AU } Maybe in another life, we wouldn't be alone tonight

[songofsong]

Saturdays were always big days, but today, well, it was even bigger.

The World Museum was open to the trawls of parents and children that flooded in every weekend, a spell of bad weather driving in an even bigger amount than normal. What also helped, was the fact that a new space exhibition had arrived on the science level, one that Melody Pond had been angling for some time, and today was the big opening.

It had taken a lot of hard work and a lot of money, but it was finally here, and Melody was practically bursting with excitement as she zoomed around the museum, making sure everything was going smoothly. She'd heard there might be some special guests making a visit later, the kind of special guest that could possibly see her head hunted. Therefore, everything had to be running perfectly.

Passing one of her colleagues, Melody stopped him with a hand on the arm, requesting in hopefully pleading voice that usually got her her own way.

"Malcolm, would you mind standing by for the 3D showing? Just make sure everything goes to plan? Thank you, sweetie."

He was all too happy to oblige, which was why Melody had asked him in particular, and she watched him go with knowing look, unable to feel much happier than she did in this moment. With her hands by her sides, she did a little spin on the spot before she bounced off to continue with her duties, nothing able to wipe the smile from her face.

Everything was going to plan.

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[songofsong]

Melody has no idea what time it is, as she lays there looking out of the window. She sees the night sky and hears the sound of traffic below, but it could be any hour. She's lost track since she got back to the hotel room, and she only has one man to blame for that. She smirks to herself at the thought and slowly turns her head back towards the perpetrator, leaning in to give him a gentle kiss that holds no suggestion, but rather fond memories of all that's passed.

"Hm," she sounds through a content sigh, shaking her hair out of her face as she settles her head back down upon his shoulder, absently drawing her fingers along his arm. "I do hope you don't have anywhere to be first thing."

[bowtimeandspace]

When she turns back, it seems he's already there. He's been lying contented, looking at her back, his fingers gently stroking against her skin.

He smiles as she kisses him, his arm settling around her a little.

"I'm not at work 'til 2," he tells her, turning and kissing her forehead, a lingering press to her skin. "So I'm all yours before then. Long as I'm on my way about 12 so I can pop home and get changed first."

He turns a little, looking down at her, at how her hair falls over his skin. He feels a tightness in his chest, but it's wonderful. Truly wonderful.

[songofsong]

"Oh, by 12?" she asks, chuckling slowly, in a lazy way that tells of how relaxed she is, not just in bed, but with him too. "And we'll forget the part where I have to be on stage at 10 o'clock, hm?" she says teasingly, unable to help giving him another kiss, as though she found him rather adorable at this moment.

[bowtimeandspace]

There's a gentle laugh on his lips, a laugh that gets cut a little short by her kiss, slow and soft, his eyes closed as he indulges in it.

"Yeah well I suppose you'll just have to see me again then, won't you," he says as he brushes a little hair from her eyes.

"Or maybe I should just come and see you talk. Being all sexy and commanding on the stage." There's a twinkle in his eye, teasing, or at least mostly.

[songofsong]

She laughs, rolling a little closer towards him, laying her hand across him and feeling the warmth of his skin. "Hm, you'd like that, wouldn't you?" she guesses playfully, running her fingertips along the definition of his chest.

[bowtimeandspace]

"Yes I would," he agrees, glancing down at her hand a moment.

"Might have a quick wank in the back row." Definitely teasing now, trying to get a rise out of her. He laughs, clearly. He wouldn't do anything of the sort, of course. But he's not joking when he says he'd find her attractive, up there, knowing her stuff. Very hot indeed.

[songofsong]

"Oh! Shut up!" she scolds through a laugh, her hand in just the right place to give him a little thwack for his crudeness. "Oh, no, you've ruined it now. I'm not going to think about anything else when I'm up there!"

[bowtimeandspace]

"Then my work here is done," he smirks wide, leaning back into the bed all self satisfied, a cheeky look on his face.

"I can give you a private show if you like," he suggests playfully. "Give you something to remember." And on that, he gives a rather elaborate moan, leaning his head back into the bed as if he's suddenly climaxing, his hand trailing down his own body. But it soon ends with a laugh.

[songofsong]

"No! Stop!" she exclaims in a playfully whiny tone, reaching out to take hold of his wrist as though that might be a deterrent. She laughs at him, keeping her hand wrapped around his wrist. "You're terrible, do you know that?"

[bowtimeandspace]

"Oh I do hope so," he grins, rolling towards her a little. With her hand still holding him, he pulls his arm back, pulling hers around him a little.

"Ooh looks like you've got me," he tells her in a whisper. "What are you going to do with me?" he smiles, and leans in, kissing her again, slowly, gently.

[songofsong]

When his arm pulls back, she gets the hint, and she wraps hers around him a little more purposefully, grinning as they're pulled closer together, bodies touching each other.

"Hm, I have an idea," she murmurs toyingly as their lips touch, gently returning the kiss he gives her.

[bowtimeandspace]

"Oh I bet you do you saucy woman," he teases her as he keeps close. His forehead presses to hers and he smiles softly, before he whispers just a little.

"When can I see you again?"

[songofsong]

She smiles as their foreheads touch, her eyes falling closed as she enjoy the gentle moment between them. "I've got another conference in a couple of weeks," she says softly. "I could see you then?"

[bowtimeandspace]

"Two weeks," he says with a slow breath out. "I'll just have to manage til then won't I?" He's already thinking perhaps he won't, but that's something he'll work out later.

His hand slips softly over her side, and he glances down at her breasts for a moment, looking back at her with a slightly knowing smirk.

"I really like you, Mel," he whispers.

[songofsong]

"I'm sure you'll live," she teases gently, already imagining another few phonecalls between now and then. She certainly wouldn't object, and she might even be a little braver next time. She looks down as she feels his hand drifting over her body and she smiles at the touch, her gaze then flicking back to him.

"I never would've guessed," she replies, for she can quite clearly see where he's looking.

[bowtimeandspace]

"No, that's not what I mean," he says with a touch of a laugh. "I mean I like you. I really like you. I want to see you more. A lot more. Think you'd be okay with that?"

[songofsong]

Melody looks up at him as he speaks, a laugh still in her smile, but she begins to note a little more sincerity in those words, something he was trying to tell her. Considering him a moment, she then nods, rubbing her hand gently against his back.

"Yes, I think I would be."

[bowtimeandspace]

"Good," he agrees, reaching for her hand and threading his fingers between hers, bringing her hand up to his lips to kiss the back of her palm.

"Mm, I'm dating a big hoity toity museum curator," he smirks. "I like it."

[songofsong]

She looks down at his hand finds it way to hers, and she gives a shy sort of grin as he kisses it. Watching him, she notices a change in him, something a little more real. She wonders if their revelation in the restaurant has helped somewhat. Maybe it's made them take a step they didn't realise they wanted to take.

She chuckles at his words as she leans in a little to tease him with an almost-there kiss. "Mmhm. And I'm dating a rather handsome young man." A kiss is given before she smiles. "I like it too."

[bowtimeandspace]

There's a smile on his face, warm and free and excited. "Yes you are," he tells her, leaning in and kissing her once more. This time, he rolls her towards him a little, over him. Between them, his body seems to be awakening once again.

"Ooh hello," he smirks.

And so it begins all over again.

[songofsong]

And begin it did.

From then on, not a day passes that they don't speak to each other somehow, whether by text, a phonecall, or their new personal favourite, video messaging. There's something a little brighter about Melody, she carries herself a little taller, and even though she's yet to see him in person since their time in London, there's no doubt this newfound relationship is doing good things for her.

It even triggers a few questions, people wondering what good news she'd had lately, some asking if she had a new man in her life, but Melody remains secretive about what exactly is making her so happy. Because for as much as she loves this new direction her life has taken, she isn't quite so ready to share it with everybody else. Because that part is harder to be happier about, and a hurdle she isn't yet ready to overcome.

Which is why, the next time she sees James, she's not entirely prepared for it.

[bowtimeandspace]

He's been thinking about it for a few days. He wants to see her. Oh he has plans with her next week, of course, but next week feels forever away, and he simply wants to be with her. It's that reason then that has him boarding a train at Paddington to head up to Gloucester.

It's a busy Thursday, and when he steps off the train he heads straight to the nearest florist that he'd googled in advance. He buys flowers, bigger than he can really afford, but that doesn't matter.

Heading over to the museum, he heads straight for a member of staff, asking them to direct him to Melody Pond's office. He gets a couple of raised eyebrows, asked if he's a courier (he laughs that off), but eventually he's shown the way, a young blonde assistant that's looking at him a tad too closely. Ordinarily he might look back, but not now.

"She's just in a meeting," the blonde tells him. "But she'll be back soon. You can wait here."

And so wait he does, on a chair outside her office, in the corridor for all to see.

[songofsong]

It's a long meeting, but James has arrived at the tail end of it. As her office door opens, a few rather important looking people in suits and ties file out, polite chatter and laughter echoing as they step out into the corridor. The group exchange goodbyes between them, shaking hands.

As they begin to depart, a couple of them notice James sitting there on a chair, passing him with a bemused sort of look, not quite understanding who he is or what he's doing there.

"See you soon," Melody's voice can be heard amongst the small crowd as she ensures to say goodbye to them all personally. "Til next time, Malcolm."

As they filter out, Melody begins to catch sight of somebody in one of the chairs outside her office, and it's only as someone walks out of the way that she realises who it is.

"James!" she says in her shock, a little too loudly, causing a couple of the businessmen to glance back at her from down the corridor.

[bowtimeandspace]

James stands as people start to filter out the room, and he turns back, trying to see her through the collection of faces. There's a smile on his own, wide and happy.

"Hey," he says, stepping up to her and leaning in to press a kiss to her cheek. "Surprise." He doesn't really notice the people looking back, probably for the best too because if he did it would likely make him kiss her as if to prove a point.

[songofsong]

"Oh.. ok!" she stammers slightly, giving an awkward laugh after he kisses her on the cheek very much aware that they're still within view of the people departing. She moves back a short way, just in case he's tempted to take it a step further. "Yes! It most definitely is a surprise!" she agrees, anxiously looking towards the others and raising a hand slightly to see Malcolm off, who is giving her a wave.