Who: Gus and Martha What: Winterlude Date When: Backdated to Winterlude Where: Winterlude Rating: low
Martha had been to a few ice planets in her time with the Doctor, but she was looking forward to something more ‘normal’ with Gus. Martha had been to Canada, but the world had been a different place there. There were no festivals or celebrations except to honour or prop of the Master’s ego at the time.
Martha made sure she had a coat, mitts, and a cute pair of matching earmuffs so she wouldn’t get too cold. Currently she had a hot chocolate in both hands as they stood looking at the ice carvers putting their finishing touches on their statues. The one in front of them was of an American Eagle in a Santa hat. “I heard they have an area where there are smaller chunks of ice that we can try carving ourselves, if you’re up to trying that later.”
--
Having been born and raised in Santa Barbara, Gus wasn’t particularly a fan of the cold weather, though he had gone skiing a few times. Most notably the time he and Shawn went to Vancouver and caught Despereaux for the first time.
He was wearing a jaunty cap and a pair of black leather gloves with his coat as he watched the ice carving with interest. “Hmm, couldn’t hurt to try, I guess,” he said. “Maybe I can make an ice pineapple for Shawn for Christmas.” Of course, if he did manage to actually make a pineapple, would it last that long? Probably not.
***
“Now I’m imagining Shawn trying to save that year round and bringing it out on special occasions… which clearly means you should try and do it.” Martha looked over at him and grinned. It was either that or maybe Shawn would try to eat it. She was leaning more to her first instinct.
“I need to think about what to get him and Juliet. My first thought is Juliet would be easier to buy for, but it’s probably the opposite, isn’t it?” She could probably go into the magical joke shop, close her eyes, and come out with something Shawn would be amused by. “You, on the other hand, are already taken care of.”
–
“I’m getting Juliet the deluxe spa package,” Gus said. If anyone deserved a day of intense pampering, it was his best friend’s wife. “Do you want to go with her? I’m planning to keep Shawn occupied that day.”
He already had a few other gifts for Martha, but he didn’t mind adding a spa day if she was interested. It would be good for her and Juliet to bond more. “As for Shawn, he’s like a toddler. He’ll love anything you give him for about thirty seconds until something else catches his attention and he forgets it.” It wouldn’t be personal, it was just who Shawn was as a person and Gus was used to it by now.
***
“I would never say no to that. And I like Juliet. She can keep up with me, but also slow things down too.” Martha liked to be able to do that. She had spent a lot of years with the Doctor at high speed - though that few months stuck in 1969 and then being stuck in the 1900s were mostly slow. She liked having that balance here.
“Maybe I’ll find something that’ll keep him busy for a bit, but that Juliet or you can use and like after.” That would take some thinking, but Martha was up for the task. “You know… I’m kind of jealous of you too. You guys have such a good friendship. I don’t think I really have someone that close that I’ve known since I was a kid. Most of my close friendships were made because of the Doctor.” Which meant they were ‘new’ish and definitely not ‘since childhood’. “Though that does have me thinking -” It was a thought she had a few times. “- what it might be like to have the Doctor and Shawn in a room together doing something.”
–
Gus hadn’t spent a lot of time with The Doctor, but the mere thought of her and Shawn collaborating on anything filled him with an icy fear that he hadn’t expected and all he could do was mutely shake his head at Martha’s words.
“Let’s not speak that into potential existence,” he said. Shawn had a lot of grandiose ideas though he generally lacked the ability to put them into motion. The Doctor had that ability and, from what Gus observed, a curiosity that lacked consideration for the potential consequences of her actions. Together that could be a dangerous combination.
***
Martha’s smile widened in a silent smile before she leaned in and kissed him as if reassuring him that she wouldn’t do this ill-advised thing. There was another person who just finished their sculpture. Martha moved over to take a look at it and she was fascinated. “This is one of those times I wish I understood science… there’s no way I’d know how make that not fall over.” Part of her wanted to say it was magic, but she was pretty sure it was more just understanding how physics worked.
“Oh!” Martha pointed at another ice sculpture that people were taking photos at. “Want to take a photo together? It could be our Christmas photo.” She half teased.
–
A Christmas photo was a very couple-y thing to do, though Gus certainly wasn’t opposed. “It’s probably too late to get cards made,” he said. The sculptures were impressive and he wished he had any kind of artistic ability.
“And I think you understand science better than I do,” he pointed out. “After all, you made it through med school.”
***
"Mm, maybe you're right. But I could use another picture to show you off to people." She smiled playfully as she took his hand. Above everything else, this was a good distraction to the Doctor missing.
"Med school is definitely hard, but I don't think I'd entirely get physics… except what I pick up from the Doctor." You picked up enough stuff when it was life or death.
Martha convinced someone to take a photo for them before moving to stand behind the heart with him. Before they took the photo, Martha in the spur of the moment kissed Gus for the perfect photo.