The TARDIS hums softly⎯a comforting, almost melodic sound, like the purring of a contented cat. The Doctor, in his usual frenetic way, darts around the console, flipping switches and pressing buttons with a gleeful energy that walks the control room. His long brown coat billows behind him as he moves, and every so often, he glances at his companion with an infectious grin.

“Right, right⎯” he mutters to himself⎯more to the TARDIS than to her, though she doesn't mind. His voice has that familiar accent that wraps around her as a favourite jumper⎯cosy and reassuring. It's much like her own, as if the Doctor adapts to her essence after regeneration. Perhaps it is so. “Let's see… Epsilon Eridani, yes! Beautiful place, that. You'll love it. Honestly, it's one of those little gems you don't hear about in the tourist brochures.”

The Doctor spins on his heels to face her, his eyes twinkling with the boundless enthusiasm she has come to adore. “Did I ever tell you about it?” his voice lifting with curiosity.

She shakes her head, unable to suppress the smile.

“Well then!” he exclaims, his face lighting up as he bounds over to her side, practically vibrating with excitement. “Epsilon Four, the third planet in the system⎯ oh, you'd see it! The sunsets there are like nothing else in the universe. The whole sky turns this velvety purple, as if someone's draped a royal cloak over the world. And the oceans shimmer like liquid gold under the twin moons. It's⎯ it's magic, really. Pure magic.”

Now he's standing too close, encroaching on her personal space. She feels the warmth radiating from him, the scent of the men's cologne she gifted him when they popped back to London for a few days mingling with the faint, ever-present tang of the TARDIS⎯ozone after a storm, sharp yet oddly comforting.

For a moment, he pauses as he looks at her. It's as if he can look straight into her heart.

“We ought to go there sometime,” his voice softer now, as if they were sharing a secret with each other. “Bit of a detour, but well worth it.”