The beach was bathed in darkness and the grey sea was lit by the light of the moon. The waves crashed upon the shore and rain droplets began to fall. The hooded figure walked slowly but purposefully across the sand to stand by the waterside, looking out to the horizon. The figure let the hood fall revealing a young woman with blonde hair. The night air was cool against her exposed face, refreshing and calming. She was unaware that further up the beach another figure had materialised. This figure was taller, more manly, he seemed to be swathed in a long coat. Hidden in shadow, he watched as the woman turned around slowly and began to walk towards him still unaware of his presence. Then he called to her, softly at first, "Rose", then he beckoned to her with more urgency until he cried out, "ROSE…
Rose hesitated feeling the sound of her name wash over her, hardly daring to breathe, hardly daring to believe that it was really him. "Doctor?", she answered, starting to approach him. "Rose it's me", the man looked directly at her. "DOCTOR", Rose shouted, her voice echoing in the night air. She ran, her heart beating fast and skidded to a halt beside him. She studied his face, his untidy brown hair and felt herself being pulled into a tight embrace, then she felt herself falling and with a thud she hit the ground.
Rose awoke coughing and spluttering, the taste of wet sand so real in her mouth. For a moment she forgot where she was and assumed that she must be on a beach somewhere. It took a short while for her to realise it had only been a dream. She swallowed hard and lay back down, it was still night she could see the stars shining in the pitch black sky through a gap in the curtains. Daylight was several hours away, she should try and get some more sleep. Rose shut her eyes and rolled over onto her side, trying to get comfy, willing sleep to come.
"Rose", he was calling to her again. This time Rose was in some kind of woodland area, trees all around her, dense and threatening. She felt so closed in, she tried to move her feet, to run but for some reason she had lost all feeling in her legs and she just collapsed onto the sodden earth, mud splattering all over her. Somebody held out a hand to her, and she pulled herself to her feet. "Thanks", she mumbled, brushing off the clumps of dirt that stuck to her. "Anytime", the man grinned showing sparkling white teeth. "Rose looked up when the man spoke and met his steady gaze, it was the Doctor again. Rose smiled. "Always on hand to help a damsel in distress eh?" She prodded him playfully. The Doctor stopped grinning. "Rose, it's not safe here, we've got to get away, now, run." He grabbed her hand and practically dragged her through the thicket, slowing to work out which direction to go in. "WHERE'S THE TARDIS?", Rose yelled, panting hard, trying to keep up with the Doctor's fast pace. "It's around here somewhere", he called back over his shoulder, "if only I could remember where", the Doctor muttered more to himself than to Rose. "AH HA", he exclaimed loudly, "there she is." He let go his firm grasp on Rose's hand and ran to the blue police call box, he took out the TARDIS key and unlocked the door. "Ok Rose everything's fine now…Rose…ROSE", the Doctor bellowed, "LOOK OUT." Rose screamed as a large paw with sharp, glistening claws descended down on her. Then all she saw was darkness.
Rose awoke and sat bolt upright, her heart beating fast and her breath coming in shallow gasps. Where was the beast that had tried to kill her? She looked wildly about her, shaking, beads of sweat forming on her brow. A sudden feeling of relief hit her. It was alright she was safe, in her bedroom, it had just been another dream. Terrifyingly real, but still just a dream.
"Twice in one night", Rose thought aloud, "must have an overactive imagination." She rubbed her eyes and let out a long yawn. "I'm exhausted…good job it's only Sunday." Sunlight was leaking through the crack in the curtains, turning to look at her small alarm clock, Rose saw that it was close to midday.
There was a knock at her door and Rose just had time to say, "Who is it", before Mickey came in carrying a tray laden with a bowl of cereal, a rack of toast and a large jug of orange squash.
"Thought you might like your breakfast in bed lazybones", Mickey smiled and set the tray down on the bed next to Rose.
"It's nearly midday", Rose reminded him with a frown, "bit late for breakfast."
"I know, I just wanted to treat you", Mickey looked sheepish and went to draw open the curtains.
"Let a bit of sunlight in", he said, trying to hide his embarrassment. Rose watched as Mickey pulled the cord and the curtains shifted apart and bright rays filtered into the room.
"Thanks Mickey, it was a nice thought", she indicated the tray.
Mickey shrugged, and crossed the room to sit down at the end of her bed. Since yesterday afternoon he had been thinking non stop about Rose, he'd barely got any sleep and he ached all over from exhaustion caused by a restless night, but he would not complain.
"So…", Rose said as she took a bite out of a piece of toast, "what have you been up to today?" Rose spoke through a mouthful of bread and she sounded muffled.
"This and that you know. I got up pretty early and went for a jog, to clear my head and then I changed a tyre on the jeep, it was completely flat, a stone or something must have punctured it. Oh, Jake phoned, asked after you."
Rose poured herself a glass of orange. "Oh yeah? What did you say?"
"Yeah you're getting on alright at Torchwood, you're getting on with your life."
Rose nodded. "It's all I can do. My old life…travelling with the Doctor is…over", she looked solemn for a moment, reflecting.
"It's always about him isn't it? Everything I say makes you think about him doesn't it?"
Anger rose within Mickey, an anger he hadn't felt towards the Doctor since he had first taken Rose away in the TARDIS. He gritted his teeth trying to push the fury and jealousy back down but now that it had already broken it's way to the surface of his emotions it was impossible to quell his wrath.
Rose looked slightly scared as she listened open-mouthed to the tirade of angry words that poured forth from Mickey as he got to his feet and stood towering over her his face livid.
"It doesn't matter what I do or say, it's always him that you're thinking about. That's never gonna change is it Rose? Huh? Cos you dumped me to run off to the stars with him", he spat furiously and swallowed hard.
"It wasn't like that", Rose said quietly, "he offered to show me the whole of time and space, how could I turn that down? I didn't want to fall in love with him, it just…happened. I loved you…I never would have left you for another bloke but…I couldn't say no to the adventure of a lifetime, I would have regretted it for the rest of my life."
Rose felt a tremendous amount of guilt, knowing she had treated Mickey so badly over the past two years. He didn't deserve that, he didn't deserve her, her selfishness. Mickey put his hand up to stoke her shoulder comfortingly. The rage had gone from his eyes.
"I dunno what came over me…I'm sorry."
Rose smiled and touched the hand he had on her shoulder with her own, caressing his fingers.
"You don't have to be sorry for anything…you've done nothing wrong."
"I love you Rose Tyler", Mickey burst out before he could stop himself. He gasped and clapped his hand to his mouth, why had he said that? He was such a fool Rose moved his hand off her shoulder and looked him straight in the eyes.
"I know how you feel Mickey…and I wish I felt the same…it would be so much easier if I did. I care greatly for you but I'm not in love with you anymore…I'm sorry."
Mickey nodded his head sadly, he understood completely what she was saying, but it still hurt to hear that she didn't want him anymore. Mickey patted her shoulder and left the room quietly without saying another word. He needed some time to himself, but most of all he needed to move on and find someone else to waste all of his affections on.
Rose decided she didn't want anymore of her breakfast but that she did rather fancy some chips. Even now that she lived in a mansion house she still got frequent cravings for chips despite all the posh food she was served at mealtimes.
"Mum, dad, I'm going out…I'll be back in a bit", Rose shouted as she buttoned her dark jacket and went out of the front door. She stuffed her hands into her jeans pockets and walked swiftly across the drive, the gravel crunching beneath her trainers. She pressed the buzzer inside the gates to let herself out and entered into the street. The chip shop was just around the corner in the next street no more than a fifteen minute walk. She turned right and strolled along the pavement watching the birds as they swooped and darted across the cloudless sky.
Ten minutes later Rose was standing in the line queuing for her chips. The smell from the kitchen wafted towards her nostrils. "Mmmm chips." Rose reached the counter and ordered a large portion, she took a few coins from her pocket and placed them on the counter.
"One large portion of chips, enjoy", the young boy - who couldn't have been anything more than a teenager - winked at her and she felt herself blush.
"Thanks", Rose scooped up her chips and hurried out of the shop almost bumping into the man coming in the opposite direction.
"Sorry", Rose muttered, biting a steaming hot chip in half.
"Rose Tyler…", the man smiled watching her try to eat the chip without burning her mouth, "it's been a while", he said running a hand through his blonde hair.