A/N. The possibilities of toying with the 'what did I do last night?' trope are endless. But having the uncomfortable Doctor and the very tense Rose does nothing to help. Besides, they keep on being silly.

Previously…

"I'm certain it was something to remember!"

"There is just one little thing – we don't", she muttered, hoping the three others did not either.

Star: Chapter Seven

"I could put something on, if-"

"I'm fine with not looking, seriously," Rose hurried to assure him. This has but made the Doctor sigh. The girl was obviously flustered.

"This won't do for either of us. I need… to look at you. To see-"

Rose held her breath.

"No! That's not what I meant… We should try to recall some things, yeah? Wearing the same clothes should- it should trigger our memories somehow-"

"If you say so…" At that moment, Rose was not sure if she was prepared to remember anything. She was glad the Doctor could not see her face. It had to be flushed red by now. Whatever had been the reason of their having ended up naked in the Doctor's bed together was a thing they had to figure out. However, any careful question given might cause some unneeded suspicion in the other companions' heads. The blonde sighed in frustration.

The Time Lord shrugged. "My eyes are closed. Grab your clothes and put them on… or if you'd like, I could leave for the en suite-"

Her mind was working swiftly. Letting the Doctor leave would mean he'd have to return, possibly too soon and not wearing anything. "No need. As long as you keep your eyes closed."

"All right," he said simply, discomfort audible in his voice. "I swear, I did not-"

"Shut up, yeah? It's bad enough as it is."

"What is? The fact we lost control sooner than expected?"

Rose rolled her eyes, almost turning to glare at him.

Donna's voice interrupted the uncomfortable silence – noise-proof walls, the room practically impossible to find, hadn't he said? "Doctor? Is Rose with you, by any chance? We don't seem to find her anywhere!"

"As a matter of fact," he spoke, barely remembering to keep his eyes closed. "Why? Jack and his theories, again?"

The ginger rolled her eyes. "I won't be talking to you through a wall."

"Sure thing!" Rose chirped excitedly. "I'll be out in a sec. Need to use the loo."

Donna shook her head incredulously, but said nothing else, strangely happy to see her coming out alone... and wearing the same clothes, if a tiny bit more crumpled. Knowing the length and intensity of the snogs the amorous Time Lord kept sharing with Rose – nothing surprised her. Nothing but the momentary look of uncertainty on the girl's face. However, it was gone the next moment.

"Where is everyone?" the fair-haired companion looked at Donna curiously. Of course, she was glad there was but one person to face instead of three… or that the person was not Jack. The visible relief on Rose's face has but amused the ginger greatly.

"I have asked the ship to help us find you. Silly of me, isn't it?"

"Not at all," Rose smiled at her. "Why were you so determined to find me?"

"Grew sick of Jack's innuendos. Martha and I, we thought you two would be a nice distraction. Besides, what was taking you so long?"

Rose shrugged, hoping she was succeeding in hiding the mixture of feelings now in her head. "I'm sorry. How long were we away from the action?"

"More like in action," the Captain joined the conversation, dragging Martha with him. She could but send the other two women a desperate glance. "Four hours, give or take. A decent amount of time for a shag, let me tell you!"

Rose was uncertain how to respond.

"Leave her alone. We remembered you were still in need of a birthday party. With all the food et cetera," Donna winked at her.

The Tyler girl bit her lip. Of course. The celebration, however pointless it seemed now, was primarily Jack's idea. It was obvious he would take part in everything related to it. "Jack has known me for years." Rose met his encouraging look and gave him the tiniest of smiles, unwilling to concentrate on what she had done all these years ago. Not with the pressing realisation of what happened only some hours ago.

"But you two… you don't know me at all," the pink and yellow human was quick to remember whom she was talking to.

"We do, actually," Martha spoke, pushing the unpleasant memories away. It seemed almost silly now. Had she met the girl before, many things could have been avoided. But they were long gone and away now – both her crush on the impossible alien and the mindless jealousy. As long as they were happy together…

"Not in person, perhaps. Not yet. That's why you need a proper birthday party," added the dark-skinned companion uncertainly, seeing an identical emotion on the birthday girl's face.

"Can't wait to get to know the two of you better," Rose grinned after a moment.

The Captain grimaced. "What about me, Rosie? Does your gorgeous Captain Jack Harkness mean nothing to you?"

The girl burst into giggles. "You know I love you too, Jack. Not that sure about learning what goes where in some of your newly-discovered alien conquests."

"I'll only say the most important things. Promise. Besides, we have alcohol to fix ever- where's your dearest Doctor, anyway?"

The blonde shrugged. "Trying to figure something out, I'm certain."

"Oh. Going to be away for a long time, then," Donna grimaced. "Would you mind starting the party without him? We even have banana daiquiri, for God's sake."

"One you can't stop thinking about tasting? Go ahead," Rose shrugged. "I'll pass."

"Why? You must know the taste is glorious?"

Jack grabbed Donna's hand. "I don't think our Rosie needs any kind of an alcoholic beverage. Look at her!"

Rose's eyes were unusually wide, mouth visibly forced shut. "Continue without me," she muttered, turning around and hurrying away from the surprised companions… just to bump headfirst into the Doctor, who was too excited to care about being seen by any of his three other travel companions. He was lucky to see Rose rushing towards him… with minor success.

"Careful!" he warned her a second too late.

"Ouch," she let out a whimper, but did not take his hand, almost forgetting to breathe. He knew then, following her back inside and sonicing the door shut.

"You remember," the Gallifreyan noted matter-of-factly.

The way he said it frightened her. Could it be he was ready to intentionally forget this? Simply because it was not something he had expected or planned? Neither had she. Not so soon. And yet… The human gulped. "S-some of it. Do you?"

The Doctor nodded, a thoughtful look on his face. "We still don't know why."

Rose bit her lip. "Does it matter?"

"Oh, my dearest girl," he dropped a momentary kiss on her lips. "I'm sure we can rightly guess why we ended up making love, or however your dirty vocabulary names it. The question is why these particular memories were blocked from us in the first place."

"Does it matter?" she repeated, persistent.

"Can't say I recall a lot," the Time Lord admitted sadly. "But it's returning to me. Slowly. That's why I'm still here. How's your head?"

Rose eyed him meaningfully, giggling. "If every such crash hurt me, I'd be dead a thousand times already."

"Don't speak of death and you in the same sentence. Not ever."

"Not even if-"

"Not even if you're incarnating the Grim Reaper. Nope."

Rose smirked at him. "All right. Just teasing you. Was never going to intentionally say 'death' and 'Rose Tyler' in one sentence anyway. Oh, oops?" the fair-haired companion was watching him, her look provoking.

"You know I could never win against you in this teasing war if I tried, Rose," he eyed her lovingly.

"Particularly if you tried, Doctor," the fair-haired companion smiled, but froze, feeling his fingers drawing circles on her hand. "What is this for?"

"I think we should try to somehow reconstruct some of our experience together- what do you think, Rose?"

He could see the blonde was uncertain… and a little bit afraid of the possibilities this presented.

"I don't mean mental connection." The Doctor could see a glimmer of recognition kindle in her eyes. "Not yet," he spoke softly. "The human way. You tell me what you remember. I tell you about my memories. Is this okay?"

Rose shook her head, petrified. This was far from what she'd expected. "How do you imagine this going?" she made a face. "'and then my cock entered you. It was an experience like no other.' Something like that?" Rose rolled her eyes.

The Doctor smirked. "You're right. This sounds terribly wrong. What do you suggest, love?"

The companion breathed in, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Are these memories returning to you still?"

"Some of them, yes. But they're no longer striking me unexpectedly."

"Would you be able to behave normally? Not the way I have?"

"Are you still startled by these?"

"No."

"All is well, then. Allons-y?"

"Where?"

"To your birthday party, Rose! I have asked the TARDIS to prepare a generous amount of banana daiquiri just for that reason," he smirked at her.

"You do realise Jack will drink his hypervodka rather than anything else?"

"Oh. Jack. He drinks everything, but hardly ever gets drunk. Hypervodka is his salvation. And ours," the Doctor peered at her knowingly.

Rose shook her head, but allowed the alien to lead her to where the celebration was very likely taking place already. Without them.

Martha was the first to address important matters. "Jack. Rose was perfectly fine one moment, then seemed somehow dazed the next. Is she all right?"

"She must be very much all right. Might have remembered something. All sorts of things happen in Torchwood. This wouldn't be something remotely worrying."

"Yes?"

"No need to worry, ladies. Some drops of hypervodka in her tea, and not only will she be fine again, but will tell us everything."

A/N. They will remember. One day… Oh, wait. It's the same day still. o.O