Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who. Doctor Who owns me.

One day, as Martha was humming pleasantly and feeding the TARDIS goldfish, the Doctor came hurtling into the room where she stood, his expression even more manic than usual. "Martha!" he cried out. "Martha, Martha, Martha!"

"What, what, what?" she said, glaring incredulously.

The Doctor proudly showed her a notebook, its pages filled with densely packed mathematical equations. "I've done it!" he enthused. "I've discovered the proper spatial coordinates where I can safely pilot the TARDIS through the void between dimensions!"

The implications of his announcement dragged down Martha's heart like a web of stones. "So…so you'll finally be with her again."

The Time Lord nodded. "Yes, isn't it fantastic?"

Martha made no attempt to hide the moisture building in her eyes. "Yes, it is fantastic, innit?" she remarked sadly. "You get the love of your life back, I get dumped off at med school. Well, at least I'll have the memories."

"Oh, Martha," said the Doctor sympathetically. "I've told you before…if I'd met you before I met her, things would be different between you and me."

"Yeah, I'd be your ex," said Martha.

"Imagine how uncomfortable that would be," said the Doctor.

Without any delay, he input the coordinates into the TARDIS console. "Take me there, old girl," he ordered.

"My pleasure," uttered a booming female voice from the rafters.

"Bloody hell?" Martha blurted out. "The TARDIS is talking? Since when does the TARDIS talk?"

"I only speak on very special occasions, like this one," replied the voice of the TARDIS. "For more mundane events, like the imminent destruction of the universe, I use the cloister bell."

"Right, then," said Martha. "I'm pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss TARDIS."

"It's Mrs. TARDIS," said the voice.

Minutes later, the glowing shaft in the center of the TARDIS console abruptly stopped its up-and-down motion. "We've made it," said the Doctor with relief.

"Where are we?" Martha asked him.

"It's known as Omphale's Spinning Wheel," the Time Lord replied. "It's a highly unstable region of space, and the deployment of Judoon peacekeeping forces hasn't helped matters much."

"Where do we go from here?" said Martha as she gazed through the viewport at the gaseous swirls that surrounded them.

"Questions, questions," said the Doctor. "By the time you reach my age, you'll learn to stop asking questions and simply trust the man in the suit."

He pressed a button, and the TARDIS began to lurch vigorously, throwing Martha to the floor. "Ow!" she exclaimed painfully.

The time ship settled to a point of equilibrium, the Doctor staring expectantly at the exit doors all the while. "Finally," he muttered, "after all this time, after all this misery, after all my self-inflicted injuries…we'll be together again, my Ro-"

"Doctor," Martha interrupted, "I think I've broken my wrist."

"No time for idle chit-chat, Martha," said the Doctor without so much as a glance in her direction.

In an instant, the TARDIS doors flew open and he flew through them into the white void beyond. "What am I now, chopped liver?" Martha grumbled.

"Oh, no," said the reassuring voice of the TARDIS. "The Doctor regards you at least as highly as he regards bratwurst."

In the midst of the glimmering nothingness, the Doctor saw her. Her. Flowing blond hair, a white gown, a face that radiated pure affection.

"Hello, Doctor," she said sweetly. "It's been a long time."

"Too long," the Doctor replied. Without trepidation he rushed forward, swept the beautiful blonde into his arms, and passionately kissed her perfect lips.

She smiled blissfully as her face withdrew. "I love you, Doctor," she gushed.

He grinned back at her. "I love you too, Romana."

THE END