A/N: Sorry for leaving you all hanging last week, but I did warn you that something was coming for the New Year. And because you're all so awesome, you're getting it now!

The Doctor froze. His mind was processing exactly what it was that Kari had said. He was sure she had said something about the ring meaning more than just a promise, but he wasn't completely certain. It was possible that he had imagined it, like he had so many times, wishing every time that he saw her that it would happen.

"Doctor?" Kari called, a hint of worry in her voice. "Is… is everything okay?"

He blinked a few times, finally bringing himself back to reality and realising that Kari was now staring at him with worry and fear in her eyes. "What… what did you say?" He asked her quietly, needing to hear it again, needing to be one hundred percent sure of what she said.

"I… I asked if everything was okay." Kari replied, still worried.

"No, before that."

Kari swallowed, preparing herself to tell him again. "I… I said that I've been think and… and that maybe this ring could be more than just a promise." She told him nervously, not knowing how he was going to react. He had just completely phased out, his hand stopped playing with her hair, his hearts hammering in his chest. It had scared her, especially when his eyes seemed glazed over and he didn't respond to her.

"And by more, you mean…?" The Doctor asked her, trying to get a little more clarification rather than jumping straight in with his assumptions.

"Well, someone once told me that this was a promise ring. A promise that they would always be there for me, no matter what." Kari told him, remembering his exactly words from when they had that talk after saving Venice. "And I know that they will always keep that promise." It was difficult for her to find the words, to put together everything she wanted to say to him.

"Okay, I'm with you so far." The Doctor told her, giving her his full attention.

"My whole world was turned upside down. I met a mad man with a box and we travelled the stars together. A mad man that I had adored since before I ever even met him. And then something happened, something I never dreamed would happen." She told him, gazing into the Doctor's ancient eyes. "I fell in love with him."

The Doctor reached up a hand and gently placed it on the side of Kari's face. "Kari…"

She didn't let him speak, and quickly put a finger against his lips. "I fell in love with him, and he was already in love with me. So much has happened in what seems like such a short time. I don't know how long I have been with him, how long I have been jumping for. I've been through so much with him, and every time we have gotten out alive. He is so much more than the man I thought he was."

All he could do was smile at her as he listened to her. It wasn't very often that Kari would be that open with everything to him. Most of the time he had to force it out of her, or wait until she was about to have a complete emotional breakdown. But not this time, this time she was willingly telling him everything.

"No one can live forever, we both know that. But while we still live, while all four hearts are still beating, I want to be with him. Forever." She said, a few tears swimming in her eyes as she confronted all the feelings she had and what she knew to be the truth.

All the Doctor could do was gaze at her, knowing that it had been so hard for her to say all of that to him. Now there was only one thought running through his mind, the same one that had ran through it for centuries. He knew what he had to do now, what he wanted to do.

He gave Kari a gentle kiss, making their lips touch for only a second, before shifting himself from the sofa and planting himself on both his knees in front of Kari. "My beautiful, brilliant Kari. I have never met anyone as brave as you." He told her, taking both of her hands in his own. "Or stubborn. Or talkative. Or moody, sarcastic, secretive, and sneaky. But I have also never met anyone as caring, considerate, fearless, funny, honest, sincere, or loyal, as you. You have saved me so many times, and I know you will keep on saving me." The Doctor told her, their eyes locked and the rest of the room just seeming to dissolve away around them like they were in their own little world. "I've waited a long time for this day to come. Kari, will you marry me?"

Her eyes widened, and it felt like time had stopped completely. She couldn't believe what he had just said, the four words that had come from the mouth of the Doctor, the four words directed at her. She had so many emotions flooding through her, fear, excitement, nervousness. But she knew what she was going to say, she always knew what she would say. She had imagined it happening, dreamed of it after she learned the Doctor was real. "Yes." Kari managed to whisper, a single tear slipping down her cheek.

"Yes?" The Doctor asked in confirmation, still not letting out the breath that he was holding.

Kari nodded at him. "Yes. Yes, yes, yes!" She cried, leaping off the sofa and landing on top of the Doctor. She wasted no time in capturing his lips with her own, kissing him fiercely and with so much passion. She didn't care that she was crying. For once in her life, they were tears of joy.

Neither of them had noticed that someone had been in the room, that someone had walked in and witnessed everything the Doctor had said to Kari. The pair didn't even break apart until that person decided to clear their throat. They were both blushing as they turned to look at Martha, standing there with her arms folded in front of her chest.

"Martha… we… uh, we were just…" The Doctor said, completely failing to form a coherent sentence.

"Oh, I know what you two were just doing." She replied, a frown on her face. Her firm look soon turned into a gigantic smile as she rushing into the room and over to the pair. "Oh, congratulations, you two. It's about time." Martha said, throwing her arms around Kari, giving her a tight hug. "The Doctor even had me tearing up then."

"What… you… you were listening?" The Doctor asked, slightly stunned that Martha had overheard what he had said.

She broke away from Kari and turned to face the Doctor. "Well, the pair of you was in your own little world. You didn't even notice me come in. But I am so happy for you both." Martha told him, before giving him a hug as well. "It's about time you made it official."

Then it all actually dawned on Kari. Everything that had happened, everything that had just been said. "Oh, my God." She muttered. "I'm engaged. I'm really, properly, engaged. And I'm engaged to a mad man with a box, a time travelling alien."

"Oi, you're an alien as well." The Doctor reminded her, while Martha chucked.

Kari couldn't help but roll her eyes at him. She would always call him an alien, no matter what he said to her. She knew she wasn't human anymore, and that technically she was alien as well, but he wasn't just an alien, he acted alien a lot of the time as well. "I must be, I just said yes to marrying you."

Martha couldn't help but smile at both of her friends. "Well, you know what? It's about time you asked her." She said, looking at the Doctor. "At least now you can say Kari really is your fiancée."

"I'll tell you what, it certainly explains a lot." Kari admitted, thinking of all the times where the Doctor has made out that she was his wife. "It's was never about me saying something before thinking, it was always you, Doctor. You not wanting to be reminded that it was too early in my timeline and that I wasn't really your wife."

Martha let out a chuckle, while the Doctor let out a sigh. "Yes, okay. Yes, you're right. It was always because I knew it was too early. Because I knew that it wasn't the right time, but I just… I didn't want to admit that it was too early." He told her, wrapping his arms around her tightly.

"You know what we need now?" Martha asked, beaming away at her happy friends. "Champagne!" She announced. "You two should be celebrating. So how about I go grab a bottle we crack it open and celebrate you two getting engaged?"

Kari looked at the Doctor with a smile. "Well, I suppose it is a human tradition to celebrate getting engaged really. What do you say, Doctor?" She asked him.

"Whatever makes you happy, Kari. Champagne, tea, hot chocolate, whatever you want." The Doctor replied, kissing her hair as he held her.

Martha nodded and retreated out of the room and headed off to the kitchen to see what she could find. She was sure the TARDIS would have known and would have something there ready for her for when she got there.

"This all seems so surreal." Kari whispered, still in the Doctor's arms. "My whole life, it's just not what I ever imagined what it would come to."

"But you're happy, aren't you?" The Doctor asked her, a slight hint of worry in his voice.

All she could do was smile at him. "Of course I'm happy. I have never been happier."

That was all the confirmation that the Doctor needed. He really had been waiting for centuries to ask her, to say those words to her, to see the excitement and happiness dancing around in her eyes. "Well, I'm glad you're happy, Kari. I only ever want to see you happy."

"I can't promise you that. There are going to be days, Doctor, where I feel like my whole world is falling apart. But I know that you are going to be there for me, every single time." Kari told him, her arms having snaked around him so that she was hugging him tightly. "With you there, I know I can get through anything the universe throws at us."

A few minutes later, Martha returned, a bottle of Champagne and three glasses in her hands. "Aww, look at you two. The perfect couple. I'm so happy for you both."

Kari and the Doctor both smiled at her. They were happy, and that moment was making everything perfect. "Come on then, Doctor. Get that bottle open." Kari said, pushing him away slightly so that he could do his job and they could begin the celebration.

He took the bottle from Martha, still beaming away as the cork popped off and it bubbled over and down the sides. "Here we go. A lovely bit of bubbly." The Doctor said, filling up the glasses.

Kari took her glass from the Doctor, as Martha held onto hers with a smile on her face. "To the Doctor and Kari." Martha said, now holding her glass high and making the toast. "Congratulations, finally."

The three of them all laughed a little as they clinked their glasses together, before taking their first sip. Kari was still in a state of shock, even though the smile was still plastered on her face. "Hey, Martha?" Kari said, getting the woman's attention. "Want to be bridesmaid?"

Her friend just looked at her, her mouth dropping open. "Are you serious? You… you want me to be bridesmaid?" Martha asked her, clearly in shock.

"Uh, yeah, otherwise I wouldn't have asked." Kari told her, wondering why she thought she wasn't being serious.

"Oh, of course I will!" Martha cried at her, before hugging her once more.

"Brilliant." Kari said, beaming away some more. "One down, several more to go."

The Doctor just looked at her, not exactly sure what was going on. "Hang on, are you already planning a wedding?"

She rolled her eyes at him. "Well of course I am. I already know who I want for bridesmaids, and who is going to be my maid of honour." Kari told him. "I'm just not sure when. But it has to be by a certain time. Which actually means there are some people who won't be able to come." She said, realising that there will be some important people missing."

"Oh, I'm sure we can work something out." The Doctor assured her, not fully following what she was telling him.

"No, we won't. Can't invite the people who you haven't even met yet. Besides, I might have to wait centuries now. Just because I agreed to marry you, doesn't mean it's going to be within the next year." Kari told him, trying not to get too sad at the fact that Amy, Rory and Clara wouldn't be able to come. "Anyway, enough about that. We're meant to be celebrating here, so let's drink a bit more of this champagne."

Kari really was happy, and although it all seemed surreal to be there with the Doctor, she knew it was her life now. It felt like she had been with him for so long now, like she had known him all her life. And she did want to be more to him, but him proposing like that was completely out of the blue and really did take her by surprise. She had expected him to run through a list of other things that the ring could mean, making more promises. But that wasn't what happened, that wasn't what she had been prepared for.

There was something else that she knew, that it wasn't going to be as simple as getting engaged, planning a wedding, getting married and then going on honeymoon. Kari meant it when she said that she might be waiting centuries to marry the Doctor. But at least it was something she had to look forward to one day.

"What you thinking?" The Doctor asked her, giving her a little nudge.

"Oh, you know, the same as always. How everything that has happened is completely impossible and that I am the luckiest person in the universe to actually be here." She told him, still unable to really shift that smile from her face. "I know for a fact that there are plenty of people who would be so jealous of me right now."

"And is this your all knowing power speaking?" The Doctor asked her, while Martha just shook her head at the pair.

Kari shook her head a little as well. "Nope, well not really. Okay, so maybe a tiny little bit." The Doctor was just frowning at her now. "What? Do you know how many females there are out there who would love to be in my position right now? And a few blokes now that I think about it. I mean, come on, even Martha had a slight crush on you, which she swiftly got over, I am pleased to say."

"Kari! You said you wouldn't say anything." Martha cried at her, obviously upset about the fact that the Doctor now knew that she had once had a little thing for him.

"Oh, come on, Martha. I know everyone loves the Doctor, it's really hard not to. I mean just look how adorable he is. And that hair, he has some really, really great hair." Kari told her, making sure to run her hand through his head, before ruffing it and messing it up slightly.

"That's right, you think I'm sexy, don't you?" The Doctor said, a smug grin on his face as he looked at Kari. "I'm Doctor Sexy."

Martha almost choked on her drink at his remark, while Kari simply rolled her eyes at him. It was true, she did think he was rather sexy in that regeneration, and she always knew he was going to keep bringing it up. "Nah, I've got another nickname for you, which you will find out sometime in the future." Kari told him referring to the times she would just call him a hot Time Lord.

A few more empty bottles later, Kari and the Doctor were back to being curled up on the sofa in front of the fire, Martha having consumed a little too much alcohol and needing to sleep it off. The pair of them had smiles on their faces still, ever since Kari had given the Doctor his Christmas present, telling him something that he had been wanting to hear for so long. The day had ended up being perfect, and neither of them wanted it to end, so they were making the evening drag on for as long as they could.

"You never told me what you got from the market." The Doctor said, playing with a lock of Kari's hair once again.

"Oh, uh, I got this marble like thing. The woman said everyone sees something different. To Martha it just looked like a purple stone, and for me it kept changing." Kari told him, only just remembering about it. "I don't know why, but I was just drawn to it."

"Interesting. Sounds like a desire orb from Machalie. Those are very, very rare. Apparently, only those who are worthy see more than just a stone. Guess Martha just isn't open minded enough." The Doctor told her casually.

"Hey, don't insult my bridesmaid like that." She cried at him, playfully whacking his arm. "Miss Jones is open minded, but she is still cautious. She still likes to think logically rather than doing things on a whim, like you. And anyway, the woman who sold it to me, she must have been worthy, she said she could see a burning sun."

"Well, she could have been lying, just to make the sale. What exactly did you see?" There was a lot of curiosity in the Doctor's voice, like he was actually interested in what she had seen. Of course he was interested, but Kari didn't really think it was that big a deal. To her, it was just a little trinket she had picked up on some alien planet.

"It kept changing for me, like I said. At first it looked like the night sky, full of bright stars. Then it was like someone had thrown paint balls everywhere, there was just so much colour, just everywhere. I think, at one point, I saw a supernova. I'm not sure, it's really hard to explain it all." Kari told him, telling him as best she could what she had seen in the little marble like stone.

The Doctor couldn't help but smile. "Sounds to me, like what you desire the most, is what you already have." He told her. "If it's a desire orb, then it shows you what you want the most. You only want to keep travelling the stars and seeing new and exciting places, so that's what it shows you."

"And what about that woman, who saw the burning of a sun?" Kari asked him, wondering if it really had been showing her desires to her.

"Maybe that's something she wants to see, the burning of a sun. Everyone wants different things, have different desires. Martha seeing purple might just be because she wants something that is purple. She doesn't care what, as long as it's purple. I mean, it is her favourite colour after all."

Kari let out a sigh. "Yeah, I guess. I just thought it looked pretty. I'm like a magpie, attracted to shiny things." She told him, nestling down a little more. She really did love being there with the Doctor, even when they were running for their lives, she loved it. But the moments she loved the most were ones where they were just together, like they were, with nothing to worry about or nothing urgent to do.

"So, I'm shiny?" There was a hint of amusement in the Doctor's voice now.

"Oh, hush you." She told him, before putting her hand behind his head and pulling it down so that she could reach his lips. Kari wasn't nervous about kissing him anymore, not like she had been at first. Now she knew that there really was something between them, something strong and worth fighting for, she knew she had no reason to be nervous or afraid.

They were both blushing when they finally broke apart, Kari more so than the Doctor. "So, since I've had to wait centuries to finally ask you to marry me, does that mean I'm going to have to wait centuries to actually marry you?" He asked her, straight away going back to playing with her hair.

"No, I got a feeling that it's going to be me waiting centuries now. But you know what, I really don't mind." Kari told him, snuggling back down on the sofa. "I guess it's only fair that I have to wait as well. Plus, I'm not going to just jump in a marry you tomorrow."

The Doctor's eyes lit up like the Christmas tree sitting in the room. "Oh, is that so?" He asked her, a little plot forming in his head.

Kari turned so that she could face him better. "Yes, that is so. So whatever it is you're thinking, stop. I didn't jump in when you poured your heart out to me, I'm not going to jump in now either." She warned him. "My head was already messed up at that time, and you really didn't help. Admittedly, my head isn't so messed up anymore, but I… I just want to spend more time with you, not rush things. You understand that, don't you?"

He smiled down at her, admiring the way she always tried to have a little sense and logic in the things she done. "Of course I understand, Kari. I'm just happy to know that some day, you will be my wife."

"Yup, I'm going to be Mrs Doctor." She said, before bursting out laughing. "Oh, my God. I'm going to be Mrs Doctor. Oh, Pond is going to love that." Kari told him, without really thinking about what she was saying.

"Pond?" The Doctor questioned, not having any idea what she was talking about.

All Kari could do was smile at him. "Spoilers, Doctor. Spoilers."

He rolled his eyes at her, having already known that she was going to give him that word as an answer. "Oh, you and your spoilers. I still want to know where you got that word. Seems a little silly if you asked me. Spoilers."

"All in good time. One day, you'll find out, but until that day comes, spoilers all the way." Kari told him, before reaching up and giving him a quick peck on the lips. "Anyway, do you have any idea where to go when Martha wakes up?"

"Well, we need to take a quick trip to Cardiff. Pit stop to refuel. She's been needing it for a while now, just never really got around to doing it." The Doctor informed her, making her face drop just a little, which he noticed. "Kari, what's the matter?"

She looked up at him, a hint of sadness in her eyes. "Nothing, it's just… you say Cardiff and I think of Jack. I kind of miss him, you know. Been a while since I saw him properly, well, for more than just a few hours." Kari told him, thinking back to the last time she saw Jack at her house. "I like spending time with him, he lets me have parties and we stay up all night talking."

"Oh? And what exactly do you talk about?" The Doctor asked her, knowing that she did miss him and that Jack was like a big brother to her. He knew that Jack would always protect her, that he would do anything for her, just like he would.

A sly grin worked its way onto Kari's face. "Well, most of the time we talk about you. I tell him what we've been up to, and he tells me what he's been up to. I have to say, he has some interesting stories to tell. Especially from when he was working for the time agency."

The Doctor wrapped his arms around her tighter, knowing that there was still something else that she wasn't telling him. But he didn't mind, he knew there was a lot she had to keep hidden from him, and he understood how hard it was for her, considering there were things he was still keeping from her. "Well, I'm glad you have him."

"You know, you're going to have to face him one day, Doctor." Kari told him, knowing that the time for him to face him was quickly approaching. "He needs answers, and I haven't been there yet, the whole Dalek fleet hiding and controlling the Game Station. I can't tell him what he needs to hear, Doctor. It has to come from you."

He let out a sigh, knowing that she was right, but not wanting to face it all. "I know. And I will, for you."

She shook her head at him a little, he hadn't understood why she was telling him what she was. "No, Doctor. Not for me. I don't want you to do it for me, I know you will do it because it's the right thing to do, and you know it. You're going to face Captain Jack Harkness, and tell him what he needs to know, because you are the best man I have ever met."

"The best man you've ever met?" The Doctor asked her, a slight smirk on his face.

"Yes, absolutely the best." Kari told him, and completely meaning it. "So promise me, Doctor, that the next time you see him, my big brother Jack, you answer his questions. Not for me, but for him. You have no idea what he has been through since Game Station, it hasn't been pretty, he's had a rough time."

"Okay. The next time I see your big brother Jack, I will tell him anything he needs to know. You're right, he does deserve some answers." Kari smiled at him, at his promise to tell Jack everything he needed to know, which only made the Doctor smile some more as well.

But even though she was smiling, there was a hint of sadness in her eyes, and for more than one reason. "You know, I really wished this evening didn't have to end. But everything ends eventually, including the most perfect Christmas I have ever had." She told him softly. "It's time for me to head off now. My head started hurting a few minutes ago, and now it's getting worse."

"Oh, Kari." The Doctor whispered, placing a light kiss on the top of her head. "I wish this didn't have to end either. But I'll see you soon, so behave yourself." He told her, just as the golden glow started to engulf her.

"You behave as well, Doctor. I'll find you soon, wherever you go." She told him, reaching up and giving him a quick kiss on the lips before she was pulled away from him, thrown through time and space to join him on another adventure somewhere else.

She had managed to spend more time with him than she had ever imagined. She hadn't jumped the moment they reached the TARDIS, she had a whole extra day, a magical day that she was never going to forget. It had been the best Christmas ever, not just the day but the whole evening as well. She did love the Doctor, and she knew him so much better than she ever imagined she would. But she knew it was going to be a long time before she did become his wife, and she really was okay with that. It gave her more time with him, more time to get to know the real him, that's all she really cared about, being with the Doctor. Her Doctor.

A/N: Okay everyone, shoot me now. I know some people will have loved it, and other will really be wanting to scream at me, especially for making Kari have to leave.

The poll is still on my profile. There seems to be a pretty clear winner, and it's exactly what I expected, but the following two episodes are still hanging in the air. If there isn't a clear second place and runner up, I will have to do another poll with them all to see what you all want. So please, check it out and vote for THREE (3) THREE! Yes, THREE, episodes.

Moving on, I've had quiet a few more requests to post some of my other stories. I am considering it. Once I get this next uni assignment out of the way, which is due in by friday, I should have a little bit of time. So I will let you all know what I've decided when the time comes.

So, enough of my rambling. I just want to thank every single one of you, all the people who have favourited or followed, and especially those who have reviewed. You guys really are totally awesome, and without you all, I wouldn't still be bothering to write and post my stories. Thank you so much!

Pippa.