Wanderer of Time: Darkness Within

by Tinker16

The powers within have been steadily growing, buying time until the moment of remembrance. The moment swiftly approaches. Wanda's fears are coming to a head as she realizes what has been living inside her has only one purpose in the universe. And it holds no qualms in destroying any who gets in its way, even those who Wanda loves. (Part Three of the Wanderer of Time trilogy)

55. Ch 55: Aftermath

Hiya, readers!

It feels like it's been forever since we last saw each other. Had a bit of a sort of 'break' as things just kept getting thrown at me. You know how life goes. ;) But back at it again with a new chapter! Hopefully it's a good one!

XxXxXxXx

Chapter 55: Aftermath

Fluffy white clouds, so peaceful in colour, drifted against the clear blue sky, swirling around the Valiant as it sailed high above the Earth. The hum of the ship's engines felt muffled to Wanda as she stood in front of a large window, staring out distantly towards the sky. She stood rigidly, unmoving as she kept her arms crossed tightly together over her stomach. Her expression blank as she watched the clouds swirl and drift by. She heard the movement of people all through the corridors behind her. With muttering and shuffling around, she knew they were most likely getting things prepared for when the Valiant finally landed.

The world below already sent word through of their plans to arrest those who have worked with Saxon on his plot to assassinate the President of the United States. There was also word sent that the Cabinet of the United Kingdom had been found all dead in the Cabinet Room in 10 Downing Street. Everywhere on the news—which the Valiant showed on broadcasting networks—people were calling Saxon a horrible madman who never had any right being Prime Minister in the first place. Now, they all wanted justice for what Saxon did. Even though they already been told that he was dead, with Jack coming up with the story for the news stations to run that Saxon had killed himself once he had been found out. So, the next best thing for the people of Earth to blame was Lucy, Harold Saxon's wife. And so, Lucy had been handcuffed by the authorities of the ship, taking her away to the same holding cell Wanda had been placed in earlier. There Lucy would stay until the Valiant was close enough to the United Kingdom for them all to depart.

Wanda had not been there on the flight deck when this had all been said and done. She had left everyone there almost immediately after Jack had hugged her. She wandered aimlessly through the Valiant in a daze until she came up to the large window overlooking the clouds and sky. And there she had been since. Quiet and reclusive as everyone else did what they must. The only reason knowing of all what was happening because of the echoing sounds of the news broadcast coming down the corridors. She even heard a few guards marching Lucy off just behind her. Only giving the woman a small glance, Wanda saw how Lucy stared down at the ground in a daze, with the woman appearing so lost and worn down from the Year That Never Was. The dark bruises left behind by the Master were still clearly visible on the woman.

That had been the only time Wanda looked away from the blue sky. Just to see what had been done with Lucy. Anything else, she refused to look at. She even knew at some point Martha and her family had walked by just behind her. But she dared not look at them. Even when she felt eyes gazing at her. No. Best not spoil the family's reunion after so long. Martha deserved her time with her family. They had been through so much. They needed the young doctor more than ever now.

When she heard things beginning to quiet down, and the familiar footsteps approaching her softly from just behind, she tensed. Her hands tightened on her arms where she still kept crossed over her stomach. Her eyes closed slowly as she inhaled and exhaled a wavering breath. She knew eventually he would have come for her. Nothing she felt could prepare herself for it, though. After all, she had broken his hearts. From both present and future. How could she face him after what she had done? After everything? Nothing she could ever say or do would make up for what she had done to them both.

However, she was taken back, shocked, when she felt him trying to reach out to her through their bond. She felt his mind gently prying at hers, asking to be invited in so that their bond would connect as strongly as it had been before this forgotten year had happened. But she withdrew with a wince, closing off her mind and blocking the bond. She made certain to place up a barrier between them, making it so it was like being back in her first incarnation. Before he had opened the connection for them. They were now as separated as humans were. She heard him sigh after this. Whether it was a forlorn or frustrated sigh, she could not tell. She only remained tense, ready for whatever he wished to say to her now. But he stayed quiet and still. Minutes ticked by, making her become more and more anxious by the second.

"Wanderer," he finally said. She flinched at him speaking, tightening her arms around herself. The way he said her name, so calm and steady . . .

"Wanderer . . .," he said again. She felt him stepping closer to her. She tensed as he placed a hand on her shoulder. Slowly, he had her turn around and face him. She kept her eyes locked on his chest, unable to bring herself to look at his face. Too afraid to meet the gaze of his beautiful brown eyes. Afraid to see the anger or resentment that she was certain would be there. He did not make her look at him like he would have in the past. Instead, he let his fingers trace the edge of her face carefully. Lightly he touched her blonde hair which came just below her ears now.

". . . You cut your hair," he finally said. Her eyes looked up at him quickly after this statement. She saw how he stared at her hair curiously. Even giving it a small smile. "I like it. It looks nice on you." She stared at him in utter disbelief, mouth even opening in shock. Her mouth snapped shut and eyes narrowed. She scoffed as she brushed his hand away, backing up from him.

"My hair? With all you could say to me, you commented on my hair?" she said, shaking her head angrily. "Don't you have anything else to say to me?" She stared at him, watching how he placed his hands in the pockets of his brown, pinstripe suit, staring at her calmly. No humour or smile to him. Just a blank expression as he watched her steadily as she began to pace. She muttered heatedly under her breath, seeming confused "Out of anything you could . . . there are a million reasons you should . . . and yet you just . . ." She halted in her pacing, turned on her heel to look back at him. "You just . . . just say what you're really thinking. Tell me how much you hate me. Tell me how much I disgust you. Tell me how you want to—to throw me out of the TARDIS and be done with me. Tell me!"

She stormed up to him, pushing at him when she grew cross upon seeing his still calm expression. He rocked on his feet but remained fixed on the spot, still staring at her with such a placid demeanour. Angry tears began to roll down her face as she continued to hit him in the chest with her tight fists, yelling now.

"Shout at me! Yell your hearts out! Hit me! Hate me! Tell me you hate me!" she shouted. "Tell me you hate me! Tell me!" Her hits grew weak as he just stood there, taking it all. Slowly, he wrapped his arms around her, bringing her closer to him. Her lip trembled as more tears rolled down her face. "Just—just hate me. P-please."

"Never," he said soothingly right into her ear, making her freeze. "I could never hate you. No matter what you do. Because I'll always forgive you. I promise."

Upon these words, Wanda broke down. She went limp in his hold, all but collapsing to the floor. Racking sobs left her as she trembled. The Doctor fell to the floor with her, keeping her locked to him. He managed to get himself seated with his back against the wall, never once letting go of his hold of the crying Wanderer while doing so. He pulled her right up into his lap and held on tight. That was where they stayed. For almost twenty minutes of her crying against his chest, weakly begging him to hate her, yell at her, or hit her. Just anything to punish her. But all he did was hold on, letting her cry. Letting her get all her tears and pain out. Letting her sob 'sorry' repeatedly as guilt ate her up inside. He let her go through all of this as a way to let out and heal. Even if she thought of how horrible she was after what had happened . . . he knew that truly she had not wanted to do that. Not ever. But everything had just snapped for her at that instance. Everything had just become too much, and she had lost a piece of herself in that moment. And he forgave her for it. Just as he always would. For he had done the same in the past when everything had been too much for him as well. How could he ever be angry for someone to lose control over themselves and their emotions when he too was just as guilty of that?

Eventually, Wanda's cries lessened. Until there was nothing left in her to cry with. Her tears had all but dried up.

Finally, once she had calmed down, the Doctor broke their silence.

"Tell me . . . what did he do to you?" he asked her gently. "That day . . . this day, when he hit you with that beam. You didn't age. You didn't die. So, what did he do?"

Wanda stared blankly off at nothing; her hands pressed over her stomach. She knew it would be hard meeting up with younger versions of the Doctor. Doctors who she could never tell about . . . about Ember. But she never imagined it would be this hard. She wanted to scream about what had happened. She wanted to beg for him to change it. To go back in time, grab a younger her who was still pregnant, and lock herself up. To ensure what happened to Ember would never come to pass. But she knew this could never happen. For it was already locked in time, now. The death of their daughter.

So, she strengthened her resolve, pushing down what she wanted to tell him and decided on the one thing she knew she could talk to him about. She scooted away from him, facing him while sitting on her knees. Though, it took her a moment to actually speak. She kept opening her mouth before shutting it with a snap. The way he gazed at her . . . it made her hard for her to gain her voice. Finally, she managed to speak.

"The Master, he . . .," she sighed, gripping her hands together tightly over her bent knees. The truth laid just there, ready to burst out. But she swallowed it down, telling him what she knew she could. ". . . He made me remember."

The Doctor slowly tensed. He stared at her, nervous now when seeing how she refused to meet his gaze after she said this. Her words echoed in his mind, making him feel uncertain if he wanted to proceed after this. Half of him wanted to tell her to continue, to let him know everything. Hell, this was something he had been wanting to know for so long now. He wanted to know everything about her past: who she was, how she came to be, how Alpha was created, and so much more. It would finally be a mystery to be solved, and he could never help but crave for the unknown. He never could stand to be left out of the loop. The Master had known this as well. Practically torturing him off and on through the year about what he knew over the Doctor about Wanda.

But the other half of him was fearful of knowing what she finally remembered. Would it change them from knowing? Would it change their relationship? Would it be too hard for Wanda to move on with this knowledge? He slowly reached forward, grabbing her hand. He held it firmly, rubbing soothing circles with his thumb over her skin. He felt her tense under his hold, wary even. Had she really expected for him to hate her and to think so little of her after all of this?

"I want to know," he told her gently. "Tell me all that you can. Everything that you remember. Please, after all that's happened . . . I need to know."

". . . Doctor . . .," she seemed to try to say, swallowing heavily. "I—I don't think I can."

He nodded, understanding that it might all be too hard at the moment. "That's okay. You can tell me later when you're ready."

Wanda sighed, shaking her head. "No . . . No, I need to tell you now. If I don't, I'll just lose my nerve later. Then we'll just be back to secrets and lies."

"Tell me, then."

Wanda's lip trembled as she looked at him. She closed her eyes and shook her head. "I can't."

"Then, don't use words. Show me." Getting closer to her, he took her hands and placed them at his temples. He was shocked when she ripped her hands away from his head and out of his grasp. He watched as she scooted away in horror, shaking her head rapidly.

"No. No, I-I won't. I can't. I-I-I don't want to hurt you." She wrapped her arms around herself, pulling up her knees to bury her face away from him. "With what I am . . . With what's inside me . . . Please, I've already hurt you enough today and in the future. I don't want to hurt you anymore."

"You won't hurt me." He pulled himself over to her, gripping her shoulders steadily, in comfort.

Wanda shook her head rapidly, trying to deny his comfort. "But with what I am . . . with what's inside of me . . ."

He rubbed soothing circles on her shoulders, running his hands up and down her arms to relax her. To bring her some sort of ease was all he cared about at the moment. "Wanda . . ." He let out a heavy sigh. Reaching forward, he directed her gaze up to meet his. His brown eyes stared at her emerald in remorse, wishing that perhaps he had told her this sooner. Then maybe . . . all of this would not be so hard on her. But . . . "Wanda, I know what is inside of you."

"I know you know about Alpha, but . . ." Wanda looked away, uncertain now.

"I know about the Time Vortex."

Wanda stared at him quickly in shock, eyes blinking for a moment. Then, she sighed, nodding her head. "I should have known that you would know. You're far too brilliant not to have figured it out."

The Doctor laughed lightly, giving her a cheeky smile. "Far too brilliant for my own good. Too foxy as well, I might add." And, for the first time since their reunion, Wanda let out a very small smile. The Doctor felt his hearts beat happily, glad to have brought a smile to her face. It was a wavering smile, but still . . . he was merely happy to make her feel some sort of happiness again.

"How long have you known?" she asked him quietly, her smile dropping as she grew serious once more.

The Doctor hesitated now, letting go of her arms as he sat in front of her. Finally, he replied, "Since the beginning. Since that first day I did a scan over you. The TARDIS didn't stop me in time to see it. It was there in your DNA. I didn't even believe it when I first saw it. I kept thinking maybe the scans had been wrong. But then I saw Jabe's scanner with its readings . . . and then again in the TARDIS when I checked over your wounds from the Slitheen . . . and when I finally met Alpha I couldn't be in denial any longer. It only confirmed what I thought, what I knew. That you were a Time Lord, at one point."

"'At one point'?" Wanda a jolt of disbelief, staring at him in awe. "You've . . . All this time . . . you've known that I wasn't . . . You've known that I wasn't your species?"

"Yes."

"And yet . . . you still bonded with me? I thought that—."

"Those were more traditional Time Lord beliefs. Old-fashioned." The Doctor reached forward, cupping the side of her face, thumbing her cheek in a caress. He smiled softly. "I wasn't going to let my species' old prejudices get in the way of what I felt." His smiled dropped somewhat as he gave an apologetic expression. "Though, I will admit . . . that might have been some of the reasons I was so . . . obnoxiously hard on you back in the past when we first met. Again, sorry about that." Getting even closer to her now, he cupped her face with both hands this time, staring deeply into her eyes. "Is . . . Is that why you've been fighting against our bond? You don't have to feel ashamed of what you are, Wanderer."

Wanda winced when he said this, knowing he was right. A bond was (in most practices) a sacred thing between two Time Lords who wanted to devote their lives to one another. The bond would only break unless the Time Lords decided to do so. It was, or at least had been, frowned upon to have a bond with any other species. And she felt ashamed because she had thought that they had created their bond in a lie. That he would not want her any longer in knowing what she was. "I don't deserve to be with you, Doctor. We should have never bon—."

"Don't you dare say that," the Doctor grounded out, tightening his hold around her face as his eyes flashed angrily. He relaxed upon seeing her wince. Sighing, he leaned forward, kissing her forehead. "I don't regret it, Wanderer. Not one second of it. And don't you dare regret it, either."

"I don't regret it," Wanda whispered, placing her hand over one of his. "Not now, not ever." She let her hand drop, leaning away so that his hands let go of her face. "But you regretting us wasn't the only thing was I afraid of. I didn't want your bond with me to hurt you."

The Doctor felt confused by this. He raised a brow, frowning at her. "Hurt me? How could our bond hurt me?"

"Because of . . . my abilities. Of what I am."

"They haven't hurt me in the past. Why should they now?" The Doctor reached forward, gripping her hand. He squeezed it in reassurance, hoping to ease her worries. "Even with you remembering, there's no reason for your abilities to hurt me. Not unless you did so on purpose." He watched as Wanda shifted, still appearing uncertain and uncomfortable. Humming, he realized the other reason why she was trying to keep away from him. Both physically and mentally. "Ah, I see. You're afraid to let me see your memories. You don't have the barriers anymore in your mind, do you?"

She kept her gaze averted from his, nodding. She closed her eyes as she felt him beginning to rub soothing circles on her hand with his thumb. She felt him waiting in anticipation but was also being patient. He wanted to give her the choice when to finally show him all of what she was. They both knew she would have to, eventually. But it was just a matter of when she had to that the Doctor wanted to give her the choice of. Sighing, she moved to sit on her knees again, straightening to face him once more.

"Before I show you all that I am . . . there are a few more things I need to tell you, Doctor," Wanda began to explain, pushing herself into what she needed to do. For them both. She watched as the Doctor readied himself, nodding for her to start. "First, I need to explain Alpha. She isn't what you probably think she is. She was never something created by the Daleks."

"Alpha wasn't implanted into you?" the Doctor wondered aloud. He had always assumed as much. It seemed logical for the Daleks to have done something like that to a Time Lord of the past. Use them as a weapon and such.

"No. Alpha and I . . . I was her, in the past. But we became separated over time. Now she and I are different. We just share the same body, is all." She saw how, out of everything they discussed today, this is what shocked him the most.

He pulled away from her for a moment, before seeming to catch himself and taking her hands once more. Taking a moment to gather his words, not wanting to make her think that learning of this meant he valued or loved her less, he gave her a sort of wavering grin. "Well . . . I suppose this changes my plans in figuring out a way to extract her from you somehow," he tried weakly joking.

Oh, I liked to see you even try. I'll rip your damn throat out!

Wanda jerked her hands away from the Doctor's. Mentally berating herself for letting her blocking of their bond begin to slip. She saw how the Doctor's eyes widened, alarmed by what he had just heard from her mind.

Alpha, Wanda sighed at her other half. He wasn't being serious.

Like hell he was! Kick his face in! Alpha sent the mental image of doing so to the Doctor, making Wanda feel sick.

Stop it. Please. Wanda felt relief when Alpha stopped imagining what she wanted to do to the Time Lord. Just be reasonable. He doesn't understand yet. This is young him, remember? You haven't even given me a chance to explain to him yet.

Don't care, don't care, don't care. Alpha was practically stomping around in Wanda's head now. Throwing a tantrum like a child.

Alpha, you're losing sight of yourself again. Relax. Be calm.

Yeah, yeah. I'm calm. Just tell him to stay the hell away from me.

Wanda mentally rolled her eyes at Alpha. Kind of hard for him to when we share the same body.

You know what I mean!

"Wanda?"

Wanda blinked herself out of her thoughts, wincing when she felt a massive headache come along. Always something which happened after she and Alpha talked for too long. It was like using the possibilities. Too much of them combining in powers and it hurt their body. If they stayed separate, no big ill effects. For the most part. But place themselves together as one and it would be like what happened to their body when Alpha had still been working for the Daleks. Barely able to move or even think by the end of the day with how ill she became.

"Sorry," she apologized to the Doctor when seeing his anxious and worried expression. She wondered how long she sat there in a daze in front of him. It had scared Martha the first time Alpha and she had gone into a discussion, too.

"You and Alpha . . . Were you two talking?" he asked her carefully.

"Yes," Wanda sighed. "With the barriers gone, she has more freedom to come forward than she had in the past. Always in the past, she would only awaken when feeling my life threatened, or when I became very emotional. Though, as we both know, there were also those times in the past when we grew too close that she tried to intervene as well. But now . . . there's not as much keeping her asleep as there had been before."

"And you're letting her be a part of your mind freely?"

"Yes. I don't see why she can't. Besides, we've come to an understanding, her and I. And . . . I feel sorry for her, being trapped inside, unable to have her own life. Even if she can't stay awake for long without it causing ill effects to us both, I want her to enjoy freedoms that she hasn't had in so long."

You're too good to me. Alpha sounded sad now, ashamed that Wanda gave her such kindness. I'll just . . . leave you two alone now. Sorry for the earlier outburst.

Thank you. Wanda sent her gratitude to Alpha as she felt her other half slowly recede away and go back into deep slumber.

"So, she's a piece of your past?" the Doctor questioned, earning Wanda's full attention. He gave a puzzled frown, trying to get his mind wrapped around this new revolution. "But how? How are you two separate now? How is that even possible? Is it some kind of temporal anomaly? Time distortion? Timeline conversion? No, no, that couldn't be it." Wanda watched as the wheels began whirling away within the Doctor's mind, muttering to himself as he began to theorize what Alpha was to her. Again, there was him trying to think of a way to place how they came to be together so that he might someday separate the two of them. Sighing, Wanda reached forward, grasping his hands tightly together to stop him from getting out his sonic and doing scans.

"Doctor, listen . . . you'll understand everything in the future. I pro—," Wanda began to explain to him, stopping short from a promise. Swallowing, she gave him a wavering smile. "Let's just leave it at spoilers for now."

The Doctor out a breath in a huff, disappointed that he was still left in the dark with 'spoilers.' "All right. I suppose I can wait on that. Is there anything else I need to know?"

"My name."

Stiffening, the Doctor felt his hearts skipping a beat. Name? She—she had a name? Well, of course she did. She must have had a name before choosing 'The Wanderer' for a title. But once a Time Lord chose a title as a promise, they made the agreement to shed their old life to begin a new one. Their past names became something so sacred, so cherished, that the only time they ever dare let it slip out was for two reasons. The first was if they were about to meet their final death, allowing their names to be passed on for a new generation perhaps. And the other reason . . . was to mark the bond between Time Lords. Neither of them had done so themselves. The Doctor . . . for certain reasons, as he knew how dangerous his name could be. Though, as for Wanda, he always assumed that . . . well, that 'Wanda' was all that her name had ever been. But now?

"Your name?" he breathed. He glanced around them swiftly, suddenly realizing they were in a rather vulnerable place. Anyone could come by and listen in on their conversation. Mentally scolding himself for not realizing it sooner, he knew he needed to get them somewhere more private. He stood up swiftly, pulling her up with him. "Hold on. Let's get to the TARDIS." He held her hand tightly, anxious to get back to the TARDIS. A few occasional eyes glanced their way as they passed by different doorways. Soon arriving to the TARDIS where it had been parked all year long, the Doctor opened the door, swiftly pulling Wanda inside the ship.

He began to lead her down to the corridor when he was pulled back by Wanda suddenly halting in place. With a glance, he saw her frozen in place, staring wide-eyed towards the console. He looked over quickly to where she was staring to see what had her so unnerved. Sucking in a quick breath, it dawned on him that he had been rather crass not to have warned her, or at least moved the body first. For he had done it right after Wanda had left the flight deck . . . and after he allowed himself to calm down in having witnessed his old friend die, and after his lover having killed said old friend. He had gathered a white sheet, wrapped the Master's body up, and placed him in the control room. Ready to lay the Master to rest later once everything had been settled. Though he would have to do it sooner than later. Time Lord bodies did not last long before they began to decompose. And well . . . no one wanted that to happen.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly, coming up to wrap an arm around her shoulders, gently guiding her down the corridor. "I forgot to warn you."

"It's okay," Wand breathed, leaning against him. "I'm sorry, too." She glanced up, seeing the TARDIS had made their room appear quickly. The old girl wanted to help them as best she could. Wanda was just glad Sexy was not in pain anymore from being a paradox machine. The control room even looked like normal once more with the old girl having repaired most of herself. The moment they stepped into the room, Sexy even turned off the lights and allowed their star-filled ceiling to glitter above. Each of them stood there for a moment, taking in the sight of their room. For the first time that day, true peace settled around them. Both the Doctor and Wanda physical relaxed, they bodies easing away from any tension they had. Neither had even realized they had been so longing for old comforts of their ship until finally being back in their beloved room.

"She's helped me, you know," Wanda spoke up, earning the Doctor's attention. "The TARDIS all this time as made certain to keep the barriers up longer. They would have most likely broken in my mind much sooner. Without her . . . I think Alpha would have lost control more often in the past, too." Wanda moved away from her Doctor to pat a wall, thanking the old girl. She smiled as she heard a gentle hum from Sexy, a warm blanket of energy wrapping around Wanda for consolation. "Without her, I think I would have been lost a long time ago."

"Yeah. Me too," the Doctor agreed softly. Clearing his throat, he ran an anxious hand through his messy hair. "So . . . about your name?" Wanda turned to him, staring at him carefully. He stared at her in uncertainty for a moment before relaxing as his worries began to melt away. Staring at her now, within the soft glow of their starry room . . . it made him realize right there and then of just how much he missed her from over the past year. A warm smile appeared on his face as he walked up to her. Softly, he took her hands into his, holding them ever so lovingly. "I'm ready to tell you mine, too. I think we've waited long enough, don't you think?"

"Theta?" Wanda gasped in surprise, staring at him in awe. "Your—your name?" He brought up a hand, caressing the side of her face. She grasped his hand quickly, holding onto it tightly. "But I thought—."

"I was selfish to keep it from you," he assured her, nodding that he was certain. "Being away from you over that year . . . I thought of you every day. I thought of what I'd do for you the moment we got back together. I thought of all the adventures I would take you on. I thought of how after we got together again . . . that I'd give you everything to you that I haven't already. That includes my name, Wanderer." He blinked when Wanda backed away from him quickly, her head shaking rapidly.

"No, Theta, you don't understand," she breathed in a rush. "I—I wasn't talking about that sort of name. I meant my title. The reason why I'm called 'The Wanderer.'" She stared at him with wavering eyes. "You never did ask me why I have that name. And I never thought to ask after that one time as my First self. You tried to explain it to me then, you in the future, but I remember you hesitated and said that it was a different reason than why you, or most Time Lords, chose their names. It's because I wasn't giving myself a title as a name." Wanda sighed heavily, looking away. "It's because I was giving my species a name. I'm not the Wanderer, Theta. I'm a Wanderer." She let this information sink before stepping closer to him. She reached up slowly, placing her fingers on the side of his head. She watched as he gazed back, appearing just as nervous as she felt in what they knew would come next.

"Are you ready?" Wanda asked him gently, wanting to be absolutely certain he wanted this. She actually hoped he would say no. Nothing hurt her more than knowing that once she showed him all of her memories . . . it would be so painful for him. And she never wanted to put him through such sorrow and agony.

Swallowing, feeling his mouth go dry, the Doctor straightened as he finally felt ready for what Wanda remembered. Placing his hands over hers, he pressed her fingers firmly into his temples, locking his eyes with hers. "More than ready," he confirmed. He saw her falter. Felt the wavering bond of theirs trying to connect, but still she held back. Pressing their foreheads together, he gave her another warm smile. "It's okay, Wanderer. You've always known all that I am and will be. And now, I want to know all that is you." He frowned, uncertain that she still wanted him to call her that since he now knew the reason she gave herself that name. But to him, she would always be his Wanderer. Determined to still see her as such, and to help her gain the confidence for what they were about to do, he pressed their lips firmly together in a rush, pushing into their bond in hopes to help her gain the strength to open up to him.

Wanda let go, allowing her to connect with him for the first time in a year. She practically melted into his touch as their bond connected. For the first time in a year, she felt safe, loved, and whole. It was as if a part of her was finally back in place. Her body screamed in joy, elated to have her Theta, her Time Lord, back. She never even noticed how empty she felt until this moment. And now the universe was right again. The Wanderer and the Doctor were back together once more, and they would both make certain never to part again. That is, not until . . . Brief sadness went through Wanda so quickly, the Doctor never even felt it. She kept it away, instead, finally allowing him fully into her mind. Everything that she was and would be, there for him to see.

It was at this moment he tensed, going rigid in her hold. Wanda gazed at him sadly, in remorse, as she watched him shake. His eyes glazed over in a haze of horror as the memories were shared between them. A few stray tears managing to fall down his face. She wanted to pull away immediately, to stop his pain. But he wouldn't let her, holding on even tighter now to her hands. Soon, as the memories faded, he practically leaned against her and let out a small sob. Being pulled into a death grip, he held her so tightly against him.

"I'm sorry. So sorry," he whispered hoarsely, voice filled with grief.

"I'm sorry, too. I didn't mean for any past emotions to leak out as well," Wanda apologized, feeling guilty that she had not been careful enough to keep past griefs from affecting him.

"No. No, I needed to know everything. Emotions and all," he assured her, holding her even tighter still.

Eventually, they moved to the bed, laying down on their sides so that way they could face one another. They held onto each other, refusing to let go now that they were together once more. It made the Doctor sad when Wanda retreated away from their bond again. But he understood why. It would take some time for her to come back into their relationship fully. To be accepting of herself for what she was. And he would wait for that time, as patient as ever. But it made him feel hopeful that she would heal soon when she still stayed close in his hold. Even sharing a passionate kiss every so often, just to let them both bask in the glow of their warmth.

They talked what felt like hours. Discussing everything that had been of that year. At least, the Doctor told her everything that he experienced. There were some things he could tell Wanda was not telling him. Perhaps some things that she was ashamed of. Again, though, that was okay. He understood ones need to hold secrets of things done in the past. He understood more than anyone else in the universe. So, instead, he listened to her explaining some of her memories when he had questions. He felt her sorrow for Tina. Her grief and woe for her lost love Shelly. And all her shame and guilt of what she had done for the Daleks. He took it all in, glad to help ease her burden in some ways in allowing her to share all of what she was.

Another hour passed with them lying in silence. The joy they felt with just being together in peace was all they wanted. The Doctor watched as Wanda's eyes drooped. The day had worn hard on her. Hell, the whole year that had been must have drained her more than even him. At least he had been in one place the entire time. But to travel the entire world by foot? As well as going through universe knows what?

"Wanderer, it's getting late. I have to go take care of the Master's body," the Doctor said softly, rubbing her arm to get her attention as he saw her about to drift off. Wanda's eyes darkened upon the dead Time Lord's name, making her close her eyes quickly so he did not see. He hesitated to ask. "Do you want to—?"

"I'm sorry. I can't go with you," Wanda told him curtly, her voice gruff. "I hate that man too much to ever send him off." All he could do was stare at her in concern, wary of this change he was seeing in his Wanderer.

"What did he do to you?" he asked her, trying to be gentle in his prying. When feeling her become stiff, he rubbed her arms to soothe her. "I know you. You wouldn't hate someone just because of memories. So, tell me, what did he do to you?"

Wanda opened her eyes, staring at him with such woe. Her eyes watering for a second before she quickly closed them again. She then buried her face into his chest, holding him tightly. The Doctor soothingly rubbed her back, wishing he could pry more for an answer, but decided to simply let her be. As he felt her drifting off and fall asleep against him, his mind continued to whirl in question, trying to think of every possible thing the Master could have done to her to have broken her so completely.

XxXxXxXx

It was a day later. After the Doctor had his funeral for the Master, burning the body on a pyre in a traditional ceremony like that of what would have been done on Gallifrey. After Martha brought her family back to their home and helped them settle somewhat back into normal life. And after Wanda had a long night's sleep, trying to rest her worn body. Now, it was nothing more than a calm morning, with Wanda slowly wandering through the TARDIS, waiting for when the Doctor decided it was time for them to leave. Currently, he was getting things settled with UNIT and such, trying to help get rid of whatever else the Master might have left behind. Knowing that Time Lord, he might have had some sort of backup plan that could kill a lot more if he were to die. Wanda already knew of such backup plan but did not tell the Doctor. As it was not the time for that yet. It would come to pass one day. And just like the Doctor, she would have to face the Master once more. Just the idea of that alone sent a cold chill through her.

Wanda walked out of the TARDIS, adjusting her large black blouse as the long sleeves of the shirt tried rolling up her arms. She placed on a gray overcoat, wearing this instead of the maroon as she had in the past. She still wore mary jane shoes and capris, though each of these was a duller colour than what she had worn in the past. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear when a breeze blew around her. The distant call of seagulls echoed off from the bay, not too far away from Roald Dahl Plass public space in Cardiff. The place where the TARDIS was parked, gaining more energy from the Rift close by. It was also to drop off Jack, per his request. The falling water heard from the water tower (Torchwood Tower) nearby. Wanda walked away from the TARDIS, coming over to some railings that line around the walkway of public space. Leaning forward against the railing, she rested her arms on the top of the metal bars, staring off at nothing in particular. Humans causally strolled about, enjoying their peaceful life, none of them having a care in the world.

"Well, this sure does feel like déjà vu."

Wanda glanced over, seeing Jack coming up beside her. He stared off towards the water tower, the spot which held the secret location of his headquarters to Torchwood, smiling vaguely.

"Where's Martha? Still in the TARDIS?" asked Wanda, looking back off at the sights around them.

"She's having the TARDIS help her find the number to someone she knew in the Year That Never Was," explained Jack with shrug.

"Ah. I forgot about Tom," Wanda replied, nodding as she remembered Martha's future fiancé. Comfortable silence laid between the two by the railing. Each one just waiting for the other to say something first. Finally, Jack sighed.

"Wanda . . . there's something I need to talk to you about," he said carefully, earning Wanda's full attention now. He stared at her in remorse, regret clear in his eyes. "I know about what happened. I know about Ember."

Wanda did not reply to him for a long moment. She instead stared off once again, not showing much sign of how she felt about his words. Finally, she let out a small, humourless, laugh. "Of course you know. You're just like River. You two always seem to know these things."

Jack reached out, placing a firm hand on her shoulder. His blue eyes swirled with guilt. "I'm sorry. I wish I could have said something . . . "

"But you could have never done it. Even if you tried, time wouldn't allow it. We both know that." Wanda continued to stare off. The wind around them picked up, sending a strong breeze around them. Blonde hair tickled around her face as it swayed with the breeze. Once the wind died down again, the Wanderer spoke. "Do you also know about . . . what I am and all that?"

"Yeah," sighed Jack, clasping his hands together as he leaned on the railing with his arms, "I've known about that for a long time. You told me all about it when I was still with old Big Ears." Jack let out a quick breath, chuckling as he remembered their past with the previous Doctor. "Man, never thought I'd miss him. Though, I will say I miss seeing you two dancing around. Think you and Skinny here could give me a show in some more 'dancing'?" A half-hearted smile was sent the Wanderer's way as the Immortal Man wished to make her laugh. Even for a little bit. When he received no answer, he sighed once more, looking out off again. "Yeah . . ." It was another long time before either one of them spoke again. Both of them stood there, enjoying one another's company. Even though neither said a word. It just simply felt nice for them to be there with each other. A rarity that happened for the two.

"Jack . . .," spoke Wanda quietly. This earned the Immortal Man's attention, making him look encouragingly at her for help her gather her words. Wanda swallowed, giving him a weak smile. "Thank you. For everything you've done. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Just keep being my Tink. That's all I can ask of you," said Jack. He even winked at her, smiling in hopes to cheer her up. Then, he grew a serious expression. "Though, there is something you can do for me." Struggling with words for a moment, he soon grabbed her hand, holding onto it tightly. "Keep fighting, Wanda. Whatever future you think is set in stone, please, fight it. Find a way around it. I know the Doctor has done the impossible before. Just—just tell him and I know he can do it again."

Wanda sent him a forlorn expression, staring at him in remorse. "You know that can't ever happen, Jack."

"What are you two up to?"

Wanda and Jack dropped their hands the moment they heard the Doctor coming up to them. The Time Lord strolled calmly to them with hands in his pockets, looking as though he had accomplished all he came to do today. Wanda gave her Time Lord a small smile. While Jack gave his usual grin like always. Neither showed any sign of turmoil.

"Just catching up. It's been a year, you know," Jack joked lightly. The Doctor came up beside Wanda, leaning on the railing the same as the two were.

"Talking about anything in particular?" he asked curiously.

"Nah. Just the usual jokes. You know us," shrugged Jack.

Wanda merely remained silent staring off again at nothing. It was almost as though their voices became distant for her. She barely even heard them as her mind drifted around aimlessly. Every once and a while she heard the Doctor or Jack making a note about what they would do now and such. Then eventually Martha joined them, talking along as well. Soon, Wanda heard the Captain part from them, going back to work with Torchwood. Snapping herself out of her stupor, she looked up to see Jack waving at her, giving her an encouraging smile. She nodded in return. Not really giving a full smile to him, but letting him see that she would indeed miss him and hoped to see him again one day. Glancing at the two next to her, she saw each the Doctor and Martha's expressions of awe, eyes wide as they watched the retreating Jack Harkness.

"Let me guess. 'Face of Boe'?" laughed Wanda, smirking at the two of them.

"No," said the Doctor. He blinked repeatedly, looking back and forth between the retreating Jack Harkness and the smirking Wanderer, trying to get his mind wrapped around the revelation they just discovered.

"Can't be," gasped Martha, also in the same state of shock.

"No. Defintiely not. No," said the Doctor.

"Most definitely is," Wanda stated, laughing lightly at them.

"No!" the Doctor exclaimed, grinning in excitement. He never saw this coming and he loved it! It was always wonderful getting a truly astonishing surprise in his life. He and Martha both laughed, reeling in this new information. Wanda gave a small smile, seeming to enjoy their shock of finding out who exactly the Face of Boe was. But as the Doctor stared at her, he saw that the smile never reached her eyes. Something that he noted since them reuniting. Her smile was not the same as it had been before. And . . . he did not think it ever would be, either.

It was later that they brought Martha back to her family home. Together the aliens stood outside the TARDIS, watching the family talk and hug within the household. Leo could be seen appearing very confused by his family's need to be so comforting. This being because, unlike the rest of his family, he would never remember the dreaded year that had been. But the brother seemed to just go along with what was happening as Francine and Clive were getting back together. Wanda ended up going back into the TARDIS first, walking over to sit down at the captain's chair. Eventually, the Doctor walked in after her. He threw his overcoat onto a coral pillar before slowly walking up the grated stairs to the console. He stopped by the console, staring at Wanda as he saw her sitting there, gazing blankly at the grated floor with her arms cradled around her stomach.

Before he had a chance to say something to gain her attention, the TARDIS door was heard creaking open. Both of them looked up to see Martha walking in, staring at them warily. The Doctor immediately saw that look in their companion's eyes. The look that said . . . goodbye. Swiftly he looked away, beginning to hit random buttons on the console in avoidance.

"Right then! Off we go. The open road!" he exclaimed in forced delight. "There is a burst of starfire right now over the coast of Meta Sigmafolio. Oh, the sky is like oil on water. Fancy a look? Or back in time. We could . . . " In the corner of his eye, he saw Wanda getting up, going over to their companion. And still, he rambled. "I don't know, Charles II? Henry VII? I know, what about Agatha Christie? I'd love to meet Agatha Christie, be she's brill—."

"Doctor," said Wanda, interrupting him. He looked over, seeing the way Wanda held Martha's hand in a tight grip. Staring back at him with such sadness as Martha gaze back softly in understanding. The Doctor just sort of stood there, rocking a little on his heels as he tried to avoid their sad eyes. But soon he let out a sigh, nodding as he looked back at them.

"Okay," he said softly, knowing the time had come. He should have seen it, really. Why would any companion want to stay with them after all of that?

"I just can't," Martha said quietly, nodding sadly.

"Yeah," agreed the Doctor.

"I've spent all these years training to be a doctor, and now I've got people to look after. They saw half the planet slaughtered and they're devastated. I can't leave them," explained Martha. She looked at him as if she were truly sorry that she had to leave them. As though, yes, she still wanted to travel through time and space, adventuring away to her heart's content alongside her most best of friends. But family came first. They always would.

"'Course not," agreed the Doctor once again. The Doctor nodded, understanding her reasoning completely. If he could . . . he probably would, too. Give up all the travelling just to let him and his Wanderer be off somewhere and retire. Or something like that. But then again, what if 'retiring' only hurt her more? He frowned in thought, thinking of what would be best for Wanda right now. He would try to keep things the same as always. Perhaps that would be best. After all, it was what she had done in the past as Second Wanda, pushing him into adventuring again to help him heal. And it had worked brilliantly for him. So . . . it would have to work for her, too. Right?

"You're going to be the best doctor, Martha," Wanda spoke up. She hugged Martha tightly, patting the woman's back. "Thank you for everything. For more than you even know." Martha hugged her back just as strongly, smiling softly.

"You're always welcome," she said. They stepped back, smiling at each other while holding their hands together. "Don't think this means goodbye forever. You have my number. I expect phone calls at least every decade or so."

"Oh, don't you worry. We'll visit you as often as we can. Whether it be I'm with a Doctor's face you know or not," assured Wanda. She even gave Martha a sly wink, smiling lightly.

"Um, actually, Martha," the Doctor spoke up, earning the two females' attention, "I can talk to you? In private?" Martha and Wanda glanced at each other, but the companion nodded at the Doctor all the same.

"Sure," said the companion, ready for whatever talk the Time Lord wanted.

"I'll just be outside," said Wanda. She stepped away from the companion, going out the doors of the TARDIS. The moment the door closed behind her, the Doctor walked up to Martha. He stopped right in front of her, rocking on the balls of his feet in uncertainty while still holding his hands in his pockets. Martha raised a brow at him, waiting for him to speak first.

"First off . . . Thank you," he said, smiling at her with such sincerity. "Wanda's right. You've done more for us than you could ever know." He paused then, growing more serious. "But . . . there's something I need to know. Martha, what happened to you both during that year? Besides the travelling . . . Did you ever know that Wanda would—?"

"I never knew, Doctor," sighed Martha. She shook her head, looking sad and regretful. "She never told me that she was going to do that. If I'd known . . .," Martha paused, staring off past the Doctor's shoulder in thought, appearing very uncertain now when she gazed back at him, "I don't actually know what I would have done. Truthfully? I would have most likely let her do it anyway."

This truly shocked him. Martha Jones admitted she wanted someone dead? He would never have thought he ever hear her say something such as that. He could only stare at her, trying to read her solemn expression. "Why though? Do you—do you know what he did to her?" He saw it cross her face. The pained expression. The same expression he had seen on Jack back in that warehouse when they had been on the run. The same expression he had seen on Wanda a thousand times in the past. The expression that said they knew, but they could never say what they wanted to. They could never give a warning, or even a word in comfort of what was to come, or even what had been. The Time Lord stepped closer to Martha, pleading to her now. "She won't tell me. Please, Martha, I need to know."

"I'm sorry, Doctor, but that's something you'll have to find out for yourself." Martha gave him one last expression of remorse, of pity, before turning and walking back towards the TARDIS doors. But before she left him, she turned back, looking grimmer this time. "Just promise me one thing, before you go . . . Be a doctor for her, okay? She needs a lot more healing than she's let on. A lot more. I did I all could for her during that year. Now it's your turn to heal her the rest of the way." With that said, Martha walked out the door, leaving the TARDIS as a companion for the last time.

Wanda came in a moment later, walking up to the console. She glanced at the Doctor, seeing him slowly push down a lever. The ship rocked a little, travelling away from the planet's surface and into orbit instead.

"Did you and Martha have a good chat?" Wanda asked him curiously, wondering what the Doctor could have possibly wanted to discuss with Martha in private. Well, Wanda did have a feeling on what exactly he wanted to talk to the old companion about, but . . .

"Yeah. Yeah, it was good. Nice chat," the Doctor said, drumming his fingers on the console as he let out a puff of air, staring at the time rotor as the cylinder inside moved up and down.

"Liar," Wanda replied, smiling softly at him as she walked up closer to the console. The Doctor turned, leaning against the console as he stared at her, watching as she sat in the captain's chair. She sat straight, staring at him steadily. "There's something you want to talk to me about, too. Right?"

"Yeah. There's a whole shelf of things I want to say. Things to ask, questions to be answered. Not that you can actually answer any of them." The Doctor drummed his fingers lightly on the edge of the console, frowning as it truly did irk him in all this unknowing. He thought after Wanda's memories were revealed that there would be no more secrets and spoilers. But, sadly, it felt like there was even more of that between them than ever.

Wanda gave him a sad look, nodding apologetically. "No, probably not. But maybe I can answer any questions that you think might not be spoilers?"

Thinking this over, the Doctor wondered what else there might be left unsaid between them. There just seemed so much . . . Then, it hit him. The one thing he realized he forgot to ask her. "There is something, actually. You never showed me any memories of your past . . . before the Daleks . . ." He could not even finish it. The memories she showed him of her past still felt unreal to him. As well as painful to reflect or dwell on. And if it pained him to recall them, he hated to think of what Wanda felt in remembering all of that after so long of being forgotten.

"I . . . I don't actually remember anything." Wanda gazed down gloomily. "I can't even remember my parents. I can recall my mother loving to garden, and my father's music . . . and being a carpenter of some kind. But I can't remember anything else about them. Not even what they looked like. I don't remember anything about myself before the Daleks took me. All my memories of before . . . are gone." Letting out a slow breath, she stared back at him. "The Daleks did that to me and the others. They 'reprogrammed' our minds. Taking out the bits and pieces of us they didn't like or wanted to control. That's why Alpha is called what she is. It isn't by choice . . . even if she does consider herself an alpha now."

Feeling her sadness from that, the Doctor did not say anything for a long moment. He stared at her, seeing how it truly pained her in not remembering her past, her parents. But there was still that one thing he wanted. It had been toying with him since that other night in the TARDIS. He wanted to ask her then . . . wanted for them to complete the bond . . . but he also had wanted her to sleep and rest. Now that she had rested . . . were they ready for this leap in their relationship? ". . . Do you remember your name?"

Wanda looked at him curiously, frowning lightly. "Why do you wish to know?"

Getting up from the console, he walked over to her, sitting down beside her. He took her hand in his, gently thumbing the smooth skin. "Because . . . there's something I want to do for us. If you don't know your first name, that's fine. I can still at least give you mine."

"W-what?" For the first time in a long, long passing since she had been travelling alongside the Doctor, she felt stunned. Beyond belief, really properly, stunned and breathless. Her eyes stared at him in amazement. His—his name? The name he always kept hidden? Was he being serious? He never told anyone his name. Not even . . . "Your name? Why—why would you tell me your name?"

He stared at her lovingly, bringing up a hand to stroke her cheek with his thumb tenderly. "I meant what I said when it was time I told you my name. If anyone deserves to know, it's you. I want there to be no more secrets between us. Ah, well, at least the right us, that is. Suppose there'll still be secrets with past us and all that." He paused, frowning thoughtfully. "Do you remember your name, though? I thought I might have gotten a glimpse of something when you shared your memories with me. Was I wrong?"

Wanda sighed heavily, shaking her head. "No . . . I remember my name. It's just . . . it's not something I ever want to remember. And it's not exactly something I can say out loud, either." Her eyes darkened. "The Daleks made certain I could never say it." Her eyes softened once more as she gazed at the Doctor's warm eyes. "Theta, don't worry about my name. It's best left forgotten. That part of me is long dead anyway."

The Doctor frowned at her, shaking his head. "Don't say that. Just because it's a piece of your past doesn't mean it needs to be left forgotten. A Time Lord's past is just as important to them as their future. It's actually sacred in a way."

Wanda moved her hand away from his, shaking her head firmly as she looked at the console with a hard gaze. "But I'm not a Time Lord anymore. I don't count in that special sacred importance. It's best I just be left forgotten."

The Doctor watched her, seeing how her gaze wavered and watered up, tears just there as she thought over the past she could not recall. He felt his hearts twist for her, wishing there was something he could do. But, in the end, he knew what he could give her. If it would help her in some ways, showing that even if her body had changed into a new form of Time Lord, into a Wanderer, it did not mean that she was still not a Time Lord to him. He would always consider her one, no matter what.

Breathing deeply, preparing himself, he wished that he could have done this in a more special moment. Normally, something of this magnitude was done in a ceremony of sorts. But he did not want to wait any longer. He had learned his lesson before when wanting to put off something so important for them. He was not going to lose her without letting her know his full love again.

Wanda was surprised when the Doctor suddenly grabbed her firmly by the shoulders. She blinked as she was turned to face him on the chair, staring at him as he looked at her with this gaze that took her breath away. The gaze that said he wanted to give her the universe and more. And so, he did.

Wanda sat there in utter shock as he leaned forward and pressed his lips up to her ear. A gentle word was breathed from him. So soft. So warm. It caressed her ear, her mind, her hearts. Tears came to her eyes, falling down her face. She smiled warmly, a true smile on her face that truly reached her eyes this time. She let out a sigh, leaning on him as they hugged strongly together. He ran his hands up and down her back, letting her know it was okay. It would always be okay.

"It's so beautiful. I'm so sorry you have to hide it," she whispered, regret lacing in her hearts for him. To have to hide such a name from the universe . . .

"I hide it because it's a name meant for only those I care most about," breathed the Doctor, tenderly holding her even closer still. "And now, it's a name meant just for you. You and only you, Wanderer. Forever." Wanda closed her eyes tightly, feeling guilty. He was willing to tell her such an important part of his past. And yet she . . . Damn. She was so selfish sometimes.

Leaning up to him, she tried to say it. Tried to whisper a caress into his ear like he had done for her. But no matter how much she tried, her mouth went stiff. Her mind laced with pain and it refused to come out. Even after all this time . . . the Daleks' programming was still so fresh in her. She let out a cry, hating herself even more for it.

"Wanda?" he whispered, confused why she would cry. He tried pulling back to look at her, worried now. But she buried her face in his chest, shaking in his grasp. Soon, he went rigid when she shakily pressed a hand up to his temple, allowing him to see what she wanted to say. His body practically melted as her name wrapped gently around his mind. It was so . . .

"Magnificent," he sighed, closing his eyes as he felt pure love for his Wanderer. The elation of knowing she had been willing in the end to give him that piece of her.

"I can't ever say it," Wanda breathed, pulling away from their hold to stare at him sadly. Then, she gave him a wavering smile. "But you can say it for me . . . Okay?"

"Always." He gave her the brightest and warmest smile yet, kissing her in joy. She did not return his kiss back in full. Just as she had yet to truly give back in his affections as she had done so before in the past. But just as he thought before, it would simply take her time to move on and heal.

She leaned against him as he held her close, slowly caressing her head. She stared off blankly, feeling at a loss. Even though she knew she should feel elated . . . which she did briefly at first. But the feeling never lasted. Nothing seemed to last anymore. Her happiness, her joys, her sadness even. It all led back to her feeling . . . nothing. She felt broken even. She might be. And this idea . . . terrified her. She did not want to be broken. She wanted to be fixed. To give her Theta the love and joy he deserved. But what if she could not give him that anymore? This idea scared her even more so, making her shiver and hold onto him tight.

"Wanda?" he questioned gently, confused as to why her moods seemed to shift so suddenly. Wanda closed her eyes tight, wishing she could give him more. But she fears got the better of her. She pulled away from him, standing up to back away.

"I'm—I'm sorry," she said shakily, staring at him in regret. The warmth and light picked up around her, making her feel relief in her ability to escape. It had been a whole year. She almost forgot that she did jump through his timeline. She shook her head in remorse, guilt spreading through her as she saw the hurt expression on her Time Lord. "I'm so sorry."

And with that . . . she was gone.

XxXxXxXx

Aw man, Wanda does not seem like in a good place right now. Hate to see if she ends up in a messy adventure. She needs a long break. :( Welp, I hope that everyone enjoyed! Even if just a little bit. :) Let me know how you thought of it in a review. Love to read all your thoughts and support for the story. Even if it's telling me how horrible of a writer I am. ;)

Reviewers:

TheGirlWhoWept: Hope you enjoyed the new chapter! I feel like many people feel the same way you do there. I have mixed feelings, but I do feel some pity for him with a few things. But that's spoilers for now I suppose.

Fruityloops87: Hope that it was a good 'wow' moment. :)

swimmjacket: Glad you enjoyed it! Even if it was all rather sad from here and there. Oh, you have no idea. She can never tell them, and many moments have to pretend to still be pregnant or just be completely ignorant of Ember's existence. I couldn't even imagine what that feels like for her. :( Um . . . just gonna say spoilers for that. As for the Thirteenth Doctor, I don't think we'll ever get there. Not even in part four. But I know Wanda. She would totally love the Doctor no matter what he/she looks like. :) Hope you enjoyed the new update! Until next time!

singingKatelyn: I know. I feel you. Hmm. Good theory. Guess we'll just have to wait and see until then. Hope you enjoyed the new chapter! :)

Rixelated: There might be more Wandas. Or there might not be. Who knows until we get there. ;) As for Aleena . . . let's just say spoilers for now. Really hope that you enjoyed the newest chapter and to see you again in the future. :) Take care!

NerdWithAPencil: haha I'm just glad you seemed to have enjoyed it so much. Even if it did tear your hearts apart. Trust me, it tore up my hearts as well and I needed plenty of tissues and hugs through these chapters. Fingers crossed that you enjoyed the new chapter. And to see you again in the next one. ;) Take care!

bored411: Oh, yes, did she snap. Even the most gentle people can be pushed to their limits. And Wanda had been pushed far too much for far too long. Sadly, Wand can never tell him about Ember. So she had to live with that any time she meets a past version of the Doctor. :( Hope to see you again soon!

Momochan77: I feel you. I cried, too. Hope you liked the new chapter! And if you want to share your theory, go right ahead. I'm always happy to listen to everyone's thoughts. :)

SakuraRcoa: I'm there with you. Cried so bad when it was written. I'm such a baby when it comes to those I love getting hurt. And I love everyone a part of this story. In the end, he had to get shot. Either by his wife, or by someone else, he had to 'die' at that point. It's just so hard knowing that Wanda was the one to pull the trigger. I hope you enjoyed the newest chapter. I feel like it's not all that great, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you'll enjoy it at least. :)

mjahappy: Yay! So glad you did! :)

heroherondaletotherescue: It was an ending that needed to be. Unfortunate that it had to happen, but it did. It was the only way. :(

X-Lisa-Anne-X: I'm not so sure I am, but I'm glad that you're satisfied by it. At least I hope that things will get better from here. Hopefully. Anyway, keeping my fingers crossed that you enjoyed the new chapter! :)

FictionalBoysAreBetter: Trust me, I cried as well. It's a hard topic to deal with. It was the one time Wanda lost control. Not Alpha, but Wanda. It's hard knowing just how lost she's become. :( Not that many left now. But I'm going to give specific numbers like the last few parts as I want it to be a surprise this time around. Nah, they won't ever 'merge' but Wanda will now have more loss of control as her powers are very highly unstable and would make anyone who had them lash out from time to time. It's just Wanda only comes to use of a few of the powers while Alpha controls the majority when she takes over. Can't wait to see what you think of the new chapter. Until next time!

All The Stories Are True 24601: Glad you like it all! Hope you enjoyed the new one. :)

alwaystherereading: Glad you liked it all. True, until he shows up, which won't be a fun day for anyone. Surprisingly, the Doctor just sort of . . . accepts what happened. He wasn't 'okay' with it, but he doesn't wish to hold any anger or hard feelings towards Wanda. Things had just been too hard for them all during that year, and he only wishes to simply move on and forget about it all. So being 'angry' with her would just be pointless. Plus, as he said in this chapter, he had many moments just like this in his past. So why hold that against her when he had done the same? Quite a bit of chapters, but not a whole lot. Luckily, still part four to come for us all. :) Until next time!

The Early Precambrian: It truly does hurt. So much so. :( I still can't believe what she had done. It's hard to ever see her doing such a thing. Don't worry, I know that she'll pull through. It might take time, but I believe in our girl. She'll be the Wanderer we love once again. :) Martha truly was a brilliant companion for them all. Thank you so much for the lovely review. I really hope to see you again in the future! Take care and have a amazing day. :)

Authora97: When Wanda has enough, she really has enough and just snaps. Glad you enjoyed it all!

AGBreads: Glad you liked it! Agreed, very sad. Hopefully things get happier from this point. But I'm not going to hold my breath on that. Can't wait to see from you again! :)

Toushou-sama: Glad no shredding of the heart this time around. Can't promise for the future, but hopefully no more hearts tearing apart for us all. :) That's a good question. Suppose that's just a spoiler waiting to happen for those two. Happy you enjoyed it! Really hope to see from you again in the future! Take care!

Kat: You mean if she still lost her child but yet somehow didn't get her memories back? Hmm. That's a good question. I think Wanda wouldn't have done so as she would have not been so far to snap like she had in that chapter. Though most likely she would have still helped along the Master's seeming death as she probably would have given Lucy the gun to pull the trigger instead. Hope that helps answer your question. :)

lautaro94: Trust me, I'm not fond of Wanda doing that, either. But sometimes people can only be pushed so far until they break. :(

normandy1701: Nah, Wanda would never go that far. This is about as far she would ever snap. Which still isn't a good thing. But at least she wouldn't ever become that. I understand that it's seen as overkill, but it's sort of something that really needed to be to show just how far Wanda's been broken. Truthfully, I took the idea from a movie I once saw as a young child. This woman had been tortured far beyond measures, and when finally confronted with the man who had done it to her, even though she was so kind in nature, she just snapped and released all her pain, sorrow, and anger in that gun she held. Just going into a sort of trance and kept shooting it until a friend gently snapped her out of it before she finally broke down into a sobbing mess. I don't remember the movie, but I remember it left a huge impact on me seeing what that woman went through. It was such an emotional scene and I really wanted to bring something like that here for this story. I hope you'll still like it even knowing I sort of took the idea from another source. :)

N7SpaceHamster: Not so much active revenge, but it just became that in the end when Wanda lost control of herself finally. It's great having Bad Wolf and Wanda getting a chance to really relax and talk together. Wish they could have more moments like that. haha I actually love putting lines like that into stories in moments where I know people are probably thinking that. It just makes it so much more enjoyable to read a story that just knows readers well enough. :) Bad Wolf really didn't send her there. Wanda just let her wanderings take her away and that was where she had ended up. Where she was meant to be. Martha truly was the best companion for Wanda there. She needed a doctor in many ways. It did affect her. Just like it affected him. Not just become of their bond, either. When you're with someone all the time for so long and then suddenly being yanked apart like that . . . Plus, Wanda really needed a chance to heal properly and being away from him and being placed into war for a year only set her back even farther from healing. :( Well, since almost everything is out and revealed now, there's going to be many moments that will be explained right away. So no more long waits for explanations. Martha didn't really tell him. She just said a few things that he was able to tell what was happening. You know how people will say things that they're trying to hide the truth but you can still pick up on what they're trying not to say? It's kind of like that. Sort of a psychological mind twist the Master did. Something did just break in Wanda. But fortunately, nothing broken between the Doctor and Wanda. At least, not for the most part. Yep, that was all Wanda. She finally lost control and snapped. Our poor girl. :( Also, yep, going to be a part four after this one. But this next part will be sort of its own story and much different from the rest of the trilogy. So keeping my fingers crossed that everyone will enjoy it. Super worried how everyone will take it as I'm trying something new with the next story. Thanks again for the wonderful review! Can't wait to see from you again! Take care! :D

Lorah Raye: Yay! Glad that it was such a good read. I hope the rest of the chapters are just as enjoyable. :) Until next time! Hope you'll like!

Whovianeverlark17: I know I could never, but I don't think Wanda would ever think she would, either. So who knows. Unfortunately, Ten can never know. Not until he gets to the right point in time. :( Hope you enjoyed the newest chapter!

Isanxd: Yep, 100% her. You're exactly right there. That's why it just had to be that way, because it truly shows just how lost our Wanderer has become. :( Our poor girl. I just hope things can get better for her. Actually, you're right. Ember would have been born only days from then. We were so close to having our little Ember with us. And now . . . I hope that this chapter was just as enjoyable. Even if it's still really emotional. Until next time! Have a wonderful day/night!

ACH20: Yep, going to make many more from here. I hope it will still be enjoyable. Even if it might be just as emotional.

Madeline: Welcome to the story! I'm so happy to have you here with us. :) Sorry that you came into the story in a rather emotional time. I hope that you'll continue to enjoy it throughout the rest to come!

Thank you all so much for giving time to the story. You all are amazing and deserve the best. So, just imagine I gave you the best present ever. Something you always wanted. ;)

~Tinker~