The Dandelion Chain
Rose lay in the field with her eyes closed, enjoying the feel of the grass on her skin. Somewhere close by, a dog was barking, and the faint sound of a lawn mower could be heard. The birds were chirping, and a faint breeze nestled her hair close to her neck. She smiled. It was heaven. She heard footsteps coming toward her, the owner's shoes squishing through the grass, and she squinted up at the figure. It was the Doctor, grinning down at her as the sunlight bounced off of his black leather jacket. She had no idea how he wore that in this weather.
"Ready to go then?" She asked him. He had brought her back home for a visit and conviently had TARDIS maintenance to do while she caught up with her mother. Not much had changed for Jackie, except for that fact that she told Rose that Mickey stopped asking about her. Rose knew that this day would come sooner or later, she knew Mickey wouldn't wait forever, and she didn't want him to. If he wanted to be with Trish DeLaney, or any other shop girl that caught his eye, let him. As long as she had her Doctor, she was happy.
"Yeah, we're all ready to go." He said.
She smiled, "I used to lay out here when I was little." She said. "I'd stare up at the clouds and the stars and imagine what it would be like to travel among them." She gave a laugh, "and now it's as casual as going to the supermarket."
"Well, that comes with the whole TARDIS package."
"Are we really in a hurry?"
"Well, no…"
"Sit with me."
The Doctor sat Indian-Style across from her, and he watched as she reached around her, pulling up small yellow flowers. "I hope you're not going to eat those." He said.
She gave him a look and began threading the flowers together. Soon she had made a chain.
"This is a Dandelion chain." Rose explained, and handed it to him. "I want you to have it. For when we're not together… so you won't forget me."
"Rose, I could never…"
She closed his hand around it. "I know."
The Doctor was silent a moment, and then delicately put the flowers into his vest pocket. "If it will make you happy, I'll keep them right here."
"Always?"
"Sure."
There was a pause between them, and only the surrounding sounds filled in the gaps. Rose had so many things to tell him, and such a short time, yet she couldn't seem to get any of it out.
"I miss you." She said finally.
"I know you do." He whispered. He looked down at the ground. "But you're safe, and that's all I care about."
Rose felt tears welling in her eyes. Don't cry… don't cry… if you cry, you'll wake up, and this dream will be over.
"You left without a goodbye!" She screamed. "You didn't give me time to understand what was happening to you. You didn't give me the chance to tell you…."
"Rose…"
"You were MY Doctor! You weren't supposed to leave…"
"Rose…"
"What?"
"You're waking."
Rose sat up with a jolt. She was in her room on the TARDIS. It was mere days after the Doctor's rejuvenation, and she had dreamt of the previous Doctor every time she closed her eyes. Her dreams were almost all identical. She'd wake before she got the chance to tell him she had loved him. And she had loved him, more than she thought she could ever love someone. He was her heart, he was her soul… and he was gone, leaving behind a new face. Rose did like this new Doctor, (though technically he was the same being) but he had a few different characteristics than the previous. This new Doctor had sat and ate Christmas dinner with her, had even hugged her mother. And one thing was absolutely certain: he cared for Rose very much. And it scared her. The more time she spent with him, the less she thought about the 9th. And she was terrified that soon she would forget him all together.
There was a knock on her door.
"I'm awake." She called.
The Doctor stuck his head in and smiled at her. She smiled back; she couldn't help it, it was that mischievious little boy smile that always got her.
"A smile!" He exclaimed, "First time you woke up with one of those."
She shook her head.
The Doctor frowned and sat on the foot of her bed. "You're still dreaming of him then?"
She nodded, "Every night."
"Rose, if I could change back for you, I would." He reached for her hand, and gave it a squeeze. "But I'm still me. All of it. All of the memories… all of our memories didn't die with him. I remember everything."
"But I didn't… I didn't tell him…" She looked up at him, and realized that technically she was talking to the same person.
"Tell you what," He said, smiling, "how about I stop stalling and finally take you to Barcelona?"
She smiled too.
"You could lay on a beach and stare out at the lavender water. You know the water there is lavender?"
She laughed. "Yeah, I'd like that."
"Then Barcelona it is."
