Rose looked across the blinking console to the Doctor, eyes following a droplet of water clinging to a bit of his hair.
It dropped, landing with a soft plink on the grated floor.
"I'm sorry." She whispered as if the sound would physically hurt him. He drew in a long breath, eyes still fixed on the controls.
"I'm alright." Rose stepped forwards, shoes squelching wetly. Her hand gripped the console lightly, searching for some kind of comfort from the pulsing ship. The life force that was Donna Noble was gone...everything seemed a little quieter. Less bright.
"Are you though?" She stopped in front of him, brushing wet strands away from her slick skin.
The Doctor looked up as if seeing her for the first time. He closed the distance between them, a hand reaching out to smooth her hair behind her ear. He regarded her face for a moment, memorising every line and every blemish before a slow smile spread over his face.
"Yeah." And for once, Rose believed him.
She looked down at their clothes and frowned.
"We should probably change. Catch pneumonia or something like this." She unzipped her jacket and flung it across the metal supports by the door. The Doctor threw it a glance.
"I missed that, you know. Seeing your clothes flung everywhere. I don't know if I missed that or telling you off for it more." Rose swallowed, not wanting the dark mood to overtake them again. She quickly grabbed his hand with a smile.
"Yeah, well, plenty of chance for that. Come on. Let's take a shower." He raised an eyebrow and it took a moment for the meaning to sink in.
"I didn't mean together!" Rose quickly corrected, eyes wide. The Doctor smiled.
"Oh no, of course you didn't-"
"I wouldn't-"
"I know-"
"S'pretty embarrassing-"
"Yeah..." She cleared her throat and ducked her head, cheeks burning with her foolishness. A moment passed in silence.
"We'll be alright thought won't we, Doctor?" She said, still a bit embarrassed about meeting his eyes. He thread an arm around her shoulder, suit dampening further as he pressed her body to his.
"Of course we will." He started to lead them down one of the long corridors of the TARDIS, revelling in the sensations of having her by his side once more.
"I say we order a Chinese and pop in a DVD." The Doctor said casually as they walked along. Rose couldn't help but laugh.
"Look at you going all domestic on me." She beamed at him, leaning against him as they walked.
"Well, that's something I missed about you the most, Rose. All these little human things you made me do. I missed them. And I think...I didn't realise how much I enjoyed them." Rose glanced up at him, a pretty little smile on her face.
"I think I've broken you in, Doctor. Like a little house cat." The Doctor grimaced.
"Still don't like cats." Rose rolled her eyes. The question of pets onboard the TARDIS was always a no go area.
"Hang on, order a Chinese? What address you gonna give them?" The Doctor's laughter rang through the halls and Rose joined it. It seemed as if nothing had changed.
About a week later Rose climbed the stairs to the Powell Estates two at a time, footsteps echoing on the concrete steps. The Doctor wasn't far behind. It was the first time that Rose had seen her childhood home in years.
She had never grown use to the expanse of space that the Tyler Mansion offered her. It was too big. Too empty. But the now the sound of a distant police siren whizzing by and the thump of music in a flat on the top floor was the most beautiful noise that Rose had ever heard. The Doctor had made sure it was night when he took her to see the flat. Didn't want any nosy neighbours spotting a girl they thought long since dead.
She reached her door; the peeling paint looked greater than any painting she had ever gazed upon. With a squeal of delight she waited until the Doctor brought out the key and unlocked it for her. Without a moment's hesitation she bounded in, stopping as took in the sight.
Everything was as it was. Every little thing was in the same place that it had been the day she left...that awful day...
It was strange.
"Why is everything the same? I thought that they would have sold it on or taken the stuff out or something...boarded it up at least. Why's it the same?" Rose turned to the Doctor, surprised to see his rather bashful look. He brushed past her, heading into the kitchen.
"I bought it." His voice was quiet. Rose paused for a moment.
"You...you bought it? Why?" She followed him into the kitchen, observing as he pulled two mugs from the cupboard. He didn't turn to look at her.
"I just...I couldn't bear the thought of people coming in here and touching your stuff...throwing everything away. Nah, couldn't let that happen." He flicked a spoon into the sink. Rose nodded, not pressing him. She hadn't really thought about how hard it would have been for him. She sent him a small smile that he couldn't see before walking over to her bedroom.
It was the same. Even smelt the same. Without a second thought she collapsed on her bed, breathing in the scent of her old life. As she did, she sat up straight. She could smell the Doctor. His hair products and chips and the earthy smell he always had around him. It was on her pillow as if he had only just been lying there.
As she regarded her room she noticed more and more things seemed rather strange. A drawer was open here and there that she didn't remember touching. A few clothes of hers were spread out on the dresser that she most certainly didn't put there. And there was fresh food and milk in the fridge...he was using it to make tea. Her heart dropped when she realised.
The Doctor had visited here after she left. Frequently by the looks of it.
She could feel her heart splintering as she all but ran into the kitchen, wrapping her arms around his waist in a tight embrace. He almost spilt the tea. Placing the mugs down he returned the hug, resting his chin on top of her head.
"What's wrong? Eh?" He stroked a few golden strands back to see her face; he could see her eyes flooding slowly with tears.
"I just missed you so much. You know that, right?" The Doctor smiled.
"Of course I do. Missed you too." With a shaky breath Rose left his embrace, grabbing her cup.
"Let's watch a film, eh? Curl up on the sofa like old times."The Doctor pondered this course of action, taking a sip of his tea.
"Nah. Tell you what; let's go out on the town! Paint the city red or something to that effect." Rose set down her mug, giggling like a teenager once again.
"What, you mean like clubbing?" The Doctor scoffed.
"No, I mean like...let's see the sights! Eat dodgy food-"
"End up kissing complete strangers?" Rose echoed the phrase from a time long gone. The Doctor gave her a disapproving tut.
"You will be kissing no strangers thank you very much." The Doctor downed his last bit of tea and threw it in the sink.
"I can kiss whoever I like! You can't tell me otherwise." Only the twinkle in her eye betrayed her annoyed facade. She found the Doctor suddenly very close to her.
"Since I am a Time Lord, extremely intelligent and charming, and above all your best friend in the entire world...I think you'll find that I can. Now get dressed." He turned Rose around and pushed her in the direction of her bedroom.
"You'll be sorry for that, you know." Rose called over her shoulder, laughter echoing down the hall.
"You're all talk." He called after her. The smile still lingered on his face as he opened the cupboard to find a packet of biscuits.
"What do you think?" Rose stepped out of the doorway shyly, tugging her dress down a bit. It was a plain black long sleeved dress. But it used to be one of her favourites. The skirts flared out at the hips and it was short enough to be casual. The Doctor beamed.
"You look gorgeous." She bit her lip at the comment. She hadn't had the chance to dress up like this in ages. Her mind was purely focused on work the moment she said goodbye to the Doctor in Norway. There was no time to play.
She smiled and took the hand he offered her. They ran all the way to the street.
A few hours later Rose found herself chewing on the Easter egg the Doctor had bought her, savouring the sweet chocolate.
"Oh God, I haven't had one of these in ages." She moaned as she swallowed. The Doctor laughed at her bliss. They were sitting at a bus stop near the centre of London. The night out on the town had led them to a local Tesco. The Doctor being the Doctor had seen that it was Easter and insisted they get eggs. Rose being Rose didn't object.
As he regarded her small frame shivering in the night air, the Doctor slipped off his jacket.
"Here." He placed it around Rose's shoulders. She smiled up at him and shuffled closer to his body, trying to conserve some heat.
"You should be careful you know, Doctor. People might think we're a couple."
"Oh, that's not so bad." He said simply, and Rose felt her heart skip a beat.
"Yeah?" She whispered.
"Yeah." The moment was cut short however, as a red bus stopped in front of them.
"Come on, this is us." Rose gave the Doctor her egg as she fished her Oyster card from her bag. She smirked as the Doctor swiped his psychic paper on the scanner and heard the resounding beep, tricking the machine. The Doctor grinned back at her as hebounded forwards, leading them upstairs. Once he found a suitable seat for them he pulled her down beside him.
A second later a frown settled upon his face.
"What is it, what's wrong?" Rose peered at him as he fished in his pockets. A woman across the aisle from them was looking at them with a curious alarm. Her heavy black fringe cast her eyes into darkness...Rose didn't like the look of her.
With a sigh the Doctor turned to her.
"Something tells me, Rose...our night out is about to be cut short."