ADVENTURES OF A TIME LADY

Her work in E-space had been completed so very long ago and now it was time to go home. She remembered that day clearly: the very last time she saw the Doctor and gave up her freedom, her adventures with the Doctor, to help free a group of slaves. She never wanted to go back, ignoring the summons to return that came over and over again.

The universe was big and exciting, Gallifrey was dull and boring, and she was young. Why would she want to spend the rest of her life on Gallifrey when they was so much out there?

No, Romana had never wanted to come home. She had seen all that was out there so exiling herself had not been an hard choice, not all all. Despite her feelings for the Doctor she refused to take any more orders from him. She had to become her own person, her own Romana.

The Doctor had came for her and K-9 as she requested, a new Doctor. This one was most dashing with a mop of soft, chestnut curls that tumbled down his neck and stopped just above his shoulders. His face was astonishingly handsome and noble.

"Romana!" he beamed, his bright and animated pale blue eyes smiled along. She looked exactly the same the day he left her in E-space, but he had regenerated four times since. Immediately he threw his arms around her and spun her around like an excited child.

"Romana," he mumbled into her soft blonde hair before putting her down. She had wondered if she would feel the same way for the man who was her Doctor, but in a different body. He had been someone special to her once, but now, meeting him, she didn't need to worry. He was still her Doctor and always would be.

He took her hand and pulled her towards the TARDIS. She giggled at his childish nature as he ran around the console.

He stood before her once again, having made it around. She reached out for him and their lips instantly met.

They kissed, and his arms came around her waist pulling her closer to him.

"Stay with me," he pleaded.

"You stay with me," she said with a slight smile. She knew, deep down, he couldn't. Or wouldn't. She wasn't sure which was worse.

"I can't," he said sadly.

"Whatever happens you going to be magnificent," he said, smiling through his sadness. He knew how this would go, but Romana was his other half. She didn't belong on Gallifrey any more than he did.

But, unbeknownst to either of them, that planet would tear them apart.

The TARDIS finally landed in the TARDIS bay area. The Doctor stood against the door not really wanting this, to lose her again. Gallifrey did not deserve her, he thought, but unfortunately he did not know how true that statement would be in later years.

"Well, Romana, home sweet home," said the Doctor. "You know, we could always run away again," said the Doctor, looking lovingly at Romana.

"Well, it's time for me to stop running." She said, taking his hand in hers as he stepped outside. Romana followed. She glanced around hoping to see someone familiar but it had been around twenty-five years at least since she had last been on Gallifrey.

She glanced at the faces gathered there to greet her on her return. "Welcome home, Romana," said President Flavia warmly, a smile on her face and an outstretched hand.

"Madam President," Romana acknowledged, glad to see a familiar face. She barely recognized anyone else and was starting to feel lonely. She had only been a child of 120 when she went with the Doctor, fresh out of the Academy. When they had requested her return she had tried to fight it, eventually exiling herself to E-space. And now she knew no one.

This had to be a mistake, she thought silently to herself as the Time Lords fussed over her. The Doctor quietly slipped away; when she looked back he was gone. He never even said goodbye, Romana thought silently to herself, both her hearts sinking.

Her hearts had told her that this was a mistake, that this was the wrong decision. Yet her head had won and here she was. She followed the Chancellor Guards to what would be her new quarters. She had never felt so uncertain about her decision to come home. But the biggest mystery was why the Time Lords had even asked her to run for President.

.

it was hours later and Romana couldn't sleep.

She had laid for hours on her mahogany four poster bed, trying to make sense of her thoughts.

It had been so long since she had been on Gallifrey that she was struggling to fit back into Time Lord society. She thought back to hours ago when the Doctor had asked her to stay with him. Had she been crazy to turn him down, her Doctor? The Passion that ached inside her for him and yet she had turned him down, choosing Gallifrey over love.

She loved the Doctor and she had thought he loved her, but he never really said goodbye. Maybe he couldn't, but that just left a huge gaping hole inside her that nobody could fill. Seeing him again after all these years had awoken feelings inside her she had forgotten, and he had given her a chance to be with him. It would have been so easy to just go but now he was gone into the universe, alone and without her. She made her choice and she had to stick with it.

"This is a mistake," she muttered to herself as she pulled on a purple alluring dress that fell down past her knees. She walked outside to an enclosed courtyard that was exclusive to her apartment, completely made of blue marble. It was a private space where she could relax, watch the beautiful ocean, and watch the twin suns greet the new day, or just reflect.

"Lady Romana," said a voice startling her, but she welcomed the distraction. "Or should I say President-elect, forgive me," the voice continued. "The door was open and I noticed you were sitting out here. My name is Lord Braxiatel, Irving Braxiatel, to be exact."

"Lady Romana, please, President-elect is really so disconcerting and I am not anything of the kind yet."

"I have no doubt."

She looked up at him with interest. This was a Time Lord she had heard of by reputation, so long ago on her travels. "I've heard of you," Romana said meekly.

So this is the Doctor's eldest brother, she thought silently. He was svelte and smooth, a real gentleman. He fascinated her.

"Oh?" said Braxiatel, raising an eyebrow. If she remembered him from when she had been his student she didn't let on. He would have to keep a careful eye on her, he mused to himself. It had been the best thing to make her forget him, all those centuries ago when she had been affected by the spirit of Pandora, the evil Time Lady who would have used her to live again, but it had not helped that his brother had kidnapped her from Gallifrey, out of his influence and his control.

This was the young girl he was going to shape into a President. Hardly a child anymore, but a young teenage. A very beautiful young teenager, he noted to himself.

Maybe kidnap was too strong a word. She had gone quite willingly, but she was just a child when the Doctor (his irresponsible brother) had encouraged her to run from Gallifrey. Braxiatel had requested she be returned many times, but the summons were either ignored or refused. The range of excuses he heard were that Romana was having too much fun in the galaxy to that she was now stuck in a pocket universe and would not be returning.

This from the man who had abandoned his own family, so why Braxiatel was surprised, he didn't know.

"So, you are to be our new President?" he said, looking thoughtfully at her. He had always known when he taught her that one day she could be the best President Gallifrey would ever have.

Romana looked at him, slightly bewildered "I'm sure it's a mistake," she said, looking unsure as she glanced away.

"Is that your opinion, or Gallifrey's?" he asked.

"What would I know about running a planet, My Lord?"

"Says the girl who got a triple first in the Academy," Braxiatel smiled. "Call me Braxiatel," he said, sensing she wasn't entirely sure how to address him. He could see her doubts, her insecurities about taking on something as huge as the presidency. If he was honest, though, if she hadn't felt that way he would have been concerned.

"I don't know. I'm starting to think I should of gone off with the Doctor, although I can't deny it was my choice to come home to be useful to Gallifrey."

"Then it's settled, and I would be honoured to help with your campaign."

"But why?"

"I know when I see potential. You are doubting your abilities?" He asked quietly.

"Perhaps," she answered.

" 'Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt'. " Braxiatel quoted as if he was her tutor once again and she was his pupil

"Shakespeare," Romana said, recognizing the quote from so long ago.

Braxiatel smiled as he stood up. "Romana," he dismissed himself.

Once again, she was alone, and reflected on what Braxiatel had said. He spoke to her as if he knew her, but that was impossible. She would have remembered if that had been the case. But she appreciated his kindness all the same.

If this is what the Time Lords wanted, then she would be their President.

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