Chapter 10

A/N: Hope you all had a lovely holiday week last week! I thought the new Doctor Who episode was brilliant, one of the best episodes this season. Anyways here's the chapter. It also is unbeta'd for now because I wanted to go ahead and post, but I might update it later when it is beta'd. I hope you like this one! It's kinda short.

Rose needed to get out, now. This could not be happening. How could Astrid and Joan have actually showed the tape knowing what that would do to her? As Rose darted out of the house, her heart thudded in her ears, and she moved faster than she ever had before. Really, this whole thing was her fault to begin with, seeing how careless as had been. Cassandra had cameras all over the house, recording everything everyone said. Rose should have known better than to say something about someone in front of one of the cameras.

"Rose! Rose, slow down." She heard the Doctor yell from behind her. If she was in a better mood, she might tease him for being slower than her. Just last week, he had claimed to be the fastest runner in the entire school. It was different now, though, that it wasn't just a game. For a moment, Rose wondered if the Doctor had even heard the recording. Why would he be running after her if he had? Why did he even care? She stopped abruptly.

"Just go back to the party!" Before she could stop herself, she collapsed on the grass and buried her face in her knees. Anger and frustration were bubbling up inside of her uncontrollably, unanswered questions filling her mind from years of doubting herself. "Why do you even care? Is it that I'm your stupid charity case? The poor, untalented orphan girl who struggles to make passing grades. Just leave! I'm done playing your sick games!" Her hands were shaking and her voice came out weaker than she'd expected, but she hoped that he would get the point. Rose really didn't want to cry in front of him because she didn't want him to think she cared about him enough to let him hurt her. She wondered when she'd started The Doctor had started to mean this much to her. Of course now, she had given up any chances of any relationship she could have ever had with him. Rose braced herself for the sound of him running away from her and for the shouting she expected, but then she heard someone shuffling towards her and felt surprisingly strong arms wrap themselves around her body.

"Rose, it's okay. Just calm down." His soothing voice calmed Rose more than she would have liked to admit. She forgot, for a moment, that she was angry with him. Forgot that he had hurt her and that he probably hated her. For a moment, they weren't a teen super star and a maid. They weren't the Doctor, legendary musician, and Rose. They were just John Smith and Rose Tyler. She felt him lie his head atop hers and take a deep breath. She did the same, breathing deeply through the quiet sobs wracking her body. After a few minutes she had managed to stop her tears and calm her thudding heart.

"'M sorry. For everything." She whispered softly. "I don't deserve a friend like you. Why are you still here after everything I just said?"

"Rose," he paused as if considering his answer, "Do you think I care for you so little that what you said would make a difference?" The Doctor's tone was somber, and her heart ached hearing the defeated tone in his voice. It wasn't as if any of this was his fault, except for the thing in the cafeteria with Martha. Rose wondered why the thought of him flirting with another girl upset her so much. If she wasn't so jealous, if she'd just forgiven him, everything would be fine now.

"You're not my charity case." The Doctor's voice startled her. "Just so you know."

"I-I know. I know." She took a steadying breath to calm her wobbling voice. "The stuff you heard on the video, it's not true. I don't think that anymore; haven't since the day I met you. It was wrong of me to judge you; guess I just assumed all celebrities are like Cassandra. You're the kindest person I've ever met." His arms finally unwrapped themselves from around her body, and his dark brown eyes met hers. They were so intent, so deep, that she just knew. She knew that if there was someone she wanted to spend the rest of her life with, it would be him. Suddenly, Rose Tyler's feelings for the Doctor grew into something greater than she'd ever experienced in her 17 year existence.

"Rose Tyler, I don't believe anyone has ever said something that's meant that much to me." He laughed. "I'm so glad I met you."

She grinned at him. "Me too."

They say in a companionable silence for a while, lying on the grass staring at the stars. Surprisingly, the sky was clear tonight and more of the night sky was visible tonight, it seemed, than ever before. She glanced over at him beside her, the light of the moon shining over his face. He was enamoured in the sky, looking at it longingly as if he wished he could be up there, among the stars.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" She asked softly. He turned towards her.

"Most beautiful thing I've ever seen." He agreed, smiling directly at her. Rose couldn't help the blush that coloured her face at that.

"That the best line you've got?" Her tongue poked out of her teeth teasingly, amused at the mock hurt on his face.

"That? Nah. Believe me, my best would make you weak at the knees."

"Whatever." Rose grinned. "You like the stars, though. I wouldn't have thought someone like you with all that energy would be able to stay still and just stare up."

"Yeah, I suppose the stars have always fascinated me." The Doctor sighed contentedly. "I would give almost anything to be up there. Traveling through all of time and space, life never staying the same for a single millisecond."

Rose thought for a moment. "You'd get into lots of trouble all the time. Probably offend some high ruler on an alien planet and get yourself beheaded or something." He laughed.

"Yeah, but I would escape before they could carry out the sentence. Come up with some brilliant plan to save both of us. And I wouldn't be the only one getting us into trouble."

"What're you tryin' to say?"

"Just that you would be the most jeopardy-friendly companion in the entire universe. But don't worry!" He said, leaning over her. "I'd still fancy you."