~Sonnet 130: Martha and Riley~
Martha stretched out in her seat, listening to the pleasant crackle she heard in her limbs. Putting down her book, she turned off the light and stared out into the night' sky, smiling at the familiar moon.
Mickey' light snoring caught her attention and she tried not to giggle and wake up as she caught his reflection in the window.
She gazed out into space again and hoped that somehow, somewhere, a very special person could hear her.
"Thank you Doctor." She whispered to him, the man who had changed her life and turned into upside down.
She smiled at the memory of his suit.
Of the way he ran.
Of his captivating smile and personality.
She then remembered her friends she had met and the 'acquaintances' she made.
She smoothed down the growing bump on her stomach, patting it lightly beneath her white, cotton night gown.
He would be happy for her.
And so would William Shakespeare. The greatest writer history. The most phenomenal and fantastic man, who could roll words off his tongue better than the doctor ever had.
And she remembered when he had attempted to kiss her. How close she was to doing so. Until she had caught a whiff of his breath.
She shut her eyes again and allowed herself to daydream, back to one man, whom, on her entire 'adventure' with the doctor, had shown interest in her and whom she had shown interest in also.
And if things could have been different...then what?
iRiley./i
That man with the cheeky smile and dazzle in his eyes, that she had seen on only a few young men, one of them being Mickey.
She felt herself drifting off into her memories.
The escape pod was suffocating. The heat was beyond unbearable and it was getting difficult for Martha to even put her hand against the metal of the small vessel, for fear of burning herself.
She couldn't help but cry and looked over at Riley, who had just stared at her and said two words she didn't expect.
"I'm sorry." He shuddered as if catching himself in a sob and looked ashamed of himself.
She moved forward and pulled him against her, their arms holding onto one another, afraid to let go.
Martha was going to die.
She had thought of every way for the Doctor to come save her and yet here she was.
All hope gone.
Alone, with a man she barely knew.
And although she was scared, she still felt comforted. This man was human, just like her and just as scared as she was. And yet, he felt it right to apologise to her for something he had no control over.
Pulling away slightly, her hands coming up to cup either side of his face, she pressed her lips to his quickly, accepting his apology.
"It's alright," She planted another kiss there to reassure him, "it's not your fault, silly boy."
Althoguh she attempted to laugh, she still sobbed with him as their kisses became more passionate.
Riley' lips found hers again and again and drifted over her face, neck and shoulders, before returning up to taste her, his tongue dipping in and out of her mouth.
It may have only been a couple of minutes of frenzied, desperate kissing, but Martha will always remember the seering temperature.
The passion.
The last touch before death.
The last moments before death seemed exquisite as he held her.
As they came up to gasp for more air, Martha laid herself down on the floor, physically exhausted from the sheer effort of everything. Riley joined her, their hands still pressed together as they talked where they were.
Martha' mind drifted and she thought to herself.
What if it had been possible to meet this man in her own time? Would she had given him the time of the day? Always busy with work and family and life, but she could imagine it. Imagine, this charming, determined young man asking her out until she said yes and going on dates with him. Drinks. Dancing. Out for a walk. A first kiss on the doorstep of her home. And then what? Martha' tears dried up almost instantly as they came out and she sniffed as she looked at him. A future she wouldn't have. She'd wanted the doctor. She'd nearly been snogged by Shakespeare. But this man...was wonderfully brilliant. He was with her in her last moments and she didn't care. She needed him as he needed her.
And then of course, the doctor had saved her.
Just as he always would.
And everything just seemed...it didn't quite make sense to her after that. It felt wrong.
She'd grabbed him before she left and parted with one, passionate kissing, begging for more.
A loud snore broke her out of her day dreaming and she turned to see Mickey rolling over, kicking off another bit of cover.
She loved him. She loved him to death, that's why she married him.
He was never boring, always made her laugh and put himself in danger to keep her safe. And he understand her feelings. The way you feel about someone who does care for you deeply but...there's always someone else.
And sometimes, when Martha stops and thinks, 'would my life be different?' she does not wish it to be different.
She merely hopes, that Riley is ok. Whatever time he is in and whoever he is with now.
She looked out into the nights sky again and smiled at the stars that twinkled for her enjoyment.
And she thanked them. And she blessed them to guide her doctor through the stars, for as long as he would travel.
As Martha found herself overcome with sleep again, she made her way into bed to lie with her husband.
Because no matter how many doctors there were, no matter how great a writer Shakespeare was or how wonderful kissing a charming young man called Riley had been, she loved him.
Her Mickey.