Summary: Sequel to More Than An Alien. The Doctor tries to explain his thoughts and feelings to Donna.

Disclaimer: Owned by the BBC

Donna awoke to find the Doctor in the exact same position that she had left him before falling back asleep last night. She decided to let him sleep since it was rare when he did.

Lifting off the covers, Donna slowly swung herself off of the bed trying not to disturb the Time Lord. Donna looked down and realized that she was still wearing the clothes from yesterday and sighed in relief. Okay, he didn't change my clothes for me, good.

Donna grabbed a fresh shirt and pants out of her wardrobe and tiptoed her way to her bathroom. Half way there she looked over her shoulder at the Doctor and saw that his dark eyes were wide open.

"Morning!" Donna pivoted on her heel and stood with her hands on her hips.

"Were you awake the whole time?"

"Yep!" The Doctor sprang off of Donna's bed, stood and stretched. He reminded Donna of a cat stretching after a nap.

"How long have you been up then?"

"Since I last woke you up last night. I told I don't sleep much. So what should we do today? Anywhere special you were thinking? I was thinking about the Lunar Cheese Factory in the 59th century. They give out free samples during the tour and you haven't lived til you've had moon cheese! What'd you think, how 'bout it?"

Donna just stared at him clothes still in hand.

"Oh right! I should probably leave and let you get dressed. I'll go start breakfast." The Doctor quickly made for the exit.

Donna stood in the middle of her room for a few seconds watching the door to ensure that the Doctor was gone. Maybe it was just her, but the Doctor seemed extra hyper this morning. Shrugging she entered the bathroom and prepared for whatever the Time Lord had in store for her.

The Doctor paced the kitchen floor. He was trying to think of an easy way of explaining his mental meanderings from last night.

They usually had interesting conversations over breakfast so perhaps he could bring it up and ease into it. The kettle began as Donna made her way to the table. The Doctor poured the steaming liquid into two mugs. As Donna reached for a slice of toast her tea was delivered to her. The Doctor finally sat down across from her, uncharacteristically silent.

Donna spared him a glance and saw that he was staring intently at her. "What? Have I got something on my face?"

"What? No!"

"Well then, what is it? Ten minutes ago you wouldn't shut up about cheese and now you're as silent as the grave."

"It's about last night-"

"Oh my gawd! Did you? Did I? Did we? We didn't! But-"

"Donna. Donna, calm down it's not like that!" He reached across the table and gently grabbed her hands. It hurt him a little to think that the thought of them being together was so odious to her.

"Just let me explain. That's not what I was going to say." Gradually Donna regained her composure.

"Remember last night when I startled you? I said that something had occurred to me?"

He released her hands, sliding them back across the table slowly. "Yeah, I remember. So what's it about, Spaceman?"

The Doctor took a second to compose his thoughts before starting. He hoped that this would all make sense and that it wouldn't turn into one of his long winded rambles. Unfortunately, it would.

"So last night I was thinking about how all my companions react when I tell them that I'm not human, I just look like one, and I think they forget I'm not after awhile." He paused to make sure Donna was following; she nodded for him to continue.

"Anyways, I began going over all of the meanings, uses, and definitions of the word human. And here is what I discovered: a human is a member of the species Homo sapiens. Or has characteristic of humans as distinguished from gods. OR one who has the appearance of or performs the functions of a specified creature. Then I thought `what about the word man?' Well that word also has several meanings like an adult male person… Yes Donna?"

The redhead was sitting in her chair with her hand raised, resembling a school girl. "Is there going to be an exam at the end? Cuz if there is should I be taking notes?"

"What? No. There's no exam. I'm trying to be serious here." The Doctor attempted to look stern but the result was Donna bursting into a fit of laughter. He stood and again paced back and forth. Donna managed to control her giggles.

"Sorry. This is going somewhere right?"

"Yes. Almost there. Where was I? Oh yeah! Now the word man has two other meanings that I almost overlooked. It can mean husband, as in man and wife; or it can mean lover or suitor. "

As the Doctor finished this last statement he came to a standstill and locked eyes with Donna. She tried to read him but was having trouble pinning down which emotion was in his eyes.

"Out of all my companions, you're the only one who never forgets what I am. And after contemplating all these things I realized that I might be more human than I thought. So what's it going to take to make you realize that I'm not just an alien, I'm a man and I have feelings and needs just like humans."

The intensity of the Time Lord's stare increased as Donna sat trying to piece all it together.

"…Doctor what are you saying?"

In a few swift motions, the Doctor swiveled Donna in her chair and was crouched in front of her, her hands in his cool grasp.

"Donna, what I'm saying is… I love you and I want to be more than just friends."

Donna hastily pulled her hands from his grasp and without warning slapped the unsuspecting alien. The Doctor fell back onto the floor in shock holding his sore cheek.

TCB