Author's Note: In the Third Doctor era, there is a television story called "Sea Devils" and while the Master is imprisoned, he watches the Clangers on television thinking that they are an alien life form. He even goes so far as to imitate their whistling until the warden informs him that they are merely puppets on a children's television show. I highly recommend watching this scene as it was Roger Delgado's Master at his comic best.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything in relation to Dr. Who or the Clangers.

Christmas

It's been three months since she first met the Master, three months of learning about each other, learning to trust each other, and trusting and accepting what they both feel for one another. It's also the first Christmas for both of them in Pete's World so she invites him along to go Christmas shopping with her and take in the festivities along the way. If she only knew how much of a Scrooge he was, she would have left him at home.

They take their time strolling through the streets of London, hand in hand, passing carolers along the way. "You're off-key," he mentions casually as they stroll by. She stops when she sees a Salvation Army worker and searches for her wallet to drop in a donation for Father Christmas' kettle. "What are you doing?" he asks as he attempts to wrestle her wallet from her. "He obviously doesn't need the money, Rose! Look at that fur, I may not be expert but I'm almost positive that's real ermine!" She blushes fiercely in embarrassment and murmurs her apologies as she drops in a few more pounds than she had intended to before reclaiming the Master's hand and hurrying them on their way.

The Master is ineffectively trying to pull Rose to a halt or at least slow her down when he spies a window display featuring children's television characters and instantly changes tactic and begins to speed up their pace. Unfortunately for him, Rose has seen the same display and with a shriek of delight, drags him straight over to it.

While she stares at the window and admires all of the different characters in simulations of their television show settings, each of them strategically placed to entice any child or present-seeking adult on a mission, he turns away in revulsion and recalls the humiliation of not only being imprisoned by humans, but on believing the Clangers to be a new intelligent life form that he had yet to encounter. Stupid whistling.

Once Rose has had her fill, she drags him to Henrik's Department Store to begin her Christmas shopping for her family and friends. She gives him a tongue in teeth grin and remarks with an approving nod, "They did a nice job rebuilding the place after our first meeting."

He grins at the memory and then suddenly frowns as he notices the extensive line of children and their parents. "Please tell me that we're not going to have to wait in that."

"No," she denies laughingly. "That line's for the children who are waiting to see Father Christmas and tell him what they want for Christmas."

"Good," he grumbles as he views the throngs of shoppers pushing and shoving their way through the store, "I hate waiting."

"Yeah, so do I," mutters Rose, thinking about how they had yet to pass the handholding stage of their relationship and share their first kiss. Maybe it's simply a Time Lord thing, regardless of the Time Lord.

They're about to brave the crush of shoppers when a little girl tugs on the sleeve of the Master's trench coat and squeals, "I'm going to meet Father Christmas today, and he's going to bring me a new doll, a kitchen set, a bicycle, a recorder, a train set and best of all, a whole family of Clangers along with the Soup Dragon!"

"How nice, I can't tell you how pleased I am at your impending infestation of toy vermin," he replies so kindly that the little girl doesn't catch the insult.

"Thanks!" she chirps as she jumps up and down.

Before the Master can tell the girl to bugger off, and Rose knows full well that he's about to, her mother rushes up to them frantically searching for her daughter. "There you are, Anna! I'm so sorry, she ran off as soon as she saw the line of children." She takes her daughter's hand and urges, "Come on, sweetheart, you don't want to miss Father Christmas, do you?"

Usually one to avoid domestics at all cost, the Master feels that he can't help but caution the woman and her daughter about the potential dangers that await them. He grunts softly while his mouth twists into a grimace. Rose must be rubbing off on him. "Madam, forgive my bluntness but I must ask you something for the safety of your child. You do realize that you are waiting in line so that your child can sit on the lap of a complete stranger, accept candy of unknown origin from him and have photographic documentation taken that will be accessible on their website?" he warns her as he points to the store's advertising sign informing customers of the variety of options that they can use to receive their photos.

Mother and child can only stand on in silent horror as he adds, "And are you even aware that Father Christmas isn't even his real name? Who even goes by a title these days?"

"Gee, I don't know, Master," hisses Rose as she pulls him away from the traumatized child, "I can't think of anyone, can you?" She turns her brightest smile onto the two females and apologizes, "I'm so sorry, you'll have to excuse him, he's had a bit too much excitement today, you see it's his first day out in a very long time," as she motions her forefinger in a large circle near her head.

The mother and daughter nod in sync before quietly heading back to the line. "I know what that means, Rose," he growls at her, oblivious to the odd stares that they're receiving from everyone moving past them.

"Good, mate," then I shouldn't have to explain this finger gesture to you either!" which she hastily makes before making her way to the toy department.

He watches her enter the store as he takes his time following her. I hope she saves some of that anger for Father Christmas, he muses as he darts a suspicious glance towards the unsuspecting man.

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Hours later, the Christmas party is in full swing and Rose slumps down into a chair in the vacant Alien Artifacts area of Torchwood hoping for some peace and quiet. "How long do we have to stay here?" grouses the Master as he leans against a desk opposite her.

"You don't have to stay here at all, you're free to go anytime," she informs him with a saccharine smile. "However, I need to stay here and mingle as I am the Director's daughter." Her face promptly falls into a perturbed frown when he doesn't move from his spot. "Why did you follow me in here anyway?"

"Because your inebriated mother keeps waving the Clanger set that she bought Tony in my face and slurring, 'If you need me, just whistle'," he answers in a disgusted tone.

He notices that she remains quiet after his small attack on her mother, which is very unusual for her. Well, remaining quiet for a Tyler woman at all is strange in any circumstance, really.

"What's wrong with you?" he questions with a trace of concern. "I thought you loved this stuff. Or are you as bored as I am with all of this festive fodder lying about?" He flicks over a tiny ceramic reindeer, its flashing nose a beacon of hideousness in his eyes.

"Actually, I was enjoying myself in there, it's not often that I have a chance to laugh and visit with my family and friends without being called away on an urgent mission." She fixes him with a pointed glare, "However, your bah humbug attitude is depressing the hell out of me so if you're just going to sit there like some stroppy git all night, I'd rather you just go home!"

"Stroppy? I'm not stroppy!" he proclaims in his defense. "You're thinking of the Doctor, not me." No response from that comment either, he must be in trouble.

Watching her spirit become more downtrodden and feeling a bit guilty for causing it, especially after her family has continually made the effort to recruit him into their collective of holiday good cheer, he considers what he can offer her to make amends. He spies exactly what he needs almost immediately. "Well, what do we have here? This little sprig just so happens to be my favorite alien artifact of all times."

He dangles the mistletoe in front of her face, noting that she's doing her best to fight off a smile, and holds it above her head until her grin is full blown and accompanied by a come hither look as she beckons him towards her.

He bends down towards her and inquires, "Am I forgiven then?"

She bears the faintest hint of a pout as she accuses, "You don't play fair."

"All's fair in love and war, Rose T-," he breaks off as he's unexpectedly jerked closer when she grabs his necktie.

"Shut up," she orders as she tugs him even closer.

And that was the moment that they finally had their first kiss.