Chapter Text
~ Prior to the Gardens...
Donna Noble has had quite enough to put it simply. She was sick of the Doctors constant moping and pouty stares off into space like a lost puppy caught out in the rain. Sick of his defensive quips and strike-backs to make her stop asking about you. And she was most certainly sick of nobody doing anything when you both obviously just needed to kiss and make up already.
So when she stepped foot back onto the TARDIS, Donna Noble had a plan... to get two Time Lords back together like some romantic-comedy gone wrong. How exactly would she do this?- she had to do some research first and brew herself a bot of tea to enjoy with it.
The Doctor was suspicious of why his companion all the sudden was digging through the deepest of storage rooms and climbing up the highest shelves in the library to stick her nose into dusty books and boxes yet in the grand scheme of things, this was the least weird thing he had encountered and so he let his companion be.... for now.
The Lady is a member from one of the most powerful houses on Gallifery who are thought to be descendants from the original Time Lords line and thus is where her title was established. Her house oversaw smaller states across the red planet and acted as the main conductors for interplanetary relations. Originally, she was set for a political marriage to ensure the lineage of her house but after careful consideration another member was pulled. The reason for why this change happened was unknown to the public for many years and many suggested that the cause was her finding her soulmate. It wouldn't be until several years later until answers were provided as the Lady made her relationship with rivalling house member, the Doctor, public. It was very well known how their parents detested one another so to see this union was a shock to all socialites and papers.
Donna held onto every word of the textbook fixed between her hands, cooing and aw-ing at the Doctors seemingly 'love story for the ages' as this writer put it or as Donna read between the pages, a 'jealous love story of the ages'. As she snickered at the rivalry between the Doctor and the Master for your hand. To be fought over, Donna sighed before shaking her head and Flipping forwards to the next page, she saw an old portrait of yourself from regenerations ago.
Yet falling out onto her lap between the pages was a chain of paper flowers and hearts, it is all sickly sweet, too sweet, she thought to herself and she would be correct in picking up her next book, The History of the Time Wars, that crushed her high spirits.
Said to be the true war to end all wars and to some part it was to an outsider looking in. Two greatly evolved species, the Daleks and the Time Lords in a tale fundamentally as old as time set to an end by their mutual destruction. Many tragic stories have came out of these loveless fights, some even too dark and sad to be placed into words. Yet amongst these all, the Lady and the Doctor stands to be the saddest of them all, their tale connecting across language, time, and species of a man driven to absolute destruction thinking their love to be lost as they trash out against the universe, a tale as old as the Time Wars itself found repeating across storytellers everywhere. Nowadays only singular survivors of these wars remain with limited resources to reconstruct their once great fleets and nations... the only question remains on which species is stubborn enough to wait for the other to die or to die trying to kill the other... the answer, if you are reading this, is already found.
So entrenched into her readings she didn't notice the Doctor leaning in the doorframe a sad and contemplative look upon his features as he stared at the array of books he spent many of his younger years reading- hoping to gain a closer connection to you in some way by the mere mention of your name against a white page.
With a heavy sigh, the Doctor pivots, closing the door softly behind himself unknowing to Donnas stare following him out the room. 700 years of waiting... and not a year more, she told herself with determination.
After easily convincing the TARDIS to track your signal in which it happily complied, lights flashing brightly and engines singing, the Doctor could do little to control where the blue box was headed as he scrambled with the controls that appeared to be moving on their own violation.
Donna just sat back in her chair with a large grin on her face, ankle press atop her knee with a cup in one hand, saucer in the other. "Are you seeing this? I've never seen her act like this before, maybe someone has hacked- no thats impossible..." the Doctor was threading his hands through his hair, tugging at the roots as he paced. A part of Donna wanted to tell yet the better part of her knew that it would only add to the reaction so she kept her lips shut, nodding absent-mindedly with each of the space-man's complaints.
"Oh yeah I know, terrible blue box not working for the blue-box man, right?" she pouts before shoving a scone in his face. "I find stress eating helps sometimes, you ever tried it?"
Crumbs falling out of his mouth, the Doctor tries to talk, raising a pointed finger before chocking on the dryness of the pastry, signalling for some water instead. "Both ladies have lost their mind today," the Doctor grumbles to himself receiving a quick swat to the back of his head by his companion.
"Oi! the only mind being lost is your head when I take it if you keep up this attitude, I swear sometimes I'm like your mother, grandmother, and great grandmother," Donna retorts, sitting back down with a huff. The Doctor stays silent, taking a seat beside his companion and finishes the rest of his scone as the TARDIS descends.
"I don't even know if I have a great grandmother," the Doctor takes a look towards Donna out of the corner of his eye.
"Well I'm not going to help you with that one."
Donna had planned a myriad of excuses yet tried to not act stunned as she didn't need to use them, the Doctor had decided himself that he would be staying within the TARDIS to try and repair whatever 'damage' had been done from the automatic flying.
Setting off down a hill from where the blue box had parked she stumbled into a garden where coincidentally enough she found you getting your portrait done? Donna furrowed her brows, I didn't know you to be so narcissistic. Yet those thoughts are quickly dissolved in seeing your shock ridden face whilst staring at yourself in the painted frame that only grows when another man steps into the frame that you seem to recognize almost instantly that has Donna frowning deeply.
Who are you, what do you think you're doing? She stares at the bow-tie man sharply, ducking out of sight as his eyes chase over the landscape- jumping right past her head. She cannot hear your conversation yet follows at a distance conjouring up another plan on sight.
If memory serves me right... the Doctor asked for your hand after seeing you with the Master more... so if the Doctor sees you now with him... she quickly turns back to the TARDIS, not bothering to say hello to the Doctor as she grabs her camera and storms back out just in time to- she nearly drops her camera at the sight but manages to snap a quick albeit blurry picture.
"Oi! Minster! You get your hands off her! I can’t have you ruining my plan so off you go, shoo!” She watches as you both freeze, glaring at his hand placed high above your raised knee. After what she had seen on the Titanic, Donna's mind was working on overdrive on how quickly you could move on from the Doctor to whoever this was feeling up your leg in an open field.
She watches as the man leans down to whisper something into your ear that has you blush, covering your face in his chest as he grips you tighter. That is the opposite of what I wanted to happen! Donna panics to herself, I need something more threatening...
“If you think I’m playing around that one there has a very angry alien friend that is looking for something to rip his teeth into and it could be you!” Donna tries to persuade further, taking a step closer and she swears to hear you both laughing that only fuels her dissatisfaction with your actions.
So lost in her own anger she does not see you shoving the bow-tied man away from you, her world clattering down at the mention of her name not from your lips... but from his in a warm recognition, “and yes, hello Donna. I’ll leave in a moment just have to make sure the Lady here gets to where she needs to go safely.”
Donna opens and closes her mouth like a fish out of water, how on gods green earth does HE know my name? Yet before she could receive any answers she notices you both had disappeared like mere figments of her imagination. So this is what I get for messing with aliens! Donna sighs, kicking stones back to the TARDIS before remembering the camera strapped around her neck. Maybe things just like work out after all...
Darting back to the TARDIS will laughing a little bit evilly to herself, she kicked the bottom on the Doctors converse- signalling him to roll himself from out underneath the TARDIS.
He looked a right mess, hair sticking out on all awkward angles a few drops of dried red oil staining his collar and his tie askew. "Whatcha need?" he stands, stretching at near impossible angles that Donna debates being more painful than relieving.
"I have something that you need to see," her face hides nothing on her racing heart as she unfolds the picture from her pocket and is at first met with silence.
The Doctor looked at the blurry image of you being kissed by this random man that somehow knew her name, she explained to the Doctor who did not look to be breathing and made no response. Simply taking the image from her hand and inspecting it closer.
At first she saw how the edges began to crease as his grip tightened, his eyes confirming this to be in fact you. Next was his brow, coming down alongside the corners of his mouth into a deep frown. His head tilted to the slightest degree, suit becoming smaller as his chest heaved and soon the image was crumbed and kicked into the heart of the TARDIS underneath the console, Donna could smell the ashes.
"How long ago was this?" his voice cold and distant and receives no answer, the Doctor asks again, "Was this recent?"
Donna clears her throat, raising her head to meet his darkened stare, gotcha, she smirks to herself, stepping forwards eyes darting towards the door and back to his challenging gaze, "just now-" and the Doctor storms off, door slamming behind him.
The TARDIS whoops and cheers as Donna laughs, "I guess kissing in a TARDIS is close enough to a closet... give or take that its bigger on the inside." The TARDIS does not respond, simply humming contently to itself.
"You sound excited to have them possibly back," she pats the console gently seeing as the buttons press themselves rapidly showing the machines excitement and little did Donna know just how excited the Doctors TARDIS.
Donna was beginning to be worried after a day had passed and there was still no signs of the Doctor or you returning to the TARDIS nor anywhere near it. Taking on a light jacket Donna walked back up the hill to find the same shed you disappeared in front of hours ago.
Hesitantly raising her hand to knock on the chipped wooden door she hears no movement nor response inside as she pushes the door open and is shocked to find it greatly larger on the inside.
It amazed her how different your TARDIS looked to the Doctors. The warm lighting, various plants and books littered the walls with art from throughout the ages. It looked like a true collectors dream and at the centre of it all, unknowing in their bubble of bliss Donna saw you wrapped in the Doctor's shirt and a pair of socks as you leaned against your console, mug in hand.
The Doctor looked drunk, absolutely plastered, the companion noted to herself in seeing how lazily spread out in an arm chair he was before you, pants all creased and a simple undershirt that did little to cover up the marks upon his cheeks and necks. Donna stayed quiet once seeing her best friends look of pure, softened adoration as he picked up your hand, kissing every knuckle before flipping it over to place one last lingering kiss to your palm.
In response you fell into his lap with a chuckle, fixing his hair gently as he closed his eyes in response, humming in thanks as you both shared a silent conversation that soon was imposed upon when Donna accidentally kicked over one of your smaller plant pots, the clay shattering against the floors as you jumped and reached for your sonic- the Doctor immediately standing and pushing you behind him, a scowl present on his face.
Holding her hands up, Donna took a few more steps forward, "sorry love birds! Just-ah checking in that the two last time lords aren't dead so I can make it home eventually," Donnas tone raises with every word she speaks, embarrassment evident as her cheeks become the same shade as her hair.
She peers around the Doctors back and watches as you press your forehead between his shoulder blades, arms circling around his waist as you giggle to the Doctors annoyed huff as he places his screwdriver back in his pocket. "You two seem to have been... busy," Donna smirks, the initial embarrassment quickly wearing off as you cast her a playful wink.
The Doctor sputters, "Well I-uh, not like that I..." for a response as you move and pick up his arm, placing it across your shoulders. "We were just getting to know each other again," you smile towards the companion your husband had told you all about.
Donna snorts before horror flashes between her eyes, "but what about the other-" you cut her off, "Oh him?" you smile, the Doctor groans, removing himself from the conversation as he sits back down in his chair and reaches for his jacket, placing it across his lap as he smooths out the creases in the fabric, "he was also the Doctor," you smirk.
"But he knew my name?" Donnas statement comes out more like a question that you step forwards, placing a hand against her shoulder in reassurance.
"You are his best-friend after all... are you not?"
Donna hugs you tightly, overjoyed about the news, "so he never found a way to get rid of me- this was better than I was expecting!" You throw your head back in laughter as does Donna.
"Did the Doc ever mention anything about me on your travels?" you question once your laughter dies down, Donna stills, taking a step back as she grits her teeth together, "uh... well..." you raise a brow in a silent ask for her to continue as you sit back in the Doctor lap, his chin resting on your shoulder.
"...well I don't know, he was rather cryptic, something about destroying universes and committing atrocities, you know, the usual for a man with a load of power," and her sarcastic answer tells you all as you turn your head to glare at the Doctor. "You didn't tell her about me?"
The Doctor tenses and presses a kiss to your cheek, "well love I-I- there was so much to say and so little time to say it all in," he smiles confidently at his words as you rolls your eyes and look back at Donna.
"we are going to be good friends," the Doctor shakes his head watching as Donna nods enthusiastically.
"You two are going to be the death of me."
"Like I wasn't already," you jab him in he ribs before offering your hand, "so my ship or yours?"
The Doctor for the first time was a bit embarrassed that he turned of the chameleon function of his TARDIS leaving you to change yours to a piece of luggage that you carried aboard reassuring the Doctor and Donna that you would in fact not create a paradox as long as you didn't open it inside the Doctor's TARDIS, you just didn't trust leaving your house out in the open, something about human locks Donna remembers you mentioning.
You and the Doctor acted like an old-married couple that Donna swore to grow grew hairs because of. You both bickered endlessly in the morning on where to go, who too meet, what to eat and who got to wear what- it was maddening.
Donna later that day found you both making out on your joint afternoon travels, walking hand in hand down alien streets like no time had passed, and by evening you were back to fighting over who controlled what part of the TARDIS before working in tandem- it was chaos to say the least yet above all, she had never seen the Doctor so... light.
He practically skipped with every step, twirling you every outfit change to take in your appearance, kissing your face every time he would spark a brilliant idea like he couldn't control himself but you controlled him in a way that he needed.
Donna noticed your special ability to keep the Doctor from being his worst self, from becoming just another one of his many enemies. You reminded him of light, love, and most of all... hope. A word that the spaceman had long since forgotten until reuniting with you.
It inspired Donna to know end and to some part she was jealous of seeing others have such a pure love for one another that they couldn't help but spread across the universe. So many times everyone had gotten saved that it became the new regular and even when it was not possible, you held one another on the floor of the console room, a silent comfort in knowing that the other wouldn't have to bare the pain alone.
On one of your late night conversations as the Doctor steered the TARDIS, you sat in Donna's room, a plate of snacks on the bed for you both to share.
"So... what was the Doctor like as a child?" you smile before taking a big sigh.
"He was a downright menace," you begin with before heavy footsteps can be heard running down the hall stopping at the door.
"You take that back!" the Doctor burst through the door, finger wagging in your face that you swat away yet he can't contain his smile.
"I only speak the truth," you shrug, casting Donna a wink as she smirks from behind her cup watching as the Doctor slips into the bed, sitting behind you.
"If that's the truth than your father loved me to death and Gallifrey was blue," the Doctor scowls, stealing a bite of your biscuit from your hand, "I was a perfectly normal time child."
You wipe away the crumbs off your lap and onto the floor before mounting to Donna, he set a tree on fire during TARDIS driving lessons 101.
"I hope you know dear that I know over a thousand languages and can in fact lip read." You shift to look up at his face, a finger crooking his chin down to meet have your lips meet, "and what did I say now?"
The Doctor hums contently, "That you love me?" as Donna begins to feel uncomfortable in her own space. You nod, "always.," before gasping in surprise feeling as the Doctor picks you up in his arms.
"Have a goodnight, Donna!" the Doctor calls as you wrap your arms hastily around his neck, cursing his name as the Doctor echos your own.
"Doctor!"
"Lady!~" and you both burst out into giggles. Donna shakes her head as the TARDIS shuts the door behind the couple, they truly will never grow up... will they?