Character/Pairing: Ten/Rose
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: The BBC owns all, I am merely borrowing.
Spoilers: Through The Satan Pit.
The trilling melody of an accomplished quartet drifted out of the manor house, filling the moonlit gardens with an echo of the night's jovial festivities. A tall slender woman dressed in an emerald toga peeked at the waltzing couples from behind a topiary. She gasped, "Oh! So many to choose from."
An older man came to stand beside her, asking softly, "But will there be any that catch your eye, dearest?"
She giggled in response. "I should think so. They all look so very lively."
The TARDIS slipped easily into the vortex, just as relieved as her passengers to be spinning away from the beast's predictions and the gaping maw of that black hole.
Rose helped the Doctor out of the hideous orange space suit as he muttered that it was actually referred to as atmospheric stabilization attire. Rolling her eyes, she crumpled the heavy fabric into a pile and he stepped free. She stood and before she quite knew what was happening, he had backed her into one of the struts and kissed her. Hard. Not the chaste celebratory brush of lips against her forehead that followed a particularly dangerous adventure. A real kiss.
Time seemed to stop as lips and tongues twined wetly and his hands pressed firmly against her back, crushing them together.
Suddenly, the Doctor staggered backwards, gaping at her as if he couldn't believe what had just happened either. Frantically ruffling his hair, he announced a pleasure planet that had neon fairy floss as their next destination and rushed into the depths of his ship.
Too stunned to pursue him, Rose took a moment to catch her breath and then stumbled to her bedroom.
She couldn't sleep. She tried counting sheep and reading an imposing looking book about the history of martian colony engineers. The TARDIS had even placed a mug of warm milk on her nightstand. But none of it helped quiet her racing thoughts.
The Doctor had kissed her.
She'd long ago accepted that as his companion there were certain concrete boundaries to their relationship. The stunned look on his face when they'd separated seemed to suggest differently.
She opened one eye to glare at the blinking red numbers of the alarm clock on her bedside table. Deciding five hours of tossing and turning would have to be enough, she stretched and climbed out from under the pink duvet. She donned a new outfit she'd wanted to take for a spin, grinning as she modeled the mini skirt and delicate top in front of a mirror.
The console room was empty, the central column silent. The TARDIS door, however, was slightly ajar and Rose decided to take a quick peek. She found the Doctor standing just outside, hands buried deep in his pockets as he contemplated their location.
"You went out without me!" Rose paused when she noticed the verdant garden that surrounded them. "Oh. Not a pleasure planet then."
The Doctor rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, it certainly appears focused on...pleasure."
"Not a fifty-first century pleasure planet then," Rose clarified.
"Could be. Maybe it's a theme night." He held out his hand and wiggled his fingers. "Shall we...have a look?"
"Why not." She took his hand and with a sudden burst of courage, balanced on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek.
The Doctor froze. It was a full seven seconds before he realized Rose was staring at him expectantly. He cleared his throat. "Right. This way."
The night before, with that horrible prophecy echoing in his ears, he simply hadn't been able to stop himself. They'd survived and she had been standing before him in the console room; brave, beautiful and so alive. Kissing her had been entirely unavoidable. Really. Even if it was preposterous for a Time Lord to be tempted by his human companion. He was suppose to love everyone equally. No favorites. No needs.
"Oh, it's beautiful."
Her voice brought his ruminations to a halt and his gaze flicked over the garden. They were walking through a corridor of hedges with tiny orange leaves and delicate white blossoms. Although it was night the grounds were pleasantly lit by the warm glow of phosphorescent plants nestled high in the branches of nearby trees. It was rather nice. Especially the way the light gleamed along the edge of her neck. Startled, the Doctor quickly shifted his gaze to study a cluster of orchids instead.
"So, where are we then?"
"Melamine Galaxy, I think. Outer edge."
"Been here before?"
"Maybe." He frowned. "I can't remember actually."
They turned a corner and were suddenly facing a tall man who looked less than pleased to have run into them.
"Oh, hello," said the Doctor.
"Halt!" the man demanded, brandishing a saber in their direction. He was humanoid in appearance with bronze skin and shoulder length black hair. He was wearing a short toga of a rough beige fabric with intricate embroidery at the edges. Repositioning his weapon to point at the Doctor's chest, he explained, "Only guests are allowed on the property."
"Guests! Right. Yes. That's us. See." The Doctor pulled out the psychic paper, flipping it open and holding it out for the man.
"Ah, my mistake," the man apologized, sheathing his weapon. "Please forgive me, Sir Doctor."
"Could happen to anyone," the Doctor agreed amicably. "Now, we seem to have wandered off. Could you show us the way back?"
The man was happy to assist, leading them through the maze of flower beds and hedges until they reached a large brick building with elaborate columns and large windows across the front. Golden light flickered through the panes of glass, reflecting on the lawn outside. As they passed by the windows, Rose craned her neck to see inside and grinned with delight at the pageantry.
"It's a party," the Doctor observed, waggling his eyebrows.
They entered the house and were led to the ballroom where everyone was dancing or mingling, their long togas of dark silk and velvet brushing against the floor as they moved gracefully. They all appeared to share the same tall build and glowing complexion, although the women had their hair fashioned into plaits and coiled atop their heads in elaborate configurations. The women also wore heavy makeup that reminded Rose of the famous bust of Nefertiti. Suddenly feeling very inadequately attired, Rose shifted closer to the Doctor, hiding her outfit as best she could behind his slim frame.
Their escort cleared his throat. "Sir Doctor of Tardis and Lady Rose Tyler of the Powell Estate."
The Doctor waved, rocking back on his heels in excitement. "This is perfect, Rose! Just what we needed, don't you think? A frolic of frivolous fun. Ha! Say that five times fast. A frolic of frivolous fun. A frolic of frivolous..." Busy with his challenge, the Doctor failed to notice the approaching group of women until Rose elbowed him. "Oh. Ladies." He inclined his head deferentially and they curtsied in response.
Two of the women seemed to be twins, their appearances identical in every detail. Beside them was a middle aged woman dressed more demurely and another wearing a scarlet toga with elaborate gold embroidery.
The woman in red spoke first. "We have not seen you or your lady friend at previous occasions."
"Ah. We travel around a lot. Well, most of the time really. Actually, all of the time. I'm the Doctor and this is Rose."
"Hello," Rose greeted with a wobbly curtsy.
The eldest sniffed haughtily. "Charmed, I'm sure." She examined Rose's clothing without bothering to conceal her contempt. "And what you're wearing...would that be the latest provincial fashion?"
The women giggled in unison.
"You can't expect to win in that!" exclaimed the one wearing the scarlet toga, taking hold of Rose's arm. "Come, I may have something your size."
"But--" Rose protested as the eldest captured her other arm and she found herself being rather forcibly separated from the Doctor.
Oblivious to her predicament, the Doctor smiled. "Go ahead, Rose. I'll just mingle."
As the women ushered her out of the ballroom, Rose glanced over her shoulder to find the Doctor already amicably engaged with the twins, one on either arm. She'd never known him to be stirred by physical beauty, but perhaps she didn't know him as well as she thought.
The twins exchanged conspiratorial smiles as they surrounded their handsome new acquaintance.
"Now, Doctor, tell us. Are you taken?"