"Um… ahhh… errr…" I stammered. I could feel my face start to turn red, and willed it not to. It didn't listen. Stupid face. "I can tell you think he's hot stuff," she said with a knowing smile. I wanted so desperately to tell her that no, I did love Ash as a dear friend, but loved the doctor more, but I couldn't force the words out. All I could manage to say was, "The Doctor really likes you."
"Does he now?" she chuckled. I waited for her to get over the joke and tell me what was so funny. Finally, I asked. "Is something the matter?"
"Oh, no, quite the opposite." She went on giggling quietly to herself, and as she did, she morphed. Not literally, but in my mind. She changed from a distant woman who practically ignored me, who I both admired, for being so- so- at ease with the Doctor, and hated for practically the same reason- for being so close to the man I loved, or thought I loved. She had become a real person, who had real feelings, real sorrow and joy, real love and tears. She had become someone I could relate to. "So, what's so funny?" I asked. She replied, "Well, the last night, the Doctor was in his room getting some sleep for a change. I went looking for him and discovered him there. As soon as he detected my presence, he sprang up with that manic energy of his and got down on one knee. I laughed in pure surprise. He said to me, "Rose Tyler, we have been through thick and thin together. We have killed Daleks, we have defeated Weeping Angels, and we have seen birth and death and the essence of life itself. When you looked into that vortex, when you turned that army of Daleks into puffs of golden light, then I knew. Then I knew that you were the one. The one for me. Rose Tyler… Will you marry me?" I said, "YES!" He rushed to the center of the TARDIS and started pushing buttons. "Italy, here we come!" I then appeared in the doorway. He looked up at me with that cocky smile of his. He looked so handsome and I just was so happy I began to weep. "What's the matter?" "I'm so happy!" "Then come here." I fell into his arms."
