Title: An Understanding

Author: Angel Leviathan

Spoilers: None

Disclaimer: I don’t own the Doctor, Rose, Setsuna/Pluto or Chibi Usa. Or the TARDIS.

Notes: Don’t ask, the idea wouldn’t leave me alone.

-

"You have not come by here in a long while," the tall, raven haired mistress of the Time Gate displayed a hint of a smile on her face as she turned to face the stranger.

"I could appear a few years earlier if you’d like," the Doctor joked, folding his arms and leaning against the side of the Gate.

"And then I would be left with an inconsistent time line…" Setsuna, the Senshi of Pluto allowed herself to smile, "Or not."

"That’s the thing, isn’t it? What’s meant to be, destiny, fate and all that stuff."

"Being from another timeline I wouldn’t expect you…" she trailed off, "But then, you always did deal with the unexpected. No respect for fate or destiny…"

"Who’s to say what’s fated? What’s destined to be? That, Setsuna, is something you specialise in," the Doctor straightened and shrugged his leather jacket straight, "How are you doing?"

Sadness haunted her ruby eyes, "You know as well as I do that those linked to time are destined to live a lonely existence. It is a burden seeing all. Knowing when everyone you’ve ever loved is going to die…"

"Some things I’m grateful I don’t see," he mumbled, "Can you see my timeline?"
"No," Setsuna replied, "And even if I was able, I wouldn’t expect you to ask questions you know you shouldn’t. You might be able to live any part of known time you choose, but that doesn’t dictate your individual timeline."

"Or when it ends," the Doctor smiled sadly.

"The new you is certainly something to get used to… if I recall, the last time you visited, the past you came here before your last regeneration had paid a visit. I believed death and rebirth to be disconcerting…but at least we Senshi remain the same person…"

"I’m not so different," he commented.

She smiled, "You are more…alive…that the you I remember."

The Doctor smirked, "Blame Rose."

"Your new companion?"

"Another human."

Setsuna narrowed her eyes, "…And she is the reason for such an…energetic…manner?"

He remained silent, mulling over the question himself.

"This one means more than the others," the guardian stated.

This time he stubbornly refused to answer.

"Do you love her?" she questioned.

His expression remained thoughtful. The Doctor folded his arms across his chest, "I…"

"Please be silent for a moment, do not get involved," Setsuna said softly. She turned away from him, holding her garnet rod across her as the doors at the end of the seemingly endless corridor opened, a small, pink haired figure rushing through them.

"Pluto!"

"Small Lady!" she exclaimed, smiling, reaching as if to hug the small child. Setsuna stepped back in horror, choking as a black ball was flung at her, creating a great cloud of smoke that blinded her, "Small Lady!" she shouted, coughing.

The girl reached for the chain around Setsuna’s waist, pulling a single key from it, snatching it away quickly as the doors to the Time Gate opened and she ran through them without a second look back.

"Small Lady!" Setsuna cried out, running several steps after her, stopping only as the Time Gate closed. As soon as they shut, she regained her composure, seemingly undisturbed by the sudden action.

The Doctor frowned, "…What just happened?"

"Our Princess, Chibi Usa, stole the Time Key. She is now in the past with the girl her mother used to be. A great tragedy will befall her."

"…And you knew that was going to happen?"

Setsuna nodded, silently.

"Why didn’t you stop it?"

"Why do you correct errors you make in planet’s destinies?"

"…Because that’s the way things have to be. I can’t stop an explosion that killed millions just because I could," his expression was grim.

"And I cannot prevent those I love going through the agony I know they will," she answered, "So we have an understanding." She approached him, moving closer to the Time Gate, "After all these years you could at least answer me a question truthfully. This girl. This companion. Do you love her?"
The Doctor stared at the floor for several long moments before looking back up at his old friend, "More than any of the others…more than anybody…if that means I’m in love with her, then yes," he said softly, "…But I can’t put her life before millions of others…and I wish I could…I wish I could…"

Setsuna laid a gentle hand on his shoulder, "…Then we have more of an understanding than we know…"

"Doctor? Doctor, where are we?" a dishevelled blonde stuck her head round the door of the Tardis, parked quite innocently beside the Time Gate.

The Doctor shot a grin at Setsuna and approached the Tardis, "Somewhere between times."

"Between times?" Rose looked rather confused, "I thought you said we were going-"

"Just visiting an old friend. Pit stop, if you will," he ruffled her hair before giving her a gentle shove back inside, "You’ll get to see your alien circus, don’t worry," he joked, smiling faintly, "Keep safe, Pluto."
"You too, Doctor…" Setsuna frowned, "Who? I forget after all these years."

He grinned broadly, "The Doctor," the door to the Tardis swung shut, "Just the Doctor."

-

Fin