NOT THE ONLY ONE

The Doctor looked behind him as the rattling wind swam through his hair and made him look over his shoulder. Finding neither of his companions behind him he let out a deep sigh as he felt the scene change, as if someone had set the wallpaper to scenery...it was a forest as clear as day. But, one thing disturbed this scene, making it look more real and yet so inviting. The embedded and untouched trail, running down the centre of this alluring forest. He wondered if Melody had been taken here, or whether his companions had found her yet.

Where were they? He thought silently to himself. Braxiatel could take care of himself, but Romana... she was not yet herself and she had just regenerated. He knew it was not Romana's fault but whatever they did to her over the years had affected her. Still, she was with Brax and he knew better than to abandon her. At least, that's what the Doctor hoped. His brother loved her, he could tell by the way he looked at her, but so did he. However, she was far too much like he used to be after the Time war, and he knew she wouldn't hesitate to pull a gun on someone. When this was all over he was going to ask her to marry him. He should have done it back on Gallifrey, but he hadn't.

He heard voices in the distance and followed them, doing his best to stay out of sight. He saw a bunch of the cleric soldiers; they all looked so young.

"We had them and, you fool, you let them escape."

"You didn't see his eyes; they were full of evil and darkness."

"What are you, a solider or a wimp? We are soldiers of God, we are not fools! Maybe you should remember that. Now, where is the kid? Don't tell me you lost her too."

There was a brief silence.

"Oh you fool, she was our only hope. Well you better see if you can save yourself this embarrassment you have caused not only us but yourself too. Find the child and find those loose cannon pair of Time Lords."

The Doctor smiled to himself. They were here and they had escaped. He never doubted that they could look after themselves.

Romana laced her hand through Braxiatel's.

"Are you all right?" he asked, tracing his slender fingers against her face.

She did not reply, she just looked away, as if there were so much swimming around in her mind.

"I don't get the whole weapon thing, why you and Kaatje?

Romana scoffed. "Are you serious Brax?" she looked at him with an air of surprise.

"What do you mean?" he asked, fixing his gaze on her.

"They have seen you, how dangerous you are, and the Doctor. A time Lord in the wrong hands can be a weapon."

"You are not a weapon, Romana, no matter what wrong things have been implanted in your head. That is not who you are. You need to remember who you were before that. Please, Romana," he pleaded, "it could be a matter of life and death for you, for me, for all of us."

"What good will it even do? What's past is past. Digging it up won't help."

Approaching soldiers could be heard getting closer and closer. He grabbed her, pulling her into the bushes and putting a hand over her mouth. Braxiatel held his breath and waited for them to pass.

When they had gone he finally breathed again.

Romana let out a sign of relief and, before she could stop herself, leaned in to him. Their lips met and all she wanted was him, to taste him and savour him. She knew it was so wrong but she needed comfort and he was there. It would not be the worst thing she'd ever done, to accept it from someone who's clearly in love with her, and who she might never love back in the same way, or whatever it is she felt for him.

Right now she knows it just doesn't matter who she loves and what she wants, and what she actually needs, all being completely different things.

She rested her hands on his chest with his hands entangled in her hair. He pulled her closer, and held her tightly as if it were the last time. He would be with her. She tried to fight her raging feelings for him, their lips moving in perfect sync, their minds touched as she let him inside her head and her in his. It was a big thing, to connect your mind with another Time Lord, and could only be done if they trusted each other completely.

How could he let her slip from his life again? He needed her, he wanted her, and he loved everything about her. Surely he deserved her.

In her mind he saw what had happened to her, all the anguish she was carrying around with her. He saw the beatings on Gallifrey and every other terrible thing. No wonder she had gone mad. He felt her tremble against him as a tear rolled down her cheek.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, sitting on the ground. She felt his strong arms wrap around her as he sat beside her.

"I had no idea," he spoke softly, wiping the tears from her face. He whispered soothing comforting words to her in their own, ancient language, as she rested her head against the base of his neck, trying to control her emotions. No, she would not break down in front of him. Romanadvoratrelundarer, was not a weak willed girl who fell apart at the slightest thing. She was strong. She was a Time Lady and, the sooner she remembered that, the better it would be.

"I am not weak, Braxiatel, I am not," she mumbled against his neck. "It was just so very hard."

"No, you are not. You are strong, Romana, and you need to remember that."

She looked up at him and took his black top hat off.

"Oh nice hat Brax," she said.

"Leave my hat alone," he said smiling at her, before placing it on her head. "See, it looks much better on you."

Romana frowned. "What is it with you and your brother, this fascination with hats? He already wanted me out on Demons Run with his fez and likely nothing else. He said fezzes are cool."

"No Romana, Top hats are cool."

"No, they are not."

"They are," he said tickling her until she was on the ground.

"No, Brax, please don't, I am ticklish!"

"Are you really? Bad mistake telling me," he smirked as her arms wrapped around his shoulders.

"No, please don't," she giggled that beautiful laugh he had not heard for some time, before he stopped and their eyes locked. Then he leaned close to her.

He kissed the corners of her soft lips as he trailed his own down her neck. When she did not object, he slipped off the coat he had given her and began to kiss her shoulders. As she sat up she wrapped both her arms tightly round him and he started to kiss the back of her neck.

"Brax, me and the Doctor," she started to say before she felt him pulling her closer to him. She just could not seem to think clearly when he was like this with her.

"Brax, please, we can't." She knew what he wanted and it was what she wanted too, but they couldn't, could they?

"Give me one good reason why we can't," he said, kissing her against her neck, his moustache brushing against her neck as if he had no intention of ever stopping, and if she was honest, she didn't particularly want him to stop.

"I love you," he mumbled against her neck, "be with me." Before she could answer, he had brought his lips crashing down onto hers, silencing her words, protests, and doubts, and she kissed him back, feeling his lips pressed gently against her own and all thoughts seemed a million miles away as she felt his sweet breath on her face.

"Oh, this is such a bad idea," she mumbled, knowing this was exactly what the Clerics wanted them to do and she was allowing it to happen.

"No, it's a good idea," he said, determined not let her slip away from him again. He kissed her again and he felt her respond to him as he lay beside her, wrapping his arms around her.

"You can't want me. I am too damaged," she protested against his lips, but she could not stop herself wanting this.

"I do want you. I always have," he whispered softly as he left a trail of kisses down her neck before his soft lips were pressed against hers once more.

"Brax," she mumbled "we shouldn't. I have Kaatje to consider."

"Children, even Time Lord kids, can adapt," he said, "unless you don't want me."

"Please," she pleaded. "I want, I need,"

Then they were kissing each other, something Romana had wanted for so long was finally being offered to her on a plate, and yet she knew deep down she could never really have it, she had responsibilities, something neither brother understood.

Rory rubbed his head. He could feel a headache coming on. When he was on Demons Run he saw the look Romana gave him. It was one of utter disgust, one of complete betrayal. Somehow she knew or suspected him of doing something, but what was it? His mind was filled with more images; the woman with the gorgeous blue eyes. The one he was thinking so much about.

"Please Narvin, don't," and then her piercing screams as the man swung the whip down on her body over and over again. Who was he? Why was he hurting her? Unless... no, he could not even entertain the idea that he was that person; for one thing that man looked nothing like him. All he could hear now were her desperate cries, that look of betrayal in her eyes.

Rory felt sick to his stomach. It felt like a knife, twisting deeper and deeper into his gut.

"Narvin!" the piercing scream continued to play back over and over again.

Romana, that was her name. He reached for the watch in his pocket and it glowed brightly. It had not worked for years. It was jammed, but he was sure that, with a bit of tweaking, he could force it open. "Don't be silly, it's just an old battered watch," he said out loud and tossed it back into his pocket.

Romana was quiet in his arms, her fingers entwined in his. He knew she was thinking.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked softly, touching her face with his fingers, as he began kissing the back of her neck softly as she leaned her head against his shoulder, giving him better access to her ivory skin while he continued to kiss and nibble softly against her neck.

"Brax," she mumbled his name, enjoying the closeness with him.

"Tell me what you were thinking about," he said, in-between kissing her neck, before resting his hand on the small part of her back.

"Narvin," she said, finally looking up into his beautiful dark eyes. The name cut into his soul, rendering him furious. It didn't even inspire pity for him, just anger. If he was still out there then Braxiatel was determined he would not live to breath another day.

"Don't concern yourself with him, my Lady," he traced his fingers against her lips and kissed her forehead gently.

She snuggled closer to his chest as his arms came around her, making her feel more safe than she had in a long time. He gently lifted her hand and delicately kissed each finger. He wanted her to choose him over the Doctor, but he knew she wouldn't, or maybe she couldn't. He did not know what was worse; she deserved so much more than having his brother drag her and his young niece around the universe, and Braxiatel knew he could give them the life they deserved, what could the Doctor really give them? He almost wished Kaatje was his daughter, and then he, unlike the Doctor, would have been there. He would have found a way back to Romana and stopped them from ever being taken.

Then the words blurted out of his mouth without thinking

"Marry me Romana."

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