A/N. Christmas is coming! So is a new, all-fluffy story of mine. This has nothing to do with Christmas, though. I could justify myself by the fact I have found some part of The Force Awakens heartbreaking… But that would (mostly) be a lie. This is not the place to discuss it or my other geeky obsessions (a lot of them), anyway. :P
Read, enjoy, review… etc. I don't do one-shots any more, as a matter of fact. Two, three or twenty chapters left… I'm not saying. :) The title is self-explicatory, as is the rating. But it's nowhere soon, sorry.
Under Your Touch
Chapter One
The Doctor seemed uncommonly frustrated that day. It must have been Sunday, Donna deduced. He was not listening to whatever she was saying. Not answering her questions. Not reacting to her usually spot-on jokes. After about two hours of being forced to face the unusual feeling of tense anxiety from him , she has had enough.
"Ahem. Doctor!"
"What?!" He was not happy.
"What's up with you?"
"Find something to do, Donna. I am very busy," he grumbled.
Too busy to respond to my simple inquiries properly? Donna could not allow herself to be openly upset with the Doctor. This has never ended well. "Repairing the ship?" She tried innocently. After all, this has been his main activity whenever not off looking for someone or something to save.
"Repairing something crucial, yes," he answered softly, almost dreamily. The change in his demeanour has but made the ginger grin to herself. She was getting better in understanding the Spaceman more and more every day. Which was still next to nothing, if she were being truthful.
Donna Noble was not about to waste her chances while the Doctor was still – even if just for a few seconds – not chasing her away rudely.
"Fine, then. I'll go to the media room and find something interesting to watch. Hope you'll be back for afternoon tea!"
The Doctor sighed in obvious relief. "Call us whenever you get to making it," he nodded in agreement.
She rolled her eyes at the alien. He was never going to stop surprising her with his antics. Must be the loneliness present in his eyes all the time, she guessed.
Loneliness was the very last thing on the Doctor's mind... Particularly when he's found himself in Rose's embrace almost the moment he has returned to her. "Have you been waiting long, Rose?"
"Well-"
The companion did not get the chance to tell him several hours felt like nothing at all for her, not when he has led her to the safest place in the ship… his room, where the strongly felt presence of the TARDIS has immediately awoken all sorts of pleasant and bittersweet memories of her travels within Rose.
Donna's biting angry words could be heard echoing inside the ship then.
"Doctor! Why'd the TARDIS only show me romantic nonsense? I despise romantic comedies, you know that, thanks very much!" The Doctor freed himself from Rose's arms unwillingly, his voice sharp in annoyance.
"I think old girl knows what you need, Donna! Ask her for something alien, maybe. Try not to disturb us any more. It's rather bothersome!"
She snorted. Us again. You and the TARDIS?' He did not answer, waiting for her quick footsteps to fade away.
"Rose," he breathed into her hair. "I want, have always wanted to do the unforgivable to you," he spoke, not wasting time. She eyed him questioningly. "I want to steal you away from the world, to make you mine and mine alone!"
Rose exhaled excitedly. This has not surprised her. "I have always been yours and yours alone, Doctor."
"But-" He attempted to object. This was a miracle and could not be happening, not to him.
"Stealing me away sounds exciting," Rose giggled, knowing full well this has only been a metaphorical expression.
"What about your family? Friends? Rose?" The Time Lord was suddenly almost hoping there was something out there lurking to make this joyful unexpected reunion impossible.
The fair girl shrugged, familiar with the Doctor's insecurities a bit too well. "Mum has eventually got used to the idea, particularly when I have explained everything in detail to her. Even if she seems to have accepted time-travelling all right… I still had to explain it all to her in simple words… the best I could," the girl bit her lip, remembering. "Besides, she has little Tony and Pete to worry about." He eyed her questioningly, knowing she was not done yet.
'My friends don't remember I exist, I think," Rose shrugged, not at all upset.
"In other words?" She continued, smiling softly, "Take me with you? If… if I wouldn't be a burden?"
"Rose..." She grinned at his wide-eyed expression, shock mingled with adoration. Oh, how she missed that look… "What?"
This is a very wrong thing to do,' the Doctor muttered, gluing his lips to hers.
"I think this is a very right thing," Rose objected, welcoming his tongue inside her mouth. The sensation was not entirely new to her… But it has all felt new and undiscovered to her all the same, with no need to hurry anywhere.
"I might even begin to enjoy Sundays because of this," the Doctor stepped away from her just so he could compose himself.
"You don't mean you are keeping me like a toy to kiss once per week?"
"Not at all, Rose. Not at all. I think your plan to find the TARDIS has worked spectacularly, particularly on such a bland day as Sunday."
"You do realise it has been the blandness of this day that has helped me find you?" The ship let out a sound of annoyance. "And you, old girl! Thank you for keeping to the do-nothing-on-Sundays policy!" Rose decided to keep some of the things she has had to endure to be allowed to take part in this officially unsupported experiment in the equally the unsupported attempt of time-travel.
"I am so glad you are here with me, Rose Tyler," he smiled at her softly.
"Doctor!" Donna Noble was clearly upset about something again.
"What? Is she trying to make you watch something again?"
"No. The tea is ready. Would you mind stepping out of your Time Lord palace? I am no servant of yours, Spaceman-I-hate-Sundays. "
The Doctor shrugged, having appeared right in front of the fiery ginger… with Rose by his side.
Donna stared at the two of them with surprise. "Can anyone explain to me-"
"I can," Rose smiled at the woman.
The redhead shook her head. "I know you can, Rose."
A/N. How was it? Short? Plain? Might be. I have decided against uploading some of my other chapters (too dark, perhaps) until the Christmas period is officially over (read – until the 6th). As most of the stories are light anyway, an update or two might be expected before that (if the Christmas preparations don't tire me down, of course:D )