A brand new story since my other fic Be the Silence is drawing to a close! I had to get this plot bunny out of my head now or I'd never get it down but I won't abandon Be the Silence, I'm working on that as well.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything relating to Doctor Who.

Triangle

Chapter One: Sweet and Sour

"Time or space, time and space? In space past, in space future? Earth past, Earth future, Earth present? Or, I dunno, I suppose we could hang in vortex?" The Doctor lounged against the foam sofa beside the console, his legs stretched out in front of him, one arm slung against the back of the sofa, the other holding a bottle of what looked like blue beer. "The universe is your oyster."

"Oh, I dunno, you pick." Rose, clothed in a pair of black stirrup leggings and a purple jumper, settled on the opposite side and slung her bare feet into his lap.

In mid swig, the Doctor nearly choked as he doubled up. "Watch where those feet are going, Miss Tyler!"

"Oops! Men are all the same, human or alien." She grinned at him, poking her tongue out the side of her teeth.

"Meaning we both feel pain? I'd say yes." He took her feet by the ankles and repositioned them on his lap. "What's with the leggings anyway?" He retracted one elastic stirrup and let it go. Rose yelped and laughed.

Another voice approached them. "Oi, Rose I think this belongs to you." Mickey Smith strode up to the console and threw something small pink and lacy in her direction. "Got mixed up with my stuff."

The Doctor raised a single eyebrow, his face otherwise unreadable. Rose blushed deeply. "Mickey, can I talk to you privately for a moment?"

She led him into the room that had been designated as her bedroom for the moment. "Why did you have to embarrass me like that?"

"Don't think it don't realize why the Doctor gave you this bedroom." Mickey shoved his hands in his pockets and walked around the bed as though inspecting how tidy it was.

"Don't avoid the question!"

"It's the closest room to the console—where he is."

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

"Rose, I've told you before, he's just like any other bloke and you're just gonna get hurt."

"What do you mean, any bloke?"

"Listen, it's hard enough to sit around while you bend yourself around the Doctor like some bitch in heat—" He was cut short when Rose drew back her hand and slapped him.

Her hand shook and she looked like she might hit him again. Her eyes stung, and her face burned with anger. She shoved the pink knickers at him instead. "Keep it." She spat, "Something to remember me by."

Mickey stared back at her, his face thunderous, until she spun on her heals and left the room, slamming the door.

The Doctor caught her when she nearly collided with him. "Whoaaa, where are you headed?" She buried her face into his suit jacket, hoping to hide her tears, and encircled her arms around his waist. He grinned and hugged her back. "Can't argue with a free hug, only I got up to make some tea, fancy it?"

She nodded into his chest. He chuckled and patted her back. "Then you're gonna have to let me go."

When she refused to detach, he began to walk forward. She jigged backwards in compensation. "Goodness, it's like having a walking blonde tumor, or a large and beautiful tick—and I don't often say that."

Rose giggled but clung on as he took short steps slowly into the kitchen.

"Though there is a planet in the Malteser…"

"Malteser?" She said, her voice muffled.

"It speaks!" He cried in mock surprise. "Yes, well, you're in the Milkyway, they are in the Malteser."

"Mmm, sounds delicious."

"We-ell," He said as though seriously considering the assessment. He reached for two mugs then stopped and put a hand to her head, idly stroking her hair. "Do you think Mickey wants a cup?"

Rose froze and held him tighter. "No."

"Alright then." Taking the hint, he dropped the tea bags into both cups as well as any conversation about what may have happened with Mickey.

"Are there more galaxies or planets named after chocolate? Is there Wispa or Crunchie?"

"Hmm, well there's Confection... And in that galaxy, they have a road on planet Nuttella called—"

"Don't tell me…"

"Quality Street." They said in unison. Rose grinned widely, enjoying the sensation of his chest moving with his laughter.

"So they named the planets after sweets." Rose said.

"What came first, the chicken or the egg?"

"The planet or the sweet?"

He lifted the kitchen sink tap labeled "boiled" and filled both mugs with boiling water. Setting them down to steep, he retreated and began the battle of peeling a reluctant Rose from his body.

"Can we go to one of the planets with the candy bar name?"

"Well that depends."

"On?"

"On whether you will release me or not."

Reluctantly, she loosened her arms and withdrew. His face contorted as he looked at her.

"What?"

He held down his laughter and pointed to her forehead. "Y-you've got a button."

Rose put a hand to her forehead and felt the deep indentation on her forehead. The Doctor put a hand to his jacket then frowned. "It's wet. Have you been crying?"

"No." She lied easily. "Must have… I dunno, drooled."

Mickey Smith paced Roses bedroom, determined to find evidence—of what, he was not sure of. Proof that the Doctor was using Rose in some sordid way? Evidence that the Doctor would leave her?

He pushed the door open and marched past the kitchen. He caught a glimpse of the Doctor and Rose parting as though they had been holding each other. He looked away. It was so glaringly primal, he thought bitterly, the urge to win dominance, but he could not deny the feelings inside him. He wanted to give in to instinct and fight for his chance.

Suddenly, the TARDIS floor jolted and Mickey was thrown against the wall. Fantastic. Now, knowing the Doctor and Rose, he would be stuck on some alien planet completely at the mercy of his rival.

"The TARDIS has never landed like this before!" Rose gasped. The console was above her and she and the Doctor lay amid the grid of the walls.

"Ah. We've landed sideways apparently, no problem, I can adjust her later. Lets have a look, shall we?" The Doctor grinned eagerly as he stood and helped Rose to her feet. They walked carefully across the rounded wall of the TARDIS in the direction of the door.

"So this is supposed to be like a candy land, yea?" She waited while the Doctor climbed out of the door, enjoying the view she had of his backside while he struggled to get his long frame through.

He stopped midway and called, "Erm, not how I remembered it actually." He stood and helped Rose out. "Bit less sand. We're right under some kind of cliff though." He leaned back to take in the precipitous mound of sand that stretched in both directions.

Rose crawled out of the TARDIS and kept his hand as she stood. A vast expanse of sand met her eyes. "Where are we?"

The Doctor pointed in one direction. "Must be civilization nearby."

"How do you know?"

"In a super clever Timelord sensory way."

"Fair enough. What if you're wrong?"

"I'm never wrong. And even so, don't you wanna explore?" He grinned goofily at her.

"Course I do!"

They had only just set off when the Doctor shed his jacket. "Blimey it's hot." Sweat gleaned on his forehead and nose. "and I have a lower body temperature. You must be roasting."

"I'm not wearing any layers! I can't take my clothes off!"

The Doctor gulped visibly. "We-ell. In a life or death situation, surely you will? If it gets too hot don't even hesitate. Get back in the TARDIS and change then."

"Doctor!"

He had just removed his tie to let it hang on his neck when he turned to see what Rose was pointing at. An edged weapon was pressed to his neck. A woman, shrouded in white but covered head to toe in mud held the spear to him. "Male." She shouted. "Male. Male."

"Is the TARDIS translating?" Rose whispered. The woman glanced at her but seemed more concerned with the Doctor.

"Oh yes, all she is doing is repeating my gender—" he was cut off when the spear was pushed further, causing him to lean away, his arms raised, his expression alarmed.

There was a rolling crash the Doctor and Rose whipped around. The TARDIS was buried in heaps of what had once been a steep cliff and now large hill of sand. The woman leapt and turned the spear so that the staff was pressing against the Doctor's neck.

"Mickey!" Rose suddenly remembered and clapped her hands to her mouth.

The Doctor grinned sheepishly. "Oh... I forgot about him. He'll be fine, he's in the TARDI—" The woman pressed the staff firmly, cutting off his speech. The Doctor raised his hands in surrender but at this, the woman kicked the back of his knees, forcing him to kneel.

After a sudden inspiration, Rose jumped and pressed the Doctor's arms down to his side. "She thinks its threatening."

Immediately the woman dropped the spear, let him go and stood before Rose. She looked pointedly at her then spoke, "Dominant?"

Rose hesitated then nodded. "Yes, I am." She glanced at the Doctor who looked up at her with a twisted smile. "Guess I'm your boss today." She murmured to him.

A/N: Thanks for reading! Please review and let me know if you think!