Author's Note: Guys, thank you so much for all the feedback on this story. 40 reviews? Seriously, it just makes my day. This chapter is a bit longer than the other ones but I like the content and hope you do to. Also, I decided to go ahead and post 2 new stories. I know, I know, I barely keep up with this one, but I just really want to post these. One is another AU and the other is the beginning of a Series 3 rewrite that already has several chapters written. Anyways, if you've read this whole thing, thanks for sticking to my jabbering. If not, then you probably won't read this anyways. :)

"Oi! Doctor, wait up!" The Doctor groaned as Mickey Smith called out to him from the hallway. He stopped walking and turned around to face Mickey, who was running towards him.

"Yes?" The Doctor asked, bouncing on the balls of his feet impatiently. He had to go meet Rose at the library today, and he really preferred not to keep her waiting.

"I wanna-I wanna," Mickey paused to catch his breath, "I wanna talk to you about Rose. You guys have been getting really close. I dunno if you guys are dating or what, but-"

"Listen, if this is relationship advice, I don't need it. My relationship with her is none of your business."

"Yeah, it sorta is. We grew up together, Doctor. When her mum was around, we used to be best friends." Mickey glared at the Doctor. "It's my business if she gets hurt."

The Doctor had hold himself back from slamming Mickey into the lockers. "Oh, so you're worried about me hurting her, are you? From what I've heard, all you've done is tear her down."

"Did she tell you about what I told her, then? Or did she not trust you with that information?"

"What did you say to her?"

"Nothing. I just told her that she should be careful around you. Can you honestly tell me that in a couple years time that you'll remember her? She'll just be another in the long line of the Doctor's girlfriends." Mickey shook his head. "I told her the truth. That she's a great girl, but she's nothing special to someone like you. That-" Mickey was cut off by a heavy blow to his face. Stumbling back, Mickey looked shock at the Doctor's abrupt violent outburst.

"Don't you ever say anything like then. You got it? Because next time, I swear I'll do much worse than just give you a bloody nose." The Doctor's tone was soft but dangerous, somehow much worse that yelling. "Rose Tyler is more than just another girl and she is more than good enough for me. If anything, I'm not good enough for her. Do her a favour and leave her alone for a while."

"At least what I said didn't hurt her near as much as you eventually will. And you're right, Rose does deserve somebody who sees how special she is. That person is not you." Mickey said jumping up from his position on the floor. He pulled his fist back and hit the Doctor, but before either could continue, there was a shout

"OI!" Jack appeared between the two and shoved them both back. "What do you two think you're doing? A fight, really?" He shook his head. "Mickey, go home. Doctor, come on, let's go." He grabbed the Doctor's arm and yanked him along like a sulky child.

"I can't believe you did that. You should know better." Jack angrily whispered low enough so only the Doctor could hear.

"Yeah, well. He started it."

Jack chuckled. "I'm sure he did."

Rose checked her phone for the second time. He was late.

"Where are Spaceman and Jack anyways?" Donna asked nonchalantly, studying her nails.

"I dunno, but they should be here soon." Rose sighed. "Why do you call him 'Spaceman'? I mean, it fits and all, but why 'Spaceman' of all things?"

"Like you said, I suppose, it just fits. He can be a bit clueless for a genius at times. His head's up in the clouds a lot." Donna rolled his eyes. "Really, I don't get what you see in him."

"He's smart. And a little bit funny, and kind, and charming. He wants to help people." Rose smiled fondly. "Not to mention that amazing hair, or that-"

"That's quite enough, thank you." Donna shivered before her expression turned solemn. "But Rose, he hurt you. Don't you remember that? Did he even apologize?"

"Donna, I know you're worried and all, but we're fine. He won't do anything like that to me again."

"Won't he, though? Rose you are the most amazing girl I know, but what happens when you're not as new and shiny as you are now? What happens when he can sit still with one girl much longer and just leaves you?" Donna paused. "If you're happy, then that's amazing. I just don't what to see you get hurt by this boy."

Rose sighed. "What do you want me to do? I really like him, and I almost think that-"

Just then the doors to the library burst open and the Doctor and Jack walked in.

"Oh my god." Rose breathed, walking over to the Doctor.

"What?" He asked, tilting his head slightly down to meet her eyes. She placed a hand on his cheek, examining the bruise that was being formed softly before leaning back.

"Sorry." She said shyly."How'd you get that?"

"Oh, you know. Me and Mister Mickey were just having a little chat and-"

"You got in a fight! With Mickey? Seriosly?"

"He started it." The Doctor insisted, and smiled when Rose rolled her eyes. "It wasn't that bad though."

"I know." Jack cut in. "I stopped it before Mickey could end up with a broken nose."

"But," the Doctor said before Rose could start yelling at him. "It was fine."

"You know what," Donna grabbed Jack's hand. "I think me and Jack are going to take a walk. We'll leave you two alone." She then pulled Jack with her out of the building. Rose stood silently for a few moments before taking a seat.

"What was it about? The fight, I mean. You didn't just start punching each other, so what happened?"

"Well," he said, drawing out the word for several seconds. "…just manly things."

"'Manly things'? Really? You expect me to accept that? What do I look like to you, an idiot?"

"Yes- I mean no. No, definitely not. You don't look like an idiot, that is. You look lovely, not at all like an idiot." He spluttered. She giggled, forgetting for a second that she was supposed to seem angry with him.

"Oi! You two, over there." The librarian called and the two jumped apart. The Doctor grabbed her hand and smirked.

"Run."

And they did, they darted out of the library, across the field, all the way to the nearest park. Then he flopped down on the ground, pulling her on top of him.

"How was that for excitement?" He waggled his eyebrows. She laughed.

"You think you're so impressive."

"I am so impressive!" He said in mock offence, trying to the keep the smile from working its way on his face. Rose just giggled in response, lying her head down on his chest.

"Are you gonna tell me what the fight with Mickey was about now?" She asked after a while. He sighed.

"There's no distracting you is there?"

"Nope." She batted her eyelashes at him until he finally gave up.

"Oh, alright." He looked up at the sky, trying to ignore the satisfied smirk on her face. Honestly, it terrified him to tell her this. What if she realised that Mickey was right, that she didn't belong with someone like the Doctor? What if she decided to leave him? He shook his head. "You see…well, uh-"

"Spit it out already."

"Okay, okay. He basically told me to leave you alone because he thought I would hurt you." Rose opened her mouth to say something but the Doctor continued before she could. "He also told me about what he told you a couple days ago, that you were somehow less that me. I'm sorry Rose, I really am, but he was being an idiot." Rose just looked at him with-wait, were those tears?

"I'm sorry, Rose, really. Please don't cry." She shook her head.

"No, 'm sorry. It was my fault. The whole stupid fight was because of me." She smiled weakly. "You didn't have to stand up for me, though. He's right, you're way better than me." The Doctor's mouth dropped open a little, before it snapped shut. He kept doing that before he finally managed to say something.

"Rose, look at me. Look at me." He sat up, and moved Rose to where she was sitting on his lap. "You are the most brilliant person I have ever met. You are fantastic, and funny, and beautiful, and kind, and understanding, and loyal. You don't judge people based on other's opinions of them. If anything, you're better than me." He proclaimed, studying her as she stared up at the clouds.

"I should be getting home." Rose said softly.

"Alone?"

"Yeah, I think Donna needs a little bit. Cassandra's isn't that far from here, I'll just walk."

"You wouldn't mind if I…" The Doctor trailed off.

"You what?" She asked, despite knowing the answer.

"I could come with you." He said shyly, and she grinned. She loved when he acted shy even though he was probably one of the most outspoken people(with an exception of Donna) she knew.

"I would like that."