==Chapter 2==
A Piece of Your Heart
Love cannot be forced, love cannot be coaxed and teased. It comes out of heaven, unasked and unsought.
— Pearl S. Buck
The Doctor saw Mrs. Hudson home to her back door. "Well, my lady," he drawled, leaning against the frame as she let herself in, "I trust you had a pleasant evening?"
Mrs. Hudson nodded, smiling. "It's been lovely, Doctor, thank you." Stepping inside, she paused, suddenly reluctant to say 'good night' just yet – besides, all was quiet upstairs, the newlyweds most likely asleep. "Would you... like to come in, have a cup of tea?"
The Doctor looked extremely tempted, but then shook his head regretfully. "No, I'd better be getting back, the old girl'll be missing me." A moment's hesitation more, then he leaned in and kissed her cheek. "Good night, Sarah."
Her eyes fluttered closed at the touch of his lips, but she hadn't been Mr. Holmes's landlady all these years for nothing, and her expression was back to its usual tranquil state before he had time to pull back. "Good night, Doctor."
There was suddenly an odd look in the Doctor's eye as he stepped back, he seemed almost... nervous? Oh dear... what was it he'd told her about a Time Lord's hearing? There was nothing she could do about her heartbeat... "Right, well..." he said brightly – too brightly. "See you tomorrow, then!" And he strolled off towards the TARDIS, hands in his pockets.
She took care not to let out a sigh as she watched him go, then shut her door so he wouldn't have to do it first.
It was two days before she saw him again, Monday morning at breakfast after the snowball fight. Even if he hadn't been at the centre of a pack of boys, his face whenever he thought she wasn't looking told her everything he'd been unable to before retreating to his ship. Ah well... What was life, after all, but a series of moments, and that one had been lovely while it lasted. She knew better than to think it could have been anything more... How old was she, for heaven's sake, seventeen?
...now don't you understand
That I'm never changing who I am?
Mrs. Hudson caught herself humming for the hundredth time what Mrs. Watson had apologetically termed an earworm – most appropriate, the landlady hadn't been able to get the snippet out of her head since the afternoon! The girls had been excitedly preparing for some performance or other in the TARDIS this evening – kari-oki, was it? Sounded Japanese... She yawned, unable to smother it with her hands occupied in braiding her hair for bed, already in nightgown and robe. She wouldn't often have the house to herself after tonight, and she intended to make the most of it.
A sudden, hesitant tapping at the back door made her sigh – so much for an early night... but she could already guess who it was, no one else would bother to knock. Sure enough, when she opened the door, the Doctor was standing awkwardly on the step, wearing a grin that was impudent and bashful and pained all at once. He was leaving in the morning...
Wordlessly, Mrs. Hudson reached out and took the hand that was agitatedly twisting one of his coat buttons – her heart ached at how it trembled in hers – and led him to the kitchen. He followed meekly, all but curling up in the chair she found for him, while she rebuilt the fire and put the kettle on.
Tea and a few rounds of cinnamon toast seemed to cheer him up a little, and he began talking of his travels again: former companions, worlds visited, people they'd met, most of it sounding so exotic and strange that at times she wondered if the Doctor was having her on. But somehow she couldn't imagine his having energy for anything other than the absolute truth tonight, he looked so pale and tired... and yet he didn't seem able to stop talking now, words pouring out of him as if he were afraid something terrible might happen if he did.
The temptation steadily grew to stop his mouth with a kiss, just once... but taking advantage in such a moment would be completely unfair, he'd come to her tonight... for company, not... romance...
She didn't even realise she'd begun to nod off until she felt his arms around her, lifting her effortlessly and carrying her to her room. "Oh... oh Doctor, no, really, I..."
"Shhh..." The look on his face melted her, and she relaxed into his hold, her head on his shoulder. It did feel nice... and when he set her down on her bed and started to turn away, she impulsively laid her hand on his arm.
"Doctor... don't go. Please stay."
His eyes went round. "Sarah... you know I..."
"I know." It was clear he needed her right now as much as she needed him, just not in that way, and that was all right. She leaned up and kissed his cheek. "Come to bed?"
He hesitated, but only for a moment. How long had it been for him, simply being held for a night, with nothing more asked of him? Removing his jacket, tie and shoes, he climbed under the blankets with her, nervously lying a few inches away at first as if he might jump out again, then awkwardly edged closer and let her put her arms around him. Slowly, almost painfully so, she felt him relax into her embrace, his own arms coming to wrap around her.
"All right?" she murmured, looking up at him in concern, and he nodded – without much conviction, she noticed, but at least his eyes no longer resembled saucers. She rested her cheek against his chest, and her breath caught next instant, lifting her head to stare at him in wonder. "Two?" she breathed, and this time he smiled shyly as he nodded, clearly relieved by her reaction.
"Two."
She put her head back where it had been, marvelling at the sensation, the four-beat rhythm right at the edge of her hearing. "It's amazing," she murmured – and oddly soothing, her eyes were beginning to drift closed again without so much as a by-your-leave...
She felt a gentle touch on the top of her head, his lips pressing to her hair. "Good night, Sarah," he whispered, and his arms were warm and tight around her as she fell asleep.
Although she'd half expected to find herself alone the next morning, she opened her eyes and saw him perched on the edge of the bed beside her, fully dressed again, but somehow looking as if he could have waited all day for her to wake.
Mrs. Hudson smiled at him sadly and sat up; she'd already decided not to say goodbye with the others. "Doctor." She hadn't even known him a week, and oh, she would miss him...
He stroked her cheek, smiling mistily. "Mother hen." He put his arms back around her and kissed her, murmuring huskily, "I'm sorry... It could have been wonderful."
She kissed him back warmly, running her fingers through his hair. "Doctor... my Doctor... It was."
Ria: Don't worry, guys, the Doctor is coming back, they'll see each other again. And if anyone's wondering about River Song... well, we already have the Time Lady aspect covered by Kathy, and now the romantic element covered by Mrs. Hudson... It looks as if Eleven will also be getting a rather different story arc in this 'verse!
Sky: And a round of applause for Ria on this chapter, folks? It was all her writing, and it was lovely to watch it unfold!
