Chapter 8

(A/N- for those who have told me this fanfic would never work, let me explain something. This is a universe where Donna's grandfather died. The Doctor didn't get a chance to save him- the chamber flooded with radiation almost instantly. So this IS the tenth Doctor. Anything else? No? Okay then.)

The Master got back into bed. Staring up at the ceiling, he thought about what had just happened.

I didn't know. He closed his head. I had no idea that that's why she left Gallifrey so quickly. I only ran out of fear- she ran to keep that information safe. Harold sighed and rolled over, his mind wandering back to when he had first met Anna as a Human.

The car was coming fast. He saw a young girl walking across the street, but she didn't see him or the automobile. He only had a little bit of time to act, and he darted out into the street and pushed her out of the way just in time.

"You okay?" He asked her.

"Y- Yeah.. Just shaken. Thank you so much."

"No problem." He smiled, then doubled over in pain. He felt blood from a wound on his side start seeping out, and he placed his hand on it to conceal it.

But the girl had seen it. "Why are you bleeding?"

"I… I don't remember." He realized. "I don't know how I got this. I think it re-opened though."

"Come on, I'll get that bandaged up." She helped him into her house. "I'm Anna, by the way. What is your name, or do you not remember?"

"I think it's…" he thought hard, but only one name came up. "Harold. My name is Harold."

Harold opened his eyes and stared at the wall, smiling. I'm glad I saved you again, Tau.

The Doctor held up one of the many pictures in his dresser drawers. All his past companions were here. His granddaughter standing next to the human she loved. Sarah Jane and K9 were in several pictures. He then came upon the newest pictures- Wilfred, Adelaide, Christina, Jackson, Donna, Astrid, Martha, Jack, Mickey, Adam- And Rose.

He pulled out the picture of Rose. She stood on the observation deck in their second adventure, watching the remnants of Earth blow up.

Below it was another picture- one of her in the TARDIS, laughing at him. Tears came to his eyes as he stared at her gorgeous face. He would never see her again- never hear her beautiful voice laugh. He put the photos down and started to close the drawer, when something else caught his eye. Three letters, one newer than the other two, sat in the corner, concealed by a picture of Madame Pompador. He recognized one, the letter he had gotten after Pompador died, but the other two he had never opened.

The newer one was from Rose. She must have snuck in here before he left her in the other universe. He tore it open.

"My Doctor,

"I missed you so much. You have no idea. Normal life is terrible- bills, work, etc. At least Torchwood gives me something to do. We fought off Slitheen a week after you left me on Bad Wolf Bay so very long ago.

"What were you trying to say, just before you left? I have asked myself this so repeatedly. Maybe I will ask you when the Dalek crisis is over.

"If I die and you read this though, know I will always love you.

-Rose Tyler"

The Doctor rubbed his tired eyes, trying not to start sobbing. He wanted to so bad though. Maybe the older letter would take his mind off of it.

This one was from Maneytha- Tau's grandfather. How it got here, the Doctor would never know. But inside it said simply:

"Remember the arrangement. You are meant to marry Tau. If you both survive the Time War, Do not forget."

He dropped the letter, stunned.

Anna traced the designs on her watch again, thinking. She felt bad for not telling Harold the other reason she ran.

She was being made to marry the Doctor, but she also loved the Master. She ran to hide from this reality, thinking maybe she would decide later. But now the decision had to be made- Which did she love more?