Disclaimer: These. Are. ::drums:: Not Mine. I have no intention of making money of them. In fact, I have every intention of givingthem money by buying Merchandise . So, they can either get my money in court, or in the stores. I go with B, if only because I crave an action figure or a TARDIS key chain or something of the sort!

Thanks for the reviews! They are beyond awesome.

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Chapter 3

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John Smith stumbled back in evident surprise. "Rose!"

Rose turned around abruptly, her posture indicating an intention to run, as if they were about to start in a mad dash towards their Blue Magic Carpet. "What?" she asked, alarmed.

Truthfully, aside from his dreams, he'd only rarely seen her outside school grounds, dressed in casual clothes that weren't her work uniform. Her hair was tied down loosely to protect from the wind, which colored her cheeks in a lovely shade of pink. Really, he had to admit he was quite taken. Well, not that he had to admit anything. Not to anyone. Not ever.

"What… uh, what are…" you doing?Well, that was a bit rude, maybe. "Uh, good evening?"

For some reason, she seemed slightly disappointed. "Evening, Mr. Smith," she sighed, absently directing her gaze back to the starts.

John looked between her and the sky, bewildered beyond his imagination. "It's, uh, rather cold…" he choked. "Rather cold to be walking around… the dark."

She turned to him for the first time, and the intensity in her eyes was almost frightening. "Did you see that? In the sky? Looked like… meteors! There were meteors!"

With difficulty, John looked away from her and up to the sky, just in time to catch another bolt of light crossing through it.

"There! Did you see that?" she called.

He found himself almost bouncing up and down with joy, "Yes, I did! It's lovely!"

Rose nodded enthusiastically, her smile bigger than her face.

"I, uh, I've never seen one before." He caught a glimpse of her delighted face and his grin broadened, "It's really quite… beautiful."

Again, she nodded, still staring at the stars, completely oblivious to the unexpected compliment. "Doesn't it look like it was heading for the woods?"

John shook his head, embarrassed with himself for thinking such indecent thoughts. For a second he actually considered the possibility of what she said, before realizing it was completely ridiculous. Absurdlyridiculous. He assimilated his best professor's tone, "No, no, no. They always look close, when actually they're miles off. Nothing left but a cinder."

Well, maybe not his very best. That flirtatious streak in the end would have caused him quite a few problems with the headmaster.

Rose smiled like someone who knew better. "Thank you, that was very educational."

He blushed, slightly apologetic. "Well, sorry… you did ask if…"

"What's over there anyway?" she ignored him, pointing at the woods.

"Uh… uh, that's Cooper's Field," he mumbled, his confusion never-ending. "But really, they're not… I mean, meteors, they usually fall into the ocean. I…" He scratched his head, "Rose, what are you…"

She started running towards the very field.

"Rose!" he called. "Rose! What are you doing? It's dark! Rose!" She didn't even acknowledge him, and pretty soon he'd lose her altogether. He had no choice. "Rose!Wait!" he started chasing after her. "Stop it! Just… stop it!"

They reached the middle of the field, and only then did she finally stop.

It took him but a second to catch up, and for the next few minutes, the only audible sounds around them belonged to their heavy breathing. They were utterly and completely alone.

"See?" he breathed. "Told you there was nothing there."

Rose shrugged, "Still… it was fun, wasn't it?"

John stared at her.

"What?"

"You're mad," he stated.

A smirk threatened to spread across her face, "Well, excuse me, Mr. Smith."

He clicked his tongue with annoyance. "You scared me to death! What were you thinking, running off into the night? You could've tripped on a rock, or a branch! You could've hit your head! You could've died!"

Rose tilted her head teasingly.

"It's not… funny!" he insisted, crossing his arms. "I was worried."

The smirk was instantly wiped clean from her face, "I'm sorry, Mr. Smith. It's only the woods. I didn't mean to worry you."

"Well… you did!" he exclaimed, stumping his feet angrily, unable to get past those few frightful minutes when he felt the life drained out of him with concern. He really wished she'd take it as seriously as he did.

Rose nodded apologetically. "Sorry," she repeated with the same carelessness as before, linking her arm around his elbow with the brightest of smiles.

Her touch was casual and comfortable and almost made him shiver even though there were several layers of fabric standing between them.

"Come on, Mr. Smith, let's get back to the school."

John looked at her, looked at her arm around his, and back at her. He sighed deeply, a glimmer of amusement escaping through his glare. "I suppose it's my duty to escort you back. Otherwise you'll surely find a number of ways to get yourself killed. Very jeopardy-friendly, you are," the last part was said in an affectionate murmur, so it was very alarming for him when Rose halted suddenly.

"What did you say?" she asked, breathing heavily.

"Sorry!" he exclaimed, unconsciously placing one of his gloved hands over hers in way of apology. "I didn't mean to offend you, sorry!"

Rose shook her head, her soft grin so very far away. "I'm not offended, it's just… I had a friend who used to call me that all the time."

He choked the so, you've always been a troublemaker that stood on the edge of his tongue, and instead asked, "And what… I mean, I hope you don't think I'm intruding, but what happened to her? Or him?"

Stolen from me. "Life, you know how it is. Things… happen," she chuckled humorlessly. "Someday soon, though…" she shook her head. "Never mind. Soon enough, I hope."

He nodded, aware that he wasn't going to get anymore on the subject.

They reached the local pub, where he saw her friend Jenny and Nurse Redfern. In different tables, of course. There weren't any teachers around, and he knew it was his duty to at least offer to escort them home. It was in his breeding; his mother taught him to always escort a lady, though he couldn't remember exactly when and where.

So imagine his surprise when he found himself stirring Rose away to a more private route where they were unlikely to find anyone they knew. He could tell himself it was because it was a bad idea for someone to see them being so familiar with each other, especially since he never did move his hand away from hers, but, well, no one forcedthem to be so. There was no need for all the physical contact, really.

Mostly it was just because he didn't want them to be interrupted. Coincidently, the more-private-route he'd chosen for them was quite a bit longer as well. Such a crazy coincidence, indeed.

"You know, I realized I don't really know anything about you, except that you're from London. What of your family?" he asked quietly, sure, for some reason, that her answer would be tragic.

As he feared, Rose tensed against him, her eyes clouded and dark. "Gone, now. They…" her voice died out. She took a deep breath. "My parents, and Mickey, they… they're all gone now."

His heart broke for her, "But… you're all on your own?"

It was not the first time she was asked that. In fact, just a few weeks ago she was trapped in a shuttle to the sun and asked the same. Usually she could say she had the Doctor, but now she didn't even have him. He was just a shell. A nice shell, which she was quite fond of, but he would not pull her closer to him and show her the stars. He was John Smith.

"Yes, I am," she said, her voice barely over a whisper. "But I think I'm doing alright, don't you?"

"Certainly!" he breathed, completely honest. "But, Rose, I'm so sorry."

She shook her head, "Don't be, it's not your fault. There was… a war. Such a… such a war."

John strained his brain for a possible war, but all he remembered was the Mexican Revolution, which seemed unlikely. Maybe she was talking of a local war, which understandably got magnified to a monstrous size in a little girl's mind. Or maybe it was the Battle of Spion Kop that also claimed Nurse Redfern's husband, though she would have been but a child, and her grief seemed so new and raw.

His grip on her hand tightened involuntarily.

"Sorry," she sniffled suddenly, wiping her eyes urgently. "I didn't mean to… not on such a beautiful night."

"It's cold," he said.

"Who cares about the cold?" she asked, suddenly enthusiastic. "There were meteors. They were beautiful."

He was reminded of her expression when she looked up at that yellow bolt of light. Such wonder and longing, and now… If there was anything he could do to make it better, to make the smile reach her eyes, he wouldn't even hesitate.

"Yes, they were," he said. "Beautiful."

She beamed warmly, and it did sort of reach her eyes, but not enough for his liking.

They continued walking silently for a few minutes as John gathered courage.

She told him about her family, about her past. They ran; they laughed. She let him practically hold her hand; she wrapped her arm around his. There were meteors and they were alone and God, he couldn't stop himself.

"Rose," he exhaled urgently, before he lost his nerve. "I heard there was this… village dance. Tomorrow night. Would you like that, a dance?"

She shrugged, "Sure, I like dancing."

He almost slapped the back of his own head. He knew his cheeks were as red as they could possibly be. Since Nurse Redgern told him about it… after days of secret rehearsals in his head, and this is what he managed? "No, I meant… would you like… with me? Would you like to go to the dance… with me? As my, uh, guest."

What?

Rose's eyes widened in utter shock. That wasn't on the list. Definitely wasn't. Was she allowed? It almost felt like abusing the Doctor's free will, taking advantage of him when he was vulnerable and human. Did she even want to? With this shell? This handsome gentleman who was smart and kind but not Her Doctor?

She grinned.

"I'd love to."

"Brilliant!"

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My name's Baines. Jeremy Baines.

Please, can I go?

I'm so sorry, Baines. Jeremy Baines. But I don't think you could ever leave.

But who are you?

Why can't I see you?

Why would you want to see us?

:-:

"Do you think there was really nothing there?" Rose asked the space in front of her. "I mean, I know the Doctor said there wasn't, but I don't think his opinion counts nowadays, do you?"

The lights flickered slightly around her.

Rose knew the Doctor nearly disabled her entirely so that she wouldn't be spotted. Rose thought it horrible, that the TARDIS should be trapped like this. She felt like staying with her until she was the TARDIS again.

"Is a meteor ever just a meteor anymore? What if it's the family?" She frantically opened the drawer where the watch lied peacefully. "Well, at least they'll never be able to get in, right? It's safe here, the Doctor's essence or whatnot?"

It's all down to you, Rose. Again.

A soft grin. I know I couldn't be in better hands.

"I don't know," she sighed. "I don't like it one bit."

The screen came alive to an image of the Doctor. At least the TARDIS was somewhat awake.

Number Twelve: The Family members need to assimilate bodies for themselves. Please, be careful. Remember, we'll both be completely human. If we don't say anything, or leave behind anything, they'll never be able to spot us.

Which brings me to Number Thirteen: Try not to leave anything dangerous behind.

Rose nodded absently, "Yeah, I get it. Keep my nose away. Alright, alright, if the mighty TARDIS says so." She checked her watch, "Oh, no. I have to get to work. Blimey." She started towards the exit, before turning around all of her a sudden, slightly blushing. "Did I tell you he asked me to the dance with him? He's a funny bloke, that John Smith. Kinda cute. I, uh… I like him," she giggled. "I'll have to go through the wardrobe, though. Pick something up. Hang on."

She came back a few minutes later, holding a dress in her hands. "Right then, better be off."

The recording started again.

Number Twelve: The Family members need-

"Alright, already," Rose laughed. "I got it. I promise I'll be a good, quiet girl."

She left before it got to Number Thirteen, which was what the TARDIS was aiming for.

Number Thirteen: Try not to leave anything dangerous behind.

Rose had forgotten the journal in her nightstand, again. In her room. Her room, which she shared with Jenny.

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You're just what we need, girl.

She works at the school.

The faintest of traces but they all lead back there.

Stop mocking me, sir!

Mother of Mine just needs a shape.

The End.

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Heh, I'm just kidding. Kidding, sorry.

And I'm sorry for glossing over the Family of Blood parts, if anyone's a fan. I just figured there was the episode for that, and we're only here for the Doctor\Rose anyway, right? I think so, anyway. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and that you'll tell me what you think about it! (There's a purple "SUBMIT A REVIEW" button just for that. Please? pout)

Have a fantasticday! I'm off to watch the Finale (and then probably think of how it would have been with Rose…). Cheers, all!