Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Thanks again for the continued interest and reviews everyone. Here is the beginning of their New York Adventure/ "date" . . .

Chapter Nine . . .

Martha stood before a full length mirror propped against one of the screens she had separating her bedroom area from the rest of her apartment. As she gazed at herself once more, she smiled lightly at her appearance. It was simple and casual just as the Doctor had requested when he called to finalize their plans. He still wouldn't tell her exactly what they were doing but he did say she should dress for an evening of casual yet elegant fun. She felt the peach and black Kimono dress Tish had convinced her to buy a couple of months ago fit the bill. It was a gorgeous little floral print dress with a v-neckline and a- line shape that stopped just above her knees. The floating sleeves added to the fun of it and the bow that tied in the back finished it perfectly. A pair of strappy silver heels and her hair pinned up with chop sticks completed her ensemble.

She nearly laughed at herself as she finally stepped away from her reflection. She wasn't sure why she was making such a fuss after all they had both agreed this was just two friends hanging out. Yet a part of her wanted to look the best that she could . . . wanted to make sure he was now really seeing her. Martha knew that despite the closure they might have gained the day before with their past there was still the matter of the present which included that kiss and the future which might include her rejoining him on TARDIS. She was still unsure about both and hoped that by night's end she might be clearer. Her thoughts were finally interrupted by a buzz at her intercom. She smiled again and promptly made her way to the small box by the door.

Depressing the button, she lightheartedly asked, "Yes. Who's there?"

The Doctor replied, "Martha Jones, your carriage a waits."

Her smiled brightened as she told him she'd be right down and then proceeded to grab her black clutch before exiting and locking her door. When she stepped out into the temperate New York evening, the Doctor was facing the street so she quietly cleared her throat bringing his full attention to her. The expression she saw on his face as he appraised her appearance told her, her efforts had not been in vain. His mouth stood slightly ajar and his eyes canvassed her entire frame before he finally found himself and gave her that familiar, dashing grin, "Well, Dr. Jones, don't you just look . . ."

He paused as if trying to find the right adjective which afforded Martha the chance to playfully finish for him, "Don't I just?"

His smile brightened, "Oh, yes."

"You're looking quite dapper yourself," she offered as she glanced over his standard apparel of a pinstriped suit, blue this time, white dress shirt and red trainers along with his freshly coifed, yet no less unruly, mane.

He smartly returned, "Well I do try." She just shook her head as his gaze continued to assess her.

The Doctor finally broke the spell by pulling something from his inside pocket. Martha was quite surprised to see a single white flower suspended before her. She looked at it and then back to him. His smile never wavered as he answered her unasked question, "Oriental lily."

Her brow immediately rose in amazement, "But how did you know?"

She gestured to her outfit. The Doctor quickly replied, "I didn't. I just saw this flower on my way here and it made me think of you."

Martha couldn't help but blush a bit at his words, "Uncanny then."

He only nodded this time as he handed the pure white lily to her. Martha sniffed the bloom while watching him watching her. She still was having a hard time wrapping her mind around him being here with her like this. There was always a tension between them when they traveled together. An elephant in the room but now that it had dissipated, it felt like the possibilities were wide open. Yet there was still a significant part of her that was too afraid to hope that he was here because of her and not just because he was longing for something familiar. Martha was just not sure she was willing to risk her sanity or self- esteem again for this Time Lord. So with a more reserved smile, Martha finally decided to break his inspection with the obvious question, "So are you ready to tell me what we're up to tonight?"

His trance momentarily broken, he smiled again, "Like I said your carriage a waits."

He then nodded just down the way to the park where a line of horse and carriages were parked. Martha now stood wide eyed looking at the scene. She had watched a few of these carriage rides from her apartment, seen the happy couples snuggling in together while taking in the sights but never thought she'd be in one herself let alone with the Doctor at her side. She looked back over at him and caught his gaze, "You've got to be kidding me."

He gave her that trademark, manic grin as he innocuously replied, "What?"

Martha shook her head, "I can honestly say this is the last thing I expected."

"Why? It is a well- known fact that a carriage ride is the best way to see Central Park," he retorted with a slight frown in his brow. He had expected surprise at his choice of activity but not at the gesture, especially after their talk the day before. The Doctor felt sure that she had let her guard down after he had finally come clean about Rose. He thought it had been cathartic for both of them but it appeared Martha still wasn't completely convinced that he was sincere about wanting to change their previous relationship. Well, he thought, he'd just have to work on that.

Martha, for her part, only nodded at his response. She could sense he was less than pleased with her reaction but he'd been giving her mixed signals since the day they met. There was no way she was about to allow herself to get carried away again. A carriage ride can be just a carriage ride. She decided not to allow ambiguity to rule them once again and pressed the issue, "It will be a bit intimate."

He gave her a searching glance before pointedly firing back, "Which is exactly the point . . ." He paused at her arched eyebrow and softened his features before continuing, "As the evening is about us getting reacquainted properly while seeing one of the most famous cities in the world."

Martha sighed inwardly. Leave it to the Doctor to remain elusively vague. As he appeared to study her again, she decided to just leave it for now. It made no sense to ruin the evening before it even began.

"In that case, what are we waiting for?" she offered with a bit more enthusiasm than she actually felt at the moment.

The Doctor's face, however, brightened at her attempt and he held out his arm to her, "Not a thing, Dr. Jones."

She easily slid her arm through his and allowed him to guide her the short distance to the loading area.