"They are transmitting." Harriet Jones' assistant spoke across the room filled with screens displaying the worldwide news.

On the largest were the Sycorax.

"It seems I arrived right on time."

Harriet Jones turned, "Rose! Do you have…"

The aliens spoke on the screen and the translator spoke up, "Will the leader of this world step forward?"

This was it. I was just about to bet a lot on my faith in the Doctor.

I stepped around Harriet and stepped to the front of the crowd facing the screens.

I spoke up in Sycoraxic, "I will represent this planet."

The translator repeated what I said behind me for the rest.

"What are you doing Rose? You don't have the qualifications." Harriet tried to pull me back.

"I may not have yours but I have the ones the Doctor gave me," or more accurately Sexy gave me, "If you come with me you will have to fight. I can name the Doctor as my 2nd even if he's not currently beside me."

"Where is he?"

I gazed into Harriet's desperate gaze and I spoke a half truth.

"He'll come but not on time." I hoped he would come, "I just need to give him time."

The irony was not lost on me.

The Sycorax spoke again, "Come aboard."

I gave a small dip of my head in respect, "As you wish."

But as the teleport beam light surrounded me, it also included Harriet, the translator, a military man and the scientist.

"Damn."

When we arrived we were surrounded by the jeers of Sycorax that stood on several different heights in the stadium-like room.

The leader stepped forward, taking off his helmet showcasing a skull like head.

"You will surrender or you will receive the final curse and your people will jump."

He walked over to a big glowing red button, as if to taunt us his skeletal hand hovered over it.

As the scientist went to speak, I hissed at him in Sycoraxic, "Stop! I am the spokesperson, stand down."

The translator did his job and I stepped forward.

"Go ahead and push it!"

"Rose! No!" Harriet shouted from behind.

I walked up the steps nearing where the leader stood.

"Your tricks might fool other humans but not I."

The Sycorax leader growled.

I continued, "Your control matrix can only go so far. I'll hand it to you, it is terrifying…" I looked back at the humans behind me before making eye contact with the Sycorax leader, "...well for most, but you see I'm ever so clever and I know this kind of mind control can only go so far."

I waved my hand toward the glowing button, "You can make us act like we'll harm ourselves but in the end survival instinct will win every single time."

I stood before the tall Sycorax and hit the red button.

The scientist shouted from behind, "You've killed them."

"Did I, great Sycorax?" I turned my head toward the leader.

"We let them live. The control device was just one form of conquest. I can summon the armada and take this world by force."

"You'll find the human race far too trigger happy to let that happen."

The Sycorax all laughed at the mere thought that the race before them could be dangerous. It would be their downfall.

I stood up straight and summoned my most Doctor-like voice, "Leave this planet."

"Or what?" Teeth clacked as the leader snapped his teeth at me.

I grinned even as my nerves caused my insides to shake.

"By the rules of Convention 15 of the Shadow Proclamation, I will challenge you for the right for parlay. The Doctor will be my second."

"Where is this Doctor?"

"He only comes when called in a very special way, annoying but true."

The Sycorax laughed, "You puny human, challenge me?"

I grabbed a nearby sabre and pointed it at him. Thankful for all the years I kept in shape, muscle training and keeping fit. Perhaps I would be able to hold them off until the Doctor arrived; at least this was what I hoped.

Booming laughter filled the colosseum room.

I readied myself in a position I'd learned in another life.

"Am I right that the sanctified rules of combat still apply?"

"You stand as this world's champion?"

I smiled and kept at the ready, this was going to hurt.

Just by the height of the Sycorax and the weight of the sword in my hand I knew I was going to have to use all my gathered luck for this moment.

"Do you accept my challenge?" My mind whispered the taunt from behind a Mind Palace door filled with Doctor Who trivia and I spoke it aloud.

Shouts came all through the arena and the Sycorax growled.

The tall alien knelt by his sword and I followed in example.

"For the planet?"

"For the planet."

"Pret," I whispered.

I waited for the leader to attack and attack he did.

I parried and allowed the force to have the opponent fall forward as I pranced to the side glad I'd worn my tall boots. They had just enough bend while keeping my ankles from getting turned.

I gave the Sycorax sword a beat, then spun to the side focusing on never taking a full attack on my sword.

Our movements brought us out into the open air, on their 'balcony' overlooking London.

I was getting far too close to the ledge so I advanced using my strength to try to get the Sycorax leader to lose his balance.

The idea of killing someone was pushed to the back of my mind.

I had wiped out all the Daleks, in one fell swoop, and yet the worry of what that'd do to my soul haunted me.

My mind was filled with their screams for a moment and it was a moment I paid for. A fatal mistake as I was now the person on the ledge.

For one terrified moment I wondered if this was how I was going to die.

A shout from Harriet was the only thing I heard before I fell over the ledge.

The whoosh of air coming to greet me as I fell had me urgently sending a message to my bonded sister, 'Please sister, I'm scared. I'm going to die.'

The ground was coming up to greet me when I saw a familiar blue box,

'Be ready, my sister, to dive.'

I got into position. My diving pose had me zipping past the Doctor, only a shadow in the corner of my eye as I fell down her corridor through the open door of the swimming pool and right into the deep end.

The shock of the water surrounded and disoriented me.

In the dark water I was having a hard time deciphering the way up. Just as I felt the anxiety begin to rise inside me, the muffled sound of splash woke up my senses.

Arms came around my middle and pulled me to the surface. As soon as we broke the surface, I coughed and gulped in the air, the arms still around me tightened.

I was brought to a ledge and helped up on it and onto the ground above.

I rolled onto my back with a deep breath.

My eyes blurry as a visage bowed over me.

"Rose, are you alright?" His voice was unfamiliar and familiar at the same time.

As my gaze cleared I couldn't help thinking he looked like a wet puppy, his eyes wide and his tongue flicking out to lick his lips.

"Doctor?"

Then there was the familiar wide grin but on a different face.

"That's me!"

I launched into his arms, his arms tightened around my waist. His head tucked into the crook of my neck.

"You regenerated."

"Well yes, but not when you think." His eyes downcast, "I should have saved you earlier but I was too far away."

My eyes widened as I realised what he was saying, I was seeing my Doctor out of order.

"Let's get dry."

Brown hair that was sticking up in a messy haircut and a boyish grin greeted me when I came out of my room. He was nearly bouncing on his toes as he waited eagerly outside my door.

I pursed my lips trying not to giggle as I imagined him with two puppy dog ears and a wagging tail.

I reached out, touching his hair.

"Thank you for saving me, my Doctor."

His eyes brightened even more and caught my hand as I pulled back, bringing it to his lips.

I felt my cheeks heat, and I cleared my throat.

"So uh I didn't see me around."

"Back visiting your mum."

I nodded before smiling and poking his chest, "I haven't seen this visage yet."

"Like it?"

I nodded before slapping my cheeks, "Do you remember if you came back today?"

He shook his head, "I came too late. I remember I was off-planet. Well, off-galaxy. Well, off-time too."

I giggled despite the sad sinking my stomach did, "Well then if the Doctor from my time isn't coming back today, then I need you to do something for me."

"I assume this has to do with the spaceship over London."

I nodded, "I named you my second in the hope of parlay due to Convention 15 of the Shadow Proclamation."

"Well done, Rose Tyler."

"Were you able to do a Dread Pirate Roberts then?"

I was waiting for the Doctor to come back after fighting the Sycorax, when he walked in. One side of his coat was shredded, hinting that things happened like the show where he lost a hand.

"A Dread…oh."

His face recognized the Princess Bride Wesley and Inigo Montoya fight reference and let out a laugh, "Indeed."

"We will need to get that hand, if it gets in the hands of Torchwood there will be problems."

His chuckle could be almost likened to a giggle, he cleared his throat. "Yes, I wouldn't want to give them a hand."

I laughed alongside him, "Oh Jack would have a field day with that one."

Our laughs were interrupted as Harriet Jones and the translator came into the TARDIS. It would seem they were all that was left after I fell from the ship.

"I don't understand." Her features distraught, "How can you be my Doctor? Is it a title passed down?"

"I am your Doctor, Harriet Jones. Same man, new face."

"But you can't be."

"Harriet Jones. We were trapped in Downing Street and the one thing that frightened you the most was not the aliens, or the war, it was the thought of your mother being left all on her own."

"Oh my…"

"Did you win the election?"

Harriet brightened slightly, but the sadness of those she lost was still in the corners of her eyes, "Landslide majority."

"Well done."

The TARDIS landed, and Sexy whispered relief in my mind. I could feel her tendrils reaching out and checking me to make sure I was alright.

The rest had stepped outside to watch the ship take off and I stayed behind. I patted the console.

"I'm ok, Sexy."

I stepped out of the TARDIS and watched as the ship left London behind.

I looked over at Harriet Jones.

"Don't do it, please."

Harriet shook her head, "The command has already been given."

"What command?"

I looked to the Doctor and he looked at me.

"What?"

One after another five green lightning beams, originating at different spots in London, hit the departing ship that had cleared the atmosphere. It burst into tiny particles. The destruction caused tremors across the sky.

"They were leaving!" The Doctor strode over to Harriet, "That was murder."

"That was defence. You told us yourself Doctor that they'd go and tell others about Earth. I'm sorry Doctor but you're not here all the time. You nearly weren't here this time, what if next time you don't come. Lives were lost today because you were late. In which case we must defend ourselves."

The Doctor clenched his teeth, "Britain's golden age."

Her face turned to stone and she raised her head, "It comes with a price."

"I gave them the wrong warning. I should have told them to run as fast as they can."

"I told them humans were trigger happy, the Sycorax laughed." I spoke up.

The Doctor glanced at me, his eyes a mixture of anger and sadness.

I put a hand on his shoulder and looked at Harriet, "I know you did what you thought best, but this will only spell your downfall Harriet."

"Is that a threat, Rose?"

I shook my head, "It's a promise. One word."

"You two are some of the most remarkable people I've ever met but I doubt you could do that."

"You're right." The Doctor stepped forward, "Just six."

"I don't think so."

The Doctor looked toward me and we approached the translator both leaning to whisper, "Don't you think she looks tired?"

"What did you say?" Harriet's eyes were wide and features distraught.

I swallowed as I could feel her distress, my eyes getting misty before I followed the Doctor back into the TARDIS.

"What did they say?"

The hand sat in a stasis jar on the console floor, the Doctor stared down at it.

"I'm sorry I can't change things. I cannot change time anymore than you can, Doctor. I can provide suggestions to others but in the end I can only make changes through myself not others. Others will always make their own decisions."

The Doctor shook his head, "You did well. You stood up for yourself today, even though I abandoned you."

I let out a self-deprecating laugh, "No wonder you ran, I'm a monster."

"Don't!" The Doctor strode toward me and stood before me.

His hand bracketed me against the console, his voice getting softer.

"Don't, I ran because I'm a coward. I was so scared. I never meant to hurt you."

I let out a sigh, and looked up at the Doctor. "I know."

"Do you?" His gaze was intense, so similar to the Doctor of my time and yet different. It felt as if he could see me better than before.

I stood up straighter and he stepped back.

I walked around the console, my hands trailing across it as I walked around.

"You know when I was twelve, two different Doctors brought me a red bicycle." I had reached the otherside of the circular console and saw the Doctor's eyes widen. I smiled, "You see I would only give my first name to people I knew well. When I didn't, I'd tell them my middle."

His brown eyes widened.

"I should have known." He let out a laugh leaning forward, "Marion."

I smiled up at him, still he was taller than me.

"Indeed."

He licked his lips, a habit I noticed with this version of him, "I always wondered."

"Sexy liked me even back then, her song greeted me. She was curious with the first visit but then when your last came she greeted me like an old friend. She was disappointed that I didn't recognize her as she hoped."

He nearly sounded breathless as he asked, "You can hear the songs too."

"I've always been able to hear the songs of Time."

He stepped closer, his hand close to mine on the console.

"Who are you, Rose Marion Tyler?"

"The Bad Wolf."

He shook his head, "Will you one day finally tell me who you are?"

"I think my future self will tell you soon."

It wasn't long after that conversation that the Doctor escorted me out of the TARDIS, Sexy's song reluctant to let me go.

Right before I stepped outside the Doctor stopped me with a hand on the crook of my elbow and pulled me in for one last hug.

He took a long breath, and I wondered if he was smelling me.

I remembered my past life thinking that 10 might be a soft yandere/megadere and he was just proving his point as he tilted his head down to rest it temporarily in the crook of my neck breathing me in deeply. It was as if he was savouring my existence, like he was never going to see me again.

He lifted his head and kissed me on the cheek, "He'll be back soon, he just needs to put his head back on straight."