There are things he promised himself he'd never do, this time round. He'd made a list, in his head, when it had cleared enough to know who it belonged to.

1. I will never crash the TARDIS.

That had probably been a pipe dream, really. He hopes the old girl can forgive him. He's fairly sure he could feel her laughing at him.

2. I will never rewrite history.

It all came out the same in the end.

3. I will never return to Gallifrey.

He tried his best.

4. I will never get drunk on ginger beer.

Nothing good ever comes of that.

Well, at least he kept true to tradition.

5. I will never get involved with Silurians.

That bit was just false hope. He knew he would, sooner or later, and he knew it would all end in crushing disappointment and bitter regret.

He simply didn't realise how bad it would be.

6. I will never get my friends thrown into prison.

He knew he was a lost cause, but surely he could spare his companions, his allies the indignity.

No, it turns out he couldn't. He'll never live down that one in the swamp.

7. I will never accidentally cause a revolution.

If he was going to go inciting an uprising, it really ought to be on purpose.

Really, most of them were.

8. I will never fall in love.

It's not that romantic love isn't worth it, not at all. It's just that he's not particularly good at it. Better to quash those feelings before they start.

Or, at least, ignore them and hope no one notices.

9. I will never take a life.

He'd resigned himself to causing death; he might hope to the contrary, but he knew his life. He could at least promise not to murder.

The Master held out his hand, and he burned.

And the last, well. The last he should have taken for granted, surely. The last shouldn't need to be said at all.

10. I will never fail my companions.