Disclaimer: So. Not. Mine. I wish though… *sigh*

This chapter is a bit light on Rose, Jack and Martha – I am planning on the next chapter being about them, and the Time Tot. Right now, I want to focus on Donna and the Doctor, being, as they are, on somewhat rocky ground. All will be sorted next time! Hope you enjoy :) x

Warning: This chapter has some discussion of abortion. I'm not very graphic about it, but it is brought up. I would just like to say that I am not offering an opinion either way on a subject like this, which has proved somewhat controversial. I am not trying to start a debate – I remain of the belief 'her body, her choice', mmkay? If you don't like to read about it, I will not be upset if you skip the latter half of the chapter :). If there is any offense caused, forgive me. Thank you – LimitedByCreativity x

An Unlikely Pairing

"I'm sorry, too," Donna told him, her voice barely above a whisper. The Doctor swallowed thickly and choked back a sob, turning his face back into the wood. Donna didn't say anything – she just continued to rub his back comfortingly, squeezing his fingers, until he was ready to talk.

They stood still for a long time, before the Doctor's cries finally calmed down. He gingerly pulled his hand from Donna's and hid his face with them, attempting to wipe the tear tracks from them. Donna stepped back into the Tardis and walked up towards the console, her hands ghosting over her stomach absently.

"I really am sorry," he said once he had regained his composure, his voice loud in the deathly quiet Tardis. Donna turned around, making no effort to hide her blotchy face and red eyes as he had. She didn't reply.

"I did what was best for him," the Doctor continued, his voice wavering as she studied him, "He was insane; he had the drums beating in his head day in, day out. He wanted me to get rid of them,"

Again, there was no response from Donna. She continued to lean against the Tardis, watching him.

The Doctor ran a hand over his face again and advanced slightly towards her, although he stopped a safe distance away.

"He could never have changed," he told her, needing her to understand why he'd done what he'd done, needing her to stop looking at him that way, "The Master would always have been fighting with two sides of himself, and eventually it would have killed him."

Another silence descended, during which the Doctor had to keep himself from continuing to babble. After a long pause, Donna nodded, bowing her head.

"Okay," she said quietly, before turning away – but not before the Doctor had seen the tears that had welled in her eyes again.

"Donna," he breathed, brokenly. Donna sniffled and lowered herself to sit on the jump seat, bracing her hands on the side of the console and absently drawing shapes there.

"I shouldn't be surprised," she stammered, barely audible, "I knew he was mad, I knew he wouldn't change. Not even for a baby."

She choked up then, gripping the console tighter. The Doctor slowly moved around the console to stand beside her, feeling his heart break even further at his best friend's grief.

"If he couldn't change for his child's sake, he wouldn't change for anybody," Donna conceded, her face crumpling, "Especially not me."

"He loved you." the Doctor told her. This only served to worsen Donna's state, as her walls finally crumpled and she buried her face in her hands, sobbing.

"He didn't!" she gasped, muffled between sobs, "Why would he? He hated me,"

The Doctor couldn't stand idly by as she berated herself further, so he swooped in and embraced her tightly, cradling her. She turned into him, and buried her face into his shoulder, her arms winding around his neck.

"He loved you," he said fiercely into her ear, "That was the driving force behind the conflict – the new Master, that you helped make, wanted to be with you so much, and the old Master – the bloodthirsty, tyrannical maniac – couldn't bare to feel something beyond hate. He wanted you, Donna, and that's why he wanted the drums gone, he wanted the madness gone. You made him want to be better – and that's more progress than I, or any of the Time Lords, could ever have made with him."

The Doctor pulled back suddenly, looking down at her and gently stroking her hair back from her face, smiling slightly. Donna gazed back, blue eyes watery and tears streaking her face.

"Look at you – a normal, human woman, not only capable of absorbing a Time Lord consciousness and saving the entire universe, but also of making the most stubborn and evil of the Time Lords fall in love with her. You are fantastic, Donna Noble, and never, ever doubt why anybody would love you – because you deserve it."

He offered her a warm grin, which Donna couldn't quite return. A second or two later, the Doctor let it dropped and asked her, "You loved him too, didn't you?"

Donna looked away and refused to answer, sitting up and pulling away slightly from the Doctor, although she continued to grip his hand tightly. The Doctor leant against the Tardis console then, and began to explain what he had done to the Master – how he had left him on Tranouine, having put his Time Lord consciousness into a fob watch and given him a human life span. Donna sat without interrupting, absorbing the new information with little response other than the occasional tear that escaped her eyes and trickled down her pale cheeks.

"He's not dead, Donna," the Doctor breathed, having finished his story, "The Master we know is gone, but he's still out there living a life, away from the danger of himself. It's not much, and it's not going to help you get through this any easier, but it's something. And you're so strong, Donna – look at what you've done already,"

Donna looked up at him, her mouth wobbling slightly as she slowly shook her head, "I-I…"

"What is it?" the Doctor asked kindly. Donna let out a tiny sob, quickly dropping her head to regain composure.

"I can't have t-the baby," she finally got out, not looking the Doctor in the eye. For his part, the Doctor felt as if a bucket of water had been thrown over him.

"What?" he asked, eyes widening. Donna shook her head again.

"I can't have this baby," she reiterated, her hands moving to rest on her stomach, "I can't have his baby – not alone."

"You won't be alone!" the Doctor insisted, standing straight and looking down on her, "You have your family, and Rose and me and…"

"I can't do it without him." Donna said firmly, looking up at him and finally meeting his strong gaze, "I'm only twelve weeks gone, it's not too late, is it?"

The Doctor continued to stare at her, disbelieving, "Donna, your baby is currently around five and a half centimeters long. It's got eyes and ears, and it's probably moving already – you just can't feel it."

"Stop it." Donna commanded. The Doctor shook his head, suddenly becoming emotional.

"Donna." he said, stepping towards her – she flinched away, "Rose is losing her baby."

This caught the redhead's attention, and her head snapped back to look at him, "What?"

Speaking around the lump in his throat, the Doctor explained, "She was in pain, and losing a lot of blood – Martha and Jack took her away to look after her. I can't be near her right now, I'd just put them all off with my—"

He broke off suddenly, turning away from Donna and biting his knuckle, dangerously close to losing his cool. Donna sat still, in shock, suddenly understanding why the Doctor had been in tears.

"Please don't even think about abortion," the Doctor said lowly, turning back, "When Rose found out she was pregnant, I thought that I, finally, wouldn't be alone anymore. There would be another Time Lord. And then you were pregnant too; it seemed perfect! Two little Time Tots on the way,"

The Doctor tried to smile, but didn't manage to succeed. Overwhelmed, Donna reached out and took his hand, avoiding looking him in the face.

"I didn't realize," she whispered. This clearly meant so much to him. Suddenly, the Doctor dropped to his knees beside her, one hand moving to rest on her shoulder and the other – still clutching her hand – moved to press against her stomach. His eyes – wide and brown and agonized, sought hers.

"I don't know what's happening out there," he told her through gritted teeth, "Whether this is premature labour, a false alarm, something seriously wrong, or whether she's actually losing our child - I don't know. But if it is lost, then this little guy – your little guy – will be the only other member of my species. Practically family."

He offered her a tearful smile, and Donna continued to gaze at him, watery-eyed and wistful. After a moment, she raised the hand that wasn't being held by him and rested it on his head, playing with his hair and spiking it up.

"Uncle Doctor," she said thoughtfully, "S'not got much of a ring to it, but I like it."

The Doctor's face broke into a real grin, and he had just stood up to engulf her in another hug when the door to the Tardis burst open.

"Doctor!"

I got the information on foetal development information from this website: www . babycentre . co . uk / pregnancy / fetaldevelopment / 12weeks /
I can't imagine ever having been five centimeters long O.o and apparently your eyes start on the side of your head, what madness is this! D:

Thank you for reading, if you made it this far! :) Next chapter will be about Rose, and her lil'un – I'm still having trouble deciding how that storyline is going to end. What do you guys think should happen? ;)

Shall we say I'll update at 137 reviews? Or around then? :D