She was certainly surprised to see him, but a part of her mind told her she shouldn't be. She had been sure, the last time she saw him, that he would be back in her life one day.
And he looked so natural, sitting on the edge of the dock, throwing the occasional stone into the water.
She decided, just for devilment, to walk up quietly and surprise him.
She got within six feet and was just opening her mouth when he spoke.
"Hello, Grace."
For a moment, Grace was too stunned to speak. He had not turned around, so even if he had heard her tread, which she doubted, how did he know who it was?
"How did you know it was me?" she finally managed to ask.
He looked over his shoulder at her and grinned. "Time Lord intuition."
She smiled at that and sat down beside him. It was a glorious day, the sun sparkling on the water of the bay. For a minute or two they shared a companionable silence.
"So, how have you been keeping?" Grace finally asked.
The Doctor shrugged, causing his chestnut curls to shift slightly. "Not too bad really. I'm in pretty good shape for someone over a thousand years old."
Aren't you just, she thought. "I suppose I should ask you how I am?" she said.
This caused him to laugh. "I'm just a Time Lord, Grace. I don't know everything."
"Really?" she replied, injecting plenty of irony into the word. "I thought you knew everything. I'm disappointed in you!" This made them both laugh.
"I've missed you, Grace," he said.
She flushed, turning away a little from those appealing eyes. "I missed you too," she replied, not quite looking at him.
He grinned hugely. "How can you miss me? I'm the guy with two hearts!"
She smiled a little sadly at his reminder of their last parting. "But you left so quickly."
The Doctor sighed. "That's what I do, Grace. I arrive somewhere, resolve the local crisis, then leave again."
"But don't you ever feel the need to stay in one place for a while? Put down roots? Find a home?"
"The TARDIS is my home. I was once exiled to Earth by the Time Lords, but I didn't like being stuck in one place for so long. I think it would drive me mad if it happened now."
"That's such a shame," she said quietly.
"It's the life I chose," he told her.
Again a silence descended between them.
"So, are you travelling with anyone at the moment?" said Grace, breaking the silence once more.
Again that grin. "Yes, a young lady called Sam Jones. I'm on my way to pick her up now."
"Where is she?"
"Greenpeace rally in Canada."
"When?"
"Oh, about six years ago."
"Not far to go then."
"No, not far this time."
"Can you stay? I don't have much food in but we could get something on the way back to mine."
The Doctor shook his head. "I really should go. This was only a flying visit, to catch up on old times."
Grace nodded. "How did you know I would be here?"
"You told me. You said every Sunday in Summer, if the weather stayed fine, you liked to come here and watch the sunlight sparkle on the water."
"But it's the middle of the afternoon? How did you know I hadn't been and gone?"
"I got here early."
She gazed at him in amazement. He must have been sat there for hours!
The Doctor stood up and reached out a hand to help Grace to her feet.
"Well, I should be off. Take care of yourself, Grace."
She smiled weakly. "You too, Doctor. Will you visit again?"
"Do you want me too?"
Her smile grew bigger. "Of course I do!"
He grinned that grin again and she suddenly hugged him. They stayed that way for what seemed like hours, but was probably only seconds.
"Goodbye, Grace."
"Goodbye, Doctor."
She watched him leave. At one point he turned and waved. She waved back, of course. She hoped he was too far away to see her tears.
