Taste Test
"Okay, Donna Noble! I've trampled over the entire universe, across fifteen centuries and have found every different form of chocolate chip cookie I could find."
The Doctor heaved a dozen large bags into the TARDIS kitchen, boxes clunking around inside them. He was breathless but also energized with the challenge.
He gave his friend a lighthearted glare. "You've made the last Time Lord of Gallifrey a courier of cookies!"
Standing placidly at the far corner, Donna watched him. "Chocolate chip cookies?"
He looked at the bags around him. 'Yes. All of them." And he did mean all.
Donna frowned. "It was Snickerdoodle cookies."
The Doctor stared at her, his eyes had never been wider with disbelief.
Unable to last more than five seconds at his crestfallen expression, Donna laughed. "Oh, I'm just teasing!" She said and walked over to pat his arm. "Although the look on your face was precious." She helped pick up some bags. "And if I remember correctly, it was you who challenged my baking skills."
He started to retort but she continued.
"Actually, my gran's recipe."
"You made the outrageous claim that your grandmother's cookie recipe was the best in the galaxy."
"That's an expression, you knob!"
Unrelenting, the Doctor placed a box on the counter. "I like to test the validity of such statements," he reasoned.
Donna rolled her eyes and opened a box. The sweet aroma filled her senses, and she smiled. "Good thing you're doing this challenge," she said. "Skinny rail like you could eat each one and not gain an ounce."
He frowned. "You're not having any?"
"I don't need to. I already know Gran's are the best," she said. "Here." She ushered him to a chair, his back to the counter. "Let's start."
The Doctor grinned as he stared ahead, hearing her opening tins and unwrapping as she prepared the epic taste test. In all his travels, never had he had the very unique experiences he had with the brilliant Donna Noble. He never knew if their next adventure would be running all over some exploding moon or relaxing atop a snowy mountain peak. He loved every moment of it.
There was a series of soft clinks before him. He glanced down at three small white plates with numbers on them. He glanced up at her. "No milk?"
Donna gave him an exasperated sigh. "Start tasting, Martian."
He picked up the cookie from plate #3.
"Really? Starting with Number Three?"
"I have my methods."
He closed his eyes and took a small bite. The rich, sweet crumbles dissolved into his mouth, making him sit back in his chair, moaning loudly in appreciation.
Donna smirked. "Shall I leave you two alone?"
The Doctor looked up at her. "This is it," he declared. "This is the best. I don't need to try any more."
Donna stared at him.
He shook his head and shoved the rest of Cookie #3 into his mouth, its heavenly taste making him sigh with contentment. "This is the best. Test is over."
He pushed himself back and stood, ready for the next adventure, only stopping when he caught the smug expression on Donna's face. "What?"
"That was mine. It was my gran's recipe," she said, gesturing to the cooling rack next to the oven. She'd spent hours baking while he was out searching the stars for a superior recipe.
The Doctor walked over and produced a small tin from one of the bags. He remembered it vividly. He opened the tin and presented it to her. Dozens of similarly shaped cookies sat inside, ready to be enjoyed. He smiled kindly. "I know," he said. "I went to visit her."
Donna's hand flew up to her mouth.
"She was the sweetest lady."
Tears sprang to her eyes.
The Doctor placed the tin on the counter and glanced at the bags cast about. "The rest will go bad if we don't eat them."
Donna picked up her gran's tin and held it close to her heart. The Doctor waited for her to collect her voice. "Why…why don't we find some sort of space orphanage?"
He nodded and wrapped his arm around her. "Brilliant idea."