Thank you for the kind reviews. 'Bad Wolf' won't be leading anywhere, it's just to show how ingrained it was in Rose's life.
He sees her again. This time they're not in London, but on some strange planet with green skies and blue dirt. They were at a flea market of sorts. He should've remembered going there. Subconsciously, he must've remembered to place himself in his own personal time stream. He wanted to see her again, but he wouldn't admit that to himself.
His eyes narrow at the sight of the man in the leather jacket, Rose holding his hand as they wandered about the alien market. He looked so happy, grinning as Rose erupted into a fit of giggles. She sent him a side-glance, gazing at him from beneath her lashes. The Doctor remembered how oblivious he had been to her looks. How he had held her hand, so small inside his larger, calloused one.
I could save the world, but lose you.
That had already happened, he was sure of it. He can't help but be drawn to them, watching. The little looks, the way he was so gentle with her, his Rose.
"Don't wander off," he sees him tell her.
She nods absentmindedly before being distracted by a doodad. The blue eyed man shakes his head and watches her run off in mock disappointment while a slight smile tugged at his lips.
The Doctor needs to find Amy and Rory and leave, asap. He searches the crowd for a tall ginger and gangly nurse. He spots them. Talking to Rose. Well, Rose was fluttering her eyelashes at a flustered Rory while Amy watched with her arms crossed, clearly not amused.
The Doctor had to bite back a laugh. She was giving Rory her patented Rose Tyler eyes, and poor Rory didn't know how to react. He edged just a bit closer, if only to hear their conversation.
"Yeah, I'm traveling with a friend," Rose answered Amy's question.
"Us too," Rory said.
"Yeah, sort of a wedding present," Amy linked her arm with Rory's. It wasn't a wedding present, the liar. It'd been months since their wedding.
"Congratulations!" Rose beamed. Genuinely. Her gaze on Rory subsided. She wouldn't flirt with a married man. Jack, on the other hand, was a different story. The Doctor grimaced at the mental image of Jack Harkness hitting on Rory and Amy.
"Thanks," Amy brightened, smiling.
They carried on, speaking of the various planets they had visited. The Doctor spotted the other Doctor waltzing towards them, so he hid behind a sales cart.
"Rose! Do you understand the meaning of 'don't wander off'?" he crossed his arms, brow raised.
She rolled her eyes, "I'm speaking to fellow humans."
"I don't know why I deal with you apes sometimes," the Doctor mocked.
"Shut it. You'd be lost without me," Rose stuck her tongue out a little as she smiled.
"I've been doing quite fine the past 900 years, thanks very much," the Doctor countered.
"Right," Rose drew-out the word, touching his shoulder.
Amy and Rory shared a glance of confusion.
"It's always you and your phonebox in the end, isn't it Doctor?"
He shook his head, and Rose took his hand, waving to Amy and Rory as they left.
"What just happened?" Rory asked as they stared at the retreating figures.
"Doctor!" Amy yelled.
Once they back in the TARDIS, Amy demanded an explanation.
"She was a friend," he stated simply, eyes storming beneath a calm exterior.
"Like a kissy friend?" Amy raised a brow.
"Amy, leave it," Rory took her elbow to lead her upstairs. Amy swallowed a protest.
"Goodnight, Doctor," Rory said quietly.
"Goodnight Rory. Amy," he replied.
Thank heavens for Rory. Somehow, he understood.
The Doctor sank onto the floor, running his hands through his hair. He really needed to stop 'accidentally' seeing her. It was too much for his hearts to take. Then again, he was glutton for punishment. Maybe the Ponds would like to see New New New New New New New New York. Even if she wasn't there, he could still reminisce. It's what he did in London. He'd memorised every street they'd walked down, every chip shop, every where they ever were. Same with the TARDIS.
Sometimes he'd close his eyes and open them to reveal his old console, with Rose leaning against it, smiling. He knew the exact spot where he'd dropped her by accident on the day the TARDIS landed them in Scotland instead of at an ABBA concert. The exact spot where he'd kissed her for the first time, absorbing the time vortex. He could imagine them as they were, still there, like ghosts going about their business, unaware they were being watched.
The Doctor closed his eyes and opened them.
"Doctor," she said simply.
He stood to move closer, but then, just like that, she was gone. She was only a memory now.
Again, I love Nine. Christopher Eccleston's smile is just so beautiful. Please review.
