Basmathgirl requested a version of Human Nature/Family of Blood, so I did my best. It took me several tries to write this, and I am still not happy with it, especially the end. It is quite short and focuses on Donna and John's relationship rather than on the Family or anything else. I hope you like it, BMG!

Another T rated chapter.

As Donna smoothed her hand across John's bare chest and belly, she knew it was wrong to be touching him like she was. It was so, so wrong. But it felt so right. She gently trailed her fingers down his side, and he shivered at her touch, a low moan escaping his lips. He turned his face towards her. "Donna," he rasped, blinking sleepily up at her in the low light.

"Hmm?" She circled his navel, delighting in the smoothness of his skin, and then ran her fingers through the thin trail of hair that led even lower, hidden beneath the sheets. She followed it before changing her course at the last moment and brushing her hand over his prominent hip bone and down his thigh.

"Donna." It was more of a groan this time, and as she leaned to kiss him, he pulled her into his arms. "I need…"

"What do you need?" she whispered.

"You," he answered readily, and shifted to explore her body in return.

Donna felt incredibly guilty later, as she always did after they made love. She tried not to, but it was impossible when she knew that it caused him such mental anguish. In real life, where he was the Doctor, they were married in both his custom and hers. He was the love of her life, and they weren't actually doing anything wrong by continuing their sex life in this alternative version of their lives.

But that's not what sweet, innocent John Smith believed. He had been created to protect the Doctor from the Family, and along with a new identity and beliefs for himself, came a new story that Donna had to go along with. John believed that his wife had been missing for years now, likely a victim of a random kidnapping, and that Donna was merely his best friend and the woman who helped him plan and organize his lessons.

At first, Donna had tried hard to hold to the story and keep things professional between them. She'd channeled her old 'just mates' beliefs from long ago, and tried to avoid so much as brushing shoulders with him when they passed in the corridors.

Unfortunately, her body had had other ideas. She had lasted a month before her hormones got the best of her, and she practically threw herself at him as they had worked on his lesson plans in his classroom. Where she'd expected rejection, she had got quietly whispered devotions, an inexperienced man who desperately wanted to learn, and a whole load of guilt.

"She would have been thirty-five today," John said, quietly, as they sat at his small desk, grading papers. Donna knew that she was only allowed into his classroom unsupervised because the headmaster fully believed that the honorable, married John Smith wouldn't mess about with his assistant. No way!

"Your wife?" Donna sought to confirm.

"Yes," he breathed. He looked at her with those sad, deep eyes. "I wonder, how long I will go on without her? Will I still be here alone on her fortieth birthday while she is out there, wherever she is?" He wouldn't even entertain the idea that she might be dead.

Donna knew the Doctor had been married long ago to a Time Lady, and they'd had a family. She didn't know if his missing wife was based off of his actual first wife, or if she was just a figment of his imagination. Either way, she knew that she had no right or reason to be jealous. What good was jealousy over a long-dead woman or an imaginary one? All she knew for sure was that she didn't like to see the Doctor, or John, suffering.

She took his hand, massaging his fingers with hers. "I'm sorry, John," she said, offering as much comfort as she could. "Is there anything I can do that might help?"

He blushed at the gesture and shook his head. "Just...be here," he whispered. "Stay the night with me? Again?"

Donna knew exactly what he was asking in his shy way. "Of course I will," she promised, bringing his hand to her mouth to kiss it. "Always."

He nodded and cleared his throat, forcing his attention back to the schoolwork in front of them. They worked in silence for several minutes. Donna shifted on the hard wooden chair as she worked, wishing that it had a nice fluffy cushion and some lumbar support.

She must have sighed or something, because suddenly John stood up and put his hand on her upper back. "Are you feeling all right?" he asked.

"I'm fine. My back is just a bit sore," she assured him. She had been away from her old temp jobs for so long that she was no longer used to sitting hunched over at a desk for hours. She was touched by his concern though, and especially the way he could be so protective of her at times, just like the Doctor. He rubbed her back and shoulders, releasing some of the tension from her overworked muscles.

"I hope you will feel up to attending the Christmas celebration," he said, quietly, as he continued his massage. It was all he had been talking about for two weeks now. The whole school was looking forward to the festivities, and even Donna found herself looking forward to attending and dancing with John.

"I'm sure I will be," she assured him. She turned sideways in her chair so that she could face him, and was surprised at the worry she saw etched onto his features. She reached for his hand. "What's wrong?"

"I just worry about you, Donna," he said. He used his free hand to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear before affectionately stroking her cheek. "I think I am overworking you. Perhaps you should take rest."

Donna resisted the urge to crack a joke about him just wanting her in his bed again. Instead, she shook her head. "I'm fine, John. Really."

He nodded but still looked worried. "Would you tell me if I were pushing you too hard?"

"Do you really think you could convince me to work if I didn't want to?" She smirked at him, knowing that he was well used to her fire.

But he didn't give in like he usually did. "Just promise me," he pleaded with her. "I lo- care deeply for you, and I do not want anything bad to happen to you. Especially not at my hand."

"I promise I'll tell you," she assured him. "But there's no reason to worry. I'm perfectly healthy. Here, why don't we take a break? We can go for a walk into town if you like. Maybe we can get some Christmas decorations to put up in your classroom."

John just frowned at her. "You really shouldn't be doing as much walking as you have been lately. I know it's the fashion today, but my grandfather told me as a young boy that it's best to keep your wife quiet and at home."

Donna's heart skipped a beat and her eyes snapped to his, ignoring the ridiculous nonsense that he had just spewed as she zeroed in on one word. "Your wife?"

John stared blankly at her for a moment until it seemed to sink in, and then he covered his face with his hands, his shoulders shaking. "I am sorry. I do not know what I was thinking when I said that," he muttered. "Forgive me."

"Of course," she assured him. Her heart was warmed despite herself, and she was ridiculously glad to hear him call her his wife again, even if it was only a slip of the tongue. She stood to hug him, wrapping her arms around his thin shoulders. "Of course I forgive you, John."

But instead of folding himself into her embrace as he so often did, he stepped away from her. "I am sorry, Donna, but I am afraid that we have become far too close as of late. My mind and heart are straying, and I cannot allow that to happen." His voice was cold and indifferent. "Perhaps you should go back to your room now. Take rest. I will find someone else to help me finish up my work."

Donna's heart was breaking at his words. He couldn't do this! "John-"

"I am afraid that I must insist," he said, firmly. "I am a married man even though my wife is not present, and you have no business being in my classroom, let alone in my bed. Perhaps we can work together again in a few months, after we have both managed to regain control over ourselves."

Donna shook her head, trying to hold back her tears, but it was useless. She wished she could tell him that his slip of tongue was correct and she actually was his wife. She'd do anything to stop him from pushing her away, but he obviously didn't want her to stay. She let him lead her to the door. "John, please-"

"Go," he said, firmly. As soon as she was out, he closed the door behind her.

Donna knew that it wouldn't last forever, but in that moment, she had never felt more alone.

That night, she was awoken by a soft knock on her bedroom door. She gathered up her long, frilly nightdress and made her way to the door. She cracked it open. "Yes?"

"It is only me," John's soft voice answered. "May I come in?"

Donna didn't speak, but pulled open the door. John stepped inside, looking terribly nervous.

"I am sorry about what happened earlier," he admitted, stepping closer. One hand rubbed the back of his neck, a gesture that was so Doctor-like that it made Donna's knees tremble. "I do not want you to be angry with me. But we really cannot do this anymore."

"Do what?" she asked, watching him intently. He almost seemed to glow in the soft moonlight that filtered in through her window.

"This," John answered, and pulled her into his arms, leaning to kiss her. Donna kissed back for a moment, savoring the taste of him, but then she forced herself to pull away.

"If we can't do this, why are you kissing me?" she asked.

John didn't answer, but pulled her close to him again, his arms going around her middle. "Please," he begged, his voice husky with want, and Donna was a goner. When he tried to kiss her again, she didn't pull away.

He didn't speak to her the next day, and Donna wasn't quite sure what to think. Some part of her had expected it. The Doctor always tried to run from his problems rather than face them, and John was no different in that regard. The difference was that Donna had never been the problem before. She didn't know what to do to help fix things.

She spent that night and the next day alone in her bedroom, feigning illness when the maids showed up to clean and were surprised to find her present and alone.

On the next night, there was finally a familiar knock on her door. It was with a heavy heart that she went to answer it, knowing that she would have to turn down John's advances. She couldn't let him go on like this, feeling guilty.

But he didn't go to grab her. Instead, he sat on the foot of her bed, looking very serious. "I heard that you have been unwell. I hope that I did not cause your illness by putting undue stress on you."

Donna offered him a small smile. "I'm not ill, John. I just told the maids that so they would leave me alone. I knew you didn't want to see me, so I stayed in here and rested like you advised." She hadn't exactly rested, as it were, but she had taken some time to read and soak in the tub.

"I am very relieved to hear that," he said, with a sigh. Donna expected him to leave now that he had checked on her, but he kept talking. "Since you are well, I also want to say that I have been thinking a lot about our situation." His voice was low and soft. "And I very much want to take you to the Christmas festival."

Donna sat down beside him, feeling unsure. "What do you mean? Have you changed your mind?"

John didn't answer directly. "I called you my wife, and that has to mean something."

He seemed to be waiting for her to guess what it meant, but she didn't say anything.

"I know that we are unable to legally marry, and I believe that we have gone well beyond what is proper for a courtship already, but I want... I care for you very much, Donna, and I want to commit myself to you in some way." He played nervously with his own hands, not looking at her. "At least, until my wife comes back."

Donna reached for his hands, unable to be angry at him despite the implication in his words that she would still be second best. "You've already committed yourself to me," she said. "All of the sweet words you say, and the gentle way you touch me. I know that you love me even if you can't say it."

He didn't deny it, but he didn't agree either. "It is not enough though, is it? I wish… I wish I had never taken advantage of you." He looked ready to cry, and Donna made sure to tighten her grip on his hands so that he couldn't run away.

"You have never taken advantage of me. Not once," she assured him firmly. "I've wanted everything we've done and more. I hope you feel the same about what we've shared."

But he shook his head, not hearing her words. "I cannot keep coming to you and pushing myself onto you. We should not be engaging in these sorts of activities."

Donna snorted. "If you think about, I've been the one pushing myself on you. I love you, John. And you're not going to break me, so please stop worrying about that. I'm not exactly a delicate flower, remember."

John gave her a tiny smile and bumped her shoulder with his. "Perhaps not, but you are certainly the most beautiful flower I have ever seen."

"Prawn," she teased him. "Now, I don't know about you, but I'm half asleep where I sit. Let's go to bed."

Donna smiled when John wrapped his arms around her, leading her in a dance around the Christmas tree as the festival began. She clung to him, her dark green dress fluttering around her ankles as they moved together. She had never danced like this to Christmas carols before and it was great fun. Some of the songs were even familiar to her, and she grinned at the small band of boys who were providing the music.

John was careful to keep a respectable distance between them, not letting his body press against hers for fear of the other people seeing. It was improper enough for them to dance together at all, as they were neither courting or married, but it was not entirely outside of the rules for decent behavior. Still, Donna could feel eyes on them as they swirled around the room, and she was sure that gossip would be spreading by tomorrow.

"We must separate soon, or there will be questions," John whispered to her. "When this song ends, I will go get us some refreshments, and then we shall go our own ways for a while. Perhaps we can dance again later."

"I wish I could hold you like this all night," she whispered back, and was met with a beaming smile.

"Oh, the night is a different story, my love," he whispered. "I intend to hold you very close indeed then."

The song began its final swell, and Donna pulled him just that much closer, her hips brushing against his as they came to a stop. "I can hardly wait," she whispered, and they shared a look as the music ended.

Unfortunately, the Family had other ideas, and John was soon gone. He did not get to hold Donna that night, but the Doctor was happy to do so in his place. And though Donna missed John, she was very happy to have her own husband back again, and to have no more worries of being second best.

A/N: By the way, if anyone has any prompts for a chapter that you might like to see written, please feel free to suggest them. I can't promise that I will use them, but I will definitely consider them.