By: The Bubbles
Summary: As the Doctor and Romana walk back to the TARDIS, Romana tells the Doctor about the Count's plan to marry her. Takes place right after "The Androids of Tara."
A/N: I'm not big on the title. Anyone got any other ideas?
XooXXXooX
"Well, that's one more fragment of the Key to Time found," Romana said as they made their way back to the TARDIS.
"That's right," the Doctor said. "And one more megalomaniac dispatched and removed from power. And I learned a new skill. Can you believe I can swordfight?"
"No, it surprised me as well."
They walked on in companionable silence for a time.
"He wanted me to marry him," Romana said finally.
"Really? Who?"
"Count Grendel. He was going to marry me."
"Oh. Well then, aren't you glad that I rescued you?"
"Well what does that mean?"
"From marrying Count Grendel. You'd have been bored by the end of the honeymoon."
"I suppose you're right."
They fell silent again.
"So what if I'd decided to stay?" She asked after a while.
"Well then I suppose that I'd be in the market for a new assistant."
"You mean you'd let me? Just like that?"
"I can't force you to stay on the TARDIS against your will, Romana. If you wanted to stay with some big nosed maniac, then who am I to stop you?"
Romana snorted. Big-nosed maniac? Here was the pot calling the kettle black.
She felt him slip his hand into hers and looked at him, startled.
"All things being equal, though, I'm glad you turned him down."
He grinned at her, and she found herself smiling back. It wasn't exactly the compliment she'd been fishing for, but it was something, at least.
XooXXXooX
A/N- I know it's pretty short, but I did write it in about ten minutes. These fluffy little Doctor/Romana stories are going to climax into one big romance story. Maybe. If I ever get around to it. I didn't want to label it as romance because it's more platonic than romantic.