The Doctor proceeded down the corridor, a fragrantly steaming mug of hot chocolate held firmly in his hand. He hoped that he'd fixed it properly, and that his gesture would be appreciated. He hoped, so desperately, that she'd stay. This had been a habit of Jack's, fetching her sweets, and getting her small trinkets from the planets they'd visit. His former self had dismissed such behavior as arrant nonsense, but Rose adored the small gallant gestures, and this new incarnation of his had very definite opinions as to how his dignity stacked up against her happiness.
He tapped lightly on her door. "Rose? You decent?"
"Is everything all right?" she asked, opening the door.
"What? Oh, yes, of course. I just…er…here," he concluded lamely, holding out the mug.
"Thanks," she replied softly, a bit startled, but pleasantly surprised.
"You might want to take a sip, and make sure I've done it right," he warned.
"It's just perfect," Rose replied, not bothering to taste it. Her smile was radiant, and more than worth any little bumps and bruises to his nine hundred year old dignity.
"Well then…goodnight, Rose."
"Doctor…wait. Can I ask you something?"
"Anything, Rose."
Rose took a sip of her chocolate - and it really was perfect - by way of gathering her thoughts. "When you…change…do you know at all what will happen? What you'll look like?"
"No. Generally, it's a very random process. I don't know if I'll be old or young, fat or thin. I do know for a fact I've never been bald or ginger."
Rose giggled, taking another sip from her mug. "So, you could have come back as a girl? Or an old man?"
"Well, technically, yes. I've never been a girl, although I have been a rather spry elderly gentleman a time or two. But…I don't think that would have happened this time."
"Why not?"
"Generally, the process is very random, unless there's a very strong force motivating it."
"What you mean?"
The Doctor sighed and tried to find the right words. "The last time I regenerated was during the Time War, and my last body was very well suited to that circumstance."
"He - you - always reminded me a bit of those blokes who'd come back from Iraq," Rose said softly. "But why wasn't this one? Random, I mean?"
"You, Rose."
"Me?" she whispered.
"You were the last person I saw before I closed my old eyes, the last person I spoke to or thought of, and I think that helped shape the process…shape me, if you will, into someone you'd find…er…compatible," he finished in a nervous mumble. "Anyway…I should be going…got to work on the ah alluvial transducers…" Hands jammed in his pockets, he turned to shuffle off down the corridor.
"Doctor?"
He turned back to see her still smiling at him, a delicate pink blush staining her cheeks. "Thank you for…for…just…thank you." She stretched up to kiss his cheek.
"Thank you, Rose."
