Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who or any of its characters, places, plots...Yeah you get the picture. My first ever Master/Rose fic, never thought I'd write one, but actually I really love writing it!

Chapter 9-The Valiant

The Master reclined back in his chair as the private jet soared towards its destination; his eyes were closed as he dozed peacefully, completely at ease with his plans for the dawn. Loud bashing noises and muffled shouts echoed through the spacious cabin from the hold. Flicking his eyes open the Master frowned with annoyance, he sighed, raised his eyes to the heavens and shouted angrily,

"Can someone please shut them up?!" There were a few more thuds and violent crashes and then all was quiet. Closing his eyes with a satisfied smile, the Master rested again. Sat across the cabin was his wife, her legs drawn up onto the chair and her eyes half closed with boredom, waiting was the hardest part. She shuffled in her chair and huffed exaggeratedly, she could not remain still and she despised being bored. She tapped her fingers on the arm of the chair in the similar rhythm of drums, she dropped her feet to the floor and cracked her knuckles.

"Bored?" asked the Master from his make-shift bed, remaining in his inert, horizontal position. Rose sighed; she wrung her hands before replying sarcastically,

"Ya think?"

"Only a little while now," he reassured, glancing quickly at his watch to check the time. Rose nodded absent-mindedly,

"The waitin's the worst part," she moaned, then leaned back resting her head back against the seat. She looked over to her husband only to find that he was soundly asleep, uttering quiet, little snores from his lips. Releasing a long breath of air slowly Mrs Saxon gave a contented smile as she watched his peaceful figure and attempted to keep herself calm and still, after all the waiting may be deadly dull and mind-numbing but it did add to the suspense.

Around half an hour later there was a slight bump and screeching sound that made the Master wake from his pleasant slumber with a start. His unkempt hair, rumpled suit and questioning, groggy face was enough to make his hyper-active spouse burst out in a fit of hysterics. Still not quite with it, the Time Lord pulled his fingers through his hair and yawned widely as Rose's joyous giggles quietened. With wobbly legs and unfocused eyes Harry Saxon stumbled from the lounged back chair and tottered in an unstable manner towards a mirror hung on the plane's interior wall. Rose followed him and stood behind him as he blinked and yawned yet again, his expression becoming more alert with every passing moment. With her trademark, toothy grin that seemed to light up the entire room she smoothed down his hair with her fingers and tightened his loose tie, fixing the knot securely at the neck of his shirt and flattening the creases from the thick fabric of his suit jacket. Finally she rested her head on his shoulder, wrapped her arms around his waist and looked at their entwined reflection in the shiny, looking glass.

"Lookin' better sleepin' beauty," she teased with a crooked smile on her lips. The Master pouted playfully and the two laughed softly their eyes never leaving their reflection.

"Our kingdom awaits," the Master said as the tell-tale click of the moving steps locking into place echoed through the aeroplane. The door slid open without a sound and he slipped sneakily from Rose's arms and stood before the open portal, looking out over the busy runway of the Valiant. Two of his own men were stood waiting patiently at the foot of the steps for their orders as he observed the flight deck with a pleased smile and a happy nod. Turning round to meet his partner's enquiring gaze Harry offered out his arm and gave an encouraging wink, "Are you ready Mrs Saxon?" Rose poked her tongue out light-heartedly and walked towards him with enthusiasm, not quite believing that soon everything would be theirs, everything would be absolutely perfect. She took his arm and locked eyes with him, her face close so close to his that he could smell her familiar, comforting perfume and see every recognizable imperfection on her skin.

"Take me to your leader Mr Saxon," she chorused, and with a unified, gentle laugh the pair walked off to meet their destiny together.

The Master and his wife stood in the hall with set faces of determination, his arms were crossed defiantly over his chest whilst she had one hand on her hip and was staring at the closed doors expectantly. The automatic door eased open with the hiss of escaping air and Harry stepped into the crowded conference room, Rose strutting along close behind. Stepping around the large table and past various uniformed or suited officials the couple approached the proud-looking President of the United States.

President Winter's was directing his staff to make sure that everything was focused on him for the first official meeting with the alien Toclafane when he spotted the pain that called himself the British Prime Minister and his forthright, blonde-bimbo of a wife. He uttered a curse under his breath as Mr Saxon announced his presence loudly,

"Is there anything I can do?" He asked raucously, pretending to be helpful although Winters was sure it was all a facade to cause more hard feelings and confusion at a very sensitive time, "I could make the tea," he suggested innocently, before frowning and adding, "Or isn't that American enough?" His eyes searched Winter's face for any tell-tale signs of anger or annoyance. He found plenty. Rose smiled that sickly-sweet smile and her brown eyes glinted mysteriously in the harsh yellow light.

"We could make grits," she said, her blaring London accent making the President's ear ache, she may be a fairly attractive, young woman but she was so uncouth and uncultured. Flicking his eyes down to look adoringly at his companion Harold gave the America an enquiring look and asked,

"What are grits anyway?" as Rose shrugged her shoulders. Slipping his left arm behind his back he made his left hand clearly visible to Rose, and crossed his fingers hopefully, before uncrossing them and allowing her to slip her right hand into his. Luckily President Winters did not notice, the pair were sure he would find their public display of affection most vulgar. The President arched a single eyebrow and then gave an exasperated look; the men behind him smirked with amusement as the straight faced American gave a short, fast order,

"If you could just sit." And then he turned his back on the blank-faced couple, as if they did not exist.

Moving to keep Rose's hand in his the Master turned as well, a frustrated expression on his youthful face, he raised his eyes to the sky tiredly and did a mocking impression of the President, his spouse pouted slightly beside him. He fiddled with his shirt cuffs distractedly while he scowled and retraced his steps back to two empty seats.

"Misery guts," he whined, clearly irritated. Then his aggravation seemed to vanish and he raised his arms gleefully, motioning at the room proudly, "What do you think? It's good, isn't it," he said rapidly, his excitement getting the better of him. He stepped forward, breaking his much loved contact with Rose and drew a chair out for her in a gentleman-like manner, Rose smiled at his treatment of her, he acted as if she was a queen, no one had ever done that before. As she placed herself elegantly onto the seat she scanned the place with inquisitive eyes, taking in every detail like a new born, he pulled a chair out for himself and sat down next to her,

"It's fabulous!" She cried, chuckling slightly and wrinkling her nose in a most adorable way, "Oh if only mum could see this," she added casually, making her partner smile. If it wasn't for the whole alien thing and wanting global domination they may just pass for an average human couple.

"I'd get a slap," the Master replied, rubbing his cheek in remembrance. Rose shook her head lightly,

"Nah, she liked you. Ya know that, wouldn't have let us get married otherwise."

"Not that I can imagine anyone being able to stop us once we'd decided on it," he recalled fondly, his memories with her were one's he would treasure forever. Rose laughed in response, "But I'll never forget that slap," he finished with a smile, he stared at his rosy cheeked wife and shook his head quickly, trying to disperse the blissfully happy memory and focus on the task at hand, "Anyway, where was I?"

"The Valiant," Rose prompted seriously, looking at him lovingly all the while.

"Ah yes! Some of my best work," he continued smugly, talking to her alone, and even throwing an adoring glance back at his love, "Ministry of Defence. I helped design this place," he paused giving a knowledge smile and adjusting his tie again, dam inventions he thought to himself, "Every detail," the pair leaned towards each other, patiently watching the scene before them unfold. History was about to be made.

President Winters ascended the steps to the bridge, fixing his dreadful, grey suit and positioning himself right before the numerous television cameras.

"2 minutes everyone. In accordance with the terms of the Treaty all armed personnel are requested to leave the flight deck immediately. Thank you," he stated politely, looking down at the officials and world leaders assembled beneath him, power surged through him. That was until his eyes fell on the Saxons, who seemed as pleased as punch, chatting secretly between themselves. Harold must have felt eyes upon him as he turned and waved at the President, who simply frowned in return. Harry then turned back to his wife and the pair burst into laughter, meanwhile the President's frown grew.

Harry gave his wife a secretive look,

"I think he's looking at us," he said with mock sincerity, the blonde leaning forwards to murmur in his ear,

"I don't think he likes us."

"Good!" Exclaimed Harry stubbornly, pecking her on the lips and then peering at his watch wonderingly, Rose craned her neck to spot the time as well,

"How long now?" she asked restlessly, as the Master's sleeve hid the time-keeping contraption once again.

"A minute till broadcast," he said happily, his hand dipping into the inside pocket of his suit jacket pulled out a white paper bag and unfolded the top, passing it in Rose's direction, "Jelly baby," he offered civilly. With a smile Rose plunged her hand into the bag and pulled out a sugary, red, wobbly infant,

"Thanks," she said as she watched him take one as well before they both popped the sweets into their mouths and chewed, serious and threatening looks on their faces as they stared up at the pompous President of America. The American was speaking some sort of rubbish again, finishing on the proclamation,

"Good luck to all of us."

Mr Saxon kept his gaze focused on the greying man, as he gave a stupidly huge grin and raised his eyebrows in a parody of surprise and support. Suddenly the red light was on and the room was on air.

"Fellow American, patriots, people of the world, I stand before you as an ambassador for humanity, a role that I will undertake with the upmost solemnity," the Master leaned back in his chair as the President spoke, he yawned and grinned restlessly, opening and closing his eyes impatiently, meanwhile his wife watched intently trying to keep focused on what was happening now, not what was about to happen. A frown broke out on the Master's face, and he slowly turned his head looking behind him for something that he thought had just caught his eye. Mrs Saxon flicked her eyes to her husband worriedly but he simply gave a secretive smile and looked back up at the American President, "Perhaps our Toclafane cousins can offer us much, but we must remember it is not the material benefits that are important but to learn to see ourselves anew. For long man has looked to the stars and wondered what mysteries they hold. Now we know we are not alone. I ask you now, I ask of the whole human race to join with me in welcoming our friends. I give you the Toclafane. "

Quite a long chapter; but finally getting to a good, action-y bit. Might put up the next chapter quite soon, seeing as I'm not here on Sunday and Monday. Hope your still looking forward to updates! At the mo I'm totally hyping out about the finale, last weeks was AMAZING! But just so there's no SPOILERS, I'm not saying another word evil laugh. Thanks again to ALL my reviewers, you're FABULOUS and WONDERFUL and BRILLIANT and FANTASTIC and I LOVE you all! Keep reviewing for me, they're the only things these days that make me smile. Flutters eyelashes flatteringly.

THANKS! xxxxxx