So, how will the other Talia react? Will Talia be hugged to death by the Doctor when she goes home? Lol, all will be revealed in this chapter!

Chapter 24: Home Again

She stopped halfway towards us and stared, spotting me herself. Her eyes widened, the she approached more slowly. Her eyes did not leave my face.

"What the TARDIS?" she muttered, frowning. "How did…who are…what?"

"Hi…Talia." I said quietly. "I'm…well…an alternate you."

` "How did you get here? Are you the one that's been helping them?" she asked, looking around at everyone else.

"Yeah." I admitted, before briefly explaining how I had gotten here. "I've got to leave soon, though, so…"

This surprised her. "Oh. Well, thank you so much for what you've done."

Her expression perked up instantly as she realised truly what had happened. She then turned to the others and started embracing them all. They did the same, some, like Rose and Sarah-Jane, almost crying in relief to have their Talia back. Mickey clapped her on the shoulder. When she came to the Doctor, he picked her up and twirled her around, before pulling her close.

She smiled, but then pulled away as a realisation struck her.

"One heart." She muttered. "Of course. I did see it but I tried to hope…I mean I thought it might have been a fake, like the hologram Daleks. I guess not."

She looked so sad that I had the sudden urge to hug her myself; I knew that when I was sad all I needed was a hug. But I hesitated; would the other me be the same? And would she appreciate a hug from herself? It was too confusing. More confusing than when I met the future me.

Roughly half an hour later, when the holograms had been turned off and the planet declared free of Xenomorphs, I sat on one of the hills overlooking the city. I knew I had to go home and I really, really wanted to – I missed my Doctor and the TARDIS and, of course, my parents – but I also knew I would miss everyone from here. We'd been through a lot. Sure, everyone but the meta-crisis Doctor and Rose was back home, too, but it just wouldn't be the same.

I felt guilty for that. My only concern, now my job was done, should be to go back but…

My thoughts were interrupted when another person came and sat down next to me. Looking over, I was surprised to realise that it was myself.

"Hi." I said.

"Hey." She gave me a smile, which relieved me greatly; I had feared that she thought I was sort of trying to replace her. "You've done really well. Thanks, again. I don't think they could have done it without you."

I looked down. "If you were there, they would have done."

"Nah. I never would have found out that the Xenomorphs were scared of Daleks." She nudged me in the shoulder; it was a friendly gesture.

"Actually, it was the Doctor who found that out." I laughed.

"Your Doctor?"

My laughter died. I shouldn't have mentioned that. Poor other me, I thought, she doesn't have her Doctor any more.

"Hey, I know it'll be difficult, but you can't give up just because he's dead. I mean, I know very well that one day he will regenerate, so I've got to be ready for that day. You know, you've seen his next self, unfortunately I know I won't love him romantically, like I do this one. I'll be in the same boat as you, but hopefully not soon!" I tried to explain.

"But you'll still have a Doctor." She said sadly.

"You've got a Doctor." I corrected. "And he won't regenerate. He'll stay the same until he dies."

"Then what?" she demanded, suddenly becoming angry. "When the human Doctor dies, there won't be a Doctor anymore!"

I didn't have anything to say to that. In fact, the thought hadn't even crossed my mind.

After a moment, I said quietly, "Even though that might be the case, you've got to keep strong. You yourself are part Time Lord. You can even regenerate and not change your appearance. You could be the new, female Doctor!"

Her eyebrows shot up. "I didn't think of that. But…I don't know how many times I will be able to regenerate. And I'm pretty sure I'll only live as long as a normal human, too."

"But then you've got River, who obviously can't regenerate anymore but will probably live longer."

She nodded slowly and I saw hope return to her eyes. "You're right. It's not over, just because the Doctor is gone."

I smiled at her and put an arm around her shoulders. She didn't shrug me off.

We returned to the group, for I finally felt like I could leave. They had their Talia. It was time for me to go home.

The goodbyes were emotional.

"You are brilliant. Never forget that." I told Martha as I hugged her.

"Thank you, Talia." She replied, squeezing me back.

I told Rose to look after her Doctor, and she responded by telling me the same. Mickey gripped me in a bear hug and wished me good luck on whatever happened next.

"When you go back, come and see me." Sarah-Jane asked. "I think I'd like that."

"I'll make sure we do." I promised.

Jack, being Jack, tried to kiss me. I put up a hand between us and warned, "You try anything funny and I'll kick you somewhere it'll hurt."

He merely laughed and contented himself with a hug instead.

The Doctor planted a gentle, friendly and innocent kiss on my forehead and whispered, "I hope you find Rose and I. One day."

I nodded, not being able to promise anything.

Finally, the other Talia wished me good luck and embraced me once again. I looked around at all of them, feeling slightly overwhelmed and trying not to cry. "I wish you all the best of luck as well." I said.

My gaze roved over the scenery behind them and I smiled upon seeing that repairs were already underway. Crowds of people mingles here and there. As far away as I could see, a flash of blue caught my eye. Grinning now, I looked at the other Talia.

"Don't give up hope." I said.

She frowned. "What?"

"Maybe you were right. Goodbye, everyone."

Before she could ask again, I looked skyward and murmured, "TARDIS, take me home."

Everything around me flickered. I blinked, and just like that I was back in the console room. I stumbled, then straightened, expecting to be knocked to the ground by the Doctor's hug.

I smiled gently as I spotted him; he had crashed out on the console, sitting on the chair with his cheek pressed to a button that, luckily, didn't seem to be doing anything. I realised I had thought correctly; he hadn't slept in days. Dark shadows were under his eyes, and his face seemed more lined than before.

The TARDIS' console was also even more disassembled than last time. Sighing, I patted her and whispered, "Sorry, old girl." on behalf of the Doctor.

I considered waking him, but knew that he needed his sleep so I fetched a blanket and gently draped it over him, before taking a seat in the other chair.

Not long passed before he stirred. He didn't spot me at first, blinking sleepily and looking at the TARDIS. He frowned. "I shouldn't have fallen asleep." He muttered to himself.

I grinned. "Hi, Doctor. I'm back."

He jumped, before looking at me. The light returned to his eyes and he grinned, too. We met in an instant; he squeezed me so tightly that I almost couldn't breathe, but I didn't mind. His breathing was heavy and, with a small shock, I realised he was trying not to cry. He was very good at it; of course, after nine hundred years of losing companions, he would have learned the hard way how not to cry.

"Oh, Talia! I've been so worried about you! You've got to tell me everything that happened." He whispered.

I pulled away just enough to be able to look up at him. "I'm fine. Look at me, I'm fine! You, on the other hand, are not! You haven't been taking care of yourself, have you?"

"Of course I have." He said absently. When I looked at him, raising my eyebrows, he rolled his eyes and admitted, "Fine! But how could I, when I didn't know if you would come back, if you were dead or not! The TARDIS would bring you back if you were gravely injured, but not if you were already dead!"

The wild look returned to his eyes. I reached up and cupped his face. "Relax." I ordered. "It's all okay now."

He squeezed his eyes shut as though really trying not to cry. He gripped one of my hands with his own. "Don't you ever do that to me again."

"Aw, come on! You should be proud of me!" I grinned, wanting the sad mood to go away.

He gave me a small smile and gently kissed my hand. "I am proud of you. Of course I am."

I looked around, pulling away. He wouldn't let go of my hand. "You've tried to kill the TARDIS." I noted.

He looked at me sheepishly. "Well…sort of…not really…"

I rolled my eyes.

"Oh, Doctor! You really are pathetic when you're on your own."

"Oi!" he snapped and I laughed. That's the Doctor I know.

"Come on then, you. We both need to rest." I started dragging him away from the console.

"Hey! You're not my mother!" He cried, trying to stop me.

"No, but I care about you just as much. Now go and sleep!"

He looked like he was deciding whether to laugh or not. "You've barely been back ten minutes and already you're ordering me around."

"Yeah, well I've just come back from leading a revolution, get used to it!" I winked at him. "I'll tell you all about it in the morning. Oh, and when you wake up, you have to rebuild the console."

"I was going to do that anyway." He grumbled, but his eyes shone with pride. He gripped my hand once more before heading off to his bedroom.

"It's good to be home." I murmured before doing the same.

Yes, that flash of blue is what you are all thinking it is. Honestly, did you really think I would kill the Doctor? It's like you don't know me at all! *winks* I know, I know, I'm expecting more death threats because of this. Sorry...