Warm morning light crept slowly into the room as the sun finally made its way higher in the sky and over the mountain peaks surrounding the house. The Doctor and Rose lay deep in slumber, both still holding each other as tightly as they had the night before when all of a sudden Donna burst through the door closely followed by Martha. As soon as she heard the door open Rose's eyes snapped open and moving at a speed one would have missed if you had blinked covered the area in front of the Doctors body in a protective stance almost snarling at the two before she realised who they were. The two of them stopped dead in their tracks, staring.

"Sorry." She said as she hung her head and slipped off the end of the bed, making her way silently across the room and into the bath.

"No worries." Donna replied, "Probably should have knocked, sorry, didn't realise you were in here too." She spoke to the Doctor who had awoken after feeling Rose shift from his grasp and a deep sense of urgency and the desire to protect. "We only came in to tell Rose that the dresses from the village had arrived and oh my god they are gorgeous!"

"No it's fine." He said sleep still heavily evident in his voice.

"Yeah, I'm sure it was." Martha snapped as she tapped her foot impatiently on the floor. The Doctor looked up at her, noticing the irritation in her voice and body language.

"What?" He asked raising an eyebrow at her.

"All comfy and warm there curled up next to a half naked companion." She barked angrily. The Doctor opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted.

"Martha!" Donna warned jumping to her friends defence.

"What!? Why does SHE get to sleep with him, and dressed in what she was?" She snapped back at Donna.

"You're dressed in the same thing Martha we all are, or are you blind?" She asked seriously waving her arm in front of Martha's face. "Besides their not like that."

"Stop it!" She batted the other woman's arm away, "He's got his own room so why is in here with her then?" She demanded, hands on hips glaring between Donna and the Doctor. The Doctor merely sat staring, watching the two like a game of tennis

"Because he's 900 years old and he does what he bloody well wants that's why," she shot back, "……..who are you anyways his mother!"

"I'll tell you what though, there's something wrong with her that's for sure and he can't keep away, she's wrong, different….possessed."

"Right that's enough Martha," Donna snapped and began ushering the dark woman out of the room, "No more talking for you again….ever!!"

"We'll be back in just a second." She shouted back to the Doctor as she shut the door and glared at Martha.

"Don't you deny it you saw her before," Martha whispered angrily, "I don't know any humans whose eyes glow and snarls like a wild dog about to attack how bout you?"

"Let's not forget about your time at Torchwood, or have you forgotten that, you're not exactly 100 human either, or me, we're more than that now…..background radiation remember so don't go barking up that tree."

"So what!! She's different, more so even than you or I, Donna…..haven't you noticed how he can't leave her alone, can't go not even for one minute without touching her, it's like she's got a spell on him even while I was with him while she was gone…."

"No," Donna spoke quietly, "He loves her Martha and that drives you mad because he doesn't want you. Don't think none of us have noticed how you've been trying to keep them separated, tryin to get between them."

"That's bollocks…"

"No it's not Martha," Donna interrupted harshly, "That man, that alien in there has lost everything, his people, and his planet and then he lost her not long after. You left him too remember, just as I did and he was alone. He needs her because she's all he has left; she knows more about what he's been through, more about the Time War, than any of us even more than Jack. And after what happened to her family he's all she's got too. And you know what…?"

"What?" Martha replied pouting and stomping down the hallway in front of the other woman. "He can't even have her, so whatever you thought they might've been doin' in there together, let me assure you that it's not what it seemed….she's too different, they're both too different and I think that's bollocks! He's given this universe so much, destroyed his home so he could protect it, and everything gets thrown back in his face. He's so desperate for an equal, for a mate and there is no one left." She grabbed Martha by the shoulders and forcefully turned her to look into her eyes.

"Let him have her Martha, as much as he can and be happy for him because you know as well as I that he's a different person around her, the loneliness and despair is lessened so please…please…..just let it be, let them be."

"But I…." Martha tried.

"Let them have whatever it is they've got for as long as they can and be glad for it." She replied softly begging Martha to understand. Martha stilled for a moment before lowering her head and nodding.

"You're right Donna." She sighed, resigned to the fact that she never really had a chance against Rose; she couldn't even compete with the memory of the woman let alone the real thing.

"But you know what?" Martha smiled.

"What?" Donna asked noticing the smile on her face.

"You and I are gonna be the best friends he's ever had and we'll be there for him, for them both, no matter what, every step of the way. Because I don't NOT want the Doctor in my life, and I suppose it is time I gave Rose a chance….after all he only takes the best."

"Damn right he does," Donna laughed putting her arm around the other woman's shoulders, "Come on then, lets get those dresses and take them into their room, I feel like a little game of dress up!"

"I do believe I agree with that, excellent idea…..you grab the clothes and I'll go and scrounge up some breakfast in the kitchen."

"Oh god food sounds brilliant." Donna sighed and her stomach growled its reciprocation.

"Alright meet you back at The Doctor and Rose in about ten!" Both women agreed and went their separate ways.