Red ⋆ Doctor Who

Chapter Fifty-seven

Every morning the Doctor does Cherry's hair and makeup, because even though she insists she doesn't need to and she cannot be bothered, he knows she likes to have it done. She protests against it most of the time, but she cannot pretend she does not like the way he tenderly applies her lipstick or brushes through her hair, and it goes a lot quicker when he does it, because his hands don't tremble.

One day, after Cherry has changed into a pair of tracksuit bottoms and a huge blue hoodie, the Doctor sits her down on the bed and carefully paints her nails the same blue as her jumper, and his bow tie.

"You don't have to do that," Cherry says quietly as he holds her shaky fingers still. He smiles, glancing up at her for only a second before he focuses on her nails again.

"I know," he responds. "But I am."

"Thanks," Cherry says, crossing her legs and watching the Doctor as he concentrates. Even when she feels like her whole life has come crashing down around her, she thinks he's the most beautiful person she's ever met. She loves him so much. And she's glad she has him to help her through everything. She doesn't think she could without him. She waits until he's finished painting her nails and fixes the lid back onto the bottle of polish to lean forward and kiss him. He exhales deeply, hand coming up to cradle the back of her head as their lips mold together. It's the first time they've properly kissed since Demon's Run, and when the Doctor pulls away he's grinning, staring at her in surprise. "I love you."

Not caring that he is smudging the red lipstick he applied to her lips earlier, he kisses her again.

"Where are we going today?" Cherry asks, wiping the lipstick off of his mouth when they pull apart.

"Well, I was going to take us to Ravan-Skala," the Doctor answers, getting up from the bed and crouching down in front of her with her shoes. She holds her feet up in the air so he can put them on and do the laces up for her because her nails still aren't dry. "But you probably wouldn't like it."

"Why not?" She asks, eyebrows furrowing.

"It's a cool place. The people there are six hundred feet tall," he tells her and watches with a knowing smile when she frowns. "You have to talk to them in hot air balloons! Oh, and the visitor centre is made of one of their hats!"

"Oh," Cherry says, wiping her trembling hands on her black trousers. It sounds like her worst nightmare, honestly, but she forces a smile on her face. "Well, if you want to go there, we can."

"No," the Doctor shakes his head, squeezing her thighs once he has finished tying up her laces. "It's fine. We'll go somewhere cooler."

"Where?" Cherry asks, following him out of the room and into the copper corridors.

"I don't know... the moon? You like the moon, don't you?" The Doctor looks back at her. "You think it's pretty."

"Yeah," Cherry nods her head. "That sounds nice."

"Oh, Cherry! There you are," Rory beams when they reach the console room. He and Amy are lounging around, sitting on the leather seats and tucking into bags of confectionery. Rory holds out a bag of gummy cherries to the brunette and a smile graces her face. "We got you these."

"Thanks," she takes a seat between the couple as the Doctor races to the control panel and starts to pilot the Tardis, running around the console in his usual mad fashion.

"Where are we going?" Amy asks, noticing the pep in the Doctor's step.

"The moon," the Doctor answers. "I'll extend the oxygen shell. We can go for a moonwalk. And a picnic."

"That actually sounds cool," Rory pipes up, sounding mildly surprised, and the Doctor looks offended.

"I always take you to cool places," he argues, and Rory rolls his eyes.