"So, are you going to tell me how you knew I was sleeping fully dressed?" Donna watched the Doctor closely. The were in the Tardis control room, where they had most of their serious conversations.

He looked up from the viewscreen. "I was rather hoping you had forgotten about that," he replied.

"No such luck, spaceman." She waited, but no answer was forthcoming. "Well?"

"I'm trying to think of an explanation that doesn't end with me getting slapped."

Donna punched him playfully in the arm. "Start with the truth, and we'll see."

"Well, the first night--"

"The first night? You looked more than once?"

"D'you want me to explain or not?"

"Sorry, go on."

"The first night I was just checking on you. First night in the Tardis and all. There you were, fully dressed but sound asleep on top of the covers. I thought maybe you'd just fallen asleep like that. Too tired to change or something."

"What, overcome by the wonder of being here?"

He laughed. "Not quite. So the next night, when you did the same, I thought maybe it was...something else." He fiddled with the controls. "But eventually you changed, started sleeping under the covers, in pajamas and everything."

Donna thought back. "I slept in my clothes for a solid week - how long were you 'checking on' me?"

"Er...longer than that?" He moved out of range, just in case.

"Why'd you keep on?"

He paused, deciding how much to tell her. And remembered her saying "You talk, all the time, but you never say anything." He settled for most of the truth. "I was just...glad you were here."

She considered that for a moment. He's so lonely, she thought. "Are you still peeking at me every night?"

"Um, no?" he said, not at all convincingly.

He could see she was torn between outrage and something else - -affection, he hoped. Apparently affection won out.

"That's...sort of sweet. A bit pervy, but sweet." She paused. "I'm glad I'm here, too."

The Doctor was relieved. And was very glad she didn't ask anymore questions. That he wouldn't have to admit he just liked looking at here - her hair spread over the pillow, her face peaceful. That he sometimes couldn't believe she was here, after everything she had seen. After knowing him so well.

But he still had to be sure. "And it wasn't because you were afraid of me?"

"Why would I be afraid of you?"

"When we first met, you said I terrified you. And, you know, the whole 'mate' fiasco."

"She couldnt' help but laugh. "You silly man," she said, and stepped forward to throw her arms around him. As he buried his face in her hair, he thought, I'm so glad you found me

.