I don't own Doctor Who, Billie Piper, or Christopher Eccleston. Sad, I know.
The Tempest –Act 3, Scene 1
Rose left the bathroom, toweling her hair dry. Stepping inside she noticed that something was different about her room, but couldn't quite put her finger on it. After a short search she discovered that there was a small slim copy of book sitting on her bedside table. Rose picked it up curiously. It was an old cheep copy of The Tempest, the kind you'd find in a college bookstore. It was nothing special, just an ordinary book, but it was obvious that it had been left for her by the Doctor. Why? It didn't make any sense. Why could he have just handed it to her himself?
Casually she flipped it open to where a bookmark held its place. It was Act III, Scene I. The Doctor had highlighted a few of the lines; what she read there sent her eyebrows shooting upwards.
I would not wish
Any companion in the world but you;
Nor can imagination form a shape,
Besides yourself, to like of.
Rose's knees were feeling a tad weak, so she sat heavily on the edge of her bed, too intent on her reading to try stabilizing herself.
Hear my soul speak!
The very instant that I saw you, did
My heart fly to your service; there resides,
To make me slave to it;
Rose put the book back on her beside able with shaking hands. She was in shock, but she also felt a smile begin to tug at her features.
Rose made her way to the control room, the book clasped firmly to her chest. She'd read the entire scene of the, even the un-highlighted parts and her head was reeling from this latest revelation. Could it be? Could the Doctor…love her?
She heard the buzzing of the sonic screwdriver before she reached the control room, and smiled fondly at the memories that that sound induced.
The Doctor was under the consol, as usual, tinkering with something. He stood up, rummaging in the pockets of his leather coat for something. When Rose entered that room he looked up, a bright smile wreathing his face. "Hello!" He called. "So, I've got the perfect spot for us to-"
"Doctor." Rose interrupted. She smiled shyly as she suddenly had the Doctor's complete attention. "I wanted to ask you about this book you left for me."
"What about it?" The Doctor fiddled with dials and switches on the consol, feigning disinterest.
"I was just wondering if it meant anything to you." She asked.
"Rose Tyler," He said, turning his intense blue-grey gaze on her. "I meant every word." He turned away from her for a moment, turning more dials. Finally satisfied with their settings he stepped away from the consol and stopped just in front of Rose.
"Here's my hand." He recited, holding out his hand to her as he had so many times before.
Rose took it, interlacing her fingers with his. "And mine, with my heart in't;" She replied.
