The pool was simply lovely. It wasn't overly crowded, and while it was disappointing that it didn't have any slides, Danni knew that they wouldn't have fit in with the atmosphere of the hotel. It was probably why she had been able to find a couple of sun loungers for her and her husband; everyone else was at a waterpark where they'd be able to have some fun.
The Doctor had told her to meet him there, which had been a little suspicious but she'd grabbed her book and headed off without him. It wasn't very often she could just lie out in the sun and read, so she chucked her towel down on the white lounger, pulled the sun umbrella over her so she wouldn't burn despite being told Time Lords didn't burn, and laid out with her book in her hands.
A shadow fell over her as her husband joined her on the lounger to her left, and she looked over to shoot him a smile. He was carrying a small tray with a couple of cocktails on. "You're spoiling me yet again," she said. "I think you're just trying to show me up."
He placed the tray on the little table between them. "I'm not," he replied. "You've never had any hope with catching up with me."
She placed her bookmark into her book so she could grab the drink he'd brought her. "I'll just have to try harder," she replied. "It's Christmas soon. I'll get you the best gift you could ever hope for."
"I'm sure you will," he humoured. "And yet mine will be better." He took his own glass and held it up. "Cheers, my Pet."
She grinned, clinking the glasses together. "Cheers, my Theta." She took a sip of the pale pink liquid and the Doctor watched her face light up in surprised delight. "Ooo, peache, my favourite!" she exclaimed and he chuckled.
"It's like, after a thousand years, I know what my wife likes," he teased, laying back on his lounger. He wasn't much for sitting around, but sometimes a day's relaxing at a pool with a crossword or two was definitely called for.
Plus, he thought as he glanced over at his wife, if there was one way to get his wife into a bikini, this was it. It was always nice to have a wonderful view to relax to. Her legs were stretched out in front of her, just showing off their shape let again. She was divine.
Danni pulled her sunglasses down as she relaxed against the back of the chair. She had an incredible life, with most of it being too unbelievable for the average person to appreciate fully. However, lying at the side of a pool of a distant planet with her husband seemed like a wonderful stretch even for her.
She took another sip of her drink as she let her head rest back, her eyes darting to the side to take a sneaky little glance at him. They'd never actually been swimming before, and part of her had been expecting him to turn up in his full suit. Luckily for her, and probably for him, he'd actually put on a pair of long swim shorts and a pair of sunglasses. It meant she could take a moment to truly appreciate that fact that he wasn't just some stoic character, that the cheerful, cheeky, clever and playful man she had married was still there. He just expressed it in a different way sometimes, but the palm trees on the red fabric that made up his shorts said that sometimes he let it out freely.
Plus, swim shorts and no shirt was always a bonus. All that running had done him very well.
"Try not to drool, Danielle," he called over. "People can see."
She stuck her tongue out at him to hide her slight embarrassment at being caught oogling him. "Says you," she retorted. "You can pretend to do that crossword all you like, I know those glasses are hiding where you're actually looking."
"Never said they weren't," he replied offhandedly as he pretended to fill in one of the answers. She giggled and took another drink, placing it down on the table before laying back down, crossing one foot over the other.
"Do you remember Enthro?" she asked him. "When you picked me up and chucked me in the sea?"
"I remember the rock pools," he replied pointedly and she rolled her eyes. "But yes?"
She shrugged. "This reminds me of that," she said. "Lying out in the sun on the beach. You and Rory competed to build sandcastles."
"And I won," he added. "He always had this thing about having 'bigger' things than me. I never understood it."
"No, you didn't," she replied. "That's because, despite being thousands of years old, you have always been a giant child at heart."
He looked over at her, pouted, then pointedly turned back to his crossword. "Am not," he grumbled.
She smiled to herself. That had been one of her highlights from when she had jumped. They'd only had a few days together, but they had been wonderful. Relaxing on a beach, with no danger in sight, their two best friends at hand. She and the Doctor had been able to focus on just each other, and every night they had fallen asleep on the sand together.
There was nothing better than that, was there? She took another look at her husband, who was intently doing his crossword, even shifting in his seat as if his position would make the answers easier to work out. She loved the running, and the new places, and the new people, but being with him always seemed much more appealing.
He didn't seem surprised when she stood up off her lounger to move onto his. He didn't even look up from his book as she snuggled underneath his arm, he just shifted some more so she could lie against his chest and he could still do his puzzle.
"Can we stay one more day?" she asked quietly and he nodded.
"However long you wish," he told her. He felt her smile against his skin and he was so happy that she was prolonging their stay even more. He'd stay forever if he could. "You look ravishing in that bikini."
"I like your shorts," she told him. "Red suits you."
"I thought so too."
There was a moment pause as she watched him fill in 11 down. Then she frowned. "Hang on," she started. "Are you just filling in random words you like? Because that should have been 'The Fresh Prince', not 'Luxembourg City'. That doesn't even make sense."
"Yes it does," he replied.
"And 2 across isn't 'Freeham', it's 'YouTube'. I don't even know what Freeham is."
"It's a city on a planet about three hundred lightyears away," he replied. "Excellent sandwiches."
"It doesn't fit the clue, though."
"The clue is wrong," he retorted. "This is my puzzle, Danielle, not yours."
"You're not wrong there," she agreed. "Mine would have the correct answers in."
~0~0~0~
The Doctor hadn't been happy that the flowers he'd ordered weren't waiting at the table for them. Touched by the gesture alone, Danni had told him it was fine, but she knew he saw it as a failure on his part rather than a misunderstanding of the staff in the restaurant.
She knew trying to stop him going to search for the flowers was a waste of both of their time, so she'd told him to be nice and watched as he'd made his way through the tables towards the front of house. She knew he wouldn't be horrid, but he could be quite short with people who had annoyed him and she didn't want to make the waiters grumpy before they'd even eaten.
She'd been given a glass of wine while she was waiting for her husband to return, but instead of enjoying the drink she took her time to enjoy their surroundings. The restaurant with in the hotel, and it was decorated in the same lavish décor as the rest of the building. The tables were very ornate, the chairs to match. The room was dimmed to provide a hint of intimacy, but the light came from chandeliers and were very fancy indeed. She really didn't think she was dressed finely enough for it, but the Doctor had seemed to like her little black dress and it was always considered a classic.
They were in a really good location as well. Right at the back, in a secluded corner, only surrounded by a couple of tables. It felt incredibly private while still being in an open room.
"She can't sit at my table!"
Danni looked to her side, towards the source of the shrieking voice. It seemed a lot of the customers had heard it as well, because a few were casting annoyed looks at the person who was currently storming over towards Danni. She was a very sophisticated-looking woman, in a long dress. She had four arms and a very sharp, pointed nose that took 'beak-like' to a whole new level. Danni smiled at her despite the hostility in her tone, hoping that she was just walking in her direction at not actually over to her.
"Mistress Jevaltine, I know you always request this table, but it's been booked for weeks," the poor waiter who was following her told her hastily, obviously trying to stop her making a scene.
"I don't care, it's my table," she ranted. "I'm not having some snivelling little waiter ruin my night." She came to a stop in front of Danni, one of her hands on her hip. "Move."
Danni blinked. "I'm sorry?" she asked, blown away by the sheer rudeness.
"You shouldn't have to be," the woman replied. "If the staff here did their job, this wouldn't have happened. This is my table, move."
"I'm sorry, Mistress Jevaltine, this table was booked by her and her husband specifically. We-we can't move them," the waiter tried again. "There's a lovely table on the other side of the restaurant that I'm sure you'll love…"
Her hand shot out, cutting him off before he could finish his sentence. "You have done enough to ruin my evening," she snapped. "I'm not having you serve me, I want someone else."
She looked at Danni expectantly, who shook her head slowly. "I'm not moving," she replied bluntly. "My husband booked the table, we're staying."
Absolutely fuming, the woman threw all four hands in the air. "I don't believe this!" she shrieked. "You listen to me, you little gold digger, get away from my table!"
Danni's mouth dropped open. "Excuse me?" she asked lowly. "What did you just call me?"
"I saw your husband from across the room," the woman replied. "I know enough about humans to know that he's old enough to be your grandfather. You can pretend to be in love with him, but you don't fool me." Danni's eyes narrowed and she stood up slowly. "Run along, little girl."
Danni slammed her hands on the table, causing some of the wine she had been nursing to spill on the table cloth. "I'm not going anywhere," she snarled. "Let me tell you a couple of things you seem to have forgotten, along with your class. One; don't talk to the staff like that. They're bending over backwards trying to help you, and probably not getting paid enough to deal with your little tantrum. Grow up."
"How dare you…"
"Two," Danni interrupted. "Call me a gold digger again and I'll rip that ridiculous nose right off your face. I am the rich one in my marriage. I am the one who can get you kicked out of here right now. You insult me or my husband again, and you'll never eat here again."
The woman snorted. "You?"
Danni nodded. "Let me tell you something about me," she started. "I am the Face of Boe's daughter. I am his longest living child, and I'm going to be around longer than you could ever believe. I can make your life a living hell if I felt that vindictive. Get away from my table."
"You're the Face of Boe's daughter?" Jevaltine scoffed and Danni nodded. "Nice little story, now run along."
Danni turned to the waiter, a smile on her face. "What's your name, sweetie?"
"Ste-Stehan, Miss," he replied, eyes wide as he braced himself for another rant.
"Stehan," Danni repeated. "I'm sorry you've been brought into this. I'm not moving, so can you please get rid of her?"
"Get rid of…" Javeltine stuttered. "Do you know who I am?"
Danni grinned and shook her head. "No, I really don't," she said smugly. "Run along, little girl."
Javeltine looked at the waiter expectantly, but he just shrugged. "Her dad's the Face of Boe," he replied, even if he didn't believe her either.
Javeltine gasped, then turned and stormed off, ranting about telling everyone she knew about the hotel.
"She's not very nice, is she?" Danni asked and Stehan shook his head.
"She's a nightmare, Miss," he agreed and Danni patted him on the shoulder.
"Don't worry, I'll tell my dad all about this," she said. "I'm sure he'll book some of his people here, you'll be fine."
"I'm just happy to not have to serve her again," he admitted. He turned to the table, straightening out the few things Danni had knocked over. "I'll fetch you some more wine, Miss."
"Thanks, Stehan," she replied gratefully as she sat back down again. He offered her a little bow, then walked off, nodding to the Doctor who was on his way back.
Danni smiled at him. "Did you sort out the flowers?" she asked and he nodded.
"I would have been back sooner, but you seemed a little busy," he replied in tease and Danni shrugged.
"She was being horrid about me and my husband, she deserved it," she offered in reply. "Remind me to call Jack later to get him to drop them a message."
"Ah, you pulled the Face of Boe card," he commented.
"I don't like to," she said. "But she was a cow. I'm never sure if people are going to know who he is, though. For a moment I thought they were going to laugh at me."
"Captain Flash got everywhere," the Doctor told her. "I'm sure that was his aim all along."
Danni giggled. "Still," she replied. "I think I cost them one of their high paying patrons."
"If she upset you, I'm sure they're not going to be too bothered," he said. "It takes a lot to upset. I should know."
"Well, you're getting better at it now," she said happily. "Perhaps, though, we should stay another night? I don't want to cost them money."
She wouldn't meet his eye as she looked out for their waiter with her new drink. The Doctor smirked. "I'm sure one more day won't hurt," he agreed.
~0~0~0~
Danni giggled and the Doctor shushed her, pulling her behind the long curtain that would cover the giant window should they ever actually use it. "Danielle, they'll find us," he warned her.
She tried to keep quiet, but he quickly pulled her up against him, nuzzling up against her and she couldn't help but laugh at the ridiculousness of what they were doing.
"Theta, we can't," she insisted. "The room is going to fill up any minute, we won't be able to get out."
"I wasn't planning on leaving," he said. "I'm very happy right here."
He caught her lips, kissing her deeply and without a care for the people that were filtering into the conference room. She gave it her best efforts, struggling the bare minimum in his arms, but quickly let him press her up against the windowsill. They were so lucky that they were on the fifth floor, otherwise who knows who would see them?
"Welcome, everyone, to the Messaline Defenders Group," the conference head began.
"The-Theta, it's starting," Danni hissed. "We need to go!"
"We all have gathered here today under one common cause," the booming voice continued.
"Too late now," he murmured against her lips, his hand running down to her hip. "Best just wait it out, my Pet."
"For too long we have been forced to stand against those disgusting Hath," the speaker said. He was greeted by a cheer from the crowd and even the Doctor paused at his words.
"That doesn't sound too good," Danni whispered and the Doctor had to agree. The Hath and the Humans had come to an agreement when they'd finally figured out what they had been fighting over. Since then, as far as he was aware, they'd been living in harmony. The two species had been fully integrated in the museum, and Danni had happily pointed out how well they seemed to be getting on.
"Definitely not," he replied and the two leant away from each other, peeking out from opposite sides of the curtain. The room wasn't quite as full as it could have been. People were sat in chairs all facing a podium that neither of the Time Lords had noticed as the Doctor had pulled her in.
"Today, my brothers, we will begin to fight to victory," the man at the podium continued. He was dressed up in a nice suit, as were the woman and man who flanked him on either side. "We will continue the work of General Cobbs! We will get our planet back!"
"So much for a holiday," Danni sighed as the room exploded into applause.
"We'll just have to stay an extra night to make up for it," the Doctor reasoned with a sideways glance. Danni nodded in agreement and he relaxed slightly. So far, she had been the one to suggest another night. He had been worried about overstepping, but it really seemed like she didn't want to leave his side.
"So, you or me?" she asked as the applause died down.
"I would love to see that UNIT training in action, my Pet," the Doctor replied. She shot him a look, but couldn't hide the grin of excitement that she let spread on her face. He shot her his own charming one in reply and she nodded.
"Sounds like a plan," she said before stepping out into the room. "Oi, bonehead!"
~0~0~0~
"What do you mean we can't stay?" the Doctor exclaimed at the women behind the reception counter. "We've paid every night, what's one more?"
"We've been incredibly grateful for your patron, Doctor Smith," the woman replied in a calming voice, hoping to negate a scene. "Unfortunately, the hotel has a two week limit on any one room to ensure that we can accommodate all guests, and tonight will be your last night in that. Your room is highly coveted and we already have a new guest lined up."
"Fine," the Doctor snapped. "Give us another room then. Any room."
She quickly turned to the computer on the desk. "I'm very sorry, Doctor Smith, there doesn't appear to be any rooms left for the next week or so. The Face of Boe has organised a conference here for a few of his offices and we are fully booked," she smirked slightly, smugly. "Apparently we came highly recommended."
The Doctor narrowed his eyes. That would be the phone call Danielle had made to make up for the altercation in the restaurant. "Jack," he snarled. "Always sticking his big head in everything."
"We would love to welcome you again, Doctor Smith. You and your wife have been a delight for us to look after, unfortunately we just can't book you in this week."
"Do you understand what you're doing?" he asked. "My wife is the most important woman in the universe, and…" he trailed off as he noticed the look on the receptionist's face. She was obviously looking at him fondly, enjoying him talk about his wife but with the disregard of an outsider. Nothing he could say now was going to change the fact that they would have to leave the hotel tomorrow.
"Fine," he sighed, giving in. "Thank you."
He turned before she could say anything else, walking up to the elevator and jabbing the button hard. It had been so easy to extend their stay up until this point. He hadn't even needed to go down to the reception, they'd just stayed and his future self would sort it out. That afternoon, though, they'd received the bill for their room service, which indicated the end of their stay. He had hoped it was just a misunderstanding.
He wasn't ready to lose her yet. He stepped into the elevator, and turned to face the door. The people who had been waiting with him looked slightly frightened and decided to wait for the next one. He guessed he was glaring out at the world rather openly. He didn't care.
She wouldn't stay. He knew she wouldn't, as much as he desperately wanted her to come back home. They'd all but worked out their differences, but that wasn't what would keep her from deciding to move back in with him. She would be too scared, too hesitant. His actions of the past would still make her doubt whether or not they would truly be able to last while living together. She'd need more time.
He stormed out of the elevator onto their floor, all the way to their door before pausing. He had to calm down before he told her. He wanted her to know how unhappy he was at this development, but not the panic at their impending departure. The last thing he wanted was for her to feel guilty.
He stepped in, closing the door behind him gently and caught sight of her on the sofa. She was stretched out, book held just above her head as she read it lying down. "You're not going to drop that on your head again, are you?" he asked as he walked over to join her.
"No," she replied as her eyes scanned across the last few lines on the page. "And that's only happened a couple of times."
"A couple of times this trip," he reminded. She lifted the book to shoot him a pointed, warning look before she grabbed her bookmark and closed it.
"Did you sort it out?" she asked and he sighed, nudging her feet off so he could sit down.
"We've reached the end of the allotted time," he explained. "Apparently they have a two week limit on the rooms."
Danni frowned, sitting up and scooting so she was next to him. "Can't we just go into another room?"
He shook his head. "If there were any left," he replied. "Someone had to go and tell the Face of Boe what a wonderful place this is. He's booked the entire hotel for a week."
Danni bit her lip, pulling her legs up onto the sofa. She really didn't want to go back to Clara's. The little vacation bubble had been wonderful to be in, but the pin had truly been put into their time together. It felt like it was fading away, which was ridiculous. "I guess we do need to head back to reality sooner or later," she replied softly. "It's Christmas soon and I need to get you that present."
"Oh yes," he said. "This mystical present that was going to trump my efforts."
Danni pulled her tongue out at him. "It will," she promised fiercely, although she had no idea what she was going to get him. "You're going to love it. You don't have a choice."
He chuckled and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her up against him so she was snuggled into his side. "I'll have to remember that when you adore your present," he teased back, chucking his feet up onto the coffee table.
They sat together in a comfortable silence, one that didn't need to be broken. Danni listened to the steady beat of his hearts, taking comfort in the sound. She'd always found it soothing, ever since she'd first heard it. Across bodies for both him and herself, she loved the sound of his heartbeats and she didn't want to lose it. Not yet.
"Still," she started softly. "We've still got a whole night ahead of us, right?"
The Doctor smirked. "Of course," he purred. "You think this is how I'm going to let our holiday end?"
~0~0~0~
Clara's hallway looked almost foreign when Danni stepped out of it, suitcase in tow. "It's definitely Monday, yeah?"
"Monday evening," he replied. "I thought you would prefer to land when Miss Oswald was actually at home."
She nodded, but she didn't let go of his hand. In fact, she parked her suitcase and took hold of his other one. She smiled up at him, keeping a tight grip.
"I'll see you in a couple of days, won't I?" she asked. "On Wednesday, when you pick up Clara?"
"Of course," he promised, hearing the worry in her voice despite the fact she tried to keep a happy smile on her face. "Did you have a good time, my Pet?"
She nodded. "The best," she promised yet again. "Did you?"
"Enough that I am considering taking you away again," he replied cheekily. She stuck her tongue out and he pulled her closer. "Until Wednesday, my Pet."
His kiss was soft and a complete opposite to the passion he had shown over the last two weeks, and yet still made her feel so loved that when he broke away she let out a little whimper. "I love you, Theta," she told him.
His hearts soared and his lips pulled into a grin. "I love you too, my Danni-Girl."
She grinned and he quickly stepped into the TARDIS before he dragged her with him. It was getting harder and harder to leave her every time, but it was her choice to come back, not his. He had to fly to Wednesday before he went back for her.
Danni watched the TARDIS dematerialise with not just sadness, but panic bubbling inside her. Maybe it was because they'd spent so long together, but watching him leave this time felt so much more difficult than it ever had before. Her Theta was leaving her in someone else's house, some place without him, somewhere she didn't belong.
Tears gathered in her eyes yet again, but they were so much stronger than they had ever been. The weight in her chest was going to crush her, this wasn't what she wanted at all.
"I want to come back to the TARDIS," she whispered brokenly, but the TARDIS never reappeared and the Doctor never heard the words.
Clara did, though. She had peeked around the corner to see pair returning from the trip. She'd seen them break away from each other, and she'd heard Danni's desperate plea to ears that weren't there.
She didn't step out for a moment, though. She gave Danni some time, them made herself known by calling out. "And she returns!"
Danni quickly wiped her eyes, turning with a smile for her friend. Clara had been so good to her, she didn't need to see her sad. "Hey, sweetie," she called, rushing over and the pair hugged. "How was your weekend?"
~0~0~0~
"What is wrong with you?" Danny had asked. "You have been in an awful mood all day."
"No I haven't," Clara replied, flopping onto her sofa and crossing her arms over her chest. She then shifted. "This sofa is so uncomfortable. I need a new one."
"You love this sofa," Danny replied slowly, with a frown and she glared at him.
"Well I've changed my mind," she snapped. "I'm allowed to do that." She turned her attention to the screen, keeping it on her boyfriend, who was entirely too close. The movie was rubbish, though, and she wondered why she'd even chosen it. "Danni can help by buy a new one."
"Ah, that's it," Danny had said in a knowing voice, one that just angered her further, even though he hadn't done anything to deserve her ire.
"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked.
"You're missing your girlfriend," he explained. "You don't like the fact that Danni is getting back with her husband, do you?"
"How dare you?" Clara exclaimed. "Of course I want them to get back together! They're my best friends! If that's what makes them happy, then I want them to be happy too."
Danny shook his head. "No, you don't want Danni to move out," he replied. "That's why you've let her decorate half of your flat. Why you've given her a room all of her own, and why you let her sleep in your bed with you for two weeks."
"I just want her to feel welcome!" Clara protested. "She deserves it! They've been kind to me!"
"No, this is more than that," he said. "Everyone can see it but you, Clara. She's been trying to get back with him this whole time, but now it's a possibility you're actually worried."
Her hands clenched. "I don't fancy her," she snarled. "How can you even suggest that? I love you," she scoffed. "Although I'm starting to wonder why."
Danny rolled his eyes. "You don't mean that," he stated and even though he was right, she didn't let him think that.
"If you think I fancy someone else, maybe you should just leave!"
~0~0~0~
"It was alright," Clara dismissed. "Nothing happened." She wrapped her arm around Danni's shoulder. "Tell me about your weekend."
Danni blushed slightly. "It wasn't a weekend," she admitted guiltily. "It was a fortnight. We went to this hotel. Oh, Clara, you should have seen it."
Clara frowned, that bad feeling coming back again. A fortnight together? And Danni was still happy. Maybe they really were getting back together after all.