Pasadena

Rose's heart skipped several beats. The Doctor's eyes widened. Both of them didn't move for a long couple of seconds, both unsure. It was hard to tell who grinned first, but as soon as she saw the Doctor's teeth shine in a happy fashion, she couldn't stop herself. She started walking towards him, but quickly decided this was too slow, so she set in run. The Doctor stood up from the bench, eyes still on Rose. Even though it might look like any normal hug when the distance closed, it wasn't. This was a hug of relief and post-sad happiness. Rose couldn't hold her tears back, and she didn't want to. She began sobbing loudly into his chest, and his fingers slid into her hair. She could feel his body shake, he was crying as well.

"I'm so sorry," he mumbled into her ear. "I'm so-so-so-so-so sorry."

Agaclix

Sheldon hadn't been able to return to the hall after what had happened. How could he face Penny and pretend everything was normal? He'd almost been raped! He needed time to think this over.

He found a quite large balcony, almost overgrown with the most fascinating red plant. Whilst Sheldon usually didn't enjoy the nature and it's bacteria, he had to admit that this plant was quite… Soothing. Sheldon didn't want to think about what had changed, for now he could just let the nice plant be. He was all alone with his thoughts, noises of the feast and its guests drowned out completely. A soft music of water sounded nearby though, and Sheldon had to squint his eyes to see its source. A fountain was placed in the garden underneath the balcony, and the spectacular figure of a bird spit out water in a flawless line. But the figure's details were blurred by the darkness settling over the evening sky. Sheldon pondered why their sunrise was a near-purple experience, but the results weren't exactly conclusive. Sheldon had, once again, proven that he was absolutely useless after 9 o'clock.

As Sheldon sat down on the remarkably soft furniture, his thoughts, which he thought would be about the inappropriate queen, moved to the topic of home.

How was Amy? It was needless to say she'd be disappointed in him. He wanted nothing more than to reconcile with her, but as for their relationship, it hadn't been anything more than friendship. He'd always known that somewhere deep down, but everybody kept telling him that his reaction was natural for a quote 'asexual nut' like him. He didn't know how to tell them that he wasn't asexual, sex at all was a taboo topic when it concerned himself. He'd earmarked himself as a brilliant mind, not distracted by the carnal desires. But he knew that he was like every other guy. He was merely a genius at hiding it. He knew that Amy didn't get his motor running, but he found himself selfish in terms of wanting her anyway. She respected him and adored him, and that was what he'd needed at the lust for Penny was becoming unbearable, and he was desperate for a distraction.

Amy had been there, willing and persuading. He hadn't meant for it to escalate into kisses and cuddles, but when Leonard took her to that wedding and came home with the puppy-eyes he knew so well, he had to protect his pride. It was already hurt from when he'd bedded Penny, not that Sheldon saw himself doing that, but still… Sheldon had needed to keep at least one woman away from the womanizer, Leonard. Yes, he couldn't believe it either, but it seemed he had to face facts. Leonard was James Bond in their circles, and he had a license to fornicate. That brought him to thoughts of his mother. Would he ever come back to her? And what would she say if she knew the thoughts running through his head, specifically about Penny? Because they weren't just in his dreams anymore. Sheldon remembered the two times they'd kissed, and he felt a set of giggles in his throat threatening to break out. Suck that, Leonard!

Pasadena

The Doctor usually kept account of time, but having Rose in his arms made every other sense irrelevant. Their tears had finally stopped, and they were enjoying the comfortable silence, the company of one another. People stared at the two -moments ago crying- strangers, but neither Rose nor the Doctor cared.

"Why?" Rose asked, finally, voice still dipped in tears. She'd pulled apart from their hug in order to look him in the eye.

"I'm so sorry," the Doctor said once again. "I needed to make you hate me."… "Because it's best for you if you live your own life, one without me. I can't be selfish. It's not fair to you."

"But can't I choose for myself?"

"I-" The Doctor was out of words.

"What about your French mistress? Did you give her a choice?"

"Rose we never-she wasn't like you. I was just being nice when she kissed me- which was only once."

Rose shook her head, disbelieving.

"You have to know you're the only one I'd ever want. You are my Rose, and I love you beyond words."

Rose tried not to smile, both hating and loving the cheesiness of it all. "I have chosen, Doctor," she said. "A long time ago." Rose leaned in, and their lips met in a passionate this-is-it kind of kiss. "I love you more than anything," she breathed out as the kiss stopped. "I don't care about anything else."

"Would you be able to bear a thousand lifetimes with this daft old alien?" the Doctor asked.

"I only have one," Rose was a bit confused.

"There's something that could change that, something that would allow us to truly be together."

"What?" Rose's eyes grew wide with sincere curiosity.

"I could tie our lifespans together –it's a painful process but if it succeeds, we'll be tied for life. You'll live for as long as I do, and when either of us becomes sick, the other one will as well. We'll also be able to communicate telepathically. Rose I realise this is a lot to ask, and I understand if you-"

"Doctor," Rose placed a finger in front of his mouth. "I want you, and I want you only. Being connected to you- forever- is all I could ever ask for. Tying our lifespans together seems so intimate, it would be like a dream come true."

The Doctor's eyes lit up. "Really?" His voice was unsure, fragile even.
Rose took his hand reassuringly. "Really," she said.

The Doctor smiled sheepishly, sending chills down Rose's spine.

She was just about to tell him how cute he looked, when he kissed her. It was a nice surprise, and Rose felt completely taken aback, in the best way possible. She reciprocated the kiss with as much love and passion as possible. Her leg swung over him, and she settled herself on top of him, lips never leaving his. She could feel eyes in her neck, but the taste and feel oh him underneath her was too good. She never wanted to stop. Her and the Doctor would be okay, not only were they back together, they'd be together forever. She was on a bench with the man she loved, and nothing else around her mattered. The wind wasn't cold anymore, and if it was, she couldn't care less. Only the bench and the Doctor.

Agaclix

Penny's fingers brushed the wall as she slowly walked the empty halls. She was looking for Sheldon, not entirely sure why. What had happened on this trip of theirs? Had she gone boy-crazy and decided to want the nearest guy? What about Leonard at home? She hadn't even thought about Leonard. When she'd first met the guys, she'd seen Sheldon as… Well, as attractive. But then his personality hit her, and she realised very quickly that he wasn't interested.

Then there was Leonard, the sweetest guy alive. Penny had thought he was exactly what she wanted, but to be honest, he'd been nothing but a security blanket. She felt evil thinking of him that way, but deep down, she knew her heart. Kurt had treated her horribly, even used violence once or twice. She'd been so surprised by herself that she hadn't reacted. She should have, and when she finally did, she was all alone in a big world and without friends. She'd left her family to become an actress, much despite their protests, and found Leonard. A sweet,supporting guy who'd do anything for her. She'd thought he was what she wanted, as her father had said a keeper.

But he didn't give her stomach butterflies, he never had. It was hard facing the truth about Leonard and even harder facing the truth about Sheldon. She hadn't even figured it out yet, had she? Was she in love with him? His ego was as huge as the earth itself, he didn't share the same passions as she did, and sometimes it was hard to tell if he even cared for others.

But deep down, she knew these things weren't true. His ego was in need of constant approval, he was nervous when it came to any social interaction he hadn't tried before, partly because he felt he didn't understand how to. Penny saw his ego and condescending comments as a way of making up for the things he knew he lacked. He must be so lonely, she thought. And sure he didn't share the same passions as she did, but if they shared every single part of their life, they might as well be twins. This way they were opposites, jing and yang, and this way, the chemistry never died. She knew how to make him out of words, and he knew how to press her buttons. They got under each other's skin. And she knew he cared, he really did. He'd been up all night because Howard was upset, he'd helped her with manufacturing penny-blossoms...

Penny could come up with so many examples of things that showed he cared, so many examples of why she loved him. Why hadn't she realised this before? Had she known before? And what about Amy? Sheldon wouldn't want her when Amy was around, she knew that. He needed someone to soothe his ego, and she wasn't in a constant mood to do that. He would tire easily of her, and she knew it. So why was she still humouring the thought of his fragile being on top of her?

Pasadena

With the Doctor as the big spoon, Rose didn't freeze as the cold October wind hit the bench with a lovely lullaby. Her eyelids became heavy as she felt the Doctor's low but content snoring in her neck. She felt alive as she fell asleep on a bench in the middle of Pasadena.

Agaclix

Was Penny down there all alone? Sheldon stood up. He needed to find her. They needed to get home as quickly as possible, and all should be as it was. He was just about to leave the balcony, when he saw Penny at the entrance. His heart bounced when he saw her, memories of everything that had happened between them flashing his mind. How could they ever be normal again?

"You scared me," his voice was calm despite feeling like a nervous wreck inside. Could she tell?

"Uhm, Sheldon… Where have you been? Just sitting here avoiding me?"

"No you see, I-"

"What happened with the queen?" she asked, ignoring his boring excuse.

"She tried to rape me," Sheldon blurted out, eyes widening. Should he have said that?

"What?" Penny almost smiled, not believing a word he said. "Sheldon, you do know what it means to rape, don't you? Read that book we gave you."

Sheldon scowled. "Yes, Penny, I am quite aware what the term rape means, and I assure you, I wouldn't use it unless I am sure. She sat herself on my lap and rubbed herself against me. She violated every point on my list of sexual-violations I wrote when I was nine, the Cooper Pleasanty Right. I don't take that lightly, Penny!" He sucked in air deeply, trying to keep his eyes dry. "I was violated, Penny." He said finally.

Penny didn't know what to say. She, once again, saw the vulnerable side of the brilliant Sheldon Cooper, and she wanted nothing more than to hug him and make him smile. As he sat down in the sofa chair conveniently placed on the balcony, she sat down in the identical, adjacent one.

"I'm sorry Sheldon."

"It's okay, you didn't know. I merely hope we can forget about it." His eyes were fine now, and he felt he'd overreacted. Truth be told, it wasn't horrible enough to cry about, he could have stopped it had he only seen it coming. "

"Sheldon," Penny paused, debating with herself whether a hand-holding was in order. Deciding it wasn't, she continued. "I know you –you're strong and brilliant. Isn't there any way you can take it as a compliment? She wanted to get in good with the hero. That's you."

Sheldon smirked. "I do enjoy your witty version of her motive…" He trailed off, noticing the evening shadow on her subtle cleavage. Did she have to wear that dress?

"Penny…" he started, suddenly feeling completely in place. As if his new home was on this balcony with Penny, his spot in this chair. "I feel completely comfortable with you. Why is that?"

"Maybe you like me," Penny tried for a wry smile as she teasingly poked his knee, but Sheldon could see the nervousness in her eyes. It made him want to agree with her as quickly as possible, removing every doubt from those beautiful eyes. He wanted her to know that every single man would be the luckiest alive if they had her. But he couldn't expose his vulnerability like that, didn't know how to.

He swallowed, gathering as much courage as possible.

"Maybe…" He mustered up, meeting Penny's smile.