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)

68. Ch 68: The Last Christmas

So, this is it. The final chapter.

It feels so strange coming to this. It's been such a long run. Truly it has been an honor for me bringing this story to you all. :) I loved seeing how much joy each chapter brought to each of you. Many of you have stuck around since the very beginning and many of you have just recently joined us on the journey of the Wanderer. I just want to say that I love you all and am so glad to have met each and every one of you.

But! If you think this is the very end, then you'll be happy to know that there is a part four to the story coming soon. ;) So, it won't be the last we see of each other. You can count on that!

Important Notice: I will be adding an author's note in this story when the next part of the series is ready and being posted. So, if you wish to keep up with when the next part is coming, then please keep following this story until then. Once the author's note is released then, of course, feel free to stop following this part of the series. :)

XxXxXxXx

Chapter 68: The Last Christmas

There was tense muttering amongst the people of Christmas. Each of them worried for the future of their lives, their homes, and their world. But they seemed to agree to follow the strange man who called himself the Doctor either way. After all, no one could tell a lie in this place. If he said he would be there to protect them all from the growing dangers that hovered around their world from far above, what else was there for them to question him on? Then, each person went on with their tasks given to them by the Doctor, getting ready to set up in case of any intruders coming into their small village that night. Though, there was not much they could do. And, for the most part, the Doctor instructed them to simply keep on with their lives, living in peace as they always had, though remaining on guard just in case.

The Time Lord observed all the people, thinking of what else he could do for them. They did not really have any sort of authority in this world. It was rather basic. Almost like a 1800s village that one would find on Earth. The people seemed to accept his leadership almost immediately, simply glad to have someone there ready to defend them. Even if they still yet to grasp what exactly they were all up against that swarmed around the world of Trenzalore.

Upon the thought of this world's name, the Doctor felt his hearts twist as though someone was trying to rip them out of him. His stomach churned painfully at the gut-wrenching he felt. His eyes watered up, knowing what was coming. Though he kept a brave face on for the people around him. Best not let them see how upset he felt. Or the fact that, now that he knew what this world was . . . he was half tempted to abandon it and leave altogether. Even if that meant abandoning these people. Even if that meant abandoning . . . Gallifrey, something he thought he would never contemplate a second time in his life. But the possibility of him even getting Gallifrey out of that other universe was slim to none anyway. And they were more than safe on the other side of that crack leftover in the universe. So . . . technically he would then only be leaving behind Trenzalore to destruction. Not Gallifrey. Could he do that? Leave behind a world and its people to death while saving his Wanderer? No. No, not anymore. He promised himself he would not be that kind of man anymore. He would have to think of another way. There just . . . had to be.

He tensed as he felt a hand slowly entwine with his. His body relaxed as he let out a long sigh. He should have known. Releasing another sigh, he looked to his right, seeing Wanda standing there next to him with such a soft smile of warmth and love. He felt himself begin to tear up again.

"If only you showed up a few minutes ago," he said lightly in humour.

"Why? So you could try to trick me into the TARDIS like you did with Clara?" Wanda replied smoothly. "As if I'd fall for something like that."

"Eh. It never hurts to try," he said with a shrug. Wanda smiled lightly before looking at him curiously.

"Did you really get so bored that you shaved all your hair off?" she asked curiously in amusement.

"You were gone for two months. What else was I supposed to do?" the Doctor all but whined while he pouted. Turning to face her better, he cupped the side of her face softly, giving her the best caress he could muster at the moment. ". . . Will it be today?"

"No."

"How soon? How long do I have with you?"

"I'll be with you here on this world until the very end. Which will be about nine hundred years or so . . ." She gave him her best smile that she could at the moment, leaning forward to give him a kiss. ". . . we'll have so many more years together. And I'll make certain they are the best. I promise."

Gazing at her, he felt stunned that they would be on this world for that long. Was the TARDIS not coming back for them? He thought he had programmed it to come right back after Clara was dropped off. Maybe something went wrong. Well . . . as though it really mattered anymore. Either way . . . it was the end of their story. But . . . why was she always assuming he would live on after this world? This was supposed to be his gravesite, after all. And there was no way he was going to regenerate again in another nine hundred years. He was on his very last one. Why would she assume otherwise? He knew that she knew how many a Time Lord had, so . . . Perhaps he was not the only one in denial to a coming death.

"Come on," he spoke quietly, guiding her back into the tower behind them. "Best we get settled. I think this might be our new home now."

"It's nice," Wanda said softly, smiling as she took in the old place. It looked as though no one had touched the place in years. But that would change now as they both would need a place to stay. And any old home would not do. No, this would be the perfect spot. The best place to keep the town around them safe and to keep guard of the crack in the wall. The small tear leftover from when the TARDIS had exploded so many years ago. Gallifrey's only way back into the universe.

The Doctor whipped off an old, white tarp from a small sofa. He coughed from the dust, waving away the cloud he had created from the tarp. He patted the sofa a bit, trying to get the rest of the dust off. Sitting down gingerly to test the chair, he felt it was rather sturdy despite its age. He then pulled Wanda over to him, having her sit right on his lap. They sat there in a cuddle, enjoying the warmth of their bond.

"I went to River after leaving the Ponds," Wanda told the Doctor quietly. He hummed showing that he was listening, so she continued on. "It was right after Young me had visited her in the prison. The same day she taught me how to play poker. We played some more . . . had a good talk . . ." She glanced at the Doctor, seeing him just staring off while continuously rubbing her back. "She told me some interesting things. How you didn't always take her out of that prison for just trips. Mostly . . . to find a way to keep me alive."

There was a long breath of silence in the room. Eventually, the Doctor sighed, "She wasn't supposed to tell you that."

"Hmm. Well, you know River. She never keeps secrets from me. Or you, for that matter." Wanda bobbed him on the nose lightly, smiling gently at him. Her smile fell somewhat, looking sadder this time. "I'm sorry, Theta, that you've struggled so much with this. I wish I could have . . ." She did not know what to say at that point. Only that she wanted him to know how much she wished things could have been different as well.

"I know," he said quietly, seeing what she wanted to say. "But I'm not giving up yet. Even if none of mine or River's plan worked in the end, I won't give up."

Wanda smiled softly, thumbing his cheek tenderly as she stared at his glistening eyes. "I know." Leaning up, she kissed him. He returned the kiss, holding her closer to him. Soon they pulled away. Wanda leaned her head against his chest and listened to his beating hearts, letting the rhythm sooth her. He brushed a hand through her hair in a repeated fashion, letting the quiet moment for them be. They never got many moments like these. He wished he could have this moment last until the end of time.

"I could fix this place up nice for us," the Doctor pondered aloud as he gazed about the old room in the tower. "Get a room set up. Maybe build a fireplace for us over there. Oh! And I'd love to place in a workbench over there!" A more at ease grin appeared on his face as he began to feel more comfortable with the idea of them living here on this world together. Yes, it was longer than he ever thought he might be in one place at a time. But just being here with his Wanderer, living a life they had always wanted to together . . . What more could he ask for in a place where they would grow old and die together?

"As long as we got a bed to share, I'm fine with whatever you want, sweetie," sighed Wanda faintly.

"I'll have to gather up the people of Christmas tomorrow. Get them more prepared for what might be coming. For the most part, I know good old Tasha will keep the Papal Mainframe around to keep this world safe. Though for how much that church can do against all what's out there . . ." The Doctor continued on in a ramble, going on about all what had happened before Wanda's arrival.

She breathed deeply, closing her eyes with a smile as she enjoyed listening to her husband talk. Everything of what he had planned for tomorrow and the next day and the next. Already he had so much in store for them. All the while the soothing circles he drew on her back as he rubbed a hand up and down her created such a peaceful feeling through her that she ended up drifting off into slumber. The Doctor felt her fall asleep against his chest. Still, he rubbed circles on her back, hoping to help her rest the best he could.

"Did you ever think we'd find a place actually called 'Christmas'?" he wondered aloud, sounding as though he were still talking with Wanda. "You've always loved Christmas . . . suppose this is the perfect place if you're going to . . ." He could not bring himself to say it, so he moved onto something else to talk about. "Ah, well, the people here really seem lovely. You'll love them. Just as I know they'll love you. I bet if I asked them to help us out in fixing this place up they would. After all, we will be the ones to keep them safe for the next few centuries." He paused in his ramble and in the circles he was rubbing on her back. Glancing down at her, he eyed her carefully, watching how she slept. Very carefully he got out his sonic screwdriver and gave her a quick scan. Looking at his tool, he let out a long sigh and placed it back down beside him.

Would his Wanderer even make it to the next few centuries?

XxXxXxXx

Three hundred years passed for those on Trenzalore. Things had not changed that much for the little town of Christmas. The world stayed about the same. Always cold with constant snow and evergreen trees all around. Always in the season one would associate with the holiday Christmas. Which made the name of the town even more perfect. Generations came and went for the humans that lived in the small farming village. And each generation came to love the two constant people who lived in their village. The two strangers who came down from above to protect their home and their lives. The Doctor and the Wanderer. Two beings who always did their best for the village. In return, the village did their best for them as well, trying to keep the two travellers comfortable with their stay in the tower and such other things. The adults would give comforting things, such as blankets, pillows, chairs, and beds. While the children gave toys and pictures. So many, many pictures.

The war went on through all this time. Enemies of the Doctor and the Wanderer that managed to come down through the protective shield the Papal Mainframe. Each time, they were easily stopped by the two travellers. Along with the help from Tasha above, of course. She—though she did not approve of what the Time Lord and his wife chose to do—kept to her word in helping the two protect the world. Though each the Doctor and Wanda knew what Tasha secretly did behind their backs, trying to stop the Doctor from the past in arriving there to Trenzalore. The TARDIS exploding, the whole Silence incidents, and the Doctor's supposed 'death.' Though, all of this was more from a rogue element of Silence led by Madam Kovarian. Yes, Tasha never made attempts on the Doctor and Wanda's lives, but still . . . in the Time Lord's opinion that was all the church's fault for creating the belief on 'silence will fall' in the first place.

The one thing the Doctor felt most happy about this situation of him and Wanda living on Trenzalore was his wife finally staying in sync with him. No longer would he and she be out of order in their lives. Yes, she still had to wanderer away every decade or so as to not let her powers build up to dangerous levels. But now she could travel away from him and be back within just an hour or so. No more long days, weeks, or months apart. Just a simple hour and then they were right back together again. And it was always as though she had never been away in the first place for she mostly chose to do this at night while he slept. No more confusion about where they were in their lives. No more trying to catch up in where they had left off. It was something he had always wanted with her. Things felt so at home for him and Wanda that each of them almost forgot what it felt like travelling around in their TARDIS. They had a comfortable life in the village. Able to settle down and just be happy with one another. Though there was the occasional fight with their enemies, that fact that they could be together in peace and love made them the happiest they had ever felt. If only it had not taken until getting to Trenzalore for their lives to finally be a peace in their timelines.

The only thing that worried the Doctor and made him stay ever vigilant and anxious was the inevitable death of his Wanderer. He tried to stay in denial in the beginning of them living on Trenzalore. But the signs of her body failing her became more prominent towards the end of the third century on the world. She slept almost every night now. Like that of a normal human. Her powers remained as strong as ever. But her body . . . it was weakening. After years of scanning her, he knew it was not from the powers, the Time Vortex, within her. No, it was as she had said before. It was from the confliction her body had in two consciousness between her and Alpha. Just like others had suffered from in stories he had heard in cases such as this. The bodies of Time Lords never lasted when going through such splits in their minds. Though Wanda believed if she had never evolved into a Wanderer she would have lived longer, the Doctor never told her the truth. It was the fact that she was a Wanderer that had saved her for so long. The powers of the Time Vortex had kept her and Alpha alive. And they would have lived long and healthy lives if . . . if Wanda had never lost the barriers that had kept her from remembering. Something else the Master had taken from him. First his daughter . . . and now his wife.

Without the TARDIS there, the Doctor knew Wanda was dying sooner. Their ship helped Wanda live so much longer. Now, without that lifeline . . . So, through the years, the Doctor secretly began to give Wanda some of his own life. A bit of his regeneration energy here and there. Just enough to sustain her a while longer. If he could give her more, he would. But he only had enough energy now just to heal himself from injuries. Nothing more. However, it was perfect enough to keep her alive with him on Trenzalore. She never knew for he always did it while she slept at night. She would lay in bed, so peaceful in rest, and he would be beside her to comfort her through the night. All the while holding her hand and giving her a bit of his golden lifeforce. If she ever found out he knew she would be furious. But at the thought of seeing her twitching eye and adorable red face only made him smile while he held her at night.

Something else that made him so happy and brought a smile to his face was watching Wanda interact with the children of the village. They had both become something like Father and Mother Christmas to the townsfolk. The Doctor would fix up the children's toys while Wanda would read them stories. Each of them would, of course, play games with the children as well. He would sit there at his workbench, smiling while glancing towards Wanda and watching how she would giggle away, telling all the children tales of his and her travels. Many of the youngest children would cuddle up on her lap while she told these stories. The way she would hold them back . . . it made the Doctor wish even more of them to have been able to raise their daughter Ember. Oh, if only she could have had a chance to be a real mother.

"Doctor!" Wanda currently exclaimed, bouncing over to him. Or tried to bounce over to her. With how old each of them was becoming, it was harder to be as active as they had been in the past. Though he still looked much older than she. Something else that seemed a Wanderer had. A much longer time to age than that of a Time Lord. He wondered what else was different in her species compared to Time Lords. He had never bothered to study the genetic makeup that had become of her after all those experiments. Something else he regretted and wished he had done differently when they still had time. Maybe if he learned the difference in her, he could have . . .

The Doctor shook himself out of all the reminiscing he was doing while sitting there at the table and enjoying the latest celebration the townsfolk had put together. He saw how Wanda had gathered up a large number of children. All of which bounced and giggled around the Wanderer.

"The kids want to know if you wanted to put on another puppet show?" Wanda asked, beaming away as one little girl tried getting the blonde to pick her up.

"Please, please!" some of the children cried.

"Oh, I think I'm rather too tired tonight," the Doctor apologized to them, chuckling when hearing the collective 'aw' from the group. "But! I promise tomorrow I got something special planned for you all." The children cheered before scattering away back into the party. Only the little girl remained, still tugging on Wanda's sleeve. The Wanderer crouched down, leaning forward to let the little girl whisper into her ear.

"Oh, I think that'll be perfect, sweetheart!" Wanda responded brightly, grinning from ear-to-ear as the girl giggled in delight and gave the woman a hug before taking off.

"What did Ellie say?" the Doctor asked curiously.

"Oh, as if you don't already know," Wanda laughed, going over to sit down beside him. "I know you've been eavesdropping on them lately."

"Well . . . I may be old, but my hearing is still rather good." The Doctor gave a sheepish grin, knowing he had been caught.

Wanda bopped him on the nose. "You better still be 'surprised' when they finally give you that surprise birthday party."

"How surprised should I be? Like this?" He gave a dramatic face. "Or should I go more of this?" He placed his hands by his face with a wide-eyed expression. Both he and Wanda laughed, leaning against each other in merriment as they watched all the families around them enjoy the night away. Well, not really night. It was more of early morning. But this world never had long-lasting daylight. So, it was hard telling sometimes what time it was here.

"They really liked your drunk giraffe dance from earlier. I think we should do that more often," Wanda spoke softly as she leaned against her husband to cuddle. "We don't dance often enough."

"I'll add that to the list of things to do," the Doctor replied, soothingly rub circles around her back. He glanced at Wanda, seeing how she blinked slowly while staring at the celebration around them. Leaning down, he gave her a soft kiss on top of her head. "I think it's time we get you to bed."

"Knew you were lying about being tired," Wanda yawned, smiling tiredly at him. "You said that for me, didn't you?"

The Doctor returned her smile, rubbing a thumb along her cheek. "Well, I haven't slept for a while, either. I think we're both due for a good night's rest." A small grunt left him as he got up from the bench of the long table they sat at. Wanda, as always, helped support him. With her body staying a bit younger than his, her legs were not as worn out as his were. So, she always felt the need to help him whenever he showed signs of wearing out from the long day. Even if he did always try to reassure her that the cane of his was perfect enough in supporting him. But he never complained too much as it gave him more reasons to be close to his wife.

They walked through the celebration, passing by many people who were still dancing, chatting, eating, and doing other such things in merriment for the night. They would nod and chat for a bit with a few families here and there before continuing on their way towards their home in the tower.

"How's your father's barn?" the Doctor asked one boy, Barnable, as they passed him by. The boy turned and smiled at the two. He had become somewhat of one of their favourites from the group of children. Not that they did not love the other children any less. It was just Barnable showed a knack for being rather inventive, looking up to the Doctor to be a great creator one day. Something which the Doctor wanted to help the boy along as much as he could in the young child's ambitions.

"You've fixed the leak all right, but he says it's bigger on the inside now!" the boy responded.

"Ssh! They'll all want one," the Doctor said, winking at the child as Barnable laughed.

"You never know when to stop, do you?" Wanda teased her husband after the boy ran off.

"Hush you," said the Doctor as he bopped his giggling wife on the nose. They were about to continue onwards when a noise stopped them in their tracks. The famous whoosh of the TARDIS. They turned together sharply, staring towards where they saw the TARDIS slowly materializing just a few feet away. All the townspeople around them stared warily, afraid it was another enemy coming to attack.

"Oh? Is it that time already?" Wanda wondered aloud while the Doctor shook his head.

"Where have you been for three hundred years?" barked the Time Lord as he stomped away from his wife and towards their ship. As Barnable went up to ask the Doctor on what the ship was, or whether or not this meant he and Wanda would be leaving the people of Christmas, Wanda quickly walked over to the arriving ship as she remembered who else had appeared alongside the TARDIS.

Just as she remembered, there was Clara, clutched to the front of the TARDIS and shivering up a storm. The companion still had her key in the lock of the door with one hand and the other holding onto the side of the ship in a vice grip. Shrugging off her coat, Wanda hurriedly placed it around the companion. Clara jumped from being touched but felt grateful by the warmth from the coat. She shakily looked over at Wanda with tears still running down her face.

"Oh, Clara, you're just about as idiotic as the Doctor," Wanda sighed, shaking her head as she pulled the girl into her arms for a large hug. "What were you thinking holding onto the TARDIS like that?"

"I—I was in space," Clara managed to whisper hoarsely.

"No wonder the TARDIS is late," they heard the Doctor grumbling behind them. "She must have extended her force field to protect you from the Time Vortex. She's late because she was dragging your weight around." Clara glanced over Wanda's shoulder, seeing the Time Lord just standing there and looking older. So much older than when she had left him. In fact, she noticed Wanda was much older as well. But that was something she would ask them about later as at the moment she felt rather cross with a certain Time Lord.

"You tricked me," Clara said as she stepped away from Wanda and towards the Doctor.

"I saved you," retorted the Doctor.

"You didn't even say goodbye!"

"I am furious with you!"

"Oh, just hug already!" Wanda laughed, rolling her eyes at the two. The Doctor and Clara both joined the Wanderer in laughter as they met in the middle for a large hug. Soon Wanda joined them and they were all laughing and hugging as both Wanderer and Time Lord missed their companion so much.

None of them could stop smiling as they introduced Clara to the village. The people there greeted the companion just as friendly as she remembered from an only moment ago from the past. Once everyone in the village had been assured there was no more danger that night, the Doctor and Wanda led Clara back into their home. They talked on and on about what they had been doing since the companion had been gone. Clara had been shocked when finding out she had been away from them for three hundred years. But the shock soon wore off after she settled in their warm home with a comforting blanket wrapped around her.

"So . . . you've been fixing toys and fighting monsters?" Clara asked Wanda curiously. The blonde had remained with the companion while the Doctor had gone off to assess the situation with the TARDIS. Truthfully, Clara was glad to get some alone time with Wanda. It might help her to ask the Wanderer on what exactly it was the Doctor had planned for this whole crazy situation unfolding on Trenzalore.

"Pretty much, yeah. I mean, it's what we've always done, isn't it?" Wanda replied with a warm smile. She never realized how much she missed Clara. Three hundred years without a companion travelling around space and time . . . It was a strange thing to think about. She never thought she would miss it so much. Not that she did not love this mostly quiet life with the Doctor here in this village. But . . . it sort of came to her one day that a quiet life was not really something she truly wanted for herself anymore. Funny how her past dream had changed on her without her even knowing.

"True," Clara chuckled quietly. She walked around a pillar in the room, gazing at all the pictures pinned to the walls. All the drawings made by the generations of children from the town of Christmas. All depicting the love and heroics the children felt for the Doctor and Wanda. Clara smiled as she stared at them before moving back over to Wanda and sitting beside her on the sofa. "I still can't believe it's been three hundred years for you both." She looked Wanda up and down, taking in the small wrinkles on the woman's face and the grey hair beginning to appear in her hair. Wanda did not appear as old in appearance as the Doctor, but still . . .

"Hmm. Time sure has flown for us," Wanda said softly, staring distantly at the crack in the wall. The white light still glowing gently as ever with the soft whispers coming from just the other side.

"Is it still asking the question?" Clara questioned curiously as she also looked at the crack.

"Oh, yes. Every day on every hour."

Clara glanced at Wanda, biting her lip as she felt nervous to ask her next question. "I heard what Tasha said, before I got to the TARDIS. She spoke to the Doctor about what would happen if he answered the question." She held her breath as Wanda slowly looked at her with those emerald eyes of hers. Eyes that looked so old and sad now. "She said that the Time War would start again if he ever did."

"That's only part of it." Wanda sighed, shaking her head. "There's always been two halves of that prophecy. One half, yes, says the Time War will start again, creating the destruction of creation if the question is ever answered."

"And the other half?"

"That the universe's weapon activates and kills everyone. Which means I would activate and destroy the universe." Wanda held a crooked smile, patting Clara's hand in hers after she felt the companion go rigid. "Yeah, I know. It's a scary thought. I've had to come to terms with it for centuries. Oh, Alpha says 'hi' by the way. She says about time you showed up. But that's rather rude, Alpha. Oh, you know better than to say that."

Clara blinked, listening as Wanda seemed to have a stern talk with Alpha in her head. The companion shook herself out of her shocked daze, looking urgently at Wanda. "But I thought you said Alpha didn't want to destroy the universe anymore?"

"I said the urge wasn't as strong as it used to be. But it's never really gone away."

"Not even after three hundred years living here?"

Wanda sighed with a shake of her head, looking at the crack again. "The programming done to us is too strong. Even if Alpha and I tried with all our might not to do it . . . she and I would eventually be unable to stop ourselves. We would activate. Maybe not here . . . No, most certainly not here. But one day . . ." She looked back at Clara, giving her the warm smile. "Let's not think about that now. You're here now and everything is fine. Just focus on that." Clara still looked uncertain but nodded all the same. Wanda's smile grew even brighter as she grabbed the companion's hand. "Come on. Let's go to the top. There's something me and the Doctor love to watch every morning and I'm certain you'll love it, too."

"Should we wait for the Doctor?"

"Nah. He'll be back any moment now. Trust me, he wouldn't miss this." Wanda went to stand up from the sofa but almost fell over as she wobbled. As though she were suddenly dizzy.

Clara caught the blonde before she fell over completely. "Whoa! Wanda, are you okay?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine," Wanda breathed, sounding as though she were panting, suddenly short of breath. She gave Clara a wavering smile. "Don't tell the Doctor. I'm afraid he'll do something drastic if he knew about this."

"Has this been happening a lot lately?" Clara questioned, frowning in concern. Wanda did not answer. Instead, she went over to the workbench of the Doctor's and grabbed Handles.

"Come on, Handles! I know how much you enjoy this, too," Wanda said, smiling as she held the Cyberman head carefully in her arms while going up the stairs of the tower.

"Enjoyment is irrelevant," Handles replied in weakening his robotic voice.

"Yeah, well, you still like it anyways, don't you?" Wanda teased the robotic head. She made her way steadily up the many stairs to the top of the bell tower. Clara stayed right behind her, nervously waiting for the possibility of the Wanderer to suddenly fall back from weakness. But the blonde seemed just fine how as she made it all the way to the top without much incident.

After first setting down Handles and making certain he was comfortable, Wanda pulled up a crate and placed a blanket over it. Making a comfortable spot for the companion, she waved for Clara to sit down while she gathered up some firewood from a stack of old logs by the corner of the small squared area. Once the wood had been placed into the metal pit, she pulled out her sonic screwdriver and made the wood set alight. The fire burned brightly and sent a warm comfort around them. Wanda sighed as she got herself set down into a cushioned chair, relaxing as they stared out at the darkness of the early morning. Another comfy chair was beside the Wanderer's, indicating to Clara that this one was for the Doctor. They must really do this very often, then.

"Would you like a marshmallow? I think there's still some leftover," Wanda spoke up, picking up a small wooden box and opening it up for Clara to see a variety of colourful sweets.

"How did you get those?" Clara asked curiously as Wanda got her a stick with a marshmallow on the end.

"A friend from above. Enjoy. I'm certain we can get more later." Wanda leaned back more into her chair, letting out a sigh as she relaxed.

Looking out to the village below them, Clara could only wonder in what sort of life Wanda and the Doctor had here. "Trenzalore was always supposed to be a sort of warzone, wasn't it? But yet . . ."

"It's rather peaceful," Wanda finished for her, smiling lightly at the companion. "Tasha won't destroy the planet as long as we're here. Mostly because she's afraid we'll let the Time Lords out if she does. But then we cannot leave because they would destroy Trenzalore the moment we stepped off the planet. So . . ."

"So, it's a standoff?"

"More or less, yes." Wanda stared off, eyes growing sad as she stared at the horizon. "Tasha is so worried about stopping that prophecy that she never even considered that by doing all of this she's just ensuring it comes true. Self-fulfilling prophecy. Gets people every time."

"I have developed a fault," Handles spoke up, stopping Clara from saying anything more to Wanda's statement. The Wanderer leaned over, patting Handles kindly.

"Just hang in there a bit longer, Handles," Wanda whispered, staring so sadly at the Cyberman head. "You still need to tell the Doctor that reminder, remember?" Handles beeped but did not say anything else in response. Wanda leaned back into her chair once more, looking close to tears as she stared at the head. She wiped at her face quickly, smiling at Clara before the companion had a chance to ask what was wrong. "The Doctor should be up any moment now. He never misses this. It's always so beautiful. You'll love it."

"I'm sure I will," said Clara in a soft voice, giving Wanda a gentle smile. She looked back at the marshmallow on her stick, slowly turning it over the fire. When she looked back at Wanda to say something more, she saw the blonde had fallen asleep in her chair. Clara could only stare at her, watching how she breathe in and out slowly, completely at peace in her deep slumber. The companion looked over as she heard footsteps coming up the stairs beside her. Around the bell came the Doctor, leaning on his cane as he came up to them.

"Turkey isn't done yet," he said brightly, smiling at Clara as he limped over. "Didn't miss it, did I?"

"I'm not sure. Nothing much has happened yet and Wanda never said what it was we were watching for," Clara responded quietly as she glanced back at the Doctor's sleeping wife. Coming around Wanda's chair, the Time Lord gently brushed a strand of hair from the blonde's face. Reaching around, he grabbed a large blanket off his own chair and carefully placed it around Wanda. He gave her a lingering kiss on her forehead after making certain she was comfortable before going over to his chair and sitting down. Clara felt her heart swell at the sight. Seeing how tender he still was with Wanda only made the companion feel so glad that the two were still just as happy together. "She just sort of fell asleep a moment ago," Clara whispered.

"She's had a long day. I'm only sorry that she couldn't stay up long enough for this," the Doctor whispered in return. "It's the sunrise, by the way. It only lasts a few minutes, but it's always worth a watch."

"Does Wanda fall asleep like this often?" Clara questioned carefully, feeling worried now as at first she had thought it was because of Wanda's age that the blonde had fallen asleep on her. But now looking at the Doctor, who was far older than Wanda, and seeing how he did not even appear the least bit tired worried Clara.

"Sometimes, yes." The Doctor brushed another strand of hair out of Wanda's face as the woman turned in her sleep.

Clara watched how the Time Lord gazed worriedly at his wife. "She told me not to tell you, but . . . she almost collapsed on me before coming up here."

Sighing heavily, he nodded sadly. "I know. She doesn't know that I know, either. So . . . just keep it between us, eh? Don't want her doing anything drastic if she realizes that I know about it."

Clara did not say anything for a long moment, trying to decide on what was going on between the two of them now. Should she get them to try and talk about it like she had to do with them in the past? Pondering this, she decided on getting more information first. "So . . . what's wrong with her, then?" Something about the Doctor's expression made her heart twist from uncertainty. She had seen that expression before, and it never meant anything good. "What's wrong?"

Swallowing heavily, the Doctor opened and closed his mouth, trying to get his words together. Soon, with watery eyes, he spoke, "She's dying, Clara."

"What?" Clara gasped. A chill went through her and she dropped the stick she held. It clattered to the ground and the marshmallow on the end splattered. But neither cared nor gave concern to this. "You can't . . . She isn't . . . How? Can we stop it?"

The Time Lord said nothing, averting his eyes from the companion to stare at his wife with such sorrow. "I've been trying to stop her death for so long and tried to stop us from ever coming here. I don't know how I'm going to keep her alive. If I just had a few more regeneration cycles left in me . . . But I'm on my last one. Thirteen regenerations. That's all Time Lords are ever born with. It's the only thing giving me solace is knowing I will die alongside her."

"You can't be serious. I know we saw your grave that one time, but . . ." Clara felt her eyes well up. "Please, I don't want either of you to die. There has to be something."

He gave her a soft smile. An expression of understanding how she felt. "Everyone dies, Clara. All stories must come to an end."

"I have developed a fault," spoke up Handles weakly, interrupting Clara once again before she could say more. "I . . . I have developed a fault." The Doctor turned his sad gaze onto Handles now, picking up the head and holding the Cyberman in his hands.

"Hey, old mate, you still got one last sunrise left. Think you can hang in there for it?" the Doctor said quietly, patting Handles on the head as if to comfort the head. "You've got it in you, just hang on in there."

"Attention! Emergency! A—a—attention!" stuttered Handles. The Doctor grew even sadder still as he went on patting the head. "Urgent . . . action required! You must patch the telephone device back through the console unit." The head's voice slowly ran down before the blue lights on the Cyberman finally shut off. Letting out a heavy sigh, the Time Lord gave on last fond pat on top of Handles' head.

"Thank you, Handles, and well done, well done, mate," he said quietly before placing Handles back on the cushioned crate to rest comfortably in peace. He kept his sad gaze on the Cyberman for a moment longer, then finally looked to Clara. "You see? Everything dies in the end."

"You knew he was dying," Clara stated, seeing how the Doctor reacted it was obvious he had known Handles was going to finally shut off.

"Wanda did, really. I saw all the signs from her. She never can help herself whenever she knows it's someone's time. There's just always that look in her eye . . ." Sighing, he looked at his wife with such sadness in his eyes. "How am I going to tell her? I know she wanted to be there to say goodbye to old Handles."

The two looked over to the horizon as they heard birds beginning to chirp and sing. A warm glow of light rose over the distant mountains. The sunlight shone through the land, lighting up the darkness of Christmas. Clara felt stunned. It was truly a beautiful sight to behold. The way the light lit up the snow . . . It was like crystals shining all over. The Doctor stood up slowly, going over to the edge of the tower. He took in the sight, taking in a deep breath as a warm smile grew on his face.

"Wanda comes up here to see the beauty of Trenzalore," he said quietly. "I come up here for more than that. I come up here . . . to remind myself what it is Wanda is dying to protect. And what I'm protecting as well I suppose." Silence remained between them. Only the crackle of fire and singing of birds made a sound for the two.

"Is that why you sent me away? To protect me?" Clara questioned softly. Seeing those big puppy eyes from the Doctor, she knew her answer. She stood up, going over to him and gave him a hug. "It's okay. I understand why you did it. It was for Wanda, wasn't it? You knew she was going to show up."

"Not just for her. It was for me, too. Neither one of us could stand the thought of having to bury you or watch you grow old on us. It's always been like that for us and our companions." They grew quiet once more, staring off at the sunlight over the horizon. Slowly, the sun sunk back down, sending the world back into the darkness of seeming nightfall.

"Does this place really have to be your graves?" Clara pushed, still not wanting to believe it was the end for her two best friends. "There has to be something more we could do. You have your TARDIS now. Change the future."

"It's a fixed point in time, Clara. Even if I wanted to . . . I can't. Wanda is meant to die on this world, one way or another."

Clara frowned, thinking over those words carefully. "Wait . . . does that mean—."

"—it's not a fixed point for me, no." The Doctor nodded, knowing what the companion was thinking. "But what makes you think I'd ever let Wanda die alone?"

"Does she have to die? Can't she just this once think about herself? Both of you, think about that. Think about it. Just once, after all this time, both of you, just think about your own lives and save yourselves," Clara begged him, pleading for neither of them to die.

"And what then?" the Doctor countered. "What happens when we run away from here? Hmm? Trenzalore is destroyed. Gallifrey trapped forever on the other side of the walls of the universe. And one day I will finally die and nothing will be there to stop Alpha from activating. It's not just Trenzalore and Gallifrey at stake here, Clara. It's the whole universe."

"But Alpha said all you have to do is prove to her a reason the universe should live," Clara disputed. "Just give her that reason and then when you die it won't matter anymore. She won't activate and kill everyone."

"But I haven't given her a reason. Don't you see? Nothing will be good enough for Alpha to find hope in the universe staying the way it is. Hell, I don't even think there's anything good enough worth saving if I'm honest with myself. Yes, she's so much better than what she had been before. But that promise is all that kept her from giving into the madness inside of her. Once I'm gone, the promise is finished and, well, you know what happens then." The Doctor let out a sigh, leaning against the concrete barrier around the bell tower with his arms and staring out at the darkness of Christmas.

Clara crossed her arms, still determined to think of something for the two. "Could we get her to make a new promise? One that doesn't involve whether you die or not?"

"I've been trying to think of that, too. But nothing's come to me. No promise seems worthy enough for her to keep. We're lucky enough she had made that promise with me in the first place." He gripped his hands tightly together, looking back at Clara with a weak smile. "This has probably been the universe's plan from the beginning. A way to get me to finally accept my death."

"Doctor!" the voice of Tasha echoed loudly throughout the land, making both the Doctor and Clara jump. "The Church of Silence requests parlay. Your rights and safety are sanctified."

"Ssh! People are sleeping!" the Doctor yelled at the hologram of Tasha that hovered over them. He glanced over worriedly at his wife, fearing that the loud voice had woken her. Indeed it had as Wanda began to stir on the chair, her face scrunched up as she let out a groan and held her head.

"Oh, my head," she mumbled as she leaned forward and gripped at her head. Her mind gave a nasty throb of pain. Even Alpha groaned.

And we were having such a nice dream. Alpha grumbled crossly. Who the hell woke us up?

That would be Tasha by the sounds of it. Wanda responded, giving another groan of pain.

Damn her timing.

"Wanda, how bad is it?" she heard the Doctor question her and felt his gentle hands rubbing her shoulders to soothe her.

"Doctor, Wanderer, you both are requested—," Tasha's booming voice spoke again.

"Yes, yes, we heard you the first time!" the Doctor yelled back, annoyed with the woman when seeing Wanda wincing in pain again. "We'll be right up! Just give us a moment!" Tasha's face disappeared from the sky, leaving them alone. He turned to his wife once more. "Come on, dear. Let's get you down to bed."

"But Tasha—," Wanda mumbled, trying to protest as she knew they were needed by the woman.

"Can just deal with me this time," the Doctor said sternly, knowing how much Wanda always wanted to push herself in helping. But it was never a good idea. Especially with her latest condition. Slowly, he helped her up and guided her back downstairs. Clara followed just behind him and brought his cane along with. Soon, he had Wanda on their bed and under the covers. She still winced from what pain she felt in her head but stared in concern at her husband.

"Doctor, I should really—," she tried to say, to warn him.

"Ssh. Rest now. I'll be back before you know it," the Doctor whispered, leaning down and giving her a tender kiss.

"No, really, Doctor, there's something—," she tried once more. But her body went limp into the bed and she breathed in and out peacefully from sleep that overtook her. The Doctor gradually removed his fingers from her temple, feeling guilt in having placed her to sleep. However, if it helped keep the pain away, it was worth it to him. Whatever it took to make peace for his wife, he would do it. Always.

XxXxXxXx

The Daleks took over the Papal Mainframe. Tasha and her followers had been transformed into Dalek puppets, and the force field placed around the planet of Trenzalore is now slowly disappearing. It would only last for so long now before all hell broke loose. The standoff was finally over. War was finally coming to Trenzalore.

The Doctor thought over all of this while he limped back to his home in the tower. The morning hours on Christmas were still peaceful. The force field around the planet was still holding for now. But how long would that last? Could disappear tomorrow. Or the next day after that. It was only a matter of time now. But he tried not to think about that. Instead, he thought over his guilt of tricking Clara once more into going back to her own time with turkey in hand from the TARDIS. Only to have his ship come right back as a reminder to himself on what he must do now for his new home. For what he must do now for his still sleeping wife. How would she take in learning about Tasha? Wanda and Tasha had become good friends over the centuries. Oh, it would break her hearts once she found out what happened to the old Mother Superious.

Snow blew in behind the Doctor as he walked into the tower. He shut the door, keeping out the cold so that the room stayed warm enough for him and his wife. He walked slowly over towards the bed, looking down at Wanda who still slept on. Completely unaware of the dangers to come for them now. Or, perhaps she was aware. After all, she did seem to try to warn him about what happened to Tasha before he forced her to sleep.

"Tasha will keep fighting the Dalek inside her you know."

The Doctor stiffened, pausing just at the bed as he had been about to settle down beside his wife. He saw her eyes were still closed, but obviously, she was awake already.

"Sorry, did I wake you?" he asked quietly.

"No. Alpha woke me up. She's rather annoyed that you forced us to sleep," Wanda replied softly, opening her eyes to stare sleepily at him. Tears welled up in her emerald eyes, looking so sad as she gazed at him. "All those poor people. Poor Tasha. What are we going to do now, Theta? Those warships around the planet will begin attacking tomorrow. How can we stop them all?" He had her scoot over so that he could climb into bed beside her. He pulled her up to him, holding her tightly as he rubbed circles on her back.

"We'll worry about that when we face them. For now, let's get some rest," he whispered gently into her ear.

"I love you, my Theta," Wanda breathed, gripping onto him as she buried her face into his chest.

"And I love you, my Wanderer."

XxXxXxXx

When Clara stepped out of the TARDIS, she immediately felt shaken by the sight surrounding her and the ship. Trenzalore was finally a true war zone, with screaming people running around in fright for their lives, firing blasts coming from guns which echoed throughout the world, and fires that erupted and burned everywhere. Buildings had crumbled into pieces. Trees torn from their roots and lay in ruins on the ground. The land appearing barren and dark from the lack of snow which touched the place. The brunette jumped when a firing blast came just behind her, making crumbling bits of dirt scatter around her. All she could think of how long it had been since she had last been here. How long since the Doctor had tricked her once again into going back to her home on Earth?

Clara looked to see if the person who had brought her here had followed her out of the TARDIS. But just as her friend had said, there was no place for them there on Trenzalore. To be honest, Clara still felt reeling in the fact that her old friend could even fly the TARDIS to begin with. Or that they were . . . Clara shook her head, knowing that her friend had been right. There would be more time to talk about all that later. For now, her other friends needed her. The Doctor and the Wanderer needed their companion.

Clara walked as fast as she could to the bell tower of the village. Fire and people still screamed and shouted around her. But she paid no mind to that. There were more important things to her now. She felt in a daze almost in the way she slowly opened the door to the tall building. The moment the door shut behind her, it was as if the sounds of the war suddenly came to a stop. Everything was still, quiet, and sombre in the large room she stepped into. Nothing much had changed in the room. The walls were still covered in children's pictures. There were still wooden shavings and toys being built scattered about the place. The only thing that made Clara notice how aged everything was the layer of dust which had settled over the pictures on the walls. She glanced over to the one round window in the room briefly. The way the fires from outside shone through the window, it almost made it look like that of morning light. The only other light source in the room came from the crack in the wall.

Clara looked at the two people who were in the room. Taking in everything about them, she felt her eyes watering up by the sight of them. There was the Doctor, sitting in a rocking chair which faced the crack in the wall, whittling away at a wooden toy. He had aged so much since last she had seen him. So much more than what she had been expecting. His hair had thinned on the top and was frizzy out on the sides, completely grey by this point. He wore his round glasses which rested almost on the edge of his nose. Even the clothes on him were just about as old and frayed looking as him.

Then, Clara soon gazed over to the bed in the corner, seeing Wanda laying there in a deep slumber. If there were any words the companion could think to describe how the Wanderer appeared on that bed, it would be an older version of Sleeping Beauty. The way the white hair of Wanda's spread around her and on the pillows where she lay on her back. Her hands had been placed together over her stomach, rising up and down with the even breathes she let out. The Wanderer still looked a few decades younger than the Doctor, by human standards anyway. Though the light blue tunic she wore was just as frayed as the Doctor's clothes. Clara could also see that Wanda was just as worn by the years as the Doctor. Her cheeks were sunken in and there were dark circles under her eyes. She appeared so thin and frail now. Was she already on her deathbed?

"Barnable?" she heard the Doctor asked offhandedly, making her snap out of her daze of staring at them.

"Clara," the companion whispered brokenly. She watched as the Doctor stiffened. Slowly, he placed the toy he was working on down and turned to face her. He looked as though he wanted to be shocked by her presence there. But instead, he just smiled sadly.

"Ah. Again, Wanda proves me wrong," he chuckled fondly, leaning back in his chair once more. "She said you would be coming back soon. I told her there was no chance, but . . . Either that or I'm going crazy. Could be that, too." His voice sounded rough, like that of a dying man. It made Clara feel like crying even more, but she hurriedly wiped away her tears and placed on a smile. She did not want this to be a sad moment. If this was the last time either he and Wanda got to see her, then she wanted them to remember her smile. Not her tears.

"Merry Christmas," Clara said quietly, walking over to be beside the Doctor.

"Merry Christmas," he replied, smiling as though that phrase had become a joke to him now. Suppose it had from living so long in a place called Christmas.

Clara glanced towards Wanda, afraid to ask about the woman's health. "How . . . How is Wanda?"

"Sleeping. It's the only time she isn't in pain."

It broke her heart hearing how woeful the Doctor sounded when saying this, and to know just how much pain her dear friend Wanda went through. "Is it like that every day for her? Isn't there something . . ." She bit her lip, knowing that really by this point there was not a thing she could do for either of them now.

"No, not every day. She has her good days. The TARDIS helps with that . . . Had helped with that." The Doctor looked back at his love. An expression on his face as one would have if they were just waiting now for their loved one to pass on in peace. "I put her to sleep only a few minutes ago. She'll be resting for a while now." Before Clara could do or say anything more, a booming voice broke outside, making the sounds of war finally reach those within. The peaceful spell that had been within the tower was finally broken.

"Doctor! The Doctor will be brought! The Daleks demand the Doctor!" came the booming voice of a Dalek. They felt the room around them shake. Obvious signs of a vast spaceship coming over the bell tower. The door to the place opened swiftly as a young man ran into the room.

"They're here," said the young man, sounding urgent and fearful. "The Daleks, we can't stop them. They want you." The Doctor turned carefully in his seat, looking back at the young man.

"Oh, all right, Barnable," the Doctor said wearily. He then frowned in thought. "Are you Barnable?"

"No, Doctor," the young man replied. From his expression, Clara could tell that this happened often for the Doctor now, getting people's faces confused from those of the past.

"It's okay, Barnable, don't worry," responded the Doctor, not sounding as though he caught on to what the young man had said. "I . . . have got a plan." The Time Lord smiled and tapped his nose knowingly. "Off you pop." The young man nodded, looking a little more confident now as he ran back out of the room.

"So what's the plan, then?" Clara whispered, shaking her head at the Time Lord. "Best case scenario: run and don't look back? Or make it all up as you go along and just hope for the best? 'Cause I know you and Wanda. Neither one of you ever has a plan." She smiled weakly at her humourless joke, wishing she could sound happier for the Doctor.

"Yeah, but people love it when I say that," the Doctor laughed, standing up slowly from his chair. He leaned heavily on his cane in hand, letting out a long breath as he and Clara stood to face each other. Each of them felt like there should be more said between them. Each of them felt as though the end was coming too soon. But what more could be said by this point? The Doctor was accepting his seeming death, and Clara knew there was nothing more she could say to convince him otherwise. Except . . .

"So is that it? You're going up there now, facing the Daleks and letting them kill you while your wife stays down here to die? All on her own?" Clara said sternly. She did not want to sound mean or start an argument between them. But she hoped her words might push him into thinking of something, anything, that might save both him and Wanda. Even if it meant changing a fixed point in time. Clara knew how bad it could be when something fixed was changed, but at this point, she did not care what consequences there were. She just wanted her best friends to live. There just had to be something here she was meant to do. Why else would her old neighbourhood friend show up out of nowhere and give her the biggest shock in her life just a moment ago? It must be some sort of sign from the universe. Right? Wanda always said the universe worked in weird ways like that. Why not this time?

"Actually, I was hoping that you would be here for her," the Doctor said quietly, sounding even more tired now. He very carefully pulled something out of his pocket and handed it over to Clara. She noticed it looked very similar to a device he had tricked her to use to get her off of Trenzalore in the first place. "Have someone help you move Wanda to the TARDIS. Once you have her comfortable in our room, use this to get yourselves out of here. There's a nice place I know where Wanda would want her ashes to be buried."

"Don't say that," Clara said weakly, feeling her tears finally coming up and falling freely down her face.

"Clara, please," the Doctor pleaded, giving her his big puppy eyes, "give me this last thing. Give an old man some peace in knowing his wife is safe. I don't want Wanda to die here in war. I want her to be at peace in the TARDIS. The one place she ever felt at home. Both her and Alpha. They deserve that before they go. Please, Clara."

Clara felt like breaking down into sobs, but she held herself together. Nodding firmly, she took at the Doctor in determination, wanting to give him this reconciliation before dying. "Okay. I'll make sure she's at peace. I promise."

The Time Lord stared at her with such a warm gaze as his body visibly relax. Apparently, this really had been a true agony for him thinking his wife would not pass on in peace. But now, knowing their companion would make certain his Wanderer had the best moments before she left this universe, it gave him true solace. He smiled as he gave Clara one last hug. "Thank you, Clara Oswald. Our impossible girl. Go have yourself a brilliant life, eh?" He moved away then, sending her one last smile before making his way up the spiralling stairs that were in the centre of the room.

Clara backed up from the stairs, trying to pull herself together once again. She rubbed at her face, getting rid of any more tears as she looked over at the bed in the room. She froze when seeing Wanda there, sitting up in the bed and staring back evenly. The Wanderer looked just as tired as the Doctor when awake. Just as accepting of what was to come. Clara glanced at the stairs, making certain the Time Lord was completely away before moving to the woman on the bed.

"Hello, my Clara," Wanda spoke with a voice that was hoarse with age, yet so soft and tender. She gave the companion a smile that made her eyes sparkle. Clara felt tears come to her eyes once more. She went over to the Wanderer when the woman waved her over. Wanda took both of her hands as they sat on the bed together. "Here. Let me look at you." The once blonde woman smiled even more. "Oh, I'd forgotten how much I love your eyes. And have you always been this young?" Clara wanted to laugh and tease Wanda for what she said. But the shaking hands from the woman only made Clara's heartbreak even more.

"Are you much pain?" Clara whispered, biting her lip as she tried to be gentle when thumbing the skin on Wanda's hands.

"Don't worry about me," Wanda sighed, shaking her head. "I've had enough worrying from the Doctor."

"Sorry. I know you have," Clara said, nodding as she knew just how the Doctor was with his wife. She glanced towards the door. "Think you have enough energy to walk with me outside? There's, um, something the Doctor wants us to do." When she looked back at Wanda, she knew the woman had heard the two talking earlier. Just by that sad look, Wanda knew. Clara gave a guilty expression. "Sorry. He made me promise."

Wanda nodded slowly. "I know he did."

"Then . . . should we leave now, or . . ." Upon seeing the woman's expression, Clara felt her heart break even more. How much more could she take on this day? "No. No, not you, too. Please, don't make me choose who's promise I'm going to keep."

"I'm sorry, Clara. But the Doctor needs you more than I do right now. He always has." Wanda moved a hand over and patted it on Clara's. "I was always meant to die on this day. Not the Doctor. So, I need to know that he has someone there for him after I'm long gone."

"No. No, neither of you needs to die today. Please, don't you dare leave us behind. You need to fight this and change time. Do it for your husband. Do it for me. Please." Clara's lip trembled as the tears flowed freely down her face.

Gently, Wanda reached up and wiped away Clara's tears. She then cupped the side of the young woman's face, staring at her in sadness. "I'm sorry, Clara. Please, don't cry." Her thumb continued to stroke the side of Clara's face. "I never told you, but . . . I still see you like the daughter I never had. I hope that's okay."

A watery laugh left Clara as she smiled shakily. "Of course that's okay. You can see me any way you want. I won't ever care." She grabbed Wanda's hand, holding it in place. Still, she wanted to protest whatever Wanda was about to say or do. But just like with the Doctor, she felt as though nothing she would say could change this now.

"Clara, I need you to do something very important for me." The gaze of the Wanderer stayed so steadily with Clara's. It was a gaze of a last request. "Promise me . . . Don't let the Doctor be alone. He can't be alone. He needs someone there in his life to remind him to care and be kind. Because after today, he's going to struggle with that. It'll be hard. Somedays you'll want to walk away and just give up. But promise me you won't. Not until you're certain he's in a better place and that he'll finally be healed enough to see himself as a Doctor again. He needs a doctor after today, and you need to be that doctor for him." More tears were wiped away from Clara's face. "Promise me. Please, Clara, promise me this."

"I promise," Clara breathed weakly, voice wavering as she tried so hard to hold in her sobs. She leaned forward then, grabbing onto Wanda and giving the woman a strong hug. Slowly Wanda returned her hold, rubbing a hand through the brunette's hair tenderly.

"Thank you, my Clara. Know that I've always loved you," Wanda whispered into her ear. She then gave a kiss on Clara's head before slowly standing up.

"But how can I keep that promise if the Doctor's walked off to face his death?" Clara questioned as she stood up as well.

"Simple. Answer their question." A nod was given towards the glowing crack in the wall.

"But . . . I don't know the Doctors name."

"Oh, Clara. There is only one name they have ever needed to hear. They just don't realize it yet." Wanda walked away after that. Once she reached the door, she looked back and met Clara's brown eyes once more. With one last smile of 'goodbye', Wanda walked out into the warzone of Trenzalore.

Wanda kept her steps as careful as she could. There was no more shooting done by the Daleks or the defenders of this planet, thankfully. So she did not have to duck nor weave amongst blasts from guns. Instead, the struggle came with just walking to her destination, the TARDIS. Her legs were weak, close to giving out. Her hearts beat very slowly, on their last moments now. Her vision blurred, making it hard for her to keep focus on where she needed to be. But she pushed on, knowing where she wanted to go. It was the one place she had always wanted to be when she died. Besides . . . it made certain she would not be there for the Doctor to try anything funny after he was given a new regeneration cycle by the Time Lords. Knowing him, he would waste all his new given life just to bring her back. And she would never forgive herself if the Doctor gave up his regeneration energy just for silly old her.

Finally, she made it to the TARDIS. The ship had already opened the doors for her, allowing her to stumble into the control room. It seemed she had made it just in time, too, as her legs gave out the moment she stepped into the ship. The doors closed behind her, leaving the room in dead silence. Wanda lay there for a moment, panting as she felt out of breath. Shakily, she pulled herself across the floor towards the console. A small groan of pain left her as she pushed herself into sitting position. Very carefully she turned herself around to lean her back against the console. She winced when she tried staring around the control room. The lights were rather too bright for her old eyes. Very quickly, the lights around the room dimmed, making it easier for her to see.

"Thank you, old girl," Wanda whispered, smiling gratefully as she patted the floor beneath her. "You always know exactly how to help." A soothing hum came from the TARDIS as a caressing energy of warmth surrounded Wanda. She knew it was Sexy's way of giving her one last hug. She rubbed her hand along the floor in respond, wanting to have the old girl know how much she loved her, too. "You'll keep the Doctor straight after I'm gone. I know you will. Can't let your Thief get off track now, can you?" She laughed softly, enjoying the light song Sexy sent to her in response. Her gaze became more sombre then as she stared at the doors across from her. "Make sure you keep the Doctor out until I'm fully gone. We can't have him give up all his lives just to save me. Not after the universe just gave him a second chance."

The TARDIS hummed in agreement as the sound of the doors locking firmly came. Wanda smiled, nodding in thanks to the ship. She hung her head for a moment, trying to keep it together as she felt tears coming. Her hearts slowed down even more now as she felt her mind beginning to slip. She tried again to call for Alpha in her head, but, just as there had been for many hours now, there came no response. Alpha had gone to sleep a while ago as she had no more energy to stay awake. The only thing that kept Wanda from being heartbroken was still feeling the presence of Alpha just there. Alive and well, but only just sleeping now. At least Alpha was at peace. But Wanda still wished they could have had a more proper goodbye.

"I wished I could have told him goodbye," Wanda whispered as she sat up straighter to lean completely back against the console. "There was so much more I could have said to him . . . But I . . ." Her lip trembled as tears slowly ran down her face. "I just wanted to at least say goodbye." She closed her eyes, feeling her left heart give a stutter before finally cease its beating. Now, only her right weakly remained, slowing down even more with each beat.

"Why say 'goodbye' when 'hello' is so much better?"

Wanda slowly opened her eyes. Turning her head to the side, she saw Nine sitting there beside her. His arms crossed and giving her a light grin.

"You came," she breathed as a smile.

"Well, of course. We couldn't let you be alone, now could we?"

She looked to her other side, seeing Ten crouched down there beside her with a foxy smile.

"How could we, when you never let us feel alone?"

Looking forward, she saw Eleven standing there. His smile warm and loving like always. With a bit of a boyish look, too.

"Tell me . . . did we have a good life together? Did I make you happy?" she asked quietly, wishing to know this more than anything.

"Oh, you've always helped us feel happy," Ten assured her.

"Never a doubt in our minds," Nine agreed.

"Only the best of moments with our Wanderer," Eleven finished. Wanda sighed in relief, smiling as she looked at them all.

"I'm so glad to hear that," she breathed. She sucked in a breath, trying to keep herself awake still for them. "I just wish . . . there was more I could have done for you."

"Don't worry about us," Eleven spoke to her softly.

"We're here for you now," Nine said just as quietly.

"Time for the journey's end," Ten consoled sweetly. "Your story was so beautiful to us."

"But it's time for the end now. Just like the end that must come to all stories," spoke Eleven.

"Though don't think we'll ever forget you. Not one single moment," Nine promised her. "For they were fantastic."

"Molto bene," agreed Ten. All three Doctors smile at her. More tears of joy trailed down her face as she gazed at them all, taking in every detail of the Doctors she loved.

"And I'll never forget any of you," she promised in a whispering breath. "I love you. My Doctor."

"We love you. Our Wanderer," whispered Eleven, his smile the kindest she had ever seen. "But it's time now."

"Time for our last adventure," Nine breathed into her ear.

"One last trip," sighed Ten in her other.

Eleven smiled, holding out a hand to her and said, "Time to travel with the stars."

Wanda smiled as her vision blurred even more. But the image of her Doctor stayed clear with a glow of white surrounding him.

And her hand held his for the last time.

XxXxXxXx

*hard sobbing* Yes, I really am crying. I'm going to miss Wanda dearly. With all my heart. I loved her so much. But with one story ends, a new one begins. If you wonder what I mean by that, then look no further than the Epilogue. ;) Don't worry, I will be posting it right after posting this chapter.

Any reviews left for this chapter will be answered in the next part to come. Hope that's okay. :)

Reviewers:

Girostritron: You're right. It's not over. Still have the Epilogue to go. ;) Sorry, bad joke there. Don't worry, many questions will finally be completely answered in the next part to come. So I hope to see you there!

bored411: No Wanda around for them, unfortunately, but maybe another will be. ;) I just want to say thank you so much for sticking around for the series. Really, really hope to see you again in the next part to come. :) Take care!

Nai0310: Aww, don't be sad. Wanda was happy in the end. Truly she was. :) There is a bit of a surprise. Tune in to the Epilogue at the end to find out. ;) Until we meet again in the future. Hope to see you around for part four!

X-Lisa-Anne-X: I'm so very sorry. :( I don't think even the Time Lords could have helped Wanda escape her fate. I hope that the Epilogue might help clear up some things for you and to make you a bit happier. I also hope to see you again for the next part of the series to come. :) Take care and have the best life.

Aliza Shepard: Well thank you! I just have a lot of self-doubts. I really hope that you'll like the next part to come just as much in the future. :) Take care!

Paigetcute: I'm so very sorry. :( Trust me, my hearts are torn and broken as well. Don't worry, there will be more to come and all questions answered. I hope you liked the ending. Even if it wasn't as happy as we all had been hoping for. See you in the next part to come!

lautaro94: Well, that sounds cool, too. Glad you enjoyed the last chapter. :)

Needy Nancy: Yep, not every day. But on some days, there is just no getting around it. :(

normandy1701: Aww, I'm sorry. *hugs* Probably gonna need a lot more hugs after this one. I know I do. :( I hope that it wasn't too sad and that maybe you enjoyed it a little bit. Please let me know what you thought of it. Hope to see you again in the next part to come. :)

LegendsOfTime: I know. I'm the worst. :( But there's still more to come. Hope to see you around for the next part.

Momochan77: I know I cried hard writing this last chapter. :( It hurts knowing that Wanderer's story has come to a close, but at least there will be a new story to come. I hope to see you again in the future to come. Can't wait to see what you think of part four. :)

swimmjacket: Trust me, I'm crying as well. :( It's hurt him through the ages, but as he and Wanda aged together, he came to accept it. Hate to make the comparison, but it's similar to someone having a family member suffering a terminal disease. I know, I've had to go through it with my grandmother. :( We will be seeing Twelve, and maybe Thirteen, but not with Wanda. I'm sorry. :( Hope that you're okay with that. Also hope that I'll be seeing you in the next part to come and you'll enjoy it just as much as you enjoyed this part. :) Until next time!

grapejuice101: Well, not done from that chapter. But sadly . . . :( I'm so sorry. I hope that maybe you'll find more joy coming from part four. Hope to see you there!

Bumblebee1013: I'm sorry. :( I know I cried through this chapter. I hate endings. I really do.

mjahappy: I know. :(

Ichigo0-0Rose: I know. I'm sorry. I cried rivers as well. :( More of less getting us all ready for part four. But believe me when I say it will be much lighter than this part of the series. Hope to see you there. :)

SakuraRcoa: Same here. Glad you liked it though.

Whovianeverlark17: I'm sorry. :( Don't worry, I cried as well. Glad you liked it still in the end. Hope that the ending is just as good. Even if more crying is involved. Really hope to see you again the future!

CJ/OddBall: Yes, I'm afraid she never does. I'm so sorry. :( There's still more story to tell . . . just not with our Wanda. I know I'm going to miss her dearly. I really hope to see you in the next part and that you liked the ending. Even if it was terribly sad.

KatieWinchester02: I'm so sorry. :( I know, I'm the worst. But at least there's part four to look forward to, right? Right?

LovableAmethyst129: Nope, not going to remain a mystery. The mystery should be solved very soon. ;) Hope that you like it! And the next part to come as well. Thanks for sticking around so long with the series and really hope that you'll continue to enjoy what's to come next. :)

Bambam41: I know. I'm sorry. :(

Moony R J Lupin: haha There's always time to do maths. ;) I suppose that you'll find out about Aleena soon enough. Maybe just around the corner. Hope that you'll like it!

N7SpaceHamster: As always, no worries about late reviews. ;) I'm just glad to see from you again! Hope life is going good for you. :) Yep, doing well myself and out of the doctor's office. Sorry to say but your feelings were correct. We are at the end now. Nothing more than to wait until part four to come. Glad you enjoyed all the introductions there. It's always nice seeing from a character's perspective of things. Wanda will always go along with the Doctor's plans, even if it involves another woman like that. Because why wouldn't she? She and the Doctor are already fully together and love each other with all their hearts that she knows she has nothing to fear or be jealous of. Plus, Time Lords see love and switches between other relationships much differently than we humans do. Probably something we can never comprehend. Wanda really hasn't kept that a good secret throughout the years haha. But there was nothing real big let out. Just a few details here and there. Second and Third Wanda being together is just too priceless haha. Nah, not an accident there at all. Wanda has been waiting for that moment forever and was just dying to let loose on the spoilers. ;) Glad you liked all the moments between the three of them. Or . . . six of them. Always worried I wouldn't get it down good between them all. Could be that with the promise. Or just the years of going through hardships which led to the barriers finally breaking. Who knows really. Left up to you readers to think about. ;) Nah, just a coincidence with the last name there. Glad you liked at reveal there with Aleena showing up.
One before the last. But yes, pretty much the last one to go. There's different kind of happy endings really. Just because the ending has a character death doesn't necessarily mean it's a sad ending. If a character dies in peace and is happy with how their life has been then really it is a happy ending. A good example of this is Bicentennial man. Really recommend that movie if you ever want to give it a watch. :) Wanda just really wanted to get all that hate for the Master off her chest before the end. Guess it didn't work out all that well, but at least she tried. River was never at Trenzalore on that day. Just Clara. But sorry, no getting around a fixed point in time there. Wanda was always meant to be lost on that day. :( Really hope that you enjoyed the ending. Even if there was a few more tears to shed for it. Hope to see you again in the future and can't wait to hear from you again! :D

Thank you all again so very, very much. This journey with you all has been . . . fantastic. Brilliant. I love you all!

~Tinker~