A/N: I'm not quite sure when this takes place. Somewhere between when they've left Mickey in the alternate universe and the Battle at Canary Wharf. It's just a quiet moment in the TARDIS… that turned into something more.
Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who. What's a girl gonna do?
He had kissed Rose before, of course, but she had never been conscious of it. This time it was different. They both knew what they were doing and he could tell. Before, kissing Rose had been pleasant, but nothing special - the mundane sparks of affection he had felt hadn't received adequate retribution from her and had subsequently died. But this time…
He could feel her thoughts, her emotions in the kiss. Her hands were resting at his waist and his cupped her face. Something inside her was cautious and confused, but another part was passionate and frustrated. The mingled effect was odd, but wonderful. And every bit Rose.
And then it was over.
The Doctor opened his eyes to see Rose, inches away from him. Their breath still mingled; he could taste her in the air between them. His eyes searched hers and found quite a bit of shock. As the silence grew increasingly awkward, he opened his mouth to speak, to say something, anything - after all, what was the Doctor good at if not explaining? But nothing came out. He was speechless. The Doctor. Speechless.
Rose was the first to make a sound. "Um." Her eyes darted from his lips back to his eyes and one of her hands made the tiniest movement, stroking his side. She may not have even been conscious of doing it, but the Doctor felt everything… he knew, saw, heard everything… or at least he thought he did. Until now. Now, he had no clue what was coming next.
"Doctor?"
His mouth gaped like a fish out of water. He was hanging on her every word and still couldn't speak.
Rose took one hand from his waist and, hesitating only once, put it to his face. "Doctor?" she repeated.
He closed his mouth and cleared his throat. "Yeah?" His voice came out a little huskier than planned. A slow smile spread across her face. And of course, he felt an answering one creep upon his. He could never resist her smiles.
Rose knew. Finally, everything was out in the open. She leaned forward again, pressing her lips to his. He could feel both of their smiles in the kiss. She moved, wrapping her arms around his neck and he wrapped his around her waist, pulling her closer to him, closing any space that had been separating them.
All of time and space had been his. But now he knew what he'd been looking for. This.
Someone to share it with. Forever.