For a moment I didn't move. I stayed just where I was, my face half-buried against the Doctor's chest, my face damp with my own tears. My own hearts grew still as I began to hear his own, thudding back and forth like a horse galloping. I held my breath, my eyes and mouth open in shock as I felt him take another breath and the stone tweed beneath my cheek instantly became cloth, rough and warm from him. A small sound escaped me as I continued to clutch myself to him, unable to let go.

I felt him move, ever so slowly, his head bending down over my own to rest his cheek against my hair, his arms slowly coming up and enfolding me, pulling me closer as he sighed against me. I squeezed my eyes tightly shut, praying that this wasn't a dream, that my mind hadn't given way to grant me what I wanted.

The Doctor's breath ruffled my hair as he murmured my name, nuzzling the top of my head in a way that could only be real. He was so warm, holding me protectively, and my throat tightened with emotion as I realized that this was happening, that he was holding onto me like he'd never let go. Summoning every ounce of courage I had left in me, I slowly raised my head from where it had been pressed against him. When my wide, fearful eyes were looking into his deep, ancient ones, he regarded me silently for a few seconds. Not even thinking, I reached up between us and straightened his bow tie, letting my hand stay there, resting against his collarbone.

"So... how much did you hear?" I whispered, not trusting my own voice.

The Doctor smiled softly, one hand reaching up to brush a strand of my hair back from my face.

"All of it," he murmured, smiling wider now, "even what you were thinking, everything..."

I blushed.

"I – I'm sorry you had to hear all my emotional rantings," I began, but was silenced as he rested his hand against my cheek. I stopped mid-thought, holding my breath.

"My brave, mad, brilliant Hero, your mind practically screamed at me."

"Ah..." I was embarrassed, yet the fact that one of his arms was wrapped securely around me with the other hand gently stroking the side of my face was immensely comforting. "You know, um..." I swallowed, still looking into his eyes, "I would have waited quite a long time for you, you know... I wouldn't have left."

"His eyes shone and he looked very serious as he replied, "I know."

For a moment, he looked down, losing the connection with my eyes. He remained this way for a moment, and I could sense that he was making up his mind for... something. After a moment, he looked back up, smiling at me, and I could feel his hearts beat faster and his breaths come a bit quicker.

"You won't have to wait for me anymore," he said, swallowing, "I won't do that to you again, I promise."

"Why?" The word left my lips before I could stop it, and I could feel my whole body grow tense as I waited for his response. Every cell in my body depended on his answer.

"Because, because..." He stared at me, and then a rather reckless look came over his face, and he rushed, "because I love you, Hero Smith."

"You do?" I breathed.

"I never thought I'd say that to anyone, not really, I never thought I'd mean it, but I do, I do, and that's what I've been wanting to say, I've wanted it for days, but I couldn't, and then I thought that maybe you were falling for someone else, and I didn't want to get in the way, because I want you to be happy, and Hero, I want to make you happy, I want to be there for you even though I'm not very experienced at being with someone, I want you to be happy..."

His face was flushed as he babbled from nervousness, like he was afraid that I'd take back everything that I'd said, like I'd break his hearts in the most casual, cruel way. I smiled as he flailed, his eyes panicking, his hands patting me like he was worried I'd disappear. So... You've never told anyone, either, hm?

"Doctor..." I whispered, but he kept talking, something about his previous companions and how they never meant as much to him as I did, and then there was something about how brilliant and beautiful I was, and I knew that if I didn't do something soon he'd give me his soul before I could stop him.

So I crossed the last few inches between us, saw his eyes grow wide, and I kissed the Doctor.

It only lasted a moment, my lips pressed gently to his, feeling the warmth of his mouth against mine like a balm, and then we both pulled away slightly, and he leaned his forehead against mine. His arm tightened around me, pulling my body closer to him, his hand tangling itself in my hair as he breathed, "Hero..." I raised my eyes to his, trying not to grin too much, but I quickly grew serious again as he leaned in and kissed me back. I closed my eyes, savoring the sensation of his lips gently caressing my own, feeling us breath together, as I inhaled his scent of peppermint and soft cologne and his own skin. His fingers continued to stroke my hair as he kissed me, his lips parting and nibbling while I wound my arms around the small of his back and kissed him back with everything I had.

We broke apart again, our breathing definitely a bit faster than before, and his eyes asked me a question. "I owe you something," he whispered, like he was asking me permission. Considering my love-glazed state, I would have let him do anything, I would have let him throw me into a pit of monsters, so long as he kept kissing me and telling me he loved me. I nodded, unable to speak, and he swiftly placed his fingers against my temple. I realized a second before it happened what he was going to do, and then his mind enveloped mine.

First he showed me images of his past regenerations, and I caught glimpses of all the times he had been alone, when he had been nearly overcome with loneliness, and I nearly cried. Then he showed me what had happened during the Time War, how he'd been forced to tear apart whole species, including our own, to save the universe, how this act had scarred him, how he thought he'd never be whole again. He showed me a brightly-colored swirl of emotions that he felt when he'd first recognized who I was, even before I'd known, how he'd hoped and longed that I'd want to stay with him, how he'd ached when he thought I was about to die in front of him, how I'd saved his life, the overwhelming happiness he'd felt when I'd said I'd go with him, the jumble of love and confusion he'd experienced when I'd been drugged out of my mind by the painted flower, how even though he thought I was attracted to Clos that he'd still protect me and care for me.

I clung to the front of the Doctor's jacket as I was nearly overwhelmed with images and sounds and emotions, as he poured his love for me into my mind. He trembled against me, and I realized that the link between us was draining him as well. He kissed me again, passionately, the flood of emotions coming from our psychic connection finally becoming too much as my eyes rolled back and I went limp against him.

He instantly removed his hand from my temple, whispering embarrassed apologies that he'd forgotten how new I was to mental links, his strong arms lifting me up like a child as he kissed my forehead. I couldn't move, I was too overwhelmed and happy, but I let him carry me out of the darkened garden, up the steps, out into the forest and down the path, home.