The Doctor was feeling very happy as he bounced around the kitchen, preparing tea. He had reached out, with his rarely used telepathic skills, to his brother to let him know he was preparing tea. Later he would start teaching Jenny and Donna to use telepathy as well, but for now he felt it safest to stick with his brother, with whom he shared a special bond.
Donna walked quietly into the kitchen, her entrance unnoticed by the Doctor. She stopped and leaned against the door frame, watching him for a few moments before teasing, "Bouncing around like Tigger on steroids this morning, Spaceman? What's gotten into you?"
"Friends, family, love—" He spun around, managing to keep a tray with four tea cups and a platter of food balanced despite the motion. "—and tea. What more does one need to be happy?"
"Well, when you put it that way—" She smiled, and they sat down together at the table.
A moment later James and Jenny were walking in. They sat down as well, and everyone dug into the food. Jenny shared some early morning lessons James had been teaching her in the library. They laughed together about some of the previous nights memories. James was rather animated in retelling a story that involved Jack and Gwen doing some silly dance. The Doctor was looking on at the three who shared the table with him in fondness. He turned his gaze to Donna and found her already watching him. He smiled at her and she reached for his hand under the table, giving it a gentle squeeze and intertwining their fingers.
Donna could see how happy the Doctor was. It was a happiness she hadn't ever seen. You could see it in his eyes. So much of the hurt and loss he had felt for so long was being healed by having a family in his life. As she was considering his present happiness, he declared, "Alright, James and Jenny, it's your turn to clean up. The TARDIS should be charged up now, I'm moving us directionally, but we'll be staying in the same time. I've got a spot I need to take Donna. We'll be back onboard within the hour and decide on our next stop.
Donna looked towards the Doctor suspiciously as he pulled her up out of her chair and out the door of the kitchen. He didn't let go of her hand till he got to the console, and only then because he had to maneuver the controls. "If you'd tell me where we're going, I could help you get us there."
"Nope." He popped the 'p' as he pulled the last lever, sending the TARDIS to their location. Moments later they were materializing. "Just a quick hop, anyway."
"Where are we, Spaceman?" Donna stared at the door quizzically.
"I guess you better step outside and find out." He grinned.
She sighed and shook her head and she walked towards the doors. He followed quietly and closely behind her. She pulled the door open and stepped out—right onto the roof of a building in London. And not just any building, she recognized it immediately. Before she could turn to say anything, she felt a warmth around her. It was his jacket. She pulled it around her arms, enjoying the warmth, even if it wasn't as cool or windy a day as it had been the first time they were on this rooftop. And she could smell his unique scent on the jacket, she hadn't noticed that before.
"What are you up to?" She glanced over at him as he moved towards her.
"I am correcting a mistake I made." He nodded forward towards the edge of the building.
She frowned. What did he mean? He reached out and took her hand, taking her to the edge and turning her towards him. "I said some things that were absolutely incorrect up on this rooftop. I wasn't thinking straight, and what I said was cruel, unkind, and untrue. And now I'm going to set things right." He took her other hand in his. "Donna Noble, you are special, the most unique, kind, and amazing woman I've ever met. You are oh so clever, always looking at things differently than me, seeing things in a way no one else sees them. And you are oh so important. The most important woman in the universe." He paused, and his next words came out in a whisper, "And certainly the most important woman to me." He looked into her eyes directly, her watching him, unable to say anything. He continued, "There was one thing we got right up here."
"What's that?" she whispered, unable to gather more strength in her voice, overcome by his words.
"For better or for worse." He grinned as he restated the quote, then he released one of her hands and turned. They looked out over the city, hands still entwined. "Forever, Donna. Me and you, the DoctorDonna, forever. It can really happen, now."
Donna leaned her head onto his shoulder, resting her free hand over his left heart. "Yeah, Spaceman. Forever."