Fourth Doctor One-Shots

Another Year, Another Broken Wish

For Lalla Ward, Happy Belated Birthday

She blew out the lone candle on the cake she made for herself and sat in her chair, waited and hoped for her wish to come true. Romana sat alone for what seemed like hours. Alas, this wish, like all the others before it, did not bring her the thing she wanted. For what she wanted illuded her grasp. As President of Gallifrey, she could not leave the planet unless it was mandatory or otherwise urgent. She missed him. The Doctor, that curly haired maniac and his toothy grin left his mark on her in a way in which haunted her memory. She yearned for adventure once again. Who better to sweep her away than the man who led her down that path of unpredictability? She sighed, "Where are you?" Suddenly there was a knocking at her office door. Romana turned her attention to the door. "Come in."

"Romana?" Leela asked as she entered.

"Yes, Leela?"

"What are you doing?"

"Wasting time, believe it or not." She said sharply as she stood and removed the candle from the cake. Leela's eyes shifted to the vanilla flavored heart attack waiting happen placed on Romana's desk.

"Is that a cake?"

"No, it's a file folder. Yes, of course it's a cake."

"Why do you have a cake-"

Romana's aggravation slipped through her tone. "Because I'm quite naive! Now if you'd please leave me in peace...I'd appreciate it."

Leela felt more than uncomfortable and did as Romana wanted. Quietly shutting the door behind her.

A single tear managed to escape Romana's eye. Another year, another broken wish. The same broken wish as each year since she left. Though a single year to Timelords is merely nothing, it was the passing of birthdays that brought her down. Birthday after birthday, wish after wish, only to remain with yearning hearts and tormented what ifs.

"I only wish he'd come and give me one last adventure."