Author's Notes: I do not own Doctor Who. So, that was a month. Sorry. I was in the final month of training for a half marathon that I was also fundraising for charity for, work went crazy with back to school and any sort of significant writing was impossible. Now, let us resume regular service. Thank you for the reads and reviews, I really appreiate it. Please let me know what you think and happy reading!

It had been nearly a week since Donna, the twins and Esther had made the move to Gallifrey amidst Sylvia's grumblings. She was still trying to sort out what to do here, there didn't seem to be a lot that needed done. The house took care of itself- sometimes literally- and Malyon was dealing with the wedding details. Apparently, it was Gallifreyan tradition that one of the family's female relatives dealt with everything, no involvement needed from the intended couple. Donna thought there might have been reasons for that, she could scarcely imagine the horrors of someone like Romana going Bridezilla. She woke up alone and made her way downstairs.

Donna walked into the front room. Ella stood on top of a small platform as one of the Gallifreyan housemaids knelt to pin the dress she had on. Malyon stood overseeing the process as Oswin and Lydia sat nearby.

"Ah, there you are, Donna," Malyon said smiling. "We were just having a look at Ella's gown for the wedding. What do you think?"

Donna looked. It was red with gold embellishments some of which Donna was certain were writing, it went to the floor and it was poofy. Ella seemed very pleased.

"You look lovely," Donna said to Ella.

"Can't it be pink?," asked Ella.

"I'm afraid not. Special clothes are always red," said Malyon. "This gown's been in our family for a very long time. I wore it when I was about your age to your father's naming ceremony. Mayantha wore it as well."

"Who's Mayantha?," asked Donna.

"Our sister," said Oswin. "The one who died during the Time War."

"I'm sorry," said Donna.

"Anyway," Oswin said shrugging, "Lydia and I never even got to wear it."

"Why not?," asked Donna.

"Because Lydia and Oswin were born during the Time War," said Malyon. "There were no weddings, no final naming ceremonies, no elevations. When their mother gave them their birth names, there were scarcely any in attendance."

"When their mother gave them?," asked Donna.

"Custom," said Oswin. "Mothers always name daughters. Fathers always name sons."

"Only among the born," said Malyon. "How do you find the dress, Ella? Is it acceptable?"

"Yes," said Ella, letting the skirt swing.

"Well, come and I'll help you out of the dress and Tayi will make the necessary alterations. Then Oswin will help you with your Gallifreyan."

"Better find Josh," said Oswin.

Donna found she was soon left alone with Lydia.

"So, what are you up to?," asked Donna.

"I don't know."

"Why don't you show me around?," asked Donna.

"Around what?"

"The Citadel or whatever," said Donna. "You must have places you go or sites or something. Shops?"

"Not really."

Donna motioned again at the spires and tall buildings. "I wouldn't find any of that interesting?"

"Well..."

"Come on, give it a go," said Donna. "Your dad's off somewhere. Oswin will be teaching Josh and Ella squiggly circles all afternoon. Come on."

Lydia relented.

Benu, the housemaid, hurried after them as they headed towards the front door. "Mistress Donna? Mistress Lydia? May I be of assistance?"

"Oh, we're fine, thanks. We're just going for a walk."

"A walk?"

"Yeah, a walk," said Donna, opening the front door. "Be back in a bit."

The first thing Donna noticed about the Citadel was how wrong the sunlight looked on the buildings and pavements. They would. They all belonged in another part of the universe entirely. First, they passed several other similarly appointed houses by the House of Lungbarrow. Then they passed one and it was dark and the windows seemed blacked out, as if the house was closing in on itself.

"What's that house?," asked Donna.

Lydia waited a bit before she answered. "That's the House of Immerati."

"And what are they? Vampires?"

"They're all dead," said Lydia. "The house is dying."

"Oh," said Donna, suddenly feeling a great pang of sadness. "Well, come on then."

The streets of the capital were scarce. The only people Donna saw were similarly attired to the maids and gardeners who worked at the house. They all looked at Donna and Lydia, turning away just before they could be accused of staring.

"What's wrong?," asked Donna.

"You're the first human they've ever seen."

"Oh." She looked up. "What's that building?"

"The Academy."

"Can we go in?," asked Donna. "I mean, are classes in session or something?"

"No," said Lydia. "There are no classes in session."

Donna followed Lydia up a long and winding path. There was some kind of mix of purple moss and red leaves making the whole thing overgrown. They finally arrived at a great set of double doors that seemed to go three stories high. Donna thought they looked impossibly heavy, but Lydia merely put her hand on one and they both creaked wide open.

Lydia stepped in first. Donna followed. The room was huge, like the size of a football field with overlooking landings. There were statues lining the walls and Donna realized they stood on the seal of the Time Lords.

"This room hasn't been used in a long time," said Donna.

"There hasn't been an academy in a long time," said Lydia. "My mother said when the war started, they closed it. Everyone had to go and fight even if they hadn't graduated."

"What? Even the younger ones?"

"At the end, she said everyone."

Donna didn't answer.

"Come on," said Lydia. "The Prydonian House is this way."

Lydia had already begun walking. Donna realized this and hurried to catch up.

"You've been here before," said Donna.

"My mother showed me around."

"She wanted to show you her old school?"

"No."

"Why then?"

They arrived in another building that was decorated in hues of scarlet.

"This was dad's house as well," said Lydia. "And the Master's."

"Oh, that must have been fun," said Donna.

"All the rebels went here," said Lydia. "The born just got put in with them."

Donna turned to Lydia. "If your mum didn't want to show you her old school, why did she bring you here?"

"I shouldn't say," said Lydia.

"Why not?"

"It's a secret."

"Why?"

Lydia shifted uncomfortably. "It wouldn't be much of a secret if I told you why it was a secret, would it?"

"Spoken like your dad," Donna said with a grimace. She noticed a strange coloring on some of the stones behind Lydia. Then the girl moved to stand in front of them.

"What's that?," asked Donna.

"Nothing."

Donna put her hand on the stone and the wall opened.

"Don't go in there-" Lydia said futilely.

Donna walked inside. The room was full of light, scattered images projected on the walls, and all around her, Donna could walk through them.

"Donna, please don't-"

"What is all this?," Donna asked.

Lydia shook her head. "Time lines."

"Time lines? What do you mean, time lines?"

"Time lines."

"But you can't see time lines, it's not a concrete thing you can-"

"This is just the interference," said Lydia. "The stuff that time gives off. We really should go."

"Why?"

"Because you shouldn't see this."

Donna looked up. "That looked like Oswin-"

"Donna, really, you can't-"

Donna saw Oswin's face flash again and again with different hair and clothing, like she belonged to different eras. "That was her again-"

"Donna, stop it!"

Donna turned. Lydia looked deadly serious.

"Okay," said Donna. "I won't look at the stuff that time gives off anymore."

Lydia shook her head. "I want to go home."

Donna followed Lydia back all the way house trying to keep up with the young Time Lady. They finally arrived back in the Great Hall and Donna nearly got the door slammed in her face.

"Lydia!," Donna called after her. "Lydia, are you going to speak to me?"

Oswin entered. "Something wrong?"

"We went for a walk, she showed me the old Academy-"

"The Academy?," asked Oswin. "What did you go there for? No one's been in a hundred years at least."

Donna reflected on that. "You mean you've never been?"

Oswin shook her head. "What for? Oh, yeah, Dad's home and he's brought Jenny."

"Really?," asked Donna. "Where are they?"

"I would give them a minute," said Oswin.

"I'm not going to put on your uniform of oppression," said Jenny.

Malyon looked at the Doctor and back at Jenny. "It's clean clothing, not covered in the dust and possible blood of the Wastelands where you shouldn't even have been. Doctor, must I do this entirely on my own?"

"Listen to your aunt," said the Doctor.

Jenny scoffed. "Why should I?"

"Because Donna wants to meet you."

"And what do I care about Donnas?"

"Hello."

They turned. Donna entered.

"Oh, Donna, right..." said the Doctor. He cleared his throat. "So this is Jenny."

"I gathered that," said Donna. "Oswin told me to give you a minute so I came straight in. What seems to be the problem?"

"The problem is that these two want to turn me into one of them!," said Jenny. "Some Time Lord-"

"Time Lady," the Doctor muttered in correction.

"Who goes from ceremony to ceremony and drinks tea-"

"What's wrong with tea?," asked the Doctor.

"I won't do it!"

"How old are you?," asked Donna.

"I may be young, technically, but I am a full formed adult!"

"Are you sure about that?," asked Donna. "Because you sound like a four-year old."

"She's three," offered Malyon.

"I am not a child!"

Donna shrugged. "Well, maybe we'd all believe you better if you stopped throwing a tantrum."

"What?!," Jenny shrieked.

"And you might start by changing out of those clothes. God only knows what that stain is..."

Jenny stood slack-jawed.

"There, there," said Malyon. She handed Jenny the clothes. "Quick as you like."

"I'm doing this under duress," Jenny said squarely at Donna.

"Okay," said Donna.

Malyon and Jenny left.

"So, that's what you were up to all morning," said Donna.

"Well, your wish is my command," said the Doctor. "What have you been doing? Benu said you went for a walk."

"Yeah, Lydia showed me the Academy."

"The Academy?"

"She said the Oracle used to take her. There was..."

"There was what?"

"There was this really weird room and Lydia said it was full of the stuff that time gives off and it had all this stuff with Oswin and-" Donna realized the Doctor's eyes had grown and his face had dropped. "What? What did I say?"

The Doctor turned to the door and started walking. "Lydianasathvanara!," he shouted.