Dr Who : "To Forgive..."

Summary: On her (hopefully) redemption arc, Blissy meets her first challenge.

"On the Road Again..." Part XIX…

"I hope K-9 III isn't too lonely." Blissy noted as she and Mila entered the restaurant they'd agreed to meet River at.

Zoa having begged off…Readings to take, reports to make. But promising to meet them for dessert, so long as the guonis was fresh and brown.

"We walked and you played with the creature for an hour. I'm sure she's fine." Mila shook head. "Though I rather prefer a pet who's speech capable, like your travai, Domo."

"Oh, poor Domo." Blissy sighed. "I remember he got sick and died that winter, before I had my exposure to the Matrix. I suppose I should be glad, I never got the chance to harm or torment the poor sweet thing. I think the Master used to think that's why the Doctor loved his humans so. He had one as a boy on Gallifrey, Timus."

"Oh, wow…" Both Gallifreans stared at the huge portrait of the Eleventh Doctor, the "Hero of Trenzalore" printed in bold letters on the lower frame as she and Mila were escorted to seats in the "Chez Gallifrey/Trenzlore" restaurant.

"That's him, eh? Nice looking enough." Mila, frowning at Blissy's rather open-mouthed, clearly somewhat besotted stare.

"Koschei? I know you're very…"

"I never saw this one before…Besides a quick hologram or photo." Blissy noted, eagerly eyeing the portrait.

"Not quite my dear Eyebrows, but…Oh…" sigh.

Is this really the way we want to meet his wife for dinner?, Mila thought, taking her seat.

"Don't worry, Mama." Blissy smiled, taking her seat. "But you'll have to forgive me for being very, very…Gaga…Over him. He's, well, even when I hated him, I loved him."

As the Master? I don't really need to hear this…Mila sighed.

I wish we could find her a nice steady one, maybe not a Time Lord or Lady, just a nice…Regeneration capable…Gallifrean who'd stay with her and not go galivanting all over Time and Space.

"Hello, sweeties." River Song in elegant green gown had reached their table, mostly human waiter leading her.

"Dr. Song." Mila nodded.

"Well, nice to see you out of a suit, Ms. Blissy." River smiled at Blissy in her own dress.

"Thought I'd try a dress. Gotta go full girly sometime." Blissy noted.

"Looks very nice." River nodded, taking her seat.

"You saw our boy over there?" she grinned at Blissy.

"Very nice…First time I'd really got a good gander at him." Blissy noted.

"Isn't he something? Though I had to put my foot down to keep the artist from giving him a fez. Eleven loved fezzes." Shaking head. "Tell me…?" River, smiling gaze. "Did any of his others, before Ten…"

"No fezzes that I remember but Four wore a lovely scarf and hat thing." Blissy noted. "Here he is…" pulling a traditional somewhat worn photo out of her purse. Four in all his glory.

"You took photos? Or was it your…" River began.

Oooh…I think I really have to meet this one next. She eyed the picture.

"Minions? Slaves? No, I used to have nanodrones watching him. He'd jam their signals as far as overhearing conversations, but once in a while, I'd get a good shot. I have everyone but Fourteen. Though I had my Tardis Billie take Fifteen when we met on Earth." Shy smile on Blissy's part.

"That's a print if you'd like to keep it. I was very fond of Four in my way." Blissy sighed. "We actually worked together on Gallifrey for a short bit. In his odd way, the Master cherished the memory, even as he plotted to kill him."

"Thanks…" River beamed, pocketing the print.

Mila distinctly uncomfortable...Choosing to eye the menu.

Is it really a good idea to talk over old times when you were trying to kill her husband? Or that you loved and love him as well?

Dr. Song does have her own "reputation" for extreme violence at times.

"Garfel…Really? Is it any good?" she asked River who made a metsa-metsa shake of hands.

"Passable. Actually, he made it for me once when we were together for a while…A very long night." River noted. "This doesn't compare. But it's not bad."

"My Mama makes a fantastic garfel. He and I used to beg her to make it for us, way back when." Blissy sighed. "When this is all over, perhaps you could come for dinner on Gallifrey some time."

"Oooh…Gallifrey? Love to." River beamed.

Mila rolling eyes…

"The Helaxa fish looks good, braised in oil with flakes of melamill." Blissy noted. "Was it me or you who loved Helaxa, Mama?"

"Look at all the Eleven impersonators…" River indicated a number of males, not all human, and some who at least seemed female…Again not all human. And some not exactly in the best physical condition…

But, all sporting fezzes.

"Makes me want to pull out a gun and start shooting the damned things…The fezzes, ma'am." River noted a concerned Mila.

"I dunno. I rather like them. But not on him." Blissy nodding slightly to indicate a rather rotund Solaran sporting a tweed suit and fez at his table with two others.

"Oh, gods, no." River agreed. "And he actually hit on me one evening in a bar. So, watch out. Though I plugged his probic vent for a minute and he's chosen the path of reason in our further encounters." Nodding as the Sontaran caught her eye and raised a glass in tribute.

"That's the famous human-hybrid Song?" one of his companions, in tux, eyed River. "And the infamous Master…Mistress…Whatever…?" the other, carefully regarding Blissy.

"Oh, yes…" the Sontaran in Doctor suit nodded, beaming at River…As much as a Sontaran could.

"Worthy foes, both females… But best not to risk violating the treaty, my friends." He cautioned his companions. Somewhat grimly miffed frowns on both, but…Having been specially bred for the mission on Trenzalore…They accepted their next round of drinks from the passing waitress with what passed for grace, from Sontarans.

Besides…Their companion licked lips…

Heh, heh…My adoring clone River Song's already finished and waiting for when I rotate home…He thought.

Nothing like turning a humiliating rejection/defeat into a victory/loving companion via DNA sample obtained in said rejection.

Of course, I will die when either she or the Doctor finds out, but…Worth it. Picturing.

And who knows, maybe the Eighteenth Doctor really will be a Sontaran as I've had my River programmed to believe.

It could happen, shrug.

"So, you're ready for Zoa's probing tomorrow?" River eyed Blissy as the three slipped at their wine…Though certainly not Gallifrean Morle grapes, Mila noted, a bit miffed at the menu's claim.

"As ready as I can be…" Blissy nodded.

"I could come along, if you wish." River eyed her. "If you want…I understand it's a personal thing."

And having the Doctor's wife along to blow my daughter's head off should she show any sign of reversion…Or perhaps simply out of jealousy…Would be helpful, how? Mila thought, anxious again.

Though I suppose my poor Koschei would rather be dead than mad again…And Dr. Song is a kind of family. And probably one of the two people in the universe who could prevent the Master or Mistress from once again creating mayhem.

Not that Zoa and I wouldn't try our best…

"I would like that, if you can and don't mind." Blissy nodded, wan smile. "I'd feel a bit safer. Nothing on you, Mama." Urgently to Mila, taking hand.

"Please, I'm no Time Lady…" Mila shook head. "Though…Dr. Song?"

"Only if she asks and seems to truly be going mad." River nodded, kindly.

"Please not unless you're sure…Both of you." Mila, anxiously.

"Don't worry, Mama. I'll be in good hands." Blissy noted. "But, River, how much do you know about the Reality Temple theory?"

"Ah…" River nodded. "There's the needle…It's been discussed at Luna U and other places I've studied. I know the concept states the Universes…All of them…Each have an infinite series of possible Realities from the moment of their existences. Meaning, given an infinite number of possible multiverses, you have an infinity on an infinity. And holding all that together is the Reality Temple which can only exist outside of Time. Meaning it transcends even Time, Time Locks, the Time War. It's said even the White and Black Guardians cannot view it in entirety, no being however powerful can encompass it, though the God of Death hoped to. So, it's said." River shrugged. "It's what allows the Doctor and other beings to save their Universes from total disaster after said disaster occurs as Reality exists in multiformats. We can even view or enter separate individual Realities from time to time but to construct a view of All Reality, the Temple, would risk collapse into a single fragile Reality."

"Which the God of Death hoped to achieve." Blissy noted.

"And failed to…Though he probably came as close as anyone ever has. And of course, on a more limited level…" River paused.

"The Master did as well…" Blissy nodded. "Though my O apparentlylacked the capacity to hold the Temple together and settled for, what he did. I really don't remember but I can guess he grabbed at a Reality and went from there, but his Reality was unstable and collapsed. And the Fragment holds the key. How he attempted to construct the Temple and why and how he failed."

"And so, if Rassilon could recover the Fragment…" River nodded.

"But even he couldn't hold all Realities together to build the Temple…Not even all his past lives summoned together could hold them in view at once while he selected his perfect and stable Reality, or tried to." Blissy shook head.

Mila sighing… "Wish I understood any of this but sounds as though he'd need more help, someone else to look at these things."

Blissy and River eyed each other… What? Mila stared.

"He needs me for more than the Fragment…Naturally, I'm the Time Person who tried to construct the Temple and even if I failed, I've briefly viewed part of it." Blissy noted. "But even if most of my past lives would be happy to play with Reality again…They'd never help him."

"Unless someone persuaded them to…" River eyed her.

"Perhaps even for the greater good…" she noted, quietly.

"You know my daughter doestn't believe that…" Mila, firmly.

"Rassilon is very good at convincing people…Perhaps because he believes he's in the right." River shrugged. "And you have a flaw, Miss Blissy. You want to atone. If he has the right argument, he might convince you."

"He won't. But even if he could…"Blissy shook head. "The others would never…"

"They might. They're all you…And somewhere in them is what created you." River noted. "My dear..." she smiled at Blissy. "I'm not the Doctor, I'm quite a bit more like you in fact, and I've been close to madness. And I know even madness can be want to do good. Especially if you sweeten it with something that tickles its fancy. Say, like beating the Doctor by saving the Universe…With the added delight that that 'saved' Universe hangs by a single thread."

Blissy staring back…

She's right. That might just do it for them. Especially if they can live in hope one of them might be the one to cut that thread.

But I'd never…Would I?

"What could Rassilon possibly use to convince me?" she eyed River.

"Who knows?" River shrugged. "But he will try, it's clear now."

"Are you saying…" Mila blinked.

"Yes, Mama…" Blissy nodded. "He's here. And he'll almost certainly try to contact me when we probe the Fragment."

"Well…Forewarned is forearmed." River noted, cheerily. "And I'll do what I can to help you."

"Thanks." Blissy nodded.

"Rather curious to hear his argument…I expect it'll be a good one. The Doctor always said he was brilliant at debate."

"His orations are still models…Or were when we studied on Gallifrey." Blissy sighed. "Well, we'll see, I suppose."

"Wait…" Mila blinked. "Does this mean he means to have you encounter all your past lives? But that's exactly what we feared might happen…Koschei?" anxiously taking her hand.

"Sooner or later I have to face them and my past, Mama. At least I'll be ready." Blissy shrugged "And I'll have family with me this time." fond smile.

"We have to get a picture of us here…To send him, both of him." River grinned. "He'll be both horrified and tickled pink."