Rose eyed the mewing package warily, glancing from the pink wrapping paper and loosely positioned lid and back to her smiling husband.
"Happy Birthday, Rose!" he said excitedly, pushing the box toward her.
"Thought we agreed that a pet was a bad idea now that the TARDIS is working properly," she reminded him as she finally took the present.
The Doctor only beamed more brightly.
"Ah, but this is a very special sort of pet. She's meant to travel on spaceships, been bred specially for it." He paused while she sat and carefully lifted the lid, the pitiful mewing turning into a kitten's happy greeting, Rose's face softening.
"Doctor, she's gorgeous." Rose reached in and lifted the little feline whose purr rumbled loudly at the contact. "Where'd you get her?"
"Took the TARDIS while you were out shopping with Jackie. Fairly easy to find, if you know when to look and have enough credits." He paused, watching the kitten rub its silky, grey fur against Rose's cheek. "Barque cats are a symbol of status and luck at various times in humanity's future. They don't care to be earthbound for long, even as kittens. Traveling is what they do. As if that weren't perfect enough, the species is mildly telepathic, and she and the TARDIS already get along splendidly."
He rocked back on his heels, watching the two get acquainted, rubbing his neck at the extended silence that followed.
"I know it's not always the best of ideas, surprising someone with a pet," he said, "but we had talked about finding a companion, and you'd seemed to like the idea of a cat, other than the practical aspects that this species negates the need for concern over, and I thought… I mean, we can return her if…"
"Doctor," interrupted Rose, looking at him. "She's perfect."
He smiled again and sat next to her on the sofa, petting the kitten carefully before sitting back and wrapping an arm around his wife.
"What should we name her?" he asked. "I was considering something majestic or regal, like Querashlik'aana."
Rose laughed.
"How about something a little easier to pronounce?" she countered. She looked thoughtful a moment before continuing. "What about Nala? I mean, the coloring's not quite right, but it reminds me of when you first got this face the first time and you were going on with that Lion King quote."
"Does that mean we get a Simba, too?"
"How about we start with just one, 'kay?"
He nodded and rubbed her arm, and she leaned into him, letting the kitten curl up in her lap, still purring as it quickly fell asleep.
"Happy birthday, Rose."