When he returned to the table, the three of them all eyed him suspiciously. Actually, no – Reinette and Mickey eyed at him suspiciously. Rose just laughed, and smiled at him like she had a secret.
Mickey didn't seem to see a correlation between the Doctor's visit to the bathroom and Rose's hysterical giggling fit, for he explained to the Doctor, "She's drunk. She burst out laughing when Reinette said something completely unfunny. No offence Reinette."
"None taken," she replied with a shrug, then looked at Rose in concern. "Perhaps the wine was too strong for her."
"I'm still here, you know," she hiccupped, waving her hand at them.
The Doctor tried not to smile at her antics, but it was impossible. She rarely had too much to drink, but when she did she was a very happy drunk – he knew this from previous experience as well as from now. And he enjoyed it when she was enjoying herself, which was why he never saw anything wrong in her sampling the alcoholic beverages time and space had to offer. She knew that if she got a little drunk, like she was now, then he'd look after her. And she also knew that however strong the attraction between them, he'd never let them do anything untoward unless she was sober.
Well, he'd never let them do anything untoward when both of them were sober, either, but that was beside the point.
"Perhaps we should go back to the TARDIS," Reinette remarked.
Mickey nodded his head in agreement. "Yeah, I think that's a good idea."
"But we haven't had dancing, yet," Rose said, frowning adorably. The Doctor felt something loosen inside his chest at the sight.
"Dancing?" Mickey asked, looking alarmed. "No one told me there was gonna be dancing."
"What sort of dancing is she referring to?" asked Reinette.
"What does that mean?" asked Mickey.
"I want to dance," Rose announced, standing up. She grabbed the Doctor's hand. "You'll dance with me, won't you?" He stood, too, aware that people on the other tables were looking.
"Where, Rose?" he asked her quietly.
"There's a room next door where there's dancing, I heard one of the waiters telling that lady with the big hat about it," she said, a bit too loudly. The lady with the big hat looked over and scowled. Rose shrugged her apology. "You shouldn't wear hats indoors, it's rude," she informed her wisely.
The Doctor chuckled and guided Rose out of the room, gesturing for Mickey and Reinette to follow. As they passed the maître d,' the Doctor handed him the payment for their meal.
"I hope everything was to your satisfaction, Sir Doctor?"
"Oh, it was splendid, thank you. We've had a lovely time." He tightened his grip around Rose's waist as she stumbled, and he realised she was muffling her giggles into his shoulder.
"Sir Doctor," she muttered. "Oh, I like it."
"Well, what was the point of getting knighted by Queen Vic if I don't get to use it, hmm?"
"Good point," she replied. "Look, see – dancing." She pointed to the ballroom situated in the next corridor. "Please can we? Just for a little bit? I am Dame Rose Tyler of the Powell Estate, after all…" Her eyes were big and hopeful and of course he said yes. She squealed in delight and kissed his cheek before dashing into the room.
He stopped still, and touched his hand to his cheek. Then he realised what he was doing and shook his head at himself. Honestly. What was she turning him into?
He followed her into the ballroom, barely registering the fact that Mickey and Reinette were walking alongside him.
"I don't think this is such a good idea," Mickey was saying, bringing the Doctor out of his reverie. "She'll probably embarrass herself. And us."
The Doctor stopped again, and turned to Mickey. "What?"
"I said she'll probably embarrass - "
His jaw clenched tightly. "No, I heard what you said. I just couldn't fathom why you'd say it."
"What?"
"She's happy and having fun, Mickey; what's wrong with that?"
"Nothing – it's just, amongst all these posh, refined people - "
"So what?" the Doctor snorted. "So what if they are. Rose can do what she likes. She shouldn't have to answer to these sorts of people anyway, just because she wasn't born into wealth like them."
"That's not what I mean, Doctor," Mickey snapped. "I completely agree with you about that, of course I do – I'm from a council estate myself, for god's sake. What I mean is, Rose's inhibitions may be gone at the moment, but in the morning, when she remembers making a fool of herself in front of all these people, in front of you and Reinette, she's gonna feel terrible. Because it doesn't matter how things should be. All that matters is how they are, and how Rose feels because of it."
"What?"
"She feels inferior, Doctor, because people treat her that way. Of course she shouldn't have to feel embarrassed by getting a bit drunk; but her bravado is just that: bravado. When she remembers how these people look down their noses at her, then she'll feel about two feet tall."
The Doctor gaped at Mickey in shock. "She – no. No, that's not - " He paused, letting Mickey's words sink in. "She really feels like that?"
"Yeah, I think she does, yeah."
He swallowed hard. "I don't want her to ever feel like that again."
"Well it doesn't help that you just toss her aside the moment someone classier and cleverer comes along," Mickey snapped, then looked shocked at what he'd just said.
The Doctor frowned at him. "I wouldn't do that."
Mickey ceased to feel apologetic for snapping just then, instead rolling his eyes. "You idiot. You already did."
"I - " the Doctor started to defend himself, but then Reinette stepped over from where she'd been conversing with Rose and interjected, "Doctor, she's waiting for you to dance with her. She said that after that we can go."
Mickey looked pointedly at Reinette, and the Doctor came to a startled realisation. "No, I haven't – I wouldn't - " he stammered.
"Doctor?" Reinette said.
He cleared his throat. "Right. Yes. I'll just go and…" he trailed off as he walked over to Rose.
There was a moment of silence. Then, "I think I've realised two things that neither you nor Rose have," Reinette told Mickey quietly, as the pair of them watched the Doctor step up to Rose and whisper in her ear.
"What's that?" Mickey huffed, still annoyed with the Doctor's obliviousness.
"He'll never look at me the way he looks at her," she stated, in a matter-of-fact manner.
Mickey turned to her in surprise, opening his mouth to speak.
But Reinette quickly continued, "And I believe he is so in love with her that he's frightened to do anything about it."