a/n: oops republishing this - forgot to include disclaimer: Nope don't own anything in the Whoverse, not The Doctor, Rose or any of it.
Three months after Bad Wolf Bay...
The warm afternoon light filtered through he vibrant purple leaves of the gambello tree, gently caressing the young couple lying beneath. Giggling quietly, and enjoying their banana daiquiris, they were clueless that their peaceful afternoon would end with white fluffy balls of terror falling from the sky.
"Seriously, that's how you intend on starting the story!" Rose exclaimed as she peered over the Doctor's shoulder as he tapped madly away on her laptop while lounging on the living room sofa.
"Well its better than once upon a time" the Doctor responded sniffing indignantly.
"We weren't drinking banana daiquiris and really, white fluffy balls of terror; that's not how I remember it"
"Rooooose, I have to engage my readers and what better way than to slightly embellish with banana daiquiris. Everyone loves banana daiquiris."
"Because Bananas are good" Rose responded with the patent Tyler grin.
"Exactly! Besides, there's nothing wrong with artistic license and its being published as fiction so if I add a few extra bits here and there... What's wrong with white fluffy balls of terror!"
"Well, I don't recall them being very fluffy, more fuzzy balls with teeth grazing on whatever they could roll into their mouths. Sort of like tennis balls with attitude"
"Tennis balls! Rose, they were nothing like tennis balls! The Balovine have been known to destroy entire planetary ecosystems in a matter of weeks"
"That's funny seems like on Sestress IV they were contained in a couple of hours and the people there felt so bad for the ball-o-whatsits they created a preserve for them."
"Balovines Rose and that's because I was there and besides whose story is this anyway!"
Rose threw up her hands and strolled away from the living room. "Fine, its your story, tell it however you want. I'll just nip out for tea at Starbelles while the great author creates his masterpiece"
At the sound of Starbelles the Doctor quickly slapped the laptop shut "Starbelles oooo aren't they the ones with the tasty little pastries filled with boysenberry jam!"
"You wanna come with me? What about your story?" Rose asked as she grabbed her wallet off the kitchen table.
"Rose Tyler you can't force art. All great artists require inspiration and what better inspiration than tea and pastries with you." the Doctor said with that grin that just made Rose melt.
Rose smiled brightly and couldn't help but think how lucky she was to have the Doctor here with her. It may not have been what she planned or perfect but when did anything with the Doctor ever work as planned. Besides, tea at Starbelles will be neutral ground for them to talk about the future. Rose knew that the Doctor was not very happy with the flat and even more unhappy that she was still working for Torchwood.
At the counter at Starbelles, the Doctor couldn't help himself, he had to try a sample of everything.
"No too spicy. Ick too bitter. Blimey how much citrus is in that stuff!" Feeling sorry for the Brewista, Rose stepped in and ordered for him; but then of course, he eyed the pastries. The Doctor being curious wanted to try everything. Rose talked him into three different pastries. Finally, settling into a corner table with their drinks and assorted treats, Rose knew she couldn't put it off any longer. She twisted a piece of her hair in her fingers trying to think how to bring up the subject of Torchwood as she gazed down into her tea.
The Doctor knew something was on her mind as Rose normally had a one pastry rule. Here they sat with an assortment between them, it must be serious.
"Rose, do you want to talk about something or have a gaggle of Kulotak parasites colonized in your hair?"
Rose slowly examined the hair she had been twisting her brow furrowing with worry. "How would I know if they did" she asked with concern.
"Well I would think the stench would be your first sign. They excrete a hormone that smells a bit like soured milk" He then leaned over and took a whiff of her hair "Nope no Kulotaks there" he pronounced. "So now that we have established you are Kulotak-free, what's really on your mind"
Rose stared at him. Only the Doctor would ask her what she was thinking while discussing an alien infestation. Rose smiled, this is what she loved about him, his unique doctorness.
"Actually Doctor I was thinkin maybe we should talk about what we should do"
"Do? What do you mean, we're having tea and pastries."
"No, I mean the future, where should we live, what should we do with ourselves?"
The Doctor stared at her in confusion. They'd never worried about any of that before. Why would they now? Was Rose unhappy, he thought she had accepted this version of him and everything was moving along quite nicely. They had moved into her flat and really he had only made few minor modifications. It was her idea that he write the book about his adventures so he would, in her words "have something to do to keep you out of trouble". He hated the thought of getting a job and couldn't stand living off her Torchwod wages. He had even gone to Torchwood with her once and only knicked a few minor bits they would never miss. Oh he hoped she hadn't found out about the exploding tins of peas at the market. Really, it wasn't his fault. He was sure there were vicisous Oliki hiding amongst the tins planning an invasion of London.
"Is this about blender?" he asked with while characteristically tugging on his ear.
"No, I don't really mind the sonic blender. As long as it doesn't explode, set the flat on fire or send out a signal to some alien race causing an invasion"
"Oh no, no, no, it certainly won't explode or set anything on fire" He was a bit worried about the potential for a sonic signal but maybe he could distract her from that small point.
"Besides Rose, even Jackie admitted I made the best daiquiris all thanks to my brilliant sonic blender!"
Rose smiled not forgetting the fact that he very neatly avoided the whole signaling an alien race point but that could be discussed another time. She had more important issues to talk about and besides, she could hardly worry about an invasion, she had the Doctor after all.
"Doctor I know you aren't happy in the flat and every time I bring up Torchwood you get a pinched expression on your face"
The Doctor sighed. "Rose, I don't hate the flat, its just so… well its not dimensionally transcendental. I've spent the last few centuries of my life with virtually no walls or confined spaces, wellll excepting a few prison cells but then those were temporary; anyway, I've just been used to the freedom to go wherever ,whenever and now its just, well an adjustment to live in a space that's smaller on the inside. Not that I hate it after all it's your home and if its yours, it can't be bad."
Rose reached across the table and grasped his hand. "Doctor, that flat was just temporary until I found you and its never been home to me. We can live wherever you like. Home is wherever you are." She smiled at the look of wonder on his face.
"Rose Tyler, you are just amazing. No where in the multiverse is there anyone like you. Thank you."
Now Rose felt it was time "Doctor about Torchwood" Before she could go on, a hard look crossed his face.
"No" was all he said.
"What do you mean No, you haven't let me finish"
"I'm not working for Torchwood, finito, done, end of story"
"I'm not asking you to" Rose answered with an edge in her voice.
The Doctor calmed down a bit and asked her "Well what exactly are you saying"
"I know you don't like me at Torchwood and I know you hate that we make our living off of Torchwood. Doctor I have to make a living for us, but I don't want Torchwood to come between us"
The Doctor tensed up in that Time Lord kind of way.
"I've always taken care of you. I don't recall us ever having to work for any morally ambiguous governmental agency to survive and you're right I hate it. I hate that you leave to go to work for this agency that has a history of corruption. I hate that they require you to carry a weapon. At this point in time, even in Pete's World, humans are not ready for the technology that Torchwood has and is experimenting with. It's dangerous for you and this world and it's only a matter of time before something Torchwood does causes damage to you, London or this world. You're clever and brilliant and I would never hold you back, but Rose, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry but I will never like that you work for Torchwood. I can't tell you not to work there, that's your decision, but I don't have to like it. Rose you could do anything with your life, anything at all, you know that right?"
Rose took a deep breath "Doctor I have loved you more than anything or anyone and always will. Torchwood was my only chance to get back to you and my only connection to the life I had with you that I loved. You're right, Torchwood was dangerous, but Pete will never allow it to get that way again. I have done everything I can to help him keep Torchwood on a better path, one that will be responsible for not just the world today but for the future. I haven't really planned for any future other than one with you. I won't and can't choose Torchwood over you. I told you, I'm not ever gonna leave you and if that means me quitin Torchwood, so be it."
The Doctor for once was speechless. Rose looked at him with tears in her eyes. "I love you. We don't have to be in the flat, near Torchwood or even in London if you want. We may not be able to go whenever but we can go wherever."
The Doctor smiled and pulled Rose across the table spilling tea and smashing pastries and snogged her like back on that accursed beach. When they finally broke apart, both were smiling like loons.
"How fast can you tell Torchwood" he asked.
"I already emailed my resignation this morning" she replied with a cheeky smile.
"Why you…" she kissed him again before he could say anything.