A/N: I modeled this little drabble fic after mine own Perfect Night. Everybody gets one eventually...and things didn't work out in the end, but it was a beautiful night...the kind that belongs in a story more than it does in real life. I figured that the Doctor and Rose could have the happy ending for me. :) Thanks muchly to Jenni, a.k.a morethanwords, for her "Ecstasia" fic, which reminded me of the little set of memories that are behind this fic.

Disclamer: I don't own Doctor Who, or any of its characters or other stuff. Le sigh.

The door to the TARDIS opened, and the Doctor looked up from the control panel he'd been tinkering with. A smile blossomed onto his features as Rose stepped in, her arms laden with groceries.

"You bought bananas, right?"

"Course. I wouldn't forget those! And I got the bubble bath you asked for, too."

"Good. Because, Rose Tyler - " the Doctor's eyes narrowed - "I have a surprise for you."

"Surprise, huh? What've you come up with this time that's going to almost get us killed?"

"Nothing, unless you happen to be allergic to garlic."

"Garlic?"

"Uh-uh," and the Doctor firmly tapped his finger against his lips. "No more information for you, young lady. My lips are sealed."

"Should I alert the the press? That's quite an event, after all."

The Doctor straightened his tie with dignity. "That won't be necessary, Miss Cheeky. However, should you feel inclined to go make tea..."

Rose was already halfway down the hall by the time he finished the sentence. Grinning, the Doctor turned back to the TARDIS controls, setting them for the upcoming flight. As he pulled levers and flicked switches, his thoughts fluttered towards - and shied away from - the concept that he was taking Rose on something suspiciously like a date. Date? Nah. Just dinner, and then some other things...not remotely a date. Nope. Way too domestic for this old chap. Besides, we're due for a break, and I haven't been to Viande in a long time.

He didn't even stoop to consider the possibility that he was rationalizing. Time Lords, after all, didn't rationalize.

"Dress nice," he had said.

Well, she was definitely obliging him.

Rose stood before her mirror, admiring the look of the sleekly tailored grey culotte pants hanging low on her hips. Coupled with high-heeled black leather boots, her legs looked a mile long. She'd squeezed herself into a simple V-necked white top that plunged dangerously low, and pulled her hair back from her face with two black barrettes.

"Looks good, Tyler," she mumbled, pivoting on one heel to check out the back view.

"Rose?" The sound of her name was accompanied by a knocking on the door. "Rose, are you almost ready? What are you doing in there? Can I come in?"

"Yes, dressing, and yes, in that order."

There was an audible rustling on the other side of the door, and Rose would've bet the entire contents of her makeup drawer that the Doctor was pulling his hands from his pockets, and counting off his questions - and her corresponding answers - on his fingers.

The rustling stopped, the door opened, and the Doctor stepped in, letting out a low whistle. "Very nice!"

Rose blushed. He didn't usually say things like that, and it threw her off a bit. "Um...uh, thank you, Doctor. Should we go?"

He had refused to tell her where - or when - they were going, and so Rose gasped as they exited the TARDIS hand-in-hand. It was evening, just before sunset, and the stars were already glowing in the highest part of the sky.

It looked like Earth, and Rose said so.

"Ah, almost. Very similar planet to Earth, this, and similar inhabitants. What makes this planet distinct is its appreciation for food: the best chefs in the entire universe come from here. They embrace off-world cuisine and incorporate it into their own style of cooking. Marvelous, isn't it? All these combinations of proteins and fats and phytochemicals into something that - " he smacked his lips " - delights the mouth. Not to mention the stomach, the liver, the..."

"Doctor," Rose interrupted, sensing the beginning of another lecture, "where are we going?"

"Dinner at my favorite restaurant in the universe, of course," he answered, surprised. "Where else?"

They strolled along the street lined with flaming torches, passing among natives of the planet, who seemed indistinguishable from humans in appearance. Rose resolved to ask the Doctor about it over dinner, but for now, she was content to walk along in quiet. How often, after all, did they get to just walk? As opposed to running for their lives...

The Doctor pulled her towards a pair of green double doors set back from the sidewalk, with a faded sign over them that Rose couldn't read. "Here we are! Prepare to be amazed, Rose!"

And she was.

If nothing else, the simple elegance and charm of the restaurant was amazing. As far as Rose could see, all of the tables were two-person, covered in white cloths and set with silver, china and crystal. Candles were everywhere: on the tables themselves, in sconces on the wall, and hanging from the ceiling in elaborate chandeliers. Divine smells escaped from covered plates as waitstaff moved past them, and Rose's mouth watered.

The Doctor was looking at her sideways, a faint "I-told-you-so" smile on his face. "See?"

"It's beautiful," she murmured, feeling like she should whisper amidst the muted conversations.

"Thought you'd like it," he replied, and in truth, the Doctor did look very pleased with himself. "You haven't seen the best part yet...now where's that host?"