Chapter Two: Coffee, over stuffed chairs and Friends
Cardiff, Wales
January 5th, 2009
Steven Andrew Pierce was glad to be home, well almost home. He was in Cardiff,Wales for the next two weeks checking out his apartment and hanging around. He wanted to go to all his favorite sites in London before heading to the States for the wedding then back home. He wouldn't be staying with his baby sister this year, normally he stayed with her ever time he came home for a certain amount of time; but this time he'd wanted to get away from people.
He was tired, although lately he felt tired most of the time; it was a nice short break from the realities of where they lived every day. Elizabeth had offered everyone an invitation to the wedding, a few had declined to remain back on Atlantis and take care of the beautiful snow flake city. However, almost everyone, including Ronan and Teyla had traveled to Earth to celebrate the wedding no one had expected and everyone had been waiting for.
The wedding was just over two weeks away on the 24th, they hadn't originally planned to have a wedding back in the states, but Jeannie had insisted to make it official and legal in the states as well for more rational reasons. So they had waited, patiently, he added as an after thought as he his long legs carried him towards his favorite café.
They'd planned and worked through Dr. Carter and Jeannie for a year before the time finally arrived; during those times they'd almost lost Rodney twice, John once, Carson once, and Elizabeth to a really bad case of the flu. It had been a rough year. But as Elizabeth had said; 'what better way to celebrate a new year than with a wedding to remind us there's something worth living for'.
Carson was Rodney's best man, no surprise there, and Elizabeth had asked Teyla to be her maid of honor. Though, when the time came for the dance of all the wedding party, Steven had a good feeling that Carson and John would be switching their partners.
The little bell over the door chimed when he walked in. Instantly grabbing the attention of the owner, "There's my favorite customer!" called the man behind the counter.
"Morning Edward," Steven greeted as he headed to the counter to place his order. His eyes wandered over the area, falling on the beautiful young blonde who was seated in one of his usual two seats, her legs crossed out in front of her propped up on the table, supporting the laptop on her thighs. Her hair, sandy blonde, was pulled back in a lose pony tail, but her bangs fell around her face. Steven couldn't go without noticing how beautiful she looked just from this angle, he could only imagine how lovely her face was.
"The usual Steven?" Edward questioned as he took notice of where Steven's eyes were at. "She started comin' here a little over a year ago, shortly after your last visit actually. She's a real sweet girl, a bit of a sad history, but full of life. She's very bright, actually I think you'd like 'er."
"What's her name?"
Edward smile, "Rose Tyler, just slips off your tongue, doesn't it?"
Steven nodded, "She got a fella?"
"A boy comes in with her once in awhile, but she's not interested, least she doesn't appear to be." Edward replied handing the coffee cup over.
"Thanks; well perhaps I should go inform Miss Tyler that she's in my seat," he replied with his thick northern accent before striding towards her.
Rose wasn't paying attention to her surroundings, between the home work she was supposed to be doing, and the newest email from her mother, she was too annoyed to notice anyone else. That was until someone came to stand right beside her. She swiveled her head back like a child, surprised at how tall he turned out to be, and gave him a warm smile, "Can I help you?"
He shrugged, "Can I join you?" he questioned with an accent Rose could have sworn she'd heard before.
She didn't see why not so she shrugged, "Sure."
"Thank you, I'm Steven Pierce by the way, Dr. Steven Pierce."
She nodded, "Rose Tyler--not a Doctor yet."
Steven smiled, she certainly did seem to have spunk, "Not a doctor yet? But that implies you're trying?"
"Yeah, I'm studyin' for my masters in astrophysics right now."
Steven felt the hairs on the back of his neck prick up at her words, she didn't exactly strike him as the sort to be running after aliens but as he looked at her, he saw maturity beyond her years there, he saw sadness in her eyes. Similar to all those who lived on Atlantis, "Astrophysics? Really what led you there?"
She shrugged again, "I've always dreamt of travelin' through the stars." She shook her head for a moment, "Mum says it's a stupid dream an' that I should get my heads out of the cloud. She doesn't believe in--"
"Aliens?" Steven chuckled as Rose nodded, "Do you?"
Rose couldn't say no, after all she'd worked at Torchwood for the past three years, least that's what her father said. Her mother completely denied the existence of aliens, though she was well aware of Torchwood and Cybermen. "I believe there's a lot more out there than we think; and I don't think we should just sit here like ducks on a pond waitin' for something to come an' get us."
He liked her, from the first moment he'd heard her voice, but now he felt as though his stomach were going to twist itself in knots. She didn't appear to just be some girl, she had knowledge.
"What about you?" She felt stupid sitting here talking about aliens with a man she'd never met before, but there was something about him. She was drawn to him, she trusted him. Not the kind of trust she had in Mickey or in Jake, but a stronger sort of trust.
"Oh I believe in aliens," he returned smiling widely, thinking of all the aliens, and humans he'd met off world, and some of the ones living in the city. Even now he knew of two immediate aliens--make that four that were walking planet earth and no one was the wiser.
Rose chuckled out loud, they were really talking about aliens; she shook her head in disbelief before studying him. He was handsome, an angular face, large nose with tea pot ears to match, though his soft looking dark brown hair seemed to soften the affect. She guessed he was in his late thirties, dressed in black jeans, a gray jumper and a black leather jacket with Velcro patches on either side that appeared to be missing. His hair was short, but not crew cut short. His eyes were strikingly blue gray and spoke of wisdom beyond his years. "We're actually sittin' here talkin' about aliens."
He grinned, and she realized his grin was manic, but stunning, showing his teeth and his excitement, "Yeah, we are. So tell me Rose Tyler, soon to be Doctor, what brings you to my favorite spot?" He questioned gesturing to the quiet spot she'd picked in the corner of the café.
She felt her heart flutter at the sound of her first name on his tongue before shrugging. She closed her laptop down and offered him a short smile, "Hope I didn't actually steal your spot. I was goin' through a rough time a while back, when I found this café. It was the perfect escape, no one bothered me, Eddie gave me non-stop coffee and peace. Now I come here every day, sometimes before work, sometimes after. But every day I come here and have a cup or two of coffee an' relax."
"This place is perfect for that, I used to come here during breaks when I worked at the hospital. My chance to relax and take a load off as the American's says," he answered.
"What are you a Doctor of?"
"I'm a surgeon among other things, but I specialized in genetics, rare diseases I'm a nephrologist."
"Do you still work at the hospital then?"
He shook his head, "No, I was offered a--" Steven paused smiling at the thought of his job now, "A far worthier job two years ago. Big change an' a big move, but I'm happy. I work for the United Air Force."
Rose nodded, "You enjoy that? You don't sound American."
"I'm not, I was born and raised in Salford, Lancashire; I moved to Cardiff when I was offered head surgeon at the hospital at thirty. Then I was offered a new job six years later."
"You're forty then?"
"Thirty-nine."
Rose nodded, "Twenty two," she offered in reply, seeing it only fair that since he shared she would as well.
"That's a fun age, I actually work with a girl not much older than you, she's--interesting," he smiled thinking about Cayden Beckett.
"Well I should be gettin' to work--" she paused as she stood up to stash her computer away, she wanted to say more. "I'll see you then?"
He smiled at her again with that manic grin, "Imagine I'll be eating lunch or dinner here yeah. You eat lunch right?"
She chuckled, "Every day 'round one."
"Sounds like a worthy time. Maybe I'll see you then."
She nodded before offering him another quick smirk and leaving the café with a wave to Edward at the counter.
Steven watched her leave and felt his heart pounding. She was different, he worked with women every day, and generally he met new ones every day. This was different, more different than Nina--it was as though his heart beat for the first time since that fateful day a year ago.
o0o
Steven was lounging in in his flat that night when his cell phone rang, he knew who it was immediately, didn't need to answer it, but he did anyway. "Hello Elizabeth," he managed as she began to speak. He smiled as he listened to her for a moment; she was like his younger sister, though much older than his real younger sister, Steven had developed a relationship with Elizabeth. Especially since Nina, "I'm fine, how are you? I'm sure you are, but I think you'll be fine. Elizabeth we've discussed--actually." He paused as Rose popped into his mind again, "I met a girl today. No I say girl because she's only twenty-two. Don't give me that look Elizabeth; because I know you and I know what look you'd be giving me if you were standing in front of me. Can I tell you about her first!?"
Elizabeth hung up the phone twenty minutes later, with a look of shock on her face. Rodney chose that minute to walk through the door, holding up two ties, "'Lizabeth--" he paused when he saw the look on her face, "What? What is it? Is Steven okay?" He was instantly worried about his friend.
"I think Steve just met the woman he's going to marry," she whispered.
"What!?" Rodney was stunned, Elizabeth was a rational woman, for that matter Steven was a rational man. "Where do you get that idea?!"
"I just talked to him for half an hour almost, and all he could talk about was the wonderful girl he'd met today, how she was so smart and funny. He just kept going, and finally I asked him if she was pretty. He acted like I was crazy and said haven't you listened to a word I've said she'd gorgeous. Rodney, I'm serious."
Rodney smiled softly, "Well if Prince Charming really likes her that much then we'll no doubt meet her at the wedding, now answer the question, blue or black."
"Rodney for god sakes it's a black and white wedding, the black." She rolled her eyes smiling at her future husband. She shook her head, he drove John and Steven crazy, calling John Captain Kirk and Steven Prince Charming for their ability with girls. And yet here he was, Rodney, the most arrogant, stubborn, loving man she'd ever met, getting married first on the city of Atlantis, paving the way to many more in the next ten years she was sure of it.
o0o
Steven got to know Rose over the course of the next week, talking with her; sometimes they'd meet for lunch, sometimes for dinner. He hadn't told her about Nina yet, afraid what she might think. He'd taken her out to dinner twice already, only a matter of days since meeting her, Steven was feeling her pull full force at this point.
He was sitting in the café Friday afternoon, on the phone again with Elizabeth, having a quiet conversation. She ceased to amaze him, she was getting married in less than a week, and she refused to talk to her husband about her nerves, instead she called him and talked to him. But then Rodney was no doubt calling and telling Carson about his own fears. Steven guessed it evened out in the process. The rest of Atlantis was gating home two days before the wedding, and the rest of the wedding party was either here on earth, or coming home that day.
He was just beginning to get anxious about where his lunch date was when the bell rang, and she walked through the door. Looking frustrated, and tired but happy to be there. She went over to the counter putting in her order before moving towards Steven. She hesitated when she saw him on the phone, but he gently waved her over.
"I know--I'll be there in time for dinner, I've got the tux already. Everything's gonna be fine--" Rolling his eyes, Steven heard Rose give a unladylike snort before he continued, "Elizabeth I--well I hadn't thought about it…" he paused sighing, he hated how well his boss and friend knew him.
He glanced over at Rose, who was sitting there nervously, "Rose, do you like weddings?"
Rose glanced up at him skeptically before shrugging, "Yeah," she replied.
"Would you like to be my date to the wedding event of the year?" he questioned.
She was surprised to hear him ask, she remembered him mentioning the wedding at one point, but only quickly. She didn't know what to say but gave him a smile, "Sure," she finally managed.
For a moment she was sure he was simply asking to appease his friend, but when his face lit up like a child at Christmas, she knew he was honestly thrilled she'd agreed. Suddenly she was also equally pleased she'd agreed.
"Elizabeth, I just got a date for the wedding--course she said yes, she obviously has fantastic taste," he grinned as Rose chuckled softly, curling up in the overstuffed chair. "Yes I'll see you soon, relax. I'll talk to you later Elizabeth. Tell Rodney I said hello. All right, bye." He hung up the phone and gave Rose a grateful smile. "Thank you for saying yes."
"Wasn't lying, I love weddings. You said it was in the states?"
"Yeah, small church in Colorado, friends of theirs got married a few years back there, Elizabeth liked the place and decided it was perfect for. As for Rodney, who knows I think he'll do and agree to anything as long as Elizabeth walks down that isle in the end."
"How long will we be there for?"
"Well the wedding is a week from tomorrow, and I promised to be there on Thursday afternoon so that we could all go to dinner, then the next night is the wedding rehearsal and dinner for friends and family involved in the wedding. Then the wedding is at ten in the morning, pictures right after, then the reception is at 2."
"What time does the plane leave?"
"Thursday around six in the morning, should put us in Colorado around eight or nine in the evening. It's a long ride--"
Rose shook her head, "It's fine, I'll need to find a dress."
Steven nodded, "I'll pay, I mean I'm dragging you there."
Rose waved him off, "Nonsense, I'll pay, but you do have to come with me," she grinned.
"You've got yourself a deal!"
o0o
Rose and Steven hit every shop they could find, until they finally found a dress they could both agree on. It had been one of the best experiences Rose could ever recall. Steven had actually enjoyed shopping, "I don't exactly get to shop where I go, so it's a treat to see the latest styles," he'd explained as they'd wandered around in the mall all day.
They'd been shopping for hours, as they made their way back to his car; Rose was just putting her bag in the back seat when they heard screaming from the center of the small town, screeching of tires and a large explosion.
Steven was off before she was, running towards the scene; Rose was dead on his heels though, answering her phone when she heard it go off, "We're on our way Mickey--me an' a friend. What the 'ell do you mean it was a Weevil!? I'll talk to you when we get there!" she slammed the phone shut as they reached the scene.
Rose saw the creature they'd had locked up downstairs of Torchwood for weeks, and instantly withdrew her gun from the holster on her back. What surprised her further was when Steven also pulled one out, both pointing it at the creature who appeared to be ready to attack again.
"I've got two injured!" came Mickey's voice from a few feet away as he tried to get to the poor person beside the creature's form.
"Mickey don't move!" Rose ordered as the Weevil suddenly turned, glaring at the pair pointing guns at it.
Mickey didn't listen, Rose watched as the creature's attention immediately moved from her to her best friend. A second later both she and Steven were emptying their clips into the creature. Mickey Smith watched in horror as the Weevil that had almost attacked him dropped lifelessly to the ground.
"What the hell do you think you're doing!?" screamed Rose as she grabbed Mickey by the collar, meanwhile Steven rushed to the person on the ground who was bleeding profusely from the neck. She'd lost consciousness several seconds ago, as he pressed his fingers to her neck he sighed.
"I--" Mickey began but stopped when Steven glanced up at the two of them.
"She's dead," Steven whispered.
Rose sighed and looked at the ground, "I'm so sorry," she whispered as she knelt down to the poor woman and closed her eyes gently.
Steven reached out and pressed his hand to her hand, "I'll go check on the other victims," he saw that Rose needed a minute with her friend.
Rose stood up glaring at Mickey, she was almost too livid to speak to her friend. "You call an ambulance?" she demanded quickly.
Mickey was smart enough to see how angry his ex was and simply nodded. Watching her as she pulled out her cell phone, "Hi dad--" Mickey watched her walk away as she began to explain everything that had just occurred.
Jake moved over towards Mickey and gave him a soft smile, "You all right?"
"No--my--Rose wants to kill me, and I was really bein' stupid. She's our leader Jake, an' I defied her order by moving in to check on that girl."
Jake shrugged, "Be fair Mickey, she was dyin' you were concerned."
"Mickey, Jake;" Rose called from a few feet away, still on the phone with her father, "Da' wants to speak with you. Mickey we'll discuss this later."
Seeing that things appeared to be under control, Rose leaned against a near by telephone pole and took a deep calming breath. She'd almost lost it at the sight of the Weevil approaching Mickey; her mind filled with thoughts of the creature tearing the black man to pieces. She couldn't imagine losing him; her eyes quickly scanned the area, finally landing on the lean figure of Steven as he helped load the other two victims into the back of an ambulance. She'd been so surprised when he drew his own gun, and emptied the clip into the creature as if he'd been doing it all along.
She could see they both still had their secrets, but she hoped that those secrets could be unveiled sooner rather than later. Because as she watched his muscled body lift the gurney up and close the doors, she realized he was the one. Maybe they weren't dating yet, but as she stared at him, watching as he turned slowly until he spotted her, she realized he was the one she'd spend forever with. His eyes met her, and if Rose hadn't been so many meters away she would have seen he had the same dawning in his blue eyes.
As he moved towards her the rest of the sirens, and talking faded away, he reached out and grabbed her hand, squeezing it, "You all right?" he whispered. Less than twenty minutes ago they'd been shopping and so full of energy, now they both sounded and felt ready to drop.
She choked back a half sob half laugh before shaking her head, "I've been better," she looked up into his beautiful eyes, "Where did you learn to shoot like that?"
"Welcome to my job--sort of." he replied softly.
She chuckled this time, "Me too, except this really is my job and what you just saw is what I go through every day."
Steven looked down at Rose, she was a little less than a head shorter than him, and as he met her beautiful eyes, he pushed strands of blonde back from her face and smiled, "Oh Rose," he whispered. He wanted to offer her forever, right here and now. He wanted to hire her, knowing she'd make a great part of the team, wanted to take her with him forever. He couldn't--at least not yet. Instead he pulled her close and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
She wrapped her arms around his waist, and disappeared into his strong arms, resting her head against his forehead, listening to the thud of his heartbeat. She closed her eyes, filling her nose with his scent. "I have to be back in Colorado by the end of the month," he whispered.
"How long will you be gone?" she was afraid to hear his answer, especially if it was going to be longer than a day or two. She couldn't imagine spending longer than a day or so without him anymore.
He sighed, "A very long time, it's usually months before we get back here. Unless there's some sort of emergency."
She nodded sadly, "Oh--well I'll tell my parents tomorrow at lunch. I'll meet you at the airport in London an hour before the plane ride."
Steven captured her face, looking at her, so glad to see she looked as lost as he did at the idea of leaving one another, "Let's spend every moment we can together. I promise you, I'll figure something out." he murmured as he leaned down.
Rose met his kiss with a passion as the entire world disappeared around them. She didn't just feel sparks fly at the kiss; she felt a whole damn nuclear war. He was amazing, and as he deepened the kiss she was sure she almost felt her knees turn to jelly.
TBC