A/N: I've been distracted by Real Life... and some bloke called David Tennant, who was recording a new TV programme this weekend. He seemed to appreciate me going to see it.

Part Ten

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Donna tried not to think about Chris during the afternoon, but she couldn't help it. There was too much to worry about; and one question kept returning to her mind. Why couldn't she remember their night of passion? Admittedly she had been slightly drunk, but she hadn't drunk thatmuch to be able to carry on but the latter part of the evening be totally obliterated. She quite clearly remembered them messing about in Chris' kitchen. Testing her centre of gravity indeed! Who did he think he was kidding?

All of that had been followed by him kissing her; it was definitely him who had started all that. Then they had moved to the settee… A blush crept up her cheeks at the thought. At least they had managed to eat something first before giving in to their desire to touch each other.

The next logical step had been to climb the stairs to his bedroom and explore their emotions some more. It was at that point that her memories stopped; blanketed by a hazy fog. If she pressed her mind to its limit the last thing she knew had happened was them trying to undress.

Tears welled up. All that suppressed emotion and she didn't recall the moment they had consummated their relationship. Why was life so unfair? It should have been the most beautiful moment; to treasure and claim her own for years to come, but all she had was mush!

Did Chris remember any of it? Had his body been on autopilot too?

Donna sniffed. It wasn't as though she could ask him now, not with the way he had behaved towards her. Instead, he obviously regretted the whole saga; and might eventually want nothing to do with her. This would need careful steps from her if she wasn't going to bugger everything they had built so far up. Thank god she had had the presence of mind to buy the morning after pill from Boots at lunchtime; that was one less problem to worry about. Okay, it had been with deep regret that she had taken it; but she was a single woman without many friends or family to rely upon.

At times like these she felt completely alone.

At precisely seven thirty, Donna's front door bell rang. Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, she plastered on a welcoming smile and opened the door. She let out a squeak of shock when she spotted the Doctor leaning nonchalantly against the frame.

"Hello, Donna," he smoothly greeted her. "I hear a meal might be in the offing."

"I erm... there might be," she quickly replied. "I think I can stretch it to three." Donna then ducked her head out of the door and looked around. "Where's Chris? Did he not come with you?"

The Doctor gently pushed passed her and entered her home. "Oh, you know how unreliable Chris is. He might turn up later; if he can be bothered to."

Donna eyed him grinning smugly at her, and gulped nervously. Bugger! She had hoped to gain some time before seeing him to explain everything. "Would you like a drink? Tea? Coffee?" she asked hesitantly.

"A drink? Come come, Donna. I think we both know you should not imbibe; especially after last night's little fiasco," he crooned.

"About that, Doctor…," she started to say, licking her lips nervously. "It wasn't quite what you saw."

The Doctor had stridden purposefully into her kitchen and was now stirring the pot that held a pasta sauce. "Are you sure, Donna?" he asked, not really looking at her as he added a pinch of oregano to the saucepan. He then sent a shiver of fear down her spine when he deliberately turned to look her fair and squarely in the eye. "It definitely looked like you were having sex, to me," he said in a low voice.

She tried to stumble back, but her waist hit the kitchen worktop behind her. "I… I can't remember," she blurted out, unable to hide the sob within her admission.

His eyes darkened, if that was even possible in that moment. "Can't, or won't?" he wondered icily.

She rapidly shook her head. "Honestly! I don't remember getting into Chris' bed or anything up until I woke up this morning. I suppose it could have all been completely innocent. We could have had a friendly sleepover," she tried to reason.

He removed the saucepan from the heat, and stepped right into her personal space, grasping her around the neck with one hand as he did so. "It certainly looked friendly… more than friendly. And since when would 'friends' do such a thing completely naked?" he ground out the question, almost daring her to make up a lame excuse.

"They wouldn't," she confessed.

The Doctor managed to step even closer, making her yelp in fear. "Then what does that make you, Donna Noble? What was it you said to me Saturday night? Oh yes; 'I do not mess about having premarital sex' I think it was. Are you trying to tell me that you and Chris snuck off and got married sometime during yesterday?"

"Nnnnnnno, Doctor," she stuttered. "We were drunk; it just happened," she argued on a whisper. "It was nothing more than an accident."

"It didn't seem like any accident I've ever seen. In fact you were positively encouraging him to bang you." He then impersonated her voice, saying, "Oh Chris! Yes, Chris! Like that! More, more!"

All colour drained from her face. How could she explain this away, or at least calm his temper down? Perhaps a little counterattack would work. "How long did you watch us for? Are you masochistic or perverted?"

His nostrils flared in anger. Was she actually goading him? This feeling was delicious! "Long enough to know you two probably didn't use anything," he retorted spitefully.

"Oh!" Donna couldn't think how to react for a moment. "Well you needn't worry about that, as I've dealt with it."

"What do you mean you've dealt with it?!" he demanded to know.

She answered as slowly as she could, laden with sarcasm. "I mean I went to Boots, asked the pharmacist very nicely and was handed the morning after pill."

His expression went apoplectic. "You did what?!" Without thinking beyond his anger at her action (her stupid, idiotic and plan-destroying action), the Doctor raised his hand to strike her; and then stopped dramatically. He found his hand held in mid-air as he did so.

No, Doctor! You shall not hit Donna; not now, not ever!Chris raged in his head.

'Let go of my hand! Stop spoiling my plans and making an idiot of yourself,' the Doctor warned.

I think you'll find that's MY hand, Doctor. And why should I help forward your ridiculous plans to get Donna pregnant?

'Why? Because Donna is my mate; I chose her as my life partner. Did you get that, Time Lord half-breed? Although I wouldn't be surprised if your feeble brain could not handle the magnitude of such a thing,' the Doctor huffed at Chris.

If I am so beneath you, why did you chose a human like Donna? Surely she can never be considered worth your interest?Chris quizzed him.

'Are you mad?! Even you know how brilliant she is, with or without the metacrisis,' the Doctor argued.

Donna watched the Doctor grip his wrist with frantic desperation, seeming to be wrestling with some sort of problem as he did so. What was he doing? Since he was so preoccupied, she distanced herself from his anger, moving away from him. "Is there something wrong with you?" she risked asking after a few minutes of him seeming to play puppets with his fingers.

"I was just saying…," he started to answer, as though they were mid-conversation about a specific topic. "Very funny," he sarkily said to the ceiling. "I know full well what you are trying to do!"

Donna looked up at the ceiling in vain, hoping to see the reason why he was addressing it. "You do?"

"Donna!" His attention snapped back to her, and he gave a cough, clutching his throat as he did so. The little creep! He'd watered down the potion. "I erm… I need to go. Yes, that's it. Things to do, people to see, plans to adjust. If I don't see you beforehand, I'll see you Saturday. Bye, love!" Throwing a quick kiss to the cheek in her direction, the Doctor practically ran out of her home.

Leaning gratefully back against the kitchen worktop, Donna could not help herself from remarking, "What the hell did that all mean?" Nor could she help trembling.

The phone rang. Donna raced to answer it and was deeply gladdened to see Chris' number come up. "Chris? Are you okay? Where are you?" she asked anxiously.

His voice was slightly slurred as he tried to answer her questions. "I'm fine; sort of. I'm still at home. Sorry, Donna, but I must have fallen asleep as soon as I walked through the door. Is it okay to come over, or is it too late?"

She almost wanted to cry with relief. Sniffing, she told him, "It's not too late. I saved you something to eat."

Chris felt his heart soar! She still wanted to know him, and he had finally gained back some control from the Doctor. This could only mean things would get better from now on. "You beauty! In that case I'll be as quick as I can."

If he was in any doubt as to what sort of reception he would get, all of that was cast aside when she opened the door to him. He almost risked kissing her properly, but instead he went for the safer option and pecked at her cheek. When she didn't reject him, he went to place a kiss on her lips, but she had already moved away from him and was headed into the kitchen, saying she would dish up his meal straight away. It took all his resolve to smile back at her as she anxiously chatted on. Something was definitely up with her.

Donna rambled on about her day, about the arrangements for the penultimate party the following night, about having to run around grabbing last minute things for Saturday's big do, and her efforts to fulfil her Secret Santa gift quotient. And Chris eagerly listened to her. He loved listening to her voice, and found himself daydreaming that this was what it would be like if they moved in together; perhaps married, with a child on the way, or with a dog at the very least.

It was the last part of his daydream that made him make the effort to clear the air between them, otherwise none of that had a hope in hell of ever happening. As it was, he waited until they were washing up before broaching the subject. "Donna, why don't you tell me what's really the matter?"

She almost dropped the plate she had been drying up. "You want me to talk about it? Seriously?"

Okay, he had expected her to be stunned to some extent, but this was worrying. "Yes, I do. Come on…" He forced her to put down her tea towel, took hold of her hand, and led her through to the lounge. Sitting down onto the sofa, he dragged her down next to him. "I acted off with you earlier, so I need to explain why. Plus, things have gone a bit… well…. strange between us, and I need to know what you think and feel about it all."

She frowned at him. "How can I say what I think until you tell me why you went weird on me? That's unfair."

"You're right," he replied, and gave her hands a comforting squeeze. "When I woke up this morning I was feeling pretty good; more than good, to be honest. And then the Doctor stuck his oar in, making me regret that I ever brought him into my life."

"He was here tonight," she confessed. "Oh Chris," she cried, and let him wrap his arms around her. "He frightened me."

"It's okay; I'm here now and not him," he crooned softly into her hair as he held her close. "If I get my way, it will always be me instead of him."

Donna lifted her head to ask, "What do you mean?"