Hello! Sorry it's been quite a while, I've been trying to finish off my other fics before I get properly stuck into this one.

By the way, I'm not advertising or anything (except I totally am) but I've got another fic out at the mo, called 'All I Need'. Basically it's a re-write of an earlier fic of mine, 'Love Triangle'. Rose stumbles across Harry Saxon, who's a 'fobwatched' Time Lord. He falls in love with her, but then the Doctor finds out, and then Harry realises who he is, and so forth. It's Doctor/Rose of course, with a bit of Rose/Harold. Oh, and it's also got Donna! :) It's a lot better than it sounds, I promise!

Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who.


Rose pulled away first, utterly shocked. She blinked at him and grinned, the Doctor's taste still lingering on her swollen lips.

"What's brought all this on?" He wrapped an arm around her waist as he pondered over her question.

"This might help me understand how I feel about you. Maybe," He offered, bending over to kiss her again. Rose raised a finger to his puckered lips and pushed them away, despite her heart throbbing wildly and mentally shouting at herself for not taking the chance. He pouted petulantly and narrowed his eyes. "Something wrong?"

"It's just..I never pictured it like this."

"What didn't you picture?"

Rose flushed a furious red and averted her gaze. The Doctor waited patiently, his arms suddenly feeling heavy as he released her from his grasp. Clearing his throat, he scratched his neck as the silence overpowered the space. Rose shivered; it wasn't cold, but she suddenly felt afraid.

"How's your arm?"

Rose stared at him. She'd forgotten that her arm even hurt after that kiss, and yet that was one of his main concerns? Rose moved it mechanically, cringing as the pain shot through her arm. It brought her back down to earth; made her see things clearer. The Doctor offered her a hand, which Rose could only look at.

"Want me to take another look?" He moved closer.

This wasn't how it was supposed to be. They were best friends, first and foremost. Why did everything feel so awkward all of a sudden? It was true, sometimes a kiss shifted the entire focus of a world, but it didn't have to be like that. Even if that's what Rose wanted.

Rose shook her head, a lump rising in her throat, "Uh, I think I'll be OK. Thanks."

The Doctor withdrew his hand, shoving it in his pocket and edging towards the door. "Well. Uh, I'll be in the console room. If you want me....yeah."

Once he'd slid out the door, Rose dropped onto her bed and touched her lips tenderly. They couldn't ignore that kiss, the intense feelings that had been bubbling over since day one.

She changed into her jogging bottoms and slipped into her bed, wrapping her good hand around a pillow and lent her head against it. She'd been exhausted earlier, but now, she couldn't get her eyes to close. Everytime she did, she remembered the way the Doctor's hands fitted into the crook of her lower back perfectly, and the way, when their lips moulded together, it was pure magic. Her mind taunted her like this until she sat up, hours later, unable to sleep and tired of seeing the Doctor.

Her eyes darted to her desk, where her pink notes lay, almost invisible in the darkness. Switching on the tiny lamp, she pushed the covers to one side and hopped to her desk. She sat down and grabbed a pen, poising her hand over the pad as she waited for inspiration to strike.

But what could she say? Hi Doctor, I'm in love with you, and I really enjoyed that kiss. Did you?

Yes, because he would just love the confrontational tone, wouldn't he? He was an alien, but he was still a man. And maybe he didn't find it awkward. Maybe, in his race, awkward silences were customary after passionate kisses.

Groaning, she slammed her pen down with more force than necessary. What she had to say couldn't fit onto a tiny pad of paper, and she wasn't going to get to sleep without talking to the Doctor.

She wrenched her cardigan on and made her way to the console room, where the Doctor said he'd be. The only sound was the soothing hum of the TARDIS, but there was no sign of the Time Lord. She frowned. If the Doctor wasn't in there, where could he be? The TARDIS was huge, and she didn't know her way around the whole spaceship. He could be anywhere.

Luckily, as she span on her heel, she came face to face with the Doctor. She jumped out of her skin; the TARDIS interior was dark and she only saw the shadows drawn across his angular features. He looked older in this light.

"You OK? I thought you were asleep," He asked, the light suddenly popping on. Rose blinked as her eyes adjusted to the brightness, dazed.

"No. I couldn't get to sleep."

"Oh," The Doctor said hesitantly, as she wrapped her cardigan closer to her body to sustain heat. He noticed, "Are you cold? You should've said something, you know I don't feel the cold like you do," His tone chided her slightly, but Rose was too vexed to care. How should she start?

"I was thinking that you might like to see you mum soon, maybe," The Doctor suggested. Rose's blood ran cold. Was he trying to get rid of her?

"Hmm?" She croaked from the back of her throat, keeping her lips closed so she didn't blurt something out.

"It's just a thought. She doesn't know about your arm yet, and you haven't seen her in a while. And you might need to see an actual doctor about that injury. It could be serious," He noted, not looking at her.

"I don't need another doctor, I've got you," Rose protested quietly, but her words hung in the air like a heavy fog.

He looked up at her, "I know, but I'm just looking out for you. I want you to be healthy for our next adventures!"

The fact that he wanted more adventures with her calmed Rose's heart somewhat, but she still felt like he was trying to dispose of her. He usually hated taking her to see Jackie and Mickey, just in case a planet was being invaded whilst they nattered about what had been on the telly the night before.

"Well, OK. If you don't mind," Rose shrugged, as nonchalant as she could achieve with an aching arm and a fractured heart.

The Doctor paused. Tell her you do mind. Tell her you want her to be yours, starting from now and staying that way forever. His mind screamed these thoughts, but he tried to focus on the rational responses. Let her go and visit. She'll be back soon.

"I don't mind," He confirmed, his voice tightening as the conflict grew louder in his head. He set the correct co-ordinates for Earth and stood back, folding his arms in a defensive position. He glanced at the monitor, "May 1st, 2006. That OK?"

"Yeah, s'pose," Rose authorized involuntarily, realising she was still in her pyjamas. The Doctor's eyes flicked to her as he heard his favourite sound, her tinkling laugh. He had no idea what she'd found funny, and neither did Rose herself. She gathered it was probably from hysteria. Without another word, she slipped to her room and grabbed the clothes that had been discarded on the bed earlier. She made her way to the bathroom and jumped into the shower on quickly, the warm droplets splashing onto her skin. She rubbed the shampoo and rinsed, but her mind wasn't all there. It was down the corridor, with the alien that she'd unwillingly given her heart to.

It took her five minutes to get dry and dressed. She threw her hair up instead of drying it, and applied minimal sweeps of mascara to keep it light. Sighing, she opened the door and shuffled to the console room. The Doctor smiled at her when she entered, and motioned to the door.

"There you go! I'll be back in about...five hours, if you want," The Doctor stated. Rose couldn't help but grin at his words. I'll be back.

"OK," Rose nodded, her mood brightening instantly. She pulled her denim jacket on and lingered by the doorway, trying to voice what she wanted to say. Again, her brain betrayed her, as she muttered a simple 'bye'.

The doors closed, and the Doctor's body slumped. It was tough in the tense atmosphere, but that didn't mean he wanted Rose to leave. In fact, more than ever, he wanted her to stay with him. He'd kissed her to find out how he felt about her, but it just made things more complicated.

Maybe another kiss would help....?

He dismissed this thought. But Rose had said she'd wished they were together, so surely she enjoyed that kiss?

It was all so frustrating! He didn't want to lose her, which he was afraid would happen if he told her how he really felt. But on the other hand, it could be the best thing that he's ever done. And she was worth it.

That was it. He'd decided to tell her how he felt about her. He just needed to figure it out himself first.


"I tell ya, when I get my hands on him..." Jackie hissed fiercely, handing Rose a mug of coffee, "He promised me that you'd be safe, but you come home with a broken arm! He doesn't need to worry about an alien killin' him, not if I've got there first-"

"Mum! First, I haven't broken anythin', I've just twisted my elbow. And it was my own fault; I fell on the TARDIS floor. No need to start threatenin' anyone," Rose blew on her mug, the steam circling around her. Jackie settled into the sofa and tutted.

"Have you seen a doctor?"

"No."

"I suppose the Doctor won't let you?" Jackie presumed.

"No, actually, he thinks I should see one too, Mum. I'm the one who doesn't want to see one," Rose snapped angrily. Jackie pulled a face.

"Oi, you're not too old for a slap! I'm still your mother," She reprimanded her daughter, before softening, "Why don't you want to see a doctor, love? They'll be able to check if you've broken somethin', so you don't harm it when you go off with 'im again."

"For the last time, it's not broken, I can move it fine!" In her stubborn rage, Rose jerked her bad arm. She failed to cover up her wince, though, as the pain shot through her arm. Jackie arched a brow in an 'I told you so' manner, although she was concerned. Rose was anxious to change the subject, "So, how's work and everythin'? Are you still seein' Howard?"

"Yeah. He's lovely, makes me feel really special," Jackie had an enigmatic smile on her face that made Rose happy. "How about you and the Doctor? Did the jealously thing work?"

"No really," Rose took a sip of her coffee, "I don't think he even does jealously. It's not in his genetic make-up or somethin'. We're travelled with Mickey before, and Adam, and Jack, and he seemed to...enjoy it. Which is weird."

"He enjoyed travellin' with men?" Jackie curved an eyebrow again mischievously, "I can't say I'm surprised. Mickey told me that when he was around Captain whatshisface, he seemed to be...flirty."

"Mum!" Rose cried, exasperated, "He's not gay! And you can't believe what Mickey says anyway. He was jealous."

"Hey! Mickey seemed really serious," Jackie responded innocently. Rose got up suddenly, grabbing her coat. "Oh come on, love, I was only kiddin'! Mickey said they seemed friendly, that's all," Jackie defended herself, before adding, "He's infatuated with you, I promise."

"What, Mickey? No, Mum, I can't-"

"No, not him! The Doctor."

Rose flushed, still hovering at the doorway, "No he's not."

"He is! I've seen the way he looks at you. I know love when I see it."

Rose flopped into her seat again, "Then why can't he?"


Five hours later, there was a knock at the door. Jackie threw the door open, glaring at him.

"Care to explain my daughter's arm?" She said icily. The Doctor panicked as she continued, "I've had to take her down to hospital because it was swelling badly. She fainted too on the way, and now she's in a coma. They don't think they can bring her round to consciousness."

The Doctor's eyes widened in alarm.

"Mum!" A familiar voice called, as Rose peeked into view, "Don't do that!"

Relief flooded into the Doctor's system as his hearts remembered how to beat. Rose approached the door and swatted Jackie playfully. "That's not even funny. Ever heard of the boy who cried wolf? Come in," She ushered the Time Lord in, as Jackie laughed.

"Hey, he'd already be dead if that'd really happened," Jackie said, patting the Doctor on the back, "You should be glad it's only twisted."

"You went to see a doctor?" He enquired to his companion, who shook her head.

"Mum's givin' me the benefit of the doubt, for once," She poked her tongue out teasingly. Although she'd had fun catching up with her mother, she was back by the Doctor, and that was where she really wanted to be.

"D'you want a cuppa?" Jackie asked from the kitchen.

"No thanks," He declined, staring at Rose. He hadn't seen her this happy since...after the kiss, before the awkwardness had ensued. OK, that wasn't that long ago, but a lot had happened since then. He was glad she'd remembered how to smile, because it was an amazing sight. "You been up to much?"

"Nah, just talkin' really. You?"

"Uh, I fixed the stabilisers, which I've been meaning to do for ages. The chair's ultra secure now too, so you can sit on it. Can't say the same about the floor. Still the same old holey, Rose-magnet it was before," He said humorously, a glint in his eye that Rose couldn't quite understand. He glanced outside; it was getting dark, "You ready to go?"

"I think so," She disappeared into the kitchen to hug her mum. After promises of safety and goodbyes, they left Jackie and sauntered to the TARDIS. It was a long walk, as the Doctor had parked it in the old playground, where nobody could see it.

The Doctor brushed Rose's hand a few times accidentally, which sent electrical pulses through his body. Rose's cheeks tinged pink, which was visible even in the twilight sky, so the Doctor assumed she'd felt it to. He wanted to reach out and grasp her hand, to trace each groove and curve embedded in her palm.

They reached the TARDIS and the recognizable hum radiating from the console relaxed Rose. She flung her denim jacket over the railing, where it settled snugly with the Doctor's long brown coat. She walked to her room, and, as she entered, she noticed a yellow thing poking from the grating underneath. She bent down, careful not to catch any body parts in the crevices, like last time. She plucked the post-it note from the floor and read it.

Rose,

I told you you were a magnet for the floor!

And I honestly don't mind that we're not out there, exploring
the universe. I'd rather you were safe.

The universe can wait for us another day.

Love, the Doctor xxx