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[nitro_is_ace]

It's quiet here.

She's retreated for the remainder of their flight to the room that always reminds her of some old manor parlor, with the rain falling softly outside monstrous leaded windows. She's always believed it is the most peaceful room in the whole of the TARDIS.

And a good place to write letters. She figures if the Doctor can leave notes for himself, she can leave notes for him to give to people back home, when the time comes. Thus, she presents a strangely studious look as she works, bent over her pad of paper, writing by the light of a gas lamp.

Comments

[just_the_doctor]

The Doctor stands quietly by the door, watching her. Something is very different about his Ace, and he can't quite put a finger on it. She seems, older somehow... more grown-up.

[nitro-is-ace.livejournal.com]

It's harder, writing letters to people she's not as sure she'll see again. Tim, Raven, Eddie... at least she knew that odds were they'd still be there, no matter how long she was away.

She's having a good deal of trouble with Wash's letter though. Annoyed, she balls up the piece of paper she's currently working on and pitches it into the fire.

[just_the_doctor]

He politely clears his throat, to announce himself.

[nitro-is-ace.livejournal.com]

Ace looks up, startled. As nonchalantly as she can, she slips her notebook back into the knapsack she requisitioned from the TARDIS wardrobe.
"We there already?" The worry and stress has disappeared from her expression when she looks back up at him. It's possible she's become a better actress in her time at Milliways, if nothing else.

[just_the_doctor]

"Not just yet," he replies. "I was just wondering where you had gotten off to. Don't remember you ever spending much time in here before. Is everything all right, Ace? You seem... sad."

[nitro-is-ace.livejournal.com]

She wants to tell him, so very badly - he'd know what to do, he always does. But she can't, that'd mess up the timeline, and he won't appreciate being told his own future.

Especially a future without Gallifrey.

"Just wrappin' my head around the idea of spending that long of a time in one place. Haven't even lived that long, y'know?" She hates lying to him just about as much as she hates keeping secrets from him. The fact that she'll never be able to tell him, her Doctor, about her husband, about her new family... it hurts.

[just_the_doctor]

He nods, understanding (or at least, thinking he does).

"I know, my dear. It's going to take some time to get used to. Especially as time wears on and you aren't aging. It may be a little disturbing."

[nitro-is-ace.livejournal.com]

Fantastic. Add it to the list.
"You'll come and visit, won't you?" Oops. She didn't mean to sound quite as lonely as all that.

[just_the_doctor]

He smiles. "Of course I will! As often as I can. Have to make sure that you're not giving me a bad name, naturally."

He can't shake the feeling that there's more going on that he's unaware of. It's not a feeling he's accustomed to, not having all the answers. But he plows on ahead.

Leaning over a little, he says conspiratorially, "I might even be able to smuggle you in a packet of jellybabies once in a while."

[nitro-is-ace.livejournal.com]

Determinedly she grins back, knowing that he'll catch on sooner or later if she doesn't get her act together.
"Now Doctor, I wouldn't want to be responsible for you getting stuck on Earth again. Maybe you should just sneak them in one or two at a time. Perhaps you could be so bold as to bring three on holidays."

[just_the_doctor]

"Ooh, aren't we the cheeky one today?" he says with a smile.

The Doctor feels the subtle shift in the hum of the TARDIS.

"We should be nearly there. If you're ready?" He offers her (his girl, his Ace) a hand.

[nitro-is-ace.livejournal.com]

"No time like the present." She replies, sobering a bit with the sudden resurgance of nerves.

This is it. Gallifrey, home of the Time Lords, and if she passes... her home for the next nearly half-century.

"Let's go shake up some Time Lords." With that, she takes his hand.