A/N: Written for an AU prompt from spookyknight over on Tumblr.

Characters/Pairings: Ten/Rose

Summary: Genie AU where the Doctor is a genie and the TARDIS is his lamp.

Rating: G

Disclaimer: I don't own any of them.


Wishes

She gets three wishes.

Her first wish is to see the stars, up close and miles away from Earth, an adventure the likes she's never had before. He shows her the creation of galaxies, the settling of interstellar dust, the final glorious eruption of massive stars, the formation of planets and suns and black holes. And maybe it's a bit excessive for your average wish, but she didn't tell him to take her to all these places (just that she wanted to see the stars, just that, which is really quite open-ended – the exact places were his choices).

Her second wish, months later because she's terrified to give it voice, terrified to let him know this secret part of her even though he's probably heard the innermost desires of all sorts of people before and one more isn't likely to be groundbreaking, is for her father. Her mum cries when she sees him again; Rose stands back with the Doctor to allow the happy reunion. Eventually she caves and runs to her father's side, excited to meet the man she's never known.

And now it's time for her final wish.

She's held off on this one for other reasons, reasons she keeps close to her heart, and he's never pushed her on the point, never asked her to hurry along and make a decision. But it's finally time, she knows it in her bones, can feel that she's held off too long and that she has to make this wish so they can go their separate ways.

"So I get one more wish?"

"Yep."

"An' I can't wish for more wishes?"

"That, Rose Tyler, would be cheating." He teases with a waggle of his eyebrows.

She looks away from him. Whatever her final wish will be, she needs it to be good. Not just good, fantastic, brilliant, something she won't regret no matter how much time passes. Because after this wish, she'll return to ordinary life without him.

And he will… Well, she doesn't actually know what happens to him, not exactly. He doesn't talk much about himself, only occasionally drops references to other genies he's known before distracting her with some other topic. She looks back at the pinstriped man.

"What happens to you after?"

He shrugs. "I go back in the TARDIS. Wait around 'til someone else pops by to give her a good rub."

"You just stay in there?" She can't imagine this man, exuberant and bouncy and so full of energy, sitting still anywhere. And alone too – he's always talking, always rambling on about this or that. He thrives off audience.

"It's not so bad. Bigger on the – "

"Inside." She finishes for him with a grin. He smiles back. "Still, that's gotta get boring after a while."

The Doctor runs a hand through his hair and then beams. "Your final wish! What's it going to be? Do you want to see the past? Humanity's had some excellent moments in the past – could listen to Charles Dickens tell stories or maybe you'd rather see the coronation. That's a good one. Or the future, maybe? See where humanity lands itself in a few thousand years? Floating cars and vast cities and applegrass – oh applegrass is brilliant! Medicine too, you could live a long, happy life in the future."

He waits and when she doesn't respond, continues on, "Could go with something more present too. Riches beyond your wildest dreams? That's always a popular last one. People think money will fulfill the rest of their wishes. Keep 'em happy when I'm gone. They're wrong, of course, but I'm not one to argue. Or world peace? The other big one. I don't recommend it. Works for a while, but humanity always manages to bungle that one up. Entirely not my fault, just human nature at work. Only so much a genie can do."

He pauses for a dramatic moment, shoves his hands into his pockets, and grins, "So what'll it be?"

"I wish…" She stares at him, him with his sad and ancient eyes, not masked very well with his paper-thin smile. Those eyes that'll be locked up in the TARDIS until another person comes along and maybe that person won't be good; and even then, even then he would eventually just end up in the TARDIS on his own, no matter the person. It'll be his life for the rest of however long he'll live, a very long time if his current age is anything to go by.

"I wish you were free."

His mouth drops open. He stares at her like he can't quite believe what she's done, as if she's handed him the universe. She supposes she has; with his powers, he can go anywhere, see anytime, do anything. He'll go off and do it, of course he will. He has no need to be shackled to her anymore.

Her heart sinks. This will be the last time she sees him. She'll miss him and maybe he'll drop by sometime but probably not – he's not the sort for domestics of any kind.

But it's worth it, worth it to know that at least he won't be stuck in the TARDIS anymore. He won't have to be anyone's slave. He'd be free. Definitely worth it.

"Rose, I – I don't know what to…"

"Do?" She grins, tongue poking through her teeth, a stab at humor. "Whatever you want."

The Doctor's eyes fall to her mouth. He closes the distance between them, pulls her into his arms, tilts her head up. His lips press gently to hers, chaste and hesitant. She pushes closer, heart pounding in her chest because this is happening and he wants her. She swipes her tongue along his lips, he opens his lips and slides his tongue along hers, runs it through her mouth, along her teeth. Their mouths move together, lips and teeth and tongue, messy and wet and good. Eventually he pulls away enough to whisper,

"I want you."