Run For Your Life
Chapter 1:
This is it, thought Rose as she admired her reflection. Shareen stood behind her in the mirror and fussed over her hair.
"This isn't quite right Rose. Are you sure you don't want something more, um, up?" Shareen asked.
"No. I'd rather have it down some. Mickey always says it looks beautiful down. Like golden sunlight. He's not usually very romantic so you've gotta give 'im credit for that one."
"Alright. You're all set then. You look gorgeous Rose." Shareen's reflection smiled at her.
"Thanks," Rose bit her lip. "Do you think this is right? Am I doing the right thing here? Because I don't know, I mean I love Mickey, but it's all so," She sighed. "I don't know. Just forget it."
"All I know is you look beautiful and Mickey's going to love you. You two are great together. You'll make each other happy."
"Aren't we happy now?"
"Rose!" Jackie squealed as she opened the door. "Oh, Rose you look gorgeous!"
"Thanks mum." She smiled.
"You really should have your hair up sweetheart. A nice bun maybe," Jackie twisted Rose's hair up how she'd like it to demonstrate.
"No, mum. I like it just fine. Leave it how it is." Rose said just as her mother began to cry. "Oh, mum don't. You're gonna get me cryin' , too."
"I'm sorry, sweetheart. You just look perfect. Your father would be so proud. Oh, Rose!" She hugged her daughter careful not to step on her gown. "Wait a moment! I almost forgot," Jackie walked over to a bag of things the girls had brought with them to get ready. Out of the bag she pulled out a hair pin with a small blue flower on it. "Your something blue," She pushed the pin gently into Rose's hair and smiled.
"Thanks mum."
Someone opened the door and spoke to Shareen for a moment before disappearing.
"Rose they're ready for you." Shareen said.
"Just give me a moment, would you?"
"Sure. I'll wait outside," Shareen left the room and closed the door behind her.
"I'll go ahead and take my seat. See you soon." Jackie followed Shareen out.
As soon as she was alone, Rose felt that she might cry. Her stomach ached and her head felt light. Are these normal premarital butterflies? Or is something wrong here? She sat down and relaxed for a minute. I don't really want to marry Mickey. I never really did. I love Mickey he's a good boyfriend, but… But what?
There was something missing. Something Rose couldn't quite think of was driving her mental. Somehow her thoughts had wandered off to the strange man with the blue box. She hadn't seen him in about a year. Rose wondered what he would be doing now. Probably off seeing unbelievable things and doing unbelievable things. Why can't I do unbelievable things? She suddenly realized that her thoughts hadn't wandered at all, but rather her mind had being trying to tell her this for a while. She had been so caught up in all the excitement and the wedding plans that she didn't realize what she was missing.
Rose didn't know it, but her life was missing the Doctor. She found herself thinking back to the night he left.
"You were useless in there. You'd be dead if it wasn't for me." Rose said teasing.
"Yes, I would. Thank you," the Doctor said looking sincere. "Right then! I'll be off! Unless, uh... I don't know... you could come with me."
Rose looked at him and put her hands in her pockets contemplating his offer.
"This box isn't just a London hopper, you know, it goes anywhere in the universe free of charge."
"Don't! He's an alien! He's a thing!" Mickey shouted.
"He's NOT invited. What do you think? You could stay here and fill your life with work and food and sleep, or you could go, uh... anywhere," the Doctor said rather convincingly.
Rose hesitated. "Is it always this dangerous?"
"Yeah."
"Yeah, I can't. I've um... gotta go and find my mum and um, someone's gotta look after this stupid lump..." She forced a small laugh. "So…"
"Okay," The Doctor looked disappointed. "See you around." Looking sad and uncertain, the Doctor closed the door and was gone.
After a moment Rose said, "Come on, let's go." Mickey stared in shock at the empty space. Rose wished he come back and take her away after all. He could come back and say anything, anything at all, and she would go without question. But he didn't come back. She could only blame herself.
"C'mon," Rose said pulling Mickey to his feet. "Come on."
"Shareen, I'm not getting married." Rose said as she opened the door. She gathered her dress in her arms and ran out of the church. The Doctor's voice echoed in her head. "Run," he said. "Run for your life."
After a while, she stopped to catch her breath. She wasn't quite sure where she was any more. It wasn't any part of London that she recognized and she'd here her whole life. Her feet ached and hair was a bit tossed and disheveled. The flower pin had fallen out of her hair somewhere along the way. She pulled her high heels off and held the straps in her hand as she took another look around. Rose was just thinking she should start heading back the way she came when she heard a sound. It was nearby. It was familiar. It was the Doctor.
Rose looked around. That old blue box wasn't anywhere in sight. She started walking in the direction that she'd though she heard it come from. Her feet were horribly blistered and she limped a bit as she walked. After walking another block, she gave up her search. Rose was tired and her feet felt like they had been torn to shreds. She sat down on the curb and sighed. Where are you? I know I heard you. I know it.
There was a creaking sound behind her, footsteps and then the shutting of a door. Rose turned and looked. Right behind her stood a man with blue eyes, big ears, and a worn old leather jacket. Had she been more observant she would have seen the police box tucked just in the shadows of an alley.
The Doctor looked different from when Rose had last seen him. He had a small scar above his left eye. It was the sort of scar that'll fade in a year or so. Rose thought he looked worn and sad. He looked so alone. When he saw Rose sitting there, surprise lit up his face. His face relaxed into its emotionless mask. His natural defense against anything too human.
"Doctor," Rose said.
"Rose Tyler," was the Doctor's reply.