A/N: Sorry for the late upload. I know it seems like I vanished, but I was writing ahead so I can keep up with the upload schedule once I'm ready to update again.

I do not know how long I walk through, but the villages and towns look the same. Some people help, but many give me odd looks. I move from one Torchwood to another and assist where I can. I do not know where I am, except I'm not at Hybrid Palace.

As I walk, I find a woman walking in the opposite direction. "Hi," I say, before remembering that 'hi' is not a normal saying. "God's blood! I meant, Good day. I am called Emma Smith."
I introduce myself as Emma Smith now. It might feel more like me than Smith-White if I give it time, but it feels uncomfortable.
The woman looks up at me. "Emma? It is good to see you."
"Anne?" I beam and pull her into a hug. "Are you okay? How are you?"
"I am well, but I am trying to return to Kent. King James would not let me enter Scotland without Catalina."
"That's horrid. Have you heard from anyone at Court?"
Anne shakes her head. "I never stay in one place for long."
I nod and tell her what is happening. "I am going to find Mummy."
Anne beams. "I know you will. But I will not return to Court and apologise."
"No, but the plot is back on. More and Fisher might be in the Tower, but we can still change things."
"We could use poison."
I hum. None of us knows enough about poison. Would it be a good idea?
"All right, I will return. Thanks for the talk. Good morrow."
"Good morrow, Your Majesty." I watch as Anne walks away, and I head in the direction she came from.

It is several hours before I find myself walking towards Hybrid Palace. Shouts and laughter fill the air, and I can't help but smile. At least the hybrids are happy here. But is Mummy here? There is no way I can tell from here. I walk onto the grounds and look around. Tall, grey towers loom above me, but the shouts and waves from children takes away from the gloominess of the place. King Henry was right about this. Hybrid Palace is a great place for children.

As I wander around the manicured gardens, I spot a group of children practising their pouncing. "All right," a familiar voice calls, and I look away from the group to see Mummy. She's wearing her twenty-first-century clothes. Now that I notice it, all the girls are wearing twenty-first-century dresses, and they are pulling all sorts of things out of their pockets. Someone is even pulling a goblet out! "Ladies, I want you to come with me. Gentlemen, you have a lesson with Master Dormer. Do not be late."
"We will not, Sarah Jane," the boys chorus, and they run in the direction of the palace.

Mummy leads the girls towards the woods, and I follow. "As hybrids, you are all gifted with superior senses to humans, but some of you will have additional abilities."
Mummy seems at home here, relaxed and comfortable. I've never seen her like this at Court or even with Mum. I think back to what William said. If I don't think of Ruby as my mum by the twentieth century, who takes her place?
That is not something for me to worry about yet. I smile and approach the group again. "No one will have the same ability," Mummy continues, "and it is a privilege to have them. Use your gift wisely. Now, I want you to split into pairs, so partner up and start training." Everyone begins pairing up and moving to a quiet spot.

Mummy spots me and walks over. "Emma, I wasn't expecting to see you."
"I came unannounced. I couldn't stand it at Court any longer."
"I know." Mummy looks back at the girls. "I don't think I can return there."
"But I need you. That's why I'm here. I can't go back without you."
"But you must."

I grab her arm. "Mummy, please. Don't do this." Tears fill my eyes, and my voice wobbles. "I don't want to go back without you."
"I'm needed here. The hybrids see me as their mother."

I look around at the pairs and see most of them are play fighting, and laughing. Some of the girls look over and wave. Mummy waves back. "I can't leave them. No one else here will treat them with the kindness I give them. The vicar believes we should kill them for existing."
"That knave! By God's Blood, he will burn in hell!"
The girls start laughing. Even Mummy starts laughing. "I see you picked up on Tudor swears."
"It's not that hard. At least it's better than twenty-first century swearing."
"And a bit more acceptable in our society."

I stay the night, and Mummy lets me room with her. "I am glad you are here," she says. "A lot of the tutors are hybrids. They are gathering texts and information so we can pass them on to the next generation. Can you believe it? I am making history!"
"At least you get a say in what you get to do." I look out of the window at the star-filled sky. "Sorry, I didn't—"
"I know." Mummy wraps an arm around me. "Why don't you join my class tomorrow?"
"I don't have any suitable clothes."
"We can supply you with some."

The next morning, I find myself up bright and early and wearing a backless blue winter dress. "The colour goes well with your tentacles," Mummy says.
"Thanks."
"I'm sorry we don't have any non-backless clothes, but the students like having their tentacles out." I nod. It's understandable now they're in a place where they're accepted and loved. I put my hands at my sides, only for them to slip into the garment. I find a seam quite far down. "They have deep pockets!"
"That is something to celebrate. Come, you do not want to be late for breakfast."

Mummy is right. I brush my hair and tie it back before following her to the hall. Hundreds of hybrids are sitting at the tables, talking and laughing. There are so many people like me here. "Everyone," she calls, and the hall falls silent. "This is my daughter, Emma. I want you to make her feel welcome."
People begin smiling and making spaces for me. "I've never been particularly popular at Park Vale," I whisper. "This will take some getting used to."
Mummy nods. "It's an adjustment for all our hybrids." She leads me to a table and gets me a tray. There is bread and butter, along with bacon and eggs.
"I haven't seen bacon and eggs for ages!" I grin.
"We want the hybrids to have a filling breakfast, and this works."
I get my food and sit between two girls.

As breakfast finishes, a man wearing the king's livery runs into the room. He slows down and approaches Mummy. "Mistress Smith?"
Mummy stands up. "What is this about? Why are you disrupting—"
"It is an urgent message from the King." He holds out an envelope.
Mummy takes it and looks around the room before breaking the seal. She reads the contents. "Emma? King Henry is demanding your presence at Court."
"I will not go."

Mummy sighs. "It is an order. You cannot refuse an order."
"The King said he would execute you, Sarah Jane, if your daughter will not comply."

The hybrids fall silent. "Are you serious?" A male hybrid stands up. "You will not take Sarah Jane."
"Peace, Godfrey," Mummy says. She turns back to the messenger. "I will go with you if Emma will not."
"Like hell you will!" I stand up. "You said these hybrids see you as a mother figure, and I will not deprive them of that." I stare at the messenger. "You have three minutes to get out. Tell the King that we do not accept his conditions, and if he pushes it, we will declare war."

The hybrids begin shouting. "We should kill him before he can kill Sarah Jane!" One of the boys yells. "Who is with me?"
"Yes!" Everyone shouts.
"I am," I say. "King Henry needs to be knocked off his high horse."

The room empties fast until it is only Mummy and I in the room. I walk over to her and place a hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay?"
Mummy nods, then shakes her head. "I don't know." She starts crying. "I know I died before, but the thought of going through it again..."
"You don't have to. The hybrids here clearly want to protect you, and so do I."

The boy from earlier comes back in. "Emma Smith-White?"
I turn. "Yes?" I hadn't realised he said Smith-White. I close my eyes and sigh.
"It could be best if you stay here. Sarah Jane trusts you the most. Other hybrids are agreeing to remain behind so she is protected." He runs off and begins yelling to get the weapons.

The Palace falls silent by the end of the day. A mixture of boys and girls have remained behind, but a lot of people have left. I am still sharing a room with Mummy. "I want to be near you," she says, "and you are the one I trust the most."
"Maybe it's best not to mention that to the other hybrids."
"They understand it, but I try my best to treat them equally."

It takes me ages to fall asleep, and it seems to be the same for Mummy. "Are you still awake?" She asks.
"Yeah," I reply. "I cannot believe that the king would stoop to such lows."
"We knew it would happen eventually."

I don't want to think about it. He threatened me and my family. Threatening my friends is one thing, but this... "I don't care how long it takes or what I need to sacrifice. I will bring Henry Tudor down."
"Anyway, what was that earlier?"
"What?"
"When Hugh called you Smith-White, you looked defeated. What was that?"

I blow out my candle. "Do we need to talk about it?"
"Yes, we do."
I lie down and close my eyes. "Recently, I started introducing myself as Emma Smith."
Mummy settles down beside me. "How come? Are you ashamed of Ruby?"
"No, of course not. However, William said I don't think of her as my mum by the twentieth century."

Mummy sighs. "I hope he's wrong."
"So am I, because I still want to feel close to Mum, even though she isn't here."