The Man Who Never Stops Running

Chris Jamison. 40. Teaches English Grammar at Coal Hill Secondary. The rest is none of your business.

[themanwhoneverstopsrunning]

All I Want For Christmas is You - Chris & Donna

[msdonnanobleteacher-blog]

themanwhoneverstopsrunning:

Chris was rather relieved that she liked the idea of getting a cat. He could have probably got a real cat instead of the sculpture for Christmas and she would have been fine with that too. He didn’t regret his decision though - picking one out together just felt more special somehow.

“Maybe we could visit your grandfather instead of just phoning him to give him the good news.” Donna’s grandfather seemed to be the person she was closest to, and as such, Chris was anxious to meet him. He smiled to himself, thinking that maybe domestics weren’t so bad after all.

As he proceeded to open the other gifts, he shook his head at Donna’s remark about his Dickens collection. “Scholar? Me? Thank you for the compliment, but I’m a far cry from a scholar, Darling.”

He smiled as he put down the book, tucking Donna’s ginger locks behind her ear affectionately. “Although I could start wearing tweed and havin’ intellectual discussions about politics, if you’re into that kind of thing,” he teased before moving onto the next gift.

Their dance to the songs Donna recorded for him made Chris forget about his last gift momentarily. His heart swelled and he didn’t quite know how to express his feelings, suddenly finding himself without words, so he simply held her close and smiled to himself, knowing that Donna was still in for a surprise when she found the music box playing the exact same song she recorded for him.

When the music ended and silence fell once again, he kissed her eagerly, wanting to be closer, craving her lips on his, to be lost in her embrace. She responded just as passionately, and Chris shivered slightly as her fingernails scraped over his back lightly. He slid his hands to her hips, then lower, grabbing her ass and lifting her up, still kissing her.

Chris somehow managed to keep his balance as his legs hit the couch, lowering her slowly to the cushioned surface and leaning over her, kissing his way down from her jaw, to her collarbones, trailing a finger over her sides and nuzzling her stomach with his nose before returning to her neck.

“You haven’t opened your gifts yet,” he panted as he drew back slightly, steadying himself with his hands. He was fully aware of the fact that they left the bedroom maybe fifteen minutes before, but his body didn’t seem to care. He was hard again, and thinking about little else than what was underneath her pajamas.

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Chris opened his eyes slowly, breathing in the scent of their love-making that was still in the air. He sighed, rubbing Donna’s back lightly, before peppering her face with kisses. 

“How are you enjoying this Christmas so far?” his smile was sleepy, and he had to fight to keep his eyelids open. His limbs felt pleasantly heavy, his whole body relaxed to a degree where moving proved to be difficult. He was sure he’d never been this satisfied in his life. Then again, he usually thought that when they were lying in bed naked with Donna.

“You know, you only opened one of your gifts.” He turned on his side, tracing patterns with his fingers on her shoulders and neck. “At this rate we’ll never finish with that. What would Santa say?” he grinned at her. “At this point it’s fairly certain we’ll be on the naughty list next year. 

[themanwhoneverstopsrunning]

All I Want For Christmas is You - Chris & Donna

[msdonnanobleteacher-blog]

themanwhoneverstopsrunning:

Chris was rather relieved that she liked the idea of getting a cat. He could have probably got a real cat instead of the sculpture for Christmas and she would have been fine with that too. He didn’t regret his decision though - picking one out together just felt more special somehow.

“Maybe we could visit your grandfather instead of just phoning him to give him the good news.” Donna’s grandfather seemed to be the person she was closest to, and as such, Chris was anxious to meet him. He smiled to himself, thinking that maybe domestics weren’t so bad after all.

As he proceeded to open the other gifts, he shook his head at Donna’s remark about his Dickens collection. “Scholar? Me? Thank you for the compliment, but I’m a far cry from a scholar, Darling.”

He smiled as he put down the book, tucking Donna’s ginger locks behind her ear affectionately. “Although I could start wearing tweed and havin’ intellectual discussions about politics, if you’re into that kind of thing,” he teased before moving onto the next gift.

Their dance to the songs Donna recorded for him made Chris forget about his last gift momentarily. His heart swelled and he didn’t quite know how to express his feelings, suddenly finding himself without words, so he simply held her close and smiled to himself, knowing that Donna was still in for a surprise when she found the music box playing the exact same song she recorded for him.

When the music ended and silence fell once again, he kissed her eagerly, wanting to be closer, craving her lips on his, to be lost in her embrace. She responded just as passionately, and Chris shivered slightly as her fingernails scraped over his back lightly. He slid his hands to her hips, then lower, grabbing her ass and lifting her up, still kissing her.

Chris somehow managed to keep his balance as his legs hit the couch, lowering her slowly to the cushioned surface and leaning over her, kissing his way down from her jaw, to her collarbones, trailing a finger over her sides and nuzzling her stomach with his nose before returning to her neck.

“You haven’t opened your gifts yet,” he panted as he drew back slightly, steadying himself with his hands. He was fully aware of the fact that they left the bedroom maybe fifteen minutes before, but his body didn’t seem to care. He was hard again, and thinking about little else than what was underneath her pajamas.

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Chris could barely wait for her answer, poised on the brink of salvation, throbbing so badly he was sure he’d burst if he had to wait a minute longer. He didn’t have to wait long though.

Her cry and their bodies meeting made him see stars, her name slipping from his lips several times. He was too caught up in pleasure at first to even move, enjoying her tight, wet heat, groaning as her nails found the skin on his back.

Donna throwing her head back provided him excellent access to her neck, which he used to his full advantage, nipping at the sensitive skin and nuzzling it with his nose as he started a slow rhythm that was speeding up faster than he intended.

Chasing his own release, he held her tighter to him, one hand on her hip, the other at the small of her back, his desire getting the best of him. He felt himself tighten inside her, desire coiling deep in his stomach and he knew that he was close.

Gritting his teeth, he slowed down, switching to deeper thrusts, pulling out almost all the way before burying himself inside her again. He lifted his face up to be able to meet her eyes and whispered reverently, “You’re so beautiful, Donna.”

[themanwhoneverstopsrunning]

All I Want For Christmas is You - Chris & Donna

[msdonnanobleteacher-blog]

themanwhoneverstopsrunning:

Chris was rather relieved that she liked the idea of getting a cat. He could have probably got a real cat instead of the sculpture for Christmas and she would have been fine with that too. He didn’t regret his decision though - picking one out together just felt more special somehow.

“Maybe we could visit your grandfather instead of just phoning him to give him the good news.” Donna’s grandfather seemed to be the person she was closest to, and as such, Chris was anxious to meet him. He smiled to himself, thinking that maybe domestics weren’t so bad after all.

As he proceeded to open the other gifts, he shook his head at Donna’s remark about his Dickens collection. “Scholar? Me? Thank you for the compliment, but I’m a far cry from a scholar, Darling.”

He smiled as he put down the book, tucking Donna’s ginger locks behind her ear affectionately. “Although I could start wearing tweed and havin’ intellectual discussions about politics, if you’re into that kind of thing,” he teased before moving onto the next gift.

Their dance to the songs Donna recorded for him made Chris forget about his last gift momentarily. His heart swelled and he didn’t quite know how to express his feelings, suddenly finding himself without words, so he simply held her close and smiled to himself, knowing that Donna was still in for a surprise when she found the music box playing the exact same song she recorded for him.

When the music ended and silence fell once again, he kissed her eagerly, wanting to be closer, craving her lips on his, to be lost in her embrace. She responded just as passionately, and Chris shivered slightly as her fingernails scraped over his back lightly. He slid his hands to her hips, then lower, grabbing her ass and lifting her up, still kissing her.

Chris somehow managed to keep his balance as his legs hit the couch, lowering her slowly to the cushioned surface and leaning over her, kissing his way down from her jaw, to her collarbones, trailing a finger over her sides and nuzzling her stomach with his nose before returning to her neck.

“You haven’t opened your gifts yet,” he panted as he drew back slightly, steadying himself with his hands. He was fully aware of the fact that they left the bedroom maybe fifteen minutes before, but his body didn’t seem to care. He was hard again, and thinking about little else than what was underneath her pajamas.

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Her moans spurred him on, and he redoubled his efforts to bring her pleasure, licking and sucking, as she arched her body into his, driving both of them towards their release.

He let out a gasp, looking up briefly as her fingers closed around his cock. His eyes closed of their own accord a moment later, and he groaned before he returned his lips to her nipple, gently grazing it with his teeth, relishing the taste of her, the feel of her touch on his body, the lights that danced behind his closed eyelids when he was with her.

“Donna...” he moaned as she picked up the pace. “ I won’t last if you keep doing that...” He shifted slightly on the couch, and started kissing his way up her neck, her jaws and finally claimed her lips once again. He gently took her hand into his own and entwined their fingers, kissing her once more before saying, “I want to be inside you when I come.”

Keeping a hold of her hand, he grabbed her waist with his other hand, and positioned himself at her entrance, looking into her eyes for a long moment, saying a silent thank you to any deity who was listening for having her.  Then he whispered one word: “Ready?”

[themanwhoneverstopsrunning]

All I Want For Christmas is You - Chris & Donna

[msdonnanobleteacher-blog]

themanwhoneverstopsrunning:

Chris was rather relieved that she liked the idea of getting a cat. He could have probably got a real cat instead of the sculpture for Christmas and she would have been fine with that too. He didn’t regret his decision though - picking one out together just felt more special somehow.

“Maybe we could visit your grandfather instead of just phoning him to give him the good news.” Donna’s grandfather seemed to be the person she was closest to, and as such, Chris was anxious to meet him. He smiled to himself, thinking that maybe domestics weren’t so bad after all.

As he proceeded to open the other gifts, he shook his head at Donna’s remark about his Dickens collection. “Scholar? Me? Thank you for the compliment, but I’m a far cry from a scholar, Darling.”

He smiled as he put down the book, tucking Donna’s ginger locks behind her ear affectionately. “Although I could start wearing tweed and havin’ intellectual discussions about politics, if you’re into that kind of thing,” he teased before moving onto the next gift.

Their dance to the songs Donna recorded for him made Chris forget about his last gift momentarily. His heart swelled and he didn’t quite know how to express his feelings, suddenly finding himself without words, so he simply held her close and smiled to himself, knowing that Donna was still in for a surprise when she found the music box playing the exact same song she recorded for him.

When the music ended and silence fell once again, he kissed her eagerly, wanting to be closer, craving her lips on his, to be lost in her embrace. She responded just as passionately, and Chris shivered slightly as her fingernails scraped over his back lightly. He slid his hands to her hips, then lower, grabbing her ass and lifting her up, still kissing her.

Chris somehow managed to keep his balance as his legs hit the couch, lowering her slowly to the cushioned surface and leaning over her, kissing his way down from her jaw, to her collarbones, trailing a finger over her sides and nuzzling her stomach with his nose before returning to her neck.

“You haven’t opened your gifts yet,” he panted as he drew back slightly, steadying himself with his hands. He was fully aware of the fact that they left the bedroom maybe fifteen minutes before, but his body didn’t seem to care. He was hard again, and thinking about little else than what was underneath her pajamas.

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[themanwhoneverstopsrunning]

He groaned as she shifted underneath him, but still managed a cheeky grin at hearing her reply. “Well, in that case,” he whispered into her ear, “I think the other gifts can wait.”

He started to pull her pajamas off of her, although not very efficiently, as he was reluctant to let her go even for a minute. After a bit of a struggle and no sign of success, he decided they’d probably be better off getting rid of their own clothes. He all but kicked off his pants, assisting her with her clothes, keeping his hands off of Donna just long enough so they could be skin to skin.

He slid one hand up her  side and cupped her right breast, massaging it, while he kissed his way up her stomach to her other breast, taking her nipple in his mouth and circling it with his tongue before gently sucking on it. His other hand went behind her back, one finger tracing her spine up and down, stopping at her waist and pulling her even closer. He rubbed his erection against her thigh, desperately seeking out much needed friction as he was getting higher with each moment that passed.

[themanwhoneverstopsrunning]

All I Want For Christmas is You - Chris & Donna

[themanwhoneverstopsrunning]

msdonnanobleteacher:

She rather liked the idea of having a cat chose the two of them together and let him know that. 

“I can’t wait to phone my Grandad and let him know I got that cat after all.”

Donna shifted over slightly to make it easier for Chris to go collect his gifts, smiling to herself as he picked up the package containing the Dickens novel.

She sat on her knees next to him as he tore away the wrappings, watching and sharing in the anticipation. His thousand watt smile was all the gratitude she needed as he looked the book over, but it never hurt to hear it neither.

“You are quite welcome,” Donna told him, hanging a bit upon his arm and grinning along side of Chris. “The shoppe keeper gave me a quick synopsis of the book. It sounds bloody brilliant if you ask me. I won’t mind hearing this one bit,” she let him know, “besides, just because you started your collection as a solitary endeavour doesn’t mean you have to abandon it because you are not on your own anymore.” She gave a small shrug that and tossed her hair behind her shoulders. “A good book collection is indicative of a scholar. What better for a teacher?” 

Before anything else could be said, Chris went for his next gift; the one containing the good earbuds and the CD.

Donna felt her mouth go dry. It was quite a personal gift, laying herself bare quite a bit. Sure, they were just songs. Her singing and accompanying on various instruments. One could argue it was simply an extension of her chosen profession and her lifelong passion.

It would be a lie, but one could still argue it.

Of course he loved the earbuds. He should for what they had cost her. Donna only hoped they were worth what she shelled out for them.

She backed off slightly when he opened the CD. The information for downloading the songs was written on the inside liner notes that the recording studio had printed up for her. Donna would have to point them out to him later.

That is, if she didn’t die of embarrassment first. Of course she had performed in front of people numerous times. That was a given.

This was a bit different thought wasn’t it?

She wondered to herself briefly if Chris was even familiar with the 21 Pilots version of the song they had danced to on the beach in Venice.

Their song.

It would certainly help if he was. Donna swallowed her nerves as he opened it and immediately went to the CD player to put the disk in.

As the song began Donna had the overwhelming urge to start explaining. It took everything in her to keep her gob shut!

As the final strains of “Can’t Help Falling In Love With You” ended, the ginger waited with baited breath for his reaction. She need not wait long.

Their kiss was long, deep and passionate. It left her breathless and slightly heady and completely pleased with his reaction.

Chris swept her up in a dance for the rest of the CD and she let him, her head dropping to his chest just below his shoulder. She let her eyes close as they swayed to the remaining songs. Never in a million years could she have imagined a more perfect Christmas morning.

All too soon, the CD ended and Chris was once again kissing her, a most welcomed gift in its own right. Donna responded eagerly. Thoughts of the other gifts temporarily pushed from the forefront of her mind as her arms tightened around Chris. He was still shirtless, a consequence of their impromptu race to the Christmas tree. Donna  let her hands roam over his bare back, sliding them up and down the firm muscles, before having her nails rake over his skin while she nibbled on his lower lip.

Maybe he should open one more gift…? she thought to herself as she lifted herself up on her toes pressing herself more firmly against him, her hips pressing against his thigh.

Chris was rather relieved that she liked the idea of getting a cat. He could have probably got a real cat instead of the sculpture for Christmas and she would have been fine with that too. He didn’t regret his decision though - picking one out together just felt more special somehow.

“Maybe we could visit your grandfather instead of just phoning him to give him the good news.” Donna’s grandfather seemed to be the person she was closest to, and as such, Chris was anxious to meet him. He smiled to himself, thinking that maybe domestics weren’t so bad after all.

As he proceeded to open the other gifts, he shook his head at Donna’s remark about his Dickens collection. “Scholar? Me? Thank you for the compliment, but I’m a far cry from a scholar, Darling.”

He smiled as he put down the book, tucking Donna’s ginger locks behind her ear affectionately. “Although I could start wearing tweed and havin’ intellectual discussions about politics, if you’re into that kind of thing,” he teased before moving onto the next gift.

Their dance to the songs Donna recorded for him made Chris forget about his last gift momentarily. His heart swelled and he didn’t quite know how to express his feelings, suddenly finding himself without words, so he simply held her close and smiled to himself, knowing that Donna was still in for a surprise when she found the music box playing the exact same song she recorded for him.

When the music ended and silence fell once again, he kissed her eagerly, wanting to be closer, craving her lips on his, to be lost in her embrace. She responded just as passionately, and Chris shivered slightly as her fingernails scraped over his back lightly. He slid his hands to her hips, then lower, grabbing her ass and lifting her up, still kissing her.

Chris somehow managed to keep his balance as his legs hit the couch, lowering her slowly to the cushioned surface and leaning over her, kissing his way down from her jaw, to her collarbones, trailing a finger over her sides and nuzzling her stomach with his nose before returning to her neck.

“You haven’t opened your gifts yet,” he panted as he drew back slightly, steadying himself with his hands. He was fully aware of the fact that they left the bedroom maybe fifteen minutes before, but his body didn’t seem to care. He was hard again, and thinking about little else than what was underneath her pajamas.

[themanwhoneverstopsrunning]

All I Want For Christmas is You - Chris & Donna

[msdonnanobleteacher-blog]

msdonnanobleteacher:

themanwhoneverstopsrunning:

msdonnanobleteacher:

themanwhoneverstopsrunning:

Chris smiled at Donna’s joke about the Christmas lights and closed his eyes for a moment, a deep ache for Jenny’s presence and and even deeper love for Donna churning in his heart. He soon opened his eyes and perked up with anticipation at seeing her excitement about the gifts. He waited with baited breath to see which one would Donna pick.

The box. He grinned and had the urge to rub his hands together. He wasn’t entirely sure whether to give it to her, after their argument and her shouting at him that Owen already offered to take her. But he already had the tickets, and at the end of the day, she was right about not going out together enough. So there it was. Lump in his throat, tickets in the box.

“This one?” he asked, walking over to it and picking it up gingerly. He placed it back into her hands and waited for her reaction, distracting himself by scanning the room for his own gifts. He decided that he would start with the biggest one. But Donna still had to open hers and he was getting more and more restless by the minute. “Go on then,” he urged her gently, “open it!”

“Oi!” she protested, “now who’s impatient?” she pointed out and then grinned like mad as she smoothed her hand over the box.

“Oh Chris, it is lovely!” she cooed, “her face lighting up as she admired the wooden box, already thinking of all the little treasures she could store in it when she decided to open it.

“What’s this?” she looked up at him, blinking rapidly as she pulled out the tickets. 

“Tickets?” she started at him for a moment, “are we going somewhere?” she finally looked and read the face of the tickets she held in her hand.

She dropped them back in the box, her eyes wide as she clamped her hands over her mouth and turned  her head quickly back to look at him.

“The orchestra?! Really?!” she squealed, clearly delighted with the gift. Donna set the box to the side and jumped up, tackling Chris, arms thrown around his neck as she kissed wherever she could reach, thanking him at the same time.

When she let him go, she dropped back down to her previous spot and fingered the tickets lovingly before getting a bit of wicked grin, “Oh, you are going to have a great time that night!” she teased him before setting them back in the box.

She was so pleased with the tickets that Donna couldn’t wait for Chris to open something.

“Okay, now it’s your turn! Go on now! Off you pop! Pick something!” she urged him! 

@themanwhoneverstopsrunning

Chris smiled with anticipation as she ran her fingers over the wooden box, mistakingly believing that it was the gift itself. He could barely contain himself to not tell her that the real gift was inside.

It was worth the wait though, seeing her eyes widen and hearing the happiness in her voice. Chris tightened his arms around her as she threw herself into his embrace and thanked him for the tickets.

“I thought it was high time I take you somewhere. What better place then somewhere with music?” He smiled at her.

Letting her go, he looked around the room and decided on starting with the biggest one. Excitement was bubbling underneath the surface of his smile and he all but tore off the wrapper from his gift.

He briefly registered that it was something wooden, and of a rich mahogany colour, before realizing that it was a piece of furniture. The first one he would own since childhood.

“A bookshelf! That’s fantastic!” He ran his hands over the carving at the sides and the smooth, flat surface of the shelves, then turned back to Donna. “I’ll finally have somewhere to put all my Dickens novels. Charlie would approve, I think.” He was in the habit of calling his favorite author by a lesser known nickname. Chris was quite sure it would have annoyed the writer to no end.

Hugging Donna once more, he turned towards the tree once more, “We’ll, now that you’re truly making me domestic - not complainin’, mind you - how about you choose your next gift?”

“Do you really like it?” she asked but she was smiling when he mentioned the Dickens novels, “funny you should mention your collection, that is exactly what I was thinking should go on it,” she laughed. “It is high time you actually owned something substantial. Something that says you belong somewhere!” She kissed his cheek, “Well, besides that pile of dirty laundry you are neglecting to get to that is,” she teased.

Surveying the rest of her gifts Donna huffed, “Oi! This is too hard! I think we should just dive in and open them all! I want to see you open all of yours,” she pouted, but had her eye on the green box with the snowmen on it.

She shuffled over to it and picked it up, turning it over in her hands. It had a bit of weight to it. Glancing over at Chris, she quirked an eyebrow at him quizzically before deciding to simply dive in. 

Donna tore away the paper and paused, taking in the statue. 

It was cute. She’d give him that. Her fingers went to the collar and she smiled at the whimsy of putting a real collar on the cat.

Then she found the note. She took a moment to read it and her face lit up. 

“You great big… a cat?!” she said quietly still looking down at the note. She was aware she had a tear in her eye. Donna thought about how many times she begged Sylvia for a pet as a kid, specifically a cat.

And how many times she refused.

Donna set the tabby to the side and without a word, looked up at Chris. 

“I used to ask Sylvia… My grandad brought home a tiny kitten once,” she began,” only to pause again and clear her throat. “Only, when I came home from school, he said it missed it’s brothers and sisters so he took it to live with them. I knew better though. My mother told him to take it away. She didn’t like the idea of pets. Said they were dirty.”

Donna smiled brightly at him, eyes still shining. “I especially liked the bit about expanding our family,” she said playfully, “so is this our practice baby?” she teased. Well, mostly teased. She wasn’t getting any younger after all!

“Thank you! I can’t wait to go get our kitty! That’s simply brilliant, Blue Eyes. Perfect!” she leaned over, squeezing his hand and kissed his cheek. “Now, I believe it is YOUR turn… and for gods’ sake… I think you should just go for broke and open them all before I die from the anticipation!” she groaned exaggeratedly. 

[themanwhoneverstopsrunning]

Chris’ heart was beginning to pound faster as he noticed Donna going for the box that hid the cat sculpture. He wasn’t entirely sure whether they were at the stage of their relationship where he could come home with a kitten and she wouldn’t throw them both out. Well, he knew she wouldn’t do that, but he was still to nervous to give her an actual cat on their first Christmas. However, inquiring whether she wanted the real thing too was safe enough, he judged.

He was a little bit alarmed at the first words that fell out of her mouth upon  reading the note. Maybe his judgement was wrong on that after all. But his doubts were cleared up soon enough when Donna looked up at him and Chris could see the tear shining in her eye. 

His heart clenched painfully in his chest when she told him about her grandfather’s attempt to bring her a pet and he drew her to him gently, deciding wordlessly that he liked Sylvia less and less. “They might be a bit dirty, but I’m sure we can handle it,” he smiled down at her. “Besides, cats clean themselves all the time.” He let the practice baby remark pass - he knew he had some way to go before he was ready and comfortable with raising a child. 

“You’re welcome,” he kissed the top of her head. “I thought it better to choose it together. Or rather, let the cat choose us together." 

Chris grinned and rubbed his hands together. “My turn, is it? Well, where to start?” He looked around the room, his eyes catching the golden glint of a wrapper that looked suspiciously like it was hiding a book. He went for it straightaway, unwrapping it carefully this time, smiling widely as it revealed the title: Bleak House. 

He turned to grin back at Donna, “That predictable, am I? Well, believe it or not, I do not own a single copy of Bleak House yet. It’s gonna go perfectly on the shelf. We can read it together! Thank you Darling!”

His excitement not fading one bit, he went to open the next gift, the one wrapped in stripped paper - when he opened it and saw the earbuds he grinned wider and conceded that now he’d finally be able to hear the songs better than the traffic on his morning runs. Then he noticed the CD - since it was unmarked, the only way to find out what was on it was to pop it in the CD player. “Well, let’s hear it then!” he popped it in and took Donna’s hands, his eyes widening when he recognized Donna's voice. He listened to the first song in complete silence and looked at her once the track was over: “You recorded a song for me?” 

He kissed her passionately before she could reply, surfacing only for breath when he noticed that there were more songs on the CD. When “Here, there, and Everywhere” started, he took her waist and started slow dancing, smiling at her tenderly. 

He stood still for a few moments after the songs finished playing, just getting lost in her eyes. “Thank you,” he whispered finally, before leaning in and kissing her deeply. 

[themanwhoneverstopsrunning]

All I Want For Christmas is You - Chris & Donna

[themanwhoneverstopsrunning]

msdonnanobleteacher:

She could burst. That was how she’d have to describe how she was feeling right now if someone were to ask. Honestly, she knew the ornament was a bittersweet one for Chris but, it felt like a stepping stone of sorts and (while it sounded rather half-witted she supposed) made her feel like they were more than just a couple “dating”. That this Christmas meant something.

Donna beamed when he said she and Jenny would get along, “I would hope so,” she offered up, “we both seem awfully fond of you… And the lights, of course,” she gave him a quick squeeze. “We both obviously knew good things when we saw them!” She snuggled into him a bit closer (if such a thing were even possible) as they surveyed the decorations on the tree, a gentle sigh slipping from her lips of pure contentment.

That is, until it was gift time again! Donna sprung back to life, grinning wildly and giving him a little, good-natured slap for calling her impatient.

“Just getting the memo on that now are we?” she teased him, looking over her gifts as she gave them each a thoughtful once over.

“Hmmmmm….” she hummed, considering which one she wanted, not that she really cared, but it was fun to make such a fuss.

“How about that lovely box over there? That is for me isn’t” she asked with more than just a hint of excitement and curiosity in her voice.

Donna glanced over at Chris’ pile. There were some new jumpers in colours she thought would be flattering on him (bring out his eyes), and other such fillers, but her gaze lingered upon the tall, not so neatly wrapped gift in the candy cane stripped paper. Underneath the wrappings, was a lovely and quite solid, mahogany bookshelf for his collection of Dickens’ novels. It wasn’t huge. It had four shelves and would fit nicely just about anywhere, but the sides, near the top, were ornately carved by hand with intricate designs to look like little vines and stars. She had found it at an estate sale and it was simply too lovely to pass up. Donna figured, if he wasn’t going to off running anymore, than it was certainly time for him to settle down and own a piece of furniture and what better (at least for Chris) than a bookshelf? 

To go upon the bookshelf, and wrapped in gold with a green ribbon, was a copy of “Bleak House”. A rather old copy, clad in leather that she and Martha has found at the book store on their shopping trip. After hearing the summery from the shoppe’s clerk, Donna was rather excited to hear Chris read this book to her as they snuggled together in bed, or upon the couch.

There was also something that well… took a bit of doing and creativity to get. It was concealed in a shirt box and wrapped in red tissue paper to protect it; then the entire box was wrapped in green paper with a gold ribbon this time.

Using an ID she didn’t give back when she did a temp job for the NHS, Donna had managed to track down the file from the group home Chris and his sister had been sent to. She spent hours mucking about in a dark, damp cellar with a torch that refused to put out a decent beam of light to find them, but find them she did. The pages were unreadable. Water damage all but washing away the ink in the notes, but there were two photographs. One of a teenage Chris (which made her smile every time she had looked at it. There was something else, nagging at the back of her mind when she’d stare at it, but Donna never did quite figure that one out) and one of a lovely, little blonde girl who could only be Jenny. Donna had been under the assumption he didn’t have any photographs of her, which was another reason finding out he did (after almost getting caught in her ruse and being threatened with jail!) bothered her. The photographs were damaged also, maybe not quite as badly, but she had taken them to man who said he could restore them, and restore them he did! They looked almost as good as new! Or, so she assumed! Donna purchased a lovely mahogany frame to match the bookcase, one that held two  5 x 7 prints and placed the pictures of the siblings inside, wrapping them and placing them in a gift bag that she tied shut. This was their home and she had noted there weren’t any photographs of Chris’ family, or him when he was younger. That hadn’t seemed fair to the redhead. This gift changed that.

The other “big” gift, was a pair of extremely good quality earbuds for Chris to listen to when he was out for a run. He was going to need them to go with the CD and download she had made for him.. This gift made her nervous in a completely different way than the ornament. Donna had taken her best kids from the choir and they recorded a song and put it on CD. Of course they didn’t know it was for their grammar teacher. She had lied and told them it was for “Britain’s Got Talent”. An audition CD. She only needed the kids for the one song, but there were others on the CD. There was also a link so he could digitally download the songs. 

Donna Noble had done something as incredibly silly and lovesick as played the ukulele, and with the help of a couple dozen kids from her music classes and choir, she recorded, “Can’t Help Falling In Love With You” for Chris.

She wasn’t sure if it was the daftest thing she had ever done, or the bravest.

There were 3 other songs on there as well. Each one sang by her, and accompanied by her on one instrument or an other.  There was:

“In My Life” by the Beatles

“Here, There and Everywhere” by the Beatles

“Make You Feel My Love” by Adele

The two gifts were wrapped together with the same paper as the shelf. (It was a miracle there was any left) and tied together with a red ribbon.

When it was his turn, she wouldn’t be able to wait… she’d probably just shove all the gifts right at him!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ThQkrXHdh4

(She performs the “21 Pilots” version of the song)

@themanwhoneverstopsrunning

Chris smiled at Donna’s joke about the Christmas lights and closed his eyes for a moment, a deep ache for Jenny’s presence and and even deeper love for Donna churning in his heart. He soon opened his eyes and perked up with anticipation at seeing her excitement about the gifts. He waited with baited breath to see which one would Donna pick.

The box. He grinned and had the urge to rub his hands together. He wasn’t entirely sure whether to give it to her, after their argument and her shouting at him that Owen already offered to take her. But he already had the tickets, and at the end of the day, she was right about not going out together enough. So there it was. Lump in his throat, tickets in the box.

“This one?” he asked, walking over to it and picking it up gingerly. He placed it back into her hands and waited for her reaction, distracting himself by scanning the room for his own gifts. He decided that he would start with the biggest one. But Donna still had to open hers and he was getting more and more restless by the minute. “Go on then,” he urged her gently, “open it!”

[msdonnanobleteacher-blog]

“Oi!” she protested, “now who’s impatient?” she pointed out and then grinned like mad as she smoothed her hand over the box.

“Oh Chris, it is lovely!” she cooed, “her face lighting up as she admired the wooden box, already thinking of all the little treasures she could store in it when she decided to open it.

“What’s this?” she looked up at him, blinking rapidly as she pulled out the tickets. 

“Tickets?” she started at him for a moment, “are we going somewhere?” she finally looked and read the face of the tickets she held in her hand.

She dropped them back in the box, her eyes wide as she clamped her hands over her mouth and turned  her head quickly back to look at him.

“The orchestra?! Really?!” she squealed, clearly delighted with the gift. Donna set the box to the side and jumped up, tackling Chris, arms thrown around his neck as she kissed wherever she could reach, thanking him at the same time.

When she let him go, she dropped back down to her previous spot and fingered the tickets lovingly before getting a bit of wicked grin, “Oh, you are going to have a great time that night!” she teased him before setting them back in the box.

She was so pleased with the tickets that Donna couldn’t wait for Chris to open something.

“Okay, now it’s your turn! Go on now! Off you pop! Pick something!” she urged him! 

@themanwhoneverstopsrunning

[themanwhoneverstopsrunning]

Chris smiled with anticipation as she ran her fingers over the wooden box, mistakingly believing that it was the gift itself. He could barely contain himself to not tell her that the real gift was inside.

It was worth the wait though, seeing her eyes widen and hearing the happiness in her voice. Chris tightened his arms around her as she threw herself into his embrace and thanked him for the tickets.

"I thought it was high time I take you somewhere. What better place then somewhere with music?" He smiled at her.

Letting her go, he looked around the room and decided on starting with the biggest one. Excitement was bubbling underneath the surface of his smile and he all but tore off the wrapper from his gift.

He briefly registered that it was something wooden, and of a rich mahogany colour, before realizing that it was a piece of furniture. The first one he would own since childhood.

"A bookshelf! That's fantastic!" He ran his hands over the carving at the sides and the smooth, flat surface of the shelves, then turned back to Donna. "I'll finally have somewhere to put all my Dickens novels. Charlie would approve, I think." He was in the habit of calling his favorite author by a lesser known nickname. Chris was quite sure it would have annoyed the writer to no end.

Hugging Donna once more, he turned towards the tree once more, "We'll, now that you're truly making me domestic - not complainin', mind you - how about you choose your next gift?"

[themanwhoneverstopsrunning]

All I Want For Christmas is You - Chris & Donna

[themanwhoneverstopsrunning]

msdonnanobleteacher:

She could burst. That was how she’d have to describe how she was feeling right now if someone were to ask. Honestly, she knew the ornament was a bittersweet one for Chris but, it felt like a stepping stone of sorts and (while it sounded rather half-witted she supposed) made her feel like they were more than just a couple “dating”. That this Christmas meant something.

Donna beamed when he said she and Jenny would get along, “I would hope so,” she offered up, “we both seem awfully fond of you… And the lights, of course,” she gave him a quick squeeze. “We both obviously knew good things when we saw them!” She snuggled into him a bit closer (if such a thing were even possible) as they surveyed the decorations on the tree, a gentle sigh slipping from her lips of pure contentment.

That is, until it was gift time again! Donna sprung back to life, grinning wildly and giving him a little, good-natured slap for calling her impatient.

“Just getting the memo on that now are we?” she teased him, looking over her gifts as she gave them each a thoughtful once over.

“Hmmmmm….” she hummed, considering which one she wanted, not that she really cared, but it was fun to make such a fuss.

“How about that lovely box over there? That is for me isn’t” she asked with more than just a hint of excitement and curiosity in her voice.

Donna glanced over at Chris’ pile. There were some new jumpers in colours she thought would be flattering on him (bring out his eyes), and other such fillers, but her gaze lingered upon the tall, not so neatly wrapped gift in the candy cane stripped paper. Underneath the wrappings, was a lovely and quite solid, mahogany bookshelf for his collection of Dickens’ novels. It wasn’t huge. It had four shelves and would fit nicely just about anywhere, but the sides, near the top, were ornately carved by hand with intricate designs to look like little vines and stars. She had found it at an estate sale and it was simply too lovely to pass up. Donna figured, if he wasn’t going to off running anymore, than it was certainly time for him to settle down and own a piece of furniture and what better (at least for Chris) than a bookshelf? 

To go upon the bookshelf, and wrapped in gold with a green ribbon, was a copy of “Bleak House”. A rather old copy, clad in leather that she and Martha has found at the book store on their shopping trip. After hearing the summery from the shoppe’s clerk, Donna was rather excited to hear Chris read this book to her as they snuggled together in bed, or upon the couch.

There was also something that well… took a bit of doing and creativity to get. It was concealed in a shirt box and wrapped in red tissue paper to protect it; then the entire box was wrapped in green paper with a gold ribbon this time.

Using an ID she didn’t give back when she did a temp job for the NHS, Donna had managed to track down the file from the group home Chris and his sister had been sent to. She spent hours mucking about in a dark, damp cellar with a torch that refused to put out a decent beam of light to find them, but find them she did. The pages were unreadable. Water damage all but washing away the ink in the notes, but there were two photographs. One of a teenage Chris (which made her smile every time she had looked at it. There was something else, nagging at the back of her mind when she’d stare at it, but Donna never did quite figure that one out) and one of a lovely, little blonde girl who could only be Jenny. Donna had been under the assumption he didn’t have any photographs of her, which was another reason finding out he did (after almost getting caught in her ruse and being threatened with jail!) bothered her. The photographs were damaged also, maybe not quite as badly, but she had taken them to man who said he could restore them, and restore them he did! They looked almost as good as new! Or, so she assumed! Donna purchased a lovely mahogany frame to match the bookcase, one that held two  5 x 7 prints and placed the pictures of the siblings inside, wrapping them and placing them in a gift bag that she tied shut. This was their home and she had noted there weren’t any photographs of Chris’ family, or him when he was younger. That hadn’t seemed fair to the redhead. This gift changed that.

The other “big” gift, was a pair of extremely good quality earbuds for Chris to listen to when he was out for a run. He was going to need them to go with the CD and download she had made for him.. This gift made her nervous in a completely different way than the ornament. Donna had taken her best kids from the choir and they recorded a song and put it on CD. Of course they didn’t know it was for their grammar teacher. She had lied and told them it was for “Britain’s Got Talent”. An audition CD. She only needed the kids for the one song, but there were others on the CD. There was also a link so he could digitally download the songs. 

Donna Noble had done something as incredibly silly and lovesick as played the ukulele, and with the help of a couple dozen kids from her music classes and choir, she recorded, “Can’t Help Falling In Love With You” for Chris.

She wasn’t sure if it was the daftest thing she had ever done, or the bravest.

There were 3 other songs on there as well. Each one sang by her, and accompanied by her on one instrument or an other.  There was:

“In My Life” by the Beatles

“Here, There and Everywhere” by the Beatles

“Make You Feel My Love” by Adele

The two gifts were wrapped together with the same paper as the shelf. (It was a miracle there was any left) and tied together with a red ribbon.

When it was his turn, she wouldn’t be able to wait… she’d probably just shove all the gifts right at him!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ThQkrXHdh4

(She performs the “21 Pilots” version of the song)

@themanwhoneverstopsrunning

Chris smiled at Donna’s joke about the Christmas lights and closed his eyes for a moment, a deep ache for Jenny’s presence and and even deeper love for Donna churning in his heart. He soon opened his eyes and perked up with anticipation at seeing her excitement about the gifts. He waited with baited breath to see which one would Donna pick.

The box. He grinned and had the urge to rub his hands together. He wasn’t entirely sure whether to give it to her, after their argument and her shouting at him that Owen already offered to take her. But he already had the tickets, and at the end of the day, she was right about not going out together enough. So there it was. Lump in his throat, tickets in the box.

“This one?” he asked, walking over to it and picking it up gingerly. He placed it back into her hands and waited for her reaction, distracting himself by scanning the room for his own gifts. He decided that he would start with the biggest one. But Donna still had to open hers and he was getting more and more restless by the minute. “Go on then,” he urged her gently, “open it!”

[themanwhoneverstopsrunning]

All I Want For Christmas is You - Chris & Donna

[themanwhoneverstopsrunning]

msdonnanobleteacher:

She only rolled her eyes before kissing him when Chris protested about crashing into their tree, or her destroying his back for that matter. The kiss all but made up for their near mishap.

“You wouldn’t be the first to underestimate me,” she teased him, “better guard against it next time, Sunshine.” Donna found that bit of fake bravado helped as she handed over the box with the ornament in it. She was dead nervous about his reaction to it. He could love it or have an emotional meltdown. As Donna chewed her lower lip expectantly, all she could do is hope it was the first option and not the later. 

With eagle eyes, Donna watched Chris open the package. When he froze, it was as if her heart stopped too.

Great. That’s it. She destroyed their first Christmas together. It was probably their last. 

Donna was about to start apologising… start explaining what in the world she was thinking when she bought the ornament when turned the ornament around in his hands; hands that made the delicate glass look all the more fragile. 

Her eyes followed him, his every movement both small and large. Her eyes were drawn to his face when Chris smiled, even as a tear made its way down his cheek. Now she was just confused. She wanted to reach out and brush it away, kiss his cheek where the tear dare stained it, but instead she remained unable to move, waiting for Chris to make the first move. There was a slightly metallic taste on her tongue as Donna realised that in her nervous state, she must have bit her lip harder than she meant too, but still she waited. Waited with baited breath. 

After what seemed like an eternity, he looked up at her and kissed her   of all things! Donna slumped slightly against him after holding her body rigid in anticipation for, what seemed like, so long. She withdrew almost reluctantly, breathlessly and smiled a bit disbelieving when he thanked her.  

The relief only continued to roll off of her in waves when he stood and offered her his hand to find a spot for the ornament on the tree. Donna found herself without words, a rarity to be sure and simply smiled and nodded her agreement, stretching her hand out to clasp his. 

Once standing, Donna wrapped an arm around Chris’ waist and laid her head against his still bare chest. She allowed herself to take a very brief moment and closed her eyes, just enjoying this brief snippet in their personal history together, standing together in front of the Christmas tree like this. She wanted to remember it forever and hoped she’d be allowed to do so.

Opening her eyes Donna gave Chris a little nudge, “Go on then, what about near that one, over there?” she pointed to the one that said “Our First Christmas Together” with the year on it. “After all, it is the first year all three of us are spending the holiday together, yeah?” she asked softly.

Donna waited to see what Chris would do and then decided to lighten the mood a little bit, “Whatever you’re going to do, you need to get a move on doing it because I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I haven’t gotten to open a single bloody thing yet, and you, Blue Eyes” she narrowed her eyes at him, “are on gift number two already this morning if I’m not mistaken,” she pouted up at him and then gave him a warm, slightly cheeky smile.

Chris felt a pang of guilt when he felt the tension melt away as he kissed her and realized that she was very nervous about how he’d react to her gift. He didn’t even know how he’d react himself just a few seconds before. But kissing her and uttering his thanks seemed to fit the bill perfectly. It hurt, he would be lying if he tried to tell himself otherwise, but it wasn’t an entirely bad hurt.

Seeing Jenny’s name in someone else’s handwriting was very strange - he kept her existence as a closely guarded secret for most of his life, so knowing that other people knew his sister’s name (even if they had no idea who she was) was a foreign concept. But Chris had to admit, the ornament looked fantastic and reminded him of happier times.

“Jenny would have loved this,” he barely spoke above a whisper as Donna wrapped her arms around him. “She always loved Christmas. The tree, the gifts, the lights... She really loved the lights...” his voice was getting smaller and he had to clear his throat. “You two would have gotten along very well.”

For a moment he was silent, pulling Donna a little closer, enjoying her warmth and contentedness. It was a new feeling, one he hoped to cherish for a long while. He chuckled when she suggested to place the ornament next to the one that said “Our first Christmas together”.

“Yes, I suppose that’ll fit quite well.” He kissed the top of her head and placed the bauble carefully next to the other decoration. He held up a hand when she told him to hurry up, “Well, aren’t you impatient?” he grinned at her cheekily. “But yes, I think it should be your turn now.  So, where do you want to start?”

Looking around the living room, Chris noted that there were about twice as many gifts for him as there was for Donna, but what he was more nervous about was how she’d like the things he got her. 

He of course bought the customary chocolate (and lot of it too, since they both had a sweet tooth), but that was more of a filler than an actual gifts. There was the music box, wrapped neatly in gold and red paper, which he was most excited about giving her; two tickets to the London Orchestra, in a decorative wooden box, so as to not give away too much about what was inside; a leather-bound copy of Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice” inside a blue package, tied with a blue ribbon. And a life-size sculpture of a ginger tabby on its back, with a leather collar attached (for a real cat) and a note that said: “Never asked you if you were a dog or a cat person, which is hindsight seems like a mistake. I wasn’t brave enough to bring home a real cat on our first Christmas, but the collar is for a real one. So if you want, we could expand the family to include a feline too”. The last gift was the biggest, hidden inside a rectangular green box with lots of snowmen on the wrapper.

He looked at Donna who seemed quite excited now that it was finally her turn. “Your choice. Which one do you want to open first?”

[themanwhoneverstopsrunning]

All I Want For Christmas is You - Chris & Donna

[msdonnanobleteacher-blog]

themanwhoneverstopsrunning:

Chris shook his head and smiled at her. “I keep tellin’ you that you’re more than impressive and you keep not believing me! But fine, you win. You are more than impressive. He shivered slightly as Donna ran a hand over his still exposed torso. He started looking for his t-shirt and pants while she talked about presents and breakfast.

“I see no obstacles to that.” Fining his pants, he put them on the nightstand and proceeded to look for his t-shirt. “What would you like for breakfast?” He held up his hands before Donna could interrupt. “I know. I know. Gifts first. But after that, what would you like to eat?”

He let out an undignified ‘oof’ when Donna very nearly yanked him out of bed and pulled on his pants quickly. “All right, all right. Comin’!” He was about to put on his t-shirt too, his hand halfway up to his head, when he caught sight of Donna getting rid of her top. He dropped the t-shirt and gaped as she leaned down to pick up said top.

“You’re doing that on purpose!” he accused, although in all honesty he didn’t mind very much. That is, until she challenged him to a race. Now he couldn’t leave that without further comment. “Oi! That’s cheating!” he shouted, trying to yank his t-shirt over his head, while catching up with Donna.

He got out of the bed successfully, but decided to forego the shirt as it proved to difficult to handle while running. “Slow Poke?! I’ll show you…” He turned the corner and saw Donna disappear through the door of the living room. Deciding that he’d not go down without a fight, Chris sprinted into the room and lunged with full force, catching Donna’s waist as she was nearly at the tree. He was successful in turning them around mid-air, so it was him who landed on his back with a thud, not Donna. Looking up, he saw that they missed the Christmas tree by only a couple of inches, ending up under it, with a few decorations being dislocated as a result of their fall.

“Seems like we both made it to the tree at the same time,” he grinned at her cheekily before giving her a kiss. “And don’t think we won’t return to what you’re wearing underneath your jimjams!”

She heard him coming charging after her and pulled the shirt on quickly as she picked up the pace… Just a bit. She recognised that compared to Chris and the rest of her Coal Hill colleagues, she wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, but she wasn’t completely spare either! No way was she NOT going to let him catch her.

What fun would there be in that?!

What she wasn’t expecting was the amount of effort he would put into catching up and catching her! She let out a bit of a yelp when Chris grabbed a hold of them, her eyes squeezing shut, certain they were about to be catapulted into the tree!

When they hit the ground, Donna first opened one eye, and then the other. She gave him a bit of a look and then hit him on the shoulder. 

“Oi! Genius! You almost sent our tree flying with us in it!” she scolded him, but couldn’t help but laugh slightly at the end, but gave him another smack for good measure. “You’re lucky I didn’t break your bloody back! What good would you be to me or my little secret under my jimjams then, Blue Eyes?” she teased with a shake of her head before leaning over and making a thorough job of kissing him.

Donna pulled back after a moment, eyes still a bit glassy, “Still say I win though,” she smirked, “I mean, come on… You think I’m that daft that I’m not about to let my gorgeous boyfriend not catch me?!” she snickered as she pushed herself up and turned her head to look at the tree.

She reached over and managed to grab a small box they somehow managed not to smash in their tumble, the one that contained the ornament decorated for Jenny. Donna smiled softly. She shifted so Chris could sit up and then promptly situated herself back in his lap. 

“I um…” she hesitate, “before I go start the tea, or we start ripping into the gifts, I want you to open this first,” she said quietly. “I wanted you to have it the day we got the tree, but things got a bit… complicate that day. That’s when I bought it, but… well, you’ll see. Just open it!” 

Donna gingerly placed it in his hand and waited with baited breath for his reaction, hoping he would understand that this was her way of keeping her memory alive and maybe, well, maybe saying they were all a family now? She swallowed her apprehension and gave him an encouraging smile, worrying her lower lip slightly.

Oi! I hope this doesn’t go horribly wrong and he gets upset and I RUIN Christmas!

[themanwhoneverstopsrunning]

Chris grinned sheepishly, “I wasn’t gonna send the tree flyin’. At least not on purpose. Still, all’s well in the end! My back is intact, the tree is standin’, and it’s a draw for the race.” His grin was still in place as he kissed her back, his left hand on his waist, his right hand on the small of her back. 

Chris blinked at her for a moment when she said she still won. “I guess you’re more cunning than I give you credit for. Very well, I’ll admit being outsmarted.” He got up when she scooted over to the tree, to pick up one of his gifts, apparently. His nervousness about Donna liking the things he got her returned for a brief moment, but it was quickly surpassed by the anticipation of what lay in the small box that she was holding in her hands.

He was surprised to see her hesitating, looking at him almost nervously. He smiled at her encouragingly, “Well, let’s see it then.” He opened the box carefully, not quite knowing what to expect. When he finally saw what was inside, he froze for a moment. Seeing Jenny’s name on the ornament caught him off-guard and he didn’t quite know how to react. 

He turned the small orb around, looking at the ornate writing, of the rocket ship and understood. All Donna wanted was to be included in his past, in his life story. And help him move on, while keeping the good things from his past alive. He smiled, lone tear rolling down on his cheek as he recalled a long-past Christmas where a blond girl in a sparkling blue dress danced around the Christmas tree and laughed at his silly jokes. 

He looked up at Donna, who was biting her lip nervously and was clearly waiting for him to say something. His heart swelled with hope, and a bittersweet feeling of remembrance. Chris put down the ornament for a moment and leaned in to give Donna a deep kiss. 

“Thank you,” he whispered, his voice raw. “That is quite special.” He stood up and extended a hand to her. “Help me find a place for it on the tree?”

[themanwhoneverstopsrunning]

All I Want For Christmas is You - Chris & Donna

[themanwhoneverstopsrunning]

msdonnanobleteacher:

Oh, she couldn’t help the smirk on her face. It might be permanent, Donna thought to herself as Chris whispered his thanks into her ear.

She propped herself up on her elbow and smiled, “Me? Oh, just admit that I am more than impressive and we can call it even… for now at least.” Donna said casually as she ran her hand down his chest and over the contours of his stomach; the smirk returning as she drew her nails over towards the purple mark on his hip. 

“You will most definitely owe me later,” she added, hitching an eyebrow up at him, “but for now, I am picturing a Christmas tree, presents, tea and you in the kitchen making me breakfast!”

Donna kissed him quickly and popped up grabbing his hand and half tugging him off the bed, “Come on, Blue Eyes… Presents! Only, too bad you didn’t get a chance to open this one… yet,” she pretended to pout momentarily and then proceeded to pull the top of her jimjams over her head,.letting it drop to the floor to reveal the top portion of the Christmas themed satin and lacy corset/lingerie she was hiding underneath the innocent looking pyjamas.

Donna giggled as she leaned forward, quite purposefully mind you, to pick her top up off the floor, her breasts practically spilling out of the tiny, push up top. She snatched the cotton jimjam shirt quickly off the floor and held it to her as she snapped back up, grinning wildly at him.

“Last one to the tree has to clean up all the wrappings!” she stated as she spun around and headed for the door, trying to turn her top inside right at the same time.

She had this particular challenge in the bag as well she figured since Chris wasn’t dressed, nor could he barely walk. Donna laughed loudly to herself as she made her way into the hallway calling out over her shoulder.

“Better get a move on there, Slow Poke!” 

Chris shook his head and smiled at her. “I keep tellin’ you that you’re more than impressive and you keep not believing me! But fine, you win. You are more than impressive. He shivered slightly as Donna ran a hand over his still exposed torso. He started looking for his t-shirt and pants while she talked about presents and breakfast.

“I see no obstacles to that.” Fining his pants, he put them on the nightstand and proceeded to look for his t-shirt. “What would you like for breakfast?” He held up his hands before Donna could interrupt. “I know. I know. Gifts first. But after that, what would you like to eat?”

He let out an undignified ‘oof’ when Donna very nearly yanked him out of bed and pulled on his pants quickly. “All right, all right. Comin’!” He was about to put on his t-shirt too, his hand halfway up to his head, when he caught sight of Donna getting rid of her top. He dropped the t-shirt and gaped as she leaned down to pick up said top.

“You’re doing that on purpose!” he accused, although in all honesty he didn’t mind very much. That is, until she challenged him to a race. Now he couldn’t leave that without further comment. “Oi! That’s cheating!” he shouted, trying to yank his t-shirt over his head, while catching up with Donna.

He got out of the bed successfully, but decided to forego the shirt as it proved to difficult to handle while running. “Slow Poke?! I’ll show you...” He turned the corner and saw Donna disappear through the door of the living room. Deciding that he’d not go down without a fight, Chris sprinted into the room and lunged with full force, catching Donna’s waist as she was nearly at the tree. He was successful in turning them around mid-air, so it was him who landed on his back with a thud, not Donna. Looking up, he saw that they missed the Christmas tree by only a couple of inches, ending up under it, with a few decorations being dislocated as a result of their fall.

“Seems like we both made it to the tree at the same time,” he grinned at her cheekily before giving her a kiss. “And don’t think we won’t return to what you’re wearing underneath your jimjams!”

[themanwhoneverstopsrunning]

All I Want For Christmas is You - Chris & Donna

[msdonnanobleteacher-blog]

themanwhoneverstopsrunning:

Chris let out a laugh at her expression when he told her Santa might not have come. He laughed harder still when she smacked him and let him know in no uncertain terms that she wanted her gifts. “You think Santa can be fooled by a fireplace?” ha asked, trying to school his features into a serious expression, and failing completely. He put his arms behind his head and smiled up at her. “Well, if Santa’s as great as they say, I’m sure he left us something.”

In the next few moments however, Chris forgot all about what was under the tree for a moment as he started kissing Donna’s neck. Her gasp and murmured appreciation made his heart race and suddenly he wasn’t quite as keen on getting out of bed just yet. He did let out a gasp of his own when her hands snaked under his t-shirt.

Breaking apart for a moment, he nuzzled her neck, and tried to focus on her words. “Not as excited about those Christmas gifts after all?” he teased, running his hands up and down her sides slowly. “Well, I’m a patient man when I need to be,” he lowered his voice to a whisper, “and I rather like the idea of starting our first Christmas celebration in bed”.

He grinned at her when she finally managed to finish the sentence and propped himself up on his elbows, drawing back a bit. “And since we already have our gifts, there’s no harm in getting onto Santa’s naughty list.” He trailed a finger along her neck, down the her collarbone and down on her arm until he could grab her hand and massage her palm in small circles. “You look too distracted to focus on those gifts right now anyhow,” he added, his voice smug.

Chris decided it was enough of teasing however when she leaned in and caught his earlobe between her teeth, posing the question of what he wanted to do. A soft groan escaped him at her ministrations and he found himself suddenly not caring very much about Santa’s visit. He had all he wanted right here with him. “I think the other gifts will keep, Darling. And I do hate gettin’ out of bed early…” He smiled into their kiss and cupped her cheek with one hand, pulling her closer with the other.

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[themanwhoneverstopsrunning]

Chris' smug expression disappeared quickly when Donna turned the tables on him and got on top. He let out a rather undignified yelp, but recovered a moment later when it became apparent that she was all for spending Christmas morning in bed. He swallowed hard and shifted underneath her as she licked her lips and slowly started undressing him. His hands found her hips, clutching her with a little more force than absolutely necessary, his breathing speeding up as she trailed her fingers over his chest.

“I’ll let you know that I am impressive,” Chris murmured with eyes closed, enjoying the feel of her body against his. He was smiling though, having realized that Donna took his teasing as a challenge. What he did not count on was her determination to win that challenge. He knew he was up for some sweet torture when she swatted his hands away and declared that she’d show him what impressive looked like. Chris laid his head back on the pillow and tried to control his heart-rate - with no success. He felt the electricity between them in those few, seemingly endless moments when she hovered over him, before she descended and started kissing her way down his torso.

All Chris could do was run his fingers through her ginger locks and hold on to the back of her neck. He was dizzy in the best possible way and the feeling was only escalating as she moved downwards. He let out a cry when she reached his hips and muttered (somewhat impatient) encouragements for Donna to get rid of his clothes for good. She was teasing him in earnest now and he wasn’t sure how long he would last before he’d either take control back, or spontaneously combust from sexual frustration.

“Donna, please,” he panted after a few minutes of sweet torture, not sure how long he’d be able to take this.

He saw stars when she finally decided to have mercy and took him in her mouth. He bucked his hips as she swirled her tongue around the tip of his member and clutched her head to him tighter. He groaned as she increased her pace, making a fist with his other hand and trying not to shoot off right then and there.

Gasping, he tried to force the words out, to warn Donna that he couldn’t last any longer, but he was simply not capable of coherent speech at that moment. Moving his hips in rhythm to her movements, he felt his own release overwhelming his senses. He cried her name once and then gave himself over to the sweet bliss that followed.

This Christmas was indeed different from all the others.

After a few minutes of silence (or was that longer? Chris had trouble remembering where he was, much less how long he’d been there...), he opened his eyes, to find Donna smiling down at him. He reached up with one hand and drew her closer, giving her a slow, sweet kiss. He started to rub small circles on her back, as she laid her head down on his shoulder, murmuring his thanks into her ear. “That was fantastic Darling. More than fantastic! But what about you?”

[themanwhoneverstopsrunning]

All I Want For Christmas is You - Chris & Donna

[themanwhoneverstopsrunning]

msdonnanobleteacher:

She pouted before smacking him on the shoulder when he said Santa might have skipped their house. “Shut up! If he did I’m blaming you, Sunshine! We have a fireplace; I am certain that’s good enough to fit the bill,” Donna teased him, a smile shining through at the end. “You think…?!” her eyes lit up like the lights on the tree in the other room, “you think Father Christmas might have left a few goodies for a a couple of big kids like us?” she played along when he suggested there could very well be gifts for them under the tree. It was easy enough to do since she knew her gifts for him were safely sequestered under the tree.

A small squeal slipped from Donna as she wrapped her arms around him as he turned them over. She squirmed underneath him happily, pressing up against him as she ran her hands over his back when his lips skimmed over her. When they found her neck, she moaned softly, “Happy Christmas indeed.“ She gasped softly at the contact, her heart rate increasing expodentially while tilting her head back to allow him better access to her neck. Donna’s nails gently scratched up his back, underneath his t-shirt.

Well, she was wearing something special underneath her Christmas jimjams. IF Chris wanted to open this particular gift now, who was she to object? she mused.

In a heady voice, Donna found her words after a few minutes, “I certainly won’t object if you want to open this gift now, Blue Eyes.” She forced herself to focus on her words and not his lips, or hands or… 

Good lord…!  She took a deep breath and tried to concentrate again.

“…but if you want to see if there’s anything under that tree…“ there was a slight pause and a sharp intake of air into Donna’s lungs, ” We’re going to need to go look now otherwise, I can’t be held responsible for what happens next!” she practically growled softly, “Not that…” her right hand slipped further down his body, her words were punctuated by appreciative hums, “…not that things…” Donna lost her train of thought briefly, “ Not that they won’t keep…mind you,” she finally managed to get out in a mad rush before she was rendered completely incapable of intelligent speech.

Donna let herself bask in the delicious warmth of the moment before she found her body instinctivly pushing upwards, seeking out Chris’ touch. Her left hand caressed his cheek gently before sliding up into his hair, fingernails scrapping along his scalp. Just as she was about to catch his earlobe between her teeth, Donna managed to pant out into his ear, “If you’d rather open gifts now , speak now or forever hold your peace because in a moment; I can not be held responsible for my actions, Blue Eyes.” Donna’s words came out in a sultry, breathy whisper, right before she caught his earlobe between her teeth.

Chris let out a laugh at her expression when he told her Santa might not have come. He laughed harder still when she smacked him and let him know in no uncertain terms that she wanted her gifts. “You think Santa can be fooled by a fireplace?” ha asked, trying to school his features into a serious expression, and failing completely. He put his arms behind his head and smiled up at her. “Well, if Santa’s as great as they say, I’m sure he left us something.”

In the next few moments however, Chris forgot all about what was under the tree for a moment as he started kissing Donna’s neck. Her gasp and murmured appreciation made his heart race and suddenly he wasn’t quite as keen on getting out of bed just yet. He did let out a gasp of his own when her hands snaked under his t-shirt.

Breaking apart for a moment, he nuzzled her neck, and tried to focus on her words. “Not as excited about those Christmas gifts after all?” he teased, running his hands up and down her sides slowly. “Well, I’m a patient man when I need to be,” he lowered his voice to a whisper, “and I rather like the idea of starting our first Christmas celebration in bed”.

He grinned at her when she finally managed to finish the sentence and propped himself up on his elbows, drawing back a bit. “And since we already have our gifts, there’s no harm in getting onto Santa’s naughty list.” He trailed a finger along her neck, down the her collarbone and down on her arm until he could grab her hand and massage her palm in small circles. “You look too distracted to focus on those gifts right now anyhow,” he added, his voice smug.

Chris decided it was enough of teasing however when she leaned in and caught his earlobe between her teeth, posing the question of what he wanted to do. A soft groan escaped him at her ministrations and he found himself suddenly not caring very much about Santa’s visit. He had all he wanted right here with him. “I think the other gifts will keep, Darling. And I do hate gettin’ out of bed early...” He smiled into their kiss and cupped her cheek with one hand, pulling her closer with the other.

[themanwhoneverstopsrunning]

All I Want For Christmas is You - Chris & Donna

[themanwhoneverstopsrunning]

msdonnanobleteacher:

You would think playing Father Christmas for a grown man would be easy. Simple.

You could think that, but you’d be wrong.

Donna waited until Chris fell asleep. That part was easy. She waited until his breathing was rhythmic and deep and until the arms that held her to him had gone somewhat slack around her.

She tried to slip unnoticed from their bed and tiptoe from the room to retrieve the gifts she had purchased, wrapped and hidden around the flat

She tried three times. That’s how many times it took for her to succeed and be able to get away. Every other time, as Donna would attempt to gently lift his arm and slip quietly from their bed, Chris would begin to stir and his arm tighten around her. The third time was the charm.

Donna used her pillow to take her place and half tumbled out of bed to go place her gifts to Chris under their tree. She took a moment to appreciate the lovely tree, all illuminated against the dark room. She struggled a bit with the larger one, but it was worth it. The finishing touch was filling their new stockings, complete with their names in glitter glue with Christmas chocolates, satsumas, a little assortment of nuts (as tradition dictated) and little gifts. 

She gave a little, happy yawn and padded back to bed, swiftly pulling the pillow from Chris’ grip and wiggling herself in its place. Donna drifted back to sleep with a smile firmly set upon her lips. 

What she awoke to was a gentle kiss from Chris and his whispered “Good morning” and Christmas greeting,

Donna gave a little (good natured) groan and stretched one arm out above her head before reaching over to the nightstand next to the bed. Opening one eye, she snatched the Santa hat with the mistletoe attached to the end of it, off the nightstand that she placed there last night, and pulled it onto her head.

With a cheerful grin, and one swift, somewhat graceful movement, Donna rolled over on top of Chris and sat up, straddling him.

“Good morning yourself, Blue Eyes!” she called out to him, “Happy Christmas!” Donna laughed before leaning over him, her hands planted on either side of his head. She smiled down at him, her eyes shinning brightly. Donna had been more awake than asleep for awhile now. She had a difficult time staying asleep, anticipating her first real Christmas that she could remember. One made so much more special since she was sharing it with Chris. Donna smiled adoringly at her boyfriend; she had been hoping he’d be just as excited upon waking as she was. She was quite pleasantly surprised at how wonderfully different this Christmas morning felt after so many years of dreading or simply tolerating them for most of her life.

“So,” she stage whispered, “do you think Father Christmas came last night?” Donna asked, making her eyes wide in wonder. She grinned a bit cheekily, “More importantly, do you like my hat?” she pointed to her hat, or more accurately, the mistletoe attached to it, giving him a little wink.

Chris grinned and placed another kiss on her forehead when she awoke, seemingly more awake than he anticipated. His smile turned into a full-blown laugh when she put on the Santa hat before fully opening her eyes. “Excited much?” he asked, still chuckling.

“Happy Christmas to you to!” He put his arms around her waist and stole a quick kiss when she leaned over him. This Christmas was going to be different than all the rest. Donna’s smiling face was all he needed to know that. He was a bit nervous as well, in all honesty. He didn’t have much experience buying gifts for people - never had to do it for this particular holiday before - and he was wondering whether she’d like the things he got her. Then again, spending it together was the biggest gift he could imagine getting. For the first time in his life, he didn’t mind going along with the whole Father Christmas thing. 

“I don’t know... We don’t have a chimney after all. Maybe he decided to skip this house.” He took on a pensive expression, as if really considering the question. “But who knows? Maybe the old man has tricks up his sleeve even we don’t know yet. I say we should check under the tree.”

Getting Donna’s gifts there wasn’t as hard as he thought it would be. He woke up at dawn and left the bed for all of five minutes, getting everything in place. He tried not to peek too much, but he couldn’t help seeing all the gifts that she already put out around the house. It filled his heart with something unfamiliar that he guessed was the thing most people called Christmas cheer. He went back to bed smiling, and wondering about how he didn’t wake up when she sneaked out.

At Donna’s question about the hat, Chris reached around her back and turned them around swiftly, so he was on top. He then grinned cheekily at her and peppered her with kisses. “Hm... I think the hat’s alright. But I like the wearer better. The mistletoe is a nice touch,” he murmured, before brushing his lips against her neck.

[themanwhoneverstopsrunning]

All I Want For Christmas is You - Chris & Donna

It was Christmas Day. Officially, really, truly. December 25. And Chris wasn’t unhappy. He couldn’t help but grin as he realized that this was going to be his first Christmas in practically forever that doesn’t reek of regret and loneliness. The first Christmas since Jenny’s death that truly had a meaning. And it was all thanks to the ginger in his arms who was still sound asleep. 

He shifted on the bed carefully, entangling his fingers in her red locks and brushing a kiss over her forehead. His other arm snaked around her waist, pulling her closer to him. Chris lay there for a few minutes with his eyes closed, just enjoying the warmth of Donna’s body next to his, her scent, her slow, deep breaths and the way she snuggled in closer when he rubbed her back. He couldn’t help but feel like everything was going to be different this year. 

When he felt Donna shift slightly, he kissed her lightly and turned on his side so he could pull her against him properly. “Good morning Darling. And Happy Christmas,” he whispered into her ear, and let out a contented sigh.

@msdonnanobleteacher

[msdonnanobleteacher-blog]

It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas - Donna & Chris

[msdonnanobleteacher-blog]

themanwhoneverstopsrunning:

He was silent for most of her tirade, trying to process it and control his own temper. Shouting at each other would not help. They did that this morning and look where it got them. A myriad of emotions was churning inside of him, and he had trouble trying to grasp onto any of them. In the end he just gave up with a defeated sigh and resolved to be as rational as he could. One of them had  to try, otherwise they’d never get anywhere. He turned to her with serious eyes and asked very quietly.

“Is this what you think I do, then? Try and lure people for a quick shag by “dazzling them with my stories”? Is this what you think we are? A quick shag? That I’m getting bored, and restless, and want to go on my own merry way? Well, Donna Noble, I never…” he trailed off, closing his eyes and letting out a breath very slowly.

Raising his voice despite his best intentions, he turned to face her, “Well, what IS it about then? Cause I’m beginning to think I have no bloody idea what this whole thing is about! Is it Christmas? We both hate Christmas. Fantastic, let’s make each other more miserable than we’ve been on all our Christmases before. That should make everythin’ great!” He watched her deflate and was more helpless than ever. 

He shut up, swallowing the words that were on the tip of his tongue. “What do you mean you weren’t made a fool of in front of everybody?” he asked, his tone still sulky. “I don’t… I’m not… What are you saying, Donna? I’m not leaving. When I gave you that pendant for Halloween, I meant it. I’m staying. It’s new, it’s unfamiliar, and it’s hard. But I’m trying. If you don’t think that’s enough…” he swallowed and looked away, suddenly realizing what he was about to say, “well, I guess just tell me fair and square and I won’t force you to stay if it’s not making you happy. If… I’m not making you happy.”

“That’s not what I want though. Not me, but I guess I was a fool for thinking…” He sighed and pressed the back of his head against the seat. “Is this what’s this about then? You want to know about Jenny?” he asked, defeated. This mess was exactly why in all his forty years he never had one relationship that lasted long enough to become domestic. He was at a complete loss.

It was the last part that hurt enough to shut him up for good though: “you are perfectly wonderful to live with as long as no one has any real expectations of being truly loved…” He pressed his lips together and stared rigidly into the space in front of himself, not hearing the rest of her words properly. After a long silence, he unfastened his seat-belt and opened the car-door, as if in slow motion. He got out, shut the door behind him quietly and leaned against it. What was on his mind was: “I love you”. What was on his face was “I’m bleeding inside”.

After five minutes he sat back inside, fastened his seat-belt and started the car, not glancing at Donna once. His voice raw and broken, the only thing he said was: “Sure. We can leave now,” before he put his feet on the gas and drove out of the parking lot.

“I don’t know what you bloody do, Chris!” she exclaimed the exasperation pouring out from her. “How would I know? You talk all the time, but you don’t say anything! Not really.” Donna covered her face with her hands for a moment. When she dropped them, she looked at him, “I’ve been trying. Gods know I’ve been trying to be patient. Understanding. But dammit. All these months you’ve had photos in your wallet from your past… loads of them from the way you tell it and not once did you ever think, gee maybe Donna might be interested in any of it? In learning this bit about me? Not bloody once? Did you think I wouldn’t care? Or that I’d judge you somehow? Or did I just not rank enough to consider letting me see them?” Donna was staring at him, the pain on her face was almost palpable. “I can’t help you move past all of that hurt, all that pain,” she said softly, “if you keep hiding it from me. If you don’t let me in, then what are we bloody doing really? It kills me to see what it does to you. What you do to yourself.” Her voice took on a sad undertone as she looked away finally.

She continued to look out the window when she finally did speak again. Her voice was soft. “If I could remember even one thing. One silly, insignificant, bloody thing from those years I lost do you know what I’d do? First thing?” she turned back and looked at him, unshed tears highlighting her eyes.

“I’d coming running to tell you; first off. Even if it were painful. Know why? Because that pain, it means whatever was associated with it - it mattered! It was important,” she breathed. “Do you have any idea what it’s like to have someone tell you they are sorry to hear your father passed away and not feel anything about that?” Donna said that last part so quietly, in a harsh whisper, that it was almost inaudible. Just saying it made her disgusted with herself all over again.

“My own bloody father… yet because I can’t remember him, I feel nothing over the fact that he’s dead.” she shook her head. “I’d do anything to be able to hurt, or cry over his loss! Because then it would mean something! Yet you walk around with carrying the weight of your loss, the guilt, the pain and you use it as an excuse to keep shutting me out! I keep trying to understand, but honestly Chris… when your own mother has told you, your entire life how you are the devil. How you are the cause of every bit of suffering in your family’s life, but you don’t feel a thing about your part in what caused it… Can’t.” Donna again, laughed an ironic, bitter laugh, “Isn’t that the very definition? A killer without remorse? So who’s the real monster here? It’s not Missy, Not you. It’s me. You’ve spent 20 years chasing a monster, only to end up with one in your very bed. Talk about irony,” 

She looked down, a tear dropping into her lap. She swiped at her cheek and then turned her head to look at him again, “All of that pain Chris, you guard it and it eats at you. When you hide things from me, or shut me out? It hurts me because I wouldn’t do that to you. It tells me that I love you far more than you love me because I wouldn’t do that to you. See?” she cocked her head slightly as she tried to explain.

She played with a strand of hair as she shifted again in her seat, staring straight out the window at a scene only she could see.

“As for the making a fool of me part… Well, I was going tell you later anyway; before went to Chiswick; so I don’t see the harm of doing it now.”

Taking a deep breath, Donna plunged ahead. “Christmas Eve, a couple of years ago, I was left at the alter,” she shrugged as if it were no big deal. It wasn’t really, not any more.

“His name was Lance. Lance Bennett. I only knew him 6 months, never even shagged him. I was working a temp job in some posh office while I was going to Uni. I was in the secretary pool, he was in HR. I barely knew him to be honest. Still, Sylvia kept saying he was my only chance at a husband. That I couldn’t afford to be choosy… To take it and run. I’ll be honest, it wasn’t like blokes of any calibre were beatin’ down my door… Or queuing up around the block to meet me.“

With a sigh, Donna continued, “So, I shelled out everything I had for a wedding at a bloody church of all places.There was a reception, honeymoon… the whole nine-yards. Even the white dress.” she couldn’t help but laugh at that bit. “Which also explains the ancient car. I just finished paying off that wedding this year! I had to pay for that, along with school and help out my mom and Grandad at home. So that left nothing extra to update my vehicle.” “Anyway, back to the wedding… Sylvia invited all her friends, whatever family we had left, all her Wednesday Girls, and anyone I knew from school . There was even an announcement in the paper for everyone to see… Only,” she stopped, tossing her hair behind her shoulder and swallowed (probably her pride, but it was too late to back out now).

“Only, turned out, he was already married. He was in the country illegally. Hiding. He was wanted for some horrific crimes back home, wherever that was, never quite caught that part,“ she admitted before finally turned back towards Chris. “He never loved me. Never cared a thing for me really. Lance Bennett was only looking for a woman stupid and desperate enough to agree to marry him without asking too many questions as a way to get past immigration.” 

Donna looked away again, her face going completely blank. Neutral. “Except Immigration showed up at the church to arrest him. They made a rather spectacular show of it too. And ol’ Lance had quite a bit to say as they took him away.” She smiled humorously, “You know, the usual bit, about how daft and vapid I was… how gullible, needy and desperate to agree to marry a man I didn’t know.”

Looking down at her hands now in her lap, Donna said softly, “I ran out of the church in tears, after making a fool of myself. I went off to clear my head. However, when I finally made it back, I discovered my “friends” and family, went on to have the reception, that I paid for mind you, without me.” A little smile touched the corner of her lips. There was no joy in it however. “They didn’t even seem to notice I wasn’t there. Or care much really.“ She cleared her throat, still studying her hands, “You can see why I held off telling you until now. It isn’t exactly the kind of story one leads with on a first date.”

“Which brings up another point,” Donna looked up at the ceiling of the car and then let her head drop back down. “When is the last time we went on a proper date? Italy? Why is that? I get that we can’t pop out to the local restaurant, but we never go out anywhere! Are you embarrassed to be seen out with me? Seein’ someone else and don’t want our paths to cross? What is it then, eh?” she fired off at him. “It’s not that I don’t like quiet evenings at home, but goin’ out, getting dressed up… Feeling… I don’t know? Special maybe? How is it that we don’t go out? It’s not like I haven’t had other offers you know” she couldn’t help but poke at him, let him know that at least someone else thought she was worthy of being scene in public with!

Donna sighed, still not looking at him, “Chris, I was… I am happy but… I don’t want just part of you. I can’t keep getting shut out. It’s not fair. It’s too painful. I get it. I’m nothing special. I’m not brilliant. Confiding in me…” she trailed off. “It doesn’t come natural to you, maybe there is a reason for it? I don’t rightly know? But if you let me, I think I can help you. I know I want to try. The only thing I know for certain is that I will fail if you won’t let me.”

She finally looked up, with a quiet resolve, even if her cheeks were tracked with tears. “But I won’t beg,” she told him firmly. “You have to want me to. If not, then this isn’t going to work. Not long term. It can’t. And that is rather what i was aiming for here,“ Donna was running on automatic now, the words simply tumbling from her lips without giving much thought to them. “I’ve spent my whole life knowing I didn’t matter- wasn’t good enough. Until, well, I thought maybe… Maybe this is where I belonged. Maybe this is why I never…” She stopped and exhaled before plunging on ahead.

“But if I’m not what you want, or what you need,” Donna turned her head, ever so slightly so he was in her peripheral vision, "then I’d rather go. Because you deserve someone that can complete you. Someone who can make you better and truly happy, even if that someone isn’t me.” She had to bite her lip to keep it from quivering after she got those words out, taking a moment before she could continue. “And me?” she looked down again and exhaled as she spoke.

“And me? I don’t want to be shut out or feel alone and tiny anymore. I want to belong too. Belong completely to somebody. Forever.”

[themanwhoneverstopsrunning]

He wanted to say something. To object. To say it wasn’t true. But in his heart, he knew she was right. He did talk all the time, and mostly kept the important stuff to himself. Old habits. Bad habits. Hard to break. All that stuff. But Donna was right, he couldn’t keep doing this. Not with her. Not now. Not ever. His heart beat like he had just ran a marathon. Chris was scared. He didn’t even know what of. Didn’t want to think hard enough to discover all the reasons behind the emotion. What he could do, he decided, is tell her how wrong she was in assuming that she didn’t rank or wasn’t anything special.

“You’re wrong.” Great start Chris, that is a great way to try to settle an argument. He hurried on, before she could interject, “You’re wrong to think that you’re not important enough for me, not special enough to let you in. That’s not it at all, Donna.” He leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes, feeling his heartbeat increase still. He heard the pounding of blood better in his ears than his actual words. “This is all new to me. I realize that’s not a good enough excuse, but relationships are not something I had an awful lot of practice at before. And settling down with someone... Well, it’s not something I thought I’d ever have the fortune of having.” He shook himself out of it and tried to be honest, turning to her once again. “This... us... it’s fantastic, Donna. Making me happier than I’ve ever been, if I’m honest. But being with you won’t change who I am. And it won’t change the habits - good and bad - that I learned and kept over the years overnight.”

“I had no idea it would bother you that I didn’t show you the photos. The reason for that is because I don’t think about them. It’s a part of me, but I don’t look at them very often because it’s painful. I don’t think anybody knows apart from you that I had a sister at all...” He looked out into the distance and tried to remember whether he told anyone about Jenny before. The realization that he haven’t shocked even him. “I haven’t looked at that photo of Jenny in earnest for the past twenty years, Donna. I don’t ask you about Sylvia or your father, because I know it’s a painful subject. That’s my way of dealing with it. Maybe that’s a coward’s way. But that’s how I coped with it all my life. Unlearning that will take time.” 

“If I could forget my past, erase it, make it nonexistent, I would, Donna. Without hesitation. I know it kills you to hear that because you can’t remember and I can only imagine how awful that must be. But knowing my own past... Did it matter? Did it really? Because where I’m standin’, it seems like a whole lot of pointless shit that happened to people who didn’t deserve it and I don’t see the prize in being able to relieve it every night when I close my eyes.” He shut his mouth so fast his teeth clanked together. Enough of self-pity. “You’re not a monster Donna. You got the short end of the stick for most of your life, but that doesn’t make you any less human. Or any less fantastic, if you’re asking me”, he added with a small smile. 

He let out a sigh, and closed his eyes once more. “But you’re right. I can’t shut you out all the time if this is ever gonna work.” He hesitated, his heart pounding harder than ever, before clearing his throat and carrying on, “Thing is, I'm scared out of my mind. I’ve always been an honest liar; all my life. The last person I let in was Jenny... I don’t... I can’t... I’m not sure...” Chris lifted one shaking hand to his face and massaged his temples with it. “I want this to work between us. I love you. I’m pretty sure I’ve loved you since the moment we met, or shortly after in any case. I’m not planning on leaving you at the altar, or anyplace else for that matter. I just really don’t know how to do this...” He looked at her again, helpless. 

“It’s a good thing Immigration got Lance though, ‘cause I would have had a few select words with him, if they hadn’t.” He sighed again, shaking his head a little. “See what I’m saying when I mention I’m not any good at this? We haven’t been on a date for so long because daft little me has about as much relationship skills as a fifth-grader. I’m not embarrassed to be seen with you, please don’t think that! I am a little paranoid about certain headmistress having the power to fire us if she finds out, maybe more than I should be. And I do like quiet evenings at home. I’m sorry you feel neglected, Donna. I promise that wasn’t the intention. And I’m glad you’re choosing me instead of those offers for a night out in town,” he added, almost shyly. 

It was after her final few sentences that he reached over and laid a hand softly on her cheek. “I do want you Donna. Absolutely and fully. Only you. I’m a bit hopeless at domestics, I’ll readily admit to that, but I want this. Please never doubt that. I’m sorry I shut you out. I can’t promise I can change that and share everything from now on, but I’ll try hard to let you see me fully.” He turned even more towards her, extending his other hand to her, in invitation, waiting for her hand to meet his. “You’re more than good enough, My Love. You’re absolutely fantastic. And I don’t want you to feel alone ever again.” He looked into her eyes for a moment, letting his feelings surface in his own eyes. “And you can kick my ass if I ever try to make you feel lonely again,” he added half-jokingly, hopeful that they’d be able to get out of this argument in one piece.

[msdonnanobleteacher-blog]

It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas - Donna & Chris

[themanwhoneverstopsrunning]

msdonnanobleteacher:

“No?!” 

Oh. That done it.

“Did you just say no?!” Donna asked a bit incredulously, removing her seat belt in one swift movement and turning to face him. If looks could kill, Christopher Jamison would be a dead man.

“I don’t know what kind of disposable companion you’re used to, buddy,” she glared at him. “The casual shags here and there… Act all important, dazzle ‘em with your stories, boss ‘em around and then say good-bye so you scamper off to wherever the wind take you or whatnot,” she continued, “but I ain’t it! You don’t get to tell me what we are or are not going to do. I may not be any one important. I’m not a Contessa, or some mysterious, sack of hammers-barmy school councillor,” she paused to take a breath. “I’ll never be anyone of any great interest or importance. Never be interesting, or any great beauty or special in any way, but I’ll be damned if I’ll sit here and let another person tell me what I can or can not or will or will not do! You got that, Sunshine?!” she fumed at him. 

Donna shifted back to exit the car. If he didn’t want to get a tree, that was fine with her! She’d go stay with Martha, or Mickey! She didn’t bloody need him! Hell he needed her, way more than she needed the likes of him and he knew it!

Just as she was about to slip out the now open car door, Donna slammed it shut again and spun quickly to face him.

“No. No, it’s not just about this morning, but I’m glad it happened because now I know and I can stop acting like some lovesick grade 8!” she hissed at him. “The worst bit? The worst bit is in the back of my mind, I knew it was all too good to be true. I mean, me? Donna Noble, living with some bloke… and playing house. Really?” she laughed bitterly as she gave Chris an appraising look. “And you? You. You ate it all up didn’t you? Liked the attention I suppose being a bloke and all. Can’t say as I blame you there.” Donna actually lowered the volume of her voice some and slammed her back into her seat and slouched down.

“Still, it’s better this way,” she admitted with a shrug, “at least this time I wasn’t made a fool of in front of everybody.” 

Donna sat up, straightened her jacket and looked back at Chris. “Still, you’ve had your fun, now we can go about our lives, yeah?” She gave her head a definitive nod. “You can keep all your bloody secrets and won’t have to keep guarding them from nosy, busy-bodies like me. Jenny, your parents… The whole lot. You can continue to keep them tightly under wraps. Won’t have to worry about letting anybody in or sharing them with strangers. They’ll be yours, and yours alone. Forever. You’ll be able to continue existing in the shadows for the rest of your life; not having to share them with anyone.” Donna paused, “And me?” Not quite sure how that sentence was to end.

“I’ll get a cat I suppose,” she said finally, “And I’ll see if Mickey will let me move in with him for a bit? Or Martha? Either or really. I’m not choosy,”

“So there.  You wanted to talk. I talked. And for the record, you are perfectly wonderful to live with as long as no one has any real expectations of being truly loved and let into your life.” Donna replied as if she were reciting from a text as school.  A fact was a fact and there it was. The truth.

She brushed a stray strand of hair from her eyes and moistened her lips with her tongue. It took some effort to force her voice to sound casual, but she managed to do so anyway.

“So, does this mean we can leave now, or should I go hail a cab?”

He was silent for most of her tirade, trying to process it and control his own temper. Shouting at each other would not help. They did that this morning and look where it got them. A myriad of emotions was churning inside of him, and he had trouble trying to grasp onto any of them. In the end he just gave up with a defeated sigh and resolved to be as rational as he could. One of them had  to try, otherwise they’d never get anywhere. He turned to her with serious eyes and asked very quietly.

“Is this what you think I do, then? Try and lure people for a quick shag by “dazzling them with my stories”? Is this what you think we are? A quick shag? That I’m getting bored, and restless, and want to go on my own merry way? Well, Donna Noble, I never...” he trailed off, closing his eyes and letting out a breath very slowly.

Raising his voice despite his best intentions, he turned to face her, “Well, what IS it about then? Cause I’m beginning to think I have no bloody idea what this whole thing is about! Is it Christmas? We both hate Christmas. Fantastic, let’s make each other more miserable than we’ve been on all our Christmases before. That should make everythin’ great!” He watched her deflate and was more helpless than ever. 

He shut up, swallowing the words that were on the tip of his tongue. “What do you mean you weren’t made a fool of in front of everybody?” he asked, his tone still sulky. “I don’t... I’m not... What are you saying, Donna? I’m not leaving. When I gave you that pendant for Halloween, I meant it. I’m staying. It’s new, it’s unfamiliar, and it’s hard. But I’m trying. If you don’t think that’s enough...” he swallowed and looked away, suddenly realizing what he was about to say, “well, I guess just tell me fair and square and I won’t force you to stay if it’s not making you happy. If... I’m not making you happy.”

“That’s not what I want though. Not me, but I guess I was a fool for thinking...” He sighed and pressed the back of his head against the seat. “Is this what’s this about then? You want to know about Jenny?” he asked, defeated. This mess was exactly why in all his forty years he never had one relationship that lasted long enough to become domestic. He was at a complete loss.

It was the last part that hurt enough to shut him up for good though: “you are perfectly wonderful to live with as long as no one has any real expectations of being truly loved...” He pressed his lips together and stared rigidly into the space in front of himself, not hearing the rest of her words properly. After a long silence, he unfastened his seat-belt and opened the car-door, as if in slow motion. He got out, shut the door behind him quietly and leaned against it. What was on his mind was: “I love you”. What was on his face was “I’m bleeding inside”.

After five minutes he sat back inside, fastened his seat-belt and started the car, not glancing at Donna once. His voice raw and broken, the only thing he said was: “Sure. We can leave now,” before he put his feet on the gas and drove out of the parking lot.