Thanks to Celaena007 for following/faving my story.

Alyssa stood patiently near the help desk of the British Museum while she waited for Mr Watkins, the man she was meeting with. "Hello Miss Palmer, I'm Mr Watkins", man said when he approached her.

"Pleased to meet you sir", Alyssa said shaking his hand.

"Likewise. I'll show you the labs and conservation rooms. Follow me please"

Alyssa walked alongside the man as he took her to an area off limits to visitors. She had quick tours around the different labs and conservation rooms. There Alyssa met different members of the conservation teams. "Miss Palmer this is Jenna Mackenzie, a pictorial conservationist. You'll be working with her when you start next month"

"Nice to meet you Miss Palmer"

"It's Alyssa but you can call me Ali if you like", Alyssa said shaking Jenna's hand.

"We just received a painting that needs a little repair work and we were wondering if you wanted to start working here earlier than the agreed date", Mr Watkins said.

"I'd love to but I've got to hand in my resignation to my boss first"

"I understand. You may stay here for the rest of the day if you like. I'm sure Jenna will be happy to answer any questions you have"

"Of course I would", Jenna said.

"Then I'll leave you both to it", Mr Watkins said and left.

"I heard about your friend Ellie on the news. I'm sorry for your loss"

"Thank you"

"I think it's quite brave of you to still come and work here after your friend passed. I know that you both were going to work here"

"It's what Ellie would've wanted me to do. We…" Alyssa trailed off when she noticed part of a painting that was under a cloth. She carefully pulled it off and saw a Van Gogh painting underneath. "That's Sunflowers. Painted by Vincent in 1888. This is the third version out of seven I think", she said picking it up "this is the paining that needed the repairs then?"

"Yes. I take it you're a fan of Van Gogh?"

"I am. He's my favourite painter"

"What's your favourite painting of his?"

"Starry Night hands down. Who is your favourite painter?"

"I don't really have a favourite but Renoir has done some nice ones"

"Yeah I suppose he has. So this painting needs to be repaired. Is there a deadline for it?"

"One week next Monday"

"Is it possible that I could make a start today?"

"I don't have any problem with that. I had already filled the cracks in they just need to be painted"

"That sounds simple enough. How come you haven't done it if you don't mind me asking?"

"No I don't mind. I was going to start this morning but I was then put on yet another project", she said geusturing to the painting on the easel.

"Let me guess Mr Watkins?"

"Yep"

"Well I can get to work on this if you wanna get back to your own painting"

"Thanks. Here's a list of colours of oil paints that a practically the same as the ones used in the painting", Jenna said handing over a piece of paper "everything you need is over the other side of the room. Give me a shout if you need anything"

"I will", Alyssa said. She put on an apron and pulled her hair up before getting the paints on the list. Alyssa set up the painting on another easel and looked to see where the filler was on. When she found it, she started to paint over the filler using the correct paints.

"Wow you've done a fair bit", Jenna commented when she came over to take a look when it got to lunch time.

"Really?" Alyssa asked sitting back to take a look "blimey. I didn't even realise".

"That happens when you get really involved. It's happened to me several times. I just came over to let you know that you can go for lunch"

"Thanks. How long do I have?"

"About an hour"

"I'll be back here for then", Alyssa said. She knew that there was a little café not too far away where she could pick up a sandwich.

"Excuse me Miss Palmer", the woman at the help desk said as she went past.

"Yes?" Alyssa said

"This is for you", the woman said holding out and envelope.

"Thank you"

Alyssa walked out of the museum and opened the envelope. Inside was an invitation.

Miss Alyssa Palmer

You are cordially invited to attend an event at Lazarus Laboratories on 26th March

Dress code: formal

You may bring one additional guest with you.

Alyssa rung up Ben to see if he would be interested "hey Ben"

"Hey babe whats up?"

"I just got this invite to an event tomorrow and I'm allowed to bring a guest. Wanna be my plus one?"

"I'd love to but I've got plans then. But I'm free tonight. Fancy going out?"

"Yeah I would"

"Great! I'll let you know where we are going later"

"Ok. Love you"

"Love you too" The red head then rung up Steve.

"Hey Ali. How come you're not at work?"

"Oh I'm at the museum. They wanted to have a meeting with me about a project they'd like me to work on"

"Really? Anything interesting?"

"Just a repair job on a painting. But that's not why I'm calling. I got an invite to an event tomorrow evening and I was wondering if you wanted to be my prince charming?"

"What about Ben?"

"Apparently he's busy"

"Well then I would be happy to be your plus one tomorrow"

"Great. Oh and you'll need to wear a suit. It's a formal event"

"Will do. When is this supposed to take place?"

Alyssa looked at the invite "7pm"

"Then I'll swing by your place say 6:30 tomorrow"

"I'll see you then"

"Cool. Goodbye for now Cinderella", Steve said and then hung up.

Later…

Alyssa sat at the table in the Pizza Hut waiting for Ben to show. It had been half an hour and he still hadn't shown up. While she waited, she thought about what she'd told Martha in answer to her question on her feelings towards the Doctor.

~flashback~

"I like him. He's caring and kind. The Doctor acts like a child sometimes; occasionally says the weirdest things but always knows how to make me laugh. He doesn't judge me like when I took him to my grans grave stone so I could talk to it. He actually talked to her as well. Ben would never do that, he wouldn't even come with me to see her. I feel I can tell him anything. In fact I did tell him something that even my own mother doesn't know. I trust him completely Martha. Meeting him was one of the best things that has happened to me. To be honest I can't imagine a life without him"

~end~

Everything she told her was true. They'd been through so much together in a short space of time that she really couldn't imagine a life without the Time Lord in it. Do you love him? Martha's voice echoed in her head.

Did she? Well there were some things she definitely loved about him. His ramblings being one of them. She also loved his childlike enthusiasm, it never failed to put a smile on her face. And that kiss on the moon… Alyssa blushed thinking about it. Despite telling the Doctor it was no big deal, she secretly liked it.

Alyssa shook her head, trying to get rid of those thoughts. It wasn't appropriate especially when she had a boyfriend. Speaking of… she glanced at her phone and saw that she had a text from Ben. Alyssa frowned at the message. He cancelled. Again! Why didn't you tell me earlier that you couldn't make it? Instead of making me wait an hour she thought as she typed out a message. She was really getting fed up of him doing this. He was the one who set it up this time. Alyssa sighed, got up and walked out of the restaurant. She wandered to her car unaware that she was being watched.