Eve couldn't believe she was actually on a date with the Doctor. It wasn't that she hadn't imagined it—she had—but the reality was different. It wasn't like the times they'd been in the heat of a chase or the midst of an adventure. This was something entirely new. The Doctor had made sure it was just the two of them, and for the first time, they were not hiding behind the need for a mission or a quick escape.

They were in a quiet part of the TARDIS, the console room left far behind. The Doctor had brought her to a lovely little café that he'd found in a quiet corner of time, a place that was both familiar and new. The café was small and charming, with dim lighting and tables set up near a large window that overlooked a cityscape bathed in the golden light of a setting sun.

Eve was struck by how peaceful it all felt. They sat across from each other at a small round table, the Doctor's long coat slung casually over the back of his chair. He had been unusually quiet for most of the meal, only breaking the silence now and then to ask her about her favorite part of their adventures or to share an odd little fact about the time they were in.

He seemed different here—more relaxed, less guarded. It was a side of him Eve had rarely seen. His usual sense of urgency had faded into something softer, something more vulnerable.

After their meal, the Doctor pushed his empty cup aside and leaned back in his chair, his eyes watching her intently. "You know, I've always thought it was rather nice, this time and place. It doesn't feel like much of a date, does it?" he said, half-smiling, as if testing the waters.

Eve laughed softly, shaking her head. "I don't know. It feels like a date to me. The city's beautiful. The company's even better."

The Doctor's smile widened at her words, and he shifted forward a little, leaning his elbows on the table. "Good," he said, his voice lower now, softer. "Because... I wasn't sure how to do this. But I've been thinking about it for a while now, and... well, I've never quite known what to say."

Eve felt her heart beat faster at the earnestness in his voice. She leaned forward as well, meeting his gaze. "You don't have to say anything, Doctor. We're already here. That's enough."

There was a moment of silence between them, the kind that seemed to stretch out and linger. The Doctor's eyes moved over her face as if he were seeing her in a new light, the tension between them building with every passing second.

Then, without warning, he reached across the table and took her hand in his. It was warm and steady, the Doctor's fingers curling around hers, holding her gently but firmly. His eyes searched hers, as if looking for some sign of permission. "Eve," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I... I can't stop thinking about you. About us. How it's been... how it feels to have you here. You're more important to me than you know."

Her breath caught in her throat as she processed his words. The intensity in his gaze was enough to make her heart swell. She wasn't sure if she was ready for this, but at the same time, she knew there was no one else she wanted to be with.

Eve squeezed his hand, her own emotions bubbling to the surface. "I feel the same," she whispered back. "I've always felt that way. I just... didn't know if you did."

The Doctor's expression softened even further, and he leaned closer, his forehead almost touching hers now. "I've wanted to kiss you for so long, Eve," he murmured, his breath warm against her skin. "But I never wanted to risk losing you, not like that."

And just like that, the world around them seemed to fade away. In that moment, there was only the Doctor, only Eve, and the space between them that was quickly disappearing.

Eve closed the distance, her hand still entwined with his, and she pressed her lips softly against his. It was hesitant at first, unsure, but the warmth and gentleness of the kiss soon deepened as the Doctor responded, his hand rising to touch her cheek. He kissed her back with the same tenderness, as if he were afraid that if he held her too tightly, she might disappear.

The kiss was slow, as if they were both savoring the moment, the weight of their feelings finally spilling out. When they pulled back, their foreheads rested together, breaths shallow and hearts racing.

The Doctor spoke first, his voice quiet and full of wonder. "I never imagined it would feel like this."

Eve smiled, her heart fluttering. "You've always had a way of surprising me," she said softly.

And then they kissed again, this time with less hesitation, more certainty. The world outside the café no longer mattered. Only the two of them, and the unspoken promise that whatever came next, they would face it together.