Mushy Peas by Sian

Synopsis: Rose and the Doctor eat their chips and mushy peas
Characters: Rose, the Doctor (nine)
Spoilers: Post series 1, End Of The World
Rating: PG

They sat on a bench in a bus shelter eating their chips - not the most romantic of places, but in truth Rose had had worse dates.

"I've not had chips for years," the Doctor told her.

"Then you're definitely not from round here," Rose laughed, "chips are part of our staple diet."

"Yeah, very healthy you humans," the Doctor commented. "Though it is a shame no other planet makes chips, and mushy peas, you can't get mushy peas anywhere else in the universe." He was longing to ask her what her decision was. Would she be staying with him? Would she rather go home to her mum and that oh so brave boyfriend of hers?

Rose threw their chip wrappers in a bin and then took his hand. "Where we off to next?" she asked. "You going to show me the wonders of the universe?"

"You've decided to stay with me then?"

"Of course I have."

"Even though you know the dangers?"

"If I stayed here, I could get run over by a bus tomorrow."

"You really are a bundle of laughs aren't you? The TARDIS'll like you."

"The TARDIS will like me?" Rose asked.

"Yeah, it's important that the TARDIS likes you if she's going to let you stay onboard."

"It's a ship."

"Yes."

"What is with men?" Rose asked. "Mickey talks about his car like it's living, but it's not, it's a machine and so's your ship..." she saw the Doctor's amused expression and hesitated, "Isn't it?"

The Doctor grinned at the chance to show off about his ship, "Nope! She's organic, and telepathic. It's how she translates for you, and I'm sorry I didn't ask you about that first by the way," he quickly added. "But you really don't want to let her hear you refer to her as just a machine."

"You're not joking are you?"

"No."

"Okay, so I have to make her like me?"

"She already likes you - she took me back to get you. She wouldn't have done that if she didn't want you onboard. So, you need to reconsider? Bearing in mind the danger and that my ship's alive."

"No, you owe me dinner - or at least a kebab."

He shrugged, "TARDIS has a kitchen, I can cook something."

"That's a cop out."

"Hey, I'll have you know I'm a good cook."

"Human food?"

"Where's your sense of adventure?" the Doctor asked. "Yeah, alright, Human food. So where'd you want to go to next?"

"Somewhere exotic."

"I can do exotic."

"And safe," Rose added. "'Cos I've known you for about two days and I've almost died three times."

"Exotic and safe," the Doctor promised. He stood up and held his hand out to Rose. "Come on then, we aren't going anywhere with you sat there." He took her hand and pulled her to her feet. "Earth exotic or alien exotic?"

Rose slid her arm through the Doctors and leaned her head against him. "Surprise me," she said with a smile.

END