A/N: new chappie! enjoy!

Chapter 25: My Doctor

"Right, so with your help, if the Doctor comes back without me or…this button isn't pressed, you'll play my message," Beverley nodded in satisfaction, pointing to a red button. "Hopefully I'll never have to use it. You've been a help, love."

The TARDIS suddenly shook slightly, making Beverley grip the console to stay on her feet and look around with a frown of wonder. It felt like a quake, but it hadn't lasted long enough. She suddenly realized what it was and looked to the door of the TARDIS. Without a second's hesitation she shot toward the door and flung it open, only to gasp in shock when she saw a ball of fire dissipating in the sky to leave smoke behind the buildings surrounding her.

"Doctor," she breathed before slamming the door shut behind her and running down the street toward the source of the smoke, tears starting to blur her vision as she screamed, "Doctor!"

She rounded the corner and stopped dead, her eyes widening even more as she was met with the sight of the factory burning, the foundations barely left to hold up some of the rafters, but most of it was blown to hell, as the Doctor had wanted it. She shook her head in disbelief, shuddering as she neared the site, tears starting to flow freely down her face. She couldn't see the Doctor anywhere.

"Doctor!" she called, running toward the flames, but stopping when she reached them, not knowing where to begin to look for him, if there was anything of him to be found. A burning piece of debris fell in front of her and she cringed back a few feet before finally jerking in sobs and sinking to her knees, her face in her hands.

"He can't be gone," she shuddered. "The universe needs him. I need him. He can't be gone."

She lowered her hands and hugged herself, still sobbing, not noticing that someone was stepping up behind her.

"I thought I told you to wait in the TARDIS."

Beverley ceased her crying with a gasp and slowly stood. She didn't look behind her right away, out of fear that her mind was playing tricks on her, but after a moment, she closed her eyes, swallowed and slowly turned, opening her eyes. The Doctor stood, dusting the soot off of one of his sleeves before looking back at her and shoving his hands into his pockets with a huge grin.

"That's why I tell you not to wander off," he scolded, light-heartedly. "You get yourself all worked up for nothing, and now look at you." He lifted a hand to wipe the tears from her face as she only stared at him with wide eyes. "Crying over nothing. I'm still alive, Bev. You think a little explosion can kill me? This is nothing compared to—!"

Whatever he was about to say next was smothered by Beverley's mouth when she threw her arms around his neck to pull him closer. His eyes shot wide in surprise before his arms slid around her and they deepened the kiss as he pulled her closer still. She lowered her face away from his to break the kiss and rest her head on his shoulder, trembling as he rested his cheek on her head.

"Oi," he whispered. "Let's go home."

All Beverley could do was nod as he lifted one arm to wrap around her shoulders and lead her down the street, and she held onto him, her arms around his chest. They were silent for the whole walk back to the TARDIS and once there she let go of him to head to the console as he pulled off his overcoat and tossed it onto its usual hanging spot. She quickly and silently pressed the red button to make sure her message didn't play then went to tracing invisible circles on the panel. The Doctor sighed as he stepped toward her, his hands in his pockets and she stayed still, staring at her hand, even as he stood next to her, watching her hand as well.

"Your turn to pick," he murmured, but she didn't look up at him or respond.

He tilted his head slightly to see her face and didn't need her to say anything. She was tired, he could see it in her face. Whether it was just from what had happened or she was tired of running with him, he didn't know, and wasn't sure he wanted to know.

"Well, I'm gonna take your turn if you don't pick," he smirked, playfully as he leaned on the console, waiting for her to say something, but she still said nothing, making him sigh and lift a hand to hers as it still traced circles on the panel. She froze and glanced at him but still said nothing.

"What's wrong, darling?" he asked, and she sniffled before using her hand to pull him closer. He stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around her, his chin resting on her shoulder as she pulled his hands into hers to play with his fingers.

"I was wondering," she finally breathed. "You're over nine hundred years old, you said?"

"Yes," he replied, watching her fiddle with his fingers.

"You don't age then," she guessed, slight disappointment lacing her tone.

"No. Well...I change."

"Change?" she frowned, lifting up one of his hands to examine it.

"It's a Time Lord's way of cheating death," he explained. "If I'm killed, I regenerate. New face, new voice, new Doctor. It's really like one Doctor dies and another man takes his place with all my memories. But, if I die before my body can start the process, then I'm gone for good."

"So…you didn't always look like this?" she guessed, lowering his hands.

"Not always, no," he confirmed.

He frowned when she turned to face him, her eyes still glassy from crying. She stared at him for the longest time before she lifted her hands and placed them on his cheeks, stroking his face with her thumbs as his frown deepened.

"So…" she sighed. "You didn't always have those adorable freckles. What a shame."

The Doctor couldn't help but scoff and she gave a giggle before he lifted his hands to tilt her head forward slightly and kiss her forehead.

"I still won't leave," she assured him, making him frown in wonder. "No matter how many faces you go through, Doctor, or how old I get, I want to stay by your side…forever."

"Oh, you say that now," he smirked, jokingly. "But after a while…everyone I travel with grows up."

"I never will, no matter how old I get," she smiled, shaking her head as she lowered her hands to his chest.

"Well…Professor Song may have something to say about that," he muttered, looking around her to flick a switch and she frowned in wonder.

"Professor who?" she asked.

"No one," he shrugged before looking back at her with a smile. "I doubt we'll see her any time soon."

"Who is she?" Beverley insisted. "You've never spoken of her before."

"Because it's nothing," he objected. "She's an old friend I met back when Donna was traveling with me. Now come on! Pick a time and/or place."

Beverley sighed in defeat, knowing she wasn't going to get anything more out of him about it. She slid her arms around him, resting her head on his chest and sighing in exhaustion this time.

"Can we go somewhere peaceful?" she wondered, closing her eyes.

"Oh, you want a little break, do you?" he smiled, reaching around her and flipping more switches, pressing more buttons and not moving away from her as she only nodded. "Well, I've got just the spot. A nice little place. I own a beach house there."

"You own a beach house?" she chuckled, lifting her head to look up at him with a smile, her chin resting on his chest as he looked down at her, raising a brow at her.

"Why is that surprising?" he wondered a bit defensively.

"I just didn't think you'd be the kind to own a house of any kind, other than the TARDIS," she shrugged, letting go of him to step out of his way and let him operate the controls.

"The TARDIS is not a house," he corrected. "She's a Time and Relative Dimensions in Space machine."

"But she's like a home, isn't she?" the red head retorted, leaning next to him on the console as he flipped a switch before running to another end of the console. She guessed by the way he didn't answer he didn't want to admit she was right, so she decided to change the subject. "So, where is this beach house you own?"

He slapped a lever into place with a flourish before the TARDIS stopped and she frowned up at him as they only leaned on the console on either side, staring at each other.

"Go have a look," he smiled.

She smirked before standing tall and running toward the door, the Doctor following her as he grabbed his over coat from its place and pulled it on. She opened the door and stepped out, her eyes widening in wonder and recognition as the Doctor stepped out behind her. He shut the door behind him just as she spun around to stare at him.

"We're back on Aurora!" she smiled, stepping toward him to throw her arms around him in a tight hug and he laughed before she let go of him and turned to look down the beach, the night sky illuminated by the sky lights. "Is that it there?"

The Doctor looked down the beach to see a house on the sand and he only nodded as he took Beverley's hand into his. He led her toward it, one hand in his pocket, the other holding onto hers, firmly. They said nothing as she swung their hands back and forth between them like a little girl, and it made him smile. As much as he knew she'd grow up eventually, there were times when he thought she never would, and it was times like those that he held onto.

"So how many girls have you romanced here, Doctor?" she joked as they reached the steps of the darkened cabin and he gave her a comical glare as he led her up the stairs.

"None," he retorted, pulling out his sonic screwdriver and using it on the lock, making her frown.

"You have to break into your own beach house?" she questioned through a chuckle and he gave her a glare again, tucking his screwdriver away.

"I don't carry any other key besides the TARDIS key," he explained, taking her hand again and pulling her in before shutting the door behind him before pointing up and placing his arm around her shoulders. "Look! Glass ceiling! No need for lights in here! The sky illuminates everything."

Beverley stared up at the ceiling, letting the Doctor lead her through the house as she watched the lights in sky dance and change colors from orange and yellow to red and pink. They were bright enough to give them enough light in the house.

"Living room here," he explained, pointing to a huge room to the right of the door, then pointed to the smaller room to the left, saying, "That's the study, but I never use it. I'm never here long enough."

He pulled her past the wooden stairs to show her a room next to them.

"Kitchen and dining room," he explained, then pulled her back toward the stairs to step ahead of her, taking her hand into his to lead her up. "And up the stairs…"

He trailed off as he led her up short flight of stairs and turned as they reached the top, resuming, "Master bedroom, two guest bedrooms, and a bathroom. And that's the tour!"

"More glass ceilings," she smiled, looking up at the lights before looking back at the Doctor. "I love it."

"Thought you would," he nodded, hugging her shoulders. "So, something to eat or did you want to head to bed for some shut eye?"

"You didn't even let me see the bedrooms," she pouted slightly. "How rude."

"Well, I didn't want you to get the wrong idea, darling," he smirked, but it turned to a frown when she swept in front of him and started playing with his tie, their eyes locking and he couldn't help but swallow at the look behind her eyes.

"Maybe I want to get the wrong idea?" she smirked, turning and heading toward the door she'd seen him point to as the master bedroom, still holding onto his tie.

He stumbled behind her, confusion written all over his face until she opened the door and pulled him inside. She shut the door behind him and shoved him against it before planting her lips to his in a passionate kiss. She pressed into him, her arms wrapping around his neck and he gave into the kiss for a moment before he realized where this was going and his eyes shot open as he muttered against her mouth, trying to push her away by her waist.

"Beverley!" he muttered as she still held onto him, her mouth still against his. He managed to pull away from her and he took her face in his hands to look her in the eye. "Think about this for a second! This is one thing I strongly suggest thinking about before you do it."

"I have, Doctor," Beverley replied, firmly as he lowered his hands to his sides, her hands sliding to his chest. "Ever since that day in the library strange things have been happening to me…as if my subconscious is trying to get me to remember this dream that I'm not even sure is a dream. I told you I saw the Medusa Cascade with you, and I believe it to be true. The ring you gave me on Kalos…I'm positive I have one just like it at home…"

She trailed off for a moment before lifting her hands to the sides of his head to touch her forehead to his.

"And deep down inside my heart I know you love me," she breathed as she shut her eyes tightly but he looked at her with wide eyes filled with disbelief. "Even if you never say it, I know it, and that's all that matters to me. Somehow I know you love me. So you don't have to say it because I already know."

She kept her eyes closed as she trailed her hands back up his chest and around his neck and he couldn't keep himself from slipping around her to pull her closer.

"And ever since then, whenever I'm near I feel like I need you," she breathed, keeping her eyes closed as they lifted their heads and he looked at her face with a frown but said nothing. "As if I know everything about you already and I've missed you."

Beverley bowed her head to rest it on his chest as she trembled against him and he pulled her closer to comfort her.

"Doctor, what is wrong with me?" she shuddered. "I'm so confused and afraid. I don't know why I feel this way."

"I don't know either, Bev," he murmured, lifting a hand to stroke her hair as he rested his chin on her head. "I wish I did so I could put your mind at ease."

He held her there as she silently sobbed against him, her hands slipping down from around his neck again so that could hug him and bury her face into his chest. He could tell it wasn't just her fear and confusion, it was the fatigue of running around and nearly dying that was making her cry. She needed sleep, and right now, he didn't care where she slept as long as she got some rest.

Without a word he knelt down and swept her off her feet, making her give a small gasp before she resumed sobbing as he carried her to the bed sitting against the right wall. He laid her down over the covers and pressed a kiss to her temple before turning and sitting on the edge of the bed, pulling off his trench coat to toss it onto the couch across the room, then bending down to untie his shoes and kick them off. She still cried, quietly as he turned to her feet and untied her shoes as well, pulling them off to toss them onto the floor next to his.

"Alright, Bev, you win," he smirked, turning to lay back next to her and pull her into his arms again as she sniffled, trying to calm herself, but a few more shudders escaped her. "You've got me in bed with you, happy?"

Beverley couldn't help but let out a small giggle as she tried to wipe off her face and the Doctor gave a smile as he looked over her face. He lifted a hand to gently move some of her hair from her face to get a better look at her, the red and pink colors of the lights in the sky giving everything a romantic glow…including Beverley.

"What can I do, Bev?" he whispered, making her look at him and their gazes locked. "Tell me what you want me to do to make this easier, and I'll do it. I just…don't want to see you cry anymore because of me."

"Doctor," she breathed, feeling her heart clench in guilt as she lifted a hand to run it through his hair and stroke his face. "This isn't your fault."

"Why do I feel like it is, then?" he replied, and she couldn't stand to see his face looking so sorrowful. So helpless. "Those doors in your mind…the only one that could've put them there was me. I'm the only one that does that."

"Stop it," she pleaded, shaking her head slightly before shifting closer to him and keeping his gaze. "This isn't your fault. You'll figure this out, Doctor, I know you will. I have faith. But, just for now, can we not think about it?"

"I still feel I should do something to help you," he sighed, stroking her hair again as they kept each other's gazes.

"You really want to do something for me?" she asked, honestly and he nodded. She gave a small smile before leaning closer to his face and whispering, "Kiss me, Doctor."

He closed the gap between them without hesitation and she gave a small moan of surprise when his hand that had been stroking her hair balled into a fist around it as his tongue thrust into her mouth, making her moan again. She gripped the lapel of his jacket and rolled onto her back, bringing him with her as his hand remained in her hair and she slid her arms around his neck as he pressed her into the mattress. He finally came up for air and gently pulled back on her hair to expose her neck and he leaned forward again to leave tender kisses over her skin.

"You're sure about this?" he asked, one last time as she let her hands trail down his chest to unbutton his jacket. He pulled away to look up at her face, his hand leaving her hair to support himself above her, their eyes locking again. "This is what you want?"

"I've never been more sure of anything in my life, Doctor," she replied through a smile that made him smile in return before he lowered his face to hers, his lips a breath away from kissing her.

"Well, then, since you said you know everything about me," he began through a mischievous smirk. "I think it's only fair that I got to know you a little better, don't you think?"

"Whatever the Doctor orders," she smirked back, lifting a hand to loosen his tie. "And you're the Doctor."

"Yes, I am," he grinned before capturing her lips in a deep kiss then trailing them to her neck again as he stripped off his jacket, which she'd unbuttoned, and his tie.

"Doctor," she breathed through a smile as he started to pull off her own jacket. "My Doctor."

A/N: oh, i couldn't wait for this part! lol! my signature romance style is coming out here, lol! i don't think i need to tell you what happened. use your imagination. reviews?