Eyes of Time: The Final Line ✓

Chapter 48: An Unexpected Discovery

[Butterfly Room]

The meadow stretches before her, a sea of wildflowers swaying gently in the breeze. The butterflies flutter lazily around, and the Alchemist sits atop the tallest hill. A frown is etched on her face as butterflies nestle in her hair and on her dress. One particularly bold butterfly floats up and perches on the end of her nose. She crosses her eyes to get a better look, but a scoff escapes her lips, sending the peacock butterfly soaring into the air.

The Alchemist's fingers dig into her palms as she pulls into herself more. Lately, her temper has been flaring like a storm she can't entirely control, and it is getting harder to hold back the thunder.

"Knew I'd find you here," a voice calls out.

Her hands clench into tighter fists at her sides, her jaw rigid as she glares at the ground, "I wasn't exactly hiding, Theta."

The Time Lady listens as he approaches. His steps are off, meaning he's carrying something.

Standing behind her, the false sun casts a shadow of his form over her as he places the picnic basket on the grassy hill. The Doctor's brow furrows, and his fingers drum an uneasy rhythm against his knee as he glances at her, uncertainty flickering in his eyes. Clearing his throat, he unravels the starry blanket and sits on one side of it.

The Doctor pats the spot next to him and says, "Come on, Amara, sit with me."

The Alchemist sighs and stands, walking onto the quilt before dropping heavily at his side.

"What's this?" she asks.

"Step one of my 'believe me' strategy," the Time Lord informs her.

"It's not that I don't want to believe you. Something is just telling me that you'll keep doing this."

"I don't..."

"Don't do it on purpose?" she interrupts, and he nods, "I know you don't, but you don't think sometimes. I could have dealt with that entire situation with the Sontarans. Death begets Death. I just need you to stop so I can think too," she sighs heavily, "I never needed you to be perfect, you know? I don't need you to be the hero. Just... here. With me. That's all I ever wanted."

"I know, I know, and that... that didn't occur to me," the Doctor admits, "Not even the possibility. You probably wouldn't have needed to even go up to that ship."

"Likely not, but let's... let's not dwell on it. I'm worried about other things."

"Such as?" he asks as he opens the basket and pulls out a bottle of sparkling cider.

She presses her fingers against her temples, her voice a low growl, "I don't know what it is, but I've been furious lately—more than ever before. Even more than my last body."

The Doctor quietly fills their glasses, his lips twitching as he stifles a smile.

"And that's funny to you?" she shoots him a glare, her eyes daring him to answer.

"Yes, 'cause I've figured out the problem before you did."

The Alchemist rolls her eyes, "Do enlighten me, sir."

"That's exactly it, my darling," he smirks, watching her swallow, his eyes glinting with unspoken understanding, "It's been a while, hasn't it?"

The Time Lady gives him a droll look, "You're saying... my body is craving subspace?"

"That, my darling beauty," the Doctor smirks again when she shifts to look at him, "Is exactly what I'm saying."

The Alchemist glances at the champagne flute of sparkling apple cider he's holding out to her. She accepts it, downs it in one go, takes his hand, and pulls him to his feet in a stumble.