@timetakenawayfromus
BRAVERY. The definition of the term is straightforward. To not be deterred by danger or pain. Ian Chesterton has been undeterred by pain and danger many times in his life, even when he was a small boy he had even rushed to climb trees despite the fear of falling. He had stood and listened in London streets as the sound of air raid sirens filled him with dread, but that didn’t stop him from banging on the door of his elderly neighbour to make sure she got to the closest shelter. That’s not even mentioning all those times up in space or time with the Doctor. BRAVERY was just something that Ian had often taken for granted, part of his DNA, something that he had always been able to have to hand. Until today. UNTIL THIS VERY MOMENT he was suddenly aware of the tingling in his fingers, how dry his mouth had become as she stood before him with a brighter smile than the starlight that graced them with their presence. Why was he scared? There was nothing to be scared of in reality --- in front of him stood the most remarkable woman in the entire universe and all he could think was --- what if she said no. Barbara wasn’t going to say no, but the WHAT IF still remains.
They’d been walking arm and arm past Trafalgar Square when he’d suddenly seem to pause to admire the statues. This time just a few months ago, they had rushed here hand in hand to enjoy fooling around amongst the cobbles and celebrate their return home. Today, it was going to stick in his memory for an entirely different reason. The ex-science teacher paused a moment as if observing something obscure before finally, he moved onto one knee staring up her. His hand fumbling through his inner pocket.
“I’ve been carrying this around with me for two weeks and I thought, I didn’t want to waste the opportunity after such a splendid evening.”
