A/N: Pie seems to have made us all replete. On we go.
Love is the answer, but while you are waiting for the answer, sex raises some pretty good questions.
~Woody Allen
Many are the starrs I see, but in my eye no starr like thee.
~English saying used on poesy rings
I.
She woke slowly to the warm comfort of being nestled loosely in his arms. She became aware of several things at the same time. First, she felt rested, calm, relaxed in a way she had not in quite awhile. Second, she was no longer lying beneath him on the red grass. Instead, she and the Doctor were side-by-side beneath her bed's bright coverlet in the TARDIS. Third, even though her face was pressed against the warm skin of his shoulder and his hand had crept under her pajama top to rest in the hollow of her spine, they were both very much clothed, a status that seemed impossible considering what had happened between them before she'd lost her awareness again.
For a moment, she lay still, mind racing, trying to put together pieces that seemed to be from two completely different puzzles. A disturbing suspicion grew, and her eyes narrowed.
That can't all have been...
"Oi. Wake up."
She rolled back a little and poked the Doctor in the shoulder. His eyes opened immediately. There was no sleepy confusion, no dazed transition from slumber to wakefulness. He was simply asleep one moment and alert the next. It was a little startling. His eyes studied hers, and he brought his hand up tuck her hair behind her ear, cupping her face.
"Hello," he murmured, his tone intimate. He leaned toward her to kiss her, head tilting slightly, but her hand in the middle of his chest brought him up just short of his goal.
"Ah. We're skipping right to the explanation portion of events, then. That's a shame." His words were amused, and she felt a deep joy in him that hadn't been there before. She realized that her awareness of that was flowing to her through their re-established bond. A crooked little smile played over his lips.
"Did we...did I...did you...? Wait. Let me try this again. What exactly did we do last night? And where?" She couldn't keep the uncertainty out of her tone, and she felt a hot blush creeping over her cheeks. She swallowed hard, her eyes searching his, trying to prepare herself for whatever the answer might be because with him, one never knew. Oh, I've never, ever had to ask that. Why don't I know? Sooo embarrassing... I sound like a drunk kid waking up in some one-night-stand's bed on the morning after...
The hand he'd used to push her hair back slipped down her neck to circle his fingertips lightly against where it joined her shoulder. She shivered at the sensation as memories came tumbling back to her.
"Come now, Pond. I should have thought they taught you all about the basic mechanics of the what in school in some boring health lecture. Or if not, that the popular media of your day had surely filled in the missing blanks for you by now... I mean, I'll be happy to explain the process to you if necessary, but after last night, telling you the hows and wherefores just seems so...redundant. You did seem to understand it all at the time. But maybe you've got the practical application down and are questioning me about theory..." His tone was pure Doctor-missing-the-point-lecture, but his eyes were dancing with mischief.
"In about a minute, I swear I'm going to smack you..." She rolled over onto her back, and she put her hands over her face in pure embarrassment. I'm not having this conversation with him. I'm not. I'm not...
He leaned up on one elbow and flashed a quick wicked grin. "Violent this morning, are we? That's no way to resolve an issue..."
"Ha. So says you." She moved her hands to give a pointed look down to the cuts on his chest, moving her head a little restlessly on her pillow. "Besides...I'm not...mad, exactly..." She wasn't. Incredibly, she couldn't seem to summon her famous anger at all. She just felt too good. She was, however, still curious. "But really, you have to admit, certain items of this particular equation don't exactly add up, right?" She plucked lightly at his open pajama top, her fingers grazing his skin as she did so.
He reached out to trace his fingertips lightly over her neck again. "Depends on which side of this equation you're on, I suppose."
"Doctor..." There was a warning note in her voice.
He wrapped his arms around her, pulled her closer ignoring her brief resistance, sighed with satisfaction as she allowed him to tuck her against him tightly, eliminating the space that had been between them. I can do this now. I get to do this now. Mine to hold, mine to reach for... He buried his face in her hair for a moment before answering her.
"The answer is both ridiculously complicated and absurdly simple, Pond. Which version would you like first?"
She reached for a button on his pajama top and circled her index finger around it lightly, considering. He could feel the touch through the soft material, a little caress he knew she wasn't even aware of. Then she looked up at him. "I think maybe you'd better give me the simple answers first."
"Good. The simple version is my favorite." He grinned as if at some inner joke. "Fire away then. I will endeavor to strip my answers down to their essence as much as is possible, given the situation."
"Okay, then. Okay." She took a deep breath. Held it. Looked at him. He looked back at her. That continued for a moment. "So..." She tilted her head meaningfully, hoping desperately that he'd take the hint, put her out of her misery, tell her without her having actually to form the question.
He, of course, mirrored her head tilt exactly and did not. "So..." That slight smile was still hovering about his lips.
"Well?" Her tone rose interrogatively.
"Yes?" His did as well.
"Gah! You're actually going to lie there and make me ask you if we really had sex or if it was all some freaky kind of dream?"
"Yes. Yes, rather think I am." He was laughing at her, she realized, and she swung a hand to punch him. He caught it with cat-like speed, held it gently but firmly as he rolled her beneath him.
"Doctor, let me go. I need to talk to you. I need an answer to this question."
He leaned down, nuzzled her ear gently. "No you don't, Pond. Not really." He nibbled at her earlobe. She shivered. She could feel the wanting coming from him, thick, hot, sweet, like honey on her tongue.
"But I don't understand. It had to be a dream. That place couldn't have been real. Doesn't that mean it didn't really happen?"
She felt his lips press against her neck, just below her ear. *Can you hear this, feel me now?*
God, that feels good... No. Focus. Yes, but what...
He softly brushed his lips over a sensitive spot and smiled at her reaction before continuing. *Do you know how happy being here with you like this makes me, how much I want you?*
You know I do, but...
He set his closed mouth on that place at the joining of neck and shoulder, and she felt his breath on her skin. Her entire mind, her entire body was focusing on him, on that innocuous kiss. Because it's a prelude...
*So it also follows that you know why you know, don't you, Amelia? You wanted the simple answer, and this is the simplest one that there is...* He kissed her there softly, so softly. *Why do you know it, impossible Amy?*
Can't think. Can't breathe. She ran her fingers lightly through his hair. Doctor...
*It's because you're Mine. That's the simplest possible answer. Everything else, that's just window dressing.*
And he opened his mouth.
II.
Their second first time involved considerably less tenderness, patience, and restraint on both their parts. Her hunger for him was raging as she felt his teeth nip her, his tongue lave. While he set his mark on her throat, she tore the pajama top off his shoulders and down his arms as though it had done her a personal injury.
They rolled across her bed flinging covering and clothing aside between claiming incendiary kisses from each other as everything inside them blazed up white-hot and unbearable. Caresses made up in ardor what they lacked in gentleness as they ran needy hands over exposed skin eagerly, seeking places they knew would make each other growl and sigh.
I can't wait...won't wait...must have you...now...now...
He was rising over her again, was inside her again where she needed him, where he needed to be, and he felt her nails sink into his shoulders as she arched under him. The pace he set was hard, fast, and she groaned in approval, in satisfaction, wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled her painted cat claws down his back asking for more. He set the fingers of one hand against her temple, and she instinctively mirrored his action. The climax came like a lightning strike, a bolt of sensation that sizzled through them both, echoing back and forth between them, leaving them shattered and panting.
III.
A few minutes later, she managed to get her brain restarted. "Well, I suppose that settles that question," she murmured hazily against his shoulder.
He snorted, managed to push up onto his elbows and kiss her, and then he rolled to lay beside her staring up at the ceiling. "And Ms. Pond has confidence of what it is that we've done this time, one hopes..."
She rolled her head on the pillow to look at him, shaking her head. "Yeah, yeah, yeah... Are you always this snide afterward? Because the custom as I understand it is for there to be some words of tenderness..."
He grinned. "Well, to be fair, you started it."
"What? How?" She frowned, the little furrow between her brows he knew so well forming.
"First thing out of your mouth this morning was asking if anything had happened. Can you imagine? No 'Hello.' No 'Thank You Doctor for that literally mind-altering experience.'"
Amy laughed at his audacity, but he went on.
"Not even a good morning kiss. I was much put out about the kiss, too. Have I mentioned how much I like the kissing? I mean you could have at least spared one tiny little..."
She rolled over and pressed her mouth against his to shut him up. It was either that, or she was going to have to kill him. He slipped his fingers through her hair to hold her there for long moments, enjoying the feeling of them together.
When she finally pulled back to lie beside him again, he licked his lips as though to get the last of something tasty from them and he sighed. "See? Delectable. Now. Have all your doubts about 'something happening between us' been sufficiently put to rest? Because if not, well..." He ran a fingertip down her arm, brought questioning eyes back to hers.
She looked at him in disbelief mingled with curiosity, brow arching.
"Ah, be careful. Remember, not playing by human rules here. Don't make me prove another go is possible..." Don't keep looking at me like that, or another go will be necessary. Possibly more than one...
She shook her head, summoning up enough energy from somewhere to flop her hand over onto his chest lightly to restrain him. "No. No. I believe you. You are a mad, mad man, but I believe you."
He grinned and laced his fingers through hers with a satisfied sigh. "In that case, what are your thoughts about breakfast? I'm starving."
IV.
They managed to get dressed, eventually. He insisted on getting in the shower with her which led to nothing productive by way of getting them out the door to breakfast but did make her see the huge tiled walk-in shower stall in her bathroom in a brand new light.
When they finally extricated themselves from the shower and each other, he opened the large mirror/medicine cabinet as if it were his own, poking around inside at the contents.
"Okay, even for you, that's rude and presumptuous. What are you doing?" She was drying her hair with a towel and had just turned around to find him rummaging through her personal items.
"I would have thought she'd have put it here by now..." He continued to pick up her things and look at them, set them back down.
"Who would have put what here by now?"
"The TARDIS. Little green jar. Salve for the cuts that haven't healed yet. Remember? I told you about it last night?" He was standing there with a bath towel wrapped around his waist looking at her hairdryer in puzzlement, flipping switches and shaking it. It wasn't plugged in. "What is this silly thing? What does it do? Well, it's not doing much of anything just now, is it?"
She scanned the bath and spied a jar that looked like it was made from green alabaster if such a thing existed sitting on the edge of the sink area directly facing into the bedroom. It was in conspicuous sight. The only way it would have been harder to miss is if it had come with its own personal spotlight. She sighed, walked over, picked it up, brought it to him.
"Amy, I don't think this works. I could probably adjust it for you, though. If I get my sonic, though, I think I could just..." She took the hairdryer out of his hands, slapped the jar into them. He smiled, happy as a child on Christmas. "Oh. Hello. There you are. Thank you."
Shaking her head, she headed out of the bath to put on some clothes. She'd managed to get her outfit for the day laid on the bed when he appeared in the doorway of the bathroom looking a little sheepish again.
"Pond, a bit of help, please?" He held out the green jar.
She looked at him and rolled her eyes. "Really, Doctor. Are you going to be this way from now on, then? What is it? Got a twist-off lid that's beyond you? I mean, how hard can it be..." She lifted the lid, not a twist-off after all, and set it aside, stuck her fingertips in the salve which tingled a little and smelled pleasantly herbal and began to gently spread some of it across one of the gashes that still marred his chest. It grew visibly smaller before her eyes, and she blinked in surprise before remembering what was going on. "See? Voila! Now you try it..."
His lips quirked in amusement. "Um, no. That's nice, and thank you very much, but that's not exactly what I needed the help with, Amy."
"Then what?"
He turned and she saw the several sets of short scratches starting at his shoulders and running part of the way down his back. It looked a little as though a largish cat had used him to sharpen its claws.
"Oh... good... God." She whispered, covering her face with her hand as understanding struck.
"I thought since I was using the salve on the others, I would go ahead and treat these, too. Of course, they're basically superficial, and I would have them healed by tomorrow, but the salve should get rid of them almost instantly, so..." He shrugged, turning his head to look at her over his shoulder.
"Superficial..." she echoed, her voice hollow, strange, unable to take her eyes off those marks on his back. I've never done that before...I've never, ever...What kind of...
He quickly sat down the little jar, turned, wrapped his arms around her. "Shh. I didn't show you to distress you. I'm sorry. I thought you knew you'd done it. It's nothing. Trust me."
Her hands were closed into fists and folded up in front of her. He put his hand under her chin, tilted her head so she looked into his eyes.
*Pond. You're not listening. It's nothing. I've had much, much worse. Trust me, please. /Distress/Frustration/*
She shook her head. I've never been that...
*Don't you think I know that? That I'm glad of that? I'm not ashamed of these. I'm...*
And the words stopped. He gave her instead sensations, images, his great pride in having a fierce mate who desired him enough to leave marks, who was strong enough to take all he demanded and still demand more from him in return, his pleasure in having felt her become so immersed in their joining that control had been stripped away.
"Don't be embarrassed. Please," he whispered.
She opened her eyes and stepped out of his arms, picked up the salve and walked around behind him. He looked at her over his shoulder, watched her dip her fingers in the unguent again and felt the soothing sensation of it spread over the shallow scrapes.
Her mind was still, shuttered to him. She should not have been able to do that, and he went very, very still as he felt around the edges of their bond carefully, tentatively. He'd thought once the bond was complete between them that she wouldn't be able to close him out. Mates sharing a bond who were fully trained had the ability to put a shield in place that allowed some privacy when it was needed, not the choking restraint he'd initiated when he'd tried to kill what was between them before, but sort of a curtain that could be drawn back and forth at will. He'd worried that without Amy having it, his mind would overwhelm hers eventually. Somehow, though, she seemed to have something like it naturally. He'd just seen it snap into place. It should have taken the full training of a Time Lord to do it, and yet ...
*Please, Amy. Don't make this something it's not. There is no shame in this. No shame in anything we do, anything we are... Look, Pond, I've had skinned knees worse than...* Could she still hear him? What if she...
Shut up, Doctor.
Suddenly, he could see into her again, and the relief was almost overwhelming. He felt her smooth more of the balm over his back, felt the press of her lips against him there between the shoulder blades as well, and he wisely decided to take her advice. How did she do that? There was no need to press the issue now. It might be a one-time occurrence. Perhaps the bond needed strengthening. He would see to it that there were ample opportunities for him to check... He stood pondering it in the privacy of his own mind while she continued to apply the salve. When she was done, she handed him the little jar, smiled briefly.
"It's okay. I was just...well, mortified." She held up her hand to forestall his speech. "No. It's fine. I've just never had the urge to claw a boyfriend to bloody bits before. In fact, I don't think I've ever...well...left marks on anybody before." Her face was flaming red. He found it too endearing for words. "It's a little disturbing. I'm trying to get used to the idea."
He took her hand in his gently, brought it to his lips, kissed her fingers, each individually as he looked her in the eye. She smiled at the silly little gesture.
"Can I just say, then, that I'm pleased to be the first to move you that deeply?" Wicked little grin. He took the tip of her index finger between his teeth, biting down lightly.
She pulled her hand out of his, and rolled her eyes. "Oh boy. I should have known that was coming..."
"What? What did I say? It's the truth, isn't it?" Innocent, boyish expression but evil, ancient eyes.
Ha. But I can hear what's going on in your head now. So that does NOT fool me any more... "If you'd like to avoid having more wounds than magic potion to go on them, Doctor, I think you'd better shut up now."
"Ah. Well. Shutting up, Pond. Shutting up." And he did. But he was still thinking about what had happened...about her mind falling silent...
IV.
They were laughing and having breakfast in the kitchen when Rory came in. His eyes flicked from one to the other, and he nodded as if what he was seeing simply confirmed a theory he had. He didn't look as if he'd slept much.
"Here you are. Well. Whenever you might be able to spare the time to drop me back at home, I'd be most grateful then, Doctor."
Amy looked at the Doctor and back to Rory, then down at the plate of food in front of her, distress written on her face. She didn't say a word. What was there left to say?
The Doctor looked at him steadily, played with the butter knife on the table in front of him, twirling it delicately in his fingers. The slightest of smiles still lingered on his lips. It wasn't a particularly pleasant or inviting expression, somehow. "Have your things all packed?"
Rory's eyes had become fixed on Amy's neck, exposed with the heavy fall of her hair pushed back over her shoulder, and she blushed suddenly, her hand flying up to cover the mark the Doctor had made. Rory's eyes were accusatory, and he opened his mouth to say something, but the Doctor rose suddenly, put his hand under Rory's elbow, and removed him from the room, saying just a little too brightly, "Come on, Rory. Let's go make sure you've not left anything under the bed or in the drawers. Nothing like forgetting a shoe or a sock is there? I mean, then you've only got the one, and you can't ever find the match for it, can you?"
Whew! The chapter must end here. More later, including talk of dream-Gallifrey, what happens when your ex and your Time Lord wind up alone together, and a fairy tale adventure. But right now, I have to go feed an angry army of animals who are about to rip the computer to shreds... Um, review, pls?