A.N: chapter 4

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Giggling like the two sweethearts in love that they were, The Doctor and Rose tried to navigate the steps up to the flat, while never letting go of one another's arm. When they got to the front door, The Doctor grabbed Rose by the waist and spun her round. Together, they gazed upwards and out at the stars. As Rose snuggled back against him, The Doctor tightened his arms around her.

"D'you feel it?" he whispered. After a moment or two, she answered.

"Yeah. The feeling like… everything's new."

"That's it."

It wasn't going to be easy, he knew. There were going to be problems. But then - all relationships had their problems, he reasoned. And what he felt for Rose… well, it had hit him with the force of a ten ton truck. He wasn't about to deny it - and he certainly wasn't going to spoil this night by discussing something as trivial as practicalities. Rose shivered.

"You cold?" he asked, in concern.

"Nope," she replied. He rested his head on her shoulder, brushed her cheek with his own - and felt it chill.

"You're a bad liar, Rose." She smiled. "Come on - as romantic as this is, let's get you inside. It's freezing out here."

As they entered the flat, they saw soft light from Jackie's bedroom. Rose tiptoed in, while The Doctor stood in the doorway. Jackie was in bed, and out for the count. Rose smiled at her, then leant over and kissed her forehead.

"Merry Christmas, Mum," she whispered, then switched off her bedside lamp. As Rose left the room, The Doctor closed the door quietly behind her - and they both went into the living room.

It was The Doctor who noticed the note on the table. He picked it up, and read it aloud to Rose.

"' Hi Rose. Your Mum's sleeping it off - there's probably no danger of her waking 'til morning. Hope you and John had a nice walk - by the way, well done - he's fit! Have a great Christmas. Cheers, Bev.'"

"Gimme that!" exclaimed Rose, her cheeks burning in embarrassment. "It does not say that!"

"Er, I think you'll find it does," he told her - all the while trying to keep it out of her reach by holding it above her head. Rose showed an impressive amount of leg-muscle power, by literally leaping up and snatching it from his hand. He caught her before she reached the floor.

"Put me down - put me down!" she squealed - shushing herself when she remembered Jackie asleep.

"Ok," he replied, but moved over to the couch first. When he sat down, she ended up sitting in his lap. The air in the room changed, and his eyes darkened. Slowly, he leaned in to kiss her - and she very willingly responded. The temperature rocketed to such an extent that Rose almost forgot it was Christmas - they could've been on some little holiday planet just southwest of the sun. It was only when his lips broke away, and started a journey down her neck and further south that she was jolted back to the here and now.

"We can't," she protested, pulling away.

"Why not?" he asked. "Jackie's asleep…"

"I thought you said you weren't human," smiled Rose. "'Cos, from where I'm sitting, that was a line that comes from a typical man!"

"Well, I'm half human," he reminded her.

"Doesn't matter. We can't. Doesn't feel right. Not here."

"Tardis then?"

"You really are insatiable, aren't you?!"

"No…" He searched for a response that would achieve the desired result, without making him sound like a sex-maniac. "Just wanna be close to you, that's all," was what he came up with - failing miserably on both counts.

"I don't wanna go to the Tardis. If Mum wakes up, she'll think we've gone again - and it'll spoil everything. We'll just have to wait." The Doctor made a noise like a strangled cat.

"Rose…." She smiled.

"It'll just be something to look forward to. Please. Do this for me?" He took in a deep breath, and let it out slowly.

"We-ell, okay," he relented. "But if I hear you telling her we're staying for New Year, you are so dumped.."

"Oh, don't you worry - if she's lucky, I might just make it past Boxing Day…" With that, she claimed his lips again.

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A.N: update soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!