Notes: Thank you for reading and following! I'm not sure if I'm keeping everyone in character as much as I hope I am... but between my editor and I, we've decided that I somehow turn everything fluffy. I hope you like it anyway ;)
Chapter 8 – Auld Lang Syne
When Rose awoke, it was still very dark. It had been quite early when they tumbled into bed and they hadn't had supper either, so her stomach was protesting loudly. Alec was wrapped around her snugly. She stayed in place and just enjoyed it. It had been so long since she had someone to snuggle with at night, even longer for Alec. They both needed the support of having someone like this.
When he rolled over slightly, Rose took the opportunity to find something for them to eat. She had been away for almost a week, so there wasn't much, but she found a bag of pasta and a jar of sauce in the cupboard and decided it would be good enough.
The smell of pasta sauce seemed to be enough to rouse Alec from sleep. He hugged her from behind as she stirred their dinner on the stove.
"Hello," she said and turned her head to kiss his cheek.
"Hello," he replied in a voice that was still a bit gravelly from sleep. "Hungry are you?"
"Well, we did skip dinner in favour of dessert," she answered cheekily.
"I definitely owe you a few dinners at this point. Especially if you and I are official. We are, aren't we?" he asked nervously.
Rose laughed at his sudden insecurity. "Yes, Alec, I think it's safe to say that we are official. Although, I still have to have a talk with dad regarding the press," she informed him.
"Why would your dad be involved?" he wondered.
"He has PR people that can handle the tabloids and such better. It would be nice to catch it before they start jumping to conclusions, although they will anyway," she explained unhappily.
"You're probably right. It'd be enough that you were dating again, let alone that your new beau looks exactly like your husband did," he admitted. "That being said, I am taking you out for New Year's Eve. PR people or no." He punctuated his intentions with a soft kiss on her neck.
Rose hummed happily as she turned off the heat and moved to drain the pasta. Alec found plates in the cupboard and they settled in for a very late supper before going back to bed.
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Alec hadn't spent the night with Rose again since Boxing Day, but she was eagerly awaiting their promised date for New Year's Eve. He had found a nice restaurant in one of the other towns in Dorset. She wasn't familiar with the area, but followed the directions he gave easily.
It was the first time that she had gone anywhere outside of Broadchurch with the exception of her little trip back to London. The countryside here was beautiful, she realized as she drove them through the green, rolling hills.
The restaurant was nice and they had a quiet table near the back. Rose had never quite done this kind of dating with the Doctor. Yes, there were formal dinners for all of the Vitex and Torchwood things, but not fancy restaurants. When they were travelling, it was all alien foods and unusual rituals and such. Once they were trapped in this world, they never felt the need for dates. It was all adventure and travelling the world and going on missions for Torchwood. But this was nice. It felt very... human.
"This is lovely, Alec, thank you," Rose told him and entwined their fingers together over the table.
"I'm very glad you like it. I haven't done anything like this in a very long time," he admitted sheepishly.
"I was just thinking about the fact that I don't think I've ever had a proper, normal date in my life. My first boyfriend was a disaster, my second would just take me to the pub to watch football, then I met the Doctor. He didn't really do romance," she told him reassuringly.
"I'm pleased that the bar is set low. I might have a chance at reaching it," he laughed.
Dinner conversation was pleasant and easy. After dinner, there was a party in the bar area and they stayed to dance and enjoy drinks until the countdown for midnight. Alec gave her a kiss for the New Year and they went back to Rose's house to spend the night together.
It wasn't until Rose was awakened by her phone ringing the next morning that they had any indication of a problem with their date. She fumbled with the phone on her nightstand for a moment before mumbling a sleepy, "Hello?"
"Rose! Oh my god! You'll never believe what's in the bloody papers this morning!" Jackie shrieked loudly.
"Calm down, mum. I take it we were seen. How bad is it?" Rose grumbled and flopped back onto her pillow, Alec cuddled into her side where he could easily overhear her mother.
"Oh, sweetheart, it's just awful! Pete has got the PR people on it today. They're going to get a press release together, but you need to know that those vultures will all get their due. I can't believe they had the nerve to write that," Jackie ranted loudly.
"Alright, what is it that they said that's got you in such a huff? We knew they'd be all over the fact that he looks like the Doctor," Rose responded, resigned to being at the mercy of the tabloids.
"Rose, they're saying that he IS the Doctor! They're saying we faked his death and has been in hiding," her mum informed her.
Rose's breath caught in her throat. Well, that was unexpected. She thought it would be painting her as shallow and it being too soon. She wasn't prepared for them to slander her husband or Alec's names with something that ridiculous.
"What?" was all she managed to choke out.
Alec sensed her distress and took the phone from her limp fingers. "Mrs. Tyler? This is Alec. Thank you for the warning before we saw it or heard it from some stranger. We'll be happy to speak with Mr. Tyler's PR people at their earliest convenience to clear this up. Rose is a bit shocked right now, but I'll take good care of her," he explained.
"You've already been taking good care of her, I can tell. Thank you for looking out for my baby," Jackie replied. "Tell Rose, I'll talk to her later, after she's had a chance to calm down."
"Will do," he said and ended the call. Rose was trembling slightly when he took her in his arms. "Shh, it's alright. We knew something was coming given the public figure that you are," he told her soothingly.
"I thought it would be me that they'd go after. I thought they'd say that it was too soon or that I was shallow for choosing someone who looked like John as a replacement. We already know those things aren't true. But to have them disrespecting him by saying that we faked his death? Disrespecting you to even question who you are? That's just not..." she argued through her tears.
"Don't you worry about me. They all know who I am, they've been plaguing me for almost two years about Sandbrook. It's easy enough to prove that I'm not John Tyler. But you're right in that it is terribly disrespectful of them to say those things about him," Alec said supportively as he stroked her arm calmly.
Alec brought her some tea and toast in bed as she emailed her father's PR team in London. Together, they formulated a statement that should put them all in their place and the local television news people were contacted so that Rose could speak to them directly. It was decided that it would be best if Alec appeared with her to emphasize the differences between him and John Tyler. The public had seen John in public with Rose frequently and they felt that the differences in accent and demeanour would be clear. A meeting with the press was arranged for early that afternoon.
Rose and Alec took their time getting ready. They enjoyed a shared shower that went on long enough to be well out of hot water before they had finished cleaning up. She carefully styled her hair and applied her makeup, dressing professionally, as had been expected of her when she made statements on behalf of Torchwood. Alec had only brought casual clothes with him for the day, not expecting to need a suit the day after their date, considering it was a holiday. After freshening things up in the dryer, and making ample use of Rose's iron, he was quite presentable. Thankfully, what he had worn on their date was very neutral and wouldn't scream to the press that it was the same clothing that he had been photographed in the night before.
When they arrived at the agreed upon location for the press, the cameras were already flashing. Rose and Alec stood before them confidently and took a deep breath as they all seemed ready for whatever she would say.
"Some very disturbing accusations have been made regarding the man standing next to me. The press should know him very well considering all of their attention on him over the last two years. He is a police officer, named Alec Hardy," she began and took his hand in her own.
"Seven months ago, the man you all knew as my husband, John Tyler, was killed in an incident with Torchwood. I was devastated by his death and needed to escape the life I had known in London. Coming to work in Broadchurch, I coincidentally met Alec Hardy as a coworker. He has become a close friend and supported me greatly during my emotional recovery from the tragedy," Rose continued.
Alec took over, "Rose hadn't been eating or sleeping properly when she moved here. I saw a broken young lady, in need of friendship and support. We have recently decided to allow that relationship to shift somewhat and would appreciate privacy and a lack of speculation regarding the similarities in my appearance to Rose's late husband, Doctor John Tyler."
"The suggestion that John's death was faked was extremely disrespectful to a man who was brilliant, kind, and brave. He and I worked together diligently with Torchwood to protect everyone from unusual threats like the Cybermen and multiple classified missions. He will be loved and mourned for as long as I live, but life goes on and the last message that he gave to me was to have a fantastic life and not be alone. I intend to honour his wishes and surround myself with people who make me happy. Thank you for your time," Rose concluded and together, she and Alec left the scene before any further questions could crack the facade that she had erected to keep the tears at bay.
She drove them the short distance to the beach and threw the car into park. They stayed seated inside the car as she closed her eyes and breathed deeply. Alec took her hand in his and stroked the back of it with his thumb.
"You did it, Rose. It's done now," he whispered supportively.
"It's not done. You know it's not. They'll never leave us alone," she whimpered and kept her eyes clenched shut. She knew she couldn't drive safely right now, but had to get them away from the cameras. She hoped they were far enough away here that the reporters wouldn't follow them for long enough that she could collect her wits again.
"I know. But the truth has been told. Now we just have to deal with the day to day. What you did just now, Rose, showed strength and bravery. And convinced me beyond a shadow of a doubt that I love you," Alec told her earnestly.
"Oh Alec, thank you, I..." she began, but he placed a finger over her mouth.
"Please, don't feel like you have to say anything of the sort just because I have. Today has been bloody awful for you and you don't need that kind of pressure. I needed you to know," he interrupted and replaced his finger with his lips for a quick kiss.
Rose smiled weakly at him and nodded. Neither of them had said the word 'love' in all of their time together, despite the intimacy of their relations recently. But she felt it too. Somehow, though, it wasn't the right time to tell him. Not when they had just defended the memory of her dead husband to the world. The good thing about love was that you never replaced one person with another, it simply grew to envelop all of the people that were important in your life.
Alec's place was closer than hers from the beach and so, once she had calmed down enough to drive safely, she parked as close as she could and they walked the rest of the way to his little bungalow. They snuggled on the couch together, talked about nonsense and ordered take-out for dinner. Rose stayed the night sharing his little bed for the first time. With all the stress of the day though, it was no wonder that both of them would see the return of their nightmares.
