A/N: Thank you for reviews! Much obliged. As I have had requests, and because I believe it would have become so anyway, this story will now be an 'M' rating, for reasons that will become clear. So - Lady Brid, sashaxh and Lorna Roxen - this chapter is dedicated to you three. I hope you like it :)

The whispers grew. They grew and grew, louder and louder, until the universe swelled with them, because suffused with echoes and snatches of the same story.

A story that made the universe and all its beings apprehensive.

Second Time Lord.

Oncoming Storm.

Mate.

Renegade.

Her.

Ondine.

Species met, conversed, wondered if these whispers were true. But they knew debating was pointless. Such whispers were always correct. Space and time never lied. The Doctor had a Mate, and she was Gallifreyan.

This terrified them more than they would admit.

If he had a Mate…

"First comes love, then comes marriage…"

So went the old Earth child-song, and they all knew what came next.

Ripples ran throughout the universe, and the whole of space waited with bated breath.

Waited for a child's cry.

"I told you not to touch it!"

"It was a statue! How was I to know –"

"Sacred, Theta! Why do you always bloody touch the sacred stuff?"

"I just do!" he shouted. "Now run!"

They sprinted through the corridors, an army behind them. Ondine easily matched the Doctor in speed, despite her height, and they hit the stairway.

"I swear," she gasped, "if you ever do this again, I'll kill you. I mean it."

He laughed, and grabbed her hand, pulling her down the steps.

"You're the one running in heels, love," he pointed out, glancing at the scarlet patent shoes. Delectable. "Five-inch."

"Because I like being able to look you in the eye when screaming at you! Do you know how irritating it is to prove a point when you're eye-level to that person's chest?"

He grinned. "I can imagine."

"Smug bastard."

"Extremely. Now move it."

They raced along hallways, laughing despite the danger.

A blaster beam smashed a window in front of them, and Ondine frowned as she felt the Doctor's excitement.

"No, no – no!" she screamed as they ran straight through it, the Doctor laughing. She closed her eyes as they plummeted – and she hit something soft.

Something living.

The thing groaned.

"You know, for someone so small, you really pack a punch," the Doctor muttered beneath her, her body curled up foetal-position on his. She uncurled herself, smacked his chest and rolled off his stomach.

He sat up, ran his hand through his hair, and his tone was just on the side of sarcastic.

"All right?"

"I landed fine," she said smugly. "How about you, honey? I didn't bruise you, did I?"

He rolled his eyes and stood up, brushing off his jacket. He held out a hand to her to help her up.

"Get them!" someone shrieked; they both looked up to see their pursuers watching. Ondine glanced at her beloved, and they ran down the alleyway.

"Where the hell did you leave the TARDIS?" she yelled.

"Somewhere!" he hit back. "Why do I have to keep track! You live in there too!"

"Yes, but she's your damn TARDIS!"

"Again: you live there, she likes you, she's yours too!" he cried, exasperated. She groaned.

"Use your sonic screwdriver, idiot!"

"Ah, yes!" He whipped it out and pressed the button, searching for our refuge. His eyes lit up. "That way!" He swerved and ran down a narrow alleyway, rounded a corner – and ran smack into his beloved blue box.

Ondine came up behind him, and collapsed into giggles as she saw him hit the TARDIS.

"Oh, of course you'd find that funny," he said sarcastically. "Come on, come on, in."

Cries of outrage echoed from mere metres behind them, and Ondine cursed.

A spear flew straight past her and slammed into the TARDIS – millimetres from the Doctor's head. He inhaled, his hearts freezing.

Ondine's eyes widened, and he yanked her inside, shoving the door shut.

She let out a noise of pure relief, and they both slumped to the floor, laughing. He put his arm around her as they leaned against the doors, and she rested her head on his chest.

"Never taking you anywhere again," she mumbled. He smiled, running a hand through her hair.

"But that'd be boring, love."

"At least the poor TARDIS would stop getting impaled by spears."

The ship hummed then, agreeing, and the Doctor snorted.

"I see. Come on, up you get." He lifted her effortlessly, and leapt up the steps to the console. "Just taking her to the vortex, we'll be safer there."

He pulled a lever, flicked a switch and twisted a handle, and the TARDIS began to move. Thankfully, he'd adopted (though grudgingly) the habit of keeping the stabilisers on – although he still left the brakes on, that familiar whirring a source of continual comfort to him. He knew the TARDIS didn't mind – oh, if she did, he'd know. He'd definitely know about it.

"So now they have two sightings of me," Ondine mused. He came over and crushed her gently to him.

"Nothing will happen."

"Then why do I have such a bad feeling about this?" She looked up at him, almost desperate. "Something is coming, Theta. Something big. I don't know what, but it is. And it's not good."

He sighed, glancing away.

"Ondine…"

"Don't you dare try to dismiss this." Her eyes blazed, and she seized his jacket. "Don't detach yourself ! Listen to me! The universe is full of whispers. They know of me, of us. There will be a backlash; they are all terrified of one Time Lord, and now there's two. You know something will happen – don't deny it!"

His eyes were raging in return, and he grasped her head, pressing his forehead to her own.

"I am trying so hard to keep you safe," he said harshly. "I know what they say. I know the gossip, the rumours that are spreading. That Earth song reverberates through space. I am fully aware of what they are all waiting for."

"And what if it happens?" The question was out of her mouth before she could rein it in. "What then, Theta?"

She was close to tears now, and instinctively he pulled her close to him, stroking her hair, soothing her.

Protect her. Calm her. Mine. Beloved.

"Sshh," he whispered. "If it happens, it happens. Whatever occurs, you'll be safe. Didn't I already promise you that? I never break my promises, never."

"Don't make ones you can't keep," she mumbled.

"Look at me." He tilted her head up so she met his gaze. "This is the one promise that I can keep and will never break. Believe me, love." His eyes searched hers, seeking her trust, willing her to have faith in him. "I would not say these things if I did not think they were definite."

A single tear fell from her eye, and he kissed it away, pressing his lips to her soft skin.

"I love you," she whispered. He smiled, his eyes tender.

"As I love you," he murmured, and touched his lips to her forehead. "Come to bed."

She nodded, and gently he raised her, his hands round her waist, under her knees. He carried her to their room, where he laid her on the bed and kissed away all her worries.

Even sad, she's beautiful.

As they made love, they were tender, warm. They both needed reassurance, both needed security. Every embrace, every touch was tender bliss. His lips were soft upon her naked back, his fingers deft yet gentle as they caressed her breasts, trailed along her stomach, traced her thighs, explored deep within her. And when he sheathed himself inside her, they both cried out in joy, and stars burst behind their eyes as they stared at each other in pure wonder.

They lay together as one, his body still joined with hers, and they slept, her figure on top of his, perfectly content.

In the morning, they woke, and, smiling, they nestled together under the sheets, her legs tangled with his, his hand on her stomach. Happy. Untroubled.

As it should always be.

He smiled.

A/N: So... bit of lemony goodness for you there ;) Was it enough, you greedy things? :P Anyway, I do hope it wasn't too angsty for you - let me know what you think!

Review!

Lightning xoxo