Sarah woke, muzzily blinking into the darkness. It took her a second to remember everything that had happened during the earlier part of the night. When she did she smiled. There was a loud rumbling sound coming from beside her, doubtless the reason she'd awakened. She turned, studying the Doctor's still form in what little light was coming in from the window.

He was sleeping peacefully, arms wound around her, protective even in his dreams. Was he dreaming? She didn't know. For a moment she found herself wondering what a seven hundred and forty-nine year old Time Lord would dream about. Well, now she could at least confirm that, while Time Lords might not dream, they certainly could snore!

She grinned and shook his shoulder gently. "Doctor! Stop sawing logs, would you? I can't get back to sleep with all that racket!"

She did this mostly in jest, not shaking him hard enough or speaking loudly enough to awaken him, or so she thought. She was shocked when he mumbled: "Sorry," and the noise stopped.

She blinked in surprise. Apparently he wasn't as deeply in slumber as she'd thought. But he said nothing else, and she settled back down against him. In the newfound quiet of the room she sighed and fell asleep.

When he woke, it was daylight. Not very late, he realized, probably around eight in the morning. He felt well rested and sober, not that he'd needed much sleep to recover, despite their fierce lovemaking. But at the same time there was a curious urge not to move, to remain in the bed. He puzzled it for a moment, then smiled when he found the answer.

Sarah was snuggled tightly against him, head resting on his shoulder, one arm draped over him and curling around his chest. He studied her as she slept, listening to her gentle breathing, watching as her mouth opened and closed slightly. A part of him was experiencing the desire to stay in bed with her, not to sleep but to bask in the warmth and closeness of her.

Well, why not? He couldn't think of anything he'd rather do presently than to spend another hour or two beside her until she woke. This was something that humans called "afterglow," he thought. And he did feel as if he was glowing. Inside he was lit up like a Christmas tree, happy in the newfound discovery of her feelings for him. It was as if all his lives he'd been holding a breath, waiting for something, and at last that something had arrived.

Yes. Enjoy it while you can. It won't last long.

He smiled grimly. I thought I told you to get lost.

Oh, you did. But do you really think you can get rid of me?

I can certainly try, he thought angrily.

Fool. Do you not realize that I'm part of you? That without me you wouldn't exist? We need each other, you and I.

I certainly don't need you poking at me with the stick of all my shortcomings!

Oh, yes, you do. I'm your conscience, your feeling, the other half of your intellect.

The dark half, more like it.

Call me what you will. I serve to remind you of what you must never forget.

Yes, yes, so you say, he replied impatiently. But why do you say it won't last with Sarah?

You'll muck things up just like you always do.

Not this time, the Doctor vowed. Not with her.

We shall see.

"Doctor?"

Sarah was awake now, peering at him anxiously. "Are you all right?"

"Quite all right, dearest Sarah," he assured her, kissing her lingeringly on the lips before smiling. "How do you feel this morning?"

"Like I've been on a spree," she joked, and he chuckled. "And what about you, Doctor?" She asked, anxiety coloring her voice. "How are you?"

"I'm fine."

"Really?" Her eyes searched his.

"Yes, really."

She smiled tenuously. "Good."

They kissed again, a slow gentle kiss, not of passion as the night before, but as an affirmation of what they felt for each other. When it ended he sat up, then stood up, stretching. She watched him, enjoying the sight of his naked form, pleased that he apparently felt no shyness with her. As if sensing her gaze on him, he turned and pulled her up from the bed in a quick fluid movement.

"Come on," he told her. "I have an absolutely huge bathtub that needs to be broken in properly!"

"Bubbles and all?" She couldn't resist asking.

"If you like," he smiled.

"Sounds grand!" She laughed. "Then what?"

"Why, then we're off, of course! Lots for us to do today, you know!"

"Really? Like what?"

He grinned and spread his arms wide, and she wished more than anything at that moment that she could capture the look on his face forever, all wide eyes and teeth and pure and simple happiness. "Everything, Sarah Jane," he answered as he kissed her. "Everything."

"Sarah, are you listening to me?"

"What? Yes, of course I am," she replied. A few beats later she asked: "Now, what did you say that one is again?"

"Thortion," he answered patiently, pointing upwards to the sky again with a long slender finger. "And the one next to it is Hilos Major."

"Ah, yes, the one shaped like a bird," she murmured, flexing her feet and moving closer to him on the wide soft expanse of the flannel blanket they were lying on. After their bath, they'd stopped off at the TARDIS so Sarah could change clothes, then spent the day wandering around Sarganti, hand in hand like lovers. They'd had breakfast in a bakery, where the Doctor had fed her miniature karberry muffins until she thought she'd explode. She'd countered by giving him forkfuls of sausage dripping with syrup. After that they'd gone into several of the shops, and the Doctor had, to her amazement, insisted they both get tourist T-Shirts printed up, white cotton ones that proclaimed: "I lost my mind in Sarganti and all I got is a lousy T-Shirt."

"But you haven't really lost your mind," she pointed out. "Not completely, anyway. And I haven't even come close since we've been here!"

"Is that so?" He said. "Well, think of how boring it would be if they said "Almost lost my mind." Besides, we have to match. It's some sort of law for couples, I think, you've got to have one matching piece of clothing."

"Are we a couple, Doctor?" She asked, half wanting to hear his answer, half terrified it wouldn't be one she wanted.

He rolled his eyes. "I just spent thirty retz on these shirts, didn't I? For goodness sake, Sarah, do try to keep up!"

She smiled and reached up to kiss him. "Sorry."

"It must've been the muffins. You're usually on the game," he mused.

"Maybe it was the steamy shag in the tub," she suggested wickedly in a low voice.

He stared at her earnestly. "Do you really think that? It's so hard for me to gauge things in a sexual perspective, you know."

She chuckled. "Well, I don't really think that's the cause, but it was awfully good!"

He gave her an answering smile, then his attention was caught by an antique map case in another store display window, and off they went.

That had been hours ago. Since then, they'd attended an impromptu jazz concert, went to the museum, had dinner, and generally spent the entire day focusing on each other. There'd been no talk of the TARDIS, or leaving, or of how he was doing. They'd simply spent the day as an ordinary couple, doing ordinary things. And neither of them would have traded it for anything else.

When it was about an hour before sunset, he'd stopped and bought a huge flannel blanket, two large fluffy pillows, a small picnic hamper, a thermos, two teacups and saucers, two cloth napkins and some sweet biscuits. He filled the thermos with hot tea they got from a coffeehouse, and they went to the seashore. They drank tea, ate biscuits, and watched the sun set over the water. Then they walked along the edge, teasing and talking, until the moon began to rise. Then they made their way back to their belongings, put the pillows down, and cuddled up together. As they lay looking up at the sky, Sarah

Caught glimpses of several other couples, walking hand in hand, sitting and talking, running in a game of tag. She wondered if she had the same silly grin on her face that they all did. Probably, she decided. And she also decided that she didn't give a fig.

She'd shivered a bit about an hour after they'd settled down, and the Doctor had taken off his coat and spread it over them. It was his old coat, the huge tweed one that was rivaled in length only by his scarf. He'd gotten it when they'd made their trip to the TARDIS. She'd watched him put it on and forced herself not to cry out in delight, not wanting him to think she was making an undo fuss. But oh, how it had done her heart good to see him in it!

Now he'd been pointing out the constellations to her, telling her their names and how they got them. She'd been listening happily. She loved his voice, deep and rich and gentle. He could have been telling her about Rassilon Calculus and she'd probably still have been eager to listen.

But another hour or two had passed, and she found that she was getting sleepy. He was in the middle of telling her how Athalon had come to be placed in the sky when he heard a tiny yawn. He whipped his head to look at her with a frown. "You might have told me if you were bored, Sarah."

"I'm not bored, you silly thing, I'm tired!" She told him. "I'm a human, you know: I need rest from time to time!"

"Indeed you do. I'm sorry, I should have thought of that."

"Don't apologize, there's no need." She yawned again. "But I do want some sleep."

He nodded. "We'll be safe here from the tide."

"Sleeping on the beach," she murmured. "How romantic."

"That was the idea, Sarah."

That gave her a jolt of energy, and she turned to look at him. "Doctor! I didn't think you had it in you."

He chuckled. "I may be a Time Lord, but I'm not stupid."

She nodded. "I should have realized. I'm sorry."

"No need," he said, echoing her words from moments before. "Now, why don't we

get some rest, hmm? After our nap I'll finish telling you about Athalon."

"Sounds wonderful," she sighed, repeating the sound when he wrapped his arms around her and held her close. She lifted her head from his chest to murmur: "But what about you? I know you're not sleepy..."

"Time Lords can induce sleep at will, Sarah," he said. "We just normally don't sleep unless we're very exhausted or need to heal sickness or injuries." He kissed her cheeks, nose, lips. "Don't worry, I shall soon be joining you."

"But why? You don't have to..."

"No," he interrupted, "I don't have to. But I want to. I like falling asleep in your arms, and you in my arms. I'm doing it because I want to, Sarah, don't worry."

She smiled. "That... makes me so happy..."

He kissed her again and gently pressed her head back down onto his chest. "Then go to sleep happy, and wake up happy," he whispered.

She murmured his name followed by an almost inaudible "I love you," and drifted away.

He waited, watching the movements of her closed eyes until he knew she was in REM sleep. Then he carefully eased himself away from her and stood up, wrapping his scarf more securely about him. His face was grim, but his eyes were determined.

He'd told Sarah how he felt about her. They had made love, gloriously, no less. Today had been one of the happiest days of any of his lives. Only one thing remained to be done. One thing stood between him and his freedom, his being ready to resume his life with her by his side as the love of his hearts.

One thing. And he had to confront it.

He took a deep breath, squared his shoulders, and slowly walked towards the sea.