I don't own any of it. Not the Doctor, Rose, the TARDIS, the Tyler gang, Mickey, Norway...etc.

It had been awkward at check in. At the registration desk Rose had stepped up and assumed the role of leader to deal with the clerk.

"Hiya, we'll be needing rooms tonight. What do you have available?"

"Of course ma'm," the clerk said, "and how many rooms will you be needing?" He eyes flicked across the party of three. No doubt wondering what the sleeping arrangements would be. After all, it wasn't every day three wind-swept individuals came for a room sans luggage, and during the off-season no less. He hadn't heard a vehicle either.

"Oh, um…" she paused because she hadn't thought of that. Did the Doctor want his own room? Did he want to share with her? Did she want to share with him? Would it be easier to just bunk with her mum?

With a quick glance back to where her mum and the Doctor were standing. Her mum fishing through her pockets for something and the Doctor examining the photos that hung on the wall, she got the impression that they were actually watching her. So she turned back to say softly, "I think the two rooms would be best. Adjoining if at all possible."

Sliding her credit card on to the desk, the clerk couldn't help but notice that her last name was Tyler and that it had the Torchwood insignia. He was professional enough to keep in his gasp of surprise before saying, "Yes, that would be no problem whatsoever. However, we do have something a bit more upscale than that. Would you like to book the suite? It would be bigger than the two rooms combined and it has an excellent view of the sea and…"

"No, just the two rooms please," Rose interrupted as politely as she could let her voice sound.

With a curt nod of his head the clerk swiped her card. "Right then, please sign here," he said as he handed over her receipt and pointed to the signature line, "And here are your room keys."

Before Rose could take them, Jackie materialized on her right and snatched them up. "Lovely dear, and could you tell me if the kitchen is still open?"

"Of course ma'm. Currently we are serving a light tea until four o'clock and a dinner will be served from 6:30 until 8:00 pm."

"Ooh, that sounds wonderful," turning to Rose she said, "Rose, I think I am going to pop-up to the room and have a bath and maybe take a bit of a nap before dinner. Why don't you take this key here and my spare one and I'll meet you both in the dinning room a little after 6:30?"

"Yeah mum, that'll be fine."

Rose watched her mum turn around and head down the hall toward the room. She couldn't believe that her mother followed her into their old universe. Her mother could be so silly and yet she was one of the strongest women she knew.

With a sigh, Rose pivoted on her feet to go fetch the Doctor, when she realized that he had been right behind her. They were now face-to-face. Inches apart. She had been dreading this part. Being alone with him, as she didn't know yet what to say or how to say it.

Before she could stop the words from leaving her lips, they tumbled out, "I suppose that we have a conversation to finish"

"There is still no rush Rose," he said calmly.

"Mum's gone up to the room. She said she wanted a bath. I only got two rooms. I hope that's ok. I can bunk with mum if want to be alone; I don't mind really. And the rooms are connected so you'll be fine on your own, yeah?" She said in one breath.

Why am I so nervous? He said that he loves me…words that I have wanted to hear from his lips and now that I have I don't know what to do.

"Well, I certainly don't want to bunk with Jackie," the Doctor said with his cheeky, lopsided grin.

"Oi! That's my mum you're talking about!"

And just like that they had found a semblance of their former rhythm.

"We don't have to make that decision now, Rose. You've got a key to both rooms and at the moment your mother is going to be in one of them. Rather than play 'What's Behind Door Number One' lets go for a walk around the Inn. Explore a bit until dinner."

"Kay," she said as she reached for his hand. It was effortless and automatic. Just like in the old days.

Reaching the threshold she cocked her head to him and asked, "Which way Doctor?"

While his heart skipped a beat as the word 'Doctor' fell from her pink lips, he didn't show it, "lets turn left. Left is good," he said with a knowing smile.

Smiling that smile that could always make the Doctor go a little bit weak in the knees, the one where her eyes would light up with mischief and her tongue would briefly curl up and catch up on her upper teeth, she said, "Yeah, turning left was the key to success before."

Author Note: I am trying to write in a third-person omnipotent style and I worry that the inner dialog of the characters isn't flowing or easy to decipher. How am I doing?