Disclaimer: I own a Tardis, courtesy of Ellie and Claire, but no Doctor Who is not in my ownership (does that sentence even make sense??)

AN - So, as it turns out sequels are reeeeeally haard to write. I'm sorry that the relationship between Rose and the doctor seemed awkward in chapter one - i want them to live happily ever after as much as anyone, if not more so. But i want to stay true to the characters and i think that the doctor, though he loves rose, will feel a certain amount of apprehension now that he has declared his love for her. He'll want to take things really slow. Maybe even ignore things for a while. It's just in his nature. So I'm sorry!!

But i changed my mind half-way through writing it, so that the doctor isn't quite as difficult as i had originally intended - i did this mostly because i want to include more fluff, but also coz the doctor is something of an enigma and he is prone to changing his mind.

So I hope this satisfies you all

and please please review - i changed the direction of the story based on a review from Wanabee who didn't think that things would be awkward, so there you go. the system works!!

Hope this is ok :)

Chapter 2 - Catching Up

Several hours later, the doctor woke and to his alarm found his limbs tangled around his still sleeping companion. Rose had a look of complete serenity on her face, which was surrounded by a mess of blond hair. The doctor smiled, it felt so good to see her happy. It was even better to see that she was happy in his bed, lying in his arms. Of course there had been no… funny business. But the doctor couldn't pretend that he hadn't thought about it.

Rose woke up three hours after the doctor left the bedroom. She still felt a bit dizzy, and was unable to shake off an uncomfortable knot of anxiety in her stomach. She put it down to her worries about the doctor and thought nothing more of it. After all, what else could it be? She and the doctor had been best friends for so long, and now that they had taken their relationship in a completely different direction things were bound to change. For example, I wonder how often I'll get to sleep in this bed? Rose smiled to herself. She still had her doubts about the sudden change but she could cope - she was good at adapting to new situations, a trait that had made her such an invaluable travelling companion for the doctor.

Brace yourself Rose Tyler, this is an adventure that you'll never forget.

However, when she entered the control room she found the doctor to be as normal as ever. Well, as normal as a time travelling alien can be.

"Morning sleepy head, ready for adventure?"

"Mmmhmmm," she yawned, "Bit disappointing we have to go to Cardiff to find it"

"Hey, what's with all this Cardiff bashing? We had fun there once. Remember Margaret Blain the slitheen? Remember the Gelth and the rift? Remember… all that other stuff? Good fun!"

"Yeah, I remember nearly being killed on several occasions. But I spose there's no avoiding it, is there?"

"Nope" he replied, popping the p.

"Well, I spose it's not too bad. We get to see Jack, after all"

"Still like pretty boys, then?"

"Do you consider yourself a pretty boy?"

"I consider myself to be a very wise and benevolent time lord, last of the time lords might I add, who happens to be blessed with roguish good looks and boyish charm"

"I'd chose that over pretty boy any day then" Rose replied cheekily.

"Rose, no flirting in front of the Tardis. She has feelings, you know - can get a bit jealous" he added in a stage whisper.

"Oh, you're so full of it!"

"Sort of, yeah"

"Ha ha, doctor. So, are you gonna show me how to fly this thing, or what?"

"Watch and learn, Rose, watch and learn". He flew around the controls, pressing this, pushing that. Swivelling various glowing knobs and spheres, he added "When we get back to Cardiff Rose, do you mind if we don't tell Jack about.. Well, you know?", he turned a shade of pink which in the light of the Tardis made him look a funny purple colour.

"Why not?" said Rose, a bit hurt by this suggestion.

"Well, it's new and.. Shiny. I like shiny, Rose, it's just that I don't want to jinx it." Ordinarily Rose wouldn't have tolerated this sort of secrecy because it seemed so stupid, but this was her doctor and he was always right, so she gave in.

"You know, for someone who's seen as much of the universe as you have, you're really superstitious"

"Well, for someone who's seen a fair bit of the universe and how unfair it can be, I'm surprised you're not as superstitious as me", the doctor replied gravely. When he was greeted by a blank look from Rose he added, "Plus he'd tease me, and I hate it when he does that. He's such a pretty boy! Oh, and he works for Torchwood"

"What, since when?"

"Well, you and the old me left him on the game station after you and the time vortex brought him back to life? Well, he used a vortex manipulator and teleported back to the 19th century, but got stuck there. He's been living on Earth ever since, waiting for a version of me to come along and help him out. He joined Torchwood 3 and has been running it for quite a while. Oh, and he's invincible. He's a fixed point in time. That happened when you resurrected him. Don't feel bad Rose," he said, recognising the look of guilt on Rose's face, "You didn't mean to bring him back forever and believe you me, it's come in handy a couple of times".

"Uh huh", she replied looking somewhat dazed.

"Better get a wriggle on then, keep moving and all that. Can't let the universe catch up with us. Care to do the honours?"

"This one?"

"Close"

"This one?"

"Now you've just killed us"

"Ummm, this one?"

"Yup!"

The Tardis zoomed back into the time vortex, headed for the Millennium Centre in Cardiff, 2007.