Hello, Sweetie.
Those two words would ring in his ears, reminding him of the first time they met—the first time he met her, rather, in the library. He had no idea who this woman was before him; a mystifying, glorious creature with so much confidence walking straight up to him as though they had always known each other. What was sad was that they had—he did, just not yet. Not in his present, but his future...her past.
She knew his name. He knew right then that he would love her someday. There was no other reason. He had to trust her, he would someday trust her enough to tell her his name. He could see the love in her eyes too. Those incredible blue-green eyes, so full of love...saddened by the realization that he did not recognize her, the thought alone made his hearts ache. He did not know that one day she would have those same hearts racing like no other creature ever had before.
And then she sacrificed herself for him.
These were the thoughts that haunted him at night when he lay with her. Her curls sprawled across her pillow, her face still, peaceful, and beautiful. It was in their most tender moments of silence that the image of her in the library would creep into his mind; knowing that she was to die, that he had lived it and didn't know who she was, wouldn't know until after.
He hadn't known his own wife, and she gave her life for his, and he could do nothing to actually bring her back. Sure, he had saved her, but saved her as a memory in a child's mind.
"Hello, Sweetie" her voice jolted him out of his thoughts. "My, don't we look pensive tonight" she brought her hand up to his cheek and traced his defined cheek bones with her thumb "Dalek's on your mind?" she chuckled.
Oh, if only you knew. I could only wish that it were that. A Dalek invasion doesn't bother me as much as knowing I lost you.
He simply smiled, cupped her face, and brought his lips to hers in a tender kiss.
She knew there was something wrong. It always happened when they were together. Not even necessarily after intimacy, just any moment they were alone she could feel his mind wander, his face grow grim. She would bring him out of it, but there was something still there—a sadness in his eyes, the eyes of an old soul who had seen so many things, so many tragedies—the demise of his own kind, yet she knew it wasn't that.
She could feel it in the kiss—in every kiss after those moments. They weren't the kisses of passion and desire the two so often shared, but one of sorrow, as though he were asking for her forgiveness. He kissed her as if it were the last time, and that frightened her.
This was her love, her husband. She would give anything for him...had given everything for him. She had given him her regenerations, destroyed time, anything that would save him. She would easily give her life for him without hesitating. The thought of him feeling so empty, so devastated killed her inside.
He drew back and sighed, she looked into his eyes. Those green eyes that exposed all—his fear, sadness, age, himself. She thought back to their wedding when he had asked her to look into his eyes, and there, within, she saw him. What a clever man, he had found a way to cheat death. Only her doctor, her man, her husband, could accomplish that. This incredible man who put all others before himself, who would travel through all of time and space to ensure that everyone is safe, who would sacrifice his people to save the world without getting anything in return. She loved this man. The lengths she was willing to go through to be with him. He had to know, he had to know that he was loved. That she loved him more than time, space, and any other being. That she would do anything for him. She looked into this man's eyes.
"I love you."
"I know," he responded.
And that's what kills me.