travels were frequently dangerous, and she'd said things would change. He looked at the door.

"I think so," he answered honestly.

"I see. I'm glad you're safe. But, I want you to keep in contact. Call me."

Pride nodded. "I will. I'll try to visit too."

It would be hard. People would no doubt be watching Mrs. Bradley. But if the Doctor could drive her TARDIS well enough to get them to the right place just one time, they could land inside the house and it was unlikely anyone would even notice they were there.

"Let me know if you ever need to leave the Doctor. We can work something out."

He hadn't expected that at all. "I-" He cut himself off from that panicked tone.

He didn't get offers like that very often, and he didn't think it was Mrs. Bradley doubting him (or being patronizing). So it was nice. It was. But not an offer he could take Mrs. Bradley up on.

That would put Mrs. Bradley in danger. It would put Pride back on that stupid planet, in hiding at best. It would make them both miserable. If things with the Doctor didn't work out, he'd have to try one of the planets they landed on, and try to keep in contact with Mrs. Bradley.

He took a deep breath and returned to a more normal tone. "I'll think about it," he said. He was spared having to say anything else on the matter. The door opened. "The Doctor's coming back."

"Okay. You go on now."

"Bye Mother."

He hung up the phone and turned to the Doctor. She was smiling faintly, apparently pleased he'd taken her up on her suggestion.

"Doctor."

"Pride."

They stood awkwardly for a moment. It was strange. The Doctor hadn't done anything terrible to him like she had with the cybermen or the Creator. But the air felt so much heavier between them now even when she wasn't berating him.

"Did you do whatever you were going to?" Pride asked. "That wasn't very long."

"No," the Doctor agreed. "It was easy enough to take care of. Now, let's go somewhere."

She walked over to the controls.

"Do you know where we're going?" Pride asked. Usually she didn't.

"Not really," she admitted. "We'll have to pick up someone else to travel with, but you never know where to find a good companion, so we might as well see where the TARDIS takes us."

Pride half listened to her ramble about different locations they could end up, and realized a little late she'd just put her fingers against the back of his neck. There was something in her hand that shouldn't be. Pride had just enough time to gawk up at her before the world started going dark.

Well, it seemed the other shoe had dropped.