THE BRAXIATEL COLLECTION

A/N The mirror effect. Please review.

Beta read by Lady Catkin.

Disclaimer I dont own Doctor who or big finish


It had been many months since Braxiatel had visited the Lady President in her private chambers.

He knew he was breaking the rules, her rules. Visiting her like this, especially in the middle of the night - people will talk, but only if they find out. Braxiatel prided himself on being discretion itself and he wanted her so badly in his life. The distance between them had made him more resolute in his plans and directed his next course of action.

Romana - the young, beautiful President who had captured both his hearts had somehow created a world for him where he could not live unless she was both in it and with him.

He couldn't recall the exact moment when she had stolen away his hearts; he had spent many frustratingly long and arduous hours trying to piece together a string of instances that might equate to that moment.

It had not taken him long though, to realise that all of them added together created the sum total of his ardour.

In a few days, none of Romana's 'rules' would even matter because they would be married and Romana would be his, he was certain she would consent. They would be bonded for life and nothing but death would be able to part them.

He had waited so long; watching her as his student, helping her with her campaign, nursing her back to health when she had literally been so underweight he doubted she would live, and now this was his reward.

He had somehow always managed to restrain himself around her – never taking advantage like Narvin or picking her up and dropping her down again like some child's plaything like the Doctor had.

No, he had always been a reserved person, never relying on base displays of overt emotion in order to get what he wanted. He reserved them for when it really mattered – he hoped she would also see that level of honesty in him too

He entered her bedroom quietly and stealthily, unsure whether he should rouse her or not. He instantly regretted interrupting her sleep for his own ends and pursed his lips in thought.

"It's alright, I'm awake" came a soft, sweet voice from across the room.

He glanced first at the bed, but for the first time noticed that it was empty, looking as though it had not even been touched. He turned to face the huge windows that let in the bright swathes of moonlight, giving the room an ethereal grace.

Romana stood looking at him, her face and body cast in shadow as she was facing away from the light which touched her bare shoulders and the top of her hair.

In that moment, he could understand why the Gallifreyan's of the Forbidden Past had once worshipped deities and the Pythia's - if the women in control of the planet looked as god-like as this.

"Forgive me" he whispered, as if saying a prayer.

Romana watched him curiously for a moment, finding it hard not to remember when it had been the Doctor who had been her true love, but how loving him had caused her disappointment after disappointment.

All he wanted to do was run away and have adventures with her – like they were a couple of acolytes who were allowed to run free. He had no idea of responsibility or duty; he just saw his own wants and needs.

Her place was on Gallifrey wasn't it? Brax had been good to her and after all, he respected her and never once disappointed her.

She toyed with the hem of her short satin night dress, smiling a long, slow smile at Braxiatel, enjoying watching him swallow hard and breathe quicker.

Leela once pointed out that Braxiatal's goodness towards her did not mean she had to marry him, but what else was there?

Her disaster on/off relationship with Narvin was almost laughable - had he truly been in love with her? Or just wanted to push her from the presidency? Or did she lead him on because she was so lonely? Either way, that was a dead end.

Then Brax, her former tutor, her advisor when she had given up on life was so reliable and so warm, but did she love him? Or was it the loneliness that was getting to her? Humans had a saying, she remembered; 'it's lonely at the top'. She knew that feeling all too well.

She was lonely, right now.

She slunk over to Braxiatel who was still stood by the door, his eyes widening at the sight of her approaching.

Her smile disappeared from his view as she placed her palms on his chest, sliding them up to his shoulders and pressing her lips to his.

He stood there for a moment, absolutely riveted to the spot, unable to move, unable to think. Then, as though a switch had been flipped in his head, allowing his body the ability to move again, he abandoned all sense of control and restraint.

He snatched her up into his arms, lifting her off her feet and turned her hard against the door, pressing his body against hers. Their mouths devoured each other passionately and his hands moved down to her thighs, hitching one up against his hip and taking unreserved pleasure in hearing her moan into his mouth.

That night, neither of them were going to be lonely.


A week passed in much the same way, except he didn't turn up in the dead of night; instead he retired for the day with her.

It had been so exciting at first – that sheer joy of casting meaningful glances beaming at each other from across the room and the bliss of abandonment found in each other's embrace at the end of the day.

Caught up in the thrill and excitement of it all, they had agreed to marry with haste and that day had finally arrived.

Yet, sitting in front of her mirror as she pinned up her hair, she stared into the face of someone who was not in the least bit excited to be getting married. She looked so sad and her hearts felt it too.

She sighed heavily, as if the weight of the Universe was pulling her down.

She knew the problem and she did not want to admit it to herself. It would hurt too much for her and it would also hurt Brax.

"Romana, you can't marry him" came an all too familiar voice from behind.

Her eyes widened and her hands dropped away from her head and into her lap.

Should she dare to even turn around?

Instead, the view in her mirror was taken by another figure, approaching her from behind.

The Doctor stood behind her, his eyes filled with worry and such sadness that it caught her breath.

"Wh-what are you doing here?" she eventually managed, not daring to turn round.

"I had one of those moments were you realise you don't know what you had til' it's gone, I suppose you could say" he said with a bitter smile.

"It's too late; I can't abandon him on my wedding day. We had our chance. Besides, it's just not who I am to be that cruel. I gave him my word, I promised. I am not going to hurt him because you've had a change of heart" she said, anger and regret bubbling to the surface.

Why hadn't he showed up a week ago? She was a fool for him and she knew it and yet – her love for him was so easily rekindled it startled her.

"You'd be doing the kindest thing if you let him down now; you know how you feel about me, about us. It would get in the way in the end. One way or another it will drive you apart and hurt him" he urged, taking a step closer.

"No" she said shaking her head bitterly "I can't do it. Oh Doctor. Why now? Why show up now!"

"My timing has always been awful, you know that" he said with a hint of humour, as if in hope that it might defuse the situation.

"I love you as much as there are stars in the multi-verse and just as eternal. You know that. You knew that back then and still didn't find it enough to stay here on Gallifrey with me. I should have been enough to make you stay – if you loved me like you said you did" she sniffled as tears pricked at her eyes.

"And your love for me should have been enough for you to come away, but you love Gallifrey more" he retorted, his bitter tone returning.

"That's not fair" she said to his reflection "I love Gallifrey and its people like a mother loves a child. Getting me to pick between you and it is cruel and unjust!"

This time the tears fell heavily down her cheeks.

He didn't reply, instead stood watching her.

"So what are you going to do? Marry a man you don't love or marry someone you do?" he said quietly, looking at her reflected eyes.

"What do you mean? I-"she began, but was interrupted as the door flew open to admit a servant, carrying her robes for the occasion.

"Oh sorry to interrupt my Lady, rehearsing your speech where you?" said the cheery servant approaching the bed and laying down the robes on it.

She whirled round and saw the room completely empty,apart from her and the servant who was merrily smoothing out the kinks in the fabric.

"I don't understand..." she began looking confused.

"Oh, it's just your robes my Lady for today" smiled the servant, bobbing her head "are the nerves getting to you? Oh, you'll look lovely!" she cooed before leaving her bewildered mistress.

Had she been hallucinating? Had he really been there?

One thing was for absolute certain though.

What should she do?

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