Right Where They Should Be
Title: Right Where They Should Be
Characters: Donna, bits of Wilf, Sylvia, and the Doctor (10, though it could be 11 if you really want)
Summary: Donna gets a present from....well, she doesn't actually know who.
Timey-Wimey Factor: Set after series 4 but before the specials. Completely canon compliant. :)
Notes: written for Weekly Drabble Challenge #44 (Valentine's Day) at doctor_donna, for....well, it works for many of the prompts. Oh, and thanks to Miss loves_glamour for help with picking something out. (You'll see....)
There was a knock at the front door, two short and rather hesitant raps against the wood. Ten seconds later Donna came down the stairs, her heels clicking against the floor. “Hello?” she called, trying unsuccessfully to see through the little window. “Who’s there?”
No one said anything and Donna sighed, cracking the door open anyway. There was no one there and she was about to shut the door when she saw a tiny box sitting on the front step. She bent down, scooping the box up into her hands. “What’s this rubbish?” she muttered.
There was a little blue ribbon tied around it, a card attached to it which simply read ‘Donna’.
She stared at it strangely, then shrugged and shut the door, stepping into the living room and sitting down on the couch. The ribbon seemed to slide off as she touched it and she crumpled it into a little ball, laying it beside her. She opened the box and gasped. Inside it was a silver chain, a little piece of paper sitting on top of it. As the paper fluttered to the ground Donna’s eyes widened, her fingers touching the gems in the box. It was as if two stars had crashed into each other, if stars were made of jewels that is. The blue star was irregular and at first Donna thought it was a bit ugly, but as she stared at it the strange shape made more sense to her. After all, she reasoned, it wasn’t as if stars were actually shaped like everyone drew them. What was left of the other star shimmered in the light, its glittering diamonds wrapped around the larger blue shape, and Donna lifted the necklace out of the box, holding it out in front of her.
The light from the lamp beside her caught the blue stone and Donna blinked madly at the sudden brightness. It was almost like someone had shown a blue light in her eyes, a bright and annoying blue light, and she waved a hand in front of her face as if to slap away an imaginary hand. The stone still glowed but it was softer now and Donna stared at it in awe.
“What are you doing, Miss?” a voice behind her snapped.
Donna jumped to her feet, clutching the necklace to her chest. “Just sitting here, Mum,” she replied, hiding the box behind her back. “Do you need me for something?”
Sylvia frowned. “Are you still going out with the girls tonight?”
“Yeah, I suppose,” Donna said slowly. “All us single ones together, like we do every year.” She shrugged, pulling her eyes away from her mother. “It’s not like I have a better offer, is it?”
“No,” Sylvia said, her expression softening, “I suppose not.” She stared at Donna for a moment and sighed. “Don’t be out all night though, all right?” Donna rolled her eyes. “Watch that attitude, Madam. You take care of yourself tonight. Promise me you’ll be careful?”
“Sure, Mum,” Donna said absently. Sylvia seemed satisfied with her halfhearted response and nodded, turning to walk up the stairs. As she disappeared Donna sat back down, letting the necklace fall out of her hand and dangle from one of her fingers. “It’s beautiful,” she said softly.
She stared at it curiously for another minute then remembered the note that had come with it. Bending down, she picked it up with her other hand and carefully set the necklace back in its box before unfolding the little sheet. It bore the same word as the tag that had been on the box. The page didn’t have any lines or ripped edges, and the handwriting on it was messy, as if someone had been trying to write with their other hand or to cover up their real handwriting. She frowned, studying her name for a moment before flipping it over. The handwriting was untidy on this side of the scrap too but the words were unmistakable. Because you’re special.
There was no signature or indication of who had written it. Donna picked up the box and searched for another piece of paper but there wasn’t one. She sat still for a moment, trying to think who would send her something so beautiful without telling her who he was. None of the men she worked with cared about her enough to even spare her a glance, much less buy her a necklace, and she knew none of her male friends could afford it.
Suddenly she smiled. “I’ve got a secret admirer,” she scoffed. “Me, a secret admirer. Bonkers.”
The light caught the blue stone again and her smile grew wider as she lifted it back out of the box. She unhooked the clasp and draped it around her neck, fastening it again and adjusting the chain so that it lay properly against her chest. Earlier that evening she had put on a rather low-cut top to go out with her friends, and even as she shrugged on her tight denim jacket the necklace still was visible, the diamonds glistening in the dim light of the hallway.
“Gramps, I’m going out!” Donna stepped into the kitchen to find Wilf sitting with a mug of tea, staring at it more than drinking it. She sat down beside him, subconsciously pulling her shirt up a bit. “You all right, Granddad?” she said softly. “Do you need me to stay home with you?”
“Nah, I’m all right.” Wilf looked up at her and his smile froze as he saw the jewelry she was wearing. He could swear the blue....well, whatever it was, it seemed to shine brighter when she smiled. The stone was nearly the same color as her eyes, except clearer, and he instantly knew where he’d seen the glow before. “Where’d you get that, darling?” he asked, then he grinned, leaning in toward her. “Did you buy it? ‘Cause if you did, don’t worry. I won’t tell your mum.”
Donna smiled, the glittering around her throat becoming more apparent. “It was on the front step,” she admitted. “I have some secret admirer or something. Isn’t that mad?”
“Yeah,” Wilf said. “Mad.” He reached across the table, taking her hand. “You go on, get out and have fun with your mates. But you promise your old granddad you’ll be careful?”
“Yes, of course I’ll be careful,” Donna sighed. “Gramps, what is wrong with you two? Mum told me the same thing. It’s not like I have a stalker or-” Her free hand wandered to her chest and she frowned. “The man who gave me this. He’s not some creeper, is he?”
“I wouldn’t know, sweetheart,” Wilf said quickly.
Donna frowned. “I wouldn’t either,” she murmured. She sighed, then straightened and smiled at him again. “Still, won’t stop me from having a good time. Single’s night down the street, since all the couples will be at nicer places. I’m bound to find a nice man, right?” She didn’t give Wilf time to answer, standing up and kissing him on the forehead. “Don’t wait up for me.”
Wilf waved at her and Donna wiggled her fingers in response, grabbing her purse as she left. She arrived at the pub down the street five minutes later and rushed over to meet her friends, not noticing the tall man in a brown coat watching her as she walked up to the entrance.
The Doctor stared at her for a moment and smiled; she was wearing her favorite jacket, the one that he had always teased her about not being able to run in, and heels that couldn’t possibly be comfortable. He shook his head, smiling as she turned to greet a friend who had just arrived. The necklace he had left for her now hung around her neck, sparkling as she moved. The stars were hanging perfectly from the chain, suspended just above her heart.
“Right where they should be,” he said softly, and turned away, leaving his friend on her own.
For reference, this is what I think Donna's necklace looks like. I know, it's white gold, not actual silver, but still.
Dude, I so want it ! ^_^