It was when they were lying in bed together, that he first said it. They hadn't been doing much of anything. He had taken her on an adventure like always, and she had been the one doing the saving, like usual. She had smiled when she found him in his cell, and they ran together, just like when she had first met him. Always running.
She burst into the TARDIS doors with the doctor on her heels, the key clutched in her shaky hands as the Time Lord slammed the doors shut behind her with a huff. "Why, of all the rudeness! All I wanted was to talk to them!"
Rose smiled at the flustered man. "Perhaps we should work on your people skills doctor." She said, flashing him one of her teasing smiles as she walked into their kitchen, pulling out their two mugs. "That really was rather close though." Outside, the men were still beating on the TARDIS doors. She spun around to see the Doctor boiling the tea kettle. "Ta." She said, working beside him.
Once the tea was made, the pair decided it was time for a late movie night. So Rose set down the cup of tea by the couch, excused herself to change into her PJs, then flounced off, a smile alight on her face. The Doctor watched her go. Perhaps I'll tell her tonight. Tell her. She... She does too, right? He never had the courage to tell her how he felt, no matter how much he wanted to.
When she came back down, she found him staring off into space. "Doctor?" She said, poking him.
He was rustled from thoughts of his pink and yellow human by her finger prodding him, and started. "Oh, yes yes, fine yeah." I always get lost in thought when I think about her. Silently scolding himself, he smiled as Rose curled up next to him. The two had basically no concept of personal space when it came to watching movies.
At about half way through, the Doctor realized that Rose had falled asleep. She usually lasted a whole movie, but they had had a very tiring day, even for their usual schedule. It was never easy, for sure, but today had required an extra amount of running.
The Doctor scooped her up in her arms, and carried her into her own room, tucking her under the covers and retreating quietly. He stood in the doorway silently for a few seconds, wishing he could stay. As he turned to leave however, he heard her call out to him, uncertainly. "Doctor?"
He turned back around towards her. "Yeah?"
"Well, I was just thinking... I, well," she sounded hesitant.
"What is it Rose?" The Doctor asked, taking a few steps to sit on the end of her bed.
"Well, I thought perhaps you could lay with me, just for a bit...?"
The Doctor bit his lip. Normally he didn't get intimate with companions. That was why they had boundaries. But she was his Rose, and he simply couldn't refuse her. Besides that, he secretly loved cuddling with the human girl. He crawled under the covers as she turned around, her back facing him. He draped his arm over her waist, his hand resting on her tummy.
And right as she was drifting off, she heard him say it. He brushed her hair behind her ear and whispered, "I love you, Rose Tyler." And she smiled as she fell into her dreams, running with the Doctor in the blue box, the Stuff of Legends.