"I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, then all at once."

John Green, The Fault In Our Stars

The last thing the Doctor expected was to fall in love with Rose Tyler. From the moment he came across her, he knew she was special, but him falling for her? That was something different entirely.

Love was not something he welcomed openly after the Time War. It was understandable, he was the last of his kind, and didn't have much hope for the future. However, when he met Rose, all that changed without him even knowing it.

At first it was little things. She was brave enough to help him the first time they met, to try and save him. Then she agreed to come with him (even if he had to ask twice). He saw a spark in her, the longing for adventure – the same one he had when he stole the TARDIS and headed straight for the stars. E asked her to come because he saw himself in her, back when he was so much younger and so much more innocent. He was subconsciously thinking that maybe she could show him to live that way again.

He wanted to test her, so he brought her to the end of the world. The day the Earth was consumed by flames. She was surprised at first, but accepted the strangeness and wonderfulness of everything he showed her. Even if she was scared and nervous, she tried not to show it. That was another moment that he slowly fell for her.

Next he took her back in time, and they met Charles Dickens. Rose immediately befriended the maid. Then the time came when they were bombarded by the unquiet dead. He grabbed her hand and looked at her, and said the most honest, straightforward thing that ever came out of his mouth:

"I'm glad I met you." Then she said "Me, too."

Yet again, Rose Tyler made his heart grow, much like the Grinch in Dr. Suess' story.

Then Rose found the good in a Dalek. A Dalek. His worst enemy, that felt nothing but hate toward anything. That was how fantastic she was. She looked through all the evil and hate, and found that creature below that hid behind the mask. Just like she did with him.

Naturally, when she asked to go back and meet her father, he had to say yes. No just wasn't an option when it came to Rose. When she acted on impulse and saved her father, he couldn't blame her. He knew what it was like to lose someone you love. He himself was all alone. At least, he was. Now he had her. The Doctor showed her that time can be rewritten. Pete Tyler didn't have to die alone. Rose held his hand, and then later on, the Doctor held hers as she cried. He had seen her tough, brave side and her weker, more sensitive side. Both were absolutely beautiful, and he fell farther.

When they ended up back in World War ll, she heard a child calling for his mum. Her instinct told her to go help, and she did. He liked that about her. She always looked to help others, even if it meant endangering herself. Then later on, she convinced him to save Captain Jack. Then they danced, and while they spun around, happily tapping their feet, he fell so far her almost hit the ground.

But the Doctor didn't hit the ground until Satellite Five. The Daleks were at it again, and he sent Rose back home because he didn't want her to be hurt.

But Rose came back. She looked into the heart of the TARDIS and came back to him. She saved the entire universe, and the Doctor finally realized. An invisible veil was lifted from his view and he understood.

He had fallen in love. Bit by bit, Rose Tyler had broken down his walls, and made him better. He loved Rose Tyler, and there was absolutely nothing he could do about it.

A/N: I know it's a bit short, but this is my first crack at writing Nine/Rose and I wanted to make sure I got it right. :D Thanks for reading…now review maybe?

~RoseKatnissWeasley7