A/N: I just came with this idea after watching last episode, I have not watched many the timeless child theory vids (actually only three), so I do not know if somebody came with this idea already. My knowledge of time lords technology is not vast, but i hope that mentions of it are ok in fic.

There was the great destroyer, but there were also messengers of hope. Each of them had only one chance to defeat enemy.

"Gallifrey can be rescued." Doctor exclaimed.
It was hard to find the hidden chamber in planet's core, especially with the deadly level of radiation emanating on her home, but at last - the secret Matrix's console was just a few steps away from her. If only Master didn't stand next to it...
"Why?" he asked. "To spread more lies? Don't come closer, Doctor! Even if there is a button to repair the city and bring back killed time lords, there is a second one, which suits much better for my needs."
"Listen, I know the truth now. The Founding Fathers wanted to create a noble race, immortal, without anger, nor hatred..."
"And they did, but the funny thing is... nothing is perfect."

"I'm the warrior," said the first messenger. "the strongest among my people. I'll stop you with my power." "But what if you grow old." the destroyer moved his hand and the man was transformed into pool of black bones.

"Yes." she admitted sadly, then continued. "They need a vessel, a place where all negative emotions could be hidden. From all available possibilities, they chose a child... Such pressure, no one would be able to survive it... That's why Founders made sure that it could never die, at least not physically. Bodies could be weak, but souls - never and are much easier to cut from time. With adequate program in the Matrix, the timeless child's soul has been receiving a body after body, (which grounded it to our universe) a new person to live in and suffer." She bowed her head in shame. "Nevertheless, it still couldn't work forever. We know that already: pride, jealousy, the reluctance to interact with species outside our planet, the whole time war!"
"Of course, it couldn't! Think, woman! The degeneration is a natural part of life. Founders seemed to disagree, they tried anything, but in the end they managed only slowing it down."
"I'm sure that there was a point, where they wanted to switch it off...
"More like: hide dirt under carpet." Master pointed.
"...but they had to quickly understand that it'd only free all what was inside (Like Pandora's box!). Still, negative emotions were spreading like a virus, because the vessel was full." Doctor continued. "There was already integrated a strong perception filter, so the child or anyone near it wouldn't realise its existence and role, they just had to include additional safeguard, which made all time lords keep away from the child, as soon as they saw it. Effects were different, they varied from simple ignorance to hostility."
"Great idea. You are a literal bunch of trash and everyone treats you like one."
"Some noticed, even started remembering things, only to feel pain or forget soon after. The mind was programmed to be terrified of the child. If anything was written or uploaded into any database, the person would automatically destroy the record out of pure fear. Still, the original danger existed. It was like an original vision."
"Ugh, what?"

"I'm the wiseman," said the second messenger. "with my knowledge, I'll find solution to win."
"Books can burn. Knowledge, which is not shared, will be forgotten."
The man wept as his volumes changed into dust.

"Imagine, you're a painter, no, a writer, no, an inventor! Yes, that's it. You have a ton of ideas. You start with first one, but it's never perfect, so you keep modifying it, in the end - it's hardly similar to what was in the beginning, but parts of it are still remaining!" Doctor saddened. "I've been always wondering why I'm so often short of paper or why several servers in database are empty. I was making notes, rooms of notes, you see? But it was in our language, Tardis didn't translate it and none of my companions noticed and I deleted all of them." she brushed away a tear from her cheek. "Gallifrey's destruction partly broke the programming, I found the timeless child."

"I'm the artist and the most beautiful women in the universe. I can create flowers, works of art and fantastic machines, which can prise our amazing world. Why would you want to destroy something so wonderful?"
The monster stilled for a moment, but then with the same antipathy replied:
"Beauty deceives and pass with time. Begone, if you don't want to end as your friends."

"How did you discover it, Master?"
"Thanks to Rassilon."
"Huh?"
"Did you forget? He put drums in my head. After our catch up on Christmas' day, they patch me up and probably checked how I was doing. The barrier had to look fine, so I could leave. In reality, it existed for years, then inch by inch, I felt like something was scratching my brain from inside." The fury was burning. "You have no idea, what kind of pain I have to survive or where to go to solve this mystery. It was f***ing horrible!" The scream made Doctor flinch, but she stood her ground, waiting until Master calmed down. "You?"
"Thanks to my friends. They pointed me things, which didn't suit the overall structure. I would be nothing without them."
"Touchy, but Gallifrey's adventure is over now. Say goodbye when you still can."
"No, please don't do this!" Doctor took one step closer. "I understand why you did it, you wanted to end the regeneration cycle. But in the same time, you wasn't sure, where the main program was stored, so you destroyed the whole planet and tried to kill me."
"Hey! Maybe I just wanted some fun!"
"As if you could fool me, Master? You came back to finish the job. But don't you see? The timeless child program was already weak. Initially, it forced everyone away from you, but not me. I was your friend, I still am and I can help you."
"You're more delusional than I thought. You have never been. Remind yourself all those years, have we really been together? Our occasional meetings were on battle fields. If we were working together, it was only to stab each other backs later. I murdered, I can destroy the world now (again?) and I will kill in future. Moreover, your resocialization didn't bring any positive results." he looked straight into her eyes. "You may pretend to be a forgiving being, but deep down I know that you hate what I've done. What I can DO now."
"I hate your actions, not you. Yes, I can only imagine what you went through, but killing is not the way."
"Shut up!" he took a deep breath to calm himself. "You can't blame daleks for destruction of Gallifrey. This time, it is ME! I'm sick of being manipulated. One button and I won't be timeless child anymore, then I can be free."
"No, wait... "
"What for? To have a life full of hell?"
"Because, you haven't pressed it yet. If you wanted all to end, we wouldn't be talking right now." there was only a mere step between them. "I was a horrible friend, I should have listened to you or at least stay, but I also couldn't stand lies and there was so much to see in the universe."
He rolled his eyes.
"All right, Master. I see that you made your mind, so let me just ask: what is it what you really want? What a person, who was neglected, moved away and left to itself REALLY desire?"
The time lord didn't leave his place, but it seemed that he was interested in the new concept.
"Whatever you chose, I can promise that I won't stop you. Who knows, maybe you'll even manage to kill me."
"And they say that it's me who is mad."
"I call it hope (maybe with bit of madness)."
Maybe it was just a temporal illusion, but she was sure that the world stopped moving, then the time lord let go of the console and cupped the face of his time lady.
"Master?"
"Doctor."

"And you? What will you give me?"
"A kiss." answered a little girl. "I'm sorry for you. You're sad and alone."

Doctor remembered that her last incarnation didn't like hugs. She used to say that people couldn't see each other faces. The time lady wasn't so pessimistic now, but there was some kind of truth.
"Please don't do this, Master."
"What?"
"Don't stab me in the back."
"Why would I do it?"
"I don't feel your right hand any more."
There was a clank of metal falling on the floor, then she felt as two strong arms pushed her closer to Master's chest.

History told us that the destroyer felt love for first time in his life. True, Love could fill hearts with jealousy and hatred, but in unique moments - it could light the stars.
"Old fairytale from home, Doctor?"
"It was one of my favourites, Master."
"I think that it might become mine as well."