4. The Idiot's Lantern
The Doctor had never been so happy to see Rose's face smiling and laughing. He knew he would have troubled thoughts by the memory of her faceless. . .face for a long time now. But at least she was alright.
They walked down the street, marveling at how festive the people of this town could be after such a frightening time. The Doctor spotted Tommy and moved over his way to talk to him. After telling Tommy to keep the scooter, he noticed Tommy staring at something behind him.
"Good riddance!" Tommy said bitterly. The Doctor spun around and saw Tommy's father walking away, suitcase in hand.
"Is that it then, Tommy? New monarch, new age, new world, no room for a man like Eddie Connelly?"
"That's right, he deserves it." True, the man had been a selfish jerk, but the Doctor didn't want to see his son abandon him just like that. The Doctor nodded his head, agreeing with him, but unsure what to say. It was Rose who spoke next.
"Tommy, go after him." Rose nudged him on the back. The Doctor gazed into her eyes. They showed kindness, yet sorrow was intermingled there too. Obviously she was thinking about her own dad and how she had lost him. She wanted Tommy to have another chance with his father, because she knew what it was like to grow up without a dad.
Of course, her dad was nothing like Mr. Connelly, Pete Tyler was brave and selfless, an outright hero. Maybe she was thinking about her Dad in the parallel world too, who had also been a hero, but had not even said goodbye to her. Maybe Rose felt in that moment the loss of her dad again.
"What for?" Tommy didn't understand.
"He's your dad." She said simply.
"An idiot!" He replied.
"Of course he is. Like I said he's your dad." As if that was the answer to it all, which it was.
"But you're clever." Rose continued on. "Clever enough to save the world so don't stop there." The Doctor felt sad for her. Her compassion for this failing father/son relationship touched him.
"Go on." Rose nudged him again, letting that gorgeous smile adorn her face. The Doctor was surprised by her smile. The terror she had just gone through, losing her face, but she was defending the man who insulted her and yelled at her. He'd done despicable things and put the whole town in danger.
The Doctor looked between Tommy and Rose, wondering how much of an effect Rose's plea would have on him. Obviously it did.
Tommy darted around the pair and rushed off to catch up with his father. Rose sighed deeply as she saw him grab the suitcase from his father's hand as they walked away together.
The Doctor turned around to face Rose. He was very proud of her. Looking in her eyes again he saw the pain and regret of losing her father twice, but also relief for the Connellys.
The Doctor grabbed a glass of punch and held it out for her. They smiled at each other as their glasses clinked together.
Mentally they made a toast for her dad, Pete Tyler, and for the healing relationship between Tommy and Mr. Connelly.
5. The Impossible Planet
No TARDIS, no other Time Lords, they had no way to get back home and away from the black hole.
"We're kinda stuck." The Doctor admitted.
"Well, it could be worse, this lot said they'd give us a lift." For once it was Rose who was trying to cheer up the Doctor, rather than the other way around. But the Doctor couldn't see the bright spot in this black cloud, or black hole rather.
"And then what?" He opened his eyes wide, letting Rose know he wasn't too entirely pleased with the situation. Rose shook her head, trying to think.
"I don't know, find a planet, get a job, live a life, the same as the rest of the universe." Rose gazed at the Time Lord across the table, somehow not at all distraught by the thought.
Honestly? She didn't even really care about the traveling as much as traveling with the him.
The Doctor made a noise of disgust with his mouth.
"I'd have to settle down, get a house or something, a proper house! With...with-with doors and carpets! Me! Living in a house!" He said it like it was the scariest thing in the universe. Rose laughed at him. "Now that...that-that is terrifying!"
"You'd have to get a mortgage!" Rose teased him in a singsong voice, obviously enjoying seeing the Doctor out of his comfort zone.
"No." He stated flatly.
"Oh yes."
"I'm dying, that's it, I'm dying, it is all over." He shook his head in mock horror. Rose leaned back and laughed harder. A big smile shone on her face. Despite the situation, The Doctor couldn't help but smile along with her.
"Well what about me, I'd have to get one too! I don't know, we could...we could be the same one, we could both..." She stopped as the Doctor stared at her.
I don't know...share, or not. Whatever." She suddenly found the view above her very exciting, enough to hide her embarrassment at what she just implied.
"I don't know, all sorts of things."
"Anyways."
"We'll see." They both spoke at once. The Doctor suddenly felt uncomfortable. Sure, he wouldn't mind that much doing domestic with Rose, but it was too much too fast. He couldn't take it all in.
Rose sighed in further embarrassment, trying to think of something to change the subject. The Doctor stared at the table, suddenly finding it very interesting as well.
"I promised Jackie I would always take you back home." The Doctor finally spoke. Rose was quiet for a minute.
"Everyone leaves home in the end." She finally said.
"Not to end up stuck here." He said with disgust.
"Yeah, but stuck with you...that's not so bad." The Doctor glanced her way discreetly, wondering if she really meant that.
"Yeah?"
"Yes." Rose said confidently, turning to face him. The Doctor gave her a small smile. And suddenly he realized: he didn't mind either.
Yes, being stuck above a black hole with Rose Tyler was not a bad thing, not a bad thing at all.
6. Army of Ghosts
For once they weren't being chased by something. For once they were just able to stop and enjoy the beauty around them.
All was silent as the two watched the flying manta ray beasts overhead.
"How long you gonna stay with me?" It was a simple question. He already knew the answer, but he loved hearing it from her lips.
"Forever."
They smiled at each other. The Doctor knew deep down in his hearts that forever could not be his definition of forever, but her forever was enough, because it meant that she would never ever leave him by her own power.
And that was enough, for now.
*Sigh* Next the dreaded Doomsday scene. Took me forever to actually write it, I kept avoiding it! O.o Definitely my least favorite episode of all five series :P Oh well. The Impossible Planet scene is my favorite in this chapter, it's soo cute ^^ Reviews make me happy! (And you do want me happy don't you? :D)
