The Doctor
Had managed to send the Judoon on their merry way, and received something resembling thanks for it - the Judoon captain expressed his gratitude in a characteristically brusque way, indeed his gratitude sounded more like a threat than anything else. But he'd expected little better, and indeed, a small reward had been passed his way - a little laminate slip which gave him and a plus one access to some intergalactic theme park which he'd never heard of, and had no desire to visit. He'd save it for a later regeneration - a younger one, more fun-loving, who'd love nothing better than visiting a theme park. Of course, he had no idea if any such regeneration would ever come about; all being well, he had three regenerations left, and for all he knew they might all be grumpy gets like him. Or indeed, they might all be squealing young lads with baby faces. Luck o' the draw...and though a change of genders was rare, it was by no means unheard of. He'd known Time Lords who'd become Time Ladies, and vice-versa. He wasn't sure he could picture himself as a lady, but he liked to keep an open mind about these things.
Returning to the here and now, he'd come back from repairing the Judoon ship filthy, exhausted, and looking forward to a nice late breakfast. No such joy. Rose and Jack pounced upon him the moment he returned, with a fantastic tale of...
"A giant spider?" he repeated, staring at them as if they were mad.
"Yes! Yes!" Rose exclaimed, "up in one of the towers! It tried to bloody well kill us!"
"That isn't my fault," Znya shot, "you went wandering! You've only yourselves to blame for the consequences!"
"Sure," Jack scoffed, "but why've you got a giant spider, ma'am? That ain't normal."
The Doctor turned to Znya and shrugged. "It's a fair question, love. What's the deal?"
"I told you," she said calmly, "mother looked after me, in her own way. She didn't leave me to fend for myself in the Tudor times, she knew how dangerous it could be...Paula is there to protect me, if ever there's need of it."
"Paula?" Rose repeated.
"Yeah, well she needs a name, don't she?" Znya chuckled. "She was the last gift mother ever gave to me. She was just an egg back then, and she's never seen another person besides me. I'm sorry she attacked you, truly, but it's entirely on you. She must have been terrified!"
"She wasn't the only one," Jack snapped.
The Doctor sighed and wrung his hands. "Look...clearly neither of youse is 'urt, besides a bit shocked. Was the spider"-
-"Paula!"
"Paula. Was Paula hurt?"
"I shot her twice," Jack said, sounding rather sheepish, "but she basically just shrugged it off. Ran away, but didn't seem badly hurt."
"Well, I'll have to check on her!" Znya exclaimed, looking worried. "But I'm sure she'll be fine...bullets don't do much do a creature like her."
"Right," the Doctor nodded, "well look, provided she's okay, I'd reckon there's no harm done, all things considered. What say we put this little incident behind us?"
Rose and Jack exchanged a glance, before nodding sullenly.
"Ok." Znya nodded slowly. "Doctor, will you take wine with me later? I have a proposition for you."
An hour later, they sat alone around the enormous, lit fireplace, each sipping from a glass of cloying blackberry wine.
"Have you given any thought as to what happens next?" Znya asked bluntly.
The Doctor took another sip of wine and frowned. "Can't say I have," he barked, "I mean...are you happy here, Zyn? Coz if not, I've got the whole universe at me fingertips. You could"-
-"I'll stop you there," she said kindly, "it's a flattering offer, but no. I am happy here. Callow's Reach is my home, it's been my home for as long as I remember. And I own it. I mean something here, whereas out there I'd be nothing...just one in a trillion-zillion lifeforms, and I don't think I could live with that."
"I understand," the Doctor said kindly, "an' if you don't want a daft old buffer like me hanging around, I'll understand that too. All I ask is you let me visit...for so long, I thought I was the last. Last Gallifreyan in existence, completely alone...in the space of a day, I've discovered that not only is that not true, but also that I'm a flamin' father again!"
"I don't want you to go." Znya told him. "I won't force you to stay, I know from mother how much you love travelling. But you've been absent my entire life, Doc, and if you wanted to make up for that...I'd name you my warden."
"Warden, huh?" the Doctor raised his eyebrows. "An' what does it entail?"
"I rule Callow's Reach, but I also have to run it. I'm responsible for all the admin, all the trade deals, all the wars...I'm swamped with work, and I'm not much good at it. I'd like to take a hands off approach with the nitty gritty, and enjoy life a bit!"
The Doctor grinned. "You want me to run your district for you? Whilst you eat, drink and chill?"
Znya smiled. "Why, yes. I suppose that's the size of it. Oh, I'll do my bit, but if you want to make up for your absence, then this strikes me as a good job for ya!"
"Will I be paid?" he asked hopefully, wondering what in a million worlds he'd use any such money for.
"Not a penny," she beamed, "but you'll be well fed, you'll have good quarters here, and heck, I think you might even enjoy it! Solving problems, diplomacy, it's right up your street!"
"Politics ain't."
The frowned at him. "Were you, or were you not, once the Lord President of Gallifrey?"
"Well...yeah," he admitted, "but I weren't much cop at it. Truth be told, I were deposed for negligence. Never did nothing in the role."
"Right...so if you've never actually done political work, how do you know that you wouldn't enjoy it?"
Damn, she's sharp, he thought proudly. Wish that were me she got her brains from, but sadly it's from her mother.
"All right," he nodded slowly, "okay. I accept. On a trial basis. I'll be your warden. I'll do me best to make summink outta Callow's Reach. Why not, eh?"
Znya beamed, and swept to her feet, planting a kiss on his cheek, directly over his mole. "Why not indeed?" she sang, "just don't muck it up."
"I'll do me best not to," he said, "blimey...happen I better tell the others."