Disclaimer: Wish I did, but I don't own 'em.
An Unexpected Guest
She watched him from across the room, laughing and shaking hands, embracing and affectionately kissing his friends on the cheek. She hadn't planned on coming, on the way there she'd told herself over and over it wasn't a good idea but here she was and after so many years it felt good to see him again in the flesh. He seemed cheerful, content. She was happy to see him like this, he was still just as handsome if not more so. He appeared to have grown into himself, standing confidently with an air of authority surrounding him. He was stood with what she assumed were members of his crew, after a while, one by one they went off in different directions to chat with the other guests. Watching him for a moment longer she saw in his expression as he watched the ship, his ship being re-built, the pride in him that hadn't been there when they had been together.
Making her way over she stood next to him, he hadn't noticed her yet. Her heart was beating out of her chest, turning her head towards him she wished him a happy birthday. He looked at her and for a moment she could tell he didn't recollect who she was, as quickly though she saw the recognition spread across his face. He was dumbstruck, she just waited patiently for him to make the next move, not really knowing what his reaction may be. He asked her if it really was her standing in front of him after so long. She said yes. He asked her what she was doing there, she responded by saying that she was awaiting her new orders, heard that he was here and thought it best to see him. He still seemed shocked, he kept looking her up and down as if trying to decipher whether or not she was real or a holographic projection. She wouldn't have been surprised if he had tried to move his hand through her form to check the authenticity of her appearance.
He told her she looked good, better than ever. She said the same, apart from the black eye. He laughed and it reminded her of how much she use to enjoy hearing him laugh, especially when it was a result of something she had done or said. Then his face turned sad and she asked what was wrong, he told her he had missed her, had wondered about what she had been doing all the time they had been apart. He told her he had always regretted the way things had ended between them, it had been his fault. All of it. She took his hand in hers and squeezed, rubbing her thumb over the outside of his hand she gave him a smile, told him not to be sorry. They stood together in silence for a while, their hands still intertwined.
His friends had noticed them together but kept their distance. None of them knew who she was, apart from the Doctor. He was taken aback when he first saw them together, it had been so long. He thought back to the day she had left and how much his friend had been wrought with guilt and anger, he hadn't imagined that he would have ever seen her again. Having lost at love himself, he knew the pain they had both felt. After, when he had mentioned her name in passing, his friend's eyes had darkened with sadness. He had only ever wanted her to be proud of him.
She took a sip of her drink and lowered her head suddenly feeling anxious being around him again, he placed two fingers under her chin and lifted her head so that she was looking straight into his eyes. He whispered that he'd never stopped loving her, that in all their time apart she had always been his thoughts. A tear slipped down her cheek and she haphazardly wiped it away. He told her not to cry and she laughed slightly, telling him he always had been bossy and it seemed like things hadn't changed. He became serious and told her he wasn't the same man that she had known all that time ago. He had grown, he wasn't resentful of his past. He wasn't as carefree and irresponsible. He had fallen in love with the work; he understood it now and had found fulfilment and it was partway because of her that he had. He thanked her. She could tell he was telling the truth and told him as much, told him she was happy for him and that that was all she ever wanted for him. They kissed, it was brief, more a kiss between acquaintances than lovers but there was meaning behind it they both didn't fail to notice. Her memories of them together lingered with her like the stained outline of a picture frame taken down after years of hanging in the same place.
Telling him she had to leave soon he pleaded with her to stay a while longer, meet his friends and enjoy the party. She apologised and told him no, they would keep in touch, see each other when they could. He knew she was lying, that he would never see or hear from her again. He asked why she had come in the first place, she answered honestly that she had been curious. He understood, he wasn't angry, he would have been curious too.
Walking her out they kissed again at the door, she said good bye and he said the same. He watched her walk away and when she didn't turn around and run back to him, back into his life like he had always wished and dreamed of he went back into the party.
After some time she stopped and turned around, her heart broke when she realised he was no longer at the door and hadn't come after her. She wanted to scream and run back in, tell him she forgave everything that he had done and said. She was so very proud of him. She wanted him to hold her in his arms and whisper all the things he used to, the future they were going to have together, growing old together and having a family. She let out the breath that had caught in her throat, lifting her head and straightening her shoulders she walked away.
LLAP :-) XOXO
