The tenth day: Pretty paper
A/N Ok. Next time, I promise I'll come up with a good chapter name. Really. Well, two updates in one day, aren't you lucky!
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On the day before Christmas Eve, Rose and the Doctor were looking forward to going on a walk somewhere, away from Jackie, and enjoying some time together. They knew that they wouldn't be able to get any privacy from the next day, and so that this was their last chance before the chaos began, to simply be alone together, and explore the new feelings they had just uncovered to each other. Therefore, you can imagine their dismay when as they tried to sneak out of the flat, the Doctor somehow managed to jam his foot in the door, and howling loudly, alerted Jackie to the fact that they were trying to escape. Bustling out of her room, hairdryer in one hand and eyeliner in the other, she gave them a "where-exactly-do-you-think-you're-going-to" glare, and sheepishly, the two crept back into the flat, Rose not feeling at all sympathetic for the still in pain Doctor, who admittedly did look very apologetic.
"Don't even think you two are sneaking off anywhere today without my permission! I need your help! We've got tonnes of presents to wrap up and take round to the neighbours and everyone! You two are on duty until I say so – so quick march into the lounge and I'll bring you in everything."
Groaning, they trampled into the lounge, throwing off their coats and kicking off their shoes like moody teenagers, before sitting down with two resounding thumps on the sofa, arms folded across their chests. Jackie shook her head at them before disappearing off and returning with some of her cargo from the day before. After several trips to and from her room, she nodded happily at the humongous pile in front of the Doctor and Rose, almost hiding them from Jackie's view as she stood in front of it. "Right then – paper, there, scellotape, in the kitchen, and all of this needs to be wrapped up. There should be names on the bags for who everything's for – I want tags on them all, alright – and if there's not just give me a call." And with that she vanished off into her room to finish getting ready.
"What you doing today then, Mum?" Rose asked aggressively as she went to fetch the scellotape.
"Me? I'm having my nails done aren't I, and then I'm picking up the turkey! So I want Bev's present done before I go, I can drop it off on my way."
Sighing, Rose returned to the Doctor and set the scellotape down on the tape with a bang. "Right then, there's no way out. You cut the scellotape up and I'll wrap….."
Several hours later, after the Doctor had made Rose an apologetic present that was a wrapping paper heart with a bit of scellotape attached to it so she could stick it on her jumper, and several hundred presents had been wrapped up, they began to see the floor through the decreasing pile of presents. As Rose finished off, the Doctor went to find his secretly stashed away bag of presents, and whilst Rose was busily occupied with an interestingly shaped vase for the lady on the floor above them, quickly wrapped them up.
Then, of course, they had to deliver most of the presents. Carrying them all around the Powell Estate and surrounding area proved to be quite ridiculous, and so they "borrowed" a shopping trolley, and the Doctor motored this round whilst Rose ran up to doors and knocked on them, handed the present in with a smile and a quick chat, and then made her excuses and ran off with the Doctor towards the next point of call.
By the time they had finished, it was getting on into the evening, and Rose was unable to believe they'd spent all day wrapping presents up and delivering them. It really was stupid. They were wandering along with the trolley towards the Powell Estate, but they both didn't feel like going back to the flat yet, so instead they went down to the park. It was empty and dark, but this was just perfect for the two, who abandoned the trolley in a corner and went and sat on the swings together, the Doctor showing off as to how high he could swing before he nearly smashed his head on the bar at the top, and had to get off very quickly.
They were gently swaying to and fro, and were silent, just enjoying each other's company, when Rose noticed the full moon. She pointed it out to the Doctor and he grinned. "Just think, within a few days we'll be out there again, Rose. We'll be out amongst the stars."
Rose shivered. "I still can't quite believe it, that I've been out there and everything."
The Doctor looked at her. "Yeah. Neither can I."
Rose caught him looking at her and looked down. She looked up at him again as he lifted up her hand gently and pressed his lips to her knuckles. Feeling an overwhelming love and need for him bubble up inside of her, she shifted and went to sit on his lap, wrapping her legs around his waist. He shifted to accommodate her, before kissing her again, this time more passionately than before.
"Oh Rose –" He said, rubbing his nose against hers.
They were interrupted by a wolf whistle coming from two teenage boys riding their bikes towards the entrance to the flats. Parting, they looked around embarrassed, and slowly Rose got off his lap. "Come on," she said, smiling, "we'd better get back. Mum'll be wondering where we are. I bet she's got some other job for us to do."
It seemed Rose was right. As they entered the flat a few minutes later, they slammed the door behind them and were just taking off their coats when Jackie bustled into the hall, the phone pressed to her ear. "It's alright Sue, I've found the perfect person. I'll see you tomorrow." She pressed the end call button and beamed up at the Doctor. "You won't mind being Shepherd 3 in the nativity service tomorrow, will you?"
Rose's laughter rang out across London as the Doctor paled to a sheet and gaped like a goldfish.
A/N Haha – I've been planning that last bit since I started this story! Well, well, who'd have thought it? Shall I make him a natural actor, or shall we strike him with stage fright? Not sure yet… Aw, poor Doctor.