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The room was bright white. White walls, white floor, white sheets on the bed and a white wooden door across from her. That was the first thing she noticed as she shot up, panting like she'd been running for her life, every part of her aching. Her head fell forward as she tried to take slower breaths, her blonde hair falling in front of her face.
Blonde?
She reached up, grasping at the short, blonde locks that fell in front of her face. Why was she blonde? She'd not been blonde since she and Mels had decided she needed to dye her hair. She let go, shaking as she stared at the fingers that weren't hers. Slightly longer, slimmer and a shade paler than she remembered. What was going on? Where was she?
She turned swiftly on the bed she'd been lying on, her eyes blurry in her distress as her hearts beat a mile a minute. Heart. Not hearts, heart. Singular. She placed a hand on her chest to reassure herself, quickly moving it back in terror. She'd felt them. Two hearts beating under her ribs, she knew that sound and she knew how it felt.
"Theta?" She whimpered, terrified as she caught sight of her wrist. Her bare wrist, an angry burn where her manipulator should have been. Where was it? She looked up again at the room as it spun and stretched awkwardly around her. She rubbed her eyes, her hands feeling as foreign as they looked against her face, but her vision didn't clear.
"Theta?" She whimpered again, her voice sounding all wrong in her head. She tried to think back but her head spiked in pain and she hissed, grasping at her hair and squeezing her eyes shut. Everything was so bright, images and memories rushing through her head, nothing making any sense. She couldn't even remember her own name. The blonde hair was wrong, but why? She tried to grasp at the thoughts, but they flew away as quickly as they came.
She jumped down off the bed, landing on the floor quicker than she was used to, jarring her with the unexpected impact of longer legs. She spun, trying to work it out, still terrified because she couldn't remember where she was and why everything was wrong. So very wrong. Something metal crashed to the floor as she walked backwards into it and she spun again, alarmed.
"Theta!" She screamed, petrified and the door opened, a man with floppy brown hair and a concerned look on his face running in. Her Theta. She knew that, who was he though?
"Theta?" She whimpered and he nodded, reaching out to gently take her by her arms, "Why's everything so blurry?" She had a million questions to ask him, but for some reason that stuck out in her head and she'd asked it before she'd had the chance to change her mind. He reached into his jacket pocket and she jumped back in fright. He held up a long, metal object with a green tip, showing her.
"It's just my sonic screwdriver." He reassured her gently, "I'm just going to see what's wrong with your eyes, is that okay?" She nodded slowly but still jumped as it buzzed, the green light coming on for a moment before the end popped out. He brought it to his face, looking over it with a furrowed brow. He always looked so hot when he was thinking, "You have slight astigmatism in both eyes." He told her, popping the end in, "You need glasses." She shook her head.
"No I don't." She sniffled, "I've never needed glasses. I don't understand…" She reached over to him, taking hold of something solid and that was giving her a lot of comfort, "What's happening?" He pulled her up against him, her head still low enough to rest on his chest, but higher than it used to.
"I know it's scary." He replied gently, stroking her short blonde hair. It barely reached her shoulders, but it felt right as it ran through his fingers, "You regenerated." She started shaking, clinging to him, "I don't know why, but I'm working on it." He promised quickly, letting her go just slightly so he could catch her eyes, "But you're okay, Danni-Girl, I promise." He shot her a soft smile, hiding the mass of emotions he was actually feeling.
River had given him so much hope, he'd waited for what seemed like a lifetime for the TARDIS to bring Danni back from the Time War. Then she'd come through screaming, dying and he'd known that he was already too late to save her. She'd rambled, delirious with pain and the death that was taking her from him. Then she'd screamed again, golden energy he knew all too well bursting out of her and suddenly a new woman stood in her place. Blonde hair, slightly taller with piercing brown eyes. Nothing like his Danni-Girl but at the same time it was. He'd just managed to catch her as she'd passed out, her mouth falling open and a cloud of regeneration energy had floated out.
He had no idea what was going on, but he would thank everyone and everything he could think of that it had saved her life. She might have regenerated, but she was still there with him and he was going to keep her safe. The Doctor and his Danni-Girl, living a calm, boring but safe life in the TARDIS together for the rest of time. He'd work out the rest later, but if he never knew he wouldn't care, because she was alive.
Danni caught sight of her arm again, an angry burn that shouldn't be there anymore almost glaring up at her. If she'd really regenerated, it should have gone, right? It was left when Koschei took the manip…
"Where's Koschei?" She asked in realisation. He shook his head once.
"I'm sorry." He told her.
"No." She exclaimed, "No, he promised he was right behind me!" She stepped back, ignoring the blurring around her, "I did not leave him there. Please tell me I didn't leave him behind!"
"You weren't in any state to do anything." He reassured her quickly, seeing her start to panic again, "I swear, you didn't do anything."
"You don't know that!" She screeched, "He saved me! There was a Dalek, and he shot it down." Her eyes went wide, "After you pushed me out of the TARDIS!" He took a step towards her but she stepped away, shaking her head, "You tried to kill me." She whispered, hurt and shaking because everything was so confusing. So many memories swam in her head, but she couldn't pin them down. He'd pushed her out of the TARDIS, she remembered that and she had to focus on it because everything else scared her more.
"No, no I didn't." He exclaimed, hands up as he stepped towards her, trying to show her he wasn't a threat but she stepped away from him again, "It wasn't like that!"
"It was!" She replied, "You hate me! I know you do, I remember that." She pointed at him, trying to hide her fear and confusion with anger, "I can't remember why, but I remember you hating me."
"No, of course I don't." He insisted desperately, "I could never hate you. Just… just sit down, regeneration is always disorientating…"
"I didn't regenerate!" She exclaimed angrily, "I can't, I'm human!" As if to completely betray her, another wave of energy wracked her body, causing her to cry out and stumble into his waiting arms. It rushed upwards until her jaw was forced open and a cloud of gold floated out. She watched it disappear into the air, "I am human, aren't I?" She whimpered.
"Partly." He broke to her gently, "I didn't want to do too many tests without you being awake, but you are still partly human." He watched her eyes darting around, trying to focus on anything even though he was sure she would have trouble seeing anything with any kind of focus. She then looked up at him with foreign brown eyes.
"What do I do?" She asked pleadingly and he smiled softly, brushing the front bangs from her face.
"Nothing." He reassured her, "I'm going to sort this out for you, I'm going to take care of everything, okay?" She nodded slowly, relieved.
"What about Koschei?" She asked hopefully and he placed a kiss on her head.
"Leave it all to me." He told her, letting her have the hope for the moment that he could save the other Time Lord. She let him lead her back to the bed, helping her up and tucking her in. He stroked her hair, as he looked over her, his overwhelming emotion still being joy at the fact she was in front of him, alive and well, "Sleep, my Danni-Girl. Everything else can wait."
"Okay." She whispered and closed her eyes. He stayed at her side as she fell into the sleep her body would probably need for a little while longer. Some regenerations were better than others, none of his had needed as much rest as his Tenth, but this current body hadn't needed any at all. He once knew of another Time Lord who'd slept for a whole year after regenerating.
Another Time Lord. She was a Time Lord. It may have only been partially, but it was more than her human part. Somehow that had been hidden from all of them, including herself, but there she was. She'd regenerated. She wasn't going anywhere. If they were careful, if he kept her from danger, they'd live the rest of eternity together.
He wasn't alone anymore.
~0~0~0~
Danni sat up slowly, alone and in the medi-bay once again but feeling much calmer she had compared to the last time. Everything had slotted into place whilst she'd dreamt of the blonde haired Time Lord she'd left behind. She couldn't remember much after she'd been shot, just Koschei telling her he'd be right behind her, then not being when she'd tried to grab him. She stepped onto the floor, still not quite used to the height difference but made her way to the door on steady legs. This didn't seem to be as hard as she thought it would be, her limbs felt like hers and so did her blurry vision.
As hard as she thought it would be… She stopped with her hand on the door handle. Maybe she was more disconnected than she'd originally thought as well. She was sure she should have been screaming, rocking back and forth at the very idea that she'd regenerated, that she wasn't human and that her parents must have basically lied to her throughout her entire life in the other universe. They must have either been Time Lords themselves, or she had to be adopted, right? There was a part of her brain screaming at that, but it seemed so far away she ignored it's sobbing voice, betrayed and hurt by the revelation. Another thought for another time, she guessed.
What was worrying her, though, was the sense of dread she felt over opening the door. Not over the fact she was about to go see the Doctor, feeling more herself than she had done the last time and fearing his reaction to her, but just seeing anyone at all. He had been so kind, but she didn't want to set him off again. Maybe she should wait for him to come to her.
No. That was stupid and she was stupid for thinking it. She threw the door open and stepped out into the hallway, immediately stopping. This wasn't right. The stainless steel, the arches… It looked just like the hallways in the TARDIS when she'd met Clara. She set off in a jog down the corridor, coming to a stop as she made it to the console room. Everything had changed. Everything was changing and the console room had changed. She shrunk back, clinging to the doorway.
"T-Theta?" She called out, the stutter in her voice making her feel ridiculous. She wasn't sure if he could hear her, but she really didn't want to move into the open room. Footsteps echoed through the air and then he appeared on the lower level, his eyes shining in the happiness at seeing her. Even she couldn't deny that he looked almost relieved, "Why's everything changed?" He spun on the spot, arms outstretched like he had done the first time she'd seen the new design.
"Do you like it?" He asked, "I thought we could do with a bit of a change." He rushed up the stairs and wrapped his arm around her waist, dragging her in despite her reluctance, "Can you see the writing on the rotors? I thought it was a nice touch, maybe I could teach you what they say. It's all very complicated, but I'm sure you'll understand." He helped her down the last stair, "And I added a few new interfaces in too." He rambled, pointing at a small whole in the top, "For example, this one will take you to wherever you want to eat in the universe. You fancy some spaghetti, it'll take us to the best spaghetti in the universe." He looked up at her, looking for approval in his actions but she just seemed terrified, "And I'm throwing too much at you, aren't I?" He suggested sheepishly and she nodded her head.
"I've seen this before." She whispered, unsure why she couldn't seem to get the energy to talk any louder, "I shouldn't be here…"
"Of course you should." He reassured her before leaning in slightly, a knowing look on his face, "Have you seen yourself yet?" She shook her head, "Let's go, then."
"I don't want to." She explained quietly, pulling him to a stop as he tried to drag her to the wardrobe. He paused, frowning.
"Why not?" He asked and she blushed, her pale skin turning pink easily.
"Because you like red heads." She replied, sounding almost ashamed and he chuckled, shaking his head and cupping her cheeks.
"You are beautiful." He promised, "You've definitely swayed me to the blonde."
"You loved…" She started.
"I love you." He interrupted her, purposefully stressing to make his point, "Let me show you." She didn't reply, but nodded and he led her through the hallway to the wardrobe, where the TARDIS had placed a full length mirror ready. She slowly walked in front of it, eyes wide in amazement. She was slightly taller than she had been, slightly slimmer too but not by much. If anything, she was less curvy and she didn't think she'd had much to lose in that department. Her skin was paler, her hair blonde but not platinum blonde, just a shade darker. Her brown eyes were what called to her the most and were the things that had her pressing her hand against the mirror as she studied them.
"I have Koschei's eyes." She gasped, looking over her shoulder at the Doctor, who was watching her while wringing his hands nervously, "Is that normal?" He walked over, standing behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist so they were both in the mirror.
"We're shaped by the people who touch us the most." He explained quietly, taking on her low tone, "He meant a lot to you." She wanted to argue, but didn't feel like she should so she tugged at the blood-stained blue dress she was wearing.
"I don't think I like this anymore." She stated and he chuckled.
"We have an infinite wardrobe." He told her, "I'm sure we can find something together." She smiled, her hearts - hearts – revelled in the knowledge he was trying to help her adjust. She was still feeling wary, she still didn't know what had happened after the Ponds had been lost, but she'd come to that when she was ready. And if he turned on her before then… well, she could deal with it then as well. For now, she needed the rock he was providing.
~0~0~0~
Danni threw open the TARDIS doors and gasped in delight, stepping out only slightly onto the platform the TARDIS had made in the clouds they were sat on. Down below her was a faint glow of light, not as much as if they'd been in the 20th or 21st century, but enough to be seen. Victorian London continued on below them, unaware of the Time Lord and the mystery he pulled to his side. He began pointing things out but she was still focusing on his new outfit.
Everything she'd picked had been black and white, be it shirts or jeans or suits, but she'd settled on a small, tight-fit polka dot tunic dress with an oversized white collar. A pair of tights, a small set of smart, black shoes and that had been it. Simple and not too different from her old taste, just a lot less colour than before. The Doctor, in contrast, had gone purple and incredibly smart. On the purple waistcoat he'd chosen sat the chain of a pocket watch, and even though he'd left it inside, there was a matching top hat. Not quite the outfit she'd seen his future self in, but she could see the evolution.
He looked magnificent, stunning as he always had done and now she had a pair of thin-framed glasses perched on her nose, she could see him perfectly.
They both knew they were hiding, running away from the real issues at hand, but for the moment they were content to stay where they were, watching over the Earth and just being together.