A/N: Okay, those two weeks passed really quickly. On the bright side, update :)

The flat Jack purchased for Eva in Cardiff was amazing, but the young woman hadn't managed to do anything other than make herself a sandwich before her locket glowed and she was pulled away, sandwich still in hand. When she landed, she found herself standing in the middle of the Console Room.

"Eva!" a voice called. "Just in time! Peri here wants a vacation."

Eva looked up from her sandwich to see the Sixth Doctor looking at her.

"What are you holding there?" he questioned.

"An albino tiger," she retorted sarcastically. "It's a sandwich," she clarified.

"Why?" he questioned.

"Why?" Eva repeated.

"Why are you holding a sandwich?"

"Well, I was planning to eat it," Eva said. "Currently I think of simply throwing it at your face. I heard avocado's good for your skin."

The Doctor frowned, and Peri laughed.

"Oh, it's so good to see you again, Eva," she said with a smile. "How've you been?"

"Had my better, had my worse," Eva shrugged. "You?"

"Pretty much the same," Peri replied.

"Well, are the two of you going to stand there chatting all day?" the Doctor questioned. "Peri had requested a vacation and I know the very place."

"Doctor, if you're about to suggest the Eye of Orion, don't," Peri sighed. "I've heard all about that elusive place once too often. No one lives there and few visit, apart from you."

"But such a beautiful moonset," the Doctor protested. "An ideal tonic for the weary time traveller." At the twin unenthusiastic looks from Eva and Peri, he sighed. "But if that doesn't appeal, as I've said, there's always Andromeda."

"Oh, really?" Eva asked with a smile, knowing where this conversation was heading towards. "And what's out there?"

"Some of the most magical sights in the entire universe," the Doctor said, looking at something beyond the sight of the two women. "Astral starbursts creating a myriad celestial bodies against timeless royal blue backdrop."

"Very poetic," Peri said, rolling her eyes at Eva. "But that's the exact description you always give of the Eye of Orion."

"It is?" the Doctor questioned.

"Word for word," Eva said, smiling.

The Doctor frowned at the duo. "Does nothing please you?" he asked them.

"Yes!" Peri called out desperately. "Purposeful travel. Not aimless wanderings."

"Aimless?" the Doctor asked, looking at her. "You see our time together as aimless?"

"No, not exactly," Peri admitted. "I guess not."

"I should hope not," the Doctor said sternly. "Or perhaps you're trying to tell me you've had enough. In that case, I can easily set the coordinates for Earth, 1985 –"

"Oi, Fozzie!" Eva called out. "Don't you dare!"

The Doctor smiled, taking a step towards her. "What the Lady wishes, the Lady gets," he said, pecking her on the lips and putting her sandwich away.

"What's that?" Peri suddenly asked, looking at the colourful squares that appeared on screen.

"Looks like your suit," Eva commented to the Doctor.

"Oh, hush," the Doctor scolded. "That is a Kontron tunnel. Put more colloquially, it's a time corridor in space."

"Didn't the Daleks have one of those?" Peri questioned.

"It doesn't matter whose tunnel it is," the Doctor muttered. "We're heading straight for it and there's nothing we can do about it."

"So?" Peri asked. "You've always said the Tardis is indestructible."

"Well, that's beside the point," the Doctor brushed the comment away. "Colliding with a time corridor is something one tries to avoid."

"Well, what will it do to us?" Eva questioned.

"You can never tell with a time tunnel," the Doctor muttered. "Ah!"

"Are you in pain?" Peri asked, worried.

"Found out where the corridor is going," the Doctor said. "You're in luck. It's Earth. It's a period you call 1179 AD."

"Oh," Peri said excitedly. "I've never been to 12th century Earth."

"I was," Eva sighed. "Twice."

"As I seem to keep saying, that's beside the point," the Doctor told them. "Once inside a time tunnel, the Tardis may undergo an adverse Kontron effect."

"Is that bad?" Peri asked him.

"Bad?" the Doctor repeated. "Bad?!"

Both Peri and Eva covered their ears at the sound of the Doctor's yell. He moved to another part of the console, pressing a couple of buttons. Eva and Peri shared a look before simultaneously taking down their hands.

"Bad?!" the Doctor called out again, making the two girls cringe. "You don't seem to realise the effect that time particles colliding within a multi-dimensional implosion field can have!"

"Hardly," Peri muttered, making Eva giggle.

"Well," the Doctor said, looking between the two of them. "The short answer is 'Pow!'"

Eva and Peri cringed again, and Eva neared the Doctor.

"In case you haven't noticed, we're in quite a tight space," she said. "There's no need to yell."

"I wasn't yelling," the Doctor brushed the comment off.

"Of course not," Eva muttered. "And I'm actually a penguin in disguise."

"Stop with this nonsense," the Doctor muttered. "Peri, do you see the screen next to you?"

"Yes," Peri said. "There's this sort of curve on it."

"Keep an eye on it," the Doctor ordered. "Eva, with me."

"What are you doing?" she asked as he started to take out all sorts of colourful wires.

"I could try to explain, but I don't believe you'll be able to understand half of what I say," the Doctor replied.

"So you have no idea, and are just bidding your time until we can find a solution?" Eva questioned. "That sure clears things up."

"I am not bidding my –"

"Doctor?" Peri asked. "Eva?"

"Yes, dear?" Eva asked.

"That curve on the screen you told me to keep an eye on, it's now straight," she said. "Is that bad?"

"Bad?" the Doctor asked. "No, it's disastrous!"

"You do know that being a bit more understanding isn't going to kill you, right?" Eva asked.

"It's not my fault she asks stupid questions," the Doctor replied.

"It's not our fault we don't know as much as you do in TARDIS maintenance," Eva replied. "Though, let's be honest, you don't know much either."

"I know plenty!" the Doctor protested, pulling out more and more wires as he spoke.

"I can hardly see you now, and you say you know plenty?" Eva questioned.

"Oh, be quiet!" the Doctor retorted. "How's that line? "

"It's starting to break up," Peri said.

"Is it still on the screen?" the Doctor asked.

"Just about."

"If any part of it leaves the screen, let me know immediately," he ordered, pulling some more wires.

"Of course you know what you're doing," Eva muttered sarcastically.

"Do you mind?" the Doctor asked. "In case you haven't noticed, I'm trying to work!"

"'Trying' would be the keyword here," Eva retorted, earning herself a glare from the Doctor and a giggle from Peri.

He let go of the wires, opening a chest Eva didn't knew existed and starting to look through it. Eva smiled as she saw a hat that looked similar to the one the next regeneration was going to wear, and the waistcoat she remembered the Eight Doctor wore. After a couple of moments of searching within the chest, he pulled out two belts and handed one to Peri.

"Belt up," he ordered.

"Where did you get these?" Peri asked.

"Does it matter?" the Doctor questioned.

"Well, we've never had to use belts before," she noted.

"We've never had to negotiate a Kontron tunnel before," the Doctor replied.

"What I really want to know, is why did you take out only two belts," Eva said. "There's three of us."

"I don't have a third belt," the Doctor said. "You'll have to belt up with me."

"That is the worst excuse I had ever heard," Eva said, though she was smiling as she buckled up with the Doctor. "If you want to be so close to me, you can always just ask," she whispered in his ear.

"Is now really the time?" he questioned.

"Apparently so," Eva replied with a laugh.

The room started to shake and Eva held on tight to the Doctor's back as he held the belt that connected them to the console.

"Oh, Doctor!" Peri called out, barely managing to connect herself to the console.

"Peri, it's starting!" the Doctor called back, and Eva's hands tightened around him, hugging his waist. "Well, I know that the circumstances aren't the best, but I sure can't complain," he told her.

"Let's just try to get out of this with all of our limbs where they should be, alright?" Eva asked.

"I sure intend to attempt so," the Doctor said, as the TARDIS shook again and they were thrown to the right. "Hold on," he told them. "We're seconds from impact."

"Just another trip in the TARDIS with you, isn't it?" Eva joked, right before they were all thrown at the console.

"It worked!" the Doctor said, looking around. "We're still in one piece."

"You can sound less surprised, you know," Eva muttered.

"You know you don't have to hold on to me so tight anymore, right?" he asked her.

"I don't exactly trust my legs to keep me standing," she replied. "Are you complaining?"

"Not in the least," the Doctor said, winking at her.

"I feel as though I've been put through a blender," Peri muttered.

The faded image of a woman crossed their eyes and the trio blinked.

"What was that?" Peri stuttered. "Or did I imagine her?"

"No," the Doctor said. "No, she was real enough."

"Well, anyone important?"

"Didn't get a chance to ask," the Doctor muttered, releasing both himself and Eva from the belt that was holding them.

"Great," Peri muttered. "Do you expect any more uninvited guests?"

"No," the Doctor said.

"Not yet," Eva muttered.

"Not at all," the Doctor corrected. "Both the Tardis and the time corridor have now fully stabilised."

"Was she travelling down the time corridor?" Peri asked.

"Yes," the Doctor said. "I only hope she wasn't banking on reaching 12th century Earth. The Tardis is bound to have deflected her path."

"Then we must help her!" Peri declared.

"We can hardly help ourselves," the Doctor said, as sparks came out of the console. "Velocity override!"

"I thought you said the worst was over!" Peri called out.

"Oh, since when does he have a clue as to what he is talking about?" Eva questioned.

"She's attempting to materialise," the Doctor said, ignoring the duo. "We must be near the source of the time tunnel."

With one final shake, the TARDIS materialised and the Doctor opened the scanner.

"A reception committee," Peri said, looking at the three men who were before them."Well, they look friendly enough."

"So they should be," the Doctor said. "We've been here before."

"We?" Eva asked. "This is my first time here."

"Well, I've been here before," the Doctor corrected. "You will be here before."

"And where's here?" Peri asked.

"Karfel," both the Doctor and Eva replied.

"I was here a regeneration or three back," the Doctor said.

"Well, if you've been here before, then no problem." Peri said, relaxed.

"Except that time corridor," the Doctor said. "Karfel should be centuries from such technology."

He walked towards the door, Eva and Peri following close behind.

"Doctor –" Peri started, reaching out towards the lever that opened the door.

"No!" the Doctor said, hitting her hand lightly.

"Doctor!" Eva scolded.

"Now don't go wandering off until I'm certain this place is clear," the Doctor said, ignoring her.

"Yes, sir!" Peri muttered sarcastically, rolling her eyes.

Eva sighed, taking the other girl's hand as they followed the Doctor out of the TARDIS.

"Welcome, Time Lord," a man said as he saw them.

"Hello," the Doctor said. "I'm the Doctor."

"And I'm Tekker," the man said. "Maylin Tekker. We are honoured that you have decided to visit us again, after all this time."

"Don't," Eva advised. "It all goes straight to his head."

"Indeed, you are," the Doctor said.

"Told you," Eva sighed. "This is Peri," she said, marking at the girl next to her. "And I'm –"

"The Omniscient," Tekker said. "Again, very much honoured."

"Eva's fine, too," Eva said, but the man already returned his attention back to the Doctor.

"Only the three of you?" he asked.

"Yes, travelling light this time," the Doctor said. "Besides, so difficult to recruit good staff these days, don't you agree?"

"Ahem," Eva coughed, attempting to remind the Doctor she was there as well, and that she was most certainly not his 'staff'.

"Maylin." Clearly, it didn't work. "About this time corridor in space –"

"All in good time, Doctor," Tekker said. "All in good time. Please enjoy our hospitality first. Have you been travelling long?" he asked Peri, leading her away.

"Well, it's hard to say really," Peri said. "Time just flies when you are in the TARDIS."

"You know, you're quite rude in this regeneration," Eva noted to the Doctor quietly as they followed behind Tekker and Peri. "And not very nice, either."

"Would you like me to stop?" the Doctor asked.

"No, I kind of like it," Eva said. "What I do want is for you to find me something to eat. I don't remember the last time I put something that wasn't a cigarette in my mouth."

"Oh, you're a young one," the Doctor said.

"Is that a problem?" Eva asked, raising a brow at him.

"Not at all," the Doctor said. "It's just that the younger versions of you usually aren't so... casual in my presence."

"Hmm, I wonder why," Eva said sarcastically. "What did we have so far? In your third body, you were rude and arrogant, I was less than a week in this world and was brainwashed by the Master –"

"Our first kiss," the Doctor mused. "I remember it well."

"On your fourth body, you locked me in the TARDIS," Eva went on as if he didn't interrupt. "Twice."

"And you smoked in the Console Room," the Doctor said. "Twice."

"And in your fifth body, we were dealing with an imposter to the King of England when the Master tried to prevent the Magna Carta from being signed."

"So this is the first time you meet me without the Master being involved in one way or another?" the Doctor questioned.

"So far, for you," Eva replied. "I met future versions of you, as well."

"Well, let us all hope he isn't involved this time," the Doctor muttered.

"He isn't," Eva replied. "Why does it matter? Why is he so interested in me?"

"At first, he used you in order to get to me," the Doctor said. "Quite effectively, though I'm not very proud of it. And at a certain point, he simply got obsessed with... well... you."

"But why?" Eva pressed.

"Spoilers," the Doctor said simply.

"Oh, no, Mister!" Eva said. "You don't get to 'Spoi- oomph!" she called out angrily as he kissed her. "That's not going to make me shut up, you know."

"I promise I'll explain everything," the Doctor said. "Later."

"I've heard that one before," Eva muttered.

"And did I explain?" the Doctor asked.

"One near-death experience and about eight hundred years for you later, yes," she replied angrily.

"But I did explain," the Doctor said, planting another small kiss on Eva's nose. "For now, let's try to figure out how the Karfelons have a time corridor."

"Oh, this discussion is so not over yet," Eva muttered, following the alien away.

EMH

"Please come in, Doctor," Tekker said as the group walked into a room where a blue droid stood with a tray of drinks.

The Doctor looked around, raising a brow at a security camera as Peri accepted a drink from the droid.

"Oh, our security system," Tekker said, following his gaze. "There have been a lot of changes since you were last here."

"So I see," the Doctor said, declining a drink.

"No, thank you," Eva said politely as the droid turned to her, and it walked away.

"Oh, what unusual plants," Peri said, looking at purple and green flowers at the corner of the room.

"Peri is a bit of a botanist," the Doctor explained.

"She's a student for botany," Eva corrected. "If you're taking down of your companions' respect, at least do so accurately," she told the Doctor.

"Indeed," Tekker said.

"Most unusual," Peri said, looking at the closely.

"Maylin, I'd like to talk to you about this time corridor –"

"Ow!" Peri called out, disturbing their conversation and they turned to see the droid tore off her necklace. "Hey! That's mine! I... What's all that about?" she asked, turning to look at Tekker.

"I'm terribly sorry about that," Tekker said. "I do hope it didn't frighten you too much."

"Well, I'm more concerned about losing my St Christopher," Peri muttered.

"Yes," Tekker said slowly. "I think the android was trying to warn you away from this plant. Although it is a very beautiful specimen, it has the nasty habit of ejecting an acidic fluid into the face of the admirer."

"Well, I'm surprised you have them on display," Peri replied.

"I think perhaps a little re-potting is in order," the Doctor said.

"And reprogramming," Eva said. "Can't forget about the reprogramming...Don't you agree, Maylin?"

"Yes," Tekker said in a tone that suggested he thought the exact opposite. "You could be right." A red light next to the security camera started blinking, a beeping sound played in accordance to it. "Excuse me for a moment, will you?" Tekker asked, not waiting for a response before shoving the vase into Eva's hands and walking away.

Eva quickly put the vase aside, making sure to avoid the acid it started to eject.

"Charming fellow," the Doctor commented dryly.

"He pushed an acidic plant into my face," Eva said. "Real charming."

"Have you been hurt?" the Doctor asked worriedly.

"I'm fine," Eva muttered, as the Doctor moved her face from side to side, looking at it. "I said I'm fine, Fozzie."

"I heard you," the Doctor said. "But I just like looking at your face."

"Oh, stop it," Eva said, a blush starting to form on her face as she playfully hit the Doctor.

"Never," the Doctor said, sitting down on one of the couches and pulling Eva on top of him, planting a kiss on her mouth.

"Is now really the time for this?" Peri asked.

"Oh, it's always the time for this, Peri," the Doctor informed her as she sat down on the other couch. "Although... The place has certainly changed. There's something missing," he muttered. "What is it?"

"It's so dull," Peri commented.

"Bored already?" the Doctor questioned, rolling his eyes.

"It's literally dull, Fozzie," Eva said, standing up in sync with Peri. "It lacks... sparkle."

"There's no reflection," Peri added.

"It's all so matt and lifeless."

"Even the goblets don't shine!"

A messenger entered the room, making the two of them quiet down as he handed a paper to Eva, before bolting out of the room.

"Hey, wait a minute –" the Doctor started, but the man was already gone.

"What does it say?" Peri asked her.

"Sezon at the Falchian Rocks," Eva read out.

"I beg your pardon?" the Doctor asked, confused.

"Sezon at the Falchian Rocks," she repeated. "A message."

"An odd message," Peri muttered, looking at it.

"I have arranged a short tour of the Citadel," Tekker said as he walked into the room, making the trio jump.

"Splendid," the Doctor said, smiling brightly as Eva hid the message in her pocket.

"For your assistants," Tekker clarified.

"Oh, sounds great," Peri said, sharing a worried look with Eva. "But we'd rather not, if it's all the same to you."

"But it's all arranged," Tekker said. "Councillor Brunner is waiting outside to escort you, and I have so much to talk to you about, Doctor. The time corridor was a brilliant stroke of luck."

"Oh, the Maylin is absolutely right," the Doctor said. "You go and have a look around. We'll join you when we've had a little chat."

"Doctor," Peri started, "In the TARDIS you distinctly said –"

"Never mind what I said in the TARDIS," the Doctor said. "Off you go. The Maylin and I have important things to discuss. Don't we, Maylin?"

"Yes, Doctor," Tekker agreed.

Peri looked at Eva in a silent cry for help, and the time jumper sighed.

"Let Peri stay with you, Doctor," she said. "I don't believe she's in the mood for wandering around."

"But –"

"I'd love to have a look at the place," she added, forcing a smile on her face. "After all, unlike you, I hadn't been here yet."

"Please, Doctor?" Peri asked.

"Oh, fine," the Doctor sighed, much to Tekker's disappointment. "But you better not interrupt us."

"Never," Peri said brightly, smiling at Eva as the other woman walked out of the room, to where she knew the Councillor was waiting.

Eva swallowed hard. She knew she shouldn't mess with time, and that what she was doing was changing the course of known events. But she also remembered how terrified Peri was in this episode, and she didn't want to force her friend to live it, if she had a choice.

Everything would be fine in the end, that much she knew. All she had left now was hoping she wasn't changing too many things.