The Doctor left school Monday on a mission. He knew Annie had a faculty meeting, so he took the opportunity to shop for a ring. He knew she would prefer something simple and understated; nothing too big or flashy would fit her taste. He hurried to a jewelry shop a few blocks from his school, already running behind.

"Sorry I'm late," he said as he approached Sarah Jane outside the shop. "I got caught up helping a few students."

"I figured as much," she smiled. "Shall we?" she motioned towards the door.

"I'm nervous," he admitted as they walked inside.

"I'm sure you are," she acknowledged. "But you know she'll love whatever you pick. If she doesn't, you can blame it on me," Sarah Jane teased. That brought a small smile to the Doctor's face.

"Good afternoon," the gentleman at the counter greeted them. "How may I assist you?"

"I'm looking for an an engagement ring," the Doctor answered.

"Well, let's see what we can find, shall we?" the man asked. He invited Sarah Jane and the Doctor to sit so they could discuss what the Doctor was hoping to find for Annie. The Doctor was shown countless rings that fit the description he suggested, but nothing felt right. He was starting to get discouraged and was ready to give up when the shop worker pulled out one last ring.

"I know it's a bit more elaborate than you mentioned, but what about this?"

He showed the Doctor a solitaire diamond, white gold ring with two strands of small diamonds coming down on either side of the center. They met in a solid band about halfway around. There was a simple white gold wedding band that matched it.

"That's the one," the Doctor whispered.

"She'll love it," Sarah Jane said.

"Are you sure?" the gentleman asked.

"Yes," said the Doctor. "It's perfect."

"Alright then, do you know what her ring size is?"

The Doctor flushed with embarrassment. He hadn't even thought about that. He had no idea what Annie wore.

"Don't worry," Sarah Jane said, "She left a ring at my place when you two moved. I have it right here." She pulled out one of Annie's favorite rings that the Doctor knew for a fact had been the cause of great distress for his bride-to-be.

"You've had it all this time?""Yes," Sarah Jane answered. "I forgot to bring it with me on Saturday. I figured we would need it today. I take it that Annie's missed it?"

"You have no idea," the Doctor sighed.

"Well, let me just get a quick size and we'll handle the paperwork, Dr. Smith."

Nearly half an hour later, the Doctor and Sarah Jane left the jewelry shop and went their separate ways. The Doctor ran to the flat, knowing Annie would be wondering why he wasn't home yet.

They muddled through the next week, struggling to keep their engagement quiet at their respective schools. They decided to wait to share the news until they had a few more of the details ironed out. Applying for a marriage license was going to be difficult as the Doctor wasn't human. The psychic paper could only get them so far. He planned to officially propose on Friday night. The ring would be sized by then and they were already planning on a nice dinner out.

On Wednesday as they were getting into bed, the Doctor noticed Annie was particularly quiet. She had been pensive all evening. He had asked several times if something was the matter, but she had kept her distance. He decided to ask one last time before they turned out the lights.

"Annie, what's going on? You don't seem yourself tonight."

"I've been thinking a lot about your question from Friday night," she said slowly. The Doctor later swore that his hearts stopped. He was sure she was going to back out of their engagement.

"I'm sorry if I've done something wrong," he said quickly. "I'm sorry I shouted it at you and that I didn't have a ring and that this is causing so many problems, but please, Annie..."

"What are you talking about?" she asked, confused.

"Friday night is when I asked you..."

"You asked about my family, about my past," she finished his sentence. The Doctor breathed a sigh of relief.

"Oh yes," he said, trying not to show Annie how happy he was that she was upset about that and not him.

"I'm sorry I got angry when you asked about them that night. It's not something I talk about. Ever."

"I understand," the Doctor said, "but you know you can talk to me about anything."

"I know, but..."

"When you're ready, I'm here for you."

"That's what I'm trying to tell you."

"I'm sorry, I'll just listen now." The Doctor settled back against the pillows. Annie stayed sitting up and turned to face her fiancé.

"I had the greatest parents," she started with a sad smile. "They were amazing. My mom, Mary, was a teacher, first grade. She was great at home-making things - cooking, sewing, things like that. And I think she enjoyed it; she always seemed to. But she loved to teach. She loved guiding children. She always said that's what teachers do - they guide. She was small, like me. She had lighter hair, though - strawberry blond. I looked like her some, but I looked more like my dad. He was tall, though. Taller than you. He and my mom looked almost silly together because he was so so tall and she was so petite," they shared a smile, knowing that's how they must look, too.

"He had dark hair like mine. And our eyes were the same color. He was a painter. His name was John, but everyone called him Jack. He painted mostly abstracts, but he did portrait sittings for extra money when we needed it. I had a sister, Keira. She was two years older than me. We were inseparable. We looked just alike. She was my best friend. We lived in Virginia in a little house in the mountains. It was just beautiful. Keira went away to college when I was 16. She moved to Boston, she just loved it there. She was pre-med. She wanted to be a doctor more than anything. She worked so hard. We were all so proud of her. I went to school in Pennsylvania. My sophomore year, Keira's senior year, Dad decided to drive up to get us for Christmas break rather than us just flying home. Keira finished a few days before me, so he drove up and got her and then they were going to pick me up on the way back south." Annie's breath started to catch and tears were welling up in her eyes.

"Annie," the Doctor whispered, pulling the now-crying woman into his arms. "Annie, I'm here. Whatever you need, I'm here."

Annie continued. "They never made it to me. They were in an accident on the way there. A semi truck hit their car head on. Dad...Daddy died instantly. They took Keira to the hospital and worked on her. She was in a coma. Mom flew up and I took the train to get to Keira. She was brain dead by the time we both got there. The next morning, they took her off life support. Mom and I both got into bed with her and held her. It took her almost four hours to...It was awful. I went home for the spring, but I decided to go back to school the next fall. I met a guy there, Mark. He was from Scotland. He was my first boyfriend. I thought he loved me, so I followed him to Edinburgh when we graduated. I had been there for three weeks when we broke up. We had been together for two years, and things were over just like that. I had just gotten a job and I had a visa, so I stayed. At Christmas that first fall, I got a call from our neighbor. Mom...Mom...she couldn't take it anymore."

"Oh, Annie," murmured the Doctor. "I've got you. That's it, I've got you." He let her cry in his arms, holding her close.

"I went home for her funeral and to pack up the house. If I had stayed with her, maybe she wouldn't have...I should have been there for her. I shouldn't have run away," Annie sobbed. "But I did. I came back to Scotland a week later. I couldn't stay there anymore. I've never been back. If I had just stayed home, gone to the local college, been there for her..."

"Annie," the Doctor soothed. "It's not your fault."

"Yes it is," she nearly shouted. "I just left her all alone. I should have known better. I should have stayed with her. I shouldn't have left her."

"You listen to me," the Doctor said firmly, holding Annie back so he could look her in the eye. "It is not your fault. It was horrible and sad and hurtful and devastating, but it was not your fault. Do you hear me? It was not your fault." He pulled Annie back to his chest and let her cry herself out. He whispered quiet words in her ear, stroking her hair and rubbing her back. She needed to know that he wasn't going to leave her, no matter what.

Finally, nearly an hour later, Annie fell asleep. The Doctor held her all night, listening to her steady breathing. They had both experienced great loss and blamed themselves. That was one thing they would have to overcome together. The Doctor found great comfort knowing that his fiancée could understand his demons and that he could understand hers. They would get through this.