Danni wasn't sure what the maths was for. Or, in fact, where the blackboard had come from, although she could probably blame the TARDIS for that. They'd had… well, it had been an interesting couple of weeks. The morning after their trip to the planet with the golden skies she'd woken up alone in bed again. The Doctor had decided that he didn't want to join her. However, there was a cup of tea waiting for her on the bedside table. She'd taken it with a happy smile, but then had grimaced slightly at the large amount of sugar he'd put in it.
It was a start, though. Nevermind the five hundred years they'd been together, she had to admit he'd tried.
They'd not really spent a lot of time together, if she was honest. He had become very hard to find in the TARDIS, and she'd spent a lot of time in the theatre getting reacquainted with the television and the internet. She'd had an email off Brian Pond that had broken her hearts just a little, but she hadn't gone to find the Doctor. There was nothing he could have done about it, and she still wasn't sure he wouldn't bark at her if she cried.
All in all it had been an incredibly uneventful time for them, and Danni had started to get a bit bored of barely seeing him. So she'd gone to look for him and found him doing maths in the console room. She'd asked what he was trying to work out, but he'd just suggested that they fetch Clara and take her somewhere she wanted to go next. Danni had taken that as a sign to leave him alone.
He'd kissed her quickly before flying them away, using the fact that it seemed to stop her in her tracks to distract her from his attempts at maths on the board he'd found deep in the TARDIS. It was old Gallifreyan maths, an attempt to predict just when, exactly, Danielle would be over his bow-tie wearing predecessor and he'd be able to do more than the brief kisses that he had stolen so far. He missed holding her, and while the blush in her cheeks when he had landed them in Clara's flat had been a wonderful sign that she was still attracted to him, he couldn't be sure until that imbecile was out of her system. He'd never trusted this type of mathematics, but he was desperate and it passed the time.
He glanced over his shoulder at the two women. Danielle was watching him with that look of interest that she always did – he knew she wouldn't understand what he was writing so he felt safe to continue on – but Clara was standing entirely too close for his liking. In fact, he'd noticed that the last time they saw her as well. She was always just a little too close, a little too eager to comfort her, at first he'd wondered if he was still hiding out in her personality. After all, it would never go away. Being consumed by someone's personality was always going to leave some lasting damage. However, the stronger feelings really should have started to die down by now. He was going to have to keep an eye on it, whilst also making sure that Clara kept her distance and her attentions away from his wife.
So, Clara's choice it was, "Take a punt." He called to her, glowering at his calculations. Something seemed off about it; he couldn't seem to get an actual answer.
"Right." Clara replied, pondering on what to do. They needed somewhere nice, something exciting. Something new, Danni always liked new and even though she seemed slightly better this time, she needed to make up for not throwing more of a fuss when they'd gone into the Dalek.
"Your choice." The Doctor continued, tempting her further, "Wherever, whenever, anywhere in time and space."
The whole of time and space was such a large pool to choose from. She didn't know much about the future other than what the pair had shown her, so she went with the past first. Danni loved Shakespeare, but that was probably a bit on the nose. But a literary figure probably was a good way to go, "Well, there is something," She started leadingly, "someone that I've always wanted to meet. But I know what you'll say." She shot Danni a cheeky grin that the Doctor missed, one that Danni smiled at. Clara was trying to intrigue him, knowing that it meant a better chance of him saying yes to her suggestion, and in doing so it had also caught her attention as well.
"Try me." The Doctor replied, wiping off a bit of chalk to redo part of the calculation. He needed a date, something to aim for, but this wasn't coming up with anything concrete at all. There had to be a day when she would get over him!
"You'll say he's made up, that there is no such thing." Clara continued.
"Who?" Danni asked before the Doctor could question her further. He placed the chalk down, turning to see her face. She looked excited, Clara had obviously already sold her on the idea even before she'd told them who she wanted to go see. He really hoped it lived up to her expectations.
Clara turned on the spot so she was facing Danni, "It's…" She started before a giant, excited grin appeared on her face, "It's Robin Hood!" She squealed.
The Doctor tried not to roll his eyes as Danni's excited look faltered slightly, "I don't think he's real, sweetie." She broke to her friend gently. She'd been so looking forward to meeting someone new, as well.
"But what if he is?" Clara replied eagerly, "What if we went back in time and met Robin Hood?" Danni had to admit that did sound amazing. She'd always been brought up to think of him as a myth, though. As a wonderful, fictional character and an amazing fox in that Disney cartoon.
She wanted to believe, though. She wanted to be taken in by Clara's hopeful eyes and she turned to her husband, "What do you think?" She asked him cautiously. He walked over to the railings that ran around the edge of the upper floor that he was stood on.
"Robin Hood, the heroic outlaw, who robs from the rich and gives to the poor." He summarised and Danni nodded.
"He sounds too good to be true." She agreed.
"That's because there's no such thing." He replied smugly and Clara shot him a look as Danni looked distinctly disappointed.
"And what about you?" She counted and he frowned.
"Me?"
"Yeah, you. You stop bad things happening every minute of every day. That sounds pretty heroic to me." She reasoned, before putting her arm around Danni's shoulders, pulling out her last card, "It's what drew Danni to you."
"No it's not." Danni protested as the Doctor looked at her, eyes widening just a fraction before falling into his emotionally neutral look.
"You can't say you don't like it." Clara teased, "Going out and saving the day, fighting monsters and stopping children crying."
"Of course I like it." Danni replied, "It's just not-" She trailed off slightly, because she did like it. She loved helping him save the day, and she loved watching him save the day, but that wasn't all she liked about him. He made her laugh, he made her feel loved. He was such a kind-hearted soul, even if he wouldn't like to admit it, "It's only a part of it." She conceded.
"See?" Clara bragged, shooting the Doctor a sly smirk, "Or are you too worried that Robin might be real and she'll fancy him instead?"
The Doctor's face fell into a scowl. There was no way he was going to let Clara bully him into going anywhere. He wouldn't fall into line just because there was the potential that his wife's head might be turned at a man he knew was fictional. Danni loved him, Danni had married him, and she was still here now. Just because he couldn't work out when she'd get over that idiot in a bow tie didn't mean she never would.
"Danielle?" He purred, "What do you think?" She chewed her lip, looking slightly sheepish and he knew that look; Clara had convinced her and he sighed, hopping down the stairs towards the console, "Very well." He conceded and Danni smiled brightly, turning to Clara and the two bounced up and down on the spot.
She'd missed travelling with Clara, and this felt like the perfect adventure to go on together, "We're going to meet Robin Hood." She gushed.
"No you're not, don't be ridiculous." He told her and she froze on the spot, all of her eagerness falling away at the barked insult and Clara took her head, dragging her towards the hallway. She gave the Doctor a hard smack on the arm for good measure.
"We're going to get changed, do your job and make sure you land in the right place at the right time." She told him firmly and he rolled his eyes, setting the coordinates. Of course he would get them to the right place, he could actually fly the machine, unlike his previous self who just liked to through them all about just so he could catch Danni.
He paused mid-program – that didn't seem like the worst idea in the world.
"Don't take too long!" He called out after them, "Robin will be waiting."
~0~0~0~
The Doctor stepped out first, into the luscious greenery that was Nottingham forest, looking around with the smuggest grin on his face. Clara made to follow, but Danni grabbed her arm before she walked off after him. Clara looked amazing, she suited the bright red dress with silver accessories she'd chosen, but Danni still wasn't sure about the dress she'd gone for. It was the same style, with the same silver accessories, but in a deep TARDIS blue. She should have gone with the green, she'd looked better in the green, but she'd thought the Doctor would prefer the blue.
"I don't like it." She hissed, "I want to get changed."
"You've gotten changed twice already." Clara pointed out, exasperated because Danni looked amazing. She always did, "You look fine, you'll blend right in."
"Did they even have blue fabric in these times?" Danni questioned, looking for any excuse to head back into the TARDIS. He'd not reacted to her purple dress, the best dress she owned, what if he hated this one too?
"It doesn't matter." Clara dismissed, "Don't you want to meet Robin Hood?"
"Of course I do." Danni instead, "But he probably doesn't even exist. Maybe I should stay back? Like last time."
"Last time he didn't shut up about you." Clara told her, like it had been a nuisance, "And he'll be the same this time."
Danni frowned, "You never said that before."
"I'm going out." Clara told her, becoming too excited to even wait for her best friend, "Join us if you like." And with that, she quickly walked towards the door, her booted feet clicking across the metal floor as she headed outside.
Danni dithered a bit more. She couldn't make up her mind. What if he didn't want her there? He'd done a good job convincing her that he did, asking her what she thought about Robin Hood, making her feel included in the decision, but then he'd shot her down when she'd expressed the slightly belief that they might actually meet him. Did he think she was an idiot, now? He'd never been able to stand the company of a true fool, what if he lumped her in with the rest of them?
She looked back at the hallway. She'd feel better if she wore the green dress, wouldn't she? Perhaps she should go get changed. She turned back to the front door. What if he left her behind again because she took too long? This time she really wasn't sleeping, so what if he thought that she wasn't coming?
She hitched her skirt up and ran to the door, before pausing again to compose herself. She could do this. She could go out and spend time with her husband and not feel like she was going on a first date with a guy she really fancied.
This was their second date. Totally different. Right?
~0~0~0~
Clara couldn't believe it. She simply couldn't believe it. She stared, mouth open slightly in sheer shock at the man who was stood on the other side of the stream that the Doctor had parked them by. He was even wearing green, hat on his head and bow and arrow to match. Robin Hood. He actually existed, and he was stood staring at her like she was just a big of an amazement at he was to her.
"By all the saints." Robin breathed, absolutely stunned at the presence of the woman, who seemed to have come out of the box without any sign that she could have fitted inside at all. She was very pretty, lovely dark hair that reminded him of… He looked behind the pair, "Are there any more in there?"
Clara reached out, grabbing the Doctor on the arm. The Doctor, who still didn't believe that the man in front of him was real, looked down at the offending hand, "Is that?" She asked, unable to pull her eyes away from the man in green as she began tapping the Doctor on the chest.
"No." The Doctor replied firmly, because it wasn't.
"Oh, my God. Oh, my God!" Clara spun in a circle, her inner fan girl getting the better of her as she couldn't stop herself from giggling, "It is, isn't it? You found him. You actually found Robin Hood."
"That is not Robin Hood." The Doctor declared, glaring at the fakery of a man across the water. He wasn't Robin Hood, but he pretended to me. So what, exactly, was he underneath the costume?
Robin, however, didn't seem too bothered about the denouncement of his character. In fact, he seemed to be rather drawn to somewhere just over heads of the two people on the other side of the water, "Oh my." He breathed, spotting the young blonde woman coming out of the blue box before either of her friends did. She looked much more shy compared to the female counterpart, closing the door to the box quietly as to not draw anyone's attention, as if she didn't want to be noticed. However, Robin had noticed her straight away, he always did. Damsels in distress had always been his speciality, and even from the distance he was at he could see she wasn't too happy, "And who might you be, fair maiden?" He called over.
The Doctor and Clara turned to see Danni frozen on the spot, eyes wide and face contorted into a look of shock, echoing Clara's feelings just a moment ago. The Doctor took a step towards her, about to reassure her that 'Robin' wasn't going to hurt any of them, whilst also taking a moment to appreciate her dress, which suited her perfectly.
However, none of them, least of all Danni, had expected the giggle that fell from her lips. A giggle of pure delight, like her brain had just stopped at the sight of one of her favourite ever fictitious characters. Her hands flew up to her mouth, her shock turning to horror at the noise she let out. She just giggled at Robin Hood.
Who smirked back at her, like he was used to such attention. Clara, on the other hand, laughed at her reaction. She was totally and utterly star-struck, and it was adorable. She turned to Robin, "That's Danni." She told him, "She's a big fan."
"Shut up." Danni hissed over, cheeks burning up, "Are-Are you Robin Hood?" she asked the man.
"It would seem my reputation precedes me." He replied as a confirmation and she giggled again, like she couldn't help it. He couldn't help but take it straight to his ego and he posed slightly as he looked her over. While her companion held his interest more with her dark hair and eyes that reminded him of someone else completely, she definitely was not without her char, "I wish I could say the same about you, Danni." The Doctor rolled his eyes. Danni couldn't tear her eyes off the stupid young man who was flirting so terribly with her. In fact, the moment the imposter had said her name she'd let out that ridiculous little giggle for a third time. She'd done the same around that stupid Earth scientist, Brian Cox, and he wasn't allowing some other pretty little man turn her head.
"She is my wife." The Doctor warned, turning to the man.
"Your wife?" Robin scoffed, although he could see the happiness that filled Danni for a moment, like she couldn't believe he had actually said it. This old man did not seem to understand how lucky he was if that was the case, he should be declaring it to the world every day. If only he could do the same for sweet Marian, "Surely not. Grandfather is more like it. Perhaps I should rescue her from you whilst I relieve you of your magic box."
"Not in this universe or the next." The Doctor swore darkly, although it was very unclear whether he was talking about the TARDIS or Danni. He strode purposefully forward, meeting Robin on the small bridge that joined one side of the stream to the other. Danni, in a much less graceful manner than Clara had done, dashed down from in front of the TARDIS to her friend's side.
"Is it him?" She asked, "Really, though?" Clara nodded and Danni squealed slightly, the pair bouncing up and down together in excitement. This had been such a good idea! Clara knew she had always been better at dates.
She took Danni's hand, "Come on." She whispered encouragingly and the pair rushed up the side of a mossy embankment so they could get a better view of the fight.
"Well then, draw your sword and prove your words." Robin taunted, his sword out and pointing directly at the doctor.
"I have no sword." He undid the buttons on his jacket, holding it open to show he wasn't lying, "I don't need a sword." He reached into his pocket, pulling out his duelling glove. He'd been contemplating removing it from his pockets – didn't want to carry too much rubbish with him, after all – but it turned out keeping it was the best decision after all.
"Because I am the Doctor." He declared, his eyes drifting to Danni, who's attention was on him instead of Robin, a faint flush to her cheeks. She'd always liked him talking. He reached into the top pocket of his jacket, "And this is my spoon." He pulled out the silver spoon, brandishing it like a sword as he posed, ready to fight, "En garde!"
Danni blinked as she watched the Doctor face off Robin Hood. She was sure he swore at him – or, at least, shot him a rude gesture as he pulled on the leather gauntlet. Of course, she'd not been expecting the spoon at all. It was nice to know he still wasn't a fan of weaponry, but she did have to turn to Clara to confirm what she had seen, and the slightly baffled look on her friend's face did just that. What the hell was the Doctor thinking? Robin had a real sword, one that clanged when it hit the spoon he was defending himself with. She watched with baited breath as they fought it out, the Doctor blocking every thrust Robin sent his way and she couldn't help but smile at his efforts.
The Doctor managed to get behind Robin, smacking him on the head with the spoon like it was a newspaper and the man in green turned around, hand on his head, looking deeply offended at the attack, "Ow!"
"You're amazing." Clara cried, actually surprised at the skill the Doctor seemed to have.
"Oh, he's had loads of training." Danni gushed before he could even reply, "There was Richard the Lionheart with his first face, then there was Errol Flynn, that was his fourth face-"
"Fifth!" The Doctor corrected, shoving Robin away with a quick flick of his wrist.
"Sorry, yes, that was Five." She continued. Sometimes some of the smaller stories got mixed up in her head, "Then, when we somehow managed to land in Norway sometime in the 1940's, and met this completely bonkers man called Jack Churchill. He thought the Doctor needed some proper training."
"I beat him." The Doctor confirmed, trading places with Robin again.
"He tried to show me, once." Danni told Clara, lower this time so Robin didn't hear, "I kept cutting myself. I wasn't allowed near another sword."
"You're still not!" The Doctor called just as Robin took a swipe at him, cutting one of the buttons off of his jacket. He shot Robin the most outraged look, but Robin was just confused about how he seemed so angry. It was just a jacket, after all.
Then the Doctor held both hands out by his sides, like he was surrendering and Robin took his chance. He lunged forward, sword ready and the Doctor heard Danni gasp in fright. He barely kept the smug smirk off his face as he deflected Robin, turning around and pushed him straight into the stream with a very loud splash.
He'd expected Danni to cheer, to congratulate him, but the two women appeared by his side, looking into the water with concerned looks on their faces. Ah, of course, her big heart. Maybe making her worry about the fake Robin wasn't the best idea he'd had.
"Are you okay?" Danni asked quietly and he frowned for a moment, turning to her, wondering if she could see Robin when he couldn't. But she was looking up at him, the concerned look on her face aimed straight at him. She was worried about him? Oh, he did like that.
He blew on his spoon before polishing it on his elbow, like he didn't have a care in the world, "Like I said," He replied, "My wife." He didn't react too much to the flush on her cheeks, the way her lips turned up happily. Of course Robin, or whoever he was, wouldn't turn her head. She adored him, she always had done. She was his wife.
Clara, on the other hand, was still looking worriedly into the water, "Doctor?" The trio looked into the water, the Doctor pocketing his spoon, as they all tried to look for where Robin could have possibly gone. He really should have emerged by…
The Doctor yelled out in surprised as Robin popped up behind them, pushing him into the water with another splash. Danni gasped slightly but when she saw that he was alright, just incredibly annoyed, she joined in with the laughter as well. Robin pulled himself up onto the bridge next to Danni.
"Are you okay?" She asked the other man, much to the Doctor's dismay.
"Never better, fair Danni." He promised, "Your husband was an excellent sparring partner, I shall not see the likes of him again for some time."
"Oh, you've never met anyone like me." The Doctor retorted scathingly as he climbed out of the stream.
~0~0~0~
He actually had Merry Men. Robin Hood and His Merry Men. Danni couldn't believe her eyes, but she wanted to, oh so much! She couldn't believe that this was all turning out to be true. That in a forest, in a hollow with a cave and a fire and places to sleep. Like a little hideaway for them all to live in together, to keep away from the law.
Clara was with Robin, glued by his side but Danni hung back with her husband, who was less than pleased to see the entire set up. He stared around, analysing everything he could see with those eagle eyes of his, "So, is it real?" Danni whispered.
"Of course it's not." He retorted with a scoff, "Robin Hood is not real." She nodded with a sad sigh.
"I didn't think he would be." She replied forlornly and he looked down at her from the corner of her eye. She looked disappointed as she looked at the crowd of men around Clara. He didn't know how to feel about that, to be honest. Clara was a pretty young girl, but they should have been fawning over his Danielle, surely? He knew who he'd choose. However, he was also glad they weren't paying her too much attention. She was his wife, after all.
"I'm sorry." He told her honestly and she looked up at him, nose crinkled in that adorable way she always did when she was confused, "For him not being real."
She shrugged, smirking slightly as she looked back at Clara and Robin, "Well, it's like Clara said, isn't it?" She replied, "I already have my hero, I don't need another one."
Yet again the Doctor had to wonder if he should hold her hand again. He had a couple of times since they'd settled back down on the TARDIS. Not outside, no, but he missed holding it and she had yet to pull away.
"I suppose," she started before he could make a proper decision, "the question is; if he's not Robin Hood, what exactly is he?"
The Doctor nodded, "That is the question." He purred in reply, "You've always been so very good at this, Danielle. What do you think?"
She shot him a surprised look. She'd not expected him to ask her opinion, just thought he'd charge straight in. She turned to the group again, a thoughtful frown appearing, "Are we definitely on Earth?" She asked him.
"Right planet." He agreed, "It feels like the right time, but I have to admit, it wouldn't be the first time I haven't noticed a shift in time."
She nodded, "Okay. Androids, then?" She offered, "Some sort of themed attraction – 'The Robin Hood Experience'?"
"Could be." He replied, "Miniscope, perhaps?"
"What's a miniscope?" Danni asked in reply and the Doctor pulled a serious face.
"Something not very nice indeed." Was his answer before he stalked over to the crowd. He could think of a million and one things that meant that a Robin Hood could be stood in front of them, and hardly any of them were as nice as Danni had suggested. He didn't want it to be anything bad, he wanted it to be something wonderful he could show her, but the universe had never proved to be that kind and he knew it was probably not going to be the case at all.
"…This is Friar Tuck. Aptly named for the amount of grub he tucks into." Robin was saying, motioning to a very large man in a brown robe set. Clara laughed with the rest of them as Friar Tuck stepped forward, pretending to be annoyed.
"You skinny blackguard." He stumbled as the Doctor reached down, taking off one of the sandals from his feet. He turned as the group all shot the Doctor strange looks. Danni winced slightly – oh, his people skills were terrible these days. She rushed over to his side, giving Clara a reassuring rub on the arm as she went passed.
"What are you doing?" Friar Tuck demanded, confused. The Doctor pointed the sandal at the large man.
"This isn't a real sandal." He accused.
"Yes, it is." Friar Tuck exclaimed in reply. The Doctor took a sniff of the sandal and Danni rolled her eyes - why didn't he just lick it?
"Oh. Yes, it is." He agreed at the horrid smell of dirty feet. Danni grabbed his arm, tightening her grip before he could pull away.
"A word." She demanded lowly. He looked ready to protest and Danni shot him a pointed look, "Now, Doctor." She tugged at his arm, pulling him away from the group slightly and Robin tried to gloss over the Time Lord's strange behaviour, moving on to the rest of his friends, "What do you think you are doing?" She hissed.
"Something is terribly not right here." The Doctor reminded her, "I'm trying to find what is fake and what is not."
"Yes, and then what?" Danni countered, "We're in the middle of a forest, in case you've forgotten, and the TARDIS is parked quite far away! If, and I mean if, something is bad here, do you really want to be drawing their attention by sniffing their shoes?!"
While she did have an excellent point, one he probably should have thought on first, he still just couldn't leave it alone, "He can't be real!"
"I know, you've said." She retorted, "But you can't go around sniffing shoes or pulling your screwdriver out," she pointed at him, "Cause I know you were going to do that next. People will notice, people you don't want to know."
"What am I supposed to do, then?" He snapped back.
"What you always do." She told him, "Get that noticing face on, Spaceman. Observe. Honestly, you used to be a lot better at this." He looked at her, insulted, but saw the challenge in her eyes. She thought he couldn't be better than his predecessor, eh? He'd show her.
"And what, my Pet, are you going to be doing?" He asked in reply.
"What I do best." She told him, "I'm going to make friends with Robin Hood." She reached up, placing a kiss on his cheek, "Just you watch."
She turned and headed over, joining Clara at Robin's side and saw the Doctor shoot her a glare from the other side of the camp. She looked entirely too happy being stood by the fake man, that flush appeared in her cheeks yet again. He crossed his arms, his eyes scouring the area, looking for anything that stood out at him.
Robin only shot Danni a smile when she joined him and Clara, continuing with his introductions, "And this is John Little." He told the pair, leading them to an incredibly tall man with a wild mane of hair, who looked down on them like he was glaring. Both of the women were actually taken aback by not only the size of him, but the stoic stance he stood in, "Called Little John. He's my loyal companion in many an adventure." They both jumped back as a smaller man jumped out from behind the huge mountain of a man, grabbing at Clara as they both let out yells of surprise. The group laughed and Danni and Clara joined in.
"Works every time." One of the other men teased as the two girls back up slightly, Clara completely taken in by the merriment and Danni finding herself falling in as well.
"Oh, I cannot believe this." Clara told them all, holding her arms out at either side to motion to the group of men, "You, you really are Robin Hood and his Merry Men."
"Aye!" Robin exclaimed, pointing at her with a deeply serious look on his face, "That is an apt description." He turned to the rest of the group, "What say you, lads?"
"Aye!" They all cheered in agreement, just happy to be included in a group with their good friend before they all started laughing again. Clara and Danni shared a look before giggling along with them and the Doctor glowered angrily, stepping forward. He didn't understand it, why was she amused by such idiots? She knew they weren't real, so why was she even paying them any attention?
"Stop laughing." He barked and they all fell to a awkward silence, "Why are you always doing that? Are you all simple or something?" He turned and stormed off. Danni shot a look at Clara – she knew she should have dealt with him herself, but she didn't want to be on the end of his anger again. She was starting to become rather reluctant to make him upset if she could help it.
Clara rolled her eyes, "I'm on it." She replied before heading off towards the Doctor, ready to tell him off for showing them all up. Robin walked up to Danni as his men busied themselves, suddenly rather tense at the words of the angry old man.
"Your grandfather seems not quite of the real world." He told Danni. She smiled softly.
"He really is my husband." She replied, glancing over at him and Clara, who seemed to be bickering, "He's just worried, that's all. It's nice, really."
"His cantankerousness amuses you?" Robin asked with a hint of surprise and she shook her head, turning to him and away from her best friend and her husband.
"No, it just makes me very happy." She told him, "Not so long ago he changed," she chuckled to herself softly, like it was a joke Robin couldn't even begin to understand, "and he's… well, it's nice to see him worried. It shows to me that he's still in there somewhere."
Robin watched her gaze drop from his face, the look in her eyes he knew he'd felt on more than one occasion. It was the look of someone who had lost someone truly close to them, someone they loved dearly and he hated to see it on anyone else. That was what he was trying to stop, he didn't want anyone else feeling as lost as he did.
"I, too, feel the darkness in your heart." He told her quietly, not liking to talk about it, but he couldn't let her feel sad on her own.
"Darkness?" She asked, confused and he nodded.
"These are dark times." He explained, "King Richard is away on crusade, and his tyrant of a brother rules instead. He has his sheriff running around, taking from all for himself, ensuring that the people are downtrodden." He glanced away, "I lost someone dear to me, I can see you have too."
Danni smiled softly, "I-I feel like I've lost him." She admitted, "But you'll find Marian again." He looked down at her, surprised.
"You know her?" He asked hopefully and Danni shook her head.
"I'm afraid I don't." She apologised, "But, if we are the in the same boat, then she'll do anything to get back to your side, just like you do for her."
"I fear it may not be enough." Robin admitted and Danni shot him the brightest smile.
"You are truly trying to find her." She replied, "That is always enough."
Clara walked over, interrupting their conversation. Danni blinked, surprised at how close they had been standing, like they'd been taking comfort in each other, in the heaviness in both of their hearts. She shuffled on the spot.
"He's promised to calm down." Clara told her and Danni shot her a suspicious look, "Alright, he hasn't. But maybe if you didn't stand so close to an Earl, then he might not get so jealous."
Danni scoffed slightly, "Jealous?" She repeated, "Why the hell would he be jealous?"
"Because you're his wife, you idiot." Clara teased in reply, "And you look fantastic in that dress."
"He's not been jealous since he re-" she trailed off, considering the company who was with them. Robin took the hint, knowing that some things were between a couple and them alone, and turned to Clara.
"What makes you say I'm an Earl?" He challenged and she grinned.
"You're Robert, Earl of Loxley." Clara replied happily, still not quite over the fact she was talking to Robin Hood, "Your titles were taken from you because you stood up against Prince John."
Robin looked rather amazed, "And how do you know that?" He asked, because only a select few knew of his story before the life he now lived.
"Because I've always known you." Clara replied. Before Robin could question her further, the Doctor stalked over, still looking incredibly miffed about everything. Danni automatically took a step towards him, realising that she had, in fact, begun to believe his story as if he truly was the outlaw he was portraying.
"What time is it, Mister Hood?" He asked, like he was asking a wolf for the time.
Robin looked up at the sky, checking where the sun sat in the sky, "Somewhat after noon."
"No, no. Time of year?" The Doctor clarified, "What season?"
"Oh, Dame Autumn has draped her mellow skirts about the forest, Doctor." Robin replied, "The time of mists and harvest approaches."
"Yeah, yeah. All very poetic." The Doctor interrupted, having no time for anything other than the information he'd asked for, "But it's very green hereabouts, though, isn't it?" He declared, stepping through the little group between his wife and the fake Robin Hood, separating them even more, "Like I said, very sunny."
"So?" Clara asked, confused as to why he seemed to be making such a big deal of it.
"Have you been to Nottingham?" The Doctor shot back in reply. Clara nodded; he had a point. She looked up at the blue sky that poked through all the trees.
"Climate change?"
"It's 1190." The Doctor pointed out.
As Robin declared his intention to attend a contest to find the best archer in the land, Danni turned to her husband, "The weather's not right?" She asked, knowing enough to know that while people could fool you, nature was usually not so devious.
"When have you known England to be so sunny in the autumn?" He replied.
"Maybe, though," she started slowly, like she was afraid to speak up, "maybe it's something else, though. Maybe he really is Robin Hood."
The group cheered all at once, agreeing with Robin on his chances of winning the contest and Danni smiled at the good time Clara seemed to be having. This was something she had missed terribly on Trenzalore, something she'd never really been able to find within those five hundred years. She had missed seeing the universe through the eyes of their companions. It was true that she saw things like they were new and exciting, usually because they were, but she had come to see just what the Doctor had meant when he talked about the awe on the face of their friends.
"Right, that isn't even funny." The Doctor shouted over, annoyed at all of them, "That was bantering. I am totally against bantering."
None of them seemed to be paying attention to him now, though, all too terribly excited about the chance of Robin winning a golden arrow, "It really could be him, though." Danni told him, "It really could be Robin Hood, we might have found him."
"When did you start believing in impossible heroes?" He asked her in reply.
"When I met you." She replied instantly and honestly, surprised by the surprise in his face, "I don't know why you don't know that."
"I may have forgotten." He admitted and she smiled softly, sadly.
"I think it's not the only thing." She told him gently.
Robin glanced over at the Doctor and his impossibly young wife. He'd seen many a woman married off to a man twice her age, but this didn't seem to be the case in this one. The sadness on the fair maiden's face, the sorrow the man kept hidden away from everyone, he couldn't help but wonder what had happened between the two to make them lose each other so deeply, and yet unlike he and Marian, still be stood together.
~0~0~0~
That morning had been spent travelling to the archery ground and Danni and Clara both couldn't believe how amazing it looked. A large wooden structure with viewing areas for the public, painted with the coat of arms of the land. It was like something out of a book, and nothing less than what was expected for a time when Robin Hood was around to fight for the poor.
The Doctor had refused outright to spend the night in the camp with Robin and his friends, having practically dragged both Clara and Danni back to the TARDIS before telling them not to leave until the morning. Clara had said it was because he was worried about having Danni around Robin, but now that they were on the ground below the masses, watching Robin winning the tournament, he was nowhere to be seen.
Danni glanced up at the stands again, but there was no sign of her husband, "He's missing all the fun." She told Clara yet again.
"He knows where we are." Clara replied as Robin, or Tom the Tinker as he'd called himself, and the Lord Sheriff taunted each other. She watched as, with a wave of the Sheriff's hand, their final target was moved further away from them both, "If he wants to sulk about being wrong, that's his problem."
"He might not be wrong, though." Danni reasoned, defending her husband, "According to history Robin Hood never existed. He's right to be suspicious, nothing good can be happening if the weather has screwed up."
"But it is really Robin that's wrong?" Clara challenged and saw the hesitance on Danni's face, "What do you honestly think?"
"I think that he believes he's Robin Hood." Danni said slowly, "And maybe that's enough to make him Robin Hood."
"But you don't think it is, do you?" Clara asked and Danni shook her head, "Why not?"
Because the Doctor didn't think he was, and that used to be enough too. Clara had always challenged the Doctor before, but she'd never just flat out ignored what he thought without good reason. The Doctor truly didn't believe that the man in front of them, who was lining up his shot, was Robin Hood and he seemed to be trying to prove that to both herself and Clara. That used to be enough, but now Clara didn't seem to want to listen to him at all. It was like she'd stopped seeing him as the Doctor, and that hurt Danni.
But she couldn't help but remember the story of the Doctor and the flesh, one she'd missed out on and one that annoyed her that she never got to do. The one with the two Doctors, where just because one had only been created there and then, it didn't mean he wasn't any less the Doctor. If the man in front of them thought he was the real deal, that he was Robin Hood, then maybe he was?
"He's not a fox." Danni answered in reply, not telling Clara the multitude of things running through her head, "Disney said he'd be a fox."
Clara laughed and Danni smiled as they turned back just in time to see Robin win the competition. They both cheered in unison, clapping happily at the sight of the arrow wobbling in the middle of the Sheriff's.
"That was awesome!" Danni cried, "Well done Tom!" Robin looked over at the pair, shooting them a wink and Danni giggled again, flushing deep red.
"Oh, you have such a crush on Ro… Tom." Clara teased her, bumping her with her shoulder.
"No I don't." Danni replied, her cheeks burning, "But… It's, you know…" She leant in closer, "Robin Hood." She whispered so no one else could hear her, "I can't help it."
"Don't let your husband see." Clara warned with a cheeky grin, "He might challenge him to another duel or something."
Danni snorted, although her hearts fluttered at the idea of the Doctor duelling Robin Hood for her hand. She would be wearing a dress not dissimilar to the one she was wearing now, except white, with flowers in her hair. Like a proper damsel in distress. She should choose the Earl, he has hire standing, but how could she possibly resist the Lord of Time? With his wonderful hair, and imposing grey eyes…
"Danni?" Clara asked, her brows furrowed in confusion as Danni came back into the real world. It had been a while since she'd floated off into a fantasy of her husband – usually it just sort of happened, she never needed to imagine, real life was always so much better.
"Sorry." She replied, clearing her throat as Robin stepped up to receive the golden arrow.
"Truly, he is the finest archer in all England." The commentator of the competition declared for the audience to hear. He walked down the stairs of the platform he was stood on, red cushion with the golden arrow held in front of him, "Come forward, Tinker. And claim your prize."
Robin and the commentator met in the middle and, apparently humble, Robin gave the man a bow. The commentator bowed in return as the crowd, and Danni and Clara, cheered at his victory. Robin reached out, so close to taking his prize…
An arrow flew through the air, pulling everyone's attention from Tom the Tinker to it as it flew at the target. It hit Robin's arrow straight on, splitting it down the middle in much the same fashion that Robin had done to the Sheriff's moments ago. The crowd broke out in confused murmurs as Danni and Clara spun on the spot to see the Doctor still in position, bow still in hand after firing the shot.
Since when could he aim that well? Danni knew from hundreds of years of experience that his aim wasn't as terrible as some people may have thought it to be, but to actually go through two arrows seemed a bit much, even for him. She stared at him with wide, shocked eyes as he lowered his arms. She almost jumped as he met hers, eyes burning with what she could only describe as anger. What had she done?
He stepped forward, as if stepping into the centre of a stage, as the crowd cheered for the newcomer, "I'm the Doctor." He declared to the world, turning to face the Sheriff, "My skills as a bowman speak for themselves. I claim my reward." The commentator rushed over, kneeling down in front of him and holding out the golden arrow Robin hadn't been able to claim. The Doctor picked it up, holding it within his fingers and looked at it with vague disinterest.
"A mere bauble." He declared, chucking it to the side, tossing it away like it was garbage as the crowd gasped in horrified shock, "I already have the most beautiful thing in the universe."
"What the hell is he doing?" Danni hissed. It was one thing to show off, quite another to disrespect the prize given by a man as angry-looking as the sheriff. He was going to get himself killed! And to bring the TARDIS into it was just idiotic! She took a step forward, about to rush over but Clara grabbed her arm.
"Look at Robin." She murmured at Danni's glare. Danni took a look at the man in green, who was already taking aim at the target and she couldn't help the small smile that appeared on her face. He was going to beat the Doctor, wasn't he? Good, serves him right for being a show off.
"I want something else." The Doctor continued, obviously not noticing that Robin was about to outdo his shot.
"Name it." The Sheriff retorted, eying the new man suspiciously. That was good, too good. Perhaps he had help as well.
"Enlightenment." The Doctor replied. Robin let go of the arrow, sending it straight into the Doctor's splitting it right down the middle. The crowd, Clara and Danni all cheered at the shot.
The Doctor spun slightly, taking a look at his wife, cheering for the other man and not for himself. He had, originally, been trying to win the match to talk to the Sheriff, to find out when this so-called 'Robin Hood' figure had appeared. The moment he saw how happy she was, how she cheered for Robin, how she wanted him to win, it became so much more than that. The man wasn't real, he was a robot, or a flesh duplicate or something not very nice, but she was falling more and more into the story. She was going to get hurt when she found out the truth behind the thief's existence, and that had burnt angrily through him.
So, to see her cheering so happily for him once again just made the Doctor's blood boil. It should be for him, her husband, not some man who was claiming to be someone he wasn't! He narrowed his eyes in an angry glare, blood boiling. He lifted his own bow, shooting off another arrow, not aiming straight at the target like some boring old human. He aimed at the chest of one of the guards, the arrow ricocheting off their armour, before splitting Robin's arrow once again. His attention turned straight back to his wife, who looked absolutely amazed, much more impressed than she had at Robin Bloody Hood. He shot her a smirk, his smug feeling only intensifying as she flushed a delicious red under his gaze.
Then Robin had to ruin it all by firing the final shot by not even looking where he was aiming. The crowd cheered, but it fell into the background as Danni – with Clara – bounced up and down on the ground, clapping at the skill he showed. His hands clenched and he chucked his bow down on the ground, storming over, "This is getting silly."
He pulled out his screwdriver, setting it off with a quick burst that caused the target to explode in a ball of fire. The crowd gasped in horror and shock.
"Shit." Danni swore, dashing over to the Doctor's side, "What was that for?" She hissed.
"To stop you fawning over an imbecile." He snapped in reply.
The Sheriff looked rather unimpressed by the pair, although his attention had obviously been drawn by the stick that had exploded the arrowed, "Fascinating." He drawled, sounding distinctly disinterested, "Seize him!"
Three men in heavy armour that had been lining the field of the competition, that until that moment Danni had disregarded, all pulled out their swords, taking aim at the two Time Lords. Danni's immediate reaction was to grab onto the Doctor's arm, taking a step closer, "What do we do?" She asked quickly, eyeing them all at once.
Clara, who had been off to the side, suddenly appeared with an incredibly large, incredibly heavy weapon, too heavy for her to initially keep off the ground.
"What are you doing? Put that down." The Doctor snapped. She was going to hurt herself and them before the knights that were advancing on them even had a chance to attack!
"I'm fine. I take Year Seven for after school Tae Kwon Do." Clara reassured as Robin dashed over, standing in front of them with his sword drawn.
"Don't worry, Doctor. I'll save you and your granddaughter." Robin declared. The Doctor glared at the back of his head.
"She is not my granddaughter." He snapped, "She looks nothing like my granddaughter." He looked down at Danni, "Why does he keep saying that?"
"Because you look older than me, sweetie." She replied, "Hadn't you noticed?" The knights continued to advance on them, not one of them deterred by the man who was defending them, "Maybe I should get a sword."
"Definitely not." Both Clara and the Doctor exclaimed at the same time.
"You are perfectly safe, my dear." Robin declared, "For I am Robin!" He took off his hat, as if he was Clark Kent revealing himself to be Superman, "Robin Hood!"
"She is not your 'dear'!" The Doctor protested but no one heard him over the cry of the crowd, everyone both surprised and excited that a real hero had been here all along. He charged forward, fighting valiantly with the knights until he took a swing at one of them, chopping off his arm. It felt to the floor with a loud thud, sparking wildly and showing them all that something was very wrong indeed.
Of course, the Doctor thought it was absolutely acceptable to dash over, crouching on the ground and picking up the arm. That was much more like the Doctor she had come to know; excited over new information despite being in the middle of rather a lot of danger.
"Robot." He declared, looking up at the knight, seeing it in a whole new, interesting light. Its helmet opened up, revealing a frowning metal face with a blue glowing cross on its nose.
"Doctor!" Danni cried, trying to get his attention as Robin held her back, "Get back over here now!"
"Now we're getting somewhere." The Doctor crowed.
"Take them." The Sheriff cried, showing them all that the robots were very firmly under his command, "Kill the rest. Kill them all!"
The robots started firing from the cross shapes on their faces, the blue turning violet as they shot at the ground, attacking the people around them. The crowd screamed, fleeing the scene as Danni pushed out of Robin's grasp, rushing over to her husband, who was standing back on the floor.
"Will you get away from the robots?" She hissed at him, grabbing him by the arm and dragging him back to Robin and Clara, not that he needed much persuasion. The knights were already advancing on the pair when the two joined them. The Doctor pushed Danni behind him and in front of Robin.
"He surrenders!" He told the robots and Robin looked at him, sword still raised, confused.
"What?" The Doctor proceeded to chop at his wrist, knocking the sword out of his hand and onto the floor. Robin looked at him in pure disbelief.
"You miserable cur. I had them on the run." He exclaimed angrily before turning to his band of merry men, who were looking at him for direction, "Flee, lads, flee! Live to fight another day!" And they did just that, rushing out of the arena as the Sheriff ordered the knights to take them all to the dungeons.
"What are you up to?" Clara asked the Doctor as they were marched out of the area by the robots, all holding them at sword point.
He didn't answer her, instead turning to his wife, "I don't look older than you." He told her. Danni nodded her head, not the least bit disturbed at being captured.
"You look twice my age, sweetie." She broke to him gently.
"So?" He retorted, scoffing slightly, "I'm almost four times your age." Danni shrugged.
"What can I say?" She replied as she was shoved forward slightly for walking too slow, "To a human, you look more like my granddad than my husband. It was the same at Christmas too, remember?" The Doctor frowned as they fell silent. He had noticed the subtle differences between them, she looked gorgeous in her youthfulness compared to him, but was it really an issue? He remembered hating it back on Trenzalore, but now it felt right. Did people really think he was too old for her? Did she think that too?