Donna approached the bus stop from a different angle today. She had been out shopping and came up from behind the bus stop. She had a clear view of Smiley's back as he sat on the bench. He was talking to a woman seated next to him. Was that his friend? Did she finally come? It was hard to see what she looked like from this position. She watched them talk for a moment. She could tell by his body language that this woman was not the one he was waiting for. He wasn't turned into her. He was listening to her with his hands folded across his chest. A closed position. Protecting his heart, she guessed. The woman stood up, patted him on the shoulder and exited near the bin.
Smiley stood and stretched. He turned around and waved when he saw her. That's when she saw it: the pinstriped suit that matched his spikey hair.
What!?
Everything froze before her. She felt like she was in one of those movies where everything was still, except her. All she could hear was her own breathing and the beating of her heart. Her eyes locked onto Smiley. She eyed him closely. Brown spikey hair, Black rimmed glasses shielded his warm, penetrating, brown eyes. A blue, button-up shirt underneath a brown pinstriped suit, topped by a trench coat. A blue and purple tie hung loosely around his neck. And damn, was he tall! A long, skinny streak of nothing that was grounded by a pair of red trainers.
Her breath hitched in her throat. Something in her mind clicked into place and she knew who this man was. She knew EXACTLY who this man was!
Time ceased to stand still. She dropped her bag and ran towards him as she yelled, "Doctor!"
The biggest smile crossed his face. "Donna!"
He opened his arms. She flew into them and held him tight. She kept repeating his name over and over. He held her and didn't let go. He didn't say a word. He was trembling. He just nuzzled his face in her hair and cried. This touched her so deeply that she hugged him even tighter and cried with him. They remained there a few moments when she heard him speak for the first time. It was just a whisper, but she heard it loud and clear.
"You're here. You're finally here. You came!"
"Oi, Spaceman! You're the one who left me, remember?! I've been here the whole time!"
"But you weren't my Donna. The one that knew me. The one that recognized me. The one that gives me hell and stops me from…"
"Oi, quit your yammering." Then she kissed him, hard. He was taken by surprise, but returned it with all his pent-up longing. When he surfaced again, he kissed her cheeks and her neck and said in a growl, "Don't ever leave me again. Please don't ever leave me."
"I'm here, Space Man. I'm not going anywhere."
Their lips met again. And it was a very long time before either came up for air. Indeed, neither one of them noticed when the bus arrived or even when it took away all the people from the bus stop around them.
The End.
It could have happened like that. But this is what really happened:
She dropped her bag and ran towards him as she yelled, "Doctor!"
He opened his arms and waited for the 1.5783694 seconds it took her to get to him.
Slap!
The Doctor's hand flew to his cheek. "Ow! What was that for?"
"That was for taking away my memories of you. And this…" she grabbed both of his pinstripe lapels, drew him in and kissed him hard. He immediately wrapped his arms around her and returned her kiss with all his pent-up longing. When they separated, Donna continued. "And that was for bringing my memories back. And waiting on a bench by the bus for the last few years…..And…" she trailed off.
"And what?" he asked as he nuzzled her neck.
"And for everything….everything you are doing right now."
He pulled her in and kissed her again. Yes, his grip was like steel around her waist. But she did not mind at all. He waited for me for years! I'm the friend he was so loyal to. I am his Best Mate!
This brought her back to reality. She broke away and rested her forehead against his.
"You know what I said earlier?"
"When?"
"In that alley when I parked my car by the Tardis?"
"Mmm. Remind me."
"That part about not mating with you…."
"Yeah?"
"I lied, Spaceman! I lied."
"That makes two of us, Earth Girl!"
Their lips met again. And it was a very long time before either came up for air. Indeed, neither one of them noticed when the bus arrived or even when it took away all the people from the bus stop around them.
But the Doctor did notice one thing that Donna didn't. Something that would shock her socks off, if she'd known. Standing near the bin the entire time was a woman. A woman Donna knew all too well. One who nagged her about everything under the sun. One who loved her daughter more than she could ever say or show.
He waved a hand of sincere thanks to her as he kissed her daughter.
Sylvia raised her hand and waved back. She stood there a brief moment looking very smug and satisfied. Then without a word or any further fanfare, she turned and disappeared around the corner.
The End…..or The Beginning?….