The Archbishop of Canterbury (11/11)

The Professor dashed out of the TARDIS, grinning in excitement as she looked around, jumping up and down in excitement at the sight before her before spinning around and throwing her arms around the Doctor as he stepped out of the TARDIS behind her.

"Thank you!" she cheered as he picked her up and spun her around.

He laughed, setting her down and giving her a quick kiss, "Not a problem at all," he smiled at her, turning to wind his arm around her waist as they looked at the medieval setting before them.

It was a quaint town with a rather large manor in the distance. There were a few small houses set up, made of stone and wood, hay everywhere, with a dirt path through the village. Oddly though, as they walked, they noticed it was quite…quiet really. Which was really rather strange as it was near the time of Carnival! The peoples should be out and about celebrating and preparing for the festivities! Yet there was scarcely a soul to be found.

"Please tell me this isn't going to end up as another alien invasion that we need to stop," the Professor sighed, looking at the Doctor pleadingly as she crinkled her nose at the thought.

He smiled and gave her a peck on the nose before tapping it, "Well what do you know, there's a first time for everything."

She frowned, "What do you mean?"

He just slid his arm from around her waist and to her hand, pulling her off to the side where a decree was posted to a pole. It wasn't really necessary, most of the serfs and villages were barely literate, but they supposed it made the nobility feel it was more official to have the decrees posted where eyes could see them. He simply turned and leaned against the pole, watching as she read what was really more like an advert.

She started to grin, seeing it was an announcement that a tournament was going to be held in preparation for Carnival. It was going to be a jousting match! Oh she LOVED those! Horses were amazing creatures, and she especially loved Arthur, the horse from her very first trip with the Doctor and Mickey…and Rose. But jousting too! She couldn't begin to count how many times the Master had given her a migraine on Gallifrey and she would envision herself knocking him off his high horse…literally, she pictured them jousting and her knocking him off his horse…quite a few times.

She looked at the Doctor with a pleading look.

"No," he shook his head, "Not going to happen."

"Please," she stepped closer, taking his hands, "Theta it's a joust! I've always wanted to try a joust!"

"Then you should train for it first," he laughed, "You can't just walk in there and joust if you've never done before."

"I'm a fast learner."

"They still won't let you because you're a woman, Kata."

"I'll nick a suit of armor first."

"And you call me the thief," he muttered.

"We'll I'll need someone's expertise in stealing it won't I?" she grinned, now more hanging playfully off his arm.

"Kata," he sighed, shaking his head, "What if you get hurt?"

"Then it's a good think I've got a Doctor there," she winked at him.

"No," he tried to be firm, "No."

He knew she could handle herself in combat, swords, fine. Hand-to-hand, he felt for the opponent. Even with weapons like her blaster she could barely be beaten…but this? Medieval jousting? It wasn't something she'd ever had experience before, he…he didn't want her to get hurt.

"Theta," she pouted, looking at him with wide, pleading eyes.

He winced, making the mistake of looking at her as she unleashed her 'sad eyes' on him in full force, "You're such a cheater," he murmured, pulling her closer, wrapping his arms around her waist.

She smirked victoriously, knowing she'd won, it was always SO easy to convince him to do things her way, "I know," she gave him a look, "But…to make up for it…"

He barely had time to blink before her lips were on his, the two of them falling back against the post as she kissed him in the village square, fairly certain that those still lingering around were wondering who the two oddly dressed individuals were that were being quite…bold in public.

He really couldn't bring himself to care though, he secretly loved it when she used her sad eyes, because he could fool her into thinking he was cross she'd cheated, and she'd feel guilty, and kiss him till he couldn't think straight to make up for it.

The perfect plan to get a kiss.

…until he heard her murmur in his head, 'I heard that.'

~8~

The psychic paper was a wonder, truly it was. Even though the Doctor was not very willing to use it, seeming as though, despite his agreement to let her try jousting, that he would really rather her not. He had been trying to come up with every excuse under the sun as to why they couldn't get her entered in the completion. They'd already stolen a pair of armor, quite mismatched as they'd taken various spare parts from a number of other knights who were planning to take part in the competition, and she was dressed completely in it so no one would recognize her as a woman.

It had gotten to the point where she had snatched the psychic paper out of his pocket and gone to register herself before he finally admitted defeat and conceded that this was going to happen. She really was going to joust. The most he could do, he supposed, was to keep a close eye on her, watch her competition, make sure they were all honorable men. He'd learned from quite a bit of experience that, sometimes, the most honorable seeming people were capable of great evils…like Harriet Jones. That woman had been honorable, remarkable, a true wonder for the people, yet she had openly, and in cold blood, attacked a retreating alien species, destroying their ship and killing all inside. Ever since then he'd found himself a tiny bit more cautious of people who seemed too honorable.

There was one man in particular that he wasn't quite sure about, a rather young man, probably the youngest of the grouping, who seemed a bit…serious and, well, dark. It seemed like he was desperate to prove himself a worth competitor despite his age. He winced, he could only imagine what the boy would be like if he were to get bested by the Professor and her to reveal she was a woman, that would not be pretty at all.

Luckily though, as he watched with the crowd as the competition went underway, the boy and the Professor were in two different brackets. They wouldn't be facing each other till quite a while down the competition…which was actually drawing quite close.

The Professor, true to her word, was a VERY fast learner. She'd resolved herself to watch the competition going on before she was meant to take part in it, eyeing the men critically, seeing what they did and how they rode and what moves they used. In all honesty he thought she was both watching them to learn how to joust and also to see what their own preferences were like…as in, if they leaned to the left or thrust their lance out before a strike, she'd be better able to compensate when faced with them, she'd know their tricks and habits. She'd been doing very well. Had a bit of a shaky start that had nearly given him a few hearts attacks when she got struck with the lance, but the armor was very good. He could feel tiny pricks of pain in him from her, but he could see in her mind that her body was shaking the attacks off, used to so much worse.

He hated that, hated that she was used to worse, but, at the same time, almost relieved that she wasn't hurting at the moment.

The same, unfortunately, could not be said for her opponents. She was rather…vicious when she took them down. Sometimes it took two or three goes to unhorse them, but other times it only took one precise blow. She was advancing quite quickly really…which was alarming him, mostly because he had noticed that same young man he'd been watching, watching the Professor go. The boy watched her intently with narrowed eyes, as though studying her, not that he knew it was a her at the moment. But it didn't sit right with him, the boy was too…shifty…he didn't like it.

He didn't like the fact that he also wouldn't be able to give the Professor a hug or kiss for every victory, the competitors were sectioned off in another area so they couldn't be given outside help. Not that it really stopped them from communicating via their minds. He'd warned her of the boy, given her his suspicions, and she took them to heart, of course she did.

When HE noticed something, it had to be BIG.

He knew he wasn't the most observant man in the world…or Universe, but when it came to the Professor, to her safety, he used his eyes, he noticed everything. And that man was really starting to unnerve him with how closely he'd been watching her. Well, he didn't like it when a lot of men watched her really, but that boy…was far too focused on her.

He was worried.

So it was understandable that, when it ended up coming time for her to face off with the boy…he was completely beside himself. Sure, he hadn't been happy with her facing the other men, getting hit repeatedly with the lances, but her armor protected her, and she was stronger than she looked. But that boy really got to him! He was near the point of biting his nails, a rather bad habit, when it was announced that she would be facing him, Lord…something. He didn't know, he didn't really pay attention when it was anyone else but her.

It had started off harmlessly enough, she had struck a blow to him, in the chest, breaking his lance and nearly unhorsing him…and done so again, though very very nearly unhorsing him that time. He was quite certain that, had the boy's foot not gotten caught (or so it seemed) he would have fallen off the horse completely. He knew the Professor would do it to, that she would win the competition, she was really surprisingly competitive in quite a lot of areas. It was no wonder that the Master was bitter against her, she always one upped him, though half the time it was even when she was trying not to best him…which only irritated the man more.

He watched the boy closely for that reason, knowing that men could grow angry and desperate when they were competitive and about to lose to a girl, even if the boy didn't know she was one. So he kept his eyes on him, frowning when he saw them line up at the ends of the track, the Professor with her lance ready, the boy…without his. He squinted, watching as a squire ran over with a lance, made of darker wood, only moments before a flag was waved to signal them to joust.

His hearts stopped when the Professor was unhorsed.

His mind couldn't comprehend that fact. She'd faced men twice the size of the boy, she'd stayed on her horse, there was no way the boy could unhorse her with a blow like that! It hadn't even hit her in the chest but the shoulder…and then he saw it…red mixing with the dirt of the track as the Professor was carried out of it between two men.

There was a piece of wood sticking out of her shoulder.

He ran through the crowd, forcing his way back to the tents that housed the injured participants, flashing the psychic paper, claiming himself to be the king of Belgium as he ran to check on her. He'd reached her just as a physician, or what passed as one for that day and age, pulled the wood from her shoulder, revealing it was sharpened. And he realized what had happened.

That boy had cheated! He'd encased a sharpened lance in the false, seemingly metal tip of it so that it would break and stab his opponent through the shoulder with it! His jaw set and he turned, about to go murder Lord-What's-His-Name, when the Professor reached out with her good hand and grabbed his arm, "Don't you dare," she hissed at him, squeezing his arm, "If anyone gets to kill him, it's me."

She tugged him closer and pulled off her helmet, luckily in her own private area of the infirmary where the others couldn't see her. They could only imagine the shock at seeing her, a woman, and knowing they'd been beaten by one.

"You can't ask me to sit by and let him get away with it!" he nearly shouted, watching as she winced, the physician, having seen far too much in his old age to be surprised another woman had attempted jousting, helped pull her armor off to tend to her wound.

"I'm not asking you to do that," she smirked, "I'm just saying you can't kill him."

He looked at her a long while, before he started smiling, "Ah," he got it. He leaned in and kissed her on the forehead, before turning and sauntering out, whistling a merry tune as he made his way back to the arena. The boy was now facing the last man, it would be between them who would win the tournament. The Professor and the boy had been the last of their bracket, only one more man left to fight to claim a victor.

He watched as the boy fought the man, jousted seemingly honorably at first, his confidence restored due to the injury against the Professor. He understood now, the boy had been watching her for the same reason she had watched the other men, to see their strengths and weaknesses and to see whether he had a chance of beating them. Clearly he hadn't thought he could beat the Professor without help.

He waited, watching as the boy got a hit on his opponent, waited as the opponent got a hit on him. Before he pulled out the sonic, watching and waiting as the men faced off once more…flashing it quickly, the sound lost in the cheers of the crowd, at the buckles that held the boy's saddle on. He watched as the boy jolted, trying to keep control of his horse as he felt himself sliding more…and got hit right in the chest by his opponent, sent flying, spinning quite a few times, off the horse and to the ground, groaning and in immense pain at having been hit so firmly with no time to prepare or guard himself.

He smirked, tossing the sonic in his hand before slipping it back into his coat. It wasn't as satisfying as murdering the boy (though he doubted he'd really be able to bring himself to do that) but it was enough for the moment. Humiliate him, keep him from winning the title of victor after coming so close, and put him in a bit of pain like the kind he'd given the Professor. And so, with that in mind, he turned and whistled as he made his way back to her, grinning when he saw her sitting up on her small cot, out of her armor, with her arm bandaged and in a sling.

"And?" she turned to him, grinning secretively.

He smirked, "He came in second, wouldn't you know."

She laughed, reaching out her good arm to him, before tugging him beside her, kissing him deeply for both his control at not murdering the boy she wanted to murder and for managing to just keep him from winning the title he clearly coveted…

Until, that is, a throat cleared and they pulled apart to see a man standing before them in robes they clearly recognized to be that of an archbishop. And given where they were…they knew exactly who this man was…

"Thomas Becket, my lord, my lady," the man introduced.

"I take it you were the one in charge of this tournament?" the Professor eyed him.

He laughed, "For my young friend," he nodded, looking back over his shoulder where they could see Henry the Young speaking with a few of the other men. It was well known how interested the boy was in tournaments and other similar festivities, and they knew about how young Henry had grown up in the Becket household, it was no wonder that, despite the issues Becket had with the king, he would not take it out on the boy who was like a son to him.

"Might want to screen your participants more mate," the Doctor mumbled, till the Professor elbowed him in the gut.

"Yes," he sighed, "One of the physicians reported that he had dishonored the rules. I came to offer my humblest apologies and try to make amends with the offer of dinner?" he looked at the Doctor.

They had to smile at that, the man was such an honorable man. He had been given the position he held because the king thought him an easily manipulated man, someone who would bend to the crown and do as commanded, yet the man had truly taken to his role. He had learned what he could of the church, become a true religious figure, and done what was best for the spirituality of the people, standing against the crown for the people's sake.

"So ask the one who needs the amending," the Doctor nodded at the Professor.

Becket's eyes widened as he saw that she was injured, a woman, and gaped at her a long while, before shaking his head. There were rumors throughout the country, throughout history really, of women disguising themselves as men in order to participate in tournaments and the like. He never thought he'd meet one though, "My apologizes my Lady," he bowed his head at her, "I would like to extend the invitation of dinner to you and your husband."

The Professor smiled, pleased he'd noticed the wedding bands they wore despite the low-level perception filter on them, "We'd be honored," she smiled.

"I thank you," he nodded again, "If you would," he motioned for them to follow him, it was rather late as it was and dinner would be starting soon anyway.

They looked at each other with grins before getting up and following him out.

~8~

"That was nice," the Professor smiled as she and the Doctor walked back to the TARDIS later that night.

The dinner had been lovely, Becket was very knowledgeable and young Henry was a wonder to speak to. The boy was quite witty and rather impressed with her when the Doctor let it slip that SHE had been the one in the tournament instead of him. The boy seemed to take to heart her words that women could do anything men could do, sometimes better. He seemed to hold a genuine respect for others which they knew would have made him a great king. Sadly they both knew when the two would pass on.

As it turned out, it was only the start of the year, 1170, the year that Becket would be murdered by the king's men 'on accident' or so the king would claim.

The Doctor, though, pouted, "It wasn't that great."

She laughed, winding her good arm through his, "That's because you rambled so much you gave him an earache," she poked him, "That's why I'M his special favorite now."

He rolled his eyes, poking her back, "That's only because he got a bit sloshed and started calling you his daughter."

"Still means I'm his favorite one," she laughed.

The man had needed a bit of wine to be able to keep(/put) up with the Doctor. He'd gotten a tad excited about recounting his various adventures concerning the monarchs of England, both past and future, and ended up rambling at a thousand miles an hour, stunning both Henry and Becket into a stupor. Well, Henry fell asleep as the Doctor droned on, but Becket had tried to be polite and keep up. The Doctor jumping about and acting out some various duels he'd been in and other stories had made the poor man seem like he was about to have a heart attack.

It wasn't till she had managed to quiet him down…pulling him into a small cupboard and snogging him till his brain shut down…not that the archbishop knew that…that the man had been able to breathe. He'd profusely thanked her for quieting him and then, a bit drunkenly began to regale them with how lovely a young woman she was and if he had a daughter he'd like to think she'd be like her, and that she was now his special favorite.

The Doctor hadn't stopped pouting about it since then.

"How come I'm never anyone's special favorite?" he grumbled as they reached the TARDIS again.

She smiled, "You're MY special favorite," she whispered, kissing him, "Always were, always will be."

He looked at her softly, beaming at that, and leaned in, kissing her more…

When the doors to the TARDIS were pulled open, "There you two are!" Amy shouted, "I take a nap for two hours and you disappear," she crossed her arms, eyeing them, "Where were you?" she asked, she'd looked for them everywhere in the TARDIS, even dared enter their bedroom with her hand over her eye, thinking they might have just forgotten to put the bow tie on the door that once, but they were nowhere.

"Oh you know," the Doctor grinned, "Went for a walkabout."

"Got some dinner," the Professor added. Her arm had healed enough to take it out of her sling, but she still had her shoulder bandaged, not that it could really be seen under her jean jacket.

Amy rolled her eyes, before looking past them, "Is that Earth?" she asked them and they nodded, "Doesn't look like Churchill's office," she remarked, they'd been trying to go see Winston Churchill the last few trips, but just…hadn't managed it. She was starting to think that they were purposefully not getting to the man, or at least the Doctor was as every trip between the Starship UK and now had ended up being ones the Professor loved. She was secretly suspicious that he was picking ones that she would enjoy.

The Time Lords just looked at each other and smiled, before ushering Amy back into the TARDIS, they really should go see dear old Winston…

Though the Doctor was sure the man would be ok a trip or two more.

A/N: A couple days (and quite a few hours) late from when I normally post this chapter, sorry :( But since I'm going to be adding another spin-off for the Lunar Cycle, Impossibly Yours, Captain on the 30th, I'm going to be posting this story once a month, on the 20th (but I'll try to get another chapter out at some point as well too). Mostly this is because, in a few months, I'll have another spin-off of the HOTS going for Angel of the TARDIS POV on things, which will be 4 separate stories that each need to be written for chapters and updated in a month. So, by then, I think school will be starting and, with work and that and editing and writing and family, I'll probably only just have time to manage 1 chapter for each a month.

I hope you liked the reason why the Professor was the special favorite, I think anyone who can get the Doctor to shut up when he gets started would be anyone's favorite :)

Next chapter: The Walls of Buckingham Palace