"I swear, I didn't mean to. I was just, and he was just," Amy babbled, and Teresa held up a hand to stop her.
The redhead stopped immediately and Teresa asked her slowly and gently: "Alright, Amy. Take a deep breath, and tell me what happened. Slowly."
Amy took a deep breath as Teresa suggested, but then blurted out: "I kissed the Doctor."
Teresa blinked, and she realized she must be right at the beginning of 'Vampires in Venice'.
"Oh, has the Doctor gone to fetch Rory?" Teresa asked curiously, and Amy nodded, looking apprehensive.
Teresa said kindly: "Well, I'm sure if you just explain to Rory that you love him and you didn't mean it in kissing the Doctor, he'll understand. Just make sure you include that you were terrified, almost died, and weren't thinking straight, and I'm sure Rory will forgive you."
Amy blinked at her and asked: "Yeah, but…"
She trailed off uncertainly, and Teresa looked at her curiously.
"But what?" She asked and Amy asked slowly, brows furrowed: "Do you… not mind?"
"Mind what?" Teresa asked blankly.
Amy blinked and muttered vaguely: "Never mind…"
Teresa stared at her curiously, but they were interrupted as the Doctor returned, pushing Rory in through the Tardis doors.
"Come on in. Get comfortable, make yourself at home." The Doctor was saying, when he spotted Teresa by the console.
"Terry!" He called ecstatically as he ran forward, but then did a double take as he really took her in. Teresa raised a brow as he seemed to silently groan at what he saw.
"Well, that was a wonderful greeting. Definitely feeling at home." Teresa said sarcastically, wondering why he and Amy had given her such odd greetings. Had she done something in her future during the fiasco with the Angels?
The Doctor quickly schooled his features back into a happy smile as he said airily: "No, sorry about that. Just wasn't expecting young you."
He sent an almost glare at Amy, who shifted nervously. Teresa didn't understand, and glanced between them puzzled, but jumped as the Doctor wrapped his arm around her and tugged her with him below the console. He began to tinker about underneath, holding Teresa to his side firmly, and leaving Rory and Amy awkwardly above them.
"So, where've you just come from?" He asked her as he began to weld something underneath the console, and Teresa blinked.
"Seriously? Shouldn't you be focusing on saving Amy's almost marriage?" She hissed, pointing at the anxious redhead as she nibbled on a finger while she paced, and he rolled his eyes.
But he obliged her as he called out for them to hear: "Oh, the life out there, it dazzles. I mean, it blinds you to the things that are important. I've seen it devour relationships and plans."
Teresa winced, not his best choice of words. She winced again as he hit something and made the console spark right beside Rory. The Doctor blinked and then said sheepishly: "It's meant to do that."
Teresa raised a brow at him, but he went on, back to his original point: "Because for one person to have seen all that, to taste the glory and then go back, it will tear you apart. So," he beamed at the pair, "I'm sending you somewhere, together."
"Whoa. What, like a date?" Amy asked, stopping her pacing.
The Doctor answered lightly as he dragged Teresa with him back up towards the console: "Anywhere you want. Any time you want."
Teresa was beginning to feel uncomfortable with the way he kept his arm casually but clearly possessively wrapped around her waist as he moved her with him. What happened for him to act like this? She wondered.
He didn't seem to notice as he added to Amy: "One condition. It has to be amazing. The Moulin Rouge in 1890." He spun Teresa in his arms and she chuckled despite herself. He dipped her as he continued: "The first Olympic Games."
Teresa raised a brow- she knew he was dramatic but he seemed to be taking things a little far. The Doctor pulled her back up as he said to Amy: "Think of it as a wedding present, because it's either this or tokens."
Amy was glancing nervously at Rory, who hadn't moved from where the Doctor had left him. The Doctor finally spotted Rory as well, and he let go of Teresa to walk over, saying soothingly: "It's a lot to take in, isn't it?"
He ran up the stairs leading to the second floor as he rambled excitedly: "Tiny box, huge room inside. What's that about? Let me explain."
"It's another dimension." Rory said flatly.
Teresa suppressed a smile as the Doctor said, delightedly coming back down the stairs: "It's basically another dimensi- What?" He asked, stopping and staring at Rory, his face dropping.
Rory shrugged and he explained: "After what happened with Prisoner Zero, I've been reading up on all the latest scientific theories. FTL travel, parallel universes."
The Doctor interrupted as he walked back to Rory: "I like the bit when someone says it's bigger on the inside."
He stopped right in front of the other man, saying in a dark voice: "I always look forward to that."
"Well, I liked Rory's response." Teresa teased as she walked up and patted Rory's arm. The Doctor glared at the gesture and Teresa raised her hands in surrender, frowning at him. What is the matter with him today? She wondered.
Rory stared at her blankly, and he asked: "Sorry, who are you?"
Teresa looked at him in surprise and she asked: "Oh, have we not met yet?"
"No, you have." Amy interjected quickly. "Rory, this is Terry, you'll remember her."
"This isn't Terry, she-"
"Yes, yes, this is Terry." Amy cut Rory off, and he stared in confusion.
Teresa was also puzzled, wondering why no-one who'd met her future self seemed to recognize her. How much older did she get? Was it that big a difference?
"Trust me, this is definitely my angel." The Doctor added proudly as he spun Teresa into his arms.
She stared at him, and as he beamed at her she asked him bluntly: "What did you eat? Why're you acting so… weird?"
His face fell, and he looked so crestfallen she felt bad.
"Not that weird's bad." Teresa said hastily. "I mean, you're normally pretty crazy and that's fine, but you just seem to be acting a little differently today."
The Doctor's lips pulled up into a small smile but he still looked sad as he let her go.
"Nothing's wrong, it might've been the turkey-chicken-quail thing I ate earlier. See? Can't even remember what it was." The Doctor said lightly and she stared at him. He only rambled when he was lying. But what was making him act so… odd? Well, odder than usual.
Amy quickly chimed in, saving the awkward atmosphere: "So, this date. I'm kind of done with running down corridors."
The Doctor walked off over to the console as Amy looped her arm through Rory's and asked him: "What do you think, Rory?"
Teresa's eyes lit up as she watched them and she beamed at the Doctor, waiting. He smiled softly at her enthusiasm, and as he stared at her the idea popped into his head.
"How about somewhere," he pulled a lever, "romantic?"
The Doctor stepped out of the TARDIS and spread his arms, crying enthusiastically: "Venice."
Teresa beamed as she walked out behind him, following Amy and Rory. They were in a marketplace and she looked out to see the canal with brightly coloured gondolas floating down.
"Venezia." The Doctor crowed. "La Serenissima."
He dropped his arms, pulling Teresa into a side hug as he continued in a normal tone: "Impossible city. Preposterous city."
Teresa chuckled as he flourished his free hand about, explaining to them: "Founded by refugees running from Attila the Hun. It was just a collection of little wooden huts in the middle of the marsh, but became one of the most powerful cities in the world."
He began to walk off, heading towards the centre of the city as he continued: "Constantly being invaded, constantly flooding, constantly… just beautiful. Ah, you got to love Venice. So many people did. Byron, Napoleon, Casanova. Ooo, that reminds me."
He stopped and quickly checked his watch. He read: "1580. That's all right." He lowered his watch as he muttered: "Casanova doesn't get born for a hundred and forty five years. Don't want to run into him. I owe him a chicken."
He began walking again as Rory asked in disbelief: "You owe Casanova a chicken?"
"Long story." The Doctor replied shortly and Teresa explained over her shoulder as the Doctor continued to hold her waist: "They had a bet. Never bet against an Italian flirt, Rory, it won't end well."
Before Rory could reply to that, if he could even reply to that, they were stopped at the gates as the inspector called snobbishly: "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Papers, if you please. Proof of residency, current bill of medical inspection."
The Doctor easily lifted his psychic paper, saying casually: "There you go, fellow."
The inspector snatched the paper and looked at it, and Teresa was amused to see the man's eyes widen in shock. The Doctor added smugly as he hugged Teresa: "All to your satisfaction, I think you'll find."
The inspector said hurriedly, giving a low bow: "I am so sorry, Your Holiness. I didn't realise."
The Doctor vaguely blessed the man as he said cheerfully: "No worries. You were just doing your job."
He paused and then asked curiously: "Sorry, what exactly is your job?"
"Checking for aliens." The inspector answered as though it were obvious. Teresa almost choked as she tried not to laugh, leaning against the Doctor. He glanced at her, sharing her amusement, and Amy was also suppressing laughter as the inspector continued: "Visitors from foreign lands what might bring the plague with them."
The Doctor immediately frowned, confused, while Amy said petulantly: "Oh, that's nice. See where you bring me? The plague."
She hit his arm angrily, but he barely flinched, deep in thought as the inspector turned to Amy and said soothingly: "Don't worry, Viscountess."
Amy grinned, happy with her title, as the inspector explained: "No, we're under quarantine here. No one comes in, no one goes out, and all because of the grace and wisdom of our patron, Signora Rosanna Calvierri."
He pointed to the crest carved onto his wooden clipboard.
"How interesting." The Doctor said slowly as he looked at the crest and Teresa added: "I heard the plague died out years ago."
"Not out there, Princess." The inspector said in a horrified tone, pointing beyond the city. Teresa blinked, staring at him as he continued, obliviously: "No, Signora Calvierri has seen it with her own eyes. Streets are piled high with bodies, she said."
"Did she now." The Doctor said thoughtfully before he patted the inspector and walked off, taking Teresa with him.
"'Princess'?" Teresa asked quietly, very amused.
He shrugged as he replied easily: "I remembered you looking like a Italian princess that time we met Da Vinci. Oh wait, have you done that yet?"
"Yes, and I just came from Shakespeare, actually, where we were talking about it." Teresa mused, and he grinned.
"That was a good trip. Genius." He remembered appreciatively and Teresa chuckled, nodding in agreement. She stopped though as she remembered something.
"Wait, did you make Rory the eunuch?" She asked and his eyes shifted away quickly.
"Maybe." He muttered and Teresa rolled her eyes, but she was still smiling. He grinned at her as they made their way down the streets beside the canal, his arm still wrapped around her waist.
Teresa had stopped noticing; she was too busy thinking about how this episode played out and wondering if she could save Isabella. They reached the side opposite the House of Calvierri as the crowd around them was whispering: "The Calvierri girls."
A group of heavily veiled ladies walked out of the mansion, and the Doctor leaned forward over the rail to watch as the girls walked in two lines, carrying white parasols. His arm moved to hold Teresa by the shoulders and she finally noticed, glancing at his hand in surprise.
"Why…?" She began but Amy and Rory joined them, and she decided to defer the question for now. They needed to pay attention to the girls across the canal.
They watched, Teresa waiting expectantly, and she soon spotted Guido as the man stumbled up, looking for his daughter, shouting: "Isabella!"
The Doctor immediately glanced at Teresa as Guido wandered through the girls, lifting their veils in his search. She nodded at him and he grinned. Moving his arm, he took her hand and the pair dashed off.
"We left Amy and Rory!" Teresa pointed out and he replied easily: "They're here on a date."
Teresa laughed and he grinned back at her.
"Watch the front!" She called, alarmed and he looked back at where he was going, quickly avoiding hitting a woman carrying a basket of bread. The pair quickly made their way through the streets, and the Doctor easily spotted Guido with his height advantage. They ran after the Gondola driver as the dejected man walked away, catching up to him as he stepped into a small alleyway.
"Who are those girls?" The Doctor asked as he stopped by the entrance to the alleyway, just behind Guido.
The man turned to them in surprise, and he said in confusion: "I thought everyone knew about the Calvierri school."
"Our first day here." The Doctor answered airily. He went on as he walked closer: "It's okay. Parents do all sorts of things to get their children into good schools. They move house, they change religion."
He let go of Teresa's hand and placed his hands on Guido's shoulders. Glancing to check they were alone, he asked quietly: "So why are you trying to get her out?"
Guido appraised the Doctor, and glanced at Teresa before he answered just as quietly: "Something happens in there. Something magical, something evil."
He swallowed and he went on anxiously: "My own daughter didn't recognise me. And the girl who pushed me away, her face, like an animal."
The Doctor's face became thoughtful and he glanced at Teresa as he murmured: "I think it's time I met this Signora Calvierri."
Guido ran at the gates to the Calvierri mansion, crying angrily: "You have my daughter. Isabella!"
He made to try get through, causing a fuss as the guards barred him entry. The Doctor and Teresa quickly snuck past, heading to the side of the house. They clambered along the narrow, stone edge above the canal, heading for the side gates as Guido continued to distract the guards. Teresa glanced down at the canal and shuddered, knowing what was in there.
The Doctor soniced the gate, pushing it open and he hopped inside quickly. He held out a hand for Teresa, and she took it, letting him help her in. They made their way inside, Teresa nodding to Guido. He saw her signal and walked away, before they attracted too much attention.
The Doctor wandered down a stone flight of stairs, still holding Teresa's hand and leading her with him as he headed into the cellar. He hopped down the last steps and Teresa chuckled as she followed him down into the circular room. He grinned at her, before noticing a mirror on the wall behind Teresa.
He examined the gold-framed mirror, checking out his reflection as Teresa glanced behind him at the three heavy wooden doors. But she turned to join the Doctor at the mirror quietly as he said lightly: "Hello, handsome."
He fixed his bow tie, before pulling Teresa up to his side again and asking as he grinned at their reflections: "What do you think?"
"Definitely handsome." She laughed, and he grinned.
"Well, I have to live up to my beautiful angel." He said flirtatiously and she raised a brow, but decided to indulge him.
"Not sure about the bow tie." She teased, and he answered, pretending to be affronted: "Bow ties are cool."
"Mm, whatever you say." Teresa smirked, and then she added quietly: "And you might want to look back about now."
He glanced at her in surprise, and then his eyes widened as a chorus of female voices asked from behind them: "Who are you?"
The Doctor turned in surprise to see a group of five, pale young women standing there, dressed in white nightgowns. He stared at them, taking in their dead eyes, and then looked back at the empty mirror.
He continued to look back and forth between the girls and the mirror, impressed by their lack of a reflection.
"How are you doing that?" He asked excitedly, and then turned to Teresa to ask: "How are they doing that? I am loving it."
She laughed lightly, patting his arm as he turned to the girls and babbled, gesturing with his free hand: "You're like Houdini, only five slightly scary girls, and he was shorter. Will be shorter. I'm rambling."
The girls chorused again creepily: "I'll ask you again, signor, signora. Who are you?"
The Doctor grinned smugly as he said confidently: "Why don't you check," he flipped out an ID card, "this out?"
The girls stared at it blankly as Teresa suppressed a laugh. The Doctor, seeing their reactions, turned the card to look at it. He sighed as he saw the face of his first incarnation and muttered in realization: "Library card. Of course, it's with."
He mimicked a large nose and Teresa snorted.
"He's-" He shook his head as he muttered: "I need a spare."
"Focus." Teresa pointed out, and the Doctor turned to examine the girls, listing off quietly: "Pale, creepy girls who don't like sunlight and can't be seen."
He checked the mirror again, finding just his and Teresa's reflections once more and he grinned.
"Ha. Are you thinking what I think I'm thinking?" He asked Teresa excitedly and she shook her head, amused. He frowned as he thought of something and he murmured: "But the city. Why shut down the city? Unless-"
"Leave now, signor, signora," the girls cut him off as they spoke in unison, "or we shall call for the Steward," they smirked and revealed their teeth, "if you are lucky."
"Ooo." The Doctor said gleefully as the girls' teeth turned into large, sharp needles. Teresa pulled him back by his hand as the girls began to advance on them, hissing.
As Teresa backed them towards the stairs again, the Doctor ordered the girls: "Tell me the whole plan."
The girls just hissed as they kept coming closer. The Doctor whispered to Teresa: "One day that will work."
"Come on!" She tugged him further back up the steps and the Doctor said to the girls hastily: "Listen, I would love to stay here. This whole thing. I'm thrilled. Oh, this is Christmas." He beamed.
"Doctor!" Teresa said in exasperation, jerking him back with her. He finally turned around and they quickly ran up the stairs, leaving the house and the hissing girls behind.
"Come on, then. To Guido's!" The Doctor said enthusiastically, and Teresa jerked him in the opposite direction as she reminded him: "Amy and Rory!"
"Ah, yes, Pond!" He remembered and he took off for the spot where they'd left the other pair. Teresa rolled her eyes a little as she ran with him.
They ran up to the spot just as Amy came running back, shouting: "Doctor!"
He grabbed her with one hand as he dragged Teresa forward with his other hand, saying to Amy excitedly: "We just met some vampires."
"We just saw a vampire." Amy said at the same time.
She blinked, confused, but carried on babbling happily, speaking at the same time as the Doctor as he rambled excitedly. Teresa just watched, amused as the Doctor finally finished: "And creepy girls and everything."
"Vampires." Amy cried ecstatically.
They jumped excitedly, as Rory ran up and he gasped out: "We think we just saw a vampire."
The Doctor replied easily: "Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. Amy was just telling me."
Teresa rolled her eyes again as Rory's face dropped when Amy added happily: "Yeah, yeah. The Doctor actually went to their house."
"Oh." Rory muttered as he stared at his fiancée hanging onto the Doctor's side.
"Right. Well." He began, and the Doctor interjected: "Okay. So," he pushed Amy off and tapped Rory's cheek before spinning to hug Teresa, "first we need to get back in there somehow."
"What?" Rory asked incredulously, while Amy asked excitedly: "How do we do that?"
"Back in where?" Rory demanded, and the Doctor ignored him as he told Amy: "Come and meet our new friend."
He ran off again, heading for Guido's. Teresa shot Rory an apologetic look, but couldn't say anything comforting as the Doctor pulled her with him. She noticed they were still holding hands, and it was only now that she realized there hadn't been a single moment the whole day when the Doctor wasn't maintaining some form of physical contact with her.