A/N: Thanks for the continuing support, it really encourages me. Persiflage you rock...

DISCLAIMER: I wish... Enjoy!

Chapter Nine: The Return of the Ring

The Doctor's hearts fluttered in his chest as he lovingly stared at the sleeping beauty in his arms.

Committing every dimple, every eyelash to memory.

He couldn't believe this brilliant and compassionate woman was his!

He brushed several braids from her face.

Martha snorted and snuggled closer to him.

The warmth of her soft skin pressed against his made him quiver slightly.

He had been such an idiot when it came to Martha Jones.

He was so blinded by his grief of losing Rose; he couldn't see what was standing right under his nose.

The wonderful Martha Jones, who stuck by him through some of the worst times in his life. The only one who ever had got him to open up about Gallifrey.

The brave Martha Jones, the woman who walked the earth for him and never complained.

The Doctor bent down and kissed her on the forehead.

Martha smiled.

To be the most brilliant man in the universe – he really was the stupidest.

Why didn't he open his brilliant mouth and asked her to stay? Why didn't he confess that he needed her more than she needed him?

Martha slowly opened her eyes and smiled at him.

"Hey you," she greeted sleepily.

He would never make that mistake again.

The Doctor returned her smile, "Hello, sleepyhead,"

She reached up and traced his lips with the tip of her fingernail.

Martha Jones loved him – she never stopped.

"You are so beautiful," she whispered breathlessly.

"So are you," he countered, catching her finger between his teeth.

He would never take this beautiful woman for granted.

"I guess we better get up and get dressed," the Doctor suggested, licking her finger. "I'm sure Jack and Donna are wondering what has happened to us."

They looked into each other's eyes.

A wide grin spread on their lips.

"Nah," they said in unison, laughing.

Ever again.

"But we really should get back; you need to replenish your energy."

"I'm sure what I want isn't on the menu," she countered, blushing furiously.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah," she confirmed, pulling herself up in a sitting position.

"And what do you want?" he asked, moving in to kiss her.

"Do you really want me to answer that?" she replied coyly.

"You don't have to," he kissed her softly on the lips.

For as long as she lives.

DWDWDW

"Good afternoon Doctor Smith and Miss Jones," the desk clerk greeted them warmly as they walked into the hotel lobby. "Did you find everything to your satisfaction?"

Martha and the Doctor didn't have to say a word.

The aura of post coital bliss engulfed the couple.

The desk clerk's purple eyes twinkled as she sighed dreamily.

She had got her answer.

DWDWDW

The penthouse suite was empty.

Martha found a note from Donna stating she and Jack were at the beach.

"At least we have some time to ourselves before we have to play twenty questions," the Doctor quipped.

Martha nodded, "Jack is worse than the Spanish Inquisition,"

They headed for the bedroom to shower and change before ordering something to eat.

Once in the bedroom, Martha went to the closet to pick out a sundress while the Doctor started the shower, her knees nearly buckled under her when she spotted her lost engagement ring on top of the dresser.

Impossible. Martha gasped. We searched everywhere for it. She picked up the ring that once meant the universe to her and examined it – there was no doubt the ring was hers.

A twinge of guilt stabbed at her heart as her thoughts turned to Tom - there was no way she could marry him, not when her heart belonged to someone else.

Martha had thought she was over the Gallifreyan when she accepted his proposal. It wasn't as if she didn't love Tom because she did…does.

She loved him enough to not commit him to a life of misery, because no matter how much Tom loved and adored her, Martha would always compare him to the Doctor and that wouldn't be fair.

He deserved better.

"Martha," the Doctor said, walking into the bedroom. "I was wondering…" He stopped abruptly when he saw Martha holding her engagement ring. "Oh." He scratched the back of his head, feeling somewhat uncomfortable. "You have your ring,"

A million thoughts went through his mind as Martha continued to hold the ring – none of them good.

"Yeah." She closed her hand around the ring and dug in her beach bag, to take out her phone. "I have to call him," she explained, walking past him to go out on the balcony for privacy.

He nodded in understanding.

"Wait for me?" she said, her brown eyes meeting his.

"Always, Martha Jones," he assured her.

Martha smiled at him and opened the sliding door.

She stepped out and closed it, taking a deep breath before punching Tom's number on speed dial.

The Doctor sat on the edge of the bed with his long fingers laced together in his lap and waited.

DWDWDW

Tom answered on the second ring.

"Martha!" he exclaimed, his tone was a mixture of anger, hurt and relief.

"Hello Tom," she responded calmly.

"Do you know how many…?" he took a deep breath, yelling at her would get him nowhere but a disconnected call. Tom decided to try a different approach. "Are you on your way back home?" His voice was steady, much calmer.

"No," she replied, staring at the ring. "I had to check up on you," she explained, "Our last call didn't end on a pleasant note."

Tom rolled his eyes as he gripped the phone a little tighter. "I'm sorry, but whenever I think about you with those friends of yours I get a little scared, they are dangerous Martha,"

It was Martha's turn to roll her eyes. "You are sounding like…my mum,"

"Sweetheart, you've got to admit, Francine does have a point. Your alien friend is not good for your health," he said pointedly, forgetting about using the calm approach. "That's why I had made a decision,"

"And what decision is that Tom?"

"You are going to resign from your job at Torchwood and come to Africa with me," he said excitedly. "I had already contacted my team and they are looking forward to having such an excellent doctor as yourself on board and Francine thinks it's a great idea, but Clive not so much, he thinks I should have talked it over with you face to face first before proceeding…

Martha stared incredulously at her phone as Tom prattled on about the plans he had made for her life. She wanted to chuck the ring over the balcony, but was afraid it would come back to her.

"Martha? Are you still there?"

"I'm here Tom, as you were saying?"

"Oh yes…" he continued.

She had a better idea in mind.

"...So Martha what do you think?"

Now he wanted her input.

"…"

"Martha?"

"…"

"Martha?"

"Goodbye Tom," she finally replied and disconnected the call.

DWDWDW

"Bloody hell!" Martha fumed as she walked into the room, talking to no one in particular. "He got some fucking nerve!" she threw her phone on the dresser. "I make my own damn decisions!" she huffed.

The Doctor's eyes widened.

The last time he had seen Martha this pissed he had mistakenly got her engaged to Puit the chieftain of the Aaradute tribe. Puit had asked his permission to make Martha his number one wife; after she had nursed him back to health. The Doctor had rubbed the tip of his nose which meant yes in the Aaradute's language instead of rubbing his belly to decline the offer. It had taken a lot of Ba'thysean chocolates and foot massages to get back into her good graces. But he had to admit Martha looked absolutely stunning in her wedding attire.

He wondered where Tom was going to get a hold of a box of Ba'thysean chocolates.

"Sonic screwdriver," she said, through clenched teeth. "May I use it please?"

"Martha if you feel…"

She glared at him.

"Okay." He bounced off the bed and grabbed his sonic screwdriver out of his pinstriped suit breast pocket. He wanted to ask her what she needed it for but changed his mind. It was best not to ask questions when Martha was in this state.

"Follow me."

He followed her into the bathroom; she placed the diamond ring in the sink.

She took the sonic screwdriver out of his hand and set it to evaporate.

She pointed the screwdriver at the ring, taking great satisfaction as it dissolved in front of her eyes.

"It's not coming back," she explained rather vaguely, handing the sonic screwdriver back to him.

"Martha…" he began, somewhat puzzled by her statement. "Um, what do…"

She silenced him with a kiss.

A/N: It's a good thing Tom wasn't there... I am pretty sure as pissed off as Martha was, he would have ended up evaporated...lol Thanks for reading!