Chapter 8
"WHROOOMP WHROOOOMP WHROOOOOOOOMMMMP"
Nardole was not surprised by the irony of being alone when the Tardis materialized on the grass outside the shed in the middle of the night while everyone slept.
Of course, after provoking Missy endless afternoons about how she would tell her news to the Doctor, nothing more fair than a return of fate.
Although the news was not his to share, he could not hide Missy's presence until the next morning.
He left the delicate pieces of the stabilizer on the counter and left the shed for the computerized chill of that spring dawn. He used to work a few dawns a week, trying to advance the project as much as possible.
"You are a girl again!" He exclaimed in surprise when he came across Bill walking toward him. "But how?"
"Long story, tell you all about it later."
"Nardole!" The Doctor's voice was loud and lively.
"Sir, you are here at last."
"Nice to see you mate."
"What took you so long?
"Meet with an old self, got renegerated, sort of, and came right back. Took me 12 hours, tops."
"Can see it." Nardole soon noticed that just as the time lady the Doctor had rejuvenated a few years, but remained essentially the same. Which, of course, made perfect sense, since heis artron energy had been fractioned. "Let's get out of this cold, come inside."
Together they entered the shed. The incoming lights lit up the ship and there the temperature was more pleasant. As Nardole closed the door, Bill and the Doctor were drawn directly to the spacecraft.
"Look at this!" Bill said cheerfully as she ran her fingers through the ship's hull and walked around it. "It's a hell of a job."
"Remarkable." The doctor nodded, examining the ship carefully. "Are you build it all by yourself?"
'There we go' Thought Nardole. "Actually, no. I'm just helping building it."
Nardole remounted his feet on the ground and put his hands inside his coat pockets, trying to find the right words. The Doctor looked at him, waiting for the explanation that was obviously to come. All the people there were just farmers or too young to have the knowledge needed for a project like that.
"Missy had the idea to build it." He said at last. "We desperately needed something to do and she decided we should build a spaceship."
"How long has it been since we left?" Bill asked in dismay, she understood the situation, the interminable waiting.
"Almost six years."
"I'm trully sorry." She really did, he could see it in her face.
The Doctor ran his hands through his hair as he walked in circles inside the shed, visibly agitated. Nardole could understand why. He had believed that Missy betrayed him, that she had decided to run away rather than stand on his side, but there she was, waiting for his return.
"She was here the whole time?"
"Yes, she was." Nardole nodded. "She arrived shortly after us and never left."
"And the Master?"
"He's gone. She's at the house, probably sleeping."
The Doctor sat down on one of the high benches. His face showed the storm of thoughts inside his head.
"Hey" Bill caught his eye as she approached him. "That's good news, isn't it? She's here, no need to do the hunting."
"I misjudged her, Bill."
"She had changed, a lot." Nardole agreed with a serious tone of voice. "Doctor, you need to know something, ahm..." He took a deep breach an then said it. "She had a baby."
Xxx
As if he had not felt guilty earlier for having to take Missy back to the vault at some point, he felt utterly nauseous now.
Immediately he took all the blame on his intimate. He had invented that ridiculous mission, he had taken them there. Because of him they found The Mastre and Bill had been transformed into a cyberman. He had father that child, even accidentally, and he had left them there waiting for six long years.
"What? She found herself a farmer?" Bill had asked in shock. He had not even managed to articulate a word. Inside his head the word 'baby' was spinning around and around.
"No, she might be nicier now, but she's still her. No male live form would dare approach her like that." Nardole said directly to him.
He did not need another tip. He left the shed immediately for the evening chill.
In twelve hours he had lost everything, including his hope, only to regain everything back and more. He still won an unexpected bonus. He knew the child could only be his, he was sure.
'I'm a dad again.'
He concentrated and managed to feel the presence of two other minds, totally asleep. An old acquaintance of him and a very young one, but pretty strong.
Without realizing it the Doctor was attracted to them and headed for the house, being careful not to make noise and wake or frighten everybody inside.
Uncontrollable and in complete silence, he entered their bedroom, closing the door behind him. It was much simpler than Missy's normal taste and visibly less comfortable than her vault. At view he noticed very few personal belongings and felt even more guilty.
The pale moonlight that entered the small window was enough to go around the time lady's features. He watched her for long seconds. She slept soundly with a calm expression on her face. It had been countless decades since he had seen her like this.
The child, his daughter, was asleep lying on top of Missy, her little head resting angst her mother's sternum and dreams cradled her doubled heartbeat. Her hair was dark, long and full of soft waves, her face partially covered by it.
The Doctor sat in the only armchair in the room, unable to look away from them. He felt his hearts expand inside his chest and realized tears were blurring his eyes. That was what he needed, he noticed, having a family again.
'Are you really here?' He heard the low, delicate, insecure thought.
'I am.'
The child opened her eyes slowly and stared at him. Her eyes shining in the dark with a mixture of disbelief and joy. He could only smile at the girl.
Long seconds passed and she continued her silent admiration.
'Sorry I'm late.' He said in thought. It was obvious since he had lost a lot.
'That's ok. I'm Beta.'
'Nice to meet you Beta, I'm the Doctor.'
'I know who you are.'
The tears that blurred the Doctor's eyes finally trickled down his face and he dried them immediately as the girl released herself from her mother's arms, careful not to wake her, and approach him.
'It's good to have you here.'
They smiled at each other and seconds later Beta was nested angst her father's chest, hearing a new pair of hearts beating as he held her against him.
'Go back to sleep, little one. I'm not going anywhere.' The Doctor said softly sending her calm feelings.
'Promise?'
'As many times you want me to.'
A.N.: Thanks for all the nice reviews, follows and favs. You guys are awesome! xx
