Hyde Park was awash with the hues of fall. Burnt orange, red, gold, and muted green combined in a dizzying display of colour that was only emphasized by the bright October sun above. Charlotte Pollard strolled through the park admiring the trees, pausing to look at a vibrant tree and restraining herself against the urge to leap into the piles of windswept leaves on the path. It was a beautiful day, and not for the first time, Charley found herself wondering what the Doctor was doing at that moment. Was he running for his life? Was he composing a sonnet? Was he learning the violin with Stradivarius? Or crossing the Delaware River with Washington? Or on an alien world, watching the stars twinkle above him?
She sighed as she walked, using her vivid imagination to conjure an image of the curly haired, warm smiled man that she had once travelled with. There were many times, though she enjoyed her job at the museum, that she missed adventuring with the Doctor. Life seemed far more ordinary without him. The sound of a cleared throat behind her caused her to startle, skidding on the scattered leaves. A helpful hand grasped her elbow, keeping her steady until she regained her balance.
"Oh, thank you," she told the good samaritain, smiling brightly at him. Her smile faltered as she looked at him. The leather jacket did not quite fit with Edwardian England, something that she suspected others would not notice. His smile was wide, carrying a hint of manic glee, and his eyes...She knew those eyes. They brimmed with kindness, compassion, and humour.
"Hi, Charley," the Time Lord greeted her, a warm grin crossing his face.
"Doctor?" she asked incredulously, before her eyes widened in recognition. "Doctor! It is you! It is you!" Charley squealed, launching herself into his arms to give him a massive hug.
He grinned, returning the gesture. "It's good to see you."
"But why do you look like that? How can you look like that?" She fingered the leather jacket.
"My people have a little trick that sort of cheats death. I'm from the future, Charley."
"Oh," she said softly. Though she knew it to be true, and that nothing lasts forever, part of her imagined that the man she knew was still out there, somewhere, having adventures. Resolutely, she pulled away to look at him quizzically, burying the pang of sorrow at the Doctor's 'death.' "You're here...so does that mean the Vegans are invading? Or...oh I know! Someone's mucking up time so you're here to fix it."
"Not quite." The Doctor offered her his arm, and she took it. Together, the two walked down the path.
After a long silence, Charley peered up at him. "So, what are you doing here if it isn't to save the world?"
"I wanted to ask you a question."
"And that is?"
He uttered words that she had never imagined she would hear from him. At least, not in this context. "What's love?"
Her steps faltered at the question, and she remained silent as she considered what to say. For him to ask...could it be? "Oh Doctor...you've done it, haven't you?" She spoke more to herself than to him, holding up her hand to forestall any comment. "Love is...when the other person means more to you than life itself. When you want to be with them forever, no matter what. When you look in your soul and realise that that other person is the best part of you. When you're willing to follow him, even into danger, because you cannot imagine life without you." Her eyes widened as she realised her mistake. She had gone from generalities to describing herself in her words. Charley's feelings for the Doctor had barely faded though she had not seen him for years. Love was like that, and she suspected that she would carry a torch for him for the rest of her life.
The Time Lord started when he heard the 'you,' knowing now how she must have felt. He could read the emotion in her eyes, and she could see that he felt guilty. "I'm sorry that I hurt you."
She shrugged. "That happens when two people live together for as long as we did. Besides, I know why you couldn't love me like I had wanted."
"Oh?"
Charley smiled, even though inside she felt as if her heart were breaking. "I wasn't the one you were waiting for. It was her."
'Dear Diary, today my life went straight to hell when the Professor decided to screw with it...again,' she played the words out in her mind as she composed her fictional diary entry. Ace regarded the glass of beer in her hands mournfully. Beer, especially good beer courtesy of Germany's finest, tended to make her melancholy and today was no exception to the rule. Just that morning, everything was perfect. She had joked with the Professor, found a problem that only they could fix, and got to blow something up. That was normal, at least for her.
Now, with her world crashing down around her she felt as if she had not a friend in the world. Then again, she supposed that that could be true since her best friend had proved just what a harsh manipulator he could be. With a heartfelt sigh she tilted the glass back and downed the amber liquid. Today was definitely not her day.
"I believe," an unfamiliar voice said from beside her, "That this is the part where I ask – what's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?"
"No," Ace corrected, signalling for another drink. "This is the part where I tell you, whoever you are, to sod off."
Her unknown companion sighed. "I know I didn't say it enough, but I'm sorry, Ace. Sorry for everything that I put you through."
She turned toward him, startled. "Who are...?" She took in the black leather jacket and and stared deeply into the strangely familiar blue eyes. She knew him. But, it couldn't be. It was impossible. He was in the TARDIS, mucking about while she drowned her sorrows in a drink. "Professor?"
The Doctor smiled, though the expression did not quite reach his eyes. "Yeah. Hi, Ace."
The beer did not arrive fast enough for her, and she took a careful sip as she tried to organise her thoughts. "Aren't you violating dozens of rules right now? Just being here, 'round my Professor?"
"One or two." He shrugged. "But I know that I won't meet myself, so that won't be a problem. You just can't tell me that I'm here."
She just shook her head. "What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to talk to you, actually. Something that I know I didn't do enough when you were with me. Or, to at least explain why I did some of the things that I did," the Doctor replied, turning to face her.
"You decided that today was the perfect day to travel in time to see me and say 'so sorry for everything I put you through?'" Ace snorted. "Unbelievable. No, wait, when it comes to you, it is. Still mucking about with my life, I see."
"It isn't like that," he protested. This conversation was turning towards paths that he had not intended. He wanted to ask about love, not to try and fix the rift that his seventh self had created between them.
"Isn't it?" Her expression was bitter as she drank more of the beer.
The Time Lord's eyes reflected genuine sorrow at the thought, his hand reaching tentatively toward her. "If I could take back some of the things that I did, I would...and gladly. I never meant to hurt you."
"Maybe not, but you did." Ace sighed, shaking off her depression. "I shouldn't take it out on you. You're not the one I'm mad at, at least not this aspect of you...not yet. I just hate being manipulated."
"I know. I wish there was something I could do..."
"You can't fix the past, Professor," she smiled grimly. "You taught me that."
"I know, but that doesn't make it hurt any less." The Doctor shook his head. "There was a lot going on that I couldn't tell you, not then. It doesn't excuse my actions, but in some ways it can explain them. I was being hunted, Ace. I just wanted to protect you, it never occurred to me that in so doing I'd drive you away." That seemed to be a characteristic of his that transcended regenerations; he only wanted to protect, but in the end the people he cared for were hurt.
The brown haired woman sighed, her expression softening. "I don't need protecting, you should've known that. But, I know how your mind works. You're never going to change your stripes. I know that I treated you badly, too."
He waved off her apology. "Given what happened, I deserved it."
Ace offered him a weak smile, finally taking in his appearance. "So, someone finally taught you how to dress. Love the leather."
"Oi! I happened to like that brolly." The Doctor grinned. "But that paisley scarf was a bit much, wasn't it?"
She barked out a laugh. "Yes, it was."
The two sat in companionable silence for a few minutes before he asked hesitantly, "Can I ask you a question?"
"Sure. Doesn't mean you'll like the answer."
"No, but I trust your opinion." The Time Lord took a deep breath before continuing, "What is love?"
For a long moment she didn't answer, instead motioning for another drink. She suspected that she'd need it after this discussion was over. Her own emotions were turbulent from discovering why her Doctor had been manipulating her and from meeting this new version of him. "Love as in...love? Man, woman, romance? Or what?"
"Yes."
Ace looked at him, flabbergasted. "Never thought I'd have to have the birds and the bees discussion with you." She wasn't certain if it was her imagination, but she thought his face had turned faintly red.
"No, not that. The emotion."
"The emotion love," she repeated. "Ask the simple questions why don't you? Love is...well, love. There're no words to describe what it's like. I know how I felt with Jan." A shadow of sorrow passed over her face. "I was overwhelmed with thoughts of him, of enjoying his company, of...lust." She hesitated over the last word. Somehow, speaking of lust around the Doctor was a bit like talking with a parent about an equally uncomfortable subject.
He looked faintly discomfited as he considered her words. Surely there was more to it than just that. Surely... "That it?"
Understanding dawned. She looked at him with an amazed expression on her face. "You've finally done it, haven't you? I didn't know you had it in you, Professor."
"Ace?" he asked, not quite certain what she meant.
"You've fallen in love. There's no other reason why you'd ask that question. What do you want from me? Absolution? Forgiveness? Permission?"
"I don't know."
She rolled her eyes at the response. Typical of him. "How 'bout a good kick in the shin? If you're in love, you'd better tell her. And no more of your games."
"It's not a game, not to me," the Doctor replied, not bothering to deny her conclusion. She, and his other companions, were right. He must be in love.
"Then stop being a git and tell her already. Knowing you, you're probably agonising over it and trying to keep her in the dark. 'Protecting' her. Don't, 'kay?" Ace's eyes narrowed as she spoke.
"But..."
"No buts. Just do it already. Got it?" She punctuated her words be poking her finger into his shoulder.
"Yeah." The Time Lord sighed, brightening a little as he continued. "Ace?"
"Hmmm?"
"I didn't say it enough...but thank you. For everything." He reached out to place a hand on her shoulder, giving it a slight squeeze.
Ace grinned. "All part of the service, Professor. Just don't expect me to start replying to any 'Dear Ace' letters. I don't do advice columns."