"No!" Terry exclaimed, and the Doctor pleaded: "Please, angel?"

"You can't!" Terry squeaked. "I'm, er, changing!"

She winced – was that really the best lie she'd been able to come up with? – while the Doctor sighed from behind the door.

"Well, then, will you just listen to me from here?" The Doctor questioned, and Terry panicked.

"Um…" She floundered, unable to think of a reason she couldn't, and the Doctor asked quietly: "Please, Terry."

Terry sighed, wanting to kill him for using that pitiful voice and kill herself for being so weak as to not be able to refuse him when he sounded so sad.

"Yes." She answered at great length, softer than she'd been intending, but he heard her anyway.

"Terry," the Doctor began, shifting on his feet nervously, "I'm sorry if I surprised you back there. And, truth be told, that wasn't how I wanted to tell you either."

She didn't reply, her hearts hammering at his words, and the Doctor continued: "But I don't regret it. Because, I meant what I said. "

Terry's eyes widened again, and her hands clutched the sides of her dress tightly, her knuckles going white, as the Doctor murmured gently: "I love you."

There, he'd said it again. Those three little words that he'd never, ever said aloud in the show – not to Rose, not to anyone.

Terry trembled again, while the Doctor continued firmly: "And I was so tired of pretending otherwise."

As she remained silent, the Doctor rambled: "Though, maybe I should have waited; made it more romantic. I was planning to, you know… I was thinking of maybe taking you to Ephemery – it's a wonderful planet with a colourful sky that would put the Northern Lights to shame. It's lovely this time of year – well, the time of year I was going to take you – and I know you would have loved it. You know, now that I think about it, I do sort of regret confessing to you earlier; I really should have waited. But you know me."

He laughed nervously. "I'm not good at waiting; never really had to, what with the Tardis…"

The Doctor trailed off as he continued to speak to the wooden door with no sound coming from inside Terry's room, and he finally sighed.

"Terry, please open the door." The Doctor requested softly. "I would at least like to be able to see your face."

Terry hesitated, her hand drifting to touch her doorknob hesitantly. She stood there, hand on the bedroom door, as her feelings warred in her hearts.

"Terry?"

Her hearts clenched at the soft tone in the Doctor's voice, so sad and filled with a loneliness she couldn't bear. Terry knew that when the Doctor asked her for anything in that tone, she'd comply. No matter what.

Terry opened the door slowly, stepping out to stand before the Doctor and she slowly lifted her eyes up to meet his, swallowing as she met those warm, brown eyes, almost startlingly old in his relatively young face. He was staring down at her with a soft expression she wasn't sure she wanted to identify, and a hint of regret that she wasn't sure she wanted to see.

'Of course you don't.' The dark voice in her mind told her. 'You don't want him to be in love with you, do you? What about Rose? What about River?'

"Terry."

Terry blinked, startled from her dark thoughts as she refocused on the Doctor's gentle gaze.

"I'm sorry." He apologized quietly. "It seems I shocked you even more than I thought with my confession."

Terry blushed at his admission, but she said quickly: "No, well, yes," she amended when he raised a skeptical brow, "you surprised me. Not that it was a bad surprise necessarily," Terry began to speak faster and faster in her agitation, " but it was a surprise because I honestly didn't think you… not that I don't think you don't, you know, feel romantically, it's just I certainly didn't think… I mean, there was Rose, and stuff… so I never thought… not with me at least… Bloody hell."

She sighed as she broke off, looking frustrated with herself while the Doctor simply waited for her to let her shock run its course through her system.

When she finally stopped speaking, looking slightly calmer though she still looked incredibly frazzled, the Doctor spoke again.

"Terry."

She tensed just a little bit as he spoke, but the Doctor held his finger under her chin to maintain eye contact as he said: "I know it's a lot to take in, but please hear me out."

Terry inhaled sharply, but nodded uncertainly, and the Doctor said gently: "I don't want to force anything on you, and I realize now it may have been selfish of me to just suddenly tell you something you weren't ready for."

Terry swallowed, her thoughts whirling around as two sides of her hearts fought against each other. He was right, a part of her wasn't ready, could never be ready because she couldn't accept his feelings. Not when she knew his future. And yet…

The Doctor was watching her closely, unable to read what she was thinking as she remained silently conflicted, as he continued: "But I don't want us to have to avoid each other, or be uncomfortable. So, please just tell me what you want."

Terry's eyes widened and she stared up at him as the Doctor promised: "I'll do whatever you say. If you do not share my feelings and just want to remain friends, I can do it. I will do it for you."

His brown eyes locked on hers, and Terry inhaled again as she saw truly the depth of his feelings. The passion, tempered for the moment with patience; the brilliance of a flame waiting to be lit, tempered with soft consideration. Consideration for her feelings.

"Would… you?" Terry found herself asking.

She wasn't quite sure why she'd asked – was she testing the veracity of his resolve, or testing herself? Testing for what she wanted. Because right now… the Gods only knew what she wanted.

The Doctor's expression fell just slightly, but he masked it bravely and almost successfully as he answered in forcefully light tone: "I have loved you for quite a while now, and we've managed to remain good friends."

He swallowed before adding softly: "If that is what you want, Terry, I'll gladly give it and I won't ever mention this again."

His words, instead of producing relief, clenched her hearts so tight Terry was briefly worried she was going to have a seizure.

Friends… they'd been friends for a year from her point of view (excluding all the times Nine had yelled at and hated her). And she'd been happy with that; she'd settled easily into this erratic and thrilling life with the Doctor. But…

'But you love him.'

And that made it complicated. Because his confession, his sweet consideration that belied the burning desire in his eyes… it was what a part of her, a very large part that was growing stronger with every moment, wanted more than anything. She loved him.

'Could I do it?' Terry wondered. 'Could I let myself fall even further for him,' because there was no question she was getting in way too deep and would never get back out, 'only to have to let him go later? Can I do that to myself? Set myself up for heartbreak… knowing his hearts will be unaffected?'

And that was the crux of the problem. Terry knew he would move on, at some point, from her to River. So could she let him start a relationship with her, knowing what his future held? Would he hate her for it later; or worse, would he regret it?

"Terry?"

Terry stared into the Doctor's eyes, his gaze filled with worry as he took in her silence, the sorrow in her eyes.

"If you need some time to think about it…" He began uncertainly, but Terry's eyes suddenly filled with determination.

Sensing she had come to a decision, the Doctor braced himself, before blinking in surprise as Terry asked quietly: "Doctor – are you sure you won't later regret what you said today?"

He was puzzled by the strange question, but the Doctor answered without a second of hesitation: "I won't, no matter what you decide; I'll never regret having fallen in love with you, Terry Storm."

Terry's eyes softened, filling with – the Doctor realized with no small amount of alarm – tears.

"Terry-?" He began, when she reached out and fisted his shirtfront in her hand.

The Doctor let out a small yelp as the tiny brunette woman abruptly yanked on his shirt, pulling him down, before his eyes widened as she kissed him.

The Doctor froze for one beat in surprise, before his eyes fluttered closed and he kissed her back, his hands moving carefully to hold her waist before he gently pulled her closer to him. He was slightly confused what this meant, but he hoped dearly that Terry's reaction meant something positive.

As Terry sighed when the Doctor swiped his tongue over her bottom lip, he decided to just see where things went from there and quickly used the brief opening to slide his tongue inside her mouth, deepening their kiss. His hands gripped her tighter, pulling her as close to him as he could while her hands moved up his chest and back before tangling themselves in his hair.

"I love you, Theta."

The Doctor pulled back instantly in shock, staring down at Terry with wide eyes as she smiled up at him from under her eyelashes, breathing heavily.

"What did you just say?" The Doctor asked between pants as he caught his breath back, not daring to believe what he had just heard in his mind.

"I love you." Terry repeated, out loud this time as she smiled a little ruefully up at him. "I…"

She took a deep breath, before also confessing: "I also have for a while now… though I didn't realize it at first."

The smile that appeared on the Doctor's face in response caused Terry to catch her breath. It was wide, it was bright… and it was beautiful. His entire face seemed to light up like the sun as his joy at her reciprocated feelings swelled and burst forth.

Terry yelped as the Doctor abruptly wrapped his arms around her thighs before hoisting her up as he spun them around in absolute delight, laughing boisterously. And Terry couldn't help but start to laugh with him as her own repressed feelings were finally allowed to run free.

She couldn't even quite find it in herself to feel a little regret or sorrow, or even weighed down by the thoughts of where their future would end.

Instead, Terry joined the Doctor in exalting the bliss that was now, smiling down at him as he grinned widely up at her, looking like a child on Christmas morning. And when he leaned up slightly, she obliged and met him halfway in connecting their lips once more.

It was a slow kiss, similar to the one he'd surprised her with just a few hours earlier, not hurried nor desperate, but simply enjoying each other's embrace.

"Thank you." The Doctor murmured when they parted again at last, and Terry chuckled.

"I don't think you're the one to be doing the thanks." She commented, and the Doctor shook his head as he answered: "Nope, it's definitely me who should be grateful to have such a beautiful, intelligent Time Lady as my girlfriend."

Terry would have sworn she melted right then if her hearts hadn't skipped two beats each as he called her his 'girlfriend'.

But she tried to keep her head straight as she answered, running a hand fondly through the Doctor's hair: "But I got a devilish yet kind man with the brain of a true genius and the hearts of a doctor."

His eyes lit up – if possible – even further at her words, but his voice was suave as he teased: "Ooh, someone knows how to win a man over. I'd better keep you at my side, Miss Storm, else someone else comes and whisks you away."

Terry's smile almost faltered, but she maintained it as she answered jokingly: "Are you calling me a flirt, Doctor?"

"Do you deny it, Miss Storm?" He queried, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Why, Doctor," Terry pretended to look affronted, "how rude of you - a lady never kisses and tells."

"Well, as I would never accuse you of not being a lady, I am forced to cede." The Doctor grinned, his smile widening as Terry laughed.

Feeling impish, he leaned up and kissed her again, smiling when she answered enthusiastically.

"I suppose you'd never tell about that kiss either." The Doctor breathed as he and Terry broke apart for air once more – it was such a shame lungs needed air, though it did provide a good opportunity to throw in a tease – and Terry laughed breathlessly.

"As the only person I've ever kissed, and plan to kiss, will be you..." Terry replied with a broad smile. "I don't think it'd be a problem."

"No, I think not." The Doctor agreed, his brown eyes soft and full of life and love as he stared up at Terry. "And while we're on the subject of kissing…"

Terry laughed before she leant down and pressed her lips against the Doctor's once more.

The next time they came up for air, the Doctor kept their heads close together, his breath landing on Terry's cheek and making her shiver as he murmured: "How about we make that trip to Ephemery anyway?"

"That sounds wonderful." Terry agreed. "Though I was enjoying myself."

"So was I." The Doctor answered as he lowered her to the ground and took her hand instead while leading them back to the console room. "Fortunately, kissing on Ephemery is the most common method of conversing, so we wouldn't stand out."

He winked at her as Terry let out a startled laugh, amused at the thought, when the Doctor added: "Though I must therefore ask you to refrain from conversing with anyone else while we're there."

"Aw, and there goes all my anticipation." Terry joked, pulling a dramatic pout that the Doctor found too irresistible.

When he pulled back from the impulsive kiss, Terry was grinning widely at him.

"What was that for?" She asked, amused, and he shrugged.

"Because I love you." He answered lightly, and Terry's heart swelled once more at hearing him say the words so casually, as though it was so natural.

"When?" Terry asked, the question popping up in her head and coming blurting out of her mouth.

The Doctor glanced at her questioningly, and she elaborated: "When did you realize?"

His face lit up with understanding, and the Doctor chuckled.

"I can't say when exactly." The Doctor admitted. "I know that after I met this you," he gestured at her current generation, "for the first time, I knew I liked you as a friend. After that, I could feel at times that maybe I felt something more. But I think I really fell in love with you on Christmas, after you told me that it didn't matter what my face looked like. Because it was still me."

Terry blinked, startled, while the Doctor continued: "But it took Rose pointing it out for me to realize it."

"Rose?" Terry repeated in surprise, and the Doctor nodded.

"Do you remember, that night you met Sarah Jane, when Rose and I had an argument outside that chip shop?" He asked, and Terry nodded slowly.

"Yeah…" Terry said hesitantly, remembering how she'd left them to give them privacy. She'd assumed it had been about Sarah Jane; after all, that was how it had been in the show, with Rose angry that the Doctor just 'moved on' from companions and wondering if he'd do the same with her.

"We'd been arguing about Sarah Jane." The Doctor unwittingly confirmed Terry's thoughts as he explained. "Rose was angry that I had once with Sarah… well," he moved on hastily while Terry raised an amused brow, "and she also realized that, sometimes, I have to leave companions behind. And I have to move on."

He sighed just remembering, while Terry nodded sympathetically. It was the curse of the Time Lords, who didn't die like others but simply regenerated into another life that could live centuries before it moved onto the next regeneration once more.

"And she brought up something that made me inexplicably angry and made me lash out at her." The Doctor continued, and Terry frowned.

"You mean when she asked if you'd leave her behind?" Terry asked, and the Doctor shook his head.

"She asked, demanded rather…" the Doctor sighed. "If I would do that to you – if I would ever leave you behind."

Terry blinked, startled, while the Doctor continued: "And just the thought… it hurt. And then I realized I couldn't bear the thought of losing you, anyone but you, and… well, that's when I figured out I loved you."

He smiled, while Terry stared at him before a small smile crossed her face too.

"And you accused me of knowing how to win someone over." She teased, and the Doctor laughed before he raised a brow at her.

"And you?" He questioned, and Terry cocked her head questioningly before realizing what he meant.

She blushed, making him laugh again. But Terry couldn't really answer his question as she explained slowly: "I don't know… I realized it during an adventure in your future, when… someone… pointed it out to me."

He raised a brow, surprised, but Terry continued: "Though, I guess you could say I should have seen it coming – after all, I did admire you a lot," he puffed with pleasure, "on T.V."

He deflated instantly, giving her a playful glare as she laughed at him, clearly enjoying teasing him.

"You are in trouble now, angel." He warned before trapping her in his arms and leaning in to kiss her thoroughly once more, not that she had any complaints.

But in her joy, Terry forgot about how she'd somehow survived Lazarus's attack the night before, at the party reception room.