Hello again! No, I'm not dead :D Here's a bit of fluff to stop you all from tying me up and sacrificing me or something. Just take the fluff! TAKE THE FLUFF! Nah, I'm kidding. I'm sorry for the delay with this, school, homework, assessments, major works, graduation assemblies and now exams! Anyway, I'll try not to be so long with the next one!

Also, if I haven't replied to people's reviews and you've asked me questions that I haven't answered, I'm very sorry. I either see the review and forget or I've replied to some and forgotten which ones I've actually responded to. I know, that's why you have an outbox, I know, but that doesn't stop me from being just a little bit terrible at replying to people. Always have been and I'm pretty sure it's incurable. Anyway, happy reading!

xxx

The Doctor sat on the edge of the console platform, swinging his legs aimlessly. He'd landed early to set everything up for his dinner with Rose, but in his haste he had landed too early and had to wait a little longer before venturing out to find her. He was anxious, very anxious. It had been almost two weeks since he had seen her due to a setback he'd faced in a prison a few thousand years into the future.

The small metal dog that he'd analysed walked over to his side and sat down, looking up at him with its head tilted. He smiled fondly and picked up the metal dog and put it on his lap. Ever since he'd discovered it, it seemed to have taken a liking to him and after a thorough search of its data banks he found it to be merely a scout. It wasn't dangerous; in fact it was quite pleasant. It made coming back to an empty TARDIS that little bit easier.

"Right, Mickey," he grinned down at the little metal creature. "I'm going to leave now and I'll be back in a few hours. You be good and don't let anyone in".

The dog tilted its head in curiosity and barked once in a strange robotic voice before replying in a voice not too unlike K9's, if not a little higher pitched.

"Please hurry, Master".

The Doctor smiled. "I want you in bed by ten, you hear me?"

"Affirmative," the dog replied happily.

"You be good," the Doctor stood up and gave the dog a quick pat on the head before turning and heading out the door of the TARDIS. He had no qualms about leaving the robot alone in the TARDIS. True, it had belonged to someone spying on earth, but unlike K9 it wasn't powerful, advanced or any kind of threat.

The walk to Rose's apartment usually took at least twenty minutes, but in his excitement the Doctor made the journey in less than ten. Ambling nimbly up the stairs, he ran straight into someone coming down.

"Sorry," he murmured and looked up to see Rose watching him with a smirk on her face.

"Keen, aren't we?" she laughed. It was very cute that he had been so focused on his mission that he didn't even notice her coming.

The Doctor grinned broadly up at her and held out his hand for her to take. "Well, we're a little bit ahead of schedule now, but I can adapt".

Rose laughed and shook her head. "Would you rather us walk back up so that you can knock on my door and greet me in the usual manner?"

The Doctor paused for a moment to consider this and then shook his head. "No, here's fine," he grinned and stepped down one step so that they could be at eye-level with one another.

Rose caught his drift and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him tenderly on the lips. His arms flailed for a moment before they stopped awkwardly on either side of her midsection. Kissing was definitely something that he needed to work on. Who'd have thought that in all of the years of experience he'd had in the universe, that one regeneration would still act like an inexperienced schoolboy?

It was Rose that pulled back suddenly as a throat cleared behind them. They both flattened themselves against the wall of the narrow stairway and looked up at the person above them.

"Mrs Lynch," Rose greeted. "I'm so sorry, we didn't realise that anyone would be coming down at this time of night".

The older woman pursed her lips. "I'm just on the way to bingo," she sniffed.

Rose nodded in understanding. "And how's Frank?"

The Doctor watched on in confusion as the woman's features softened and she smiled fondly at the mention of the name.

"He's doing just wonderfully, thank you for asking, dear".

The Doctor had to give his head a little shake in order to accommodate this abrupt personality change. When he looked back up at the woman she was watching him with her brow furrowed.

"Oh, sorry," he stepped up to shake her hand. "I'm the- Nicholas, Doctor Nicholas Watson".

"Amelia Lynch," the woman nodded curtly and shook his hand quickly.

"Pleasure to meet you," the Doctor replied and smiled goofily.

Amelia ignored him and turned back to Rose. "You be careful out there, dear. There have been some strange disappearances and I nearly lost Frank the other day. You know how he likes to wander".

"Oh no," Rose nodded seriously. "I'll be sure to watch out whenever I go anywhere".

"Yes, and make sure that you trust who you're with," the older woman glanced down at the Doctor before looking back at Rose.

"Will do," Rose replied, biting her lip to stop herself from smiling. "You have a good night, Mrs Lynch".

"You too," Mrs Lynch replied quietly and turned back up the stairs, muttering about something she'd forgotten.

Rose pulled the Doctor down the steps and the two of them ran out onto the path, laughter coursing through both of them. The Doctor was trying his best to regain composure while Rose was gripping her sides.

"So, just so I get it clear, Frank is...?"

"Oh," Rose laughed, "her cat".

"Oh," the Doctor raised his eyebrows. "Well that does make a little more sense".

"What, did you think she was worried about her husband going wandering?" Rose snorted.

The Doctor shook his head and smiled. "Who knows? Men are unpredictable creatures. How do I know you're not worried about me doing the same?"

The mood sobered a little after that harmless little question. Realising his mistake, the Doctor strolled over to her and offered her his hand. "Shall we?"

Rose smiled softly up at him and let him lead her by the arm. They walked in silence for several blocks, the night surprisingly quiet for their location in the city.

"So where are you taking me?" Rose's voice cut through the quiet.

"It's a surprise".

"Should I be worried?"

"Should you be asking so many questions?" he smirked and she smacked him on the arm.

"Well, since you won't tell me where we're going, Doctor Watson"- Rose paused midway through her sentence and gasped.

"Rose? Rose? What is it?" the Doctor panicked.

Rose grinned widely at him. "Are you taking me back to Baker Street, Doctor Watson?"

The Doctor rolled his eyes and let out a sigh of relief. "You had me so worried," he puffed out another breath and took her face in his hands.

Rose looked up into his eyes and saw a vulnerability that she found painfully familiar. "What did you think had happened?" she breathed.

"I don't know," he rubbed around her cheeks with his thumbs, "but don't scare me like that".

She smiled lovingly and reached up to take one of his hands in her own. Beth's voice kept ringing in her mind to tell him about the headaches, but in that moment she couldn't do it. She cared about him far too much to let him worry about her like that.

"It won't happen again," Rose pulled him closer and rested her forehead against his. "I love you".

The Doctor's hearts raced in his chest and he opened his eyes to look at her. Eyes closed and expression calm, she looked like some sort of angelic being. She was entrancing and beautiful and...Rose. His beautiful Rose that had been through so much with him. Whether she realised it or not, he would never be able to repay her for what she had done for him.

"I love you too," he rushed forward crushed her lips under his.

This unexpected passion took Rose by surprise and her eyes shot open before fluttering shut again. Nicholas didn't seem to be in any hurry to stop, so she pushed back just a little bit, letting him walk her backwards into the wall of the building beside them.

Warning bells were going off in the Doctor's head, but he ignored them. For the first time ever, he was freely showing Rose Tyler just how much he cared about her. She may not know it herself, but deep inside she knew it was him. In the time that he had known her she never opened herself up so quickly to someone...except him. Subconsciously he was there for her, even if her denial was too strong for her to admit it.

"Nicholas..." she breathed.

"Yes?" he asked quietly between kisses across her jaw.

Before Rose could reply a loud growling sound came from down in her stomach. Embarrassed beyond belief, Rose laughed weakly and ducked her head to hide her blush.

The Doctor laughed with her. "Hungry?"

"I little bit, yeah," she grinned shyly up at him.

He smiled warmly and took her hand in his. "Come on then," he tugged gently, "dinner is just around the corner".

Rose allowed him to lead her around the corner and over the road to a secluded park area. A little confused, she continued through the darkness as Nicholas led her under the low hanging branches of the trees. They emerged into a clearing, cut off from the rest of the city by the thick trees surrounding it. It was oddly peaceful and Rose grinned broadly at Nicholas as he rushed over to make sure that no one had touched his things. Stretched out before her was a picnic rug with an enormous range of different foods and even a bottle of her favourite wine.

Nicholas quickly lit the lamp to give them better lighting and turned back to her, his look questioning. "How do you like it?"

Rose shook her head, mouth open in disbelief. "I love it, it's beautiful".

"I thought we could spend a night away from all of those snobby people," he grinned and motioned for her to sit with him.

"A great idea," she sat and gently took the glass of wine he offered her.

"Not too cheesy?"

She laughed and shook her head. "Of course not. It's perfect".

Nicholas was positively beaming after that and quickly uncovered the other food dishes. "Chips, my dear?" he asked, offering them to her from the ornate silver dish that contained them.

Rose laughed again. "I love the crockery. Very fancy," she leant forward and took one of the chips.

"Yes, only the best for you. Would you believe me if I told you that I found the very best restaurants in the world to source our dinner tonight?"

Rose shook our head. "Even if you could, you know you wouldn't have to".

The Doctor grinned. No matter what she said, he didn't think it was a waste of time. Some of those restaurants were run by aliens that owed him favours anyway. The lucky few that had promised that they had no malicious intent towards the human race and could blend in with ordinary people.

"So..." Rose began, "tell me, Doctor Watson, are you just a really well-off homeless guy or do you actually have a place of residence nearby?"

"Uh...yes, of course I have a home," he frowned. "I just...never thought you'd want to see it".

"I don't need to if it's not something you show to people. I know that a home can be a very personal place and I also know that sometimes there can be memories of the past that stop you from letting new people in. My house isn't like that, but I'm alright with it if yours is".

The Doctor starred at her in disbelief. "Rose, it's not that...I-I'll show you one day, I promise you that".

Rose nodded. "Only if you want to".

"Rose, I know that you've had more happen in your past than you've let on and that's okay. There are things that I can't tell you and I accept that there are things that you can't tell me. It can't have been easy getting to where you are now. There's quite a difference between the girl in that photo with your mother and your friend and the one I see sitting in front of me".

"Yeah," Rose nodded. "I'm not quite as blonde," she laughed softly. "But in all seriousness the only difference is that I've grown up. I was very young then and while I'm not that much older now, I feel stronger having had to move on all alone".

"And you're okay with never having that life back?"

Rose shrugged and sniffed. "I miss my mother, but I know that she's safe now. She's happy and that's all that matters".

"And your friend?"

She looked up and met his eyes with uncertainty. "I know that it's probably a lot to ask of you...but can you just bear with me here. He changed my life and he'll never be gone from me, but I think that I'll need him less and less as you and I-oh gosh, I sound ridiculous right now. You must think I'm so shallow".

"No. No, no," the Doctor reached forward and pried her hands from her face. "Stop it. I understand you completely and I can accept that".

"Really?" Rose asked seriously. "Can you really?"

"Yes," the Doctor nodded. "I can, I can accept everything you need me to. As long as you accept that there are some things that I can never tell you about me. There are secrets in my past, dangerous ones that if anyone found out...it wouldn't be good".

"That makes two of us," Rose laughed weakly.

"Then we can both do our part and we can stay together," the Doctor smiled and pressed his lips to her forehead.

Rose grinned up at him. "This date hasn't really gone how either of us planned. It's a bit of a rollercoaster".

"Oh no, that's another date entirely," the Doctor joked lightly.

Rose chuckled. "I'll hold you to that".

"I hope so," he murmured and sealed their lips once more.

xxx

So there's your fluff and some extra little tidbits of the Doctor being a complete idiot. Digging himself in further and further and further...mwahahaha, I love being organised and having this whole story planned, it makes it so much easier to pace myself. Thank you all for reading and for supporting this story as always! To the new followers, welcome and thank you also! :)