Ties Between Freedom and Love

✦33✦

Chapter Thirty-Three
Space And Time Rifts

*---*---*---*---*---*

The Doctor and Margaret made it to the corner Bay restaurant, they sat down, and the waiter brought them out each a glass of water and a menu.

"Here we are, out on a date, and you haven't even asked my proper name," Margaret commented as her eyes flicked over the dinner options.

"It's not a date," the Doctor immediately denied, looking up at her. "What's your name?"

"Blon. I am Blon Fel Fotch Passemeer-Day Slitheen. That's what it will say on my death certificate."

"Nice to meet you, Blon," he said, ignoring the guilt she was trying to lay on thick.

"I'm sure. Look," she pointed and the Doctor turned his head. "That's where I was living as Margaret. Nice little flat, over there on the top. Next to the one with the light on. Two bedrooms, bayside view. I was rather content. Don't suppose I'll see it again."

He looked back at her and reached for their wine glasses, smiling. He swapped them around, giving her his and replacing his with hers, "Suppose not."

"Thank you."

"Pleasure."

"Tell me, then, Doctor, what do you know of our species?"

He picked his menu back up, "Only what I've seen."

"Did you know, for example," she started playing with her glass as she spoke. "In extreme cases, when her life is in danger, a female Rexicoricophalvitorian can manufacture a poison dart within her own finger!"

The Doctor didn't even look up as he caught the dart she threw between his fingers, "Yes, I did," he answered, dropping it to the table.

"Just checking," she said sweetly, and he sent her a sarcastic smile in return. "And one more thing, between you and me. . ." she glanced around and he did the same, both of them leaning in as she whispered. "As a final resort, the excess poison can be exhaled through the lungs," she breathed out and the Doctor held his breath as he brought his hand up and sprayed her mouth with mint breath freshener.

"That's better," he remarked as she choked. "Now, then, what do you think. . ." he asked, looking back at the menu as she stuck her tongue out in disgust. "Mmm, steak looks nice," he grinned. "Steak and chips!"

*---*---*---*---*---*

Emma and Steve emerged from one of the bars they decided to try and started walking down the wooden steps back to the parking lot. "The Doctor took me to this planet a while back. It was much colder than this. They called it Woman Wept. The planet was actually called Woman Wept," Emma exaggerated. "Because if you looked at it, right from above, it was like this huge continent. Like. . . all curved round. Sort of looked like, you know, a woman lamenting."

He nodded and she carried on rambling excitedly, "Oh, my Chuck, and we went to this beach, right? No people, no buildings, just this beach, like, a thousand miles across. And something happened, something to do with the sun. I don't know, but the sea had just frozen! In a split second. In the middle of a storm, right, waves and foam. . . just frozen all the way out to the horizon. Midnight, right? We walk underneath these waves a hundred feet tall, and made of ice," Emma smiled as they stopped by the boardwalk overlooking Cardiff's sea.

Steve hesitated before looking at her, "Natasha wants me to go on a date with her."

"Cool," Emma smiled. "That's great," she blinked, his words only hitting home now. "Wait, Natasha as in. . . Nat?"