13 Novella 1

Cheat

You are back at the Tardis playing cards with Yaz on the floor. In the background you can hear The Doctor speaking in the moose-people's language to their government and requesting a safe transfer of the weapon to be disposed of.

You look down at your cards then up at Yaz, ready to calculate her poker face, but she isn't paying attention.

She is staring at The Doctor with a soft expression and you let out a small cough to bring her back to reality, which she does so with more blushing.

You bite back a sly comment as The Doctor bounces over to you and sits crossed legged like a child beside you. You are careful to keep both in your eyeline at all times.

"What are we playing?" She asks with a grin.

"Well we were playing cheat, but Yaz here got a little distracted" you say innocently, trying to contain your laughter at the fresh blush that has appeared over her face.

"Mmm I don't know how to play that one! 900 years of time and space and you humans know something I don't! Fun" she starts to shuffle the cards, catching your expression when she next looks up.

"Ah sorry (Y/n) I keep forgetting! Us time lords live a little longer than you humans!"

"But you look so young?" You breathe, which makes her laugh.

"I'm flattered, but we have the ability to regenerate, which is to say, rebuild every cell in our body until we are a completely different person"

"So you're immortal?"

"No we have a set number of regenerations, 11 usually, but I'm a little different" she says that last part with a darker tone.

"So what number are you on?" You ask before wondering if this was rude to ask. She doesn't look offended, and smiles as she answers.

"This is technically my thirteenth face, and first time being a woman actually which is weird, not that I miss being a man" she grins and you are again taken aback, she used to be a man?

Then you reason, well then that is like being transgender, she is no longer a man so it didn't matter. You smile as she opens her mouth again to ask you how to play cheat like the news she just dropped in the last minute wasn't completely crazy.

You think you are going to like it here.

*      *      *

You begin to settle into life in The Tardis, enjoying the two women's company, the trips to exotic planets, but especially how busy you were.

There was very little time to consider what was waiting for you at home when The Doctor eventually decided to take you back, or to mull for hours grieving, as the constant racing around made you exhausted at night.

You laughed and smiled and ran with them, but you always felt one beat behind, like you were missing something that was just beyond your reach.

Two months had passed and The Doctor hadn't mentioned you returning, until one evening when you were resting against a counter daydreaming.

She clears her throat "(Y/n) are you listening to me?" She asks and you start, because to be honest, you missed whatever she had said in the last five minutes.

"Sorry" you apologise, embarrassed.

"It's ok" she says watching you carefully. "What were you thinking about?"

"Home" you answer honestly.

"Yes I've been thinking about that too" she replies after a pause, and you take the hint, not wanting to make her say it.

"I think I ought to go home soon" you say, the words sounding foreign to you. It's the last place you want to be.

"Ok" she says, "I'll take you home tomorrow". You don't want to assume, but you feel she does sound a little sad to see you go.

At least someone will miss you when you're gone.

Your goodbyes are short and light. You keep it that way to avoid suspicion. They won't need to worry about you any more.

"Goodbye (Y/n), I'll miss you" says Yaz with a smile and a hug which you try to accept without alarm.
You turn to face The Doctor.

"Have a good life (Y/n), and take care of yourself" she says, embracing you quietly.

You nod, afraid you'll do or say something stupid if you open your mouth. Or just burst into tears. It could be anything at this point.

You feel the rushing sensation again as The Tardis
takes off, but the trip seems to take much less time than usual as you feel the box hit solid ground and you step out onto your quiet estate. Two months. You really thought more would have changed.

"Goodbye (Y/n)" says The Doctor, smiling gently at you.

"Thank you Doctor... for everything". You hope that says enough.

She nods in acknowledgment and turns back, closing the blue door behind her. You watch as she disappears for the last time, before breathing deeply, and looking up at apartment 127 cooper field estate.