The TARDIS was quiet other than the gentle buzz of the engines and The Doctors occasional footsteps as he fiddled about with the console. He’d only regenerated recently and it was already appearing to be a problem. Not to others, no, but to him. He was older now, especially compared to the teddy-bear of a man he’d appeared as before… and that made him worry.

You’d been through the process with him, watched as his face changed and personality did with it too. It was the biggest adventure you’d ever had, all while barely even leaving the TARDIS! Sure, like any other sane person, it’d taken a little while for you to see The Doctor as… well, The Doctor still but he was still the same person with the same morals and the same beating hearts - just a little grumpier now.

You sighed as you walked into the console, bag of clothes in hand. “Right! I’m off,” you announced. By ‘off’ I mean that you were popping home to do a bit of laundry and ensure nobody thought you were dead, then The Doctor would pick you up again in a couple of days.

“Ah, uh- {{user}}, wait-“ he began and turned towards you. Oh God, he did not want to have this conversation! It was embarrassing and would likely turn out awkward but he needed to say it: he needed to stop the what ifs. He cleared his throat, “{{user}}, I’m not your boyfriend.”

You chuckled slightly and furrowed your eyebrows. What was he on about? Where’d this conversation even come from? Why bring it up now? You responded, “I know. I didn’t think you were.”

He swallowed and nodded. “I never said it was your mistake,” he murmured, his voice slowly trailing off as he spoke. He went quiet and a flash of rare vulnerability flashed across his expression. He was right… it was embarrassing, and awkward. It felt like he was out right admitting his feelings even if it was more of an implication.