Author's Notes: I do not own Doctor Who. Thank you so much for the reads and the reviews! I really appreciate it. Let me know what you think and happy reading!
The life of an average Time Lord was filled with ceremony and meetings. Endless meetings and somewhat bland appetizers. Malyon was standing the chamber waiting for the High Council to convene.
She soon could not believe her eyes.
"You're here," she said incredulously to the Doctor. "You are actually here."
"This is where the meeting of the High Council was to take place, yes?"
"Yes," she confirmed.
"And as the former president I do have a permanent seat."
"Yes, but you've never come before," said Malyon.
"Well, I'm here now. Ooh, nibbles!," said the Doctor plucking one off the tray of a Gallifreyan waiter.
"How goes your great matter?," asked Malyon.
"My great matter?"
"Miss Noble. I'm curious as to how things are progressing."
"Things are progressing just fine."
Malyon didn't look satisfied by that answer. "In what way? Have you stated your intentions?"
"No, I haven't stated my intentions!," he said in exasperation.
"Then how does she know what they are?," asked Malyon.
"Malyon, you've got to understand that things are done differently among the humans," he said with his best wise Time Lord face.
"Should I go see her family and make overtures?," asked Malyon.
"No! The humans do not arrange marriages. Well, not the ones in Chiswick, at any rate."
Malyon scoffed. "Yours was hardly an arrangement. Father went to visit the Oracle's parents and had to wait a half hour for them to finish laughing. I'm bracing myself for much the same."
"You won't go if you don't want your head bit off. Besides, it's as if I have to alter my whole approach."
"Hardly a loss since your approach was never anything particularly good anyway."
The Doctor looked around the room. "Romana's here."
"Yes, another former president. Even disgraced ones get a seat on the council. Though, mind you, she doesn't think she's disgraced."
"It wasn't her fault."
"It was no great testament to her intellect, either."
Malyon glanced over. Romana was exchanging glances with the Doctor.
"Oh, I'm so glad we got her back from E space," said Malyon.
"What? She's an old friend."
"And you're single. Oh, Rassilon, here she comes."
"Doctor," Romana said. "Malyon."
"Hello, Romana," said the Doctor.
"I was sorry to hear about the Oracle."
"Of course you are," said Malyon.
"Has the High Council given thought to who should fill her post?"
"No," said Malyon. "I'm afraid not."
"I'd like to nominate myself."
"Do you think that's a great idea?," asked Malyon.
"What do you think, Doctor?," asked Romana.
"Welll, these humans require a certain approach."
"Do they?"
"A certain level of understanding, compassion, maybe there's something else you could do. Have you been to the Matrix lately? Needs a complete rehab."
"Excuse me," said Romana.
She walked away.
Malyon turned to her brother. "Why did you not tell me you wanted the post?"
"Why would I want it?"
"Come now. You want it because it will afford you more time to spend with Miss Noble without her being any wiser to it. Not a bad plan, but I wish you had told me. I would have put your name in. Romana will have talked to almost all the council by now."
"I can talk to the council."
"If you had asked for the post when no one wanted it, they would have gladly done it to distract you, but now that Romana wants it, they'll give it to her. I could have helped you talk to the council."
"Would they really pick Romana over me?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"In the vain hope of having someone take the post seriously. She is awfully eager to redeem herself. This regeneration has a chip on her shoulder."
"Well, I'm sure I can persuade them that I'm the right man for the job."
It was Donna's first day back at the office. She found Mr Frobisher there along with Ms Spears temp.
"I'm afraid we have quite a day ahead of us," said Frobisher. "The Time Lords have dispatched their new liaison."
"Who is it?," asked Donna. "Anyone we know?"
Frobisher handed Donna a slip of paper with something unpronounceable on it.
"How do you pronounce that?," asked Donna.
"I've been trying all morning," said Frobisher.
"Well, do you suppose I should introduce myself or-"
A woman cleared her throat. Frobisher and Donna turned around to see Romana.
"Who is this?," asked Romana.
"This is Donna Noble, your secretary."
"Secretary?"
"Yes," said Donna, "I handle your correspondence, keep your diary, take notes, but sorry, I can't pick up your dry cleaning or buy your Christmas presents." She finished with a chuckle which Frobisher joined her in.
Romana didn't join them.
"Of course, I guess if you were really busy and it was on my way or something..."
"I do not have such requirements."
"Right-o then," said Donna. "Sorry, ailly question, but how is your name pronounced?"
"What's the problem?"
"It's just if I'm going to be your secretary, I really ought to be able to say your name."
"Romanadvoratrelundar."
Donna tried to process that.
"Sorry, could you say that really slowly?"
"Where did you receive your education?"
"What?," asked Donna.
"For instance, I graduated with a Triple First from the Academy. And you?"
"I took a secretarial course at Pitman Training," said Donna. "Shorthand. Typing. Hundred words a minute."
Romana looked at Frobisher. "Are all your subordinates similarly qualified?"
"Miss Noble was specially requested by the Oracle."
Romana eyed her. "Was she?"
Donna turned to Frobisher. "You never told me that."
"She said not to."
"Why would she say that?," asked Donna.
"Excuse me," said Romana.
"Yeah, right, of course," said Donna.
"I am willing to entertain a probationary period."
"A probationary period?," Donna asked with contempt.
"To see if you're adequate for my needs."
"This Academy," said Donna, "it didn't have a charm school, did it?"
"I don't know what you mean."
"I've had this job almost eight years, you can't just walk in and say I'm on probation. I haven't done anything wrong."
"You seem under-qualified for a position at this level."
"The Oracle had no problem with my qualifications," said Donna.
"She was well known for her work with the under-whelming."
"What's that supposed to mean?," asked Donna.
"Hello!"
Donna turned to see the Doctor.
"What are you doing here, Doctor?," asked Romana. "The High Council awarded me the position."
"You applied for this job?," asked Donna.
"And he was rejected," said Romana.
"Yeah, thanks for that," said the Doctor. "Anyway, I thought I was just passing by..."
"On your way to places?," asked Donna.
The Doctor smiled. "Yeah, I suppose I was. Anyway, how are you?"
"Doctor, what are you doing here?," asked Romana.
"Checking up on Donna."
"Does she need to be checked on?"
"Well, she doesn't need it..."
"Kindly visit later."
The Doctor looked around. Donna and Frobisher were staring at him.
"Right..." said the Doctor. He looked at Donna. "See you after work. I'll be outside."
Donna came outside to see a blue box reappearing on the pavement. The Doctor stepped outside.
"Anyway, care for a ride home?," asked the Doctor.
"You just jumped forward in time to avoid having to wait?," asked Donna.
"Of course I did."
Donna shook her head. "I can't get in that thing."
"Why not?"
"Two words, Rose Tyler."
"She's not in there."
"You took her in that thing and she was gone a year. Her mum thought she was dead and the boyfriend got questioned by the police, poor thing. I have kids. I can't have my family thinking I'm dead!"
"I can get you back in time," said the Doctor.
"I really can't have people thinking I'm dead," said Donna.
"Okay, what if we just move through space?"
Donna frowned.
"Okay, what if you just come inside?"
"And it won't go anywhere?"
The Doctor paused thoughtfully. "Probably not."
Donna scowled back.
"I'm sorry, but probably not is as good as it gets where the TARDIS is concerned."
Donna sighed. "You're going to keep after me until I go in there, aren't you?"
"Yep," said the Doctor popping the 'p.'
Donna approached the TARDIS and the Doctor stepped aside to allow her entry.
"It's..."
The Doctor waited anxiously.
"It's nice," said Donna, not knowing what to say.
"No comment on the size at all?"
Donna turned back around. "What about it?"
"It's not bigger or anything..."
"Bigger on the inside, you mean?"
"Yes, that."
"Don't you Time Lords have all your stuff like that? I watched the Oracle pull all of Chanel's spring collection out of an evening bag once."
The Doctor nodded. "We have lost some of our mystique, haven't we?"
"Is this how you impress people? Come into my box, it's bigger on the inside?"
"Usually."
"Yeah, well, it's not working on me, sunshine."
"What would I have to do to get you to go somewhere?"
"Go somewhere."
"Travel with me."
"Why would you want me to travel with you?"
"Because you might like it."
"I can't just run off! I'm a mum!"
"I'm a dad."
"Since when has that ever stopped anyone?"
"Bring Josh and Ella. Esther too, if she likes. We seemed to hit it off pretty well."
"God knows what you get into-"
"I'll bring Oswin and Lydia. Would I take my own children anywhere dangerous?"
"I get the feeling you wouldn't mean to..." said Donna.
"Donna, I promise you and your children- and mine for that matter - will come home safe and sound. So, what do you think?"
Donna shrugged. "Fine. Saturday morning. Bright and early." She held up a finger. "Nothing too adventurous."
"Why Saturday morning? Why not now? This is a time machine."
"Yeah, caught that, Time Boy," said Donna heading for the door. "Saturday morning. That's my offer."
Donna walked out leaving the Doctor slack-jawed.
"Well, Saturday morning, here I come."