A/N: So a pretty calm chapter this time. Just some friendship-fluff. Keep in mind that the Doctor has now known Talia for over two month.

Chapter 6: Surprise!

I woke slowly, enjoying the comfortable feeling of total relaxation. I realised that I was no longer hurting anywhere; the bruises and cuts seemed to have disappeared. I suspected the Doctor had something to do with that and reminded myself to thank him.

I got out of bed, feeling very refreshed. After splashing my face, brushing my teeth and getting dressed I decided to go and find him. I went to the console room first, but he wasn't there, so I headed first to the med bay and then to the kitchen. No Doctor.

"Doctor!" I called, walking down the main corridor in the TARDIS. "Doctor!"

There was no reply, so I walked to his room and knocked on the door. After waiting a few seconds with not a sound, I pushed the door open. The room was empty.

"He wouldn't just leave me here." I muttered to myself.

There was only one option left, however, so I went back to the console room and pushed the front doors open.

I was home. The TARDIS was sitting on my front lawn. The front curtains were closed, so I walked around the back. I guessed the Doctor was inside with my parents and wondered how that was going.

The second I knocked on the back door, it was pulled open and the Doctor grinned down at me.

"Talia. Good to see you up and well, how are you?" he exclaimed with his usual flair.

I smiled back. "Fine now, thanks for taking care of my scratches and stuff. What about you?"

"Fine, as always." He replied lightly, and for once I knew it was true.

"So…are you going to move so I can come in and see my parents, or not?" I asked, folding my arms. "Have you told them what happened? What have you been doing? How long have you been in here?"

He held up a hand. "Hang on! One question at a time. Yes, I've explained everything. Your Dad got a bit angry at first and threatened to lock you here and force me to leave, until I explained that you saved me as well…they're very proud of you." He looked back inside for just a second. "Oh, and they were just about to start a movie because I was going to check on you…so how about we go for a little walk?"

He was acting…more hyper than normal. "Is that alright? They know that we're doing that?"

"Yeah, I was going anyway, so I'm sure they'll be fine." He assured me. Then he came out and shut the door, putting an arm around my shoulders and walking down the path. "Anyway, thank you so much, again, for what you did."

"You've done the same for me. I couldn't just let you die. I had to do whatever I could." I told him. "Although…I'm impressed you took the antidote without complaining." I smirked.

"Why? I don't know how to make it." He confessed.

"Well…it contained pear skin."

His face was one I wanted to take a picture of. You'd have thought it was me who poisoned him.

"Pear skin? Pear skin? Oh, the antidote would contain that, wouldn't it!" he grumbled, making a face, even though he hadn't actually tasted it.

"What is it you don't like about pears?" I asked. "I love them. They're sweet, and soft, like a mixture between an apple and a peach."

His rolled his eyes. "You won't understand. It's a Time Lord thing."

"What…so all of your previous selves hated pears?"

"Well, most of them. Well, some of them. Well…one or two." He trailed off and I started laughing, causing him to blush slightly.

"Anyway, so how long were you chatting with my parents? You had me scared half to death when I woke up and couldn't find you anywhere!" I cried exasperatedly, tapping him on the back.

He frowned. "It's been about an hour. Sorry, I was going to leave a note but I thought you'd be smart enough to come outside."

It was my turn to blush at his compliment.

Our walk lead us down to the small lake and then back. We went in through the back again, but he stopped me from entering. "Hold on, just a sec. I'm just going to check something."

"What?" I asked, but he was already gone. A few seconds later, he beckoned me in. "Doctor, you're acting really…Oh…My…God!"

The entire house was decked out with balloons, streamers and a large banner reading HAPPY BIRTHDAY TALIA. Of course. I'm 18 today.

Mum and Dad pulled me into a hug and wished me a happy birthday. The Doctor did the same, and I noticed he lingered a little longer than necessary with the hug.

"Thank you all so much! I actually forgot the date, it's easy to lose track in the TARDIS!" I laughed.

"The Doctor said that would be so. Tricking you and keeping you out of the house was his idea." Mum said, smiling broadly.

The gifts came later, along with a couple of cocktails to celebrate my entering adulthood. It wasn't my first time having a drink, but my first fully legal one (Dad was convinced there was a law that said I could drink in my parents' home once I turned 16…I wasn't too sure but had never checked it). Mum had gotten me a few new tops, a necklace and a new puzzle. Dad bought the entire Doctor Who boxset, series 1-4.

The Doctor asked me to come to the TARDIS for his gift. I finished the last of my second drink and followed. He disappeared into one of the back rooms.

"Close your eyes!" he called. I did so until I heard his converse squeaking on the grating, announcing his arrival. "Open."

All I could do was stare; he was holding up a red dress. It had a heart-shaped top with light, chiffon sleeves and a skirt that flared out slightly and was covered with more chiffon. Golden flowers were expertly woven into intricate patterns around the neckline, and a few threads of gold hung down from the waist. It was beautiful.

"Remember I told you I got you something in Rapor London?" he reminded me, seeming pleased at my response. I nodded, speechless. "Happy birthday."

"Y…you got this for me…after knowing me for a day?" I gasped, slowly walking over and touching the fabric. He placed it gently on the TARDIS console.

His smile made my heart melt. "Of course. You should know; I only take the best with me. I knew you would be here for a long time, so I found out your birthday from your parents. Do you really like it?"

I threw my arms around his neck. I felt happiness bubble up inside me when he returned the gesture, laughing and swinging me off my feet.

"Go on, get ready. Your parents are allowing me to take you to one of the greatest balls in the universe!" he announced.

"A ball?" I gasped. I picked up the dress and headed back to my room, calling out as I left, "You'd better wear your black tuxedo!"

"I was going to anyway, but why?" he called back.

I bit my lip. "I just…think it's appropriate, don't you?"

"Yeah."

Of course, that wasn't the reason; I actually thought the tuxedo made him look even more handsome…if that was even possible. But I wasn't going to tell him that.

I put on the dress, my new necklace along with the earrings I had bought in Rapor London, and then did some light make up. Finally, I piled my hair into a somewhat elegant style where half of it flowed down my back. I had done everything as efficiently as possible, but I wanted to look my best so it was around an hour later that I re-joined the Doctor in the console room.

He was waiting there, looking for all the world a prince awaiting his princess. For a moment I could hardly breathe as I took in his outfit, his face and his hair that he had left in a beautifully messy style. I wished he knew how I felt, so I could go over there and kiss him like I so wanted to.

Instead, after clearing my throat, I contented myself with saying, "You look nice."

Then I noticed that he was also staring at me. I felt my face heat up; did I dare think that he might feel something more than companionship towards me?

"Well, you look positively beautiful." His voice was low, as though he didn't want to spoil the moment with his usual, obnoxious rambling.

"Thank you." I said just as quietly, averting my eyes before they gave too much away. He walked over and offered me his arm, which I took, hoping his Time Lord senses couldn't hear my heart hammering in my chest. Who knows? Perhaps he could feel the love practically radiating out from me. If he could…I was done for.

But if that was the case, he let nothing of it on, walking calmly with me out of the TARDIS. In front of us was a huge castle, which we entered with a brief nod at the psychic paper. The room inside was the biggest ballroom I had ever seen.

Everything was either marble or gold-plated. Columns lined the edges, arcing up into a huge ceiling that was beautifully mosaicked. Dancers of all shapes and sizes crowded the floor, and a bar stood at the far end. I even saw quite a few humans about.

On the left was the orchestra. Currently they were playing a beautiful piece of music that was clearly non-terrestrial.

"Would you like to dance?" the Doctor's low voice in my ear made me jump, but I nodded, my heartbeat increasing again.

As though he was an expert, he led me into the crowd and took up a waltzing position. I couldn't help the shiver that went down my spine as he placed his hand around my waist and we began to dance. Gently, he spun me around the floor until the song ended.

I did my best not to stare into his eyes for too long, afraid to lose myself completely, but he seemed willing enough when our eyes did meet not to break the contact. When the music changed to a more upbeat tune, he adapted quickly and I laughed out of sheer joy at the skill with which he twirled me around the dance floor, dipping me and bringing us together and apart in a fluid series of motions.

After that song had finished, he led me over to the bar. It all felt incredibly romantic, but I wondered if that was his intention or not. I suddenly got a mischievous, and slightly selfish idea.

A/N: Ha ha...When you read the next chapter, don't kill me. It was a random idea I came up with one day and thought it was really funny. Hope you all do too. BTW, who else loved it when 10 wore his tuxedo?