So this follows my other story (the unexpected girl) but It starts as a story of its own, I'm going to fill the gaps here and then so if you haven't read that you won't feel lost: so if you wish to go through the first part, feel free to do so but skip the next line in which I'll explain the main character to those of you who will join now.

(Zoe is a young Time Lord, but she's just found out. After a lot of angst and jumps in time and space through which Zoe met various regenerations of the Doctor, they're now traveling together, and she's learning how to be a Time Lord after a lifetime as a human. Oh, and I should mention, she is the Master's guardian. She's the one who unwillingly freed him from the fob watch prison, unaware of what the consequences would be).

This takes place after the end of season three and the start of season four.

OF COURSE I don't own Doctor Who.

. Prologue .

In my dreams, I recognize him immediately.

Well, dreams. Not that I am actually asleep, it's almost like I haven't been sleeping at all, since, yeah, apparently, Time Lords are never sleepy, It's more like some kind of blurred vision, you may call it daydreaming.

I recognize him even if he looks different. I tried talking to the Doctor about it and he said it has something to do with the bond, and Time Lords always recognizing their kind, but he didn't deepen. He's still wary and tries to avoid answering whenever I try talking about him, and this bond thing, okay, it's pretty obvious that he's bothered.

Not that he's jealous of me, honestly. I think it has more to do with the fact that, unless something very unlikely happens, he's not going to bond with anyone anytime soon. And I have to admit, the universe wasn't fair with him on that.

He doesn't say much though, because he knows that I was created this way, that my bond with the Master isn't one of love, and I was, uhm, pretty much forced into it. The Doctor is smart enough not to complain about something I wasn't even aware of until recently and something I didn't even ask for in the first place.

But still, the bond left a scar when he died. It's like a gap, an empty space that gets only filled by... daydreaming.

I'm still trying to figure out if there's any truth to these visions, if I should have anxiety or hope, but from what little I gathered, death has never been much of a problem for the Master. So I'll admit that part of me thinks he's going to show up again, sooner or later.

And if he does - when he does? - is he going to look different? Will I really recognize him anyway?

In the dreams, I can't tell what he looks like.

Sometimes it's just glimpses, and all I can see of him are arms, stretched in the dark to catch me before I fall into the deep emptiness; sometimes, I think I hear his voice calling me.

Some other times, there's more detail to it. A battlefield, a large arcade hall, injured people, debris and ruins all over the place, something tingles in the back of my mind, like a distant call, and then I see him at the opposite side. It's like he too becomes suddenly aware of my presence, and he strides across until he's closer.

I see him taking off his helmet, dropping his weapons, and then, without looking away even once, he's in front of me.

I never remember the exact features of his appearance.

All I know is he's tall, taller than me, because I feel somehow smaller when he's this close.

He's changed and he's different, even if there's still a familiar hint of playfulness and mischief at the corner of his smile, but it doesn't scare me, not anymore.

He is strong, because he lifts me up to him with just one arm pinning at the small of my back, his other hand brushing my hair out of the way.

And I know he's desperate and torn, and at the same time his kiss is just pure instinct, something we both can't avoid.

It feels like nature, it feels like home.

I can't tell if his eyes are dark or light, if his hair is straight or curly, if his hands are soft or rough, I can't tell any of this, but I recognize him.

Maybe I'm not asleep, but it feels just like a dream.

And just like from a dream, the Doctor wakes me up, snapping his fingers.

"Zoe? Try again".

That's it for now. For my readers, I'm trying to see if I can get away with shorter chapters.