This was written for the lovely thenoblelark.

Theory Testing (Ten/Donna)

"Oh very good. Now, Doctor and Missus Noble, if you''ll please come this way."

Donna reflexively started to speak. "Oh, we're not - "

"That would be lovely!" the Doctor's jovial voice broke over her. "Thank you!"

Donna looked up, her mouth still gaping with the familiar denial hanging in the air, unspoken. The Doctor smiled brightly down at her, looking no different than if someone had told him the skies above them were a rather brilliant shade of pink.

But upon meeting her confused and slightly annoyed glare, hie blinked and walked after their hostess.

Donna waited a beat, still not sure if she'd heard him correctly. Then, not wanting to be left behind, she skipped after them. She grabbed his arm. "What are you…" she hissed but was cut off as the hostess turned around with an eager smile Donna suddenly felt like swiping away.

"Here you go!" the hostess said, gesturing to the table for two. "Your server will be with you shortly. Please, make yourselves comfortable, Doctor and Missus Noble."

Stop saying that! "We're not…" Donna tried again.

"Excellent!" the Doctor exclaimed and stepped behind a chair, pulling it out for Donna. He had the most peculiar expression on his face. "Care to sit?"

But Donna didn't budge. "What are you playin' at?"

Looking around, he had such an innocent air about him. She didn't buy it. "What?"

Crossing her arms, Donna just glared. "We're not a couple, remember?"

"Oh! That!" he said, as if he'd completely forgotten his out-of-character charade. "Yes…let's just sit."

Her eyes narrowed. The Doctor straightened and held her gaze as he pushed up his glasses. "I…I wanted o see something," he said vaguely. With more than a little apprehension, he glanced around at the restaurant's other patrons. Many were watching them. He met Donna's gaze again, and the silly bravado was gone. "Please sit?" he asked again.

Feeling her neck start to heat, Donna sighed and flopped into the chair. She tried not to feel his hands rush along her shoulders as he pushed her closer to the table.

The Doctor sat across from her, his wide smile plastered again on his face. He picked up the menu. "Now, let's see…"

Before Donna could ask him again what as going on, the waiter arrived. "Hello Doctor and Missus Noble! What can I get you to drink?"

Donna groaned but yet again the Doctor just smiled. "Lovely. I'll have some of the pepper berry juice. Donna?"

Blinking, Donna was silent for a moment.

"Mrs. Noble?"

She cringed. That was what people called her mother. She slammed her menu on the table, about to properly scold that insufferable spaceman once and for all but at the expression on his face, she stopped short. He almost looked…hopeful.

Her breath hitching, she cleared her throat and wished there was was water around to guzzle. "The, uh, the same," she muttered.

Finally alone, Donna grabbed the serviette, wringing it between her hands. "So…what's going on, Doctor?"

He watched her nervous actions and slowly inhaled. "Well, I wanted to see if we'd be treated any differently if we did say were were a couple," he started and Donna felt a funny twinge in her stomach at the little flash of vulnerability in his eyes. He smiled. "And people are always mistaking us for a couple…I thought, why not just go with it for once?"

He turned toward the large window overlooking the breathtaking view of two large moons against a magenta sky.

Donna humphed. "You could have told me," she said. "I thought you were doing some secret investigation or something."

The Doctor turned to her. "No," he said, his voice soft. "It's just you and me."

Donna blinked, her neck suddenly feeling warm and itchy. She pulled on her jacket.

He smiled sheepishly. "I like to call it a scientific experiment," he offered.

Donna's eyes widened. "Again, you could have told me."

"You wouldn't have gone along with it."

Now Donna really wanted some water. "Well, I could at least have been prepared and not looking like some flippin' fool." She exhaled slowly. "I..I might have gone along with it."

The Doctor watched her. "Sorry," he said. "I thought it would be fun…something spur of the moment." He grinned. "What would it be like to be Doctor Noble?"

Donna laughed a little. "Not that exciting, apparently."

He frowned and reached across the table. Neither knew who was more shocked as his hand encased hers. "I think it's rather nice."

Donna gulped but found herself incapable of pulling her hand back. She wasn't even sure she wanted to, and that freaked her out even more. "I…uh… just let me know next time, all right?"

The doctor smiled. "All right."

It wasn't until the waiter returned with their drinks that they realized their hands were still entwined. Donna snapped hers away and seized her juice, guzzling it down. The Doctor grinned and opened his menu. "Oh, here's something different. A cheese and onion pasty."

"Honeymoon's over if you eat one of them, buddy," Donna said.

The Doctor looked up and beamed. "Noted," he said and resumed his search.

Feeling her nerves finally settle, Donna smiled at her ever-unpredictable spaceman. She shook her head and opened her own menu, slightly surprised she rather enjoyed being one half of Doctor and Mrs. Noble.