Back at the house that night, the Doctor insisted on seeing for himself what Alba had learned at her dance lesson. In the dining room, in front of the grand fireplace, he lead her easily through the steps while rain pelted against the wall of windows, sluicing down the glass in rivulets.

"If you know how to dance, why don't you just teach me yourself?" she finally asked him as he twirled her.

The Doctor smiled, and dipped her low to the ground. "I'm not really the teaching type, believe it or not."

"Well, you're an excellent dancer," she replied.

"Yes, I know," he said. "Once upon a time, I had lessons myself. Anyway, practice makes perfect. We've only got three weeks til the wedding, and you'll need to know how to dance like the locals do. We don't want to give anyone a reason to suspect you might be an offworlder."

"Certainly not," she said with a nod, turning her gaze to the stormy sea below them. "Does it rain here often?"

"No more than your own world," he said, finally taking a seat at the table. Alba pulled out the chair next to him and sat down, and began drumming her fingers on the tabletop.

"It's funny, you'd expect an alien world to be so different. But your cities still look so much like New Earth cities," she commented.

"Well, we came from New Earth. We may have left many of their traditions and superstitions behind, but we're still human. You should see the Citadel, though. Now that's a city to see,," the Doctor said matter-of-factly. "I guess going to the city reminded you of New London. Are you feeling homesick?"

Alba searched herself, and was surprised at what she found. "Not really, no. I mean, I miss my mum, but I don't miss New Earth. Gallifrey is far more beautiful than where I grew up. I could get used to living here, maybe."

"I'm relieved to hear you say that," the Doctor said, taking her hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. "I want you to be happy here, Rose. I want this place to feel like home for you."

Alba squeezed his hand back. "I adapt quickly. I'm sure I'll get used to this place, even with all its differences. I have you to help me."

"Well I sincerely hope you'll come to like it, and not just get used to it. Gallifrey's not perfect...but I think it comes pretty damn close," the Doctor said seriously, looking out at the water. "Shame, we never did get to go swimming…"

"There's always tomorrow. We've got time," Alba said.

"That we do," the Doctor agreed sagely.

They lapsed into an awkward silence then, and Alba thought how difficult it was to be around the Doctor at times like this. He certainly didn't make things easy for her, not with all the secrets. Still, he'd been opening up to her a little bit more everyday, and she remained hopeful that things between them wouldn't always feel so forced.

"What are you thinking?" she asked him.

He leaned his head towards her. "I'm thinking that we never finished what we started on the beach," he said, his breath warm on the bare skin of her neck.

"No, we didn't," she murmured as he pressed his lips against her throat and gently nibbled. She felt her stomach flipping as he did. How did he manage to have this sort of effect on her?

"I think we ought to pick back up where we left off. In the bedroom," he suggested, letting his fingers skate across her collarbones.

"If you insist," Alba mumbled.

"I do," he replied, gathering her into his arms and carrying her down the hallway. Gently, he deposited her onto the bed and stepped back to look at her expectantly.

"What?" she asked, sensing that he was nervous about something.

"I have something for you," he said finally, reaching into his suit pocket and withdrawing a small object. Even from where she was sitting, she could tell that it was a syringe.

Her mouth went dry. "Oh? And what's that?"

"A fertility injection. Increases the likelihood of conception up to 50 times. That is...if you're still okay with all this," he stammered, sounding like a nervous schoolboy. She pretended not to notice that his hands were slightly shaking.

"Oh," Alba replied, because that hadn't been at all what she was expecting. Still, she supposed it shouldn't be too surprising. After all...he was a chemist.

"You haven't changed your mind about all this, have you? Because if you have, that's okay," he said, the words coming out in a rush.

"No. No, I haven't changed my mind. You just took me by surprise, that's all," she said, shifting herself so that she was sitting up to look at him. Having sex with the Doctor was one thing. Fertility injections though were another matter entirely. It made her promise to him earlier that much more real. She swallowed, hard. "Alright...so what do you need me to do?"

The Doctor let his breath out in a sigh of relief. "Lift up or take off your dress, lay on your stomach, and I'll give you the injection in the thigh."

Obediently, Alba stood and removed her dress before laying back down on the bed, arms spread above her head. The Doctor swabbed the prospective injection site with an alcohol wipe, and then uncapped the syringe with his teeth. Very carefully, he slid the needle into Alba's skin and depressed the plunger. She hissed a little at the pain, to which the Doctor muttered a quiet apology.

"How long does it take for the drug to take effect?" she asked, rolling to look at him when he had finished.

"Oh, it's practically instantaneous. The drug causes ovulation, and in general makes the body more receptive to pregnancy. You shouldn't feel any different, though," the Doctor assured her, divesting himself of his own clothing. Naked, he slid onto the bed next to her. "Are you ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," she answered him truthfully, propping herself up on her elbows. She was all nerves all of sudden.

"Right then. Just lay back and relax," he coaxed, pushing gently on her shoulder until she was reclined back on the bed. When she had done that, he moved closer and began to kiss her neck. She shivered at the touch, but he didn't seem to notice, continuing to kiss his way down her throat and across her collarbones. He did seem to love her collarbones. His hands skated across the curves of her body, mapping the little imperfections, stroking softly.

The Doctor seemed to want to take charge, and Alba let him, laying there placidly as his lips and fingers made their way down her body. When he reached her waist, he paused to pull her legs apart before burying his face in the damp thatch of curls between her thighs. She closed her eyes and clutched at the sheets, moaning softly as he continued his ministrations. His hands rested on her hips, holding her steady even as she writhed against the bed. It didn't take long for her to climax, gasping and panting as she did. The Doctor lifted his head and graced her with a salacious smile, moving his way back up her body. When he kissed her, she tasted herself on his lips.

Even as they kissed, his hands were still roaming her body, gently pulling and pinching and teasing. When he finally positioned himself at her entrance, she was ready for him. With a satisfied sigh, he thrust up into her and began to move against her, picking up a steady rhythm that made her body shake. She clung tightly to him, digging her nails into the scant meat of his shoulders, forcing his body closer to her own. His breathing quickened, indicating his own release was fast approaching. Alba thrust her own hips, feeling her pleasure building. The Doctor finally emptied himself into her with a groan before collapsing against her, his head pillowed by her breasts. She tangled her fingers in his hair and tugged gently, listening to his breathing coming in shallow pants and gasps.

"So, do you think we did it?" she asked him.

"Hmmm?" he mumbled back.

"Do you think we did it? Made a baby, I mean," she clarified.

"One can only hope," he said, rolling off of her and settling next to her on the bed. He reached out for her hand and twined his fingers with her own. "Still...practice makes perfect. We could always try again later, just to be sure."

"Any excuse to get me into bed, huh?" she teased.

"You know it," he replied, and she heard the smile in his voice.

"So are you ready to do it again? Be a husband and a father," she asked, turning to look at him.

A pained expression crossed his face. "I wasn't ready the first time around, that's for sure. I don't know if anyone is ever really ready for marriage or parenthood. Still...I have to believe that things will work out better for me this time. Lightening doesn't strike the same place twice," he said darkly. "I want to learn from the mistakes I made in the past and do better going forward. I want to do right by you, Rose. Being with you makes me want to be a better man, and I have to believe that's a good thing. My past...it isn't glamorous. I've done things that I'm not proud of. But you're my second chance, even if I don't deserve one."

"Maybe you're my second chance, too," she said, squeezing his hand. "I'm not perfect, either, you know. I've made mistakes. Jimmy Stone was one of them. I hope I can do better this time around."

"You're perfect to me," he insisted, drawing her closer and into his arms. "I feel like I won the lottery, meeting you. I couldn't ask for a kinder, sweeter, more brilliant girl."

"Shut up," she laughed.

"I mean it," he said earnestly. "I know I don't deserve you, so I can't help but feel lucky."

"Do you believe in fate?" she asked him. "Destiny, and all that."

"Fate and destiny have too much in common with religion. We've never believed in that stuff on Gallifrey," he replied. "We believe in being the master of your own destiny."

"Well, I believe in fate. And I think you and I were destined to meet. You saved me, you know. I've thought about that...about the sort of man I could've ended up with at the slave exchange. But I didn't, because I ended up with you instead. And if we really are each other's second chances, I have to believe that it was meant to be that way. Not God, persay, but the universe maybe, interceding on our behalf," she said, brushing his hair back from his brow.

He just smiled at her. "If you say so. It's a nice thought, anyway."

"Well, I do say so," she said, snuggling against him. "I know we didn't meet under the best of circumstances, but I wouldn't change it or take it back."

"You don't really mean that," he said, a trace of bitterness in his voice.

"Of course I mean it, that's why I said it. The only regret I have about all this is knowing that my mum is probably worried sick about me. But you said you'd keep her safe and cared for, and I believe you. I just hope she isn't struggling, that's all," Alba said, twisting her hair around her fingers.

"I promise you, your mother is being well cared for," the Doctor said, stroking her hair.

"I really do miss her. Gallifrey is so beautiful, I wish she could see it," she said. "She would love it here."

"Every day, it hurts a little bit less," the Doctor said.

"Hmm?" Alba murmured.

"Missing someone. Every day, it hurts a little bit less," he repeated.

"Oh," she said, realizing with surprise that he was probably speaking more about himself than her. "I suppose you're right."

"Only time will tell," he said, rubbing little circles across her shoulders.

They lapsed into silence then, the only sound that of the rain pounding against the glass. Eventually, sleep overtook them both, and they slept like spoons.