Disclamer: I don't own Doctor Who or anything related to the show, so don't sue me.
Characters/Pairing: 10.5/Rose
Genres: Romance, Angst, General
Rating: K
A/N: Just a one-shot about right after the good-bye of Journey's End. I'm American so hopefully I can catch the tone and wording just right. Constructive Criticism is always loved. Please review!
There they were, waiting for Pete to pick them up. Jackie was a ways down the beach. Rose was sitting on a large, flat rock, shoes off, dangling her feet in the water. The Doctor—the human Doctor—was sitting beside her, cross-legged, hand under his chin. Neither one spoke for a long time.
At last, the Doctor broke the silence. "What should my name be?" Rose looked quizzically at him. "Can't exactly put 'The Doctor' on my cheques, can I? Do you have any suggestions?" She just shrugged. She pulled her feet out of the water, tucking her knees close. The Doctor tried again. "I suppose the old stand-by may work. John Smith."
Rose couldn't take it. "How can you sit there, talking about stupid names?" she shouted. "You...he...the real Doctor...and you're just..." she couldn't seem to speak in full sentences, the words were catching in her throat. "What am I supposed to do?" she managed at last.
The Doctor looked down. "How d'you suppose I feel? I know I'm just...second-best. Can't take you travelling in time and space. Can't even get us off this beach."
Her head jerked up at his words. "I thought you had his memories. You know it's not about that. And I never said you were second-best." She sighed. "It's just odd, y'know? You're him, but you're not him."
They were quiet for a long moment. Finally, he spoke up, "Is it the suit?"
Rose laughed. "Yeah, I think so. We've got to get you a good tailor."
"Right! There's a name for you. Tailor. John Tailor." He smiled. "We'd be Tailor and Tyler. Defenders of the Earth."
"Doctor?" Rose said after laughing. "You do have a name, yah? What is it? Your real name?"
Before he could answer, or avoid answering, Pete pulled up in the black Jeep. "Ah, time enough for that," He said as he stood up. He held a hand out to help Rose to her feet. "We've got the rest of our lives. Together, forever." He shyly looked away at the last words, unsure, still, of how she would react.
Rose smiled. "Rest of our lives."