A/N: sorry for the late posting but I've felt like crap all day. I've missed my Christmas Eve slot here, but hopefully it counts where you live. Merry Christmas!

Part Eleven

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"Doctor, is it true you are going to lose the flat to Donna once the divorce goes through?" Rose asked as they travelled towards her home.

"Yes, it's true," he confirmed, keeping his eyes on the road ahead. "She gets everything."

"And all your money?" Rose continued to query.

He nodded. "Up until that point; yes."

Rose was absolutely horrified. "But we'd be paupers. That means we'd have to live with Mum, and I ain't staying there when we're married."

This was his chance to act on his promise to Ben, as they pulled up outside her block of flats. "Then we ought to reconsider the engagement, don't you think?" he proposed. "We've rushed into it when other things should be taken into consideration."

"Is that why your Ben was shouting at you?" Rose persisted. "I heard most of what he said to you."

He very much doubted that otherwise she would have been throwing a much bigger tantrum. As calmly as he could, he said, "He has a point. I think we need at least a break from each other."

"You're breaking up with me?! This has to be some sort of a joke." She turned huge tear-filled eyes on to him as streaks of black mascara started to stream down her face. "How could you? What have I done wrong? I love you!"

"I know you do, but we have to get this right and if we carry on as we are I could hurt you even more than this," he tried to reason. "We should call off the engagement and see where exactly that leaves us. Let things settle for a moment; get the lie of the land, as it were."

"I can't believe you are doing this because Ben yelled at you," she complained. "First it's HER pushing her way in-between us, and now it's your spoilt brat of a son going all psycho."

"No, Rose," he sighed in a strained voice. "My son has never acted spoilt, he certainly isn't a brat, far from it, and Donna hasn't been pushing her way in. It is down to me feeling that we have raced headlong into an engagement situation when we should have been more wary."

"You asked me," Rose petulantly stated.

"And I shouldn't have done. It was unforgiveable, and done on a sheer whim to please you when you burst into tears that time; as you well know." The Doctor took a deep breath. "My mind is made up; we can continue to see each other for now but the engagement is off. It will remain so until I can work out things out more clearly in my head."

"All of this is her fault, isn't it?" Rose pushed, her anger growing. "She can't bear to see me… I mean us… happy when all she cares about is getting her grubby hands on your money."

"Rose!" he growled in warning. "Of course she wouldn't want to see us happy after everything I'm putting her through. Good God, woman! Have some compassion. And it was MY idea that she got the money. She has earned it."

"Your idea? Are you bloody mad, giving everything away like that?! And how has she earned the right to your money? Doing what exactly?" Rose snarkily wondered. "Because all I've seen her do is swan about trying to look important."

"Listen to me!" he threatened, leaning towards her as she sat stunned in the front passenger seat at his tone. "Donna has shared my life for over twenty years. We grew up together and she raised my children. On top of all that, she has had to put up with my constant absences due to work and saved my life on more than one occasion. So do not question her merit."

"Yeah, we can't have anyone questioning her and her need to take every penny you've got, can we? I tell you what, how about we forget it completely because if you really loved me you'd want to give me the lifestyle I deserve. But I'll tell you one thing I don't deserve, and that is you! We're finished." Glaring at him as best she could, Rose then silently climbed out of his car and slammed the door shut with as much force as she could muster. Without a backward glance, well… not until she reached the confines of the nearest balcony to peek back at him to see how upset he was, she stormed away. When she did look back she was not expecting to see that his car had gone and he had driven away.

"Bastard!" she wailed; and vented her anger by taking it out on her mother.

~o~

That night Donna received yet another phone call from her estranged husband. "Yes John?" she answered the call as patiently as her irritation would allow.

"Donna, I know I've upset you, and you have every reason to want me to stop doing this, but…" His voice then went even more pathetic. "I've gone and done it. I've called the engagement off since we have to clear the air between us more than we have done."

"Go on," she encouraged, keen to hear what his latest tale was. "What did you do to cause her to dump you?"

"It wasn't her that said it. It was me. Well, at first it was," he confessed. "You were right, as usual. But then you always are where I'm concerned."

It really helps to be wide awake to enjoy a victory dance. "John, I am really tired and I have to get up very early tomorrow, so please get to the point."

"Okay." He nervously gulped. "Can we get together, to talk alone this time, please? Just a drink in a pub or somewhere; nothing too fancy. You and me, away from everyone else. Please, Donna, I'll do anything just to get the chance to talk alone with you."

"Alright, but no funny business," she warned, "otherwise I'll be walking out of your life faster than…" She had to think then what could possibly be quick enough; and then a snide remark occurred to her. "…You can propose to someone else."

"Donna," he groaned out in pain. "I know you don't believe me, and who can blame you. All I've done to destroy your trust in me. But I want to try and make things better."

"We'll see," she slowly retorted. "I'll email you when and where to meet. Night, John."

With a great deal of relief, he murmured in return, "Good night, love." But she had already put the phone down on him.

~o~

Walking into the ancient low ceiled of The Olde Oak pub immediately felt like a bad idea to Donna. Why had she agreed to do this? She must be mad; but the children had reasoned that she needed to make their father know her position; restate her case. What maddened her even more was the small excited fluttering within her stomach when she eyed him standing patiently by the bar as he waited for her to arrive.

"Donna!" Upon seeing her, his eyes lift up with delight, and he stepped closer to greet her properly with a kiss. At the last second she turned her head so that his lips hit her cheek rather than her mouth, and he bit manfully down onto his disappointment. "Thank you for doing this. Shall we sit somewhere comfortable?" He held a hand out in invitation towards a vacant table near the large traditional bay window and next to the fireplace. Fortunately it had not been lit as the day was extremely warm and pleasant. "What can I get you?" he offered as she sat herself down onto the padded bench.

"Erm. A diet Coke, please," she replied, making herself more comfortable by wriggling about and adjusting the fall of the summer dress she wore against her thighs.

His eyes did not follow the course of her hands. Nuh uh. And in no way did he notice the enticing swell of her chest or the way the light streaming in through the panes of glass made the colours in her hair dance divinely. He'd swear on his life he hadn't done any of that. Except he had, and wanted to respond to the thud in his heart; among other places.

Having been served, and paid for their drinks, he approached the table whilst holding both glasses, and toyed with either sitting opposite her or right next to her on the window bench. In a moment of bravery, he chose the latter and whimsically smiled when she looked startled at him suddenly seating himself beside her. "Cheers!" he greeted, lifting up his half pint of beer to toast her before sipping a mouthful or two. "Not bad," he reluctantly admitted in judgement before turning his attention fully onto Donna. "Do you come here often?"

"No," she answered with a laugh. "I came here once or twice with a few volunteer people from the shelter a couple of Christmases ago. It just seemed nice and safe."

He nodded his agreement as he reviewed the cosy pub interior. Then as surreptitiously as he could get away with, he lifted his arm and rested it along the back of their bench seat, like some adolescent boy on his first date in a cinema. "Thanks for doing this. I appreciate it."

She peered at him with some amusement. "You do realise that you're making this look like we're having a clandestine meeting or liaison, don't you? Everyone must think we are secret lovers or something."

This was an ideal opportunity for him to lean in closer and whisper into her ear, "It can be arranged, if you fancy. We're not too late."

"Give over!" she chided, swatting at his shoulder. "None of your cheek, thank you very much."

Using a mock pout, he grouched, "You spoil all my fun."

"John, you can't keep doing this," she grumbled in turn. "As nice as it is, we aren't like that anymore. And before you try to argue otherwise, your behaviour cannot be kissed away."

"Are you sure?" he queried.

"Oh just stop it, please!" she tearfully begged; now annoyed that she had allowed him to get to her. "I can't be always there at your beck and call. While I think to say it, you need to choose someone else to take over your finances because I refuse to be bullied into being your accountant or your lackey. Do you hear me?"

"I do," he crooned, drawing her instantly into his arms and letting her rest her head on his shoulder; just like she used to do. "I'm sorry; I was being selfish when I suggested that." He reached up and wiped away a stray tear from her eyes. "If I spend my whole life saying sorry to you it will never be enough for what you've been through."

"That's easy for you to say."

"I mean it, Donna," he quietly insisted.

"And I'd better tell you what I mean," she firmly retorted. "I am not your mother, I will not take responsibility for your life anymore, and we should cut all previous ties. You've asked for a divorce, and that means a whole new set of rules where I do not have to worry about your wellbeing but only my own."

"Yes, Donna," he readily agreed, nodding slightly against her head as he did so. "Am I still allowed to cuddle you on the odd occasion like this?"

"Only if I approve it," she answered with an amused sniff.

"And if I want us to try again, what would be the rules for that?" he queried in soft tones.

She pondered that. "Then we go extremely slowly. You have a lot to prove to me, and loads of damage to overcome."

"Thank you for letting me try," he breathily acknowledged her magnanimous attitude, adding in a kiss to her temple. "I never did deserve you."

When he inevitably lifted her chin to place a tender kiss against her lips, just like he always had, she allowed him that too without responding very much. It was an awfully nice kiss though, she had to admit. He may be trying harder to make it up to her but he wasn't forgiven quite yet. Only time would tell.

~o~