A/N: it's been almost a month since I last updated this. Sorry.

Chapter 11

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As John had expected, Donna was waiting for his return and stood as soon as she saw him. "Well?" she breathily queried when she saw him striding towards her. "What's the verdict?" She then ushered him to sit down with her on a small sofa.

"They're still discussing it, so I came to wait here with you. I'll know if I'm being kicked out in a short while." For her sake, he hadn't mentioned that she was the deciding factor. It would be unfair to do so. Instead, he had worded it a little differently. "Or I might leave anyway."

"I've decided if you go, I'll go too," she maintained, clasping his hand in comfort. "We make a good team, don't you think?"

"The very best," he easily agreed. My, he was proud of her in that moment. "We can achieve anything."

"That's the spirit," she encouraged.

"Would you stay with me like this for a while?" he pleaded. "Sitting here like this. I'm really nervous about the outcome."

"Of course." She gave his hand another compassionate squeeze.

-0-

When Dr T. Baker entered the common room and saw John sitting clasping Donna's hand like it was a lifeline, he knew the verdict would not be liked. "May I have a quick word, Dr Smith?"

"Certainly, Doctor," John answered, and reluctantly let go of Donna's hand in order to stand.

He followed Dr Baker out into the hallway and his personal rooms that lay on the ground floor. "Take a seat, Doctor," Dr Baker gently ordered, and then waited until they were both no longer standing; easing his legs into a more comfortable position. "First of all, we have chosen not to make a definite decision just yet but have come up with some sort of a plan before we reconvene at a later date to review things." he informed John. "Secondly, we are going to postpone Dr Matt Smith's appointment as a permanent lecturer living here in this House."

"How long for?"

"We are not blocking him being appointed elsewhere in the university, should they require his skills, but your colleagues are reluctant to welcome him in whilst there is the prospect of him bringing a spouse and all that entails."

"What sort of thing do you fear it will entail?" John openly wondered.

"As a young man he will presumably and eventually want children. Toddlers running about the House, crying babies, visible displays of affection, are all things we would be uncomfortable with," Dr Baker explained.

"I see," John commented, guessing where this might be going as far as he was personally concerned. "No doubt that is your view regarding my future relationship too."

"Not quite," he was shocked to hear. "It would be unusual, although not impossible, for you both to have a child this late in life; but we assume you won't," Dr Baker continued. "Instead, we are concerned about the possibility of it being a merely impulsive relationship you will indulge in, so we will delay our final decision until further proof is provided of its longevity."

"But… but… that could take years," John whined.

"Yes, but we have to make sure. Partly because we are more than a little concerned that your latest relationship will be brief enough to cause general pain."

By this point John began to worry about their indecision even more. "If we wait until you deem it fit to be allowed, what about any child we might have wanted? It would be too late to even consider such a joy."

Dr Baker sternly contemplated John, replaying his words in his head. "You both want a child?" he asked warily, unsure whether the answer would be 'yes'.

John gulped nervously. Should he reveal their unspoken hopes? "Donna has always wanted to be a mother and I am not opposed to the idea. She practically brought up Jenny on their mother's behalf, from what I can gather."

"Ah yes, young Jenny and Drew." Dr Baker steepled his fingers beneath his chin. "We have considered their plight too. Arrangements will be made for them to temporarily leave the House and live in student residence with their peers instead of us old fogies. That will be for the best. Give them the chance to encounter the full university experience before they return to us. We have grown quite fond of them and will provide an academic place irrespective of their A level results, since we too are allowed to accept people based on their interview. It isn't only Oxbridge who have that privilege. And they have shown themselves to be able to cope with the necessary demands."

"And what about me?" John angrily demanded. "Where do I fit into this grand scheme of yours? You've sorted out my brothers' lives, giving them a great deal of leeway. Do I deserve such indulgent consideration too? I have needs and wants and plans. My life has always been dedicated to this House, upholding its standards and moral code."

"Time will tell, as it always does," Dr Baker enigmatically answered. "Before all that, since we cannot consider letting Dr Matt Smith reside here when there are such complications surrounding his living arrangements, we are going to defer his academic seat to another candidate that we had already been considering for the position."

This was news to John. "Oh? Who might that be?"

"A Dr Capaldi. You might remember him from his brief appearance in the college last Christmas."

"Ah, yes," John said. "A most worthy chap."

"Indeed," Dr Baker. "He tells me that he currently has a male assistant to supply support which is a refreshing thought in these circumstances. Anyway, do not fear. We will inform your brother of his postponement rather than expect you to do so."

"What exactly do you expect me to do now?"

"For now, go and make your declaration to your beloved," Dr Baker advised. "Let her know exactly how you feel, because she is the most important aspect here. Not the wishes of dried up old men. Together you must build a life worth living."

Stunned, John questioned, "Are you saying there will be approval if she accepts me?"

"Dear boy, is there any point in us saying anything if she doesn't accept you? Go and find out first. The rest will fall into place later."

Now thoroughly puzzled, John said his goodbyes and left Dr Baker's rooms, keen to seek out Donna at the first opportunity.

-0-

"Ah, there you are," he greeted Donna when he eventually found her. She was stood in the doorway to her bedroom.

In previous circumstances he might have asked to be invited in, or welcome her into his own bedroom, but recent events and two teenage siblings made that offer a near impossibility.

"Hello," she softly responded. "How did it go? Not too bad, I hope."

"I erm… I need to discuss that with you." He glanced anxiously beyond her door. "Do you have any special plans for the rest of the evening?" he wondered, with a nod of his head, which apparently indicated he was referring to Jenny.

Donna smirked. What an idiot! "Not really," she nonchalantly replied. "Unless you class watching a bit of telly with my sister as extremely worth writing in your diary."

"No, not really," he drawled, and considered how to ask his question. "Would you still be able to go for a walk with me? I know it's getting dark, but we should be alright."

It was exactly what she'd hoped he'd ask. "As long as we keep to the areas where the footpaths are lit, that'd be fine." She then opened the door behind her a little bit and called through, "Jenny, I'm just going out for a while."

"Why?" Jenny wanted to know. She bound up to the door to peep out. "Hello John," she managed to say without bursting into a fit of giggles.

"Hello Jenny. We shouldn't be long. Just a walk up to the erm… the corner and back," he bumbled.

She grinned at Donna. "Rightio. See you later."

"See you," Donna returned, and added, "We'll try and bring you back a treat or make a drink." The underlying request was 'don't tell anyone'.

With a cheery wave, they left her and started to descend the stairs towards the night air.

-0-

"Are you cold?" he politely enquired as they stepped onto the footpath outside lined with lamps to urge them onwards to the main buildings.

"Nah, I'm fine," she insisted, but her action of wrapping her arms around herself seemed to suggest otherwise.

He eyed her cautiously. "We can go back and get you a jacket. It would be no problem."

"I'm fine," she stressed. "Although I'd like you to get to the point of bringing me out here because all this secret squirrel stuff is doing my head in."

"Oh," he gasped, and sunk his hands into his trouser pockets. "I wanted to wait until we're a little bit further away from the House."

"That big a secret, is it?" she teased.

"Well… you know. Some things are best kept close to your chest, lest you upset people."

She stopped walking and stared at him. "If you're going to upset me, I'd rather you do it here so that I don't have so far to run back."

"No no no. You've got it wrong," he blustered. "My news shouldn't upset you. Well, hopefully it won't," he hedged. Was this the moment he should move closer? These things had always confused him. "It's about me," he softly ended.

A big confession was coming, and she thought she could ease his pain by anticipating what he'd say. "It's okay. I think I've worked it out."

His eyebrows shot upwards into his hair. "You have?"

So she nodded. "Yeah. You're a witch."

"What!"

When he spluttered, she amended it to, "Well, a wizard, a warlock or whatever it is you call yourself if you are in a coven. Might even be Gandalf, for all I know."

Finally finding enough air to reply, he protested, "I am not a witch or anything else, and definitely not in a coven. Why would you think that?!"

"Don't give me that!" she stormed in return, letting embarrassment fuel her ire. "Anybody would have thought so." When he glared at her, she supplied, "I peeked in through the window at your meeting and you lot are bloody bizarre. I mean, long capes, dancing round a thing in the middle of the floor that's all circles and scribbles… Alright, not dancing this time but I bet you do, given half a chance. It's not normal to dress up and sit like that."

"Where did you see us?" he demanded.

"That window there," she said, pointing to a small frame set just above the grass. "It lets you see into the basement where you have your coven."

"It is not a coven!" he stressed. "It is a secret society with long held traditions."

"Sounds awfully like a coven to me."

"Well it isn't," he spat.

"So it's more like the Freemasons?" she pondered. "Explains the weird getups. No doubt you have a secret handshake and have to expose your knees to each other."

His nostrils flared. Was she taking the mick out of him or did she genuinely think that? "Time Lords do not expose anything," he haughtily declared.

"Time Lords?" she repeated. "Wow. When you pick a name you really go for the smuggest of the smug." She then pulled a face. "Could be a cult that worships time. Or lords with a special government, dressed up in flashy capes. Sounds even more familiar. Without the ermine."

He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Are you mocking me?"

"Erm. A little bit," she cheekily agreed. "No, don't go all wossname," she pleaded, holding out a hand to stop him walking away. "Please. If I'm living with bunch of aristocratic lecturers, I need to know what behaviour is expected of me. And no wonder the Doctors were so disgusted at the thought of you being with me. Blimey. I can see now why it wouldn't do."

Most of his anger dissipated and he unclenched his hands. "You do? How do you view this situation?"

She huffed out a breath to show her modesty. "Originally, I thought it was all about you being a clever, highly educated, someone who had written in one of those fancy science publications; but you being lords makes it a whole different class thing. Quite literally. I wouldn't spend several grand on a birthday party, let alone a bag, or get the chance to chat with Prince Andrew because I knew him at school or run one of the royal charities without lifting a finger. I'm one of the hoi polloi; one of the little people who provides the dosh you lot live on. I get things done, the mundane stuff and get paid tuppence, for my troubles."

John looked up to the heavens for inspiration and decided this was not the moment to make his declaration. "It's getting dark. We'd better head for home," he announced, and began to walk home.

She instantly followed. "Why?"

"I have your reputation to worry about," he considered.

"Didn't worry you all those times you tried to entice me into your bedroom," she teased.

"Ah. Well..."

"I'm joking," she stressed. "For what it's worth, I was rather flattered you even tried. And I know how mortified the other Doctors would be if you genuinely meant it."

He stopped walking and turned his full attention onto her, gazing intently at her face. "About that," he began to explain.

"I know, I know," she quickly dismissed what she thought was coming. "There's no need for you to invent some piece of well-meaning compliment. You're my friend; probably my best friend, and I really appreciate that. Especially when you pretend I mean more to you."

"What!" Something exploded behind his eyes, breaking the dam that held back his true feelings. "You think I have been pretending to like you? Fighting against myself to steal kisses and seduce you into the small hours of the night? It may work that way with other men of your acquaintance, but it certainly doesn't with me," he declared. "I was wrong to try and force myself upon you that one occasion, and you were right to fend me off. My behaviour was below expectations, but my heart yearned to express my feelings."

Donna gawped at him, unable to believe what she was hearing; words she had longed someone to say to her with sincerity. "Pardon?"

Yet John went contrite and averted his gaze. "Sorry. I have been too honest; at a time you suspect me of subterfuge. Please forgive me."

He looked up when she tenderly touched his arm.

"No, don't hide yourself away from me again. Tell me the truth. Please," she begged. "All of it."

All of it?! He anxiously licked his lips, wondering where to start. "I'm very fond of you. More than fond. Sort of... well, in all probability it could be described as... yes, I think I would go as far as saying that."

Hiding her amusement, she realised he would need a great deal of coaxing to say more. "I see. Quite fond of me. That's nice." She bobbed her head in agreement. "Good job I'm rather fond of you too, since I offered to change my life around to continue working for you."

"You are an extremely loyal and able work colleague," he gushed.

"Yes, I know all that," she disparaged, "but you made it sound as though it's more than that for you." An unwanted thought burrowed into her brain. What if he had genuinely meant it in a friend's way after all? "And silly me completely got the wrong end of the stick. Not the first time I've misunderstood a bloke's actions, and probably won't be the last. The eternal optimist, me."

He sighed, so she readied herself for a put down, or to be dumped in some sort of capacity. Not that she would blame after the way her gob had run off, insinuating all sorts of things. In fact, she couldn't bear to look at him and see the angry disgust he probably felt.

Yet, when she risked looking back at him, he was much closer than he had been a few moments before. Intimately close. "Donna," he whispered. "Oh Donna. If you only knew why I had invited you to join me for a walk this evening."

"I won't know until you tell me, so you'd better get on with it," she griped.

So he deliberately eased forward. "It may come as a surprise to you, but I've been doing my best to flirt with you."

"Have you?" she sarcastically wondered. "Been taking lessons in it, have you?"

"Obviously not, if you cannot see my dilemma here." This was it: time for the big question. "I, John Smith, would like you, Donna Noble, to allow me to court you. I'm basically asking you to go out with me," he clarified, "with the intention of forming a romantic relationship. Will you have me?" he hastily tacked on when she didn't immediately reply.

Internally, she was screaming with delight. He had meant it! Every single action! "Where were you thinking of starting?"

"Pardon?" He grimaced with confusion. "This isn't a race."

"I didn't mean like that, you pawn. I'm talking about this. Us." She waved a hand between them. "How would this courtship go? Do we buy ice cream together, visit sunsets, or go the whole hog with matching jumpers?"

Grinning broadly, he commented, "I suspect you are teasing me a little, again."

"Maybe, just a bit," she agreed. "I just want to know if we're allowed to hold hands yet or if we have to work our way up to it."

"I was thinking of something further along than that," he murmured, easing forward to waft his breath across the skin of her cheek.

Please come to me, he silently begged.

Fortunately, she didn't disappoint him. Her eyes fluttered shut and she reached across the small space between them until their lips met in a brief, succulent kiss.

He blew out a breath on a high-pitched giggle and then rested his forehead against hers. "You let me kiss you," he announced with glee, delighting in her aroma.

"Did I? Are you sure it was me?" she teased; and gained another giggle. "That was my plan," she managed to say just as he swooped in to kiss her again.

For a few seconds they were totally lost in the soft warmth of lips undulating together in a shared passion, locked together.

"Wow. You've got a killer kiss," she idly noted when they pulled apart.

Not the only thing that's killing me, he didn't need to say. "Thanks. Although it wasn't all me."

"Dragged somebody else in here, have you?"

"Is that you, Dr Smith?" a recognisable voice asked from the impending gloom.