I Like Smoke and Lightning...

[The First Doctor]

This was important.

Not for her, precisely - although he wanted to make it special, certainly - they'd spent a lot of time together at the Academy over the last year, and he was certain she'd accept.

No, this was important because he'd not actually met her parents yet. And he wanted to make a good impression on them.

And so Nathanufdofehadik - "Nathan" to his brother and his father (unless his father was angry, then it was back to Nathanufdofehadik) and "Thete" to just about everyone else - concentrated hard. Harder than he had on anything else. Harder than on his studies, harder than on his side projects.

High Gallifreyan wasn't just a language, after all. Particularly in its written form, it was art. And so he wielded brush and ink carefully, taking pains that every curve, every symbol, every connection, was as perfect as he could make it.

"I, Nathanufdofehadik, Son of Tylerhathan and of Kari, Cousin of the House of Lungbarrow, send greetings to Libertaniasiel, Daughter of the Mist and of the Deviant, Cousin of the House of Arpexia."

He frowned. That was the formal greeting out of the way. Why had his father - a gardener and groundskeeper for House Lungbarrow - insisted he master all of this, anyway? With a sigh, he dipped his brush in the ink and continued.

"It is My dearest wish that this Letter finds You well, and that You are able to discharge Your Duties to House and Family with Precision during this interlude in Your studies at the Prydonian Academy."

Rod and Eye, all of this formal gibberish. he thought, Why can't I just say what I want to say?

"Should it be Convenient for You, and should Your Duties to House and Family permit, it is My fondest hope that You will permit Me the honor of Your company in an Afternoon Promenade around the Citadel, upon the Day following this Day."

'Afternoon Promenade', he thought, rolling his eyes. This is insanity. How do we ever get anything done? Ever?

He leaned back in his chair for a moment and stretched. "This would be a lot easier at the Academy," he muttered. "I could just ask 'Libby? Would you like to go on a picnic after class tomorrow?' And then she could give me the answer, and we'd be set."

He glared at the brush and the ink stone, then looked at the holosculp that sat on his desk. "Still," he said with a smile, "she's worth it." With that, he picked up the brush and returned to work.

"If Your inclination and Your Duties to House and Family permit, I Eagerly await Your positive response to this Letter."

Carefully dusting the paper with silvery sand to blot up any damp ink, he rolled the letter up and inserted it into the scroll tube. Setting temporospatial coordinates - coordinates he'd long since committed to memory - he engaged the mechanism. With a soft whirring, clicking noise, it faded out of existence.

"There," he said. It was on its way. Now, it was just a matter of waiting for an answer.

He knew he was going to be a Time Lord, someday. But, at this moment, he couldn't think of any way to make time go any faster...

[Seren Ash]

I, Nathanufdofehadik, Son of Tylerhathan and of Kari, Cousin of the House of Lungbarrow, send greetings to Libertaniasiel, Daughter of the Mist and of the Deviant, Cousin of the House of Arpexia.

It is My dearest wish that this Letter finds You well, and that You are able to discharge Your Duties to House and Family with Precision during this interlude in Your studies at the Prydonian Academy.

Should it be Convenient for You, and should Your Duties to House and Family permit, it is My fondest hope that You will permit Me the honor of Your company in an Afternoon Promenade around the Citadel, upon the Day following this Day.

If Your inclination and Your Duties to House and Family permit, I Eagerly await Your positive response to this Letter.

Libby heard her fathers laughter, all the way from her room. She looked up from the scroll she was working on, a translation of an older text. One so Arachic, that it was likely from the Dark Times. Which was interesting for the eighteen year old girl. She had been working hard on her studies, and working on her ability to translate anything. She was already fluent in more languages then anyone in her year. Even The Master, what and odd thought there. But her skill in languages came from the texts she translated.

Her father came to her door, and read allowed the letter. Libby found herself blushing darkly, as her breath caught in her throat. The schools biggest bookworm, was going to have her first date. "Father! That's absurd, stop laughing." She said as she blushed the color of her hair. Shuddering from head to foot as she saw the grin on her fathers face. Her hands pressing over her face as she shivered faintly. She heard her father telling her that she needed to write a proper response, in the proper format.

With a sigh she pulled out her supplies, frowning faintly as she worked on what to say. She knew her father was standing nearby, and knew that he and mother were going to follow her at least for a little bit. A date, a date! Her first date! Blue hazel eyes widened as the surprise flashed through her. She was going on a date with Thete, they had bent heads over papers for over a year now. Teaching each other all that they knew. Her crush had developed into a like, and then into a love. He was a wonderful guy. The Doctor and The Archivist, it was definitely an interesting pair.

I, Libertaniasiel, Daughter of the Mis and the Deviant, Cousin of the House of Aprexia, respond to your letter. It would be my great Honor, and my great Pleasure, to accompany you on an Afternoon Promenade. The day being the day following this day.

It is my parents dearest wish, to chaperone us for the first portion of the Afternoon, of which afterwards they will leave us to our own devices. I will happily meet you, near the center of the square.

Her letter was nowhere near as long as his, but she was just responding. It was definitely a surprising thrill that raced through her, as she added a side note, not as formal. I have been awaiting this day, for a long time. I care greatly for you Thete. She added, as she dusted it and rolled it up. With that done she sent it off to him, her heart pounding in her chest as she rubbed her hands over her face. Time slips, that was definitely what was on her mind. How to make time go faster.

[The Master]

Koscheipopisiva - informally known as Koschei, "Kos" to his close friends, and nicknamed "the Master" for the simple fact that he was so good at so many things - blocked high, blocked low, lept over a leg sweep, and "oofed" in surprise as Thete came up out of the sweep in a roundhouse kick to the abdomen. The sky and ground spun crazily as he tumbled to the ground, then rolled to his feet.

"How did you manage that?" he asked, surprised. He was good at venyu sankido - he even knew that he'd been training in it as long as Thete. But the particular style Thete had learned was like nothing he'd ever seen.

"Lots of practice," Thete answered, dropping back into a fighting stance. "Master K'anpo is a firm believer in extremely traditional training."

"You mean he works you to death, and then kicks you around his mountain for an hour while yelling at you about your stance?"

"Exactly," Thete replied with a grin.

From one side of the practice area, they heard a faint whirring, clicking sound as a message scroll appeared. "What's that?" Kos asked.

"It's..." Thete said, looking faintly embarrassed, "it's for me."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Not if I get there first." With that, both of them exploded into motion. Thete was fast, but Kos had always been better at dodging and running. He dived, slid across the floor and snatched up the tube, wiggling out of Thete's grasp and planting a knee on his chest.

"Let's see... High Gallifreyan? Impressive, Thete? Who do you know that writes in High Gallifreyan?" He grinned, a twinkle in his eye.

"I will kill you!" Thete growled, trying to dislodge his friend.

"Ah... 'I, Libertaniasiel, Daughter of the Mis and the Deviant, Cousin of the House of Aprexia, respond to your letter.' Well, well. It's from Libby!"

"With my bare hands!"

"Relax, Thete. Friends forever, right? Let's see... 'It would be my great Honor, and my great Pleasure, to accompany you on an Afternoon Promenade. The day being the day following this day.'"

"I will stuff you into a black hole!"

Another grin. "The wording on this is incredible. How does the High Council function? Wait, wait, check this out: 'It is my parents dearest wish, to chaperone us for the first portion of the Afternoon...'." He laughed loudly. "Her parents? Chaperone? Rassilon!"

"I hope one of your girlfriends shoots you. Right in the face!"

He shrugged, laughing. "I'd just regenerate. To continue: '...of which afterwards they will leave us to our own devices. I will happily meet you, near the center of the square.'."

"A second girlfriend then. Right in the chest!"

"You wound me, Thete," he said in mock anguish. "Oooh! There's an addendum: 'I have been awaiting this day, for a long time. I care greatly for you Thete.' Aaaaww."

"I'm going to be there to light your funeral pyre, just so I can dance on your ashes!"

Kos stood up and pulled Thete to his feet, handing him the letter. Thete snatched it away and glowered. Kos just smiled in return. "Aw, c'mon. If I don't do it, who will? Tyler?"

Thete tried to maintain his angry facade, but it crumbled at the thought of his mild-mannered brother ragging on him like that. He snorted, and then Kos snorted, and then he giggled, and soon the two of them were laughing so hard they could barely stand.

"Tyler," Thete said with a grin, and shook his head. "I love him, I really do. But I don't think he has any ambitions beyond being a gardener like dad."

Kos wiped tears from his eyes. "Not like us, eh?"

"No, not like us."

Kos grinned. "You and me buddy. We're going to be famous. All of Gallifrey will know our names, someday."

[The First Doctor]

Thete smiled and read over the letter again, thrilling at that last postscript.

"Seriously, though," Kos said, "I'm happy for you."

"Hmm?"

"I'm happy for you. Libby's a great girl. You make a good couple."

He leaned back and looked at Kos. "Thanks. But, uhm..."

"It's the whole parents thing, isn't it?"

"Well..."

"Don't even try to lie to me, Thete. I know you better than that." Kos leaned forward and poked him in the chest. "You're the son of a gardener, and you've got a rep at the Academy as a troublemaker, and she's the daughter of a pair of important research scientists, and you're afraid they'll hate you."

Thete started to open his mouth to deny it, and saw the look in Kos' eye. He closed his mouth again, and nodded.

"And you're afraid they'll forbid her to ever see you again, right?"

Another nod.

"And why the hell do you care?"

Thete looked up again. "What?"

"Seriously. When did you start caring what other people think of you? I've known you for... what? Half your life? That isn't like you at all."

Thete sat and thought for a moment. Why do I care? he wondered. "It's... well..." he struggled for words.

Kos waited.

"They're important to her, alright? And she's important to me. And I don't want to hurt her by embarrassing her or upsetting her parents. And I can upset people just by being in the room with them."

Kos thought for a moment. "True."

"Oh, thanks."

"But that only happens when they deserve it, right? I mean, I've never actually seen you pick a fight, or start the trouble. Someone else does that, and then you and low-birth self catch the blame."

Thete gave him a long, level stare. "Oh, gee. Thanks."

"You should be thanking me. I'm telling you, it isn't your fault. So don't let them pick a fight with you, and don't assume they're picking a fight with you."

He nodded. "Okay, okay, point made."

They were silent for a moment. "So," Kos asked. "What are you going to wear?"

"Well, I figured I'd get one of my casual robes out..."

Kos waved his hands frantically. "Rassilon, no! We need to get you in something better - something that will impress her parents."

"What's wrong with my casual robes?" Thete scowled.

Kos leaned close. "They're two decades out of date. That's fine in the Academy, but... well... you won't be in the Academy."

He hopped to his feet, and pulled Thete back up. "C'mon. Let's get cleaned up, and then head over to my place. We wear the same size. You can borrow one of my outfits."

"You don't have to do that, really."

"Yeah, I know. I'm just like that."

"Seriously, you don't-"

Kos held up a finger for silence. "Quiet. I am the Master, right?"

"Uhm, yeah?"

"So that means you will obey me. Now shut up, and let me make you look good."

Thete laughed. "All right. You win. 'Master'."

[Seren Ash]

Having her mother and father fawn over her for the next day and a half, was actually quite bothersome. Her mom made her get her hair cut and styled, so that her face wasn't hidden. Her mother also went and got her a new dress. A pretty dress at that, something that probably cost a pretty penny. She had whined at her mother that it was like she was planning her wedding, and her mother just smiled and said that she was happy that her daughter was finally dating. Her hearts pounded out a new tempo. One she couldn't quite comprehend, or grasp. It was a tempo that caused her to feel more then a little freaked out.

Her first date with Thete, would he kiss her? That was a silly thought. A silly one indeed. This was just her first boyfriend, first date. She knew that her parents would be alright with it. They didn't judge someone on their birth, but on the way they acted. Her mother had thrown her into the dress, it was a soft mint green dress. With longer swishing sleeves, and a dark emerald sash. The skirts were long and full, and she was given a new cloak to go with it. Her breath rushed through her, as she tilted her head back. Her mother had just gotten done doing her makeup.

She had a soft pale brown on her lids, and a liner that made her eyes stand out. Her lips made very pink, and low slung heeled shoes to top it all off. She fidgeted as her parents walked with her to the Square. She looked up at her father, who shot her a bright smile, and then at her mother who put a hand on her shoulder. They were all waiting patiently, having arrived five minutes earlier then the appointed time. It was mostly because they preferred to be early. Libby knew that her parents planned on leaving after they had been around for about half an hour.

Libby was more then nervous, there was a flush to her cheeks, and she was rocking back and forth. She was fidgeting with her hair constantly, and her parents were standing behind her just chuckling.

[The First Doctor]

The outfit that Koschei had settled on was a semi-formal robe ("Perfect for whatever you two end up doing") patterned after a men's kimono from Sol-3.

"I don't get it," Thete had observed. "Nobody seems to like that planet, but its fashions are all the rage right now."

"This is not the time to worry about that," Kos snapped. "Now try the haori on."

The kimono and hakama were dark grey, and the montsuki was black and emblazoned with the Seal of Lungbarrow (in green and bronze, denoting his status as a Cousin) and the Crest of the Prydonian Academy (in white, showing that he was a student). The edges of the fabric were decorated with subtle silver trim, almost invisible unless the light struck the threads.

"Do you actually own any clothes that aren't monochromatic?" Thete had asked.

"Nope," Kos smiled. "I look good in black." Then they checked out the final outfit in the wardrobe mirror. "Actually," Kos said, "you don't look half bad yourself."

Thete eyed the outfit skeptically. "You think so?" he asked, dubiously.

Kos shrugged. "Well, we both know I'm better looking..." he began. Thete gave him a baleful look, and he laughed. "Don't worry, I'm sure Libby won't agree. Besides, you have to admit that's a lot better looking than your school robes."

"All right, I'll concede that."

Kos grew serious again. "Relax, Thete. You look fine."

That was yesterday.

This is today.

Thete walked across the Square of the Circle, nervous beyond belief, convinced that everyone was staring at him. Without even realizing it, that anxiety was causing him to stand up straighter, square his shoulders, and stride like the Square was his personal domain.

As a result, people were watching him. But not in the mocking way he assumed.

His eyes scanned the crowd. Where is she, he wondered. I don't see her...

And then he did, and his steps faltered and his breath caught in his throat. She was right there, a vision in mint and emerald, and all of his self-consciousness about his family's place in Gallifreyan society and his own questionable reputation came racing back.

What, he asked himself, does she see in me?

"Libby!" he called. Or, at least, he tried. It came out as an awed whisper as his heart thundered in his chest.

He strode forward, forcing himself to speak. "Libby!" he managed to say loudly, then faltered again as she turned to face him. "You... you look..." He shook his head, and tried again. "You look beautiful."

[Seren Ash]

Libby had lived years getting teased by the others in her class. It had turned her into a cold and hard young woman. But not towards Thete, not with Thete. She could feel the way the square had changed, the way that everyone there seemed to be reacting like there was royalty. She turned, to see the crowds parting like a wave. It was then that Thete approached, and she felt small. She wondered what he could see in her, there was prettier girls. But there he was, calling her beautiful.

Her hearts beat in a tempo that was different then each other. Making her get light headed, and sway just a little. She felt her fathers hand on her shoulder, as she tried to regain her composure. Finally the calming sensation of her mother's hand, was pressed to her sweating neck. "Hello, Thete. You look wonderful yourself." She finally said, she was pale. She was definitely scared, and worried about this date. Her mothers presence didn't help, neither did her fathers. Well they did help, they helped to bring her back down to earth.

Her eyes widened as she stepped towards him. Mostly at her parents urging. Mostly because she felt the need to touch him. Even if it was just her fingertips on his. She looked at him, her cheeks flaring with color, and she felt like it was a decade that she stood there like that.

"Libby, Nathan." The Deviant said in a sharp voice, watching his daughter yank back and a small smile spreading across his features. "That's better. Follow the rules, at least for now. You have our supervision, after that is when you do the things that naughty children do." He said as he wiggled a finger towards Nathan. The Deviant was called what he was, for a reason. He was cheerful, and there was always a glint in his eyes.

[The First Doctor]

"Libby, Nathan." A man - the Deviant, Thete guessed - said in a sharp voice. Thete stopped short, and saw Libby do the same.

"That's better. Follow the rules, at least for now."

Wait, he thought. Is that a smile?

"You have our supervision, after that is when you do the things that naughty children do," the Deviant said, with a grin and a wagging finger.

It is! He's messing with me! With us!

Thete smiled a wicked smile in return. When in doubt, bluff hard.

Carefully mastering his expression, not quite keeping the humor out of his eyes, he bowed - a moderate bow to Libby, and then a deeper bow to the man he assumed to be the Deviant and to the woman he assumed to be the Mist.

"Forgive me," he said to the two adults. "I was overcome at the sight of your daughter, and I forgot my manners and my training." Did his voice sound not quite serious? Probably. "I crave your pardon."

He raised Libby's hand to his lips in the ancient, formal style, thrilling at the touch. "Dear Libertaniasiel," he said, all trace of humor missing but still filled with emotion, "I beg your pardon for my breach of protocol."

[Seren Ash]

Libby felt her cheeks flush with color. She knew that her father was Messing with The Doctor. With Nathan. She knew that it was all just a game to her father. He had been waiting since she was born, to get a man in her life. He had been waiting so very very long, just to tease her. To torment her as she went about her relationship. It was all a game for her father. He just teasing her, and teasing him. She knew that it would all pass with time.

Her hand was grabbed, and she felt the blush rise on her cheeks again. She would never get that tint off of her cheeks. "I accept it, gladly. You are fine, Thete, my father is just playing with you." She said in a shaking voice. It was making something rush through her, the touch of his lips to her hand. Just there, just on her hand. It was like a thrill racing through her. Eye and Rod, bloody Hormones! She whispered to herself mentally as she tried to take a long drawn in breath. She cared so much about him, and this was just tormenting her.

"Come on, where are we going?" She asked with a soft smile. She knew he had a plan for where her parents were going with them, and then where they would be going on their own. It was Thete, he always had a plan. He always had brilliant, maddeningly brilliant plans. It was why she..... Oh Rassilon! She loved him. When had that happened, how had it gotten so strong. She wasn't sure. It had been a year that she had been actively seeing The Doctor. Who would have thought, The Doctor and the Archivist.

[The First Doctor]

"I accept it, gladly. You are fine, Thete, my father is just playing with you."

The feel of her hand against his lips, the sound of her voice, they were intoxicating. He had to draw in a deep, slow breath, remembering K'anpo's centering exercises, to focus. But his smile was broad, and ever so slightly playful, as he looked up from her hand. "I thank you, Libertaniasiel," he said, his smile turning devilish as he glanced at the Deviant. "I think I guessed that," he said in a low voice, "but I'm glad to hear it."

"Come on, where are we going?" She asked with a soft smile.

That soft smile is what really got him, every time. Away. Right now, he wanted to say. Somewhere far from all of this ceremony and protocol. Somewhere where we don't have to be the Doctor and the Archivist, where we're not "that half-breed freak" and "the ice queen", where we can just be Thete and Libby.

But, even if she would go, he couldn't ask. Wouldn't ask. Not now.

"As I recall," he began, forcing himself to look more at her parents than at her, "the tradition of the Promenade is to walk the length of the Royal Road from the Square of the Circle to Geometry, enjoying the architecture and each others company."

"Later," here he drew her slightly closer than protocol strictly allowed and, leaning close, said in a stage whisper, "we do whatever it is naughty children do."

He'd mostly meant it as a joke, a slight dig back at the Deviant, but the implications sent a shiver up his spine and through his limbic system.

[Seren Ash]

Libby was absolutely thrilled by his words and his actions. Each of his actions, made something flare in her heart. She loved him, she really did. It wasn't just hormones, it was something deep within her. Something that would change her for a long time. It would make her very changed. She wasn't exactly sure what it would do. But she knew, that no matter where or who she was, she would always trust him. Deep down, instinctively, no matter if she was a human, she would trust him with all of her being and all of her heart. It was at that point that she smiled at him ever so sweetly again.

She felt her father push on her back for a moment, to jolt her back to reality. Next thing she knew Thete had pulled her closer, and her eyes widened. A soft gasp leaving her as he leaned in and stage whispered to her. She heard her fathers responsive laugh, and she felt the blush heat her cheeks. "Thete, I would follow you anywhere, Anytime, any place. I'll know you whenever I find you, even if I can't remember. I'll know that you are the one I trust." She whispered softly to him. There was a gentle look to her eyes, a soft look that held all the truth in the world.

It was at that point that she started walking with him, her parents keeping a close distance behind them. She shivered softly, as she laced her fingers with his. "I don't care what protocol is." She said as she leaned in closer to him, whispering softly. Then she switched to a language, that so few knew, that he had taught her. "I want you to know, that I do care about you a lot." She said in a soft low whisper. "No matter where in time or space we will be, no matter what regeneration we are on. You will hold on to my heart, and you will be the one I'll seek. Even if for some odd reason, I end up human, and can't remember you. I'll still trust and be drawn to you. I'll always care for you." She said softly.

With that she looked at her father, who had a small knowing smile on his face. But it was a sad smile, like her mothers. What was going to happen? Was something going to happen, that she didn't know about. What was going to happen to Gallifrey?!? That was the look her parents had, when they knew that something was going to happen to the planet.

[The First Doctor]

He heard the Deviant laugh, and felt his spine stiffen. It didn't sound mocking, but being laughed at hit his buttons. He started to frame a response, started to lash out, and then...

"Thete, I would follow you anywhere, Anytime, any place. I'll know you whenever I find you, even if I can't remember. I'll know that you are the one I trust." She whispered softly to him. There was a gentle look to her eyes, a soft look that held all the truth in the world.

The words were like cold water. Like electricity. He drew in a shuddering breath, suddenly unable to speak.

She was the one to break the silence, this time, turning to walk and leading him along. "I don't care what protocol is." She said as she leaned in closer to him, whispering softly. Then she switched to a language, that so few knew, that he had taught her. "I want you to know, that I do care about you a lot." She said in a soft low whisper. "No matter where in time or space we will be, no matter what regeneration we are on. You will hold on to my heart, and you will be the one I'll seek. Even if for some odd reason, I end up human, and can't remember you. I'll still trust and be drawn to you. I'll always care for you."

His heart skipped a beat, and his voice failed him. He was never at a loss for words, never. But now..? Now he didn't think he could speak to save his life. He settled for squeezing her hand, and smiling.

"No need to worry about that now," he said, unable to express his true feelings. "We've got all the time in the world. All of time and space; everywhere and anywhere; every star that ever was." He stopped walking for a moment, looked deep into her eyes, then turned and looked the length of the Royal Road. "Where do you want to start?"

[Seren Ash]

(( I sent you a PM, by the way ;3 ))

Libby drew in a soft breath as she saw the look on his face. He was shocked, and looked shocked to his core. She really did love him, and she knew that her parents had sensed it. She knew that something would happen, but she had a long time for that. Even when she looked old, she knew that Thete would still come see her. She knew that he would still like her. Even if he never loved her, the way she loved him. But she looked back at her parents who followed them still. She looked around the walkway, and felt a shiver pass up her spine.

Eye and Rod, forget the dang protocols, she didn't care. She would walk with him, she would hold his hand. Damned be to anyone that judged them based on his status, or hers. Her eyes watched him as she took in his appearance, remembering him as he was now. Forever in this moment of happiness, forever tied to him, and to his presence. She would always find him, she knew that. Always be drawn to him, trust him implicitly.

"No need to worry about that now," he said, unable to express his true feelings. "We've got all the time in the world. All of time and space; everywhere and anywhere; every star that ever was." He stopped walking for a moment, looked deep into her eyes, then turned and looked the length of the Royal Road. "Where do you want to start?"

"I have no preference, so long as it's with you." She said as she squeezed his hand reassuringly, her hearts were singing. Beating in tempo with each other, and a fast pace that made her dizzy. "Let's just walk, till the thirty minutes are up. So we can get our time to ourselves!" She said with a soft laugh. Looking back at her mother and father, who both had a sly look on their face. As if they couldn't wait till they could go as well, so that they could get home and do naughty things.

Her parents were quite obvious, with their want to leave. But they would Chaperon for the appropriate time, and then they would leave. She squeezed Thete's hand again, smiling at him.

[The First Doctor]

"I have no preference, so long as it's with you." She said as she squeezed his hand reassuringly. "Let's just walk, till the thirty minutes are up. So we can get our time to ourselves!"

He nodded. "Shall we Promenade, then?"

---

Time is relative. It passes at different rates for different observers. The gallifreyoids of Sol-3 had needed hundreds of thousands of years to work that out. The Time Lords had mastered the concept before Rassilon, before agriculture, even before they mastered fire.

Thete had never before experienced the relative motion of time quite like this before, though. It was simultaneously going too fast - the time with Libby slipping away like water through open hands - and too slow - as the Deviant and the Mist followed behind them.

Won't they ever go away? he wondered to himself, fully aware - because no Gallifreyan could fail to feel the passage of personal time - that it had been less than fifteen minutes. Stymied, feeling unaccountably shy in front of her parents - Me? Shy? What the heck? - he floundered for words.

"So, uhm," he began and then stopped, cringing at the lame beginning. I can talk to anyone, he thought. People I don't even like. And I love Libby! Why am I freezing up?

But he knew. Because I don't want to embarrass her in front of her parents. And because they're her parents, I want to impress them.

The thought that they might forbid her to see him was too much to contemplate. And so he walked along, holding her hand, frantically trying to think what to say, growing more and more frustrated. And he didn't deal well with frustration.

All of a sudden, it all boiled out. He released her hand and spun on his heel, pointing at the two adults. "All right!" he heard himself snap, bitterness and rage in his voice. "Let's get this over with. Yes, my father is Emmehujidat's gardener. And yes, I'm far too interested in hands-on applications to theory, and my grades suffer sometimes as a result. And yes, I'm a punk and a know-it-all and a troublemaker and a half-breed."

He felt slightly dizzy now. "But I love your daughter," he said in a level voice. "And she loves me. And if you try to tell me I'm not good enough for her..." His eyes flicked to one side, looking at Libby. "Then. I. Will. Make. You. Eat. Those. Words."

He was breathing hard now. A small voice in the back of his mind whispered, So much for not embarrassing her.

[Seren Ash]

Libby found that time was going slower then she wanted it to. She laced her fingers with his, and walked with him. It felt like forever, but she knew from her internal clock that it had been only a little bit of time. Not even halfway to the time that her parents had to get going. She felt that it was definitely going to be a wonderful evening. She felt so close to Thete, even though all they were doing was holding hands. She felt so calm, and so wanted. It was an odd feeling. She squeezed his hand lightly.

Her eyes widened a little, as she felt Thete stop. Her eyes widened, and her lips parted faintly. Her face registered true shock, the face of the Ice Queen was showing emotions truly and openly in a public forum. But she had started doing that with Thete, and it had been happening for awhile. But she openly gasped as she stared back at her father and her mother. Her father had a rather odd look on his face.

She pressed her freehand to her lips, her eyes dancing with tears. She was scared, utterly and completely scared. "Fa-" She was going to call out to her father, but he held up a hand. His eyes were dark, the look was dangerous. She watched her father stride over to Thete, looking large and imposing. Her mother stood back, arms crossed over her chest, and a small smile was playing on her mothers face.

The Deviant stood before the boy now. "Good, you are done now." He said as he cleared his throat. His eyes narrowed as he looked down at the boy. "I was standing in your place, one time. Feeling like I wasn't worthy of my girlfriend, who was of a rather high up family. To be completely honest, my descent isn't really known. My parents found me under a cabbage leaf, literally." He said as he cleared his throat again.

" I stood off against Mist's parents, I told them that I loved their daughter, and that was all that should matter. Her father did what I am about to do to you." he said as his hand came up, it looked like he was going to strike Thete for a moment, and he heard Libby cry out. His hand came down on the boys shoulder, and smiled softly at him. "You love my daughter, that's all that matters. I don't care what your blood is, or who your father is." He said this gently.

"I give you permission to pursue a relationship with my daughter, in any way you both see fit. Whether it's privately or publicly, you have my support. ANYONE that decides to torment you, or come on you for it... Will answer to the Deviant and the Mist. I really think they wouldn't like their TARDIS technology messed with." he said as he stepped back and took his wifes hand. "So what do you have to say, Thete."