A/N: To be honest this kind of just came out of nowhere. But yeah, I hope you enjoy!


Rose Tyler squinted against bright sunlight as she looked up at the blue airplane in front of her. Her brow furrowed as she frowned.

Plane doesn't look very big for a jumbo jet… She mused before shrugging the matter off. What did she know about flying anyway? This was her first time on a plane after all.

Rose was among the first passengers to board the unusually blue aircraft and was somewhat startled as she viewed the interior.

"Bit of a strange plane, eh?" Remarked a rounder gentleman with large glasses, "It's almost bigger on the inside!" he exclaimed before chuckling heartily.

Rose merely smiled politely and glanced back down at her ticket crumpled and slightly damp in her sweaty palm.

"4A, 4A…" she muttered as she scanned the plane for her seat.

She breathed a sigh of relief as she sat down. It wasn't as uncomfortable as she expected and she was also glad to have the window seat with only one vacancy to her right. Rose was grateful she had been upgraded to first class at the last minute, lest she have to spend the 19 hour flight to Fiji cramped on both sides by complete strangers.

Rose watched as the plane filled up with people. Those who took seats closest to her included what looked like to very feisty red heads with their significant others along with what seemed to be another couple, a woman with poufy hair and an incredibly good looking man who sent her a dazzling grin as he passed.

Rose sighed inwardly, hoping she wouldn't be the only one on the trip who was traveling alone. She gazed out the window absentmindedly as her thoughts drifted. It was only months ago that she had finally left Jimmy Stone and only about a week since she had broken up with Mickey. She and her mother had gotten into an awful row after her mother had accused her of being high minded and ungrateful for all that Mickey had done for her.

Rose had been best mates with Mickey for years and they had known each other even longer. She felt a little guilty, she knew she hadn't treated him too great all the time but she just couldn't see a future for them.

"I just want something new, mum!"Rose had cried, "Something different!"

The day after that she had gotten a call from Hendricks, the shop where she worked her monotonous nine to five job. She had entered an employee drawing a few weeks back for an all-expense paid trip to Fiji, and won. The timing couldn't have been better.

Rose sighed again. She and her mum had barely spoken the past week and Rose didn't even say goodbye. She knew she wouldn't have another chance so she pulled out her mobile and dialed her mother's number.

Rose tried to fight back the little pricks of tears in the corner of her eyes as the answering machine picked it up.

"Um, hi mum. It's me Rose. I… uh… I'm on the plane now. We'll probably be taking off in a few and I just wanted to… uh… I just wanted to tell you that I love you and I'll miss you. So, see you in two weeks."

Rose rested her head on the back of her seat and wiped an errant tear from her eye. She was snapped out of her thoughts by a skinny man in a brown pinstriped suit rushing hurriedly down the aisle muttering apologies as he went. He slid into the empty seat next to her and grinned.

"Wasn't too sure I was going to make it on time. It was like every inanimate object in my house was trying to keep me from getting here. Living plastic! Blimey, wouldn't that be something!?"

Rose only smiled as she was slightly taken aback by the exuberant and rather good looking stranger with amazing hair.

"Sorry, where are my manners?" he continued extending his hand to her, "Dr. Johannes Smith, but everyone just calls me John, or Doctor. Whichever you like."

"Rose. Rose Tyler," she returned, sliding her hand into his.

She marveled slightly at how well her hand fit into his. She moved her gaze from their entwined hands to his eyes and couldn't help but grin back. They kept eye contact for a moment before he gave her hand a slight squeeze and they both let go.

"Brilliant name that, Rose Tyler," he said, testing the name out on his lips, "So tell me Rose Tyler, do you travel much?"

"Not really, this is my first time on a plane."

"So you're a virgin, eh?"

Rose's eyes widened as did John's.

"And uh… I meant that in the sense that this is your first time. Traveling. On an airplane. Yeah," he quickly tried to amend, rubbing the back of his neck and avoiding Rose's eyes.

Rose laughed and John seemed to relax.

"Yes, I suppose I am," Rose said, her grin widening and her tongue peeking out between her teeth, "How about you?"

"Oh I've been traveling for years. I've been all sorts of places. The world is a beautiful place Rose Tyler."

"So do you travel professionally, or something? Is it part of your job?"

"No, weeeeell, I suppose yes, in a way that is. I'm a writer and I like to travel to different climates and cultures and things to get inspiration for the places and people that I write about."

"What do you write about?"

"A 900 year old alien with two hearts who travels through time and space in a blue box."

Rose laughed again.

"Sounds a lot more interesting than the rubbish they made us read in school!"

John grinned and Rose couldn't help but think that the next 19 hours weren't going to be as bad as she thought.

A pretty young woman with shoulder length brown hair in a blue uniform that matched the jet's exterior appeared at the front of the plane and spoke into the microphone.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Captain has turned on the Fasten Seat Belt sign. If you haven't already done so, please stow your carry-on luggage underneath the seat in front of you or in an overhead bin. Please take your seat and fasten your seat belt. And also make sure your seat back and folding trays are in their full upright position.

"If you are seated next to an emergency exit, please read carefully the special instructions card located by your seat. If you do not wish to perform the functions described in the event of an emergency, please ask a flight attendant to reseat you.

"At this time, we request that all mobile phones, pagers, radios and remote controlled toys be turned off for the full duration of the flight, as these items might interfere with the navigational and communication equipment on this aircraft. We request that all other electronic devices be turned off until we fly above 10,000 feet. We will notify you when it is safe to use such devices.

"We remind you that this is a non-smoking flight. Smoking is prohibited on the entire aircraft, including the lavatories. Tampering with, disabling or destroying the lavatory smoke detectors is prohibited by law.

If you have any questions about our flight today, please don't hesitate to ask one of our flight attendants. Have a pleasant flight and thank you for flying TARDIS Air."

Only a few minutes after that the plane began to move forward, starting off slow but gradually gaining speed. Rose couldn't help but think of all the horrid things she had seen on the news about crashing planes and terrorists. Her heart began pounding as the plane rose into the air and she took several deeps breaths and squeezed her eyes shut in an attempt to calm herself.

She felt strong fingers intertwine with her own and she hesitantly looked over at her hand now tightly grasping her hand and then to his face to see him kindly smile at her with nothing but warmth in his eyes. Rose could feel the panic that had begun to well in her stomach dissipate and she smiled gratefully at him.

The plane reached cruising altitude and the "Fasten Seat Belt" sign switched off. The pretty airline stewardess reappeared.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Captain has turned off the Fasten Seat Belt sign, and you may now move around the cabin. However we always recommend you keep your seat belt fastened while you're seated. You may now turn on your electronic devices such as calculators, CD players and laptop computers.

In a few moments, the flight attendants will be passing around the cabin to offer you hot or cold drinks, as well as a snack. Alcoholic drinks are also available at a nominal charge/with our compliments. Also, we will be showing you our video presentation. Now, sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight. Thank you."

Rose subconsciously wondered why her hand was so warm before she remembered that she was still holding John's hand. She debated for a moment whether or not she should remove her hand or just leave it where it was. It seemed as if John had forgotten as well so she decided it would be best if she didn't end up holding a strangers hand for the duration of the flight.

She slid her hand out of his and John jumped, startled.

"Oh right, sorry!" he apologized.

"No need to, mate," Rose chuckled, "I actually wanted to thank you… for that. It was ni-… uh, it helped. A lot. So thank you."

"I know how nerve wracking a first flight can be. I mean, hurtling through the sky at 540 miles an hour 38,000 feet in the air in nothing but a glorified metal box with wings? Anything could happen!"

Rose swallowed hard, the panicky feeling coming back full force.

John pulled at his ear looking sheepish as he realized that that probably wasn't the best thing to have said to a nervous traveler.

"I'm sorry, I'm sure were perfectly safe. Really, we are!" he tried to reassure her without success. John hesitantly reached for her hand a second time.

Rose's breathing immediately began to even out as his calloused fingers gripped her soft hand.

"I swear you're making me nervous just so you can hold my hand Doctor John," Rose smiled nervously and John grinned in return.

"You've got me all figured out Rose Tyler."

Rose had initially assumed that she would be spending the duration of the flight in silence, absorbed in her own thoughts. But with her chatty companion she found herself in lively conversation with those seated directly in front, behind, and across from John and herself. Amy and Rory, or "stupid face" and Amy affectionately called him, were the young couple in front of her who were on their honeymoon, along with another couple who had won the lottery, Donna and Lee. Rose couldn't quite figure out the two seated behind her, the gorgeous American who called himself "Captain Jack" and his fiancée, Professor River Song. The two were very comfortable with each other but in a best mates kind of way, they didn't quite seem like a couple. That and also the fact that Rose would bet a hefty sum on Jack's sexuality resembling a donut.

Rose also learned quite a lot about John. He had a four year old daughter named Jenny that was staying with her mother's grandparents while he was gone for two weeks.

"Her mum didn't want much to do with Jenny but her grandparents kind of adopted us both. I don't really have any family. I did, but uh, they're… gone now," John said sadly before rushing forward, "Anyway, Jenny's already in school. She's as smart as a whip," he told Rose proudly as he showed her a picture of a little blonde girl with pigtail braids and a pearly white smile.

"So what about you?" he asked Rose, "Who's at home right now missing Rose?"

Rose looked down and picked at the fabric of her pale yellow dress.

"It's just my mum and me in the flat. Dad died when I was a baby. A hit and run. My friend Mickey, too. But I'm not sure about them missing me so much. I got into a row with my mum after… well Mickey was my boyfriend but I just wasn't feeling anything for him, you know? He'll always be one of my best friends but that's all. Anyway, I got into a fight with mum and…" Rose trailed off.

"I'm sure you're missed Rose, I'd bet my life on it," John told her, concern lacing his warm brown eyes.

"Yeah, thanks," Rose sniffed, trying not to cry.

"So how'd you end up on a jet to Fiji?" he asked, attempting to change the subject.

"Um, I won this… work thing. All-expense paid trip to Fiji. Two weeks on the beach."

"Really! We should… meet up sometime. Or not," John stammered, not looking at Rose.

"Yeah, I would like that," she smiled down at her lap, knowing she was blushing rather vigorously.

"Brilliant!"

Rose opened her mouth to speak but was cut off when the plane started to shake.

The "Fasten Seat Belt" light switched and simultaneously the airline stewardess reappeared, looking slightly frazzled and trying to remain calm for the sake of the passengers.

"Ladies and gentleman we are currently experiencing some slight turbulence. Please fasten your seat belts and remain calm."

The passengers scrambled for something to hold on to as the intensity of the shaking increased and Rose's hand automatically sought out John's.

"Slight turbulence?" John muttered under his breath and tightened his hold on Rose's hand.

Those around them were also beginning to panic and as the lights began to flicker screams could be heard throughout the plane. The aircraft continued to shudder, growing more violent by the second.

"John?" Rose called out in the dark.

"I'm here Rose, I'm here," he reassured her as their grip on each other tightened.

The lights went out permanently, plunging the entire plane into blackness. People were pinned in their seats as the plane spiraled downward in an aggressive descent. There was a deafening rush of noise that joined the screams of the terrified passengers as the plane fell through the sky.

And then there was nothing.


A/N: A bit dramatic? Probably. Anyway... next chapter we learn a little bit more about our characters and find out just where our beloved fictional friends have ended up. Please please please let me know how you feel! I would love to hear from you all. Constructive criticism is welcomed and appreciated, just not hate.

You can also follow me on tumblr if your heart so desires... I am addledstateofmind :)