I would call this oneshot an experiment, and I am quite curious to see the response. Not only is this my first time writing for Twelve, but it's also my first time writing for Rose. *crosses fingers* For your sake, I hope I did well. I can't stand it when someone doesn't write for a character very well. It's actually one of my biggest pet peeves.
"Tell me, did you fall for a shooting star, one without a permanent scar, and did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there?"
Oh, he'd gone and done it this time.
If someone had been with him, they most likely would've shut him up somehow, probably by smacking him in the face. He'd had to go and taunt his worst enemies for too long, and now they'd set the entire station on fire.
The good news was that everyone else had already been evacuated, but the Doctor was going to be rather lucky if he got himself out of this scrape. He was now running, fortunately avoiding the flames, for the TARDIS, and fumbling in his pockets for the key. Smoke clouded his vision and burned his eyes, making it hard to see. He choked, his body trying to expel the carbon dioxide from his system.
It was official. He hated being old.
A figure burst through the dark haze, nearly knocking the Doctor off his feet. He continued to hack as he tried to stand back up, vaguely recognizing the figure in the back of his mind. Suddenly, it clicked, and he whipped around to hear a switch being thrown and the sound of a large fan being turned on. The smoke quickly began to clear, and the Doctor choked some more, but not from unwelcomed gas.
"You're thicker than those droids in Versailles."
That voice, one he hadn't heard in hundreds of years, was music to his ears, even if it was teasing him a little. He was afraid to believe it was her, hoping and praying she wasn't some cruel dream. "Rose?"
The blonde stepped forward and made her way towards the Doctor. His voice stuck in his throat and he was unable to say a word, instead holding out his arms. At this gesture, Rose broke into a run, throwing herself into the Doctor's arms and wrapping her arms around his neck.
It was at that moment that the Doctor decided that maybe hugging wasn't so bad after all.
"Rose," the Doctor murmured, holding her tight as if she would disappear the moment he let her go. "Oh, Rose, I've missed you so much."
"I've missed you, too," Rose replied warmly. "I knew it was you as soon as I saw you on the cameras. Who else is daft enough to make fun of a thousand Daleks to their eyestalks?"
"Only me."
As much as he hated to, the Doctor loosened his hold on Rose, and she stepped back. Her hazel eyes looked him over. "Look at you, all gruff and Scottish. When did that happen?" She said it with happiness in her voice, but he could see the sadness in her face.
The Doctor's hearts clenched. "A few hundred years ago."
Rose nodded. "Who else was there? How many times have you forgotten my name?"
The Doctor couldn't stop himself from pulling Rose into his arms once more. "I've never forgotten you, Rose Tyler."
"But you've tried."
He buried his head in her shoulder. "Of course I've tried. Remembering hurts."
The two stood there together for a minute before a loud crash downstairs reminded them where they were. "And that's our cue," the Doctor said, letting go and holding out his hand. "To the TARDIS?"
Rose gave him her signature tongue in teeth grin as she took his hand. "Of course."
For once, they made it to the TARDIS without incident. The Doctor opened the door for Rose, who stepped inside and immediately began to explore the console room. "You've redecorated."
That's an understatement, the Doctor thought, knowing she was thinking of the coral color and "round things" of his tenth incarnation's TARDIS. He watched Rose pat the console to say hello to the TARDIS and finger the books on the shelf. "Don't these ever fall off during your travels?" she asked.
Only Rose would inquire about such a thing. "No," he said smugly. "What do you think of her?"
Rose chewed her bottom lip while she thought. "I think she's wonderful, as always," she finally said.
The Doctor turned Rose to face him. "What were you doing there?"
Rose pretended to be offended. "What kind of question is that? Aren't you happy to see me?"
"Very. But you shouldn't have been in a station full of Daleks. You should be home, safe with Jackie and your family."
Rose sighed. "Doctor, I couldn't stay. You taught me that there's a better way of living your life than just eating and sleeping and watching telly. We still had the dimension cannon, and, well..." She blushed. "I used it. We made a few modifications, and I started traveling. I went wherever it sent me, looking for any aliens that might need to be taught a lesson. I did learn a thing or two about aliens, you know." She finally looked back up at him. "Venus was beautiful, by the way."
The Doctor had to chuckle at that. "Yes, it is." He studied the girl standing in front of him, a girl he'd hoped to see again, and ran a hand through her hair.
"What?" Rose laughed, ducking away.
"That explains this, then," said the Doctor. He held out his hand to show Rose the small sparkles he'd collected.
Rose gawked for a minute. "What are they?"
"It's stardust." The Doctor blew it off his hand. "It's in your hair."
"Reminds me of that song that goes 'drops of Jupiter in her hair'," Rose quipped. "Too bad we don't have the CD. It's a nice song to dance to."
"We don't need music to dance," the Doctor said, pulling Rose into a waltz.
"Whoa!" Rose giggled as she nearly tripped. "You really have changed. Last time I saw you, you hated dancing."
The Doctor smirked at her. "I've learned that the world doesn't end because the Doctor dances."
He was rewarded with a tongue in teeth grin.
In case you haven't figured it out, the chapters are the names of the songs I'm basing my oneshots on.
About "Drops of Jupiter". I actually heard it off Taylor Swift's "Speak Now: World Tour" album first, but no worries, I did eventually figure out that Train is the original artist. Anyway, when it was my result for this chapter, I immediately thought, "Twelve and Rose reunion fic", which is odd because I've never written a reunion fic before.
So what did you think? Did you like it? Hate it? Want to light it up and watch it burn? Review and let me know! :)
