Here it is at last; the final Chapter! After this there is only the epilogue.
Enjoy~
Chapter 27: Time's Song
The Song of Time rose around the group of beings that sat on Jideofor. The Human-TimeLord with her blonde curls and a TimeLord soul. The last true TimeLord with his aching soul drenched in the life blood of his own race. The Human who had become immortal through the touch of a Rose. And the Ginger child - nay, a woman by her age - the Carrier of the Song.
The Song arched into Space and Time, echoing and rebounding, using Dark Matter and Energy to travel. The very essence of Time was carried in the Song's complex tune and rhythm. If one listened closely, the four-beat of a TimeLord heart could be heard, melding with an intense melody of sadness, joy, jealousy - all emotions that ever were or would be, combined. The raw power of Time given a voice. Somewhere, the Song reached the Infinite Schism and the Sisters of Infinity. The Sisters closed their eyes and sang with many voices as they heard the Song. The Schism shook violently as Untempered Time was touched by Time's Own Power in the form of the Song.
Soon all of existence was filled by Time's Song. The tune carried everywhere in this reality, and as it did so, it began to fold in on itself. Slowly but surely, the relative Future for those on Jideofor began to collapse, eaten away by the icy heat of the notes of the Song. Then the Song took the present, and some of the Past. The Song swelled, soaring towards an incredible conclusion. Then, with one final, shattering chord that spoke more volumes than any other part of the incredible piece, the Song ended, fading into the silence that usually filled Space.
The Doctor awoke to find his head resting upon the console. He leapt to his feet, desperately trying not to look like he had been asleep. He caught a glimpse of himself in the polished surface of the TARDIS. "You're getting old..." He said quietly to himself.
Slender arms wrapped around his waist from behind. He felt River's warm breath on his cheek. "Hello Sweetie..." He smiled softly, turning in her arms to face his wife before wrapping her in his.
They stood, content in each other's company, for some short time. Both secretly wiping the signs of recent sleep from their eyes when the other wouldn't notice. Then the sound of padding footsteps was heard and they turned to see a nine-year-old girl with bright ginger hair walk in to the control room. She was rubbing her eyes sleepily, dragging a ragged blanket behind her.
"I had a bad dream..." She said softly, her young voice not betraying the power her little form hid. For she was Blysse S., as her blanket proudly showed in neat embroidered letters. Cantus Tempus.
Her parents shared a look - that they had all had the same dream was suddenly not only possible but confirmed with this one glance. That it had not been a dream, but rather another reality, was also confirmed between the eyes of the Doctor and his wife.
But that was a battle for another day.
Jack awoke lying on the sofa in the new Cardiff base. He sat up groggily, head in his hands. His mouth felt unnaturally dry, but all physical input was secondary as he turned over his thoughts. That was no dream, he realised at length.
His musings were interrupted as a dark haired woman sat beside him. She held out a cup of steaming coffee to him. "Don't worry," she said in a slight Welsh accent as he took the mug, "Archie made it, not Mum. Drinking it won't kill you. But not drinking it might."
Jack smirked and raised the mug to his lips, nodding in through the glass wall of the greenhouse at Archie where the young man worked. He received a warning glare and gulped down the scalding drink quickly. The glare gave way to a smile.
Jack allowed his eyes to wander across his team. Archie working on alien plants, Gwen busy typing something into a computer whilst chewing on a biscuit, greying hair done up in a clip to keep it out of her face as she worked. And, of course, the woman next to him, leaning her head gently on his shoulder. His thoughts ran the memory of another time over one more time, then let it go. He put the memories away in the back of his mind and wrapped an arm around the dark haired woman beside him. Those memories could wait for another day.