rude_not_ginger | RP for tastefulfashion

"It always has and it always will."

She could just faintly feel the beating of his hearts against her back. resting her hand on his arm, gripping his hand with her other, the dance still felt as natural as ever to her even though she could not see his face any more.

"You know very well that we cannot do that," she breathed. All the laws and guidelines to time were imprinted in her memory, of course. Even if the suggestion was just a step beyond tempting. "If time were to be manipulated like that, and for such a long time, it could disrupt the very balance."

He knew she was right. He knew about how fragile time and space was. He knew what he was doing was wrong, but that couldn't stop him from continuing to do it.

"How long is too long?" he asked.

He spun her out once more, and stepped forward to take her back into the classic waltz embrace.

"I don't want to break the laws of time," he lied. "I just want to bend them a little."

All the while she kept perfect time with him, matching each gesture for gesture, step for step. There was no need to read minds to keep in the sync with the dance. Only trust.

"But even if you bend the law, it will eventually break in half. Or thirds, depending on how level of severity the law actually is. Could even go as far as to say quarters or fifths." Watching him still and wondering always, the crescendoing notes encouraged her. Exactly what it was she wanted to do though was lost on her.

A gut feeling, she remembered The Doctor calling it once. A rather crude way of putting it but efficiently accurate. "And time is infinite. To calculate what would be precisely too long is improbable. It is best not to tamper with it or the consequences of such could very well be dire."

As she spoke, another grin spread across his lips. He spun her outwards then back.

"I do so love it when you quote Time Ethics to me."

If she knew, she wouldn't have come. How much changed within the TARDIS and the universe and him since the War. The War she doesn't even know about yet.

He should've made her go. He thought back to the TARDIS. Just make her go...

Again she could not help that little wry smile of hers when she found herself back in his arms.

"Why do I have the funny suspicion that you never do take Time Ethics seriously?"

What awaited her back home was only trouble. The impeachment from her office was to come in years to come, and so much more. Never could she have imagined that one so young would be shoved into the arms of war to lead when no one else would be able to handle. And even then how could it be expected of her?

But that was to be. And this was now.

"Philosophical debates and joking aside, it is not possible to use such a thing to one's advantage. Time can never be abused for anything. Remember, how it almost fell into the wrong hands with the Key to Time?" Had the Doctor not realized that it was the Black Guardian in the end, who knew what would have happened.

"True," the Doctor replied. "Doesn't mean I can't wish we had more."

Together.

He didn't want her to become just another memory. Just another companion he referred to as "We were together" and then changed the subject.

"And I've always thought we've taken Time Ethics a little too seriously. Should live life while we've got it!"

"Then at least enjoy the time that we have now." Until the matters back home were settled she doubted she could take another trip like this for quite some time.

The dance continued with music soothing her, leaving her relaxed and calm for now.

"We have plenty of time, granted you don't go through your regenerations too quickly!" she grinned.

Plenty of time.

His eyes grew sad, but he contained the feeling from the rest of his face. He spun her out and backwards again, to hide his sadness as best he could. She had so little time.

"For you, Romana? I'll stick around as I am for a while."

He pressed a kiss to her ear. Another intimate action. Very intimate. What about all those promises of self-preservation? Why did she make him act differently than he wanted to? More importantly, how?

"I'm glad to hear. It seems almost like every time we meet you're wearing a new body," the tease was clear in her eyes when she came back to him, only to close for that split moment when she felt his lips against her ear. It tickled ever so little.

It was always something she wondered ever since she chose to leave him. What it was about this Time Lord that seemed to bring out the old her no matter what was going on in the universe, good or bad.

And despite all she had learned about adhering to the strict laws and rules she had traveled with him, bending the rules back then too. Why did she always think of the past with him? There was the future ahead and yet that never crossed her mind when he was around.

"Well, you know me. Always causing some sort of trouble."

The Time War took the body she'd seen most recently. Then Bad Wolf and Rose. And she stayed safe within Gallifrey---no, no she didn't. And as much as he could feel her in his arms now, she was gone. He had to remember that.

"But I've matured a good bit since you last saw me. Thinking about the last of my lives coming up. Learn a bit about staying safe that way. You, on the other hand, have the longest survival rating of any President I've ever met."

"And then some."

It was rather astounding that she managed to maintain this incarnation, and her second one at that, for so long. Aside from her looking a little older and her hair shorter, she still looked the same.

"Well, I have not had the fortune of being able to go traveling freely. With being confined to Gallifrey there are less dangers for me to look out for." At least, physical dangers. But she was more than capable of taking care of herself.

For now.

He wanted to say that. Wanted to give her a warning of something to come. Anything to come. Protect her. She protected him.

"Yes, but it can't possibly be more fun," he replied. "Straight line might be the shortest distance but it is by no means the most interesting."

He did so love quoting himself.

Tutting lightly, waving away the remark with a grin. "Now, did I say it was more enjoyable? I don't recall ever saying that."

Certainly spending time with Leela proved to be more interesting than attending a council meeting with stuffy, old senators. Even listening to K9 lecture her was far more entertaining - at least he could play Mozart and Beethoven.

With a firm but gentle grip she held his hand and without even realizing herself at first, she had rest the side of her head against his chest as they danced on.

Her head went to his chest and their embrace was so very close. He didn't often find himself so close to someone so comfortably.

"Stay," he said, before he could stop himself. "With me."

The question was selfish. He needed to think of the timelines. 3/4ths of the universe would be gone if he took her with him. No matter how much he wished he could protect her. She was already part of his timeline. He already knew how her story ended.

"Just...one more trip."

Had he known how terribly she would have wanted to say yes right there on the spot, then perhaps he would not have asked. And the word almost slipped through - closing her eyes for only a moment, the memories of home reminded her of who she was now.

Without even lifting her head, she replied, "I cannot stay, Doctor. You know I can't." She wasn't the same old Romanadvoratrelundar no matter how relaxed and at ease she was here, with him. "One more trip.. it would just lead another, and then another."

Lacing her fingers with his, "I must return return to Gallifrey."

Edited 2008-02-11 06:21 (UTC)

"What about the scenic route back?" he asked, hopefully. "The long ride home?"

No, no, of course not. His time with her was ending, and he knew that would be the end of...well, he couldn't visit her on Gallifrey, that was far, far too dangerous.

"Please?" He almost never used that word. Never used the pleading tone. It was beyond just him fulfilling his loneliness, he had to...they had to...but he couldn't tell her.

He certainly was incorrigible.

They were already toeing the line as it was the longer they remained here. And though this was all wonderful and enjoyable, it could not last forever. To even take the long ride back would definitely stretch matters even thinner.

"Doctor, we just cannot." Looking up at him now, he could see that despite her calm expression her eyes showed that she would have wanted nothing more than to accept his offer, "I have to be back."

It was too soon, there was too little time. He'd only just got her. It wasn't fair. His mind resorted back to an infant-like state (it sounded a lot like his sixth self) and whined loudly that he should have more time. He could see from her eyes she wanted to stay with him. And he wanted her to stay. That should've been enough.

The voice that actually spoke was calmer, more mature. "I should take you back, then."

Then, naturally, his body was controlled by actions that were neither mature nor whiny. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her again. Just once more. Old tradition and all that.

It should have been enough. Had time only been a kinder mistress than perhaps it could have been. But to wish on what could have would only keep one from looking ahead.

Romana only nodded her head once to answer him. Wrapping an arm behind his neck and her other hand resting against his cheek, she was kissing him in return. But still, there was something about it that worried her. He was troubled still and he would not say. To ask would pointless - she knew this by now.

"Doctor, we'll meet again," she breathed.

"Of course we will," he replied, though he couldn't make his voice sound like he believed it, no matter how hard he tried. It was as if she had asked him if he was all right. 'Always' was the answer.

He took her hand again.

"Should get you back."

Back to being her own Romana briefly before everything goes to hell. Back to Pandora and destruction and eventually loss. He could let her go. He had to.

Again she could only nod her head. If only she could understand what it was. She was used to secrets by now, but still...

"Perhaps we can visit some place we have before, just for old time's sake," she heard herself adding, hoping it might help. "It would be nice."

Holding his hand now, she suddenly found herself wondering.

"You could... stay, for a little bit, back home I mean. Could take my TARDIS this time and say hello Leela and both K9 units."

He gave her a look. Even if it wouldn't destroy the time-space continuum, he wouldn't stay on Gallifrey. Well, the Doctor she knew wouldn't stay on Gallifrey. He felt homesick, sometimes. This was one of those times.

"A place before might be good. Paris. Haven't been to Paris on purpose in centuries." Just that time in Versailles with Reinette. Back when the TARDIS was very full.

Immediately she swatted his arm, albeit lightly, saying, "Don't give me that look!" The corner of her lips turned up in a half-smile. "I only meant for a few minutes just long enough to say hello." But there wasn't any point to saying much more on the topic - she dropped it.

"Paris would be nice," Romana agreed with a slight nod of her head.

"Should take you in the winter this time 'round," he said. "Christmas. Never did take you to a Christmas, did I?"

It seemed silly, thinking about a time to take her. Delaying the inevitable---but he liked delaying the inevitable. Stopping what he knew would happen from happening. For a while, at least.

"No, you never did. But perhaps it would be nice to see, especially the city blanketed in the snow." There was a hint of a smile to be seen as she spoke gently.

RP for tastefulfashion

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