The Doctor straightened his ascot, picked out a new cane, and headed into the console room. Three years in France, three years in this world.
Strange, how time moved by.
"Did you know that mistletoe dates back to the early 12th century? Underneath the mistletoe branches, warriors would lay down their arms for the holidays. It's evolved a bit since then into more romantic aisles of thinking."
From her place near the console a delicate eyebrow was raised. Her fingers continued to brush over the multitude of glowing lights. Reinette's gaze took in his attire with quiet approval.
"But surely lovers are warriors as well, in their own way." She smiled now, considering their own battled through the years.
"And a kiss beneath the greenery just another way to set those arms aside in favor of another kind. Perhaps it is no so evolved as one might think."
Oh, but only Reinette could make such a simple thing as Christmas decorations change the whole of the TARDIS, and by a few words make them all that more magical. He'd never been one for staying still, even for a few days, but he found himself looking forward to Christmases with her.
"Perhaps not. And what of you, warrior? Shall I die by your hand which I love so well?"
He grinned, then held a branch of mistletoe over their heads.
She laughed then, smoothing the lines of her gown in a habit that would never fully leave her. Christmas came early this year, with the restoration of the TARDIS. Their spirits mutually lifted was merely another gift.
Reinette took another step closer.
"Beware ever repeating such a tactical error again. It is never wise to inform those you are engaged in battle with what your weaknesses might be. This is the hand that you love?"
She placed it between them, illuminated by the glowing lights of the console. The she lifted it to cover his own hand above, and the mistletoe it held until both were obscured.
"I need no reason to kiss you Doctor, other than you, yourself. Besides, do you truly wish to place the battle aside?"
That said, she slanted her mouth briefly over his own.
He smiled against her kiss, the familiarity of it warming him. While they fought and fussed over each other, it made the simpler moments seem all the sweeter.
Six years now. Six years with her and he'd never regret it. Oh, one day. One day, when she was gone and he was alone again. Then he might regret it. Regret opening his hearts. But those thoughts were for another day.
This day? Today? He was standing under mistletoe with his companion, lover, and wife. Also, in many ways, his most frustrating rival, but that was another story altogether.
"Well, in the spirit of Christmas, we can it least put down our weapons. Just for the day's sake." He replied with a cheeky grin before kissing her again.
She laughed against his mouth, making no objection to the unexpectedly sweet friction created as a result.
The season felt different here, than in France. It was grander somehow, more important. Reinette supposed it could simply be the passage of time. That in the years between, the time she did not life the holiday had blossomed. Grown as anything else might when given enough days to take root.
But it was changed for her as well. It marked for her now, the passage of one year from the next. What was lost. Gained.
"Your mouth is possibly one of the most dangerous weapons at your disposal sir," she teased, something of France and Court and nostalgia in her voice.
"And yours is your mind. Though we know what befalls the monsters that try to set that aside." He grinned madly at her, then tucked a small lock of hair behind her ear.
"Though I think we'll keep mistletoe for kissing and keep our weapons. Remember last year? We may need them." Not that he wanted to see the Master in any of his forms arrive again, he still might. And who knew what could happen then.
The Doctor wondered if he still had open season to kill the Master that controlled Reinette. He hoped so.
Her eyes darkened briefly at his words, remembering. There was a tightening to her shoulders as well. The memories of being locked with in herself, to the point that she was hardly herself at all. And the knowledge that ultimately? They were events she set in motion.
Yet another way the year was marked.
"I remember," Reinette admitted, glancing up towards the mistletoe.
"You know me well enough to know that I will never forget."
She was more than willing to let the topic so briefly touched on be firmly set aside. In disturbed her to know that he still thought on it, remembered her in that way. But she also knew her husband well enough to know there was no way he might forget.
Reinette found a smile, and willed it to remain in place.
"Only you would liken hosting a party to going into battle."
"Well, it's not that much different. Put on a fancy bit of armor, practice strategy, cover ground. Make sufficient breaks in order to find nourishment."
And while the Doctor hated battle, he really, really hated playing host. But he did love how Reinette played hostess. It was a woman truly within her element. Truly at one with the world she knew. He wouldn't take this from her. Not for the galaxy.
"So! Shall I take door duty this year? Or bottle of champagne? I've got music queued up, so that shouldn't be any sort of issue..."
"I will not subject you to the door, as it requires standing in one place for an extended amount of time. I think perhaps it is best if you see to the refreshments."
Reinette made a final sweep on the console room, examining it for any final preparations that might be required. She did not imagine the warmth emanating from the TARDIS that followed her steps.
She hesitated near the doorway.
"If this is a battle then, Doctor? What do you hope to claim with your victory?"
"Boxing day. With you. Just us. Somewhere exotic."
Oh, it was a simple wish, perhaps. But it felt like that would be a perfect sort of prize for surviving tonight. And it wouldn't be so bad. After all, he did have three years practice with this under his belt, now.
And it would be worth it.
"I'll also make sure no one puts anything in the punch this year."
"I try not to think about it." The Doctor patted the console affectionately. "There, there. Nothing like that will happen again."
He glanced over at Reinette and offered up a cheeky smirk. "With anyone not a crewmember on board, that is. Generally, though, I think we've learned a considerable amount of restraint, you and I. No more excursions to the library, no late nights in the garden. If I didn't know better, I'd say we were becoming downright domestic."
From her own place near the door Reinette watched his reaction, openly amused. It did not surprise her that he knew. Indeed, the Doctor and his ship had probably had a long, intense conversation of the events that transpired.
She very nearly laughed.
But only nearly.
It was true that they had lent themselves to a warm domesticity that once might have made him run in abject fear. But privately Reinette suspected there was more involved. Since the incident with the Master she had become reluctant to open herself too far. To expose herself.
That might mean something as simple as learning how to drive a car. Her objections were rather extreme, really.
Or it might mean a great many other things.
She found a smile, and wore it as she did her dress. Gracefully.
"Hold your tongue," she teased. "Such an unpleasant word."
Strange, how time moved by.
"Did you know that mistletoe dates back to the early 12th century? Underneath the mistletoe branches, warriors would lay down their arms for the holidays. It's evolved a bit since then into more romantic aisles of thinking."
Reply
"But surely lovers are warriors as well, in their own way." She smiled now, considering their own battled through the years.
"And a kiss beneath the greenery just another way to set those arms aside in favor of another kind. Perhaps it is no so evolved as one might think."
Reply
"Perhaps not. And what of you, warrior? Shall I die by your hand which I love so well?"
He grinned, then held a branch of mistletoe over their heads.
"Christmas tradition, Madame?"
Reply
Reinette took another step closer.
"Beware ever repeating such a tactical error again. It is never wise to inform those you are engaged in battle with what your weaknesses might be. This is the hand that you love?"
She placed it between them, illuminated by the glowing lights of the console. The she lifted it to cover his own hand above, and the mistletoe it held until both were obscured.
"I need no reason to kiss you Doctor, other than you, yourself. Besides, do you truly wish to place the battle aside?"
That said, she slanted her mouth briefly over his own.
Reply
Six years now. Six years with her and he'd never regret it. Oh, one day. One day, when she was gone and he was alone again. Then he might regret it. Regret opening his hearts. But those thoughts were for another day.
This day? Today? He was standing under mistletoe with his companion, lover, and wife. Also, in many ways, his most frustrating rival, but that was another story altogether.
"Well, in the spirit of Christmas, we can it least put down our weapons. Just for the day's sake." He replied with a cheeky grin before kissing her again.
Reply
The season felt different here, than in France. It was grander somehow, more important. Reinette supposed it could simply be the passage of time. That in the years between, the time she did not life the holiday had blossomed. Grown as anything else might when given enough days to take root.
But it was changed for her as well. It marked for her now, the passage of one year from the next. What was lost. Gained.
"Your mouth is possibly one of the most dangerous weapons at your disposal sir," she teased, something of France and Court and nostalgia in her voice.
"Should we set that aside as well?"
Reply
"Though I think we'll keep mistletoe for kissing and keep our weapons. Remember last year? We may need them." Not that he wanted to see the Master in any of his forms arrive again, he still might. And who knew what could happen then.
The Doctor wondered if he still had open season to kill the Master that controlled Reinette. He hoped so.
Reply
Yet another way the year was marked.
"I remember," Reinette admitted, glancing up towards the mistletoe.
"You know me well enough to know that I will never forget."
Reply
After all, he needed no reason to kiss his wife, as they'd discussed the last two Christmases. He kissed her because he wanted to.
"Now, warriors in our own rights, I think? You and I?" He offered her his arm. "And the TARDIS is on our side, too.
Reply
Reinette found a smile, and willed it to remain in place.
"Only you would liken hosting a party to going into battle."
Reply
And while the Doctor hated battle, he really, really hated playing host. But he did love how Reinette played hostess. It was a woman truly within her element. Truly at one with the world she knew. He wouldn't take this from her. Not for the galaxy.
"So! Shall I take door duty this year? Or bottle of champagne? I've got music queued up, so that shouldn't be any sort of issue..."
Reply
Reinette made a final sweep on the console room, examining it for any final preparations that might be required. She did not imagine the warmth emanating from the TARDIS that followed her steps.
She hesitated near the doorway.
"If this is a battle then, Doctor? What do you hope to claim with your victory?"
Reply
"Boxing day. With you. Just us. Somewhere exotic."
Oh, it was a simple wish, perhaps. But it felt like that would be a perfect sort of prize for surviving tonight. And it wouldn't be so bad. After all, he did have three years practice with this under his belt, now.
And it would be worth it.
"I'll also make sure no one puts anything in the punch this year."
Reply
As for the punch?
"That is for the best, I think. You are aware of the things that were done to this console? And on it?"
The lights of the TARDIS seemed to blush a shimmering red with the memory.
Reply
He glanced over at Reinette and offered up a cheeky smirk. "With anyone not a crewmember on board, that is. Generally, though, I think we've learned a considerable amount of restraint, you and I. No more excursions to the library, no late nights in the garden. If I didn't know better, I'd say we were becoming downright domestic."
The last was said with a touch of mock horror.
Reply
She very nearly laughed.
But only nearly.
It was true that they had lent themselves to a warm domesticity that once might have made him run in abject fear. But privately Reinette suspected there was more involved. Since the incident with the Master she had become reluctant to open herself too far. To expose herself.
That might mean something as simple as learning how to drive a car. Her objections were rather extreme, really.
Or it might mean a great many other things.
She found a smile, and wore it as she did her dress. Gracefully.
"Hold your tongue," she teased. "Such an unpleasant word."
Reply
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