Like countless other young couples they met by chance in a café. She drinking a cappuccino, her third, he sitting with a pot of tea producing, from his pocket, what looked like jelly babies.

She smiled and looked away shyly as his gaze met hers.

He would have left it at that, but she made the first move, joining him and asking him for a sweetie.

***

They talked until the sun set and the staff were clearing the tables. And then, standing a little stiffly, the Doctor helped his companion from her seat and, leaving the café, he walked her home.

As they talked the time passed unnoticed and, before either of them realised, they were home. Jane stopped and smiled awkwardly.

"This is where I live." she said softly, as they stood before the mock Georgian door of her apartment block.

The Doctor smiled and breathed in the fresh night air.

"I feel like I've known you forever." she breathed, wondering if that sounded trite. She giggled. "That was so cheesy!"

The Doctor only smiled warmly, a smile that lit her heart. He kissed her affectionately on the cheek.

"Dinner, tomorrow?" he enquired.

"Hmm, yes. Pick me up at 7. You do have a watch?" She giggled.

"Time is my thing." he replied coyly as he walked home to his TARDIS.

***

Weeks turned into months and the Doctor found himself standing before his bathroom mirror making the most important decision of his life.

As he combed his dark curly hair he thought over his situation.

There had been many women in his lives up to now, but until Jane he had never felt more than friendship for any of them. Now, he felt love.

But he already knew the answer. He knew he had to tell her, would tell her, as he had done every time until now. She would be shocked but accepting of him. She would love him as he had always loved her. And, despite knowing she would finally age and die leaving him behind, she would again take comfort that paradoxically she would get to live through it all over again.