Romana

It had been years since the Doctor had seen Romana.

In that time he had somehow almost failed to notice how she had changed in position from his assistant – a pupil no less, to his equal.

Now, however, it was apparent that he wished that she was flung far away from Gallifrey, residing on some distant, wonderful planet. As far away from the stagnation of Time Lord society as possible, so that it was not able to suppress her brilliant, beautiful soul.

He grimaced to himself at the thought of Romana becoming one of them.

"Shouldn't have allowed her to stay. Stupid" he muttered to himself.

Romana was stubborn; there was no doubt about that. There was no changing her mind once it had been made up.

It was times like that, that he wished she was as docile and as compliant as some of the people who had travelled with previously. Always hanging onto his every word and thinking he was wonderful all the time. It pleased his vanity, but nothing more – that was why Romana was something special, something to revel in.

During his time away from Gallifrey he had heard the most terrifying stories that made his blood curdle - hearing how Romana had been deposed and how the people had revolted.

The torture was too much for even him to bear to hearing about.

She had very few allies now, they had been Time Lords like Narvin and Braxiatel and if she had not of had them she would never have escaped.

He tentatively opened the door that led to her office and looked incautiously.

Romana was standing there, apparently already injured as her gown was ripped and caked in blood.

"Not mine," she whispered, looking down, over herself in disbelief.

"Romana, come with me. You have got to come with me!" the Doctor insisted, stepping forward, trying to ignore the sound of approaching footsteps and cries.

He knew she would refuse, but he was not prepared to allow his friend to be slaughtered due to a misplaced sense of loyalty.

She stood staring at the floor, shaking her head gently.

He had to come for her as soon as he had learnt that Braxiatal and Narvin had both been killed. Accidents apparently, but the Doctor did not believe that for one moment and it only built his resolve to come and save his dear friend from a similar fate.

She was not meek or soft; he reminded himself as he threw worried glances behind him as the noises grew closer. She had spent twenty years as a prisoner of the Daleks. Then his mind flicked quickly to the days he along with Braxiatel had nursed her back to health, the days they helped her make the right choices and gave her counsel. The Doctor had been a friend to her and the days the Doctor and Romana had both realised that they were still in love with each other.

He sighed as she did not move any further, nor had she even offered a response to his urging.

"We have to go Romana, now" he said gruffly, moving forward towards her. "We haven't got time for this."

Snapping out of her thoughts, she looked at him clearly "I can't" she said coolly.

"Someone has to stop this" she offered, regaining her composure "If I leave with you, that will make you a target and then what? No. Too many people have already died in my name, protecting me. Something has to be done."

"You know you will die" the Doctor said gravely, looking at her. He could clearly see she had been through so much already and experienced so much loss. He thought his hearts would break for her.

"Go, it doesn't matter what happens to me" she said, a kind look washing over her face in gratitude to the Doctor for trying.

"Well of course it matters!" scoffed the Doctor.

"You are the most important thing-" without warning she closed the gap between them and crushed her lips against his, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Finally they pulled apart and she stood before him, smiling.

"Romana I-" he began in a soft voice that was barely audible.

"I know" she said gently, reaching out and running the back of her fingers on her left hand down his cheek.

She knew without him saying anything how he felt - how they both felt.

He shook his head at her, he knew she was right. Somehow she had to stand up to them and demonstrate that someone had to make a stand, whatever the cost. He turned away from her, hurting as he did,.

Suddenly, he spun round on his heels.

"Romana, please just come with me" he pleaded with her. "You are no longer President; surely it is no longer your responsibility!"

"Someone has to be here to see it to the end. Someone has to do it and it should be me. You know that. You know how much I love Gallifrey. More than anyone and anything. I cannot, no, will not abandon her" she said defiantly.

"I love you Romana, my sweet, beautiful Romana I will never find anyone else like you" he uncharacteristically gushed, desperately trying to keep his emotions in check.

"I know," she said, smiling at him as tears dripped heavily down her cheeks.

"Now go, before I change my mind".

"But you won't" said the Doctor smiling through the tears, a pained expression on his face.

He turned with more purpose this time, determined that his last memory of her should be of her smiling and meeting her fate on her own terms. He would expect nothing less of her.

The war had claimed countless lives that were winked out of existence without warning. At least Romana had the chance to face her death in the way she saw fit. He envied her – he knew he was not going to be able to do so.

Then he stopped in his tracks. If he was to die during this war, then what if he was able to simply turn back and join Romana? Dying with one of his greatest friends had its merits, much more than dying on the front line.

He smiled bitterly to himself and headed back in the direction he had come from.

He happened upon the place in which he had last seen her, except this time she was lying on the ground. She was still breathing and choking a little.

"Doctor" she managed to say through the pain and the blood "you shouldn't have come back. You must try to save yourself before the end".

She tried to lift her head, but failed and dropped it back down against the hard floor.

He knew she was dying and this time she was not going to be able to regenerate. He knelt down, picking her meagre form off the floor and cradled her in his arms.

"You can't die, not here, we have got so much to do you and me" he said with as much whimsy he could muster into his voice.

The blood continued to seep from her chest and he knew she had moments left.

"I love you" she managed to say, the last words she would ever tell him.

Her eyes closed for the last time and her body became limp.

"No," he whispered in horror and hot, angry tears poured down his cheeks.

He cradled her in his arms and rocked her gently back and forth.

She was gone and he gentle lay her on the ground, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

"I love you, Romanadvoratrelundar" he said before retreating from the room once more.

He doesn't notice the yellow glow around her as regeneration begins...