Farewells

A while later, the TARDIS landed on Earth, in a park. The Doctor, Romana, Sarah Jane, Luke, Maria and Jonathan stepped out of the Timeship. Sarah turned her attention to the parent Time Lords.

"You know, Doctor," she began, "you act like such a lonely man. But look at you!" she cried, joy lighting her face. "You've got the biggest family on Earth...and now, one of your own!" Sarah gestured to Romana and Jonathan, who was talking avidly to Maria and Luke. She turned back to Romana. "Don't worry...I'll take care of him."

"Oh no, don't you worry," Romana replied with a knowing smile of fondness. "If he's anything like his father – and he is, no denying – he'll do his best to take care of his family...you, Sarah Jane."

Sarah smiled at the pair of Time Lords. All of a sudden, she leapt up, remembering something important. "I'd best be getting them back to Bannerman Road! Maria's parents will wonder where she's gone!" she cried. With that, their friend began to lead her team away...

*DW*

"I told you – no more Teleport!" the Doctor scolded Jack Harkness, before turning his attention to Martha Jones. "And Martha, do something about that Osterhagen Key...save the world, one more time."

Martha nodded, and then turned to Romana. "You know...I used to think he was the best," she admitted to her fellow companion. "But d'you know what? You are the best of the best." The Doctor just pouted in mock-hurt, while Romana sniggered – this soon pulled him out of it; he loved the sound of Romana's laugh...it was, for lack of a better word...musical.

"Careful, Martha," Jack told her sternly. "If she's anything like the Doctor, then what you said could inflate her ego." Romana shrugged, before Jack turned to the pair of them. "It was an honour, Lady Romana." He saluted her.

"The honour was mine, Captain Jack Harkness," she replied, saluting him with a Gallifreyan salute. But Jack caught the fundamental meaning. He and Martha turned to embark on their world-saving mission. The two Time Lords turned to see Mickey stepping out of the TARDIS.

"You staying 'ere, then?" the Doctor questioned him.

Mickey just nodded. "Gran passed away a while back," he explained. "There's nothing for me there anymore...certainly not Rose."

By this point, Romana spoke up. "You seemed to be getting along just fine with Martha," she queried. "Just a thought..." she whispered conspiringly. "I'd try and stop Captain Innuendo over there from beating you to the punch."

Mickey chuckled. "Maybe..." With that he headed off after the other two Humans. Romana turned back to the Doctor.

"What of Rose and the other you?" she asked her lover curiously.

"I'm gonna leave them a little gift," he told her. His mind touched hers as he spoke...and she understood. He was going to give them the opportunity to explore a Universe he could not...

*DW* ...Pete's World...Parallel Earth... *DW*

The TARDIS materialised on Parallel Earth, Bad Wolf Bay. All the occupants stepped out onto the beach. Jackie groaned.

"We're in bloody Norway!" she cried in exasperation. She turned to the Duplicate. "I swear, I'm gonna have to have a word with your father!" Jackie then changed the topic of the conversation. "By the way, did I tell ya? Me an' Pete, we had a baby son."

"Really?" the Duplicate asked, to which Jackie nodded. "What did ya name him?"

"Doctor," Jackie told him.

"Really?"

"No, you plum," she teased him. "We called him Tony."

"Hold on..." Rose whispered. She turned to the Time Lords. "This is the parallel Earth, right?"

"Yes," Romana told her. "We took you back to give you a choice. You and-" She sighed, before turning to the Duplicate. "What's your name?" she asked.

He shrugged before giving his reply. "John's as good a name as any, I guess."

Romana turned back to Rose. "You and John can either explore this Universe...or stay in N-Space."

"What do you mean?" Rose asked. This time however, it was the Doctor who answered.

"We're gonna give you a piece of TARDIS Coral," he told her. "Plant it and give it a bit of Time. When it's done, it should grow into another TARDIS." John and Rose's faces lit up at this.

"Goodbye, Doctor," Rose told him. She then turned to his lover. "Nice meeting ya, Romana."

"My pleasure, Rose Tyler," Romana replied with a smile. "Thanks for putting him back together after the loss of Gallifrey."

"Bye, Rose," the Doctor bade her farewell. "Have fun exploring this Universe with John." His attention turned to John. "You as well."

"Same for you," John replied. "Have a good life with Romana."

The Doctor nodded before turning to head back into the TARDIS, Romana and Donna following him. Moments later, the TARDIS disappeared from Pete's World for the last time...

*DW* ...N-Space...Earth... *DW*

"Are you sure you want to go back?" Romana asked Donna. The Human woman nodded.

"Travelling with the Doctor...it's amazin'," Donna admitted. "But it's also terrifying. And I've just seen a whole race of pepperpots try to destroy ev'rything. I just...can't carry on..."

"Fair enough," the Doctor cut in. "Welcome back to Chiswick." So saying, the trio stepped out of the TARDIS into the neighbourhood, heading over to Donna's house. When they got there, they found Wilfred Mott waiting for them.

"Donna!" he cried happily. He allowed himself to be caught in his granddaughter's embrace, before turning to the Doctor and Romana, his gaze resting on the Time Lady with curiosity and awe. "You're the woman off the computer! Romana, wasn't it?"

"Yes," Romana replied. "So your laptop was connected to the Network then? Only you didn't have a webcam?" Wilf nodded. "So that's how Rose knew we were talking."

"You two look after one another, alright?" Donna told them sternly. They nodded. "Best of luck finding Ariva Lykos. And Romana...do your best to wind him up." This garnered an 'Oi!' from the Doctor.

"Thank you, Donna," Romana replied smiling. "And don't worry...I intend to." With that, the Time Lords headed back to the TARDIS. Moments later, it dematerialised...

*DW* ...in the Time Vortex...the TARDIS... *DW*

"So then!" exclaimed the Doctor joyously – he now had Romana back with him, after over 150 years of waiting. "Shall we try and find Ariva Lykos?!"

"Oh yes!" Romana cried happily – she had long ago realised she loved the Doctor, and now she was back with him. With that, the Time Lord couple began searching the TARDIS Databank for the Planet of the Bad Wolf...

*END*