After a long hiatus, I finally pulled up what I started to write for this chapter and forced out something workable! Thanks to everyone who reviewed and encouraged me to it. Let me know if it still fits the flow :) Standard disclaimers, of course, apply.

"This is the wardrobe room," Rose announced as they walked through the doorway into the expansive collection of clothing, hats, shoes, scarves, muffs and God only knew what else. She didn't mean to make a big deal of it but she couldn't help the little edge of drama and pride that were threaded in her tone even as she tried to act casual.

Reinette's skirt stopped rustling.

Rose looked over her shoulder, expression as bland as she could make it. Only a giant room filled with clothing. Nothing to be astonished at. Nope. Just the sort of thing that Rose Tyler, adventuress extrodainar, saw every day.

"I don't believe I have the words," Reinette said, eyes wide and blinking as she took it all in. "This is amazing."

Rose broke and grinned. "Yeah. It's amazin'. Granted, sometimes I swear the Tardis does more of the picking for you than it allows you to go looking but..."

Reinette turned her attention back to the young woman and smiled. "Still a place one could lose hours in. Especially if all the gowns are as lovely as they look from this distance." Like a moth to the flame she was headed for the gowns of her own time but her pace was measured. Her posture was perfect and her skirt belled about her.

Rose frowned a little. Just when it seemed like the woman was going to act a bit more, well, normal, she went and ruined it. No one was looking. It was obvious that Reinette was as interested in the clothing as anyone else. There was no reason to walk across the room like it was a production. It wasn't like Rose was going to be impressed.

"Yeah, well. Not all gowns. Most people don' really wear gowns anymore." Rose shrugged and angled off towards the section that she knew held most of the clothing from her own century. Bathing suits. Maybe a floppy hat in case the sun was too bright. She straightened as a lace sarong was spotted out of the corner of her eye. "No one would be caught dead walking down the street like that unless they were in a play or something."

"So I gathered," Reinette said tone smooth. It became probing, almost delicately so, "Which may be part of the reason that there are no servants? Simpler clothing means there would be no need for an extra pair of hands to help a lady with getting ready." Her hand fluttered along the satin and blue eyes flickered to Rose, "...or to arrange hair?"

Rose wasn't sure if that was a jab at her hair or not. Sure, a couple of ponytails weren't exactly runway but it kept her hair out of her face and still looked pretty. Her jaw hardened and she forced a smile, "Nope. Some things you just got to do for yourself no matter who you are. Might be something you should get used to."

Reinette still smiled, "I'm afraid I might need a little help on that. The hair, I mean. Marie and Elena have helped me dress and do my hair for years now. And I'm sure that tangles are not in fashion anywhere."

Rose turned away and shrugged. "Sure you'll figure it out. Isn't like brushing your hair is that hard." Maybe the bikini. Yeah. She should wear that.

"Indeed," Reinette said neutrally and then continued to walk along the line of clothing.

That was the end of speaking for a little while. Rose picked out a loose shirt with a low neckline and equally baggy pants to wear on her way out. The bikini would be worn beneath and she'd have a good time watching Mickey's eyes bulge out if they actually did get a chance to swim.

Another chance to see if the Doctor's eyes would linger too.

She turned to look at Reinette and raised her brows to find that the woman didn't have a single piece of clothing pulled out. And she was still walking through nineteenth century dresses now.

"Uh, Reinette?"

The woman looked over, "Yes, Rose?"

"Probably should, you know, pick something out. Might be there any minute and the Doctor doesn't like to be kept waiting," she smiled as a mask to impatience, "You know. Chop chop."

Reinette's brows raised and her expression became slightly cooler, "He doesn't, does he?" She smiled in return, "Most men do not. However, they will usually wait for things that they want." Her eyes went back to the dresses.

Rose's eyebrows skyrocketed upwards, "What? And you think he wants you?" Her tone was sharp and she laughed slightly, shifting her weight.

A beat and then Reinette glanced over. Just a glance without moving her head or turning her form, and then she turned back to the satin gown. Smooth and casual. The profile of her face and the curve of her neckline its own eloquent answer.

That did it.

Rose's jaw line clenched, "Look, I don' know what you think is going on here. But this is the Doctor. Saving people is just what he does. And you may be all high and mighty up in the French court of seventeen what-ever, but I promise, he didn't notice any of that," of course that wasn't exactly true, but, "He's saved dozens of girls and a lot of them prettier than you. Just because he felt sorry for you and asked you to come along, don't go thinking that he's...he's..."

"As attracted to me as he is to you?"

Rose stared, "He is... it's not like that with us!"

Reinette sighed and pulled a nineteenth century bathing suit off of its rack. It was black and made of wool and if Rose hadn't seen old movies, she'd of never guessed its function at all. "Perhaps not. But let us not fool ourselves, Rose. Both of us are here as women he has saved and deemed interesting to divert him for a time." She smiled, expression still gentle, "Not to say that he does not care for us, but we are fulfilling a role."

"Like you do as the King's mistress? Fulfill a need?" Rose's cheeks flush, "Is that what you think this is?"

Reinette laughed softly, "Yes. And no." She ran her fingers over the suit began walking towards a series of what looked like frock coats. "Men like to have control, Rose. Every single one of them. And in their own minds they see their lives and, in their lives, a place for others. Friends. Family. Women. And intimacy, of any sort, is all about fulfilling those expectations and in some unique notable way, exceeding them."

"The Doctor isn't like that," Rose said grimly.

"Isn't he?" Reinette raised a delicate brow. Rose didn't answer right away and Reinette smiled again, this time with sympathy. It rankled, and Rose felt her hackles raise anew at the condescension. "So tell me, Rose Tyler, what does that mean that you are going to head out and go back to him simply because you don't want him to be upset that you took too much time to get ready, while I'll remain here, take my time, and get ready at the pace I deem?"

"That you are an inconsiderate bag who thinks that just 'cause she waggled her ass at a daft Prince she's got it all sorted." Rose said flatly and turned to walk out, floppy hat clenched in hand.

"Perhaps. But beyond that? It means that I'm the one who won't conform. And that, Rose, means that I'm the one who will always stand out," Reinette said simply, calmly.

Rose inhaled in a hiss and slammed the door as she exited.