Previously…
If the ship has had some different intentions towards the two, it was unlikely they would address the dark topics as soon as the old girl would have liked. Not after some cheeky remark Rose has whispered into his ear.
Really?
Yes!
Their laughter echoed throughout the ship. At least for a few minutes.
Just Like That
Chapter Ten
Possible
Both Rose and the Doctor knew this has only served as a temporary relief. No important questions were actually answered, and some of the tension could not be gone until they were ready to address the things they kept from each other.
When they found themselves inside one of the unfamiliar rooms, neither was surprised.
"I can start," Rose breathed out, determined to get it out of her system. The pain was only increasing. "It's nothing out of the ordinary. A cheating, lying boyfriend."
"And the bleeding?" He could see how unwilling Rose was to remember such unpleasant things, but it was necessary for them to share these things.
Rose blinked away the tears threatening to appear. "He was never beating me," she spoke quietly. "Calling me all sorts of epithets. Treating me as if I were a thing, even throwing the heaviest things he could reach at me in fury.
"It was nice for the first few months. Jimmy was caring. Even talked me into giving him my virginity," she spoke emotionlessly. "He was trying to behave kindly with me in bed the first few times, I can give him that," she exhaled. "But soon enough, his behaviour has changed drastically. I was his, his property, so I had to do whatever he wanted. You wouldn't want to know-" Rose bit back a sob.
"Anyway, then, there were other girls he did not even try hiding from me, sometimes too drunk to even care about checking if I was still in the house before doing his thing with yet another of his- yeah, pretty much. I was no-one. The new girls were all told to treat me like a shadow, if even that."
She closed her eyes. "That's it. He's gone. In some local jail. I couldn't care less."
The Time Lord eyed her understandingly. "I am always here for you, Rose."
"What do you want to know first?" The Doctor spoke darkly, determined to spill it all out without wasting any more time. "How I was willing to drown and leave my torturous life behind? Because, because-"
"Because he saw no reason to live once you were gone," Donna explained, not at all bothered. It seemed she was determined to be wherever they were all of a sudden.
"What the- Why can't you leave us alone for once?" The Doctor glared at the ginger.
"I can't just leave you," she pouted. "Your clever ship insists I should watch over you. Somehow, I think she may be right."
"What has she promised to you for it?" The Time Lord was not surprised about the old girl's overprotectiveness. "I'm sure whatever it is, I can offer you something better not to."
"Oh! Does this mean you are going to do something? Finally? I don't think I could tolerate another day of this tension," Donna rolled her eyes.
"We have talked," Rose sighed. "As you must be very well aware."
"Is this it? You two have talked and this makes everything fine again? Don't think so!"
The Doctor was ready to do anything to get Donna away, now that-
"What is it you want? A trip to Spain, everything included?"
Donna pretended to be thinking. "Spain is always a great idea, but no."
"Portugal? Italy? France?"
"What's up with you and Europe?"
"Anywhere else?" The Doctor was growing uneasy. He thought Donna loved travelling!
"Know what? I believe I could stay at home with Gramps for a few days. As long as you pay for my time spent there."
"For all the hats, you mean?" The Time Lord clarified.
"Naaah. Hats can get boring. I was thinking dresses. Shoes."
"And hats," Rose winked at the fiery redhead.
"Yes, all right. I don't suppose you are going to share any juicy information with me? After that happens?"
"Oh, no." Bonding was a serious business. Too serious to even talk to a friend about. "Besides, since when do you care?"
The Doctor's expression was very easy to read. Donna shook her head. Since I met the two of you? "Just get me there already! I can practically feel the way you two are, well-
"Fucking the other with our eyes?" Rose suggested with a wicked smirk sent the Doctor's way.
The alien eyed her curiously.
Mickey's words, not mine, she blushed, realising it might have been too much.
It's okay, sweetheart.
The ginger rolled her eyes. "Oh, wow. Can't you just wait for until I leave?" Donna was – or hoped she seemed that way - scandalised.
"We should," the Doctor nodded. But as soon as she is brought home, Rose-
"Just do it, won't you?" Donna grumbled. Thanks to Rose, her mind was now filled with disturbing pictures of the couple. She shook them away.
"If you are mad, we could always-" Rose tried to somehow placate the woman.
"No, Rose. You two need a shag all right. Preferably, as soon as I leave!"
The tension on board the ship was seemingly increasing every second. Donna was suddenly in need to leave. To breathe air not heavy with sexual tension.
"Don't mind me. Just take me back when you're ready."
"Are you sure?" Rose was doing all the talking. The Doctor must have been too busy planning something special for his beloved, Donna supposed.
"Yes, I am sure. I haven't seen my family for a while. Gramps is going to have the time of his life when I tell him about how this started."
"Okay. Off with you!" The Doctor opened the TARDIS door wide. "Your family awaits!"
Donna eyed Rose meaningfully. "Take every chance you get," she smirked, leaving the ship and watching the TARDIS dematerialise with a sad smile.
"Have you noticed how very much like Jack she behaves?"
"Does it need saying? Just like Jack, Donna sees us together."
"Only Donna wouldn't want to join us," Rose finished, grinning.
The Doctor smirked at her. "Is there anything you want, before-?"
At least the Time Lord was not postponing or asking her to reconsider this time.
"Kiss me first," Rose breathed into him. "Get me into the mood," she giggled.
He eyed her curiously, pretty certain she was just as ready already as he was, but attacked her lips without question.
I need you, the Doctor breathed. Will you form a bond with me, Rose Tyler?
Yes.
Everything happened quickly then. The oaths. The words neither was supposed to know, but they both knew exactly what they were supposed to say. Suddenly, the promise of forever seemed nowhere as distant.
Thank you, TARDIS.
May I make love to you, Time Lord?
Yes.
The Doctor was not surprised when only one clever smile on her lips has given him more information than any human or any part-human was ever supposed to be able to transmit. Only two Time Lords could ever sense and touch upon the most fragile, the least perceptible parts of the other's mind, ones usually hidden so feep inside it was supposed to be unreachable.
He gasped, never doubting what this meant. "Is this the old girl's doing?"
"It's my doing as much as hers, Doctor."
Of course. It all made sense now. Torchwood staff wishing to destroy her, an abomination they knew they could never deal in any way other than destroying her.
"But why, why haven't you told me?"
Rose bit her lip. The TARDIS was determined to block some parts of your mind, just so you wouldn't-
So that was why.
"Hasn't Donna noticed anything strange? Something?"
She thinks us strange already, Rose smiled.
"Aren't we, Rose Tyler?" The Doctor attacked her lips with ferocity, one so familiar and yet so different with the lover who has somehow, with a little help from his TARDIS, manageddo the impossible. No person, no being was ever supposed to fool him, the last of an extinct race. No-one, but here she was.
I think you need to have some of your past wounds healed, Rose, the Time Lord exhaled, never truly letting go of her lips.
She did. Rose Tyler, his bond-mate and the very last of...
"Do you mean I need a Doctor, Doctor? Maybe you do?"
He was stunned at the very open and straightforward pictures Rose Tyler, a woman with so many secrets, sent him.
"It's up to you to unwrap me. I am your patient… And I am your present," she smirked at him. My Doctor. It was both terrifying and inspiring, this change. Rose was delighted all the same, knowing so was the Doctor, having just witnessed the impossible become possible.
The passion within them both was already driving them crazy. For once, Donna Noble was completely right.
A/N. This turn of events has been waiting inside my mind for a long time now. Almost since the very first chapter, actually. :O Reviews would be lovely. Only a chappie or two are left. :)