Footloose

So, for once, the Doctor'd actually landed them where he wanted to. Or, he says he had. Rose doubts whether that was true, but she doesn't mind at all - because they're parked just outside a 80's-type dance club, hand-in-hand as they gaze up at the flickering blue-and-pink neon sign, proclaiming the building to be named Footloose. Rose beams at the name, and after a moment, begins walking, tugging the Doctor along behind her. He seems not unwilling to go, bemused laughter escaping him as Rose practically skips down the streetlamp-illuminated sidewalk. The stars twinkle above, apparently amused, as well.

The Doctor pushes the double doors open, and motions for Rose to enter before him, and she does before stopping suddenly enough for the Doctor to run into her. He's concerned, asking what's wrong, before she spins to face him and he can see how brilliant her smile is. Tugging him with her once more, she pulls him into the midst of the dance floor, and then the two time-travellers are lost to the motions, the heat, the steps, the beat. They're both laughing and grinning and he's tripping over his feet, and her hair is falling into her eyes, and, oh, isn't it glorious?

Eventually, the two fall out of the crowd, panting and too warm and laughter still hanging around in their eyes and in their smiles. He slips away to get them drinks, but is back practically before he's gone.

Rose is confused. "What happened? Why're you back so soon?" She doesn't like the sad look in his dark eyes, and seeking to focus anywhere else, she notices that his tie is a different color. She freezes. "When're you from?" She asks eventually, finally meeting his anguished gaze.

"Doesn't matter," he replies, but when Rose refuses to respond, he sighs and says, "Your future." She nods grateful, but her lips have lost their smile.

"Where am I, then?" she asks, and it's his turn to freeze. Future-Doctor doesn't say anything for a long time, so Rose knows it's bad. She wonders how she died, and when.

"I just came to tell you ..." He seems to be working up the courage to say something, but he suddenly changes the subject. "You remember the impossible planet, yeah? It didn't happen too long ago for you?"

Rose goes along with it and nods, saying, "Yeah, I remember. Why?"

"Well, then you remember how Ida had a message from me to you, saying 'Tell her ... Oh, she knows.'" Rose nods again. "I wanted to tell you ... that I never want to lose you. That you mean a lot to me ... everything. You mean everything to me, Rose, 'cause you found me a blue-eyed soldier in a leather coat, and you made me better. And you stayed with me, even when I was a brown-eyed stranger with those new, weird teeth. And I ... I've always needed you, because you're still ... well, you're Rose." He smiles at her, a smile that never reaches his eyes, before he slowly leans in to kiss her.

And oh, kiss her he does. It seems to last forever and no time at all, because all of time and space vanished when their lips met. This, Rose thinks, is their first real kiss, when it's just them and not Cassandra or anything weird.

The Doctor knows, though, that this is also their last kiss. And his last kiss, because he can feel it, even now, racing through his veins.

But he smiles, even as he breaks away and dashes through the crowd, brown cloak billowing behind him, because he knows that, yet again, he will die and be born anew with the taste of Rose on his lips.

Set post-Fear Her, pre-Doomsday. Although, also sorta during End of Time. And in case you're wondering, I don't own Doctor Who or any of its characters. No matter how much I wish I did.