Chapter Text
For several years he had travelled with an uncountable number of companions all of the different sub genders and even though some problems had arisen, these had only done when they had to say goodbye, after all, it was impossible for him not to get that fondness with the omegas, to feel a brotherhood with other alphas or that confidence that is developed with the betas.
But it had never happened to him, The Time Lords had an incredible ability to retain many of the primary instincts of subgenres such as the alpha-omega imprint, and even though he is a Tome Lord, he had imprinted on Donna unconsciously
Reaching that conclusion had taken him more than he would like to admit, but it had never bothered him that they were mistaken for being married; however to her, it seemed to be the opposite, she always responded to that statement somewhat annoyed and tired. One day while preparing for the adventure she had asked him if that confusion had happened with another companion and it was at that moment that he realized that it had never happened before, the only way the persons around them would think that his companion and he were a couple was when they mentioned to them for the sake of his eagerness to get out of there alive.
Since that talk that thought had been bothering him, in the way that he couldn't leave any mystery unanswered, so he had spent almost two weeks looking for an answer in books, asking the locals of the places they were visiting or the TARDIS itself, that only seemed to mock him, responding with something that could be interpreted as a giggle at his problem.
Several of the locals had not been able to answer him or the answer they were giving him were not entirely clarifying, which used to be about how close they seemed, that they arrived together or the similar age they both appeared along with their own subgenres, for them it had seemed the logical assumption; however, in the doctor's experience, that answers were not good because he had had similar experiences with Rose and in no case had they been confused for being married despite what they had been all lovey-dovey, with each other, in addition to she was an omega, come on! they haven't even mistaken them for a couple. It was not until he had met Martha again that the answer had been given to him so clearly that he had admitted himself sincerely surprised.
At least there on earth they had not been mistaken for a married couple, or well in the time of his two companions because with Agatha it had been the same old story; when he had found time alone with Martha he had taken the courage to ask her, but he had not asked the usual question, it had been about the reason for her uncontrollable laughter about some comments Donna had made about him previously. That question had earned him a puzzled look from the beta.
"Doctor, are you seriously asking me that?"
"Yes seriously, it's something that makes me curious."
"Well, I mean, you guys. . . you seem like those couples who spend their time bickering for fun."
"Emmm by any chance when you say a couple, you mean couple as friends, right?"
"No. . .ok Doctor I no longer understand this, I mean as an engaged couple."
"Engaged!"
"Yes, why are you so surprised?"
"Well because we are not, and everyone seems to think that!"
"Doctor, are you sure of what are you telling me?"
"Yes! Why wouldn't I?!"
"OK . . .first I need you not to sharpen your voice so much, calm down and sit" Martha indicated while she looks quite worried "well Doctor, the reason that probably everyone takes you as a couple is that you can be smelled in her but not in the same way you and I did, your way is more like an Alpha-Omega imprint."
"But Martha you are a beta, how could you detect it?"
"I know, I know, but come on after travelling with you and with the UNIT training, did you really think that my nose has remained like the average for a beta?"
"Well you have a good point there. So I have imprinted her."
"Yes, you could say so."
That answer fits perfectly with what they had experienced before, it made sense with everything except one, and it was the one that mattered the most, why had he impressed Donna with his scent? And now that he was aware of it and found the courage to tell her, his companion aka best friend, how he would behave around her?