Hey, so this is another Filler (yup, I stole that off you Becks :p) type fic. It was meant to be one-shot like Beauty and the Chips...but then it kinda just...grew. So this takes place towards the end of Girl in the Fireplace, assuming the Doctor returned for Reinette in time and was taken on as a new companion...

"Come on Rose, I thought you said this place was fun," Mickey pleaded with his best friend as she ate her breakfast.

Rose forced herself to swallow yet another mouthful of cereal. Might as well have been shredded cardboard for all the gratification it brought her. "Yeah it is, you'll have a blast," she mumbled as though describing a funeral.

"Oh come on, cheer up. We didn't have to battle any aliens on that last planet, maybe we'll get lucky on this one ey?" he goaded, trying to bring her out of her sulking.

She looked slowly over at him. "I'd go so far as to raise the stakes a million-fold that we won't run into any problems...again," Rose replied.

"Pff, where've you got £10,000,000 lying around? In a shoebox under your bed?"

"Where else?" she asked, eyeing him seriously.

"Seriously?" he asked, mouth gaping.

"Course not! What do I need money for while I'm here?" She paused, thinking about that. "Though I might have to start earning some again soon."

"Aw don't talk like that! It was just a lucky guess with that last place!" he tried goading her just to get a reaction.

She didn't bite though. "Like I told you before Mick, the Doctor and I went there before."

"This isn't the star she pointed too," Rose told the Doctor, raising a brow at him as Reinette looked around at all the sights outside.

The Doctor frowned at her. "Course it is, what makes you think it isn't?"

"Maybe because you told me the star we were heading towards after Christmas had only just become visible on Earth. And if I'm not very much mistaken if it only just became visible---"

"Alright, alright," he cut her off in a hushed voice. "So it isn't the star she picked, but what does it really matter?"

Maybe because it means you can lie? she thought, but didn't voice her opinion. If he was lying about this, maybe he'd lied about not leaving her behind...well of course he must have been because he had!

"The only planet around the star she picked was Raxacoricofallapatorius, do you really wanna go there again?" he asked when she said nothing.

Rather there than ruin my memories of here, she thought bitterly. She'd thought him taking her here to apologise for not telling her about being able to regenerate was a special trip, but obviously she'd gotten that wrong too.

She was saved having to voice any of these thoughts or responding to his questions at all by Reinette's return. "Oh it's beautiful!" she gushed, wrapping both her arms around one of the Doctor's. "You will show me everything!"

Rose was pretty sure neither even noticed they'd left her and Mickey behind.

"Come on, Ecaffoen...Ecaffogo---"

Rose sighed as she was dragged from her thoughts, wondering if this was how the Doctor had felt about her and Raxacoricofallapatorius before cutting him off, "Ecaffoegnahc. Just call it Ecaffo, we'll know where you're talking about," she offered.

"Right...well Ecaffo's meant to be amazing. Remember, you even sent me a postcard from here!" he added beaming.

Rose frowned. "Did I?" she asked. She had vague memories of the place, and buying a postcard let alone sending one didn't ring any bells.

"Yeah, look I'll go get it!" he told her, bounding out of the room so she wouldn't notice the hurt expression for her not remembering. He'd been so chuffed when he'd gotten it.

She wouldn't have noticed though, even if he'd stayed right in front of her. She dumped her plate in the sink, knowing the TARDIS would sort it, before wandering out the room. It was as though realising she couldn't remember the postcard had started her memory working overtime to try see if it had forgotten anything else. And for some reason, she was almost positive she remembered seeing herself!

But that was insane! Surely she'd remember seeing herself! It's not like it was something that happened every day now was it! She bit her lower lip, sucking on it as she released to make an almost 'fa' sound before saying slowly, "Yeah," as she realised how thankful she was that she hadn't had this conversation with anyone but herself.

Mirrors aside, she thought it very unusual to meet yourself, let alone having a conversation (a proper conversation she clarified quickly to herself, not just talking...to yourself), but there was a glimmer as though she had. It was a fleeting thought though - one that was harder to recall the more you tried. And then she saw it.

She'd walked aimlessly only to find herself in the closet. She didn't particularly like calling it a closet because to her that implied a small little space in a room with clothes in. The TARDIS closet by comparison was at least four floors with clothing from every time period and numerous planets. And yet in all the times she'd stepped in here she'd never noticed the yellow dress that hung before her now, but it was the exact dress she'd been picturing just a few minutes ago as it was the one she was sure she'd seen herself in.

"See?" Mickey asked, bounding in and holding the postcard out to her. "Hey, this isn't the kitchen anymore," he mumbled, looking around.

"TARDIS must have changed the rooms around for you I guess," Rose replied off handedly as she stared at the picture. Sure enough, there she was in the dress, beaming away at the camera. The Doctor was standing beside her, big ears, big nose and an even bigger grin, and on the other side of him was a girl she didn't recognise, but who seemed so familiar that it was like she was looking at herself, and she thought maybe she was.

She heard the Doctor a couple floors down. Quickly pocketing the postcard, she bounded down the stairs, never once considering he might be in the process of getting dressed. As it was she found him preening himself in the mirror, a sight she would have found comical if she weren't jealous that he was doing it for Reinette, and she couldn't help but wonder why he didn't preen for her.

"Doctor, have you ever met yourself?" she asked without pretence.

"Nope, never," he replied as he straightened his tie.

"Oh," Rose mumbled, feeling slightly deflated as she stared at her toe, about to make her way back up the stairs.

The Doctor eyed her in the mirror, raising a brow. "You honestly think that in over 900 years I've travelled to enough different planets and times not to bump into myself once or twice?" he asked.

"Well that's what I thought---I mean it seems unlikely that you wouldn't have at least...but you said..." she trailed off her ramblings as he put a hand on her shoulder.

He shook his head slightly, rolling his eyes. "Of course I've met myself...more than twice...I think...well it depends on if you're counting the number of events I've met myself or how many times I've met myself, because occasionally there's been more than one of me meeting the other---"

"But doesn't it mean the future yous know more than they should since they'll have seen it all from earlier yous?" she asked, cutting him off before he got into techno babble.

"Na, TARDIS sort of...plays with my memory a bit. Doesn't let me remember anything I shouldn't. Why do you ask?" he asked, raising a brow.

But her mind was already racing on other things. "I'll catch you later," she told him suddenly, bounding back up the stairs to the dress. Pulling it on, she went over to the vanity table to apply make up and redo her hair. She found it odd but she was really nervous about seeing the older Doctor. It had only been a few months since she'd last seen him, and yet it felt like it could easily have been years.

Finally deciding she looked pretty fantastic she grabbed the matching yellow purse and bounded out the closet, running through the TARDIS to the control room.

"Rose! There you are!" the Doctor exclaimed as she entered. "We were just---"

"Great, I'll see you later," she cut him off as she bolted out the door, having the unmistakable feeling of running late. She jogged as she looked around as quickly as possible, remembering more as she did. Oh she'd absolutely loved this trip! It had been another one where the Doctor had been trying to cheer her up, not realising his presence had done that all on it's own.

They'd walked in silence back into the TARDIS once her dad had passed away, only letting go of each others hands as he'd gone to the controls and her the jump seat. She'd sat there, realising just how close her actions had been to not only destroying the world, but more importantly, killing the Doctor! He was her best friend in the world and she'd almost lost him because she wanted to mess with time, and yet he'd forgiven her so easily.

Rose shook her head, trying to clear it slightly. She didn't have time to reminiss all the details right now, she just had to know where she was. "Ecaffoecaf," she murmured softly to herself, trying desperately to remember as fast as possible.

"Of course!" she declared. There was that machine she'd found while wandering off. She'd originally thought it was just to take a picture of what you'd look like with a few changes. Well she'd gone all out, given herself short dark hair, made herself look model thin and then found clothes to go with the new look. Finally happy she pressed the 'Complete' button, all ready to show the Doctor the picture, only no picture came. She'd stepped out the booth to ask about it, only to see a mirror where she found not her own reflection, but the one she'd just created. She'd run in search of the Doctor, feeling terrified, and ended up crashing into...none other than the Doctor!!

"Oh, sorry," he'd declared, giving her a broad smile before going on his way.

"My...fault," she mumbled, her voice sounding different to normal. He hadn't recognised her...at all! And then the idea to see what he might tell a complete stranger had crept into her mind and she'd wangled her way to go have chips with him, receiving a comment about how all women loved chips for her efforts.

Rose began running again. If she wasn't very mistaken, it was right about then that she'd asked if there was anyone special in his life, anyone he travelled with that he cared about, trying to find out if he might possibly feel the same for her as she did for him.

The Doctor being the Doctor had by then worked it out and had just started telling her off for thinking he'd tell a complete stranger things he wouldn't tell her when...

"There you are!" Rose declared, finally spotting him and sitting down, trying to keep the Doctor's eyes away from the wide eyed expression of her older self. "And you tell me not to go wandering off," she chided, smacking his arm playfully. "Whose your new friend?" she asked smiling at...herself.

"Oh Rose this is...sorry, I didn't catch your name," the Doctor eyed the woman he had up till then thought was Rose apologetically.

"Uh..." the older Rose clearly had no idea what to say.

"Oh don't tell me it's another Rose, I've just had another one serve me down there," she pointed down to a store she remembered buying some gifts for her mum.

The older Rose beamed. "I know, here I thought I was the only one named Rose, and suddenly---"

"All over the place," Rose finished for her grinning. Picking up the Doctor's near finished drink, she had a few sips and it was all gone. "Your round?" she asked him, giving him her best smile.

He glared at her. "Don't tell me you've spent all your money already?" he asked, not really shocked at how quickly she'd gone through it.

"Okay, I won't," she replied grinning. As soon as he'd left, she turned back to herself. "It's okay, it's me...well you...a future you," she told her.

Rose would have thought this should have been stranger as the older her, but really it was even worse for her because it was as though the events were both happening at once as she suddenly remembered herself thinking 'Yeah right, if you're me you'd know what I was thinking right now!' as she crossed her arms, raising a brow.

She frowned. "You know, it never occurred to me till now, but what if I'd been a telepathic alien? Then knowing what you'd be thinking would be a sinch! But it's okay really, I'm not an alien," she added, realising she'd just terrified herself. "100 human. Born, on Earth of course, on 27th April 1987 to Jackie and Pete Tyler," she finished, sighing with relief knowing she believed herself.

"But how?" older Rose asked.

Rose shrugged. "You know, the Doctor and I just travelling around, I went wandering off and remembered I was here...well you were here and figured I'd come say hello."

"Where's your Doctor then?" she asked, frowning.

"Busy," she replied, forcing the glare away as quickly as it had arrived. She met her gaze again and forced a smile, desperate not to worry herself, or mention Reinette. "You know, showing Mickey around."

"Mickey's here?" older Rose exclaimed excitedly. "Where is he? Can I see him? Can't believe the Doctor finally let him on board!"

Rose chuckled. "Umm yes, don't know, and sorry but no. See, I can see you 'cause...well this has all already happened for one, and I know how it all works out already. But if you did, it might mess with time and---"

"No, I don't want to then," her older self quickly cut her off.

Rose bit her lip, realising the guilt over messing with time would be a lot stronger for her older self. "Sorry, I didn't mean to---"

"Don't worry bout it," her older self cut her off once more. "So...haven't gotten sick of each other then?" she asked, glancing over at the Doctor.

"Could never get sick of that one," Rose replied, following her gaze and smiling at the Doctor as he grinned at her, before rolling his eyes at the long queue in front of him, causing her to smile wider in return. She contemplated telling herself about the regeneration, but then realised even if she did, those events had happened, so the TARDIS would have kept her from remembering till now, which would be fat lot of use to her since by now she already knew. It was then she realised she couldn't warn herself about anything, not even to try not fall head over heals as she had, because she wouldn't remember a word of it.

Thankfully she was saved from this rather depressing thought by the return of the Doctor, who'd even bought her chips to go with the drink. "Oh I love you," she cooed around her second chip, the first having been eaten before the plate was on the table.

"I think that was a thank you," the Doctor said cheekily to the older Rose, causing her to giggle as Rose blushed.

"Something like that," she replied once she'd swallowed.

There endith Part One. Hope you guys enjoyed it, more to come next week! Now there's that lovely button down to your left that REALLY enjoys getting clicked on. Seriously, he's told me many a time of how awesome his day is when he gets clicked on a lot, so if not for me, how bout reviewing just to make that button happy huh? ;)