Twenty-one-year-old Rose Tyler was struggling in her astronomy class. As part of her sociology degree requirements, she had to take some core classes. According to her adviser she had been putting off the science classes long enough if she wanted to graduate on time. Her friend Macy had convinced her that astronomy was easy. Maybe it was for Macy, or for someone who had already taken physics but for Rose it was an uphill battle. Without help, it would be a miracle if she achieved a passing grade.

Most of her classes were online, but this was one of the few that was not offered online. Something about "hands-on" experience, but they had yet to do anything but listen to the lecturer and take exams.

She gazed over at the teacher's aide. Her problem with seeking help was that she found the TA extremely attractive. John Smith had, what some of her friends called, bedroom eyes. His loose brown waves fell around his ears and when he smiled at another student, her heart fluttered. She would have asked for help sooner, if not for the crush she was nursing and the fact that he graded her assignments. Of course in that large of a class, he wouldn't know her by name yet, but as soon as he did, he would know just how dumb she was. He was a doctoral student in astrophysics and she was a low-average to average student.

She made up her mind; it wasn't worth failing the class. As she stood up her legs felt weak and her heart began to race. She tried to calm herself down, it's not like he could possibly be interested in me anyway. She walked over to the desk beside the lectern and waited for him to finish with a girl that was very obviously flirting with him. She tried not to listen, but the green monster inside her heart pricked its ears.

"So you know after my tutorial we could maybe have tea," the redhead asked him, twirling her hair around her finger.

His face went stern, "I'm afraid that would be extremely inappropriate. I will see you Saturday at 1:20 for your tutorial only."

The redhead dropped her shoulders and sheepishly exited the room.

Well, there goes that, she thought. He turned her down and she's prettier than me.

"Can I help you," John said, breaking Rose out of her thoughts.

"I -er I am having some trouble with understanding dark matter and er gravitational lensing and all that stuff. " God, do I sound like such a half-wit all the time? "I was wondering if I could get a tutorial session?"

He smiled again and her heart tried to jump out of her chest. "Ah, yes." He looked down at his planner. The margins of which were covered in scribbles, words, and odd symbols. "This week I have a morning appointment available on Saturday and two afternoons on Sunday, which would you prefer," he asked while still studying his planner.

The sooner the better - I really need to pass this course. "Saturday - oh no wait I have to work -er uh Sunday, what times are you free?"

He briefly consulted his planner. "2:50 and 3:20," he replied.

"2:50 is good."

He glanced up at her again, "And your name?"

"Rose, Rose Tyler."

He scrawled her name under Sunday followed by 2:50. "Well, Rose Tyler, I shall see you Sunday at 2:50," he beamed up at her.

As her cheeks flamed, she knew right then and there that she was in trouble.

"God, Mum, I said I'm sorry. You nagged me for ages to make something of myself and when I try you nag me for something else. I'm beginning to think you're not happy unless you're unhappy about what I'm doing."

"Now that's not fair," Jackie retorted. "It's your birthday after all. I just wanted to celebrate with my daughter, but I guess that's too much to ask."

Rose put a throw pillow to her face and half-screamed into it. "Mum. Seriously. It's only a 30 minute appointment and it's not far - I'll be gone an hour tops and it's not even during lunch or dinner so I don't know what you're complaining about unless – "Rose eyed her mother suspiciously, "Are you planning a surprise party?"

Jackie was crestfallen. "I just wanted to do something nice for you. You've never had a surprise party and you're doing so well with staying in university and keeping a job."

"Oh Mum. I appreciate it but it's not even a special birthday. Just 22. Look, what time is is supposed to start?"

"Three. At Dominick's."

"That's perfect, it's close to class and I should be round about 3:30. Just phone everyone up and tell them it won't start until 3:30. There's plenty of time. Hey - I'll even act surprised if you want," she grinned at her mother.

"Okay sweetheart." Rose hugged her mum and went to her room to study.

Lately, Rose had been having trouble sleeping. When she tried to sleep, her mind would not shut down. She worried about sleeping past her alarm, getting sick and missing work or class, forgetting assignments, and passing her astronomy course. It's not something she wanted to tell her mum, seeing as how it was due to her mum's pushing that she was so busy and stressed. While on the phone, she confided in her friend Paula about her anxieties.

"Taking sleeping pills doesn't really put me to sleep. They just make me miserably tired," she sighed at her friend.

"I'll tell you buffing my bonnet puts me straight to sleep."

"What?" Rose was confused, distracted by doodling hearts in her astronomy notebook.

"You know, taking care of business. In the downstairs department."

The pencil point broke and Rose's eyes widened in shock. "Paula! You're so bad," she laughed.

"I'm serious. Like a light," Rose heard her snap her fingers over the line.

"I've never," she paused, "you know, done that before."

"Oh it's easy, just think of a hottie and get to know yourself," she stressed the last word.

"I don't know..."

"Okay well I'm just putting it out there as a suggestion. Listen, I gotta run. Study group soon."

When the digital clock chimed softly at 2:00am, Rose was more stressed than when she lay down at 11. "Only five hours until I have to get up," she murmured to herself. Paula's advise kept popping into her head, but she was reluctant to take it. "But," she reasoned with herself, "I have to do something."

Twenty minutes later, she was now sexually frustrated as well as stressed. I can't even do this right. Maybe the hottie isn't hot enough. She let her mind wander over different actors, artists, and men she knew from her classes when suddenly John Smith popped into her head. She gasped, both from guilt and surprise at how well it was working. It was really working for her.

By 2:24, she was fast asleep.

Rose sat on a wooden bench outside of her professors office, where the devastatingly handsome TA who had unknowingly helped her fall asleep three nights in a row was now talking on the phone. Her cheeks were hot with guilt and shame and she couldn't stop jiggling her foot. She got up to leave – he didn't know she was here yet – but then sat back down. Even if he didn't catch her leaving, he would certainly question her about missing the appointment next class. It would not be a good impression on the person who grades her work. Then there was the fact that she needed the help. The sound of his voice ceased and she heard some rummaging and then a chair squeak. Before she could react and bolt on instinct, the door opened.

"Miss Tyler. I know it's a bit early but you can go ahead and come in. I need to look up your records before we start." He held the door open for her with a slight smile.

He gestured to a chair for her and sat down behind the desk. Rose slid into the proffered chair and crossed her legs nervously, interlocking her hands.

He pulled the computer keyboard closer to him and made a few clicks of the mouse. "Okay I'm going to need your ID number and your date of birth."

"My ID number is D73629 and my birth date is April 27, 1986," she told him while he entered the information in.

"Oh, today's your birthday," he marveled. "Happy birthday!" He grinned at her.

"Yes, well I sort of forgot when I made the appointment." I don't think it's possible to sound more idiotic than I do already. "Worried about my grade, you know."

"Right, right. I feel like I should offer you some tea or something since it's your birthday, but alas! I have nothing." He worked the mouse for a short while longer and said, "Hmmm. Yes yes yes yes yes, it's good that you came in although I'm wondering why you've waited until the course is three-quarters over with. Especially since it looks like you're set to graduate in December, but not if you have to re-take a course. It's going to be harder to catch up now."

To say Rose was embarrassed would be an understatement. She stammered, "Er well stubborn independence I guess." She chuckled weakly. "I hope it's not too late," she worried.

"Well there are two exams left, and you need to earn a total of 170 points to pass. That means you will need an average of 85 on the final two." He leaned back in his chair. "I think it's possible if you work hard. I will also speak with Dr. Conlon and ask him if you can do the extra credit worth 50 points. I warn you though, it will be a research paper and you'll have to visit the observatory with me at night. Does that sound fair?"

Rose let out a breath she had no idea she was holding. You have no idea. "That's more than fair."

He swiveled around in the chair and picked up a stack of binders from the bookshelves. "Now, you mentioned dark matter and gravitational lensing, correct?"

35 minutes later, Rose understood a little more about gravitational lensing, and a lot more about John's eyes, hair, smile, and voice. It was a wonderful voice, and not hard to listen to. She wished that he were the lecturer and not Dr. Conlon. The professor had a monotone voice and always seemed bored. When John spoke about astronomy, you could tell that it was one of his passions. Those eyes though, they must be a color found only in Heaven.

"So, I'll see you in class tomorrow, and provided Dr. Conlon agrees, you can come to the observatory with me Tuesday night to start your research." He stood up to see her out, and Rose tried to stand but unbeknownst to her, one of her feet had fallen asleep and she stumbled and ended up falling into John's arms.

"Sorry-sorry" "No I'm sorry." He steadied her and she leaned on the desk for support. "Are you okay," he questioned.

"Sorry my foot's alseep," Rose admitted while she wiggled it and grimaced.

"Quite all right," John faltered. He seemed a bit flustered and ran both of his hands through his hair one after the other. After a pause he asked, "Better yet?"

"It's getting there. Say, how long until you become a doctor?" she inquired, trying to get him to talk more to dispel the awkwardness.

Something dark flashed across his face, but then his eyes lit up, "Oh if everything goes as expected with my dissertation, I should be done in December."

"So we might graduate at the same time?"

"Yes, I suppose so." They both heard a knock at the door. His next appointment had shown up, and it was past time. "Right. Miss Tyler," he nodded and opened the door to let her go. She heard his sharp intake of breath as her shoulder accidentally brushed up against his chest. So he felt it too. If he's all about appropriateness, I can't wait for the end of this class.