Before talking about this chapter, I just want to give a shout-out to all of my family who have been reading this story. Thank you again to all of you! And they're not even fans! For all readers who have been enjoying the action, it's time to take a break and just have some sweet fun fluff ^_^
Chapter 29: Chocolate Cake
I awoke on my bed with a slight headache and a sudden, strange craving for chocolate cake. For a serious moment I considered going back to sleep; I was unbelievably tired. But then a strong desire to see the Doctor arose, so I got up and got changed.
I remembered everything, including how scared I was when I realised I couldn't force the energy back down. The Doctor had helped me, however. The memory of his mind in mine comforted me greatly and I smiled as I headed out to the console room.
He was there, as expected, working on something that I would bet his screwdriver on didn't need fixing. He looked up as I entered and a grin lit up his face, prompting one from me. So much had been going on lately that I had almost forgotten how much I loved him.
"How are you feeling?" He asked as he pulled me into a warm hug. Not for the first time, I marvelled at just how warm his hugs were…considering how skinny he was…which didn't bother me at all.
"Fine, now. Although, I've got a craving for chocolate cake." I informed him. He chuckled, but got a glint in his eye.
"Alright, then. How about we take a break from adventure today and go and make one!" he cried enthusiastically.
"What about Donna?" I asked as he grabbed my hand and started pulling me in the direction of the kitchen.
"Aw, she'll be fine! She's in her room, doing something or other!"
I laughed at his nonchalance, but didn't really care.
Once we reached the kitchen he released my hand and started frantically rummaging in cupboards for a recipe book. Finding what he wanted, with a loud cry of "A-ha!", he dropped a surprisingly large volume onto the bench and flicked through the pages.
"Here we go! Traditional Gallifreyan Chocolate Cake, with essence of Shimerna and icing made from the butter of Time Cows!"
I stared at him, struggling not to laugh again.
"Doctor…just a normal, standard Earth chocolate cake, please."
He frowned and said loudly in his most whinging voice, "Aw! But the essence of Shimerna gives it the most incredible flavour that I can't even describe to you and Time Cow butter is so much better than Earth cow butter!"
I stared at him, trying to appear determined. "Normal cake. No exceptions."
He made a face, but flicked the book to a page with ingredients I actually recognised. We hurried around getting all the ingredients and I set him to mixing the butter and sugar together, then the flour, while I organised myself to grease a cake tin.
Just before letting him go, I asked, "Doctor, have you ever actually baked a cake before? Successfully?"
"Of course I have! 900 years old, and you think I've never baked! Honestly…"
I raised an eyebrow at him, which he responded to and I fought back a giggle. Shaking my head, I turned back to the cake tin. A few minutes later, I looked over at him.
And burst into a fit of laughter.
His blue suit was positively covered in flour and sugar, so much so that I wondered how much was actually in the bowl. It was then that I realised he had been using an electric mixer…but obviously didn't know how to.
"D-Doctor." I gasped, clutching my side as he turned and gave me a look that was half-annoyed, half-pleading for help. "W-What did you d-do?"
"Stupid – Earth – electric – blender!" he punctuated each word by turning the mixer off and, rather roughly, pulling out the beaters.
Still chuckling, I gently put the mixer far out of his reach and handed him a normal spoon and whisk instead. I went to show him how to mix without making such a mess, but he protested loudly ("I'm 900 years old, Talia, I'm not a child!").
So, rolling my eyes, I finished greasing the cake tin. When I noticed him reaching for the eggs, however, I knew I had to act.
"Ah, ah, ah, let me do that."
The look on his face was priceless. He hadn't made any attempt to de-flour himself and I didn't want him covered in egg next. I stood on tiptoes to gently kiss him on the cheek, before instructing him to get the ingredients for the icing.
"Can we put essence of Shimerna in that?" he asked eagerly.
"No."
"Time Cow butter?"
"No."
"Bananas?"
This time he gave me such a puppy-dog pleading look that I caved.
"Fine! Mash some bananas – with a fork not a blender – and mix it into the icing."
His look of joy made a funny feeling bubble up inside me, something that, as I'd thought earlier, I hadn't felt in a while due to all the seriousness.
Finally, the cake mixture was ready and I poured it into the tin and into the preheated oven. I was glad the TARDIS had provided everything a normal Earth kitchen would have. I had added extra cocoa and a touch of vanilla essence to the cake, so hopefully it would come out nicely.
I was amazed when I looked over at the Doctor and saw that he hadn't made a mess this time. His tongue stuck out in concentration as he mashed the bananas; a look that was oh too cute.
He noticed me watching him and grinned up at me. "Almost done!" He announced with pride.
I didn't respond. My thoughts had wandered elsewhere; my eyes were roaming around his face, taking in his gorgeous hair, his wonderful brown eyes…How could a Time Lord, this Time Lord, love me?
As if sensing my thoughts, he dropped the spoon and approached, taking one of my hands in both of his.
"Talia, while the cake bakes, there's something I would like to talk to you about." He gently lead me over to the table, where we sat down next to each other.
"Sure, what is it?" I tried to sound normal…but my insides were shaking with nerves: what if his feelings had changed?
He looked down before staring directly into my eyes, capturing my undivided attention. "I know I keep mentioning it, but I'm nine hundred years old, and a Time Lord."
I searched his face, panicking now. My heart was hammering against my chest.
"But, you must never forget, many billions of years ago, the Time Lords were just like humans. Just as much emotional creatures as you lot are. It's only through the many wars and an abuse of power that they…we…grew to be so stoic." He continued, the words being what I knew to be true but still carving wounds into my heart. "Somewhere, deep inside, I know that part of my species still exists. I haven't been fair to you, Talia, and it's time I confessed something."
I felt tears build up now, but struggled to prevent them falling. This couldn't be happening. It couldn't!
His eyes softened and at his next words tears did fall…but they were happy tears. "I have been trying to be too…disconnected from you, Talia. But no more. I love you with both of my hearts and, by Gallifrey, from now on I'm going to make sure you know that!"
And he stood up, pulled me to my feet and into a gentle but passionate kiss. At first I was too shocked to respond, but then I let myself kiss him back. My hands snaked around the back of his neck and into his hair. His pushed gently on the small of my back, pulling me closer.
All coherent thought completely vanished from my mind. I was in heaven. Completely oblivious to anything and everything around me.
Until a rather embarrassed and amused sounding voice said, really slowly, "Right…Well, I was going to talk to you two but I think I'll come back later."
We broke apart. Between my heart feeling like it was about to burst out of my chest, my face feeling like a sidewalk on a hot day, and my head that was still spinning…I couldn't remember ever feeling more embarrassed or elated as I looked at Donna, who was standing in the doorway, arms folded, eyebrows raised.
No tact. No tact at all.
The Doctor, looking quite as flushed as I did, scratched the back of his neck nervously and stuttered, "W-well…sorry, Donna…we were…um…just…"
Donna sighed exasperatedly. "Oh, stop being such a twat! I should've expected to come across something like this sooner or later…is that chocolate cake I can smell?"
The Doctor and I turned to the oven at the exact same time, where I could see the cake was rising nicely.
"Yes." We both said.
"Nice! Well, don't just stand there, you two lovebirds, I'll leave you to get back to…whatever it was you were doing!" she was clearly struggling not to laugh, which only increased our embarrassment.
She strolled away from the kitchen. The Doctor and I turned to each other and slowly smiled.
"Well, I have to say I wasn't expecting that." I murmured quietly.
"I felt like you deserved it, after all you've done. As I said, I've been trying to be too alien. There is a part of me, a small part, that is very human. I don't show it just to anyone, but I felt like I should let you see it. Especially considering that you've…what?...saved me three times by now? That's usually my job!"
I grinned, kissing him quickly again before turning back to the icing. "Come on! We've got to get this finished!"
Roughly fifteen minutes later, the cake was out of the oven and iced. I stuck my head out the kitchen door.
"Donna! Cake!" I called.
Her sarcastic but friendly voice echoed back. "You two stopped snogging yet?"
"Yes!" I gasped exasperatedly.
Grinning, she appeared from just a few doors down – the library.
"That smells brilliant!" she said as she entered the kitchen. But then hesitated, "Hold on, that's not some alien cake is it? I know you, Doctor."
I gave the Doctor a look that said I told you, we all love normal chocolate cake. "No, I made sure he didn't put anything weird into it. The most deviate ingredient are the bananas in the icing."
Donna chuckled before helping herself to a slice. The Doctor and I followed her. Even I was impressed at the taste of the cake. It was perfect; not too dry, not too strong. Everything was just the right amount. I had a feeling the TARDIS may have had something to do with that.
"Anyway," Donna began after a few minutes. "The reason why I wanted to talk to you earlier is because I've been thinking; of course I've missed this, the aliens, the time travel, the running…but now it's different."
"Different how?" The Doctor asked around a mouthful of cake. I shot him an exasperated look.
Donna smiled sadly at us. "I'm married now. I have a child. A family. I know you can get me back to within a few minutes of when I left…as long as you pilot the TARDIS right…but I don't want to be away from them. It'll feel like long for me and I will always miss them. So…except for maybe a trip here and there, I might go back home."
"Oh." The Doctor said, frowning. "Right. Ok, well if that's what you want."
I felt bad for him – now the second time losing Donna – but at the same time I understood what she was saying. I missed my parents so much, as much as I loved everything else. In fact, I was even thinking of going back home for a few days or so…but right now I didn't want the Doctor to be left alone.
Donna reached out and gripped his hand. "I'll still be there, Doctor. You and Talia pop round for tea whenever you want!"
That brought a small smile to his face. "Alright. If it'll make you happy Donna, consider it done!"
Hope most of that made you smile! And, sorry, but Donna had to go...it would have gotten awkward come regeneration time and her DoctorDonna thing was going to be too confusing. Although, she might pop up in the sequel...don't know when. No clues about the next chapter this time except this: It's not the regeneration yet.