If he was an honest man, the Doctor would admit how enamoured he was by humans. Well, perhaps just one human, a girl, all pink and yellow and full of life, who'd seen him through his rather difficult ninth self and stayed for his current regeneration. She'd even promised to remain by his side for as long as she could.
Forever.
And if he continued to be truthful, he'd say just how much he cared for her, how much he lo-
But he was a man, Time Lord to be specific, whose spoken words were often laced with fibs, so now, with the object of his affection in front of him, her hands on her hips while she asked just what he was doing pulling her out of an alien rendition of the waltz, he found himself lying.
"I caught wind of a kidnapping that's supposed to take place tonight." It wasn't a complete lie, persay, as there was to be a sort of heist tonight, but it didn't necessitate having Rose right that minute. His urgency to get her off the ballroom floor most definitely had nothing to do with how her partner's hands were drifting south from her waist.
Rose narrowed her eyes then sighed, wiping her hands on the skirt of her dress - a rather form fitting garment, with delicate beading making up the bodice. "Where to?"
The Doctor was relieved when his hand found hers and she automatically intertwined their fingers. Guiding them back to the dance hall - like he was going to pass up a chance to hold her! - he explained that they needed to watch out for any suspicious characters.
"Other than yourself," Rose giggled, tongue caught between her teeth. "Slinking around the party, staring a' whoever I was dancin' with."
Oh, she had become rather observant. Used to be he could glare at her admirers, chase them off, without her even being aware.
The Doctor shrugged. "Your dance partners have all had an air about them, seemed like they were up to something."
"Oh yes, they're all conspiring to kidnap me, huh," she teased.
The Doctor laughed, turning her in an impromptu twirl. "Don't have to worry about that, you could probably just get Jackie on the phone and they'd be running for the hills in no time."
They both chuckled, and soon the tempo of the song playing slowed, forcing the Doctor to bring her closer, embrace his oh so precious Rose in his arms. She reciprocated, wrapping her own arms around his waist, resting her head on his chest. In turn, the Doctor nuzzled her hair as they swayed in time to the music.
"See any baddies?" Rose asked lightly.
The Doctor hummed dismissively, closing his eyes and breathing in her strawberry and banana shampoo.
"You smell gorgeous, love," he murmured finally.
To his displeasure, Rose pulled back, looking up at him.
"What?"
She furrowed her eyebrows. "What'd you just say?"
"Said that you smell gorgeous." The Doctor was confused, what was wrong?
Rose surpressed, was that a grin? "You called me 'love.'"
While he wanted to rub his neck in embarrassment, that meant he would be touching Rose that much less. He settled for gripping her to him again, perhaps a bit tighter than before.
"Yeah, I did."
And then, the Doctor found himself removing a hand from her waist, found his fingers going to her chin, tilting it up to look into her eyes.
"A pretty good word for you," he breathed, bringing her lips to his.
And perhaps, for once, the Doctor was an honest man.