THE GALLIFREY CHRONICLES, THE FALL OF GALLIFREY

A/N Beta read by Lady Catkin. Please review

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Romana's eyes flickered open as the waves in the sea pulled and bashed her towards certain death, not even remembering how she got there. All she could think about was her home, her people. She thought of Braxiatel - why him? They had been over a long time and yet he had been her first thought. How she would never again feel that comfort from him. Never again see Narvin and marry him, although she was not sure at this moment if she still loved him. So much had happened, but she still remembered the last time they had been together. They were so close they had been and how they had held each other after Emmaline died. Then there was the Doctor, she would never see him again. The Time Lord who she would always find herself wishing things could be different with. He would stay with her on Gallifrey, oh she was a fool for him and deep down she knew it.

As tears picked at her eyes, it took the rest of her energy to kick to try and swim against the raging sea. She was soon tiring and every part of her hurt. Finally reaching the surface, she lost consciousness as everything went black.

Gander had not been back on Gallifrey for many years, now he had lost everything; his family his whole life shattered before his very eyes.

Those memories haunted him and hung round his heart like a heavy weight, reminded him every time he took a breath that it was there.

He was just glancing about the wastelands, when he spotted what looked like a pile of jumbled cloth lying on the ground. Intrigued, he grew closer, only realising when he was almost on top of it, that it was in fact a woman.

She looked dead, but as he tentatively knelt down next to her and fumbled about to find her wrist, she had a pulse. Still, it was very weak. At a closer glance at the woman, she appeared to have been battered and left for dead.

How odd? He mused silently as she pushed the sodden hair away from her pallid face, he realised he knew this Time Lady.

"Romana," he whispered. She had clearly regenerated since the last time he had seen her, yet there was no doubt that it was her.

Carefully he scooped her up into his arms and carried her towards the city. Finally reaching the medical station, he gentle placed her on an obliging bed.

"I need some help here," he called, feeling for her pulse once more and frowning when he did find it

"So, you are back on Gallifrey?" asked the medic as he attended to Romana.

"Not in the slightest. I am only here for Romana." Suddenly the sound of footsteps was heard and in charged Narvin followed by Braxiatel.

"Gander," said Braxiatel, cordially greeting him.

"Braxiatel, Narvin. I found her on the wastelands just left for dead," he said solemnly and nodded at her for silent affirmation.

Narvin had quickly made his way towards the bed to see Romana lying unconscious, her visible skin a patch work of waxy white flesh and red and purple bruises.

"If this is Romana, then who is the other Romana in the Presidential office?" said Braxiatel with a puzzled look on his face and a barely subdued amount of concern in his voice.

"I don't know, but I intend to find out." replied Narvin.

Romana for the first time had been ashamed of herself. She had lied to all of these people, her people. Well, technically they weren't her people per se. Besides, what happened if the real Romana showed up, then what would she do? Suddenly, the door swung open and in walked Narvin, Braxiatel and the Doctor.

"Oh damn" she thought to herself, although finding it strangely amusing to see the three of them stood there in unison.

"Who are you really?" asked Narvin. "I mean, you really could be Romana."

"I am who I say I am, Romanadvoratrelundar your president."

"Your DNA doesn't match Romana's and Romana is pregnant you obviously aren't," spoke Braxiatel fixing his gaze upon her.

She took a deep breath and released in a long sigh. "I've come from an alternative universe, another Gallifrey."

"That's impossible," muttered Narvin, shaking his head. "You can't just jump from one reality to another. There are controls."

"Regulations," Braxiatel added.

"I didn't have a choice you know. It's not like any of this was planned," Romana bit her lip, thinking of all she had lost: her Doctor and her daughter.

The Doctor, sensing her obviously distress, quietly crossed over to her and took her hand in his.

"Tell me what happened" he encouraged softly.

"I fell through a very large crack, that's when you found me. I was somewhat dazed and confused."

"I met a girl once," stated the Doctor. "There was a crack in her wall, there was a voice and it said the universe is cracked but I sealed it. I thought that was an end to it and everywhere I go these days. They seem to be following me. The cracks I mean, not the girls."

Romana's lips twitched into a tiny smile, but not enough for a full smile. She soon went back to looking miserable and that it tore at Narvin's hearts. Even if this Romana was not his, he still cared about her.

"Will I be able to go home?" Romana whispered.

"We will do our very best" said Brax. "Won't we Co-ordinator?"

Narvin shifted uncomfortably, but managed to mumble a "yes."

Narvin already felt guilty; as if he had cheated on the Time Lady he loved who was now lying unconscious in the medical station with this other version of her. At the same time, he was a little bit furious with her that she had even allowed it to happen in the first place.

"So what have I missed," said Gander.

"Well, right now, there is a rumour going round saying that Chancellor Braxiatel is romantically involved with one of his ex students."

Gander sighed. "And who might that be?"

"Emmaline."

Gander suddenly went pale. "That's absurd she's just a child."

"Hardly, she's-"

"A child," snapped Gander. "And if I were you, I would not repeat those rumours."

"Are you so naïve to think they are just rumours? Besides, you were the one who asked about what you'd missed. No need to shoot the messenger and all that."

"What else?" Gander said, becoming slightly impatient.

"Romana and Narvin."

"Oh, Gallifrey really has gone mad."

"Turns out, Emmaline is Narvin's daughter and Romana is pregnant."

Suddenly Romana stirred as she glanced at Gander. "Oh I really died and went to Hell," she groaned as she attempted to sit up.

"Welcome back to the living." Gander soothed.

"What are you doing here?"

"I found you on the wastelands. Do you remember what happened?"

"No, "

"I am sure it will come back to you. Do I believe congratulations are in order? With you and Narvin I mean. How can you trust him again for betraying you though?"

"I forgave him a long time ago for voting to expel me from Gallifreyan life. I saw a different side to him." She shrugged as if it was old news to her.

"And the baby, is it his?"

"I don't know. I was mixed up after I was forcibly regenerated."

"Forcibly regenerated? Why?"

"I was attacked and left for dead. I would have died if they had not done it."

"I am sorry; I should have been there for you."

The sudden arrival of Narvin interrupted them, as soon as he saw Romana sitting up in the bed his face automatically brightened as he rushed over to the bed and held her. "Oh it's really you," he mumbled into her hair.

"Well I was expecting it to be me," she looked curiously at Narvin.

Brax put his arms around Emmaline as she looked back into his beautiful dark eyes. He gently brushed a strand of her hair out of her eyes.

"I love you" he whispered as he nibbled gently on her ear.

"I love you too. I don't care if we're not supposed to be together. I just need-"

He cut her off with his lips crashing unexpected onto hers. She kissed him back with the same desire she had for him.

"I think," he said softly. "We should take this somewhere more private - just you and me." He said as he left a trail of kisses down her neck.

"I bet you do," said a voice making both of them spin around.

"Gander," whispered Emmaline, slightly dumbstruck at the sudden appearance of another.

"Someone told me it was a rumour. How sick are you? She's young enough to be your-"

"Yes, thank you Gander for pointing out the obvious, but Emmaline is old enough to make her own choices."

"Not when you are the one manipulating her into your bed!"

"Excuse me I am here you know. Gander, how can you just walk back into my life after so long and tell me it's so wrong when I love him?"

"I remember when you were a little girl. You were so sweet and loving, but now-"

"I am still that kid. I just grew up and became an adult. I wasn't exactly going to stay a kid forever now was I?"

"You are so damaged by the things that have happened that you can't see what he is doing to you. He is using you like a puppet on a string!"

Emmaline folded her arms and rolled her eyes.

"That is quite enough! I will not have you upset her. You hurt her enough by walking out of her life when she needed you the most!" Braxiatel shot back.

"As you well know Braxiatel-"

"Chancellor Braxiatel to you"

Emmaline could not stand to see the Time Lord who had once been a father to her and the Time Lord she loved fighting over her like she was a toy in a Time Lord nursery.

"Stop it please," she pleaded. As she turned round and walked away.

"You have to listen to me Gander, I would never hurt Emmaline, and she is the most important thing. You have to believe me."

"I bet she's the most important thing to you. But important in what way? That's my biggest concern".

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