Disclaimer: Doctor Who isn't mine. If it was things would be quite different. The BBC owns all and I bow before them.

Pairing: Rose x Tentoo. The Doctor and Rose's TARDIS might still be a small clipping growing in the tank in his study at the moment, but that didn't mean they couldn't resume some of the activities they had once shared together aboard her.

Written for timepetalsprompts on tumblr and their weekly drabble prompt: obsession. I'm afraid I couldn't keep this one to 100 words...

Author's Note: For anyone interested, Rose and the Doctor meet Shakespeare in the comic A Groatsworth of Wit by Gareth Roberts. It was originally published in the Doctor Who magazine and recollected Doctor Who: The Cruel Sea. The story itself takes place after Father's Day but before they WWII and meeting Jack Harkness.

Interestingly enough, the comic itself does use the word 'obsession' to describe Robert Greene who I do mention in this ficlet (he's jealous of Shakespeare and wants to kill him). I didn't remember that tidbit when I read the prompt, I just remembered the Doctor and Rose meeting Shakespeare in it and that maybe in Pete's World that lost play still existed but I found it a neat coincidence.


Reading Time

Rose saw the Doctor bathed in moonlight as she ascended the stairway in their new home. It was far enough on the outskirts of London that the city light was minimal and the stars were readily visible.

"Hey." There was a wistful look on his face as he turned at the sound of her footsteps.

"Hey," she answered back, unsure of what to say. She knew he was happy to be there with her, but that it wasn't always easy for him. There had been so much adjustment the past two weeks since DÃ¥rlig Ulv Stranden, but they were finally getting into to a groove, now that they were settled in.

She walked over to the Doctor and slipped her hand into his, giving it a squeeze. "We'll be back out there before you know it."

"Yeah," he agreed with a soft smile. He then moved her into his arms and rested his chin against her head. "And even if we couldn't, I've still got you."

"Always." Rose nodded to him and then glanced up at the stars. Their TARDIS might still be a small clipping growing in the tank in his study at the moment, but that didn't mean they couldn't resume some of the activities they had once shared together aboard her.

Her eyes flitted over to the bookcase and inspiration struck. She knew exactly how she could make the Doctor not just smile, but truly beam. Feed into one of his obsessions. No, not obsessions, she corrected herself. That brought to mind Robert Greene and how he had almost ended the world on one of her trips aboard the TARDIS.

The Doctor was nothing like that. But he was a fanboy, and those earlier adventures they had had with Charles Dickens and Shakespeare had shown her his love of the written word. She had already decided to save The Marauder's Tale as a Christmas present to him, but why not show him some of the advantages of this universe?

Untucking herself from against his body, Rose titled her head towards the stairs. "C'mon," she said. "I have a surprise for you."

The Doctor followed her downstairs and raised his eyebrows when she picked up her car keys. "What're you up to?"

"If I tell you, it won't be a surprise!" Rose flashed him a tongue-touched grin and they headed out the door.

Fifteen minutes later, she pulled into the driveway at the Tyler mansion and the Doctor looked at her quizzically. "Your parents?"

"I just need to grab something." She glanced at the mansion and took in which lights were still on. "Mum's probably putting Tony to bed and I just need to speak to Pete for a moment."

Not wanting to make this trip take any longer than it needed to, she went over to the window of Pete's study. He was sitting at his desk, immersed in paperwork.

Rose knocked softly on the window and saw her stepfather look up in surprise.

"Rose?"

She put a finger to her lips and motioned him to come over to the window. He did so and opened it a crack.

"We're not here for a visit," she told him immediately. "I just hoped you'd lend me a few books. I think the Doctor might enjoy them and wanted to start tonight."

"Sure." This wasn't the first time she'd made seemingly odd requests of Pete at strange hours and he had long ago decided to go with it when she did. "What books would you like?"

Rose told him the titles she was looking for and after he made a quick dash to his library, Pete placed them in her hands.

"Have a goodnight, Rose." He kissed her forehead and waved to the Doctor.

She turned the books upside down, one on top of the other, and returned to the car.

"Now will you tell me?" The Doctor asked, motioning towards the books.

"There's a lot off differences in this universe. Some things don't exist here that do in our home universe, the reverse is also true. I thought we could read together again, like we used to on the TARDIS."

Rose handed the two books to the Doctor and watched his face as he turned the top one over. Love's Labour's Won was written across the front in fancy gold script. He made a pleased sound in the back of his throat and then turned over the other book. This one had a Victorian cover and The Mystery of Edwin Drood, written in cursive.

"That's just brilliant!" he enthused, his eyes round with excitement.

"So you want to go home and start reading them to me?"

"Rose Tyler," the Doctor said as he set the books down and leaned over to kiss her briefly, "there's nothing I'd rather do."

Thirty minutes later, back at home and both of them in their jimjams, Rose snuggled up to the Doctor's side. "I love you," he told her as he picked up The Mystery of Edwin Drood and opened it to the first page.

"Love you too," she whispered back and then listened contently as the Doctor began to read aloud.