The TARDIS would never tell, even if she could, Donna how much she had helped the Doctor to make this happen in such a short amount of time. Come to think of it most of this had been her, his part limited to putting on the tux and arguing about the dress color. He had wanted to go with what he had called TARDIS blue, a name which she loved, but she thought that Donna might like black better. Woman, she knew from past experience, thought that black was slimming. She didn't think Donna needed it but she thought it would make her happy. The Doctor had relented, cooing to her about how good she was. He was a silly man.
She had made the pasta dish, and all he had to do was add a little cheese. Donna was finishing her shower and dressing so she urged him mentally to hurry. He was standing there with his hands in his pants pocket lost in thought.
"What if I mess this up?"
He was talking to her, openly, as he tended to do. What could she tell him, he knew that it didn't work like that. She tried to mentally reassure him; she sent him waves of telepathic peace. She wanted this to work too, and some part of her, though she often got future and present jumbled when she tried to think too much on it, thought that it did. He deserved to be happy. Most people that walked through these doors cared about him, but they were there for the ride. Some were different but they were all gone in the end. He had lost and lost again, and if she could help him hold on to this woman with red hair, she would do everything in her power.
"I don't want to lose her," the Doctor murmured. "I can't do it again."
She knew how deep the loss ran within him, she could feel his pain as though it was her own. She wouldn't let that happen to him again. Not just because she loved her too, but also because she didn't know how they could go on if that happened.
"Better get back," he told her picking the dish up, "Thanks for listening."
Yes, she loved this man. And he loved Donna.
He didn't feel well, his stomach doing tumbles that could have made it into the Olympics. She was still in the bathroom when he sat the dish down leaving the lid on so it would stay warm. He poured them wine, and sat on the edge of the bed feeling nervous. He wasn't used to this; he had faced things that would make other people tremble. But Donna made him feel nervous, in the best way possible. He could feel the ring box in his jacket pocket. He didn't intend to give it to her tonight; he just liked to have it close to his hearts. Someday, maybe it would be on her hand. He had bought it about the same time that he bought the shampoo.
He hadn't been entirely willing to think about the action when he paid for it, trying to tell himself that it was pretty and maybe someday it would have a use. But it had been bought for her, even in her size. The door opened showering the room with the brighter light of the bathroom. He looked at her and couldn't think.
The dress was perfect, clinging and loose in just the right parts. Her hair was resting softly on her shoulder and he could smell the shampoo from here. He rose and moved to her pulling her close and resting his cheek on her head.
"Will I do?"
He grinned, and pulled back. "Do for what?" He winked.
She slapped his chest lightly. "Do I look okay?"
"If you have to ask then I am failing you." He pulled away from the embrace holding only her arms softly and looking into her eyes. "You are stunning. You remember that sunset on Aberon?"
She nodded, "The most beautiful thing I have ever seen."
"No," he shook his head. "I've have seen something even better. And I don't have to leave this room." Wow, that was cheesy but he meant every word of it.
She raised her hand to his cheek stroking it softly. "I think you might have eaten something that had gone bad, but that's really nice, so thank you. You look very handsome yourself."
She looked at her hand that was stroking his cheek and then dropped it back down. He held his hand out to her with a smile and she took it, leading her to the table. He pulled out the chair and helped her scoot forward.
"It smells wonderful."
"I'm glad," he agreed. "Here, let me get it for you."
He piled the food on her plate until she told him that it was enough. Then he loaded his heavily and sat down but didn't pick up his fork. She was holding hers but noticed his gaze. "What's wrong?"
He raised his eyebrows. "Not a thing. For once everything is exactly how I would want."
"Was it meat?"
He was confused. "Was what meat?"
"That you ate?"
"I'm not following."
She laughed. "I told you that you ate something that had gone bad."
He laughed too. "No, it wasn't meat. It wasn't anything. Just you."
"You didn't eat me…" Donna turned red at her statement. "I mean…"
He laughed louder this time and reached for her hand. "It's okay, love. I know what you mean."
She still blushed. "Not like you would want to do…um…that."
He didn't know how to approach that. He wanted to be honest but sometimes honesty needed to be put on hold. He finally settled for a soft, "I wouldn't be so sure."
She looked at him carefully. "I love the shampoo. How do you say the name?"
He smiled reaching for his fork. "Roshafinala"
"Right," she looked at him blankly. "That helped thanks."
"Sorry. Ro-Shh-fi-nala."
"Well it's really nice," she said in between bites.
"I bought it for you a long time ago." And he just couldn't keep his mouth shut.
She smiled. "Nervous?"
No point in lying. "Yeah, a little."
"It's just me."
"Yeah, that's why."
"Both a little scared, neither one prepared?"
He laughed. "I knew that you loved that movie. Good old Beauty and the Beast."
"You're not you know?"
He was lost tonight. Normally he followed conversation better than this, but he couldn't think of much besides what she would look like on his bed, under the stars. "Not what?"
"The beast. I know what you think, but you are the best man alien or not that I will ever meet."
He looked down. But she stood up and he looked back at her.
"Your bed comfortable?"
"Yes," he agreed, his hearts reaching a speed that couldn't be healthy.
"Want to lie under the stars?"
"Oh, yeah." He agreed standing, and moving towards her. Dinner could wait.